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An Ode to August

Today is not Halloween or Thanksgiving or Christmas. However, retailers are ready for all three holidays today. Just look at the shelves in any store and you will find signs of any and all of those special days. I have gotten used to seeing candy corn among the circus peanuts and other summer-type candies as early as July. But poor August is losing its identity. I feel sorry for the month of August. Over the years, it has gotten bypassed more and more. Society today has no respect for the month of August. Of course, we know it as the eighth month of the year. Yet my trusty dictionary ...

Robotic Pets Can Provide Comfort to Elderly Seniors

Dear Savvy Senior, My mother, who has dementia, recently moved into an assisted living facility that doesn’t allow pets. I’m thinking about getting her a robotic pet to cheer her up. Are they worth it, and if so, which one do you recommend? – Inquiring Daughter Dear Inquiring, It’s completely natural to want to bring a little furry joy into your mom’s life. Moving into a new home without her pets can be tough, and sometimes even a small companion can make a big difference. Robotic pets – lifelike, interactive companions – can brighten the days of seniors with ...

How Families Can Find Lost Money After a Loved One Dies

Dear Savvy Senior, After my mom passed away, we discovered a few small accounts and an old insurance policy we didn’t know she still had. It made me wonder how often families uncover forgotten or unclaimed money like this after a parent dies. Is it common, and where should I start looking? – Searching Sarah Dear Sarah, It’s actually quite common. After a parent or spouse dies, families often come across small, forgotten accounts, uncashed checks or old insurance policies that slipped through the cracks over the years. In many cases, paperwork was misplaced, accounts were ...

Are You On the Calendar?

Anyone who has followed my columns over the years, knows that I come from a large family. Twelve children, two parents and assorted dogs, cats, rabbits and snakes were part of the household when I was growing up. As the family grew with added sons- and daughters-in-law, my mother would add their names to various calendars she kept. She also had a notebook-style address book in which she kept not only names and phone numbers, but also the all-important birthdates. That included the birthdates for her bridge partners and fellow choir members, too. I recall a church calendar hanging in ...

Riding the Rails

There was a time when Wheeling was known for its railroads. Trains of all sizes and models made their way through the Friendly City’s streets. The once busy B&O Rail Station was a hub for visitors coming and going to and from Wheeling. During and after World War II, the station saw the return of its military troops who served their country. My own father recalled the day he came home on a train that deposited him in the city that he loved. His love for trains stayed with him all his life. He would be pleased to know that his great-grandson Deacon shares that passion through real and ...

Shedding Light on Daylight Saving Time

Sitting on the front porch one steamy evening, I was enjoying the flight of the hummingbirds that were visiting my feeders just before nightfall. They seemed to get very active, almost in a frenzy, as they fed on the sugar water concoction I prepared for them. Don’t get me wrong, even as the daylight begins to disappear, the temperature outside is quite warm and humid even for mid-July. Yet I wanted to hold onto the last light of the day. I miss this terribly when fall comes and chases us indoors with darkness at 4 p.m. There has been much talk and discussion about our federal ...