ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I have two sisters, and one of them, "Joanie," tragically passed away from cancer last year. It's obviously been hard, but what's making it harder is my remaining sister. She has always been competitive. And she has somehow turned even grief into a competition.

For example, a few weeks ago I mentioned I hadn't slept the night ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband is a kind, funny and intelligent man, but at dinner parties he has one habit that is starting to drive me crazy: He talks way too much.

He loves telling stories, and once he starts, there is almost no stopping him. A simple story about running into an old friend can turn into a 20-minute play-by-play with every name, ...Read more

Dear Annie: This past July, my husband and I rented a house near us so our two daughters, their husbands and our grandchildren could all spend time together. Since everyone lives several states apart, we thought it would be a wonderful chance to reconnect and hopefully start a yearly family tradition.

We live only about 15 minutes from the ...Read more

Dear Annie: My twin sister and I have been compared to each other for as long as I can remember. As children, people compared our grades, our looks, our friends and even our personalities. We always laughed it off, but now that we are older, I'm beginning to realize how much those comparisons still affect me.

My life has turned out very well....Read more

Dear Readers: Today is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. People are encouraged to forgive, reflect and start fresh. And while it is a Jewish holiday, its message is one that just about anyone can appreciate.

The idea is simple: Take a look at the year behind you and ask yourself a few questions. Was I kind enough? Did I make time for the ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm an 18-year-old woman who just started my freshman year of college out of state. Everything is going well, and I'm meeting new people with different perspectives.

One thing I'm experiencing is my "I don't know" phase, which is new for me. Especially with relationships, I don't know if I like certain boys because they're ...Read more

Dear Annie: I hesitate to write this because I've never seen anything like this subject in your column. I am a grown woman, mom and grandmother and still have a "blanky." When I come home from work and walk in my bedroom and see the piece of the silk end, I immediately feel relaxed. I know this sounds crazy, but it gives me comfort.

I wouldn'...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I are both in our 70s, and he's been pushing for us to sell the house and move into something smaller for over a year now. He's not wrong; it's more house than we need.

But we raised our three kids in this house. Every room has something in it -- the kitchen table my dad built, the height marks on the door frame, ...Read more

Dear Annie: I go to the same nail salon every few weeks, and lately I've noticed something that is driving me crazy. Almost every time I'm there, someone is talking loudly on their cellphone, watching videos without headphones or having a FaceTime conversation while the rest of us are trying to relax.

At my last appointment, the woman next to...Read more

Dear Annie: I am desperate to declutter our house, but my husband has a very hard time letting go of anything. Our closets are overflowing, the garage is packed, and we have boxes of things we haven't opened in years. There are old tools, clothes that no longer fit, broken electronics, stacks of paperwork and even things from hobbies he hasn't...Read more

Dear Readers: Wishing you all a very happy Labor Day. The expectation of this holiday is to take the day off, put our feet up and enjoy the last stretch of summer.

How many of you are actually able to take the time to reset and rest today?

We say we are going to relax, and then we answer a few emails. We clean the kitchen. We run to the ...Read more

Dear Annie: I travel fairly often from Miami to Europe and California, and lately I've been thinking I need to change the way I do it. I'm at the point where I'd honestly rather take fewer trips and enjoy them more than squeeze myself into economy for hours just to save money.

I'd love to fly business class about five times a year and maybe ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm 74 and just moved in with my younger sister. Since I've been here, I've noticed she's drinking more than I remember her drinking before, close to a bottle of wine nearly every night. She otherwise seems fine. She's still doing her gardening, cooking meals for herself and meeting up with friends.

But still -- this can't be good...Read more

Dear Annie: For the 23 years I've been married, I've cooked dinner for my husband nearly every night. He has no idea how much planning, shopping and cleanup goes into it. I think he thinks the food just appears.

Recently, he's turned critical about nearly every meal: The chicken's too dry, the vegetables are too salty. I've told him how ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife, who is 62, has always been insecure about her weight, even though I've never once cared or thought she needed to change anything. A few months ago, she decided on her own to start a GLP-1 medication for weight loss, and she's doing it under a doctor's supervision. She's thrilled with the results so far. I'm happy she's ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a 9-year-old son from a previous relationship and a 3-year-old daughter with my current partner. He is a wonderful, involved father and partner. He makes lunches, does laundry, cleans up after dinner, helps with bedtime and will often notice something needs to be done before I even ask.

The strange part is that instead of ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a friend I've known for more than 30 years. He is a good person, loyal and generous, and we share a lot of history. The problem is that he has absolutely no sense of when he has lost a room.

At dinner parties, he can take over the entire conversation with a story that lasts 15 or 20 minutes. And these are not short, lively ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been married for 45 years to a man who has never wanted much adventure in his life. His idea of a big night out is taking a short drive, finding a supper club, eating dinner and coming straight home so he can settle into his recliner.

For years, I begged him to travel with me. I wanted to see new places, experience ...Read more

Dear Annie: I feel a little silly even writing this because my mother is a wonderful grandmother. She absolutely adores my children, and they adore her. But lately, I've started to feel like she is much more interested in being their grandmother than in being my mother.

A few weeks ago, I called and asked if she wanted to meet me for lunch. I...Read more

Dear Annie: Seven years ago, I retired and moved to a different state.

A friend of mine who lives in my old town has continuously used my new house like her personal hotel. She has family and friends in my area and will text, "Are you open to company?" when she wants to come visit. When she does, she only sleeps at my house while she does ...Read more