The Special Ease of Longtime Friendship, 5 Tips for Preventing and Managing Diabetes, and Avoiding the Retirement Tax Torpedo

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History (Non-Fiction): The White Darkness by David Grann – This gripping true story follows a modern explorer whose obsession with Antarctica leads to extraordinary journeys across one of Earth’s most unforgiving landscapes.

Memoir: Fragments of Memories by Mirella Shapiro – This moving memoir traces a life shaped by war, displacement, family, and the search for belonging across continents and cultures.

Self-Help: Make It Stick by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel – This research-based guide reveals which learning techniques actually improve memory, understanding, and long-term mastery.

Romance: The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery – A sheltered woman facing startling news finally defies her controlling family and discovers independence, adventure, and unexpected love.

No matter where you are in the process—an idea, an outline, a rough draft, or an almost-finished manuscript—we can help you get your book across the finish line.

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Check a few boxes, and we’ll match you with trusted options and initial consultations—many completely free—across insurance, housing, travel, finances, and more. It takes about five minutes, and you’re not committing to anything—just seeing what can save you time and energy.

A particular kind of comfort develops between people who have been friends for years. With so much shared history, you also share similar points of reference—people you’ve met, places you’ve been, and experiences you’ve had.  You likely have a common language filled with both emotional shorthand and inside jokes that only you two can understand. You know each other so well that a conversation can pick up exactly where it left off weeks—or even months—earlier.

Family relationships have their own irreplaceable role in our lives, but friendship offers something different: a connection we've chosen and have continued nurturing over time.

Longtime friends often know enough of your history that three sentences can replace a 20-minute explanation. Mention a former coworker's name, an old neighborhood, or that disastrous camping trip from 1987, and they immediately understand the reference.

That shared history makes conversation remarkably easy. You aren't continually introducing your life to one another—you've witnessed parts of it together—and that lets you get straight to the important stuff.

Family members frequently share the same history, traditions, and relationships. A friend stands slightly outside that circle, which can make their perspective especially useful.

When you're thinking through a decision or trying to understand a situation, a trusted friend may notice something you haven't considered. And because strong friendships allow room for honesty, a good friend can often say, "Have you thought about it this way?" without it feeling like an accusation or lecture.

Friendships don't always need a purpose. You can meet for coffee, browse a bookstore, play cards, take a drive, or talk on the phone without accomplishing anything at all. Some friendships even reach the wonderful stage where silence isn't uncomfortable. You can work on separate things in the same room without constant conversation and still enjoy being together. One of the greatest signs of closeness is quiet proximity.

Longstanding relationships can sometimes be taken for granted simply because they've always been there. A phone call, spontaneous lunch invitation, birthday card, or planned afternoon together helps keep those connections active rather than relying entirely on shared history.

While a friendship might not need much effort to be maintained, it—and the people involved—can likely still benefit from dedicated attention every once in a while.

Family and friendship aren't competing relationships. Each provide different kinds of connection, support, and belonging. The particular gift of a good friendship is having someone who knows where you've been, enjoys who you are now, and is still interested in seeing what comes next.

We're looking for seniors who are embracing life with enthusiasm, purpose, and adventure. Whether you're traveling the world, starting a business, volunteering, pursuing a passion, learning new skills, or simply making the most of every day, we'd love to hear your story.

Think that might be you?

Email [email protected] with a photo and a short bio. We may feature you in an upcoming edition of Seniors Magazine.

You’ve already forgotten some of the things you once thought you’d never forget. That’s one reason to write things down.

The discount: Sonic Drive-In

What it gives you: Many locations offer around 10% off or discounted drinks for seniors

How to claim it: Ask when ordering, as discounts vary by franchise

“The Day My Daughter Cut Her Own Hair”
From the life overview of Mary L., 80, Jacksonville, Florida. Shared with permission.

My daughter was four years old when she decided to cut her own hair.

It happened on a Sunday morning in 1968. My husband was outside washing the car while I was in the kitchen making pancakes.

I heard a strange silence from the bedroom. Parents learn to distrust silence.

When I walked in to check on Susan, I found her sitting on the floor surrounded by pieces of blonde hair. She was holding a pair of sewing scissors.

I said her name in a stern voice.

She looked up at me. “I made it pretty.”

It was not pretty.

One side was about two inches shorter than the other, and there was a bald-looking patch above her left ear. She had also cut her bangs almost to the middle of her forehead.

I couldn’t help but laugh. My husband came inside when he heard me.

He took one look at her and said, “Oh, Susan.”

She started crying.

Then I felt terrible for laughing. I hugged her and told her it would grow back.

We took her to the barber the next day. He gave her what he called a “short little bob.”

For the next several months, strangers commented on her haircut. Susan would proudly tell them, “I did it myself.”

She is sixty-two now.

Whenever we look at an old photograph from that year, she points at her hair.

“I liked it,” she says.

Apparently, she still does.

***

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Little Alchemy 2
Start with just four elements—earth, air, fire, and water—and experiment with combining them to create hundreds of new things. Water plus earth might produce mud, while increasingly unlikely combinations eventually lead to everything from animals to entire planets. Half the fun is refusing to look up the answers and seeing how far your own logic can take you.

The Useless Web
Press one button and you'll be transported to a random, delightfully pointless corner of the internet. You might encounter a ridiculous interactive animation, a tiny game, or something so strange that explaining it would ruin the surprise. There is absolutely nothing productive about it—which, occasionally, is precisely the point.

Don’t get trapped when dialing a trusted number

This daily section is brought to you by MemoirGhostwriting.com, experts in capturing life stories for loved ones and/or the public.

Take a few minutes to jot down your thoughts. Even a few sentences are a memory preserved for loved ones. Some people begin by writing on their own—or even using AI tools—but many eventually decide they’d rather simply talk and have their story shaped into something lasting. That’s where we come in.

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Basket weaving has an appealing rhythm to it: over, under, over, under—and gradually a pile of loose material becomes something you can actually use. Baskets can be made in dozens of styles and materials, but beginners don't need to master them all at once. A simple reed basket is an excellent place to start.

Buying individual reeds, handles, rims, and tools can be confusing when you don't yet know what you need. A beginner kit solves that problem by providing the correct materials in the right quantities.

These beginner basket-weaving kits include several projects designed for first-time weavers. The Original Beginner's Basket Kit, for example, includes the materials and illustrated instructions for making a small Shaker-style basket.

Most baskets begin with stakes or spokes that form the structure. A separate piece called a weaver travels over and under them to create the basket's sides. You'll eventually encounter techniques such as twining, lashing, and different ways of finishing a rim.

A good instructional book can become a useful reference as your projects get more ambitious. This collection of basketry books includes options covering basic basketry as well as wicker and rib baskets.

Natural reed usually needs to be dampened before weaving so it bends without breaking. The Basket Maker's Catalog recommends soaking flat reed briefly—typically just a minute or two—and rewetting it as necessary. Oversoaking can make it mushy.

Their free beginner-friendly market basket pattern also includes practical tips for working with reed, keeping the sides straight, and assembling the rim.

For a first project, choose a straightforward basket with a purpose: a small fruit basket, bread basket, mail basket, or container for craft supplies. Once you've learned the basic over-and-under motion, you can experiment with different shapes, handles, colors, and weaving patterns.

There's particular satisfaction in basketry because the finished project doesn't have to sit on a shelf. You can weave it on Saturday and put it to work on Sunday.

A website you use regularly can suddenly look unfamiliar: buttons move, menus change, or a feature seems to disappear. Usually, nothing is wrong with your computer. The website itself has been updated.

Companies redesign websites to add features, improve security, make pages work better on phones and tablets, or simplify navigation. Sometimes changes are introduced gradually, so two people may temporarily see different versions of the same website.

Your browser can also affect what you see. An outdated browser or old information stored in its cache may cause a page to display incorrectly after a major update.

If a familiar option disappears, first look for a three-line menu (☰), three-dot menu (⋮), profile picture, or Settings button. Features are often relocated rather than removed.

If the page looks broken — with overlapping text, missing images, or buttons that don’t work — refresh it. If that doesn’t help, close and reopen your browser or check for a browser update.

Before entering personal information into a newly redesigned page, check the web address. A changed appearance can be legitimate, but confirming you’re on the correct website is a useful precaution.

Today: Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh combines dramatic architecture, centuries of history, cozy pubs, gardens, and wonderful views. The compact center makes many major sights easy to combine over several leisurely days.

Ingrid’s Tip: Edinburgh has hills, stairs, and cobblestones, so comfortable shoes are essential. A taxi back to your hotel at the end of a long sightseeing day can be money well spent. A tour of Edinburgh Castle and shopping on Princes Street area must.

Unscramble the letters to find a famous person, event, or object. Think you know it? Reply with your answer and show off your brainpower.

Today’s clue: Toy character whose facial features and accessories could be rearranged.

RM OTPOTA EHAD

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