Out and About – Week of December 9th

I have always believed in fate, and that the world is small. The saying, “It’s a small world”, came true the Friday after this past Thanksgiving, often referred to as “BLACK FRIDAY”. My wife and I enjoy visiting a particular eating establishment near Constantine on Friday evenings. Upon arriving there on Black Friday, we discovered that it was temporarily closed, so we decided to go to Elkhart instead. Near the completion of our meal, a groupof five was seated at the table next to us. One person in particular looked familiar to me, but I know that he lives in York, Pennsylvania, so the chances of that being he were slim to none. What could he possibly be doing in Indiana? The curiosity finally got the best of me, so I got up and tapped him on the shoulder, and asked if he could possibly be my friend of over fifty years. What ensued were a firm handshake and hug, followed by about five minutes of questions and answers. It seems that my friend, Gary Mac, had been visiting family over the holiday, and they had decided to dine out that evening. We couldn’t have planned a better get-together. I guess the moral of this paragraph is that if you think you recognize someone from your past, check it out. If you don’t do it, you might be missing a memorable hug and handshake, and sometimes, it’s a good idea to go that extra mile when you’re Out and About. You never know who you might encounter.

This past Saturday, December 7, was the 72nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I apologize for not mentioning this in last week’s column. It’s sad to say, but there probably aren’t that many who think of those who paid the ultimate price on that fateful Sunday morning. We remember World War Two, but the event that brought us into the war in the Pacific is usually placed on the back burner. It’s getting harder and harder to find a World War Two veteran, but should you come across one, please offer them a handshake of thanks for serving. To me, it’s an emotional, but right, thing to do.

The Three Rivers Lions Club has made the new Super Books available here in the Three Rivers area. These are the coupon books that can be used to buy one, get one free, which can be very handy when it comes to dining out or doing something recreational in the Three Rivers, Portage, or Kalamazoo area. Super Books may be purchased at Lowry’s Books. The cost is only $40, and they make great gifts for the upcoming holidays.

The ability to shop online and escape the holiday chaos is a great convenience, but it comes with a price: Cyber crooks have ways to pilfer your personal information. Here are a few tips to help keep your identity safe:

Hold on before you click on a link delivered to you in an e-mail. It could be a “phishing” scheme, where, if you click through, you are led to a false site developed to steal your data. If the deal sounds too good to pass up, enter the web site by hand into your browser.

If you can, lock your device when not in use by way of a password or code. This might prevent the exposure of your personal information to prying eyes. By locking, it will keep your information secure.

When downloading an app, do so from a trusted source, and choose apps with a high rating.

A secure connection is a must. Public Wi-Fi can be hacked by anyone with the right tools, which could expose your passwords, billing information, and other sensitive data.

A security app is very important for online shopping. Without one, you’re putting your personal information at risk.

A couple more gift ideas that are not from China:

Gift certificate from a hair salon or barber.

Pay to have someone’s driveway sealed, lawn mowed, or driveway plowed all winter.

I’ll present a few more ideas next week.

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman