ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am having severe anxiety attacks about losing my job. The company I work for has been doing small reorganizations of my department all year. It feels like I am just waiting for my turn to be let go. I am a poor interviewer, and I don't have a large network. Since the economy is so bad, I am scared it may take me years to find a...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am sufficiently old-school that I will sometimes answer a phone call from an unfamiliar number for which no caller ID is displayed, rather than letting it go to voicemail.

If I say hello, and the caller asks to speak to (name), is it rude of me to reply by asking, "Who is calling, please?" Also, does it matter whether the ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm a 63-year-old widow with three grown children. Two of them live nearby and are wonderful children, while the third is estranged and lives several states away. It's been six years since I've seen her. She's sent very brief emails wishing me a happy birthday, etc., but nothing more.

Over the course of these six years, my other ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I had three close girlfriends in college. We lost touch with one of them more than 35 years ago. She has family in our area but moved to the Midwest and stopped communicating with us, though she regularly visits family nearby.

Over the years, I got a new job, married, had two kids, divorced, moved and retired. This friend has ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've been fasting for years -- sometimes for my faith, sometimes for my health -- and overall, it's been a meaningful practice for me. The structure I follow is usually water or tea throughout the day, then one meal after 6 p.m. The challenge is, I've started to notice that when I go long stretches without food, my mood can shift...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My mother-in-law recently returned from New Zealand bearing gifts for her children and their spouses. Each gift was very well-thought-out and personalized.

However, when she got to me, she claimed she'd forgotten my gift in her car and left the house for several minutes, presumably to retrieve it. When she returned, she ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been friends with "Mark" since high school, which was over 15 years ago. He actually feels more like a brother than a friend. But over the past year, there's been a shift in him. He's gotten deep, deep into conspiracy theories. Every conversation somehow turns into a rant about the government's hidden agenda or the evils of ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have a next-door neighbor who is retired and takes care of his wife, who has dementia. He's a nice enough person, but he has no personal boundaries. He is intrusive and knocks on my door while I'm working two to three days per week. My work area is close to the door, and if I ignore the knock, he just knocks again. I am on the phone...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Recently, I presented a classmate of mine with an opportunity to step into her career. We were talking about career goals, and she mentioned she wanted to gain more experience. I knew of a low-stakes event that would allow building connections with industry professionals, so I shared as many details as I could and let her know I ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: At a restaurant, is there a way to ask to be served by a waiter or waitress other than the one assigned to our table?

My wife and I have patronized a local establishment for several years, but have sometimes been served by a waitress who, on her best days, is unfriendly, indifferent, unwelcoming and forgetful about our orders...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for eight years, and every vacation we take somehow turns into a group trip. He used to only invite his brother or his parents, but now the expectation is basically that we travel as one big extended family.

The problem is, I don't enjoy these trips. His family is kind but overbearing. I feel ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: A few years ago, my husband and I bought a home together with his sister. We share the bills and chores and, for the most part, it works. We live in a nicer home than we could afford on our own.

Frequently, though, my husband and his sister have discussions and make decisions regarding the house without including me. I have ...Read more

As promised, here is more food for thought. Read the following sentences closely, and mark whether you agree or disagree with each.

--Going places alone is the last resort. It makes me look and feel like a reject.

--Marriage and children are the ultimate fulfillment for every woman.

--Being married is better than being single.

--Women who ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been dating my boyfriend for six years now, and I have developed a close relationship with his family. We got along immediately, and they welcomed me in. His mom and I speak regularly for long periods, and my boyfriend feels like it's excessive. He doesn't have the best relationship with his mom, and he feels like she isn'...Read more