The middle of winter is a perfect time to relax with a blanket, a hot beverage and an enjoyable book. February is designated as “I Love to Read Month.” It’s a reminder that reading is valuable to individuals in many different ways. It’s a vital part of life. I’m surprised at how ...

Today is my birthday. Oh boy. It always seemed a little odd that we celebrate the day our mothers birthed us. For children, it’s a way to lift them up with special attention and affirmation. In our middle years, it’s a reason to have a party, especially on those big, round numbers. ...

As we approach Women’s History Month in March, I have a seemingly silly but serious question to ask. Where are all the female gnomes? Gnomes have made a comeback recently as those adorable fellows with long bushy beards, bulbous noses, and peaked hats covering their eyes. I see them in ...

Studs Terkel (1912-2008) lived in Chicago, so when I read his book “Talking to Myself: A Memoir of My Times,” c 1973, I spent much time in the city. Studs was an interviewer on WFMT radio for 45 years. He called himself a disc jockey. He also acted in dramas. This book tells us about his ...

Many people in our area have been complaining about how brutal our current winter has been. This leads me to believe that many people have gone soft. That’s because our winter has been, based on my many decades of bitter wintertime experience, pretty much normal. And a person shouldn’t ...

Question: I was wondering if you are stopped at a stop light in the left turn lane and an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens come in behind you (either in the turn lane or the lane to your right), what is the proper procedure? Thank you! Answer: When it comes to encountering emergency ...