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Why Puppetry Is Making a Modern Comeback
Trivia: The painting The Persistence of Memory features what unusual objects?
RetireHub
January 14, 2026
Rise and shine, RetireHub community! ☀️ Your Wednesday newsletter is here!
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Daily games (like Solitaire, Snake, Tetris, and more!)
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Medicare Classes!
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A job board (with jobs tailored for 50+ year olds)
And we’re building more weekly! We’re really excited about this, and would love for you to test it out risk-free, so we’re giving everyone a free 7-day trial that signs up at the link below:
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 | By: Frederick Dechow In the shadows of paradise, justice has a new name! Honolulu isn't just the postcard fantasy the tourists see. Beneath the sunlit beaches and luxury hotels lies a darker world - one Michael Richter knows too well. A retired soldier and former cop, Richter leads a covert team with two missions: take out predators and rescue & restore the lost. |
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Dear Joanne
Your questions, her wisdom — Joanne’s here with thoughtful advice, warm humor, and a listening ear for whatever’s on your mind.
This week I was reflecting on this thought: If I could contact someone from my past, write a letter to someone, or apologize to someone from long ago, who would I contact? If I could write a letter to anyone without worrying about time, distance, or whether it might feel awkward, I wonder who it would be.
For many of us in retirement, time has slowed just enough to allow these kinds of thoughts to surface in our brain. In the hectic earlier years of our lives, tasks were often practical and necessary: pay bills (now everything is on autopay), send work correspondence (still doing daily), review school notes (haven’t had to do that for a while), and send holiday cards signed in a hurry (to which I just admitted last week I no longer get these done on time any longer). Now, with fewer deadlines and fewer demands, we may find ourselves thinking less about what must be written and more about what was never said.
Who would you choose to contact if you gave yourself the opportunity?
Perhaps the letter would be to a parent or grandparent, or someone who shaped our values but never quite knew how deeply they influenced our lives. Maybe it would be to a sibling, an old friend, or even a former coworker who stood beside us through long days and important projects. Or maybe it would be to someone no longer here with us, written not for a reply, but for the quiet clarity that comes from putting words to paper.
There is something powerful about handwritten letters. They slow us down. They make us choose our words carefully. Unlike a phone call or a text message, a letter invites reflection both from the writer and the reader. It becomes a record of what mattered to us at a particular moment in life.
Some people discover that the most meaningful letter they could write is one to themselves. A note acknowledging the challenges they endured, the risks they took, the lessons they learned, and the grace they extended, sometimes not so perfectly, but with the utmost sincerity. Retirement offers a rare opportunity to recognize not just where we ended up, but how far we’ve come.
The beauty is this: you don’t need permission to write that letter. You don’t need perfect handwriting, elegant phrasing, or even an envelope and stamp. The value is not in whether the letter is ever sent, but in the act of writing it.
So, if you could write a letter to anyone, who would it be? And what would you finally say? Sometimes, the most important conversations of our lives begin quietly—with a pen, a blank page, and the time to listen to our own thoughts.
I am currently gathering communications from people I have come across and/or am interviewing to create a compilation of such letters. Do you have a letter you wish to write and share? Please contact me at [email protected]. I would love to have you take part in such a compilation. Just express your interest to me and I will collaborate with you on the details.
In the meantime, let’s count the days until Spring! I’ve had enough of this cold weather!
Sending good thoughts,
Joanne
I would write a letter: |
On this day in 1784, the Continental Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris, formally ending the American Revolutionary War and marking the United States’ independence from Britain.
Why Puppetry Is Making a Modern Comeback
For a long time, puppetry was seen mainly as children’s entertainment—something tied to school assemblies, library story hours, or classic TV shows like Sesame Street. But lately, puppets are popping up everywhere again: on social media, in theater, in films, in therapy settings, and even in political satire. What once seemed old-fashioned is suddenly fresh, creative, and surprisingly powerful.
One reason puppetry is thriving again is its emotional impact. A puppet can express feelings in a way that feels both safe and honest. Because it isn’t “real,” people often lower their guard around it. That’s why puppets are now used in classrooms, hospitals, counseling sessions, and community programs. They help children talk about big feelings—and they help adults do the same. A puppet can say things people struggle to say out loud.
Social media has also played a big role in puppetry’s revival. Short videos featuring puppets telling jokes, giving advice, or sharing daily life have gone viral. Puppets feel playful in a digital world that can sometimes feel heavy. They add warmth, humor, and personality in a way that cuts through the noise of endless scrolling.
Another reason puppetry is back is nostalgia. Many adults today grew up watching puppet shows or playing with hand puppets. Seeing puppets again taps into comforting childhood memories. At the same time, modern puppetry isn’t stuck in the past—it now includes bold designs, adult humor, serious themes, and creative storytelling that appeals to all ages.
Puppetry also offers something refreshing in a world full of screens and artificial intelligence: handmade creativity. Puppets are often sewn, carved, painted, and built by hand. Audiences love seeing the artistry behind them. Live puppet shows, street performances, and small theaters are drawing crowds who want real, human-made experiences.
In entertainment, puppets are appearing in movies, TV shows, and stage productions aimed at adults, not just kids. They’re used for satire, social commentary, and even romance. Because puppets don’t age, don’t judge, and don’t belong to one group, they can tell stories that cross generations and cultures.
Finally, puppetry is simply joyful. It invites play, imagination, and connection. Whether it’s a sock puppet, a marionette, or a high-tech stage creation, puppetry reminds us that storytelling doesn’t need to be complicated to be meaningful. Sometimes, all it takes is a voice, a pair of moving hands, and a little imagination.
In a fast, digital world, puppetry brings things back to basics: creativity, emotion, and human connection. That’s why this timeless art form isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving.
What makes puppetry appealing to you today? |
Yesterday’s Poll Results: What Would You Most Like to Join Online?
Curiosity rules the day! About a third of respondents aren’t quite sure which online group to join yet, but they’re eager to explore. Hobby and craft groups, as well as social and friendship circles, are also popular, each drawing 15% of the votes. Fitness classes, book clubs, and learning-focused groups have their fans too, showing that whether it’s creativity, connection, or personal growth, there’s an online community ready for everyone.
TOP COMMENTS
“I started playing Pokemon go with kids and grandkids but I found a group ‘Old ladies playing Pokemon.’ I do enjoy this.”
“I would love to Re-learn the accordion. My computer is old though and there are a lot of delays. Fixed income and can't afford a big expense.”
“Mostly curiosity, seeking development of my social-friendship relations with new acquaintances or groups.”
“I'm hesitant to join, just prefer to look up what I need when I need it. I've already joined some that I never look at, except when I see a post.”
When Traditional Retirement Isn’t an Option — How to Build a Fulfilling “Plan B” After 60
Sometimes life doesn’t unfold the way we’d hoped, and traditional retirement plans fall apart—leaving many older adults wondering what comes next. Instead of dwelling on what was lost, it helps to ask meaningful questions about what work and success mean at this stage of life, and to explore paths that align with personal values, whether that’s part‑time work, self‑employment, or starting a passion project. By embracing a flexible view of retirement that blends meaningful activity, income, and a joyful lifestyle, you can create a fulfilling “Plan B” that suits your own journey and brings purpose alongside financial stability.
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Slang Phrase of the Day
Phrase: Winning streak
Meaning: A winning streak is a period of repeated success or good luck, often in a game, competition, or series of events.
In a sentence: ““After months of consistent exercise and healthy meals, Jessica felt like she was on a winning streak with her energy and stamina.”
Good News of the Day
Endangered Animals on Kangaroo Island Soar After Predator‑Proof Fence Success
On Australia’s Kangaroo Island, native wildlife populations — including the tiny, endangered Kangaroo Island dunnart — are climbing dramatically thanks to a predator‑proof fencing project that protects key habitat from invasive threats like feral cats. Within the Western River Refuge, species have increased by 90–100 % over the past five years as the safe, fenced area allows endangered mammals and birds to thrive without predation after devastating bushfires left much of the island vulnerable. Conservationists and local custodians say this success shows how targeted habitat protection can help restore biodiversity and gives hope for future recovery efforts on the island and beyond.
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RetireHub Trivia
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Want more trivia? Play our “Nostalgia Trivia Game” on our site! We add fresh questions daily, so there’s always something new to test your knowledge.
Not into trivia? No worries! We’ve got plenty of other fun games to enjoy, like:
The painting The Persistence of Memory features what unusual objects? |
Which U.S. president issued the Emancipation Proclamation? |
In Greek mythology, which hero completed 12 labors as a penance? |
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