Black Hills Boomer Magazine - Volume 13 by Tout Advertising

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Inside this issue The Lead Role in an Opera House 6

Zoom 101 20

Crossword Answers 23

Let’s Get Dirty 24

Sculpture in the Hills 28

Ode to Late Bloomers 32

History

A Fuller Lead

Feature

Technology

Crossword

It Takes a Village 10 Family

Looking Ahead 14

Crossword

Standing Tall

5 Posture Tips for Seniors

Home & Garden

Entertainment Humor

Health & Fitness

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THE LEAD ROLE IN AN OPERA HOUSE Like any good opera, there is a rich

backdrop of storytelling dripping with drama, tragedy, and victory, and the history of the Homestake Opera House is ironically much the same. The Homestake Opera House and Recreation Building was built in 1914 by Phoebe Apperson Hearst, who inherited partial ownership of the Homestake Mining Company upon the death of her husband, George Hearst, and Thomas Grier, the Homestake Mining Company superintendent. The original building boasted a 1000-seat theatre; a heated, indoor swimming pool; a bowling alley; a weight room; and a library, as well as rooms for billiards, cards, and meetings. The original purpose of the building was twofold: to provide a place for community events and to provide a place for recreation for Homestake employees and their families, who could enjoy most of the activities for free. Mrs. Hearst continued to show her support

History

BY ALISSA MESSINGER PHOTOS BY ERICA LANE HARVEY AND HOMESTAKE OPERA HOUSE

of the Lead community by opening the first kindergarten in this company town. At a time in history in which the focus of big business rested almost exclusively on dollars made, sacrificing the health, safety, and wellbeing of its workers, Hearst and Grier showed great insight into the idea that focusing on family and community served to strengthen not only their workers but also the business, transforming the company into the largest gold mine in the world. In April of 1984, as the Homestake Opera House was hosting a full calendar of events such as The Wizard of Oz, summer theatre, concerts, and the very first Festival of Trees, when tragedy struck. A fire started near the organ in the theatre and quickly spread throughout the wooden structures, eventually causing the floor to collapse and major destruction to the theatre. The building would lie dormant for the next 11 years until two members of the Lead Historic Preservation Society, Phyllis Fleming and Lea Mathis, approached the former Mayor of Lead Jacqualyn (Jacque) Fuller with plans for restoring and reopening the building. Together, the three women wrote a grant proposal and the 25-year restoration project began. As part of the renovation project, an Interpretive Center has been erected in the former library. The original curved circulation desk welcomes visitors into a treasure trove of priceless mementos of the Homestake Opera House and Recreation Building as well as the entire area. Included in the collection are the original chandelier that fell through the floor into the swimming pool during the fire, and a charred box seat. Remnants from the 6-lane bowling alley like shoes, pins, and bowling balls fill another area. Teenagers from Lead, including Mrs. Fuller’s own son, worked as pinsetters. In another area, the original Deadman’s Board, which was used to operate all of the mechanisms for productions in the theatre, is featured along with posters of prominent events such as boxing matches, plays, and movies that were shown in the theatre. The renovation and restoration of the Historic Homestake Opera House has been a labor of love and persistence. Countless volunteers have donated their time, expertise, and funds to

History

painstakingly restore the intricate designs in the plasterwork using the same templates and even paint colors as the original design. Every attempt has been made to restore damaged light fixtures, wood floors, and other artifacts, and the results are nothing less than spectacular. The tireless support of many community volunteers and others passionate about bringing the Opera House back to life has succeeded in making the historic building a viable community center ready to host a multitude of events. Development Director Jan Bloom says the Homestake Opera House is opening with the purpose of “educating and serving the community.” Together, the people of the Black Hills can help restore the “Jewel of the Black Hills” to its former prominence. As we look toward the arrival of spring and start planning for summer events in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, there’s a historic venue just waiting to be your host. The Jewel of the Black Hills is open for business. As the renovations have continued, many more spaces are available to rent. The new development director, Jan Bloom, is excited to assist you in planning a unique event as you take advantage of the exquisite architecture of this Black Hills treasure. If you are interested in supporting the Historic Homestake Opera House or renting it as a venue, information may be found on their website at www.homestakeoperahouse.org. BHB

History

A FULLER LEAD

Some people just know how to take the lead and make things better. And that’s just what Jacque Fuller did as the first woman elected to the Lead City Commission. After serving only two terms, she was elected mayor of Lead. While serving in this capacity, she appointed the first Lead Historic Preservation Commission with help from Lea Mathis. Mathis and Phyllis Fleming approached Jacque after the devastating fire at the Homestake Opera House. They proposed raising funds to restore the building, and together they founded the Historic Homestake Opera House Society and wrote the first grant. Jacque’s passion for not only the Homestake Opera House, but for the entire community of Lead where she and her husband, Peter Fuller, raised their four children, was evident on the tour of the Opera House she recently led. “There’s a story around every corner,” she said as she chronicled events held in the building over the years prior to the fire, such as the family movie nights and boxing matches. Her knowledge about the artwork, such as the Viking ship mural at the top of the grand staircase that was destroyed in the fire but was later recreated on a removable canvas in case of another such disaster, is invaluable local history. Jacque is also a wealth of information about the decades-long journey it has been restoring the historic building. From the never-ending job of finding funds to hiring artisans who can recreate the original intricate designs in the plasterwork, cornices, and paintings, Jacque Fuller and a team of volunteers from the community have been tireless in their pursuit of restoring the “Jewel of the Black Hills” to its former grandeur. BHB

Feature

It Takes a Village By Brittany Pruess

Today, perhaps more than ever, young parents are discovering that it truly does take a village to raise a child. As a result, more grandparents are finding themselves in the field eagerly anticipating the opportunity to lend a helping hand. However, grandparents are also learning how to dance the fine line of supportiveness versus meddling in the details of their grandchildren’s upbringing. How can a grandparent’s contribution be a buoy instead of a grenade?

Family

Setting Aside Time Setting aside time for one-on-one discussion regarding parenting challenges specifically is one of the greatest contributions a grandparent can offer a new parent. By carving out this time together, grandparent and parent create an opportunity to discuss struggles, celebrate “wins,” and communicate areas of growth and/or encouragement away from the young child. Nonconstructive correction or guidance in front of a growing child is often the result of not setting aside this quality time. When grandparents provide feedback to the adult in front of the child, it leaves the parent feeling like the child rather than the adult in the situation. Asking Questions Before grandparents share their wealth of knowledge around a given topic, they may want to ask themselves a significant question: “Is how my child is responding to his or her child detrimental or unwise for my grandchild?” If the adult is simply navigating a situation differently than they would, but the parent is not giving instruction that is unwise or harmful, grandparents may want to consider not approaching the subject. By not contributing to every subject that arises, the adult-child is then more likely to follow advice when it is provided for a particular situation. Defining Expectations Perhaps one of the greatest obstacles in creating an environment of support is neglecting house rules set in place by an adult-child. It is extremely tempting to have exceptions for a young child when her or she is at grandma and grandpa’s house. For example, the grandparent may want to offer their grandchildren candy, let them watch television more than their parents allow, or let them stay up as late as they want. Although these allowances may seem harmless, if they go against the rules of the adult-child, the grandparent is doing a disservice to the parent. When house rules are negated at a grandparent’s house, it raises the question why the child has to follow the rules at his or

Family

her own home. Discussing potential treats that are unique to visiting the grandparents beforehand leaves the grandparent feeling appreciated and the parent respected. It also allows for consistency in the life of the child. For example, if a parent does not want the grandparent to give his or her child candy, the parent and grandparent should discuss what the child may have as a special treat instead. Although the rules are the same, there is “freedom” at the grandparent’s house within those rules—no candy, but definitely grandmother’s homemade chocolate chip cookies! Sharing + Participating Cherished traditions are also precious gifts many grandparents share with their adultchildren with the expectation that they will pass them down throughout the generations. They are aspects of a family’s history that tell a story and connect one generation of children to the next. However, with every generation, there is the opportunity to create new traditions as well. There is beauty to be found in the experience of sharing family traditions as they are passed down from generation to generation while at the same time engaging in the new activities as well. If parents of an adult-child are able to recognize this opportunity to build upon established traditions, rather than viewing

Family

the experience as a deviation from familial heritage, it enables them to participate in all of the traditions, both the old and the new. This exchange allows each generation to share pieces of themselves with the budding family branches. Many cross-generational families experience the growing pains of bringing up a child. Even when expectant parents discuss and implement foundational elements for raising their child, there is no practical way parents can prepare for all situations or circumstances they will come across in parenting. However, when grandparents and parents come together in the spirit of celebrating successes and carrying family traditions, they create op portunities for connection and growth, leaving little room for well-intended harm, but rather welcoming support throughout the process of raising up the next generation. BHB

Family

BY DAVID DECHRISTOPHER

38 42

47 50

54 61

56 62

Crossword

44 48

25 28

ACROSS

39. Nebr. neighbor

DOWN

1. Old enough (2 words)

40. (----)-deucey

6. Drive the getaway car, maybe

41. Legendary Black Hills snowstorm of 2013

1, Bad boy rocker who visited the Black Hills in 2015

10. Sets a dog on 14. Jeweler at the Rushmore Mall 15. Dark soda 16. Eye part 17. Two acts scheduled for the upcoming Sturgis Rally 20. Twelve Months 21. ---- Enterprises (parent company of the Rapid City Journal) 22. Stowe villain 23. Moo goo ---- pan (Golden Phoenix dish; 2421 West Main) 25. Neither all nor none 26. Zoom feature local businesses are using 32. “---- y plata” (Montana motto) 33. Health maintenance organization 34. Attorney Nelson (3409 West Main) 36. Tackle protection 38. Gratuity

2. Disconcert

28. North American capital 29. Bring together 30. Palindromic lady

44. Ripen

3. Utah skiing mecca

31. Black Hills Community Theatre platform

45. April 16 event at the Homestake Opera House

4. Washington on the corner of 6th & St. Joseph

32. (----)-Locka, Florida

49. Crimson Tide, for short

5. 6th sense

50. Exchanged vows 51. Fine goat hair 54. Mystique Edge on Mt. Rushmore, for one 56. Minnesota lake

6. Teen spots 7. Skiing great Miller 8. Black ---- (famed Oglala Lakota leader) 9. Master ---- & Alterations (620 West Boulevard)

35. ---- out (just get by) 37. Figurative 42. Fighting 43. That girl 46. 1870s Deadwood lawman 47. Intelligence

10. OR workers

48. “The voice of the Civil Rights movement”

63. Black Hills photographer Kahnke

11. Actor Novello

50. Italian wine region

12. Gospel great Winans

52. Nutrisystem rival

64. Roy’s Black Hills ---Drive-In

13. Fuji Sushi and ---Bar (Rushmore Mall)

53. Gershon or Rodriguez

65. Black Hills ---(online site for local bargains)

18. Similar

54. Take a turn, maybe

19. Audition CD

55. Breathe heavily

66. Family of desktop computers

24. “Where your journey begins”

57. Blind ---- (512 9th Street)

67. Transmitted

25. Diet mainstay

68. Window squares

26. Jelly Bird Eggs maker

58. Pizza and ---(Rushmore Mall eatery)

60. It’s time for gardeners to do this

27. Black Hills Stock Show and ----

61. She sheep 62. Cleopatra’s assassin

Crossword

Standing Tall 5 Posture Tips for Seniors By Sara McEvoy

Ever wondered how much your head weighs? On average, it’s about 10 to 12 pounds. That may not sound like a lot for your spine to carry around all day. But there’s a bio-mechanical rule of thumb that says that for every one inch the head is held forward—picture someone slouching at their desk or looking down at their smartphone—an additional 10 pounds of force is felt on the neck. This additional force puts increased stress on tissues in the neck and upper back, and over time it can contribute to chronic issues like headaches, jaw pain, neck pain, and back pain. Poor posture has even been linked to issues like impaired digestion, abnormal breathing, and lowered mood and self-esteem. It’s no surprise then that fixing your posture can have a huge impact on your overall health—even if you’ve never considered it to be an issue before. “Improving posture is usually where we start,” says Dr. Ariann Wolff, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine of West River Acupuncture and Wellness in Rapid City, who works primarily with seniors experiencing chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, and neuropathy. “Poor posture is often not even what they’re coming in for, but it’s something we can address that will really make a difference.” The natural next question is, How exactly does posture get better?

Health & Fitness

“One of the biggest challenges for my patients is that they have the mistaken perception that it’s too late to improve their posture,” Dr. Wolff says. But while improving your posture might require some conscious effort on the front end, there are a variety of approaches you can take to make a meaningful difference in the way you carry yourself—which can have compounding benefits on your overall function and independence. 5 Ways to Improve Posture 1. Practice mind-body movement exercises, like yoga or tai chi. These activities help you tap into important things like balance, endurance, range of motion, and proprioception (body awareness). 2. Incorporate deep breathing exercises into your daily routine. Your breath is connected to your core muscles via your nervous system, so doing things like deep nasal breathing can help re-establish proper core engagement and stabilize your posture. Try lying on your back for two minutes with your hand or a box of tissues on your stomach, making sure you feel it rise as you breathe in through your nose and fall as you breathe out through your mouth.

Health & Fitness

3. Practice these exercises:

• Sit in a chair and slouch forward as much as you can. Then do the opposite, straightening up as much as you can. Finally, settle somewhere in the middle, with your chest up and your belly button pulled slightly toward your spine.

• Neck rotations: Bring your chin toward your spine and hold for a few counts. Then lift your head up, pointing your chin toward the sky. Finally, drop your right ear toward your right shoulder, then switch, bringing your left ear toward your left shoulder. 4. Change your position more often. Good posture isn’t just about finding a perfect position and staying there. Moving in and out of positions promotes circulation, joint lubrication, and lymphatic drainage. If you need reminders, try using little Post-It Notes at your work space, in your car, on your fridge, etc. 5. Consult with a professional. “Posture often corrects itself once you get out of pain,” observes Dr. Wolff, so working with a chiropractor or physical therapist can be incredibly valuable. A wellness provider can give you personalized insights regarding footwear, sleeping position, and workspace ergonomics, while also helping you heal any underlying tissue damage and restore the endurance, strength, and joint mobility you need to start feeling your best. BHB

Health & Fitness

101

B y D a n i elle B ea dle

Although the Zoom buzz may be dying down, it is still being incorporated into our daily lives. Most of us have figured out how to join a Zoom call; however, some of us may need a refresher on the basics. To start, you’ll need to download Zoom—Apple and Android smart phone users will have to download the app from their app stores. The app is free and should install relatively quickly. If you are on a computer, you will need to download the application from the website (https://zoom.us/download); click “Download” in the “Zoom Client for Meetings” section. After the app is downloaded, you must install it onto your computer.

Join a Meeting There are a few different ways to join a Zoom meeting that has been set up by someone else already. Either you can click the link in the email that includes your invitation or you can enter the meeting ID on the website or on the app that has been previously downloaded. Once you have selected your meeting to join, Zoom will ask you a couple of questions. You can either “join with video” or “join without video.” If you decide to not use video, the other people in the meeting will only see your name and not you. Zoom will then ask you about your audio preference. If you would like to be heard in your meeting, click “join with computer audio.”

Set up a Meeting Open up Zoom & sign in. Click on the “schedule icon.” This will open the scheduler window that will allow you to choose your meeting settings, which include things like the date of your meeting as well as your meeting topic. After you have chosen all of your settings, click “Save” to finish. Zoom will then prompt you with all of the details of your future meeting.

Participate in a Meeting Although participating in your meeting isn’t difficult, here a few pointers to help your meeting run smoothly. If you are in a large meeting, mute your microphone. The mute button is in the bottom left corner of the screen and looks like a microphone. You will know your microphone is muted once it has a red line through it. To unmute, just click

Science & Technology

the button again. Muting your microphone when you are not talking is helpful to those who are on the meeting because they won’t have to listen to all of your background noise. Although the Zoom meeting shows everyone on the screen, only one person is able to speak at one time during your meeting. Zoom indicates who is speaking by highlighting that person’s square yellow. If multiple people speak at once, it is very difficult to understand what they are saying, as the volume tends to cut out. A great alternative to speaking all at once is the chat option that is available. In the chat feature, you can type messages to other participants or the whole meeting. This is great when you want to add something to the meeting but don’t want to speak out of turn. When you are done with your meeting, all you have to do is click “leave meeting” on the bottom right corner. BHB

Science & Technology

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S D A K

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R E P 67

S M A G E

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U V E A

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ANSWERS

B R W A

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Crossword

Let's Get Dirty By Sarah Grassel

No, not that. Gardening! Spring showers have now arrived and the grass is getting greener every day. The birds are chirping in the morning and soon grass and flowers will be sprouting. It won’t be long before we can all be outdoors waving to the neighbors over the fence and getting our hands into the dirt to prep our gardens for the season. It’s easy to get eager and excited for the summer season, but take a deep breath and don’t get ahead of yourself. Before planting, there’s a lot of preparation you can do during the last stretch of the frost season. “If you’ve been in the area for very long, you know that it could be sunny one day and frosty or snowing two days later,” Tim Sime jokes. As co-owner of Jolly Lane Greenhouse in Rapid City, Tim has grown up in the planting business all of his life. Before putting plants in the ground, it’s important to amend your soils. According to Tim, the Black Hills soil is heavy, not easily drained, and doesn’t always make for the most hospitable planting environment. The native plants like trees and shrubbery

Home & Garden

can handle the heavy soil, but when it comes down to gardening, you need to give the ground a little therapy. “When we have nice days in the spring, focus on yard cleanup and soil amending,” he adds. What does that mean? Amending the soil is like nursing it back to a healthy condition. The best soil for planting and growing is light and has good air porosity. “Add compost, peat moss, vermiculite, perlite, or other soil amendments,” Tim advises. Adding these materials to the soil doesn’t only nurse the condition but also provides added nutrients. According to Tim, manure is also a good additive; chicken, sheep, and steer manure are all good options.

To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves. - Mahatma Gandhi

In addition to preparing the soil for the garden, many vegetables can be started indoors before planting them in the ground. Research over the winter and plan for what produce will go in your garden. Some plants can be seeded earlier in the season, as they thrive in cooler temperatures and can even possibly survive minor frosts. It isn’t until mid- to late-May, however that most plants can be put into the ground. Starting your plants indoors is a solid plan to avoid an early death, but that doesn’t mean it’s any easier. Tim says, “You need to ensure the three key components are maintained indoors, temperature, light, and moisture.” The hardest of the three is light. Outdoors, the plants have a great deal of access to organic light, the sun. Attempting to mimic that indoors seldom produces the same quality. “You need adequate light to provide quality produce. It will germinate and grow, but without the proper amount of light, your plants will be inferior to those with proficient light and access to the best nutrients,” Tim adds. The Hills have a relatively “short” growing season.

Home & Garden

Depending on the elevation you’re planting at, you may only have three to four months to complete your passion project. Every season brings a new set of challenges. While you’re growing your vegetables, landscaping, and flower beds, you’re also going to be growing your patience.

Composting If you aren’t quite sure what food waste in your home is useful for compost, here is a suggested list that uniforms well with composting: • Vegetable and fruit wastes, even if they are old and moldy • Old bread or anything that is made out of flour (crackers, pizza crust, etc.) • Cooked or uncooked grains • Coffee grounds and tea bag filters • Crushed egg shells • Corn cobs and husks • Outdated boxed pantry foods It is very important to never compost foods such as meat (including fat, gristle, etc.), fish, dairy, or grease of any kind. These items will attract rodents, bugs, and maggots, and they will break down the otherwise nutrient dense waste.

Oh Hail No The Hills have been known to have quite the crazy hail storms, especially the last few years. When it comes to protection from the hail, produce gardens are where most people are concerned. “We sell a hail netting fabric; it is designed and intended to be placed over any plant material,” Tim advocates. It’s important to have some sort of protection against the hail, although nothing is guaranteed. Tim cautions,”It only takes one hail storm, five minutes, to destroy a summer’s worth of work.” The netting available at Jolly Lane Greenhouse is lightweight, easy to set up and tear down at the end of the season, tough enough to last multiple years if handled properly, and very effective. Making the proper precautions ahead of time can save you a lot of heartache, but it may also be necessary to restore your garden some after the storm has passed. “The damage may not always be as bad as it looks immediately after the storm,” Tim says. “After assessing the situation, make sure to prune and trim any broken stems and clean up any debris over the plants.” BHB

Home & Garden

In The Hills

SCULPTURE By Kayla Gahagan

says Liddell, who is the new president of the arts council. “For some of them, it’s the first event they have gone to since 2019.”

“That first year I was so happy to be here, and then after that we always tried to schedule our trip here around it,” she says.

Liddell says the event also has a different feel this year because it has historically been spearheaded by Hill City artist Randy Berger. He stepped down to devote more time to the upcoming anniversary celebration of his art gallery.

That’s why it’s especially sweet for Liddell, who moved here from Texas, to be helping with this year’s show – the 13th annual – and the first show back after canceled activities last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s really a team effort by so many people to put this on,” she says. “And without Randy, it’s a little bit of a new rodeo this year. We are going to miss his input and leadership. He’s built such a great relationship with these artists.”

“Artists are really excited to be coming this year,”

Sculpture in the Hills was started in 2008 by

herry Liddell vacationed in the Black Hills many years ago and happened upon the Sculpture in the Hills show in Hill City.

Entertainment

the Hill City Arts Council as a nod to the area’s sculpture centerpieces – Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse National Monument. It proved a draw from the very first year and has drawn upward of 3,000 guests. This year’s event will be held June 19-20 on Main Street, open for visitors from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. the first day and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the second, and showcasing artists from Montana, Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, and North Dakota. “The original vision was to give a small-town feel for sculpture,” Liddell says. “It really is a personal, up-close event with artists and their sculpture

work. You can talk with them about their process. It’s not in an art gallery but in a tent, and it has a really personal feel.” Twenty artists set up each year and are judged by local art experts. This year’s judges include Dale Lamphere, Lynda Adelstein, and Lori Nonnast. Awards include Best of Show, with a $1,000 cash prize for first place and cash prizes for second and third. Visitors to the show will vote on the People’s Choice award, which will include a $750 cash prize for the winner. Lamphere says he is honored to judge this year.

Entertainment

“I’m humbled to be a judge and I’m delighted to see a professional art show here in the Hills,” he explains. “It brings artists from all over the region.” It’s encouraging to see sculpture work celebrated locally, he says, but art in any form is significant. “Art is a great way to communicate universal values to people,” he smiles. “It’s cross cultural. It crosses all of the various boundaries we sometimes have.” Lamphere says this year will be special. “We are all going to be so happy to be back in association with friends and colleagues,” he says. “That’s going to be wonderful. People have had difficult times weathering the pandemic in many cases and it will be a great thing to be back together.” Lamphere is hopeful the show will continue on for many years. “It takes a long time for these to take hold and I think it’s so admirable that the Hill City Arts Council and the volunteers continue on with it,”

Entertainment

he explains with admiration. “This will have a life of its own in its meaning and value, and this year especially, as there’s a lot of pent-up energy.” BHB

Ode to Late Bloomers When I saw 22-year-old Amanda Gorman reading her poetry at the inauguration on January 20, it brought back memories of my own early literary success. Not really. I did write some poetry back then, but it didn’t quite meet the standards necessary to read to 33 million people on national television—or even to a couple of supportive friends in my own living room. Maybe it’s just as well. How do you top it when you do something that grand that young? I feel so bad for Amanda Gorman. Twenty-two and it’s downhill from here. Except it’s not. Her appearance at the inauguration was followed by book sales and a modeling contract. She was even invited to read at the Super Bowl, which one doesn’t normally associate with poetry readings. I’m somewhat north of 22, and I still haven’t read poetry By Dorthy Rosby

Humor

at a Super Bowl. Or even been to one. Or even watched one on television. I’m afraid I’ve got nothing to show for my life but my carbon footprint and a couple of speeding tickets. It’s too late for me to achieve great things at 22—or 44. But forget the whiz kids of the world. At this point in my life, I’m more inspired by the story of Grandma Moses. You’ll recall Grandma Anna Mary Robertson Moses was the renowned American folk artist whose art career didn’t take off until she was 78 years old. I think of her as the patron saint of late bloomers. I’m nothing like her, of course. For one thing, I’m not an artist. Nor am I a grandma, and I’d thank you not to call me one until I have grandchildren. It’s probably not even accurate to call her a late bloomer. As a hardworking farm wife who raised five children, she was probably too busy planting to bloom any earlier. Still, since I’ve missed my chance to be a child prodigy, I’ve set my sights on being a late bloomer. Grandma Moses reminds me that it’s never too late to try something new and be successful at it. And there are many others like her. In fact, while I was researching this column, I came across an article with the inspiring headline “Celebrities Who Got Rich and Famous Late in Life.” Then I discovered that all the celebrities mentioned made it big in their 40s. I’m at an age where I don’t consider 40 to be “later in life.”

Humor

Fortunately, I found plenty of other examples of people who did big things long after they were eligible for AARP discounts. Nelson Mandela become president of South Africa when he was 76. Julia Child landed her first cooking show when she was 51. Laura Ingalls Wilder published the first of her Little House books when she was 65 and the last one when she was 76. And Colonel Sanders started Kentucky Fried Chicken when he was 65 years old. I’ve never been interested in starting fast., I’m interested in finishing well.

Ode to Late Bloomers It’s easy to envy upstarts whose success has been reached When you’re all washed up and still on the beach But if you’re waiting to bloom and feeling ashamed Remember trials often come with premature fame There’s less danger of success going to our head If it comes to us when we’re closer to dead Plus, if flowers bloomed only in spring, one and all How dull the garden would be by the fall. When I finally bloom, I think you’ll agree It won’t be because of my poetry

Dorothy Rosby is expecting to bloom any day now.

Humor

LIVING SHOULDN’T REQUIRE A MEMBERSHIP. Why should a service like air medical require a membership?

Average out-of-pocket cost for South Dakota patients using Air Methods.

During an emergency, is this the first thing on your mind? What if the membership service is not the closest? What if they don’t have necessities like on-board blood? What if these differences could save your life?

$125

Air Methods doesn’t have memberships. And we have you covered in South Dakota. We concentrate on working with your insurance company to manage your out-of-pocket costs. When you consider how often you use air medical, the savings become very apparent. We think it’s a better model for everyone, especially you.

(includes co-pays and deductibles)

Stop paying for an air medical membership you really don’t need and start living. Details at AirMethodsNMR.com

*2018 data. Average out-of-pocket costs vary slightly by state. Get the facts at airmethodsNMR.com

AirMethodsNMR.com