Day: November 1, 2025

• Watch favorites like Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” and David Fincher’s “Zodiac.”
• There are also Netflix originals like “Frankenstein” and “Train Dreams.”
• And a documentary on the life and career of Eddie Murphy.

From Oscar Isaac bringing the dead back to life in “Frankenstein” to Jim Carrey playing a hilarious private eye in “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” here are the best movies to stream on Netflix this month.

The cold weather settled in this week and Denver had the coldest overnight temp in more than seven months.

Not your typical rescue call – MCHD EMS lend a helping hand to load up a runaway tortoise back home after one very slow getaway. 🐢

• When my kids return to their college campuses, I struggle with helplessness.
• Sending food and essentials helps maintain connection without hovering over my college students.
• Encouraging texts and thoughtful deliveries offer additional support and love from afar.

After wiping my tears on the drive home and adjusting to the quiet of my house, I was surprised by what lingered. Naturally, I missed my kids when they left for college, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness.

My two oldest children are now away at college, and my youngest is preparing to leave the nest in a year. Now, there’s nothing for me to do. They no longer need me in the same way they once did, and finding my place has been challenging.

I answer calls and texts, but I want to feel a sense of closeness to them. There’s a fine line between connecting and hovering. Thankfully, I know showing up at their door unannounced isn’t the best idea — at least not if I want to maintain a relationship.

But how can I let them know how loved they are without hovering over them? And how could I overcome the restless, helpless feeling that lingers?

It all started with a food delivery gone wrong.

I sent my daughter cookies through the mail

For my oldest daughter, I was beside myself that she wouldn’t be home for our traditional First Day of School Cookies. Her brother and sister would be here, but she would miss out.

I quickly got to work baking and packaging cookies to send express mail to her at school. She would love it, I thought.

I eagerly awaited her heartfelt reaction. The only problem was that the cookies took a roundabout route across the country. They arrived a week late and were a crumbled, stale mess by the time she got them.

Lesson learned.

Food is always a welcome delivery for my college kids

Now, I send food more reliably and save the homemade cookies for when my kids are home. That’s why I go to the professionals.

Having a company send treats is a much better way to ensure my kids get something delicious. I now send Bang Cookies, and my college kids love them.

Whether it’s cookies, ice cream, or even a full meal, I’ve found great options online. A surprise local delivery is also a fun option. I’ve sent a pizza or other treats from someplace near their school, which is an appreciated boost for late-night studying or just hanging out with friends.

Sometimes I send the necessities

While the surprise food treats are fun, sometimes a box of necessities is a welcome delivery. Sites like Amazon, Walmart, and Target make it easy to send essentials.

This isn’t about curated, Instagram-worthy care packages. This is a quick and easy “Add-to-Cart” package that ships directly to my students.

The things I send are usually an eclectic mix: beef jerky, hair products, extra pens and notebooks, and laundry detergent. And I always add a favorite candy or beverage.

These packages remind them that I love them in practical ways, even when they’re far from home.

Plus, it helps me feel like I can still take care of them a little bit without having to swoop in.

The most important thing I do is send encouraging messages

I have to resist texting my kids too much. This is a time for them to grow into their independence, after all. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t reach out occasionally. Instead of waiting for long video chats where they tell me everything about their day, I send random encouraging texts — with zero expectations.

The lack of expectation is the key to this working. These texts aren’t bait to hook them into a long back-and-forth. They are simple statements that come to mind when I think of them, but not every single day. That would definitely fall in the hovering category.

Instead, I send a random “I’m proud of you” or “Good night.” Texts like these go a long way, even if my kids don’t show it. I can remind them how loved they are, and that they always have family to support them.

It’s a simple thing that makes me feel connected to my college kids without overwhelming them.

• As a Marine, I’ve traveled around the world, and especially loved Japan.
• Military travel isn’t easy; we spend hours on planes and have to follow strict orders.
• But traveling has been the most rewarding part of the job because I learned a lot about myself.

The first time I got on a plane was memorable — not because I was heading to a fancy vacation spot, but because I was going to boot camp for the Marine Corps.

From the moment I arrived at the recruiter’s office, the energy was intense. Family members were calling to wish me good luck, and my nerves mixed with excitement. I’ll never forget when the pilot announced, “Let’s give a round of applause for the future Marines on board.”

The entire plane clapped. That moment gave me a sense of pride and belonging I’d never felt before.

Sitting in my seat, I imagined traveling the world, jet-setting from city to city, seeing new places, and meeting people everywhere I went.

But traveling as a Marine was a different reality. It called for tolerance, self-control, and flexibility.

Luckily, I got to travel a lot as a Marine

I grew up without traveling anywhere; the farthest I had ever gone was to the next town over. Joining the military was more than a career for me; I saw it as an escape.

I traveled frequently during my time in the Marine Corps. Every new place became a classroom, teaching me important lessons about culture.

One of the destinations that changed me most was Japan. If a country could be a person, Japan would be my first love. That country taught me independence and humility.

I realized that while every nation has different customs, people everywhere share the same struggles: money, health, love, and a sense of purpose. The world is vast, but it’s also deeply connected.

Military travel comes with challenges

Traveling with the military is nothing like civilian life. Everything revolves around the mission. You don’t just book a flight; you get orders, paperwork, and deadlines.

The purpose of travel isn’t leisure; it’s duty. While you might have chances to explore, those come only after the work is done. Early mornings, long flights, customs checks, and delayed transport were common. Traveling as a Marine wasn’t easy. It was exhausting, unpredictable, and often uncomfortable.

It could take days or weeks to feel settled in a new country. Language barriers and cultural misunderstandings tested my patience but also sharpened my empathy. I learned how to communicate with gestures, but sometimes, saying nothing at all spoke the loudest.

The structure of military travel also tested my sense of independence. I couldn’t go anywhere without approval, and at times, that loss of freedom was frustrating.

The lessons learned made everything worth it

I often compare the world to a school system: your city is like elementary school, your state is like middle school, your nation is like high school, and international travel is like college. Each level brings new lessons you can’t learn by staying in one place.

Travel forced me to evolve and see beyond what I knew while growing up. It reminded me that growth only happens when you step outside your comfort zone — even if I had to do it under the strict rules of the military.

Although the travels were long and brutal at times, I’ve started missing the places I had visited, especially Japan, more than my own hometown.

I learned that home isn’t just where you’re from; it’s wherever you find peace and growth.