Columns

Change in Dinner Party Guest List Draws an Angry Response

DEAR ABBY: I’ve known my friend “Ashley” for a lot of years. She is single. Several years ago, I introduced her to another couple, the “Smiths.” We all have a lot in common and take turns inviting each other for dinner. This group and a couple of other couples are the only people in my social circle I have seen periodically during this pandemic. Two weeks ago, Ashley invited my husband and me and the Smiths for dinner. Three days before the dinner, Ashley sent me a text that the Smiths will be bringing another couple, and she wanted to be sure it was OK with us. I called her ...

Christmas In The House Of Children

Despite the overwhelming task of fulfilling wish lists, Santa did a darn good job most years of my childhood. It started on Thanksgiving Day when we would put the names of all the siblings in a hat and each of us pulled a name. We would try to keep it a secret whose name we picked, but that often fell short before Christmas Day. My favorite gifts of my youth included Barbie dolls, Nancy Drew books and records. One year my sister Denny wanted a pair of expensive penny loafers. That was pretty much all she got due to the expense, but she was happy. Plus, I shared my Nancy Drew ...

Ornaments, Old or New, Are Perfect Collectibles

Do you have a favorite ornament on your Christmas tree? That’s one of the things that make the tradition of the tree so important — the precious ornaments used for trimmings. Vintage ornaments dating to the mid-20thcentury are popular right now and you can still find these at antique shops, second-hand stores or in an attic if you’re lucky! Other collectors seek genuine antique ornaments and look for Victorian treasures or German examples from the early 1900s. But there are many new ornaments that are collectible and just as lovely. One of the big names that collectors ...

A Urologist Treats ED Caused By Blood Flow Blockages

DEAR DR. ROACH: Some months ago, you wrote that the blood flow to the penis could be reduced by blockages in the arteries. What kind of doctor should a guy go to, and what tests should be asked for? — J. ANSWER: Low blood flow to the penis is one common cause of erectile dysfunction. Without adequate blood to the arteries supplying the penis, an adequate erection may not be possible. It is unusual that those arteries are the only ones blocked. This symptom occurs most commonly in people with multiple blockages, although ED is occasionally the first indication of atherosclerotic ...

Mom Working Swing Shift Is Pressured to Stay on the Job

DEAR ABBY: My hubby and I come from very different backgrounds. He grew up in a community where all the moms had to work. I grew up in one where most of the moms did not. Our marriage was perfect until we had a baby. After our first child was born, my hubby made clear that it was unacceptable for me to leave my career or reduce my working hours. I never realized I would have the desire to be a stay-at-home mom or work part-time until I became a mom. For the last several years, I have chosen to work swing shifts so I can be available for my children during the mornings. But this has ...

After 44 Years, Breast Implant Ruptures, Causing Concern

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m 73 and had silicone implants put in when I was 29. Other than getting firm, I’ve never had a problem with them. I have had a mammogram every year since I was 45 and all has been well except for this year, when the right implant showed up as ruptured. This was five months ago. I’ve had three opinions, two from plastic surgeons and one from my primary doctor, that I should replace. Please convince me that I need to do this when I have no pain and they are so encapsulated that the silicone is going nowhere. Also, it’s expensive, I’m a senior and I don’t ...