Ask Amy: Old flame won't return love letters

Dear Amy: I am 68 years old (divorced, with two grown children and two grandchildren.) My former college boyfriend (from 1972-1975) is now 78 years old and, although still ambulatory, is in poor health requiring 24-hour professional care. No one knows how much longer he will live.

He has kept all my old (45 years old!) love letters. I have asked him repeatedly to return these letters to me, but he has refused.

He never married, nor has he ever had a live-in girlfriend. Now, when he dies, his niece (he has no children) will be the most likely person to sort through his personal effects.

These letters are, as you might expect, of a highly personal nature. They should not be read by anyone else. I have tried to appeal to his better nature and sense of regard for our former friendship, but to no avail.

I'm not losing sleep over this, but if you can think of the right words to say to him to convey how important it is to me to have those letters back, I would be grateful.

Amy says: If you're NOT losing sleep over this, then continue not losing sleep. That is definitely the way to go.

It sounds as if you have asked for these letters, repeatedly. So — stop asking.

He may respond to your kindness by doing the one thing you've asked him to do — and return these ancient letters to you — or you may end up dealing with his niece down the road.

Dear Amy: My husband and I have lived on the West Coast for 30 years.

He is very good at keeping in touch with his four siblings, who all live in the Midwest, where they grew up.

It has always bothered me a little that he calls them each about once a month, while only one of them ever calls him.

We are currently surrounded by devastating forest fires, many unprecedented in the history of our area.

I think that he should discontinue reaching out to them until they show some inclination to reciprocate his kindness and concern. It is his decision, of course, and he's still deciding. But do you think my position is unreasonable?

Amy says: Your frustration isn't unreasonable, but your position is.

You cannot control how your husband conducts his relationships. He sounds like a very nice guy who may feel an unconscious need to initiate contact with his Midwestern siblings because he chose to move so far away, while they stayed close to home.

Yes, his siblings should worry about you both. Yes, they should get in touch to make sure you are OK and to offer support. If your husband didn't reach out as often, his siblings might choose to pick up the phone, but you should not push him to cut them off out of spite (he likely benefits from these chats).

Ideally, he would tell them how he feels: "I'm always the one to get in touch, and I feel like you've forgotten me in between phone calls. I'd really appreciate it if you reciprocated once in a while."