Dear Abby: Dad calls, texts, but refuses to leave his house. How long do we keep chasing a hermit grandpa?

An individual writes to the Dear Abby advice column regarding a strained relationship with their father, who has remained distant since a divorce when the writer was five years old. Although the father moved out of state and eventually settled in Alaska, he maintained contact through phone calls, letters, and holiday greetings.

The writer expresses frustration over the father’s continued refusal to leave his home to visit, despite living closer geographically than in the past. The central conflict involves the writer’s ongoing efforts to facilitate a relationship between the father and his grandchildren, which are complicated by the father’s persistent isolation and failure to attend family milestones.