Dear Gabby,
I gave my son money to buy a house with his fiancé but recently discovered the house is in her name. What should I do?
Perplexed
Dear Perplexed,
That is a little odd. And, if they are not yet married, very complicated. Most definitely something that should have been talked about before purchasing a home. Depending on their marital status, I would urge your son and his fiancé to seek a lawyer’s advice. Then, after that, they might want to shop for a marital therapist. After that, a trip to Dollar Store (now $1.25) because no matter how much money you gave them, they’ll be broke!
Dear Gabby,
I have a good friend who has been very attentive and helpful while my family has gone through a difficult time that includes two people being immunocompromised. She has cooked for us, walked our dog, driven people when needed and checked in often. So I was very surprised to hear from her husband that she had Covid and tested positive shortly after she and I spent time together. Because of my circumstances, I am rarely unmasked and never unmasked indoors, but if the tables were turned, I would call immediately if I tested positive. I waited and waited and she never called. What should I do?
Miffed!
Dear Miffed,
It sounds like this friend has indeed been attentive and helpful and because of that, I would give her a slight benefit of the doubt. But I wouldn’t let her off the hook completely.
I would write her a text or an email, or even an actual phone call (I know, what?!?!), and say, “Hi, Veronica, I just heard from Reggie that you have Covid. That sucks! Hope it is mild and that you are recovering quickly. Next time, be sure to let me know immediately, as I would then take extra precautions with the immunocompromised people in the house. I’m sure it was an oversight but I have to be extra vigilant so, thanks ahead of time!” Done!
Dear Gabby,
My son needs to bring lunch to school every day, and he refuses to eat a sandwich. I boil a hot dog and put it in a thermos every morning. The smell of the boiled hot dog makes me want to vomit, every morning. And sometimes I do. How do I hide this from my son so he will eat lunch?
Blech
Dear Blech,
Are there no other options in the world of food, save sandwiches and boiled hot dogs? I hate to be all Good Housekeeping about this, but variety is indeed the spice of life and you and junior can do much better. For instance, why not get your son involved in some grocery shopping so that he can see the vast possibilities of gastronomic delights that could await him.
Egg salad and chicken salad don’t need to be between two pieces of bread to be consumed, neither do roasted veggies, cheese and crackers, cold pizza, chicken pieces, fruit salad and a myriad of other foods. That is why God created Tupperware! Don’t think of his lunchbox as a vessel of torture or an emesis inducer. Think of his lunch box as a trendy charcuterie board and pack some grapes, nuts, cheese, sausage, hummus, guacamole, crackers, carrots and chocolate. Or, let him decide (within reason) and pack his lunch the night before school. Then he has only one person to blame, and it ain’t you!
Dear Gabby appears in the RoundTable every Monday. Yes, Gabby is an advice columnist – but not just any advice columnist. Because that would be boring! Gabby combines wisdom with wit. And a pinch of snark. She is not a trained therapist by any means, but has seen and loved many in her day. Her aim is to make you think while she makes you laugh. Gabby welcomes all questions and queries and is only too happy to hear your opinion, no matter how much it may diverge from hers. Write to Gabby at news@evanstonroundtable.com.