Dear Annie: I feel guilty for wanting to step back from my oldest friend

Dear Annie: I am writing about a friendship that has weighed on my heart for quite some time. I have known this woman for more than 20 years, and in many ways, she has been a loyal and lively part of my life. We have celebrated happy occasions together, seen one another through disappointments and shared the kind of history that is not easily replaced.

But in recent years, our friendship has begun to feel less like a comfort and more like a burden. Nearly every conversation revolves around her troubles, her grievances, her worries and the endless complications of her daily life. When she telephones, what begins as a simple chat often turns into a lengthy recital of complaints. If I attempt to speak about my own concerns, I am either interrupted or quickly brushed aside.