Lifestyle

Dear Neil: I planted a bed of purpleheart groundcover this spring. Somebody told me that it will die to the ground when it freezes.

Dear Dr. Roach: I was confused by your column the other day, as well as the response regarding weight loss to a writer who is losing height due to aging and/or osteoporosis.

October 31, a day worth celebrating. No, not the Protestant Revolution occasioned by Martin Luther posting his 95 theses on the door of Wittenberg Castle in 1517. Certainly not Samhein, the high holy day of the Wiccans. All Hallows Eve, a.k.a. Halloween, is the day believers in Christ prepare to commemorate the saints of yore on All Saints Day, November first, and- by so doing- draw encouragement for our own lives. (Hebrews 12:1) I have heard people say, because of some moral weakness, “I’m no saint- just somebody trying to live right.” Some would define a saint as a person who lives an impeccable life, fully devoted to Christ, and perhaps associated with verifiable miracles. Then, there are those who withhold judgment, and assume that everyone who has accepted Christ as Lord and Savior is a saint, flaws and all.

I took a long weekend to unwind at the invitation of a generous couple. This couple is friends with my mom, who also went. Upon accepting their invitation, I felt like I would be extra baggage; however, from the first step into their lake house, I was treated as a welcomed guest. It was not long before I realized I was not extra baggage; I was holding excess baggage.

Dear Abby: I have a brother I can’t seem to get along with anymore. Sometimes he’s OK, but most of the time he’s not. I visited him recently for a cookout, and it wasn’t good. He got into an argument with his wife, shattered a glass, tried to fight me out of the blue, and talked about extremist topics -- all in front of his young, impressionable kids. I worry about his three boys and want to have a serious talk with him about getting some therapy.

Dear Abby: I’ve been married for 22 years. Our son is leaving for Marine boot camp the day after his 18th birthday. He will be a third-generation Marine, and we are extremely proud of him. He will be stationed in California, several states away from us. Our soon-to-be 21-yearold daughter graduated from college, and we are also very proud of her. She lives an hour and a half away.

Dear Dr. Roach: Can you please provide details on which cholesterol numbers to pay attention to? Half of my numbers are in the “good” range, and the other half are in the “bad” range. My total cholesterol is 248 mg/ dL, triglycerides is 77, cholesterol/HDL ratio is 2.8, HDL is 88, LDL is 142, and non-HDL is 160. My total cholesterol has been over 200 for the past six years, but so far, my doctor has not prescribed any medication, since my ratio and good cholesterol numbers have been in the good range. Though, my numbers have been steadily climbing (last year, my total cholesterol was 239, and my ratio was 2.4), and I am starting to get concerned.

Dear Abby: My 9-year-old daughter, “Kennedy,” plays volleyball. One of the assistant coaches is a transgender woman. I had known about the coach before Kennedy started playing. Although I’m OK with a transgender person coaching my child (I feel their gender identity is absolutely none of my business), my husband is not. He wants our daughter to quit a sport she loves so she won’t be “exposed” to something he doesn’t agree with. He is not transphobic, just very conservative, and he doesn’t want Kennedy growing up around it.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 76-year-old male. A few months ago, I suddenly had the worst pain in my life, centered in the right side of my tongue, of all places. It felt like a live electrical wire was touching my tongue. It was excruciating. I had been to a dentist the week before, but only to have the covering replaced on an implant crown. There was no injection or anesthesia needed. Could I have opened my mouth a little too wide and injured a nerve?