Category: Elderly Aunt advice
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Hey Elderly Aunt, how do I help my sister who might be quarantining with a verbally abusive girlfriend?
Dear Elderly Aunt, My sister has been living with her girlfriend for nearly a year. I went out with them in public a few times. That was back when we could all go out. They seemed to get along fine. But my sister, let’s call her “Jane,” has been making comments to me since the quarantine began that suggest her girlfriend can be verbally abusive. Maybe it’s just stress of being around each other 24-7. I’ve asked her point blank if she feels threatened and she emphatically said no. But I worry that Jane is in a damaging relationship and might not realize it. What should I do or can I do?
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Hey Elderly Aunt, how we will we emerge changed by the COVID-19 era?
Hey, Elderly Aunt, how do you think this pandemic will change us as a community and as a society?
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Hey Elderly Aunt, what should a rookie gardener grow and cook with the fruits (and veggies) of that labor?
Hi Elderly Aunt: Thanks for the biscuit recipe. You’ve inspired me to try to do more in the kitchen with my new-found free time. I’m also one of many people it seems who plans to use this time as a chance to plant my first garden. What would you recommend a newbie like me plant? (And any suggested recipes for what comes out of the garden?)
Hey Elderly Aunt, what should I do with all this stay-at-home time?
Elderly Aunt — any tips on what to do with my time on my own now that everything seems to be shut down? I’m already tired of Netflix. Thanks!
Hey Elderly Aunt, is my adult daughter pushing me away?
Hi Elderly Aunt, I’ve really enjoyed reading your responses to so many varied questions. And while I didn’t think I’d ever be writing one myself, here I am in a bit of a quandary. I am a single lady of a certain age, long divorced with one adult daughter. She and I have enjoyed a close relationship since she moved back to the Valley after college several years ago. We would meet up for lunch or coffee almost every week and text frequently in between visits. But in recent weeks, she’s either been unable to meet up or had to cancel our lunches and has been slow to text in response. I have asked if everything’s okay. She says she’s just been busy. But I can’t help but notice a chill in her voice. She seems reluctant to tell me many details of what’s happening in her life, and I’m trying not to sound like I’m prying. I remember reading in one of your past responses that you’re a mother of an adult daughter. Any advice for a fellow mom who just wants to restore and maintain a healthy relationship with her daughter?
Hey Elderly Aunt, how do I know if I’m really a cat person?
Elderly Aunt: I just adopted a cat two months ago. She’s a friendly cat. She gets on my lap and she seems to like being around me. But since I brought her home, she’s had a series of health problems requiring two rather pricey vet visits (three trips in all), and she’s scratched up my couch and stuffed chair. I know having pets are a lot of work and being responsible for them costs money, but the last two months have already busted my budget, which was precarious to begin with. Because I adopted this cat, am I morally obligated to keep her even if it means going into debt? Or does doing the best thing for both of us mean accepting that this arrangement isn’t going to work out and finding someone who can better handle her and her medical costs?
Hey Elderly Aunt, how do I keep my spirits up while waiting for a diagnosis?
How do I deal with medically-induced limbo? In my case, I’m waiting for what could be a potentially devastating diagnosis or something more benign. For three weeks now, I’ve been waiting for test results, call backs, and appointments to be made. Everything is moving with incredible slowness. Meanwhile, I feel awful, both physically and mentally. How do I keep my spirits up?
Hey Elderly Aunt, how should I handle all these political solicitations?
Elderly Aunt: I have taken to responding to phone solicitations from candidates and groups of both parties that I “no longer make financial decisions on the fly on the phone.” … A solicitor today interrupted bill-paying and kept me on the line for a LONG time, arguing with me (and I agreed with his politics, too!) What do you think, Elderly Aunt?
