DR. WALLACE: I'm responding to your recent column that stated that average North Americans spend 12 years of their lives watching television. Wow! That's a lot of time wasted! My parents are very strict. I'm 13 and I'm not permitted to watch television on school nights at all, and only two hours on weekends. I was very upset because all of my friends would tell me about all the wonderful TV shows they watched. I always felt left out and deprived, but not anymore!

Now, instead of becoming a "couch potato," I do my homework (I'm a very good student) practice my piano, read good books, work on my hobbies — stamp collecting and quilting — and read the newspaper (especially your column).

I have now come to realize that I can live without becoming a slave to the television screen. Of course, when something very important is being televised (like the presidential debates) our family tunes in and then discusses the program when it concludes.

It makes me really happy that I can honestly say that I control the television, and the television doesn't control me! Do you watch a lot of television? — Karla, Ontario, Calif.

KARLA: You are a wise young lady and your parents should be commended. Television is a marvelous means of transmitting useful and entertaining information to the general public, but when television viewing prevents the family from interacting together it's time to reevaluate family priorities. Much too often, the television set is turned on to catch the "soaps" and isn't turned off until bedtime.

Being a former high school basketball coach, I enjoy watching college basketball on television, especially the NCAA Championship Tournament. And, last, but not least, watching the Chicago Cubs finally winning a World Series!

ENJOY YOUR DIFFERENCES

DR. WALLACE: Zack and I have been going out for over a year. I love him very much and he loves me. We talk about the time we will become husband and wife. We have almost everything in common. We both enjoy playing tennis, rooting for the Boston Red Sox and eating Italian food. We also enjoy the same kind of music. Our only difference comes to our taste in movies. He likes action films and I like love stories.

My dear grandmother thinks our relationship will never last because she has the philosophy that "opposites attract." I'd like your opinion on this. — Sally, Springfield, Mass.

SALLY: I'll have to take issue with a Grandmother — something I rarely do. She's only half right. Yes, opposites sometimes do attract, but points of commonality are what will turn that attraction into a marriage.

Your grandmother is assuming that having a lot in common with your mate will become boring and rob the relationship of mystery. Not so! Having little or nothing in common is what quickly becomes boring. Happy couples are often one another's best friend, and good friends enjoy doing things together.

Enjoy your differences — and you'll discover plenty as you get to know each other — but remember that your shared interests are what will allow you to build a life together.

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. E-mail 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.