ArcaMax

DEAR ABBY: There are two significant secrets in my family, and as I'm a member of the oldest generation and likely in my last decade, I wonder if they should see the light of day.

The first involves my cousin. He's a year older than I am and doesn't know he was adopted. My older sister was 10 when his parents brought him home. She remembers it ...Read more

Dear Annie: My mother is German, and my father is American. Growing up, I was raised with traditions from both cultures, but I have never felt fully part of either one.

Last Christmas, my mother made a traditional German dinner and invited several relatives. I tried to join the conversation, but my German is not fluent, and everyone kept ...Read more

I went on my fifth police ride-along this week. The first one was before I was elected, slightly on a whim. I put in for both the city police and the university police. The university emailed me back faster.

That day we patrolled the university land, much more expansive than I knew, even having worked there for years. The patrol officer mainly ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for 15 years, and we agree on most things except how to spend our free time. I love to travel. Even a long weekend in a new city makes me feel excited and alive. I enjoy planning the itinerary, trying local restaurants and coming home with stories and memories. My husband would rather stay home, ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been married to my husband for over 50 years. While we are physically unable to have sexual relations due to several health factors, I'm not missing it. Why? Because he has terrible hygiene practices and the biggest is not brushing his teeth enough. He has horrible halitosis now.

I can barely manage to travel short distances ...Read more

Dear Annie: My mom and I have always had a weird relationship. Throughout my childhood, I always considered us close, even when she moved hours away to the other side of the state when I was in middle school. We would talk regularly, and I would go see her for summer and winter breaks. When I graduated high school, I happily made the move to ...Read more

Dear Annie: Recently, I had a major social misstep that has essentially pushed one of my best friends out of my life. During the week of my birthday, I had a mid-30s crisis; a string of bad memories from dating and bad luck with women hit me and put me in a very emotionally weakened state of mind. In front of this friend, I was reduced to what ...Read more

The following are classic definitions of success. Number them 1 to 10 -- No. 1 being the most important to you. And do feel free to add some of your own!

--Money.

--Job satisfaction.

--Self-expression.

--Helping others.

--Fame.

--Prestige.

--Personal fulfillment.

--Power.

--Comfort.

--Influence.

You'll notice that some of these are ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I have a 34-year-old daughter who has lived with us all her life (except for maybe a year). She brought her freeloading boyfriend in. I had cancer at the time and they didn't even bother to do anything, so she ended up pregnant.

I kicked her boyfriend out of the house after finding out he couldn't even take her to the...Read more

Dear Annie: Most often a cheating husband or wife causes the divorce. Most would want to end their marriage after finding their partner cheated. And most people would advise the offended partner to leave.

This is most of what I read in people's letters and people's responses to you.

But it doesn't have to be like that. Actually, it can be one ...Read more