People's stories are their own to tell. Your sister was showing her trust in you. Note also she wasn't saying, "okay, now that I've told you this big secret you never get to talk about it, ever." She wanted to tell the rest of your family. She was GOING to tell the rest of your family. And she didn't GET to tell the rest of your family, because you couldn't handle being somewhat uncomfortable.

Here's what you could have done. You could have said, "Actually, I'm not comfortable pretending I don't know about this if it comes up. I know that you were hoping to tell X and Y in person, but you might have to do it over the phone. Sorry, I didn't know the gravity of this news before you started." Then at least she would have had a choice.

I'd be pissed at you, too. I suspect a lot of people would say you did the right thing, but I think you could have respected your sister at least as much as she respected you.

I love it. If I didn't, I wouldn't do it as much. I would probably be less healthy, and I would consider it a fair trade-off for not having to cook. To say nothing of how I'd feel if I didn't like it AND I didn't have as much time (my life is in ruins).

Maybe Rachel Ray is more valuable than Michael Pollan for the everyday American who's just not that into cooking. For health and economy, it's hard to beat a home-cooked meal.

Cary's concern about the LW's employment history is valid, I guess, but look at what's going on right now. I graduated from college during the dot-com decline and have never had stable employment. One boss cried when they "had" to let me go, but I was laid off just the same. I made the best choices available to me at the time, but I'm basically fucked and I really think it's just bad luck.

If the LW has a good job offer, she should take it. Her son sounds like a great kid and he will adjust. Unless she's moving to a small town, he will undoubtedly find plenty of people who believe in evolution, thank you very much.

I hate cable news so, so much. Stop talking to them, Obama!

Wouldn't it be great if this DID turn out to be Obama's version of the 1974 ABBA hit? I'm not holding my breath. As long as a single insurance company is happy, I'm not.

They're not going to college.

I have been turning off the radio every time I hear some GOP motherfracker repeat Sotomayor's very reasonable and honest statement about life experiences. I'm not surprised that there are assholes troubled by it, but I am depressed as hell that their weak concerns are being taken seriously.

Unless the various industry players are freaking with displeasure. When they're upset, I know I'll have reason to hope that things will actually be different.

Neither would anyone in my high school. A so-so girl desperate enough to *hire somebody* to make her prettier? Would have been so made fun of. So much worse than just being comfortable with her own look, even if it's not reality-TV material (vomit). Good luck, overanxious parents, trying to make high school safe for all children.

But it's a pipe dream to think that the problem can be easily solved by taking the state out of marriage all together (as some posters suggest). People against gay marriage are really against gay relationships being held to the same standards as their own hetero, god-sanctioned relationships. They don't want gay relationships compared or held equal to their very special relationships. They are assholes. They will not go for this.

Of course, the good news is they are LOSING.

Until we actually have a health care plan. Whether or not abortion will be covered is seriously among the very least of my health care concerns.

Canning is so obviously not a money-saver when you don't have your own garden, it amuses me when people slant it that way. But what does it matter, if you can afford buying the ingredients and find it enjoyable? Just as I'll never understand why people enjoy watching football, people are free to not understand canning. But it's not going to ruin the world or anything.

But the "totality of the situation" makes me the think the cops are just incompetent assholes who punished a woman for showing her titties to someone other than them.

it is obvious to me that Caitlin Flanagan has serious, serious daddy/girlhood issues. She cannot write about anything--Patty Hearst, Alec Baldwin, anything--without flowery musings on the delicacy of young girls and how much they need their daddies.

I think it's time Flanagan worked on these issues with a qualified therapist, rather than through her all-too-visible media persona. She is in no position to tell others how to lead happy lives.

Sylvia Plath? The Bell Jar wasn't exactly subtle.

I admire your honesty, LW. Have you ever noticed when someone writes into this column and seems depressed, people post things like, "Go volunteer! You'll get out of your silly little head and find joy in helping!" Yeah, maybe--but you're volunteering for an even better reason: duty.

It also sounds like the depression you may be experiencing is deeper than what a couple of hours of volunteering can cure. Are you paying attention, self-righteous posters? Depression doesn't equal being a selfish, spoiled kid who just needs to get out of his house and help people.

I don't know you, LW, so I have no advice for how you'll find meaning in your life. You may not. But don't feel guilty about not enjoying the good things you're doing for others. The people you're helping don't care if you're enjoying it, but they're being helped just the same.