April 20, 2005 Dear Annie,
Please help me salute my parents, as they read your column. My dad worked as a logger, a mechanic, and is a veteran. My mom worked by day, went to college by night, and taught low-income and underprivileged kids for 25 years. My mom has devoted her life to doing God's work and Dad would give you the shirt off his back. They are the hardest working people. They adopted a family of four foster kids, and we are the ten luckiest kids in the world. We need more role models like you. Thanks Mom and Dad.
Blessed in Packwood, WA
Dear Readers,
Those are my parents, too, as "Blessed" is my sister. I like to argue with her, but I have to say, this time she's right. We are so fortunate. The young and the immature take their parents for granted. They don't realize the sacrifices their folks made simply to keep food on the table and everyone in a warm bed at night, especially when there are so many kids. But me and Blessed, we're not so young any more, and we appreciate our raising. Mom and Dad had seven children. Their first son died as a newborn. I always wondered if that was why they had such a hard time saying no to more kids! Mom worked outside the home before it became the norm for women, and she could've made more money, but instead dedicated her career to helping poor children. Dad might've wanted fancier things like other men had, new pickup trucks, a big boat, but instead he had kids. We kids didn't go without. I never saw my folks turn away anyone who was honestly trying, and needed help. I hope God smiled on you, too, and gave you parents like ours.
Annie
Please write to:
Annie, P.O. Box 1084, Eatonville,WA 98328
E-mail: letters_annie@hotmail.com
Past Ask Annies:
Apr. 20, 2005 Tribute to Fine Parents
Apr. 6 & 13, 2005 Boyfriend Acts Silly
Apr. 6, 2005 Wife Made Doilies When Angry at Husband
Mar. 30, 2005 Over Fifty's Showing Midriff
Mar. 23, 2005 Momma's Boy Has Some Good Points
Mar. 16, 2005 Momma's Boy 2 and Smelly People 2
Mar. 9, 2005 Disposing Girlfriend's Mom's Things and Boyfriend Always Has Cell Phone In Ear
Feb. 23, 2005 Noisy, Un-private Hospital Childrens' Areas
Feb. 16, 2005 Unkind Remarks and Brother-in-Law Who Wants Son's Bedroom
Feb. 9, 2005 Stop Complaining and Smelly Employees
Feb. 2, 2005 Daughter Caretaker for Complaining Mom
Jan. 26, 2005 Pestered Employee Might've Been a Man
Jan. 19, 2005 Pay Less Attention to Relatives' Crude Remarks
Jan. 12, 2005 Fellow Employee Guy Pesters Her
Jan. 5, 2005 New Gung Ho Leader in Volunteer Group
Dec. 22, 2004 Guy She Helped A Lot To Move To Packwood Found Packwood Lady
Dec. 8, 2004 Wife Drinks Too Much At Parties
Dec. 1, 2004 Holiday Spirit: Proud of Her Country, Co-workers and Family
Nov. 10, 2004 Bearded Guy's Wife Won't Shave Legs
Nov. 3, 2004 Daughter Finds Father's Remarriage Difficult
Oct. 27, 2004 The Bravest People Are The Elderly, and More About Bringing Guest Home to Crude Family
Oct. 20, 2004 Another Bringing New Beau Home to Rude Family plus This Divisive Election
Oct. 13, 2004 Bringing New Beau Home to Rude Family
Oct. 6, 2004 Recipe a guy can make: Cinnamon Rolls
Sept. 29, 2004 Stop complaining and appreciate what we have.
Sept. 22, 2004 It's the long-married who need the household gifts.
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Sept. 8, 2004 Political Signs in Morton Jubilee Parade
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Aug. 4, 2004 Mom Was Right About The Guy & Reply to a Critic Of Proud To Be An American
July 28, 2004 Go See and Enjoy Your Family
July 21, 2004 Readers Suggest Solutions to Doting Wife
July 14, 2004 Wife Dotes on Husband After Retirement
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June 30, 2004 Annie Column "Trivial?" plus More Supporting Parents
June 23, 2004 Repeat: Packwood Flea Marts
June 16, 2004 Doesn't Want to Marry Older Guy
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June 2, 2004 Daughter Reluctant to Help Brother Support Parents
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Apr. 21, 2004 Pushy people who keep telling us, "You should..."
Apr. 14, 2004 Abusive Dad, Discourteous Telephoning
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Mar. 24, 2004 Big Girl Wants to Avoid Brother's Fancy Wedding
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Mar. 3, 2004 Complaining about Boring Older Peoples' Talk
Feb. 25, 2004 Give Kid's Items to Food Bank
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Jan. 14, 2004 Boyfriend Breakup But Gift, Also Relative Tells Private Life
Dec. 24, 2003 Memories of Good Parents
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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?
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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
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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
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July 16, 2003 Redhead Asks Attractiveness Advice
July 2, 2002 Atomatic Deer Scarecrow Blasts Prowler