ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: My adult siblings and I went on a trip to Italy last month. It was our first time ever traveling outside the United States, so naturally, I was excited about the experience. I thought it was going to be a fun and memorable trip, especially since we all usually get along pretty well. However, I quickly realized that things weren't...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was invited by a friend who works in our state's governor's office to attend a college football game in the university president's box. This is a nationally recognized university, but not an Ivy League school.

At the game, the president asked me what college I had attended, then gave me a condescending stare when I named ...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 ABBY: I have a friend, "Doug," I've known for 30 years. I moved away, but we get together once or twice a year. I've known his wife longer than him and watched their son grow up, attending his sports activities when visiting and contributing to school fundraising activities. He's a good kid.

I've recently heard rumors that Doug has made ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm having an issue with my neighbors and their new puppy. They recently got a dog, and while she's adorable, they don't seem to be doing a great job training her. The puppy keeps using my yard as her personal bathroom, and my neighbors never bother to pick up after her. At first, I tried to ignore it because I figured they were ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We have a longtime friend, and now neighbor, who cannot consume food orally due to extensive cancer surgeries and treatments years ago. They can consume very limited quantities of liquids, but they use a tube-feeding process for all nutrition, and have done so for years.

We will soon host a formal, seated dinner party for a ...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 ABBY: Fifteen years ago, after six years of marriage, my husband and I moved 3,000 miles away from everyone I knew. I wasn't in favor of the move and never felt at home in the new city, but I tried to make the best of it. We struggled financially the entire time because of the recession and our large mortgage. I met some nice people but ...Read more

One of the most awkward aspects of running for office was the mandate that, at some point, I would need to cold call my entire friend list and ask them for money. Gross.

I had heard that my party had an established donor list to which I should have had access as a candidate, but that list never reached me. Instead, I was given the contact info ...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 ABBY: My husband and I have been together for 16 years and have what I consider to be a happy marriage. My question concerns ongoing conversations we have been having about my hair color. The first couple of years we were together, my hair was gray, and then I dyed it red. While I know he loved it, I did it for one reason: I wanted to avoid...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My daughter dropped out during her freshman year of college. She struggled academically her first semester, and she has decided not to go back. I'm terrified for her future because I've always believed that in order to have a stable and successful career, a college degree is essential. I know that not everyone takes a traditional...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I travel frequently, and I have noticed that airports are reducing the number of seats at the gates. I will arrive at the gate more than an hour before boarding, only to find all the seats already taken -- except for the three holding someone's coats and pillows, or the one next to a couple with their luggage on it.

If I ask,...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 ABBY: I have been an amateur astronomer for 25-plus years. I always go meteor watching as well as observe any celestial event. This year I invited my brother-in-law and his wife to watch a meteor shower with my husband and me. Since we both have campers, I reserved and paid the deposit for two camping sites at a nice location, close to some...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Ever since I was a child, my mom never liked to throw anything away, whether it was old clothes, expired food, broken appliances or even random junk mail. At the time, I thought it was just her being quirky or frugal, but as I've gotten older, I've realized it's much more than that. Now, at 28 years old, I'm starting to see how ...Read more