DEAR ABBY: My sister-in-law lives across the country. For years, we shipped each other's children Christmas gifts. A few years ago, she went through a difficult divorce and has since stopped sending gifts. While we didn't discuss it, I figured…

DEAR READERS: The mailbox was bursting with responses to the Oct. 9 letter from Frustrated Neighbor, whose 94-year-old neighbor is bedridden and nominally cared for by a woman who also holds his power of attorney. I'll let the readers speak for themselves: "Red flags everywhere! The neighbor says the caregiver has his…

DEAR ABBY: How much should a neighborhood do to keep up a vacant house? About 15 years ago, a couple in their 50s moved into the end of my cul-de-sac. Their two children were out of college; the son lived elsewhere, and the daughter lived with them. Almost two years ago, the dad died suddenly. The mom moved out of…