DEAR HELOISE: I recently graduated from college, and as a graduation gift, my grandmother gave me a handwritten letter that her father gave her on her graduation from college. It was written in 1955, and I have it framed and on my wall above my desk to remind me daily of the words that are as true today as they were in 1955:
These are Rules to Live By
• Work at something you enjoy, something worth your time and talents. You never know ... you might be doing that job 10 or 20 years down the road.
• Have a grateful heart.
• Practice self-discipline. Save money, no matter how modest your salary. Discipline yourself to not overeat or overspend. Exercise a little every day.
• Take good care of the people and pets you love.
• Be honest, be a person of integrity, be loyal.
• Vote. Many have died to ensure you have this privilege.
• Take responsibility for yourself, your life and actions.
• Be bold, be brave and have courage. At the end of your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do much more than the things you did.
• Remember to be happy, be optimistic. You won't find these in power or possessions. They're in a person's character and view of life. Never forget to count your blessings.
-- Katherine W.,
Ann Arbor, Mich.
DEAR HELOISE: We just bought a new home (new for us, but it had been previously owned), and the Realtor gave us a small list of things to do before the movers came to the new house. I thought it would be a good idea to share these with your readers:
• First, change all the locks. Don't just re-key the house, but instead, it's a good idea to change out the hardware as well on all the doors, and if the windows don't have locks, consider getting locks for them.
• Change all the filters for the air/heating units, aeration filters in the bathrooms and the vent filter above the stove. And as a precaution, check to make sure the dryer vent is clean, too.
• Scrub everything. Shampoo carpets or reseal wooden floors before you move furniture into your home. Disinfect the kitchens and bathrooms.
• If the former owners left window treatments, wash, dry-clean or replace them.
-- Victoria T.,
Tamarac, Fla.
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
Heloise@Heloise.com
MovieStyle on 06/16/2017