Dear Eric: I read the column from “Invisible Dad” who felt left out of his family life. I have a suggestion. When my dad retired, he began to write a newsletter every couple of months catching up members of our extended family with what was going on in other members’ lives.

My dad would then send everyone a typewritten newsletter, but of course now it could easily be done digitally. He would call a few family members from time to time and “interview” them as to what they had been doing, etc., eliciting any news that they had that they wanted to share.

Then he would write up the interviews and mail them to each family member. He would do this periodically, rotating among members. It was a wonderful way for our far-flung family to stay in touch, so I hope this might be something that would not only brighten Invisible Dad’s life but would also help the rest of his family stay in better touch. And best of all, it would be a great way to involve him more with his family.

– All the News

Dear All the News: What a wonderful gift your dad gave your family. As someone who writes a personal newsletter every week, mostly for fun, I love the way it allows me to stay connected with friends and strangers. It’s a great idea for families. I’d also suggest recording interviews with family members. I’ve found them to be invaluable documents of both history and feeling and they can be done right on your phone.

Dear Readers: No matter how you’re spending time this weekend, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to reach out to someone meaningful in your life, be it by phone or in person, and let them know you’re grateful for them. I’m grateful to spend this time with you every day.