Jeanne PhillipsDEAR ABBY: I’m a young man in my mid-20s, and I have a deeper voice than my stature would typically suggest. Close friends even get thrown off when I talk to them if they haven’t seen me in a while. I’m fairly happy with it, and people often ask if I do radio or voice acting. I run into problems, though, when strangers comment on it.
If someone says, “Wow, has anyone ever told you that you have a great voice?” or something of that nature, my first impulse is to make a joke about it. If I’m not quick enough on my feet, however, I often catch myself saying something like, “Yeah, I get that a lot,” or, “I know,” both of which sound egotistical, and I feel embarrassed afterward. Is there a way to acknowledge the compliment that doesn’t come off so pretentious? – NOT QUICK ON MY FEET
DEAR NOT QUICK: Yes, accept the compliment graciously by saying, “Thank you.”
DEAR ABBY: My husband has been sick and unable to work for several years due to a debilitating illness. He has been home taking care of the kids while I have been working full time. We have lost everything because of the financial burden of his illness. I am very grateful to my parents for helping us financially during this tough time.
Unfortunately, I believe some of my family think my husband is faking his illness. This is hurtful since they have known him for a long time (we’ve been married 12 years). My sister recently asked him in a rather nasty way why he doesn’t just go get a job, and I’m beginning to think that my parents share her sentiment.