Break-up fowled up hunting trip

Dear Annie: My girlfriend and I broke up after having been together for two years. The problem is that I'm scheduled to go on a hunting trip with her father. We planned this trip more than six months ago.
I have tried calling her father's house for the past three weeks, but I get no response. I paid $600 toward this trip and will lose the money if I don't go. I called the hunting outfitter to see if they were still expecting us, and apparently, they are.
I could drive to the hunting lodge separately, but I will have to stay in a room with this man for a week. My ex has threatened that her father is going to "kick my butt." I'm afraid he will make my week a living hell.
Is there any way I can make them repay me for the lost money? After all, they don't even have the courage to let me know what's going on. I don't know what to do now. That's a lot of money for me to give up without a fight. College Guy in Pennsylvania
Dear College Guy: We can't imagine that you'd still want to go on this little excursion under the circumstances. Call the hunting lodge. Tell them you cannot make the scheduled trip, and ask if you can have a refund. If they say no, try again to contact your ex's parents, apologize for the dilemma the break-up has caused and ask if at least part of the money can be returned. If they are honorable people, they will understand.
Dear Annie: I'm a 38-year-old man, married for 11 years, with a 6-year-old child. I've been unhappy in my marriage for a long time. I truly care about my wife's well-being, but I'm not in love with her anymore. I'm finding it harder and harder to act as if everything between us is just fine. Inside, I'm crying.
I've mentioned to my wife that I'm unhappy, but I guess it didn't make much of an impression on her. Right now, I'm trying to make the best of things, and I don't fuss or cause arguments. I try to be nice and pleasant, but it's getting harder to hide my true feelings. I'm thinking about divorce.
Is this what I have to feel like for the rest of my life in order to keep from hurting my wife and son? Is it wrong for me to want to be happy? Carolina Blues
Dear Carolina: If ever a letter cried out for marriage counseling, it's yours. It is not uncommon for marriages to go through periods of malaise or dissatisfaction. In a healthy marriage, couples work on the problem and make the relationship stronger. Neither you nor your wife took that step -- but it may not be too late.
You obviously care about your wife and son. You owe it to them (and to yourself) to make every effort to see if the marriage can be salvaged. Talk to your clergyperson, or ask for a referral from your doctor, United Way or the American Association for Marriage & amp; Family Therapy (aamft.org), 112 S. Alfred St., Alexandria, Va. 22314-3061.
Dear Annie: I had an experience similar to the one described by "Grieving in Kansas," who kept receiving calls from telemarketers asking for her deceased son. About a year after my husband died, I got a phone call from a stockbroker saying my husband, "Dave," had called and requested information. He asked if Dave was home, and when I said no, he asked if there was a number where Dave could be reached. I said, "Hold on a minute." I looked up the number of the cemetery and gave it to the salesman, saying, "If you talk to him, will you tell him to call home?"
The mental image of that man's reaction when he made that call stopped the wave of grief I was feeling. I still smile when I think about it. Humor Helped
Dear Humor: We're glad this little practical joke alleviated your grief, although we doubt it did much for the salesman. Thanks for writing.
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