I'm sure most of you have heard of this. It's where you write to "Dear. Abby" about a problem and then she answers back so no one knows it was you writing. Well I just read one that really touched me so I thought I would share it.

"Dear Abby: I am a 54-year-old divorced father of a daughter. I look good for my age, earn a good income as a consultant, own a condo and have a sizable retirement fund.

I have a strong desire to remarry, but I have some "baggage." My daughter, "Danielle," is bipolar. She has done nothing since graduating from high school last year but get into trouble. Danielle has been arrested for drugs and stealing, and hangs out with a rough crowd. My ex-wife does not have the inner strength to throw her out, which probably would be the best thing for her. Women I date lose interest in me when they learn about my daughter.

I hate to lie, but I may have to start when we trade information about our children. Theirs are often accomplished, so the contrast is terrible. Should I make up half-truths until the time is right to tell the whole story?
- Embarrassed in Virginia

Dear Embarrassed: Your daughter suffers from a mental illness. She belongs in treatment, not on the streets. That your ex-wife hasn't thrown her out isn't a reflection of weakness, but a measure of her strength of character.

You and your ex could benefit from joining a support group. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (800-826-3632 or www.dbs alliance.org) was founded in 1986, has grown to more than 1,000 support groups nationwide, and offers advice and online information for persons with depressive and manic-depressive illness and their families.

Under no circumstances should you concoct "half- truths" in an attempt to cover up your situation. A woman who would write you off because you have a sick child doesn't sound like much of a catch. And any woman with a head on her shoulders would resent having been misled."

Isn't that a great answer? You shouldn't have to hide who you or your family is for someone to like you. If he can't find someone who likes him for who his daughter is then why would you want to date them in the first place???

Did you know that 8 hours after you stop smoking, for most people the carbon monoxide level in the blood becomes normal and the blood’s ability to carry oxygen also returns to normal? 24 hours after you quit smoking, the chance of having a heart attack decrease. 2 weeks-3 months blood circulation and lung function may improve, 1-9 months; lungs can start to clean themselves again. You may notice that you’re coughing les and aren’t as short of breath. 1 year after quitting the excess risk of a heart attack is cut in half!! 5+ years after, the risk of stroke is reduced to the same risk as a person who has never smoked. 10 years after the risk of lung cancer is reduced. There is less risk of caners of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, cervix and pancreas. And finally, 15 years after you quit, the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke are now the same as a lifelong nonsmokers! Wow that is such good news for people who want to quit smoking. I was surprised that after not smoking for even a short time you are improving your health.

In Taiwan, two boys are being treated for their nicotine addiction. Get this though, one is only 4 years old and the other is 9! I have never read a story before where the people addicted were so young. They started smoking because their father always smoked cigars and they thought it looked cool when their dad did it. When they weren’t able to bum cigars from their dad, they older brother would get it from peers at school. The two brothers were taken to treatment because their father caught them prowling through his supply. That just shows you how much influence your parents have over some children. They looked up to their dad and when he was smoking outside they thought it was cool and probably wanted to be just like him.

Get this, two preteens in Spain (ages 12 and 13) are getting treated for their cell phone addiction. Their parents decided to take them to the hospital when they were unable to function without their phones. How crazy! I didn't even get a cell phone until I was driving and even now that I do have one I keep it on all the time, but I could go without it, even though one time I left it at home when I went to work and I just felt scared because what if I had gotten a flat tire or something and couldn't get help..

In Arizona, around 22 casinos are trying to make the air for nonsmokers better. They decided to spend about a half of a million dollars in coming up with something better to filter the air for people who don't smoke. Since 80% of people don't smoke they are finding that people don't want to go gamble as much. Many people expressed that they don't like going home smelling like smoke and we all know how bad second hand smoke is. I know when I've been to a casino it totally smells like smoke. It seems like everyone is smoking in there and you just feel nasty in there and when you leave.

Speaking of youthful sex, have any of you watched that new show on ABC Family-The True Life of an American Teenager or whatever it's called? It's about a 15 yr old girl who gets pregnant. I've only seen parts of a couple episodes and I have mixed feelings about the show. I think it's one of the first to have a teen pregnant and the girl does little clips during commercial breaks saying talk to your parents about sex or parents talk to your children about sex. Do you think we are ready for a show like this? It was only what a month ago that those 12 girls planned on getting pregnant at the same time. We need to do something about this.