Monday, January 25, 2010
HELOISE: Put IDs on funeral flowers to help survivors
Dear Heloise: You had a column about putting addresses on funeral flowers. You were right on, and I’ll add a few hints.
My sister died, and her children had no idea who some of the people were, and neither did we siblings. People had signed only their first names to cards, with no return address of further identity. We would suggest adding a bit of a note with some extra information, such as “Jane Doe, a sorority sister from college,” etc. My mother received a card with a monetary gift signed only “Margaret.” We had no idea which Margaret, and the postmark was not helpful. We felt terrible that we could not return a thank-you. Kathy H., Nebraska
My condolences on losing your sister. It’s a very hard time, and trying to take care of sending thank-you notes can be difficult. Readers, please sign your full name, especially if you are not a close friend or relative. Heloise
Fast Facts
Dear Heloise: Here are ways to recycle plastic pill bottles:
•I keep an empty one in my purse in case a stone falls out of a piece of jewelry.
•Use to hold a screw if it comes loose from a pair of eyeglasses.
•Use to hold spare change.
•I keep one filled with mints so that they don’t get scattered in my purse.
•My best use is to carry a day’s supply of cream sunblock.
•I often end up giving them away to friends and co-workers.
Thank you for all the tips you have passed on through the years! Peggy Anderson, Laurinburg, N.C.
Dear Heloise: This is a hint for all the old-fashioned folks who still write checks out of a checkbook. I take one of those small sticky notes and print “3 more checks” on it, and I stick it at the end of my current checkbook, three checks forward. When that pops up, I am reminded to have a new checkbook in my purse. When I start it, I move the note to its last three, and so it goes on. It sure does work for me! Jeannie S., California
Dear Heloise: For a large dinner, I found that it helps to label serving dishes with sticky notes so everyone can keep track of what is supposed to go in them. This keeps dishes from being used for the wrong purposes. Glenn, via e-mail
Sound Off
Dear Heloise: I just read the letter about hand-washing and/or the lack of it. Let’s go one step further. Why are restroom doors push to go in and pull to go out? Seems like it would make more sense to be the other way around. Myrna Simmons, via fax
I’m with you! But there may be some building codes that specify that the door opens in to prevent hitting people outside the door. Readers, comments? Heloise
SBlt Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate