Fun Trivia That Sparks Memories, How to Care for Your Feet, and What Seniors Should Know About a New Tax Deduction

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Trivia is at its best when it doesn’t feel like a test. The right questions invite stories, friendly debate, and the kind of laughter that comes from shared memory. For older adults, trivia works especially well when it draws on everyday life, familiar culture, and small details that once mattered.

Here are specific categories with sample questions that tend to get people talking.

These questions work because everyone remembers them slightly differently.

The goal isn’t accuracy — it’s comparison. Answers often lead to, “We did it this way,” followed by laughter.

Instead of testing knowledge, these questions use familiar shows as a starting point for stories and opinions.

These questions spark strong opinions and affectionate disagreement — a perfect social mix.

Music trivia is especially powerful because it’s personal and emotional.

Often someone starts humming — and suddenly the room feels lighter.

These questions bring out reflection and storytelling.

These almost always lead to short personal stories that others relate to.

Easy for groups of mixed confidence levels — everyone can comfortably participate, regardless of how assertive, talkative, or certain they feel — and the group experience stays warm, not competitive.

These questions often end with, “That would never happen now.”

Trivia works best when you let answers wander into stories. One or two questions per category is plenty — and make sure to stop while people are still engaged.

“The Receipt Taped to the Fridge”
From the life overview of Louise M., 83, Fort Collins, CO. Shared with permission.

For years after my husband died, I kept a grocery receipt taped to the side of the refrigerator. It wasn’t deliberate at first. I stuck it there one afternoon while unloading bags and simply never took it down. It say there for years, largely unnoticed, the paper yellowing and curling at the edges, the ink slowly fading, but I could still make out the list: milk, apples, bread, coffee. Ordinary things, written in his slanted handwriting.

That receipt came from a quick trip we made together on a cold November morning. He’d insisted on coming along, even though I told him it wasn’t necessary. We argued lightly about brands, moaned about how prices had crept up again, and stood side by side at the register, shuffling forward inch by inch. Nothing about it felt memorable at the time. It was just another errand, another shared task in a long marriage full of them.

After he was gone, I noticed the receipt one day while waiting for the kettle to boil. I stood there reading it, surprised by how it grounded me. It didn’t arouse my emotions exactly; it didn’t make me sad or mournful or even vaguely nostalgic. It simply felt solid. Proof that we had lived a life built on small, repeated moments like that one.

Eventually, the tape dried out and the receipt fell away. I threw it out without ceremony. The comfort it gave me lingered, however, a quiet reminder that love often leaves its mark in the most practical places.

***

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Smithsonian Transcription Center
A public project where volunteers help transcribe handwritten letters, field notes, and diaries from museum collections. You can participate for a few minutes at a time or simply read completed transcriptions to see original documents up close.

NOAA Ocean Today
Short, plainly presented videos explaining ocean science, weather, and climate topics. Episodes are brief and focused, making them easy to watch without committing to a long program.

C-SPAN Video Library
A large, searchable archive of public meetings, lectures, and historical footage from the past several decades. The recordings are unedited and direct, offering a clear record of public conversation without commentary or interpretation.

This daily section is brought to you by MemoirGhostwriting.com, experts in capturing life stories for loved ones and/or the public. We can meet any budget. (Does your story deserve to be told?)

Take a few minutes to jot down your thoughts. Even a few sentences are a memory preserved for loved ones.

Having emergency contacts set up on your phone means help can reach the right people quickly—even if you can’t unlock your device yourself. It’s one of the simplest safety steps you can take, and it only takes a few minutes.

Most smartphones let first responders access emergency contacts from the lock screen.

On an iPhone (Apple):

On an Android phone:

Tip: Choose people who live nearby or answer their phones reliably. You can add more than one contact.

If you’re comfortable going a step further, adding medical details can be just as important as contacts.

Medical Information:
You can include allergies, medications, medical conditions, and blood type. This information is visible to emergency responders without unlocking your phone.

Emergency Location Sharing:
Some phones allow trusted contacts to see your location in real time during emergencies.

This can be especially helpful if you’re traveling alone or have a medical condition that could cause disorientation.

After setting everything up, lock your phone and check that emergency contacts appear correctly. Review and update the list once a year—or anytime phone numbers change.

A few minutes of setup now can make a big difference when it matters most.

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Unscramble the letters to find a famous person, event, or object! Be the first to reply with the correct answer, and we’ll send you a free gift in the mail.

Today’s clue: Celebration strips tossed after parades.

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