DR. WALLACE: I got a really nice gift from a relative in another state, but my dad doesn’t want me to keep it. It’s one of the most advanced electric bikes on the market, but my parents only allow me to ride a bike with pedals and save money for a car since I’m 17 now.
I have already saved some money to be able to buy a reliable used car at some point, but my father thinks I should sell the electric bike, use the money to buy a luxury bike and save the difference.
However, I already have a very reliable older bike, so I’d like to sell the electric bike for as little money as possible and invest all the money in a car. If I do that, I estimate I’ll be able to buy a used car sometime around the holidays this year, maybe even by Thanksgiving.
My dad thinks that when this relative comes to visit, a brand new bike would at least help us explain what we did with the electric bike. But I think it’s perfectly fine to invest the money in a reliable mode of transportation in the form of a car. Why should I have to buy a brand new bike? How do you feel about this situation? — My dad and I disagree, via email
MY FATHER AND I DISAGREE: You may be pleased to hear that I agree with you.
Your relative gave you a very nice gift that allowed you to afford a means of transportation, and selling that item and investing the money in a reliable used car sounds entirely consistent with the intent of the gift.
I don’t think it would make much difference to the relative if you sold an electric bike and used the money to buy a luxury bike just to show that you upgraded your existing bike. The gift will be traded in any case.
Remember to write a nice thank you letter to the relative who gave you this wonderful gift and perhaps mention that it will be a great help to you in your future transportation needs.
Be prepared to have to explain at some point what you did with the electric bike. If that relative visits you over the holidays or asks directly, be honest and explain that your logic was to honor that gift and repurpose it for your transportation needs.
We will all look like boring robots
DR. WALLACE: I’m a pretty good player on our high school girls basketball team, and I just learned that this year all the players on the team have to wear the same brand and color tennis shoes.
In previous seasons, we obviously had to wear the team uniforms, but we were always allowed to wear whatever socks and shoes we wanted to our games.
Now our coaches tell us that we not only have to wear the exact same shoes, but also white socks of a certain length that go just above the shoes. I think that’s ridiculous and we’re losing the last bit of originality we had.
Do you agree? — Not Happy About This, by email
NOT SATISFIED WITH IT: It is difficult to give you a comprehensive reaction to the coaches’ decision to change things because I do not know what parameters or circumstances influenced their decision.
However, I can tell you that you must follow the team rules even if you don’t agree with them. There may be ways to show your individuality, such as through sweatbands or a headband. But as far as the shoes, socks, and uniforms that the team dictates, you must follow the rules. There is a time and place to show your individuality, but since you are facing a team rule, shoes are not the way to achieve your desires at this point.
Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes reader questions. Although he cannot answer every question individually, he will answer as many as he can in this column. Email him at (email protected). For more information about Dr. Robert Wallace and contributions from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
Photo credit: Soroush Karimi on Unsplash
