Lifestyles NOLA Feb 2018 by Metro Fitness

Feb 2018

LIFESTYLES Page 8

Larry’s Country Diner

Meet Larry and hear his life story of how he made it to where he is Page 18

Live Positive

Make 2018 your year to live a more positve lifestyle Page 26

Cabo San Lucas The top 4 things to do to make it your best vacation you’ve ever

d r a p p e h S TG

usic M y r t n u o C S u p e r st a r

ed n te s li I , e k o p s n lo y a “When Elvis and W

”

Get your answers from Humana— Get your answers from Humana— your answers answers from Humana— Get your from Humana— aGet company that has been offering a company that has been offering Get your answers from Humana— a company that has been offering a company thatfor has been offering Medicare plans 30 years. Medicare plans for 30 years. a company that has been offering Medicare plans plans for for 30 30 years. years. Medicare Medicare plans for 30 years.

New New New to to Medicare? Medicare? New to Medicare? New toQUESTIONS? Medicare? HAVE

HAVE QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS? HAVE HAVE QUESTIONS?

As first priority has As an industry leader always As an an industry industry leader leader for for 30 30 years, years, our our priority has always As an industry leader for 30 years, our first first priority priority has has always always been to get you the benefits you want at a price you been to get you the can afford As an industry leader for 30 years, our first priority has always been to to get get you you the the benefits benefits you you want want at at a a price price you can afford been price you you can can afford afford One of our licensed Humana sales Orleans One of our licensed Humana sales agents right here in Greater New been to get you the benefits you want at a price you can afford One of our licensed Humana sales agents right here in Greater New Orleans is is One of our licensed Humana sales agents right here here in in Greater Greater New New Orleans Orleans is is waiting to serve you waiting to you One of our licensed waiting to serve serve youHumana sales agents right here in Greater New Orleans is waiting to serve you Our agent will speak with you over the phone Our will speak with Our agent agentto will speakyou with you you over over the the phone phone or or in in the the comfort comfort of of your your home. home. He He or or she she will will waiting serve Our agent will speak with you over the phone or in the the comfort comfort of of your your home. home. He He or or she she will will listen to what benefits you want and help you choose a Humana Medicare plan that’s right for listen to benefits you want and help you listen to what what benefits youyou want and help youor choose acomfort Humana Medicare plan that’s right for Our agent will speak with over the phone in the of your home. He or she will listen to decades what benefits choose Humana Medicare Medicare plan plan that’s that’s right right for for you wantto and help you choose aa Humana you. Put decades of experience to work for you. Put of experience work for you today. you. Put decades of experience to work for you today. listenPut to what benefits you wanttoand help you. decades today. a Humana Medicare plan that’s right for of experience work foryou youchoose today. you. Put decades of experience to work for you today.

Call licensed Humana sales Call Call aa a licensed licensed Humana Humana sales sales agent. agent. Call a licensed Humana sales agent. 1-800-819-2691 Call a licensed Humana(TTY: sales 711) agent. 1-800-819-2691 1-800-819-2691 (TTY: 711)

(TTY: 8 a.m. p.m., seven days week 81-800-819-2691 aa 8 a.m. a.m. ––– 88 8 p.m., p.m., seven seven days days(TTY: a week week 1-800-819-2691 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., seven days a week 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., seven days a week

711) 711)

You You can can even even get get your your Medicare Medicare questions questions You can can even even get your your Medicare questions here in Metairie. You get Medicare questions answered in person, right answered in person, right here in Metairie. You can even get your Medicare questions answered in person, right here in Metairie. location answered in person, right here in Metairie. Just stop by your local Humana Just stop by your local Humana location answered inwe person, right here inlocation Metairie. Just stop by your local Humana location Just stop by your local Humana and see all have to offer. and see all we have to Humana offer. Just stop bywe your local location and see see all all we have to offer. offer. Metairie, and have to 747 Veterans Memorial Blvd, 747 Veterans Blvd, Metairie, and see all weMemorial have to offer. 70005 747 Veterans Veterans Memorial Memorial Blvd, Blvd, Metairie, Metairie, 747 70005 747 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, 70005 70005 504-667-4367 504-667-4367 (TTY: (TTY: 711) 711) 70005 agents 504-667-4367 (TTY: 711) 504-667-4367 (TTY: 711) Licensed Humana sales Licensed Humana sales agents available: available: 504-667-4367 (TTY: 711) -- Friday Licensed Humana sales agents available: Licensed Humana sales agents available: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday Friday Licensed sales agents 99 a.m. p.m., -- Friday a.m. –– 44Humana p.m., Monday Monday Fridayavailable: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday - Friday

Humana Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS Humana Humana isis is aa a Medicare Medicare Advantage Advantage HMO, HMO, PPO PPO and and PFFS PFFS organization organization and and a a stand-alone stand-alone prescription prescription drug drug plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any renewal. Humana Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organization and a stand-alone prescription drug Humana is a Medicare organization and a stand-alone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Humana Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organization and a stand-alone prescription drug Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Humana”) do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Humana plan with a Medicare Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Humana Inc. its subsidiaries (“Humana”) do Inc.and and its subsidiaries (“Humana”) do not not discriminate discriminate onplan the basis of race, color, national origin, age, plan withits a subsidiaries Medicare contract. Enrollment any Humana depends on contract renewal. Humana disability or sex. (“Humana”) do notin discriminate on of color, origin, age, Inc. and discriminate on the the basis basis of race, race, color, national national origin, age, disability or sex. disability or sex. Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Humana”) do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are disability or sex. English: IfIf you charge, are are English: ATTENTION: ATTENTION: you do do not not speak speak English, English, language language assistance assistance services, services, free free of of charge, disability or sex. available to you. Call 1-800-219-2691 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are English: ATTENTION: language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-800-219-2691 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a a availableATTENTION: to you. Call If 1-800-219-2691 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a English: you do notde speak English, language assistance services, Si free of charge, are su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800-219-2691 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文 1-800-219-2691 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: habla español, tiene a available to you. Call Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800-219-2691 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文 su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800-219-2691 (TTY:español, 711). 繁體中文 available to you. Call 1-800-219-2691 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla tiene a (Chinese):注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-800-219-2691 (TTY: 711). gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800-219-2691 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文 su disposición servicios lingüística. Llame al 1-800-219-2691 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文 (Chinese):注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 (TTY: 711). 711). (Chinese):注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-800-219-2691 1-800-219-2691 (TTY: su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800-219-2691 (TTY: 711).(TTY: 繁體中文 Y0040_GHHJ4GNEN18 Accepted 您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 711). (Chinese):注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-800-219-2691 1-800-219-2691 (TTY: 711). Y0040_GHHJ4GNEN18 Accepted Y0040_GHHJ4GNEN18 Accepted (Chinese):注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-800-219-2691 (TTY: 711). Y0040_GHHJ4GNEN18 Accepted Y0040_GHHJ4GNEN18 Accepted

17HULA9978-1v1.indd 11 17HULA9978-1v1.indd 17HULA9978-1v1.indd 1 17HULA9978-1v1.indd 1 1 17HULA9978-1v1.indd 17HULA9978-1v1.indd 1

11/17/17 11/17/17 11/17/17 11/17/17 11/17/17 11/17/17

12:37 12:37 PM PM 12:37 PM 12:37 12:37PM PM 12:37 PM

Co n t e n t s

LIFESTYLES ISSUE: 38

Fe b 2018

d r a p p e TG Sh on the cover:

usic C o u nt r y M r S u p e r st a

> on PAGE 14

> article by Marelia Rocasco

EVENTS AROUND TOWN FO R

M U S IC , FO R F U VE A N D F ES TI FOOD

Wine

RECIPES | NUTRITION

HEALTH

Wellness

ADVICE SOLUTIONS |

Cocktail of the Month /Page 5 Spiritual Maturity /Page 27 Meet Larry Black, Larry’s Louisiana Operation Lifesaver Country Diner /Page 8 /Page 11 Lunch & Learn, Comprehensive Surviving an Abdominal Aortic Weight Loss Clinic /Page 23 Aneurysm, (AAA) /Page 12 Cilantro Lime Shrimp with COAST offers Exercise Plans at Zucchini Noodles /Page 30 Five Locations /Page 13 How Trusts Benefit Your Estate Plan /Page 18

TRAVEL

Destinations

CULTURE |ADVENTURE Cabo San Lucas, Top 4 Things To Do /Page 26

ENTERTAINMENT

Fun

FEST | MUSIC | ART Make 2018 Your Year to Live a Positive Lifestyle /Page 18 American Health Month /Page 19 Book Club Corner /Page 22 Word Search /Page 24 Events Around Town: for Music, for Fun, and Festive /Page 28

Lifestyles 55+ Plus is published monthly P.O. Box 752, Slidell, LA 70459. Copyright 2017 by Lifestyles 55+ Plus. No part of this publication can be reproduced without the written, expressed consent of the publisher. Reproduction of editorial content or graphics in any manner or in any medium is prohibited. Opinions of staff and contributing writers do not necessarily reﬂect the opinions of the publisher. Contact the publishers of Lifestyles 55+ Plus via e-mail at seniorlivingmagla@gmail.com, or call 985-778-6171 or 985-445-3644. Letters to the editor are welcome–send signed letters to: Lifestyles 55+ Plus, P.O. Box 752, Slidell, LA 70459. Please include a phone number for veriﬁcation (or it will not be published). E-mail letters to seniorlivingmagla@gmail.com. The Editor reserves the right to edit for length, style and spelling. Postmaster: Send address changes to Lifestyles 55+ Plus P.0. Box 752, Slidell, LA 70459

Pg. 4

LIFESTYLES

INGREDIENTS: - 5 ounces of vanilla vodka - 6 oz of pineapple juice - 2 ounces of lime juice- lime slices for garnish - purple, green and yellow sugar crystals for rim Instructions: 1. In a cocktail shaker mix the juices and vodka with ice. 2. Garnish the rim of your cocktail glass by dipping in water and then into a bowl of the sugar crystals. 3. Top it off with a few slices of lime. Enjoy!

A Boy & His Father A boy and his father are hiking through the mountains. The father gets a little bit ahead and the boy slips. He bangs his leg on a rock and yells, “Ouch!” Just as soon as he says that, he hears “Ouch!” coming right back at him. A little startled he yells out to the mountains, “Who are you?” thinking it’s someone mocking him. Immediately he hears a reply back, “Who are you?”. He then yells, “You coward!” And just the same way, he hears the same response “You coward!” Getting more frustrated and about to burst into anger, he looks to his father and asks him, “What’s going on?” His father just smiles and says, “Son, pay attention” He then yells back to the mountain, “I admire you, you are a leader, you are a champion, you can do anything!” With each phrase, he receives the same response in return. The boy looks a little confused so the father explains, “Son, people call this an ECHO; but really, this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you do or say. Life is a reﬂection of our actions!” If you want to be loved more by others, it first starts with giving more love to others. If you want more confidence in your team or your employees, become more confident in yourself. If you want more respect, give more respect to others. If you want all-out massive success,

help others to become successful. This relationship applies to everything, in all areas of life. Your life is not a coincidence... it is a reﬂection of YOU!

Meet the Staﬀ of Lifestyles 55+

Publishers Michelle Carollo Kelly Walgamotte

Editor Lana Walgamotte

Designer Dan Sause

Account Executives Renee Ragucci-Shelton Becky Rolland

Photographer Bach Imagery

Contributing Writers Michelle Carollo, Liz Maddox, Dr. Larry T. McEwen, Ann Mannella, Becky Rolland

Louisiana Operation Lifesaver Tips regarding safety at railroad crossings and tracks: 1. Freight trains don’t travel at fixed times, and schedules for passenger trains change. Always expect a train at each highway-rail intersection. 2. All train tracks are private property. Never walk on tracks; it’s illegal trespass and highly dangerous. By the time a locomotive engineer sees a trespasser or vehicle on the tracks it’s too late. It takes the average freight train traveling at 55 mph more than a mile— the length of 18 football fields—to stop. Trains cannot stop quickly enough to avoid a collision. 3. The average locomotive weighs about 400,000 pounds or 200 tons; the entire train can weigh up to 6,000 tons. This makes the weight ratio of a car to a train proportional to that of a soda can to a car. We all know what happens to a soda can hit by a car. 4. Trains have the right of way 100% of the time over emergency vehicles, cars, the police and pedestrians.

5. A train can extend three feet or more beyond the steel rail, putting the safety zone for pedestrians well beyond the three foot mark. 6. Trains can move in either direction at any time. Sometimes their cars are pushed by locomotives instead of being pulled, which is especially true in commuter and light rail passenger service. 7. Today’s trains are quieter than ever, producing no telltale “clackety-clack.” Any approaching train is always closer, moving faster, than you think. 8. Remember to cross train tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings, and obey all warning signs and signals posted there. 9.Stay alert around railroad tracks. No texting, headphones or other distractions that would prevent you from hearing an approaching train; never mix rails and recreation.

by Claude D. Maher LA Operation Lifesaver 10 Veterans Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124 225-921-8381 www.laoperationlifesaver.org operationlifesaver@la.gov

Pg. 6

LIFESTYLES

2018 Jefferson Parish

Senior Expo 17th Annual

Hosted By:

T HEME : T HE G ROOVY 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S Thursday, March 29th

1960 st 2nd, 3rd place 1 , Costume Competition

8:30 AM - 1:00 PM

The Pontchartrain Center 4545 Williams Blvd. Kenner, LA

Best Decorated Booth Competition

Providing vital resources to our community, informative health and welfare initiatives for Jefferson Parish senior residents. With the goal of increasing longevity, and improving quality of life. For more information about the Expo or to become a vendor call Kelly Walgamotte at: 985-778-6171

k c a l B y r r La M ee t

by Marelia Rocasco He leans back in his chair, hands folded across his chest, a big bear of a man with gentle piercing eyes under the guise of a black cap labeled “kickin back”—a phrase contradicting the driven, hard working, wild ride that has marked the events of his life, but a phrase that’s true to the spirit he’s lived it in. Larry Black was born in South Dakota, but raised in Missouri, Alabama and Florida. Maybe having that roving start in life is what made traveling for the next 30 years easy. As a preacher’s kid, Larry learned early the value of family loyalty. Mom and dad protected him from the life in a fishbowl that so many pastor’s kids experience, and let him learn from living in different states that every area had their own rules, even within the same denomination. In one state, he was safe swimming in the local pool, while in another, being in a creek with everyone was NOT okay. “The rules were different,” Larry recalls, “and I saw that if you were in Florida, something as unthinkable as two piece bathing suits were okay.” These early lessons on knowing how to negotiate his place within the context of the current culture, went far to help him succeed later in life. Even though he was the pudgy kid to an incredibly gifted brother—both athletically and musically—Larry learned about loyalty from him too. Richard always insisted that Larry got picked when it was time for the boys to play ball. Without that, Larry would doubtless have been the last one—and unchosen.

Pg. 8

LIFESTYLES

The brothers both sang and played the piano, though each one took on a different horn: Larry on trombone and Richard touting the trumpet. These instruments seemed to represent the brothers. According to music blog The Vault, “Many who are familiar with brass instruments believe that since the trumpet requires a more focused embouchure (the way the mouth fits on the mouthpiece) than the trombone, the trumpet requires more strength to play. This is false, as the trumpet simply requires a different kind of strength.” Time would show this to be true of Larry, who eventually became a force in the radio and television industry. “We were so different—had different interests, but we never argued. We got along great—he always stood up for me--and he even took a spanking for me. I deserved it, but by the time we got home, I was sick, so Richard told Dad, ”I’ll take that for him.” Encountering the constancy and caring from his brother and parents deeply inﬂuenced Larry, like all our childhood and early experiences do. Being backed up by family from birth, his life naturally continued this loyalty, demonstrated in 50 years of marriage to his wife Luann. It also has been heartening to see in his own sons as they willingly stepped in the gap for their dad when life would later take some hard turns. Before then, Larry’s life was radio. He will tell you that he has been in radio forever. Starting out at age 18 as a rock and roll DJ, Larry moved 12 times, sometimes across the country for a $10/

week raise in those early days. He and Luann had no kids then so he was able to easily make his way through gigs in Mobile, Charlotte and Hartford. It was there that Pat Roberson had 5 FM stations called CBN. Pat had been given a tape of Larry’s and asked him to be a DJ in Ithaca at the new Christian radio station there. In 1969, making $300/week take-home pay in Hartford was big money. Pat was offering $150 a week. Larry believes that God had a purpose beyond a job—so he took another offer. He packed Luann and their Pekignese in his little VW and went to Ithaca for 3 years, where he ended up building life-long relationships. Also it was in Ithaca that his son Ian was born to their family. While in Ithaca CBN began producing the Scott Ross Show. Larry ultimately put the show on 250 Rock and Roll stations. Feeling that he had accomplished everything he came there to do, Larry headed back to Hartford, Connecticut and wrote jingles for commercials. Then it was back to upstate NY to do mornings at WAXC. In Rochester, his other two sons were born. He built a small recording studio with Bob Whyley (“tremendous engineer”--who later ended up as the audio director for the Jay Leno show). The studio was the only studio downtown, and it was near the Xerox towers and Kodak, who both did a majority of their commercials there. Though Larry owned the studio and did some voice-over work, he let someone else run it. Meanwhile, Scott did not want to continue with the Scott Ross

Show and ask Larry if he would move his family back to Ithaca and host the show. In 1978 the family moved to Nashville while the show ran syndicated for seven more years, as the Larry Black Show. By now his boys were enrolled in a local private Nashville college prep school. 18 months after the Larry Black Show, he got a call to do what ended up being a successful radio spot for a car dealership (“The Team That Can’t Be Beat”). Then Larry was called for TV spots. “I really thought my appearance would work against me, being a big guy” recalls Larry, but it sold in 30 cities. He was now busy and getting paid well, doing modeling for the Big and Tall ads. “They told me it was my face—it needed to be friendly—but didn’t have to be pretty!” Once that finished, he sought out his dear friend and mentor Bob McKenzie who urged him to go back to what he did well— and that was radio. He applied at WSM and worked weekends at Opryland Park. There, filling in for vacations, the morning person was let go because “Papa Gaylord didn’t like Blue material in the morning.” They asked Larry to be the replacement and hired him for 5am-9am run after doing a nationwide search. “I had fun!” Larry remembers. Believing that he was a good DJ, Larry approached them about increasing his $5/hr wage, but they said no. Larry said okay and went on to audition for a part in “Ernest Goes to Camp”. He drove to Montgomery Bell State Park in Dickson and filmed.

Everyone soon learned that Larry’s morning man role at WSM was significant, and finally doubled the hourly rate and offered him the job. Larry agreed under the condition that they make it retroactive—surprisingly, they did! “That was the best Christmas ever—my boys got everything they were dreaming about.” WSM now brought in Liz White, who together with Larry did Black and White in the Morning. The show worked well and for over 2 years they met in the middle and drew a loyal following: Larry the older one, Liz the younger. But when she was offered a job in New York City, the team ended. Larry started doing auditions for the TV series The Heat of the Night in Atlanta. From there, he went to Florida to play the part of the manager of Cape Canaveral in The Cape, a show about astronauts, filming 22 episodes. Still traveling, Larry went to LA for pilot work, back home for an HBO special, and continued to be offered spots—“somehow I just kept showing up in the ratings” so WSM hired him back. Eventually getting into TV production, Larry worked several shows, including Road Test magazine and You Can Be A Star. By this time two of his sons were getting married within 6 months of each other and once he and Luann happily negotiated that task, Larry wanted to do something special for her. He felt like she had stood by him through hard times and much travel. They decided to head out west. Charles Kuralt had said that the most beautiful drive in America was the Bear Tooth Highway, located just outside of Yellowstone National Park. So off to Montana they went with side trips to the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore. It was more than either of them imagined. Smitten with the million dollar view, they couldn’t afford to buy the 40 acres they wanted. So Larry started Country’s Family Reunion—which was supposed to be a one-time deal, but he produced it, sold it, and was able to pay investors with a 29% return—which bought that majestic view for Luann.

Pg. 10

LIFESTYLES

They built their dream home there. The Country’s Family Reunion was still going strong, and Larry decided to venture into Larry’s Country Diner. “There was no reason for me to retire—I loved what I was doing.” His family, his dream home, his career—all of it was at its height—until he and his friend Randy ended up underneath a 1500-lb ATV on his property. That accident broke his back and ribs, collapsed a lung, and left him with a ﬂailed chest. Luann was called and arrived within minutes to find Larry at the bottom of the hill, alert and talkative. As Larry tells it, “I was trapped and my friend was in shock and bleeding profusely. A medical helicopter was ﬂying over at the time, saw the accident, and took Randy to Billings. After the jaws of life cut me out, the ambulance took me to the Red Lodge emergency room. When they couldn’t stabilize me, the decision was made to transport me by ambulance to Billings.” He spent 6 days in the ICU and 33 days in the hospital. It was in this valley that Larry’s sons stepped in to help with their dad’s business ventures. Larry is deeply moved as he talks about them. They stayed the course and still work with him to this day. “You know there’s a verse: Man charts his course but God directs His steps. The assumption is that the man is moving.” Larry Black is a man who has been moving all his life—be it through success or failure. “You can’t just stagnate—at 73, I still have the effects of that accident, but a boat sitting in a dock is useless—get it in motion and then just a gentle turn will get it going in a different direction.” Having done everything he set out to do, one thing remains on his bucket list: being able to finish construction on Larry’s Country Diner. He glances down at the ring he and Luann bought after his accident. It depicts the Tetons, with their massive heights and deep valleys, apt symbols of the life he’s lived so far. What is most important to him is the family that has been on that journey with him. Like those Tetons, their unyielding loyalty brings the height and depth of his experience into perspective.

How Trusts Beneﬁt Your Estate Plan O ne of the most useful tools in estate planning is the trust. However, there are hundreds of different types of trusts, and part of the art of estate planning is knowing which type of trust to use in which situation, and how to craft that trust to ensure maximum success. Unfortunately, we see too many poorly-drafted estate plans where the wrong type of trust is used, and plans that needlessly use trusts when their use is inappropriate or impractical. Here are a couple common mistakes with the use of trusts, and how they could be avoided: One common type of trust is a Revocable Living Trust (“RLT”). RLTs are aggressively marketed, and, although they can be useful in limited instances, they are far from a cure-all. An RLT can provide for the management of your assets if you become incapacitated, but it is not the right solution if you think you may apply for Medicaid benefits in the future. Medicaid views assets in an RLT are “countable resources,” just as if those assets were owned

outright. Even assets that otherwise would have been non-countable resources, such as your home or your car, become countable resources if they are placed in an RLT. Depending upon your age, you may be able to transfer your assets to a Self-Settled Special Needs Trust. Assets held in a Special Needs Trust are non-countable resources for Medicaid purposes. You may not, however, be able to fund a Self-Settled Special Needs Trust if you are over the age of 65. If you are over 65 years old and want to qualify for Medicaid, an Income Only Trust could be used. Such a trust would limit your rights in the assets to income only. An Income Only Trust is not the right solution for everyone, but it can remove the assets from consideration for Medicaid and allow you to qualify for benefits if the transfer is made far enough in advance of the Medicaid application. Another mistake is not funding the trust properly. For example, an RLT can only work if it is funded. If an RLT is unfunded, it’s just a worthless piece of paper. A Pour-Over Will

can transfer assets to an RLT upon your death, but the assets would be subject to a judicial succession proceeding - which defeats the purpose of the RLT altogether, i.e., to avoid probate. And, if there is no Will, the unfunded assets will pass by intestacy pursuant to the one-size-fits-all system enacted by state legislature. If you think you would benefit from the use of a trust in your estate plan, it's always best to seek advice from a experienced, qualified estate planning attorney or elder law attorney. For more information on trusts and their various uses, you can attend one of our free seminars.

Eric M. Schorr of Sessions, Fishman, Nathan & Israel, L.L.C., is a Specialist in Estate Planning and Estate Administration, cer tiﬁed by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. If you have a topic concerning estate planning or administration that you would like Mr. Schorr to discuss in a future issue, you can email him at: eschorr @ sessions-law.com

Our Focus is Your Legacy Since 1958, Sessions, Fishman, Nathan & Israel, L.L.C. has been serving clients throughout the state. As New Orleans’ most renowned Estate Planning & Administration Law Firm, we offer exceptional qualifications and personal, attentive service. With an Estate Planning and Probate Group that boasts of some of the most distinguished attorneys in Louisiana, Estate Planning isn’t one of the things we do. It is what we do.

Elder Law • Estate Planning Successions/Probate • Trust & Estate Litigation Business Succession Planning 400 Poydras Street Suite 2550 . New Orleans, LA 70130 . 504-582-1500

Surviving an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, (AAA) MY OWN STORY

By: Marylou Cessna

It started on August 15, 1998...watching television one Saturday evening. It was also four days before I was scheduled for my fourth C-section. My three girls were sound asleep that night and my soon-to-be little boy was actively moving around. I got up to stretch and move around a bit when I felt a pain like nothing else in my life hit me across the lower back. It was excruciating. I, of course, thought it was time for the baby. We put our carefully planned agenda into action and sped to the hospital as the pain worsened with each passing mile. Once there, I was hooked up to a fetal monitor and it was soon discovered I was not in labor, the baby was not in distress. I didn’t understand what was happening. Pg. 12

LIFESTYLES

Because I was just shy of my scheduled delivery date and was already there, and because my doctor was there on call that night, I was told we could deliver. My son was born later that evening via c-section. The pain felt earlier that evening was still unexplained and since forgotten. After four days in the hospital, I was discharged. I went home with my new baby boy and felt exhilarated, exhausted and sore, like my three previous deliveries. However, this time, I knew something was different. I felt different, in a way I couldn’t explain, not even to myself. I had been through this three times before, yet this time, was definitely different. While taking it easy as much as I could, I told myself and my husband I would call the doctor the next morning if I didn’t feel any better after a good night’s sleep. I woke up feeling the same way and called the doctor for an appointment. That same morning, my husband went to his oﬃce for a meeting and I called him. His secretary sensed something wasn’t right in my voice and immediately got him out of his meeting. He raced home and found me unresponsive on the ﬂoor of our bedroom. He proceeded to dial 911. The paramedics came and whisked me to the waiting ambulance. At the ER, I was still unresponsive and a CT was performed. What they found initially was internal bleeding caused by a nick in my liver, most likely due to a mistake in the delivery. I had been slowly bleeding internally for almost five days. What they also found was an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, (AAA) and dissection. The excruciating pain I felt earlier was due to the dissection of my aorta. It was never learned how my liver was cut, but had that not happened, my aneurysm would not have been found and would have continued to grow. I was then airlifted to a trauma center where I stayed in the ICU for about 10 days. It was determined that I was not a viable candidate for surgery at that time, being only a week postpartum. My surgeon referred to my situation as complicated due to the circumstances surrounding the AAA discovery. It was decided that I would be watched and monitored with a CT scan every six months for size and growth rate.

Continued on page 24

-------- Please Remember COAST --------------- in Your Planned Giving --------

COAST Oﬀers Free Exercise Programs at Five Locations

It’s February. How are you doing with that New Year’s resolution to get healthier? Do you need some help with your motivation to get up and move? COAST may be able to help you with that. If you are 60 years or older, the St. Tammany Council on Aging, COAST, has free exercise classes at five locations throughout the parish. Everything from chair exercises to more intensive aerobic classes is offered. Participants must register and complete an assessment before beginning a class. “Movement is medicine,” says COAST Executive Director Julie Agan. “We want to provide the seniors of St. Tammany with an opportunity to get moving and get healthy.” Exercise classes are offered at the following locations: Pearl River Senior Center, 39443 Hwy. 41 Spur. Monday and Friday at 9 a.m. Low intensity, chair exercises. Slidell Senior Center, 610 Cousin St. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m. Stay Active and Independent for Life. This evidence-based exercise program works on balance, endurance and strength. Slidell Senior Center, 610 Cousin St. Monday and Friday at 10:30 Low intensity, chair exercises. Slidell Senior Center, 610 Cousin St. Monday and Wednesday at 1 p.m. Senior aerobics Lacombe Senior Center, 27397 Hwy. 190 Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:30 Stay Active and Independent for Life. This evidence-based exercise program works on balance, endurance and strength. Covington Senior Center, 500 Theard St. Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 Low intensity, chair exercises. Folsom Senior Center, 82010 Hwy. 25 Tuesday and Thursday at 9 a.m. Low intensity, chair exercises. For more information visit the COAST web site: www.coastseniors.org.

72060 Ramos Avenue Covington, LA 70433 (800) 256-2823 coast@coastseniors.org

P. O. Box 171 Covington, LA 70434 FAX: (985) 892-2014 http://www.coastseniors.org

COAST is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions and donations made to COAST are tax-deductible as provided in section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. COAST strives to provide St. Tammany Parish seniors with unparalleled services in order to maintain and enhance their quality of life, independence, and involvement in the community.

Reverse Mortgages Reverse your way of thinking FHA loan designed for homeowners 62+ years old, allows borrowing against home equity to help fund retirement.

Tracey Textor 504-481-1835 TraceyTextor@gulfbank.com NMLS #80853 GULFBANK.COM/TRACEYTEXTOR

Brian Pellissier 985-249-7275 BrianPellissier@gulfbank.com

NMLS #125523 GULFBANK.COM/BRIANPELLISSIER

800-223-2060 | GULFBANK.COM/HOMELOANS Normal credit qualifications, other terms & conditions apply. See Lender for complete details.

GCB_reverseSrLivingad8203.indd 1

8/24/17 2:17 PM

TG Sheppard

C o u n tr y M u s ic S u p e r s ta r

by Marelia Rocasco

Humboldt TN, founded as a railroad town in the 1850’s, is today only 10 miles square with a population of 8500. This little city, where TG Sheppard was born, lies about 90 miles from Memphis and about 140 miles from Nashville. Whether it was those extra 50 miles that made him choose Memphis over Nashville, he doesn’t remember; but TG always wonders what would have happened had he not climbed out of a back window at the age of 15, with 2 quarters and a dime in his pocket, and headed for the music town that was closest. “I don’t recommend ANYBODY do that“ TG emphasizes, “because I was living on the streets and starving.” However, unlike so many youths who feel trapped in an intolerable home situation, and jump from that frying pan into the ﬁre, TG’s story ended well—he found a supporter to take him under their wing, and believe in and encourage him. Strong bonds, unbreakable even to the death of that ally, make the telling of TG’s story impossible without constant reference to the astonishing appearance, mentoring, and friendship of Elvis Presley.

Pg. 14

LIFESTYLES

It began while TG waited one night to meet a friend at a Memphis skating rink. A Cadillac pulled up. TG looked at the driver—it was Elvis! “Where you going?” Elvis asked him. “ ‘Cause I could use your help—will you skate on my team?” TG was introduced to Kill—the game of football on skates. When it ended at 5am, Elvis asked, “Hungry? Let’s go to the house.” TG got in the car and went to Graceland where he and Elvis ate peanut butter and banana sandwiches. It was the beginning of a friendship that would last 16 years. It began with a common love for music, and a willingness to do hard things. As a youngster, TG would listen to his mom, a gospel singer and piano teacher, and watch her while she gave lessons to every kid on the block. He loved singing duets with her and then starting following the big names in Memphis: Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, and Jerry Lee Lewis. After meeting Elvis, TG tried a stint as a rock ‘n roll artist, then quit that, hoping to become a record executive someday. He would stand outside the studios at Sun Records and watch Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis, and Jerry Lee Lewis come out. He was drafted to RCA and but gave up the idea of being a singer. Then one night, sitting in a hotel with Waylon Jennings, TG started singing. Waylon unleashed a strong missive: you need to be a country singer. This jolted TG into action. If someone like Waylon thought he could sing…. As a boy, TG’s mother had encouraged him. “Stay after it son, practice, and work hard.” She had always supported him musically, saving up money to buy him a saxophone when TG wanted to be in the marching band at school. With that early support and Waylon and Elvis’s added, TG finally cut a #1 record. Elvis’s reply? He gave TG a tour bus. Elvis explained, “When I started

out, I had 2 cars. My dad would drive one car with the drums strapped to the top, and I would drive the other.” Elvis told TG, “I can’t tell you how many times Dad got lost and we’d get to a city and no drums.” Elvis didn’t want that to happen to TG. “He believed in me enough and that gave me confidence. I went on to cut twenty one #1 records.”

When asked how TG was able to keep fame from destroying his life, “as a young man, being around someone bigger than life who had no ego, was so down to earth, made me think: if he didn’t get lost in fame, what entitles me? Elvis let me share his life, and come and go at Graceland. We talked about everything—I filed away every word he said and never took that for granted.” One day at Graceland, TG was in Elvis’s closet looking at his costumes and saw a pair of worn penny loafers—with the penny. Pointing them out to Elvis (“those are OLD”), Elvis replied, “I’ll never get rid of them. Anytime I feel like I’m getting too big, I come in here and step into them. I’ve kept those to keep my feet on the ground.” There is no mistaking by the look in his eye, and the light on his face how TG feels about his singer-songwriter-producer wife Kelly Lang, who has been instrumental in keeping his own feet on the ground: “I’ve gotten to see life all over again through her eyes.” Proud of her accomplishments as a music professional, he speaks of her with that same hint of awe reserved for those in his life who truly believed in him through hard times. “I had to hock that horn (mom bought) to a pawn shop for $30 so I could eat.” Little did TG know that from that beginning he would not only befriend Elvis and be introduced to many of the top music names of the day, but also open for the Smothers

Pg. 16

LIFESTYLES

Brothers. “We have lost laughter today. My life is now about one thing, and that is lifting people up, whether a total stranger or a dear friend. I try to bring laughter into my shows to help people relax and be able to hear a message in song that will touch their lives. I want to make people’s days as happy as they can be. I do my shows to make their lives a little easier.” Watching TG on stage or in his home, he is a man who keeps his success the right size. He is comfortable, grateful, yet never lets go of the emotion or fun of the moment. Peering from underneath bushy eyebrows, sporting a plaid shirt and navy loafers, TG speaks thoughtfully with quiet intensity, relishing his memories of the people who have most inﬂuenced him. But what of TG’s dreams for himself ? “I can’t always control life, but singing is one of the few places where I’m in total control of the moment—that’s when I come alive. Talent is a God given thing—He gives you the tools but you need to put it together.” He would love one day to play Broadway, and sing at Carnegie Hall. After all, he believes that life doesn’t begin until you’re 60. “The older you get, the more life experience you have that prepares you and gives you wisdom to do greater things. Everyone should plan on being here a number of years longer than you think! Because it’s not until your later years that you have the chance to finally arrive. It’s never too late in life to be who you might have been.”

New to Medicare? Get the

(HMO)!

MONTHLY PREMIUM MEDICAL DEDUCTIBLE COPAY FOR PRIMARY CARE VISIT PRESCRIPTION DRUG DEDUCTIBLE COPAY FOR TIERS 1 & 2 MAIL-ORDER DRUGS (60- AND 90-DAY SUPPLY)

1 (855) 343-3304, (TTY 711) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week

www.blueadvantagela.com/new6 Blue Advantage (HMO) is a product of HMO Louisiana, Inc., a subsidiary of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is incorporated as Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company. Blue Advantage from HMO Louisiana, Inc. is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in HMO Louisiana depends on contract renewal. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and/or copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. The Formulary, pharmacy network, and/or provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary. Available in Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes. 01MA1203 R01/18

H6453_17-155_MKLA CMS Accepted

Make

2018 Your Year

e l y st e f i L e v i t si o P a e v to Li

by Ryan Lowe

Doesn’t it seem like every time you turn on the TV or get on the computer, there is always more negative news that just weighs you down. On top of that, you have your own personal issues to deal with. This “negative storm” can cause someone to feel stuck, lost and full of anxiety. It is the fear of the unknown that builds up in our mind and takes over like a dark cloud. This dark cloud follows us and rains on us, making us negative in our personal and professional lives. As humans, we sometimes focus on the negative and stay under that negative cloud that we created. We must understand that we can walk from under this cloud at anytime, and we have the power to make our days sunny and bright. ∙ I am sharing with you 6 ways that I have found to be the most effective when attempting to live a more productive and positive lifestyle.

Think Positive

Thinking Positive is probably the most important of the ways that I can share with you, because you know that everything starts in the mind. Thoughts turn into feelings, which then turn into actions. If you tell yourself you can’t do something, you will ultimately ﬁnd failure. If you tell yourself you can do it, you have increased your chances of accomplishing that goal. Keep your mind clear and your thoughts positive. This way will bring great success to you in your personal and professional life. Exercise: When a negative thought comes into your mind, instantly swap it with a positive one. An example of this would be thinking about a child’s smile or someone you know. This will keep the mind clear of any negative thoughts.

Get Around Positive People

Stay away from negative and pessimistic people. Surround yourself with positive

Pg. 18

LIFESTYLES

people, and you will be more positive! This is a simple and crucial way in reaching a positive lifestyle. Negative people can rob you of your energy and your drive. We must learn to get around people that are like minded, have goals and the ones that have courage to go forward in life. Exercise: Think about someone that you respect and has the positive traits that you want to possess. Try to meet with that person frequently so that their positive attitude will become part of you.

Read + Listen to Positive Information

One of the best ways to create a positive mindset is by ﬁlling it with positive information. Too many times we get our information from the wrong places. We get focused on the negative news of the world and it bleeds into our subconscious. We need to learn to be careful on what we let into our mind. To get out of the negative rut, we need to get in the habit

of picking up an inspirational book, find a positive article on the web or just listen to a positive inspirational CD. These positive items will open your mind, encourage, inspire, and teach you how to create a positive mindset. (Some of my favorite inspirational authors are Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy and Les Brown) Exercise: Put a Positive CD in your car, home stereo or in at your office. Listen to it for the length of the car ride or 30 minutes in your home or office. Try to implement that one new positive idea that you learned into what you are doing that particular day.

Focus on the Future

Too many of us dwell on our past and let it block our vision of our future. We think about something disturbing that happened to us or we think about something that someone has told us that upset us, and we play it over and over like an old movie reel. We need to break this bad habit and visualize on what we want our future to be. The next time your past is haunting you, instantly think

about something in your future.Write down your goals and create a vision board.This way you can always focus and see the positive things you want in life. Exercise: Make a list of all things that you want in life. Go online and ﬁnd it, print a picture of each item. Pin them up on a board in your ofﬁce or home where you can see them. Look at this vision board daily and visualize yourself possessing all of these items.

Plan Ahead

Using time efﬁciently helps to maintain a positive attitude. The best way to do this is to plan your day and your week ahead of time. We need to adopt this habit so that we won’t let procrastination take over and keep us from reaching our goals.The habit of planning and focusing on your priorities and important tasks will help you accomplish more in less time. This very act will keep your life in check and help you stay on track towards your goals and let you know stay aware of your accomplishments. Exercise: Each day sit at your desk for ten minutes and map out your next day. This exercise can save two hours the next day.

Exercise More

Daily exercise will help you improve your mood, along with helping to against stress and depression. This healthy way of life will keep you living longer and living a healthier lifestyle. Remember exercising will also make you feel better about yourself. When you feel better about yourself, it breeds conﬁdence which will help you in your personal and professional life. Exercise: Go for a 30 minute brisk walk on a treadmill or around the neighborhood. This is a great exercise to create positive thinking.

AMERICAN HEALTH MONTH: MINUTES MATTER! February is commonly associated with love, and romantic matters of the heart. However, is also designated as American Heart Month, promoting education and awareness in the battle against heart disease.

• Most (but not all) heart attacks involve chest pain that lasts up to several minutes and can come and go. This chest pain is often sudden and intense but can also be mild and slow to intensify. In contrast, some people describe their chest discomfort more like pressure or a squeezing sensation. Chest pain is reported in a very high percent of heart attack cases. So remember the rule: If chest pain does not subside within five minutes, call 9-1-1! • Other people have what is called referred pain associated with a heart attack. This pain is felt in one or both arms or in the jaw, back or stomach. Although men and women can both have referred pain during a heart attack, women are more likely than men to feel discomfort in their jaw or back. Medical care should not be delayed if this pain persists. • Shortness of breath (with or without chest pain) commonly accompanies a heart attack and is more likely to occur in women than men. Some people disregard this symptom assuming it stems from a respiratory problem instead of a cardiac event. No one, however, should ignore its seriousness. Call for emergency medical help within the recommended five minutes.

• Heart disease ranks as the Number 1 killer in America, claiming more than 600,000 lives annually according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 40 percent of these deaths are attributed to heart attacks, with a staggering number dying before they reach a hospital. Sadly many deaths from heart attack are • Other signs that can signal a heart preventable if warning signs are heeded attack include: Indigestion, nausea, cold in a timely manner. The American sweat and lightheadedness. Since these Heart Association recommends calling symptoms can be attributed to a host 9-1-1 or local Emergency Medical of other issues, they are often “brushed Services within five minutes of the off” as insignificant. Be vigilant when onset of heart attack symptoms. they occur. Know what is normal for • The incidence of coronary artery disease your body and notice anything out of increases with age. Although heart the ordinary. Most importantly, do not attacks can occur at any age, the risk of hesitate to seek medical assistance. heart attack increases in men age 45 and • Knowing the common signs and older and women age 55 and older (or symptoms of a heart attack is after menopause). The average age of a fundamental for awareness. Seeking first heart attack for men is 66 years. medical help if these symptoms do not • It is important to learn the common subside within five minutes is paramount warning signs of a heart attack. for survival. Once armed with this information, it is equally as important to remember, “Minutes matter!”

Entertainment & Fun

Book Club Corner Liz Maddox: News of the World by Paulette Jiles is our Between

the Wines book selection for this month, and we unanimously loved it! This historic fiction is set in post-Civil War with the main character, the grizzled former Army Captain Jefferson Kidd making his living going from one remote community in Texas to another reading newspapers to awe-struck residents for the donation of a dime each. The Captain is offered a $50 gold piece to escort a 10 year-old girl, captive for four years among the Kiowa, to her uncle and aunt. She’s the sole survivor of her immediate family, who she witnessed murdered in an Indian raid when she was six years old. In fact, the young German girl Johanna now sees herself as Kiowa, not white, doesn’t speak English, and can’t grasp what is happening to her. Captain Kidd and Johanna must travel 400 miles to her home, and the relationship they build is the real story. It is so sweet and trusting. This is actually a fairly simple story, but it’s got two solid characters and a relationship that is just a delight! This National Book Award finalist isn’t an information-packed book. At less than 200 pages, this story is incredibly moving, and

This month's selection: News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Between the Wines rating:

FIVE OUT OF FIVE STEMS

If you have any comments or questions, please email me at: emaddox185@yahoo.com

Pg. 20

LIFESTYLES

Barbara:

It’s ironic that a story set in the Wild West just after the end of the Civil War can contrast how irresponsible and uncivilized we’ve become in the 21st century. When Captain Kidd promises to care for a young girl, he doesn’t renege because the job’s too hard or the government should be handling it or it’s not in his job description. Nor does he call Indians disparaging names or belittle their culture. He takes on a responsibility and nobly fulﬁlls it, just as an everyday hero should. Our bonus is that he does it in such a colorful, larger-than-life way!

Cathy:

The author’s knowledge of the period is impressive and is woven seemingly effortlessly into the novel. Watching the trust between Captain Kidd and the terriﬁed and confused Johanna evolve makes for a touching story. I was engaged throughout and found the ending to be sweet and satisfying, which, in my experience, is rare.

the writing is both beautiful and sensitive. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that there was quite the bidding war over this book for the film production rights. Tom Hanks is cast as Captain Kidd and is also on board as the film’s producer. Production hasn’t begun, but we Between the Wines ladies are giddy with anticipation! On a sad note, the literary world lost one of its best last month—Sue Grafton, best known for her detective novels and author of the Alphabet Series (A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar..), created Kinsey Millhone, a detective I have loved for decades. We agreed to dedicate next month’s page to mystery/detective series that we can’t live without. It’s going to be a great edition…keep your eyes peeled for it!

Cindy:

This book is one of the few novels that I have read more than once and could read again. The reason is partially because of the author’s lyrical prose, but also the engaging and authentic main characters who forge a unique and trusting relationship on their journey through the harsh, unsettled terrain of Texas.

Marlene:

Perfect blend of historical fiction and Western thriller. We learn some post Civil War Texas history and the story of an old soldier returning a 10 year old white girl who was captured by the Kiowa to her family in Texas.

SMH Foundation 7.5x10 113117.pdf

11/30/17

12:18 PM

WHY ADVERTISE WITH The Right Target Audience (55+)

e p a fre Pick u one of t copy a cations o L 0 0 5 hore Norths hore s th Sou

It is the most important factor, which makes a world of difference and will move your business from market penetration, to market domination.

What Are You Waiting For? Call or E-mail Today!

985-778-6171 SeniorLivingKw@gmail.com

We’re not just renting a building...we’re setting the standard for service. The Northshore Harbor Center. Come experience unparalleled service at our beautiful, state-of-the-art center for conventions, retreats, sales meetings and fundraisers, centrally located between New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Flexible floor plans designed to accommodate 25 to 2,500 people. Free, ample parking. On-site catering and more. To book your next event, call us at 985-781-3650 or visit www.NorthshoreHarborCenter.com. CONVENTIONS

MEETINGS

FUNDRAISERS

TRAINING CLASSES

PARTIES

CONCERTS

RETREATS

Health & Fitness

Lunch & Learn

Comprehensive Weight Loss Clinic Ochsner Health Network and Slidell Memorial Hospital offer weight loss options for all your weight loss needs. Whether you need to lose weight for health reasons or to maintain a healthy lifestyle, we are here for you throughout your entire weight loss journey. Tailoring a program to the individual will improve results overall. Programs should include dieting options, medical options, non-surgical procedures and even surgical procedures. A comprehensive approach combining these options works best for long-term sustained results. Depending on the starting weight, programs begin with simple dieting and even nutritional counseling. This forms the basis from which all other interventions will be successful. Structured dieting programs offer the advantage of providing daily meal plans for individuals. These can be made to fit into a specific lifestyle. A good example is Ideal Protein. Ideal Protein uses dietitians, health coaches and products to help you stay on and execute a diet plan. Weekly one-on-one coaching keeps you motivated, along

with access to online progress tracking, cooking videos and recipes. Once a healthy diet routine has been established, medications and even non-surgical procedures can greatly improve weight loss and provide sustainability of the weight loss. Medication, such as Adipex and Contrave, can be prescribed by a doctor to assist the dieter in losing weight. Non-surgical procedures, like the gastric balloon, can be placed by a bariatric surgeon to help restrict food intake. Finally, a comprehensive program should provide surgical options. Surgery for weight loss should be looked upon as another tool once a healthy diet and exercise routine has been established. Surgery helps sustain a healthy lifestyle that can result in longterm weight loss. The most popular surgery is the gastric sleeve. This reduces the size of the stomach without rearranging intestines or placing a piece of plastic around the stomach. The result is decreased hunger and increased weight loss. The older gastric bypass remains a surgical option, but surgeries should be individualized to maximize results. Weight loss surgery

and non-surgical procedures should be discussed with a bariatric surgeon to ensure it is appropriate and done in a safe manner. The mission of our comprehensive weight loss program is to improve your health and help you achieve the highest quality of life possible by providing medical, surgical and non-surgical weight loss options. We want to ensure that you are fully-educated and are able to make an informed decision before choosing your weight loss plan. Our team is comprised of medically trained staff including dieticians and surgeons. For more information, please call (985) 639-3777 for bariatric surgery or (985) 898-7255 for Ideal Protein. Slidell Memorial Hospital 1001 Gause Boulevard 985.639.3777 985.898.7255 www.slidellmemorial.org

LIFESTYLES

Pg. 23

[[ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 ]] For four and a half years, I had CT scans every six months. This was treacherous for me – knowing that an AAA was growing inside of me, knowing that it wasn’t going to go away by itself, and knowing that I could have serious problems at any time. I would worry for the period of time approaching each CT and doctor appointment, and then breathe a sigh of relief afterwards that it was still growing slowly but hadn’t changed that much. I would then forget about it until shortly before the next appointment 4-6 months later, starting all over again! It was indeed the roller coaster effect! After worrying and waiting, knowing this time bomb was ticking inside me, my surgeon said it was time to ‘give me back to my family.’ My surgery was February 5, 2003. It was a cold, snowy morning and that ride to the hospital was as frightening as it could possibly be. All of the what-ifs were screaming in my mind. My husband kissed me good bye at the admittance area and squeezed my hand, saying everything would be fine and not to worry. I was so very afraid. He was trying to be strong for

me. I knew he was afraid too. I honestly thought I was kissing him goodbye forever. I thought I would never wake up! My babies were 13, 11, 9, and 4 years old. I had to be here to watch them grow up. I was their mom. They were my world. The surgery was successfully done via open repair, lasting 4-6 hours. I have an incisional scar that stems the length of my torso... a constant, everyday reminder still of what I went through. I lost a lot of blood during surgery and had to receive extra units to survive. Every part of me swelled up due to fluids -- temporarily becoming unrecognizable to immediate family members keeping vigil. I had tubes and wires coming out of seemingly every part of me. Again, I was in ICU for a few days and then a regular room for about a week. It was a long, slow and arduous recovery. I had allergic reactions to pain management methods, waking up some nights crying in fear from hallucinations caused by my pain meds, a fear that still haunts me to this day. My incision looked like a zipper on my abdomen.

LIFESTYLES

Mardi Gras

Word Search MARDIGRAS

PARADE

REX

MARCHINGBANDS

FATTUESDAY ZULU

KINGCAKE MASK

COSTUME KREWE

Pg. 24

NEUTRALGROUND FLAMBEAUX FLOATS

THROWS BEADS

DOUBLOONS

LIFESTYLES

U Z K G E F

L R G K G V

U E H I L L Q A

N W A N M K M P N V

D E W F B A I E A E F T

T W X L D S R N Y R U C H B

U W Y O O O P C G F A T O R B A

I had been given a second chance at life, motherhood, love, and everything else most people experience. Every little thing was different now – the way I looked at myself, how I took care of my children, and my entire outlook on life actually. It was indeed profound. My family gathered, my friends and neighbors took turns bringing my family dinner, carting my kids around, cleaning my house, and dropping in on occasion to catch up. It took me a long time to get back to my old self and routine. I am so very grateful and will be forever grateful for every person’s attempt to help in any way. It’s been almost thirteen years since my surgery. I have recovered fully with a few kidney problems as a result of encroaching scar tissue. Since then, I have traveled extensively and now speak, write and promote AAA advocacy and education awareness. It has become a passion of mine to help others. I have seen my children grow, marry, and this year will become a first-time grandmother! My babies are now 26, 24, 22 and 17.

N F R A U Q U Y H C F D R S O E W E

F S T T Y Y F B A I A A E A T W A H P D

C Q S P Z S R L M N K T G L U S D T V S

W F R E S X O A G E T M G M B S W A

C L J N C O R B R U F R E L Y M

M A S K N D A A E M O Q M V

T M G S I N A S X U L G

Z B E G D Q D Q N E

O E R S S A D D

C A F Q Y W

S U Y J X G

Bayou Saturday, March 24th

BARK F EST

At The Northshore Harbor Center For more Information Call (985) 781-3650

E VERYTHING Y OU N EED U NDER O NE W OOF Saturday, March 24th Free DOG Costume Competitions

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Northshore Harbor Center

Free Admission Family Friendly

101 Harbor Center Blvd Slidell, LA

Bayou Bark Fest Contest Timeline Costume Contest