Heloise

Dear Heloise: I have a hint for reusing Christmas cards. When my children were young, we would take the Christmas cards that we had received, and they would cut out circles using a wide-mouthed canning ring. Then we would put them on clear contact paper and cut them to the size of a placemat (overlapping them so that there was no space showing). Then we put on another layer of contact paper.

We could enjoy the beautiful cards every time we used them. We did the same thing with birthday cards. My daughter even did this with the cards that she and her husband received for their wedding. They now use them for their anniversary dinner.

My husband and I really enjoy your hints. It’s amazing how many “Heloise Hints” we have used in our over 50 years of marriage! Keep up the great work. — Lois P., in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

ARRIVE ALIVE

Dear Heloise: I wanted to write in about drivers’ attitudes and distractions. I was driving on I-95 when a big pickup truck passed me. As soon as his rear bumper cleared my front bumper, he started pulling in, completely forgetting that he had a 20-foot flatbed trailer closely following him. I was suddenly driving at 70 mph on the paved shoulder. Luckily, it was not on a narrow bridge. — An Avid Reader, via email

Avid Reader, distracted drivers are dangerous drivers. Driving is an overlearned activity, and all too often, I’ve seen drivers scrolling though messages on their cellphones, reading the newspaper, and turning around to talk to someone in the back seat.

I know that a long drive can be exhausting at times, but if it’s boring, stop somewhere for a cup of coffee, or pull over and get out of the car. Walk around if there’s enough room somewhere before starting to drive again. — Heloise

LITTLE GREEN MEN?

Dear Heloise: I recently took a road trip, and I saw a UFO hovering over the New Mexico desert. I got out and took a photograph of it, but when I showed it to my sister and brother-in-law, they didn’t think it was a UFO. In fact, they’re more inclined to think that it was a cloud or maybe some experimental craft from a military base. Do you think there’s life on other planets? — Jerry, in Nebraska

Jerry, I really don’t know what kind of life is out there in the galaxy, but a great many people believe that we are not alone. I’m keeping an open mind on this one. Readers, what do you think? — Heloise

AN ACT OF KINDNESS

Dear Heloise: My brother was heavily involved with charity work for most of his life. He died last week and requested that people don’t send flowers but instead make a donation to any charity they felt was worthwhile. When my two sisters asked me which charity I sent a donation to (and it was a sizable donation), I told them it was an animal charity that feeds and rehomes animals.

By the way they acted, you’d think the world was coming to an end. Now neither of them is speaking to me. Did I do the wrong thing? My brother loved animals, and so do I. — Barbara-Jo, in Muncie, Indiana

Barbara-Jo, no, you did not do the wrong thing. Your brother said “to donate to a charity that was worthwhile.” The charity of your choice reflected your brother’s love of animals. This was a well-thought-out gift of kindness. — Heloise