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Daughter’s Questions Unsettle Parents’ Longtime Friends

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I recently hosted some longtime friends for a few days while they were passing through our area on vacation. We had a fine time reconnecting, although my wife commented after they left that they seemed to have “slowed down a bit” — to which I responded, “Yeah. Us, too, I guess.” We just received an email from that couple’s adult daughter, with whom we’re also friendly, asking about our perceptions of her parents’ well-being. We are not comfortable responding to her very pointed questions about their eating habits, bedtimes, taking of ...

Meatloaf Mania

Dear Heloise: My family loves meatloaf, so I have found ways to make it more nutritious and delicious. Here is what I like to do: * I take vegetables such as carrots, zucchini, celery and onions, shred them and add them to the ground beef. For families with children who don’t like vegetables, this works well. * Sometimes I put half of the meat mixture in a loaf pan, then sprinkle a nice, thick layer of cheddar cheese over it and then put the rest of the meatloaf mixture over that. This is a big hit! * I’ve also been known to add finely chopped jalapenos peppers for a little added ...

Perfect Guy on the Outside Becomes Abusive at Home

DEAR ABBY: I have been with “Dylan” for three years, engaged for two. I have a lot of insecurities about it. We met right after my husband’s death. Dylan was the perfect guy in the beginning. Looking back, I realize there were a lot of red flags. He spends most of his time on Facebook or talking about his high school years. He is also secretive. He acts like the world’s nicest guy around others, but when we’re alone, he calls me stupid and insecure. I never knew what a narcissist was before, but I believe he is one. I built a business, which has done very well. I’m ...

Best Time to Plant a Tree? Probably Now

Planting a tree is one of the best things you can do to help the planet, and these days it's gotten easier. There's a better understanding now of what trees need, including when they should generally be planted (the fall). Why plant trees? It's well-known that trees mitigate global warming ...

Better Work Communication

Dear Heloise: I wanted to share some things I’ve learned to be more productive at work: * When I make a mistake (which we all do) and someone calls me out on it, instead of saying: “I’m sorry; I made a mistake. I completely missed that!” I now say: “Good catch! I’ll update the file. Thanks for letting me know.” * When scheduling an appointment, instead of saying, “Are you available at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.?” I’ll ask, “When are you available?” * If it takes me a while to answer an email I don’t say, “I’m sorry for the delay.” I instead say, “Thanks for ...

Man Contemplates Adopting the Stepdaughter He Adores

DEAR ABBY: I am thinking about asking my stepdaughter “Gwen” (37 years old with a husband and three kids) if she would like me to adopt her. I married her mother when Gwen was 2. We divorced when she was 8 or 9, so we were out of contact for about 25 years. Gwen really dislikes her father. Her mother and I have patched things up, so much so that we’ve been on a couple of vacations together. Gwen has been along on both. We have a special bond that goes back to the first time I met her. She was a terror, and her mother, grandmother and the rest of the family had basically given ...