DEAR ABBY: I'm 32 and a "large girl." I am also intelligent, witty and fun to be around. I make friends wherever I go. The problem is my mother -- who is also big -- keeps telling me that heavy women are not desirable and we must "settle" when choosing a mate.

DEAR ABBY: Is there anything wrong with having a lover solely for the purpose of sex? He is grieving for his late wife (my best friend), and I am separated from my husband. We're both lonely and have supported each other through our pain. A few weeks ago we decided to become lovers.

DEAR ABBY: Please don't think I'm stupid for asking this, but I need some help. The practice of letter writing appears to be a dying form because of e-mail and texting -- which I'm good at. But when I receive a nice gift, I know the proper way to acknowledge it is to write a thank-you letter.

DEAR ABBY: In your response to the letter from "'Cougar' in New York" (Sept. 3), you invited your male readers to share their thoughts. Abby, cougars are nothing new. They're simply out of the closet.

DEAR ABBY: My wife of 25 years, in an effort to get me to stop smoking, refuses to have sex until I quit. It's been more than a year since we made love.

DEAR ABBY: My neighbors "John" and "Marcia" are such a nice couple, I'm not sure what to do. I don't know them all that well, but what's going on is extremely upsetting.

DEAR ABBY: May I respond to your column regarding excessive waits in doctors' offices (Sept. 1)?

DEAR ABBY: I am a 38-year-old businesswoman. I was single for many years until I met and fell in love with "Rory," who had been a longtime client. We were married a year ago.

DEAR ABBY: My wife, "Paula," and I have a friend I'll call "Mark." I recently learned that before we were married, Mark made a pass at Paula. (He was separated from his wife at the time.) Paula told him she wasn't interested.

DEAR ABBY: I need an unbiased opinion. I am the father of a 12-year-old daughter, "Lia." She catches an early morning bus for school, and I leave for work at the same time her bus picks her up, so I'm in charge of getting her ready.

DEAR ABBY: My boss wants my cell phone number for "work purposes." He has trouble with limits, and I am reluctant to give it to him. I don't want to receive text messages, unsolicited calls or contact outside of work. My private life is just that -- private.

DEAR ABBY: Please print this for me on behalf of myself and all the other well-intentioned folks out there who have lent money to others.

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I were visiting our children and grandson "Rhett," age 24. Rhett is a college student who lives at home. He had his girlfriend "Peggy," who lives in another town, at the house for the weekend.

DEAR ABBY: Thanks for your response to "Alarmed in Apple Valley" (Aug. 28), who was concerned because her teenage nephew shows so much affection toward his mother. I raised an affectionate son who, to this day at age 30, hugs and kisses me no matter where we meet. I raised him with the principle that because he is male does not mean he has to hide his feelings. My daughter-in-law tells me often that she could not ask for a better husband and father to her children.

DEAR ABBY: I have a 19-year-old daughter, "Caitlin," whom I love very much. Despite a few rocky periods, we have a great relationship.

DEAR ABBY: My daughter insists that she's a "multitasker" -- too busy to telephone or text except when she's driving. It scares me to be in the passenger seat while she's talking on the phone or picking up toys the baby has dropped from his car seat.

DEAR ABBY: On Aug. 10 you printed a letter from an aunt who was upset because her sister, the mother of a child with autism, doesn't have time to join in fund-raising with the rest of the family. While I commend the writer and her family for raising money for autism research, that woman needs to cut her sister some slack.

DEAR ABBY: I attended a business-related function with my boss and some co-workers. I had way too much to drink and ended up having sex with my boss. (He offered me a ride to my car and took advantage of me.) If I had been sober, it would never have happened.

DEAR ABBY: I'm engaged to the man of my dreams. Our wedding is two months away, and I couldn't be more excited about starting my life with "Jeff."

DEAR ABBY: My brother "Luke" died young due to drug addiction. When our son "Adam" misbehaves, my husband blames me. He says Adam is going to end up "just like Luke," and it will be my fault.