The letter to Dear Abby discusses a woman who has been married to her husband for 19 years. The woman explains that her husband frequently checks out and even disrespects other women in her presence. He recently told her that she is “very attractive” but not beautiful, and that other women he has treated poorly in the past were more attractive than she is. This behavior has made the woman question her appearance and feel inadequate. She wonders if her feelings are normal or if she is expecting too much from her husband.
Dear Abby responds to the woman’s letter by acknowledging that her feelings are valid and normal. She notes that the husband’s behavior of pretending not to know his wife and comparing her to other women is disrespectful and unkind. Dear Abby advises the woman to take a hard look at her husband’s character and consider whether she wants to continue being treated poorly by him. She sympathizes with the woman and encourages her to prioritize her own well-being in the situation.
In another letter to Dear Abby, a person moves to a small rural town and has not made many friends yet. They recently gave up on a friendship due to the friend’s aggressive behavior toward their puppy. The friend was seen physically disciplining the puppy, which crossed a line for the letter writer. When the friend tried to justify the behavior, the letter writer insisted that the friend take the puppy to obedience training as a condition of their continued friendship.
Dear Abby responds by commending the letter writer for standing up against animal abuse. She suggests that there are more effective ways to discipline a puppy that do not involve violence or fear. While insisting on obedience classes may have been presumptuous, Abby supports the idea of setting boundaries with friends who engage in unacceptable behavior. Abby encourages the letter writer to maintain their standards for friendship and prioritize the well-being of animals.
Overall, the letters to Dear Abby address issues related to marriage dynamics and friendships. In both cases, the letter writers are faced with challenging situations that require them to stand up for themselves and prioritize their own well-being. Dear Abby offers support and encouragement to the letter writers, reminding them that it is important to set boundaries and not tolerate disrespectful behavior from others. The letters serve as a reminder to prioritize self-respect and kindness in relationships with both spouses and friends.
