Putting on Shoes and Socks
Dear Annie: I’ve wanted to write to you for a long time. I want to tell you my story. I am a 52-year-old man. I have never married and have never even been in a serious relationship. In my late teens, I was put in the position of being caretaker to two family members who were unable to take care of themselves.
When I was in my 20s, I made two attempts at looking for love, and both times ended with my getting hurt very badly. After that, I realized I had too much baggage to ever appeal to a woman, so I stopped looking and settled in to my role as family caretaker. The years — and the decades — went by.
About four years ago, both family members whom I was caring for died within only a few months of each other, and I am alone. I have thought about looking for love again, but I don’t even know how to go about it anymore.
So I am resigned to being alone for the rest of my life. I have been in and out of therapy over the years and been on and off antidepressants. Nothing has really helped. I have gotten involved with a couple of community groups over the years but haven’t really made any close friends.
I am writing to tell people to try not to be so judgmental about the socially incompetent guy over there who often keeps to himself. You don’t know his story, and he might be really nice if you took the time to get to know him. — Lonesome
Dear Lonesome: I am so sorry for the loss of your loved ones. Bless you for taking care of them for so long. I’m sure they appreciated it.
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