DR. WALLACE: You recently printed a letter from Alyssa who wrote asking your advice. She said that her boyfriend of the past 18 months had decided to join the Navy and she didn't know if she wanted to wait for him until he was discharged. This letter from me is directed to her:

ALYSSA: I had the same problem as you just a few years back. I was only 16 at the time, and I had met the man of my dreams. I had dreams of our future together. Then after dating for six months, he told me he was going to join the Navy. This seemed to be the end of my dream, and I cried myself to sleep for two weeks.

Then after he graduated from high school, he was sent to Orlando, Florida, 1,200 miles away, to attend basic training. But before he left my dream came true! He proposed and I accepted even though I was still a senior in high school. Both sets of parents were overjoyed, and we were married a year and a half later. We have now been happily married for over four years. He has been transferred several times and this has provided us the great experience of seeing different parts of the country.

So if you decide to continue going with your boyfriend after he leaves for the Navy you will still have a chance to see him. It's not like he was in jail. He will be allowed 30 days leave every year and he will do everything possible to see you as often as he can. — Lauren, Duluth, Minn.

LAUREN: Thanks for sharing your thoughts with Alyssa. It will be helpful for her to have both sides of the dilemma explored. Cindy has a different point of view:

DR. WALLACE: I'd like to respond to Alyssa who wasn't sure if she wanted to wait for her boyfriend to spend a hitch in military service. Three years ago I was in the same boat. The fellow I thought was to be my future husband joined the Army and asked me to wait faithfully for him to serve a 36-month enlistment period. I had mixed feelings because I loved him, but I didn't see myself sitting at home for this long enlistment. The night before he left, we had a long discussion and we both finally decided to date other people, but to see each other whenever possible.

After a year in the Army he wrote and told me that he met a girl in the town where he was stationed and they were engaged. It turned out that this solved a dilemma for me since I was getting serious about the fellow I was dating who soon became my husband. Everything worked out for the best because we did the sensible thing by agreeing to date others.

I'd definitely encourage Alyssa and her steady guy to do the same thing. In our case, we never got back together, but there is no reason that this couple can't get back together again once he is discharged from the Army. — Cindy, Frostburg, Md.

CINDY: Thanks for sharing your views. Now it's up to Alyssa to make a choice.

GOING BAREFOOT IS GOOD FOR YOU

DR. WALLACE: I love to go barefoot, especially in summer. My grandmother keeps telling my mom that I will eventually become flat-footed unless I keep my shoes on. I'm 12 and, my feet are not flat. Is it possible that my grandmother is wrong this time? — Kenny, Lake Charles, La.

KENNY: The only problem in going barefoot is the possibility of cuts and punctures. Other than that, it's good for you. Going shoeless contributes to the foot's ligament, muscle, and even bone development. When young people walk or run barefoot on a level surface, they're actually less prone to sprained ankles, according to Dr. Alvin Crawford of Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Nancy