Atlanta Senior Life - May 2022 by Atlanta Senior Life from Reporter Newspapers

DISCOVER THE RETIREMENT YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED 770-765-0607

FROM REPORTER NEWSPAPERS

MAY 2022 • Vol. 7 No. 5 • AtlantaSeniorLIFE.com

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finding a new passion Doris Reidy started writing novels in her 70s

PEOPLE From politician to nature photographer page 10

Pierre Howard

travel Peaches in the Peach State! page 12

THINGS TO DO Spring brings renewed outdoor festivals page 22

Herbie Hancock/Atlanta Jazz Festival

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Contents MAY 2022

COVER STORY Reidy published her 4 Doris first novel at age 72. At age 79, she’s about to put out her tenth.

6 BOOKS Five new books worth checking out. PEOPLE Canterbury Court volunteers keep their corner convenience store stocked and running.

his varied career, 10 Over Pierre Howard has been a

politician, an environmental activist, and a photographer of Georgia butterflies.

12 TRAVEL It’s peach-picking time in Georgia. Time to hit the

road in search of the taste of a perfect summer day.

THE CRATES 14 FROM Recording tape changed our lives.

16 GARDENING The Environmental Gardener promotes planting for pollinators.

FROM REPORTER NEWSPAPERS

Visit Atlanta Senior Life online by scanning this QR Code

SAFETY 18 PERSONAL Despite the spitting, baseball is a gentleman’s game. HEALTH 20 PERSONAL Learn the signs of stroke and heart attack.

Editorial

Published By Springs Publishing

Joe Earle Editor, Atlanta Senior Life joe@springspublishing.com

Advertising For information call (404) 917-2200 ext 1002 sales@springspublishing.com

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Neal Maziar Chief Revenue Officer neal@springspublishing.com

Amy Wenk Editor, Reporter Newspapers Contributors Kathy Dean, Erica Glasener, Shelly Howell, Kaitlin Kolarik, Kelly McCoy, Isadora Pennington, Logan C. Ritchie, Steve Rose, Michele Ross, Charles Seabrook, Mark Woosley

Suzanne Purcell Sr. Account Manager suzanne@springspublishing.com

Rico Figliolini Creative Director Deborah Davis Account Manager | Sales Operations deborah@springspublishing.com

Circulation

CARE 21 PERSONAL A new business offers paidby-the-hour services to back up family caregivers.

22 ARTS The Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade returns May 21. TO DO 23 THINGS Many of metro Atlanta’s spring festivals are

returning this spring and summer.

Each month, 10,000 copies of Atlanta Senior Life are distributed to 260 plus locations in Metro Atlanta

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DISCOVER THE RETIREMENT YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED 770-765-0607

FROM REPORTER NEWSPAPERS

MAY 2022 • Vol. 7 No. 5 • AtlantaSeniorLIFE.com

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finding a new passion

Photo by Kaitlin Kolarik.

Doris Reidy started writing novels in her 70s

PEOPLE From politician to nature photographer page 10

Pierre Howard

Doris Reidy relaxes with one of her Mrs. Entwhistle novels.

travel Peaches in the Peach State! page 12

THINGS TO DO Spring brings renewed outdoor festivals page 22

Herbie Hancock/Atlanta Jazz Festival

MAY 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

COVER STORY | BOOKS

finding a new passion ‘Do it now. Pursue the skinny little dream that’s cavorting around in your head – what have you got to lose?’

“… She’s a composite of my mother, a strong Southern woman, and maybe a dab of me.”

By Michele Ross Doris Reidy doesn’t like to waste time, and she hopes other people feel the same way. “I think this is the place where I say it’s never too late, but let’s face it. Sometimes it is too late. Bodies wear out, brains blow a fuse, and sorrow whittles a person down to a nub. So, if you want to do it, whatever it is, do it now.” She’s a perfect embodiment of her own advice and of the saying “write what you know.” An energetic widow of 79, she’s about to publish her 10th novel— and she didn’t publish her first until she was 72. She’s best known for her light, funny and often touching books featuring Mrs. Entwhistle, an energetic widow of 80. A chat with her reveals a lively mind, a realistic but optimist outlook, and a dry sense of humor.

DORIS REIDY Author

Q. How did you transition to fiction?

A. After my husband was stable

and life settled down, I decided to write a novel to see if I could. I’d always said firmly that I lacked the imagination to write fiction, preferred to deal in facts, and didn’t know where to start. I told no one what I was doing, including my husband and our three adult children. It felt like my personal secret mission. There were no witnesses to my mistakes, but also no one to show me how to do better.

Q. Tell us about your background.

A. I’m a transplanted Hoosier

and have lived in the same house in Cobb County for the past 48 years. That makes me about a native, but not quite. In the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s I wrote nonfiction articles for papers and magazines. It’s a lot like hitting yourself on the head with a hammer—it feels so good when you stop. When I opted for a regular paycheck I became the executive assistant to the CEO of a large hospital system, and then assistant to the mayor of Marietta, I retired early to care for by husband who was seriously ill.

Q. How did you get started as a writer?

A. You mean other than in third

grade when my poem about fairies dancing in the moonlight made the local paper? Honestly, it was torture getting published as a freelancer for periodicals. I only persisted because I thought I couldn’t write fiction and I had

MAY 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

to write something. The very first article I sold was to Andy Sparks at the AJC Sunday magazine. It was about a belly dancer, and I went to a class and participated in the name of research. Then I wrote book reviews of true crime books.

Q. What changed? A. When the pupil is ready,

the teacher will come, and at that point I met a wonderful writing teacher, Josh Langston. Josh is an accomplished, successful novelist and shared his expertise generously with beginners. Something he said in class changed everything for

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me as a writer: “A plot starts with a person in a place with a problem.” A cartoon light bulb lit up in my brain—’Of course! I can do that!’ When I was widowed after 52 years of marriage, writing became my refuge.

Q. How did Mrs. Entwhistle come about?

A. She started life in a short

story, but she was having none of that and insisted on taking the lead in a series of novels. She’s the character that most appeals to readers. She’s a composite of my mother, a strong Southern woman, and maybe a dab of me. The first book, “Mrs. Entwhistle,” is a collection of connected stories, as is the fourth book, “Many Happy Returns, Mrs. Entwhistle.” The rest are conventional novels. There’s a cast of recurring characters, including Maxine, her best friend, and Roger, her dog.

of the ways I keep her moving is by getting her involved with young characters.

Q. Does

Mrs. Entwhistle progress well into the modern age?

A. She does okay with her

cellphone but has a lovehate relationship with her computer. She remains unhip and unrepentant throughout the series. One thing I hear consistently from my readers is that she reminds them of their moms or grandmas. I’m mindful of stasis as I write her, and one

Q. How do you think senior characters are portrayed in books? A. I find people my age are

often presented as caricatures. Our society values youth to the point that the very word “old” has become a pejorative. Elders are too often portrayed onedimensionally as eccentric, inept or feeble. If feels like nobody’s listening when we say it ain’t so. My goal is to present Mrs. Entwhistle as a fully developed character who’s still equal to

life’s challenges. The surest way to get her to do something is to suggest that maybe—at her age—she’d better not!

Q. Share with us about how you got published.

A. As a late starter I had no

time—literally—for the slow walk that is conventional publishing—where you query agents, wait to hear, get a nibble, submit a synopsis and the first chapter, wait again. Maybe you’ll get lucky and interest an agent who repeats the process with publishers while you wait to hear. I went that route briefly

with my first novel, “Five for the Money” and heard only crickets. So, I decided to publish independently. If you’re technically adept, it’s possible to format a manuscript, design a cover and publish a paperback on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, for zero dollars. Of course, if you want it to be good, you’ll want to pay for some professional help with editing and design. There are more than 48 million titles available on Amazon, and to make mine visible I use global online ads, and price the books low enough to be an “oh, what the heck?” purchase. Some of my readers write reviews, and that connection is precious. I appreciate every single comment, even the negative ones.

Q. Any final words from you or Mrs. Entwhistle?

A. Do it now. Pursue the skinny

little dream that’s cavorting around in your head—what have you got to lose? That dream may beef up and propel you in a direction you never imagined. Photography by Kaitlin Kolarik

MAY 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

BOOKS

new books for spring & summer By Michele Ross

Kingdom of Bones

City on Fire Don Winslow

James Rollins

Winslow’s searingly honest portrayals of cops (“The Force”) and cartels (“The Border”) transfixed readers while examining themes of loyalty and betrayal. Now he explores crime in his own home turf of New England as a war begins between the Irish and the Italians. This is the first in a much-anticipated trilogy. (Morrow, $28.99)

A blend of thriller, science, and action, action, action, Rollins’ Sigma Force finds even they might not be able to prevent—or even understand—the bizarre events when people start fading while plants and animals grow more predatory. Will they find answers before the world becomes a Kingdom of Bones? $28.99)

Crime Hits Home

French Braid

Edited by S.J. Rozan

Anne Tyler

Another lively anthology from Mystery Writers of America, this volume explores what happens when crime hits us where we’re supposed to feel the most safe. Noted authors include Walter Mosley and Sara Paretsky. (Hanover Square, $27.99)

Tyler works her magic again, with a multi-generational story of a Baltimore family. She brings her usual insight into the joys, anger love and laughter that only families can provide. (Knopf, $27)

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PEOPLE

A merchant’s tale from Canterbury Court By Logan C. Ritchie Like other convenience stores, this corner shop is a place to find anything from Vienna sausages to greeting cards to allergy medicine. Unlike other stores, the one known as the “4Cs Retail Store” got its start decades ago in a closet in the Canterbury Court Senior Living Community. Through the years, the 4Cs — which stands for Canterbury Court Cash and Carry — has expanded to become a volunteer-run store that stocks more than 500 different items, from non-perishable food goods to office supplies for residents of Canterbury Court, a community for adults age 62+ located just north of Lenox Mall and Phipps Plaza. “You can find just about

The 4Cs shop

anything you want,” said store manager Gail Rogers. The store serves 260 residents and employees of Canterbury Court. Residents have the option of coming in to shop in person or of calling

MAY 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

down to place orders that will be delivered to their doorsteps. Stamps are among the most popular items sold at 4Cs because it saves residents trips to the post office. “It’s a wonderful service to

our community. It’s a real place of hospitality. We enjoy each other and we enjoy people who come in,” said store manager Anne Haltiwanger. During the early days of lockdown at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, board members of Canterbury Court ensured the store had toilet paper – when it felt like the world was experiencing a shortage. “It was amazing how the Board of Trustees stepped up to search around and find essentials, like the things that we were having great difficulty finding,” said Haltiwanger. “We had to limit the number of rolls that you could buy per person.” The store, open three mornings a week, is run by about 30 volunteer residents. They try to get as many people involved as possible, said Haltiwanger. Resident Bernice Burton, 99, wrote up a history of 4Cs a few years ago. Burton was a longtime manager of the store. “We used to have a big volunteer party every fall out on the terrace before COVID. One year we asked her to give us the history of the store, so she spent months going through all old Canterbury Tales [newsletter] and other resources,” said Haltiwanger. The store was first named Canterbury Cart when it opened in the 1960s. It moved to a closet by 1972, a place to find simple necessities. By 1989, Canterbury Court created a space that shoppers could walk around in, and by 2005 4Cs had an even larger spot. “The store is a great volunteer opportunity that creates an opportunity to serve the community as well as providing a wonderful place to support and interact with all the residents at Canterbury Court,” said Haltiwanger.

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PEOPLE

Pierre Howard’s love for the outdoors took him from state politics to saving the environment to photographing butterflies birds I couldn’t identify. It made me really mad that I didn’t know what they were, so I got in the car and went to the bookstore on St. Simons [Island] and started trying to figure out what things were. The more I got into it, the more interested I got. I have now seen 406 species in Georgia. I’m one of the top ones.

Q. How does your interest in birding tie in with land conservation?

A. When I got into birding,

Pierre Howard

Pierre Howard turned an outdoorsy childhood into a love for Georgia birds and butterflies. He’s traveled to every nook and cranny of the state to photograph them. GeorgiaNature.com displays his photos of butterfly species in Georgia. Howard has photographed more than 160 of the state’s 176 species of butterflies, the website says. Howard’s prolific camera work with birds and butterflies ties in with his passion for land and habitat conservation. He’s headed two prominent state-wide conservation and environmental protection organizations, the Georgia Conservancy and the Nature Conservancy in Georgia, and l this year, Howard (with three co-authors) will publish a book of photos of butterflies in Southeastern states. And then there’s the political piece. Howard’s the product of a long line of politicos. His father was in the Georgia House

I realized how much more important it was to preserve the land. If you can preserve the land and keep it as God made it, then

of Representative, Howard’s grandfather was in Congress and Howard’s great-grandfather was a United States senator. After his own stint as a state senator from DeKalb County, he served two terms as lieutenant governor in the 1990s and briefly contemplated a run for governor. Atlanta Senior Life contributor Mark Woolsey caught up with him recently for a chat.

Q. What sparked your interest

in preservation issues and in the outdoors?

A. I grew up with a father who

was a hunter and fisherman and he got me interested in the outof-doors from the very earliest time in my life. That’s how I kind of got into it. Then in the early 1990s. [my wife] Nancy and I were down at the beach. It was really hot. Nancy was taking a nap with [the kids] because they were quite young at the time.

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I decided to go out into the backyard and look around. There were some binoculars and I picked them up and looked up in the trees and I saw a couple of

a lot of problems get solved by themselves. That’s what got me into land conservation.

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Q. How did all that lead on into your passion for butterflies?

A. I was out at Kennesaw, and

Q. What accomplishment

are you most proud of in your career?

I kept asking a friend of mine, “What is that and what is that?” He said, “Why don’t you get a book and learn it yourself?” And I remembered that a man from Decatur, where I’m from, had written a book called “Butterflies of Georgia.” I went and got the book. I started looking at it and [thinking about] the rare species people weren’t seeing anymore, and I looked at where he’d seen them and I thought I’d go find them where he had found them. I found all but three species that had been seen in Georgia.

A. A man came to the house this

Q. And that led to a book

A. That really is the $64

coming out this year?

A. Three guys from the

University of North Carolina asked me about a year and a half ago it I would write a book with them about the butterflies of Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia. We got it ready and sent it to the publisher, University of North Carolina Press. They’re supposed to get it out sometime this year.

week and he knew I had been in office, and he said, “My two children went to college on the HOPE scholarship and I couldn’t have sent them to college if they couldn’t have used the HOPE.” When I hear that, it makes me so proud of that initiative. [Former Gov.] Zell Miller deserves most of the credit because it was his idea.

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TRAVEL

It’s peach-pickin’ time in the Peach State Travels with Charlie Veteran Georgia journalist Charles Seabrook has covered native wildlife and environmental issues for decades. For “Travels with Charlie,” he visits and photographs communities throughout the state.

Welcome to May and to the start of the Peach State’s famed peach-pickin’ season. It‘s when I start getting the urge to sink my teeth into a juicy, mouthwatering Georgia peach. In my mind, if you could actually taste a perfect summer day, it would be like tasting a Georgia-grown peach. In a good year, Georgia produces some 130 million pounds of peaches. Most of that comes from the huge orchards of three major growers in Crawford and Peach counties in mid-central Georgia. Around mid-May, workers start fanning out into the sprawling orchards to hand pick the peaches and then haul them to the growers’ nearby packinghouses. There, the fruits are washed, sorted, and then packed and shipped by the ton to markets all over the Eastern seaboard. Many peach lovers like me, though, flock to the growers’ packinghouses — each of which have retail stores — to buy peaches directly from them. My wife, Laura, and I, in fact, take at least two or three such trips each season (which runs through midAugust) to pick up a box or more of Georgia peaches. I need a steady supply, because my craving means that I may

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eat several peaches a day in summer. Plenty enough peaches should be available this season — despite a late freeze in March when temperatures dipped to as low as 22 degrees and damaged some orchards just starting to bloom. “It hurt us, but, overall, we should be in good shape this season,” said Lee Dickey of Dickey Farms in Crawford County, one of Georgia’s three biggest peach producers. Spread over 1,000 acres with more than 100,000 peach trees producing some 20 varieties, family-owned Dickey Farms has been growing peaches for more than 120 years in Crawford County. Its picturesque peach packinghouse in the scenic town of Musella is the oldest, continuously operating such facility in the Peach State. Laura said she’d visit Dickey’s packinghouse and store if for no other reason than to plop down in one of their comfortable rocking chairs on their “front porch” and enjoy a two-scoop cup of Dickey’s famous homemade peach ice cream. At the same time, one can watch packinghouse workers washing and packing the peaches as the fruits roll along the conveyor belts. Things are just as peachy at Georgia’s two other biggest peach farms and packinghouses — Pearson Farm, also in Crawford County, and Lane Southern Orchards in Peach County. Since 1985, five generations of Pearsons have been growing peaches on the same land, which now encompasses about 1,500 acres of peach trees. Lane Southern Orchards and Taylor Orchards merged in 2018 to create the largest peach and pecan operation in the United States. The consolidated operation packs peaches under the Lane Southern Orchards label. Taylor Orchards farms

3,000 acres of peaches; Lane farms 2,000 acres. Peach season will end around mid-August, but the packinghouses stay open year-round offering other seasonal fruits and vegetables — pecans, strawberries, blueberries, peanuts, and on and on. Text and photos by Charles Seabrook 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7-9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |

A Georgia Peach Ripening peaches in April Ready for picking Peach blossoms in mid-March in Peach County Blossoming peach orchard in mid-March, Peach County Blossoming peach orchard in mid-March, Peach County Washing, sorting and grading peaches at Lane Southern Orchards, Fort Valley, GA (Peach County) Dickey Farms packinghouse and retail store, Musella, GA (Crawford County) “Front porch” at Dickey Farms packinghouse and retail store, Musella, GA (Crawford County) Lane Southern Orchards packinghouse, Fort Valley, GA (Peach County)

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FROM THE CRATES

Playing back the joys of tape from the crates Kelly McCoy is a veteran Atlanta broadcaster who writes about the days popular music only came on vinyl records, which often were stored in crates.

engineers changed the world by capturing audio with a more durable and efficient technology than wax that could crack, or even melt. The recording tape of our youth came on reels, 8-tracks, and cassettes. Tape quickly became our “no static at all” friend. I wouldn’t even attempt to get into the technical side and history of how sound gets

Tape. Not duct tape, electric tape, measuring tape, packing tape or any of the 790-or-so other types of tape. Recording tape. Lives were impacted by this wonderful invention … creation … label it as you wish. I was searching for old audio to assist a group of my friends who are on their adventure with a new group, Friends of Georgia Radio. That search gave me the idea for the subject of this article: audio tape. In the 1890s, Alexander Graham Bell and some friends came up with the way to record audio on wax cylinders. Later, tape-recording pioneers and

MAY 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

on tape. We used reel-to-reel recorders in radio stations for many tasks. Our commercials, shows, newscasts, anything audio was captured on a reel with a grease pencil, razor blade and splicing tape nearby to correct any errors. Reel-to-reel people were the audiophiles of the time. The serious admirer of music had elaborate reelto-reel machines powered by amazing amplifiers, and music was heard through high-end and often high-dollar speakers. These walls of sound equipment stayed home and were seriously protected and maintained. While listening to recordings from a great old jazz masterpiece to anything with a multitude of players and singers mixed together (sometimes with full orchestras), I stop and realize the greatness of these recordings made with limited editing capabilities. When one player or singer screwed up… back to note one. Everyone had to start over. Too bad those errors and outtakes weren’t preserved. Can you imagine the historical gems we didn’t have the opportunity to hear? Before smaller and portable ways to transport music, we had players at home. But when 8-track machines became a part of our automotive audio world, we were in music heaven. It

Remember your first cassette recorder with a plug-in microphone... We could record everything from family members singing “Happy Birthday” to grandma... which immediately had everyone thinking, “Do I really sound like this?” was beyond cool and exciting to have an 8-track player in your ride and almost mindblowing to hear an album in the car with no crackle or clicks we’d heard on wellplayed vinyl. In the beginning, we had aftermarket players added to the bottom of a car’s dashboard. The add-on speakers were another cool accessory. Even then, a tune would sometime skip if you bounced over a huge mound or encountered a pothole. Then there was the ongoing problem of the player changing to the next “track” in the middle of a song. What a struggle. Then, more-enhancedfactory-installed players appeared. Musical styling was definitely happening. While preparing this article, I learned National 8-Track Day was April 11 and that William Powell Lear was the guy who developed this technology. Yes, the same

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Lear as in the designer of jets! Who knew? Then, the amazing cassette came into our world. These invented by some Dutch Dudes in the early sixties. Remember your first cassette recorder with a plugin microphone and a suction cup to record phone calls? We could record everything from family members singing “Happy Birthday” to grandma, to our own voice speaking – which immediately had everyone thinking, “Do I really sound like this?” Then music became available on this more modern way to transport our tunes and our personal recorded memories with even better and more compact devices to play them. Factory in-car systems

took us to the next levels of up-close-and-personal sound. The Sony Walkman changed everything again. Boom boxes came along with sometime earpiercing decibels that could fill a room, or a large outdoor space. In those days you could stop at an intersection with roadside clutter that included cigarette butts and unidentified objects mixed in with a long piece of skinny brown tape dangling in the breeze. This told me that someone’s music prize had bitten the dust. Now we complain about slow internet, a poor signal, and weird wi-fi — just like our children and grandchildren. Happy bandwidth to you!

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Visit us at ajc.com/aging to sign up for the newsletter and learn more about our upcoming virtual event. You’ll find plenty of 55+ focused content there as well as links to our previously published sections and events. Look for our special sections publishing on May 1st and June 5th in your Atlanta Journal-Constitution print and ePaper editions.

MAY 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

GARDENING

Use plants that will attract pollinators to your garden THE ENVIRONMENTAL GARDENER Erica Glasener is the Community Involvement and Events Manager for the Piedmont Park Conservancy. She also serves on the advisory board for Trees Atlanta.

The terms “pollinator” and “pollinator-friendly gardens” are popular today, and with good reason. But what do they mean and how do they translate to actions that home gardeners can take? According to pollinator.org, pollinators, “including bees, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps, beetles and other small mammals that pollinate plants, are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat.” While this is impressive, it is not a recent finding. In 1996, in their book The Forgotten Pollinators, co- authors Stephen Buchmann and Gary Paul Nabhan estimated that “animal pollinators are needed for the reproduction of 90% of flowering plants and one-third of human food crops. Pollinators — especially bees (there are over 4,000 species of native bees in the United States) — have been affected by habitat loss, disease, and pesticide use. As home gardeners, we can create a haven for pollinators by eliminating the use of chemicals in our gardens and creating habitats that will attract pollinators and support wildlife. This in turn leads to a healthy ecosystem. If you are a gardener, it’s likely you’ve seen pollination in process if you’ve observed insects visiting flowers to drink nectar or feed on pollen. Nectar, a food source, is mostly a solution of sugars, but also has traces of proteins, salts, acids, and essential oils. When a bee moves from

flower to flower in search of nectar, it carries pollen grains from the anther (the male part of a flower) to the stigma (the female part of the flower). This is the start of the process that results in the production of seeds and fruits and the next generation of plants. Pollination also happens through self-pollination, as well as by wind and water. Insects and animal pollinators are drawn to certain plants more than others. For this reason, your plant choices in your own garden can make a difference. Here are some ways you can attract and support pollinators. 1. Plant and encourage native flowering plants. 2. Plant both host and nectar plants. A host plant provides a place for butterflies and moths to lay eggs and then the plant becomes a source of food for the caterpillars before they become butterflies. Certain butterflies require a particular species of host plant. 3. Remove invasive plants which crowd out natives. 4. Plant groups of a single flower species in the same area. This reduces the energy required for foraging. 5. Plant a diversity of species (at least 5-10 different species, to attract a greater number of pollinators. 6. Choose plants for every season and make sure something is always blooming. 7. Provide pollinator nesting sites. Leave areas with dead logs, leaves and water if possible. This will provide habitat and shelter for certain species including ground nesting bees and other insects. By planting a garden for pollinators, you can make a positive impact on your community, provide habitat for insects and wildlife and have a beautiful garden that offers blooms for every season.

MAY 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

Perennials that bring pollinators Here are some plants you can use to attract pollinators to your garden. The pollinators that are attracted to each type of plant are listed and if the plant is also a host plant, that is indicated. Eastern Bluestar (Amsonia tabermontana) provides blue flowers in April and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. It also is a host. Eastern Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata var. pulchra) blooms with pink flowers from July to September and attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, beetles, wasps, flies and is a host plant.

▲Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) provides orange flowers from May to August (and may rebloom in the fall). It attracts butterflies and honeybees and is a host plant. Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis) sprouts blue flowers in April and May. It attracts butterflies and bees and is a host. Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) produces yellow flowers in March, April and May. It attracts bees and flies.

Lobed Coreopsis (Coreopsis auriculata) produces golden yellow flowers in April, May and June and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillate) provides yellow flowers from May to July and attracts butterflies, syrphid flies, honeybees. Hairy Sunflower (Helianthus resinosus) grows lemon yellow flowers from June to September and attracts bees and butterflies. American Alumroot (Heuchera americana) produces white flowers from April to June and attracts hummingbirds and sweat bees.

Piedmont Smooth Phlox (Phox glaberrima) yields pink flowers from April to June, attracts butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and is a host. Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta), a biennial that reseeds freely, grows yellow-orange flowers from September to frost and attracts butterflies and birds. Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odora) produces yellow flowers from July to October and attracts butterflies, bees, beetles. It is also a host.

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attracts butterflies and bees. It also is a host. American Holly (Ilex americana) produces tiny white flowers in April, May and June. It attracts bees. Piedmont Azalea (Rhododendron canescens) — there are lots of varieties of native azaleas to try — grows pink flowers in April and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. It also is a host.

Shrubs and Trees ▲Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia) produces red flowers from March to April, and attracts hummingbirds and bees.

Oak-leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), produces white flowers from May to July and attracts flies and wasps.

▲Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) produces white flowers in April and May and

Rabbit eye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei) grows white to light pink flowers and attracts bumblebees.

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MAY 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

PERSONAL SAFETY

Despite the spitting, baseball is a gentleman’s game STAY SAFE Steve Rose is a retired Sandy Springs Police captain, veteran Fulton County police officer and freelance writer. He is the author the book “Why Do My Mystic Journeys Always Lead to the Waffle House?” and the column “View from a Cop.”

“Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand.”— Leo Durocher The best way to understand baseball is to play it. I was fortunate that my father was my coach and taught me many things about the game, including fundamentals of fielding, hitting, throwing, cursing, and spitting protocols. Baseball players spit. I don’t believe it comes from some physiological trigger requiring the body to spit as a defense mechanism but rather for appearance. Managers rely on good spitters to carry the game in critical situations. It is fact that all great baseball players over the years were accomplished spitters. In game one of the 1988 World Series, in the bottom of the ninth inning. Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda needs a pinch hitter. He looks at his bench players, all wearing clean white uniforms—except Kirk Gibson, whose jersey is stained by tobacco juice, the result of two packs of Red Man over the course of the game. “Grab a bat and get in there Gibby!” Lasorda shouts. Gibson picks up a bat and limps to the plate where he fouled off several pitches before sending a backdoor slider over the fence for a walk-off win and a decent segue to my next point. Baseball has a love for slang words about everything. From player’s nicknames to pitches, to game descriptions, baseball spares no effort to create new language opportunities.

The backdoor slider, mentioned above, is a pitch that moves horizontally across the plate, giving a deceptive appearance that it will be outside, thus a ball, but cuts back over the back edge of the plate. Basic pitches are fastball, curveball, and changeup. Each has their own variation. A curve can be a “12-6” curve, breaking top to bottom, 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock. A “slurve” is a combination of a curve and slider. A slider usually breaks laterally, the slurve starts laterally, then dips. A changeup

and use this pitch on an 0-2 count.” Few pitchers have developed the ability to throw a knuckleball, actually gripped by the tip of the pitcher’s fingers and released in a way that causes the ball not to spin. It floats in the wind and where it lands is anyone’s guess. Former major league catcher Bob Uecker said “The best way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and then pick it up.” The beloved “spitball” is an illegal pitch that is moistened, originally, in the old days, by

two reasons for a hitter to get chin music. One: during a previous at bat, he “went deep” for a home run and showboated while running the bases. It is not good to show the other team up during the home-run trot, including running the bases too slowly. He should expect chin music his next trip to the plate. The second reason is sacrificial. If your team’s pitcher threw a knock-down pitch deemed intentional, and you are the first batter of the next halfinning, you should expect some chin music. Years ago, toward the end of

is a pitch gripped with three fingers rather than two and is thrown in such a way that it crosses the plate 10 or so MPH slower that a fastball to mess up the batter’s timing. If used too much, the batters will adjust and the pitch becomes batting practice. Other changeup pitches include the forkball and the Vulcan Curve, a pitch gripped the same way Mr. Spock formed his hand when he said, “Go forth

tobacco juice stain, to give the ball an erratic path as it approaches the plate. The fastball is just that. Other names for the fastball are “heater” and “cheese.” A pitcher is said to be “bringing the cheese” when he’s on with his fastball and when he’s pitching well over the top, he’s “bringing serious cheese.” Sometimes a batter will get “chin music,” or “serious cheese up and in.” There are usually

my illustrious mediocre amateur baseball career, we were playing in a tournament somewhere. During my at-bat, I got lucky catching a hanging curve on the bat’s sweet spot, sending the ball just barely over the fence and a free ride around the bases. My knees were pre-replacement and cartilage challenged, meaning every step was bone-on-bone. I limped around the bases and when I crossed the plate, I could see the catcher’s disdainful

MAY 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

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Kirk Gibson rounds the bases in ‘Only in Hollywood,’ MLB Network’s 1988 documentary.

look on his face, meaning I was getting the chin music next atbat. Two innings later, I walked to the plate and told the catcher and umpire that my knees were really bad, hence the slow trot,

and pleaded for a low target. My request was granted and I got a changeup to the region of the buttocks. I tipped my cap, spit, and limped to first base. The pitcher spit and nodded. It’s truly a gentleman’s game.

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MAY 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

PERSONAL HEALTH

Keep watch on the aches and pains that come with aging thinking healthy Shelly Howell is the author of “Don’t be a Wuss: Inspiration for a great life after 60.”

As we age, we all have a general sense that we’re going to slow down. We know that we’re susceptible to more diseases and conditions than young people. This shouldn’t be a surprise as we’ve been around old people throughout our lives. So why does it seem that since I turned 60, I feel like I’m falling apart? I have always felt blessed that I’m a healthy person. I get my flu shot. I go to the gym and walk my dogs regularly. I get my yearly screenings and bloodwork done. Yet, since I turned 60, I get migraines when I drink wine. I had physical therapy for my back because I don’t stand up from my chair correctly at work. Last night, I realized that my big toe hurt, and as I lay in bed searching the internet for the answer, I’m terrified that I found it: I might have gout. The human body, sadly, doesn’t come with a handbook. If it did, it would say things like: After 60, always use the handrail on the stairs. Or perhaps: Don’t lift anything heavy because you no longer have flexible ligaments. It should also say: Buy a lot of ibuprofen because you’re going to need it. It feels as though I’m rapidly

getting more and more fragile, and I now understand why some seniors walk around like they’re navigating an icy lake. These are people who have fallen through the ice before. It’s important to note that while the signs of aging hit all of us at some point, there are aches and pains that we should never ignore. These are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: ■ Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or

one or both eyes. ■ Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination. ■ Sudden severe headache with no known cause. These are all signs of a stroke and warrant the fastest call you can make to 911. My husband walked into the bedroom a couple of years ago and told me that something was wrong. He couldn’t pick up his left foot and he couldn’t move his left hand. He had a stroke from undiagnosed atrial

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

leg, especially on one side of the body. ■ Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech. ■ Sudden trouble seeing in

MAY 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

fibrillation (afib) and he needed an immediate ambulance. He was lucky because we knew what was happening and got help quickly. He recovered completely.

There’s a second set of symptoms the CDC says you should watch for as you age: ■ Chest pain or discomfort ■ Upper back or neck pain ■ Shortness of breath ■ Pain in the neck, jaw or throat ■ Pain in the upper abdomen or back ■ Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations) These are all signs that you may be having a heart attack and you need to call 911 or head to the emergency room. Just to make life more confusing, other symptoms of a heart condition include indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting, extreme fatigue, upper body discomfort and dizziness. These are all things we’re likely to have experienced across a normal year. The more you know your body, the easier it is to determine if you’re having a serious episode, or you simply ate the wrong burrito for lunch. There is no doubt that aging brings with it a wild array of bodily changes. Some of them are just annoying, and some are truly dangerous. It’s important to start paying attention to your health, talking to your doctor more frequently and working on some good habits that keep you safe and healthy. And for heaven’s sake, stay away from icy lakes.

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PERSONAL CARE

New business helps older adults stay connected and independent By Kathy Dean Caregivers for seniors often feel frustrated when they are unable to meet all the demands of their loved ones. Now a new, app-based, paid-by-thehour service is opening in several north Atlanta metro communities — including Sandy Springs, Buckhead, Midtown, Decatur and Vinings — to provide a backup. Naborforce, a “labor force of neighbors,” digitally connects people who need services with “Nabors” in the area who can prepare meals, pick up prescriptions, provide rides to and from doctor appointments and take care of other simple daily needs. They’re also available to help in other ways, such as caring for pets, shopping for gifts, or taking clients to the library. Clients can sign up and schedule online or by phone to get the help they need. The cost is $30-35 per hour with a minimum of one hour. Monthly plans offer discounted hourly rates. Native Atlantan Paige Vohs, the local Naborhood Lead, said she’s excited that the company is entering the Atlanta market “as there is such a need and demand for assistance with our growing aging market to support aging in place.” She’s especially looking forward to growing the pool of skilled, friendly helpers Nabors “who can provide loving help, care and friendship to those who need a helping hand.”

Finding and filling a need

Naborforce was started in late 2018 by Paige Wilson of Richmond, Va., who held senior positions in the finance industry. Since then, Naborforce has completed over 20,000 visits. When her mother broke her hip about 10 years ago, Wilson found herself in a bind. “I was the alpha daughter and wanted

Naborforce employees visit shut ins

explained. Wilson found a lot of great homecare options, which came with hourly minimums and contracts, but said her mother “still saw herself as independent and vibrant, not needing that level of care. At the time I just kept thinking, ‘I need another me!’” She shared some statistics: the number of people older than 80 of is expected to triple over the next three decades, as 11,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 every day. “And over that same period, the number of family members available to

challenge for Naborforce, Wilson said. “As you can imagine, when COVID first came on the scene, it was devastating. At the very time our clients needed us the most, we couldn’t be there for them!” she said. The company’s revenue dropped 90% in the first few months, but “as the pandemic began to come under control and safety protocols were implemented, our business actually accelerated,” she said, adding that now even more seniors want to age in their home and more family caregivers need backup and respite. While keeping everyone safe was a huge challenge, Wilson reported that last year, Naborforce performed 10,000 visits and had no cases of transmitting the virus to a client.

Won’t you be my Nabor?

Paige Vohs

to be there for her, but I had a demanding job and was raising a teenage daughter,” she said. “I lived five minutes away, but it was just more than I could do.” Wilson didn’t want her mother to lose access to the things that were important to her — living independently in her own home and traveling to activities like bridge club. She said she didn’t realize at the time that she was one of 52 million caregivers trying to juggle it all. “When I started looking for a backup, I found there was a huge void between when you don’t need any help and when you start needing aids and nurses,” she

Paige Wilson

help is dropping in half — not to mention they are more and more disbursed and sandwiched.”

Inspired by joy through challenges

Naborforce will open in eight more communities this year and hopes to be able to serve families and communities across the country over the next five years. Wilson wants to “continue spreading joy to as many older adults and their families as possible. We talk about being “Inspired by Joy” all the time — my mom’s name was Joy!” she said. The recent pandemic was a big

Naborforce also provides a flexible source of income for a workforce that ranges in age from 21 to 79, with an average age of 55. “Most are empty nesters and retirees who have compassion for older folks,” Wilson said. Nabors get a sense of purpose while earning some extra income. “The connections we are making every day are so inspiring. It’s really the essence of community supporting community,” she said. “Our markets embrace us because at the core, it’s community supporting community. We are providing a technology platform that harnesses the strength of community.”

To find out more about using the Naborforce services or becoming a Nabor, visit naborforce.com or call 404-493-9555.

MAY 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

ARTS

THINGS TO DO

Chantelle Rytter leads the return of spring the BeltLine Lantern Parade festivals

By Isadora Pennington After a long pandemic hiatus, the beloved Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade returns earlier than usual and on a new route. This year’s parade steps off May 21 on the Westside Trail, but you can expect the same music, laughter, cheering, and a sea of fantastical glowing creatures and puppets. The 12th annual Lantern Parade will, as usual, be led by its creator and parade expert, Chantelle Rytter. With a deep love for the art form that ties back to her affection for New Orleans, she has made it her mission to bring the joy of parading to Atlanta. In college, Rytter was devoted to the theater. She directed, she wrote, and she acted. After graduation, she found herself at a bit of a loss, unsure of what her next steps would be. On a whim, she moved to New Orleans

and quickly fell in love with the culture and traditions there. “My first Mardi Gras there just spun my head around,” said Rytter. “It engages the whole town and shifts the vibe. It changes social boundaries.” One of the magical elements of parade culture is the way it enables connection between strangers. “We have a common calling to delight one another,” she said. The interactions between performers and bystanders might be short, but they are powerful. Just a moment of recognition, an exchange of beads, or a smile passed from one to another, can be enough to make an indelible impression on a person. Anyone can join the processional which makes these parades a unique outlet for community engagement. “It’s soul fun; the kind of fun that touches your soul,” said

MAY 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com

Rytter. “Collective joy, we need it.” Since its inaugural run in 2010, the BeltLine Lantern Parade has grown in strides. From an initial crowd of 400 to nearly 70,000 in 2019, it’s clear that the infusion of parade culture into this city has met a need. And it’s safe to say, the city has returned the love. After getting married and moving to Atlanta in the late 1990s, she quickly found a sense of community in the city and developed some incredible friendships. In a nod to Mardi Gras and New Orleans, she founded the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons in 1999. The group began parading in the Little Five Points Halloween Parade and organized a gnome march in 2018 in an effort to break the Guinness Book of World Record largest gathering of people dressed as garden gnomes. The Krewe is also a regular participant in the Inman Park Festival Parade. The success of the BeltLine Lantern Parade put Rytter in demand to create similar events in other areas, including the Take It to The River Lantern Parade in Sandy Springs, Parliament of Owls Lantern Parade in Midtown, and the Hilton Head Island Lantern Parade, among others. Sitting in her Adair Park home that she shares with husband Steve Eberhardt (the photographer responsible for many of the most iconic shots of the parades), Rytter has handcrafted hippos, skeletons, owls, as well as a giant replica of her beloved late cat. She finds fulfillment in the hands-on nature of her craft. New challenges like how to make lanterns float on water, how to make them articulate, and how to make these creations wearable and mobile are all significant challenges that she faces with curiosity, playfulness, determination, and talent. “Seeing the people you share a city with as playful volumes of light does the body good,” Rytter said. “The idea that you personally can contribute to the culture of your city. I love that.”

By Kathy Dean With pandemic restrictions loosening, many of Atlanta’s favorite events are slated to return this year. We’ve rounded up a variety of the festivals happening this month and in early June that you can add to your calendar. Furry Weekend Atlanta Costumes are optional at the annual furry convention, May 5-8 at Atlanta Marriott Marquis. furryweekend.com. Decatur Arts Festival An Art Walk and Artists Market, as well as music, food, and special performances, are planned for Downtown Decatur on May 6-8. decaturartsfestival. com. Atlanta Derby Festival Derby-themed fun with music, bourbon cocktails, wine, and beer is set for May 7, 1-8 p.m. at Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark. atlantaderbyfestival.com. Celébréz en Rosé Pink or white attire is required for this themed wine and music festival at Historic Fourth Ward Park on May 7. celebrezenrose. com. Sweet Auburn Springfest Two days of music, food, comedy and more, May 7-8, will celebrate the history, heritage, and achievements of Atlanta’s African Americans. sweetauburn.com. Peach Party Atlanta A series of LGBTQ+ music events will be held May 12-15 at various Atlanta locations. peachpartyatlanta.com. Virginia-Highland Porchfest Music will be performed on porches throughout VaHi on May 14. There’ll even be a rock and roll themed 5K run. virginiahighlanddistrict.com.

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Kirkwood Spring Fling There’s something for everyone—5K race, kids’ area, food, artist market, Tour of Homes and Wing Fling—at the Spring Fling on May 14, 12-8 p.m. at Bessie Branham Park. historickirkwood.org.

Atlanta Field Day Register by May 15 to take part in the annual adults’ field sport event—with obstacle courses, tug-of-war and relay races—at Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark on May 21. atlfieldday.com. MomoCon The all-ages anime, gaming, cosplay event is at the Georgia World Congress Center May 2629. momocon.com.

Chastain Park Spring Arts and Craft Festival Fine works from 175 artists and artisans are featured, as well as food and music, on May 14-15 along Park Drive. chastainparkartsfestival.com. Atlanta Cycling Festival Eight days of cycling fun, May 15-22, include bike rides, parties and special events throughout the city. atlantacyclingfestival. com. Atlanta Fringe Festival Audiences are invited to connect with adventurous artists May 16-22 at locations in Little Five Points and Candler Park. atlantafringe.org. Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade Admission is free for this magical nighttime parade on May 21 along the BeltLine. art. beltline.org.

Atlanta DocuFest and ShortsFest Several filmmaking festivals are scheduled at RoleCall Theatre at Ponce City Market. International documentaries are featured May 27-29; docufest. com. ShortsFest, June 25-26, showcases independent short films; atlantashortsfest.com. Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Caribbean culture is featured with music and a parade at Atlanta’s Central Park on May 28. atlantacarnival.org. Atlanta R&B Wine, Food & Music Festival On May 28, 3-8 p.m., live bands will play R&B/Neo Soul while participants, ages 21+ only, enjoy fine wine, food and fresh air at

Herbie Hancock/Atlanta Jazz Festival

The Center in Decatur. Search at eventbrite.com. Atlanta Jazz Festival Piedmont Park will ring out with music during this celebration of jazz on May 2830. The artist line-up includes Herbie Hancock, Masego, The Baylor Project, Julie Dexter, and George Benson. atljazzfest.com. Candler Park Music Festival Grace Potter, CBDB, the Disco Biscuits, Cha Wa and other musicians will take the stage June 3-4. Food trucks, artists and local vendors also will be on hand. candlerparkmusicfestival. com. Virginia-Highland Summerfest On June 11, Va-Hi celebrates

their historic neighborhood with music, art, 5K run and at John Howell Park. vahisummerfest.org. Atlanta Summer Beer Festival Historic Fourth Ward Parks hosts a festival on June 12, 4-8 p.m., for ages 21 and over to experience local and national beers while listening to live music. atlantasummerbeerfestival.com. Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival On June 17-19, the celebration of African American Emancipation at Atlanta’s Centennial Park will include a parade, performances, arts, and music. juneteenthatl. com.

Visit our event calendar @ HowDoYouAtlanta.com