ArcaMax

Dear Annie: My husband and I are both in our mid-80s, and we are beginning to experience health issues. We have four children from his former marriage. We have been married for 48 years. I have always expected to go to a nursing home when my health declines to that point. My husband vehemently says he will never go to one. I do know that once ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband passed away seven years ago from complications from Alzheimer's disease. We had very dear friends whom we went everywhere with -- church, movies, plays, vacations. The husband of my friend also had Alzheimer's, and he passed away a year and a half later. The two of us bonded even more and went to church, out to eat, etc....Read more

Dear Annie: I have a very sensitive office environment problem. My office mate smells, and the smell permeates the entire office and even gets stuck to my clothes. And I'm not the only one who can smell it. Other co-workers have noticed it, too. I think it's a matter of not changing clothes enough or not bathing well or often enough. She is ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have had a very close friend for many years. She was diagnosed with cancer, and I wanted to stand by her, of course. Then one night, her husband gave me a ride home from their house and tried to rape me.

She depends on him completely. She does not work outside the home, and her health insurance is through him. He is her only ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am writing to you looking for help with substance abuse. I would like to find a natural way of releasing myself totally from this disease, as well as from crushing grief I'm experiencing from loss.

I recently lost my kids' father. I have taken it really hard, to the point that I lost myself. A part of me has so many regrets from...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm not sure whether there is any advice you can give me, but here goes. I am a 23-year-old gay man. I have been living with my 56-year-old boyfriend, "Bob," for the past four years. I love Bob but am no longer in love with him. I would like to move out but don't make very much money and can't afford it. I can't move back with ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a 72-year-old married (for now) man. I was just told by my wife that she wants a divorce because I am no fun. We've been married for almost 50 years. Apparently, she has been planning this for quite some time. She got a face-lift, wants liposuction, etc. She goes out dancing and has been working out.

This activity has been ...Read more

Dear Annie: The other day, I was working from a cafe close to my house. As I sat there for a few hours, I saw a number of men spitting on the sidewalk as they passed by. Men in dirty clothes, men in fancy suits, young men, old men -- it seems to be a trait shared by all types of men. Fond as I am of finding and cultivating common connections ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am writing you in hopes of getting, well, a little shred of hope. I come from a lower-middle-class family that has always been short on money, high on stress and full of love despite that. Growing up, I always admired the fact that my parents served a healthy, comforting meal every night, despite having multiple jobs, and waited ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been wanting to write to you about this for a while. About one-twelfth of people have December birthdays. Mine is in the second week of December.

When I was a child, my birthday celebration would get lost amid all the holiday events. It'd get mashed together with some big get-together or sometimes be pretty much forgotten. ...Read more

Dear Annie: My mom recently had a health scare. Although she is OK for now, it has limited her mobility, and she's not nearly so active as she used to be. She always has been really active in the community and has had a heart for seniors. Unfortunately, that also means that most of her friends are in similar straits -- mostly housebound and ...Read more

Dear Annie: My son's best friend, "Travis," has started to call me by my first name. For as long as I can remember, I was "Mrs. Thomas." But yesterday, when I brought over lunch for the boys, Travis said, "Thanks, Susan." I thought it may have been a joke and chuckled a little and put down the plates. But the next day, I drove Travis and my ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a 50-year-old woman. I have two adult children and two grandchildren. I am a recovering addict. My daughter chose to stay with me during all those painful years. Now, after many years alone, I finally met someone who loves me, and I love her -- yes, "her." My partner is a woman. "Sally" and I have been living together for ...Read more

Dear Annie: My elder brother, his girlfriend and I have always been very close. Let's call them "Ryan" and "Beth."

We used to text and call one another often and even hang out a lot. But a few months ago, I introduced my friend "Donna" to Beth. And for the past few months, they've been hanging out more and more. Now they are the ones who hang...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a question of etiquette. Our adult sons (who are older than 40), their wives and our grandchildren often visit over the weekends for family sit-down dinners. We do this pretty much every weekend because they live close by and we enjoy the chance to keep up with our daughters-in-law and grandchildren.

Our boys and their ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am hoping that you can help me solve this problem. My son recently divorced the mother of his two children. My former daughter-in-law has decided to unfriend me on Facebook and talk negatively about me to others. I would like to still be able to show my friends pictures of my grandchildren from her Facebook page. I am very sorry ...Read more

Dear Annie: I want to tell you my story. My father was an alcoholic wife-beater. My crib was in a corner of my parents' bedroom, and I have a vivid memory of him beating her as I stood in my crib crying in terror. He turned to me and warned that if I didn't shut up, I would get some of the same. I sobbed myself to sleep without anyone to ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a 20-year-old woman, and I feel that my family is toxic for me. My grandfather, aunts and uncles have raised me since I was 3 years old. I do not know where my father is, and my mother is not supporting me. (It goes without saying that she and I don't have a great relationship.)

My grandfather is the one who pays to send me ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I are in our 60s and now both retired. About 18 months ago, I picked up his cellphone by mistake. (We had very similar phones at the time.) I discovered he was texting a former co-worker who is an attractive 30-something divorcee and who, when I first met her, introduced herself as my husband's "work girlfriend."

...Read more

Dear Annie: My 52-year-old stepdaughter is on drugs and has been for 20 years. Her mom has had her removed from our home four or five times, but she is now back living here. She is causing so much stress to the whole family, and we do not know where to go for help. She refuses to go to any type of rehab.

She is paranoid -- barricading herself...Read more