February 21, 2026 Issue, Page 5 of 12

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ACTIVITIES The Elk City News SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2026 • 5 Widow Discovers Late Husband’s Life Was Full of Secrets DEAR ABBY: My late husband husband. From what you have writ- ican, through and through. We had way? — PLANNING AHEAD IN was ill for six years. He experienced DEAR ABBY ten, it seems the problems in your some European ancestors back in SOUTH CAROLINA some dementia. He wasn’t able to marriage started with the family se- the Ellis Island days, but we’ve been DEAR PLANNING: You are the work, and our life together changed our marriage. crets in addition to your husband’s here for generations and identi- parent, and you can call your son a lot. I focused on supporting him I know his decisions weren’t increasing dementia. My advice fy only loosely with our European whatever you wish. Jacques will through his decline until he even- about my worth — they were about is to put an end to all of those se- heritage. That being said, my hus- be his formal name if you choose tually ended his own life. his fear, shame, illness and preoc- crets now. Telling your children the band and I were discussing names to use it on his birth certificate, After his death, I discovered sev- cupation with other family issues. truth should not make them lose for our future children, and I men- but he can use “Jack” if he wishes. eral secrets. He hadn’t been honest But I can’t tell any of this to peo- respect for their late father. Wheth- tioned that I would love to have a When he starts school, don’t forget about his medical condition, pos- ple because I want to preserve our er the people in whom you choose son named after my great-grandfa- to communicate to his teachers and sibly out of shame or because he adult children’s love and respect for to confide will understand is beside ther. His name was Jacques, but it the administrators how his name is wanted to protect us from the se- their father. Also, I don’t want to the point. was always pronounced like “Jack.” pronounced. riousness. There were also secrets deal with other people trying to un- What’s most important is that If I used the name, I would want about his family he may have been derstand this crazy situation. This you free yourself from the prison to spell it the same way to honor Dear Abby is written by Abigail ashamed about. He also changed feels so unfair, and I may never be of lies in which you find yourself him, but I’d feel weird pronounc- Van Buren, also known as Jeanne his estate plan without telling me. able to trust again. Do you have any and talk with a mental health pro- ing it with a French accent when I Phillips, and was founded by her These secrets and betrayals show he advice? — KEEPING SECRETS IN fessional if it will help you better don’t identify as French, nor do I mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact wasn’t thinking about the impact of NEW ENGLAND understand how to move forward. have an accent. Is it OK to use the Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com his death upon me, and they have DEAR KEEPING: Please accept French spelling of a name and then or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA made me question my beliefs about my sympathy for the loss of your DEAR ABBY: My family is Amer- pronounce it in an Americanized 90069. CROSSWORD Get Fuzzy CURRENT PUZZLE ANSWERS Drabble Dailies Pearls Before Swine Garfield