HELPFUL HINTS
DEAR HELOISE: My daughter is in her first year of college out of state. I want to send her care packages. Do you have any hints?
— Rachel, via email DEAR READER: What are her favorite candies, snacks, magazines, etc.? College students often live on takeout or microwave meals. Homemade goodies are just the best, even if they do arrive in less-than-perfect shape. Who cares? They still taste the same.
A themed care package can be fun to put together and fun to open. For a cheap night in, make a box full of movies, popcorn and candy. A “need” (but maybe not “want”) gift box is one full of tissues, cough drops, medicine, tea and instant soup. Do put in a treat, too.
When packing, put items that might leak in a zipper-top plastic bag. For cookies, wrap in plastic wrap, then put in a hard, plastic leftover container. Use softer items to cushion things needing a little more care. Don’t waste space on unusable packing materials.
DEAR READERS: Travel today is not like it was years ago. Here’s a lifesaving hint that you may have forgotten, but that is vital to remember. When boarding a plane, train or bus, count the rows to your seat. Look around to see where the closest exit is — it might be right behind you. When going to your hotel/ motel room, count how many doors to the exit. It takes only a few seconds to do this, and you will most likely never have to use the information, but just in case, be prepared.
DEAR HELOISE: In your column on bicycle basics, you omitted what I feel is the most important safety aspect: notifying other bicyclists when passing them. When approaching another bicyclist when you are about to pass, always clearly call out “Passing!” or “Passing on your left!”
— J.H. in Ohio DEAR READER: Thanks for a good addition to bicycle safety hints. Of course, this is in a situation where one is assuming that it is safe and legal to pass another bicyclist.
DEAR HELOISE: My grocery store uses brown paper bags with sturdy handles. When going to a friend’s house, they make carrying food dishes easier than plastic bags. During the holidays, I use them to carry gifts in from the car and back out on the way home.
— Judy K., Athens, Ga.