Category: Uncategorized
How much penance for youthful follies?
As the long-ago misbehavior of public figures like Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has been exposed, maybe you’ve been recalling regrettable incidents from your own past. I have. Among them are a couple of misdeeds for which I wish I could apologize to two gay men. I can’t remember their last names anymore, and even if... Read more »
When insurance will pay, why not?
Last week I wrote about a misunderstanding with an audiologist at the office that sold me hearing aids three years ago. When the hearing aids came back from a factory check, she asked me to get a referral from my primary care physician. I thought that was because the devices needed reprogramming; she thought I... Read more »
Wandering in the health insurance maze
We all have stories to tell about hassles with medical practitioners and insurance companies. Stop reading if you don’t want to hear someone else’s. Humana Gold Plus, a Medicare Advantage HMO, has mostly served me well. It even paid $2,000 toward hearing aids. Those hearing aids caused a recent annoyance — not with them but... Read more »
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The difficult task of sentimental decluttering
Other than Donald Trump and Nancy Pelosi, the person whose name it seems we’re hearing the most at the start of 2019 is Marie Kondo, author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and focus of a new Netflix series. Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo began this month, inspiring people who made new... Read more »
How a Chicago voter might narrow the mayoral choices
The feds did Chicago voters a favor by charging Ald. Ed Burke with attempted extortion before the February 26 mayoral primary. It helps us eliminate candidates in a congested race. Now I feel okay about ruling out four top candidates, those with ties to Burke: Toni Preckwinkle, Susana Mendoza, Gery Chico, and Bill Daley. Burke... Read more »
Don't tidy your place for me
For the last few of my building’s monthly game nights, only two of us showed up. Before he moved out of town in mid-December, my game-playing partner invited me to his apartment for a meal and a last game of Scrabble. The invitation for that evening was issued spontaneously during his workday, so he had... Read more »
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Intrusiveness vs. showing interest: how to ask questions
In the December issue of Chicago magazine there’s a short piece on how to make small talk at parties. Anne Libera, director of comedy studies at Columbia College, suggests asking, “What’s the weirdest food your family eats on a regular basis?” or “Tell me about the most exciting thing you ever did as a teenager.”... Read more »
Having an undecorated Christmas
December 18, the calendar says. Only a week until Christmas, and I haven’t put up any decorations. I may not. Has a bah-humbug attitude overtaken me? I don’t think so. I’ve happily gone to the Chicago Greeter and my building’s holiday parties. I eagerly read the cards that are arriving and will email holiday notes... Read more »
For the elderly, giving effortless food is a winner
Christmas shopping for 90+-year-olds whose home is overflowing with stuff is a challenge. For years I gave my parents gifts from Omaha Steaks, but they still had to cook the meat, along with side dishes. As they’ve gotten older, it seems better to reduce their work. This year I decided to check into whether Omaha... Read more »
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Before moving on from the big 70 . . .
Since the last two posts were about turning 70, maybe I’ve milked the topic ad nauseam. But those posts mostly reprinted other people’s thoughts, and now that the big birthday is past, my own feelings are clearer. * Friends and family made it one of my best birthdays ever. The wishes via text, email, phone,... Read more »
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Meet The Blogger

Marianne Goss
I retired in August 2015 from Northwestern University after 25 years as an editor in University Relations. I live in the South Loop and am a volunteer Chicago Greeter. Getting the most out of retired life in the big city will be a recurrent theme of this blog, but I consider any topic fair game because the perspective will be that of a retiree.
Recent posts
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Michelle Obama, the American Dream, and black millennials »
Marianne Goss on Retired in ChicagoPosted Monday at 8:13 am -
How much penance for youthful follies? »
Marianne Goss on Retired in ChicagoPosted February 12, 2019 at 7:49 am -
When insurance will pay, why not? »
Marianne Goss on Retired in ChicagoPosted February 4, 2019 at 8:58 am -
Wandering in the health insurance maze »
Marianne Goss on Retired in ChicagoPosted January 29, 2019 at 9:50 am -
The difficult task of sentimental decluttering »
Marianne Goss on Retired in ChicagoPosted January 22, 2019 at 7:56 am
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