FLIRTATION WITH THE PAST ENDANGERS STABLE PRESENT
DEAR ABBY: I have been married to a wonderful man for 17 years. Recently, I reconnected online with an old high school flame. We have been talking about my hometown, which is where he lives. So many things have changed! I moved away more than 30 years ago and have been missing it lately.
While texting, my old BF hinted that he loves me. I have always felt like he was the one who got away, which he now knows. We have discussed it and agree that we need to ignore our feelings. (Neither of us wants to hurt my husband.) The problem is, I can’t stop thinking about him and the “what-ifs.” It is making me grumpy and picky with my husband, whom I adore. Will this feeling go away, and are we right to try to deny our feelings? — LEAVING WELL ENOUGH ALONE
DEAR LEAVING: Those feelings will not go away as long as you continue to nurture them by communicating with your old high school flame. Considering that you are married to a husband you adore, you are right that you should ignore the temptation to upset the applecart. Deal with this by ending this online romance, which, if you allow it to distract you further, will destroy your marriage. The grass is NOT always greener on the other side.
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Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
