Dear Annie: My husband, “Alfred,” has been gambling for the last ten years, and his habit is getting progressively worse. I have caught him numerous times, and each time he promises to quit, but then lapses. We have both gone for counselling, together and separately, but he feels he can control his problem. I insisted he go to Gamblers Anonymous meetings, and he did for about six months, but says he doesn’t get anything out of the meetings. He is blind to his addiction.Alfred has lost approximately $100,000 in the last tenyears, and I don’t see his skills improving. He has even taken $60,000 out of his 401(k). Each time I catch him, he is contrite and says he won’t gamble again. I have now restricted our savings accounts (his suggestion), so only I can withdraw money.

Alfred has lied, cheated and stolen money from me and our savings accounts, but still does not see how serious his problem is. He has opened up credit cards and borrowed money against them. He recently went to a high-interest loan company that charges him 119 percent for a short-term loan, and I’ve run out of patience.

I still love him. He has a lot of good qualities, and I also need him because I’m mildly disabled. Should I just cut the ties and get a divorce? Our children are grown, and I don’t want him draining the last of our retirement money. — Gambler’s WifeDear Gambler’s Wife: First, put some of that retirement money where your husband can’t reach it. He isn’t ready for help yet, and we can’t tell you if he ever will be. You, however, should contact Gam-Anon (gam-anon.org), for friends and relatives of gamblers. The address is: Gam-Anon(R) International Service Office, Inc., P.O. Box 157, Whitestone, N.Y. 11357>

Dear Annie: <$>In high school, I had an English class in which we learned a poem about grammar. Unfortunately, I cannot remember any of it except the first lines: “A noun is the name of anything, as school or garden, hoop or swing.” Can you help? — Class of ‘57

Dear Class of ‘57: Here it is, credited to Green Baker from a Freedmen’s School, around 1865:Three little words you often see

Are articles — an, a and the.

A noun is the name of anything,

As school or garden, hoop or swing.

Adjectives tell the kind of noun,

As great, small, pretty, white or brown.

Instead of nouns the pronouns stand <\m>

Her head, his face, your arm, my hand.

Verbs tell of something being done <\m>

To read, count, laugh, sing, jump or run.

How things are done the adverbs tell,

As slowly, quickly, ill or well.

Conjunctions join the word together,

As men and women, wind or weather.

The prepositions stand before,

A noun, as in or through the door.

The interjections show surprise,

As Oh! How pretty! Ah! How wise!

The whole are called the nine parts of speech.

Which reading, writing, speaking teacB>Dear Annie: <$>I have been plus-sized since childhood and have endured the endless stares, the teasing and the begging from relatives to “get skinny.” The only way I am able to be in “normal-sized” clothes is to starve myself.I am a registered nurse. I know the health hazards associated with obesity, but I am not diabetic, nor do I have hypertension or high cholesterol. I am exceptionally meticulous with my personal hygiene. My clothes are always neat and fit well. I am happy. I have a beautiful child, a loving, wonderful husband and a safe, secure home. I am educated and have a productive career. I am proud of who I am and what I have accomplished. Please, all of you who have lost weight, stop trying to “save” me. <\m> Big Is Beautiful in PennsylvaniaDear Big Is Beautiful: We’re happy to say it again: It is never appropriate to comment on anyone’s size, periAnnie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailbox[AT]comcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, Illinois 60611.