ArcaMax

Dear Eric: Several years ago, after I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my nose and had some reparative work done, my husband and I visited a long-time acquaintance. She looked at me and said, “oh, I guess that’s the best he could do.” Yikes.

I spoke to her (after the shock wore off) and she refused to apologize and even asked me ...Read more

Dear Eric: When attending a celebration and the invitation states “No gifts, please, but feel free to donate to the organization which greatly impacted the health and life of the honoree,” do you include any mention of your donation in a card you might bring with your best wishes?

– Happy Celebrant

Dear Celebrant: Yes, for two reasons (...Read more

Dear Eric: My husband has struggled with problem drinking for years. At different points over the past several years, he has suffered legal consequences and lost a job.

After a recent hospital stay, he stopped drinking for many months. Just recently, he has started to drink again, he claims “just here and there.” It is bothering me and ...Read more

Dear Eric: My spouse and I are in our late 60s. Our two kids are in their late 30s. Two years ago our oldest moved more than 2,100 miles away with our two grandkids. They had been talking about it for a while.

Then, out of the blue, our youngest child moved more than 800 miles away six months later.

We don’t have much family near us. We are ...Read more

Dear Eric: I have a longtime friend who is downsizing as she prepares to sell her home and move into assisted living. Every time we talk, she shares a story about a unique item and the lucky person who has received it.

I am genuinely happy about this and wholeheartedly support giving away treasures before you die so you can ensure it's going to...Read more

Dear Eric: I am a "third grandma" in a family with several stepchildren and now their grandchildren. The problem is with my daughter-in-law's parents, both of whom are lovely but annoying.

The kids have bonded with them which is great. But her mother is almost always at their house and interferes with any attempts by their other grandfather or ...Read more

Dear Eric: I am finding that I don’t much like getting older. My husband and I have just learned that we need to be closer to medical help, so we must sell our current home, which we love, and move.

We have two sons, both of whom we love dearly, who each want us to build a little home on their property so we can be close enough that they can ...Read more

Dear Eric: I grew up in a silent household. I was a shamed, rejected kid and learned not to speak. One sister was the beautiful favorite. My brother and I were shamed, and we feared our father.

Our divorced mom apparently stole and kept some of my childhood journals. She put them in her desk. When we cleared out mom's home after she died, the ...Read more

Dear Eric: A few years ago, I was directly responsible for saving “Peter’s” life. I did not know Peter before this event and soon afterward he and his family reached out to thank me and ask to meet me, obviously under better circumstances.

I agreed to the meeting and, to be blunt, I regret it completely.

Peter is a perfectly decent ...Read more

Dear Eric: About two years ago, my husband was “invited” to resign his managerial position at a local company. This followed two less-than-great performance reviews which he claimed were the result of not getting along with his boss.

Fortunately, he was able to find another comparable full-time position quickly. He says he likes his job. ...Read more

Dear Eric: I am finding myself more and more fearful of AI. I have family and friends who casually upload their personal images to be AI-altered. That’s their prerogative so I never have talked about my AI aversion.

Recently though, a few family members uploaded group photos including me to generate lighthearted/silly AI images. This bothered...Read more

Dear Eric: I’m a senior with three grown kids. After divorcing young, I rebuilt my life, earned a degree and worked hard to save for retirement. Two of my children are independent, but my third child, with his family, still lives in my house despite many conversations and arguments about moving out.

This prevents me from selling my home as ...Read more

Dear Eric: I’m going to college out of state in the fall. My boyfriend was supposed to go to the same school as me but now it looks like he’s going to have to defer because of money. We’ve been together all through high school. Now he’s telling me he wants me to defer, too, so we can be together.

He’s being nice about it, but he says ...Read more

Dear Eric: Today I was shopping at one of the major chain stores, where I shop often. I checked my items out at the self-checkout line.

When I got to my car and unloaded my purchases, stuck in the back of the shopping cart there was a small item that I had completely overlooked.

I immediately took the item back to the store, checked it out and...Read more

Dear Eric: My family has always left shoes at the door, except for occasional circumstances like parties, et cetera. Those who prefer wearing shoes, have shoes that they only wear indoors.

My significant other does not really understand this concept. He makes numerous trips to the garage and outdoors and wears those gritty shoes in the house. I...Read more

Dear Eric: We are newly pregnant with our fourth child. A month ago, my newlywed best friend told me his wife was pregnant. We were extremely excited for them, however they lost their baby in the first trimester and are taking it hard, as any anxious and excited parent would.

Having gone through the same in our first pregnancy, I remember the ...Read more

Dear Eric: I am currently going through a terrible divorce that has left me nearly destitute in my mid-40s with a 3-year-old child to raise alone. In one last ditch effort to save our home, I decided to take in a renter. My cousin, who is also experiencing financial difficulties, agreed to move in for one to two years to help out.

I also live ...Read more

Dear Eric: My sister passed away without a will or trust. Our sister-in-law told me that my sister told her that she wanted all her things sold and divided up and given to the niece and nephews. My sister never told me anything.

There is a good amount of money now to divide up. I am the personal representative and would like to know what is ...Read more

Dear Eric: I’m 70 and very happily married (together 38 years). We both love music and lately after seeing a performance, there’s a meet-and-greet with the musicians. A particular musician and I have chatted several times. The last time, I got an autograph and a hug. I am on cloud 9!

I love my spouse (I would never cheat) and I have assured...Read more

Dear Eric: I live with autism spectrum disorder and have been in regular, independent housing since I was 19. I'm 55 and I've managed to work full time for almost 10 years in spite of previous employment where I was harassed due to discrimination because of my neurodiversity. I'm settled into a new career in an accommodating environment that's ...Read more