Sunday, June 19, 2016

Solid advice from Dad on Father's Day


Editor's note: In honor of Father's Day, the normal Brad Stanhope column is written by local resident Stan Landers, the long-lost brother of iconic advice columnist Ann Landers. He will take questions from readers and answer them as only a father can.

Dear Stan: My husband loves me, but he just doesn't say it much. When I suggest something, he always says, "that sounds like a solid idea," and when we go out to dinner, he seems more interested in his 1968 Mustang than he is in me. I've told him I'd like to be more romantic, but he just grunts and says he'll try. What should I do? – Ellen, Suisun City.

Dear Ellen: That 1968 Mustang is a solid car. I love the floor-mounted shifter and the 302 V8, especially on the Fastback. The best thing about those classic cars is that they had room under the hood to work. You could fit a wrench in there and do your own work. I think the reason they make the new cars' engines so small isn't to avoid taking up space, I think it's to make you take your car to the dealer to have anything done – even changing the oil. My first car was a 1970 Nova and now I wish I'd kept it.

Dear Stan: My daughter lives in Alameda with my granddaughter, who is 18. I see the both frequently, but am not sure about the best way to entertain my granddaughter, since I don't understand this younger generation with their mobile phones and such. How can I interact with her in a way that works for both of us? – Roy, Fairfield.

Dear Roy: I remember going to Alameda when I was probably 19 or 20 – it was several years before the naval air station there closed down. They had a great taco place called Edgardo's or Eduardo's or something like that – it was a Latino guy's name and the guy it was named after worked there. The best thing was that if you asked for "the special," which wasn't on the menu, you got double sour cream, double guacamole. And this was before everyone loved guacamole. A lot of servicemen worked there, too.

Dear Stan: Two months ago, my niece and her husband moved into a home my wife and I own in Dixon. It seemed like a perfect fit until they stopped paying rent. Now I'm stuck trying to evict them while they fight it – and a family reunion is coming up this summer. Is there any way I can move them out and keep the peace in the family? I'd really rather not get on the wrong side of her mother, who is my sister. – Vern, Vacaville.

Dear Vern: Remember those great commercials with the guy who said "Know what I mean, Vern?" Those were hilarious. His name was Jim Farney or Jim Varney or something. I think the commercials were for John L. Sullivan Chevrolet or whatever cars he was selling then. I bet you hear that a lot, right? Didn't that same guy from the commercials do the movies about "Ernest," like "Ernest Saves Christmas?" Know what I mean, Vern? Ha ha.

Dear Stan: Is it all right if I use the car? Mine is low on gas. – Stan Landers Jr., Suisun City.

Dear Stan Jr.: Ask your mother. I'm busy.

Brad Stanhope is the father of two and a former Daily Republic editor. Reach him at bradstanhope@hotmail.com.

No comments:

Post a Comment