Opinion

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I live in a lovely older neighborhood and have enjoyed wonderful neighbors over many years. The homes are close together with windows often left open in spring, summer and fall, as large shade trees keep our homes cool.

Monett has its share of beautiful homes, classy period buildings, impressive high tech schools and scenic parks. But underneath all that, there’s a seamy part of Monett that no one wants to see.

Dear Dave, My mother died about a year and a half ago, and she left me and my younger sister $75,000 each. My sister is 16, and she plans on enlisting in the military after high school, then using the G.I.

For several weeks we’ve been discussing Monett’s major issues, the stuff people like to complain about but that somehow seldom change. We’ve looked at housing, industrial development and the nature of government. One recurring source of sniping is that there’s nothing to do in Monett, especially after the stores close predictably by 6 p.m.

DEAR ABBY: My husband’s best friend, “Kevin,” lost his wife three years ago. He’s currently in a relationshipwithhisniece (his deceased brother’s daughter). Kevin is in his 60s; she’s in her 50s. We find this disgusting and do not condone it. They are both from Portugal. Is this acceptable in other countries?

Dear Dave, My wife and I owe about $40,000 on our mortgage. My father-inlaw, who is a very nice and generous man, said he wants to pay off the house for us, then let us pay him back over time.

Monett’s city election sparked several interesting observations. We have just seen the most spirited election campaign in Monett in 25 years.

DEAR ABBY: I’m in a sexless 25-year marriage. It was not always this way, but any intimacy has been over for more than a decade.

Dear Dave, Our son will be graduating from high school in May, and then heading off to college in August. He will also be working during the summer to save up money for school.

EAR ABBY: I need a second opinion. My grandfather sold me an old farmstead that has been in the family for 200 years. Last week, he showed me a wooded area behind the barn with a human skull. He told me that when his father died more than 50 years ago, he was curious about how long it would take a body to decompose, so he left his body in the woods to keep track of its progress. He has 50 years’ worth of pictures and notes. He told the rest of the family that Great-Grandpa had been cremated, and apparently no one questioned him about the ashes.