Dear Abby: We've been best friends since 9th grade and we always watch NFL football on Sundays. We have seen the birth of children (he is the godfather of two, they are already adults), the death of family members, everything. He had never been married and never had a lover. But he is very family-oriented. He has two sisters and two brothers.
Two years ago, his brother moved to another state. It was a very sad time for him. The bond we thought would never be broken has now been broken. I completely understand that he visits them for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other special events, but in my opinion, outside of those visits, he's also a big fan of his six months off from football. You'll be able to meet them any time during the season.
Also: My wife's veganism became a third party in our marriage.
When I mentioned this, he said things had changed and summer was back, but it was cool and comfortable to visit in the fall. Of course, I'm the one who drives him to the airport every time. I really missed my best friend that Sunday. I'm injured, so please give me some advice on what I can do.
— Lonely Sports Fan Out West
For all sports fans: I understand your sadness and hurt feelings, but it's time to start accepting reality. Your friend explained that the family situation has changed and you have to accept it. His change in circumstances has nothing to do with you and everything to do with his desire to remain connected to his brother.
It's time to be proactive. The next step is to find another sports fan to watch (or attend) these sporting events with. By doing so, we can fill the void that exists on Football Sunday.
Dear Abby: My friends of over 20 years bought their “dream home” and now live 90 miles away. I haven't cleaned it once since I moved in. Ten years ago, I lived with my wife and her parents for about six months. I quickly realized that she and her family had never cleaned their house.
I know she was injured in an accident a few years ago, but I have chronic pain from arthritis and have yet to figure out how to clean my apartment. Her husband grew up with her mother's support for the first 35 years of her life, so he never learned anything other than paying her bills and saving money.
The moment you enter their home, you are hit by the smell. And forget about using the bathroom. There is a brown ring in the toilet and the shower is so dirty that I wait to go home and take a shower. You can hardly eat because of the smell and the dirty table and kitchen. Is it awkward to send a gift card for housecleaning? And how do you say no to a sleepover?
— The Attentive Guest
Dear Guest: No one knows why this couple never thought of hiring a cleaning service. Unless your husband is keen on saving money and the money is too cheap to spend. Please send us the certificate. After submission, please postpone revisiting until you know the certificate has been used.
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