This couple gets on each other’s nerves
Dear Abby: I knowevery relationship is different, but how do you know when to stop trying and let go? My boyfriend and I have been dating for a year and a half. Lately all we seemto do is fight or upset each other. I don’t want to call it quits, but I’m tired of being angry or sad all the time.
We have been trying to fix our relationship for a while now, but nothing seems to stick. We haven’t been able to get professional help due to our financial situation and COVID, but I don’t know what else to do.
We have somuch potential for having an amazing life and family in the future that I don’t want to give up on what could be just because we can’t get along right now. Is love enough to help us through this rough patch? Or am I just foolingmyself into thinking we can survive together? — Lost in Love in Kansas
Dear Lost: Many couples — married and not — have been having relationship problems related to the pandemic and the social isolation it has brought. Add financial issues into themix, and the result has been anxiety, depression and disrupted relationships.
These are difficult times, and I hope you and your boyfriend can weather the storm by giving each other the gift of patience and understanding. The answer to your dilemma may be as simple as returning to normal once the pandemic gets under control.
Dear Abby: I ama 68-year-old man. Yesterday, my girlfriend and I were in a small gift shop. A young couplewas therewith a 6-month-old baby in a stroller. I bent down, smiled, winked, waved at the baby and said, “Hi there!” I then told themother that her baby was beautiful and that I love little kids.
My girlfriend said I was being creepy. I was shocked. I said that she knew I liked kids, and she said yes, she knew that, but that I was still being creepy.
Abby, I have two wonderful, successful adult daughters and always enjoyed having their friends over to our house, which was the place to be back then. I amstill stunned at the accusation, but I now wonder. Was I out of line and being “creepy”? — Stunned in Washington
Dear Stunned: There’s a double standard formen interacting with children that women don’t face. But admiring someone’s baby and telling themother her child is beautiful isn’t “creepy.” Neither is mentioning that you love kids. Countless people say the same thing in passing, and there’s nothing untoward about it.
Dear Abby: Is there a respectfulway to dispose of funeral memory books that no one is interested in keeping? — Curious
Downsizer
Dear Curious: Funeral memory books are similar to guest books. Mourners sign them so the grieving family will know who attended the service. If you’re familiar with whatever messages were left, there is no need to hang on to them. If you don’t wish to keep them, offer themto your local genealogical society, historical society or local archives to see if they would be welcomed. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.