Dear Heloise: I love your column! I wanted to respond to the guy who doesn’t like to see women pushing heavy carts. I have been lifting weights/working out for over 40 years and enjoy working hard to stay strong well into my 70s. I look at lifting a case of wine or pushing and loading/unloading our grocery carts as an opportunity to stay strong outside the gym. My husband has bad knees and is not as fit as I am.

I also run my cart back to the cart “garage” rather than walk. Every little bit helps. I’m still strong at 77! — Lynda P., via email

A NEW PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH

Dear Heloise: For some reason, back in the ’90s, I concocted a new peanut butter sandwich: peanut butter on both pieces of the bread with sliced onions, hot sauce, a bit of black pepper, and sometimes a few slices of pickles. I prefer sweet bread and butter. Lettuce doesn’t hurt either. — Richard, Hemet, California

NEWSPAPER PLASTIC SLEEVES

Dear Heloise: My newspaper carrier says that the paper charges her for the plastic sleeves that are used for delivering my paper. So, I save them and give them back to her so that she can reuse them.

I make sure that they are dry, clean and not torn before folding them and packing them in one of the same bags. I leave them out for her to pick up when delivering a paper. I wanted to recycle them in some way, so I’m glad that I stumbled on this option. Additionally, there is the possibility of them getting recycled multiple times! — Dean Elsworth, Loudonville, New York

CALORIE-FILLED RECIPES

Dear Heloise: A reader complained that you published a fattening recipe. So what? I love reading food ideas from others. It makes life interesting. If I made the dessert that was mentioned, I wouldn’t butter the banana bread, but otherwise, I would definitely make it sometime.

P.S. I read your column in the Republican-American, which is published in Waterbury, Connecticut. — Carolyn McDonough, Canaan, Connecticut

DIY LAUNDRY IDEA

Dear Heloise: For some reason, I couldn’t find my mesh bag that I place all my lingerie in when I wash them. Finally, out of sheer frustration, I got out an old pair of pantyhose, cut off one leg, and stuffed my personal items inside the pantyhose leg. I tied off the top and tossed it in the washing machine. It worked perfectly!

There are a lot of additional uses for pantyhose! — Carlie F., Gulfport, Mississippi

ANNOYING PHONE CALLS

Dear Heloise: I’m fed up with people who call me and tell me that I asked them to call me back a week later. I’m not senile, and I know I didn’t ask them to call me back. Why do people assume that everyone over 60 has lost their memory?

If I sound angry, it’s because I am, especially when it comes to marketers who waste my time and insult me or make assumptions about all elderly people that are usually wrong. Retirees today are in better health than our grandparents were years ago. We’re active; some of us still work jobs if companies hire us; and many others travel, take care of grandkids, and enjoy hobbies.

So, telemarketers can speak to us like intelligent humans. And if someone hangs up on you, don’t call them back. They don’t want what you’re peddling. — B.S., in New York