Author: Susan Murphy

Wit’s End Dear Aunt Bossy, I am at my wit’s end and am getting more and more depressed by the day. I have always prided myself on being a free thinker, and having friends of every persuasion, politically, and otherwise. I have some conservative beliefs, liberal beliefs and in-between beliefs.

Baby, It’s Cold OutsideDear Aunt Bossy, You usually come off like a combination of Mother Theresa and Little Mary Sunshine, with all your do-good advice and insane positive thinking, and I want you to spare me that crap, but you do seem to have some experience and common sense, so I am turning to you for advice.

Girl Power Dear Aunt Bossy,             My thirteen-year-old daughter is devastated that Hillary was not elected and feels that she has no future, that women have no chance. What can I do to help her? Mamabear

Hit and Hurt Dear Aunt Bossy, This hurricane did something none of the previous ones appeared to do. It knocked me for a loop. The three days before I felt like I was waiting for a monster on the front porch to break in. During the evacuation I felt furious that I had to leave and even more furious when it was difficult to get back. I find myself exhausted, anxious, and angry, even though I am mentally grateful that my family and I were spared destruction. I don’t want to live like this. Any suggestions? Not Dorothy

  Thanks, but No Thanks Dear Aunt Bossy,             People we would rather not spend the evening with regularly invite us. There is nothing wrong with them; it is just that we like to be alone, or with people with whom we have vigorous conversations. Unfortunately, we see them in the neighborhood or at mutual friends’ houses on a regular basis, and they often call when they are “in the area.”

  Thanks, but No Thanks Dear Aunt Bossy,             People we would rather not spend the evening with regularly invite us. There is nothing wrong with them; it is just that we like to be alone, or with people with whom we have vigorous conversations. Unfortunately, we see them in the neighborhood or at mutual friends’ houses on a regular basis, and they often call when they are “in the area.”

Small Steps, Big Difference   Dear Aunt Bossy, I am an African-American man who has no hatred...

Small Steps, Big Difference Dear Aunt Bossy, I am an African-American man who has no hatred toward anyone. I have never had a problem because of my skin color, except for being stopped more frequently by police officers than my white brothers. Since young men of color seem to be up to more mischief than others, I understand the stops. I don’t like it, but I have never had a problem with it.

PushoverDear Aunt Bossy,             My wife is a total pushover and makes very bad decisions about people. She has friends who are on the dole with no intention of getting off. She has other friends who are at the opposite end of our political views, gay friends, black friends, people with whom we have nothing in common at all.

Work Relations Dear Aunt Bossy,             I am the mother of a very recent college graduate. He and all his friends keep asking me how they can know what they want to do “when they grow up.” I grew up in a different time and generally did what was expected of me. What shall I tell these young people? Pro Career Choice