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Dear Annie: Drawing boundaries without hurting family ties

Dear Annie: I’ve been married to my husband for six years, and for the most part we have a happy, peaceful life together. The one area where things feel complicated is with my in-laws. My husband is very close to his parents, which is something I truly admire about him. They raised a kind, thoughtful son, and I know family means a lot to them. The challenge is that sometimes it feels like there’s no clear boundary between their household and ours. For example, his mother will often call him several times a day to check in, and she sometimes asks detailed questions about things ...

Floater in man’s eye signifies a posterior vitreous detachment

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 73-year-old man who had worn glasses since the age of 12 until a successful laser surgery from 22 years ago, which resulted in near 20/20 vision. My vision has changed little since the surgery. My eye health has always been very good, if not excellent, but after a recent two-hour airplane flight, I noticed a small “blob” in my right eye. Every time I moved my eye, it moved with my direction of vision. There were also brief flashes of light that occurred sporadically for about 24 hours. They haven’t returned. I underwent an urgent eye exam, which showed ...

In response to another war, Harrisburg must act to break our addiction to foreign oil

If you’re feeling a sense of deja vu when you look at your utility bill or pull up to a gas pump, you aren’t alone. For the second time in four years, global instability is reaching into the pockets of Pennsylvania families and shaking out every spare cent. First, it was Putin’s invasion of Ukraine that sent shockwaves through the global oil trade. Now, with Donald Trump’s war against Iran driving oil prices above $100 a barrel and pushing American gas prices to nearly $4 per gallon (as of March 24) , the message is clear: as long as we remain addicted foreign oil, our ...

Where is the arc of justice headed?

Former President Barack Obama liked to quote the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s line that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Of course, what was an expression of optimism for the moral reformer King was more in the nature of a victory spike of the football for a competitor in a zero-sum electoral contest like Obama. More importantly, the belief that things are moving toward justice comes more naturally to believers in American exceptionalism, of which Obama isn’t one. He famously said that he believed in America’s exceptionalism only as much ...

Dear Annie: A coffee shop connection worth exploring?

Dear Annie: I’m writing with a small story that left me with a surprisingly big question. Every morning before work, I stop by the same little coffee shop down the street. I started going there because it was convenient, but over time it’s become something more than that. The barista remembers my order, the regulars nod hello, and there’s an older man who always sits by the window reading the newspaper like it’s still 1985. It’s a quiet, ordinary ritual — but somehow it makes the start of my day feel steadier. A few months ago, I started noticing a young woman who comes ...

Sixty-year-old woman is mysteriously unable to gain weight

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a sister who is in her mid 60s and has a very low weight. She cooks a lot but doesn’t eat much. Is there something to suggest to make her gain some weight? She weighs 80 pounds and is 5 feet, 2 inches tall. By contrast, I’m 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weigh 150 pounds. I am worried that if she gets sick, she will not have anything to live off of. — P.L.W. ANSWER: With all the recent press about GLP-1 medicines helping people to lose weight, there has been much discussion about the health risks of being obese. However, there are health risks of being ...