Family Mini Series

 

By Jeff Johnson And Paula Forman

 

Dear Short Answers:
I recently found out from my sister that my father was a closeted homosexual.  Even though he had four children! My sister swore me to secrecy and claims that she is the only one in the family who knows. I agreed that I wouldn’t say anything but now I am having second thoughts. First, I don’t think a family should have secrets like this from each other.  Second, I’m beginning to wonder if my sister was telling me the truth. Maybe she made it up or was simply mistaken. Do I break my word and talk to my brothers and my mom (my dad passed away many years ago) or do I just forget she ever said anything and hope she doesn’t bring it up again?
Frantic Sis 

 

Dear Sis:
Your sister has no right to ask you to keep this confidence — silence only fires a drama that may or may not be a drama at all! Tell her that, and get your gang together and share your thoughts and feelings.

BRAVE NEW EASY WORLD

 

Dear Short Answers:
When you ask a girl out on a date, should I expect to pay for everything? Or do girls these days expect to pay their share?
Cyrus

 

Dear Cyrus:
In general every one pays for themselves, unless, or until, another arrangement is agreed to.

GROW UP!

 

Dear Short Answers:
I started working over a year ago at a PR firm. It was truly an entry-level position and my responsibilities are mostly answering the phone and making the senior executives travel arrangements. There doesn’t seem to be any possibility of advancement here (I’ve already asked). The problem is that I LOVE the people I work with. Everybody at the agency is smart and funny and we all get along great. I’m concerned that if I go somewhere else, I won’t have nearly as much fun. Should I stay at a place that I love but might take years to get anywhere? Or do I move to a less fun job with more chance for advancement???
Betsy

 

Dear Betsy:
Please act like a grown-up working woman and move on. Advancement doesn’t mean less fun, it means more fun.

IN A WORD…

 

Dear Short Answers:
Is it okay to go to the gym and then eat a really unhealthy snack later on in the day, like a doughnut? I feel like it is justified but did I just waste my hour of cardio?
Still trying

 

Dear Still:
Going to the gym has more benefits than just losing weight. But if the only reason you go to the gym is to lose weight, yes, you just wasted an hour.

DON’T LOOK FOR TROUBLE

 

Dear Short Answers:
After being married for 40 years, how do you know if you’re still in love or just so used to living together that you can’t imagine living alone?
Coupled

 

Dear Coupled:
If it feels good, it is good.

Life is complicated. “Short Answers” isn’t.

 

Send a question about whatever is bothering you to [email protected] or go to www.shortanswers.net and a psychologist and sociologist will answer. A selection of the best questions will be printed every week in KonkLife

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