Dear Annie (Sisters-in-law) 2003/12/06

[칼새]

 Sisters-in-law  

칼새's opinion

세상 살면은 참으로 조그만 사건에도 많이 다투는 것 같네요.

일종의 서로간의 오해에서 발생하는 싸움이 많죠.

'divide and conquer'라고 명칭을 정할정도로 시아버지의

갈라놓기 심보는 계속 터지나 봅니다.

시아버지의 횡포로 인해 시누이와의 관계가 나빠졌는데

이에 대해 Annie는 어떻게 풀어나가는지 한번 보죠. ^^

Dear Annie: My husband, 'Dawson,' has one sister, 'Liza.' There always has been friction between them. Liza has not seen our 2-year-old daughter, 'Cathy,' in over a year, even though Liza is Cathy's godmother as well as her aunt.

Liza had a baby in the spring. Before the baby was born, my father-in-law, 'George,' informed me that his new wife was going to the baby shower. I never received an invitation. Despite this slight, Dawson visited Liza in the hospital when she had the baby.

A few weeks later, Dawson asked when it would be convenient to bring Cathy over to meet her new cousin. Liza told him her pediatrician wouldn't allow any small visitors until the baby was 6 months old. That was seven months ago, and we still haven't heard back from her.

Several weeks ago, George mentioned that he and his wife had attended the baby's christening, although that was the first we'd heard about it. Naturally, we are upset, but one other thing bothers me. George likes to cause trouble and may be playing a game I call 'divide and conquer.' It's quite possible Liza invited us verbally through George, but he decided not to mention it to us. If that's the case, we'd like to correct her misimpression.

I want to confront Liza and ask her why we were not invited to the christening. If she wants us out of her life, I'm more than happy to oblige. Dawson says enough is enough, and not to give her the opportunity to be rude to us again. Annie, what would you do? -- The Sister-Out-Law

Dear Sister: If Liza wanted you to be part of her life, she would have contacted you by now. However, there always is the possibility of a misunderstanding, especially with a father-in-law who likes to cause trouble.

You ought to clear the air. Buy a present for the new baby, and then call Liza and say, 'We heard you had a christening, and we wanted to wish you well and drop off a baby gift.' Then tell her you would like your families to be closer. Ask her point-blank if there is anything you have done to offend her. Her answer will let you know if you can drop the gift off in person or just stick it in the mail.

* friction

NOUN: 1. The rubbing of one object or surface against another. 
           2. Conflict, as between persons having dissimilar ideas or interests; clash.
           3. Physics A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to

               such motion of two bodies in contact. 
OTHER FORMS: frictional —ADJECTIVE
                         frictionally —ADVERB

1 【역학물리】 마찰
2 알력, 불화, (의견) 충돌
 ~ with another country 타국과의 불화
~less a.
~lessly ad.
☞ frictional a.; frictionize v.
 
* godmother 
NOUN: 1. A woman who sponsors a person at baptism.
           2. One that has a relationship to another person or to something that is the

               equivalent of being a baptismal sponsor: the godmother to a new

               generation of physicians. 
TRANSITIVE VERB: Inflected forms: god·moth·ered, god·moth·er·ing, god·moth·ers
                              To serve as or as if a godmother to. 

n., vt. 대모(代母)(가 되다); 후견인[보증인]이 되다(cf. godFATHer)

* christen
TRANSITIVE VERB: Inflected forms: chris·tened, chris·ten·ing, chris·tens
           1a. To baptize into a Christian church. b. To give a name to at baptism.
           2a. To name: christened the kitten “Snowball.” b. To name and dedicate   

                 ceremonially: christen a ship.
           3. To use for the first time: christened the new car by going for a drive. 

기독교도(Christian)로 만들다」의 뜻에서 vt.
1 세례[침례, 영세]하여 기독교도로 만들다 (baptize)
2 세례하여 명명(命名)하다
 《~+목+보》 He was ~ed John. 그는 요한이라는 세례명을 받았다
3 <배 등에> 이름을 붙이다(name)
4 《구어》 <새 차 등을> 처음으로 사용하다
~er n.

* verbally

ADJECTIVE: 1. Of, relating to, or associated with words: a detailed verbal description.
                   2a. Concerned with words only rather than with content or ideas: a

                         merely verbal distinction. b. Consisting of words alone without action:

                         a verbal confrontation.
                   3. Expressed in spoken rather than written words; oral: a verbal

                       contract.
                   4. Corresponding word for word; literal: a verbal translation.
                   5. Grammar a. Relating to, having the nature or function of, or derived

                       from a verb. b. Used to form verbs: a verbal suffix.
                   6. Of or relating to proficiency in the use and understanding of words: a

                       verbal aptitude test. 
NOUN: Grammar A verbal noun or adjective. 
OTHER FORMS: verbally —ADVERB

ad.
1 언어로, 말로, 용어상으로, 구두로
2 축어적으로
3 【문법】 동사로서, 동사적으로

후기 : 뜨아.. 짧은 영어에 해설까지 할려하니 힘드넹.

         오늘 내용은 쪼매 복잡... 역시 영어 공부 꾸준히 해야

         겠다고 결심.. 이정도로 어려움을 느끼다니...ㅠ.ㅠ