"After a few very awkward family holiday dinners, my son started to stay away if she was going to be there."

Dear Readers: On Sept. 23, I published two letters from older adults struggling to find a connection (“Still Grieving” and “Wants a Connection”). I asked those of you who have successfully found friendship and romantic partnership at a later stage in life to write in.

Dear Eric: I am newly in love and engaged. My fiancé and I are both in our early 70s. Quite a few of my friends (not my close friends but others) have responded to the news with: how cute! Somehow the fact that we have fallen in love and plan to marry is "cute."

"I'm just bitter and fuming this time, instead of annoyed and amused like last time."

"Although I love him like a cousin, he can be a bit creepy, like he makes sexual comments out of the blue for no reason."