KATHY MITCHELL AND MARCY SUGAR | Annie's Mailbox Mom refuses to bring up her belching

Dear Annie: My 72-year-old mother-in-law recently moved in with my husband and me. Mom takes several medications daily. One of them apparently causes her to belch constantly. I've clocked her at six belches per minute.
Mom sits in her recliner reading novels and belching. She particularly seems to enjoy the very loud ones. She sounds like a bullfrog. Mom is an intelligent woman and has good manners in other respects, so it is surprising that she makes no effort to restrain herself.
We asked her to talk to her doctor about it, and she did, but apparently she told him the belching is "not a problem" for her. The doctor is completely unconcerned, which means nothing is going to be done. Mom said we may as well get used to it.
It is unbearable to be in the house doing chores, taking care of her and my family while listening to her belch gleefully for hours. It also embarrasses my children when their friends are over, so they tend to socialize at other kids' houses.
Mom is very defensive about the topic and refuses to discuss it further. I have tried to play music or provide some other audio diversion, but she complains that this disturbs her reading. If there truly is nothing that can be done medically, we will do our best to tolerate it, but in return, we expect Mom to make an effort to hide the noise instead of reveling in her resonance.
Do you have any suggestions for handling her excessive effervescence? Bubbles' Daughter-in-Law
Dear D-I-L: Call your mother-in-law's physician, and explain that Mom's belching is causing friction at home. You can also speak to her pharmacist and ask if there are alternative medications that will not cause the same side effects. If there is no way to alleviate the problem medically, you will have to grit your teeth and make the best of it. Buy a portable CD player with headphones, and tune her out.
Dear Annie: I have been dating "Wilson" for nine months. He's a great guy and lots of fun. He treats me like a queen and always tells me how beautiful I am. So what's the problem? Wilson is 35 and acts like he is 16. He watches a lot of television and plays video games. He's never been married, and although he has a decent job, he still lives at home with his parents. His mother cooks his meals, cleans his room, cuts his toenails and does his laundry. I can understand that he wants to save money by living at home, but I have offered to let him stay at my place rent-free, and he refuses.
I love Wilson, but is it normal for a 35-year-old man to behave like this? Not Sure in North Carolina
Dear Not Sure: Mom cuts his toenails??? Wilson sounds like a case of arrested development. If you are looking for a good time and a fun companion, Wilson's your guy. If you want a mature relationship, look elsewhere.
Dear Annie: I was invited to a bridal shower back in January. Many people gave money, and others gave lovely gifts. The bride-to-be called off the wedding two months later, and she kept the money and gifts. I'm sure she's spent all the money by now. Should she have returned everything, cash included? Wondering in Ohio
Dear Ohio: This girl has no class. When a wedding is canceled, any gift that has not been used should be returned (except monogrammed items). If an item cannot be returned, the giver should be off the hook the next time around. (Cash, by the way, is generally not an appropriate shower gift.)
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