Respect is defined as “esteem or deferential regard felt or shown.”

I am aware that some believe certain individuals or groups of people should be automatically treated with respect. I find myself questioning this belief.

I am aware that I have written about the pandemic and its effect on people. This is a new event in our lives, to have our lifestyles change in innumerable ways in a short period of time.

When a client first comes to my office, I find out about their background. Where we each came from sets a backdrop to who we become. Who raised us lays a foundation for the values and lifestyle we grew up in. And this impacts who we become as we age.

Gout patient takes control of his health; now helps others

When Alameda native Wilson Du went to the emergency room (ER) at age 34 with a severe gout flare-up, he expected to receive a shot of cortisone and be released shortly thereafter.

A few years ago, I was running a discussion group on aging at the Mastick Center. One theme that surfaced immediately by the participants was retirement. I learned that many had retired and regretted it. The group was amazed to discover how many shared the thought that they were not happy.

For years, I have been concerned about the diminishment of conversations in our lives. It began with the answering machine, moved onto emails, and now text. People are not talking to each other much anymore. And I believe it is having an impact on our relationships.

South Shore Center in Alameda will host a community blood drive with Stanford Blood Center (SBC) on Friday, Feb. 17 from 1 to 5:00 p.m. at 2310 South Shore Center.

I have found myself spending a fair amount of time recently trying to decide what to write about in this column. I have been doing this for a long time. And then today, an idea emerged.

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Monday, Oct. 17, that the COVID-19 State of Emergency will end on Feb. 28, 2023, charting the path to phasing out one of the most effective and necessary tools that California has used to combat COVID-19.

The past couple of years have been a challenge emotionally and practically. Our whole lifestyle changed. We were threatened by a disease, businesses were forced to close, children were educated virtually, and many people began to work from home. There was Ukraine, Roe vs.