Opinions

DEAR ABBY: My mom is in her early 80s. More and more often lately, she seems to be avoiding seeing me and my siblings. It wasn’t always like this. She would let me, my husband and our kids stay with her when we visited.

DEAR ABBY: I’m a man in my early 30s who has made a career switch. My new field requires me to be more social because I will be meeting with colleagues, some of them older than I am, and attending trade shows, meetings, and business and social networking outings.

DEAR ABBY: Our neighbors, “Wanda” and “Bob,” have agreed to care for our house and cat when we vacation. We told them we’d like to pay them for their troubles, but Wanda says they want to do it for free. Bob just smiles.

DEAR ABBY: I’ve been married for 19 years to my second husband, “Jack.” Our children are grown. When we met, I was a business owner, and he was retired. He has had numerous medical issues and procedures, and I have always insured him on my health plans and been his advocate.

Fighting fair. Not a spouse’s favorite saying when they are currently in the middle of “Who’s Gonna Win This Time” with their dreaded enemy of the moment. Face it, any married human female whose spine isn’t yellow jello, wants to come out of the latest skirmish with a feeling of “Huh!

Janice Thomas came in the Mule Barn for breakfast the other day, and sat at the counter for the first time. She usually gets one of the tables, or a booth against the wall. We were kinda flattered that she’d come sit with us, but wondered why.

So many people give up on trying to really make a difference, mostly because they think they’re not the best speakers, not talented enough, smart enough, good-looking enough, or have enough funds, or opportunities open up to them, or have enough time to help make this world a better place.

DEAR ABBY: I love my cousin “Carly” like a sister. We come from a large family, and both of us are estranged from our mothers (who are sisters) as well as our siblings. We’re OK with this because we have no room for toxic people in our lives.

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I walk around a local lake three times a week. We met another couple there who seemed pleasant until the husband tried to give me his doctor’s name so I could “Get that ‘thing’ removed.” (“That thing” being the beauty mark next to my smile.) I told him I wasn’t interested.

DEAR ABBY: I am a man whose long-distance boyfriend of one year has a married female best friend. (She’s his boss.) She is also a tobacco-addicted narcissist who drinks a lot. They chat on the phone and text for hours every day because, as he puts it, “she can’t be alone.