Hello, dear readers, and welcome to a bonus letters column. We're continuing with mail from readers living with long COVID, and for whom recent research is offering some insights.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been feeling uneasy for quite some time now. I am the mother of an almost-4-year-old little girl. Toddlers grow up at the speed of light, as they say. My child is becoming more and more inquisitive these days, and I can't help but worry that in a few short years, she will have to make her own decisions.
There's an odd dynamic that plays out when former President Donald Trump gives a campaign speech.
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DEAR HARRIETTE: At 20 years old, I've been offered a remarkable opportunity for a fully paid academic program abroad in London for three years. The thought of leaving my family in California for such a long time weighs heavily on my mind. How can I emotionally prepare for this separation, handle homesickness and adjust to the new environment effectively? I find myself tearful even at the prospect of this extended separation, and I want to ensure I make the most of this opportunity while managing the emotional challenges of being away from home. — Preparing To Depart DEAR PREPARING TO DEPART: Work with the program director to make sure that you fully understand the program, where you will stay, what everything costs, who is there to support students, etc. Determine how much money you need, and work hard to get that — plus some. Take a job.
• Yes, you need to wash ... your washing machine. Over time, the machine can become a breeding ground for foul-smelling bacteria, which can affect how clean your clothes, bedding and towels get when you use it. The good news is, cleaning your washer is easy to do. Just pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the detergent dispenser and run it on the longest cycle at the hottest setting. When it's done, pour baking soda into the machine and run it on the same cycle.
It’s clear now that Senate negotiators badly miscalculated in their attempt to craft a bipartisan border-security and immigration bill. Republicans misread what their Senate brethren would accept, and they clearly had no idea about sentiment in the House.
It's been almost a quartercentury since Bill Clinton was president, and it's rare to catch a glimpse of him anymore or to hear his honey-hibiscus-punch voice. But one sentence of political analysis from long ago has such an enduring half-life that it has been echoing through American politics in recent months.
Dear Doctors: My father has diabetes and high blood pressure. Sometimes he fails to follow medical care for these diseases. Now his level of creatinine has reached 2.6 mg/dL, which is very high. He is getting weak and has cramps at night. How do you decrease high creatinine?
DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a college student who often relies on fast food and strives to stay current with trends.