Dear Abby: I am dying of cancer and have been pondering the wasted years I have spent with my wife.
When we had children, my wife was too busy to go with us to the playground or church. Even though I would bathe the kids and clean up the bathroom, she’d follow behind me and clean it again because it wasn’t “clean enough.” She wouldn’t let me change the baby’s diapers because I “might not do it right.” I couldn’t even put the dishes in the dishwasher correctly — only she could.
She was usually asleep when I left for work. We were seldom ever awake in bed at the same time — so we rarely made love.
Abby, I love my beautiful wife, but I suspect she will be too busy to miss me much after I have gone. I am writing this because I hope other couples will use their time together more wisely.
— Learned Too Late In Ft. Worth
Dear Learned Too Late: I’m sure your wife thought that by being “Superwoman” she was meeting your needs. How sad that no one ever told her that there is far more to being a good wife than having “whiter whites” and spot-free dishes.
You and she seem to have lived parallel lives — always on the same freeway, but never in the same lane. Although it is too late for you, thank you for wanting to warn other couples for whom it is not too late. Peace be with you.
Dear Abby: Sometimes I feel my boyfriend — “Joe” — is dodging me. He thinks our conversations always lead to an argument, so he tries to avoid talking.
Joe recently moved six hours away. I feel I deserve a little more respect than I’m getting. I’d like to talk to Joe about this, but every time I call him he ignores my questions and practically hangs up on me. How can I improve our communication?
— Alone By The Telephone
Dear Alone: I hate to appear negative, but where do you get the idea that this man is your boyfriend? It’s time to move on, because Joe already has — physically and emotionally.
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Dear Abby is written by Pauline Phillips and daughter Jeanne Phillips.
