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Red, Yellow, Green

It’s been a very long time since I took a test to obtain my driver’s license. I remember studying a driver’s education booklet before taking the written test which I passed on my first go. It was only a few weeks after my 16th birthday that I successfully completed the driving portion of the testing to become a full-fledged member of the driving public. At that time, the West Virginia State Police held testing at their location in Triadelphia (that site no longer exists). My older brother, Herk, took me to take my driving test in the family’s station wagon. When I think about ...

Is Your Aging Parent Safe at Home?

Dear Savvy Senior, After watching the coverage of the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case, I’m worried about my own elderly mother who lives alone in another state. I want to make sure she’s safe without being intrusive. Are there simple, affordable ways to check in on her from afar? – Concerned Son Dear Concerned, You’re not alone. High-profile cases like this often heighten fears, especially for adult children whose parents live alone and may be vulnerable. The good news is there are several free or low-cost ways to stay connected and gain peace of mind without infringing on your ...

What Keeps Me Up at Night

I thought as I got older that my fears in life would become less. It just doesn’t seem to work that way even with knowledge and common sense on my side. Like many of you, my fears are probably considered irrational. Topping my list of scary things are: spiders, falling and breaking a hip, heights, distracted drivers on cellphones and school shootings. My list has actually grown to include uninformed voters. And something I saw the other day really put the fright into my night. I was watching an on-the-street news reporter asking college age students some rather simple questions. It ...

Good Talk With An Old Friend

On a cold but sunny day, a chance meeting with local historian Margaret Brennan evolved into a rather deep discussion. Seated in a booth at the Warwood Subway, Margaret and I were simply happy to be out of our homes after several snow days. Sometimes it is the most unexpected turn of events that brings about the best results. I have known Margaret even before I joined the newspaper, but that's another story. Anyway, sometimes you just need to catch your breath and catch up with someone who has a great deal of knowledge to share. And Margaret always has. Whether it’s the study of a ...

Back To Basics

This past week, and the foreseeable future, both appear to be keeping us in the deep freeze. This is some of the coldest weather I have experienced in my 71 years. Sure, we had snow and cold when we were kids, but this seems different. Maybe it’s because the cold affects us differently as we get older. My orthopedic doctor assures me that aching bones are truly a side effect of the dropping temperatures. Making the best of these trying weather forecasts is much like when we were stuck inside during the pandemic. Hopefully, it won’t be as long as the COVID days. Like many of ...

Still Flapping in the Wind

Over the past 12 months, we have gone through three American flags. The winds around these parts have taken their toll on Old Glory. To try and save each flag from too much wear and tear, we have moved the flag pole down a few notches. The flag pole was one of the few must-haves when we moved into our home 12 years ago. It was something I always wanted as a way to show our patriotism and respect for all those in uniform who have and continue to serve this country. We purchased the pole at the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show. It came complete with a solar light that allows us to keep ...