Columns

Pastor Having Affair Keeps His Engagement Under Wraps

DEAR ABBY: A new single pastor was assigned to my church. He asked if I was single and if I had kids. I told him no, and we began having an affair. For two years, it was all in secret. Then I began noticing that a single lady from his previous church would visit. He told me she was concerned about him being alone, so she was stopping by on her way through. Well, I now know she was more than that. While he was having his affair with me, he was engaged to her. When I confronted him, he denied it. They got married in secret, and he didn’t tell the church until afterward. Everyone ...

Being Open, Honest With Adopted Kids

Q: We've always been open with our teenage son about the fact that we adopted him at birth. But recently he's become almost obsessed with the topic — and especially his birth parents. If he gets upset, he shouts that we aren't his "real" mom and dad. This is devastating to us; we love him so much and want him to know we ARE his family. How can we help him? Jim: This is actually a common scenario for adoptive families. All teenagers struggle with identity issues, and that's definitely compounded when the various facets of adoption get thrown in the mix ("my biological parents didn't ...

Hearings With the Social Security Administration During COVID-19

In March 2020, we temporarily closed all of our Social Security Hearing Offices due to the Coronavirus pandemic and are not offering in-person hearings. During the office closures, we are providing two flexible, safe, and secure hearing options: either a telephone hearing or our new option of an online video hearing. Additional information on both of these hearing options is available here: www.ssa.gov/appeals/hearing_options.html What are “online video hearings”? Online video hearings are a secure way to conduct hearings over the internet, using a free platform called ...

The Last Words

Fast cars and even faster boats — Mike Myer loved them all. And over the years, we heard his many stories about both. From his teen years speeding around Wetzel County to his antics in college at West Virginia University, Mike had a story. Maybe that’s what it takes to be a good newspaperman — knowing what stories will interest the readers. And when it came to editorials, Mike had his finger on the pulse of local, state and national issues and delivered them in his unique style. Mike died Wednesday leaving a huge hole in the family of newspaper colleagues and friends who often ...

Another Look At Supplements

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your recent response to a question about the efficacy of brain supplements. You note there is a paucity of published data, and that there is “no consistent evidence” that supplements help, except perhaps vitamin E. Fair enough. However, the lack of data may indicate simply that there is too little information, rather than the conclusion that supplements do not help. I do not believe the medical community has yet tested adequately the impacts of combined strategies to address dementia over time. It appears likely that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias ...

Too Much Togetherness Puts Pressure on Happy Relationship

DEAR ABBY: I have been in a relationship with a wonderful man, “Andy,” for two years. I couldn’t ask for a better partner. We are both divorced with children, and they get along like brothers and sisters. Even though our marriages ended, mine wasn’t an ordeal. My ex and I both knew it wasn’t working anymore, and we still get along pretty well. But Andy and his ex-wife never got along and argued for 18 years, and herein lies the problem. He gives me no space — ever. I have discussed it with him numerous times, and his response is, “Well, I have never been this happy, ...