Dear Heloise: My husband and I just returned from a trip and could not locate our car in the airport parking garage. What we learned is that you must know your license plate number and the VIN of the car.

We had to call our insurance agent to get all that information. So, FYI, take that information with you when you travel, and also take a photo of where you are parked, or write it down someplace that will be convenient to find once you get home. — Corrinne B., in Universal City, Texas

STUFFED SHIRT

Dear Heloise: Something that has always puzzled me as I “unlock” the wrapping on a newly-purchased men’s shirt: Why are men’s dress shirts packaged with all the pins, cardboard, tissue, plastic, etc., rather than on hangers like most women’s shirts and blouses?

In this day and age, hangers would seem like a savings in waste, in addition to doing away with a pet peeve of mine. — Carol C., Arcadia, Calif.

ORGANIZATION NATION: OPEN SHELVING

Dear Heloise: This trend of open shelving — what gives? The reason I have cabinets is so I can hide stuff in there. With open shelving, there’s no place to run to and no place to hide. — Catherine D. in New York

Catherine, I agree. You’ve got to be super-organized and not afraid to show family and friends all your glassware, plates and bowls in the kitchen, and books, office supplies and computer accessories in the office.

Oh, and those tomato-sauce-stained plastic storage containers that have held your lunch for years? They had better jump into the back of the pantry.

On the plus side, open shelving can, with careful planning, bring interesting design elements such as great texture and bright color into your kitchen. You might need a pro to determine how to hang the shelves and to lay out a pattern that will suit the look you are going for. Open your mind to open shelving; it might work. — Heloise

PITHY PIECES

Dear Readers: Art is a great way to spend some time with family this summer, but what about all the little pieces? Here’s what I mean:

Secure magic markers by laying them flat and running a piece of masking tape over the lids, front and back. All the colors will stay together as one unit, and no lids will roll under the couch.

After putting together a jigsaw puzzle, apply a coat or two of a sealant with either a matte or flat finish, and hang on the wall — a wonderful memory.

Always supervise little ones when they are playing with small things. Everything likes to go into the mouth or up the nose, and this is a choking and/or breathing hazard. — Heloise