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Life lessons on the road

Dear Annie: I want to take a cross-country road trip — just me, myself and the highway. My plan is to drive through the Southern half of the United States. Anything I should make sure not to miss? Also, I’m having trouble sorting out the logistics. This trip would take about three to four weeks, depending on how I split up the driving. I don’t want to do more than about two to three hours per day. Should I rent an RV, rent a car or use my own? Will it be safe to do this trip by myself? (I’m a woman.) I’ve traveled by myself before and felt confident and self-assured, but those ...

Disruption, fear and opportunity in health care

There was a time when health care technology meant expensive new machines that only hospitals could afford. The costs were so enormous that only insurance companies could pay for their use and insurance bureaucrats only grudgingly allowed people to get needed tests and treatment. Today, however, tech is putting health care tools in the hands of individual Americans at amazingly reasonable costs. The transformation brought about by the new technology will fundamentally disrupt every aspect of the health care industry. One simple example is the monitor I use to check my blood sugar on ...

Spreading cancer awareness

Dear Readers: Though I do my best to keep my personal life out of this column, I’m writing today about something that has deeply impacted me. A person very close to me was recently diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer. Unfortunately, that’s the stage at which this relatively rare type of cancer is typically caught, due to its lack of obvious symptoms in earlier stages. I’d like to use this platform to share some information about the risk factors and symptoms of esophageal cancer, in the hope that it might help even one person. The American Cancer Society estimates that ...

Dear ‘Just Existing’

Dear ‘Just Existing’ and All My Readers I was overwhelmed by the love and empathy that many of you expressed for “Just Existing,” the man who was hoping to fade away from life. Even if you don’t think people care, they do! Here are two of my favorite letters offering advice and encouragement. Dear Annie: I am responding to today’s column signed by “Just Existing.” My heart goes out to this gentleman. I want you to know that love is out there. You are never too old to find love — or for it to find you. Sounds like you need to add new “life” to your life. Some ...

The growing stillness of home, but then Maya came along

I had been looking forward to the quiet. The house in which we raised six children was finally empty, save for a stray Millennial or two. The SpongeBob SquarePants toys had gone to charity, the Barbie Dream House was gathering dust in the attic and there was no longer a car seat permanently strapped into my backseat. As the Mrs. and I pushed toward 60, the growing stillness felt like a reward for the decades we spent chasing toddlers and scolding teenagers. And then came Maya. At least, I think that’s her name. That’s what it says on her birth certificate. But at least once ...

Son feels torn at school

Dear Annie: My husband and I bought a house in a safe neighborhood 12 years ago primarily because it has a great school district. We have two children, a boy and a girl, and I am writing about our oldest child, “Alan,” who is 12. Alan is very sensitive and wants for everyone to get along. He can’t stand it when people fight. Alan used to love going to school, but lately he has been trying to stay home as much as possible, saying, “I feel sick.” Yesterday, when he was home being “sick,” we had a long talk and he opened up to me. He said there are four boys in his class who ...