Poem's simple truth benefits family through generations

DEAR ABBY: When I was growing up, my parents had a framed poem from your column hanging on our kitchen wall.

[Slickster]

LW1: Welcome to the Dear Abby Book Club. Send money; we'll send you books of platitudes and high minded advice.

LW2: What else is going on here? Was this woman (the younger) ever married and out of the house? Has she always lived with her mother? How old are the teens? What is the proximity of each of the residences from where she works? Have you ever spoken about the situation with her, or are you just meddling? What is her mother's physical condition?

Might be a great story here, but we're not hearing it.

[Ivory Dove]

Who can really tell what "Gail" is running to or from. Sticking a
nose into their lives can get it nipped.

[mll]

I agree about LW2: myob.

[AngelaMN]

L1: I don't remember that "poem," but I grew up on Abby (and later Ann), so I'm sure I've read it 100 times by now.

L2: Yes, your cousin has a screw loose. As do her other family members for allowing her to behave this way. And this affects you ... how?

[Logic Police]

Cant...comment...too....pointl ess....

[Bob Leblaw]

Phoning it in today, huh Abby('s daughter)? Want to remind us of how you(r mother) change(d) lives and impact(ed) society? Getting too many requests for a poem that you decided to just print it in the paper; gonna answer them all in one fell swoop?

[Noir]

#1 An all new low for Abby as far as I am concerned. Turning the column into a bad infomercial.

#2 What is wrong with an empty house? My house is empty except for the desk I am now typing from, a bed and a motorcycle parked in the living room. I find my empty house comforting.

So this woman has an empty house. She knows the secret to a rewarding life. Treasure your relationships, not your possessions.

[angelique770]

LW2. More poor parenting.

[AngelaMN]

Noir wrote:

#1 An all new low for Abby as far as I am concerned. Turning the column into a bad infomercial.
#2 What is wrong with an empty house? My house is empty except for the desk I am now typing from, a bed and a motorcycle parked in the living room. I find my empty house comforting.
So this woman has an empty house. She knows the secret to a rewarding life. Treasure your relationships, not your possessions.

So... why on earth do you park your motorcycle in your living room? How do you even get it through the front door?(I'm just being nosy/curious.) I think my side mirrors would keep my bike from fitting through most normal household doorframes.

Which reminds me... I need to learn how to change the oil on my bike, soon!

[Jennifer]

LW1 What are people complaining about here? If you are not interested, don't buy it. I bet a lot of people are. Stop being so unpleasant.

LW2 Maybe they are happy there. Maybe they've found the perfect situation for them. Why does something have to be wrong with them? Maybe grandmom is a good influence on the teens. Maybe grandmom needs help. Maybe they just like each other. I could go on and on.

[Mia]

LW2 - Are they all happy? In answer to your question: "What's wrong with this woman?" We can only be sure of one thing: She has at least one obnoxious cousin.

[Noir]

AngelaMN wrote:

<quoted text>
So... why on earth do you park your motorcycle in your living room? How do you even get it through the front door?(I'm just being nosy/curious.) I think my side mirrors would keep my bike from fitting through most normal household doorframes.
Which reminds me... I need to learn how to change the oil on my bike, soon!

I have a small garage that is only big enough for my car.

A convenient off-alley backyard entrance through a large sliding back patio door. She is gorgeous and I like glancing at her while I am home. Functional art.... is the only kind of art for me.

[Misplaced Texan]

LW1: Gag me.

LW2: Sounds like they're both loony. I'll take the house if she doesn't want it.

[Misplaced Texan]

AngelaMN wrote:

<quoted text>
So... why on earth do you park your motorcycle in your living room? How do you even get it through the front door?(I'm just being nosy/curious.) I think my side mirrors would keep my bike from fitting through most normal household doorframes.
Which reminds me... I need to learn how to change the oil on my bike, soon!

A la Ray Stevens:

Well how'd you git that big motor-sickle up there on the high dive, Coy?

[Elcy]

A plug for a book and no real insight. That's two minutes of my life I will never get back.

OK, the poem was kinda nice.

[AngelaMN]

Noir wrote:

<quoted text>
I have a small garage that is only big enough for my car.
A convenient off-alley backyard entrance through a large sliding back patio door. She is gorgeous and I like glancing at her while I am home. Functional art.... is the only kind of art for me.

I live in a small space, so my rule for art is similar: It has to serve a purpose. Otherwise, I have no room or use for it.

What kind of bike do you have? Mine's a 2003 Yamaha Vstar 650 Custom, named Trudy after my cool grandma who was riding a pony and a go cart at age 80.

[LP Trixie]

"..... its the way your kids describe you.

when they text to your friends."

who uses landlines anymore??

[omg]

Ask your cousin if YOU can move into her house. Or gently suggest that it can be rented, and she could make money. Then maybe she'll start using it!

She might have gotten comfortable with living with mom and dad, who cooks for her, cleans up, and does her and the kids' laundry. She'd have to do all that herself if she moved out.

[Armando]

Elcy wrote:

A plug for a book and no real insight. That's two minutes of my life I will never get back.
OK, the poem was kinda nice.

You is a sap.

But I still have much love for you, you cruel American weeemen.

Be kind to Armando!

[Noir]

AngelaMN wrote:

<quoted text>
I live in a small space, so my rule for art is similar: It has to serve a purpose. Otherwise, I have no room or use for it.
What kind of bike do you have? Mine's a 2003 Yamaha Vstar 650 Custom, named Trudy after my cool grandma who was riding a pony and a go cart at age 80.

Vstars are a beautiful family of bikes. I ride a Triumph Speed Triple named Marengo, after Napoleon's favorite horse.