Young at Heart Courtesy Photo Gloria Gohl, on right, enjoyed her parasailing experience as part of her 80th birthday adventure. She went parasailing with her daughter-in-law, Barb Ryan, on left.
S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E A L P E N A N E W S • T H U R S D A Y, O C T O B E R 1 4 , 2 0 2 1
‘Just keep moving’ By DARBY HINKLEY News Lifestyles Editor ALPENA -- Gloria Gohl doesn’t want any glory. She just wants others to get moving and stay moving, because doing so makes life better. The 80-year-old recently celebrated her birthday with an 80-mile bicycle ride with 22 family members in northeastern Wisconsin. They didn’t do it all in one day, but it’s still note-
worthy to have four score under your belt and still ride your bicycle for hours at a time on woodland trails. “It wasn’t in one day or anything,” Gohl said modestly of the trek, which spanned 20-some miles three days in a row, then 12 miles on the fourth day. “I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.” She started biking in her 20s, and it appealed to her, so she kept at it. She and her husband, Tom, bicycled for
Courtesy Photo Gloria Gohl kayaks on Imperial River in Bonita Springs, Florida.
80-year-old bikes 80 miles
Courtesy Photo Gloria Gohl, a lifelong Alpena resident, turned 80 in February. To celebrate the milestone event, her family and friends organized an 80-mile bike tour in northeastern Wisconsin in August. ____________________________________________ 2 - Young at Heart ~ Thursday, October 14, 2021
many years together. He no longer joins her because of balance issues, but they enjoyed many years cycling together. Her birthday was in February, and, since the couple winters in Florida, her son and daughter-in-law gave her two choices to celebrate turning 80 -either go skydiving or parasailing. “I decided to go parasailing,” Gohl said. “It was fun. So that was the actual birthday part of it, and I thought it was going to end there, but then, ‘Oh no, we’re going to do an 80 at 80 party.’” So 22 family members accompanied her in late August on the bike ride. “Most of these people were in their 50s, possibly even some 60s,” she said, which she was very happy to see, because she believes exercise is for everyone, at any age. She also thinks it’s cool that a family, mostly her in-laws, enjoys outdoor exercise together. She said she didn’t train for the excursion, but she rides her trail bike frequently, and she walks a lot, so she was physically prepared.
“We live on a dirt road here in Alpena, so what I have is more of a trail bike,” she explained. “I think I did OK with it. It’s a heavier bike, with bigger tires for our dirt road.” She thought back to when she first started riding a bike. “We have always cycled,” Gohl said. “In fact, when I was in my 20s, I signed up for a bike trip with a group out of California. I was single then, and I didn’t even own a bike when I signed up for this trip, which was in Vermont and New Hampshire, and we were supposed to cycle 50 miles a day in the mountains.” She ordered a bike from a bike shop in Alpena on North 2nd Avenue at the time. “Back then, a 10-speed bike was the latest thing to have, I guess,” she recalled. “And the bike dealer had never sold a 10-speed bike. He had to order it for me.” She added that she waited all summer because of some factory strikes in Chicago before she got the bike. “So, it was my first bike trip,” Gohl noted. “I went by myself, which was pretty gutsy back then, because wom-
Courtesy Photo Gloria Gohl, on right, reacts to her first parasailing experience as part of her 80th birthday adventure. She went parasailing with her daughterin-law, Barb Ryan, on left.
en weren’t really doing much of that type of stuff, you know. And I enjoyed that so much, and I did some other tours with them, and then, when I got married, my husband got into it.” They enjoyed many cycling trips together. “We cycled all the way across Wisconsin one year, and back,” she recalled. Nova Scotia and the Finger Lakes
in New York state were the sites of a few more of their adventures, as well as Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Gohl likes to be on the move, whether it’s walking, cycling, or swimming, sometimes all in one day. “I’m pretty active, most of the time,” she said. When she finished her 80-mile bike ride, “I felt good,” she said, adding that having family with her was
“very special.” She wants to express to others that staying active makes life more enjoyable. Being outdoors is her favorite part about cycling. She has never belonged to a gym. Enjoying nature is part of the fun of her exercise regimen. She also just likes “feeling like I’m doing something rather healthy,” she said.
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When she was still Up North for the winters, she also enjoyed crosscountry skiing. Gohl said staying active “just makes you enjoy life more.” Asked if she feels like she’s 80, Gohl said, “I don’t know how you’re supposed to feel when you turn 80. I feel good.” As far as advice for others, she said: “Just keep moving.”
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Thursday, October 14, 2021 ~Young at Heart - 3
Great gifts for avid snowbirds Every winter, millions of people — largely seniors and retirees — pack their bags, load up their RVs or book their flights with warm destinations in mind. Soon after they start sharing photos of themselves sipping tropi-
cal drinks on sandy shores while the rest of their family members are likely shivering in icy drifts back home. This seasonal migration has become the norm for a distinct demographic who prefer to ride out the winter in locales that are free from snow, ice and frigid temperatures. The term “snowbird” was first used in the 1920s to describe seasonal workers who moved south for the winter months, and in 1979 it was used in reference to tourists who headed south each winter. According to Vacations Made Easy, around 10 percent
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of the snowbirds who head to the southern United States each winter are Canadian. Florida is one of the most popular destinations for snowbirds. A significant percentage of snowbirds eventually will make their southern residences permanent. In the meantime, shoppers who want to give a fitting gift for the snowbirds who are still traveling each year can consider the following ideas this holiday season. • Golf course guide: Retirees often spend time out on the golf course. Offer a guide to various courses in southern states, and they can plan their trips by making road trips as they visit each course. • GPS device: While m a n y snowbirds have cars already equipped with built-in navigation, those driving older vehicles may benefit from
a GPS device they can mount to the dashboard, which will provide directions if they have to divert from their normal routes or when they want to go off the beaten path on their way to sunny skies. • Decorative stationery: Make it easy for snowbirds to communicate with friends and family back home in a traditional way. Decorative note cards, post cards or other stationery can be a nice gift, and these notes can serve as mementos for recipients, particularly grandchildren. • Customized T-shirts: Have Tshirts monogrammed or customized with messages that play to snowbirds’ love of travel and/or sense of humor. • Beach essentials: Put together a gift that makes spending time on the beach more enjoyable. A beach caddy stocked with sunscreen, towels, an umbrella, and flip flops will give beachgoers a head start on gathering seaside essentials. • Food and wine carrier: Keeping items cool is critical in hot climates. A well-insulated food and beverage carrier can make picnics or snacks by the shore comfortable and safe. • Lounges: Whether you offer a zero-gravity lounge to set up on the lenai or a floating beach lounge for relaxing in the waves, a gift that brings relaxation to the next level will be appreciated. Snowbirds travel many miles to reach warm destinations and ride out winter in comfort. Gifts geared around this annual tradition are guaranteed to make snowbirds smile.
Stay Busy and Active in Retirement (StatePoint) Many people look forward to their retirement for years. However, once it begins, they may find all the newfound free time overwhelming. If you’re planning on retiring soon, having a plan for how you’ll spend your time is important for your health and happiness. Here are five ideas for staying mentally and physically active, as well as engaged in your community: 1. Start a walking meet-up: Host a morning walking group in your neighborhood. A brisk morning walk is a low-impact way to get in shape and keep your heart healthy. Plus, the fresh air and camaraderie is good for your mental wellbeing. To ensure the group’s success, keep meet-up times consistent and let participants know in advance the pace and distance you plan to walk. You may even want to start a fun tradition, such as ending every stroll session at a local coffee shop.
2. Become a tax expert: Consider taking an online course on how to do taxes and become a resource for friends during tax season. Get prepared by visiting the IRS site, which provides information on tax return preparer credentials and qualifications, as well as details about how this year’s tax laws have changed and how they’ll impact deductions. Equip yourself with a good printing calculator, such as the HR-170 from Casio, which features two-color printing and Cost/Sell/ Margin functionality. The calculator allows you to check and correct up to 150 steps and print your calculations after correction so you can maintain accuracy. Plus, its clock and calendar features will help you stay organized.
work, such as job applications and school enrollment forms. 4. Learn music at your own pace: It’s never too late to begin your music education. Whether you’re learning to play the piano for the first time or revisiting an old passion, new tools will allow you to hone your skills independently and effectively. Check out Casiotone keyboards, which are portable and well-suited for any level of play, as most of the models have features that will guide you through its builtin songs by either a key-lighting system or an on-screen step-by-step process. With the ability to slow the tempo to aid in practice, or learn melodies individually by selecting left-hand or right-hand parts only,
you can quickly master favorite tunes and build your musical confidence.
5. Read the classics: Are there classic books you’ve always wanted to read but have never gotten around to? Use your abundance of free time to finally make your way through your literary bucket list. Whether it’s “Moby Dick” or “Ulysses,” consider inviting friends to participate. Challenging titles will be more easily and enjoyably tackled with friends and a discussion schedule. To promote your health and happiness in retirement, keep your body and mind active and engaged.
3. Volunteer your skills: Many recent immigrants need logistical help getting situated in the United States. If you speak a foreign language, consider volunteering through your local library or community center. Become a literacy buddy to your new neighbors or help them complete essential paper-
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How active seniors can protect their vision Retirement may be seen as a time to slow down and enjoy some well-earned rest and relaxation, but today’s seniors
clearly did not get the memo. Modern seniors look and act a lot different than traditional depictions of retirees.
The shift in attitudes regarding aging is noticeable in the growth of active retirement communities, which are designed for aging men and women who want to engage in activities where no chairs are required. Active seniors may not fit outdated stereotypes of cardigan-clad grandparents shuffling about dusty retirement homes, but even the most energetic retirees may still be vulnerable to age-related health complications. For example, the American Optometric Association notes that men and women over the age of 60 may be vulnerable to age-related vision problems. A certain degree of vision loss is natural as men and women age, but that doesn’t mean active seniors have to sit idly by. In fact, there are many ways for active seniors to protect their vision so they can continue to get up and go without having to worry about losing their eyesight. • Make your diet work for you. The AOA notes that a number of eye diseases can develop after an individual turns 60, and some of these conditions can be minimized with wise lifestyle choices. For example, a healthy, nutrient-rich diet can protect vision over the long haul. The National Council On Aging notes that studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids, which can be found in foods like spinach, kale and salmon, can reduce individuals’ risk for age-related eye diseases. Seniors can
speak with their physicians about other ways to utilize diet to combat age-related vision problems. • Protect your eyes and look cool at the same time. Active seniors spend lots of time outdoors, and that may have an adverse effect on their vision. The NCOA notes that lengthy exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause both short- and long-term eye damage. Thankfully, such issues are easily avoided if seniors wear sunglasses with UV protection when going outside. Brimmed hats also can protect the eyes from harmful UV rays. • Be mindful of screen time. Much has been made of how much screen time is healthy for young people. But seniors also are not immune to the potentially harmful effects of spending too much time staring at their phones and other devices. The NCOA recommends seniors employ the 20-20-20 rule in regard to screen usage. Every 20 minutes, look about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This quick exercise can reduce eye strain. An active lifestyle benefits seniors in myriad ways. Seniors should take steps to protect their vision so they can continue to get up and go long after they retire.
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Safe ways for seniors to volunteer Charitable organizations rely on the interactions may be too risky during the efforts of volunteers to meet their mis- pandemic, but seniors can still volunteer sions every day. People of all ages can vol- via contactless opportunities. For examunteer, and a great number of volunteers ple, in lieu of delivering meals by hand, are seniors. seniors who work with organizations such A 2016 survey from the U.S. Bureau as Meals on Wheels can deliver prepackof Labor Statistics found that nearly aged meals outside recipients’ residences. one-quarter of American volunteers are • Pitch in with fundraising. A report age 65 and over. That was never more from Giving USA released in 2021 reapparent than during the COVID-19 vealed that Americans gave more to charpandemic, when many nonprofit organi- ity in 2020 than in 2019. That increase zations were suddenly forced to confront came in spite of an economic downturn a volunteer shortage due to the adoption that saw millions of people lose their jobs of social distancing guidelines that were or take pay cuts as companies scrambled designed to keep vulnerable populations, to deal with lost revenue related to the such as seniors, as safe as possible. One pandemic. Though giving might have study from Fidelity Charitable found that increased in 2020, many nonprofit ortwo out of three volunteers decreased ganizations, including local community or stopped contributing time during the theaters, likely suffered due to cancellapandemic. tions and audience restrictions. As a reThe rollout of various COVID-19 sult, many local nonprofit organizations vaccines has allowed vaccinated individu- are in need of financial support. Seniors als to return to a certain degree of pre- who want to pitch in but stay safe can volpandemic normalcy. However, the threat unteer to help local organizations raise posed by strains of the virus like the Delta funds. Seniors can participate in fundraisvariant has made some seniors appre- ing efforts from the comforts of their own hensive about returning to volunteering. homes. • Offer expertise. Many ThoughThe eachmodern individual should considerwhere drug store you professional are various factors before returning to volun- seniors retired after spending decades with a friendly teering greeted during the pandemic, the follow- mastering their crafts, and that experiing are some options seniors can consider ence can be an invaluable resource to as they aim to safely pitch in once again. local nonprofit organizations. Seniors • Look for contactless opportunities. can offer professional advice and mentor Interactions with partnered the people with they help youths remotely via apps like Zoom withHas now a company to and work alongside is what drives many out putting their physical health at risk. dispense Specialty Drugs that require volunteers to lend a helping hand. That’s Seniors concerned for their safety can attentive handling, administration especially so for seniors whose children still lend a hand by volunteering with and/or monitoring. have grown up and moved out. In person their favorite nonprofit organizations.
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