32 - The Prince George Citizen - Saturday, April 15, 2000 Lifestyles ioH., n h/ - mu!! ANDY CAPP An inheritance isn’t something that’s owed you Dear Ann Landers: I received this column from my oldest living relative, who found it in his desk drawer. He thought it was very good advice for the next generation. Will you run it again, Ann? — E.D., Hudson, Ohio Dear E.D.: With pleasure. A while back, when I asked my readers to send me copies of their favorite columns, I was amazed at the number who sent this one. It must have really hit home. Here it is: Dear Ann: Let this letter be a wake-up call to all sons, daughters and grandchildren. The message I want to convey is this: YOUR INHERITANCE IS NOT AUTOMATIC. ITS A GIFT. I am an estate planner. Over the last several years, I have seen many clients change their wills, bypassing children and grandchildren, and leave their money to friends, charities and people they once worked with who were kind and helpful. There are many reasons for changing a will, but the two most common are disrespect and isolation. In some families, the only time the old folks see the grandchildren is when their parents need a favor — usually, it’s money. So, the message the old folks wish to convey is as follows: “You didn’t make time for me when I was lonely and would have enjoyed your company, so why should I leave you the money I worked for all my life?” Wake up out there. An inheritance isn’t something that is owed to you. It is a gift of love. When there is no love, there should be no gift. — Manasota, Fla. Dear Ann Landers: I would like to pass on a message to your readers who have always been interested in a college education, but never managed to get one. I have taught freshmen at Ohio State University-Newark for the past 10 years. Some of my best students are returning adults. They bring life experience, humour, organizational skills and wisdom to the classroom. They inspire younger students, and introduce them to the adult world. Non-traditional students are dependable, prepared for class, ready to learn, and are in school because they WANT to be there. We love having them. I have taught people from age 16 to 60.1 have even taught the parents of some of my students. It encouraged their kids to do better. Every state has community colleges, evening classes, GED centers and counselors who will help people map out an educational plan. It is never too late to go back to school. Lifelong learning is now a necessity — and a pleasure. — Lu-cretia S. Pollard, Ph.D., Worthington, Ohio Dear Dr. Pollard: Thanks for giving the extra shove some older folks need to go back to school. I’m sure you’ve changed some lives today. Dear Ann Landers: I enjoy reading your “how we met” stories, and I hope you will print mine. Here it is: When I was growing up, Grandpa George often told me how he met Grandma Mabel. He said he saw her at a party, and the next day, he called her up and said, “Mabel, will you marry me?” She said, “Yes. Who is this?” They were married for 56 happy years. — J.F. in Janesville, Wis. Dear Janesville: I’ve always believed a sense of humour is hereditary. I’ll bet you got yours from Grandpa George. Thanks for writing. Scientists learn how smoking harms skin LONDON (Reuters) — If the increased risk of lung cancer and heart disease isn’t enough to convince smokers to quit, Japanese scientists believe they now know how smoking causes premature aging of the skin. Akimichi Morita and researchers at Nagoya City University Medical School have shown how smoking could upset the body’s mechanism for breaking down old skin and renewing it. “Dermatologists say the finding confirms the long-held view that smoking ages skin prematurely,” New Scientist magazine said this week. Morita and his colleagues demonstrated the link in the laboratory by exposing human skin cells that produce collagen — connective tissue that makes up around 80% of normal skin — to a solution of cigarette smoke and saline. Before the body can make new skin it must break down the old skin with special enzymes called matrix-metallopro-teinases, or MMPs, that destroy the fibres that form collagen. After the skin cells were exposed to the smoke solution for a day, the scientists tested them for MMP and new collagen. The cells produced much more MMP than normal skin cells but about 40% less new collagen. Morita and his team believe the combined rapid breakdown of collagen and the lack of new collagen is probably what causes premature aging in smokers. “This suggests the amount of collagen is important for skin aging,” said Morita. “It looks like less collagen means more wrinkle formation.” The researchers hope to confirm their laboratory findings by testing the effects of smoking on skin samples from smokers and non-smokers in different age groups. Toys may hurt kids’ hearing CALGARY (CP) — Some toys may be having a long-term impact on children’s hearing, an audiologist said this week at a Noisy Toy Fair held in support of International Noise Awareness Day. “Our children’s toys come with all kinds of warnings, but not a peep about the possibility of hearing damage,” said Marg Traboulsi, who works for the Calgary Regional Health Authority. She said a Barbie CD player can peak at 84 to 114 decibels, comparable to a vacuum cleaner, garbage truck or snowmobile. Canada’s labour code describes safe exposure for workers on an eight-hour shift as below 80 decibels. © 2000 M.G.N. LTD. DIST. BY MIRROR SYNDICATION INTERNATIONAL VIA CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC. f DON'T ’—> LEAVE ME/PET ,PLEASE/NO < MATTER WHERE YOU GO SOONER OR LATER I'LL ^ ^7 FIND YOU- J / WOULD \ > you do s [ SOMETHING YOU WILL [ ANYTHING ^ PET/ ANYTHING I WILL-/ WHAT AMN<2 AMPMEftMP T0PAY nil to zez anm o MP COHAHOfiJY A6AIN . OlP Fft&MP5 COIA£TO\Ji£\tI MAM NAM5P PAMlEL PPEPlcTEMCT'pAY j£sus emter. Hay city. ftp HOW ABOUT PORK CHOPS? WHAT WOULl YOU LIKE FOR DINNER TONIGHT, PORK CHOPS SOUND GOOD/ CAN YOU GET SOME AFTER WORK? . WiTbt 7Mf? k HopNS v Hoi? Ofj A . X'p U^B A Vlom? VJird you, IFX MAY... DID YOU REMEMBER TO GET THE