September 12, 2026 Issue, Page 5 of 12

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ACTIVITIES The Elk City News SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2026 • 5 Relative’s Gift Came With Strings Attached DEAR ABBY: About 15 years to $3.5 million) over the last 22 ganized, make a budget, clean up this mess. Go online and look for ago, my nephew gave me a birth- DEAR ABBY years. They also maxed out a re- their house, make appointments an accredited or certified cred- day gift of a baseball bat signed by verse mortgage within the past and hold them accountable. They it counselor affiliated with the a top player. I love baseball, so it ING BASEBALL FAN two years. Abby, they have not one invariably play the victim and National Foundation for Cred- was a lovely gift. After I thanked DEAR FAN: This family has dime of it left! complain when we try to dis- it Counseling (nfcc.org.). Their him, he said, “When my son is chosen to cut ties with you. They Things started to go downhill cuss things. Over the past eight “slide back into their old ways” older, I would like you to give it cannot reasonably expect you to about four years ago. My husband months, I’ve had two breakdowns. may have a medical explanation, to him.” We have been estranged track down a grandnephew with and I have bailed them out finan- This is affecting my mental and which means your in-laws need to now for at least 10 years because whom you have no relationship. cially too many times to count. physical health. My kids want be evaluated medically and neu- his spouse dislikes our family for In fact, it was crass of your neph- We’re not financially struggling, nothing to do with their grandpar- rologically. Please don’t wait. some reason. ew to put a stipulation on the gift but our nest egg (that we worked ents. I’m not perfect, but I do have Am I obligated to find a way to in the first place. Pass the bat to hard for and was to go toward self-respect. Please help! -- ON Dear Abby is written by Abi- get the bat back to him? Looking the grandchild you know and love. buying our own home) is nearly EDGE IN WASHINGTON gail Van Buren. For nearly four at their Facebook over the years, gone. The in-laws have slid back DEAR ON EDGE: It’s time to decades, Jeanne Phillips penned I see no signs that there is any DEAR ABBY: I’ve been married into their old ways again -- not recognize that your in-laws may this column, which was founded in interest in baseball in this son for 20 years. My in-laws and I have paying bills, not cleaning up af- have a problem that you and your 1956 by her mother, Pauline Phil- or their family. I am in my lat- had a decent relationship. My ter themselves, not helping with husband are not equipped to han- lips. Contact Dear Abby at www. er years and have been trying to husband, our three teenage chil- household chores, neglecting dle. That you now have their pow- DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 270135, downsize and pass on some of my dren and I have been living with their health, etc. ers of attorney may (or may not) Kansas City, MO 64127. ( E D I - things. I would rather pass it on them for 10 years. It was rough at My in-laws gave us their powers save all of you. For everyone’s TORS: If you have editorial ques- to a grandchild of mine who loves first, but things got better. of attorney for health and finance sake, stop enabling them and en- tions, please contact Clint Hooker, and currently plays baseball and My in-laws received and spent a few months ago. They agreed list the help of a licensed financial clint.hooker@andrewsmcmeel. would treasure it. -- DOWNSIZ- three cushy inheritances (close to allow us to help them get or- counselor to help straighten out com.) CROSSWORD Get Fuzzy CURRENT PUZZLE ANSWERS Drabble Dailies Pearls Before Swine Garfield