March 29, 2024

For a swinging good time, wife may have to divorce

DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 10 years. Early in our marriage my husband talked about wanting to try swinging. We did, and had many enjoyable experiences.

Two years ago he decided he no longer wanted to be in the lifestyle, so we stopped. The problem is, I miss it very much. I want to get back into it and have talked with him about it, but he insists we stay out of it. I am torn between going to parties behind his back, suffering my displeasure in silence because I'm not able to do something I really enjoyed, or divorcing. Can you help me figure this out? — FOXY IN PHOENIX

DEAR FOXY: Let's review your options as a process of elimination. I don't recommend that you do anything behind your husband's back because, at some point, what you're doing is sure to come out. I also do not recommend suffering in silence because sooner or later your unhappiness will become apparent.

That leaves the option of divorce. Because you and your husband no longer see eye to eye on the issue of marital fidelity and he wants a wife who will “cleave” unto him only, it makes sense to go your separate ways so both of your needs can be met.

DEAR ABBY: The other day when I went jogging, I met a guy just as I stopped to take a water break. He started flirting, and I was too tired to tell him to leave, so I decided to humor him until I cooled down enough to resume my jog.

He asked me basic questions trying to get to know me, and when I told him I was a college student, he asked for my GPA. When I told him it was none of his business, he laughed and asked what my problem was. He said no one else had complained when he asked, and he didn’t mean to pry. I still felt he was being rude, so I said goodbye and jogged off before he could say anything.

Abby, I wasn't trying to hide a low GPA, but I don't think it's something to tell people in a first meeting. Is it normal for people to ask others what their GPA is — especially if they just met? — CO-ED IN BOSTON

DEAR CO-ED: When someone says he or she is a student, the question that usually follows is, "Where are you studying?" or "What's your major?" It's not, "What's your GPA?" which seems like a not-so-subtle way of asking whether you're a good student or not. His attempt to make conversation was clumsy — and because he said the question is one he asks routinely, let's hope he learns from his encounter with you and scratches it off his list of pickup lines.

DEAR ABBY: I have an issue I'd like your opinion on. What should the Tooth Fairy do with baby teeth after collecting them? She stopped coming to our house years ago, but the baby teeth have been dutifully saved — every one of them — in a jar where the Tooth Fairy left them.

I thought I was unique in this predicament, but found out that a sister-in-law had the same dilemma. Our kids are adults now, but I don't know what I should or could do with these little keepsakes of a beautiful boy who stole my heart the minute I looked into his eyes. — ALWAYS HIS MOM

DEAR MOM: Let's see ... You could have them mounted and display them on a charm bracelet. You could offer to sell them back to your son. Or, you could place them in an envelope and put them in a box with the curl from his first haircut and a pair of his baby shoes. One day I'm sure he'll be touched.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.