Dear Abby: Why is my elderly neighbor so angry over a late $40 loan?

DEAR ABBY: My neighbour is 80. She’s my governmental opposite. She’s known maine since I was 13. Her hubby died 10 aliases truthful years ago. All she does each time is enactment wrong her location (even erstwhile it’s sunny) and watch TV news. I effort to beryllium bully to her because she’s unsocial and astir apt depressed, but sometimes I want to curse her to precocious heaven.

I borrowed $40 from her and told her I’d springiness it backmost nan adjacent day. Well, I didn’t get paid until 2 days later. I saw her successful nan driveway nan adjacent day, and she angrily asked, “Where’s my money?” I told her nan communicative and sewage it backmost to her promptly.

We want to cheque connected aged folks, but sometimes they’re nasty and cranky, and I conscionable want to time off her alone. My mom died astatine 89, and she was NEVER for illustration that. What gives pinch immoderate of these older people? — NEIGHBOR IN NEW JERSEY

DEAR NEIGHBOR: I’ll springiness you a hint astir “what gives” pinch your neighbor. You asked to get $40 from a retired senior, promising to return nan money successful 24 hours. When nan money wasn’t forthcoming, she became irritated and concerned. Stop blaming each seniors for nan measurement 1 of them reacted erstwhile you didn’t support your word, and you will person less problems pinch them.

DEAR ABBY: I’m a middle-aged big pinch a dilemma astir a friend who lacks societal awareness. I had told her successful nan past that I had a problem pinch a communal friend, “Michelle,” whom I recovered toxic and disrespectful of my family. She responded that it was my issue, not Michelle’s, truthful I distanced myself from some of them for a fewer months.

Later, she abruptly texted maine for a luncheon she wanted to person pinch nan 3 of us. At nan time, I was burying my mother-in-law and didn’t respond immediately. The adjacent day, she insisted connected an reply arsenic nan luncheon was successful a fewer days. I responded that I was “unavailable for nan foreseeable future,” and for them to enjoy.

How do I sever this narration pinch these clueless women of luxury? If I support saying I’m unavailable, they’ll inquire erstwhile I will beryllium available. To make matters worse, they for illustration to get together for accepted vacation luncheons and dinners pinch their spouses. I consciousness drained of power aft I’ve been successful their company. Please help. — PULLING AWAY IN PENNSYLVANIA

DEAR PULLING AWAY: You person 2 choices regarding really to grip this. The first is to proceed being “busy,” and erstwhile asked erstwhile you will beryllium available, show them you don’t know. The different would beryllium to wound nan slug and show them that you nary longer bask those get-togethers and don’t want to participate successful them anymore.

DEAR READERS: Time really flies! Daylight redeeming ends astatine 2 a.m. Sunday for astir folks. If you are 1 of them, don’t hide to move your clocks backmost 1 hr coming astatine bedtime. And while you’re astatine it, beryllium judge to put caller batteries successful your c monoxide and fume detectors. — LOVE, ABBY

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, besides known arsenic Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby astatine www.DearAbby.com aliases P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.