September 2025

BRIDGING THE GAP: The doctor will see you next…month?

You sit in a crowded waiting room, meticulously filling out the same paperwork you’ve seemingly already completed before. Nearby, someone coughs violently, without covering their mouth (of course), while sitting just a bit too close. You wonder why you had to take time off work for this. Then you remember: this was the only appointment they had available, and it takes months to see the provider otherwise.

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ASKING ERIC: Grandmother wants invites to grown grandchildren’s birthday celebrations

Dear Eric: My three daughters have grown children and celebrate their children’s birthdays by each family going out to dinner with its immediate members. When my grandchildren were small, the families had at-home celebrations to which I was always invited. I miss those times, especially since I am no longer invited to the out-to-dinners, at which I would gladly pay for my meal. Is it too much to ask to be included in celebrating my grandchildren?

Read MoreASKING ERIC: Grandmother wants invites to grown grandchildren’s birthday celebrations