ArcaMax

Dear Annie: My son lives in California and is going to marry a local girl in the fall. Our entire family lives in the Midwest. My husband and I, along with our daughter's family, will attend. But I know it is far too expensive for any of my relatives to be there.

Should they receive invitations even though we know they can't come? I don't want ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for three years and lived together for 15 years before that. Sex has always been difficult. Last week, I found him masturbating outside in the backyard.

What should I do? Should I consult a doctor? My husband refuses to talk about it at all. --

Dear Need: If sex has been an issue for the past 18 ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a 13-year-old boy, and I'm too embarrassed to talk to my parents about this.

I have been best friends with "Danny" since the first grade. We are like brothers. A few weeks ago, Danny and I were at my house, and he said he had something to tell me but was afraid of my reaction. I finally got him to confess that he thinks he is ...Read more

Dear Annie: A year ago, my husband's grown daughter announced that she would be getting married this summer. She has lived in another state since her graduation from college five years ago. Despite heated conversations, she decided to marry there, saying her friends' attendance is more important than having her family there.

Her father has ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I are successful professionals with no children. Our mothers are both well off and have been generous to our siblings, who, for various reasons, have needed a lot of help. My husband and I tender free professional and some financial assistance to both sides of our families.

My mother-in-law takes opportunities to show...Read more

Dear Annie: My youngest son is 34 years old and lives with my wife and me. He is an alcoholic and is unemployed, with no interest in getting a job. He helps at home by doing the cooking. He is a great cook by trade. He was laid off as head cook at a restaurant and can't get over it.

My son is a good person, and I love him very much. He claims ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am very concerned about my brother's daughters, ages 18 and 20. My brother and his wife divorced when the girls were young. He and his ex do not get along and communicate poorly. She often berates him, and he remains silent.

Their daughters were shuttled back and forth between their parents' homes, but they lived mainly with their...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a male, over 60, gray, balding and noticeably overweight. Because of back problems, I choose to wear suspenders instead of a belt. So, why is it that women of all ages think it's OK to snap my suspenders, or at least express a desire to do so? Most recently, it was a younger woman on the staff of a hospital ER while I was ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm a 24-year-old male who has been crossdressing since the age of 8. It started with collecting my own bras and panties, and now I have an entire wardrobe of women's clothing.

Because I currently live on my own, I change out of my male clothes into my female ones as soon as I come home from work. I've also had very serious thoughts...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a 55-year-old man, divorced for the past 15 years. My daughter is 24 years old and married to a good guy, and they have two lovely boys. Although I have struggled with depression over the years, I try to live a good, honest Christian life. I raised my two children as a single parent, and my ex has become a deadbeat mother. My ex...Read more

Dear Annie: At least once a week, I get an unsolicited phone call from "Rachel from Cardholder Services." This seems to be an obvious scam to get me to switch to another credit card or maybe just to get personal information. I have received these calls both in Connecticut and Florida. When I ask, "Who do you represent?" they hang up.

I am now ...Read more

Dear Annie: I read the letter from "Richard," who was named for a hero of World War II, but whose nickname ("Dick") elicits snickers. My name is Richard, and my friends call me Dick. I'm 79 and 6-foot-4. I was football captain in high school, played at university, and spent four years as a military police paratrooper, so I have a few advantages ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a 54-year-old widow living in a large and active retirement community. I am engaged to "Pete," a 64-year-old man whom I've been seeing for a year. We get along very well and have many common interests.

Pete has a 20-year-old mentally challenged son living with him, and we also get along fine. (My grown children live in another ...Read more

Dear Annie: My dad was a proud veteran of WWII. When he died 20 years ago, he willed his medals to my brother "Jim" and the Bible he carried during the war to my brother "Ray." Eventually, Ray gave the Bible to Jim. My mother also gave other army memorabilia to Jim, thinking it should all be together.

Jim recently informed me that when he dies,...Read more

Dear Annie: I married "Oliver" 20 year ago, and we moved to a small Midwestern city where Oliver was offered a well-paying job. I'm impressed with my husband's "staying power" and am proud that he's been able to keep this job through thick and thin. However, his pay leveled out a few years ago, and he hasn't had an appreciable raise in many ...Read more

Dear Annie: For four years, I have been trying to leave an abusive marriage. I've been working with various agencies that are budget strapped and overwhelmed with clients. I finally found a friend who offered to let me stay with her, but she lives four hours away, and I cannot afford a rental car. Then my husband tells his boss that he needs ...Read more

Dear Annie: My grandmother picked up her first cigarette when she was 11, beginning an addiction that ultimately would take her life. Her story is unfortunately common.

I became a tobacco control advocate to spread the message that tobacco is harmful. I don't want to see people's lives or dreams destroyed by these products. I am confident that ...Read more

Dear Annie: Our only child passed away last year after a long battle with cancer. He was in his early 20s, and we were grateful that my family and many of his college friends were by his side throughout.

The problem is my husband's side of the family. With the exception of his 88-year-old mother, who lives far away and phoned regularly, the ...Read more

Dear Annie: I love your column, but disagree with the advice you gave to "Frustrated Husband," whose wife visits with her irritating ex-college roommate. You suggested he visit family and friends elsewhere in order to avoid the woman.

The husband's feelings should take priority over the ex-roommate. The wife and the annoying ex-roommate should ...Read more

Dear Annie: My sister and I traveled independently to Nebraska in order to care for our mother after she was hospitalized. We were there for two months, taking turns sleeping on an air mattress by her bed. Mom finally was well enough to travel back to my home so I could care for her here.

During the time we spent in Nebraska, my sister and I ...Read more