DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm a senior citizen who has already fallen twice. I was exiting our post office, pushing on the door at my speed -- slow. A young man flew around me and pushed the door wide open with his speed and strength. He did nothing wrong, but the door came back toward me with full force. I did not fall back, but I could have. I will order stamps by mail now.

As a senior citizen, I have given up on many things. I just need to say that someday that young man, with hair turned white like mine, might be glad to have the door held open for him.

My second fall resulted in a six-week cast on my broken right wrist and six weeks of physical therapy. My daughters and daughter-in-law took turns bringing me food and much more for six weeks. For now, I'm healed. -- Unsteady Senior, Sayre, Pa.

DEAR UNSTEADY SENIOR: So many people move through space unconsciously, not considering for a moment how their movements affect others.

Years ago I was given the advice, "Watch your wake." This is powerful to contemplate. When vessels move through water, they leave wakes behind them. If you've ever paid attention to boats as they pass each other, you know how dramatically different their wakes can be, depending on each boat's speed and the angle at which each passes through the other's wake. Even more, a boat's wake has an effect from quite a distance.

The translation for all of us is to pay attention to how we move through space and with whom we are sharing that space. If we are lucky, we will grow old, but with that can come what you are experiencing -- a feeling of vulnerability when sharing space with others.

Of course, each of us must figure out ways to protect ourselves. But wouldn't it be great if we all paid closer attention to the impact our movements have on those around us?

Thank you for your comments.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My upstairs neighbor is having a beef with a neighbor on my floor, and now they are involving me in it. I am friends with each of them, and we used to all be friends together. But something happened between them, and now they come to me independently and talk about each other. Also, when they host events, they often will invite me but not the other. So it's messy.

I have no stake in being friends with one more than the other. I don't appreciate being drawn into their drama. How can I get them to keep their beef to themselves? -- Caught in the Middle, Bronx, N.Y.

DEAR CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE: Tell your neighbors individually that you will have no more to do with their issues and that you would appreciate it if they would not include you. Although you are happy to remain friends with them, you will not be a party to their drama.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I didn't get the opportunity to read the original letter from "Animal Advocate" and your response, but I can imagine what was in it. I second "Animal Lover's" rebuke as well. Unfortunately, there is not always an organization or agency that is willing to help abused animals.

Where I grew up, we had a neighbor who had two large outdoor dogs. They were tied to a tree, and in the heat of the summer, many times their water bowl would be empty. My mother or I would walk down the hill about 100 yards with jugs of tap water and ice for them. Also, they were tied to a tree under a blue tarp.

We called the Humane Society and got no help. We were told that unless the owner wanted to surrender the animals or law enforcement seized the animals, there was nothing the Humane Society could do. We called the dog warden, the game warden and even a personal friend who worked in one of these departments. The friend came and advised the neighbor how to care for dogs. Of course, the owner didn't listen or seem to care, and the neglect continued.

So what does one do when local law enforcement does nothing? When there is no branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Advocates 4 Animals or other organizations in small-town USA? -- Fed Up With Animal Abuse, Jackson, Miss.

DEAR FED UP: We are talking about respecting life, whether it be human or animal. Your story is painful to read but apparently not uncommon.

I would recommend that anyone who is not getting a satisfactory response from local law enforcement or animal rights agencies consider two things. You can go to government officials who are higher up the chain to let them know what's happening. Your city councilman or county commissioner may be able to help.

But a quicker response will likely come if you engage local news media. If you can, take pictures of the abused animals and/or suggest that the news media do so. Ask for the story to be broadcast locally. Or write an op-ed article for the local newspaper describing the animals' plight. That will draw attention to the situation.

DEAR HARRIETTE: Here is what I would say to "Confused in Harlem," whose "gentleman" friend has started sending her nude pics: That guy is a weirdo. Dump him. NOW! -- Not the Least Bit Confused in Bossier City, La.

DEAR NOT THE LEAST BIT CONFUSED: I must say that I'm with you on this one. To think that your new date would be excited by sending random nude photos is odd, to say the least.

I am curious about this man's motivation. Clearly, for some reason he thinks that such an overture will have a positive outcome. Unless this woman really does like this type of behavior, running in the opposite direction -- and fast -- is the best action.

DEAR HARRIETTE: The news has been filled with stories about the Florida teenager, Trayvon Martin, who was killed recently by a neighborhood watch person. Because it has been flooding the news, my son, who is 9 years old, has heard it.

Today he asked me to explain the situation to him and tell him why this boy was killed. I could see fear in his eyes, and I wasn't really sure how to explain it to him.

I try to shield him from bad news, but every time I turn on the TV, this story is there. Plus, my boy is African-American, and I can't help but worry that something like this could happen to him.

From what I have seen and read, there doesn't seem to be a legitimate reason for the boy to have been shot, but the shooter has not been arrested yet. How do you talk to your child about what looks like a racist, scary killing? -- Horrified Mom, Staten Island, N.Y.

DEAR HORRIFIED MOM: I trust that by the time this is published, there will be some progress regarding this tragic story. The good news, if there could be any, is that there has been a national outcry on all sides of the aisle to properly investigate this death and determine where justice lies.

Many aspects of how this tragedy unfolded are suspicious. But I would say that should not be what you discuss with your child.

He is still young, and you don't want to scare him more than necessary. You can tell him the basics: that a teenager was killed and there are many questions about why. You can tell him that parents everywhere are upset because they want to protect their children from harm, and that didn't happen in this case. You can tell him what many parents have told their children, particularly if they are African-American boys, for decades -- that they should never antagonize the police or run from them. They should be as still and quiet as possible. Why? It may save their lives.

There is an etiquette to dealing with law officers, and it is very important to teach your children how to interact with them. They need to be taught how to be quietly and humbly respectful, how to avoid carrying items that could be mistaken for weapons, and how to be compliant instead of talking back and having an attitude. If arrested, then they can get legal support and contest whatever charges are brought against them.

The challenge as it relates to this story is that the person who shot the young man was not a police officer. But he did have a gun.

This is a frightening tragedy. I trust that as it unfolds, justice will prevail. I recommend that you limit how much your son gets to see of this story but that you do let him know the outcome.