HELOISE Shipping mishap resulted in loss of treasured family photos

Dear Heloise: Recently, I separated 50 years' worth of family photos to make albums for each of my four children. One had to be shipped, and due to the odd size, I did not have a box for it, so I wrapped it in brown paper and taped it securely with heavy, transparent packaging tape.
While going through the machinery that handles packages, the wrapping was torn off and the contents lost. Only the label was returned to me, with a message that the package was damaged and unidentifiable.
Please advise your readers to always ship things in a sturdy box, even if it is too big. You can stuff newspaper inside to stabilize the contents. Also, put your name and address inside. I wish I had been more aware before I lost something I cannot replace. Ruth Ferris, North Canton
Oh, Ruth, I'm so sorry -- maybe your other children can go through their albums and make copies of the photos that include the sibling whose album got destroyed. Also, you might ask friends and other relatives if they have photos, too. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I manage a database for an organization. We often send large mailings to our supporters, only to have some returned for incorrect addresses. Sometimes they will have the name and/or address totally blacked out with marker, making it impossible for us to remove the incorrect address from our database. I recommend just drawing a diagonal line through the address and writing something like "moved" or "no longer here." That way, we can tell which address is incorrect and will remove it. If you continually receive mail for someone who is no longer at your address, maybe this is the reason. Jacque Perna Fuller, Missouri City, Mo.
We checked, and the U.S. Postal Service agreed that this is the correct way to handle the situation. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Regarding the hint from the reader about writing down credit-card-account numbers and phone numbers, etc., to store in a safe place in the event that these are stolen:
Here's another way: Put credit cards, insurance, medical cards, driver's license, etc., in a copy or scanner machine. Copy one side; turn over and copy the other side; store in your safe. Jeanne Boertlein, Eureka, Ill.
Dear Heloise: My address book was becoming crowded with too many entries.
Now I have one book for personal (friends, relatives) addresses and a second book for medical, business and other services. Bryna Wities, San Diego
Dear Heloise: If the hand you are used to using suddenly becomes incapacitated, handling a newspaper can be a real problem. To make it easier, divide the pages into individual sheets, using a letter opener to zip along the fold line. It's easy to replace the pages in correct order if so desired. Bonnie Osburn, Temple, Texas
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