Classic Ann Landers

Editor's Note: Hundreds of Ann Landers' loyal readers have requested that newspapers continue to publish her columns. These letters originally appeared in 1999.

Dear Ann Landers: I am a 43-year-old widow with two children, 10 and 11 years of age. My husband passed away due to a sudden seizure. He was only 37. Although "Tom" made a good living, we were just getting by and never managed to save anything. The only life insurance Tom had was through his work, and that wasn't much. When he died, I received benefits for one year. After paying the funeral expenses and outstanding debts, there was nothing left.

Tom and I had discussed life insurance and decided it was something we could not afford at the time, so we waited. Now, it is too late. And it isn't only life insurance. If only we had paid out an extra $15 a month for insurance on our mortgage, it would have paid off the house. A few extra dollars on our auto loan would have paid off our car.

My children and I get by on Social Security benefits, which is a lot less than what Tom was earning. I wish I could be a stay-at-home mom, but that's not possible. I have to work. Because of the Social Security benefits, I am allowed to make only a specified amount of money per year. Our total income is less than half of what it was. It is difficult to explain to two young children why we have to cut back on so many things. I am doing everything I can to hold on to our home so that when the children are ready for college, I can sell it and pay their tuition.

My message to your readers is, HAVE LIFE INSURANCE. All the "if onlys" in the world won't help if you don't.

Dear Tampa: I am grateful to you for taking the time to write a letter that could make a great deal of difference in the lives of many readers. No one can make a point as well as someone who has been there, and you certainly have. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Dear Ann Landers: Here's another story to add to those you have received about the silly things husbands do.

One day, I opened our freezer door and found a robin lying on its back, feet straight up in the air — stone-cold dead, of course. When I screamed, my husband came running into the kitchen. He explained that the robin had somehow gotten into our chimney, and when he opened the fireplace doors to free the bird, the robin flew out and crashed into a window, dying on impact. My husband didn't want to throw the bird out for fear the cat would get it, so he froze the poor thing. Needless to say, I tossed out everything in the freezer and disinfected the interior, but I am still more than a little queasy every time I open that door. — Troy, Mich.

Dear Troy: Thanks for another one of those stories that is funny in the retelling, but was nothing to laugh at when it actually happened. (I roared.)

"A Collection of My Favorite Gems of the Day" is the perfect little gift for that special someone who is impossible to buy for. Send a self-addressed, long, business-sized envelope and a check or money order for $5.25 (this includes postage and handling) to: Collection, c/o Ann Landers, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. To find out more about Ann Landers and read her past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

ANN LANDERS (R)

COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM

ANN LANDERS 1/1/99 Page 11