The Lone Star Crescent

Jan / Feb 2010 Issue | W: www.myCRESCENT.com | T: 214-306-7920 | E: dallas@myCRESCENT.com | In North TX Since 2006

Folks, there’s more inside... > Immigration Attorney Noaman Azhar on Filing An Asylum Claim ....................................................................... > Farouk Shami for Governer and his chances in the primary ....................................................................... > Journey to Mecca pulls big crowds ....................................................................... >Sabeeha Kazmi for Justice Of Peace ....................................................................... > Empowering Peacemakers ....................................................................... > Gaza the unforgotten trip ....................................................................... > An award for Guidance Residential

“The company of a good friend is like an owner of musk; if you don’t buy anything, you will get the smell of it. The company of a bad friend is like the blacksmith’s bellows; if you are not affected by its black dirt, you will be touched by its smoke.”

-Hadeeth

Aging

and my peers, who will reach that stage in thirty years or so, and can prevent facing many of the obstacles that are posed at that age.

However you look at it, each of us is bound to get old, and it can be an uncomfortable transition-but there is a bright side…

The Inevitable Years to Come

WHAT AGING DRAGS ALONG

By Sara Ghazi Sure aging is unavoidable, but looking and feeling old are an option. I’m not one to talk: in my 20s, a medical student…what would I know about aging in the prime of my youth? I’ve watched

my grandmother and others around me lose the ability to be self-sufficient, slowly deteriorate over the years, and lose interest in the things they once loved yet, they still have the keenest instincts and wisdom. Perhaps this issue is most pertinent to me

There are many frustrations that come along with aging, primarily health problems, and for women: beauty. Your senses won’t be as

honed as they are now, you’ll more frequently forget where you put your keys, and you won’t be able to eat the same things you do now. Not to mention the most frustrating ailments such as uncontrollable bladder, frequent snoring, and loss of teeth.

Although there are ways to treat these annoyances, one can feel as if their body is giving up, leading them to give up mentally as well.

Giving up mentally, however, does not mean they have lost interest... Continues on page 10>>

l l a s It’

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W E N

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MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANT Seeking an Internet / Social network savvy and courteous assistant to help us boost reader membership online. Responsibilities include: Increasing various types of memberships & assisting new members upon request. Must have proper phone and internet. Apply to ads@myCresent. com. (10 hours weekly. $8.00 per hour) ................................................................................

EVENTS LISTING COORDINATOR To manage, acquire and accurately post events information online. Required skills: Excellent phone, cold calling and closing skills a MUST. Email & Internet savvy & attention to details, proficient in English, must have reliable phone & internet & able to teach organizations on events postings. (10 hours weekly. $7.00 per hour + commission) Apply: ads@myCrescent.com ................................................................................

COUPON SALES AGENT Seeking a professional and experienced sales person, promoting coupon sales through our print and online editions. Ability to communicate effectively in person, over the phone & via email is extremely important. Apply: Email to ads@ myCrescent.com. This is an independent contractor (1099) position. We offer EXCELLENT commission + bonus compensation structure. Right candidate may be able to earn $30K - $45K per year by meeting targets.

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The Lone Star Crescent | Jan / Feb 2010 | COMMUNITY REPORT

NOAMAN’S EYE ON IMMIGRATION

FILING AN ASYLUM CLAIM

By Noaman Azhar Asylum claims are at the very heart of US immigration. In fact, religious persecution in England drove the early settlers to come to America in order to escape and seek refuge.

Not much has changed since the 15th century – governments across the world continue to persecute their citizens, and refugees continue to seek protection in the US. What has changed, though, are the immigration laws that allow for refugees to seek asylum.

Those intending to apply for asylum here in the US should remember these 5 things:

1. Illegal Entry: An asylum applicant can still be approved, even if the applicant gained entry into the US without a valid travel document.

2. One Year Rule: An asylum applicant filing after April 1, 1998 must prove that they filed for asylum within one year of their last arrival in the US. There are only two exceptions to this rule. An asylum applicant can apply for asylum outside of the one year window if there is proof that their failure to apply was because of an extraordinary circumstance (e.g. serious illness) or if the conditions in their home country have changed (e.g.

Iraq in 1980 vs. Iraq today).

3. Five Grounds: In order to claim asylum in the US, an applicant must prove that he or she is being persecuted based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or particular social group.

4. Nexus: It must be proven that the government is persecuting the refugee, based on one of the 5 grounds, or the persecutor must be a group that the government is unable or unwilling to control.

5. Family Members: The spouse and/or child of a person granted asylum status in the US can also gain asylum, as long as the relationship existed at the time the application was approved. This is true even if the family members are still in the country that the asylum applicant is seeking protection from.

The United States has a storied history when it comes to accepting refugees. From England to Africa, and from Eretria to Iraq, asylum cases are, in a very real sense, about people’s lives and therefore every effort should be made to protect the rights of refugees.

This article was written by Noaman Azhar, Esq., Managing Partner of Azhar & Azhar, PLLC. It is not intended to establish an attorney-client relationship. As always, you should consult an experienced immigration attorney if you have any immigration questions.

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The Lone Star Crescent | Jan / Feb 2010 | Community Report

Journey to Mecca Drew Big Crowds

By R. “Ruqayyah” Khalifa When I arrived at the Museum of Nature & Science at Fair Park-Dallas, I found the line to be well into the middle of the lobby.

The Journey to Mecca IMAX® film hosted by the Moroccan North Texas Association (MNTA) was a sell out for its only three showings on Saturday, December 12.

Journey to Mecca is a first for an IMAX® camera crew of approximately 80 people from over 30 different nations to go aboard towards such a major, striving production that took place in the Gulf Region in December 2007. Present to kick-off the show was Chaib Salih, President of MNTA; Richardson Councilman Amir Omar; and Mohamed Eliabiary, Co Founder of the Freedom and

Justice Foundation. Filmed as a documentary feature, it tells the astonishing story of a young 21-year old, Ibn Battuta. As his first pilgrimage between 1325 and 1326, Ibn Battuta set out on his journey from Tangier, Morocco to Mecca, Saudi Arabia which was 3,000 miles to the East. This expedition marked him the greatest explorer of the Old World.

He was questioned by a friend about his plan for this long, treacherous

journey. He could not understand how he could accomplish this out in the desert on his own. After all, he was only 21-years old and could die out in the desert just from the elements itself. He told his friend that many a times he had dreams about flying to Mecca on a ‘big bird’ and that if he were to die, let it be on the journey to Mecca. Pilgrims have been risking their lives for thousands of years to reach Mecca. Ibn Battuta was no different and determined to make the journey regardless of any obstacles.

Although his parents were going to miss their son, they still supported his decision.

His father gave him a magnificent horse, some gold, and his blessing. His mother gave him a beautiful snow white ihram.

With a few navigation tools included, he was on his way.

Throughout his journey the sand guided him by day and the stars guided him by night.

The impediments did not delay in reaching him.

He was soon surrounded by thieves who attacked him to steal from him. When he was about to be killed by one of the thieves, the leader decided to spare his life since he saw the ihram in his saddle pack and knew he was heading towards the Holy City of Mecca for the pilgrimage. How great Allah (SWT) is when His creation does something for the sake of Him. He was left to continue his journey.

As he went on his way, the desert’s sun, heat, and sand storms became so over-

whelming to him that he began to hallucinate. He was found by a Bedouin family who took him to their camp and nourished him back to health. The leader of the thieves who stole from him previously happened to be member of the camp

and once again they meet. This time it was under better circumstances to where they befriend each other. Taking into consideration his weak condition when they found him, he advised him to continue his journey with a caravan from Syria. It was reiterated to him his chances of survival would be much better if he traveled with a group of people instead of on his own. Being a young lad of 21, he felt he was strong enough to take on any challenge to reach Mecca because it was the greatest of all journeys. Moreover, he already felt he was being protected by Allah (SWT) because he was doing this for the sake of Him and remembered the saying from the Prophet Mohammed (SAWS) about seeking knowledge even if you wind up in China.

As the friendship flourished between the two, the leader offered to escort him and provide him protection until he reached Cairo where Ibn Battuta was to meet with a friend. There is where their travels together came to an end. After leaving his friend’s home, this time he continued on his journey in a camel with the caravan. Many people died along the way.

The heat and sand storms were too much to endure for many. The caravan finally made it to Mecca. It made him feel so accelerating especially when he climbed to the Mountain of Mercy in Arafat where the Prophet Mohammed (SAWS) gave his last speech.

Ibn Battuta was away from his home and family for many years. He was known to have traveled three times more than Marco Polo. The dreams he was constantly having in the past were relevant to what the pilgrims of the 21-Century are now experiencing; they are the ones now flying to Mecca on a ‘big bird’---an airplane. This is the premonition he was having; however, it was not going to transpire in his lifetime.

The time span between 1325/1326 to the 21-Century is indeed a massive comparison between the pilgrims from back then to the pilgrims today. When Allah (SWT) allowed me to do Umrah last year I could

PUBLISHER Melanz Publishing P.O. Box 851764 Richardson, TX 75085 T: (214) 306-7920 ads@myCRESCENT.com Layout & Graphics: Hazrat Amin EDITORIAL: COMMENTS / STORIES / INQUIRIES / E: dallas@myCRESCENT.com Send an email to ads@myCrescent.com for general ad inquiries or sales jobs.

not believe my eyes with all the construction going on around the Haram. So much had changed in just two years after I did my Hajj. Even then we were driven around from place-to-place in air-conditioned buses and stayed in air-conditioned tents in Mena.

Although Saudi Arabia is trying to improve conditions to make it more pleasant for the over 3-million pilgrims that perform Hajj every year, it brings back to mind of a Hadeeth regarding the ‘Signs of the Hour’ when the Prophet Mohammed (SWT) said, “The slave girl will give birth to her mistress and you will see barefooted, naked, destitute shepherds competing in constructing lofty buildings.” Something does not feel right about the eradication of the diminishing historic landmarks. Few structures remain in Mecca today that date back to the time of the Prophet (SAWS) over 1,400 years ago. What makes it dreadful too is the Al-Ajyad Fortress built by the Ottomans to defend the Ka’aba and house pilgrims is now covered by shopping centers including one nicknamed “The American Mall.” Yet more luxury hotels and apartments continue to spring up right across the Ka’aba with room service and spas. I think this would be enough to make Ibn Battuta turn in his grave….are we going to the Holy Land of Mecca to fulfill our fifth pillar ordained by Allah (SWT) like he ordained us to do or are we going for some ‘R and R and shop till we drop’? No wonder many of the native Meccans can be so rude at times. Can we blame them?

Nevertheless, I pray and hope Allah (SWT) will allow us all to make the Hajj and accept it regardless of how we get there and the accommodations we have during our time and journey. Ibn Battuta’s journey is just one of more meaning to me, more awesome, and more glorious when something terrible is about to happen to you and Allah (SWT) comes to your rescue and makes it easy on you. This is far more rewarding than the comfort we are spoiled into sometimes and take for granted. How worthy he must have felt in his heart and soul of an experience of a life time that he could take with him to his grave. The film received such a great response with a sell out shortly after tickets were ready to be purchased on the internet that the MNTA opened up two more showings, one at 5:00 p.m. and the other at 9:30 p.m. According to Chaib Salih, the film will not come out for sell on DVD until sometime in 2011. At present it is being circulated throughout the country through certain organizations only.

The one day IMAX® film showing in Dallas was estimated to have had approximately 1,500 viewers.

CONTRIBUTORS: Bilal Mohammed, Aboobaker Ebrahim. Lena Dirbashi, Ron Stern, Naeem Randhawa, Moazzam Ahmed, Ali Luqman, Ruqayya Khalifa, Komal Khan, Sonia Laflamme The Lone Star Crescent is published monthly by Melanz Publishing. We welcome and encourage readers’ feedback and opinions. All materials, articles, photos, comments or samples submitted to the The Lone Star Crescent will become property of the publisher and may be printed at our discretion.

The publisher / paper takes no responsibility of claims made by advertisers, financial, legal, family and/or educational advise in its content. Readers must check and inquire themselves. Online at www. myCRESCENT.com

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The Lone Star Crescent | Jan / Feb 2010 | A LOOK AT CANDIDATES BY KOMAL KHAN

Kazmi Running for JP In our previous edition, The Lone Star Crescent announced Farouk Shami’s run for governorship. Although Shami has broken many cultural barriers through both his innovation and persistence in business, the game of politics comes with a new set of rules and challenges to understand and overcome.

The first challenge is presented through his competition. His main opponent from the democratic side is current mayor of Houston Bill White. White has won the favor of democrats in previous elections; however, it has been decades since a democrat has successfully taken office. Furthermore, besides his democratic competition, Shami must also be able to confront his Republican opponents Kay Bailey Hutchinson and incumbent Rick Perry. Both carry years of experience in politics, Hutchinson from the senate, and Perry from his current and previous terms.

Aside from this hurdle, Farouk Shami’s overall campaign strategy must be divided according to what is realistically achievable and what is not. To a voter there are a few things one should be persuaded of. One of Shami’s policies that holds the most merit in public reform concerns the environment. As a hairstylist Farouk Shami developed an allergy to ammonia and began his search for safer and healthier alternatives for his product line. Essentially his search for a better alternative lead to a line of environmentally friendly products. Since then he has hired a NASA researcher and has planted acres of olive trees to contribute to more organic ingredients. His experience in this aspect of consumerism and environmental reform could positively influence the Texas legislature’s decisions if he is

elected governor. In contrast his approach toward job creation is more generic and less valid. Economists argue domesticated jobs differ little from exported ones in the global economic spectrum. Yet aside from this, Shami has employed as many as a thousand individuals. Furthermore his political capital does not adhere to the mere pitfalls of campaign promises.

Farouk Shami’s philanthropic work has provided the framework for a person of high moral standing. He donated during Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita along with his business partners. He also has modestly contributed to many other non-profit organizations. As a child he grew up in Ramallah, West Bank. His background as not only a businessman but also as a man who has witnessed both the uplift and downfall of the Palestinian people, he seems to be well acquainted with the threshold of the human spirit. He currently serves on the “American Task Force on Palestine”, an organization that promotes the peaceful coexistence of both Israel and Palestine, while also advocating American interests.

More info on www.faroukforgovernor.com

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy”. The words of Indian poet and playwright Rabindranath Tagore are said to echo softly in the hearts of everyone. In fact quotes like Tagore’s encompass the philanthropic and chaplain work of Sabeeha Kazmi. Kazmi has committed herself to social service for almost two decades and is now eyeing the position of Justice of the Peace in Dallas County (Precinct 3).

As a voluntary chaplain she has assisted patients from all walks of life including Muslims, Non-Muslims, women, children, and even men. Furthermore she has often been the liaison between patients and insurance agencies. This aspect of her work as a chaplain brings solace to individuals who have experienced their fair share of health insurance difficulties. Aside from her work as a Chaplain, Kazmi has served as a blood bank technician, a recruiter for bone marrow registration, an administered for worker’s compensation and has served on many grand juries. As a blood bank technician she established the first Muslim blood bank account that contributed to healthy, along with finically efficient transactions.

Her social services are not just limited to people, she has also in the past participated in ensuring animal rights and safety. It seems many lives have been touched by Kazmi’s dedication to social work.

When it comes to Kazmi’s political endeavors, she has passionately participated in the current debate regarding the sale of alcohol in Farmer’s Branch. She spoke as both an observer and opposer of alcohol sale and consumption in parks. When asked

about her stance she stated that 90% of accidents in the ER are alcohol related, not to mention she acknowledged alcohol’s link to the escalating crime rate. After serving on multiple human rights committees for nonprofits and heavily participating in community reform Kazmi seems ready to take on the next great challenge. As a democrat she faces little opposition from her own party and has won the favor of many independents, however, when it comes to the general election the participation of supporters is essential for her to take the seat from the republican incumbent Al Cercone.

Compared to her competition, Kazmi’s extensive background in social work makes her a good candidate because of her grounded perspective on civil matters. The very role of Justice of the Peace is to deal with minor cases regarding fines under less than $10,000. Kazmi’s background is more than appropriate for the position; in fact as an active member of the community her approach and potential verdicts may carry more value.

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The Lone Star Crescent | Jan / Feb 2010 | Community Report

A Tea Party For Peace

By R. “Ruqayyah” Khalifa Lately it seems like every time we turn on the television, read the newspaper or a

magazine, or even as we log onto the internet, there is always some crisis unfolding or negative views being exposed throughout the world. All this distressing news makes me speculate just how much bad news sells a great deal better than good news or of something more positive taking place.

With the thousands of jobless and homeless people owing to a major recession and bad economy worldwide in the past couple of years, the ongoing war in the Middle East and the deployment of thousands more troops to Afghanistan does not help the situation. Particularly when many of those soldiers being deployed are women…someone’s mother, daughter, sister, or aunt.

And thank God for women, many throughout the world are now coming together in making an effort for world peace.

American, European, Latin, Middle Eastern…black, white, brown…Catholic, Mus-

lim, Jewish, etc…a humble notion to know that race and religion sheds no chauvinism.

The chief starter making this major impact to build a global “bridge” is none other than Peacemakers Incorporated (Peacemakers).

Founded by Vivian Anderson Castleberry, Peacemakers was incorporated in 1987.

Ms. Castleberry is also the author of Daughters of Dallas and in 1957 she was the first female reporter of the Dallas Times Herald and served on the Editorial Staff. In addition, Ms. Castleberry was recently selected by Women’s eNews as one of the “21 Leaders of the 21st Century 2009” honorees. The awardees include Nobel Peace Prize winners, writers, journalists, and women’s rights selected from around the world for their “demonstrated commitment to creating change on behalf of all women”, according to Women’s eNews Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Rita Haley Jensen,. The awards ceremony will be held in New York City on May 6, 2010. Since its inception, Peacemakers has hosted three international women’s peace conferences with over 1,400 delegates from 45 countries which included three Noble Peace Laureates. The last conference was held in Dallas, Texas in July 2007. For over two decades now, Peacemakers has adhered to its perspectives on peace with the foremost one being that “peace is the imperative for our world”. Peacemakers has always held steadfast from the beginning in trying to make the world more peaceful to live in.

Best Islamic Home Finance Provider Nomination For Guidance Global Industry Magazine Recognizes Significant Strides Made in the US

By Hussam Qutub (Communications Director) Reston, VA – Guidance Residential (“Guidance”), the leading US provider of Sharia-compliant home financing, has been nominated for the “Best Islamic Home Finance Provider” Award in the 2009 Islamic Business & Finance Awards. The Awards have been instituted by Islamic Business & Finance Magazine and have been designed to encourage, inspire and reward excellence within the global Islamic Business and Finance community.

Since its inception in 2003, Guidance has made significant strides for Islamic finance, becoming the first Islamic home finance company to provide over $1.5 billion dollars in Sharia-compliant home financing to the US market. Amid the ongoing volatility in the market, Guidance thrived, and by the end of this year’s third quarter it had set monthly production records that were broken six times over. During that same time frame, Guidance embarked on numerous initiatives designed to take the company to the next level in areas of organizational performance, structure, production and overall results. The company’s nomination for this prestigious award is a direct result of the hard work and dedication exemplified

by Guidance’s employees in the pursuit of

excellence.

The winners of the 2009 Islamic Business & Finance Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held on December 14th at The Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai. The event has become the yardstick by which Islamic finance institutions and practitioners across the globe measure themselves. These Awards have assumed such significance due to Islamic Business & Finance Magazine’s widely recognized position as a highly respected voice of the industry. ...............................................................................

Guidance Residential is a subsidiary of Guidance Financial Group, an international company dedicated to serving the market for Sharia-compliant financial products and services. Guidance Financial Group offers unique investment products to institutional investors and financial intermediaries worldwide, and provides financial services to its retail customer base in the United States. The company’s commitment to intensive research and development and solid operational support for its products has allowed it to develop unique financial solutions that address unmet needs of the Sharia-compliant market. For more information, contact Guidance at 1-866-4843262 or www.guidanceresidential.com.

From this persistence flourished the Castleberry Peace Institute (Institute) established in October 2008.

Peacemakers had their end-of-theyear meeting (members “Tea”) in Dallas’ Lakewood area in December. Members expressed their thanks to the outgoing board members and welcomed the new. Gratitude was also expressed to the outgoing president, Dr. Nia MacKay laying emphasis on opening the doors to the Muslim Community particularly during these trying times with the ongoing war in the Middle East. Dr. MacKay also established the first Annual Peacemakers Luncheon. A round of applause was given to her successor and the new Peacemakers President for 2010, Dr. Virginia Trevizo-Wells. Present too was Dr. T. David Mason, Regents Professor of Political Science from the Department of Political Science at the University of North Texas (UNT) and a member of the Peacemakers Board of Directors. Dr. Mason came from Memphis, Tennessee to Texas in 2007 through a peace study program with a plan for UNT and a proposal to teach peace education in schools. UNT accommodates students in research and with a good collection of a peace proposal in hand, he believes this will give the students a reason to stay at UNT and continue their research

given that “we do social studies research”, he said. When asked how he thought Peacemakers could partake with UNT’s goals, he said, “Peacemakers opened doors that we didn’t know existed”. UNT, with the Institute alongside, can now focus on engaging in more projects to create peace around the world. The Institute was officially adopted by UNT in December 2009.

UNT now offers a peace studies program and at present is the only 4-year university in the South and Southwest Regions who offers this program. Dr. Jo-Ann Stankus, who is actively involved with Peacemakers and on their advisory board, will be teaching a class on Women in Peace Around the World at UNT. The Institute will help support a curriculum teaching conflict resolution skills and tolerance to students of all ages as well. It will also provide an online worldwide network and directory of peacemakers, peace organizations, and a research center with resources on peace-related issues. Through communication, education, and leadership, the Institute’s strategy is to ultimately empower peacemakers locally and globally. An upcoming event in Spring-2010 includes the Grand Opening of the UNT Castleberry Peace Institute at UNT on the Square. The ambiance at the ‘Tea’ meeting was filled with so much warmth, kindness, enthusiasm, and energy---so peaceful. It ended with an aura of amiability. After all, as it was articulated throughout the meeting, “war is expensive…peace is priceless”.

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The Lone Star Crescent | Jan / Feb 2010 | Advertisements

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The Lone Star Crescent | Jan / Feb 2010 | Global Perspective

GAZA UNFORGOTTEN Anwar Khan’s recent trip

By Komal Khan In the late 1940s the United Nations allocated land for Jews victimized by the Holocaust, while inadvertently displacing many Arab people. Historians and political scientists suggest one could trace the origins of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict to the brotherhood of Isaac and Ishmael.

Yet biblical figures carry little significance when their pillars of ethical treatment are blatantly disregarded over petty cultural differences. Today regions such as the Gaza strip and the West bank are choked off of major resources, relying heavily on the support of non-profit organizations. One of those organizations includes Islamic Relief, whom recently sent senior staff member Anwar Khan to direct and distribute humanitarian aid.

While visiting in early November Anwar blogged about his experiences and was overwhelmed with emotion and great sympathy for the Palestinian people.

November 6th 2009 We visited more orphans today, Suzanne, Iman and Amina. Suzanne is a gifted girl who lives in a refugee camp, but got a scholarship to go to a private school.

Her favorite subject is English and she wants to be a teacher when she gets older.

When I asked her what her dreams were she replied “For peace to Gaza. For the ability to travel locally and internationally without problems.” This from an eleven-year-old orphan.

His interaction with the children of Gaza led him to withhold tears as he was informed of their humble wishes to see a peaceful Palestine. Furthermore, in his entries one easily spots the theme of resilience in Palestinian people. Stories such as a doctor who “buried his son and continued treating patients in the hospital the same day” leads one to infer the frequent visits of death as a norm. Not an entry of Anwar’s goes by without an encounter of devastation.

November 9th 2009 “Widows had to look after one son with multiple sclerosis, another with cancer and choose between medicine and food.”

In a brief interview Anwar pointed out the genocidal elements of starvation and violence. Yet whether the situation of Palestine will ever be labeled as genocide is solely determined by international powers of interest such as the United Nations. Consequentially, it’s unfortunate that generations of refugees will go on living in ruins at the cost of political self-interest.

Anwar Khan left Gaza days before the prisoner exchange between Hamas and the Israeli government. His perspective is

not influenced by the political regime, but by the devastated state of humanity he witnessed in Gaza. After reading his blog entries one is undoubtedly “inspired by the human spirit”, however, it takes active participation in organizations like Islamic relief and appropriate public forums to truly bring peace to the people of both Palestine and Israel. How else will the children of Abraham ever be able to coexist?

More of Anwar Khan’s blog entries at http://blog. islamicreliefusa.org/

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The Lone Star Crescent | Jan / Feb 2010 | AGING Continues from page 01 >>

Giving up mentally, however, does not mean they have lost interest in everything, but can mean they have acquired new interests in more mature areas. The most common complaint from the elderly is that there is no one there to listen to them, and express themselves with. Most elderly people live with their children, and grandchildren, who are busy in their daily lives, leaving little time to spend with the elderly. Who’s to blame though? People are busier and more vivacious in their youth. Thus, one of the best ways to prepare for your late years is by making good friends within your age group. As you get older, your friends will age with you, and can lend an ear when you feel like reflecting.

PREPARING FOR OUR FUTURE We may wonder how we can possibly prepare for our later years, besides eating right, exercising, and refraining from activities harmful to our bodies. However, there are many things we should pay attention to in our youth to prepare for our future. Many people rely on retirement money to support them, however saving money besides that can also help. Many people fall short after they have retired and have to rely on others to support them. Although living with one’s children may be more comfortable, it could pose as a financial burden on them. More money can give you more options on how and where you want to live.

Planning what you want to do in your life now, will be helpful later. Looking back at all your aspirations for life, can motivate you when you feel like you have experienced everything and life’s a bore. Keeping a journal and descriptions of special moments in your life can also spark excitement in your life when you reach an older age. Many celebrities or famous individuals decide to write their memorabilia when they retire. This is an option for

anyone! Writing about your life and passing it down for generations to come can be very valuable to your family. It will also help you appreciate and reflect on the part of your life you have already lived, and will give a chance for others to learn about your youth.

Many elderly people live with the attitude “I guess I can hold on one more year,”, but there are the few with a more optimistic attitude towards age: “Imagine investing 50-60-70 years into something, as oppose to only 5? Wouldn’t 60 years of experience be more rewarding?” The years and experience that the elderly have is indispensable, their wisdom and instincts can change the world like no young mind. I’d like to emphasize passing this wisdom and knowledge down to others, so it can reform ideals you thought you could never reach. Teaching is the best way to pass on knowledge along with wisdom. It doesn’t have to be formal—even a small class once a week in your own home can prove to be rewarding for both you and your students. To give back to the community will also give you a chance to make new friends, and get more involved.

We’ve all heard the saying, “you’re only as old as you feel,” and your mental state will determine how you feel.

Optimism and acceptance of oneself are probably the most rewarding attitudes at an older age. When I asked some women in their late-years what the hardest part of aging was, they all replied: wrinkles. As surprising as it was to me, I thought it was somewhat superficial. I then realized how heavily women are judged on appearance-far more than men are-- so it makes sense to see this as their biggest barrier between self-acceptance. In recent times, innovations

such as botox, and lasers are being pushed towards women who have fine lines and wrinkles.

Some women don’t believe these methods are safe, or natural, and are not willing to take the risk. We realized how important it is to feel beautiful at any age, so we’ve put together a list of things that may help you glow at any age:

EAT RIGHT Studies show that those who eat fish, legumes, green vegetables, and olive oil can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Foods with Omega-3 fatty acids such as walnuts and cold-water fish are recommended as well. Taking your vitamins is also important!

Vitamin C (a co-factor in the production of collagen (your skin’s toner)) can optimize the appearance of skin. **Applying your vitamins can reduce the visible signs of aging as well! Antioxidants such as vitamins C or E and even green tea can benefit your skin.

MOVE YOUR BODY Exercise is essential at all and every age. It enhances circulation and improves blood vessel tone so that blood can deliver nutrients to the skin. Try walking, swimming, or bicycling for 45 minutes every day, and you’ll see major results.

MOISTURIZE Dry skin will only enhance the look of wrinkles and fine lines. Moisturize daily to reduce the appearance of these aging marks.

BLOCKING SUN Extrinsic factors such as smoking and the sun can take a toll on your skin. Specialists say the majority of wrinkles, sagging, and skin discoloration result from sun exposure. Be sure to use UVA and UVB protection with SPF 15 or above. *This means the sun exposure you get when you’re young will affect the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles when you get older!

CLEANSING YOUR FACE: Products with alpha-hydroxy acids (such as glycolic acid or lactic acid) are good for exfoliation. Use a facial scrubber once a day to rid your skin of impurities, to get a more renewed look.

Many adults have the biggest regrets towards the lifestyle they lived in their youth. Their eating habits, smoking, and lack of exercise have definitely caught up with them, and deprive them of eating and doing things they enjoy. We all realize the importance of eating well, and exercising, and are reminded time and time again. However, many of us don’t make a conscious effort to act upon these regimens. Ailments, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, skin cancer, breast cancer, and lung cancer are abundant in men and women above the age of 40. Several adults wish they would have spent more time on their health, exercising, and becoming financially stable, earlier in their life. To live well now and in the future, those who are still in their active years should learn from their mistakes. Preventive measure such as drinking milk to get the calcium we need to prevent osteoporosis, and limiting the intake of fattening foods are just some things we can do to help our lifestyle sustain healthiness.

ALL

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The Lone Star Crescent | Jan / Feb 2010 | Travel

Big Sky and Land Country ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

By Naeem Randhawa People who’ve lived in northern cities all their life and have yet to experience “big sky” country should consider Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a vacation destination.

Tourists unfamiliar with what the Southwest offers in terms of ever-blue skies and wideopen landscape would relish an escape to this part of the country; the contrast is well worth it.

One of the prettiest towns in the Southwest is Albuquerque, with its fusion of Native American, Spanish, European and American history. The influence of these cultures is pervasive throughout the city, the largest in New Mexico. Albuquerque sits between majestic mesas with inactive volcanoes to the west and the Sandia Mountains to the east. The Sandias, the Southernmost mountains of the Rocky Mountain chain, are known in Spanish as the “watermelon mountains,” a name earned for the reddish glow that illuminates the range at dusk and

sunset.

Old T f h Alb Town, from where Albuquerque was founded in 1706, was the central town meeting place during the colonial years. The area is still preserved as a historical marker, and now serves as a great tourist attraction.

The central plaza is a community center for gift shops, restaurants, boutiques, studios and artists selling their crafts and arts to strolling tourists. The area is adorned with a variety of interesting architecture from the town’s history; influences from Spanish, Mexican and European settlers are evident in the walls, gates, brick-roads, balconies and adobe-buildings. In the center of the square is a bandstand, similar to the ones found in many old towns throughout the Southwest. In the morning, artists show up to spread out their handmade silver and semi-precious gemstone decorations and jewelry along the eastern sidewalk of the square, where they peddle their crafts and share their impressions of the city with out-of-towners.

To fully appreciate the area, check out the Sandia Peak Tramway, the world’s longest aerial single-span tramway, which carries passengers to the top of the 10,378-foot Sandia Peak. The summit’s collective view encompasses 11,000 square miles on a clear day.

The ride up can be a little bumpy when he there’s wind, but the view as you ride up the 2.7 miles will allay any fears. The spectacular scene from the top offers visitors a great opportunity for taking pictures, and sunsets are especially beautiful to enjoy from the summit. Information about the formation

of the mountain, the flora and wildlife is provided by the Four Seasons Visitors Center at the peak. There is also a restaurant at the top, the High Finance, which offers casual dining; be sure to make reservations in advance. A souvenir shop at the base of the tramway sells postcards, magnets, crafts and other items.

Each October, Albuquerque becomes a mecca for balloon enthusiasts from around the world. With participants and media coverage from over 50 countries, the Annual Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta boasts the title of the most photographed event in the world.

The mass ascension takes place each day around dawn, when the balloons can take advantage of the cooler air; the contrast of hundreds of balloons against the blue, pink and gold skies offers unforgettable experiences and photographs. The city is always short on hotel rooms and car rentals during the fiesta, so call well in advance to reservamake re tions.

Two T recommended recomm accommodaaccom tions aare the Jazz IInn Bed Breakfast & Bre the and th Devonshire Devo Adobe Inn. Adob Both are conveconv nien niently loc located in tthe city with city, qu quick ac access to th main the hi highways, and both ooffer complete breakfasts. As the name im implies, jazz lovers haven, haven with w the Jazz Inn is a jazz-lovers themed rooms and related paraphernalia decorated throughout the inn, as well as the owner’s sketches and artwork. Sophia and Nicholas Peron, artists and community activists, own and manage the 100-year-old home, located just off Old Route 66. Always eager to offer advice and help visitors find the best artist haunts, restaurants and boutiques, the couple provides an insider’s perspective to

experiencing the local scene. Music lovers can muse over the multitude of visiting artists’ pictures adorning the main hall, a veritable who’s who of jazz world celebrities who have stayed at the inn. In addition to carrying a comprehensive music library

— over 5,000 CDs, tapes and records — the Jazz Inn also boasts a grand piano for all to enjoy enjoy. A serene cactus and sculpture garden provide the ideal locale in which to enjoy the weather and soak up some sun.

With a westward view of the majestic Sandia Mountains from the veranda, the Devonshire Adobe Inn is a private sanctuary away from home. The fusion of Victorian and Mexican adobe-style architecture blends into an inviting environment. Pat and Jay Power have furnished the inn with beautiful antiques, and each of the seven rooms carries a Victorian theme with complementing decorative accents. A unique experience is dining in the Devonshire Adobe Inn Tea Room. Tuesday through Friday, with seatings at 1:00 and 3:00 pm, Jay, an English ex-patriate, carries on a tradition of afternoon tea. The Tea Room can also be booked for private parties, and has been the site of many a wedding. Jay is also a creator of fine wedding and specialty cakes, and proudly displays pictures of his centerpieces and confectionary creations in one of the main halls. For breakfast, enjoy another English tradition, coddled eggs — a beaker filled with eggs and cheese, boiled and served with toast and fruit.

In addition to Albuquerque’s many great Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants, there is a great variety of fine dining choices as well. Seasons Grill Rotisserie, located just a few blocks north of the Old Town plaza, features fine American cuisine in a casually elegant dining room, with an open exhibition kitchen. The ambiance features bright yellow walls with modern settings and a mix of art and exotic flowers. Seasons has a second floor, featuring a casual bar and grill with its own menu, where you can lounge and order food while catching a game and engaging in some party conversation. Seasons is known for their fine fare, mainly some great lamb dishes. The staff’s recommendation of sspitro roasted ha half ch chicken is exceptio tionally pr prepared to capture the taste of mouthwa watering roa roast, and serv served with roas roasted garlic ppotatoes and herb au jus.

Another grea great place to ea eat is Pars Cuis Cuisine, a t t ffeaturing t i P i and dM restaurant Persian Mediterranean delicacies. The Tafti family specializes in preparing authentic Iranian dishes in a lush and exotic atmosphere. The main dining hall features a white tent-cloth skirt-

ing the cir circumferenc ence of the dining area area, in the mid middle of whic which bubbles a stone fount fountain with ggentle water waterfalls cascad cascading throug through lighted trelliswork o’badem trelliswork. Kashk o’bademjan — baked eggplant with yogurt, mixed with sautéed onions and garlic — makes for a great appetizer; of course, they also have hummus and dolmathes. If you are unfamiliar with Persian cuisine, you may want to sample a mixed dish such as the sultani, a combination of skewered tenderloin beef, chicken breast and ground beef cooked over open fire. For the regulars, there’s always chelo kabob koobideh (skewers of ground beef), chelo kabob barg (marinated beef tenderloin) or joojeh kabob (whole Cornish hen) cooked over an open fire and served with rice. And nothing goes better with a Persian dish than a chilled glass of doogh, a yogurt drink with mint, dried pennyroyal and salt.

If time permits, a must-see site is the Abo Ruins in Mountainair, a 45-minute picturesque drive south of the city. The Abo Ruins are the remains of a sophisticated church architecture and a large unexcavated pueblo. In order to get to the ruins, you must navigate some very remote roads.

Driving through fields as far as the eye can see, without another soul on the road, precipitates personal musings about your place in nature. The loneliness of the land is oddly juxtaposed when you suddenly come across what appears to be abandoned piles of junk cars, along with a trailer or two. Because it’s cheaper to leave the dilapidated vehicles in heaps than to have them towed to a scrap yard, the eyesore is not much of a concern to some. The contrast of the land’s remote beauty and the occasional pile-ups proves that no matter how removed you may think you are, someone’s already been there. ....................................................................... www.JustSayGo.com For more information: Jazz Inn Bed & Breakfast www.jazzinn.com 800-JAZZ-INN Devonshire Adobe Inn www.devonshireadobeinn.com 800-240-1149 Seasons Grill Rotisserie www.seasonsonthenet.com 505-766-5100 Pars Cuisine www.parscuisine.com 505-345-5156 Sandia Peak Tramway www.sandiapeak.com 505-856-7325 Abo Ruins 505-847-2400 ................................................................

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