Silent protest and thank-you notes in Dear Abby columns
Readers debate the need for thank-you notes and believe gifts create obligations while sharing personal stories. A Berkeley reader argues against enforced thanks, while Carl Wagner from St. Paul explains finding purpose after retirement and returning to work, urging others to stay engaged and grateful.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Abby
Robert
Carl W. Wagner
St. Paul, Minn
Planting for the future bulbs and garden layout ideas
The article urges planning now to plant next spring bulbs, advising where to place beds, how to prepare soil with a clay mix and organic matter, and options like raised beds or rock borders. It emphasizes even spacing, avoiding single bulbs, drainage, and soil testing, plus a colorful survey of bulb colors and combinations.
Teacher offers home visit to engage student with absent parents
A seventh grade teacher describes a student whose parents skip conferences. The teacher proposes home visits, extra after school conferences, and goal setting to support the child. Dr Sylvia B Rimm notes that caring adults can inspire success despite lack of parental involvement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sylvia
Sylvia B. Rimm
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Sylvia Rimm
MetroHealth
Cleveland
Ohio
Also Mentioned on This Page
Berkeley
Calif
Twin Cities
Walmart
Carl
P.O. Box
Los Angeles
Abigail van Buren
Netherlands