ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I've learned something surprising over the years as a step-parent: Holidays don't have to be confined to specific dates. In our family, Christmas Eve is just as special as Christmas Day, and we've even repeated Thanksgiving on the Friday after, with leftovers and a fresh pie. We've also started alternating years for who gets which ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My brother died of cancer a year ago. During his entire 50-year marriage, I felt bad about the way his wife treated him. She snapped at him and bit his head off from the time they were first married until his death, even while he was dying. Never once did I hear him speak harshly in return.

I kept my mouth shut because I didn't want ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been in touch with someone I have been meeting online for the past two years. We both have the same physical condition, but he's more outgoing and has a full social life, whereas I am the opposite. I have started attending events at the organization where he works to get support for my needs, but we have never introduced ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have taken note of repeat inquiries about how to deal with not being invited to a wedding -- presumably, though not always in so many words, without being a jerk in return.

I would like to point out that weddings have gotten exceedingly expensive and that couples simply cannot afford to invite everyone to the reception. In ...Read more

Dear Annie: My relationship with my mother has been deeply strained since my grandmother's death five years ago. My mother and I were her primary caregivers, and I loved my grandmother dearly. After she passed, I endured severe verbal and emotional abuse from my mother's brother, who has a history of anger issues and domestic violence. Despite...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have been thinking a lot lately about my first love. The thoughts come and go, which I know is normal. A week or so ago, I stumbled upon her LinkedIn account, saw her profile picture and couldn't help but reminisce about all the good times we had together 15 years ago. I'm 35 now and have been in a relationship for seven years. She ...Read more

There's something incredibly surreal about living through a moment that feels ripped straight out of a history book. But instead of thumbing through the black and white photos, now it's captured in high-def on TikTok.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, I found myself sitting at the kitchen table with my mom, just like I had as a kid during countless ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am hopelessly in love with my best friend and have been for most of our lives (we've been friends since childhood). Over the years, there have been moments when it felt like we were moving toward being together, but it never progressed. We currently live together and share almost every aspect of our lives but don't even sleep in ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been together for 16 years (eight years married). When we were first married, we had fun. He used to take me out on dates. He knows I enjoy dining and dancing, but it has been years since he invited me out. I have talked to him about this on multiple occasions, and he says he hears me, but we never do anything. I...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband smokes weed pretty much every day. During the pandemic, he got to the point of smoking all day long from before sunrise until going to sleep. We were all at home then, and it was infuriating to have to smell smoke while I was working in the other room. Fast forward to several years later, and the trend hasn't changed ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I run a shop from my house. It's mostly online, but occasionally I have customers make an appointment to visit "in store." Many of them will just text "I'm here" from their parked cars and stay there, waiting for some kind of invitation by text.

I think this is stupid and rude. I am in my "shop," waiting for a knock at the ...Read more

Dear Annie: I would appreciate it if you'd consider helping me figure out an answer to a question I am so tired of being asked, which is, "Why haven't you gotten married?"

I am a 65-year-old single woman who has accomplished a lot in life. I've contributed to society and volunteered. I'm independent, self-sustaining and have never been ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I recently married an old high school flame after 30 years apart. Since we are both in our 50s, we wanted a low-key ceremony -- no wedding, no fuss, just us, madly in love and doing our thing. My older sister, the only person we told, begged me to be included -- "At least let me sign as witness. At least let me bring a cake. At least ...Read more