Dear Abby: I want to share my experience with being a distracted driver. One gorgeous, sunny day, I happened to glance down at my iPad and the next thing I knew, I had hit the car in front of me. The airbags engaged and hit me and my golden retriever, who was in the front seat. He jumped out the window into oncoming traffic. I chased him, but lost him.

Fortunately, a couple found him and brought him to a vet who scanned his chip. I got him back, and it is a gift from heaven — but he was severely injured. With time, he will make a full recovery, but my stupid mistake hurt my most cherished companion. From now on, those devices go in the trunk.

Reformed Distracted Driver

That’s a start. And in the future, your cherished companion should ride in the BACK seat — with the windows closed and wearing a restraint so that in the event of another traffic problem he won’t be reinjured.

Dear Abby: I am a mature, adult woman in my 40s who has never had a good relationship with my mother. Candidly, she is a mean person who has left a lot of hurt feelings in her wake. Our entire family feels the way I do. .

I will be remarrying soon. Although I feel that inviting my mother to my wedding is the right thing to do, it could mean potentially inviting disaster. .

Needs guidance in California

If she isn’t invited, the hurt and angry feelings could reverberate for years. Because your family knows the way she is, consider inviting her on the condition that she will be on her best behavior — AND with the understanding that if she “lapses,” some family members will escort her out.