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Dear Heloise: In response to Diane T. in Arizona, I had the opposite happen to me. I had been going to a hairdresser for many, many years. It was my hairdresser who started to not be on time. My time is important to me. I booked appointments on my day off from work. I am a morning person, but she did not open until 11:00 a.m., so I was making my appointments for 11 or 11:30. Several times over the last year that I saw her, she was the one arriving late. She would call me to tell me where she was and why she was late. The reasons she gave did not sit well with me. Plus, she didn’t ...

Put peace first in 2026

Dear Readers: Before we rush into a brand-new year, I want to pause and say thank you. Thank you for reading, for writing in and for trusting me with the parts of your life you don’t always share at the dinner table. Thank you for letting this corner of the page be a place where we can talk about the messy, meaningful work of being human. I don’t take that lightly. And if no one has told you lately, I’m glad you’re here. New Year’s Eve has a funny way of making us feel two ways at once: hopeful and raw. Hopeful because we get to begin again. Raw because we can’t help but ...

More carbon monoxide safety tips

Dear Heloise: The letter about preventing carbon monoxide poisoning by getting a monitor for your home is a must but, it didn’t go far enough. You should get a monitor that you can also travel with. How many articles have we read about carbon monoxide poisoning in vacation rental homes, condos and even hotels? Vacations are a relaxing getaway, but you shouldn’t let your guard down while you are staying in places that probably do not have an installed monitor. Taking that home monitor with you, or a separate unit, could save your life. -- Kagey in Prescott, Ariz (reading the Orange ...

Life’s messy moments count the most

Dear Annie: Every December, my life starts to feel like one of those “year in review” videos -- only mine looks more like the blooper reel. Back in January, I sat at my kitchen table with a brand-new planner, a cinnamon latte and all the determination in the world. I even wrote, “This Is Jenna’s Year” in big blue letters on the first page. I was going to lose 15 pounds, pay down the credit card, stop doomscrolling at night, clean out the garage and be more present with my kids -- “Scarlett” (16), “Mick” (13) and “Lucy” (8) -- instead of snapping at them while ...

Scheduling a doctor’s visit

Dear Heloise: I sympathize to some extent with the writer in a recent column of yours lamented how doctor’s offices will say the appointment is at 10:00 a.m. but ask that you arrive at 9:30 a.m. for paperwork. However, I think it actually makes sense to do it this way. Ten a.m. is the time you could actually get called back to be seen. If you arrive late for the paperwork appointment, you could theoretically catch up by filling the paperwork out quickly. I don’t think medical offices really expect everyone to arrive the full half hour early for paperwork, but you do need to be ...

GETTING TO KNOW Brayden Heiderscheidt

Sleepy Eye H.S., Jr. Interview by Ari Selvey Heiderscheidt helped Sleepy Eye to a 91-82 comeback victory over Nicollet on Monday, scoring 24 points along with six rebounds and seven assists. Q: What is your favorite holiday tradition? A: Just gathering with my family for Christmas. Coming ...