Dear Abby: Aging longtime friend has grown increasingly prickly

DEAR ABBY: A group of us friends grew up together and have remained connected over the decades. Many have died off, however, leaving three of us who are very close. One of the three, “Marie,” has grown increasingly “prickly” with each passing year. When I have mentioned it to her, she says, “Love me anyway!” We do love her, but we find ourselves spending less and less time around her.