Life Advice
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Single File: Life Lessons
--Readiness is all. The same person who didn't stir you 10 years ago might just knock your socks off today because you've grown and now see their better points ... and maybe -- just maybe -- because you're now ready to make the commitment. Stay open.
--How many people do you know who look at marriage as an experience rather than a commitment? (...Read more
Ask Anna: We're both introverts, and we never go out -- is this a problem?
Dear Anna,
My girlfriend and I are both in our early 30s and have been together for almost four years. We’re both introverts, and honestly, we’re happiest just hanging out at home, watching movies or playing video games. We hardly ever go out — maybe a dinner here and there or a small gathering with close friends, but we generally avoid ...Read more
From don't to do: The simple secret to a better dating experience
About two-thirds of the way through every meeting with a new client, I get to the part about what qualities or traits they might be looking for in a partner—physical, mental, etc. (The first, longer part is dedicated to learning about the client so I can write the best online dating profile possible.) From their answer to this question, it’s...Read more
Asking Eric: Wife’s friends disappeared after husband’s Alzheimer’s
Dear Eric: My husband had Alzheimer’s and spent his last couple of years in memory care in a retirement community where many friends live. We had been very close to these folks in the past, and my husband remained so delighted to see them, even if he couldn’t remember names and events.
They visited seldom or not at all, although you could ...Read more
Childhood Friend Uses Personal Stories In Comedy Routine
DEAR HARRIETTE: I accidentally discovered through a viral TikTok video that my childhood friend has been using my personal stories and experiences as material for her stand-up comedy routine. We used to be neighbors, and naturally, we used to share everything growing up, from secrets to dreams, and I always trusted her to keep my personal life ...Read more
Don't Punish Overworked Employee For Flawed System
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I had a layover at the airport, so I sat down at a bar. Nobody greeted me. There was a touchscreen terminal at the counter for customers to place orders, so I did.
In about 10 minutes, someone plopped my drink down in front of me (the same person who was mopping up a spilled drink). Still no greeting.
I have worked in the ...Read more
When to Speak Up Versus Walk Away
Dear Annie: I have a sister-in-law who can't seem to attend any family gathering without cornering someone for a confrontation. For years, that someone was me. I waited for my husband to step in, but after nothing changed, I finally decided to set some boundaries. Looking back, I wish I had spoken up sooner, but I hesitated because she's my ...Read more
Man Feels Threatened By Friend's New Girlfriend
DEAR ABBY: I'm a gay man who is best friends with "Carl," a man who is straight. We are everything you'd expect of a normal friendship. On a surface level, there is no difference. He goes well out of his way to make me feel welcomed and accepted, and I appreciate it.
Recently, Carl found a significant other. I'm happy for him, because he really...Read more
Asking Eric: Husband with hearing loss insists wife’s mumbling is the problem
Dear Eric: My husband and I have been married for 11 years. When we got married, he was slightly hard of hearing. The past few months his hearing has gotten worse to the point that I have to raise my voice and repeat several times for him to hear me. He then accused me of shouting at him and said if I didn't mumble he could hear me. He further ...Read more
Long-Distance Relationship Status Leaves Woman Confused
DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been seeing a guy for the past four months, and while things started well, I'm still unsure of where I stand in his life. We live in different cities, so our relationship has been long-distance, making it even harder to figure out what's happening between us.
Recently, I brought up the topic of our relationship status, ...Read more
It's A Great Club, Except For The Harassment, Embezzlement
DEAR MISS MANNERS: For several years, I have been in a prestigious club that helps children. In that time, I have been ridiculed about almost anything I do. I am talked about because my clothes, hair, eyebrows, etc., are a bit nicer than the other women's. The men usually just sit and listen, but now some of them are joining in.
I was on the ...Read more
The 'Other' Grandmother
Dear Annie: I am the mother of two wonderful sons, both married to equally wonderful women. While I am grateful for the love and partnership they have found, I can wholeheartedly relate to the sentiments shared in "One Grieving Grandmother to Another."
Both of my daughters-in-law are incredibly close to their own mothers. It's a beautiful ...Read more
Sister-In-Law's Behavior Is Increasingly Unhinged
DEAR ABBY: My sister-in-law "Bethany" has been diagnosed with PTSD from her military service. For the past 15 years, Bethany has picked fights with my wife, her sister, over anything and everything. She feels my wife "changed" after she married me.
Bethany didn't like how we treated their father after we moved in four years ago so we could take...Read more
Flipping tortillas with chopsticks: California Asian-Latino families create their own culture
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Traces of Mexican and Chinese cultures are evident in every corner of the Salinas’ family Woodland, California, home.
In the living room, Chinese history books, paintings and dolls share space with family photos and high school diplomas. The family calls this area the “Chinese room,” said Jesse, a first-generation ...Read more
Asking Eric: Widower has millions in the bank but wants close friends
Dear Eric: I am a widower in my mid-70s. No family, no kids. Multimillionaire; drive a Maserati; am social; look (if friends are truthful) 20 years younger; well-traveled. But I have no friends. Lots of acquaintances, bartenders, wait staff whose attention I enjoy, but no one I feel close to. Don't suggest church, as I am a secular humanist. I ...Read more
New Mother Hurt By Brother's Comment About Weight
DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm feeling hurt after a conversation with my brother. He told me that I was fat and suggested that I lose some weight. I'm 30 years old, and I just had my second child a few months ago. Between taking care of my newborn and my older child, plus working full time, I've been completely overwhelmed. Sleep is a luxury, and finding ...Read more
Every Bride Has 'her Day,' Right Or Wrong
DEAR MISS MANNERS: It used to be the bride who proclaimed that the wedding was Her Day. As soon as that attitude resulted in many of them being called "Bridezilla," everyone else started popping up to proclaim it Her Day (or The Couple's Day).
Does the mother of the bride want to exclude her ex -- who treated her abominably in the divorce, and ...Read more
The Bra Dilemma: Balancing Personal Comfort With Social Expectations
Dear Annie: It's been seven years now that I've engaged in this personal yet somewhat controversial choice, and I still can't help but wonder -- am I crossing a line in certain settings, or is this just my anxiety playing tricks on me again, amplifying what might be nothing more than mundane thoughts?
To give you some context, I've always ...Read more
Woman Ends All Contact With Man Amid Red Flags
DEAR ABBY: When I came out of my introvert shell, I began trying to find a relationship. I went on a few dating websites and met some great guys and some not-so-great guys. One of the latter had been giving me red flags since our first date. We clicked at first and shared many of the same interests and hobbies, but he wanted to move WAY too fast...Read more
Asking Eric: Everything works for new couple except the sex
Dear Eric: I met this wonderful lady a year ago on a dating site. We hit it off and have been together ever since. We enjoy the same things. We spend the weekends at each other's houses. I love her, and she loves me.
The issue is intimacy. While I enjoy the closeness, holding hands, hugging, cuddling on the couch, I just don't enjoy sex with ...Read more
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