Lifestyle

Dear Amy: My 18-yearold daughter was kicked out of her friend group for being “too annoying” last fall, at the start of her senior year. Her mental health plummeted as a result of this rejection and isolation, so she finished her senior year online and has been receiving therapy ever since.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 66-year-old male diagnosed about 15 years ago with mild coronary artery disease, with some blockages in my peripheral arteries.

Dear Amy: I have a very close friend who is 30 years older than I am. We two men have known each other for years.

Q: Since I turned 50, I’ve been gaining weight and don’t seem to be able to stop the slow decline I’m feeling. What’s the secret to avoiding adding more weight and getting rid of what’s accumulated? -- Haley T., Greensboro, North Carolina

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 66-year-old woman who recently had an ECG prior to my knee surgery. The interpretation I received stated that I had an abnormal ECG with a “left anterior fascicular block.” Needless to say, this alarmed me. I saw a nurse practitioner who stated: “Don’t be concerned by the language; your doctor viewed the ECG and said it was fine.” Your thoughts, please? -- M.M.

Dear Readers, This week, I gained a new appreciation of our national treasure, the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. Had we stuck to the backroads I prefer, this venture would not have been possible. It was our Interstate Highway System that allowed my partnerandItoaccomplish so much in so little time in places so far apart, successfully completing project goals, punctually meeting with prospective clients, and enjoying the company of friends. I am glad the interstate stretches around Dallas and Houston are not my daily commute. But I tell you what, I discovered 1.6 miles I adored in Louisiana, on Interstate 210. If I lived there, I’d take the Lake Charles Bypass whether I needed to or not. And that’s because it is a thrilling drive into the sky to cross the Israel LaFleur Bridge.

Dear Amy: My daughter and son-in-law recently welcomed our first grandchild. Both the other grandma and I have shared part-time babysitting to help the parents with their work schedules.