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Summer is inimitable. It’s our time to be lazy when the most taxing activity might be deciding between reading or napping in a hammock while listening to the Beach Boys or Claude Debussy’s La Mer (the sea). It’s also the season for picnics in a park, sipping your morning coffee with the sun on your face (with sunscreen applied) and barbecues or al fresco dinners with a refreshing glass of a crisp sauvignon blanc or a pretty pink rose (good luck finding an imported one that’s affordable). But be aware! It’s mid-summer already and the days are starting to slip by...

To Our Readers: Summertime Schedule  With summer comes lazy days, a lighter schedule and some much-needed time off. So, from now until September, we will be blogging every other Friday. It will give us a chance to relax under an umbrella at the beach, go for a swim, take a trip, get a facial, mani and pedi, go see a movie, concert or play in the afternoon, enjoy senior discounts at our favorite eateries and retail stores, watch some good shows on Netflix, get into bed with a book, take an afternoon nap, go see a baseball game or two,...

Map of Smith College Museum of Art It’s almost summer and we are having visions of vacations whether near or far. Many of us are opting to stay closer to home because it’s less expensive, easier travel if nearby, now seems safer and lets us get to know what’s almost in our backyard, including treasures in the arts that our country has to offer.  It’s likely that any summer outing could include a short visit to a museum. However, many of the most famous ones may be too large to navigate easily, too crowded during the summer months to really...

Many people who love to entertain have a passion for the rituals to do so. We think there’s no single or perfect way. More important, It’s about being around people at a time when socializing is important for good mental and, yes, physical health as we age. How you choose to entertain is highly personal.  Some enjoy bringing forth the good crystal and china and hosting a sit-down dinner around a well-set table where the guests are served different courses. The conversation tends to flow non-stop when guests stay put. Maybe classical music or jazz plays softly in the background....

Our fathers were the elusive parent. In and out like a light. When we were growing up in the late 40s, 50s, and so forth, dads were the breadwinners, at work more than at home, while most mothers stayed home to clean, cook and raise the children. However, when dad did have time off and spent it with us, that time was precious as were the words of wisdom they imparted. Did we always take their advice? No way. But what they said did resonate and years later, those words of wisdom seem seared in our brains. As one person we...