ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've recently gone sober for health reasons, and it wasn't an easy decision, especially because my social life has always involved going out for drinks, celebrating with cocktails and bonding over happy hour. When my friends and I went out last weekend, they were pressuring me to drink. I ordered a mocktail, and almost ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was invited to a dinner party and to watch an awards show on TV. One of the hosts yelled repeatedly about the results, complained about just about everything and dropped a lot of F-bombs. He also fast-forwarded through the award categories that he thought were boring without asking if the guests minded.

After yet another ...Read more

Dear Annie: I adore my cousins, I really do. We grew up together, and when they suggested coming to stay with us for a long weekend, I was genuinely excited. I pictured late-night laughs, good meals, maybe a hike, maybe some time catching up without phones buzzing every two seconds.

Instead, it turned into "Spring Break: Middle-Aged Edition."...Read more

I'm the one who ends up getting the emails when no one else answers. This time, it was suckering me into taking a board role because the original email request was responded to by crickets. Of course I'd help.

The woman who had filled the role was winding down, not out of desire, but just from the weight of days that turned into decades. She's ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've lived in my home for eight years, and it's always felt like a peaceful place to land. My husband and I have put a lot of care into it, not because we're perfect but because we enjoy sitting outside and making our yard feel welcoming. We planted a few shrubs, we keep the grass trimmed, and I love tending to my small flower bed ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My parents have always been wonderful and supportive. As they grow older, it's hard to see them deal with the aches and pains that come with age -- especially my mother, who has rheumatoid arthritis. In an effort to ease their burden, I pay for a monthly cleaning service to help them maintain their large home. While I'm happy to ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My daughter is going to be a senior in high school next year, so my husband and I have started talking about colleges. She told us that she wants to go to college abroad in London. Her dad and I donÕt like this idea at all because sheÕll be so far away from us. We live in California and couldnÕt stand the fact that she wonÕt ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When shopping for clothes, perfect strangers will offer their opinions and show me clothes that they have picked out for me, when no request for their help has been made.

I know that they are doing this to be kind, but I know exactly what I want to buy, so why do people do this? How can I respond to their offers of assistance...Read more

Dear Annie: I moved 600 miles away from my hometown 40 years ago, but keeping up a relationship with my parents (who've since passed) and my four siblings was always important to me. Family was paramount to my mother, and she instilled that same value in me.

I traveled back home countless times, eventually with my husband and two children, ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My 29-year-old son, "Earl," has an MBA. He started drinking and doing drugs at the age of 16. Earl is highly intelligent, and he successfully hid his addiction from me. When I realized its existence, just before he left for college, it was too late for me to do anything. I offered to send him to rehab, but he refused.

I am a single ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my closest friends has been in an off-and-on relationship with someone I don't think is the best for them. I do not often give my opinion on my friendsÕ partners, as it is not my place to critique their relationships, but I have seen this person make my friend feel awful on one too many occasions for me to be OK with ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I sometimes get a coffee to go from a local shop, and I stop at the little station to add sugar, cream, etc. to my cup. As at most coffeeshops, this station is pretty small.

If someone is there, I usually ask something such as, "Would I be in your way if I reached for some sugar?" Other times I just wait for the person to ...Read more

Dear Annie: I recently introduced my 62-year-old husband to emojis, and now I fear I've made a huge mistake. Every text I receive -- whether it's "Pick up milk" or "Your sister called" -- is followed by a winking face, a heart and, inexplicably, a rocket ship. He signs grocery lists with smiley faces. He even sent our plumber three ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have been married 44 years and have always slept in the same bed with my wife. Last week, I caught a virus, and we decided that I would sleep in the spare bedroom until it was gone. I have now discovered I sleep better by myself, and I enjoy the freedom of the bed. How do I tell my wife I'd prefer sleeping alone? I love her to death...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: There's a guy I like. We've spent time around each other in group settings, and he seems like someone worth exploring. There's chemistry between us; we flirt often, but part of me is afraid to cross the line. The complication is that we have a mutual friend who can be incredibly nosy and invasive. This friend has a habit of ...Read more