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Asking Eric: Differing religious traditions create confusion in friendship

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: I'm an African American man in my late 60s. Nobody would call me the most religious guy on the planet, but the center aisle in the church would not open up and swallow me if I walked in.

I have a white friend, proud of his Jewish heritage, who I have known since we were kids. He spends as much time in the synagogue as I spend in the ...Read more

A Family Wedding, Minus One

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: Am I being too sensitive? My niece's son is getting married this year. I always believed I was close to her family, but when the "save the date" and shower invitations went out, my daughter was not included -- although all the other cousins were.

My daughter rarely attends family functions, so when one of my sisters asked why "...Read more

Asking Eric: Longtime friends leave couple out of annual vacation

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: For the past several years, our family has celebrated the new year with another family at a very specific location on the Jersey Shore. It’s been a lovely yearly tradition.

This year, for whatever reason, we did not book the hotel. There was no mention of the trip all year, with us assuming it was not happening.

Then, a couple of ...Read more

Living Under the Threat of Divorce

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: I am a 69-year-old man who is still totally and madly in love with my wife of 49 years. I know many people would say I'm foolish for feeling this way after she cheated on me several times during the early years of our marriage. At the time, I blamed myself. We were young, I felt responsible for providing for our growing family, and...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

Ask Anna: My boyfriend keeps prioritizing other women -- what do I do?

Life Advice / Dating Advice /

Dear Anna,

I’m 32 and my boyfriend of three years constantly prioritizes other women over me in small but consistent ways, and it’s driving me crazy. He’s a generally nice guy — the kind who prides himself on being helpful and chivalrous — but somehow I’m never the one receiving that treatment. A few recent examples: We were at the ...Read more

Single File: Children as Connection (Part 1)

Life Advice / Single File /

Skip today's column if you're looking for startling new techniques guaranteed to benefit the children of mateless mothers like you. As much as I feel a special tenderness for young people who grow up with a single parent (my own son, Scott, was only 4 when he became part of a two-person family), what we're interested in right now is you. ...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

Ask Dating Coach Erika: How many dating apps should I be on?

Life Advice / Dating Advice /

We’ve all heard the sayings “less is more” and “quality over quantity,” and in many ways, those phrases apply to the world of online dating, at least in terms of how many dating apps you should use. But with all the platforms available, it’s common for single people to be using more than one app at the same time… in fact, I ...Read more

Asking Eric: Couple gives man cash gift; man sends it to scammer

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: During our morning walks, my husband and I became acquainted with “Ron”, a homeless man who always sits on the same bench and always has a cheery hello. During the holiday season, we decided to gift him a box of homemade cookies and a Christmas card with $200 in cash slipped inside. I’ve imagined him treating himself to a decent...Read more

Seeking Rest and Relaxation at Last

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: My husband and I are at a full-blown spring break standoff, and the kids are watching it like it's a sport.

He wants to take our two kids skiing. He's already talking about "fresh powder," early lift tickets and how this is the perfect chance to make "core memories." He grew up skiing, and it's his happy place. I can see how ...Read more

Asking Eric: Aunt is disinvited from wedding ceremony, but still expected at reception

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: My sister's daughter is getting married in the fall. My 20-year-old daughter has not been invited because it is “adults only.” This upsets both of us because she is close to her cousin.

When I asked if she could attend the wedding ceremony, I was told that I wasn't even invited to the wedding ceremony because it was immediate ...Read more

Politics Is Harming Our Healthy Friendship

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: I'm a 64-year-old woman who thought making new friends at my age would be simple: find someone kind, show up, bring snacks, repeat.

A few months ago, I met "Jill" at a community class. We clicked right away. She's funny in that dry, smart way that makes you feel like you're in on the joke. After class we started lingering in the ...Read more

Asking Eric: Adult daughter’s job struggles keep mother from finding happiness

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: I live in an apartment with my 22-year-old daughter. She had a really bad high school experience that was broken up by Covid, so remote learning didn’t go well either. She eventually got her diploma but since then has not been able to find a job. We are going on about a year and a half now. She applies but doesn’t even get ...Read more

I Never Feel Like I'm Doing Enough

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: Lately, it feels like I am failing at everything, even though I am constantly running. I work full time, try to be present for my family and friends, and still keep up with all the texts, emails and group chats. I'm the one people come to for help and advice, yet my own life feels like it's held together with coffee and to-do lists...Read more

Millennial Life: The Author I Used to Be

When you publish a column each week, you rarely imagine that one day someone will ask you to stand in a quiet library and account for all of it. Columns are written in response to motion. You build a shape with 800 words around it before the next deadline arrives. The work feels immediate, but somewhat temporal.

Then my syndicate decided to put...Read more

Asking Eric: Introduction of a child changes dynamic for longtime housemates

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: My 40-year-old daughter has been living in a house with a very nice older, recently retired gentleman for about 10 years. He has an adult son and daughter-in-law who are drug addicts.

Recently, because of domestic violence in front of their 4-year-old child, the daughter-in-law was arrested and has an order of protection to stay away...Read more

Tired of My Sister's Low Blows

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: My sister and I used to be close. Not "talk every day" close, but close enough that I could call her with good news or bad news and feel like she was on my side.

Lately, I feel like I'm auditioning for approval I never get.

It started small. If I mentioned a promotion, she'd say, "Must be nice," and then change the subject. If I ...Read more

Asking Eric: Relatives refuse to go one holiday without drinking

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: I am a 58-year-old woman who was diagnosed with cirrhosis three years ago. I did not have an alcoholic problem but had to give up drinking due to the condition.

I do admit I miss alcohol; however I’m doing well every day except for holidays or events. It triggers me when I have to be somewhere where everyone else is drinking and I ...Read more

When a Dire Decision Is the Only Option Left

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: I've had a dear friend for nearly a decade. He has been addicted to meth, heroin, alcohol -- you name it. For years, I was the savior he ran to when everything fell apart. He's married and has two young children.

Before his youngest was born, he was a full-blown meth addict. I broke into his house multiple times after he overdosed...Read more

Asking Eric: Couple’s happy marriage breaks down over laundry

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: My wife and I have been married for more than 40 years. She’s great. But a reoccurring point of friction and, really, anger on my part is over the dishwashing and laundry at our house. She’ll let them accumulate beyond what I can stand.

So, long ago, I began just doing all of my own laundry and cleaning up the kitchen.

Most ...Read more

Balancing Independence With Newfound Curiosity

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: I need advice about a situation I never expected. I'm 37, single and mostly happy with my life. Then my new neighbor moved in. He's charming and easy to talk to, and I realized I'm suddenly aware of every interaction, overthinking every glance or comment.

He's friendly and sociable, nothing overt, but I catch myself reading too ...Read more

 

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