Dear Abby: Last year a family with three children the ages of ours (5, 7 and 11) moved to our block. These are the nicest kids you could imagine. Our children get along famously with them.
After a month or two, their mom mentioned that they normally skinny-dip in their pool and wondered how we felt about our kids doing so when they were visiting. When I explained that we believe in keeping the body private, she assured me that they would be clothed whenever we visited.
We have socialized with them throughout the year and really enjoyed it. In addition to their swimming naked, I was told that everyone in their family sleeps in the nude, so I can only assume they walk around naked from time to time.
My husband and I began wearing nightclothes when our first child was nearing 2 because we were both raised to believe that exposing oneself to children was harmful. Yet I keep wondering if it is so harmful, why is this family so well-adjusted?
Frankly, my husband and I would like to sleep in the nude again and I would like to skinny-dip in their pool, but I’m confused as to what is right and wrong. Can you help?
Ellen C. in Valencia, Calif.
Dear Ellen: There is no “right” or “wrong” here. How one feels about nudity is a personal decision.
Dear Abby: I have a problem I have never seen addressed in your column or anybody else’s. It’s doctors who scribble prescriptions in such a hurry that they can’t be read, and pharmacists who fail to double-check them with the doctor.
My frail 95-year-old mother was given a double dose of strong medicine by mistake because of a hastily scribbled prescription. The pharmacist didn’t check with the doctor– he just filled it. The nurse at the doctor’s office said this happens all the time.
Abby, this is important. What good is it to have a high-priced doctor if no one can read the prescriptions he writes and the pharmacist doesn’t take the time to call and check it out?
Angry in St. Petersburg
Dear Angry: Your letter is well worth space in my column. Doctors, please take care when writing prescriptions. And pharmacists, if you can’t read the prescription, call and check with the doctor who wrote it.
Dear Abby: I am a single woman who has been dating a very nice man for the past year. He is a perfect gentleman, intelligent, kind, comfortably retired and has many friends.
This relationship could lead to marriage.
The only thing holding me back is his language. He uses terms like “dis, dat and dem” for “this, that and them.” This may seem childish, but I just can’t accept the way he speaks. Sometimes I am embarrassed when we are with friends.
Should I tell him how I feel? He is such a nice person, but I think I will probably quit seeing him because of the language problem. Sign me
Meant for Each Other
Dear Meant for Each Other: The gentleman who is “comfortably retired” would find it very difficult, if not impossible, to change the way he speaks. If you can’t accept him as he is, do him a favor and let him go.
