Columns

Older, Wiser Woman Wants to Apologize For Past Sins

DEAR ABBY: Is it ever too late to apologize to an ex-boyfriend? I’m in my mid-40s now, and over the last three years, I have gone through a significant change. It has helped me to face myself, let go of useless hate and anger and forgive the people who hurt me. It has made me a much happier person. One of the results of this change is realizing how much I dislike who I was when I was younger. I’m sure many people made mistakes in their early 20s and maybe blew it off, because I know I did. But now I can’t. I’m ashamed of my previous behavior and have been thinking about ...

Encouraging A Friend’s Weight Loss

Today’s Sound Off is about weight loss jealousy: Dear Heloise: I have been able to lose 65 pounds with diet and exercise, and although I had to really work at it, the rewards have been great. I have fewer aches and pains, my blood pressure is lower and there has been a significant improvement in my HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, too. I never talked about it, because I didn’t want to appear as if I were bragging, but when some people noticed they would say, oh, you look gaunt (or tired or too skinny, etc.). Please tell your readers to never discourage people who slim down. ...

Disapproval of Pregnancy Becomes Permanent Rift

DEAR ABBY: I became pregnant with my second child in 2013. When my extended family heard the news, it was not well-received, particularly by my grandmother and aunt-in-law. They said things like, “We love you, but we’re embarrassed and ashamed.” My once loving grandmother said some particularly cruel things. I have to be honest — I was angry. I swore at her after she accused me of “using” my partner of 10 YEARS to get pregnant. The gossip and hateful comments from my family shocked me to my core. I wasn’t asking for a blessing, but unconditional love from this God-fearing ...

Don’t Forget the Ice Cream

Did you see it? The other night at dusk, did you stop and take a few minutes to look at it? Wednesday night took its good old time to fall into darkness, and the show provided to us across the horizon was nothing short of glorious. I was driving across the hilltop near Wheeling Park High School when I was awestruck by not only the red, orange and blue-gray colors presenting themselves on heaven’s perfect skyline, but because others had pulled their vehicles over and got out to watch the sun kiss the day goodbye. At a nearby home, the residents were seated in their yard, ...

Filler in Meds Is Not the Cause of Reader’s Symptoms

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a question about excipients, something you discussed in a recent column about thyroid medication. Twice in my life, I took Celebrex for orthopedic pain. The episodes were about five years apart. Both times, I suffered severe liver dysfunction, turned yellow, lost weight and had dark urine and abnormal ALT, AST and bilirubin counts, etc. My doctor said the reaction was caused by the sulfonamide base, or “excipient,” in Celebrex, and not by the active ingredients. Is sulfonamide used as an excipient in many other drugs? Should I be wary of them as well? Is there ...

Wife Tries to Coax Opinions From Man Aiming to Please

DEAR ABBY: This may seem strange, but my husband is too nice. His late mother, a domineering woman who always got her way, trained him not to have an opinion. Almost everything he says is crafted to be neutral so that nobody can possibly take issue with him. If I ask, “What do you want for dinner?” his reply is, “Whatever you want.” If I ask, “What make of car should we buy?” his reply is, “What kind would you like?” When I give him several choices, he tries to guess what I would prefer. He is a wonderful, kind, sweet man who will do anything for me. We both have ...