Columnists

Elm trees were once one of the hardwood trees that dominated the East Coast of North America.

My two sisters live in different states. They have daughters who are getting married three weeks apart.

Many women ask me about the safety of using herbs during pregnancy.This is a tricky question. Some herbs are very helpful to pregnant women. Others must be used with great care or only at certain times in the pregnancy. And then there are the herbs that need to be avoided throughout the pregnancy.

Most parents have had the odd embarrassing experience in public with children saying or behaving in unexpected ways.

My next-door neighbor, “Tillie,” is in her 90s. She is able-bodied, but her mind is slowly slipping. We had a great relationship until she allowed her nephew, his wife, their son and the son’s girlfriend to move in.

The first time one went by while we were collecting traffic data, I thought the car was being driven by a large dog. The second time, it looked at first like nobody was driving. And the third time, the driver didn’t have a steering wheel but the passenger did!

Life really is all about choices.

Dear Annie: My best friend, “Jayne,” is also my former sister-in-law. She and my brother divorced several years ago.

Looking at the enormous changes the world has experienced over the past century, it’s clear that the most powerful force shaping our lives and society was not politics or economics but science when applied by business, the pharmaceutical and medical industries, and the military.

The closest I get to gambling is rolling up the rim of my Tims. And yes, I’m invited with true patriot polite fashion, to PLEASE PLAY AGAIN/REESSAYEZ S.V.P.