Life Advice
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Asking Eric: Relationship between younger man and older woman tempts gossips
Dear Eric: I have been widowed for almost three years now. About a year ago, I began dating a guy significantly younger than me. Prior to our romantic involvement, we were close platonic friends for more than a decade, and he was in fact a close friend of my late husband.
We communicated well and thoroughly discussed the effects that dating may...Read more
Friend Sends Unwanted Religious Videos
DEAR HARRIETTE: My dear friend has had a bit of a spiritual awakening over the past year or so. I love seeing them committed to their faith, but what comes with their newfound spirituality is preaching their gospel. I have been religious all my life, committed to my own religion. So now when my friend talks to me about his faith, it feels more ...Read more
No Winners In Host-Guest Standoff
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My sister's hardwood floors were being refinished, so I said it was fine for her to sleep on my sofa bed in my one-bedroom apartment for four nights. Knowing that she is VERY SENSITIVE to noise, I reminded her to bring her earplugs.
Around 10:15 p.m., she told me that she heard my TV (I already had the volume much lower than ...Read more
A Mother-in-Law's Criticism Could Do More Harm Than Good
Dear Annie: My son recently got married. My new daughter-in-law used to dress so cute. She always had makeup on and her hair done. But nowadays, she dresses like a slob. There are days I swear she doesn't brush her hair. She's told me herself that her mom has said to her, "What's wrong with you? Since you got married, you've let yourself go," ...Read more
Gabby Co-Workers Make It Impossible To Get Things Done
DEAR ABBY: At the company where I work, multiple departments share a workspace. While most of my colleagues are quiet and considerate, certain members of one department are very loud. They talk nonstop (nothing work-related) and have no consideration for others who are trying to work and concentrate. It has reached the point that it is next to ...Read more
Asking Eric: Close friend follows extremist groups online
Dear Eric: A close friend of 50 years has always gone out of her way, both in word and deed, to agree with my political views. She has participated enthusiastically in many advocacy events I have promoted. She has even gone so far as to express that her husband feels differently and that his views upset her so much, she might even leave him.
I ...Read more
Boyfriend's Mother Has Warning For Girlfiend
DEAR HARRIETTE: I spend a lot of time at my boyfriend's family home, and I've always felt comfortable there. I've known him and his siblings for years, so being around his family feels natural. Recently, while we were all spending time together, my boyfriend stepped away for a bit, and his mom pulled me aside in the kitchen. She told me how much...Read more
I Don't Want To Talk About My Groceries
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I believe what I buy at the grocery store is my own business, whether it's carrots and onions or products whose purpose would be embarrassing if explained. I wish supermarkets would train their staff not to comment on customer purchases, no matter how benign the sentiment. ("Oh, I like those cookies!")
Questions about ...Read more
Peace and Quiet Comes at a Price
Dear Annie: I'm 26 and sharing an apartment with two roommates who make my home life miserable. There's constant noise, passive-aggressive notes and one of them regularly invites people over late on weeknights (plus, they usually make dinner without cleaning up). I work long hours and need a peaceful home to recharge. I'd do anything to come ...Read more
Helpless Brother Bears Witness To Sister's Love Life
DEAR ABBY: My sister is involved with a wealthy man who is 20 years older. Their affair (they are both married) is now on year six as far as I know. My sister's husband is in poor health. Abby, she told him about the affair. They decided to sell their house and stop living together. Yes, they are still legally married.
The wealthy man insists ...Read more
Ask Anna: I still think about my ex years later. Should I contact them?
Dear Anna,
A few years ago, I fell into an intense long-distance relationship with someone I met through a fandom community. We went from friends to lovers, writing smutty fan fic together and talking every day. They already had a long-term partner, and although they had always considered themselves open, I was the first person they had ...Read more
Asking Eric: After estrangement, son misses out on hefty inheritance
Dear Eric: I lost my husband two years ago after a long, drawn-out decline. It was a traumatic ending.
Our son, now in his late 40s, was indifferent to his father’s decline. Our son has always been a challenge. Difficult teenage years with lots of poor decisions and rebellious behavior. He did not want to be a part of our family and has ...Read more
Person Struggles With Insecurity After Being Ghosted
DEAR HARRIETTE: I got out of a five-year relationship eight months ago and finally felt like I was ready to get back out there. I signed up for a dating app and matched with a guy. We talked for about a week and decided to meet up. However, he wasn't responsive the day of the date. I checked in multiple times, but after not hearing back, I knew ...Read more
Please Don't 'correct' People's Obituaries
DEAR MISS MANNERS: There was a 60-year member of our church who lived in our town all of her life, enjoying a 70-year marriage and raising four children here. In her 80s, she was widowed and lucky enough to remarry.
When she passed on, I was shocked to see that her newspaper obituary omitted any reference to her first marriage, her church, and ...Read more
Fish-Sitting Favor Ends in Guilt
Dear Annie: I am 22 and working at my first job out of college. My salary is low and just covers my rent, car payments and basic living expenses. I have no savings yet.
Recently, my neighbor, whom I know only to wave at, asked me to feed her fish while she went out of town. I agreed, and she took me into her apartment where she showed me her ...Read more
Politics Form Wedge Between Mother And Daughter
DEAR ABBY: After the last presidential election, my daughter, "Cindy," whom I love with all my heart, turned against me.
Cindy started rebelling when she was a teenager. Our relationship was rocky for some time, but I never stopped loving her. Once she matured, our relationship became much better, so I was shocked when she turned on me in such ...Read more
Single File: Freedom to Be
From one of my favorite books, "Risking," by David Viscott, here are some truths that resonate today as powerfully (maybe even more so) as they did when they were first published. Please give each one the time it deserves, and let me know your thoughts about them.
--For a relationship to work, both partners must have all the freedom, privacy ...Read more
Ask Dating Coach Erika: How do I get him to stop drinking?
In any relationship, budding or established, there are two competing philosophies: Take people as they come vs. ask for what you want/need, especially when it comes to certain behaviors. I want to share that these two things can co-exist, and neither has to necessarily take precedence over the other.
Yes, we have to take people as they come, ...Read more
Asking Eric: Mother struggles to tell daughters about medical diagnosis
Dear Eric: I have been undergoing tests to confirm a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, and all the signs are pointing in that direction. While I navigate the medical system, test results and diagnosis, I am faced with the challenge of telling people about all of this.
I have three grown daughters who are relatively settled in life. I would like to...Read more
70-Year-Old Has Intimacy Concerns
DEAR HARRIETTE: I have not been on the dating scene for years, but I recently put myself out there. I am a young 70-year-old, and I met a man who is in his late 50s. We hit it off and like each other a lot. We do have a problem, though. We attempted to get intimate, and it was uncomfortable and painful. It was awkward, but we still had a nice ...Read more
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