DEAR ABBY: Regarding "Tall Person Sympathizer" (Feb. 28), whose very tall husband and son hate the comments they receive, I am 6 feet, 8 inches tall, so I can relate. One does feel like part of a freak show and have to deal with things most average height people don't think twice about, like, "Can I fit in that car?" or "Where can I buy clothes that fit?" And that tired basketball question. Yep, even at my age of 64 I still hear it.

But the questions don't bother me much anymore -- except for "How's the weather up there?" Now when someone asks the height question, I quickly respond with the obviously wrong answer of 5 feet 6. It always gets a laugh, and there usually is a little small talk after that, and I may even ask them their height. Then I tell them, I am 80 inches tall, which is true, and let them figure it out.

Seriously, though, most people look favorably upon you and wish they themselves were taller. I'll add, from my memory of my youth, it sure didn't hurt in attracting the ladies. -- JAMES IN DELAWARE

DEAR JAMES: I received a "tall" stack of responses about that letter -- almost all of them upbeat and fun. Several suggested the helpful retort when asked if they play (or played) basketball:

Short person: "Do you play basketball?"

Tall person: "No, do you play miniature golf?"

Most readers emphasized the positivity of accepting all of our unique differences. Read on for another gem:

DEAR ABBY: My granddaughter was 6 feet tall by the time she was a sophomore in high school. And yes, she received a lot of comments about it. She told me that when she was 15 she decided to embrace her height. And she did.

During her senior year, she auditioned for "Miss Local High School" and performed a monologue about what it was like to be a 6-foot-tall girl in high school. With jokes and good humor, she addressed the questions of playing basketball and volleyball and said she did neither. But she finished by saying that the best thing about being so tall was that she was able to help all the old, bent-over folks in the grocery store when they needed an item on the top shelf.

She didn't win the contest, but she did bring laughter to the audience. Today, she's a successful businesswoman with a boyfriend who is even taller. She has never considered her height a problem, so it isn't. -- CAROL IN FLORIDA

DEAR ABBY: I have a dilemma. A decadeslong friendship ended last year after an unfortunate, painful event. I have items he loaned me. What do I do with them, as we are no longer in contact? Should I ship them to his house? Donate them to charity? Neither seems like a good idea. I'm not angry, but I can no longer let this person be any part of my life. What is the right thing to do? -- AT A LOSS IN THE MIDWEST

DEAR AT A LOSS: The right thing to do would be to send the items to his house. They are not yours to donate; they are his property.

DEAR ABBY: I'm hoping you can help with an ongoing issue I'm having with my sister-in-law. She has verbally assaulted me four times, each time acting like she doesn't remember what she said or apologizing -- only to do it again. When these assaults happen, she's intoxicated and high (I suspect she has an addiction problem).

I have never been anything but kind to her, her husband and her children, and I never fight back. These attacks happen mostly via phone or text, after which I hang up or block her. Once, it happened in person, and I just walked away. I have done this so it doesn't cause even more problems, but I have reached my limit.

What do I do next time I see her at a mutual get-together? I already told my husband I will no longer attend events at her home. -- HATES ALL THE DRAMA

DEAR HATES: Have you or your husband approached your sister-in-law's husband about her erratic behavior and your concern about her substance abuse? I think you should. However, if you can't bring yourself to do that, treat her as you would any other rude acquaintance you would prefer to avoid. When you see her at mutual get-togethers, stay on the other side of the room and do not engage with her.

DEAR ABBY: Our son and his wife were visiting with us in our living room. While we were talking, his wife picked up her cellphone and several times initiated texts during their brief visit. My spouse and I think it was rude, but we haven't said anything to them. Should we? We would prefer that everybody be fully present during the short time we're together.

During a prior visit at our house, I asked her a question. As she was about to answer me, her cellphone buzzed. She got up, made a phone call and left the room for a while. Her call wasn't an emergency; it was just to chat. We thought that was rude, too.

What, if anything, should we say or do? She makes frequent texts and phone calls when we visit them. Are the rules different at their house? -- PERPLEXED DAD IN TEXAS

DEAR DAD: Your daughter-in-law's behavior was rude and disrespectful. In your house, you should establish the rules. Consider making one of them leaving cellphones in a basket at your front door. (In your son and DIL's home, they can make the rules.) You should have spoken up about how she made you feel the first time it happened, because the unspoken message she conveyed to you was that she wasn't interested in interacting with you.

DEAR READERS: Happy Father's Day to fathers everywhere -- birth fathers, stepfathers, adoptive and foster fathers, grandfathers, and all of you caring men who mentor children and fill the role of absent dads.

P.S. Also, a big shoutout to dual-role moms. I applaud you all -- today and every day. -- LOVE, ABBY

DEAR ABBY: My husband is in another state with his elderly (but still active) mother. He went to help her get her house ready for sale so she can move near us. Before he left, he was having severe panic attacks. He kept telling me he is scared of losing me (he's been out of work for months) and that he was going to need me while he was with her.

Since he has been gone, he has barely called, rarely texts and even suggested taking a break from me. This was after finding out I had to go to the ER and had been diagnosed with a debilitating autoimmune disorder. He's blaming me for having to ask his mother for money to cover our bills.

This woman has been single for 30 years, worked full time and has essentially no real expenses. She spoils the heck out of him -- her only child. She treats him like her partner or a 12-year-old boy. She dislikes that I'm at home taking care of my 1-year-old grandchild and not working. I have always contributed, but this is the choice my husband and I made together.

I don't feel like he's concerned about any of his relatives here, and I certainly don't feel loved when he goes days without even checking in. When he's with her, he becomes a cold, bratty child. Any advice on what to say to him? -- UNCERTAIN IN TEXAS

DEAR UNCERTAIN: Tell your husband you need him home right now more than his mother needs him there. As things stand, your husband's fear of losing you could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. When his mother moves closer, the situation will not improve because he will become even more "childlike." Unless the two of you have counseling, establish some boundaries and get your priorities straight, your marriage isn't likely to last unless you are willing to accept the status quo.

DEAR ABBY: I became friends with "John" when I was 9. We met through our church youth group and our shared interests. We lost contact after a year or so when I stopped attending the youth group and moved on to other friends and interests.

During the pandemic, John reached out to me on Facebook to try to rebuild our friendship. Truth be told, I really don't care to. It has been 10 years since we last spoke, and I have changed considerably in that time. I met him twice to see if we had something over which to bond, but there was nothing. He's a good guy, but how do I politely tell him I'm not interested in pursuing an adult friendship with him? -- OLD PAL IN CANADA

DEAR PAL: One way to accomplish it would be to simply be busy when he reaches out. However, if you feel compelled to say something to him, tell him that while you had much in common years ago, your life has changed since then. You have wonderful memories, but they are in the past and you live in the present. You have other interests and responsibilities now and do not have time for the close relationship he is seeking. It's the truth.