NEWSPAPER DELIVERY NEARING DEAD END

Do you remember paperboys? My brother delivered morning newspapers during the WWII years, following the great depression. Most women didn’t work, and money was scarce. Buddy’s paper route was a source of much needed cash. Not for household expenses, but for extras like a bicycle. He often provided his baby sister (me) with treats like Eskimo Pies. He sometimes bought me new shoes. Decades later, during a recession, my son took a paper route for the very same reasons. But during the 90’s, adults took over those paper routes as they became more lucrative and teenagers could work at McDonalds’. Nowadays, there’s hardly anyone who wants such a low end job, so newspaper delivery is nearing a dead end.

Newspaper Delivery Nearing a Dead End and we will miss the paperboys. — NEWSPAPER DELIVERY NEARING A DEAD END. We miss the beloved paperboys.

Reading the newspaper with your morning coffee is a special treat. Especially if you’re still in your pajamas. The newspaper has something for everyone: local news, editorials, international news, comic strips, advice columns , supermarket ads. It starts the day off right, and life feels more satisfying as you go about your business. Unfortunately, those days are fading into a distant memory. Why? Because there’s a labor shortage, and jobs with better hours and more pay are readily available.

The decline started gradually a couple of years ago, when our local newspaper went to 5 days a week. Then, we noticed the Indianapolis newspaper often wasn’t delivered to our door. Yes, we were newspaper junkies, wanting the luxury of reading a big city newspaper. But they were often late getting here, so we were supposed to read the news online, instead. However, reading the news on the computer isn’t nearly as satisfying as holding a paper in your hand, putting it down to take a sip of coffee and rest your eyes, going back and forth between the obituaries and the classifieds.

Yesterday, we received a letter informing us that the INDY Star will no longer be delivered to our door. It will come via the US Postal Service, which means It will arrive somewhere between 10:30 a. m at the earliest, and 5 p.m. if they’re running late. That will never be the same as having it delivered to our door each morning. Especially for seniors who don’t care to navigate the internet. Newspaper Delivery is nearing a dead end,

January 15, 2020January 15, 2020

SENIORS: SAVOR LIFE’S SIMPLE PLEASURES

While you’re young and active , it takes a lot to make you happy. A big wedding. A new house. Buying a late model car. Giving birth to healthy children. When that phase of life passes, you look forward to a busy retirement. Many people ditch their homes and spend their golden years exploring the United States in a big, expensive RV. But what happens when you can’t do those things anymore? When your horizons narrow, it’s time to refocus and enjoy the little things. Seniors: Savor life’s simple pleasures.

Although you own a car, driving at night or an the interstate isn’t an option. But , you can still drive to the river and take a long walk Or have a picnic in the park. How many times does a working person take time for such leisurely activities? Yes, they might run or power walk because that what’s people do now to keep fit. But it’s really not as much fun as watching the ducks swimming across the water while you sit with the sun on your face.

Going out to dinner at a fine restaurant was once a weekly highlight. Now, a steak dinner with French fries is liable to keep you awake all night with heartburn. It’s not much fun to eat out when everything is covered with butter or cream, or loaded with Mexican spices. If you still enjoy cooking, it’s time to enjoy those old fashioned recipes that are easy on the tummy. As an example, there’s nothing so delicious as Swiss Steak. Choose a thick cut of lean round beef and simmer it all afternoon. ( You can leave off the gravy if you get heartburn). Find some low fat, low calorie recipes in an old cookbook or on the internet. You won’t miss those fancy restaurant meals at all. And you will certainly sleep better.

When your horizons narrow, begin to focus on the little things in life — If you can’t go South for the winter, bring Amaryllis bulbs back to life and watch their blooms unfold while the snow falls.

Indoor gardening is a great joy when you can no longer drive South in the winter. Right now, the stores are full of potted tulips and hyacinths. Lately, I’ve been having fun with amaryllis bulbs stored in the basement last fall, and revived to re bloom this winter. . It’s exciting to see those little buds coming up out of nowhere, and watch them inch their way up to a beautiful, vibrant flower.

How often does a working person or busy retiree take the time to read a good book? The average person only reads one book a year! But now, those long winter afternoons provide a chance to go back and read the classics once again. War and Peace. Anna Karenina. Vanity Fair. Moby Dick. Wuthering Heights. You may have had to read these books for a lit class, but this time around you can enjoy going back and lingering over every word.

Now is the time to get creative. Paint pictures. Knit scarves. Write a blog. Compose a poem.

Finally, get back in touch with childhood friends and relatives. Maybe you can’t get together in person, but you can still write letters and talk on the telephone. A surprising number of seniors have e mail, and know how to text.

Now is the time to focus on all the simple things you were too busy to enjoy before. Fix yourself a hot cup of tea and watch the snow fall..

Seniors: Savor Life’s Simple Pleasures

April 26, 2019April 26, 2019

6 FAVORITE CREATURE COMFORTS

Some of the things that make life enjoyable don’t require much material wealth. These are simple pleasures you can enjoy whether you live in a beachfront mansion or in a small apartment building. Here are my 6 favorite creature comforts.

#1. Comfortable bed. No matter how your day has gone, or whether you’re coming down with a cold, the most welcome thing you can look forward to is a good night’s sleep. If your mattress is hard, soft, or lumpy, watch for mattress sales. This is the best investment you will make in terms of your own well being.

#2. Warm bath or hot shower. Nothing is more soothing than a long soak in a warm bath. People don’t take baths so much anymore, but if you have a tub and the time, one of the most pleasurable things you can do Is sprinkle some bath salts in your bathwater, lay back, close your eyes, and bask in the solace of water. Showers aren’t quite as relaxing, but they are refreshing and invigorating. Who doesn’t feel good when they step out of the shower?

mANY CREATURE COMFORTS MAKE LIFE ENJOYABLE EVEN IF YOU AREN'T WEALTHY — YOU NEEDN’T BE RICH TO ENJOY THE COMFORT OF A WARM BATH OR HOT SHOWER

#3. Morning coffee. We load up our coffee maker each night before bedtime, so that a press of a button makes hot coffee available in minutes. Some people don’t like coffee, but maybe a cup of tea or hot chocolate? Sit down for a moment and sip a warm beverage while gathering strength to face the day.

#4. Sunlight on your face. This is more difficult in winter, but now that spring is here, try to find 15 minutes to lift your face to the sky and bask in the warmth of the sun. Doctors tell us that it’s good for our health to spend a little bit of time in the sun each day. They don’t recommend more time than a quarter or an hour in the sunlight unless you’re using a very strong (50) sunscreen.

#5 Fragrance of flowers. Besides enjoying the sheer beauty of all the flowering trees and shrubs, stop and smell the lilacs , hyacinths, and all the other fragrant flowers and bushes. If you don’t have your own garden, you can always go to a park or step inside a florist shop.

#6. Curling up with a good book. Never has it been easier to find a good book to read. If you don’t like downloading e books, go to the library and check out the latest best sellers for free!

Those are my favorite creature comforts, but you can probably add more to the list. The next time you’re feeling frazzled and stressed, reach out for one of these creature comforts, and enjoy life!

January 25, 2019January 25, 2019

HELP! OUR NEWSPAPER IS SHRINKING

Why do people buy newspapers today? Simple. It’s because they like the feel of a newspaper, the leisurely way you can skip back and forth between different stories. It’s not at all the same as online reading. And so, it was a big disappointment when the Indianapolis Star announced that it’s owner, Gannett Company, will no longer send us the USA today section we’ve grown accustomed to. Help! Our newspaper is shrinking.

I realize that real, paper, newspapers have been losing money for years. The reason, of course, is the internet. As an example, classified ads used to bring in some money to help run the paper. But most people use Craigslist if they’re looking for an apartment or household services. It’s free to the seller and buyer alike!

We have had two newspapers delivered to our door for over 30 years. Our local paper for the obits, advertising, local events, city politics, and general gossip. For more in depth coverage of national news and broader interests, we’ve always loved the Indy Star. While on winter vacations in Texas, Ga., and Florida, we never found a metropolitan newspaper more to our liking, with its common sense reporting and intelligent editorials. And since my daughter lives in Indy —and doesn’t take the paper—I often know more about what’s going on in her city than she and her family do.

Reading newspapers online isn't nearly as satisfying — ONE OF LIFE’S SIMPLE PLEASURES IS READING THE MORNING PAPER OVER A CUP OF COFFEE

As retirees, one of our simple pleasures is having a morning cup of coffee while poring over the newspapers. My husband loves all the funnies, and has even converted me to a couple of them. We both enjoy the bridge columns. He likes the jumble.

Often, we spend the better part of an hour rattling the papers and discussing different news stories. Sometimes, one of us will miss a story until the other asks what we thought of it. We may pass the newspapers back and forth two or three times to make sure we’ve covered everything.

So now, our paper will be thinner, with the elimination of the USA today section. I hope this isn’t a portent of things to come, but I’m afraid it is. Reading the newspapers online is not the same experience, at all. You can’t absorb it in depth, or pass it back and forth. And if you have achy fingers or carpel tunnel, it can be painful reading long articles on your smartphone.

All we can hope is that our newspapers won’t leave this world until after we do.