Dear Heloise: I read with great interest the letter from Sharon, in Middletown, Ohio. I, too, mourn the loss of cursive writing and know many young people who are able to text on their phones with impressive speed but are unable to write their own names. Printing their signatures like first graders do is all they can manage.

Here is another very sad example of this: My nephew teaches anatomy in a small medical teaching facility. The clocks on the classroom walls throughout the facility were changed to digital clocks. The reason? Because of students’ complaints that analog clocks were too difficult for them to read to figure out the time! Mind you, these young people are there to eventually become nurses or doctors. How sad is this? — Alice, in Virginia

Alice, I imagine parents will have to teach their children at home if they want them to learn cursive writing or read analog clocks. — Heloise

BEST BET FOR BUTTER

Dear Heloise: Do I need to refrigerate butter? — Melody T., in Houston

Melody, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA.gov), butter should be refrigerated in its original packaging until you are ready to use it. After using it, cover the stick of butter and place it back into the refrigerator.

Butter is mostly fat, so it is less likely to be besieged by bacteria, unlike a product that is mostly made of water. So, softening the butter before a meal on the countertop is fine. — Heloise

‘NUT’ YOUR ORDINARY HINT

Dear Heloise: Recipes frequently contain pine nuts, which can be pricey. I substitute them with sunflower kernels or shelled sunflower seeds. They taste good. I put them on salads, sandwiches, pasta, etc. — Thomas “T” D., in Kenner, Louisiana

Thomas, great hint! By the way, you do store nuts in the fridge when you use them, right? Nuts contain oil, which can spoil and turn rancid. Make sure to place them in an airtight container. When they’re ready to be used, toast them on a cookie sheet in an oven set to 350 F for 10 minutes, or microwave them in a bowl for 1 1/2 minutes. — Heloise

CRUISING

Dear Heloise: My husband wants to go on a cruise ship next year, but it sounds boring to me. What do people do on a ship besides eat and stare at the water? — Kelsey H., in Scottsbluff, Nebraska

Kelsey, there’s usually a lot to entertain you on a cruise. You’ll dock at various ports with enough time to do some exploring and maybe taste the local foods. You can get a massage, get a pedicure and manicure, go for a swim if they have a pool, or go dancing with your husband. Many cruise lines have art galleries or offer seminars and classes that are fun to take.

Consult with a travel agent who can explain all the options that are available on each cruise line. — Heloise

EXTRA CLOTHING

Dear Heloise: I lost 80 pounds and would like to donate my former wardrobe to someone who could use these expensive items. Do you have a recommendation? — Lacy T., in Hazlehurst, Mississippi

Lacy, the list is endless — a women’s shelter, Salvation Army, and Goodwill, to name a few. You might also call a local church and ask them for recommendations. — Heloise

SEND A GREAT HINT TO:

Heloise@Heloise.com