ArcaMax

Dear Annie: What is the etiquette with handicapped stalls in restrooms? When I go into a public restroom and there are multiple stalls to choose from, I like to go with the handicapped one because it's roomier. I imagine that many other people do, too. Is that wrong? If I ever saw someone with a handicap, I would of course yield to that person...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a widowed stepmother of a man and a woman. My husband and I had a cordial relationship with their mother. I grew to love her, and I think she liked me.

My stepdaughter, "Renee," has been divorced for 2 1/2 years. She and her ex, "Matt," share custody of their three children. Matt sought the divorce, and Renee has never gotten...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a tricky problem going on right now. I am married and have been for a while -- 20-plus years. It's been a typical marriage, with its ups and downs, but I'd say I've been fairly content and things have been pretty good. Right now, I would say I am in the middle of my life, so this issue could very well be a midlife crisis. I ...Read more

Dear Annie: I recently dated a woman for five months. She is in her late 70s like me. She is twice widowed. Husband No. 2 passed away three years ago.

My lady friend and I were together for dinners, outdoor community events and theater performances, and I competed some light landscaping work around her house and some minor household repairs. ...Read more

Dear Annie: We would like your advice before there is a problem. We will be moving later this year to live with our son and his family. They have a duplex, and we will have our own unit. We expect to provide child care to our granddaughter and for the new baby coming soon. We will all be together during the Thanksgiving weekend and have plans ...Read more

Dear Annie: Nearly a year ago, my sister was in a devastating accident. She had been drinking heavily. Thank goodness, no one else was involved. She has a massive brain injury and will never be the same. Throughout the years, we used to discuss the idea of living in such a condition. She and I both expressed the feeling that we would rather ...Read more

Dear Readers: In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I would like to thank all of you -- my readers. I particularly want to single out those of you who have reached out by offering your questions and opinions. Without you, the column would not be possible. To celebrate this special day, I'd like to share one of my favorite poems, because it helps ...Read more

Dear Annie: Over the past year, I've discovered that there are some people in this world who are OK with "just getting by" with what is available -- including leaning on or using what another person under the same roof has.

How does one inspire another to get a job and thus the money and things needed for life?

I have supported the one under...Read more

Dear Annie: My sister and I grew up in a pretty troubled home. Thankfully, I got out of the house by leaving for college, but my sister has not been so lucky. School has never been easy for her, so she is still stuck in a toxic home environment. I make sure to show her lots of support and listen whenever she needs someone to talk to. I know ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a work colleague whose married son died about six months ago of cancer. His son was in his 40s.

My friend is upset that his son's wife never put an obituary in the newspaper. Seeing as it is still bothering him, I said he should put one in the paper himself. But he thinks it is too late now.

It seems as if more and more ...Read more

Dear Annie: Ever since we moved to a place that is central to all my husband's relatives, they have treated us as the Free Holiday Inn. For the past 10 years, we have suffered their unending onslaught of visits. They come to visit their hometown, not to visit us; they just stay with us because it's free. The hotels in our area are extremely ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am the youngest of five siblings between the ages of 63 and 72. Our parents are deceased. There was much stress over the loss of our mother four years ago. We each received a big inheritance. However, there was much tension over the money.

They all come here to vacation, and this is where my mother lived. It is stressful for me ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a college student and have met few people I would consider friends. However, there is one friend in particular, "Sally," whom I have helped out a lot since we met. There have been times when I've taken her to and from work (she has paid me back for gas), and I even helped guide her to the Lord after a friend died by suicide. I...Read more

Dear Annie: I recently moved to a noisy downtown apartment building. I'm a pretty deep sleeper, but the noise level at my new place is challenging even for my normally sound slumbers. I would just wear earplugs to bed, but I'm worried that would keep me from waking up to my alarm in the morning. I've tried over-the-counter sleep aids, but ...Read more

Dear Annie: Many years ago, I was in the U.S. military. I was sent to Southeast Asia and served three six-month tours. On my last tour, I suspected my wife had an affair, but I had no proof. While I was in training for a job after I was released from active duty, I heard that my wife had spent the night with one of the men from the base. I ...Read more

Dear Annie: A former co-worker of my husband's invited us to his son's wedding. We received the usual "save the date" card one year prior to the ceremony. For the whole year, he asked us whether we would be attending every other week. About six months before the wedding, my husband's contract was not renewed, and he was temporarily unemployed....Read more

Dear Annie: With the upcoming gift season, I have a question regarding dollar limits set by clubs.

Say an amount is set at $10. Does that mean the gift value or the dollar amount spent on the gift? Recently, I had a coupon for candles that were "buy one, get one free." This allowed me to purchase the $24 candles for $9.50. My friend said I ...Read more

Dear Annie: My son and his wife hardly ever really clean their house. The bathroom on the main level gets cleaned once in a while -- when friends are coming over -- but the ones upstairs are disgusting. When I have stayed there, I've cleaned the bathroom I use because I can't stand it. They've lived in this house for three years, and there is ...Read more

Dear Annie: Yesterday my husband and I spent three hours on the road, traveling from our home to our nephew's college football game. We told my sister we planned to attend his game and gave up tickets to a Division I game in our hometown. I called my sister on the way there to ask whether she could save us seats. It was then that I found out ...Read more

Dear Annie: For almost three years after college, I worked at a science camp in the nearby mountains year-round. I was working with a group of five other counselors, and we became incredibly close. Working together nine-plus hours a day with like-minded people who are similar in age will do that. It was very fun doing what we all loved for so ...Read more