HELOISE Hint will help make stairways more safe

Dear Heloise: Ever since a friend fell down her basement stairs while carrying a basket of laundry and did serious, permanent damage, I have looked for ways to make the stairs safer, especially for older people.
The basement stairs in my house were poorly lit. I painted every other step and riser a brilliant white. It reflects the light and transformed the stairs. My old eyes can easily discern each step, making me feel safer.
I never use two hands to carry anything down those stairs. I put the laundry in a bag, close it and throw it down the stairs, then pick it up after I go down. That way, a hand is always on the rail.
To carry things that require two hands, I never step down while holding them. Instead, I step down backward two or three steps, then move the item down two or three steps. Going up the stairs, I do the same in reverse -- move an item up two or three stairs, then climb three stairs. The point is, if it is important, you can find a safe way. Emily K. Patterson, Granville, Mass.
Dear Heloise: Tour operators and cruise ships often offer you optional tours before you leave on your vacation. I purchased several in advance, only to find later that I could have done the same thing far less expensively once I got into port and went with local tour operators. This is not always the case, but perhaps you can check for local tours on the Web for the places you will be visiting. Norma Cummings, Kerrville, Texas
Dear Heloise: Recently, I lost some luggage, and the only way the person who found it knew how to get it back to me was through my prescription bottle, which had my name and address on it. Along with my prescriptions were valuables, but it was all safely returned to me. Aren't there lots of good people in this world? M.W., Texarkana, Ark.
Dear Heloise: I live outside of Houston and have had some horrendous commutes, the worst having me spend more than three hours a day on the freeway. After years of wasting this valuable time, I now do something that makes me look forward to my drives. I am sure many of your readers will enjoy this tip.
I get recorded books from the library. At the end of the workday, rather than dreading the drive before me, I am delighted to rejoin the people in the novel to learn what happens next. My friend who suggested this to me listens to books while suffering in the dark with migraines. I also listen to books while working in my art studio. Most libraries have both classic and current fiction as well as nonfiction books on tape and CD. Parrish Hirasaki, Dickinson, Texas
Dear Heloise: If you can't afford a bedspread for a queen-size bed, buy a pretty, colorful king-size sheet instead. Susan Steward, Pittsboro, N.C.
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate