As is traditional in this space, Father's Day is a time to turn the keys of this column over to a father to provide advice, in the tradition of Dear Annie, Miss Manners and Sister Golden Hair (one of those doesn't fit).
Following are real letters from fictitious readers who pretend to live in the Daily Republic's circulation area, seeking advice from a dad.
Dear Dad: Since the pandemic started, my controlling sister has insisted on Zoom calls every week. I don't mind them, since they give me a chance to see my parents and other members of my extended family – including my sister's children – but she dominates the conversation. When other people talk, she interrupts. She changes the subject to what interests her. And since she's in charge of the call, she determines when it ends. Am I wrong to just want to stop being part of these calls?
Frustrated in Fairfield
Dear FIF: It's not surprising that a stressful time brings up strong emotions in you. It reminds me of when I was a sophomore in high school and decided to play football. The old-school coach loved to see his players suffer, so he made us run sprints over and over and over. Before long, a lot of the bigger guys were throwing up, but the coach kept going, apparently wanting to make everyone throw up.
My best friend, Tony Rogers, realized that people who vomited didn't have to keep running, so we pretended to be sick so we could stop. It worked.
Last time I heard, Tony was in Southern California working for state or something. Man, he was really a character.
Dear Dad: I was a senior in high school this year and the shelter-in-place orders meant that I didn't get to experience any of the normal end-of-school highlights. No prom. No grad night. No graduation ceremony. I asked my parents if they would pay for a weekend away with me and my friends this summer, but they say it's not safe. I reminded them I'm 18 and out of high school and they didn't have to pay for a lot of things they normally would. Am I being unreasonable?
Vacaville Senior
Dear VS: You know what's unreasonable? How someone could have an entire meal, get all the dirty dishes and then leave them on the counter and not put them in the dishwasher. Is it asking too much when I say to put the dishes in the dishwasher? Do you think they'll magically walk into the dishwasher if you put them on the counter? You are not a child anymore. Please pick up after yourself or start buying paper plates for your food – although my guess is you'd leave them out, too!
Dear Dad: My husband and I sent our grandson a very nice gift for his birthday this year, but never heard back from him or his mother. Amazon indicated the gift was delivered, but how can we be sure if my grandson and his parents don't acknowledge it? Should we call and ask? Please don't answer with a dumb "dad joke."
Suisun City Grandma
Dear SCG: Your situation reminds me of this book I was reading. It was the autobiography of the guy who invented "smart" front doors that could sense when someone is approaching and alert the home's residents.
I heard he won the no-bell prize.
Reach Brad Stanhope at bradstanhope@hotmail.com.
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