DEAR ABBY: My husband, "Pete," is an only child. His mom, who was married, had an affair with a married man, which resulted in his birth. His mother's husband put his name on the birth certificate, but as a kid, Pete had contact from time to time with his biological father. Both dads have si…
DEAR ABBY: I read your column and I feel for the people who have problems. I have no worries. Although my life has been far from perfect and no bed of roses, here I am at 95 with no serious physical, spiritual, emotional, family or economic problems.
DEAR ABBY: I recently had my lover of 11 years arrested for domestic violence. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. He had me isolated and cut off from the world, and without family around, I felt extremely lonely and fragile. Looking back, I see how wanting to be loved and not alone c…
DEAR ABBY: I need your advice. I am 41 years old and was adopted at birth. I was raised by an unloving woman who was emotionally, verbally and physically abusive. I persevered, worked hard, and now have a loving husband and a beautiful son. We live a comfortable and peaceful life.
DEAR ABBY: My brother was adopted at birth through an agency, but he was never told. He’s in his mid-50s now. We have no other siblings. Our parents never felt my brother was emotionally strong enough to accept the news of his adoption. Our father passed on years ago, and our mother is now elderly.
DEAR ABBY: I’m 54. My 28-year-old daughter, Sarah, lives with me. Our issue is MY sex life.
DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been married for many years, work long schedules, and actually sleep when we go to bed at night. Saturday afternoon, we had “nothin’ to do,” so I suggested some hanky-panky. We were just getting into it when the phone rang.
DEAR ABBY: I am part of a small social ladies group. The eight of us range in age from mid-50s to late-60s. We get together once a month for lunch, a movie, dinner, shopping, etc. I look forward to it, and we always have a good time.
DEAR ABBY: I’m 36, doing very well in business, single and deeply in love with a 58-year-old woman. She has been a neighbor since I was in grade school. She’s petite, pretty, intelligent, cheerful and looks my age.
DEAR ABBY: My husband, “Ron,” and I have been married for 49 years. When we retired, we moved to Florida. Ron is 71 and healthy. He rides his bike 30 to 50 miles every day. He also mows the lawn and takes care of all the gardening.
DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 17 years to the love of my life. I met her 40 years ago while we were growing up in the same neighborhood. Last year she decided our marriage is over.
DEAR ABBY: I am 28 and I’m disgusted with myself about how I talk to my mother when I’m stressed out. I know it’s not her. It’s me.
DEAR ABBY: I am a retired librarian who lives in Texas. I am what around here is called "Anglo," meaning white and not Hispanic. I speak four languages, with varying degrees of proficiency.
DEAR ABBY: My physical attraction to my boyfriend has significantly diminished due to his baldness. I know this may seem shallow, but I have lost all interest in intimate contact with him. When I look at his bald head or he rests his head on my shoulder, it literally makes my stomach lurch!
DEAR ABBY: My adult son passed away two years ago at a young age. We were very close while he was growing up. He married young, and I maintained a great relationship with both him and his wife. They gave me the most precious grandchildren any woman could ask for, and I am extremely active in…
DEAR ABBY: I am concerned about my niece. She’s 18 and a senior in high school. Her father — my younger brother — is incarcerated and has been for 13 years.
DEAR ABBY: I have a brother and a sister. I'm the oldest. My husband and I have a 3-year-old child and no plans for more children.
DEAR ABBY: My twin sister and I were raised by a single mom. Because Mom received welfare benefits, she was required to list "potential" fathers in order to receive aid. After a time, the state required paternity tests be given to the men she had listed, so we had no idea who our biological …
DEAR ABBY: I am a 911 dispatcher with some hints for your readers in case they need emergency services and must call 911.
DEAR ABBY: Election Day is just over a month away. As it approaches, many people have questions about voting that could keep them away from the polls this November.
DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend’s best friend asked if we could drive an hour to visit them and their children on Saturday. I’ve met her twice, and we have chatted a bit online. I have met her fiance only once.
DEAR ABBY: I am sometimes invited to friends' birthday parties and, while I enjoy the celebration, I have one hang-up. When it's time to blow out the candles, sometimes my friends will blow real hard or even need more than one breath. (We're not exactly spring chickens.) To me, this is the e…
DEAR ABBY: I am a single father of teenage boys. I have always played an active role in my children's lives, physically, emotionally and financially. My older son lives with me; my younger sons live with their mother.
DEAR ABBY: My husband, “Ray,” and I have been together for 10 years and, like most couples, we have had our ups and downs. Ray is a professional musician, so a lot of my time is spent supporting this, either by promoting his endeavors or accepting the fact that I will always come second to h…
DEAR ABBY: I have lost my copy of the "Letter From Your Pet," the essay that is written from the pet's viewpoint to his master, assuring him it is the right thing to do when it is time to put the pet down. Is it included in your "Keepers" booklet? If so, how can I order a copy? — RUTH IN THE…
DEAR ABBY: I'm a freshman in college, blessed to have an internship in the office of a nonprofit organization. As time goes by, and as trust is built, I am being given more responsibilities. One of them is writing letters for various purposes — thank-you letters, invitations, congratulatory …
DEAR ABBY: I’m a 12-year-old boy with some generosity problems. When my neighborhood friends come to my house, I offer them some things (food, mostly) that are strictly off-limits, but it feels necessary.
DEAR ABBY: I have been dating "Ian" for seven months. We met at work, and my friends convinced me to go out with him. I thought he was a nice guy, just shy. Now that we've been dating, I realize that's not the case.
DEAR ABBY: I'm obsessed with having sex. I can't stop. Ever since I was 8 I've been having sex, and now I'm 18. I have a boyfriend I've been dating since I was 8, and we can't stop having sex. I want to stop, but he doesn't want to. I keep on doing it because he says if I don't he'll leave m…
DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend, “Kevin,” and I have been together for five years and have a 4-year-old son we are crazy about. For the past six months, I have been begging Kevin to have another child. Some days he’s all for it, but then he changes his mind and starts asking me to give him a good re…
DEAR ABBY: I have been seeing "Russell" for about a year. Last March he told me he had to move in with his grandmother because "he was the only bachelor in the family who could take care of her." Stupidly, I believed him.
DEAR ABBY: I've been with my boyfriend, "Jake," for two years. We are both 32. Since the beginning, his sister, "Michelle" (who is 26), has never liked me. Jake admits there's no reason for it. He thinks she's just looking out for him because he's had bad relationships in the past.
DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend doesn't get excited about anything anymore. He walks around the house all day with a gloomy expression. When I ask him about it, he tells me he is bored.
DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend, "Paul," and I have been together for five years. We want to get married, but his mother is Catholic and she doesn't approve because I am an Alaskan native, which from her perspective makes me a pagan.
DEAR ABBY: I have been in a relationship for four years. My partner has fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. When we met, he had just found out. He was still active, working, and we had sex regularly. Fast forward: He is now on disability, not working at all, we rarely sleep together and h…
DEAR ABBY: I’m a happily married woman in my 30s. Although we don’t have children yet, many of our friends do. Some of them have boys who are approaching or are already in their early teens.
DEAR ABBY: Once I announced my engagement, my already thin, fit mother went on a diet and lost 20 pounds. My weight has always been an issue with her, and I can’t believe she would draw attention to it in this way.
DEAR ABBY: My fiance and I are looking forward to being married soon. The problem is, he wants a traditional wedding with bridesmaids and groomsmen, and I prefer a wedding at the courthouse.
DEAR ABBY: I am a bridesmaid for my brother’s upcoming wedding. However, his fiancee is throwing out some crazy mandates for the big day.
DEAR ABBY: My brother, "Chris," is going through a divorce and lost his business. He is now lashing out at our mom and me when she spends time with me.
DEAR ABBY: My 29-year-old brother died suddenly last month. It was completely unexpected. He left behind a wife and 1-year-old son.
DEAR ABBY: My divorced 38-year-old brother is addicted to opiates. My wealthy, enabling mother constantly bails him out financially. My brother is engaged to a very kind woman — a mother of three he met four months ago. She’s not aware of his lies, manipulations, debt and pill addiction.
DEAR ABBY: Is it possible that people can just fall out of love with each other? We have been married for 21 years and have three kids who are older. Over the last five years, my wife and I have stopped communicating. We don't do anything together and have little desire to be with each other…
DEAR ABBY: I'm a 21-year-old college student. Recently, my cousin (also 21) moved in with my parents and me because her mom is verbally and mentally abusive. Lately, I'm having issues with her being here.
DEAR ABBY: This is the 37th anniversary of when I met and fell in love with a beautiful young woman in Iowa. We were together less than a year before she decided to pursue her dreams in California. When she left, it broke my heart for years. To this day I still feel the loss.
DEAR ABBY: This is in response to "Conflicted in California" (March 20), whose co-worker walks the "survivors' lap" in Relay for Life events. Her co-worker is what we call a "PREvivor," someone who took steps to lessen his or her chances of developing cancer. For other co-workers to belittle…
DEAR ABBY: I play cards with a group of men I have known for more than 20 years. We switch partners after six hands so everyone partners with everyone.
DEAR ABBY: I’m a 50-year-old male engaged to be married to my elementary school sweetheart, “Marie.” This will be the second marriage for both of us. We’ve been dating for six years, three of which were a long-distance relationship.
DEAR ABBY: I live in a beautiful apartment in the perfect location and have been here for three years. This past year my neighbors had a second baby. This child cries constantly during all hours of the night and most of the day. I hear the wailing and the parents yelling and slamming doors w…
DEAR ABBY: I live in a beautiful apartment in the perfect location and have been here for three years. This past year my neighbors had a second baby. This child cries constantly during all hours of the night and most of the day. I hear the wailing and the parents yelling and slamming doors w…