Family & Relationships

   

I wanted to help, so I cleaned out the boxes in our garage and put the boxes and 8 item on Offer Up. It read I cleaned my garage out and these items are free. One man took 4 items and 8 boxes. He'll sell them to help support his family.  An elderly couple who could hardly walk took 2 boxes and 4 items to supplement their retirement.The other 4 items when to ladies who could afford them.  Yes, I could have bartered, but I'm doing okay. It wasn't much, but at least it was something. My next project is sewing and knitting clothes for premature babies and mail them to the hospital in low income areas.  Clothes are expensive for the little one. I was asked to make some totally white for the families who suffered the lost of their little one.For those of us who have the time and left over matteral. There are patterns on-line for premature babies, or 18 inch dolly pattern will do. They need help, so if you have the time why not help. Take care. 

    I am truly welcoming Spring! 💐          

   Instead of enduring more distressing National and International news, I decided to search for some hopeful, optimistic news….    I found a story that brought a smile to my face.    Here it is:Maybe just a drop, but there is already a ripple……  And if anyone reading this thinks, “But this is just one guy, and there are millions more out there just like him! “, don’t forget the Starfish story.~~   Early one chilly morning, a man was walking along a beach when he noticed a young girl picking up starfish and throwing them back into the ocean. He paused and watched as she methodically bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and gently tossed it back into the waves.  When he asked her why she was doing this, she replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”  The man was puzzled and said, “But there are miles and miles of beach and thousands and thousands of starfish. You can’t possibly

Today is March 24th and it is:World Tuberculosis Day World Tuberculosis Day is a worldwide event that aims to raise public awareness about tuberculosis and the efforts made to prevent and treat this disease. This event is held on March 24 each year and is promoted by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO). March 24th marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch detected the cause of tuberculosis--the TB bacillus. This was a first step towards diagnosing and curing tuberculosis. World Tuberculosis Day can be traced back to 1982, when the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease launched World TB Day on March 24 that year, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Dr. Koch’s discovery.**********************************************I plan on posting interesting tidbits about each day/date of the calendar.  I hope others will add to it as well.  It can be related to any subject as long as it happened on or is correlated in

Hi you can call me Hubert G.I remember when I was in high school about 50 years ago. My horticulture teacher visited my house to help arrange my mother Violar plants and flowers in her yard. This was to help me with my grades in school. She agreed. Everything was going fine until the teacher wanted to move certain flowers. Mom said, "You'r not going to move this flower." When everything was over I got an excellent grade in his class. Mom said, "The yard do look better." She always try to be encouraging to her 12 children, 7 boys and 5 girls. Dad did too in his on way. He was a hard worker. He showed us how to work. We were a Sharecropper family during the 1930's to 1960's. We moved off the farm into our own house, that we had built by picking cotton to pay for it. (The house is still there today in Lynchburg, SC with the magnolia tree in the front yard)  We move off the farm in our own house. What a happy day! Dad wa

Hi everyone! I’m a dentist and really enjoy meeting new people. I love traveling, trying different cuisines, and chatting about life, work, or hobbies.I’m looking to make some meaningful connections and share experiences. Feel free to comment or send me a message—I’d love to meet new friends!

If you could start over again. What would you have done?

Hello Everyone, I'm Chris by name, 67 years of age and a widower. It gets really lonely as a widower. I Will be happy to make some new connections here. Reach out if you are interested in making new friends. God bless!!! 

Are you estranged from a family member? Have you attempted to reconcile? Share your story and read what others have to say. Join the discussion by posting a reply below.

 I  just received a BAG full of groceries from AARP Virginia compliments of my LOA (local office of aging). Fell 12/6/25 on Black Ice at age 67. Fractured ankle in 2 places. Anyway, had NO idea this was happening!!! Nicole 🤗💛 

Last few years have seen a tremendous increase in the demand for emotional support animal letters. It is one of the ways that help to ensure that you and your pet are not denied of any necessity at all. But, still, many are unaware of benefits associated with ESA. This article focuses on one of its primary benefits and how it can transform your way to visualize the world.

FROM THE ARTICLE. Progress in Creating Livable Communities for People of All Ages. By Rodney Harrell, AARP Public Policy Institute. Published February 03, 2026. With the right tools and support, people have the power to improve communities for residents of all ages. Keeping that in mind, our AARP Livable Communities team created the AARP Livability IndexTM platform and manages the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities (AARP age-friendly network) to help residents measure and support their progress towards making their neighborhoods more livable. Now there is new evidence that those efforts have indeed had a positive impact on the lives of older Americans. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/livable-communities/livability-index-data-progress-livable-communities/

I am finding it difficult to go where there may be some replies to my post. AARP is a good site but navigation thru the forums is hard. Doesn't help my 77 years. Anybody have any thoughts? would appreciate.

Let's be penpals! 

I don't understand why dredging up old posts is helpful or interesting...

Hello my name is Tawanna. I'm new to all this and is looking for help on what's free and how to use this AARP. thank you and God Bless Everyone.

TODAY: Why the Savannah Bananas Are Selling Out Stadiums Across US  VERY entertaining for the whole family - Not your conventional baseball to say the least - different rules some of which involve the fans.   Stilt hitter and pitcher - I just love them - they are now making their national tour - play like teams in major stadiums across the country - today they are in NYC - Bronx at Yankee Stadium playing the Firefighters (another like team). Highly recommended for entertainment - Ryan Cox is my favorite player - he's one of the best trick players I have ever seen.  

FROM THE ARTICLE.  Affordable Housing in Ohio Key to Aging in Place. With limited supply and high costs, AARP Ohio is promoting affordable housing initiatives across the state, such as revised zoning laws to allow accessory dwelling units. By Sarah Hollander, AARP. Published January 19, 2026. While record-high property values are a boon for many Franklin County homeowners, the accompanying rise in property taxes has left some older residents feeling pushed out of neighborhoods they’ve lived in for decades.  With a lack of affordable housing options and a limited homestead tax exemption, older adults “feel like they’re being punished,” said Michael Stinziano, Franklin County auditor.  Working together with AARP Ohio, his office is conducting a study to seek ways to ease the burden.   “At the root of it, if you don’t have stable and quality housing, it’s really hard to have everything else, from health security to financial secu

I’m 40. I live in Phoenix with my 7-year-old son. We’re fine — he’s thriving, I work full-time, we eat dinner together, laugh at cartoons, and I even managed to save a little for his college fund. But lately… I’ve been staring at my 401(k) statement like it’s a mirror. And what I see isn’t numbers. It’s loneliness. I got divorced three years ago. No drama, no courtroom battles — just quiet paperwork and a bank account that felt like an empty suitcase. He took the house, the stocks, the “future.” I kept the kid, the credit card debt, and the nightly tuck-ins. Now I’m thinking about retirement — not because I want to stop working, but because I’m terrified of what happens after. Who’s going to be there when I’m 65? Who’s going to ask if I ate today? Who’s going to notice if I don’t answer the phone? My son will be grown. He’ll have his own life. His own family. And I’ll be… here. In this same house. With the same routines. Maybe a dog. Maybe a garden. Maybe silence.&n

FROM THE ARTICLE. 5 Ways AARP Is Fighting to Keep Heat and Electricity Bills Affordable. We’re battling rate increases to keep costs within reach for older adults. By Molly Snow, AARP. Published January 15, 2026. Older adults are contending with higher prices on almost everything, and utilities are no exception.​Nearly two-thirds of older Americans say their electric bill has gone up recently, and 83 percent fear it will climb even higher, according to a 2025 survey by AARP Research. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/affordable-utilities-older-adults/

FROM THE ARTICLE. A New Chapter in Our Shared Story. Valuable lessons learned from a year listening to you. By Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, CEO, AARP. Published January 08, 2026. The past year was my first as CEO, and I spent lots of time listening and learning from the remarkable people who embody our mission every day. And now we turn the page together to a new year full of energy and possibility. AARP enters 2026 with a renewed sense of purpose as the experiences and aspirations of 125 million Americans age 50-plus guide our work. Across the country, I’ve seen our mission come to life through the stories of our members. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/ceo-lessons-learned-first-year/

I've been hearing and reading that Social Security cards would not be considered proof of citizenship.  This does not make sense.  First, non-citizens who have the right to work in the U.S. have a special designation on the cards, whereas those who don't have the right to work cannot obtain the cards;  only actual citizens have cards without special designations.Second, when I initially applied for and received a card, it was specifically for the purpose of proof-of-citizenship- a class in high school was taking a trip to Canada, our teacher said we might be asked for proof at the border, and said it'd be easier to obtain Social Security cards than to haul around our birth certificates.What changed????  

FROM THE ARTICLE. A grant program to make communities more livable for people of all ages with tangible improvements that jump-start long-term change. Page published January 7, 2026 . Since its inception in 2017, the AARP Community Challenge has awarded 2,100 grants totaling $24.3 million to projects that benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older — and accelerate community change. AARP is accepting applications for the 2026 funding cycle that: (1) Deliver tangible improvements to communities, such as new crosswalks, benches, bike lanes, housing designs, and public space enhancements. (2) Leverage additional support from public, private, and philanthropic sources. (3) Help communities overcome policy barriers and implement lasting change. (4) Foster new collaborations and increase community engagement. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/community-challenge/info-2026/2026-challenge.htm

    Most people make resolutions. Most of us break them. However we endeavor to try. What are some you might list for the New Year?   One I try to live always by ......