ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: How do I stop settling for emotionally unavailable people just because I'm afraid of being alone? I've noticed a pattern in my dating life. All the men I go out with seem to have a few things in common: They refuse to commit, they're always "too busy" and they rarely put in the effort to truly get to know me or make me feel ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A friend and I have a long-standing, semi-joking disagreement, but I do think my behavior bothers her, and I just don't understand why.

We typically meet for dinner. Now, I am not a big dining-out person. I am just not that interested in food. I'm more of an "eat to live" person, if you know what I mean.

My friend gets a lot...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been struggling with my relationship with my older sister for some time now. Unfortunately, I have little time to pursue counseling, and finding an available, competent therapist in my area is difficult.

My older sister hosts the annual holiday dinners, which I used to enjoy and even help out with. But over the last few years...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have spent 40 years serving the public and my country, putting other people first and feeling guilty if I didn't. However, I am becoming resentful of the demands for my time.

I'm retired, and my husband still works. We have always split the expenses 50-50, even though I make less than 40% of his income. Once I retired, my share of ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister-in-law "Kate" worked for me for several years. Last summer, she had a baby and said she'd return to work immediately after maternity leave. The week before she was to come back to work, I emailed her the upcoming work schedule. Kate informed me that she wouldn't be returning. I wanted to send back a scathing email, but ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a friend, Nora, whom I have known since high school. She now lives in a nearby town, but too far to just make a visit for the day, so when we do get together, it requires a weekend stay for her and her husband.

We do get along and enjoy their visit, except for one thing. When I entertain, I like to plan all the meals, ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband had a period of infidelity. He met a co-worker, and I was sick with mold poisoning. I wasn't giving him the attention I normally did. He said he found in her what I wasn't giving him. He told me about her but refused to stop seeing her, swearing they were only friends.

I tried to be friends with her only to find that ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: A man I know has been married for 40 years. His wife gets mad at him for small things and stops talking to him for three to four months at a time. Also, he will make her supper, and she'll make something else. Or she will make supper and quickly put it in the refrigerator. They leave very brief notes about where they are going. During...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My mom's friend is on the hunt for a nice wife for his son and thinks I'd be a great fit. This matchmaker is an older man I know from church, but I've never met his son before. My mom asked if I'd be open to hanging out with him and his family just to meet the son and see how I feel. I thought it would be awkward to say no and ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I work in an upscale office building in the downtown core. Our building is supposed to be solicitor-free, but on occasion we get walk-in solicitors, companies trying to sell their services and people trying to give resumes.

This is both annoying and bothersome. Our office is locked, so these people need to ring or knock to be...Read more

Dear Annie: My parents have been in a rocky marriage for as long as I can remember. I'm 16, and my brother is 20 and away at college. My dad has left and come back a few times, and now he's telling my mom again that he's done and wants her to move out. She's heartbroken, and it's really hard to watch. I've seen her cry more in the past few ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: We have an annual weekend family reunion that includes family and significant others along with their children. Most of the children are adults now. One of them (my niece) was recently married and is asking if her new husband's sister (and possibly her boyfriend) can come to the reunion.

We don't have anyone other than immediate ...Read more

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

Matchmaking Conditions

Listen up, because you never know when it will happen to you. Your dear friend lets you know she has just unearthed the most wonderful hunk mankind has ever created, and she knows for sure he's just right for ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister "Ruth" and I were both supposed to help a friend settle into her new home, but Ruth backed out after getting a last-minute invite to brunch. Our plans to help our friend had been scheduled long in advance. Ruth's SUV was packed with furniture and other items that we were expected to bring over, so she asked if she could...Read more