Ask Amy: ‘Barking’ episodes make partner flee Updated Jan 21, 2021; By Amy Dickinson Dear Amy: I recently reconnected with “Mara” after an on-again/off-again love affair than spans many ups and a few downs over 20 years. As traveling professionals, we had a worldwide torrid affair for years. We were both single parents raising children, so we were not together consistently. We feel very lucky to have had these experiences. Our kids are now adults and doing well. Mara and I recently reunited. We are deeply in love and quite compatible, but I am having an unusual problem. She has periods where she is “barking” (as she puts it). She is disagreeable and argumentative to the point where communication shuts down.