Columns

Today’s Sound Off is about returns. Dear Heloise: I work in a major upscale department store, in a department that sells eveningwear.

Americans are in an unusually foul mood during what is a typically merry and jolly holiday season, ensconced in tribal politics and living in different pandemic realities. Despite myriad differences on policy prescriptions and political beliefs, one thing actually is uniting Americans as Christmas and New Year’s approach: worries about the direction of the country and the elected officials leading it.

Somehow, it’s December already and Christmas is mere days away. If you are still looking for gift ideas for any of the children in your life, don’t forget the gift of education and contribute to their MOST 529 Education account.

Today’s Sound Off is about buying pets online: Dear Heloise: With the holiday season coming on, some folks might be thinking of buying a pet for a loved one, but let me warn you and your readers about buying an animal online from anyone. An animal may look cute, healthy and make you smile the moment you see them, but all too often they are the product of inbreeding, or have worms or other parasites.

Dear Annie: My husband of 19 years had an office gathering at our home in mid-August. He has been at his job for 18 years and switched departments four years ago.

Dear Annie: This letter is addressed to all those who think back on a first love and believe their feelings are undiminished.I did that and had the ability to discreetly check back on that love. I found that he had told his wife he was glad he married her because he never could have married an independent woman, which is what I am. I also found out that he had spent the last several years of his life in a facility as an Alzheimer’s patient.

Dear Heloise: I was making a family recipe, and it called for light brown sugar. I didn’t have any, so I used the dark brown I had on hand, and my recipe did not taste as good as it usually does.