DEAR ABBY: Why do friends ignore a woman after being friends for many years because she is now widowed? I am not the only one who says this. At the senior center they all agree.
I'm willing to pay my way for dinner, concerts, movies, etc. I don't expect anyone to pick up my tab. Still, I am no longer invited to lunch or dinner gatherings.
Someday, these friends may be in my position. They claim to be kind and caring individuals, and I miss them. I have invited them over, but they never reciprocate. What can I do? -- LONELY WIDOW IN FORT MYERS, FLA.
DEAR WIDOW: Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to change the behavior of the people you thought were your friends. However, that doesn't mean you must live in isolation. There are things you can do to lessen the loneliness you're experiencing. Chief among them would be to cultivate new interests and, along with them, new friends.