Dear Annie: My best friend and I, both 54-year-old females, met two weeks before kindergarten. Except for a couple of years, we have stayed friends throughout our lives. We see each other every few months when I’m in town for a doctor’s appointment. Since last year, we’ve been going to concerts and a couple of comedy shows, and we attended our 35-year high school reunion.

She’s always been a drinker, but it’s gotten extreme to where I don’t like being around her because she gets belligerent. And her drinking has only gotten worse since her mom passed away. I honestly don’t know how she even remembers the events we attend. She has paid for both of our tickets to each show, which I’m grateful for, but I honestly don’t know how many more I can attend with her.

With her mom’s passing, she did inherit a sizable amount of money. But the last concert was when things got weird. She kept talking about how she could change my life financially and I could work for her. To be totally honest, it really got under my skin and I felt very uncomfortable with the conversation, so I went to bed. I got up and left the next day before she woke up because I didn’t want to see her.

Being best friends for 50 years is pretty amazing, and I love her, but I’m not going to be her employee. I honestly do not know how to even approach her about everything. But I also do not want this to end our friendship. — Feeling Confused in Kansas

Dear Confused: Fifty years of friendship is incredibly special, you’re right. That said, even a bond that deep doesn’t mean you have to tolerate behavior that makes you uncomfortable.

It sounds like the heart of the issue stems from her drinking, so that’s where I’d start. When she’s sober, let her know you’ve noticed she’s been drinking more since her mother passed and that you’re worried about how it’s affecting her. This conversation could make all the difference or none at all, but either way, you’ll know you’ve said what you needed to. From there, you can set better boundaries and stick to them.

Instead of concerts and long nights out where drinking can spiral out of control, try shifting your time together to things like coffee or lunch — daytime outings that don’t revolve around alcohol.

As for her comment about changing your life financially, it sounds like the alcohol was really the one talking that night. She probably meant that to be generous and supportive, but it came across differently to you. If it’s still weighing on you, bring it up now so you can clear the air of any resentment. A friendship like this should be strong enough to handle the hard conversations, though she might have to become completely sober before your relationship can get back to where it was.

Annie Lane’s second anthology — “How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Go to http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.