Pam Stone

As a child in elementary school, I was given — along with the rest of the class — an assignment that even then I thought a bit maudlin for a group of 10-year-olds.

For those who engage in social media or read publications devoted to entertainment, the term “life hacks” will be a familiar one. Designed to make the mundane chores of life easier, social “influencers” with thousands, if not millions, of followers will make breathtaking proclamations:

Dear Aunty Pam: What is wrong with women because no women will go out with me.

If Paul and I ever bust-up after all these years, it won’t be because of another woman, or man (but possibly, horse), it will be because of...

Dear Aunty Pam,

WeRateDogs is exactly that: an online social media account that accepts photo submissions from followers of their dogs. The dogs are then rated up to 10 (don’t you hate it when people feel obliged to state the obvious by saying, “10 being the highest?” Really, Buford? I thought it was 14 and…

Dear Aunty Pam: I’m hoping you have some words of wisdom for me to say to my wife.

Paul has commandeered what has long been affectionately known as “the Unabomber Shack,” which served as my radio studio for years, and turned it into a wood workshop.

Dear Aunty Pam: I’ve worked hard all my life and think I deserve to buy a Corvette that I’ve wanted forever. It’s my money, I earned it, but my wife says it’s a waste of money, I’m too old for such foolishness (I’m 70) and that it’s nothing more than a symbol of a man who is insecure about h…

There comes a time in everyone’s life when the topic of conversation bandied back and forth between friends jumps from grand adventures planned, or even chatty daily trivialities, and focuses instead on the moroseness of health issues. It begins subtly:

I was quite proud of our recent snowfall in that it behaved as a good Southern snowfall should: it gave us a serene eyeful of blanketing beauty and was plentiful enough for children to have customary snowball fights, as well as build a snowman. Then, in due course, the sun came out like a to…

DEAR AUNTY PAM: So I’ve met this guy online on a dating site and we’ve swapped photos (he is very cute) and have talked on the phone several times. I cannot believe how much we have in common. We both like the same music and sports, we’re both really into hiking, and even our religion and po…

There’s a sort of prayer, should one be so inclined, known as contemplative prayer in which one doesn’t present God with requests or needs but simply seeks to abide with their maker. Or, as Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault of the Contemplative Society puts it: “Prayer is not a request for God’s favors…

Dear Aunty Pam,

Well, that certainly explains a lot.

Dear Aunty Pam: I’m writing regarding the letter from 34-A and wanted her to know that all men are not Neanderthals (which I do, unfortunately, consider her husband to be).