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A report from the frontlines

It’s time for another dispatch from the frontlines of my war with tonsil cancer. I’ve learned that a guy can learn a lot of things when dealing with such a stubborn enemy. For instance, when both your oncologist and your radiologist utter the phrase, “This is going to be rough,” you need to believe them. My cancer journey has been rougher than toilet paper made from sheets of 40 grit sandpaper. Another thing I discovered is the adage “radiation is the gift that keeps on giving” is true. I felt nearly no side effects following the first dozen of my 35 daily radiation ...

The ‘other’ grandmother

Dear Annie: I am the mother of two wonderful sons, both married to equally wonderful women. While I am grateful for the love and partnership they have found, I can wholeheartedly relate to the sentiments shared in “One Grieving Grandmother to Another.” Both of my daughters-in-law are incredibly close to their own mothers. It’s a beautiful bond they share, but as someone who raised her sons to be independent and self-sufficient, I often find myself in the background, feeling like the least important grandmother. It’s hard, and I won’t deny the pang of hurt that comes when I ...

How to stay off donation lists

Dear Heloise: Many years ago, I discovered that when I donated, I would receive requests from a number of other groups several weeks later -- some that even advocated for the same kind of “causes.” Sometimes I could follow the progression because a mistake had been made in my name and continued to be made throughout these requests. There are some causes I support once a year in December, so I know I did not donate to them more than once. For several years, I kept a list of causes and requests on lined paper. I changed the paper every 8-10 days each week before Christmastime. It ...

Shining light on immigration lies

We live on the edge of Congressional District 7. My congressperson is Michelle Fischbach. She really wants me to know she’ll “secure the border.” This summer, “The Krzmarzick Household” received four 8-by-11 mailings telling me that. With grainy photos of dark-skinned people and large words like “Emergency” and “Crisis,” I’m to believe that securing the border is the greatest issue facing our household. We didn’t get any mailings about farm policy, health care, or the environment. Congressional District 7 does include a border. That would be Canadian. I think ...

Computers should be simplified for those who find them challenging

It’s been 30 years since personal computers burst on the scene, and it’s meant major changes in our daily lives. I remember back before it was called the Internet. At first it was the Information Superhighway, a name that pointed to the seemingly unlimited potential to have information at our fingertips. Has the Internet reached its potential? In some ways it has. In other ways we still have more work that needs to be done. When people have home libraries of hardbound and paperback books, they surround themselves with their favorites. They’ve probably read most of them ...

Older moms share their wisdom

Dear Readers: I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your many responses to “Left Speechless,” the 55-year-old mother who felt herself struggling with how to reply to strangers when asked if she is her childrens’ mother or grandmother. We have such a supportive and insightful Dear Annie community (filled with many wonderful mothers!). Here were some of my favorite letters: Dear Annie: I was also an older mother and was often mistaken for my son’s grandmother. I knew it was going to happen, and I was never upset or irritated by it. My response was, “I’m the mom. I was blessed ...