ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: My dad's a heavy smoker and has been for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up, he used to smoke inside the house constantly. I remember the smell being everywhere-- in my clothes, in the walls, even in my toys. I developed some health issues that I believe were tied to all that secondhand smoke exposure, and it's ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Self-service fountain machines at pizza parlors and delis have the different sugary sodas labeled with big buttons, while there are often smaller black "water" and "soda" buttons below.

I have always believed that the aerated water dispensed by the "soda" button is still just water, meaning I can fill up a cup for free. After...Read more

Dear Annie: In 1962, I was 14.5 years old and in my first year of junior high. Feeling desperate to be cool, I believed a girl from school when she told me that her brother, who was home on leave from the military, wanted to meet me. I told my mom and dad that I had a babysitting job, and I walked to a neighborhood drugstore where this guy ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I started a new job a year and a half ago. It's in a small office. My boss and I are the only employees. I enjoy the job very much, but there's an aspect of it that has really started to wear on me. Increasingly, my boss has been asking me to take care of personal tasks for him that are unrelated to the business. I understand that he ...Read more

DEAR READERS: I just got a reality check from my girlfriend. She left me. In our last argument, she told me that I don't know how to love and that I push away everyone who tries to do right by me. I think I might've crossed a line this time. We've had fights before, but they usually end in us taking space or agreeing to disagree. This time I ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My mother-in-law and sister-in-law wore white gowns to my wedding. Their actions were so obvious that guests commented on it, and the DJ asked for "the real bride to please stand up."

Why would they do this on my wedding day?

GENTLE READER: A mean-spirited prank gone wrong? Regardless, it does not bode well for your future ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife and I have a milestone anniversary coming up. We plan on renting a large home in the south of France for a month and inviting family and close friends to celebrate with us. Some family members and friends know of our intentions and are excited to join us.

The cost to rent this villa for a month is $25-30,000, not including...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm in my early 40s and have been working hard since my mid 20s. I have a nice house that my wife and I are trying to pay off and two kids. We live pretty comfortably, but by no means are we well off.

My dad is very well off, and he finances my older brother to live abroad. My younger sister, who still lives at home with him, is ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently graduated and entered the workforce, and while I feel grateful to have landed a full-time position in marketing, I'm starting to feel a bit lost. The job itself is fine. I have a supportive team and decent pay, and I get to use some of the skills I learned in school; still, something feels off. I don't feel fulfilled. ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We visited a friend and her new partner for a weekend visit. Her partner drove us to an outing about 20 miles away and went 95 mph on the highway.

Despite fearing for our lives, we said nothing. On the way back, however, I politely asked the partner if he could please keep his speed under 80 mph.

He immediately turned ...Read more

Dear Annie: In a nutshell: I have been off social media for about five years, and this year I have made it a resolution to reduce my screen time. My screen time average is down to about an hour a day. If I had a way to measure it, I'd say my mental health has improved greatly.

A year or two before Covid, I decided I was tired of getting into ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My friend "Alma" has a handicapped parking permit. I never asked her why she has it. We regularly go for long walks, and she seems perfectly able-bodied. Alma did share with me once that she got the tag after an accident left her with some intermittent long-term pain. She said most days she doesn't need the accessible parking and ...Read more

The Second Look at a promising someone is among my favorite mental delicacies because it changes shape and importance as life (mine, anyway) moves you into new situations. And truth to tell, in my experience, each one seems to ask for (and impart) greater patience, deeper understanding and more worldly wisdom.

The main challenge of the Second ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I volunteer at my local humane society every weekend, and over the past several months, I've developed a real connection with one of the cats there. Her name is Marbles, and she's been at the shelter for more than a year now. She's had a rough past, and she can be a bit aggressive at times, especially around strangers or loud ...Read more