ArcaMax

ATTENTION "SINGLE FILE(R)" EDITORS: THE FOLLOWING COLUMN WAS PREVIOUSLY RELEASED IN 2018. THANK YOU. -- CREATORS

Love and Addiction

Sigmund Freud wrote: "From being in love to hypnosis is evidently only a short step. The respects in which the two agree are obvious. There is the same humble subjection, the same compliance, the same absence of ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: As my parents get older, they are focusing more on organizing their affairs and estate planning. With that comes some tough decisions. I am the oldest of four children, and naturally, my parents default to me for certain things. When we were growing up, my parents acquired several properties, and they purchased them in my name ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: As my guests were all sitting around in my living room after a nice dinner, one friend took their socks off. This has happened three times in the past two months.

One time, they said, "I hope you don't mind, but I have to take my socks off." By then, one sock was already off.

I was shocked and didn't know what to do. If it ...Read more

Dear Annie: I love the gym. It has really helped me gain confidence and strength. I have been going to the same gym in our small town for roughly 10 years. I know all the people there and enjoy my time there -- until lately.

There is a woman who just started going to the gym who is toxic. She really hurt a dear friend of mine, whose child was ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My husband of 31 years died suddenly five years ago. Our family -- four kids, six grandkids -- was devastated. We still haven't recovered. We used to be a happy bunch, spending time at the lake, backyard barbecues by the pool and football games. My husband was an integral part of this. With him gone, we now get together only on major ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My closest cousin recently passed away due to her age. It was a big shock to the entire family. Growing up, she always made me feel welcomed on her side of the family, took time to show me around our city and even helped me move into college. She was more than just a cousin; she was a true friend and confidante. We often spoke ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was in a medical office waiting room while my husband was having a test done. I was the only one sitting in the waiting room initially, until another person arrived. She had her cellphone on, and was watching a program when she walked in the facility. No one was at the front desk at the time of her arrival.

The volume was ...Read more

Dear Annie: I don't know where to start. It has been six years since our youngest daughter, "Emily," has been close to us.

The problem started when our oldest daughter and her cousin were in the kitchen talking about Emily when Emily walked by. She obviously was concerned that they were talking about her. We were just getting ready to eat our ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I invited a friend, "Sybil," to dinner at a fine dining, special occasion restaurant to celebrate her birthday. About a month before, I called to say I had also asked someone else to join us, as it was also her birthday. I thought the three of us would have fun, as we rarely go to fine dining establishments.

I was the host, so I said...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend recently caught me talking badly about her, and I feel awful. We were at dinner, and she had walked away; I was facing away from the bathroom, and when she was walking back over, she overheard me say that an outfit didn't suit her body well and she didn't look good. Hearing those comments from a friend must have been ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Do you have a suitable answer to those who say to me, an older woman, "You must have been attractive when you were young," or after looking at an earlier photo, "Is that you?"

I also feel uncomfortable when being referred to as a "young lady" or a "girl," and being told I'm "X years young," or being asked "How old are you?"

...Read more

Dear Annie: Eight years ago, it felt like I had a mental breakdown trying to deal with all the clutter coming in our house. I told this to my wife, but her reply was to justify why she needed everything.

Meanwhile, my frustration turned from anger to rage, and I started throwing things and shouting at her and not understanding how attached she ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My father passed away and left me a large sum of money. One of the first things I did was pay off my husband's debts totaling over $140,000. I also paid off my vehicle. I also paid $600,000 in cash for the home we live in.

For Christmas, I want to give each of my three adult children $10,000 from me and their grandfather. My husband ...Read more

Dear Annie: I recently found a pair of earrings missing from my jewelry box. These earrings had belonged to my mother. My sister-in-law spoke of wanting them and felt (for some unknown reason that she herself could not express) that she deserved them. I have no proof that she took them. I don't even know how long they've been missing.

What ...Read more