DIALOGUEletters
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In response to the
November Debate,
“Should it be man-
datory to give adult
adoptees full access
to their birth records
if they want it?”
Debate goes on
NO. I think health records should be available, but names should not, unless approved
by the birth parent.
Kim Huff-Caplan
from facebook.com/Costco
YES. Adult adoptees should have access to
their own identity (including parentage
information).
Penelope Needham
from facebook.com/Costco
YES. As a birth mom and adoptee I think the
adoptee should be able to have all the information. Medical records are important but
just scratch the surface of what most adoptees
want. I can’t think of any comparison for non-adoptees. Most adults know when, where
and whom they were born to. Adoptees
deserve to know their story—it’s their journey
and they were the only ones who weren’t part
of the decision.
Marikathryn Hendrix
from facebook.com/Costco
YES. For those who may not be aware, adoptees are four times more likely to attempt suicide. This is not because we feel special and
chosen. It is because we have a permanent
disconnect from our origins.
Elle Cuardaigh
from facebook.com/Costco
Have something to say?
Readers are encouraged to submit
letters to our editors on any topic or
issue covered in The Connection. Please
include your full name, phone number
and address. Send an email to dialogue@
costco.com; or write to: Dialogue,
The Costco Connection, P.O. Box 34088,
Seattle, WA 98124-1088; or fax to (425)
313-6718. The editors reserve the right
to edit letters for publication.
Tell us
your
story
HAVE YOU HOSTED a freezer meal
party? These are get-togethers to make
large batches of meals. If so, we’d like
to hear about what you’ve done and get
your tips on best practices for a potential story in an upcoming Connection.
Send your name and contact information, including phone number, to
dialogue@costco.com. Be sure to include
“freezer meal party” in the subject line.
CORRECTION
The correct credit
for the photo of
Marlon Brando
on page 91 of the
October Connection
is: Photo Copyright
Lawrence Grobel.
Grobel’s photos
of Brando appeared in his book
Conversations with Brando (Rat Press,
2009; not available at Costco).
LAWRENCE GROBEL
10 Days on Brando’s Island
CONVERSATIONS
RAND
WITHB O
Hot dog!
My grandmother, Ann Kruke, recently
enjoyed a celebratory Polish sausage on her
102nd birthday at the Costco in Glendale,
Arizona. Her birthday is November 1, and
every year she has two questions: Who’s coming, and when are we going to Costco for a hot
dog? I want to nominate her as the oldest living human being to finish the Costco Polish
sausage, and, yes, she ate the whole thing (with
sauerkraut, too!)
Stephen Shaw
Glendale, Arizona
Book ‘em, Costco
I love the book gift guide in The Costco
Connection. In the age of technology it is
important we keep literacy under the tree.
Mikey Sadowski @MikeySadowski
Brené Brown
I was so excited and delighted to see Brené
Brown’s article in The Costco Connection
[“The wholehearted path,” September 2015]!
Becoming a mom over 20 years ago
propelled me to choose a holistic lifetyle for
Member comments
Hearing aids
I read with interest “What did you say?”
in the November 2015 issue. Now in my mid-
60s, I have been wearing hearing aids for
some time. I am sure there are many readers
out there who no doubt need hearing assistance. As [author Judith L.] Kanne alluded to
in her article, hearing devices do not replace
one’s own hearing, but they sure do help.
Annette Kohoutek
Yankton, South Dakota
Hospice care
I was delighted to see in the November
issue of The Costco Connection that you
acknowledged National Hospice and Pallia-
tive Care Month. However, you inadvertently
helped to perpetuate a common myth: that
hospice is about how you want to spend “the
last days of your life.”
Hospice is actually about how one wants
to spend the six last months of life. A prog-
nosis of six months or less is needed to start
hospice services. It is sad to see so many of
our patients come onto our service when they
only have days to live. We can provide so much
more comfort care to patients who are open to
receiving it much sooner!
Marie F. Piazza
Santa Rosa, California
Gifts of inspiration
Thanks for the inspirational words at the
top of the pages of the Holiday Gift Guide
[Costco Connection, November 2015]. Gifts of
friendship, laughter, gratitude, kindness, sharing and joy are always welcome and meaningful. It is a good time to remember not everyone
is as lucky as we are.
Willie Dickerson
Snohomish, Washington
Festive feasts
I enjoyed the entire November issue of
The Costco Connection. I particularly love
what is said in the Editor’s letter: “one of the
greatest gifts we can give each other is time
together around a thoughtfully prepared
feast.” Amen, Tim!
Glenda Cameron
Landenberg, Pennsylvania