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Care Bags

Dear Readers: In tough economic times, it’s not uncommon to see people who may be down on their luck and out on the street asking for money. It can put you in a tough spot — you don’t want to see someone go hungry, but at the same time, you don’t want to give them cash. Here’s a great way to help people who are genuinely in need, especially those who ask for help at traffic lights or near shopping centers. Put together care bags. They can be a gallon-size plastic bag that can contain a granola bar, potted meat, peanut butter crackers, toothpaste, toothbrush, gloves in ...

Man Pines For Wife Who Left Without Giving An Explanation

DEAR ABBY: My wife left me a little over two years ago, and I can’t seem to get over it. All she said was that we had an “emotional disconnect.” I don’t believe she was unfaithful. All I can think about is being with her, and I cringe if I think about her being with someone else. I’m a professional with a good career and pension, and I have been approached by some nice women who would like to date. How can I get over my feelings for my ex? — LONELY IN THE PLAINS DEAR LONELY: Have you been getting out and participating in leisure activities since your wife left? That would ...

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Today’s Sound Off is about irresponsible neighbors: Dear Heloise: Last week my neighbor’s three large dogs tore down a section of my fence in the backyard. I brought this to the attention of my neighbor, who said he’d fix it. He took a rusted piece of tin and nailed it to the fence on his side. I spent a considerable amount of money having the fence put up, and now I have a large section of my fence covered in rusted tin. I plan to have it fixed on my side, but I think my neighbor should be financially responsible for at least half, if not all, of the repairs. — Grace in ...

Down-in-His Luck Roommate Turns Out to Be A Hoarder

DEAR ABBY: Last month, I found out a friend of mine was going to be living out of his van. I couldn’t let him do that, so I offered him my second bedroom and put him on the lease. He told me Uber doesn’t pay much, and he couldn’t afford half the $1,700-a-month rent, so we agreed he would pay what he could, roughly $200-$300 of the $1,700. I said it was OK because I didn’t take him in for money purposes. I did it to help a friend in need, and I had spare space. I quickly found out that he’s a hoarder. His entire bedroom is full of his boxes of stuff (manga, anime, books, ...

A Message From Nature

A red-tailed hawk, a bobcat and an eagle — no, this is not the beginning of a bar joke. This past week brought all three of these wonders of nature to our rural neighborhood. My husband and I saw the hawk in our backyard. It was on the ground along the tree line. We thought this was rather unusual for the bird to be on the ground for any length of time, but we soon realized the reason. The bird was enjoying a rather hefty meal of a rabbit. We have seen the hawk or its relative flying over the fields near our home. It will dive toward the earth, often scooping a mouse from ...

Dear Annie: How To Make Friends When You’re Older

Dear Annie: How do you make friends when you are older? I am 60 years old, and I’ve never been a “joiner” or good at making friends. I do have a couple of friends who I see once in a while, but I haven’t had a best friend since high school (and she wasn’t that good a friend, it turned out). The vast majority of my social activities involve my husband’s family. If I do step out of my comfort zone to become involved in something, it may give me something to do for an hour or two, but it never results in a friendship. It seems at my age that everyone has longstanding ...