As You Like It

Dear Short Answers: Now that Facebook has these automatic alerts, I keep getting birthday announcements in my calendar for people who have passed away. I don’t mind it because it is a reminder of the person and it always makes me stop and think for a few minutes about them.  But my husband thinks it’s [...]

Family Matters

Dear Short Answers: I have a large family that I see rather infrequently (due to distance, not compatibility).  Every couple of years one of my siblings or cousins shows up at our house either “unannounced” or with only a day or two notice.  I used to find it extremely annoying and mentioned it to them [...]

What About a Day Job?

Dear Short Answers: One of my children desperately wants to be an actor and has worked very hard to be a success. But no matter what he does — classes, auditions, networking — he doesn’t get any paying jobs.  Which means that I continue to pay his rent so he doesn’t end up on the [...]

Glitter and Gold

Dear Short Answers: Through a hurtful set of circumstances, my brother’s wife got all my mother’s jewelry when my dad passed. I thought I could handle it but it comes up for me a lot — with enough bitterness to leave a bad taste. She never even met my mother! I don’t even care if [...]

Final Gotcha

Dear Short Answers: My sister and I have always had a friendly rivalry about which one of us our mother liked the best. When mom passed away a few months ago she gave all her money to the local library. Do you think she did this because she didn’t like either of us? #1 Sister [...]

Meaningful Addition

Dear Short Answers: What is extended family? Just Wondering Dear Wondering: We think that extended family includes blood relatives, in-laws, outlaws, and friends.  It is as many people as your heart can carry. 2 people like this post. Unlike

Truth and Consequences

Dear Short Answers: It’s already New Year’s Eve and I have not received a single thank you note or phone call from any of my 7 nieces and nephews who I bought significant Christmas gifts for.  Should I just keep waiting?  Or complain to their parents? Uncle Dear Uncle: Cool your jets. Talk to us [...]

We Hope You Feel Better

Dear Short Answers: In my lifetime, Christmas has always been more commercial than spiritual, but from where I sit, we have reached a tipping point. It is so commercial that when I wish someone a Merry Christmas I don’t even know what I mean.  I feel like asking everyone who says it to me what [...]

Writer’s Rule

Dear Short Answers: What is the proper procedure to list  relatives when a 92-year old mother passes away?In my husband’s mother’s obituary, his name as son was listed, then after his name, the name of his first wife (deceased), then my name.  He was DIVORCED from his first wife in 1994 and then, she died 6 [...]

Matter of Life and Death

Dear Short Answers: I am so afraid that my niece is into seriously heavy drugs but my sister (her mother) refuses to listen to me. Is there anything else I should be doing to try to help or do I just need to stay out of this horrible situation? Scared Auntie Dear Scared: We think [...]

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