Daughter pays homage to dad who raised herRight suit first might be

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jun 21, 2009

Dear Abby: Please print my letter on Father's Day because I would like to say something. I was raised by my father, no mother in sight. He took on the job of two parents and didn't bat an eyelash. I was 6 when Dad changed jobs, bought a house, and got my siblings and me out of foster care where our mother had left us.

At the time, I barely knew my dad, but as the years passed I got to know him. He was a tough, hard-working, kind, loving man who taught me those qualities by example, as well as how to laugh at life.

We lost Dad unexpectedly to a heart attack last January. If anyone deserves an accolade on Father's Day, it is him because he was the best. He is sorely missed. -- Loving Daughter In The Midwest

Dear Loving Daughter: You are lucky to have had such a positive father figure in your life -- and I am printing your letter in tribute not only to your own dear father, but also to other devoted and caring men who nurture and mentor children.

In honor of fathers everywhere, I would like to share a poem that last appeared in my column in 2001. It was penned by a talented writer and retired schoolteacher named Hilda Bigelow:

I Had A Father Who Talked With Me

I had a father who talked with me.

Allowed me the right to disagree,

To question -- and always answered me,

As well as he could -- and truthfully.

He talked of adventures; horrors of war;

Of life, its meaning; what love was for;

How each would always need to strive

To improve the world to keep it alive.

Stressed the duty we owe one another

To be aware each man is a brother.

Words for laughter he also spoke,

A silly song or happy joke.

Time runs along, some say I'm wise,

That I look at life with seeing eyes.

My heart is happy, my mind is free,

I had a father who talked with me.

Dear Abby: My fiance wants a prenuptial agreement. I am willing to sign one, even though it isn't my idea. This is to protect his finances.

According to our research, we are both supposed to hire our own attorneys. My question: Is it my responsibility to pay for my attorney even though we are doing the prenup only to protect my fiance's assets and inheritance? -- Just Wondering In Wisconsin

Dear Just Wondering: A prenuptial agreement is supposed to protect the interests of both parties. At the same time that it protects your fiance's assets, it should lay out what provisions will be made for you in the event that the marriage doesn't work out. Because your attorney will be representing only you, you should be the person compensating him (or her) for services rendered.

Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Universal Press SyndicateBy Phillip Alder

Some bridge deals are deceptive. This is one of them. You are in six spades. West leads the heart queen. You take the trick with your ace and cash the two top trumps, but your luck isn't in. What would you do next?

North's sequence was almost an oxymoron: unsophisticated and modern. Four no-trump was Roman Key Card Blackwood, your reply showing three key cards (two aces and the spade king, or three aces). Then North asked for the spade queen, which you denied. He settled for six spades. Note that if you had shown only two key cards, which might have been the ace and king of spades, North would have been worried that the opponents could immediately cash the ace and king of hearts.

You must discard both of your two heart losers before East can ruff in and cash his heart king. It looks obvious to start with the clubs, where you have only five cards, instead of the diamonds, where you have seven -- but that is wrong. Why?

If you will make your contract, East must hold at least three diamonds. So you should start on that suit, just in case he has more than three diamonds and only two clubs.

Here that saves the day. If you try the clubs first, East ruffs the third round and cashes his heart king. But if you play on diamonds first, you see West discard on the third round, which tells you it is safe to take dummy's fourth diamond before turning to the clubs. (If the diamonds had proved to be 3-3, you would have then cashed dummy's clubs before leading the last diamond.)

Newspaper Enterprise AssociationRecent winners of the ACBL duplicate bridge games were as follows:

June 10: Vern Gregg and Steve Phelps.

June 12: Liz Gilman and Don Bush, north/south; Julie Frisbie and Patti Griffitts, east/west.

June 16: Jean Mills and Jan Brown, north/south; Katie Loseke and Shari Krentzel, east/west.

The Topeka duplicate bridge clubs play open games at the Woman's Club, 5221 S.W. Drive, at 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 9 a.m. Fridays.

For information, call Jan Brown at 267-0261.

Dear Tom and Ray: Our 2000 Saturn sedan has died twice in the same exact spot (stopping at the end of a highway exit ramp). The first time, it took 10 minutes or so to get going again. The second time, it took 30 to 40 minutes. Then it happened again on a straight stretch when slowing down at a stoplight. An engine scan showed a torque converter solenoid problem, but the mechanic doesn't think this is the problem. Could it be a fuel pressure regulator? Please help! My wife is stranded at home with two kids. Thanks! -- Jim