rd.com | may 2023 99 BY Reader’s Digest Readers LOVE IS A Readers share the most clever, hilarious and moving ways someone has let them know they’re loved YOUR TRUE STORIES Pumpkin Proposal My boyfriend and I were carving pumpkins. After carving a lid, I found that mine was already hollowed out—with a diamond ring inside. I was thrilled at his proposal and flummoxed as to how he pulled off placing the ring box in my seemingly untouched pumpkin. Years later, pumpkin carving remains a favorite—and my husband’s trick a mystery. —brenda walsh Avon, OH illustration by Lulu Dubreuil “Harleyville” You Too My husband and I try to maintain a sense of humor about our shortcomings, like his refusal to admit he has a hearing problem. While driving along the highway one day, I read a roadside exit aloud: “Harleyville.” He turned to me and said, “I love you too.” It’s become an inside joke between us—instead of “I love you” we just say “Harleyville”! —alyce dassing Elkridge, MD
reader’s digest 100 may 2023 Holding Each Other Up My boyfriend, Dean, had a stroke at age 47. He needed therapy to use his arm and leg again. He was tired and depressed, but I encouraged him. One day, he stumbled while we walked down the hallway. I helped him straighten up and we continued. He sagged again, but I wouldn’t let him fall. The more he seemed to be sliding down, the more resolved I was to help. Finally, he said, “Will you please stop holding me up? I’m trying to get on one knee and ask you to marry me.” We’ve been married for 11 years. —amiee mingus Berlin Heights, OH Cutting the Mustard I stepped away from making my turkey sandwich for just a moment. When I got back, my husband had added the mustard for me in the shape of a heart. It wasn’t some grand gesture but, nine years later, I still think about it and smile. —claire jones Overland Park, KS From First Date to 50 States For my wife’s 50th birthday, I signed 50 birthday cards and mailed them to friends and relatives all over the country to mail back to my wife on my behalf. This way, she’d get a birthday card postmarked from all 50 states. My son drove from Oregon to Washington to have one postmarked in the Evergreen State. I even enlisted a few Holiday Inn managers! —richard hauser La Quinta, CA Really Digging One Another Early in our marriage, my husband, Bill, and I worked different shifts and seldom saw each other. We’d leave notes to communicate, addressing each other and signing off with just our initials. One day, I came home to find our pond frozen and “M— I LOVE U —B” written in giant letters on the snow. I was touched by the sweet message and imagined the work it took to shovel out each letter. After 18 years of marriage, he is still the love of my life. —mary schultz Wauseon, OH Can’t Hide Love My husband once got me a credit card–sized “I love you” greeting card. I hid it for him to run across. He returned the favor, and we’ve now been hiding it back and forth for years. Some times it stays hidden longer than others—like when he hid it in the pocket of my fleece jacket at the end of winter. —cricket lott Lansing, MI License to Love I wrote a letter to my wife, Patty, every day while I was deployed. I signed each of them, “Patty, I Love You, Mike.” Sometimes I’d abbreviate it to PILYM. Once home, I had to buy a new vehicle registration. I chose a custom license plate that reads PILYM, which makes her smile every time I pull in the driveway. —michael flavin Grove City, OH
rd.com 101 Now That’s an Air Kiss I was attending a jump meet with several other skydivers, including Jerry, whom I was dating. When we jumped from 6,000 feet, Jerry grabbed hold of me and gave me a kiss, known as a kiss pass if you do it while freefalling. I knew it was his way of telling me that he loved me. We got married four months later. —joan helms Indio, CA Celebrity Crushes When our daughter sent out her wedding “save the date” cards, she accidentally addressed ours to “Dad and guest.” My husband the jokester quickly lined up two other women (both A-list actresses) to take before asking me, his wife of 30 years. As his third choice, I told him it would take a grand gesture to get me to be his date. We joked for weeks until I came home to roses and a letter detailing all the MAREN CARUSO/GETTY IMAGES reasons he loves me and asking if I would be his date. It was a beautiful wedding—shame those actresses had to miss it. —brenda pyle Menomonie, WI Beloved Blossoms My husband, Larry, was excellent at giving unique gifts. One Christmas, he gave me 100 daffodil bulbs of all kinds and colors. It is my favorite flower, tied to special memories of my grandmother. However, I have a black thumb and thought, Oh no! Am I going to have to plant all of these? Reading my mind, Larry assured me that planting was part of the gift. He planted all 100 bulbs all over our yard, and they blossom into a beautiful landscape each spring. Larry passed a few years ago, but each spring when the daffodils bloom, I know his love still surrounds me. —janis smith Loganville, GA RD BEST MISTAKE I EVER MADE Bob Ross said it best: There are no mistakes, just happy accidents. Penicillin, after all, was born of a scientist’s neglected, moldy petri dish. Velcro was inspired by a dog that had gotten into some bur bushes. The ice pop was invented by a kid who’d left his glass of soda and stirring stick outside on a winter night. Do you recall a blunder that actually turned out really well for you? We want to hear about it. See terms and submit at rd.com/bestmistake, and your story might appear in an issue of Reader’s Digest. Your True Stories
The RD LIST read, watch, listen FILM Sweetwater Starring Everett Osborne “the only regret my dad ever had was that no one knew his story,” says Jataun Robinson, daughter of Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton, the first Black basketball player to sign an NBA contract. Three years after Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, New York Knicks executive Ned Irish (Cary Elwes) and coach Joe Lapchick (Jeremy Piven) push for the NBA to integrate. Their man? Clifton, the 6-foot-7-inch Harlem Globetrotters star. Director Martin Guigui (whose previous work includes The Bronx Bull, about boxer Jake LaMotta) taps rookie actor Everett Osborne, who spent a year playing professionally with the National Basketball League prior to filming, so no need for CGI ball skills here. And for those wondering, Sweetwater got his nickname because of his easy demeanor (and love of soda pop!). (In theaters April 14) —Caroline Fanning IAN FISHER (2), TONY RIVETTI JR., SMPSP. NOUN PROJECT (FILM ICON) reader’s digest 102 may 2023 illustration by Tim Marrs
Off Leash From Freakonomics Radio Network Take a stroll with dog cognition expert Alexandra Horowitz into the “scruffy, curious, joyful world of dogs.” In this podcast, Horowitz walks with relevant guests and their dogs as they verify—and question—some long-standing “dog”mas (sorry!) regarding man’s best friend. Examples: What do dogs know about their names? And are they really our “property”? The standout episode is “Heroes,” in which Rin Tin Tin biographer Susan Orlean talks popular culture’s love of the hero dog story and whether civilian dogs truly have an aptitude for rescuing humans outside of Hollywood dramas. Listen for the ear-catching background sounds of clicking nails and jangling leashes among all the fascinating conversation.—CF PODCASTS VEGAR ABELSNES. NOUN PROJECT (PODCAST ICON) rd.com 103 The RD List
BOOKS I Have Some Questions for You By Rebecca Makkai Fresh off her Pulitzer nomination for The Great Believers, novelist Rebecca Makkai returns with a thriller. Protagonist Bodie Kane comes back to Granby, her old boarding school, to teach a podcasting class. Students choose to investigate the murder of a former student, of which few really believe the convicted man (a former Granby staffer) is guilty. Bodie has spent more time fixating on the case than she’d care to admit—and proximity causes her to act. The more troubling mystery than the whodunit (or rather, who-really-dunit) is the identity of the ominous “you” Bodie keeps addressing in her own internal monologue. —CF The Wisdom of Morrie By Morrie Schwartz Morrie Schwartz didn’t know Tuesdays with Morrie would ever be published, let alone become the bestselling memoir in the world. And when he began writing The Wisdom of Morrie, he didn’t know he’d be diagnosed with ALS, the disease that would claim his life. Morrie didn’t know, but you’d never guess it, based on this manuscript (found posthumously by his son) written well before he became mentor to a generation. Morrie’s wisdom, prescient as ever, encourages joyful acceptance of life’s challenges. “Aging is not a problem we need to solve, but a stage in life to be lived well,” he wrote. Earlier stages would do well with a read, too. —Adrienne Farr All the Knowledge in the World By Simon Garfield For centuries, if you had a question, you turned to an encyclopedia for the answer. But did you ever consider who organized all that knowledge—and how—before Google and algorithms did it for us? Writer and historian Simon Garfield archives the massive, manual undertaking that was creating the encyclopedias on which we once so heavily relied, and how knowledge is sorted today. As jaunty as it is informative, All the Knowledge in the World soars through 26 factoid-rich chapters from “A” (Andrew Bell, an 18th-century co-founder of Encyclopaedia Britannica) to “Z” (Zeitgeist!). —Michael Lee Simpson KATHRYN G. ENGLISH (WISDOM OF MORRIE). COURTESY OF WILLIAM MORROW (ALL THE KNOWLEDGE). COURTESY OF VIKING (I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS). NOUN PROJECT (BOOK ICON) 104 may 2023 | rd.com reader’s digest
EVAN SUNG (MATSUHISA). AMY SUSSMAN/GETTY IMAGES (HADDISH). MELODIE JENG/GETTY IMAGES (HUTTON) I always hated the expression “being the voice of the victims.” They have voices; what they need is a megaphone. —Louise Arbour, former united nations high commissioner for human rights, in MACLEAN’S You can learn techniques, you can memorize recipes. But to me, the one thing that makes food memorable is when you cook with heart. —Nobu Matsuhisa, chef, in VOGUE SINGAPORE Whether it’s beauty or fashion, there’s an obsession with youth. But if we’re lucky, we’re all going to get old. —Lauren Hutton, model, in BYRDIE I’m willing to invest in myself. I’ve always made a return on that investment. —Tiffany Haddish, comedian, in the NEW YORK TIMES Just go to the next step. You don’t have to go to the final step. Just the next. —Wynonna Judd, musician, in PEOPLE QUOTABLE QUOTES The RD List
EMILY GOODMAN AND ROSIE LONG DECTER (FACT OR FICTION). NOUN PROJECT (4) Fact or Fiction? medium Determine whether each statement is fact or fiction. To reveal the solution to the bonus question at the bottom, write the letters indicated by your responses in the corresponding numbered blanks. Turn the page upside down for the answers. 1. Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day. fact: L fiction: Y 5. Madonna, Rihanna and Beyoncé are all the artists’ real first names. fact: H fiction: B 3. Greenland is the world’s largest island. fact: A fiction: N 9. The first computer hard drive weighed more than a ton. fact: S fiction: U 7. Italy has had 68 governments since the end of WWII. fact:O fiction: E 4. Author C.S. Lewis was English. fact: C fiction:R 8. Those fancy headpieces worn at the Kentucky Derby are called “beguilers.” fact: N fiction: K 2. Hippos can sleep underwater. fact: E fiction: U 6. The Bee Gees’ hit “First of May” was inspired by a dog. fact:O fiction: M Fact; Australia, while bigger, counts as a continent. 3. Fact. 2. Fiction; it’s a minor holiday in Mexico. Answers: 1. Fact; May 1 was Barry Gibb’s dog’s 6. . Fiction; Rihanna is Robyn Fenty’s middle name. 5 Fiction; he was Irish. 4. Yearbooks. Bonus question: Fact. 9. Fiction; they’re called fascinators. 8. Fact. 7. birthday. 123456789 bonus question Engineers at Mercer University in Georgia created tactile versions of what school staple for blind students to enjoy? (Need help? Turn to “Glad to Hear It” on page 12.) Brain GAMES Sharpen Your Mind 106 may 2023 reader’s digest
BETH SHILLIBEER (FUN AT THE FAIR). FRASER SIMPSON (SET FREE) Fun at the Fair easy Mia is taking Adam, Coralyn, Hannah and Leigh to the fairgrounds for a fun trip to celebrate the start of summer. Each child has a favorite food and carnival ride. With the clues below, can you figure out what each child’s choice of snack and ride is? The choices are roller coasters, the Ferris wheel, bumper cars, merry-go-round, cotton candy, corn dogs, ice cream and candy apples. 1. The one who likes roller coasters also likes cotton candy. 2. The one who likes the Ferris wheel also hates corn dogs and ice cream. 3. Adam thinks the Ferris wheel is too slow and the roller coaster is too fast. 4. One child likes bumper cars and corn dogs. 5. Hannah can’t wait to get to the merry-go-round. 6. Coralyn likes to be high above everyone on the Ferris wheel. C C B C A A Set Free difficult Place an A, a B or a C in each empty cell of this grid so that no three consecutive cells in any horizontal, vertical or diagonal line may contain a set of identical letters (such as B-B-B) or a set of three different letters (such as C-A-B). Can you ensure a set-free grid? rd.com 107 Brain Games
For answers, turn to page 111 DARREN RIGBY (ALTERATIONS WHILE YOU WAIT, GOOD LUCK). FRASER SIMPSON (NUMBER MAZE) . For more Brain Games, go to rd.com /braingames. Alterations While You Wait medium You need to turn the number 1 into the number 20. You can change the number you have into a new number in any of the following ways, but it’s going to cost you: ) Add 5: $15 ) Divide by 2: $3 ) Subtract 4: $2 ) Multiply by 3: $8 ) Add 7: $13 ) Subtract 6: $4 ) Multiply by 5: $24 ) Subtract 1: $5 What’s the cheapest way you can get exactly 20? Good Luck difficult Using two simple calculations, each number on the left is transformed to the one on the right. What is the missing number for 7? Hint: If you start with a low number, the second step doesn’t do anything much. 554234 331411 232122 444342 512345 45452 Number Maze medium In this maze, start at the 5 in the top-left corner and move horizontally or vertically (but never diagonally) to reach the star in the bottom-right corner. At each move, travel in only one direction the same number of squares as the number in the cell you are currently on. Since you are starting on a cell containing 5, your next move is either 5 squares to the right or 5 squares down. The next move will be based on your new cell’s number. Can you find the path? 1 3 9 5 7 7 ? 9 9 11 4 1 reader’s digest 108 may 2023
1. TBD a to be determined b terribly bad day c tactical business development 2. ESL a earnings, savings and loans b elementary-school level c English as a second language 3. DOE a date of event b depends on experience c day off due to exhaustion 4. P&L a parsley and lemon b position and location c profit and loss 5. GMO a genetically modified organism b give me one c guaranteed mail order 6. SEP a someone else’s problem b solar energy production c seismic event prediction 7. PS a print supplement b postscript c parting statement 8. ABC a against book censorship b airway, breathing and circulation c access to basic care 9. URL a uniform resource locator b underground racing league c upper range limit 10. ROM a royal order of merit b rate of mortality c range of motion 11. SPF a sensor pixel format b sun protection factor c single-parent family 12. SFPF a standard for physical fitness b salty fast or processed food c smoke-free, pet-free 13. TMI a too much information b test of machine intelligence c toxic materials index 14. LCD a low-cholesterol diet b liquid crystal display c local courier delivery 15. JGI a just Google it b junior-grade infantry c judgment of guilt or innocence This issue, we’re all about keeping it brief with a roundup of useful acronyms from the worlds of IT, HR and EMS, among others. Pronouncing them is as easy as ABC: Just recite the letters and you’ll be GTG. Once you ID these terms, turn the page ASAP to see the answers spelled out. BY Samantha Rideout Brain Games WORD POWER rd.com 109
TEMNIY/GETTY IMAGES Word Power ANSWERS 1. TBD (a) to be determined The band’s exact dates and venues for the summer tour are TBD. 2. ESL (c) English as a second language The school district boasts high test scores among its ESL students. 3. DOE (b) depends on experience André felt hesitant to apply for jobs that listed the salary as DOE. 4. P&L (c) profit and loss Every publicly traded company must issue P&L statements regularly. 5. GMO (a) genetically modified organism So far, there are no signs that GMOs are unsafe for human consumption. 6. SEP (a)someone else’s problem Malcolm dismissed the fallen stop sign as SEP and kept walking. 7. PS (b) postscript Sarah added a hasty PS to her note after realizing she’d left out a key piece of information. 8. ABC (b) airway, breathing and circulation Paramedics check ABCs to determine whether a person needs CPR. 9. URL (a) uniform resource locator Type in the URL of the store’s website to check the return policy. 10. ROM (c) range of motion Debbie has lost ROM in her arthritic shoulder. 11. SPF (b) sun protection factor One way to protect skin from sunburn is to chose a high-SPF sunscreen. 12. SFPF (c) smoke-free, pet-free Used furniture sells more easily when it’s from an SFPF home. 13. TMI (a) too much information Nelli wondered whether some of the details in her birth story were TMI for her co-workers. 14. LCD (b) liquid crystal display Most flat-screen TVs in use today feature LCD technology. 15. JGI (a) just Google it When his brother texted him asking how to boil an egg, Paul told him: JGI. Vocabulary Ratings 9 & below: OK 10-12: VG 13-15: A1 An Acronym That Isn’t Many think SOS is short for “save our ship,” but it doesn’t really stand for anything. This sequence of letters was chosen because it’s easy to type in Morse code and hard to mistake for anything else. When the Titanic was sinking, it transmitted SOS signals and another, now-defunct emergency call: CQD, which, according to unofficial sources, could have been derived from the French sécurité or the English “seek you.” What is certain is that D stood for danger or distress. reader’s digest 110 may 2023
WHERE, OH WHERE? (page 36 B. Winchester, California (the three others are also locations of hot air balloon festivals) BRAIN GAMES (pages 107-108) Fun at the Fair Adam likes corn dogs and bumper cars; Coralyn likes candy apples and the Ferris wheel; Hannah likes ice cream and the merry-go-round; Leigh likes cotton candy and roller coasters. Set Free Reader’s Digest (ISSN 0034-0375) (USPS 865-820), (CPM Agreement# 40031457), Vol. 201, No. 1188, May 2023. © 2023. Published monthly, except bimonthly in March/April, July/August and December/January (subject to change without notice), by Trusted Media Brands, Inc., 44 South Broadway, White Plains, New York 10601. Periodicals postage paid at White Plains, New York, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Reader’s Digest, PO Box 6095, Harlan, Iowa 51593-1595. Send undeliverable Canadian addresses to [email protected]. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner, is prohibited. Reader’s Digest and The Digest are registered trademarks of Trusted Media Brands, Inc. Marca Registrada. Printed in U.S.A. SUBSCRIBERS: You may cancel your subscription at any time and receive a refund for copies not previously addressed. Your subscription will expire with the issue identified above your name on the address label. If the Post Office alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year. A special Reader’s Digest Large Print with selected articles from Reader’s Digest is published by Trusted Media Brands, Inc. For details, write: Reader’s Digest Large Print, PO Box 6097, Harlan, Iowa 51593-1597. CONSUMER INFORMATION: Reader’s Digest may share information about you with third parties for the purpose of offering products and services that may interest you. If you would rather not receive such offers via postal mail, please write to Reader’s Digest Customer Mailing List, PO Box 3123, Harlan, Iowa 51593-0189. You can also visit www.tmbi.com/preference-center to manage your preferences and opt out of receiving such offers via email. Please see our Privacy Policy at www.tmbi.com/privacy-policy. SPECIAL OFFER Our Best Stories Spanning 100 Years From everyday heroes to dramas in real life, the most unforgettable tales we’ve ever told come alive as never before in The Best of Reader’s Digest. Pulled from our archives, these 40+ editor favorites will warm your heart, lift your spirits and leave you amazed. And, because it’s RD, we’ve also included the funniest jokes from our famous humor columns. This captivating collection can be yours for just $10. (We’ll cover the cost of shipping.) To order your copy, visit rd.com/BST50. Alterations While You Wait Add 7 (8, $13), multiply by 3 (24, $21), subtract 4 (20, $23). Number Maze The correct sequence of moves: down 5, right 4, left 2, up 4, left 1, down 3, up 1, right 4, down 2. Good Luck 7 13. Square the number, then add up the digits in your answer. ANSWERS AACA BCCB ACAA AACA rd.com 111 Brain Games
a trusted friend in a complicated world Stripes and Feathers by Jacqui Oakley, exclusively for Reader’s Digest
!! "##! $ % & '( )* $ +'),- )./.-0 1 -0 .-02 .-0 0 2 .-0* $ +' 3 40 0/- '/, -011)'-.-/ ' 0 ( //0(-/ 0/. -0. * $ +).&'- -, -4* 5 6 6 ea. Minimum order of 5 coins 787 )/- ' 01(0. 0 , 9:;::: 0.-0, '. ' /< RDG-0418 You worked hard to get where you are in life. Don’t let others dictate your fi nancial stability. Secure the wealth you’ve built by backing it up with Gold. = GOLD RESERVE American Gold Reserve is releasing Government issued $5 Gold American Eagles completely free of dealer markup for only $225 each. These beautiful $5 Gold American Eagles are a perfect way to enter the gold market. They are set for immediate public release and will sell out fast. RELAX, YOU EARNED IT. NOW SECURE IT CHECKS