{"id":8453,"date":"2026-09-05T08:06:46","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T08:06:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=8453"},"modified":"2026-09-05T08:06:46","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T08:06:46","slug":"dear-abby-this-persistent-stranger-seems-to-think-im-somebody-else","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=8453","title":{"rendered":"Dear Abby: This persistent stranger seems to think I’m somebody else"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DEAR ABBY:<\/strong> Several weeks ago, I got a phone call from a stranger. She asked if I was the \u201cSteve Hall\u201d who had been in the Marines, and whom she remembered from high school.<\/p>\n

Read more De La Salle impresses in win over Cardinal Newman, except in one area<\/a><\/p>\n

I told her I was not, and that I grew up in a different part of the country. Then I got a letter from her, asking essentially the same thing. Then she called again, and I repeated my answer and wished her luck.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m writing because I am concerned for her. She appears obsessive or perhaps very forgetful.<\/p>\n

She seems able to use the internet and make phone calls, she is calm and polite, her letters are brief and lucid, and she has neat handwriting. Like I said, though, her persistence seems odd. I\u2019m just a little concerned.<\/p>\n

What would you do in this situation?<\/p>\n

\u2014 STEWING STRANGER<\/em><\/p>\n

DEAR STRANGER<\/strong>: This interaction has all the signs of a scam.<\/p>\n

You have already allowed this person to identify you as someone who answers calls from unknown numbers. If you mentioned the letter to her, you have verified the physical address that goes with your phone number.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Be aware that the caller herself may not perpetrate the scam. She may be merely a scout who identifies possible victims for the real scammers. In the future, block all calls from unknown numbers. Also be wary of mail from unexpected sources. Do not respond to any offer that seems too good to be true or to anyone demanding payments that don\u2019t make sense to you.<\/p>\n

DEAR ABBY<\/strong>: I am a 62-year-old man. I was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate.<\/p>\n

Growing up, I had several surgeries and much dental work to improve my appearance. I had wonderful friends who never teased me about it.<\/p>\n

Now, looking back at my childhood, I realize that my father hated me because of the way I looked when I was born. He has never asked me to spend time with him and was always angry with me. Even now, when he sees me, I can feel the hatred he has toward me.<\/p>\n

Read more Bay FC beaten by Kansas City\u2019s last-minute goal in 2-1 NWSL loss<\/a><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

I really hate being around him, but I sometimes have to see him at family gatherings. How should I handle this?<\/p>\n

\u2014 ANGRY AND CONFUSED<\/em><\/p>\n

DEAR ANGRY AND CONFUSED<\/strong>: Start by remembering to cherish your wonderful friends and consider yourself lucky to have so little contact with dear old Dad.<\/p>\n

Handle family functions by limiting your direct interaction with him. Be cordial, but maintain a comfortable distance. Focus on the rest of the family and enjoy their company.<\/p>\n

Many families have members who don\u2019t get along, but it doesn\u2019t have to cause drama.<\/p>\n

DEAR ABBY<\/strong>: I am approaching 80 and am healthy and fairly active. When I look in the mirror, I see a pleasant-looking old woman, but when photos are taken at holidays, I look even older than I am \u2014 and scary, like the granny in the old Addams Family comics.<\/p>\n

What do you suppose is wrong with these modern cameras?<\/p>\n

\u2014 BETTER THAN THAT IN ATLANTA<\/em><\/p>\n

DEAR BETTER THAN THAT<\/strong>: The problem is they are taking photos in high definition. However, this problem is easily solved. You can ask the photographer to touch up the photos electronically to make everyone appear flawless, or you can wear sunglasses while viewing them.<\/p>\n

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren. For nearly four decades, Jeanne Phillips wrote this column, which was founded in 1956 by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 270135, Kansas City, MO 64127.<\/em><\/p>\n

Read more Pittsburg fights to the finish, earns respect from state\u2019s No. 1 team<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is she obsessive or just forgetful?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7028,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice"],"yoast_head":"\nDear Abby: This persistent stranger seems to think I’m somebody else - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=8453\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dear Abby: This persistent stranger seems to think I’m somebody else - Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Is she obsessive or just forgetful?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=8453\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-09-05T08:06:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=8453#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=8453\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b\"},\"headline\":\"Dear Abby: This persistent stranger seems to think I’m somebody else\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-05T08:06:46+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=8453\"},\"wordCount\":649,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=8453#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/e0a61fb13ad8c491b1d1a120a9ed0d48.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Advice\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=8453#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=8453\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=8453\",\"name\":\"Dear Abby: This persistent stranger seems to think I’m somebody else - 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