Annie Lane

Dear Readers: Wishing you all a Happy Father’s Day! Here are some uplifting quotes that I hope you enjoy!

“When you teach your son, you teach your son’s son.” — The Talmud

“The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get.” — Tim Russert

“The strongest, toughest men all have compassion. They’re not heartless and cold. You have to be man enough to have compassion — to care about people and about your children.” — Denzel Washington

“I remember a very important lesson that my father gave me when I was 12 or 13. He said, ‘You know, today I welded a perfect seam and I signed my name to it.’ And I said, ‘But, Daddy, no one’s going to see it!’ And he said, ‘Yeah, but I know it’s there.'” — Toni Morrison

“My father used to say that it’s never too late to do anything you wanted to do. And he said, ‘You never know what you can accomplish until you try.'” — Michael Jordan

“Fatherhood is the greatest thing that could ever happen. You can’t explain it until it happens — it’s like telling someone what water feels like before they’ve ever swam in it.” — Michael Buble

“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” — Mark Twain

“An almost perfect relationship with his father was the earthly root of all his wisdom.” — C.S. Lewis

“Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, storytellers and singers of song.” — Unknown

“No man stands taller than when he stoops to help a child.” — Abraham Lincoln

“When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry.” — William Shakespeare

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” — Frederick Douglass

“Good fathers do three things: they provide, they nurture, and they guide.” — Roland Warren

“Lookin’ back all I can say about all the things he did for me, is I hope I’m at least half the dad that he didn’t have to be.” — Brad Paisley

“He adopted a role called being a father so that his child would have something mythical and infinitely important: a protector.” — Tom Wolfe

“What makes you a man isn’t the ability to have a child; it’s the courage to raise one.” — Barack Obama

“My dad is my idol. He used to work two jobs and still came home happy every night.” — Magic Johnson

Dear Annie: Lately, I find myself thinking a lot about old roommates, friends and co-workers. I’m talking about people from over 30 years ago, whom I haven’t spoken to in decades. I think I would like to tell them how they have impacted my life in positive ways. Should I reach out to them or would that just be self-serving and weird? I mean, if I were to reach out, I’m not sure what the follow-up would be: “Nice catching up with you, goodbye forever”?

Tell me, Annie. Is this sort of feeling normal as we age, and should I act on it or just forget about it? — Too Much Time to Think

Dear Too Much: Reminiscing more with age is not only common; it can be hugely beneficial, provided it’s positive/productive in nature, which yours is. A 2016 study of 47 people living in senior care facilities found that after sharing memories, family history and personal accomplishments, participants experienced fewer feelings of loneliness and depression. So, keep taking those laps around Memory Lane.

And to the question of whether or not you should reach out to these old friends and acquaintances, my answer is a resounding yes! Too often it’s not until after people are gone that we express how much they meant to us. Drop them a line today. Let them know you’ve been thinking of them lately and that you’re glad for the time you knew them. There’s a good chance you’ll make their day.

Dear Annie: I’ve been friends with “Remy” for six years. We both play the same computer game on the same platform, and we always enjoy chatting as we play. A little over a year ago, I was single and found myself developing feelings for Remy. We’d always just been friends, but gradually, an attraction grew. Before I knew what was happening, we both found ourselves falling in love. We have so many similarities and shared interests. It’s so easy to talk to each other. It’s been over a year of our sharing this intense, romantic connection.

But there’s a catch. I knew that she was technically married and had a kid, but I always thought that she was separated from her husband. It turned out that wasn’t the case. She insists she’s going to separate from him, though, and is just waiting for her new house to be done so that she can move. Meanwhile, I’m in limbo, not knowing what’s going to happen.

Annie, what do you do when the woman you love is unhappily married? She says she loves me and wants to be with me. And I’m so excited to have found someone who connects with me so deeply. Our only clashes come on the weekends when she has to play house and can’t write to me. I’ve mostly been understanding up until now, but it’s starting to get a bit frustrating. — Lover in Limbo

Dear Lover: What you call “playing house” is her living her real life. Your digital rendezvous are her playtime — a way for her to escape the day-to-day drudgery, blow off some steam and avoid having to make any substantial changes to her situation. She might not be conscious of the fact that this is what she’s doing, but it doesn’t make it any more acceptable. The bottom line is that if she were going to leave her husband, she’d have done so already. Pull the plug and free yourself up to connect with a loving, available woman — one you can meet in person.

EDITOR’S NOTE: “Ask Me Anything: A Year of Advice From Dear Annie” is out now! Annie Lane’s debut book — featuring favorite columns on love, friendship, family and etiquette — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.