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Awkward arrangement with husband

Dear Annie: I’ve been reading your column for a long time, and I admire how reasonable and nonjudgmental your advice seems to be. My husband and I were childhood sweethearts. We are currently separated, and I am concerned that this might lead to divorce. This is my second marriage. We have two children. Our first child was born in February 2016, and my husband decided to quit his job of 17 years to stay home with the baby and me while I healed. We were married a few months later, in June 2016. I returned to work that September, but not my husband. He hasn’t worked a real job -- ...

Enjoying some Duluth delights

The city of Duluth demands only the best. It wasn’t good enough for the town to be located on a Great Lake; it also insisted on being on the shores of the one named Superior. Striving for the best has enabled Duluth to hold their biennial Festival of Sail. My wife and I are enchanted by the romance and adventure of old-fashioned sailing ships, so we motored to Duluth to swash some buckle. The tall sailboats looked like prickly caterpillars when they were moored with their sails stowed. But when they were on the harbor under full sail, they were butterflies, floating gracefully and ...

July is National Mental Health Awareness month

July 2025 marks the 16th annual National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, also known as BIPOC Mental Health Month. This observance was established in 2008 when congress officially recognized July in honor of author and health advocate Bebe Moore Cambell. Cambell (1950-2006) co-founded a NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) chapter to support Black families affected by mental illness. Through storytelling and advocacy, she worked to break the silence and stigma surrounding mental health in communities of color. Her efforts led to the national designation of this month to ...

Good fences make good neighbors

Dear Annie: I work remotely and rent a small guesthouse on a property owned by a retired couple, “Tom” and “Linda.” They live in the main house and are kind, but recently their friendliness has crossed into something more intrusive. At first, it was small things; Linda would wave and come chat while I was outside on a break, or Tom would ask about my work. Lately, though, they’ve started popping by unannounced. One afternoon, Tom let himself into my yard to “check the sprinkler,” and yesterday, Linda knocked on my door with cookies and stayed for almost an hour, even ...

Answering patient questions about measles

As multiple outbreaks of the measles have popped up across the United States, so too have the number of internet searches about the measles virus. When it comes to your health and the health of your loved ones, it’s important to separate fact from fiction. Here are a few frequently asked questions about the measles, with answers from Avera experts: How contagious is measles? Measles is one of the most contagious of any known viral infection. It is more contagious than smallpox, tuberculosis or Ebola. It has an attack rate of 90%, meaning about nine out of 10 susceptible people can ...

When support feels like sales

Dear Annie: My sister, “Jenna,” is 38 and recently started selling handmade candles online. I was excited for her at first; it’s a big step to start your own business. But now, every conversation somehow turns into a pitch. She’ll bring candles to family dinners and “gift” them, only to follow up later asking for social media shoutouts or reviews. At our mom’s birthday, she gave everyone “custom scents” and then passed around her business cards. I want to support her, but it’s getting awkward. I don’t think she realizes how pushy it’s coming across. My husband ...