October 4, 2025 Issue, Page 5 of 12

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ACTIVITIES The Elk City News SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2025 • 5 Woman’s Coarse Language Doesn’t Sit Well With Longtime Friend DEAR ABBY: When my life- or brutal. Is there anything I can invitations. My problem is, I feel DEAR BOXED-IN: You are not long friend “Cheryl” and I would DEAR ABBY say to her to get my friend back, like I am boxed in to attending trapped into doing anything you talk once a week to catch up with or am I blocked forever? — OVER the party as I don’t have my plans don’t want to do. A “save-the- each other’s lives, she’d describe situation, but it was politically AND OUT IN OHIO yet for New Year’s Eve. I’d like to date” card isn’t a command per- her other friends’ woes in a real- fueled. Louise would call me, ine- DEAR OVER: Because you have the flexibility to be with my formance. Talk with Sheila and ly animated way, including a loud briated, shouting nasty stuff about couldn’t handle Cheryl’s lan- family or possibly attend a differ- voice and extremely vulgar words my political stance. I finally hung guage, you were right to tell her ent type of event. tell her your plans for New Year’s about those friends. She even up and blocked her on the phone. how it made you feel and why. As The party starts at 7 p.m., and Eve are up in the air, and that you talked about her recently depart- Louise is 78 and an admitted alco- long as she’s blocking you, there is by midnight I’m exhausted from haven’t decided whether you will ed mother this way. Her mother holic. Cheryl and I are not; we are nothing you can say that will get standing and trying to make spend it with your family but will had not been part of her life for in our mid-60s. through. Perhaps it is just as well. small talk at the large party. I pre- let her know after you receive her more than 50 years, but when I decided to text Cheryl, ask- In my view, folks who ridicule fer a smaller group where we can formal invitation. she reentered the scene, she had ing her not to use such vulgar others are really not very nice at chat and socialize easily. Sheila developed dementia. Her mom’s language when we talk because it all. has been known to keep track of Dear Abby is written by Abigail habit of vulgar talk was probably upsets me. I grew up with a father people’s comings and goings in Van Buren, also known as Jeanne where Cheryl picked it up. who cursed and yelled a lot, and DEAR ABBY: I have a neigh- and out of the neighborhood, so The funny thing is, when we I vowed not to talk that way. I’m bor I will call “Sheila.” Every year, I can’t hide on New Year’s Eve. I Phillips, and was founded by her talk in person, Cheryl doesn’t do not a prude. Talking with these Sheila throws an over-the-top wouldn’t mind going for an hour mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact it. It’s only on the phone. I recent- two women triggered memories New Year’s Eve party. It is not or two, but more than that is just Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com ly had a falling-out with an elder- of younger years. Cheryl has now even Halloween yet, and she has torture. Any advice? — BOXED- or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, ly friend, “Louise,” over a similar ghosted me. My text wasn’t mean already sent the save-the-date IN IN FLORIDA CA 90069. CROSSWORD Get Fuzzy CURRENT PUZZLE ANSWERS Drabble Dailies Pearls Before Swine Garfield