Dear Eric: My husband and I have been married for more than 50 years and we have recently retired. I was looking forward to the free time to do more of the things we had talked about doing together. We have always been friends as well as spouses.
Category: Advice
Asking Eric: Son’s falling-out with niece divides family
Dear Eric: My son and my niece had been friends since childhood but had a falling out about a decade ago. She confessed to him that she was cheating on her husband and thinking of leaving him and their 6-year-old daughter. My son suggested she talk to a professional before making a rash decision. She then badmouthed him to everyone else in the family and stopped talking to him for years.
Asking Eric: Creepy ‘cousin’ left off the invite list
Dear Eric: I frequently have gatherings at my house, most recently debate-watch parties. Close friends gather, have cocktails and eat snacks. This time, I decided to go for the cozy vibe and have a debate-watch pajama party. I just invited ladies.
Asking Eric: Husband’s family excludes me from vacations
Dear Eric: Two years ago, a group of 11 women on my husband’s side, including his mother, sisters and aunts, went on a beach house girls’ trip. The group also included the daughters-in-law of his aunts. I was left out and wasn’t even told about this trip until after they came back.
Asking Eric: Am I being over-sensitive about ageism?
Dear Eric: I am newly in love and engaged. My fiancé and I are both in our early 70s. Quite a few of my friends (not my close friends but others) have responded to the news with: how cute! Somehow the fact that we have fallen in love and plan to marry is “cute.”
Asking Eric: Readers share responses to letters on loneliness
Dear Readers: On Sept. 23, I published two letters from older adults struggling to find a connection (“Still Grieving” and “Wants a Connection”). I asked those of you who have successfully found friendship and romantic partnership at a later stage in life to write in.
Terry Savage: It’s time to take required distributions
The rules are simple, but the penalties for failure to withdraw on time are huge — 25% of the amount that should have been withdrawn for 2024!
Ask Anna: How can I move past my boyfriend’s cringey DMs?
Dear Anna, I’ve been dating my boyfriend (36M) for five months, and recently, I found out that he had quite a reputation for sending unsolicited, borderline harassy messages to women online.
Ex-etiquette: My ex was a very violent person
Q. I read your column, and I find it fascinating that you think that people who have volatile backgrounds can get along.
Asking Eric: Small wedding left me off the guest list
Dear Eric: Before her wedding, she told me that it was going to be a small ceremony with only about 30 friends and family. It would be at a restaurant. They planned on paying for everyone and 30 was their limit. I was shocked and hurt when she told me there was no room for me. I always thought we were close.