ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I'm devastated. My oldest and dearest friend of 50 years visited me recently. We had a good day together, and everything seemed normal.

A few hours after she left, I found a letter she left in my bathroom. It said some very hurtful things -- that our friendship was toxic and she was walking away. She's blocked me from calling or ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have been medically retired for three years. My husband, who has always been a stay-at-home dad, is now on Social Security and is home with me. He has a variety of interests and is healthy and able to get around more than I am.

Earlier in our marriage, I had a cat, "Miss Kitty," who was my companion and whom I adored. She would ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Last weekend, I went to a gathering at my friendÕs house. While there, one of the people present asked how IÕve been, since she'd heard I was going through a rough time. I must have looked confused, because she proceeded to share intimate details about a rough patch I experienced with my ex. This is a woman IÕve met maybe ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I heard this anecdote in college and a couple of times in the years since then: An applicant goes to a job interview. There is a piece of crumpled paper on the floor of the interviewer's office, not far from a trash can. This a test: Anyone who doesn't stop to pick up the trash and dispose of it will not be hired because they ...Read more

Dear Annie: My dad is turning 73 next month, and my mom is throwing this big party for him. She is begging me to come, but my parents live across the country -- a six-hour plane ride. I work full time and have two kids under 5. My family only takes a trip like this once or twice a year, and if I'm really honest with myself, I don't want to ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My brothers and I loved our father. He was an alcoholic until he was 37. After he stopped drinking, we became the best of friends. He was both mother and father to me, and I was so proud of him.

Dad remarried 33 years later to a woman I can only describe as diabolical. At first, "Selma" was full of compliments and smiles toward us. ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I stole my neighborÕs dog. HeÕs asking for the dog back, but I told him no. To add context to the situation, my neighbor has been mistreating this dog since he first got him over a year ago. The dog is too thin, his fur is unkempt and to top it all off, his owner leaves him outside all year round. We live in Michigan, and the ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: During the weekends, my partner and I will be out in the yard, toiling away at various landscaping and home improvement projects, and sometimes our neighbors are out doing the same.

I have no issues with any of our neighbors, but here's where my partner and I disagree: He will go over to the fence and have a lengthy chat with...Read more

Dear Annie: I am the grandmother of two. My almost-3-year-old granddaughter told me she does not love her "Uncle Dave." I asked her why and she said because he tickles her. Her parents, my son and his wife, push their kids to "give hugs" upon visiting and leaving friends and relatives.

I mentioned this to my daughter-in-law, and she seemed to...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm a 60-year-old man. I have a close female friend who is 20 years younger. We see each other just about every day and call each other to talk about our day. We have supper together just about every night. The only thing we don't have is a romance. I have strong feelings for her and want to tell her how I feel, but I'm worried that ...Read more

Read the following sentences closely, and mark whether you agree or disagree with each.

--Being single means being alone and lonely.

--Single women have a tougher time than single men.

--Men don't want the same things from a relationship as women do.

--Every woman should marry and have children.

--A woman is incomplete without a man.

--...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: For the past few months, IÕve been seeing this guy, going on a few dates and hanging out with him in social settings. Lately, there have been a lot of things going on in my personal life with my family, and I donÕt think IÕm in the right headspace to be there for him. We were never technically a couple, but we were working ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: After two hours at a restaurant with a group of friends, everyone had eaten, the check had been settled, yet no one left. We stayed at the table for another 30 minutes, chatting away.

The restaurant was not busy and no one was waiting for a table. But I can't help but think that we lingered far too long.

Sure, a restaurant ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I are raising a surprise baby at a stage in life when we thought our child-rearing years were mostly behind us. Our older children are already teenagers and young adults, and while we adore this little one, I would be lying if I said the large age gap has not brought some unexpected emotions with it.

On one hand, ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm a man younger than my age married to a woman who is older than hers. Ten years ago, we couldn't get along, so we separated. While separated, I met a wonderful woman, "Cynthia." We became friends with benefits and fell in love.

A year later, my wife got cancer. Since her family lived out of state and had lives of their own, I ...Read more