Ask Annie for Jan. 14, 2003 Dear Annie,
I was going to break up with my boyfriend just after Christmas, because it seemed too heartless to do it during the holidays, but then he gave me a really nice gift. It was much more expensive than what I expected, and I don't want to give it back. But I still want to dump him.
Down in Castle Rock, WA
Dear Down,
You're just being rotten! If you don't want to continue on life's little path with him, tell him so, with the gift ready to give back. If he tells you to keep it, do so, but otherwise, you need to give it back to him and get on with your life. To do otherwise is shallow and selfish, and you wouldn't have written to me about it except that your conscience is already bothering you. Do the right thing. Work and buy yourself whatever the expensive gift was, and you'll enjoy it twice as much knowing you earned it for yourself.
Annie
Dear Annie,
One of my sisters brings up her private life at every family gathering, and I mean trying to share things no one wants to hear about. We're not a shy family, we've told her to stop, but she still starts talking about things that go on behind closed doors. What else can we do?
Also Ann, Randle, WA
Dear Ann,
Turn your back on her, and I don't mean literally. Physically, turn away from her when she starts to talk about something distasteful, and start talking to someone else. If everyone in your clan did this, she'd have to shut up or talk to herself. Keep on telling her you don't want to hear it, and don't listen to it. Nothing will speak volumes like your back turned to her.
Annie
Please write to: Annie, P.O. Box 1084, Eatonville,WA 98328
E-mail: letters_annie@hotmail.com
Past Ask Annies:
Jan. 14, 2004 Boyfriend Breakup But Gift, Also Relative Tells Private Life
Dec. 24, 2003 Memories of Good Parents
Dec. 17, 2003 Christmas Gift for Wife?
Dec. 10, 2003 Thanks to Food Bank Helpers
Dec. 3, 2003 Child's Names on Belongings & Appreciating Family at Holidays
Nov. 26, 2003 Big Family Thanksgiving with Paper Plates
Nov. 12, 2003 Husband Driven Nuts To Do Crafts By Wife
Nov. 5, 2003 Dreading Husband's Retirement
Oct. 29, 2003 Move back home from boyfriend's house?
Oct. 22, 2003 Did I raise my daughter to do these things?
Oct. 15, 2003 Misunderstanding about School Workers' Kindness
Oct. 8, 2003 Prayer for Brown Sisters Killed and Change Schoolyear to Oct.1 to June 30
Oct. 1, 2003 Response About Non-tipping Lotto Winner
Sept. 24, 2003 Church-goers Inattentive
Sept. 17, 2003 Friend Sells My Stuff on Ebay
Sept. 10, 2003 Lottery Winner Didn't Tip Clerk
Sept. 3, 2003 Business Insults to Consumers
Aug. 27, 2003 Divison of Wedding Expense
Aug. 20, 2003 School Workers' Kindness & Men's Attractiveness
Aug. 13, 2003 Attractiveness Hints
Aug. 6, 2003 Annie's Husband's Accident at Work
July 30, 2003 Deer Automatic Sprinkler Best & Stores Don't Stock Washington Clothes
July 23, 2003 Scarecrows and Halloween Decorations Scare Off Prowlers Too
July 16, 2003 Redhead Asks Attractiveness Advice
July 2, 2002 Atomatic Deer Scarecrow Blasts Prowler