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Category: Savvy Senior

Stories & More

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.

 

 

October 17, 2021October 17, 2021

Finis

  This is the last regular issue of Your Good Life; thanks for your support.   Thank you for “picking up” this story and thanks […]

Savvy Senior9 Comments on Finis
October 3, 2021October 3, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Being a Cook’s Helper
September 19, 2021September 19, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Arlene’s Chair
September 12, 2021September 13, 2021

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 […]

Savvy SeniorLeave a Comment on A Sad Day in Chicago
September 6, 2021September 12, 2021

“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 […]

Savvy SeniorLeave a Comment on “I built that…”
August 30, 2021September 5, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on An Important Discovery – or Not
August 23, 2021August 29, 2021

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. […]

Savvy SeniorLeave a Comment on Old Friends
August 9, 2021August 29, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on A Small Town Honors a Pioneer
August 2, 2021August 8, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior3 Comments on How Long is Long Ago?
July 26, 2021August 1, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Parallel Parking Anyone?
July 19, 2021August 1, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Defeat?
July 12, 2021August 1, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on A Double Life or From Poison to Pretty
July 5, 2021August 1, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Best “Buy” I Ever Made
June 27, 2021July 14, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on Lecturing in a Bunker
June 21, 2021August 1, 2021

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 […]

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June 14, 2021June 20, 2021

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 […]

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June 7, 2021June 20, 2021

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 […]

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May 31, 2021June 20, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Bending to Covid
May 24, 2021June 20, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior3 Comments on Slow Cooker
May 17, 2021June 20, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior4 Comments on What a Way to Start a Trip
May 10, 2021June 20, 2021

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 […]

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May 3, 2021June 20, 2021

Home

  Home can be many things.   “It takes a heap o’ livin’ in a house t’ make it home, … It don’t make any […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Home
April 26, 2021June 20, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on The Gabion Wall
April 26, 2021June 19, 2021

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 […]

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April 19, 2021June 20, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on The Concierge
April 12, 2021June 20, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on A Lesson Learned
April 5, 2021June 20, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on A Father-Daughter Trip to the Rose Bowl
March 29, 2021April 4, 2021

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 […]

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March 22, 2021April 4, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on The Trophy That Wasn’t
March 15, 2021April 17, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on It Seemed like a Good Plan
March 8, 2021April 4, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Home Cooking?
March 1, 2021March 7, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on The Typewriter
February 21, 2021March 7, 2021

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 […]

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February 14, 2021February 14, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on Color Blindness
February 7, 2021February 7, 2021

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. […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on When Do You Stop Being a Teacher?
January 31, 2021January 31, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior5 Comments on 8 x 11
January 24, 2021January 24, 2021

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, […]

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January 17, 2021January 17, 2021

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?” […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Being a Grandfather
January 11, 2021January 17, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior4 Comments on Avoid Falling
January 4, 2021January 17, 2021

Quarantine

  Definition: isolation imposed to prevent spread of disease. It remains a large part of our COVID – 19 defense.   Quarantine has been a […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Quarantine
December 28, 2020January 17, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on Senior Pickleball
December 21, 2020January 17, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior3 Comments on What Goes Around…
December 14, 2020December 14, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on Halo Towels
December 7, 2020December 14, 2020

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 […]

Savvy SeniorLeave a Comment on Small Town, Big Dog
November 30, 2020December 14, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Homeschooling During COVID
November 23, 2020December 14, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior4 Comments on Lessons of the Wind
November 16, 2020December 14, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on How “Old” Are You?
November 9, 2020November 15, 2020

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 […]

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November 2, 2020November 15, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on The World We Share
October 26, 2020November 15, 2020

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. […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on The Great Lakes
October 19, 2020November 15, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on What Goes Around Comes Around
October 12, 2020October 18, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Is a Storage Unit Something for You?
October 5, 2020June 12, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior5 Comments on On Poetry
September 28, 2020October 11, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Old Dogs, New Tricks
September 21, 2020October 11, 2020

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 […]

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September 14, 2020October 11, 2020

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.   […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on Anything Worth Watching?
September 7, 2020October 11, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on The Ninth Grade, ugh!!
August 31, 2020October 11, 2020

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 […]

Savvy SeniorLeave a Comment on Working at Home
August 24, 2020August 30, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior4 Comments on The Roadtrip
August 17, 2020August 30, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior4 Comments on Charlie and Warren
August 10, 2020August 30, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on The “Mighty Mac” Replaces the Ferry
August 3, 2020August 9, 2020

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 […]

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July 26, 2020July 26, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Follow the Rules
July 19, 2020July 19, 2020

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 […]

Savvy SeniorLeave a Comment on Traditional Country Music
July 13, 2020July 15, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior3 Comments on Remembering the Birthday Party that Wasn’t
July 6, 2020July 8, 2020

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 […]

Savvy SeniorLeave a Comment on The Altered World We Live In
June 29, 2020July 8, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior4 Comments on Do You Have a Real ID?
June 22, 2020June 24, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior4 Comments on Professor Arthur Louis Dunham
June 14, 2020June 14, 2020

Aunt Peg

  In your memories some things stick out and you wonder why. Here is one of mine.   Did you have an Aunt Peg ?  […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on Aunt Peg
June 7, 2020June 7, 2020

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 […]

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June 1, 2020June 7, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on Tennis with Renee
May 24, 2020May 24, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior5 Comments on A New Way to Visit Your Doctor
May 17, 2020May 17, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on One Hundred Years Old and Still Going Strong!
May 11, 2020May 16, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Is it OK to Share Your Email Address?
May 4, 2020May 16, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior3 Comments on Is Community College for You?
April 26, 2020April 26, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior7 Comments on Time of Birth and Luck
April 17, 2020April 19, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on Revealing Our Inner Self
April 13, 2020April 18, 2020

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 […]

Savvy SeniorLeave a Comment on You Have a Camera in Your Hand
April 5, 2020March 28, 2021

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.     […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on National Coronavirus Response
March 30, 2020April 2, 2020

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 […]

Savvy SeniorLeave a Comment on Fighting an Unseen Enemy
March 22, 2020March 22, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior6 Comments on What Can We Do?
March 16, 2020March 6, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior4 Comments on An Unprecedented Time
March 8, 2020March 8, 2020

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 […]

Savvy SeniorLeave a Comment on Journaling with Haiku
March 1, 2020March 6, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior4 Comments on What Are We Called?
February 23, 2020February 21, 2021

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 […]

Savvy SeniorLeave a Comment on Cabin Fever Anyone?
February 16, 2020March 6, 2021

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 […]

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February 9, 2020February 7, 2021

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   […]

Savvy Senior7 Comments on The Silent Generation
February 2, 2020December 13, 2020

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 […]

Savvy Senior3 Comments on Going in Circles?
January 26, 2020March 6, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior4 Comments on Come Fly with Me
January 19, 2020October 10, 2021

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. […]

Savvy Senior3 Comments on The Interview
January 12, 2020January 7, 2021

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 […]

Savvy SeniorLeave a Comment on The 21st Century
January 5, 2020March 20, 2021

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 […]

Savvy SeniorLeave a Comment on Raising Humidity Without Getting Soaked?
December 29, 2019March 20, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior2 Comments on The Rise of Skywalker
December 15, 2019March 20, 2021

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. […]

Savvy Senior1 Comment on What Is This Game?
December 9, 2019March 20, 2021

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 […]

Savvy SeniorLeave a Comment on Your Good Life
December 2, 2019March 20, 2021

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 […]

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November 25, 2019November 21, 2020

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 […]

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November 18, 2019March 20, 2021

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 […]

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November 4, 2019March 20, 2021

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 […]

Savvy Senior6 Comments on So, You’re Going to the Hospital
October 21, 2019March 20, 2021

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 […]

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