Opinions

After a week of sand, surf and serious relaxation, Kim and I were ready Sunday morning to leave our resort on South Padre Island and wing our way back home to Kansas. Just one little problem...

A couple years back, I took myself to Kansas City on an extended weekend. No contact with my family there.

Ohhhhhh...to be 13 years old again and headed to the carnival at the Sedgwick County Fair! This was the second summer in a row for my grandson Felix to come to visit his grandpa in the middle of summer. Last year, he came to visit earlier in the month, right around the Fourth of July, as I was getting ready for the annual chore of delivering the Sedgwick County Fair Guide to our readers.

In a few days, my local county fair will kick off marking the beginning of summer’s end as classes begin in the following weeks. But for a few short, hot days, the fair offers a little bit of everything for everyone between the midway and mutton busting.

Paul Rhodes | Publisher & Editor “...So if you have to, just ask Felix for his phone and take it away for a while.” Those were the final instructions from my daughter Abby as she dropped off my grandson in Kansas City Sunday for a week-long visit at my house. If you know any teenagers, you totally understand why those were her final words of advice for me.

Savvy Senior Dear Savvy Senior, How are Social Security benefits handled when someone dies? After a long illness, my 68-year-old father has only weeks left to live. I am helping my mom figure out her financial situation going forward, including what to do about my dad’s Social Security after he passes away but could use some help.

Random Thoughts This week’s Sedgwick County Fair presents an opportunity to stuff your face with all kinds of goodies. When I travel, I love to document my trip through the view from my stomach.

Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some good healthy meal delivery options for seniors who don’t cook or get out much? My 80-yearold father, who lives alone, has a terrible diet and I worry about his health. Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, There are actually a wide variety of healthy meal delivery options that can help non-cooking seniors who live at home.

On behalf of three generations of my family, let me cordially invite you to next week’s Sedgwick County Fair. It is, as we say, that season.

I made a magic pork loin on Sunday. That's about the only reason I can come up with for what turned out to be a pretty tasty pork loin.