Dear Abby: A few weeks ago, I had to pick up my sister “Karyn” after a night out. When she called, she told me I was going to “hate” her and not to judge her. The man she was with had been arrested for DUI. Abby, he is the same person who killed another one of my sisters in a drunken-driving accident years ago! Not only has Karyn been hanging out with him, it has been going on for months and she says it’s serious.

I am appalled with my sister’s choice. I told Karyn she could choose him or me. I guess she chose him, because we haven’t spoken since. I thought we were very close before, but now that I know what she has been doing, I no longer want anything to do with her.

Am I overreacting, or should she be more concerned with how her decisions affect the rest of the family?

—Disappointed in New York

Dear Disappointed: I don’t think you’re overreacting, and I don’t blame you for being appalled. Your sister has involved herself with a serious alcoholic who, if he could control his addiction, would have dried out after he killed someone. At least for the time being, keep your distance. While there’s no accounting for the affairs of the heart, I have a strong hunch Karyn is going to need all the support you and the family can give her as this romance follows its predictable path.

Dear Abby: May I share with you and your readers some information that was provided to me by a fireman? It concerns senior citizens.

If seniors don’t have an emergency alert device, they should take their car keys to bed with them and place them on their nightstand. The little red “panic” button can be used to start the horn of their car in an emergency. The neighbors will hear the horn and help them.

—Rick in Scottsdale

Dear Rick: That’s not a bad suggestion, but forewarn the neighbors if your car alarm goes off, it may indicate that you’re in trouble. In my city, car alarms go off so frequently that people often assume it’s a malfunction and ignore it.