Q: My brother and I, both in our 50s, find it difficult each year to best-guess how to celebrate Father's Day. Both his and my family love dad, but we do not find it easy to find appropriate gifts for him. Can you offer any helpful hints? A: Yes. Fathers understand their role is to protect and provide for their families. Letting your father know how much you appreciate how well he has done his ... [full story]

Caution!  Do not sign a document when admitting a parent, a grandparent, a friend, or even a spouse to a nursing home, unless you are acting under a power of attorney or as a guardian.  A senior legal helpline caller signed as a “responsible party” only to learn that the term was intended by the nursing home to make her financially responsible for her uncle’s care, if not covered by Medicaid or Medicare.  “I thought ... [full story]

Older Americans go everywhere by plane, car, train or bus. Wherever we go, we use power made from coal, oil and gas that takes centuries to develop. The emissions generate carbon dioxide that, in turn, goes into the air we breathe. The gases then form what's called the "greenhouse effect" that overheats our environment. If the current pace of using fossil fuels continues, many scientists warn, we'll be in store for unwanted consequences: oceans rising, ... [full story]

In spite of high gasoline prices and increasing vacation costs, AAA expects Memorial Day travel to be up slightly from a year ago.  AAA estimates 38.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 1.7 percent increase.  Of them, approximately 32.1 million travelers (84 percent) expect to go by motor vehicle, a 1.8 percent increase from the 31.5 million who drove a year ago.  Another 4.4 million (11 percent) plan ... [full story]

George Washington kneeling in prayer in the snow at Valley Forge. Abraham Lincoln bent over a Bible with his son Tad.   KEEPING THE FAITH - What role did religion play in the presidencies of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln? CNS Illustration by Scott Adrian Hinton. It's doubtful one happened, and the other one's a misrepresentation. There's no evidence that the scene depicting Washington in prayer ever actually took place. In fact, according to one source, the ... [full story]

Does your child have friends you just don't like? How do you limit their time together? How do you explain the situation to your child? Professional guidance comes from Yanon Volcani, a Southern California clinical and consulting psychologist:   RAISING YOUR KIDS - Children should be free to choose their own friends, experts say. You shouldn't interfere in your child's selection unless the other child is destructive or a thief. Before parents can figure out how to ... [full story]

Villas of Distinction, experts in customized luxury villa vacations around the globe, is targeting the golf-travel market by introducing the villa vacation experience to those looking to tee off in the tropics with a selection of luxury accommodations and world-class golf courses in Jamaica.   TEE IT UP - At Half Moon resort in Jamaica, golf is the game. A view of the tee box on 15 features green hills in the distance. CNS Photo courtesy ... [full story]

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Remember when Forrest Gump stepped into the National Mall Reflecting Pool to greet his girlfriend Jenny? And did you know that Martin's Tavern in Georgetown used to be a watering hole for international spies who met there to hand off secrets? These are just a couple of the many chatter topics takers of D.C.'s newest city tours get to ponder.   HOME OF THE SPIES - A morning tour of the International Spy ... [full story]

Q: I know you will believe this is stupid, but we always thought after we reached retirement we would have plenty of time to do all the things we always wanted. After a year of retirement we are frustrated by the fact we not only don't get everything done, but our "to do" list gets longer every day. Are we in the minority? A: No. It appears you are really enthusiastic and happy about retiring. ... [full story]

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain - The man walking across the Plaza de Obradoiro was dressed in an outfit quite unlike anything I had ever seen.   CATHEDRAL STANDS TALL - The focal point of the Galician city of Santiago de Compostella is the Cathedral of Santiago (St. James). Its main entrance looks out on the vast Plaza de Obradoiro, one of Spain's and Europe's most imposing squares. CNS Photo by Fred J. Eckert.    MAD HATTER - Galicians ... [full story]

Q: I know you will believe this is stupid, but we always thought after we reached retirement we would have plenty of time to do all the things we always wanted. After a year of retirement we are frustrated by the fact we not only don't get everything done, but our "to do" list gets longer every day. Are we in the minority? A: No. It appears you are really enthusiastic and happy about retiring. ... [full story]

TORQUAY, England - It wasn't until my 10th visit to London that I finally saw Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap," the world's longest-running play. I figured there was no hurry, as it has run continuously since its 1952 opening and, as yet, has no plans to close. Now in its 55th year, with over 22,500 performances, the whodunit still remains a big tourist draw, with the audience - about one-fourth American - sworn to secrecy not ... [full story]

Q: Last summer we read about a sad situation involving a dog that was left in a car while the owner went into a convenience store to purchase a few things. The dog died because of heat stroke, even though it was only left in the car for a few minutes. Please warn your readers about the dangers of leaving pets and children in cars during the hot summer months. Maybe a pet or child ... [full story]