ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I am beside myself. I am tired and frustrated. I married my husband over 17 years ago. He is 11 years older than me. When we married, he had a teenage son. Shortly after we married, his son, in his senior year, decided to go live with his mother on the other side of the world. He would keep in touch with his dad by phone and visit ...Read more

Dear Annie: I guess I need to be brought into 2020 on an issue of wedding etiquette. I lived for several years in the Deep South, and it was a common practice to feed your family before attending a wedding, BBQ or other function, especially when you had children. The reason is so that your spouse and kids would not swarm the appetizer table or...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a female, 67 years old, living alone, no children, and my house is paid for. I live in Virginia.

My only sister (I have no other siblings), Mary, is 70, has a husband, and they have an adult son and adult daughter, all living in Florida. My best friend, Jane, 67, lives a mile from me, and I talk with her on the phone or visit...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm recently divorced and seeing someone. We talk openly about our divorces and ex-spouses. There are no hard feelings either way. She has children, and I don't. We are in our 50s.

I had a prior marriage at a very young age. I was in the service and lonely. It was a long-distance relationship, and we were married within two years....Read more

Dear Annie: What's the correct etiquette for giving gifts for "reverse order" weddings? I have seen several times where a couple will first have a small civil ceremony to get married without the immediate expense of a formal wedding. Then, about a year later, they will have a formal wedding and reception, with the wedding shower being held ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband is in his late 50s and works in road construction. Every time that he is assigned to a job that lasts at least six to eight weeks, he always seems to start trying to pick up a female co-worker, usually in the age range of 25 to 35. He will buy them cigarettes and lunch and drinks and is super sweet to them. He texts them...Read more

Dear Annie: The COVID-19 pandemic broke my relationship. I was with my guy for 14 years, and we live in different towns. When all this stuff started, we both agreed that we couldn't see each other because his elderly mother lives with him. That was all fine. But then I asked him to please stay in contact, by phone or text or email. I waited ...Read more

Dear Annie: For 25 years, a very close couple would get together with us for a nice meal. We did lots of things including trips and outings. Eighteen months ago, my friend suddenly died. Her husband is now dating a very lovely woman (I hear), and we are glad he is happy.

We expect them to travel to our area this summer, and possibly, we will ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am about to retire. I don't want to sit around watching TV after retirement, so I'd like to adopt a retired greyhound to keep me company. I had hoped to have him or her certified as my therapy dog.

My husband retired 15 years ago, and he has already developed retirement interests. When he is not pursuing those, he is perfectly ...Read more

Dear Annie: As birthdays and important holidays approach, like the recent Father's Day, I am forced to reanalyze my social anxiety all over again. I know I should call friends and family members to let them know I'm thinking about them, but I get butterflies in my stomach and put it off for hours because I feel like I never know what to say. ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am really tired of all this negative news about "broken" families. I raised my two children, and we were not "broken." It is time for single parents (mostly mothers) to band together. I could have made three times as much as I did had I taken those jobs that took me away from my children. We just lived on what I made, not on what...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband has a long history of being unfaithful to me. He says that it isn't cheating because he can't help himself. I've forgiven him five times.

Recently, I discovered that he's been going to a website where a girl talks to him on a webcam. In exchange for their virtual time together, he buys her jewelry, clothes and other ...Read more

Dear Annie: Your column is part of my morning ritual. I have three grandchildren, and they're all approaching the age where they'll be learning how to drive. Our adult children are now 48, 44 and 41. Some years ago, when they were learning how to drive, I came across John Violette's "Contract for Drivers," clipped it, and stowed it away. ...Read more

Dear Annie: With this pandemic and people out of work, this might be a good way to get a few people back to work AND to save a ton of money. Both small and large businesses need to purge their mailing lists. I get mail from places I may have sent for a catalog years ago but haven't done business with them for many years. I have even cut off ...Read more

Dear Annie: I was reading "Don't Call Me 'Dear'" and wanted to give you my two cents' worth. I am a woman, 72 years old. If someone calls you "dear," "sweetie," "sweetheart" or something like this, you should take it as a compliment. This applies whether the person doing the calling is a woman or a man, and it doesn't matter if the person is a...Read more

Dear Annie: I recently read the letter from A Better Man Today, who was concerned about people reading his personal diary, particularly about his "dark times."

I agree with your answer but would like to add one more idea. Create a "burn box" and entrust it to someone who will not open it or divulge its contents but will see that it is ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm heartbroken over an event that took place 52 years ago.

I dated a girl in high school for several years and was truly in love. After I graduated from high school in 1967, I asked her to marry me. She took my hand and said that she couldn't because she was pregnant from her former boyfriend. I was shocked, hurt and destroyed ...Read more

Dear Annie: I know a 60-year-old woman who wears high-heeled shoes and no pantyhose with miniskirts -- without even a slip underneath. When she wears light-colored miniskirts, they're somewhat see-through in the daylight. She wears bikini-style underwear, and through the skirt, there are visible rolls around her bottom, waist and stomach. She'...Read more

Dear Annie: This summer we have been invited to four weddings. Of the four events, three have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

We are in the high-risk category with our age and underlying health conditions. The one remaining scheduled wedding would require us to travel by car to another state, which would mean stopping for gas, ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am shattered and torn apart. My son, who served eight and half years in prison for drugs, was released last Thanksgiving. Within four days of release, "Ray" had a job as a cook, had joined a gym and was working out every day. His life was all positive.

Then the pandemic came. The restaurant closed, and the gym shut down. Ray ...Read more