DEAR ABBY: My father, who is 84, just had a mild stroke. The problem is he wants to drive his car. My sister says we should just let him, but I don't think he's capable of driving safely anymore.
Dad has occasional dizzy spells and double vision. He has lost weight and has been told he needs to eat a heart-healthy diet and eat more. He has diabetes and high cholesterol. He has had problems with his memory, too.
I think we should be taking care of Dad and driving him wherever he needs to go. -- CAUTIOUS IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR CAUTIOUS: It's time for a family discussion about how to handle this. Your father needs a lot more help than chauffeur service. He needs someone to accompany him to doctors' appointments, and someone to supervise or administer his medications. He should not be behind the wheel of a car, and I'm not even sure he should be living alone. His doctor should be contacted about informing the DMV about your father's health status. He may also need assisted living if it's financially feasible.
DEAR ABBY: I am 40 years old, and I have been eating a plant-based diet since high school. I'm in great shape, and my doctor is very pleased with my health status. For more than two decades, friends and family have worn me down to where I am running short on gracious responses when it comes to them challenging what I put on my plate. Many times, people feel the need to mention at work or at a party that I'm vegan (I don't know why), and the room immediately is focused on me. Then someone always asks how I get my protein.
I usually try to keep the mood light, so I answer them. But I have grown tired of being questioned because more often than not, it doesn't stop. They want me to go into detail about why I eat what I eat (or don't eat). They tell me how they couldn't be healthy or couldn't give up cheese. I get stuck in the middle of a monologue that feels a lot like I'm being bullied and judged.
I don't want to feel pushed around, but I also want to keep it light. How can I tell them I don't want to discuss my eating habits without sounding rude? I don't judge them and would like the same respect. -- PROUD VEGAN IN OREGON
DEAR VEGAN: Sometimes it ain't what you say, but how you say it. If you can muster a smile when you reply, "I came here to have a good time, not discuss my diet. Let's change the subject," it might end the discussion. Follow it up with, "What's everybody watching on Netflix?"
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in "What Every Teen Should Know." Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)