GON Reader Letter #1
A Frightening Call and an Important Reminder
Hi Maria,
How timely your newsletter is today (March 1st issue)! Recently, my friend was called by a person who sounded just
like her daughter who said she had been arrested for running into a pregnant woman and she needed a sum of money for bail. Well, it was of course a scam but had my friend and her husband absolutely terrified, until they called their daughter and she answered...no accident, no bail needed.
The police are working on it now. These people are heartless. We are indeed under attack every day.
Thank you for bringing this issue up, and thank you for your uplifting words, tips, and observations every day.
A
longtime subscriber,
Penny Keach
GON Reader Letter #2
Sunshine, Fresh Air, and Laundry That Smells Like Nature
Dear Maria,
As
always, your column gets my neurons buzzing!
I would like to add my solution to brighter, fresher-smelling laundry. I hang my laundry on the outdoor clothesline to dry.
Sunlight is nature’s disinfectant. My clothes look bright and fresh, and they smell
like the outdoors...not like an artificially added scent.
I live in Canada, and even in winter you can dry your laundry on the line. BONUS: money saved on my hydro bill.
Thanks again for all your wisdom.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Beardsley
GON Reader Letter #3
Words, Memories, and a Wind-Up Monkey Wish
Hi Maria,
I love your newsletters sent each day. I especially like your “Daily Dose to enrich your mind.” Your November 23rd Daily Dose about the words that tell our story really resonated with me.
When I was about 10 years old (in the late ’60s), I met three cousins, all about my age, and my aunt and uncle for the first time. I grew up in Texas, and those cousins were born and raised in Minnesota where my aunt moved before I was born. It was a Christmas family reunion.
We got along great and were all fascinated by different terms we used. They called a soft drink "pop" or "soda," and in Texas we called any soft drink a "Coke." My aunt and uncle went Christmas shopping while they were visiting us, and I remember overhearing they couldn’t find any kids’ coats that were warm enough for Minnesota and no "snow boots." We rarely had snow where I grew up. I asked my mom, "What are snow boots?" (This was back in the day when new clothes
were given as kids’ Christmas presents too.)
Something I realized today also is that the term "declutter" wasn’t something I grew up with. My mom kept a "spic and span" house. It was very small, and she regularly tossed out our old or outgrown clothes and shoes (after I, the youngest, had outgrown my big sister’s wardrobe!). I do have
a not-so-fond memory of her cleaning out the toys I had outgrown..."Nooooo, not that one, Mom!!" It wasn’t called "decluttering" then, it was just "cleaning out the closet."
I think getting rid of sentimental clutter is the hardest thing for me. My mom passed everything on to Goodwill, so I’ve learned to do that too. (Confession: I
usually buy something there when I take in donations!)
Thanks for jogging some fond memories for me. Except, I still wish I had that wind-up monkey toy that played the cymbals!
Tracie S., Round Rock, TX
GON Reader Letter #4
Souvenirs, Stories, and the One That Got
Away
Hi Maria,
I just have to let you know how much value I got from your "Souvenir" newsletter (October 3rd issue). I will be forwarding it to several
people! My husband and I took a cruise to the Panama Canal. One of the stops was a tour of an orchid greenhouse. Our tour guide wanted to first take us on a hike through some wooded property. The purpose of the hike was to point out medicinal uses for ordinary plants.
One woman, with a walker, chose to participate in the hike. Two unfortunate events happened. Our tour guide got us lost and the woman with the walker lost her steam. There were three strong men who carried the woman back to the bus!
Due to these two events, there was only time to either go to the orchid greenhouse or the gift shop. Would you believe that the gift shop won the vote?! (The woman with the walker voted for the gift shop.) I was very disappointed to miss the orchid greenhouse.
We brought a mug home from an Alaska trip. The mug had held two Bloody Marys for my husband. The funny thing is that my hubby doesn’t even like Bloody Marys. Every time we have soup, his is served in this mug!
Our son brought us a souvenir from
London for taking care of his two pups while he was gone. It was one of our favorite gifts. It is (was) a thin tin that held 27 wrapped chocolates depicting each of the James Bond movies!Yes, we still have the tin and the carefully unwrapped wrappers! What can I say?!
I am going to Vermont in December. My plan is to bring back small
bottles of Vermont syrup. I will have to pack bubble wrap or something, you know, just in case!
Love you, Maria, and all the advice, memories, and laughs you conjure up!
Nancy Johnson
GON Reader Letter #5
Then and Now...Games, Words, and Wisconsin
Life
Hi Maria,
I lived in the Bronx until I was about 8 years old, and I remember hopscotch, which we called "potty." We played that, roller skated, jumped rope, and
played a game which involved filling in the blank with words or names that began with a certain letter. For example, "My name is Arlene, I live in Atlanta, my husband’s name is Al, and he sells aardvarks."
The boys played in the street (softball usually) and way back when, there were few cars to have to scatter
for.
Now I live in Wisconsin, like you.
Thank you for your column, which I find interesting and very helpful.
Carol, Verona, WI
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cleaning?
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