ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I am a college student, and I just finished my finals for the fall semester and am now on winter break. Right toward the end of finals week, one of my professors had a medical emergency and had to miss our final day for surgery. My entire class sent her supportive emails, including me, but I find myself still worrying about her. ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife and I have been very blessed. We both were able to find and keep jobs in our chosen fields and worked through the years without any layoffs, slowdowns, serious illnesses, etc. We made good middle-income wages, and we always lived within our means while saving for retirement. We made some good investments along the way, and ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have mobility issues and use a walker, so I'm mostly confined to my home. My son helps by taking me to the beauty salon and occasionally to the bank or pharmacy, but I spend most of my time at home.

Today, two ladies showed up at my door unexpectedly. I hadn't been up long and wasn't dressed for visitors, and my house was far ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a difficult and deeply personal situation, and I would really appreciate your advice. My husband of two years left me on April 14, 2023, saying he wanted to build a home for us in California. The problem is, he made this decision without my knowledge or consent, and it feels like he abandoned me.

Since then, I've done ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a retired obstetrician-gynecologist, and over the years, I have had the privilege of counseling many women who have experienced the heartbreak of pregnancy loss. Whether through miscarriage, stillbirth or the birth of a child with defects incompatible with life, these losses are profoundly devastating.

One of the most painful...Read more

Dear Annie: My adult son and his wife have decided not to have children, which I've accepted, though it saddens me deeply. Earlier this year, they told me my son donated sperm to his wife's best friend, who has since had a baby girl. My son signed away his parental rights, started a college fund for the child and says he and his wife will act ...Read more

Dear Annie: A woman, "Patty," who pursued my husband 10 years ago, attends church with me. During this time, my husband alerted me to her efforts, and it culminated with her answering her home's front door in only a towel. Patty had called him to pick something up. My husband, fearing her aggressive flirting, demanded I come with him. So ...Read more

Dear Annie: Three months ago, I came home from lunch and my wife had packed up her closet and said: "I'm sorry, but I'm no longer in love with you. I'm bored and lonely, and I'm moving out."

We have been together 33 years and married 32 years. It was devastating to say the least. Since then, we have spent some time together going to the gym ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am 36 years old, and I recently spoke to my dad. He raised me, and we have always been like best friends until I moved to Virginia, just because of the distance.

I have an older sister who lives at home and doesn't care to work, and my dad basically raises her son. I told my dad my future ambitions to adopt a child, and his ...Read more

Dear Readers: As we step into the new year, pause to honor the journey traveled and embrace the endless possibilities ahead. Each January brings a quiet promise -- an invitation to start fresh, to grow and to live more fully. Approach that promise with open hearts and gentle determination.

The new year often tempts us to aim for perfection --...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm a 45-year-old male and have had many traumatic events in my past, including abuses too bad to name. My problem is, as I was growing up, I was so mistreated that I never learned how to feel. I had to suppress everything I was feeling and disconnect from my emotions and body to survive.

Now that I'm grown and have been seeking ...Read more

Dear Annie: My mother-in-law is currently living with my husband and me. She insisted she needed to move in with us, as she was divorcing her husband who received a much larger retirement than her and she was convinced she couldn't live on her own. She owned her house outright but refused to stay in it because she felt the upkeep of the land ...Read more

Dear Annie: For the past year, I have been in a "relationship" with Alex, who has simultaneously been involved with two or three other women. Despite this and a 15-year age gap, we generally get along well and share many things in common.

Recently, however, I've uncovered some deeply troubling truths about him. Alex is an addict, and his ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have known "Gabe" for 13 to 14 years now. We met through the website Meetup and have attended social events. He's awkward in social settings and wasn't included in groups. I felt bad for him, so I included him. At that time, I was planning on leaving town, so I thought the right thing to do was to continue to invite him every now...Read more

Dear Annie: I will be inheriting a modest sum of money and want to gift some of it to my two married children. I also want to gift some money to my daughter's two young children to be used for future educational needs. My son and his wife don't have children and will likely not have any in the future. They lost beautiful twins born prematurely...Read more

Dear Annie: I have three children, a son and two daughters. I am a widow, and my family has always been close and caring. My son lives in the same city as I do. He's very caring and checks on me every day.

My daughters live out of town, about two hours away. My oldest daughter and her husband come about once a month. They are very attentive. ...Read more

Dear Readers: Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. Hope you enjoy these poems for the holidays.

"Christmas in the Heart" by Paul Laurence Dunbar

"The snow lies deep upon the ground, / And winter's brightness all around / Decks bravely out the forest sere, / With jewels of the brave old year. / The coasting crowd upon the hill / With some ...Read more

Dear Readers: Wishing you and all a very happy holiday season. Please enjoy the following poem.

"A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore.

"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; / The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, / In hopes that St. Nicholas soon...Read more

Dear Annie: Seven years ago, I met a guy on a dating site. I'm 13 years older than him, but I look much younger than my age. After we matched, he asked me on a date, and we kissed. From there, we kept texting, flirting and engaging in a lot of suggestive conversations -- but he never asked me out again.

Over the years, we've remained close ...Read more

Dear Annie: As an animal lover, I hope you'll consider sharing this important message.

To anyone thinking about getting a dog for the holidays, please take these points to heart:

No. 1: Do Not Surprise Anyone with a Pet

A pet is a lifelong commitment, not a spur-of-the-moment gift. Surprising someone with a dog can lead to heartbreak if ...Read more