ArcaMax

ATTENTION "SINGLE FILE(R)" EDITORS: THE FOLLOWING COLUMN WAS PREVIOUSLY RELEASED IN 2017. THANK YOU. - CREATORS

Core Questions (Part 3)

You've reached the last of the survey's core questions, but this is no finale. Next week highlights lifestyle-related questions and responses. Let's dive back in.

--Are you or do you plan to be sexually ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend expects me to handle every single detail whenever we hang out: choosing the activity, making the reservations, checking hours and figuring out travel time. The moment we decide to do something, she defaults to, "You pick!" or "Just tell me where to go!" I've told her multiple times, in clear and honest ways, that I don'...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: As part of my job as a news reporter, I spend a great deal of time on the telephone. The conversations I have require a lot of concentration. Often, I have been waiting all day to hear from someone and am up against a strict deadline when he or she finally calls. I must answer when the phone rings.

Many times, other members ...Read more

Dear Annie: My younger sister, "Clara," moved to my town last spring after a painful breakup. She was fragile, devastated and desperate for a fresh start. I opened my home and my heart without hesitation. I drove her to job interviews, invited her for dinner several nights a week, included her in outings with friends and did everything a big ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm struggling with my integrity and an important friendship. My friend "Beth's" husband, "Jerry," came to my house to help with a construction project. After discussing the project, we sat down to visit for a bit. He was very forward with me and overly affectionate. (It's been 10 years since I've had any affection.) He also talked ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I was coming up out of the subway the other day when a man spoke to me from behind. He complimented me on my outfit and then looked at me. He remarked that he had thought I was someone else -- a prominent woman in our city. It was a compliment in that regard, but a little jarring, too. This woman is much larger than I am -- at ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Due to a computer meltdown earlier this year, I had to rebuild my holiday greeting card address list. When I asked my mother-in-law to share her list from that side of the family, I was flummoxed to find that she addresses her cards as "Mr. and Mrs. Husband's Name" -- e.g., John and Jane Smith would be addressed as "Mr. and ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm hoping you can help me make sense of a situation that feels so small on the surface, yet so big in my heart.

A few months ago, my closest friend, "Melissa," and I fell into one of those quiet, accidental distances. Nothing dramatic happened. No argument. No betrayal. Just life. She got busy with her kids' sports schedules, and...Read more

DEAR ABBY: Our adult daughter has children we adore. She asked if we could help out by watching them for a few hours occasionally, and we jumped at that. We had done this regularly before the delivery of the newest addition (three months ago), and the kids would occasionally spend the night. With the new addition, she wanted us to come to her ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My mother passed away a few months ago, and I miss her so much. I was going through my phone recently and came upon some audio recordings of her talking about her life. Her voice sounds weak, but it was so nice hearing her tell her stories. It was bittersweet, though, as listening to her reminds me of the fact that I can't hug ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I had cancer last year and lost my hair. I'm fine now, but my hair is growing back super curly. Every day, people make comments about it: "Oh, your hair! It's so curly!"

It's a painful reminder when I'm trying to feel normal again. I've tried explaining that I'm upset about my looks and don't like to be reminded, but then ...Read more

Dear Annie: Most nights, my phone lights up with our family group chat. My husband and I have three grown kids in their 20s, and I love seeing their jokes, photos and silly updates. It makes me feel like we are still all under one roof.

Last week, my son accidentally left his phone on our kitchen counter while I was cleaning up. A ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I am a stepgrandmother of a disabled granddaughter, "Laura," who has Down syndrome. She is 38. A few years ago, she weighed more than 300 pounds at only 5 feet tall. She ended up in the hospital with blood clots and almost died. The courts gave guardianship to her dad, my son-in-law. Laura's mother has visitation with Laura only one ...Read more

Dear Annie: I feel foolish even writing this, but I cannot tell if I am overreacting or if I have a real problem on my hands.

My best friend, "Dana," and I have been close for more than 20 years. We have raised our kids together, shared holidays, taken trips and weathered the usual storms of adult life. Lately, though, something has shifted. ...Read more