Editor’s Note

The house I grew up in and the house my parents grew old in was built in 1842. Inhabited by our direct ancestors since 1855, the old Wisconsin farm house, set on a pristine lake surrounded by fields and woods, was a remarkable place to be a child, with endless adventures at hand, places to explore and constant reminders of those who came before us. Sounds idyllic and it was... when we were all able bodied.

The Healthy Table
Less is More When It Comes to Sodium

Although sodium is an essential nutrient, excess sodium has some serious effects on overall health. The body uses sodium to regulate blood pressure and liquid retention. Sodium is needed to transport nutrients, transmit nerve impulses, and contract muscles. When sodium levels are too high the kidneys release more water increasing blood volume. This in turn raises blood pressure and the heart has to work harder to pump blood. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a major cause of heart attacks and strokes.

Don't Drive Your Car Into the Lake and Other GPS Lessons Learned

I met ‘Sophia’ this past Mother’s Day. My husband introduced us, actually, and thought we might hit it off. Sophia was black, small, really knew her way around town and despite the fact that she had a bizarre accent that made it hard to understand her at times, we became fast friends. She even agreed to ride with me to work the next day. As I made my way across town for a client appointment, Sophia offered me the choice of several routes, including the fastest way to get there, the shortest route and how to get there with minimum use of the freeway. Sophia even told me where the nearest coffee shop was so I could grab a cup of coffee.

Have a Terrific Autumn (but Not a Great Fall)

An ounce of prevention is said to be worth a pound of cure. When it comes to falls, however, an ounce of prevention may be worth a ton of cure.

Fact: Every year, more than 11 million people over age 65 suffer a fall. Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

When a fall occurs, the first concern is that the person has suffered a broken bone or other traumatic injury. However, there are many other potential complications. For example, a broken hipbone can lead to an inability to perform normal skills of daily living, resulting in a significant loss of independence and quality of life. A fall-related injury can also cause or aggravate conditions such as arthritis, weakness, poor balance and depression.

Of Houses and Homes

A house is not a home. That statement is offered here in it’s purest form, and in my opinion, from experience, definitely true, and not meant to be identified with the more well-known origin of that statement, i.e., the title of Polly Adler’s best-selling mid-20th century book chronicling the less-than-glamorous life in a house of ill-repute.