Dear Ann Landers: I’m writing in response to “Florida Reader,” who wants you to stop printing “how we met” stories because, according to her, they are “ho-hummers from hell” and do not appeal to your under-70 readers.
I’m 15 and think these stories are just wonderful. They give me hope that one day I will find a man who is as romantic as those young men were. And I think it’s really cool that those old folks are still in love after all this time.
Woodland, Calif.
Dear Teen: I appreciate your words of encouragement. Frankly, I was surprised and pleased by the number of letters I received from readers who asked me to continue to print those stories. Here’s more:
From Durand, Mich.: I am a 28-year-old female who thinks those “how we met” stories are inspiring. They speak of honor, devotion, loyalty and real love. I admire couples who have stayed together through some of the hardest times in America’s history. They are the backbone of our country and role models for future generations.
Los Angeles: Those “how we met” letters are like a ray of sunshine. It warms my heart to hear such uplifting accounts of love in bloom. I hope my letter is one of hundreds you receive supporting your decision to continue printing them.
La Salle, Ill.: I’ve learned a lot from you, but if I see another “how we met” letter, I think I’ll throw up. Knock it off, Ann.
Fairhaven, Mich.: Apparently, “Florida Reader” has never experienced the joy of a happy marriage. Relationships like that are not fairy tales. They are within the reach of anyone willing to work at them. Florida must be very lonely.
Danville, Calif.: I am not a fan of those “how we met” stories — not because they are boring but because they are inappropriate for your column. Those stories are almost always about people who knew each other for a short time, married within weeks and lived happily ever after. You ought to print some letters that demonstrate instant attraction does not lead to lasting relationships. At the very least, you should print a disclaimer, pointing out that you do not recommend marrying a person while the number of days they have been acquainted is still in double digits.
San Diego: “Florida Reader” is obviously a jerk. I love those “how we met” stories. They’re sweet, inspirational and about an era when people were better judges of moral character. By the way, I’ve been married for 25 years to a great guy. He was a cute pharmacy resident, and I was a student nurse.
Raleigh, N.C.: I am 16 years old and enjoy the “how we met” letters very much. They are not only entertaining but educational. Those letters allow me to catch a glimpse of a generation I will never know. They remind me that even my grandparents were once my age, in love with life the way I am now.
New York: How dare that jerk presume to speak for everyone under 70. I am 26 and look in your column especially for those tales she calls “ho-hummers.” People who live under rocks like that misinformed Floridian should have their mouths taped shut and their crayons taken away. Don’t let people like that bait you.
Oakland: Who the devil cares how Joe Blow and his precious wifey met? And while I’m at it, how about a recent picture of you in the column? Who do you think you’re fooling?
Dear Oakland: I’m not trying to fool anyone. Every newspaper that runs my column has a recent picture of me.
So, dear readers, you’ve made your wishes known. I appreciate the hundreds of letters urging me to continue with those stories. I shall, from time to time, print more.
Dear Readers: The Chicago Tribune Holiday Fund has been phenomenally successful through the years. I’d like to think that you, my readers, have had a little something to do with it. I try to be there for you, and when I ask you to do something, you come through like champions.
” `Tis the season to be jolly.” But, sad to say, in Chicago and the area surrounding us, there is precious little for some people to be jolly about. I am talking about the hungry, the homeless, the unemployed, the battered women, the mentally retarded and the children whose stockings will be empty Christmas morning unless we do something to help fill them.
At holiday time we tend to reflect on the blessings of home and family, and this makes us more sensitive to the needs of others. Are you teaching your children to be givers? The art of giving is not inborn. It must be learned. I would like to suggest a way you can teach your children the joy of sharing.
At the supper table tonight, read to them what I have written here. (Five years of age isn’t too early to understand.) Ask your children if they would be willing to give half a week’s allowance to some boys and girls who will be getting nothing or very little for Christmas. This small personal sacrifice will make them feel good about themselves and acquaint them with the joy of giving.
Put your children’s contribution along with yours and send it to the Chicago Tribune Holiday Fund. Not only will the money go directly to those who need it, but it will teach your children the joy of sharing.
If you have been reading and enjoying my column since I came to the Chicago Tribune in 1987, your check will be a holiday gift to me. Please fill in the coupon below and mail it today.
Thank you for your generosity, and God bless you all.
Ann Landers
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Is alcohol ruining your life or the life of a loved one? “Alcoholism: How to Recognize It, How to Deal With It, How to Conquer It” can turn things around. Send a self-addressed, long envelope and a check or money order for $3.75 to: Alcohol, c/o Ann Landers, P.O. Box 11562, Chicago, Ill. 60611-0562.