ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm a 75-year-old woman who has lived in the same charming walk-up apartment in New York City for more than 40 years. This place has seen me through marriage, motherhood, widowhood and every season of my life. Recently, the three flights of stairs have become almost impossible for me to manage. My knees ache, I get winded easily ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I received a cancer diagnosis two months ago. Initially, I was quite open in discussing it with others when warranted -- for example, explaining to co-workers why I would be out on certain days. I had a lot of optimism and didn't feel I needed privacy, so I gave people carte blanche to ask questions.

Now I'm regretting the ...Read more

Dear Annie: Christmas at my parents' house used to feel magical, but lately it feels like I'm walking into a performance review. My older brother's new hobby is "radical honesty," and apparently the holidays are his favorite time to practice. Last year, as we decorated the tree, he announced that my handmade ornaments looked "like a Pinterest ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I had a friend, "Mylene," for many years. We swapped dog-sitting to offset the cost for each other. I helped her when she was sick and broke her foot. I walked her dog whenever she needed me. If a funeral, wedding or family emergency came up, I was always there for her.

An aunt of mine in another state passed away. I would have had ...Read more

This week, the questions are geared toward those who are single again and have no children living at home. Next week, we'll turn the focus to those who have never been married.

--Has your sex life become freer, less inhibited, less routine since becoming single again? (About 55 percent said yes.)

--Why are you single again? (About 79 percent ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My boyfriend really upset me recently. We made plans to go out to a restaurant that I've been looking forward to for weeks; it was special to me, and he knew how excited I was. The day before our reservation, he canceled because he "forgot" he had plans with a friend to go to some EDM event. Not only did he cancel at the last ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How do I respond to some common shaming I get from people I know?

For background, I am a female member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and have many dear friends who are members of other marginalized communities. My rights and the rights of the people I love are important to me.

Some people I know openly support politicians who ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have lost most of my family and many close friends, and I struggle with depression myself. There are days when the silence in my house feels almost too loud.

Over time, I have learned how to be alone without completely falling apart. I have a pet who has been a lifeline for me. This little creature depends on me, greets me at ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I've been married to a narcissist for 28 years. He has gaslighted me for our entire 30 years together. He has had a "work wife," a flirtation with the next-door neighbor hottie, and he paid for two sexy girls' dinners (and pies to go) because they happened to be in line in front of us.

After an argument, he even called the police on ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My colleague has a tendency to be unapologetically late, and I can't stand it! We've traveled together in the past for work, and I have seen firsthand how careless he can be with his time -- even for work functions.

We are more friends than colleagues now, so as I began planning a birthday trip for myself, I had to decide if I ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Why is tipping expected? I was under the impression that it was up to the customer. In my state, servers are paid minimum wage, so it's not a question of being underpaid.

And why am I expected to supplement a stranger's income? If you're not making enough money, get a different job! I'm so disgusted by this begging that I don...Read more

Dear Annie: If you had told me five years ago that I would fall in love with my ex-boyfriend's brother, I would have laughed you out of the room. And yet, here I am.

I dated "Mark" for two years. He moved into my home, and even after I ended the relationship, he stayed another six months because he had nowhere else to go. He is an alcoholic ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm a twice-divorced woman who has no children. I was raised by two deeply religious parents (now deceased) who attended church every Sunday and took me along. I regularly attended church until 15 years ago. At that time, my dad was dying, and I was dating a man I often had brunch and spent time with on Sundays. That man and I broke ...Read more