ArcaMax

DEAR ABBY: I will soon be married 48 years, but it is not much of a marriage. There is no sex, no touching, no kind and compassionate words, only bickering and arguing. I can't figure out why I'm still here. I have thought about leaving many times.

I have written three books, and because of it, my husband has ridiculed me. I have also owned and...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My 36-year-old son lives with me, which benefits both of us. I am retired and his income helps. The problem I'm having is he hoards garbage.

It's terrible. There's garbage on his bed, and it has reached the ceiling in other parts of the room. This has been going on for many years.

Two years ago, I filled up two large garbage bags to...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend of two years will be attending a bachelor party in Las Vegas. We've never had any issues of infidelity, yet I can't help but feel anxious about his upcoming trip. I know the scene that exists in Vegas -- I'm in my mid-20s and I enjoyed my trips there when I was younger and single.

I'm worried about him and his friends ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been married for many years, work long schedules, and actually sleep when we go to bed at night. Saturday afternoon, we had nothin' to do, so I suggested some hanky-panky. We were just getting into it when the phone rang.

I told her to let it go to voicemail, but when our married daughter's name was caller-ID-...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My son and I are very close. He joined the Marine Corps (a decision I fully support) and shipped out recently.

I had read on a Marine family site that frequent letters from home are encouraged, so I had letters written even before I got his mailing address. I sent off three letters the day I got his address and another one three days...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have a super-sensitive adult child who calls me regularly to criticize another sibling. Mothers do not like to hear their children being criticized by anyone -- including their siblings. It's hurtful, no matter who does it.

I'm an old lady, and I don't need this stress. I love all my children. They all are successful people with ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: Please help with some advice regarding my children. My almost-ex-wife filed for divorce while asking me to work on myself. She refused counseling despite our 17 years of marriage and two children, ages 12 and 10. While I was out of our family home -- at her request -- she was dating a married (unemployed) man who has a child of his ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: Yesterday I was in a retail store with my service dog. The clerk asked me what kind of service dog she was and I replied, She's my service dog. She kept pressing me as to exactly why I have one, so I asked her if she was inquiring about my disability. When she said, Yes, I politely informed her that federal HIPAA laws protect my right...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I retired after a 40-year career. A friend from work, Bernie, is the same age I am (62) but is still working.

Six years ago, I had a serious health crisis. Three years ago, Bernie survived a heart attack. Since then, Bernie worries incessantly about dying. He exercises rigorously and eats a strictly vegan diet. I like to spend time ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My husband, Ralph, and I have been married for 30 years. He recently started receiving sexually oriented texts from a male co-worker I'll call Mike. What Ralph once read aloud to me saying, He's such a goof. Listen to this! has now become covert reading for him.

Ralph and I have no secrets. Our phones are accessible to each other, so...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I just moved in together. We have been a couple for seven years. Until now, we have lived with our parents.

I knew moving in would be a struggle for him because he's very close to his four siblings. Now that we've moved in, he calls and video chats with them every day, visits twice a week or more and has sleepovers. ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I am at that age when most of my friends and colleagues are having children. I suffered a miscarriage (my first pregnancy) a few months ago, and I have been feeling depressed and helpless about the situation.

We are seeing a fertility specialist, so I am positive about our chances. However, when my husband and I are invited to attend...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I dearly love my husband. We've been married 33 years. We have raised three productive citizens, have five beautiful grandchildren and live in the heartland of America.

Like most couples, we've had our ups and downs. My problem is my husband is a slob. He always has been, but it's getting worse.

He works. I stayed home and raised ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I am a bridesmaid for my brother's upcoming wedding. However, his fiancee is throwing out some crazy mandates for the big day.

1. All family members must wear contact lenses. Glasses will not be allowed because they look ugly in pictures. (Both her mom and my parents wear glasses.)

2. She made my father get dental work to improve ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: Suggesting that an older couple (Upset in Washington, June 13) move to a community for people over age 55 because they're bothered by the neighbors' children playing outside early in the morning is just one more example of how we have ended up living in a world of intolerance and division.

I'm the mother of a lively 6-year-old boy, ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm a happily married woman in my 30s. Although we don't have children yet, many of our friends do. Some of them have boys who are approaching or are already in their early teens.

I'm embarrassed to even ask, but what are the best ways to avoid or immediately stop unwanted just-reaching-puberty attention from young boys? I am modest ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: Two years ago, I married a kind, hard-working man I'll call Travis. These two years have been the best of my life, and I couldn't imagine a better husband. However, I just got some news I feel is threatening our marriage.

Travis' friend from childhood, Bethany, wants to start a family with her wife. Travis informed me that he agreed ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I am in a long-distance relationship with a man who lives halfway across the country. Because he's very wealthy, he arranges for all the airfare. I am a single mother and I have limited finances.

Bruce owns a successful business and, through his business, racks up millions of credit card points. He never pays out of pocket for any ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My granddaughter Ruby has been cyberbullied. I suspect a friend of hers who is her on-again, off-again friend. When the girl is off, she is cruel, but Ruby is very attached to her.

Ruby has told her dad and me she's so depressed and has such low self-esteem from it and that she has started cutting herself. (I think she has just ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I am 74, and my wife is 71. We are lonely. All of our friends have died, and we have no relatives in this state. We both have health issues that keep us mostly housebound. That leaves out volunteering and sports, and the high cost of gas is a factor.

We live in our own home and want to continue living here. Our home is in a ...Read more