August 16, 2025 Issue, Page 5 of 10

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ACTIVITIES The Elk City News SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025 • 5 Woman Wishes To Acknowledge Kindness After Tragic Loss DEAR ABBY: Four months your child. Because you feel so- 1997. During the marriage, I responsible man. I will assume ago, my 15-year-old oldest child DEAR ABBY cially obligated to acknowledge found out that he was not her that you and Ellie have a warm, was killed in a car accident. It the condolences your family real father. It was a family secret ongoing relationship. Your has been really hard. My hus- touch. sent, consider buying (or hav- that accidentally got out. daughter deserves to know that band and I are doing our best I do not have the energy to ing printed) standard cards that Zoe and I had a daughter, “El- while you have always loved her, to take care of our younger chil- restart these relationships, es- say, “The family of (blank) ac- lie.” When I discovered when you are not her biological father. dren and put our lives back to- pecially not now, but I also feel knowledge with gratitude your she was 13 that she wasn’t mine, Does anyone know who he may gether. the letters were sent with kind kind expression of sympathy.” It I was furious. I eventually ac- be? This is important informa- One thing I don’t know what intent and ignoring them would would be a warm and gracious cepted Ellie as my own because I tion she might want to have in to do about is all the mail I have be cold. Is there a way to ac- touch to add, if possible, a few was the only father she had ever case there are health problems received from my estranged rela- knowledge the (minimal) sup- handwritten words to each one. known, and it wouldn’t change that run in bio-dad’s family that tives. None of them came for the port without opening Pandora’s Because you can’t send love, they anything. could be passed down to her service, but aunts, uncles, cous- box? I guess I want to discharge need only be, “We hope you and Now, years later, I have re- children. ins and even my dad’s ex-wife the social obligation of replying your family are well,” and sign married and raised two step- wrote cards and condolence let- so I can be polite without losing your name. sons as my own. Ellie has three Dear Abby is written by Abigail ters. It’s all paper mail because I the healthy distance I’ve been kids. Sometimes, I want to tell Van Buren, also known as Jeanne have an unlisted phone number able to establish. — DISTANT DEAR ABBY: I am a retired her the truth, and other times, I Phillips, and was founded by her and private email address and IN ALASKA Marine who married my su- just want to leave all this alone. mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact don’t use social media so they DEAR DISTANT: Please ac- pervisor’s daughter. I’ll call What should I really do? — HIS- Dear Abby at www.DearAbby. can’t follow me. There are good cept my deepest sympathy for her “Zoe.” He and I were good TORY REPEATS IN ALABAMA com or P.O. Box 69440, Los An- reasons why we haven’t been in the tragic and untimely loss of friends. Zoe and I divorced in DEAR H.R.: You are a caring, geles, CA 90069. CROSSWORD Get Fuzzy CURRENT PUZZLE ANSWERS Drabble Dailies Pearls Before Swine Garfield