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Coping with an empty nest at the holidays

Dear Annie: I’ve read plenty about empty-nest depression and how to cope with it, and I managed that stage just fine. I enjoyed my grandchildren and watched them grow into teenagers. But now I’m struggling with something different: how to handle the emptiness of the holidays. I have two ...

Medicines labeled as ‘p.m.’ are not recommended for sleep

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife was having problems getting to sleep and has stocked our medicine cabinet with various p.m. versions of popular pain relievers that have been advertised as sleep aids. Recently, I’ve had problems getting to sleep as well and began taking a single pill before retiring, ...

JD Vance gets America’s creed and heritage right

With America’s 250th birthday as an independent nation coming up in 2026, the big debate on the right this season about what it means to be an American couldn’t be more timely. Vice President JD Vance and Vivek Ramaswamy — the 2024 presidential aspirant who hopes to be elected Ohio ...

Respect or fear?

In the course of his losing race with the teleprompter during his Oval Office address on Dec. 17, President Donald Trump returned to a theme that obsesses him — respect. Even before his entry into politics, Trump was convinced that “weak” leaders including Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Obama ...

Life’s messy moments count the most

Dear Annie: Every December, my life starts to feel like one of those “year in review” videos — only mine looks more like the blooper reel. Back in January, I sat at my kitchen table with a brand-new planner, a cinnamon latte and all the determination in the world. I even wrote, “This ...

A case of Clostridioides difficile has become difficult to treat

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 76-year-old male who is in relatively good health. For the past six months, I have been experiencing diarrhea on and off. I initially spoke to my general physician, and he thought it could be lactose intolerance. I reduced my dairy intake, drank lactose-free milk, and ...