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The flight not taken

Dear Annie: My mom and I have always been close. I'm 35 now, but we talk almost every day, even though she's in Virginia, where I grew up, and I moved to Washington state after college. We make an effort to see each other as much as possible, but of course, it's never enough. Recently, a ...

The power of being a present parent

Dear Annie: I am a working mother of two young children, and lately the guilt is eating me alive. I love my job. I worked hard to get where I am. But every morning when I leave the house, my 4-year-old asks why I have to go again, and my heart sinks. My husband is supportive. We have good ...

Avoiding microwave messes

Dear Heloise: No more major cleanups for your microwave! Just cover the dishes with a paper plate or a paper towel. Also, you can place a cup of vinegar in the microwave and bring it to boil. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe the inside of the microwave with cloth or paper towels. Big ...

The Burden of Always Being Available

Dear Annie: My younger sister has always been the "fun one" in our family. She breezes in late with a bottle of wine and a funny story, and somehow everyone forgives her before she has even taken off her coat. She forgets birthdays, cancels plans at the last minute and borrows money she never ...

Reader discovers toothbrush is fake

Dear Heloise: I recently found out something that I think should be shared with your readers. You printed a letter from a person who had a hint about allowing your electric toothbrush head to spin around for a few seconds after you rinse it so that it'd dry out faster. When I tried it, I ...

Word recall difficulty causes concern in 70-year-old female

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a healthy 70-year-old female who still works full-time and plays tennis regularly. I'm 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weigh 140 pounds. My concern is my memory, especially my speech. English is my second language, but I've been in the United States for over 40 years. Words ...