55+ Life Winter 2025

Acommunityforallages!

Exceptional Retirement Living for Seniors

• Life-enriching activities, wellness programs, and fitness classes

• Fully equipped wellness centers

• Delicious chef-prepared fine and casual dining

• Lifelong learning opportunities with an array of innovative programming and intellectually-stimulating activities

• Extensive calendar of social, cultural, and spiritual events & activities

• And so much more!

280-8385

Carol Alexander

the alloro at university groves | thealloro.com

“For us, The Alloro isn’t just an apartment. The Alloro is a community of loving, supportive and caring neighbors, and a dedicated staff.”

Irene Teresi

arcadia gardens | arcadiagardensflorida.com

“I have been living at Arcadia Gardens for a year now, and I have to tell you how much fun it is. There are so many wonderful activities and events happening every day. Let the parties continue!”

Barbara Harned

parasol melbourne | parasolmelbourne.com

“Since Parasol’s opening we have lived here and it has definitely been the best move we have ever made. It is like living in a luxury resort with all its amenities, such as heated pool, spa, exercise room and much more.”

Barbara Rosenzwig

the sovana at stuart | thesovana.com

“I have been living at Sovana since March ‘23 and I am very happy here. I love my apartment and the people who live and work here are all friendly and welcoming. The swimming area is wonderful and relaxing.”

Home to a New Generation

Enjoy cottage living, designed for active, independent “55 and better” residents. Life at The Spinney is more than a great home...it’s a community of friends.

Single-story, maintenance-free living with attached garages, patios and decks. Coupled with our lifestyle programming, residents are able to connect through a wellness-focused lifestyle that empowers and inspires.

Pond View amenities include…

• Pet Friendly

• Dog Park

• Cable & Internet

• 24 Hour Maintenance

• Front & Back Porches

• Washer & Dryer in Unit

• Community Activities

• Attached Garages

• Snow Removal

• Trash Removal

• Water Usage

Welcome home to Wellness. The

• Community Gardens

• 5000 Sq Ft Clubhouse

• Pools

pondviewleasing@livewellgroup.com | TheSpinneyatPondView.com

Photo/cover photo courtesy of Susan Nichols.

ON THE COVER and pictured here: Susan Nichols, of Lake George, was 67 when she walked her first Camino. Now 73, she’s walked three more. “Magic does seem to happen on the Camino,” she says.

Belmonte Builders Wins “Best Aging in Place Design”

Winner of the 2024 CRBRA Best in Building Award for Aging in Place, Belmonte’s Cypress Twin Home redefines what it means to age in place with thoughtful features designed for today and tomorrow.

Thoughtful design: Open, single-level, floor plan with natural light from windows on three sides.

Adaptable Spaces: Study with French doors & closet easily converts to a third bedroom. Look-out basement ready to personalize.

Outdoor Comfort: Screened porch and paver patio on a wooded, maintenance-free lot, blending indoor and outdoor living.

Forest Grove HOA Perks: Access to amazing amenities: a 5,000 sq. ft. community building with a kitchen, fitness center, pool, pickleball courts, 7+ miles of trails & more.

Built for the Future: Energy-efficient design and ADA-compliant accessibility for aging in place.

Visit this award-winning model home and see how Belmonte Builders is redefining home design for all stages of life. 22 Daintree Drive, Saratoga Springs, open Tue - Sat, 11 am - 4 pm.

For more info, contact Sharon Byrne: 518-527-4914 | sharon@belmontebuilders.com

food and drink

39  Cooking for Two Pared-down air-fryer recipes for winter dinners at homes

lifestyle

50  The addictive “other” tennis Popularity of paddle — played in winter — has soared

57  Looking for Love 21st-century dating for seniors is still about finding the right match

health & wellness

20  No-frills Primal Fitness What’s trending: Exercise that mimics the way the body was designed to move

travel

61  New Rules for Entering Europe Digital permission now required in advance of travel

home & garden

42  Snow Birds

A step-by-step plan for clearing out a lifetime of memories — and stuff

46  Greening Your Home Winter is (still) a perfect time for backyard bird-watching columns

16  Publisher’s Note Alison Michael’s toast to the new year

55  Be Your Best

Winds of change: Benita Zahn on making a career shift

64  On Our Nightstand

Mystery and history: A collection of whodunits for cozy winter reading

66  The Vine Rod Michael on driving down memory lane

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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Alison Michael | alison@55pluslife.com

Consulting Editor

Traci Neal

Marketing Consultant

Terri Jacobsen

Consulting Art Director

Tony Pallone

Design Consultant

Barb Dunn

Consulting Online Content Producer

Caitlin Manner

Contributing Writers

Jerry Caraccioli

Tom Caraccioli

Robin Catalano

Joanne Cleaver

Maryellen Fillo

Caitlin Manner

Rod Michael

Anthony Pioppi

Janet Reynolds

Brianna Snyder

Jan Tormay

Benita Zahn

55+

Cheers to 2025!

Iofficially graduated high school 41 years ago. How is that even possible? It doesn’t feel real. The older you grow, the shorter the years seem to get. But they really aren’t any different than they were 41 years ago; it’s that our perception of time seems to change. Many of us wake up at 50 and beyond and say to ourselves, “My life is just beginning.” Let’s reimagine this next chapter in our lives. Move over, ageism, hello to the rest of our lives. Down with the milestone birthday cards that poke fun at our age beginning at 50, when in fact, we’re not old. We are aging, yes, but that doesn’t mean we are old or that we feel old. I’m into my second act and in many ways I feel like I’m just getting started.

In the fall, I attended a longevity summit hosted by ROAR forward, an organization that promotes maximizing your second half of life. It was incredibly inspiring to be surrounded by like-minded professionals who are reimagining their lives and doing some great things to disrupt ageism in their own way — starting a new career, getting more exercise, working with a life coach, exploring a passion, discovering a new purpose, traveling more, staying socially engaged and more. The odds are in our favor to live longer as a result of new advancements in medicine and technology, and that is encouraging. More life to live.

Actress/author Julianna Margulies, 58, who is currently starring in the Broadway show Left on Tenth, a true story of reinvention in the second half of life, was one of the featured

guests at the summit. She shared some relatable insights and wisdom about aging: “I have never identified with age,” she said. “At 50, something just happens and you stop caring what other people think. I don’t mind missing the ‘party.’ My party is here [touching her heart]. I’m the party. I’m not looking elsewhere to be fulfilled. I’m fulfilling my own life.”

This year I ask you to take stock of your life, your dreams and your purpose, and embrace the place where you are, savoring each day while still exploring the gift of tomorrow. It’s not about the years you live, it’s about how well you’ve lived the years. This is the new aging: living well longer.

I’ll toast to that. n

alison@55pluslife.com

H3 ISLAND HEALTHY GETAWAY

Recharge, Rejuvenate, and Reconnect in Luxury

BY CAITLIN MANNER

WHAT H3 OFFERS

TRUE* DINING

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided in the True* dining room at the resort, and would make the whole trip worth it regardless of H3’s other benefits. In addition to delicious entree offerings that rotate throughout the week – you must try the Banana Bread French Toast – the menu is designed to order a la carte, so you can select your own individual preferences of lean proteins and tasty sides. Chef Thomas is a true genius, using the absolute minimal amounts of salt, fats, and added sugar while crafting mouth-watering dishes that are full of flavor and immensely satisfying.

NUTRITION EDUCATION

Not only are meals provided for you, but you are given every opportunity to learn how to continue eating well when you get home. The program includes helpful seminars and classes that will go into detail about special dietary needs, and connecting your eating habits with your mental health.

FITNESS SERVICES

The fitness services that H3 provides are where the program really shines. The trainers are top-notch, with expertise in several areas and a wide range of backgrounds, so they can confidently help you tailor your workouts for maximum benefits without over-exertion or injuries. The program is set up such that you can select different types of fitness classes throughout your stay, from Cardio-heavy sessions to beach yoga, and everything in-between. In addition, you can sign up for recovery services that range from sports massage to individualized workout plans, tailor-made to accommodate individual fitness levels and health conditions.

SWEETGRASS INN

The rooms of the Sweetgrass Inn invoke Southern charm and hospitality, a pleasant contrast to your usual cold hotel room offerings. The butter-soft sheets on the bed positively beckon at the end of a long, busy day, which helps if you’re planning to get to sleep early in order to join in on a morning beach walk.

THE INDIGO SPA

If luxury has a smell, they’re piping it into the Indigo Spa. This beautiful full service spa and salon features massage, facial, body treatment, nail, and makeup services. It is utterly delightful to indulge in a 50-minute relaxation massage after a few days of fitness classes, to ease sore muscles back to comfort.

SENSE OF COMMUNITY

The open and inviting atmosphere created by the resort staff and fellow guests is something you really can’t put a price tag on. You are greeted with smiles and a friendly welcome everywhere you go, which truly helps for those who might feel out of place in gyms or cafeterias.

PRIMAL Fitness

Exercise that mimics the way the body was designed to move

BY CAITLIN MANNER

In an era so reliant on technology, a surprising amount of people are looking to the past for solutions to some of society’s ills. You’ve probably heard of the “paleo” diet — an eating plan based on foods humans might have eaten during the Paleolithic era — and now a trend in exercise has emerged based on a similar concept: “primal” fitness.

Essentially, advocates believe that we should exercise our body in the same way that our ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors might have done by just performing their daily tasks. So, instead of extensive cardio and heavy weights, there is more of a focus on posture and proper form while completing basic functional motions like walking, carrying and squatting.

Initially driven to success by image-conscious and spending-wary millennials and Gen-Xers on social media channels, primal fitness is essentially a rebranded form of functional strength training. What started as a way to combat “tech neck” — the result of spending too much time hunched over a screen — has evolved into a way to lead a healthy lifestyle without the need for fancy equipment, technology or personal trainers. Examples of primal exercises include the “farmer’s carry” (walking with a focus on posture while holding balanced weights in each hand), squatting and mobility stretches.

Despite its antiestablishment vibes, the movement has caught on within the industry it wants to shun because the concept is so appealing.

Joe Holder, a GQ fitness and wellness columnist and Nike master trainer, is probably the closest thing the primal fitness movement has to a celebrity trainer. His motto “Make movement a movement” is a nod to the idea that moving with intention is the key to fitness, and any movement is better than none at all. To help people incorporate his expertise into their own routines,

he’s created a free online library (which you can find on Instagram) dedicated to what he calls “Exercise Snacks” — brief, five- to 10-minute regimens to be done twice a day, which include mobility stretches and movements modeled after various animals.

Elizabeth Vásquez, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University at Albany School of Public Health, agrees that any movement is better than none, but warns that primal fitness on its own misses one of the key components her research has revealed, especially for older people: Remaining engaged and actively participating in society promotes healthy aging. “Exercise snacks” performed alone at home, she says, won’t be enough to keep people living their best lives. “Physically, it’s probably a decent exercise, but it’s probably not incorporating that mental aspect, which is so important. And, when we think about exercise for older adults in particular, it’s the social aspect that helps.”

Vásquez doesn’t dismiss the movement out of hand, however. She is quick to point out that incorporating primal fitness (or any other type of movement, for that matter) is ultimately beneficial because it enhances and helps maintain physical function. And if someone is able to maintain their proper physical functions, they are less likely to succumb to the frailty that often accompanies a solitary, sedentary lifestyle.

The best exercise according to Vásquez — and one that’s indeed “primal” — is walking. “Walking is actually the easiest and the most beneficial, especially as you increase in age, because if you think about it, you’re standing, you’re moving, you need to maintain a sense of balance and awareness of your surroundings,” she says. “And usually if you walk, you walk with somebody or you see people as you walk, so there’s the cognitive component as well.”

Ultimately, there’s no harm in jumping on the primal fitness bandwagon, especially because it’s such an accessible option. Just keep in mind that it should be done in addition to other ways of staying active. And, Vásquez reminds us, be sure to always consult with your physician before you start any new exercise, just to err on the side of caution. n

transformativetrek

The life-changing magic

and miracles of the Camino

BY JANET REYNOLDS | PHOTOS COURTESY OF PATRICK DEVANEY, SUSAN NICHOLS & KIM BACH

Sometimes a walk is just that — a way to get from one place to another. And sometimes a walk is a miracle, an experience from which the walker begins as one person and ends as someone entirely changed. The Camino de Santiago de Compostela, also known as the Way of St. James, is the latter.

That miracles happen regularly along the paths that comprise the Camino shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise. After all, the Way of St. James, which has been around for at least 1,000 years, started as a religious pilgrimage for Christians seeking to reduce their time in purgatory and atone for their sins. The Camino ends at a cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, where, according to legend, the body of the apostle St. James is buried, and there are seven main routes plus a vast network of paths throughout Europe all leading to the cathedral. Churches dot the landscape along the way for pilgrims, as Camino walkers are called, to stop along the way to pray.

But the Camino has increasingly become a road to secular understanding, and as such has grown in popularity in recent decades in particular. In 2023, 446,000 people walked one of the Camino options, according to American Pilgrims

de Santiago

on the Camino, a nonprofit that supports the Camino and provides information for pilgrims. The majority of those are Spaniards, with Americans making up the second largest group.

The Camino itself is a simple idea. Each day pilgrims get up and walk anywhere from an average of 12 to 15 miles, following the signs marked with the Camino signature “shell.” At each town, they can stay in hotels or albergues, the simple hostels designated specifically for pilgrims. Each pilgrim registers at the beginning of the Camino and is given a passport that is stamped with the shell insignia at each town along the path. When the pilgrim reaches Compostela, they show the passport and are given an official certificate indicating they have completed the journey. People can travel solo and plan their own trip or use one of the many travel groups that have arisen as the Camino has become ever more popular.

Deciding which route and how to plan and train is as varied as the people who walk the Camino at any given time. To give 55+ Life readers a sense of how a trip might go and the miracles it can work, we talked to three Capital Region people who have done the Camino multiple times.

Patrick DeVaney 67, Cohoes

Patrick DeVaney, a real estate agent with McCurdy Real Estate Group, was 57 when he walked his first Camino. He originally stumbled upon a website about the Camino while looking for vacation ideas for his family. “I was ready to start that day,” he says. “I loved everything I read about it, including the spiritual connection with the history.” Then reality set in — kids, mortgage, etc. — and he put the dream aside.

Fast forward eight years. “Business was going well, but negative things started coming to the surface in my life. Family members dying, friends dying,” DeVaney says. He and his wife were empty nesters at this point. He was watching a TV show where a baby died and he remembers suddenly flashing back to a night when the police station where he then worked got a call about a baby dying in her crib. “That scene came back to me like it just happened that day,” he says. “I was so upset, so emotional, I couldn’t even breathe.”

He says he recovered from that moment, but then in 2013, after a nephew had been wounded in Afghanistan, he

realized he needed to do the Camino ASAP. His wife and boss were both on board, urging DeVaney to do the whole walk rather than just a portion of it.

DeVaney’s first Camino was the French Way. “That first day is a walk up in the Pyrenees. Two hours into it and it was tough, but it was a cool day and the sun was shining. The views were incredible,” he says. “I remember being several hours into this hike, my shirt was soaked, and knowing this is what I came here for. This is the answer, what I was looking for. Almost every day a miracle happened, between the people I met, the places I visited, the stories I heard from people.”

DeVaney recalls one such moment while at Cruz de Ferro, or Iron Cross. Located at the highest point on the French Way between the towns of Manjarin and Foncebadón, the Iron Cross features a mound of pebbles and stones from the multitude of pilgrims who have brought and left a stone behind during their pilgrimage. The idea is that when you leave a stone, you are leaving behind or letting go of your pain, your worries, your concerns. Some pick up a stone along their pilgrimage to place there. Others bring them from home.

“I had my stone from our church that had closed. I went up to it and dropped my stone and read my prayer to myself,” DeVaney says. “When I was approaching the monument, I met a woman from Denmark. I told her I was excited about getting there that day. She said she didn’t believe any of that. She was just here for exercise. I dropped my stone and then went off to the chapel and hung out there for a bit. When it was time to leave, I noticed her standing there. She had tears streaming down her face.

“I went on for the next two hours in a fog. I could see people, but I was not paying attention. I realized all those problems and those negative things in my life I put into that stone and I realized that it really did work. I felt from

that day forward, I felt I had solved that mystery. I reset my whole life. From that point on I walked in peace. In my mind I had reinvented my life.”

All told, DeVaney took about 35 days, resting one day a week, to walk the French Way that first time. After returning home, he wrote a book about his experience called Two Million Steps: Band-Aids, Cocktails and Finding Peace Along Spain’s Camino de Santiago. (That’s a million steps to train for seven months and a million on the trail.)

Now 67, DeVaney has done seven more Caminos since that first trip, six of them with his wife. And he has two more planned for 2025, assuming his hip cooperates, and plans to write another book about his experiences.

DEVANEY’S CAMINO TIPS:

Train. “When you get to this age range it’s so critical.”

Get the right footwear and break them in. “I’ve seen people show up with brand new boots. By the third or fourth day the blisters are so bad they have to end the trip.”

Talk to people, even if it’s outside your comfort zone. “The first one I did by myself. I was able to capture the spirituality and focus on religion by doing it by myself. I stepped outside my box and started talking with people. I’m glad I did it that way.

THE MOST POPULAR CAMINO DE SANTIAGO ROUTES

• CAMINO FRANCES: Also known as the French Way, this is the most popular Camino route. It begins in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees and is about 480 miles. Many websites suggest this Camino as a good choice for first-time pilgrims.

• CAMINO PRIMITIVO: Also known as the Original Way or the Primitive Way, this Camino starts in Oviedo, Spain, and goes southwest to Santiago. A little over 200 miles, it has fewer amenities and more steep ascents so it is recommended for those with some hiking experience.

• CAMINO DEL NORTE: The Northern Way runs along the north coast of Spain and is the third most popular Camino route and, at 498 miles, the second longest Camino. It is known for its variety of landscapes, including stretches of beaches and cliffs.

• CAMINO PORTUGUES: The Portuguese Way is generally flatter than several other routes as it wends along Portugal’s Atlantic coast. It is about 385 miles.

• CAMINO FINISTERRE: The Finisterre Way is the only Camino route that starts rather than ends in Santiago, taking pilgrims to Fisterra and Muxia on the coast of Galicia. Many pilgrims add this on after finishing their longer walk as the final pièce de résistance. It’s about 55 miles.

• VIA DE LA PLATA: At 621 miles, this is the longest Camino route. It begins in Seville and is generally considered a quieter choice than the French or Portuguese Caminos. The route is known for its forests, lakes and Roman ruins.

• CAMINO INGLES: The English Way was popular for early pilgrims coming from Scandinavia and the British Isles. They would sail to the northern Spanish coast and walk from there. Today’s pilgrims start in Ferrol, Spain, to begin their 63mile walk to Santiago.

Susan Nichols 73, Lake George

Susan Nichols was 49 when her husband died after a bout with cancer. She was reading all kinds of books to help her through her grief, including one that actress Shirley MacLaine had written about walking the Camino at age 60 called The Camino: A Journey of the Spirit. Nichols remembered being intrigued, but she had children to support and had to go back to work. About 20 years later, she was sitting in her office when a postcard arrived noting an upcoming talk about the Camino. “That is something I always wanted to do, but my family would have thought I was nuts because I was grieving,” she says. “I went to the talk and the seed was replanted. I went home and thought about it and thought about it.”

Ultimately Nichols reached out to the speaker, who mentored her about how to plan for the trip. “I didn’t tell my family,” she says. “I booked the flight and went into my boss’s office and said, ‘I think I have to retire now. There’s something I want to do.’” She was 67 at the time. Instead, he gave her a leave of absence.

“I had no clue what I was doing,” she

“

says. “I didn’t know there were Facebook (groups). I just got there and said, ‘I’m OK. I’m going to figure this out.’”

Since then, Nichols, now 73, has done three more Cami nos, the last one starting in Lourdes (a path known as the Camino Piemont). “It was my most empowering Camino,” she says. “It’s a little less written about so I was trying to fig ure out the route. I got lost more. I did 925 kilometers (575 miles) in that one.

“Magic does seem to happen on the Camino,” she says. “Maybe it’s because we slow our life down to a step and you notice things you might not notice in your everyday busy world. I think my husband showed up. I think he guided me. I was all alone in Galicia. I didn’t have a bed. It was dark and he guided me to the perfect place that I didn’t know about. It took me right through eucalyptus trees, and there was a bed and a lady who cooked me dinner.

“It’s not just a big, long walk. It’s the Camino. It brings you back. It’s so hard to talk about when you come back. You don’t want to talk about anything else and yet someone asks you and you’re like, ‘I don’t know.’ It’s all in a moment. It’s so hard to voice. You find yourself. It’s just magical. After every one I say I’m done. I had never been so wet in my life after the Portuguese Camino, but now I keep wondering if I can physically manage another one. I’m thinking maybe next fall. For my 74th birthday, I would like to try another if I can.”

New NEW Look SAME Care

YEAR

Book your flight early lodging, especially if you want to walk during the busiest summer months of July and August. Be brave. a lot from other people.”

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The continuum of care you expect; we continue to be...

BETTER.BRIGHTER.STRONGER

Kim Bach 71, Hudson

Like many pilgrims, Kim Bach, who owns Verdigris Tea in Hudson, was inspired after seeing the movie The Way, a 2010 film about the Camino starring Martin Sheen. “I had seen it a few years before and thought, ‘I really want to do that,’” she says. As she approached her 64th birthday, Bach thought doing the French Way could be the perfect way to celebrate.

“I had a friend drive me to Penn Station,” she says. “The minute I was out of the car I thought, ‘What am I doing? I can’t do this.’ When I started walking, though, I thought, ‘What was I afraid of?’

“The first day was a hard day. Every step I took, every mile or so, some-

one was divesting themselves of stuff. They were not prepared,” Bach says. In contrast, she had the right shoes and clothes. She also had decided to divide that first Camino into sections. She did the first half in the fall and then returned the following spring to walk the second half. “Literally from the footsteps of where I stopped, I started again.”

And Bach, like many pilgrims, has kept going back. She has done the English Way and the Portuguese Way. Then last May, she did the Primitive Way, the oldest pilgrimage route, with her 19-year-old grandson.

“For me, it’s the miracles that keep happening along the way” that keep her coming back. “Twice I got lost. The path is pretty well marked but two times I found myself in the middle of a

BACH’S CAMINO TIPS:

vineyard and I had no clue which direction to go. Both times, music took me back to the path. I heard guitar music and kept following it, and an old farmer was playing a guitar and his partner was singing. He had decided to entertain pilgrims for the day.

“And the sunrises,” she continues. “These sunrises make you think there has to be more to this life. Those kinds of things that would bring you to tears. It hooked me. I need to have those experiences as I get older.

“It’s transcendent. Each time I feel like my heart has expanded. I have met people I wouldn’t meet if I stayed home. I’ve seen a part of the world I wouldn’t have seen. The experiences are some of the biggest experiences of your life, especially if you’re traveling alone.” n

Footwear — get your feet ready. “The Germans always wore boots. All the Americans had Hokas the last time. Some will do it in sandals with socks. Take a pair of sandals you can walk in if your shoes are bothering you.”

Talk to people. “When traveling alone, I met all kinds of people, some of whom are still friends. Be a Camino angel. Find out about their lives instead of telling them about yours.”

Enjoy the food. “It changes as you go across the country. There are so many different styles of foods. Indulge.”

Lose the cellphone. “Keep it in your pack but quit the selfie bit. You miss out on so much if you’re constantly checking your phone. The trail is well-marked.”

MOVIES TO INSPIRE

A SAMPLING OF MOVIES ABOUT THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

The Way. A father, who had a tricky relationship with his adult son, travels to Spain to retrieve his son’s ashes after his sudden death on the first day doing the Camino de Santiago — and ends up doing the pilgrimage himself. Directed by Emilio Estevez and featuring his real-life father, Martin Sheen.

Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago. This documentary follows six modern-day pilgrims on the Camino and their various transformations.

I’ll Push You: A Camino Journey of 500 Miles, Two Best Friends and a Wheelchair. A documentary following two friends, one with a disability that makes him think he can’t fulfill his lifelong dream of walking the Camino — until his best friend says he’ll push him. Yes, you will cry. But you will also be uplifted.

Strangers on the Earth. Professional cellist Dane Johansen walks the Camino carrying his cello on his back and giving free concerts in churches along the route.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Patrick DeVaney and Susan Nichols have formed a local chapter of American Pilgrims on the Camino for people who are interested in sharing their stories and for those who are curious about doing a Camino. The group has a Facebook page, American Pilgrims on the Camino — Upstate New York Chapter. For more information, email upstatenewyork@americanpilgrims.org

Experience comfort and convenience at Ávila Retirement Community. Enjoy all-inclusive amenities including gourmet dining, an indoor aquatic & fitness center, transportation, housekeeping, and a packed calendar of social and wellness programs — all designed for your peace of mind and enjoyment. 100 White Pine Drive Albany, New York 12208 (518) 452-4250 avilaretirementcommunity.com

Why choose a revocable trust

DAVID A. KUBIKIAN, ESQ., HERZOG LAW FIRM

Two years ago, I had a consultation with a gentleman, his (second) spouse and his grown children. The gentleman, let’s call him Peter, did not have a last will and testament or any other estate planning documents. Peter wanted to enact a plan that would take care of his spouse during her lifetime — while also ensuring that his grown children from a previous relationship would receive the vast majority of his other assets.

What made this fact pattern so article-worthy was that Peter owned 20 properties. That’s correct: Two-zero. Peter accumulated a combination of retail properties and vacant land through-

out his lifetime and each time, he purchased them in his own name. Now in his 80s and without a will, Peter was in a room with me and his loved ones explaining his wishes. I recommended using a revocable trust as the centerpiece of his plan.

Under the plan, the trust would become the owner of all 20 properties, which would achieve three main goals:

1. Leave assets to who Peter wants, how Peter wants;

2. Allow Peter to continue to control and enjoy the assets during the rest of his lifetime; and

3. Avoid probate.

In the two years that followed, however, Peter never completed his plan. Then earlier this fall,

unfortunately, he passed away. He did not have a last will and testament at the time of his passing. I explained to the family the New York statutes that dictate how Peter’s assets would be treated. The statutes do not consider the specific circumstances of the beneficiaries entitled to an inheritance. They do not consider whether any beneficiaries have a disability or are minors, the health of the surviving spouse, nor even what Peter’s unwritten wishes actually were. The statutes also don’t consider what leases need to be renewed next month or how to pay the school taxes that are yet to be paid — the Surrogate’s Court does not speed up for anyone.

Peter’s plan is now in the hands of Estate, Powers and Trust Law, Section 4-1.1. His wife is due to receive a touch over half of his assets and his children will split the other half. That is a far cry from his stated wishes of leaving some money to his second spouse and every other asset, including all 20 properties, to his children. Perhaps the family already has plans to reconfigure the end results to follow Peter’s wishes — but the tax and gifting ramifications that follow may replace one headache for another.

The best plan for Peter would have been to create a trust. He could have avoided the courts and made his wishes clear.

In life, we all have the ability to decide how our stories will end. Who benefits from our life’s work is the meat and potatoes of estate planning and it is what makes working in this field so special. Everyone’s fact pattern is different, and every plan is important.

The reason Peter’s story is so important is not because everyone owns 20 properties. It’s important because all of us likely have at least one property, and that is all it takes to include a living trust as part of your plan. Avoiding probate is a goal for all clients. When coupled with the potential for asset protection, a trust can check all the boxes clients care about.

The Great Beyond

Surviving physical death — and coming back to tell the tale

BY JAN TORMAY

Being struck by lightning and briefly dying in 1994 at the age of 42 during a family picnic in Athens, New York, changed Dr. Tony Cicoria’s life.

While using a pay phone, the Saugerties resident saw a flash and heard a loud crack. “The flash came out of the phone and hit me in the face,” he recalls in an email. “It threw me back like a rag doll.”

“ No one could see or hear me, but I could see and hear everything.”

— Dr. Tony Cicoria

Cicoria, a general/trauma orthopedic surgeon, said while trying to make sense of what was happening he could see his mother-in-law running toward him, but it seemed as if she couldn’t see him standing there. Instead, she took several more steps and looked down at a body — his body. It was then that he realized he was dead.

“(I) was aware of everything that had happened and was happening,” he remembers. “My spiritual self was eternal and continued beyond death. No one could see or hear me, but I could see and hear everything.”

By the time he walked up to the top of the stairs where the family was gathered, Cicoria says he “had lost all form and was just a ball of energy”; a bright, bluish-white light “bathed me in absolute love and peace.” He then could see what he describes as a “passing collage” of his life — its highs and lows. Then, as if “someone flipped a switch,” he was back in his body. “I was angry,” he recalls. “I didn’t want to go back.”

Near-death experiences are vivid, lucid experiences that often occur under extreme conditions such as trauma, ceasing of brain activity, deep anesthesia or cardiac arrest in which no awareness or sensory experiences should be possible, according to Dr. Bruce Greyson, a researcher with the University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies.

For some an NDE can be a religious experience. While the Bible is not clear on the subject of near-death experiences, there are times when biblical characters saw into the spirit realm, explains the Rev. Lon R. Dean, pastor of House of Praise Church in Castleton-on-Hudson, in an email.

He says “glimpses into the spirit realm and into Heaven” during NDEs mostly occur to “bring comfort, peace or a greater understanding of God’s plan.”

One person he spoke with about their NDE, he recalls, “said he was met by a relative who told him, ‘It’s not your time. You have to go back,’ and he woke up in the operating room after coding out.”

After the lightning strike, Cicoria, now 72, says he no longer cared about the academic life he had been pursuing, and found himself “driven to hear classical piano music,” even though it hadn’t interested him much in the past. He has since studied piano and plays periodically for audiences.

Accepting death

Michelle Polacinski of Troy says she came close to death numerous times after experiencing an adverse reaction to a prescribed medication in 2016.

“I kind of came to terms with the possibility that I

Photos courtesy of Tony Cicoria, M.D.

 General/Trauma Orthopedic Surgeon Tony Cicoria was struck by lightning and died briefly in 1994. Afterward, he was “driven to hear classical piano music.” He would go on to learn to play piano and play before large audiences. His first performance (pictured) was at the Goodrich Theater at SUNY Oneonta in 2008.

might die,” Polacinski says. “Really, once you get closer to (dying), it’s more like a sense of overwhelming peace … It’s just this kind of acceptance of what is going to happen.”

Before her medical crisis, the former Los Angeles filmmaker says she cared “so much” about her status in society, work, money, objects, fame and what people thought of her. But the experience changed her.

“None of what society tells us actually matters,” says Polacinski, who’s now an herbalist, has worked as a death doula

Welcome Home

Promising compassion. Opportunities for creativity. Inclusive and diverse. Neighbors as Friends. Tradition of respect. Engaged, welcoming community. That’s the POINTE of it all.

and is studying to be a grief counselor. “It’s really all about our health and well-being for our personal selves, love for other people and love for the planet, animals, plants, etc. Nothing else really matters. And I have just wanted to feel closer and closer to nature.”

NDE Research

NDE researchers Suzanne B. Mays and Robert G. Mays have studied more than 600 people who claim they’ve had near death experiences. They say they are convinced “we do not die with the passing away of the physical body” and that “there is something more to the human being that survives physical death.”

Robert Mays says the soul, psyche or mind (our essence), which contains all our sensations, feelings, memories, will, intellect and personality, survives. “In an NDE, the soul separates temporarily from the physical body, and at death, it separates permanently,” he adds.

The Mayses say NDE experiencers of all ages from different cultures have reported similar features: They see a tunnel or a light, enter a “beautiful heavenly realm or dark

velvety void and feel it’s their true home” and experience a “profound sense of peace and freedom from pain.”

People sometimes meet angels, religious figures or deceased persons they recognize as spirits, and often experience a review of their lives. Even though they are usually told they must go back, Mays said, most don’t want to return to their bodies, which they view as a shell or a costume.

Sometimes, experiencers bring back messages or report having seen events in the physical world beyond normal sight, such as in other rooms or beyond the building they’re in, he says.

NDEs and NDE-like events — such as receiving telepathic warnings of danger — commonly have a spiritually transformative effect on experiencers as they reintegrate into this world, according to Mays. He and his wife are members of the nonprofit International Association for Near-Death Studies. Robert is the group’s treasurer. The former Albany, New York, residents now live in North Carolina.

After the events, NDErs sometimes experience new

Robert and Suzanne Mays

photo by Crystal Mays. Rev. Dean

photo courtesy of the Rev Lon R. Dean.

 Robert G. and Suzanne B. Mays have been researching near-death experiences since 2005 and are members of the International Association for Near-Death Studies.

“Seeded in each of us is a thought, ‘There must be more than this.’”

— The Rev. Lon R. Dean, pastor of

House of Praise Church

of Castleton

intuitive, sixth-sense abilities. “Being out of body changes the kind of energetic relationship your soul or mind has with the physical body and it’s a little looser. So you can pick up things psychically that you wouldn’t have otherwise,” he says.

Also, Mays says NDErs often lose their fear of death, become less judgmental and more loving, less self-centered, more compassionate and understanding of others, less materialistic, more altruistic with an increased empathy for others, and are less competitive and more cooperative.

Reading NDE stories can also bring about these qualities in people — something the Mayses say they’ve experienced firsthand.

Cicoria said he is now more spiritual than religious following the lightning event.

Reflecting on Einstein’s quote, “God does not throw dice,” Cicoria says he approaches life differently now, as he believes that everything happens for a reason. “Professionally, people are what is important, not what you are doing,” he says.

Dean, the pastor, says NDE stories are popular for two reasons: people’s fear of death and also a “great curiosity.”

“Seeded in each of us is a thought, ‘There must be more than this.’ We have a desire to understand the meaning (of) life, our purpose. The NDEs tell us there is an afterlife, a higher purpose to our existence, and that God is real.” n

For more information, go to selfconsciousmind.com and iands.org.

Retirement is more than a financial milestone — it’s a profound life transition that challenges our identity, purpose and daily rhythms. While more Americans than ever are working past age 65, others are choosing to leave their careers earlier, seeking meaning and fulfillment beyond the traditional workplace.

And that work starts now.

“Prepare well. Work with a professional before you retire to get your ‘ducks in a row’ — poor planning can make retirement a nightmare,” says Kathleen Godfrey of Godfrey Financial Associates in Glenmont. This wisdom underscores the importance of thorough preparation for what may be life’s most significant transition.

“Approaching retirement can be scary and you may feel unsure about whether you are on track to live comfortably after your long career has come to an end,” agrees Gretchen Meyer, owner of Pachira Wealth Management (formerly Gretchen Meyer Financial), based in Latham.

Like Godfrey, Meyer walks her clients through a compre-

hensive financial plan and helps them determine the probability of successfully achieving their retirement goals.

“If the probability is low, we create an action plan to address any gaps in the plan. For example, you may need to save more for retirement, cut expenses or purchase longterm care,” says Meyer. “If the probability is high, we celebrate and, armed with that knowledge, you may sleep better at night or even consider retiring early.”

THE FINANCIAL FOUNDATION

The challenges of financial preparation can be particularly significant for women. Godfrey points out that women often face unique retirement planning hurdles: They typically take more time out of the workforce for family responsibilities, statistically earn less over their lifetimes and generally live longer than men — meaning their retirement savings needs to stretch further.

Key considerations in retirement planning include:

• Health care costs and insurance planning

Beyond the

9-to-5

Finding your life’s next great adventure in retirement

BY BRIANNA SNYDER

• Social Security timing strategies

• Investment portfolio management

• Lifestyle adjustment calculations

• Emergency fund preparations

• Long-term care considerations

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

The psychological aspects of retirement can be as challenging as the financial ones. Many working professionals find their identity deeply intertwined with their careers, making the transition to retirement feel like more than just leaving a job — it’s leaving a part of themselves behind.

This transformation often prompts deep questions about purpose and meaning. What replaces the satisfaction of professional achievements? How does one maintain social connections without the built-in community of a workplace? What gives structure to days that are no longer defined by meetings and deadlines?

Today’s retirees are rewriting traditional narratives about life after work. Rather than viewing retirement as a withdrawal from active life, many see it as an opportunity to explore new passions, develop new skills and engage with their families, friends and communities in meaningful ways.

MAKING THE LEAP

The choice to retire often comes down to a careful balance of practical and personal factors. While financial security provides the foundation, the decision to leave work behind ultimately rests on deeper questions:

• Are you ready for a significant life change?

• Have you developed interests outside of work?

• Do you have a support system in place?

• Have you considered how you’ll spend your time?

• Are you prepared for the emotional transition?

LOOKING FORWARD

As retirement patterns continue to evolve, one thing remains constant: It’s a deeply personal decision that goes far beyond finances.

“Having a plan is most critical for clients within 10 years of retirement to give you peace of mind and a solid roadmap for your future,” says Meyer.

For many, stepping away from work is an opportunity to rewrite the rules of daily living and discover new sources of meaning and satisfaction. With careful planning and a clear vision for the future, retirement can become not just an end to a career, but the beginning of life’s next great adventure. n

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Cooking for2

Pared-down

air-fryer

recipes for winter dinners at home

BY AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN

e’ve all grown more conscious of food waste — a particular challenge for smaller households. Trimming recipes meant to feed four or more people isn’t as simple as doing the math to cut down the ingredients list; there are cook times and temperatures to consider when cooking for two. America’s Test Kitchen’s 10th anniversary edition of The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook offers all-new and pared-down recipes along with strategies for cooking smaller portions, using up the ingredients you already have on hand and avoiding leftover fatigue. Here are a few of our favorite recipes, made in an air fryer just for two.

Photo: America’s Test Kitchen

/ Daniel J. van Ackere.

 Visit our online recipe pages for the instructions to make Air-fryer Orange Mustard Glazed Salmon!

Photos : Pork chop, America’s Test Kitchen / Carl Tremblay; Salmon, America’s

Test Kitchen

/ Carl Tremblay.

AIR-FRYER ROASTED BONE-IN PORK CHOP

(PICTURED ON FACING PAGE) SERVES 2 • TOTAL TIME: 40 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (1-pound) bone-in pork rib or center-cut chop, 1½ to 1¾ inches thick, trimmed

• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

• ¼ teaspoon table salt

• ⅛ teaspoon pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Pat chop dry with paper towels. Using a sharp knife, cut two slits, about 2 inches apart, through fat on the edge of the chop. Rub with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

2 Place chop in air-fryer basket, then place basket into air fryer. Set temperature to 350 degrees and cook until pork registers 140 degrees, 20 to 25 minutes, flipping and rotating chop halfway through cooking.

3 Transfer chop to cutting board, tent with aluminum foil and let rest for five minutes. Carve pork from bone and slice ½-inch thick.

Serve alone or with one of the sauces below.

CHERMOULA

MAKES ¾ CUP • TOTAL TIME 10 MINUTES

Whisk ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil, ⅓ cup minced fresh cilantro, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 minced garlic cloves, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon paprika and ⅛ teaspoon cayenne in bowl until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

PEACH-MUSTARD SAUCE

MAKES ½ CUP • TOTAL TIME 5 MINUTES

Microwave 5 ounces frozen sliced peaches, cut into 1-inch pieces, 2 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon sugar and 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar in a medium bowl, stirring occasionally, until peaches have softened and mixture is slightly thickened, about eight minutes. Let cool slightly, then stir in ¾ teaspoon whole-grain mustard and ½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme or rosemary.

AIR-FRYER TURKEY ZUCCHINI MEATBALLS WITH ORZO, SPICED TOMATO SAUCE AND FETA

(PICTURED ON PAGE 39) SERVES 2 • TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup traditional or whole-wheat orzo

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling

• 2 garlic cloves, minced, divided

• 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

• ¾ cup water

• ¼ teaspoon pepper, divided

• ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• Pinch ground cloves

• 8 ounces ground turkey

• 4 ounces zucchini, grated (¾ cup)

• 1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano, plus extra for serving

• ⅛ teaspoon table salt

• 1 ounce crumbled feta cheese (¼ cup)

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Combine orzo, oil and half of the garlic in a 6-inch round nonstick cake pan, then spread into an even layer. Place the pan into the air-fryer basket and place the basket into the air fryer. Set temperature to 400 degrees and cook until orzo is lightly browned and fragrant, three to five minutes, stirring halfway through cooking.

2 Stir tomato sauce, water, ⅛ teaspoon pepper, cinnamon and cloves into orzo mixture until evenly combined. Return basket to air fryer and cook until orzo is al dente, 18 to 22 minutes.

3 Using your hands, lightly knead turkey, zucchini, oregano, salt, remaining garlic and remaining ⅛ teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl until mixture forms a cohesive mass. With lightly moistened hands, pinch off and roll mixture into eight meatballs. (Meatballs can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.)

4 Stir orzo mixture gently to recombine. Nestle meatballs into orzo and cook until meatballs are lightly browned, eight to 10 minutes. Sprinkle feta over meatballs and cook until meatballs register 160 degrees and the feta is spotty brown, two to four minutes.

5 Transfer pan to a wire rack and let meatballs and orzo rest for five minutes. Drizzle with extra oil and sprinkle with extra oregano before serving.

SnowBirds

Winter is (still) a perfect time for backyard

bird-watching

BY TOM AND JERRY CARACCIOLI

During winter in the Northeast, some species, known as “snow birds,” migrate to areas in the country with warmer climates. They pack up their nests and fly south or west.

But they aren’t actual birds at all.

For those of us who stay put when the snow flies in the Capital Region, the concept of “snowbirds” takes on a whole new meaning, with some 40 species of feathered friends regularly inhabiting New York’s backyards during the colder months.

“The winter gives an aura of everything being locked down,” said Damon Russo, an avid birder and member of the Audubon Society of the Capital Region. “But things come alive in the winter, and we don’t realize it.”

For area bird-watchers from organizations like the Audubon Society of the Capital Region, Southern Adirondack Audubon Society (Saratoga/Glens Falls) or Hudson/Mohawk Bird Club, a bright, sunny winter day can provide the setting for ornithological theater.

“The most interesting thing about bird-watching in the winter is that you never really know what you’re going to see,” Russo continued. “Everyone assumes there is not much around, but you have to remember nothing is on the trees and that makes viewing a lot easier.”

Home & Garden

 Black-capped chickadee

 Winter wren

Members of bird-watching clubs see a beautiful coat of snow covering the backyards of Saratoga, Chatham, Schenectady, Glens Falls, Clifton Park and other areas, as an opportunity to spy birds they may not get a chance to view when the weather is warm and the trees are full of leaves.

Many species don’t migrate far, and they are some of your most common backyard birds. Capital Region backyards will be filled most days with bright red northern cardinals, black-capped chickadees, blue jays — the most commonly identified backyard bird in the United States — as well as Carolina wrens, sparrows, finches, eastern bluebirds and woodpeckers, which all stay in the north year-round. Usually, birds with large populations stay through the winter because they know where the food is.

“Things come alive in the winter, and we don’t realize it.”

— Damon Russo

For John Loz, programs chair and past president of the Southern Adirondack Audubon Society, and Bob Reilly, a member of the Hudson/Mohawk Bird Club, the darkeyed junco is one of their favorite backyard birds.

“They are very cute, ground-feeding birds that don’t get scared away as easily, since they feed below the various bird pecking order drama that can happen around the bird feeders above them,” Loz said.

“In the wintertime the dark-eyed junco move down from the Adirondack Mountains to the valleys,” Reilly added. “It’s also a good time of year to see woodpeckers.”

Bird-watchers will do well to attract birds in the winter months by making sure their feeders are stocked with seeds. Birds recognize feeders as a food source. Backyard bird-watchers should stay frequent with feeding and not get discouraged by some of the bigger birds — blue jays, in particular — bullying smaller birds. The other most important thing to do is keep feeders clean.

“Bird feeders should also be within three to 30 feet from windows in order to help prevent bird/ window collisions,” Loz cautioned. “Also, because bears are hibernating, I’m able to put out more feeders that I ordinarily would not have out during other seasons.”

Winter bird-watching can easily be done from the comfort of a window, but for those who want to also commune with nature and others, it’s important to

Common Backyard Birds

1. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

This small state bird of New Jersey, Iowa and Washington is a common sight at backyard bird feeders throughout North America, where it thrives on sunflower and thistle seed.

2. BLUE JAY

In winter backyards, this large songbird with a perky crest and blue, white and black plumage is often seen “bullying” smaller birds away from feeders. Easily recognizable, blue jays prefer tray feeders and hopper feeders filled with peanuts, sunflower seeds and suet, rather than hanging feeders.

3. NORTH AMERICAN CARDINAL

The bright red plumage of the male North American cardinal and the duller brown of females, with their distinctive sharp crest and inviting shade of red accents, are unmistakable and set these backyard favorites apart — especially in the snowy winter season.

4. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

Distinctive facial markings of black eyestripe, a white crown and supercilium (eyebrow), yellow lores (the skin between the eye and bill) and a white throat bordered by a black whisker, make this mostly Canadian bird a familiar and exciting sight in eastern winter backyards south of the Canadian border.

5. WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH

A common sight at backyard feeders, these clean, black, gray and white birds are active and agile, especially when jockeying for food at feeders.

Photos this page courtesy of Damon Russo.

plan for the elements. Even in your own backyard, winter birding will turn sour if you aren’t properly dressed and prepared for the cold.

It’s also important to understand that birds are working hard foraging for food, so noisy humans should take care not to disturb them while trying to get a closer look. The experts recommend staying on trails and using binoculars or cameras to observe from afar.

Birders also have another reason to continue their hobby in the wintertime. “It’s important to get out during all times of the year because the birds are going to look different … you have to learn more about their plumage for when you see that same bird in another season of the year,” said Reilly.

Beyond dressing properly for the elements, winter birding requires the same tools as any other time of year — good eyes and ears, quiet voices, binoculars and a bird guide to help watchers record the sights and sounds of the day’s adventures. Whether birding from a nature trail or from your living room or backyard, winter birding offers a distinct view of the snow birds that stay put in the region during the colder months. n

Greening Your Home

Why you need houseplants in your life this winter

BY ROBIN CATALANO

One year for my birthday on March 17, my late mother swapped her usual gift of a flower bouquet for a small, reddish-green shamrock plant.

“Let’s see if it’s still alive the next time I visit,” she joked, a reference to the brown thumb that had felled many an orchid, spider plant and succulent before it.

Over a decade later, that shamrock, which occupies one shelf of a tiered plant stand with six other leafy friends, isn’t just a reminder of someone I’ve lost, it’s also proof of my ability to cultivate life and bring nature, color and a dose of happiness into my home.

I’m not alone in my houseplant love. The home gardening business blossomed during the pandemic, with Americans spending $8.5 billion more in 2020 on garden-related goods than in the year prior, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Plants beautify our interiors, but they have plenty of other benefits. While their ability to purify the air is somewhat overblown — you would need an entire wall of them to make a significant dent in your home’s air quality — a growing body of scientific research demonstrates that houseplants can improve concentration and productivity, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase our sense of satisfaction.

Witnessing the vitality of glossy leaves, flowers and new green shoots is a definite mood-booster, says Duane Pancoast, 83, the Finger Lakes-based author of the books The Geriatric Gardener and The Geriatric Gardener 2.0: MORE Adaptive Gardening Advice for Seniors, as well as the Geriatric Gardener blog (thegeriatricgardener.wordpress.com). “Plants bring a touch of nature inside, even in winter. This can be so important on the bleak days we experience in our climate, especially when we see nothing but a sea of white and barren trees outside.”

5

Duane Pancoast, 83, a Finger Lakes-based gardening author and blogger, shows off some of his favorite houseplants, clockwise from top left:

1 This selection of air plants lives among potted houseplants on two plant racks near the back slider, where they can get plenty of sunlight. The tall air plant in the back row center is one of the two original air plants I bought in the mid-1980s, and it’s still thriving.

2 Tillandsia bulbosa has a barrelshaped stem and unique leaves. My late daughter-in-law made the pot at a ceramics store in Saratoga Springs.

3 It’s hard to tell that this is an air plant. It’s just placed in the pebbles for stability.

4

4 The large plant on the left is an interesting cactus. The small plant in the garden girl planter on the right is a Haworthia.

5 The air plants in the molded concrete Volkswagen bus planter and those in the cactus log reside in my office. 1

2 3

Houseplant Care 101

As any plant slayer, present company included, can attest, caring for potted flora isn’t as simple as arranging them on a sunny windowsill. But you don’t need much to get started — a watering can with a long spout, a spray bottle and a pair of pruners or scissors will do the trick.

“Plants bring a touch of nature inside, even in winter.”

Healthy houseplants begin with quality potting soil, which is readily available at any nursery, home and garden store, or even online. Most plants won’t need a soil refresh for the first several years of life; after that, they’ll benefit from a new dirt nap.

When soil becomes too dry, water actually runs off rather than soaking in. But if the soil becomes oversaturated, the plant’s roots will rot inside the pot. To prevent this, Claire Ward, a staff member of Ward’s Nursery in Great Barrington, recommends gently pulling the plant out of its container to confirm that soil is clinging to the roots and the planting medium is holding moisture. If neither of these is true, adjust your watering schedule and try a different potting soil.

Experts agree that the most common problem novice plant parents make is under- and overwatering. “[Plants] are living things and their environment can change without our noticing,” explains Ward. “Changes in light or humidity affect how the plant uses the water. People need to observe the

whole plant regularly.”

— Duane Pancoast, gardening author and blogger

Frieda Pearce, a master gardener volunteer with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia-Greene County, adds that showy houseplants, such as orchids, begonias and peace lilies, are natives of the tropics and have special-care winter needs. “They don’t like a lot of light, so you have to keep them in low-light areas and provide them with some sense of humidity, to mimic the rainforest atmosphere,” including misting once or more per week, she says.

You can also purchase or make a humidity tray — a pebble-lined saucer made of a nonabsorbent material such as glass, plastic or ceramic. Set the potted plant on top, and then water the tray. As water evaporates between the rocks, it forms an insular “bubble” of humidity around the pot.

Fertilizer — a mix of minerals and nutrients, especially nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus — should be applied

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during the plant’s active growing time, from spring to fall. Supplement sparingly in winter months, the plants’ resting phase. Don’t fertilize a brand-new houseplant or a newly repotted one, or when the soil is dry.

Each plant requires a different amount and frequency of fertilization and watering, so it’s best to ask for instructions from your local nursery or extension office.

Varieties to Try

To set yourself up for success with indoor flora, experts suggest easy-to-grow varieties like schefflera (umbrella tree), pothos, snake plant, philodendron “Deliciosa,” ZZ plant, Christmas cactus and spider plants. “They will bounce back from near death when we forget about them,” says Jodi Cahillane, customer service representative at Ward’s Nursery.

Meanwhile, more seasoned gardeners can try higher-maintenance plants, such as Boston ferns, orchids and bonsais.

Remember that many plants can be toxic when surreptitiously sampled by children or pets; the poinsettia, a popular gift around the holidays, is one of the more notorious offenders. For more information, consult the ASPCA’s guide to toxic and nontoxic plants.

No matter which plants you choose, keep in mind that it might take some trial and error before you develop your

green thumb, and that the practice of cultivating plants is part of the reward. “Caring for something, feeding, watering it, trimming it, it gives you something to do and to take pride in,” says Pearce. n

HOUSEPLANTS WITH HEALING PROPERTIES

Grow one or more of these plants for extra health benefits.

Aloe: The gel inside the leaves can be used to soothe burns, bee stings or itchy skin

Chrysanthemum: The dried flowers can be brewed into a mild-flavored tea that has anti-inflammatory properties

Lavender: Another great tea herb, lavender has a calming effect

Lemon balm: Recognized for its relaxing qualities, this leafy plant can ease insomnia and anxiety

Rosemary: The scent is said to improve focus and concentration

the ADDICTIVE “other” tennis

Popularity of paddle — played in winter — has soared

BY ANTHONY PIOPPI

Long before the “thwack” of pickleball was heard all over the Capital Region, the “thunk” of paddle tennis, aka platform tennis, resounded through the air. Paddle, not to be confused with padel (pronounced pa-DEL), a similar game, was invented in the late 1920s in Scarsdale, New York, by two men, both tennis players, looking for a winter activity.

Today, paddle, as it is most commonly known, is played on an outdoor elevated, heated court that is 44 feet by 20 feet, the same dimensions as a pickleball or badminton court. The court is not warmed for the benefit of players, but to keep the playing surface free of snow and ice. The deck is surrounded by a wire mesh fence and shots can be played off it, leading to longer rallies and more running than pickleball. The heavy, spongy ball used in paddle is slightly smaller than a tennis ball, but denser.

Paddle is mainly played in the cool months in cold-weather states, where low temperatures preclude outdoor activities, such as tennis, although the game is making its way to warmer climates. The elevated aluminum courts have a gritty texture for improved traction. There is usually a warming hut for players waiting their turn, and firepits are found at most locations, a good place to recount the day’s triumphs and tragedies over a variety of beverages.

Most paddle matches are played by doubles teams. The rules and scoring are almost identical to tennis, the only sig-

“

I saw the lights on in winter and said, ‘What is that?’”

— Steve Prout

Photo coutesy American Platform Tennis Association and instagram.com/dutchdoscher.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Tennis, pickleball and paddle or platform tennis are all racket sports with some differences:

RACKETS open racket with strings solid paddle solid paddle with holes

BALLS felt-covered rubber ball perforated plastic ball depressurized tennis ball

Sources: International Tennis Federation, itftennis.com; USA Pickleball, usapickleball.org; American Platform Tennis Association, platformtennis.org.

nificant differences being a shot can be played off the fencing as long as it hits the court first. Also, players only get one serve, and there is no such thing as a “let” serve. In tennis, the shot is played over; in paddle, the ball is live.

Like many outdoor activities, paddle’s participation soared during the coronavirus pandemic, and has continued to grow since then in the region and nationwide. The American Platform Tennis Association has a membership of 36,000, according to Ann Sheedy, the executive director of the APTA, based in Pittsburgh.

“People who came in, neophytes, stayed,” Sheedy said.

In the Capital Region, as in most of the country, paddle is the exclusive domain of private country or golf clubs. Public paddle facilities are rare — although it has not always been that way. Until last summer, there were two public-access courts in Ticonderoga run by Northern Lake George Paddle. When the lease ran out after 10 years, the courts were dismantled and reassembled at Glens Falls Country Club, joining the existing three courts.

The cost of building a court is prohibitive to most municipalities or organizations, according to Patty Hogan, an APTA Hall of Fame member and one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Ticonderoga courts. The installation of a single court runs over $150,000 and only three companies in the United States build them. The wire mesh fence, durable enough to withstand the force of a large adult crashing into it at full speed, is manufactured by two companies, one in Columbia, South America, and another in China.

Since acquiring the Ticonderoga courts, Glens Falls Country Club has made paddle tennis part of the club’s social membership, which is far less expensive than a general membership.

The popularity surge of paddle in the Capital Region led to the creation of the Northeast Platform Tennis League in

2020. It consists of teams from Glens Falls Country Club, Albany Country Club, Saratoga Golf and Polo, Schuyler Meadows Club in Loudonville, and Dorset Field Club in Vermont. Those facilities have between three and five courts each.

Glens Falls member Steve Prout was behind the formation of the league. A golfer, he came to paddle in 2017.

“I saw the lights on in winter and said, ‘What is that?’” he recalled.

After a try at the sport, he was hooked and has advanced to become a dedicated player and certified instructor.

Prout formed the league as a way of finding opponents outside the small group he competed with at Glens Falls.

“You’re playing the same people every time,” he said. “It didn’t take long to find out that people at other clubs felt the same way.”

Prout said he was met with enthusiastic responses from all the clubs, with members from each continuing to help run and make the league a success.

Amateur paddle players are ranked through an intricate algorithm developed by the APTA. As a result, for competitions, a double team can be composed of all men, all women, or men and women.

There is a professional league, APTA Tour, that has 19 events with players competing for the APTA Cup. Matches are live streamed on YouTube.

Sheedy acknowledges the popularity surge in pickleball but is not concerned about its effect on paddle.

“It hasn’t hurt the growth of our membership,” she said, adding that as paddle players get older, some move to pickleball.

“You don’t have to run as much,” she said of pickleball play.

For those looking to take up the sport, Sheedy warns it might have a larger place in their lives than just a cold-weather activity.

“Most of us are addicted,” Sheedy said with a laugh, “and talk about it all the time.” n

WANT TO PLAY?

The American Platform Tennis Association, which governs and helps grow the sport, lists paddle/platform tennis leagues and public access courts throughout the country on its website, platformtennis.org. The nonprofit also assists with planning and league formation, and administers a program of loans and grants that are available to eligible public-access clubs, park districts, country clubs and other facilities interested in building a court.

Winds of Change

Focusing on what you want is key to making a career shift

BY BENITA ZAHN

Ihad the honor recently of moderating a panel of high-powered women who hail from the Capital Region. They were recounting their own stories of change. Change is challenging. The underlying fear is failure. We know the route we’re traveling even if it doesn’t serve us, so we hesitate to engage with change. But staying put is often not an option, as the trio of women discussed. Bravo to them for sharing their stories and painting, with words, pictures of the new roads they traveled. Perhaps because the event was a fundraiser for the Women’s Employment Resource Center, which supports women making change, few men attended. But when it comes to making a career change, it turns out women outdistance men in seeking out professional guidance.

Longtime career coach Tom Denham is the principal for Careers in Transition LLC, a career counseling firm that specializes in professional and tailored career development advising and guidance. I asked him if searching for a job is different based on gender.

“Men don’t ask for directions while they’re driving,” he quipped. “They often don’t ask for career direction.” In fact, he shared that most of his clients are women. And it’s not just something he sees with adults who’ve been in careers for years. When he worked in career guidance at Siena College two decades ago, he noted that female students came to the career center early, listened, took advice and acted on it. Male students, on the other hand, were coming in after spring break in their senior year and many had no internships to bolster their resumes. What they needed to understand is that searching for a new job or making a career shift requires a long-term strategy. It’s not simply about going to a networking meeting and getting a few contacts.

First, says Denham, know what you want. As he puts it, focus first, network second. That’s especially important for people age 50 and older. There is ample research showing that people in this age group, men and women, find it more difficult to land a job. An article in the March 1, 2023, American Psychological Association online publication calls ageism one of the “last socially acceptable prejudices.” Let’s face it, older workers are used to making more money and many companies look only at the bottom line rather than the value of experience.

That was on Colin Lovelock’s mind when he was shown the door by his longtime employer, WNYT. Lovelock is a creative services producer who had been crafting commercials for WNYT clients for 18 years. His resume was impressive. Nevertheless, he was told the station was “going in another direction.” Lovelock is 62 years old — not a great age to be looking for work. But he had a leg up. He had been diligently staying current on technology. “You absolutely have to in this industry,” he shared. “There is no way to ride on what you knew, but find out what you don’t know and learn it.”

Staying current with technology is critical, agrees Denham. The world moves quickly — and if you’re a step behind, you’re undermining your ability to be hired. Companies want folks who can hit the road running. Take a class if necessary and keep your resume and LinkedIn profile current.

You also have to know your worth, Denham says, and don’t rely on your employer to support that worth. “Most people are underappreciated at work,” he adds. So, take stock of yourself. He suggests we ask ourselves three questions: Who am I? Where am I going? How do I get there? Then decide what is your ideal job, your backup job and your safety/survival job. You may have to wade through that list and engage with the safety/survival job as you network your way and upgrade your talents to land your ideal position. You also must be open, says Denham, to recognizing that the ideal job may not be so ideal and that your backup job might be more suitable to your lifestyle.

While the train from unemployed to self-employed moved quickly for Lovelock, your journey may be slower. Denham says when one door closes you need to stop, chill and self-assess. And remember what he learned while working at Siena College? It was the female clients who came for advice, took it and acted on it. So guys, take a page from that playbook. Career counselors can help you clear the air of the miasma of being fired and support your vision for your next act. n

BENITA ZAHN is a certified health and wellness coach working in the Capital Region. Visit benitahealthcoach.com.

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Looking for Love

21st-century dating for seniors is (still) about finding the right match

BY MARYELLEN FILLO

Doris Goodwin is doing something she’d prefer her adult kids not know about. The widowed, retired administrative assistant is dating again, and she’s doing it the “new” way — through online dating apps.

“I think after my husband died, the assumption by my married friends and especially by my kids, was that ‘Mom’ would just quietly find some little hobby, be happy with family gatherings and memories, and maybe go to the library now and then,” says Goodwin, 73. “Once the initial grieving was over, I knew that (being) alone was not what I wanted for the rest of my life. I certainly was not ready to roll up the carpet in terms of my social life or my love life, but was very aware how you date these days has changed a lot.”

The New York native who says she likes to dance, travel, entertain and dine out, researched online dating sites designed specifically for seniors. She cautiously went out on a few dates and has been seeing one of the men she met for the past two months.

Goodwin is not alone when it comes to dating 21st-century style.

An estimated 40 percent of people 55 and over in the U.S. are single, and about 20 percent of those singles say they have used a dating app or online dating site, according to reports from several organizations, including the National Council on Aging.

“It can definitely be daunting and overwhelming when it’s so different than what the baby boomer generation is used to,” says Rachel Vida MacLynn, a professional matchmaker and CEO and founder of the matchmaking service, Maclynn.

“When they initially met their partners,

5DATING SITES FOR OLDER ADULTS

• SeniorMatch – seniormatch.com

• eHarmony – eharmony.com

• Silver Singles – silversingles.com

• OurTime – ourtime.com

• Match – match.com

it was often in the age when couples met through social events, work, friends or being approached at a bar (or) restaurant,” says MacLynn, who has offices in New York. “Now they have come out of relationships, which can sometimes span 20 or 30 years, and the dating scene couldn’t be more different.”

“We have evolved culturally,” says Laurie Gerber, a love and dating coach, podcaster and relationship expert. Today, she says, “it’s more culturally acceptable to seek love again after a divorce or death for those over 50.

“The biggest falla-

cy for those who are dating after 55 is that there are no ‘good ones’ out there,” she adds. “That is laughable because there are millions of single people over 50 getting back into the dating scene.”

But while the dating pool for the demographic might be an enticing one, with age and the number of years spent away from the dating scene often comes some insecurity. We tell ourselves men only want younger women, women just want men’s money, I’m not pretty anymore, I’m out of shape, I don’t have a lot to offer. These thoughts can inhibit seniors as they consider getting back out there.

Gerber says the first step is to take a good look at yourself.

“Inventory your own relationship to yourself,” she says. “If you are not loving yourself, you won’t believe someone else will.

“There is an unbelievable level of stereotyping and gross generalizations,” says Gerber. “It’s total BS and so harsh, and too often is a defense mechanism by seniors who use those concerns as a code for ‘I’m

scared to get out there.’”

So if a dating app and swiping left or right feels too risky, there is an alternative if you are looking for help meeting the right guy or gal.

“Matchmaking is the opposite spectrum to online dating,” explains MacLynn. “Our clients work with a matchmaker, usually for six to 12 months, who will be their expert and confidant to help them find someone compatible.”

While costs of these types of services vary, experts warn that when it comes to using any dating sites or services, seniors should be aware, realistic and cautious, especially at the beginning.

“Baby boomer individuals are more likely to be targeted in dating scams,” says MacLynn, “especially with widows or widowers, as often they have received a life insurance payout for their partner.”

Gerber adds that beyond that, any person you do date should respect concerns about safety. For additional peace of mind, she suggests doing an inexpensive background check to learn more about potential dates.

“And don’t feel pressured to push yourself into the deep end of readiness,” adds Gerber. “Think about the needs of your practical life and your chemistry. It won’t always be easy but it will be worth it.” n

4

GOLDEN RULES FOR DATING

1 Meet in a public place first and continue to do so until you feel at ease with the person.

2 Stick to your boundaries, be it about intimacy or frequency of dating.

3 Discuss sex up front, and learn about sexually transmitted diseases and other issues related to sexual health.

4 Never give or send anyone money. The dating scene is a hotbed for con artists eager to take advantage of trusting, unsuspecting older adults. In fact, dating scams that target seniors are all too common. Be on the lookout for red flags, such as a person telling you about their financial hardships right off the bat.

—Source: National Council on Aging

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New Rules for Entering

EUROPE

PIllustration: iStockphoto.com/Katerina_Andronchik.

BY JOANNE CLEAVER

Digital permission now required in advance of travel

rocrastinators beware: Several changes in European security and document management are coming in 2025 and you should know about them before you head to the airport.

Here’s the rundown on the documents, paperwork and processes that have improved — yes, actually improved — travel to keep you getting where you are headed.

The biggest change is a new European security system that will require preapproval to enter 30 countries and territories. If you haven’t secured permissions in advance, your plane will take off without you. The new system is one of several changes that require travelers to shift to digital customs and security processes — and to complete approvals and other preliminaries well before departure.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (etiasvisa.com) streamlines access by

linking short-term permission to your passport, explains Melissa Petersen, the group travel operations manager with AAA for Western and central New York. “It’s more than a standard passport screening,” she says.

Securing the ETIAS approval is new for all Americans, which means that you can’t count on your prior travel experience for any trip you’re taking from January 1 on. (Check the ETIAS website well before you travel for any changes and updates.)

As the system is new, travelers should start applying for and confirming their approval at least six weeks in advance, Peterson says. The process is completed online only. “There’s no provision for onsite processing,” she emphasizes, which means that those who don’t bother may find themselves stranded at the airport, even if their passports and other U.S.-issued documents are in order.

The ETIAS process costs only about $8 and can

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be accomplished via the ETIAS website or the mobile app. The approval is good for three years or until your passport expires.

MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF

TSA PreCheck for domestic travel and Global Entry for international travel can make it worthwhile to pay more for shorter lines at American airport security.

If you fly often, you’ve probably seen travelers speed through these lines while you wind your way through security queues; you may have even entertained the notion of plunking down some money for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership. These programs vet your identity and require a background check, fingerprinting and an in-person interview before approval for a faster, less-complicated trip through airport security lines — no need to remove shoes, belts, laptops or light jackets.

The Global Entry program costs $120 to apply and comes with a few caveats: You have to be at a very low risk for shenanigans, with no arrest record and no history of violating customs or immigration laws.

The fee for TSA PreCheck membership is roughly $70$90, depending on where you apply, but once you’re in the system, and if you behave yourself, renewing your status is fast and easy online.

Membership in either program lasts for five years.

EASIER PASSPORT RENEWAL

Finally, the U.S. State Department has brought passport renewal online. This convenience comes with some conditions: Your identity and name must be the same as your expired passport and you must live in the U.S. Allow plenty of time because the State Department says it won’t be expediting any last-minute requests.

Renewing your passport is a chance to make sure that all your travel documents in American and European systems reflect the same formal name and other identifying details, says Peterson. If you use a nickname on your passport but enter your name as it is on your birth certificate in the ETIAS system, you invite confusion at best, denial of entrance into Europe at worst.

And don’t assume that your well-traveled current passport will pass muster with ever-more-sensitive digital scanners, warns Peterson.

She recently traveled with a group headed to Mexico that included two travelers whose passports were so tattered that Mexican authorities wouldn’t let them enter. And on a trip to Greece that Peterson accompanied, a U.S. citizen was chagrined to find that his lockbox-protected passport had picked up mold that nearly derailed his trip.

“If it’s wrinkled, has water damage, smoke damage, the digital machines won’t read it,” she says. “You can be denied entry to a country if your passport shows any kind of damage.” n

Mystery and History

A collection of whodunits for cozy winter reading

BY JANET REYNOLDS

If you’re a fan of historical fiction and love a good mystery, get excited. Not only do the following books take you back into the past, but you can also follow along as the main characters try to solve a murder or two. Add a little romance and you’ve got a reading trifecta. Each is part of a series, too, leaving you plenty of options to pass the snowy and cold days of winter curled up with a very good book.

Veronica Speedwell mystery series

First book: A Curious Beginning

Latest book: A Grave Robbery

(Book #9 in the series)

Author: Deanna Raybourn

Veronica Speedwell is a young Victorian woman whose behavior seems more in line with today’s women. She’s an orphan with a mysterious origin that involves Queen Victoria’s first-born son. She has traveled the world studying butterflies and moths as a well-known lepidopterist, managing to find herself in adventure after adventure, many of them harrowing. Those experiences, though, are mostly recounted by her as asides from her past. The mystery series instead focuses on the various pickles in which she, and her col-

league/cohort/potential lover Revelstoke Templeton-Vane, aka Stoker, find themselves as they are called upon by various members of the royal family and even Scotland Yard to “fix” the latest murder mystery. Each book, written by best-selling mystery writer Deanna Raybourn, who also pens a contemporary mystery series, can stand alone. You could, in theory, read them out of order, but certain key character developments are better when read in order. Example: the budding, smoldering, dear-god-when-will-they-get-together relationship between Speedwell and Stoker. If you love Victorian England and are a fan of the royal family, this is one not to miss. Added bonus? Book 10 in the series is due out later this year.

Sebastian

St. Cyr

mystery series

First book: What Angels Fear

Latest book: What Cannot Be Said (Book #19 in the series)

Author: C.S. Harris

Regency England — the time of Jane Austen, Lord Byron, Napoleon and more — is the setting for Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin. A bit of a bad boy, Devlin is a former British Army officer with a mysterious beginning

of his own (he and Speedwell could likely commiserate over a whiskey). Rather than simply live the privileged life into which he has been born, he insists, much to the frustration and horror of his father, the earl of Hendon, on hanging out far too much with so-called riffraff and — heaven forfend! — solving crimes, many of which involve politics and the very people whose parlors he graces. Figuring large in the series is a former Napoleonic War comrade, an Irish doctor with a bit of an opium addiction thanks to constant pain in his phantom leg, as well as an upper-class woman, Hero Jarvis, who, as a journalist penning stories about the inequities of the times (clearly not popular with her father nor those in whose circles she travels), would likely be friends with Veronica Speedwell if they were real-life heroines. C.S. Harris, who also pens romances as Candice Proctor (her real name) and has a Ph.D. in European history, describes Devlin as “Mr. Darcy with a James Bond edge” and she’s not wrong. The series has 19 books with — hooray — a 20th book due out in the spring.

Raven and Fisher mystery series

First book: The Way of All Flesh

Latest book: Voices of the Dead (Book #4 in the series)

Author: Ambrose Parry

This set of mysteries takes us to Edinburgh, Scotland, in the early 19th century. Will Raven is a medical student about to begin an apprenticeship with Dr. Simpson, a daring doctor who is on the forefront of experimenting with anesthesia, a very new and controversial medical development. During his apprenticeship, Raven (who has a troubled past; do you see a theme here?), meets Sarah Fisher, a housemaid who dreams of becoming a doctor. They ultimately team up and during the series of books navigate Edinburgh’s seamier, murderous side, get into all kinds of scrapes, and, yes, have a complicated love relationship. Ambrose Parry is the pen name for the husband-and-wife duo, Marisa Haetzman and Chris Brookmyre. Haetzman is an anesthetist in her “other” job and also has a master’s degree in the history of medicine, making the medical information in these books a primer of sorts for the time period. Brookmyre is an award-winning crime writer when he’s not collaborating with his wife. The authors also released a digital-only short story in 2023 as part of the series, and the final (sniff!) book is due out later this year. What will happen to Raven and Fisher? n

or child of a family friend in the absence of the biological parents?

Driving Down Memory Lane

BY ROD MICHAEL

here is something special about the best car you ever owned. For me, it was the time that I spent in that car feeling carefree, happy and most importantly, me.

Many years ago, a military friend of mine, Smitty, re-upped in the U.S. Air Force and took his bonus money to buy himself a new car. It was a new Datsun 240Z. When Smitty drove that gorgeous bright yellow sports car back to base and showed it off in the parking lot, everybody flipped out. He said, “Jump in, Mike” — that being my military nickname — “We’re going for a test drive, baby!” I fell in love instantly.

It would be a few years before I could come up with the money to buy my own. It was used, but that bright orange racing color on my 1972 Datsun 240Z had me at first look. When I cranked up the stereo, rolled down the windows and took off, it was like it had supernatural powers. I instantly became a different me. I loved that feeling of everyone else looking and saying, “Man, I gotta get me one of those.”

Looking back, remembering 38 Special singing “Hold on Loosely” in the background, I can safely say I was happily out of my mind. Whenever I hear

that song, I am instantly taken back to being behind the wheel of that car and I’m driving down memory lane. I can picture all the different people that took a ride with me, laughing and having some of the greatest moments of our lives.

As we enter a new year, just like an old sports car, we increase in value over time. In this new year, be like that sports car. Be unique, be you, know your value and, if you want, show off a little. Begin the new year thinking of your favorite car. Turn the key, take off, put a big smile on your face, crank up the music and let the ride of 2025 take you to a different planet. And “Hold On Loosely.” n

Not Rod’s original 240Z, but a very similar 1971 model.

Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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