I’m a 62-year-old divorced male. I’ve been alone for 12 years since the divorce from my wife. The older I get, the more I feel it would be nice to have a girlfriend. But there are several obstacles involved. I’m retired, on a fixed income, rent a small apartment, have health issues and have a hard time driving at night. I also do not relate well to women my age. I’ve found I’d rather be in the company of women 30 to 40, but these females look at me as though I was an old man. I’m slender and told I’m good-looking, so I assume it’s my age that turns these women off. Finally, there is a woman my age I’m considering asking out. She is a former classmate. We saw each other at a reunion. She is now a widow with three lovely daughters, all whom are married. She lives in an upper-class neighborhood and has her own home. However, when I consider telephoning her, I feel I have nothing to offer her. Should I take the risk and call her? If not, how do I find a long-term relationship with a younger woman?

Dear Annie: My 17-year-old daughter, “Kylie,” has had behavioral problems since she was 14. I am a single mother. I work full time and also have two sons, one of whom lives with his dad. Kylie was in a hospital for three months for various evaluations and recently lived in a residential home. She was released last October on the condition that she follow the house rules, obey curfew, finish high school, get a job and start looking at colleges. But Kylie never followed the rules. She would go out on Friday night and not return until Sunday morning. Every time she broke parole conditions, it would be reported. During this time, we had family counseling, and an individual clinician saw Kylie. They offered help with resumes, job applications and social activities.