ArcaMax

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

Summer Tips

Ask yourself when love comes to a halt: What can I do to nourish myself, to fill the emptiness? Has my life changed so totally that I need to figure things out again? Or is there something I postponed for the sake of ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my neighbors yelled at my 10-year-old for not being careful while crossing the street. My family's house is a few doors down from a turn where it can sometimes be difficult to make sure that it is clear to cross the street. Usually my daughter is very responsible, making sure to be extra careful when crossing the street to...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: The employees at the school I work at have been asked not to wear scents due to the alleged allergies claimed by a co-worker. The students have not been directed to do the same.

So I arranged with a co-worker I'm friends with to thank her profusely, in front of the "allergic" person, for the body spray she gave me. My friend ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a 9-year-old son from a previous relationship and a 3-year-old daughter with my current partner. He is a wonderful, involved father and partner. He makes lunches, does laundry, cleans up after dinner, helps with bedtime and will often notice something needs to be done before I even ask.

The strange part is that instead of ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm a college junior in need of advice. I share an apartment with two other female students, "Wendy" and "Lauren," who roomed together before I met them. Wendy is sweet and easygoing, but she grew up in a rural area and seems very sheltered. For example, she can't swim and thinks that eating shrimp is exotic, but she likes to clog ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I want to pursue a bachelor's degree. I know what you're thinking: Go for it. The catch is, I've been down this road before -- a few times. The first few times I went to college were at my parents' behest. Based on how many times I changed my major and my lack of effort, I'd say I wasn't particularly ready at the time. Now that I...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I know a few people who define everyone by their weight. Now, these people aren't perfect themselves, but their imperfections aren't as readily apparent as being fat. No imperfection is as apparent as that!

It drives me nuts when they describe someone as "chubby" or "fat" when no physical description is even necessary. One of...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a friend I've known for more than 30 years. He is a good person, loyal and generous, and we share a lot of history. The problem is that he has absolutely no sense of when he has lost a room.

At dinner parties, he can take over the entire conversation with a story that lasts 15 or 20 minutes. And these are not short, lively ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My father passed away three months ago, leaving my mom alone for the first time in her life. She lives nearby, so my wife and I have been doing what we can. We have her over several times a week, and we visit and call to check in often.

Mom is having a hard time and sometimes forgets to eat or get dressed if we don't remind her. ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My teenage daughter broke up with her first boyfriend, and she's having a tough time getting over him. It's been almost a year, and she still talks about him incessantly and says he was the love of her life. I have told her many times that she is 16 years old, and she has so much time to meet other people who will love her more. ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A number of my friends have gone back to school for graduate degrees, while I and a few others continue to work.

When we all worked, we had similar financial means and were able to plan events far in advance. We went to the theater, had dinner at home or out, had parties and so forth.

I was prepared for my friends to be in ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been married for 45 years to a man who has never wanted much adventure in his life. His idea of a big night out is taking a short drive, finding a supper club, eating dinner and coming straight home so he can settle into his recliner.

For years, I begged him to travel with me. I wanted to see new places, experience ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I respectfully disagree with your response to "Woman's wedding has been hijacked." These mothers have no business trying to co-opt the bridal couple's wedding. If the daughter gives in, it's only the beginning of these two mothers trying to strong-arm themselves into trying to make future decisions for this poor couple.

The couple ...Read more

Some weeks have themes. The theme for my week was authenticity. I had to make choices about what it meant to live an authentic life, and unfortunately, someone who embodied it better than almost anyone else went to rest this week.

The doomscrolling looked more positive, if only because it was filled with tributes to Dolly Parton. More than ...Read more