Opinion

DEAR ABBY: I’ve known my friend “Ashley” for a lot of years. She is single. Several years ago, I introduced her to another couple, the “Smiths.” We all have a lot in common and take turns inviting each other for dinner.

It’s been a tough match. From the beginning of the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration, Montana’s hospitals have shouldered the weight of caring for our neighbors and protecting the health of our communities. Since the fall, our urban hospitals have operated at or above their staffed capacity and our rural hospitals have been key partners in helping balance the volume of patients needing treatment. Meanwhile, our caregivers and team members tirelessly cared for those stricken with the disease and others in need of care.

DEAR ABBY: I am a nurse in New York City. My boyfriend lives in Philadelphia. During the height of the pandemic, we didn’t see each other because I worked on a COVID unit and contracted the virus. His sister became very controlling and kept urging him not to see me, which brought me great pain. I was extremely lonely, and for months, the only people I saw were my co-workers.