This is the last regular issue of Your Good Life; thanks for your support. Thank you for “picking up” this story and thanks […]
Category: Savvy Senior
Something new could happen to us every day or we may remember something from our past that is special and worth sharing. Read what the Savvy Senior is saying.
Being a Cook’s Helper
It was a big part of college life for me. September 1952 was a big time for me starting school at the University […]
Arlene’s Chair
Sometimes memories only get better. My daughter was moving into a condominium, downsizing from a larger home. I was helping, but mostly just […]
A Sad Day in Chicago
A tragic shipwreck and the boat never left the dock. It was Saturday morning July 24, 1915. While light rain was falling, 7,000 […]
“I built that…”
Every worker, who does a vital hands-on job counts. I said “I built that” many times, referring to my job in the summer […]
An Important Discovery – or Not
Things can happen by chance. As a fourth-year medical student at the University of Michigan, working on the wards while on the urology […]
Old Friends
Things can be what you make them. You can meet and befriend another person any time. It is called making a new friend. […]
A Small Town Honors a Pioneer
A treasure comes home. Harbor Springs, a small town in northern Michigan, in June 2021 honored the memory and achievements of a celebrated […]
How Long is Long Ago?
It depends. How many years does it take for an event to be a “long time ago”? This question doesn’t have a ready […]
Parallel Parking Anyone?
I hope he learned a lesson. An unforgettable event happened several years ago while I was parallel parking. I was with my wife looking […]
Defeat?
“It is easy when you are beaten, he thought. I never knew how easy it was. And what beat you, he thought.” Ernest Hemingway, The […]
A Double Life or From Poison to Pretty
You may have read about a miracle drug that improves appearance in the aging face … as Paul Harvey used to say, “Now, you […]
Best “Buy” I Ever Made
Doing the right thing quietly It was August in 1958 and I was visiting Barbara who was teaching 2nd grade and living at […]
Lecturing in a Bunker
Before the secret was out Thirty years ago I was invited to lecture at the annual meeting of the West Virginia Academy of […]
Lining Up at the Drive Through
Once you’re in, there is no getting out I never get in line for curbside service remaining in my car if there is […]
A Job in Retirement
Ah, where’s the restroom? A white clapboard hut sits at the edge of a green space a block away from the center of […]
A House, A Home
She enjoyed the challenge of finding a new house. Born and raised in a small town, Barbara lived in the same house until […]
Bending to Covid
A senior perspective on COVID-19. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on seniors has been discussed widely. Most of the reporting is about […]
Slow Cooker
You don’t have to be a cook to prepare a delicious full-course meal. For someone living alone, a crockpot can be useful. I […]
What a Way to Start a Trip
A weekend not soon forgotten. It was a Friday in September, three days before I would be leaving for Istanbul to attend the […]
Your Good Life Marquette Storytellers
Off to a good start… The initial meeting of Your Good Life Storytellers was a success. Beginning at 1:30 in the afternoon, the […]
Home
Home can be many things. “It takes a heap o’ livin’ in a house t’ make it home, … It don’t make any […]
The Gabion Wall
A great force held together by a fragile framework. Seven thousand years ago, the banks of the Nile were protected by substantial stone […]
Journaling Can Be Easy and Rewarding
This fulfilling activity is open to anyone who will try. Read on and learn… A journal is defined as; a daily record of […]
The Concierge
A ready smile and lots of answers Arriving at a hotel, the first person you are likely to meet is a bellman. He […]
A Lesson Learned
Sometimes it is the only thing you can do. The newly acquired ORBIS DC 10 widebody aircraft debuted in 1994. This refurbished plane […]
A Father-Daughter Trip to the Rose Bowl
A tale of lousy time management. In the fall of 1989, I promised my younger daughter, Lisa, a trip to the Rose Bowl […]
Storytelling
Telling a story is fun and a great way to connect with people. I enjoy telling stories—and have for a long time. Several […]
The Trophy That Wasn’t
What is your handicap? Home from church, I immediately changed into work clothes and headed to the yard. It would take a full afternoon […]
It Seemed like a Good Plan
It didn’t succeed. There are breakthroughs in medical care and there are promising programs that do not work as hoped. I will share a genuine […]
Home Cooking?
This is mostly for gents who have a stove and wonder why. Chances are you live in a community where meals are served. There […]
The Typewriter
There have been profound changes in how people work in an office. My introduction to “office work” was in tenth grade typing class, behind […]
Confidence and Faith
We have faith we will remain confident and are confident we will retain faith.* In the fall of 1962, I was driving from […]
Color Blindness
You get it from your mother, and it is not that bad! Which is better, one or two? Anyone who has had their […]
When Do You Stop Being a Teacher?
You may be teaching more than you realize! A teacher is defined as a person who instructs others, especially in a school setting. […]
8 x 11
Sometimes it is in the fine print. In May of 1962, I was twenty-seven years old and starting my first real job. As […]
In This Together
COVID-19 a threat to all. At home we all know the drill for dealing with COVID. We should wear a mask in public, […]
Being a Grandfather
There are no rules for being a grandfather. What is a grandfather? Searching for an answer, begs the question “What is a father?” […]
Avoid Falling
Something all seniors should have on their minds. As part of a routine visit with my doctor, I completed and turned in a […]
Quarantine
Definition: isolation imposed to prevent spread of disease. It remains a large part of our COVID – 19 defense. Quarantine has been a […]
Senior Pickleball
“The group is so tolerant of people just learning the game.” Most of us like to play games. A popular way is to […]
What Goes Around…
A tale of grandparents and family dogs It was summer and we were at the family’s lake cottage when our younger daughter developed a […]
Halo Towels
Sometimes the effort is more important than the result. Have you ever undertaken a task and thought, Wow, I can figure out a better […]
Small Town, Big Dog
Two faces of a small town. The pandemic has changed our lives. Along the way, this may have led us to new discoveries, or […]
Homeschooling During COVID
Homeschooling has traditionally been pursued by highly motivated parents. COVID-19 has required this to be done by unprepared parents who would rather have their children […]
Lessons of the Wind
Things nature teaches. For the last seven months, I have been looking at the wind and waters of Lake Michigan. This is because my […]
How “Old” Are You?
Special moments across time. There are some things about growing older that take getting used to. One of them is the relative nature of […]
Unfinished Business
This is one person’s story, but you could have something like this on your wish list. Maybe you should go for it! A bucket […]
The World We Share
Creatures surround us Most of us enjoy creature comforts whether we live in urban, suburban, or even in rural settings. We have ring doorbells […]
The Great Lakes
A treasure in our own backyard. I have had a lifelong love affair with the Great Lakes while growing up on Detroit’s east side. […]
What Goes Around Comes Around
You could become your grandparent. Growing up I spent lots of time in a multi-generational household. Both of my grandmothers were widowed, one in […]
Is a Storage Unit Something for You?
One family’s story of life with a storage unit. I rented a storage unit three days ago. No, I rented two! The first […]
On Poetry
Awaken your muse? COVID-19 has provided more than ample time for reflection and writing; especially for seniors who live in residential communities and may […]
Old Dogs, New Tricks
Covid-19 and virtual meetings. This is about how modern technology kept a long-standing group together. But how did we get here? In 1970, a […]
Not a Talent Scout
Dad got this one wrong. In November of 1976 I was invited to a professional meeting in New York. I would be working during the […]
Anything Worth Watching?
Recommending entertainment options for others can be a dicey proposition. Most wisely skirt this issue. Excuse me for the audacity of taking it head-on. […]
The Ninth Grade, ugh!!
I bet I am not the only one who had a terrible year at school. Here is one I remember. I spent eight […]
Working at Home
It is happening now. What are the affects and how long will it last? Seated in my room with the door ajar I hear […]
The Roadtrip
Going there can be better than getting there. In these long days of COVID-19, there are times when a person needs a break from the […]
Charlie and Warren
Sometimes a picture tells it all. About fifteen years ago I got a call from my friend Al Ueltschi, the founder of Flight Safety […]
The “Mighty Mac” Replaces the Ferry
Recollections of the past and a look at today. The Straits of Mackinac bridge, also called “The Mighty Mac” is a magnificent structure connecting […]
A Gift Too Good to Use
Sometimes the thought is bigger than the gift. Sometimes a gift is so precious it is too good to be used. Maybe this makes […]
Follow the Rules
Bureaucracy (bu-reauc-ra-cy): A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials. I believe in following the rules […]
Traditional Country Music
For those of you who want to enjoy some entertainment as a break from “all day news”, try some classic country music. Traditional country […]
Remembering the Birthday Party that Wasn’t
It is easy to take an event for granted until… For the past 35 years I have spent summers in northern Michigan. Since I […]
The Altered World We Live In
We face a unique health risk and how it affects us can depend on us. Yesterday I observed a festive occasion on an […]
Do You Have a Real ID?
Real ID is not a national identification card. It does not create a federal database of driver’s license information…the purpose of Real ID is to […]
Professor Arthur Louis Dunham
We never know when a seemingly small event can have a life changing effect. In October 1952 I was a 17-year-old freshman at the […]
Aunt Peg
In your memories some things stick out and you wonder why. Here is one of mine. Did you have an Aunt Peg ? […]
Arrested at Marshall Field’s
The start of a lively family discussion. In mid-November, while attending a convention in Chicago, Barbara and I decided to do some Christmas […]
Tennis with Renee
Some things that happen on the spur of the moment become lifetime memories The place was Puerto Rico. It was 1984. The event was […]
A New Way to Visit Your Doctor
This new way to see your doctor could be just the thing for you. After more than 30 years working with Telemedicine, including supervising […]
One Hundred Years Old and Still Going Strong!
Not everything loses viability after a century. The past 50 years have witnessed unprecedented change; especially in communication, transportation, and technology. Computers and […]
Is it OK to Share Your Email Address?
Are there risks when you give someone your email address? Email is a wonderful way to connect with friends and family. The immediacy […]
Is Community College for You?
An alternative to the traditional four-year college experience is available. These days, much is said about higher education, with a lot of emphasis […]
Time of Birth and Luck
In his acclaimed book, The Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell illustrated how time of birth can predict a life of good luck and success. This is an […]
Revealing Our Inner Self
Stress can summon feelings that find refuge in words. COVID-19 came a-calling COVID-19 came a-callingDr. Fauci called the score’U S Mailman wouldn’t enterTwo staff members […]
You Have a Camera in Your Hand
Ever wish you could snap a picture of that memorable sight? If you have a smart phone you can. You may have noticed that Your […]
National Coronavirus Response
The only action we can take now to lessen the effect of the COVID–19 pandemic is to practice social distancing and personal hygiene. […]
Fighting an Unseen Enemy
We are dealing with a disease new to all of us and it is affecting not just us but the world’s population. The following is […]
What Can We Do?
When things get tough, we can all pitch in. This is one of those times. I was dressed at seven. It was time […]
An Unprecedented Time
Our world, yes, our world! Is experiencing an unprecedented crisis – a pandemic. It is caused by COVID-19 a new virus more virulent than […]
Journaling with Haiku
Your Good Life has a Poets’ Corner and Recollections for memoirs and journaling. This week’s blog combines these two so we are putting it […]
What Are We Called?
Our age can be described with a label. What should ours be? The required age for entering a retirement community, especially one that […]
Cabin Fever Anyone?
We haven’t seen the sun in days so…? It’s winter. It’s depressing. A lot of gray skies and very little sunshine. We stay indoors […]
Telling It Like It Is
We love to hear from readers and here is a great example. Last December 20th, Your Good Life began sending email notifications to 150 […]
The Silent Generation
There are six generations in our society represented by those from 95 to 6 years old: Greatest, Silent, Boomers, X, Millennials, and Z […]
Going in Circles?
Some new things are good, but only if you learn how to use them. A modern roundabout in the U.S. is a circular intersection […]
Come Fly with Me
Recently we attempted to put a spin on prevailing negative attitudes about a hospital experience. It was possible to counter with a list of […]
The Interview
An interview can be a terrifying experience. A poor performance can overshadow a stellar academic record, lay waste significant accomplishments, and derail a promising career. […]
The 21st Century
The new electronic wonders we encounter today are like the gift that keeps on giving. There seems to be no end. The drive […]
Raising Humidity Without Getting Soaked?
Two important things about a portable humidifier and you purchasing one are, do I need one and if so, what kind should I get? I […]
The Rise of Skywalker
Movies continue to play an important part in the lives of many and few films have had a bigger impact than Star Wars. I had […]
What Is This Game?
We are all familiar with comfort food. How about a comfort game? It takes a table about 42 inches square and 30 inches high. […]
Your Good Life
The Your Good Life team, after more than a year in preparation, held its final meeting Saturday before the official kickoff. On Monday morning approximately […]
Introducing Your Good Life
More than a year in preparation, the team responsible for Your Good life is proud to invite you to make this site a regular on […]
Black Friday
How often do we use a term or describe an act and wonder why? Black Friday is just four days away. This day officially […]
Overcoming Computer Fear
Have you purchased or ridden in a new car lately? If so, you may have heard about or experienced sticker shock. But that is not […]
So, You’re Going to the Hospital
People 65 years and older represent nearly 40 percent of hospitalized adults and are said to account for nearly half of all health care […]
The Online Book Club
After a little over a year, it is time to take stock of our online book club and invite readers to join us as an […]