My mom and my wonderful canine companion passed away within six months.
asserted
mom → pass → months
My husband has battled addiction for years.
asserted
husband → battle → years
I discovered the extent of it after I had two small children and was ending our marriage.
asserted
I → discover → marriage
He went to AA, sobered up and was wonderful for the next 10 years.
asserted
He → go → years
During that time, we had two more children.
asserted
we → have → children
We sacrificed enormously to give them everything, including college educations.
asserted
We → sacrifice → educations
Now my children rarely speak to me, and one won’t speak to me at all because of politics.
asserted
one → speak → politics
My spouse has returned to his addiction.
asserted
spouse → return → addiction
Grief over losing my two best friends has overwhelmed me.
asserted
Grief → lose → me
Although I am terribly lonely, I suffer terrible social anxiety due to a traumatic incident in my teens.
asserted
I → suffer → teens
Six months ago, I moved into my mother’s home, which is jointly owned by surviving siblings.
asserted
which → move → siblings
I keep myself busy, and I am enjoying the most peace I have ever had in my life.
asserted
I → keep → life
I have been diagnosed with PTSD and have had years of therapy.
asserted
I → diagnose → therapy
I don’t work.
asserted
I → work → ?
My spouse gives me an allowance, but living apart has resulted in my being in debt.
asserted
my → give → debt
I just want to be left alone, but my spouse controls the purse strings.
asserted
spouse → want → strings
He doesn’t mind the separation because it allows him to continue his addiction.
asserted
him → mind → addiction
Everything I pursued in my life — marriage, career, family — has amounted to nothing.
asserted
I → pursue → nothing
At 62, I’m tired of trying.
asserted
I → ’m → 62
I take medicine.
asserted
I → take → medicine
My internist knows of the trauma I suffered and is good at staying on top of my mental health.
asserted
I → know → health
You state that you and your husband are separated, and that he controls the purse strings.
asserted
he → state → strings
It’s time to talk with a family law attorney about what your financial picture would look like if you were to divorce.
asserted
you → ’ → what
I wouldn’t want to live alone at 62, but if that’s the lifestyle you prefer, I won’t judge.
asserted
I → want → 62
My wife’s family holds gatherings several times a year for various holidays.
asserted
family → hold → holidays
I’m always invited and warmly welcomed.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
Over the last 30 years, their family has grown, with many grandchildren and now great-grandchildren.
asserted
family → grow → grandchildren
We always arrive before the scheduled noon meal to chat and socialize.
asserted
We → arrive → meal
The patriarch is known for being eager to eat at the appointed time, but for the past three or four years, the matriarch has insisted no one begin eating until the final guest arrives — often 30 minutes to an hour late.
asserted
guest → know → years
As a guest, I’d never bring this up, not even to my wife, but I’m curious about your thoughts: Is it good manners to make those who arrive on time wait for those who can’t seem to?
asserted
who → bring → those
The host should make every effort to begin the meal at the time mentioned in the invitation.
asserted
host → make → invitation
Even so, latecomers should not be made to feel guilty; the in-progress meal will convey the message louder than words.
asserted
meal → make → words
The host should simply extend a warm welcome and a plate before returning to the more respectful guests.
asserted
host → extend → guests
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren.
asserted
Abby → write → Buren
For nearly four decades, Jeanne Phillips penned this column, which was founded in 1956 by her mother, Pauline Phillips.
asserted
which → pen → mother
The Aporia
