Has anyone noticed that Peggy Rometo’s “Star Sign” is, for the most part, right on the money each week!? She’s good.

Hey Edith, I stopped by the Edgetown Sports Bar on the way home from work last night—grabbed a couple of beers and watched the local news on the big screen. This guy came in, and I’m fairly certain that it was your daddy because there was this dog following him everywhere, and when the man left the bar he called for the dog—Buster! So, unless someone else in Edgetown has a dog named Buster, I think it was your daddy. Anyway, you’ll be proud of him because he didn’t buy a drink at all. It seems that he stopped in to pick up a plastic ashtray—mumbled something about having “to get a damn present” for somebody. He sounded kind of grumpy.

edith, do you mean when he was sweet and in a good mood?

Edith, Tell Aunt Lily that I watched the documentary on Heidi last Monday night, and I agree with her—Heidi is a charmer. I can understand why she fell in love with her. I feel badly for Heidi because she seems so alone, and people don’t realize how sensitive and smart she is. I like her. :) And the bird metaphor was a brilliant idea, I agree. I kept thinking of Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” :)

Dear Edith Ann, When I was growing up in the 50’s and 60’s, all of the Dads went to work every day to *provide* for their families because that proved that they loved them. I didn’t understand that at the time. When my Dad would drink he would be fun and social and do silly fun things with me and my brother. As we got older, he wasn’t so much fun anymore. He got very serious and depressed. We grew apart and he finally went to the hospital and never came out. Yeah, I know what you mean and I still miss those fun times…even after 40 years.

Edith- I just realized that I never answered your question because I was away when you put it out there. My mom did what your dad did and went into a 12 step program. And then me and my grandmother went to Alanon and Alateen. It helped a lot in those days. I knew my mother mostly after it had gotten out of hand so when she got help we were all very happy. She had a very hard time staying sober….on the wagon for 6 months off for two kinda thing. She once got two years under her belt and I slept a little better. She didn’t make it in the end (drinking and driving) so that’s why I used to go to schools and talk to kids of all ages about the dangers of drinking and driving. Maybe you can do that one day… share your experience, strength and hope with other kids. By the way, I miss you around here.