Montana Senior News Apr/May 11

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April/May 2011 Vol 27 No 4 Pansy photo by Rhonda Lee

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Sherry Attard Is Keeping Alive The Teddy Bear Legacy Article & Photo By Gail Jokerst While it may be true that you cannot make a silk purse from a sow’s ear, you could make an adorable teddy bear from an old flannel shirt. Well, you could if you were Sherry Attard. This Columbia Falls artisan loves to root around rummage sales and thrift shops for clothes, linens, and blankets that others deem worthless but to her merit rescue. Where someone else sees merely a past-prime jacket, Sherry envisions a cuddly teddy bear just waiting to emerge. “I like to take a used piece of clothing or coat that has been discarded and see if it can be recycled into something that someone would want to care about to keep or give as a gift,” says Sherry, who finds that each cast-off item “speaks to her” of what type of bear it will become. This talented woman has spent most of her life working with fabric both old and new. Her mother taught her to use a sewing machine when she was in the third grade and in two years, the budding tailor could follow dress patterns and make her own clothes. From then on, Sherry has never been far away from a needle and thread. She created her first bears for her three sons while they were growing up. All of them now have children of their own, who have also played with teddy bears Sherry has sewn just for them. Since she began to design and stitch stuffed animals back in 1988, Sherry estimates she has produced several thousand teddy bears. “I started out by wanting to make some extra money for Christmas and decided to rent a table at a local bazaar,” recalls Sherry, who now has an active year-round business. “My mom used to sell her handmade doll clothes to earn Christmas money; that’s where I got the idea. I initially chose teddy bears because they seemed to be universally popular. So I found a pattern in a magazine for a bear that I thought looked cute and tried it.” From the eager response of her first customers, Sherry knew immediately that she had found her niche. However, in retrospect, she admits those early bruins would not pass muster by her current exacting standards. Wisely, she allowed herself to improve as she handcrafted bear after bear, progressed beyond her mistakes, and began to master her trade. “It was an evolution of learning to do things better,” notes Sherry. The hallmarks of her bears are that they are jointed (their arms and legs move) and laden with character from their hand-embroidered noses to their soft paws. Sherry creates those charming faces by taking time to play with each (Continued on page 57)

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Searching for a lady from the past I always wondered what became of a young lady named Loretta whom I met in Philipsburg, Montana in about 1957. She was from Billings, but she worked in a café in Philipsburg. I worked on a survey crew. Her father was a construction supervisor on a road job around there. I always remember the Bird Dog song that played a lot at the café. It would be a miracle to hear from her after almost 60 years! Gary Dillree Box 95, Lincoln, MT 59639 Corrections: The photo of the hunter appearing on page 60 of the February/March issue of the Montana Senior News was taken by Randy Howell. MSN

Vast Majority Of Adults Believes End-of-Life Choice Is Theirs To Make By Jerry Dincin, Ph.D Susan Caldwell is facing a horrific dilemma. The Atlanta native has Huntington’s disease: a rare, incurable, genetic disorder. Today she has serious trouble swallowing, but the most debilitating effects of her illness lie ahead. Huntington’s disease’s steady deterioration in motor function ends in complete loss of control over voluntary physical movement, accompanied by dementia. The entire decline from first symptoms to death takes, on average, 15-20 years, a prolonged and horrific descent into hell. Susan’s grandfather, uncle, and mother all died from Huntington’s. She knows her end will be like theirs: immobilized in a hospital bed, tubes in her stomach, arms, and down her throat, surrounded by friends and family she no longer recognizes, and suffering unrelenting pain. In 2008, Susan contacted Final Exit Network (FEN) about hastening her own death to avoid her inevitable and unthinkable end. FEN provided information about safe, reliable, and painless early-death options, and promised in-person comfort and guidance should she choose one of them. But we encouraged Susan to tough it out for a while; she was still healthy and had friends and family that would be devastated by her death. She promised to get back in touch once her condition worsened. Then the state of Georgia launched an all-out attack on “assisted-suicide groups.” State law (O.C.G.A. 16-5-5) charges with a felony anyone who “publicly advertises, offers, or holds himself or herself out as offering aid to another in suicide.” That meant our Final Exit Network cannot even talk to desperate patients like Susan: the law makes talking - let alone assisting (which we do not do) a crime. Indeed, in 2009, state authorities brought felony charges against four

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of our members related to end-of-life consultations. Georgia’s draconian and brutal campaign represents a horrible misunderstanding of what FEN does, and the life-and-death mental gymnastics that patients like Susan are forced to endure. FEN has both a respect for life and a belief that the individual is the best determiner of when suffering has or will become so unbearable that it cannot be tolerated. We do go to great lengths to ensure that those people who reach out to us are of rational and sound mind. But the hard truth is that there are tens of thousands of patients in this country with incurable medical conditions that make life intolerable, who desperately seek to escape their suffering. “Suicide” is a misnomer that dishonors their dignity. People like Susan do not want to die; leaving their family and friends and the joys of everyday life is an agonizing choice. But they see a hastened death as the reasoned option to constant and confused misery. “I love life, but I also know what my future holds,” says Susan. “I’ve thought long and hard about the suffering in store for me and my family. Unfortunately, Georgia makes it impossible for me to consult with groups like Final Exit Network to learn my options, keep my dignity, and avoid the pain that inevitably awaits me.” A Harris poll released in late January found that over 70% of adults believe that people who are terminally ill and suffering from great pain should have the right to end their own lives. This wide support holds even among the elderly. Fully 62 percent of respondents over 65 agreed with that premise. Just 17 percent of adults overall flat-out disagreed. And 58 percent think that the assistance of doctors should be legal in following

A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means. - Sallust

the request of a severely suffering patient who wishes to end his or her life. These results are consistent with earlier polls conducted by CBS and CNN. The discussions surrounding end-of-life treatment are not going away. Indeed, as the American population ages and medical technology advances, such issues will surface exponentially. Roughly 30,000 Americans have Huntington’s disease. Another 100,000 are suffering from advancedstage Alzheimer’s. And tens of thousands more are living with unbearable conditions like Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) and Parkinson’s. Too many policymakers are completely outof-step with public opinion on this matter. And by failing to reform their assisted-suicide restrictions, they are condemning countless patients like Susan to unimaginable torment. We appeal to compassionate lawmakers across America not to apply old mindsets to new problems: allow Susan Caldwell and others in her predicament the liberty of peaceful release from their tortured lives. Jerry Dincin, Ph.D., is the President of Final Exit Network and a retired psychologist with more than 30 years of clinical experience. The website for Final Exit Network is www.finalexitnetwork.org. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 3

Montana Senior News A Barrett-Whitman Publication

P.O. Box 3363 • Great Falls, MT 59403-3363 406-761-0305 or 800-672-8477 FAX 406-761-8358 www.montanaseniornews.com email: montsrnews@bresnan.net The Montana Senior News is published six times each year in February, April, June, August, October and December at 415 3rd Avenue North, Great Falls, MT 59401 and is distributed free to readers throughout the state of Montana. The mail subscription rate is $8.00 per year (6 issues). The Montana Senior News is written to serve the reading interests of mature Montanans of all ages. Readers are encouraged to contribute interesting material. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. All copy appearing in the Montana Senior News is protected by copyright and may be reprinted only with the written permission of the publisher. Advertising copy should be received or space reserved by the 5th of the month preceding the month of publication.

Jack W. Love, Jr., Publisher/Editor Colleen Paduano

Rhonda Lee Peter Thornburg Sherrie Smith Ashley Drain

Production Supervisor Advertising Sales Advertising Sales Graphic Artist Distribution Admin/Production Assistant Advertising Sales

Contributing Writers Bob Campbell Connie Daugherty George Engler Clare Hafferman Sue Hart Kim Thielman-Ibes Gail Jokerst Bernice Karnop Craig Larcom Liz Larcom Michael McGough Dianna Troyer © 2011

May the Mother of our Savior ask her Son to bless you richly for your daily self-sacrificing love. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, MOTHERS! For women suffering loss because of miscarriage or stillbirth, contact: SHARE http://www.nationalshare.org/index.html 800-821-6819 -------For women suffering loss because of abortion, contact: RACHEL’S VINEYARD - MONTANA http://www.montanacatholic.org/healing 406-442-0607

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Rodeos are an integral part of Montana culture and so are the traditions that go along with them. This issue, our winning Remember When contributor Pat Salomon shares some of her rodeo history, including her participation in the 1950 Montana Rodeo Queen competition. Thank you and congratulations to Pat, the winner of our $25 Remember When prize. Remember When contains our readers’ personal reflections, contributions describing fictional or non-fictional accounts from the “Good ol’ Days,� or reflections on life in general. Contributions may be stories, letters, artwork, poetry, etc. Photos may

be included. Each issue of the Montana Senior News features the contributions deemed best by our staff. The contributor of the winning entry receives a $25 cash prize. We look forward to receiving your contributions for our June/July 2011 issue. Mail your correspondence to Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403; email to montsrnews@ bresnan.net; or call 1-800-672-8477 or 406-7610305. Visit us online at www.MontanaSeniorNews. com.

Reminiscences of a Montana Rodeo Queen By Pat Salomon, Polson We were reading one of the farm magazines that came in the mail, and the front cover showed a group of pretty cowgirls who were competing for Montana Rodeo Queen last year at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. I remembered I had been in that contest in 1950 with several other girls who had arrived in Livingston to compete for the title. Those who were there then were Sally Haberthier of Cody, Wyoming; Virginia Cline, Anaconda; Dorothy McGowen of Boulder; Fae Taylor, Wolf Point; Joyce Walbert, Three Forks; Frances Brennan, Hardin; and myself – Pat Greene from Whitehall. Al Tanson was the manager of the rodeo and the rodeo queen contest. We became busy right away and were given horses to ride so we could show our horsemanship. My horse was a big palomino gelding. We rode in the parade downtown and in the rodeo grand entries. We were asked to talk to the judges and later to dance with them. It seemed to take a long time for the judges to make their selections and I was sure all the girls

were well-qualified to win. You can’t imagine how surprised I was when I found out that I had won the title of Montana Rodeo Queen! We all appeared on horseback in the rodeo for the next few days. We also were invited to a beautiful dude ranch for lunch and horseback riding. I was given an engraved belt buckle that had been donated by the ranch. Along with the title came a paid trip to the rodeo in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a visit to the rodeo in Chicago. I would be expected to attend that rodeo and our Montana rodeos to ride in the grand entry, often carrying the American flag and riding in parades. I also did some barrel racing, reining, and rodeo events. It did not seem that anything could have been better than this. My mother and I flew to Milwaukee and met Marge and Peg Greenough, who furnished the stock for the rodeo. Two very good clowns worked that rodeo – Pinky Jenkins and the bullfighter Joaquin Sanchez. These two fellows could make anyone laugh at their tricks and jokes. A handsome Arabian stallion had been brought to the rodeo for

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me to ride. The horse was named Athi, and I never forgot him. This was my first introduction to Arabians, but not my last, as Leonard and I raised Arabian horses in the years that followed. So many things happened during our stay there in Milwaukee. In many ways, it seems it just happened yesterday. Now this pageant has grown to be a large and well-run event. The horses, the rodeo, and the life that has followed have sure been the best and worth remembering. It was not only a great experience and a great time, but it was and still is a wonder for me to remember it. MSN

You Can Make a Difference in a Teen’s Life When things get out of control at home, parents often feel afraid and alone, not knowing where to turn for help. They become blind to the different avenues of hope and support that exist. You may be thinking of someone right now who is in this situation; perhaps your relative has a child in crisis, or your friend has talked about his niece or grandchild. Summit Preparatory School is an accredited, non-profit, therapeutic, college prep boarding school. We specialize in compassionate, relationshipbased treatment of bright, capable high school youth who are struggling in their academic and/or home community due to emotional, academic, and behavioral concerns. The 520-acre campus is located in Kalispell, and our students come from throughout the United States and Canada. They are wonderful young people who have experienced a bend in their life plan - maybe depression, anxiety, or drug abuse, typically combined with academic failure. Summit Prep provides students a safe, therapeutic community where they regain their emotional strength and re-engage in their academic journey. If you know a family who is struggling and could benefit from a school like Summit Prep, please have them visit our website at www.summitprepschool. org or call us directly at 406-758-8113. MSN

Good Headliners Julie Hollar-Brantley Headlines are meant to grab readers’ attention and invite them to read further. The headlines below surely caused more than one reader to do a double-take… 1. Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter 2. Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says 3. Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers 4. Miners Refuse to Work after Death 5. Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant 6. War Dims Hope for Peace 7. If Strike Isn’t Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile 8. Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures MSN

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By Mark Fee Once upon a time, I was eager to review films. In the late 1970s, there were hundreds of great films to watch. But many films produced in Hollywood now are insipid and pretentious. Some are sick and insulting, and many are sloppily made with slick effects and bad storylines. It seems there has been an excess of abysmally made films recently. If you, too, are disappointed with Hollywood’s recent output, there are hundreds of forgotten comedies worth watching. I strongly recommend visiting your local DVD store and renting the following films. I guarantee they will make you laugh! Mr. Mom (1982) was one of my favorite comedies of the 1980s, and it is still funny today. Michael Keaton (Multiplicity, 1996) and Terri Garr (Young Frankenstein, 1974) play a married couple whose life is turned upside down when Keaton is fired. Garr then goes to work for an advertising agency, and Keaton stays home to manage the household and kids. The result is absolute bedlam. Keaton has no idea how to direct the home. He watches soap operas while the kids burn chili for lunch. The family vacuum cleaner has a life of its own, as does the washing machine. The screenplay by John Hughes, who went on to write Vacation (1983), Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), Home Alone (1982), and other comic delights, is wonderful. Rated PG; three stars. Another great comedy is the priceless Western sleeper, The Frisco Kid (1979) directed by Robert Aldrich and starring Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford. Wilder plays a hopelessly inept Polish Jewish seminarian, who is sent by his congregation to San Francisco. He encounters many obstacles along the way, including a pair of outlaws who rob him and leave him for dead. As he travels across America, hilarity ensues. He mistakenly thinks a group of Mennonites are Jewish, has no idea how to ride a horse, and teaches Shoshone Indians a Jewish folk dance. Along

the way, he befriends an outlaw (Harrison Ford) who can’t stand him. The Frisco Kid is a treasure. Rated PG; three stars. In They Might Be Giants (1971), George C. Scott and Jo Anne Woodward are Sherlock Holmes and his psychiatrist, Dr. Mildred Watson. Scott isn’t really Holmes - he only thinks he is. He is actually a retired judge who has suffered a nervous breakdown and now believes he is the famous detective. His brother-in-law, interested in the family estate, sends “Holmes” to a mental health center in New York. At the center Holmes is introduced to his therapist, Dr. Mildred Watson. The psychiatrist is amazed and infuriated by Holmes. Holmes seems to know more about her patients than she does and thinks her analysis is ridiculous. She is a lonely spinster; he is detached and aloof. She tries to cure Holmes; he doesn’t know what to make of her. They share a number of magical, hilarious adventures in New York. Scott is extremely effective as Holmes and Woodward is touching and hilarious as Watson. Directed by Anthony Harvey (The Lion in Winter, 1968), the film sadly never found an audience. The sound track by John Barry (Dances with Wolves, 1990) is melancholy and quite haunting. Rated PG; 3.5 stars. In Norman Lear’s Cold Turkey (1971), Dick Van Dyke plays a minister who convinces his town (full of smokers) to stop smoking for a month. If they succeed, they receive a huge financial incentive. The company sponsoring the event, including mastermind Bob Newhart, has ulterior motives. The film is a howlingly funny satire. Some scenes are devastatingly hilarious. One of Van Dyke’s best films and extremely underrated. Rated PG-13; 3.5 stars. In Howard Hawks’, Man’s Favorite Sport (1964), Rock Hudson plays Roger Willoughby - an author, expert on fishing, and the top salesman at Abercrombie and Fitch. He is extremely popular and renowned for his fishing advice. But in reality, Willoughby has never gone fishing and hates fish. Hilarity ensues when his employer enters him into a fishing contest. Lanky Paula Prentiss, who plays a reporter, follows Willoughby to the contest. She is joined by two other attractive ladies. The film is a hoot. Not rated; three stars. So, take a break from the current Hollywood mediocrity and check out these and other classic DVDs you will enjoy the laughter! MSN

Classic DVDs: More From The Archives

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Where are they now - Charlotte Rae? By Marshall J. Kaplan Everybody’s favorite housekeeper and Den Mother, Mrs. Garrett, played by the wonderful Charlotte Rae, still has that funny voice and still continues to act. Charlotte Rae was born on April 22, 1926 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Russian-Jewish immigrants. Charlotte always wanted to be an actress and as a teenager began acting in a local children’s theatre. Her uniquely funny voice helped land her many radio parts. She eventually joined a professional theatre company and moved to New York City at the age of 22. Rae was unique. She could sing, act, and had a funny voice and even funnier comedic timing. She was successful on Broadway during the 1950s in such plays as The Three Penny Opera (with Bea Arthur) and in her favorite role as ‘Mammy Yokum’ in Lil’ Abner (1956). Rae loved living in New York. She not only became a popular character actress on stage but also on live television in New York. She became so popular that she constantly flew out to Los Angeles for television roles on such shows as The Phil Silvers Show, Kraft Television Theatre, and Philco Television Playhouse. In 1961, she achieved success on her first sitcom as a regular - Car 54 Where Are You? - playing Sylvia Schnauser, wife of Leo (played by the great Al Lewis). After the show ended, she returned to New York and appeared on the stage for another ten years. She also became famous for an Easy-Off oven cleaning commercial. And then Norman Lear came calling. Norman Lear was a huge fan of Charlotte’s work. He was so confident about her abilities that he hired her immediately in 1978 for his new show, Diff’rent Strokes, as housekeeper Edna Garrett, opposite Conrad Bain and Gary Coleman. After 24 episodes in the first season, Edna Garrett became a hit and Lear wanted to create a spin-off centered on her. So, they specially wrote an episode of Diff’rent Strokes titled “The Girls’ School� about a private

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11th Annual Sunday Sampler Sunday, April 10 Noon to 5 p.m. Join us at the C.M. Russell Museum for the 11th Annual Sunday Sampler! Admission to the ten museums in Great Falls is free and most of the museums have special activities planned. So come on out and see the place where Charles M. Russell created his greatest masterpieces! For more information, visit our website at www.cmrussell.org or call us at (406) 727-8787.

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girls’ school. A new show was born. In 1979, Rae and Lear together proposed The Facts of Life to NBC. The show was approved, and The Facts of Life was born. It ran for eight seasons and focused on powerful topics of the day. Charlotte had a lot of power and influence on the show, including casting (she discovered Mindy Cohn) and stories - after all, it was her show! After the grueling shoot schedule, Charlotte decided to take it easy. She continued to act, but less frequently. She made numerous television appearances and returned to her first love - the stage. Most recently, Charlotte was cast in a very humorous scene in Adam Sandler’s film Don’t Mess with the Zohan. Today Charlotte lives in a beautiful, spacious condominium on Wilshire Boulevard on the outskirts of Beverly Hills. She is as animated as ever, and, more importantly, she still sounds like Edna Garrett, with whose voice America laughed and fell in love. MSN

Learn regional history at the Tri-State Museum Since 1955, the Tri-State Museum in Belle Fourche, SD has collected historical materials from the early settlement of the area, which includes parts of South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. The museum was started through a donation of $1,000 and a western collection by Mrs. Roy Williams of Hammond, Montana. The objective of the museum is to tell the stories of the early pioneers, rodeo history, and the old west and to preserve that legacy for future generations. At one time, Belle Fourche was the largest shipping point of range cattle in the world, as depicted in the movie John Wayne and the Cowboys. Our exhibits include the Early Cattle Companies, Black Hills Roundup History dating back to 1918, interactive kiosks, cowboy and ranch history, the twostory 1876 Johnny Spaulding Cabin, a military display, a doll display, Butte County Bank Robbery history including the Sundance Kid, and temporary exhibits. In 2004, the museum opened a new 4,000 square-foot building to house our unique collection that attracts visitors every year seeking to learn more about the area and its previous inhabitants. Our gift shop offers local history and Center of the Nation memorabilia. For more information, visit www. thetristatemuseum.com or contact us by phone (605-723-1200) or e-mail tristatemuseum@rushmore.com. MSN

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Edible bugs to explosive chemistry: MOLLI Summer Camp has something for everyone “A great opportunity to learn and have fun with your grandchild,” noted one grandparent after the 2010 MOLLI Summer Adventures in Science: Connecting the Circle science camp. Each summer, grandparents bring their 6- to 12-year-old grandchildren to the University of Montana campus to engage in scientific exploration in the field and classroom. Among other things, participants learn which bugs are edible and why and get the opportunity to taste these delicious morsels. Rumors have it that mealworms taste like French fries, or so say last summer’s participants. Because of its popularity, Incredible Edible Bugs will return again this summer, along with Bones and Stones, which features a mock anthropological dig at Fort Missoula. If digging in the dirt or eating bugs doesn’t appeal to you, Explosive Chemistry might be right up your alley. Or perhaps creating robots that move, talk, light up, and sense their surroundings. Whatever your flavor, MOLLI offers a great two-day experience. As one grandparent noted, it’s “great experience for both generations!” This summer’s camp will be on July 18 & 19. To learn more, contact the University of Montana’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (MOLLI) at 406.243.2905, or visit us online at www.umt.edu/ce/plus50. MSN

Grandparents Submitted by Julie Hollar Brantley 1. She was in the bathroom putting on her makeup under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she had done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, “But Grandma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!” I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye. 2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him 62. My grandson was quiet for a moment and then asked, “Did you start at 1?” 3. My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, “Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?” I mentally polished my halo and said, “No, how are we alike?” “You’re both old,” he replied. MSN

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Bound Like Grass: a Memoir from the Western High Plains by Ruth McLaughlin; University of Oklahoma Press, 2010 Reviewed by Connie Daugherty “I return on trips and in my dreams to a lonely corner of Montana because it is a source… I come back home to feel myself in the presence of my family - so deeply, briefly here,” writes Ruth McLaughlin in her memoir, Bound Like Grass. Chosen as the 2010 Book of the Year by the Montana Book Award Committee, Bound Like Grass is a story of struggle and deprivation with a realistic rather than a happily-ever-after ending. It is written in a straightforward, personal style that lays bare all the flaws and frustrations of place and personality. There is nothing of the romanticism of the West, nothing noble in the poverty and the struggle, nothing of Little House on the Prairie in Bound Like Grass. Instead, tucked inside these pages are honesty, realism, and finally acceptance. The analogies of grass - tough prairie grass - spring up everywhere throughout the book. There is a rhythm to her sentences - a rhythm that creates a vision of wind whispering through tall grass. Although there have been many books written about the struggles of homesteading in eastern Montana, McLaughlin’s story is unique in the way it focuses on the hearts and the heritage rather than the labors of these determined farmers. It is told from a child’s perspective - an adult child, but always a child showing in a heartfelt way how one woman’s “formative years” connect her with her past and shape her future. This hauntingly rich memoir is driven by those trips back to the land on which she was raised and the memories and emotions

evoked by each visit. “Our family had a ninety-seven-year fling here,” writes Ruth McLaughlin. “Ten have been left behind… planted in two cemeteries… My brother and I fled our destinies here in our teens... Now my family’s farm has a new owner.” The story opens with one of Ruth’s last visits to the site of her childhood. The new owner has burned the house she grew up in, and she wanders through the charred remains remembering stories her grandfather told about first coming to Montana from Sweden to homestead. Remembering sounds and smells and times shared with her family in the too-small house. Not all the memories are good, however, and Ruth relates them with a combination of regret, resignation, and resolve. In the section titled “Hunger,” Ruth describes more than physical hunger. In fact, though their meals were simple and monotonous, they were never truly physically hungry. Mostly she recalls being intellectually, socially, and emotionally hungry. “We weren’t a family of touchers, no hugs, kisses, tucks goodnight,” she writes. The austerity of the farm permeated all aspects of their lives. “My parents’ hold-on generation did their jobs well. They did not complain. They did not give in to fear and worry - nor to affection and joy.” Still, she acknowledges, “we were strengthened by being bound together.” One of the most frustrating challenges to that bond for Ruth was her sister, Rosemary. “In school I began to wonder about Rosemary… Until then I had only noticed that I was stronger and faster,” she writes of the sister two years her senior. In public, Rosemary became an embarrassment, her mental illness somehow emphasizing their family’s different-ness. “She was often an aggravation. Outside our family, her life hardly mattered.” Then another sister came along when Ruth was a teenager. Another chance. But this sister, Ginny, had Down syndrome - another family embarrassment. In the chapters that Ruth dedicates to her sisters, she is bluntly honest about what it was like living with these “defective” sisters - honest about her reactions and her feelings toward them during their lives and after their deaths. “I loved Ginny before her birth, in my imagining of her… Perhaps I had not loved the blighted self into which she grew,” she writes. But in her sisters’ deaths, Ruth discovers their secret lives - and her own.

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July 18 & 19, 2011 at UM To learn more visit www.umt.edu/molli or call 406.243.2905

APRIL/MAY 2011

Secrets were a constant in Ruth’s life - secrets and a longing to fit in. She recalls her best friend the secrets they shared, and did not share. Secrets like how she cut her own hair because going to a salon was not an option; secrets like not feeling loved by a mother who longed for a pretty child. Not until 35 years later did they feel safe enough to admit to those secrets. “Long ago… we kept them inside… learned in a harsh country to imitate the prairie grass: keeping their most vital parts deep and protected underground.” In Bound Like Grass, Ruth turns up that ground, sharing secrets in hopes of finding understanding and answers to perhaps unanswerable questions. “Why didn’t my four homesteading grandparents flee following drought, deaths, and a broken marriage? What made my parents decide to stay?” What draws her back repeatedly to a place that holds nothing but sorrow? Finally, Ruth has to deal with her parents’ aging and illnesses. And in doing so, she discovers something else about them, about their relationship to each other and to life. “All their married lives, my

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 13

parents rehearsed to survive the wrong tragedy… they can hold their own with anyone if poverty arrives…. But in their retreat from the world they have not prepared to lose each other.” Ruth also must prepare to lose the family from which she had spent most of her adult life running away. Bound Like Grass is a not-to-be-missed read for everyone who remembers growing up in the 1950s, whether in a town or on a farm, and for everyone who acknowledges the impact of those early “formative years” on their lives. It is one person’s memoir that touches a universal chord. Ruth McLaughlin lives in Great Falls, where she teaches literacy and writing. Her stories and essays have • Consolidate credit card debt • Remodel or repair your home appeared in magazines • Pay medical expenses • Supplement income and anthologies, including Best American Short Stories. MSN Call for a complimentary consultation.

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Billings Catholic Schools Celebrate 100 Years High academic standards, a strong sense of community, and Christcentered education are just some of the values reflected each day at the Billings Catholic Schools. Motivated by “Faith, Family Spirit, and Academic Excellence,” the Billings Catholic Schools create a nurturing environment that allows all students to reach their full potential. Through the support of a faithful community, this Catholic school system has evolved from a single parish elementary school founded in 1911 to the present day P/K-12 system. This year, BCS is celebrating 100 years of serving students, families, and the community through Catholic education in Billings. In an effort to help keep tuition at an affordable level, BCS hosts yearly fundraisers. Its biggest fundraiser, Mayfair, will be held on May 6 and 7 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center. If you would like make a contribution to Mayfair or would like to learn about how you can help launch BCS into a second century of quality Catholic education, please call the Foundation office at 406-252-0252. From 1911 to today, the Billings Catholic Schools have provided the community with a school system that educates individuals to become tomorrow’s leaders. MSN

Office: 406-543-2642, Cell: 406-240-1695 Toll Free: 866-282-1844 x: 1009 kathy.earle@wellsfargo.com www.wfhm.com/kathy-earle Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. AS457593 3/11-6/11

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Ronald McDonald House Missoula supports families of sick children Ronald McDonald House® Missoula supports families while they are seeking medical care for their ill or injured children. Families travel to Missoula to access the top quality medical care for which Missoula is known. These families face many difficult decisions and challenges. Children need their parents close by as they struggle to grow and thrive. Families are able to stay close to their little ones when they stay at the Ronald McDonald House. We strengthen families so they can support their children. The Ronald McDonald House® Missoula provides housing for up to eight families. Each family has a unique story

and circumstances. Common among all of them is the need to have a good, safe place to stay. Siblings staying at the House are able to participate in the healing process and have a great place to live while parents are spending time with their sick child. Giving to the Ronald McDonald House® Missoula helps support little children, the most vulnerable among us. By providing a beautiful home in which to live, the Ronald McDonald House® Missoula helps our guests meet their challenges with dignity and have a place they can sincerely call a “home away from home.” For more information or to contact the House, visit www.rmhmissoula.org or call (406) 541-7646. MSN

Mountain Home Montana provides safe space for homeless, young mothers

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Mountain Home Montana, Inc. is a nonprofit organization located in Missoula. We provide Transitional Living Programs, including a 6-bedroom Transitional Living Home and 5 Transitional Living Apartments, for homeless, young mothers aged 1624 and their babies. Our mission is to provide a safe, loving home where young mothers can discover their strengths and their children can experience the joys of childhood. Julie became pregnant at the age of 16. Her mother gave her the most

• The Senior Van provides transportation for people over 60 and to persons with disabilities. • Wheel chair, scooter and walker accessible. • Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Saturdays 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. • Reservations are required. • Call 721-2848 to sign up and to schedule your ride. • Curb-to-curb service is $1.50 per ride, each way. • All buses are ADA accessible. www.mountainline.com

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difficult choice she ever had to make: put her son up for adoption or move out of her home. Julie chose to raise her son, leaving her homeless and 38-weeks-pregnant at the age of 16. She moved into Mountain Home, and 2 weeks later her son Tyler was born. Julie lived at Mountain Home for 18 months and during that time defied the odds of teen motherhood. She secured an income, got her own vehicle and driver’s license, and raised a healthy son with whom she has a strong and secure attachment. Julie graduated high school on time and enrolled at the University of Montana. She is currently living with her son in her own apartment. There are many ways to get involved with this wonderful organization: by following our blog at www.mountainhomemt.org, following us on Facebook, volunteering, or becoming a donor. For more information, please contact us at 406-541-4663 or info@mountainhomemt.org. MSN

APRIL/MAY 2011

The Country’s Best Aquariums: Chattanooga, Atlanta, San Diego Story by Andrea Gross & Photos by Irv Green There’s nothing I love more than watching fish swim lazily, effortlessly, gracefully among gently swaying sea grass. But snorkeling is not my thing. Instead I frequent aquariums, where I can immerse myself in marine life without submerging myself in water. Below are four of the best, each distinctive in its own way: The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga

- the largest freshwater exhibit in the United States - The Tennessee Aquarium recreates the environments favored by the 40-plus percent of fish that live in rivers and lakes, and it does so in a most innovative way - by following a drop of rainwater as it journeys from mountaintop streams to the sea. Visitors first stop at an exhibit that replicates an Appalachian forest, replete with rhododendrons and azaleas. Trout and otters swim in the stream; a copperhead snake lies on the shore and birds sing in the trees. Various galleries show the stream as it becomes a river, which finally empties into the magical environment of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico. Until May 2011 the aquarium is hosting a special exhibit, “Jellies: Living Art.” Jellyfish and art

by world-renowned glass artists are juxtaposed in a display that pulsates with color and light. The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta - the largest aquarium in the world - While I’m charmed by delicate and beautiful in Chattanooga, I’m overwhelmed by “big” in Atlanta. This aquarium houses thousands of animals representing more than 500 sea creatures from around the world. There are white beluga whales from the arctic, manta rays from the tropics, and loggerhead sea turtles from the nearby Georgia coast. There are even some cute-as-can-be African penguins. The most exciting attraction is the Ocean Voyager Exhibit, which houses the largest fish species in the world, the whale shark. These behemoths, often weighing more than 30,000 pounds and more than 40’ long, are housed in a massive six-million-gallon tank. The actual viewing window is 63’ long, as high as a two-story building, and a reassuring two feet thick. All in all, this is about as impressive as it gets. The Birch Aquarium in San Diego - one of the largest oceanographic research facilities in the world - The Birch Aquarium is the public outreach center of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. As such, its mission is to “provide ocean science education, interpret oceanography research, and promote ocean conservation.” While that sounds very grand, the actual aquarium is small and intimate, focusing mostly on marine habitats of the Pacific coast. A prime attraction is the three living tide pools where visitors are encouraged to examine

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coastal creatures. But the best part of this aquarium is its setting on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the largest aquatic habitat of all. SeaWorld in San Diego - tops for its combination of entertainment and education - I would have skipped Sea World if I hadn’t been with my grandchildren, and that would have been a big mistake. Sure, it’s as much amusement park as aquarium, but it offers people of all

ages an unparalleled opportunity to see marine animals up close. In addition to dynamic shows where whales leap out of the water and dolphins somersault in the air, visitors can see hundreds of penguins enjoying their arctic landscape or walk through a glass enclosed tunnel where they’re surrounded by fish. Sea World Educators are stationed throughout the park to chat with guests and give informal

lessons while for an additional fee the true fish enthusiast can don a wetsuit for a “nose-tobottlenose” encounter with a dolphin or a watery rendezvous with a beluga. Contact Information - Tennessee Aquarium: www.tnaqua.org; Georgia Aquarium: www. georgiaaquarium.org; Birch Aquarium: www. aquarium.ucsd.edu; Sea World: www.seaworld. com/sandiego. MSN

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Mark Tinsky Crafts Dream Pipes in Wolf Creek investigate why. For example, the tobacco Mark By Bernice Karnop Mark Tinsky, owner of American Smoking smoked back East tastes terrible in Montana. The Pipe Company, creates some of the best hand- difference? Humidity. “Smoking a pipe is hard to figure out. It’s a nevcrafted pipes in the nation. He started when he was er-ending puzzle, still in high school and I like the chalby cleaning briar, a lenge,” he says. burl on the root of a Pipe smoking, Mediterranean shrub in fact, is a little like particularly suited fly-fishing. “It’s nevfor pipe bowls. He er that easy. You worked for Jack always have to be Weinberger (JHW figuring it out. You Pipes) in his homeconquer it once and town in New Jersey. the next time you Today, he crafts his are on your own pipes in Wolf Creek, again.” where he also reMany fly fishers pairs pipes and sells are also pipe smokpipe kits so customers, and fly-fishing ers can make their is what brought own dream pipes. Mark to Montana. “For a man to Before he took make his own pipe Smoking a pipe is like flkying-fishing,according to Wolf Creek pipe is kind of impressive maker and flyfisher, Mark Tinsky. He says,”It’s never easy. If it is up fly-fishing howto him,” says Mark, easy, I don’t appreciate it. You have to make it harder for yourself. ever, he excelled in who does the cutting You always have to be figuring it out.” [Photo by Kathe LeSage] and drilling so they can make a good pipe with limited tools. “It’s kind bicycling. During high school he and Curt Rolof a male thing.” You might think that there would not be anyone lar, who later became buying pipes with all the anti-smoking publicity and his business partner in decrease in places that a person can smoke, but pipe making, spent sumMark has had great year - a phenomenon related mers peddling all around the East Coast. Mark to the type of people who smoke pipes. Pipe smokers have a reputation of being a loves history, so they folbit stodgy, but Mark says they are just guys who lowed historic trails from take time to go into a subject in depth. “It’s like the the military campaigns difference between eating at McDonald’s or going of the Revolutionary home and cooking yourself a good meal. It’s all War. From there, they about gratification and how much you are willing geared up to bike to Alaska in 1974. to learn in order to achieve that,” he says. Cigarette smokers get instant gratification by just lighting up. Pipe smokers have to learn how to smoke - how to pack their pipe and how to light it. They test different styles of pipes and sample different types of tobacco. After years of sampling, they find something that satisfies them. But they do not get the same results every time, so they

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Public campgrounds were few back then. They knocked on doors all across the Midwest and people took them in and fed them dinner and breakfast, along with generous servings of friendship. “The best part of the trip was meeting people, meeting America. I was from New Jersey, and learning that the rest of the country was different from New Jersey was great,� he says. They were never in any real danger, but he now admits, “It’s a lot about not knowing what you are getting in to.� Next, the friends decided to bicycle around the world. In 1978, they pedaled across England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. They ferried to Norway and crossed the Scandinavian countries through Denmark into Germany. They biked through Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, and down the Adriatic coast of what was then Yugoslavia. They traveled along the Albanian border into Greece and from there ferried to Turkey. Here they hit the roadblock that ended their journey. Ayatollah Khomeini had just taken over the government in Iran. The people at the American Embassy told them, “Go home. Don’t try.� “The problem with being on a bike is that you are very vulnerable,� Mark says. They had been pummeled with rocks. They had lost gear to thieves. They were ready to take this advice. They wanted to remember the good times, like meeting a man whose grandmother lived in the U.S. He invited them to spend the night with his family in a Serb village. As the two young Americans sat with the men and drank their traditional sweet tea, they were appalled by the ethnic hatred, which recalled specific insults inflicted half a century before. They were not surprised when, a few years later, that hatred erupted into violence. Somewhere in Yugoslavia, they made the decision to establish their own pipe-making business when they got home. They chose the name American Pipe Company. “We were proud to be American pipe makers and wanted a name that would distinguish us from the overwhelming majority of pipe makers who were European,� he says.

One of their pipe dreams was that if they had no boss, they could work in the winter and bicycle all summer. He laughs. “Of course, that was the last bike trip we ever took. When you have your own business you have to be responsible, you’ve got to be there.� So, Mark took up karate and racquetball instead of biking. In 1996, after six knee operations, he took up the less punishing sport of fly-fishing. Three of his pipe-smoking customers invited him to Montana to fish on the Missouri River. It was love at first sight. He and his high school-aged son went back east, packed their stuff, and moved to Helena. By that time, Mark was the sole owner of American Pipe Company. “I was doing all my business off the internet. I wasn’t selling to the pipe stores any more so I didn’t need to live in the east near Boston, Washington, and New York. As long as I have an internet connection and a post office, I can do business anywhere,� he says. About 99% of pipes are made in factories by duplicating machines that turn out hundreds of identical products in an hour. Mark makes only a few hundred pipes a year, one at a time. It is an ancient, old world craft that consists of good briar, precise drilling, and careful shaping. Briar is a thickening or burl that grows between the trunk and root of a tree that grows in the Mediterranean. The briar soaks up water in the wet seasons and releases it when it is dry, making the briar fire resistant - a good quality for pipes. All of American Smoking Pipe Company’s briar is imported from Europe and is carefully selected, aged, and seasoned. The stems are black Lucite, custom made in Italy, and engraved with the American logo. And no, he has not cashed in on the legal marijuana. Marijuana pipes are too different. “Tobacco pipes are made for tobacco,� he states. “With tobacco you are trying to prolong the smoke. I don’t know what marijuana smokers are trying to do.� When he first came to Montana, he went fishing every day. “Now I’m a little more of a gentleman about it,� he says. “I only want to catch them a certain way, under certain conditions.� Now that

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he lives in Wolf Creek, he can be on the river in a few minutes. After all this time, Mark still loves making pipes. “You make something very personal for someone. He gets it, he likes it, and he sends you a nice letter. It’s a lot more than a paycheck.” He has few regrets. He wishes he had not ruined his knees. He wishes he had come to Mon-

tana sooner. He hopes his son will come back. But with a glance in the rearview mirror, he says, “I’m very lucky. I wish I could say I planned it like this. I didn’t.” To learn more, to order pipes or kits, or to see Mark’s exquisite Christmas pipe collectables, visit www.amsmoke.com. MSN

Helena Octogenarian Charlotte Sanddal is Swimming in Healthy Habits By Bernice Karnop Right after she retired in 1993, Charlotte Sanddal met Flora Wong at the Senior Center in Helena. Flora, who Charlotte says is very good at introducing herself and welcoming strangers, told her about the Senior Olympics and encouraged her to get involved. Charlotte had never competed in sports before, although her mom called her a tomboy when she was growing up. But she says, “My parents always encouraged you to do your best.” Taking Flora’s advice, Charlotte prepared for the swimming events and went to the Montana Senior Olympics in Kalispell that year. She admits that she was apprehensive, but having Flora there helped make the transition easy. Since that first competition, she now plans her year around different events. In June, she goes with a group of friends to the Montana Senior Olympics. In July, they attend the Big Sky Games and the Wyoming Senior Olympics. In August, it is the Southeast Idaho Senior Olympics in Pocatello; and in September, they go to the Huntsman Senior Games in St. George, Utah. “I sign up for as much as I can,” she says. Competition pushes her to get to the pool more often, but “I wouldn’t go just for the competition,” she admits. She says that getting to know people and sitting around talking is the important thing. “I’m not that fast. I just have outlived the competition,” she jokes. Charlotte, 88, competes in the 85-89 age category. After more than a dozen years of fun and

friendship, she missed last summer’s games. On Mother’s Day 2010, she fell and broke her femur. She endured two surgeries, two infections, and four hospitalizations, and lost 25 pounds. “If I had had any health problems, there is a pretty good chance I wouldn’t have made it,” she admits. “I owe my recovery to swimming,” she declares. “It’s easy on the joints and body. The water holds you up. All you have to do is move your legs and arms and away you go.” Of all sports she could have chosen, she believes swimming was easiest to get back into. In September, she was back at the Huntsman Senior Games. In the first few months of this year, she has already brought home five blue ribbons from the U.S. Masters swimming event in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. U.S. Masters is an adult swimming event for individuals 19 years and older. She competes in Masters games in Sandpoint and Wenatchee as well, and attended the World

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Masters in Edmonton, Alberta in 2005. By far her most unusual experience involved attending the World Masters in Sydney, Australia in 2009. She signed up to compete six months ahead of time and then, when the economy tanked and her children backed out, she decided not to go. Going alone is not her idea of fun. But unexpectedly, a fellow from the Montana Environmental Information Center called and

said, “I have a message from a lady from Sydney, Australia, for you.” As you can imagine, MEIC has nothing to do with swimming or competitions or Australia. Some women from Down Under wanted to participate in a Master’s relay where the total ages were 360 years. They were all over the age of 90 and Charlotte was 87 at the time. They asked if she would do the 50 butterfly with them. “You know, how can you refuse when they are that nice to invite me? I would not have gone alone, but they made such a point of offering a friendly hand,” she says. And it turned out that she was not alone. She stayed with one of the women, gained some new friends, and had a wonderful time. She is still puzzled by how they contacted her through MEIC. World Masters are held every four years. Her next goal is to be at the World Masters in Turin, Italy in 2013. “I’m hoping to make it a family event,” she says, and is encouraging her four

children to be part of it. Charlotte has a master’s degree in social work with an emphasis in gerontology, plus a third year of gerontology at Weber State University. She worked for the Department of Health in Helena, visiting every nursing home in the state during her tenure there. Her professional advice to readers is, “Just get moving.” The Montana Senior Olympics is a great group to be involved with because it is good for you physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. If Senior Olympics is not your choice, find an exercise group at your senior center or health club, or follow an exercise program on television, video, or DVD. At least move your arms and legs and breathe. Charlotte leads a stretching class at her local Methodist Church. To stay healthy, she says, you have to eat a good diet, stop smoking, and get away from too many hours of television. “As a gerontologist, I realize how important it is to keep active. If you sit, you’re just going to deteriorate,” she declares. MSN

Great Meals Are The Pride of Augusta’s Senior Center By Bernice Karnop What makes Augusta’s Senior Center a model for small town centers everywhere? “This amazing group of seniors wants the center to succeed and they work hard to make

it happen,” says manager and cook Linda Wolfe. They write grants, fix and repair things, haul out the garbage, and bring recipes for her to try. One woman decorates the center every month, purchasing the materials herself. On the other hand, the seniors credit Linda and her wonderful cooking. They come faithfully to the meals and they boast shamelessly about the food she serves. We ate at the center with our friend Doug Retzel in August. Even before we came in the door, we were greeted by the delicious aroma of baked ham. The different textures and colors in the buffet were bright and pleasing - green salad, juicy ham, cubed sweet potatoes in a fragrant sauce, white potatoes, carrots and peas, and a freshly baked wheat roll. To top it off, we had ice cream with a homemade chocolate sauce. Meals like this do not just happen. Linda deliberately chooses appealing colors and textures to make the experience pleasing before diners even take the first bite. Nearly 50 people ate at the center the day we were there, and servers Donna Mantha and Annie Bean delivered about 20 meals to people at home. It was not always like that. Linda remembers the first meal she served 14 years ago. Only seven people showed up. “They were leery,” she says with a grin. “I wasn’t the former cook.” Meals are served Monday through

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Friday. Linda writes the menus for each meal, but left home. She uses her mother-in-law’s “perfect� that does not mean she just does her own thing. bread recipe. The state provides excellent training A dietitian in Helena checks each menu to make and ideas, along with its yearly testing to make sure it meets the standards for senior nutrition. sure senior center cooks are in compliance with She plans around the commodities provided. state standards. As a cook, you are always learnSome kind of beans must ing, she says. be on the menu several She also learned times a week. her limits. “I cannot do pie While an individual crust even though I have might not like everything tried all the “no-fail� recithat is served, there is pes,� she states. “When I always something they have to have pie crust, I do like, she says. Most just go buy one.� come even when they Fair enough, esare not fond of what is on pecially when you realize the menu. They just take that senior center cooks more of the things they do in small towns are not like. just cooks. They do the One thing Linda repurchasing, the checkfuses to do is turn people ing in, the storing, and away. If ten people come the cutting. They make through the door who she sure the refrigerator is was not expecting, she the right temperature, that just stretches the meal. there is no bad food in the “It’s a feel thing. You just system, and that there is do it,� she says. no cross-contamination. The problem with They check the chlorine that, she admits, is level in the water and when someone requests Linda Wolfe keeps them coming back with menu items wipe down the counters that she make it again. like homemade rolls and her own fudgy syrup for the with bleach water to make “Sometimes I can’t repeat ice cream. “I make everything I can from scratch,� she sure everything is safe. the recipe. I forgot what I says. [Photo by Bernice Karnop] They even answer the dumped in.� phone. Linda grew up in a large family in which both “If it wasn’t for the people here and for all the her mom and dad were excellent cooks and her help and support I get, I couldn’t do it,� Linda says. grandmother was phenomenal. Sunday and holi- “We are a very fortunate community because of day dinners included all the trimmings, served on our people. They are what make Augusta’s a table set with crystal and china. Senior Center so successful.� MSN Her cooking education did not stop when she

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Psychiatry Connection: How To Recognize Depression At Any Age By Phillip Holman, MD As a husband and father of nine children, I am always concerned about the genetic legacy we pass down to our children. Depression is one of those conditions that can have genetic roots and may be part of other ongoing medical diagnoses. Depression is a word we hear tossed around very casually and often but never fully defined. It can be a challenge to pinpoint what it means to be depressed. Therefore, I have outlined what things to look for when you think you or someone you know might be depressed. Depression in adults can be best described as sadness, feelings of inadequacy and guilt, tiredness beyond sleep deprivation, irritability, pessimism, loss of interest or pleasure, lack of energy and inactivity, and feelings of hopelessness. Depression presents itself in various levels of generalized mood numbness, emptiness, or sadness. It can be part of another disorder, a result of an illness, or an inherited condition. Depression may be short-term or long-term. It may be associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which occurs when the number of hours of natural light decreases during the winter months. In any case, depression should not be viewed as shameful. Additionally, it is important to note that depression and depressed moods present different symptoms in children and adolescents. For this age group, one would tend to see behaviors that reflect boredom, sadness, and/or irritability. Teens may have longer periods of feeling depressed that may be associated with changes in weight, sleep disturbances, psychomotor changes, decreased energy, loss of interest in school and activities, suicidal thoughts, feelings of guilt, and feelings of worthlessness. Often youth/teens participating in high risk behaviors show identifiers of depression. These high risk behaviors may be a predictor of future depression. School age children, in general, may show signs of irritability, sad moods, unexplained crying, suicidal thoughts, poor school performance, frequent headaches, or abdominal pain. Pre-school children may look very sad, stop gaining weight, complain of frequent tummy aches, and cry more frequently. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that the elderly often do not talk about feeling depressed or having depressed moods. They often present more ambiguous symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, and/or anorexia. As we get older, it may become more difficult to define feelings of depression. Your Health – Our Commitment to You, From day one.

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There may be no recognizable mood differences, and as we age we may naturally feel somewhat slower. It is very important to help loved ones who are suffering with depressed moods. Find a psychiatrist, physician, or mental health provider who is a good listener and cares about you or your loved one. Positive treatment plans with the right psy-

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 23

chological and medically therapeutic intervention are keys to helping the depressed individual lead a happy, successful life. It is equally important to have support for family members providing support. A Depression Support Group that I facilitate is offered twice monthly at Community Medical Center in Community Physician Group - Parkside.

There is no cost to attend this group. Please call (406) 327-3880 for further information, as well as for dates and times. Phillip Holman, MD is the medical director for psychiatric services for Community Physician Group, part of Community Medical Center, Missoula. MSN

NAMI helps families affected by suicide One of the roles of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Montana is to relieve the guilt that that family members carry after a suicide. NAMI’s Family-to-Family class helped me overcome the guilt I carried after my stepbrother’s suicide. While NAMI’s teachers were supportive, they did not rely on soothing words or hugs to ease my pain. They taught me the facts about the illness that killed him, PTSD. I didn’t know that between 95 and 100 percent of suicides stem from mental illnesses that affect the biology of the brain (Dr. Thomas Joiner’s Myths About Suicide). After learning the realities of those biological brain disorders, I realized

that blaming oneself for a loved one’s suicide is not so different from blaming oneself for a loved one’s death from cancer. There will always be something that we wish that we would have done. But only someone with a medical background can treat these conditions and, in some cases, even the best doctor in the world could not have saved them. Our role as family members is to try to get our loved ones the care they need. We cannot lose ourselves in guilt if we do not succeed. For more information or to contact NAMI, visit www.namimt.org or call (406) 443-7871. MSN

Death Panel Misnomer Nothing But Baloney! By Tait Trussell, Senior Wire I went to a “death panel� a few days ago and came out alive. Sarah Palin and others warned, when the Affordable Care Act to overhaul the country’s health system was enacted, that the law provided for “death panels,� encouraging the elderly not to prolong our lives and enabling the government to cut medical costs. The new law, now one year old, has a provision for Medicare recipients to go to their doctors once a year for a comprehensive checkup, including the matter of end-of-life wishes. Medicare pays doctors a special fee for these visits. So, I went to see my doctor and came out of the two-hour visit believing that it was well worthwhile. First, the nurse took the usual measurements: weight, height, blood pressure, pulse rate. Then she embarked on a series of tests. “Spell the word ‘world’ backwards.� “What do you get when you subtract 7 from 93?� “I’m going to say three words and ask you to remember them, because I’ll ask you later what they are: penny, table, apple.� There were several other cognitiverelated tests, including a series of questions to determine how depressed you may be. You had to select whether you had any thoughts of suicide, for example, or had ever tried to kill yourself. I was rated a relatively jolly fellow - not depressed, although

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I do wish my memory were sharper. It is getting as dull as a rusty knife. The nurse also had me walk out to the hallway and back to see how bad my balance was. And she asked me for my list of medications, which I had brought along. When my doctor came into the room, he looked over the results of my tests with the nurse. He asked if I had had a colonoscopy and when. They are recommended every ten years. I do not expect to have one. The last one I had in 1990 found no polyps. He asked about the pneumonia shot (I got one while I was there) and a variety of other medical questions. I asked him if he would refill my prescription for Lipitor. Surprisingly, he told me, with a roll of his eyes, that Medicare would not allow him to write a prescription during that session. My doctor gave me a brochure that I was to fill out and get a copy back to him and to my hospital. In the brochure I could list the person I want to make health-care decisions for me when I no longer can, the kind of medical treatment I want

or don’t want, how comfortable I want to be, how I want people to treat me, and what I want my loved ones to know. There is also a form for a living will, or durable power of attorney for health care. There are places to fill in whom you want to make the big health decisions when you cannot make them for yourself. There is a “do not resuscitate” form to fill out. There are other pages of the folder that allow you to choose whether you want life-support treatment and the conditions under which you want to be kept alive. Included also are places to fill in if you are having a funeral or memorial service, what readings from scripture you wish and what hymns - if you want any. Finally, it asks whether you want to donate any useable parts of your body when you die, and whether you wish to designate a charity to receive memorial contributions. I am planning to sit down with my wife this afternoon and fill out the folder. It will not be a fun hour, but it is certainly important. MSN

Increasing the Chance of Survival By Casey Kyler-West Breast cancer touches all of our lives in one way or another. Whether it is you who has been diagnosed or your mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, or even one of your male relatives, it has touched your life in one way or another. For the patient, having a strong support system through family, friends, and other patients is vital on their road to recovery. “It’s important for them to know they’re not alone. They can get feedback, normalize their situation relative to others who have cancer by learning about meds, reactions, etc…,” said Janis Ahlstrom, a social worker with St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena. Ahlstrom also says that it is essential for family members to have a support system. “It’s very important for family to have support. They need to know they’re not alone also. Whether they need to

vent or cry, it’s often easier to do that with someone other than the patient.” Between 2004 and 2008, 5,782 women across Montana were screened for breast/cervical cancer. Of those, only 990 were American Indian women. Because of that, the survival rate for Montana’s American Indian residents is slightly lower. This is attributed in part to a later stage at diagnosis. According to the Montana Central Tumor Registry, there were 684 new cases of breast cancer reported in 2008 of which 103 women died. Early detection plays a key role in treating and beating breast cancer, which is why the Montana Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure continues to give grants to provide mammograms and educate women and men on breast health. “Screening saves lives,” said Komen Montana Executive Director Nancy Lee. “By finding breast cancer at an early

APRIL/MAY 2011

stage when it is the most treatable or by finding and treating cysts before they become cancerous, we can increase someone’s chances of survival.” The organization raises the vast majority of these funds through the annual Race for the Cure held in Helena. “By raising money through friends and neighbors, participants are able to support breast health and education right here in Montana. 75% of the money we raise stays in the Treasure State, funding services for Montanans. We also support Komen’s research grants to find a cure by sending 25% to Susan G. Komen for the Cure headquarters,” said Lee. “As of 2010, Komen Montana awarded over $1 million in grants throughout the state. Thank you Montana!” Debuting in Montana in 1995 with 800 participants, the Komen Montana Race for the Cure has grown each year, to nearly 5,000 participants in 2010. This year’s Race for the Cure will take place on May 21, 2011. To register for the race or to learn more about breast health, log on to www.komenmontana.org. MSN

New Opportunities Available With Family Outreach Family Outreach is a non-profit agency that provides services to individuals with disabilities throughout southwestern Montana. Family Outreach has recently expanded our Self-Directed Personal Assistance Program, a state-funded program that provides assistance with instrumental activities of daily living, limited household tasks, and medical escort services. The type of care authorized is based upon a person’s needs, living situation, and approval from their health care provider. Individual responsibilities include managing one’s own care according to authorized time and tasks, training, and scheduling of one’s personal care attendant. In addition, the client must understand how care can best meet his/her needs, review and sign timesheets, maintain a back-up plan, and participate in reviews regarding services. Agency responsibilities include providing information and assistance in understanding the program, program overview/oversight, conducting 6-month home visits with the consumer/personal representative, reviewing timesheets, and ensuring quality of services provided. Eligibility requirements include having a condition requiring in-home care, being eligible for full Medicaid, and having the ability to direct one’s own care or having a personal representative to direct that care. For more information about the Self-Directed Personal Assistance Program or to make a referral, please contact Kendra Rose in Helena at 406-442-1571. MSN • Cholesterol Checking in just 10 minutes

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Median Income level for Lewis and Clark County. They can be single, or may have daughters aged six and older. The income standard sets a top boundary: the reality is most of the women who come to the YWCA arrive without income. The YWCA of Helena provides Transitional Housing services for up to 33 women and their daughters at any given time. Each woman has a fully furnished bedroom and shares common bathrooms, kitchen, and common areas. The YWCA is not structured to provide permanent housing,

although it is a perfect entry point for women transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. Each participant in the YWCA of Helena’s Transitional Housing program participates in case management services, goal setting, and life skills classes that help ensure her successful move from homelessness to permanent housing. For additional information on how you can help call 406-442-8774 or visit us at 501 North Park Ave in Helena. MSN

Is Your Foot Fracture an Early Sign of Osteoporosis? Foot Surgeons Urge Patients Not to Ignore Foot Pain (NAPSI) Unexplained foot fractures may be the first sign of osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease that affects over 28 million Americans and accounts for 1.5 million bone fractures a year. According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, osteoporosis is frequently referred to as the “silent crippler” since it often progresses without any symptoms or is not diagnosed until a person experiences pain from a bone fracture. Georgeanne Botek, DPM, FACFAS, a Cleveland foot and ankle surgeon, explains that the porous nature of bones in people with osteoporosis makes them more susceptible to bone fractures, especially in the feet. “Because the bones are in a weakened state, normal weight-bearing actions like walking can cause the bones in the foot to break,” says Dr. Botek. “In fact, many patients visit their foot and ankle surgeon suffering from foot pain only to find out they actually have a stress fracture, without having experienced an injury.” While osteoporosis is most commonly seen in women over age 50, younger people and men are also affected. Early symptoms can include increased pain with walking accompanied by redness and swelling on the top of the foot. “Oftentimes, patients don’t seek treatment for their symptoms for weeks or even months, thinking the pain will pass,” says Dr. Botek. “The best advice is, don’t ignore foot pain of any type. Early intervention can make all the difference in your treatment and recovery.” Foot and ankle surgeons are able to diagnose osteoporosis through bone densitometry tests, which measure calcium and mineral levels in the bones through low-dose radiation X-ray, or possibly through a routine X-ray. “This is why prevention and early intervention are key; women should make sure bone densitometry tests are part of their wellness examinations when indicated by their physicians,” Dr. Botek explains. If you are diagnosed with osteoporosis, it is important to protect your feet from stress fractures. Wear shoes that provide support and cushioning, such as athletic running shoes, to provide extra shock absorption and protection. Custom orthotics may also be recommended to protect the foot from pressure and provide shock absorption, particularly during exercise. For more information on osteoporosis of the foot, visit the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons’ website, www.FootHealthFacts.org. MSN

On account of being a democracy and being run by the people, we are the only nation in the world that has to keep a government four years, no matter what it does. - Will Rogers

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 27

How Technology Helps You Hear Better

(NAPSI) A new generation of hearing instruments is using advanced technology to help those with hearing difficulties reconnect with their friends and family and feel a part of today’s “plugged in” society. These modern devices offer a solution to the most common challenges, like watching TV or talking on the phone. Technology’s Answer: For example, a new Bluetooth-compatible hearing aid uses the same cutting-edge wireless technology as a hands-free cell phone. These virtually invisible hearing aids let users get a phone call, watch TV, or listen to their iPod directly through their hearing aids. The device also offers better sound quality. Voices sound more natural and background noises remain audible, so you can keep in touch with your surroundings. “This new device creates a personal wireless network around you,” explains John Cariola, Doctor of Audiology. “And unlike other wireless hearing instruments, this product doesn’t require you to wear necklace-style devices around your neck. A remote control lets you independently adjust volume and sound quality.” How It Works: The most compelling part of the new technology, offered in the Beltone True, may be its wireless capabilities. Through a direct wireless connection to TV, stereo, or computers, users can listen “privately” through their hearing instruments at the volume they prefer. Others in

the room are free to enjoy at a volume comfortable for them. The instrument can also link wirelessly to a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone, allowing for calls to be heard directly and hands-free. Frustrating side effects such as ringing or feedback in the ears are now almost completely nonexistent. In addition, the new device is ultra-tiny and light as a feather, while its state-of-the-art design and blended coloring make it almost undetectable. Award-Winning Design: The breakthrough hearing aid has received rave reviews within the industry, recently winning the prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Award from the Consumer Electronics Association for its design and capabilities. This is good news for the more than 34 million Americans who experience hearing loss. If someone you know has difficulty hearing, you can learn more at www. beltone.com. MSN

Hearing Better May Mean Earning More (NAPSI) People with untreated hearing loss may see their income decrease by as much as $30,000 a year, according to a national survey by the Better Hearing Institute. But hearing aids were shown to reduce the risk of income loss by 90 to 100 percent for those with milder hearing loss, and from 65 to 77 percent for those with severe to moderate hearing loss. Most of the more than 34 million Americans with hearing loss are either in the workforce or in school. The loss in income due to underemployment for people with untreated hearing problems is estimated at $176 billion, with the cost to society as high as $26 billion in unrealized federal taxes. Hearing is critical to effective communication in the workforce. The ability to hear and listen well enables employees to be more productive and understand the work that has been assigned. Poor communication can result in unhappy customers, missed deadlines, poor morale among co-workers, and mistakes on the job. Effective hearing may also be critical to job safety. In the study, those with unaided, severe hearing loss had unemployment rates double that of the normal-hearing population and nearly double that of their aided peers. “People are losing their hearing earlier and staying in the workforce longer,” says Sergei Kochkin, executive director of the Better Hearing Institute. “In today’s tough job market, hearing your best is essential for success.” Hearing aids remain the optimum treatment for the vast majority of people with hearing loss. Yet only 40 percent of Americans with moderate to severe hearing loss, and only 9 percent of those with mild hearing loss, wear them. Half of all people with untreated hearing loss have never had their hearing professionally checked. To help, the Better Hearing Institute has a five-minute hearing test at www.hearingcheck. org. You can learn more about hearing loss and how to manage it at www.betterhearing.org. MSN

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French Paradox: Does a Little Wine Do Your Body Good? By Tait Trussell, Senior Wire For years, medical scientists have been talking about the “French Paradox,” the seemingly mysterious fact that, although the French eat all sorts of rich and fattening foods, they do not have the heart troubles that afflict Americans. It is said to be all about the wine - especially red wine, which contains an element called resveratrol. If a wine glass has ever touched your lips, you probably have read about the supposed wonders of resveratrol. So, you prefer Chardonnay? Or you do not drink at all? Well, you can buy resveratrol pills. But they are costly and may not be safe for everybody. Side effects can include joint pain. Or, if you do drink and enjoy it, just about any alcoholic drink has some benefit. The latest on red wine, resveratrol, and the heart comes from the respected Mayo Clinic. “The alcohol and certain substances in red wine called antioxidants may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of ‘good’ cholesterol and protecting against artery damage.” Because heart disease

is the number one killer of the elderly, any way to help the heart is welcome. Doctors, however, are leery about telling patients to start drinking if the patients are teetotalers. Too much alcohol can have harmful effects on your body. But we also cannot ignore the results of the study published not long ago in the New England Journal of Medicine. It tested 12,000 women, aged 70 to 81, who had one drink per day. It actually increased their brain function, the study discovered. Any alcoholic drink has some positive effect, according to WebMD. It tends to decrease the amount of food consumed in a meal and increases the ‘good’ cholesterol - HDL. “Research studies on the heart-health benefits of red wine have reported mixed results.” Some studies show that red wine “has more heart-health benefits than other kinds of alcoholic drinks. Others indicate that “red wine isn’t any better than beer, white wine, or liquor for heart health.” A new study published by the American Society for Nutrition reported that moderate consumption of red wine, specifically 250 mL of red wine daily for

21 days (about 8.5 ounces a day), was associated with an improvement in vascular function and acts “to prevent cardiovascular disease.” According to Mayo Clinic, the support for red wine suggests that antioxidants in red wine, called polyphenols, help protect the lining of blood vessels in the heart. These antioxidants come in two main forms: 1. Flavonoids - antioxidants that are in a wide assortment of foods, including grape juice, apples, oranges, onions, tea, and cocoa. Red wine has the highest levels of flavonoids - more than other types of alcoholic drinks such as white wine and beer. 2. Nonflavonoids - antioxidants in red wine that appear to help keep arteries from getting clogged with fatty blockages, said the Mayo Clinic. But this research is at an early stage, because it involves mostly mice. There are few experts in the drinking habits of mice. The resveratrol in red wine originates in the skin of the grapes used in making the wine. Red wine is fermented with the grape skins for longer periods than is white wine. So, naturally, red has

APRIL/MAY 2011

more resveratrol. So, why not just eat grapes or drink grape juice? Some studies, say the Mayo researchers, have suggested that plain grape juice has some of the same heart-healthy benefits as red wine. But other foods, including peanuts and blueberries, have some resveratrol, too. But not to the extent that red wine does. The alcohol is also important. “It is thought that alcohol raises high density lipoprotein (HDL), the good cholesterol; reduces the formation of blood clots (and) helps prevent artery damage caused by high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 29

bad cholesterol.� Although red wine’s health potential appears promising, “more research is needed before we know whether red wine is better for your heart than are other forms of alcohol, such as beer or spirits,� the Mayo report hedged. Neither the American Heart Association nor the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommend that you begin drinking alcohol just to prevent heart disease. As you know, alcohol is associated with other health issues, such as high blood pressure and liver damage. MSN

Reduce Your Risk Of Stroke (NAPSI) One in every six people in the world will suffer a stroke in his or her lifetime, regardless of age, gender, ethnic origin, or nationality. The American Heart Association and World Stroke Organization want you to take action now to lower your chances of having a stroke. There are steps you can take to make a difference: What You Can Do Take the American Heart Association’s My Life Check health assessment (strokeassociation.org/ worldstrokeday), an online tool that calculates how healthy you are, teaches how to create an action plan to achieve better health, and provides simple steps to change unhealthy behavior. The WSO also offers six simple steps that can help you avoid America’s number three killer. 1. Know your personal risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol. 2. Be physically active and exercise regularly. 3. Adopt a healthy diet. 4. Limit alcohol consumption. 5. Avoid cigarette smoke. If you smoke, seek help to stop now. 6. Learn to recognize the warning signs of a stroke and how to take action by dialing 911 immediately. Doctor’s Advice Jeffrey Saver, M.D., chairman of the American Stroke Association’s Stroke Council and director of the UCLA Stroke Center, says, “Stroke occurs when a blood vessel in or leading to the brain bursts or is blocked by a blood clot. When this happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood or oxygen it needs, so it starts to die; depending on the severity, immobility or paralysis may occur.� “Stroke may deprive a person of his or her livelihood, diminish independence, and create a burden that must be shared by family members and society. So by avoiding stroke, we can help

Know Stroke. Know Signs. Recognizing stroke symptoms More than 600,000 new strokes are reported in the United States each year. In fact, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in adults. However, treatments are available that can greatly reduce the damage caused by stroke if you know the symptoms and get to a hospital quickly. “A stroke is a brain attack and occurs when blood flow is interrupted to the brain. Brain cells in the immediate area begin to die because they stop receiving the oxygen and nutrients for optimum cell function,� says Hisham Bassiouny, M.D., medical director of the Vascular Institute of Chicago at Weiss Memorial Hospital and chief of vascular surgery at the University of Chicago Medical Center. “Strokes affect the entire body and can result in a wide range of problems. Knowing

reduce the burden to our loved ones and society.� Learn More To take the assessment and learn more about strokes and what you can do to take action, visit www.strokeassociation.org/worldstrokeday, or call (888) 4STROKE. MSN

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the signs of stroke and acting quickly is crucial to minimizing its long-term effects.” Think FAST - face, arms, speech, and time - the four areas to observe when detecting and seeking treatment for a stroke, according to the Stroke Awareness Foundation. Hone in on these healthful hints from the experts at Weiss Memorial Hospital, watching out for these signs: • Numbness or weakness: The loss of feeling or extreme weakness on one side of the body such as face, arm, or leg is a key indicator a person is having a stroke. The sensation may be complete or partial, and there may be an associated tingling sensation in the affected area. • Trouble speaking or/and confusion: Sud-

den confusion or trouble speaking or understanding is another key indicator. Often weakness in the facial muscles will cause drooling, or the victim may experience trouble seeing in one or both eyes. • Trouble walking: Loss of balance, coordination, problems walking can be a sign your brain has been denied the blood flow it needs. • Headache with no known cause: Headaches that suddenly appear or that are severe also may be an indicator of stroke. Not all stroke victims will experience all symptoms, which is why it is important to know what to look for. If you or someone you love has these symptoms, immediately call 911 or get to a hospital right away. Prevention is the best medicine. If you are at high risk for stroke, annual vascular screenings at a trusted medical provider are encouraged. MSN

Montana Gerontology Society annual conference has something for everyone The Montana Gerontology Society’s 29th Annual Conference, “Aging… It’s a Family Affair!,” will be held April 13-14, 2011 at the Copper King Hotel and Convention Center, 4655 Harrison Avenue, Butte, Montana. Many areas of aging - physical, medical, emotional, psychosocial, financial, and spiritual - will be covered because seniors do not age “in a bubble.” Family members are often involved in many aspects of their loved ones’ older years. Two exciting keynote speakers have been engaged for the conference. Francine Russo, author of They’re Your Parents, Too! How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents’ Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy (Random House, 2010), will present the Wednesday keynote. Her book, widely acclaimed in the media as “groundbreaking,” has won raves from readers and launched Russo on a speaking career. On Thursday, Quentin Schroeter, one of the chief spokespersons for NAMI Montana (the National Voice on Mental Illness) will speak from the position of a person who is aging himself and living well with mental illness. In 2010, Quentin was presented with the Lionel Aldridge Award given by the national NAMI organization for “courage, leadership, and service” to people living with mental illness. For the audience, there will be different tracks for those working or interested in the field of aging, such as senior service providers, volunteer and Area Agency on Aging Coordinators, activity directors, health-care workers, long-term care administrators, and students. There will be Continuing Education Credits for 11.5 contact hours for several disciplines. There also will be a track for adult children of aging parents, baby boomers, and family caregivers. Breakout sessions will include topics such as Medicare 101, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Chronic Disease & Humor, Financial Exploitation of Elders, and more. With the “silver tsunami” fast approaching, the conference will provide education for “soon-to-be-seniors” on how to be prepared for their future healthcare and financial needs, as well as to give them the tools they need to assist their aging parents. MGS is a non-profit organization dedicated to professional development, promoting advances in the field of aging, and public education and advocacy. Over 150 MGS Members include professionals, citizens, and students. For detailed conference information, registration forms, or membership applications, visit www.montanagerontology.com. Questions may also be directed to Joe Gilboy, joeareaV@qwestoffice. net or Amy Caliendo, amyareaV@qwestoffice.net in Butte at 406-7825555; or to Jan Smith, MGS President, in Billings, at jan.smith2@q. com or 406-861-8369. MSN

New Low-Income Senior Apartments Built In Kalispell Accessible Space, Inc. (ASI), a nationwide nonprofit housing and service provider, is pleased to announce that Van Ee Apartments is under construction in Kalispell, Montana. Van Ee Apartments is a premier affordable apartment community for very-low income seniors aged 62 and older. It is now accepting housing applications. Van Ee Apartments is located at 420 Grandview Drive in Kalispell, Montana, and will provide 22 one-bedroom apartments upon completion this summer. Rent at Van Ee Apartments is based on 30% of gross adjusted monthly income, with rental assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A two-story building, Van Ee Apartments will provide 540 square feet of living space in each apartment. Wheelchair accessible apartments are also available for seniors who need a barrier-free apartment. Building features include: a multi-purpose community room, an outdoor patio with gas grill, sitting areas, and much more. Apartment units will include: grab bars in the shower and bathroom, a spacious living room and kitchen, and ample cupboard and closet space. Additionally, rent will include heat, water, and trash and snow removal. For more information or to request an application, please call 800466-7722, or visit us online at www.accessiblespace.org. MSN

APRIL/MAY 2011

By Bill Hall When my father died, lowering the curtain on a marriage of 54 years, I worried about the loneliness of my mother. About how a person who had never lived alone could suddenly cope with a life in which she was no longer part of a pair. On the other hand, she had finally been freed from the exhausting bondage of the toughest year of their marriage - a final year of taking care of a husband who was mostly missing from his own body. That year began as he was driving them across the Nevada desert. He had a stroke that blinded him. But he could be irrationally self-reliant. So he kept right on driving. My mother never learned to drive, and he was determined not to pull over. He insisted on driving to the next town with her telling him whether to steer left or right - and whether there might be a deer or a truck in the way. They made it to a motel where his eyesight returned after a rest, but he refused to see a doctor. Bear in mind, this is a man who, a few years before, had tried for a couple of hours to walk off the pain of what turned out to be a burst appendix. He had doctor phobia and the doctors barely saved him from that one. Not many months after the blindness episode, his eyesight remained but his mind began to abandon ship. The doctor told me the condition would resemble Alzheimer’s but progress more rapidly. Within weeks, my father became an obstreperous little boy.

Many a mom won’t remarry He lasted about half a year. But he was a handful for my mother. He would place a bag of groceries on the gas range and turn it on, trying to cook dinner. He was awake off and on through the night, roaming the house speaking gibberish. My mother, drained of her last drop of energy, finally relented and signed the papers that would have handed him over to professional help. But he died the next morning, a few hours after an astonishing moment of sudden apologetic lucidity in which he patted my mother and said, “I’m so mean to you and you’re so good to me.” Over the next year or so, she was lonely, of course. I told her that, as far as I was concerned, she should feel free to date and remarry if that appealed to her. “I loved your father,” she said with a smile, “but I just got through taking care of one sick old man, and I don’t want another.” She was about 75 when she said that, not much older than I am now. I didn’t fully understand her feelings then. I do now. You think about such questions at this age, no matter how fit and healthy you feel. And so it was that Sharon and I were talking about future remarriage the other day; we had both come independently to the same conclusion:

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We each want the other to remarry if that has some appeal, but it is the conceit of our marriage that we both doubt we could do half as well on choosing a mate another time around. Meanwhile, we had also both come to the conclusion that searching for someone new at this age sounded exhausting. Young or old, you don’t just go out the door one day and find someone tolerable in 20 minutes. And then, even if by some miracle you do find a likely candidate, it takes months, even years for two people to adjust to each other’s whims, needs, and preferences. It is marriage boot camp. You have to go through a lot of trial and error, forging compromises, adjusting yourself to new ways of living with a mate. That sounds like a lot of time and work - and at a point in life when time is too precious to squander on some geriatric dating game. Maybe you could just call the Spouse Store, tell them your needs, and count on them to send over a ready-to-roll mate. But of course, it is not that simple. If you need company, learning to live with a cat or a dog or even a pet pig is less work. If left alone, we would rather visit grandchildren, drink coffee with friends, or maybe watch baseball with the pet pig while we try to remember the good times. Hall may be contacted at wilberth@cableone. net or at 1012 Prospect Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501. MSN

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We have had a long winter out here in Montana, but now things are finally starting to warm up and it is time to enjoy the sunshine and all the wonders of spring. Respond to one of these letters or create your own to find someone with whom to share a walk in the sun and maybe even your heart! To those who wish to respond to any of these personal ads, simply forward your message and address, phone number, or email address to the department number listed in the particular personal ad, c/o Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. We will forward your response, including your address, phone number, and/or email address to the person placing the ad. If you answer an ad in this section, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. That is up to the person who placed the ad. Please make sure you submit your correct address plainly printed so you can promptly receive responses. Respond to the ads in this issue and also sit down now and prepare your own ad to run in our June/July 2011 issue. There is no charge for this service and your ad may bring a breath of fresh air to your heart as well. Responses to personal ads appearing in this column can be submitted at any time. However, to place a personal ad in the June/July 2011 issue, the deadline is May 10, 2011. Single man seeks live-in female companion age 55-70. I live in Great Falls. Looks unimportant. I do not smoke or drink. All replies welcome and I will answer them all. Reply MSN, Dept. 27401, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF, 5’7”, 155 lbs, early 70s. Active and enjoys

traveling. Seeking active and healthy male, 68-82. I am a romantic who recently relocated to Billings to be nearer to family. I am financially independent. I am seeking someone to enjoy life’s moments and all of its offerings. Please let me know your interest. Picture helpful. I will answer all letters, and I look forward to hearing from you. Reply MSN, Dept. 27402, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF hoping to meet a kind and caring gentleman, 80 to mid-80s, who likes to dine out, dance, and travel. No smoking, social drinking is okay. I am a widow and own my home in Billings. My interests are history, music, reading, and some sports. If you would be interested in a sincere and affectionate lady, please respond to this ad. I will send a photo and answer your letter. The golden years are here – let’s make the most of them! Reply MSN, Dept. 27403, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. I am a female, 65 years old, 5’1”, average weight, and short, dark blond hair. I am a nondrinker, non-smoker. I am looking for a gentleman, age 65-70, who is a good, honest person and a believer in Jesus Christ. I would like friendship first with a possible relationship later. I am retired, independent, and strong-willed. I like to cook, watch movies, hear concerts, take walks, do needlework, crochet, and sew. I will consider relocation. If interested, write me! Reply MSN, Dept. 27404, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. I am a WWF, middle 70s, living in the Butte area. I am limited in my activities because I walk with a cane, but I would enjoy visiting or watching

APRIL/MAY 2011

TV in the evenings. I am looking for company and friendship. I do not smoke, drink, or use drugs. Reply MSN, Dept. 27405, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

tions through numerology. Please write and send a photo and phone number, and I will do the same in return. Reply MSN, Dept. 27411, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

I am a quiet, 80+, non-smoking, non-drinking male who drives and is seeking a lady who also drives to go to the movies, eat out, and take auto day trips to different locations in the Great Falls area. Purpose? To get acquainted with as much of Montana as possible. Reply MSN, Dept. 27406, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

I am a SWF, 64, with many interests such as music and reading. I have a lot of intellectual curiosity and I love life. I love dancing, movies, going out to dinner, staying home, going to parties. I am a social drinker; no alcoholics, please. My passion is photography, and I enjoy the outdoors and nature. I am looking for a man about my age (55-69), who is sophisticated, intelligent, and who loves to laugh and play. An indoors/outdoors sort of guy. I would prefer to meet someone from the Kalispell area. Reply MSN, Dept. 27412, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

Lady, 53, would like to meet a gentleman who is educated. I am a non-drinker, non-smoker, and I teach foreign language. 125 lbs, light brown hair, hazel eyes. I was born on an island in the Caribbean Ocean and lived in Florida for many years before moving up to Montana. This has been my best decision of the past few years as I found this place a paradise of peace. I am enjoying the mystery and beauty of the mountains. If you want to know more, please respond with a photo; I will do the same on request. It could be interesting to talk about life and love… why not? Reply MSN, Dept. 27407, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. Pianist, single, no children, age 52, enjoys walking, sightseeing, cooking, movies, and quiet evenings. Looking for that special person any age. Plays music from Bacharach to Beethoven. Maybe I am the person for you to enjoy a life of Christ and music. Reply MSN, Dept. 27408, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF, 136 lbs, 5’2”, at home in SW Montana, hopes to meet a companion/partner, retired, age 65+, who not only actively enjoys our beautiful Montana outdoors and wildlife, but also likes to travel once in a while beyond our borders. Someone who has the means to do so and is, or could be, interested in other countries, cultures, and their wildlife. A photo would be appreciated. Thank you. Reply MSN, Dept. 27409, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. Good-looking and often generous guy who has a lot to offer seeks lady of quality. I am in my late 60s and in reasonably good health. I am very easygoing and you will find me to be a good listener. I want to make you happy by bringing out the best in you. If you think you are the right person, I invite you to respond. Reply MSN, Dept. 27410, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. WWF, 69, seeks non-smoker, non-drinker, nondrug user. I am sympathetic and gentle. I have an understanding nature and am a good diplomat; creative, yet often putting love before work. I even encourage friends to be in touch with their emo-

Grandparents Submitted by Julie Hollar Brantley 1. A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather’s word processor. She told him she was writing a story. “What’s it about?” he asked. “I don’t know,” she replied. “I can’t read.” 2. I didn’t know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying, “Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these colors yourself!” 3. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, “It’s no use, Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights.” 4. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, “I’m not sure.” “Look in your underwear, Grandpa,” he advised. “Mine says I’m 4 to 6.” MSN

Male in his 80s, non-smoker, non-drinker, and no drugs of any kind. I enjoy traveling, dining out, fishing, and watching TV. I am looking for a lady companion in her late 70s to mid 80s who will

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 33

share my home and a life together. I will answer all letters. Reply MSN, Dept. 27413, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. I’m looking for a person between 45 and 62 to share a relationship with, hopefully long-term. Life is too short to live alone. I am 57, 6’4”, 235 lbs. I am a very sincere, honest, and romantic person. I have a heart of gold and I’m looking for somebody special to spend time with. I love candlelight dinners at home with a bottle of wine, a fire burning, and good, romantic music. Reply MSN, Dept. 27414, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWM looking for someone, 60-70, to correspond with and to get to know. I’m a country man and live in the northwestern part of the state, but I like to travel. Non-smoker, non-drinker. Take a chance, and let’s see where our hearts take us! Reply MSN, Dept. 27415, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. MSN

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As spring finally creeps around the corner, test your knowledge of different flowers by doing this month’s quiz, Flower Name Riddles, submitted by Irene Zody of Glendive. Congratulations to Jan Nesbit of Miles City, who submitted the winning answers to the U.S. Presidents Quiz – Some Funny, Some Surprising, And Some In-Between quiz that appeared in our February/March 2011 issue. Thank you, Jan. Two $25 cash prizes are awarded from the “Contest Corner” in each issue of the Montana Senior News. One prize goes to the person who submits the entry that our staff selects as the fea-

tured quiz or puzzle in the “Contest Corner” for that issue. Be creative and send us some good, fun, and interesting puzzles! The second $25 prize goes to the person who submits the most correct answers to the featured quiz or puzzle from the previous issue. When there is a tie, the winner is determined by a drawing. Please mail your entries to the Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403, or email to montsrnews@bresnan.net by May 10, 2011 for our June/July 2011 edition. Be sure to work the crossword puzzle on our website www.montanaseniornews.com.

Flower Name Riddles Submitted by Irene Zody, Glendive Below are 25 clever riddles/puns along with 25 flower names. On a numbered sheet of paper, match each correct flower name with the riddle it answers and send it to us. The winner will receive a $25 cash prize. Good luck! 1. What flower is a place for a kiss? 2. What flower could be herds of sheep? 3. What flower is an animal’s mistake? 4. What flower is what Johnny did when he sat on a tack? 5. What flower is a preacher? 6. What flower is a time for tea? 7. What flower is a pretty girl who has been jilted? 8. What flower is what father says to John in the morning? 9. What flower is footwear? 10. What flower is a way for a man to get rich

quick? 11. What flower results from cupid’s arrow? 12. What flower do unmarried men often lose? 13. What flower is what a man does when he proposes? 14. What flower combines a bird and a riding accessory? 15. What flower is between hills? 16. What flower is neat lines? 17. What flower is a fragrant letter? 18. What flower is the nickname for an English mother? 19. What flower is a mug for margarine? 20. What flower is a country where people own pink Cadillacs? 21. What flower is a feathered animal living in bliss? 22. What flower is a cooking pot with vision? 23. What flower is a crazy pickle? 24. What flower suggests the rising sun? 25. What flower is part of the eye? A. Lily of the Valley B. Pink Carnation C. Lady’s Slipper D. Rose E. Sweet Pea F. Buttercup G. Morning Glory or Sunflower H. Tulip I. Blue Bell J. Aster K. Mum L. Pansy

M. Johnny Jump Up N. Phlox O. Bleeding Heart P. Bird Of Paradise Q. Primrose R. Cowslip S. Marigold T. Four O’Clock U. Daffodil V. Bachelor Buttons W. Iris X. Larkspur Y. Jack In The Pulpit MSN

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 35

4 Wear 6 Deluge refuge 7 Fox or turkey follower 8 Grayish brown 10 Big pig 13 Vineyard in France 14 Morse code line 15 Pale 19 Revenue from this source is used to protect wildlife habitats (2 words) 20 Trapping device 22 Lobbing a fishing line 23 Scaring animals out of concealed areas 25 High bank 26 Enter cautiously (2 words) 28 Alternative maker 32 Tangelo 35 Discouraging words 36 One of the Bobbsey twins 37 America MSN

Across 1 Term to describe period when hunting a particular animal is illegal 5 Used a decoy 9 Throw gently 11 Quiet 12 Cause to hit the ground (2 words) 16 Little Rock state 17 ___ premium (2 words) 18 Small trees and bushes in a forest 21 Raleigh locale 24 Canal barriers 25 Dogs used to hunt rabbits 27 Energy type 29 Sudden blast of wind 30 Stratagem 31 Hit the slopes 33 Santa __ 34 Assessing shot distance (2 words) 38 Stop! 39 Sodium symbol 40 Young tree 41 Indications

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Conceal oneself by blending in Electrical unit Tall plant of the lily family (2 words)

Answers to U.S. Presidents Quiz – Some Funny, Some Surprising, And Some In-Between

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Submitted by Frank W. Vejtasa, Circle 1. F - William McKinley 2. C - Benjamin Harrison 3. L - Ulysses S. Grant 4. N - James Madison (He barely weighed 100 lbs.) 5. D - William H. Taft 6. H - Ronald Reagan 7. A - James Buchanan (She broke the engagement because she thought he was after her money. Buchanan never married.) 8. I - Andrew Jackson 9. K - Franklin D. Roosevelt (It was rejected by Hollywood.) 10. G - Chester A. Arthur 11. B - Theodore Roosevelt (October 1912, while he was running on the “Bull Moose� ticket) 12. M - John Tyler (8 with his first wife and 7 with his second wife for a total of 15) 13. J - Andrew Johnson 14. E - Herbert Hoover (He divided his salary among his office workers.) MSN

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PAGE 36 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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This Legislative Session Makes History - In A Bad Way By Bob Campbell If you are trying to keep up with the 2011 Montana Legislature, remember that for the most part the bills and speeches have no basis in fact or law. Arguing facts is one thing, but making up facts and endlessly arguing personal philosophies instead of creating jobs and finding the revenue to provide essential services has turned this Legislature into a mockery. The financial crisis we are experiencing in state government is the result of two constitutional amendments. The first, in 1975, removed annual sessions and reverted to biennial sessions - one every two years. The other amendment, in 1993, was part of a national effort to convince states to place a limit on how long a person could serve in the legislature. Now, Montana legislators cannot serve more than eight years in each chamber. After the legislative session adjourned in April 2009, estimated revenues and investments quickly dropped as the national financial crisis struck, causing the largest dollar loss in our history. Clearly, our state budget estimates of revenues and the investment

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values were inaccurate until the 2011 session. A short annual session could have made the necessary adjustments, but neither the governor nor a majority of the legislature had the leadership to call for a special session. In addition, experienced legislators termed out, and this resulted in one-third of the legislators elected in 2010 having no prior legislative experience. Many campaigned on an anti-government platform, promising to cut all federal revenue and state government services. The combination of infrequent sessions and the election of inexperienced candidates who are ideologues created the perfect storm for bad bills ranging from the benign to the ridiculous. Never has a session of the legislature wasted so much time discussing emotional issues of personal and private philosophy instead of constructively working to improve the quality of Montanans’ lives. The inexperience of the appointed committee chairs became evident during the week prior to transmittal, when citizen rights were disregarded by not giving sufficient notice and the opportunity to testify before each committee. The legislature is required to adopt a balanced budget, in which expenditures do not exceed projected income. We are one of only two states that has the ability to weather this financial storm without locking in cuts in services until our next legislative session in 2013. Montanans need leadership now! Leadership to meet the financial challenges we face and leadership that does not make us the laughing stock of the country. MSN

APRIL/MAY 2011

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 37

Falls Quilt Guild Shows its Colors at the Biennial Quilt Show in Great Falls, April 29 - May 1 By Bernice Karnop It is not unusual for people to be wrapped up in a hobby, but quilters are especially susceptible. In fact, says Sun River quilter, Lynn Hebert (say a-bear), “It’s hard not to be a fanatic about quilting.” She has her reasons, and they tumble out like a rolling kaleidoscope. Hand quilting is a quiet, relaxed e n d e a v o r. You can accomplish something while listening to your spouse, the cat, or the television. You enjoy Lynn Hebert from Sun River is all the fun and wrapped up in her quilting hobby. She creativity of and the Falls Quilt Guild invite our read- putting colers to Quilting Expressions - A Kaleido- ors and fabscope of Color quilt show, April 29, 30 rics togethand May 1 at the ExpoPark in Great Falls. er. Among [Photo by Bernice Karnop] these bright blocks, however, she admits to the dark patches of recklessness and rebellion. Imagine the shame of taking a perfectly good piece of fabric and just cutting it all up. “Our society doesn’t let us cut things up or throw plates or anything, but when I make a quilt I can cut up that fabric however I want to,” Lynn says with a sly grin. For Lynn, quilting connects her to the past generations in her family. The bright quilts stitched by her great-grandmother, grandmother, and mom are much more than bed coverings or blankets. The quilts she is making also tack her to a patchwork of wonderful friends. She was one of

the “Crazy 8s” who started the Falls Quilt Guild back in 1984 in Great Falls. Their number grew to 20 before they had time to organize, and today there are 170 members. Their goal is to promote and preserve the art and craft of quilting. The group meets each month, brings in national speakers, and hosts a quilt show every other year. The Falls Quilt Guild’s three-day show this year is Quilting Expressions - A Kaleidoscope of Color. Put it on your calendar for April 29 - May 1 at the Montana ExpoPark Exhibition Hall in Great Falls. Whether or not you are a quilter, you will enjoy looking at more than 300 quilts, a

is a new community coming Tto here Great Falls. A place to live the life you want and enjoy more freedom, more choice and more security than you thought possible. Backed by Benefis Health System, The Grandview at Benefis will be the area’s first Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) and with it comes exceptional opportunities for seniors to take control of their future. Retirement living has never looked so good. Get all the details of The Grandview at Benefis. Call 406-455-5960.

Live well. Live inspired.

TheGrandviewatBenefis.org 406-455-5960

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special display of antique quilts, and other related projects. Demonstrations, a quilt raffle fundraiser, and hourly door prizes are included. The displayed quilts are not for sale, but quilt stores bring their kits and more to the Merchant’s Mall. The Falls Quilt Guild has its own Country Store - a fundraiser where members unload unwanted fabrics and pick up treasures from someone else’s closet. Quilters travel all over the country to quilt shows to see how different colors and fabrics have been used in traditional patterns, to check out new trends, and to stock up on ideas for their next projects. At the Falls Quilt Guild Show, visitors will see traditional quilts, contemporary quilts, art quilts, and quilts made by young people. The Quilt Guild makes a story board for each quilt, telling a little about the quilt, the pattern, construction, or why it was made. “I like to have the quilt speak and tell a story,” says Lynn. For example, Lynn has a quilt that her greatgrandmother, grandmother, and mother all worked on. “What I remember most is that it was warm, it covered the bed, and by golly, I used that quilt to

make a tent under the clothesline when I was growing up.” The storyboard, she says, helps people understand that quilts are part of your heritage and are stuffed with love and feeling. If you have a quilt whose story you do not know, certain Guild members are qualified to help you date the quilt by the fabrics that are in it. This will give you a better idea of what you have. Individuals do not have to be a member of the Falls Quilt Guild to enter their quilts. Registration forms and information are available at all Great Falls quilt stores, or you can contact the Falls Quilt Guild through Lynn Hebert (406-264-5312 or artlynn@3rivers.net) for more information. In addition to their many activities, the Falls Quilt Guild supports three main community projects. They make Komforters for Kids to be given to children in crisis, Adopt-a-bear quilts for emergency room and hospitalized children, and Hospice quilts for the residential Hospice in Great Falls. Lynn, whose husband is more interested in guns, is delighted that there will be a gun show at ExpoPark at the same time as the quilt show. MSN

How to Appraise Your Current Home or Home You Are Going to Buy At True Market Value By John R. Blakefield Home appraisals are designed to determine the true market value of the property in consideration. Market value is how much the property is worth according to what type of property it is, what condition it is in, and other properties similar to it in the immediate area. The only problem with home appraisals is that they can differ greatly among different appraisers. This is because an appraisal is just an opinion, based on market data, as to what the property is worth. So, you may get a higher figure from one appraiser and a lower number from another appraiser. This can give lenders room to determine the market value for a property. For example, a lender could have his/her personal appraiser appraise the property for considerably less, based on the market data that the appraiser chooses to use, in order

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to decrease the loan amount that the lender would provide a home buyer. On the other hand, if a home owner is selling a home, the appraisal can be determined at a higher value so the owner will get as much for the house as possible. This “opinion” may not always reflect an accurate or true market value. For this reason, if you are refinancing a home, selling, or buying, it is a good idea to find an appraiser not related to any of the interested parties in order to find the true market value of the property. This appraiser will have no tendencies to slant the appraisal in anyone’s favor. It is an even better idea to get two or three appraisals if you feel it is really necessary. This can be great proof to strengthen your case for the property. It is really important to have a true market value of the property so the owner can get what it is worth, the buyer can get it at a fair market

price with an appropriate loan amount. When the property is appraised at true market value, there is room for some negotiation and everyone knows they are getting a fair price. So how do you find an appraiser? To find an independent appraiser, look in the yellow pages under appraisal, search the Internet, or ask trusted people such as family, friends, and co-workers who may have a fair person in mind. You should call a few appraisers to find out their fees. Find a few that are in your price range and make appointments for a walk through, or meeting to discuss the property. The appraisers should explain the data they are going to use to determine the value of the home. They should evaluate the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, condition, upgrades, whether there is a pool or spa, and of course the land it is on itself. They should also check at least three similar

Everything you need to know and more “Stewardesses” is the longest word typed with only the left hand. “Lollipop” is the longest word typed with only the right hand. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple. “Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters “mt. Our eyes stay the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing. The sentence: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses every letter of the alphabet. The words “racecar,” “kayak,” and “level” are the same whether they are read from left to right or from right to left (palindromes). There are only four words in the English language which end in “dous” - tremendous, horren-

dous, stupendous, and hazardous. There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order - “abstemious” and “facetious.” “Typewriter” is the longest word that can be made using the letters on only one row of the keyboard. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 39

properties that have recently sold in that immediate area, that are comparable to your property. A true market value appraisal can save you money and get the loan you deserve, so be sure to do it right. It is worth it! MSN

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Celebrate Older Americans Month By Bernice Karnop When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty, and there were few programs to meet their needs. In April of that year, President John F. Kennedy, with the advice of the National Council of Senior Citizens, designated May as Senior Citizen’s Month. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter revised the name to Older Americans Month. The Montana Senior News joins in celebrating Older Americans Month this May. The theme of this year’s celebration is Older Americans: Connecting the Community. We have a front row seat to appreciate the many ways in which older adults bring inspiration and continuity to the fabric of Montana communities. Their shared histories, diverse experiences, and wealth of knowledge make our state what it is today. We also celebrate all the advances that help older Americans live longer, healthier, and more engaged lives. Older Montanans are out and about, giving back and making a difference in their communities across the state. They mentor leaders of tomorrow and take time to volunteer in schools. They connect with others by delivering meals, helping with home repair, assisting with shopping, and offering companionship and care. Join us in celebrating Older Americans Month by not only recognizing those who have gone beyond the call of duty, but also by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging to find out how you can be part of this amazing volunteer force. Opportunities are so diverse, we are sure there is a perfect place for you! MSN

Would You Be Mine? Dating For Dummies Gives Guidance on Meeting Ms. or Mr. Right As we move through the early months of 2011, singles everywhere have been cringing at the thought of another year of nervous meet-ups, awkward set-ups, and flat-out failed matches. And while the anxiety surrounding dating has not changed much, the rules certainly have. Dating does not have to be nerve-wracking, but it helps if you do a little pre-date preparation work - and that is where Dating For Dummies®, 3rd Edition (Wiley Publishing, Inc., January 2011, ISBN: 978-0-470-89205-3, $21.99) can help. With new and updated content, author Dr. Joy Browne demystifies the whole dating process in Dating For Dummies. Dr. Browne is not only a dating guru, but also a licensed clinical psychologist who is the award-winning host of her own nationally and internationally syndicated radio talk show. In this work, she includes all the information you will need for navigating the contemporary, social-media-driven dating scene where women and men Google potential dates beforehand, tweet after, and even meet on Facebook. With dating advice for singles in all stages of life (including baby boomers), you will get the confidence to date someone who is significantly older or younger, someone who has been previously married, or someone with children. And it helps you to remember the most important rule of dating: it is meant to be fun! Whether you are looking for a fun Saturday night date or a happily-ever-after mate, Dating For Dummies is the guide for you! Dating For Dummies®, 3rd Edition (Wiley Publishing, Inc., January 2011, ISBN: 978-0-470-89205-3, $21.99) is available at bookstores nationwide, major online booksellers, or directly from the publisher by calling (877) 762-2974. MSN

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How Important Tax Changes for 2011 Can Affect Your Estate Planning By Jonathan J. David, Senior Wire Dear Jonathan: I know that a new tax law was passed at the end of last year. What should I be doing, if anything, regarding my estate planning? The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 was signed into law on Friday, December 17, 2010 by President Obama. This law provides, among other things: • A two-year extension of the current tax rates through 2012. • A two-year patch for the alternative minimum tax (AMT). • A temporary employee payroll tax cut of two percentage points for 2011. • A temporary modification of the estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax. From an estate planning/tax perspective, the new law: • Increased the exclusion from federal estate tax from the $1,000,000 per individual ($2,000,000 per couple) scheduled for 2011 to $5,000,000 per individual ($10,000,000 per couple) for the years 2011 and 2012. • Reduced the top estate tax rate of 55% scheduled for 2011 to 35% for the years 2011 and 2012. • Allows the estate of a person who died in 2010 the option to pick between (1) having to pay no estate tax but being subject to a modified carry over basis, or (2) being subject to the federal estate tax with a $5,000,000 exclusion, a 35% top estate tax rate, and a “step up” in basis. By way of example, if someone died in 2010 with an estate valued in excess of $5,000,000, the executor of the decedent’s estate can elect to “not be” subject to the estate tax and have the modified carry over basis applied to the estate’s assets. On the other hand, if someone died in 2010 with an estate valued at less than $5,000,000, the executor of the decedent’s estate can elect to be subject to the estate tax, which due to the availability of the $5,000,000 exclusion would cause the estate to be exempt from estate taxes, and the estate could also take advantage of the step up in basis regarding its assets. The step up in basis is a huge benefit to heirs because instead of receiving assets with a potentially low tax basis, they are now receiving assets with a tax basis equal to their fair market

value at the decedent’s death, which in essence eliminates (or, at a minimum, greatly reduces) any capital gains tax heirs would have to pay if they sell those assets after the decedent’s death. • Allows the transfer of any unused exclusion to the decedent’s surviving spouse. In other words, if a husband and wife have an estate with a combined value of $10,000,000 and the first spouse to die did not use any of his or her $5,000,000 exclusion, at the surviving spouse’s death, that spouse’s estate can take full advantage of the $10,000,000 exclusion from federal estate taxes. • The $5,000,000 estate tax exclusion will also be available for lifetime gifts. • The $5,000,000 exclusion will also apply to the generation-skipping transfer tax. Right now, this new law is only in place through 2012, so Congress will have to act before December 31, 2012 to extend it beyond that date. Hopefully, this summary gives you a fairly good idea of how this new law applies in the estate planning/tax arena. Because you did not provide me with any information regarding your personal circumstancF I N A N C I A L G R O U P es, I cannot provide you with any specific recom■ LIFE INSURANCE mendations regarding your ■ LONG TERM CARE estate planning. However, I recommend that you meet ■ RETIREMENT INCOME PLANNING Victoria & Marcus Thurston Thurston Financial Group with, or at least talk to, an ■ SMALL BUSINESS RETIREMENT PLANS 100 N. 27th St., Suite #240 estate planning attorney Billings, MT 59101 in your area to review the Call (406) 534-0133 today to schedule a specifics of this law in more free consultation or visit us online at detail, how it impacts the www.thurstonfinancialgroup.com! estate planning you currently have in place, and Marcus Thurston, Registered Representative offers securities through Questar Capital Corporation (QCC) M e m b e r FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Questar Asset Management (QAM). how you can use the new A Registered Investment Advisor. Thurston Financial Group is independent of QCC and QAM. law to your advantage going forward. Good luck. MSN

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Benefits for Veterans and Their Families By Jim Miller There are actually millions of older veterans and their families who do not take advantage of the VA benefits they are entitled to because either they do not know they exist or they do not think they would qualify for them. Here is what you and your parents should know. Underused Benefits - While the VA provides a wide range of commonly-known benefits and services for its veterans - like health care, education support through the GI Bill, and home loans - it also provides a bevy of lesser-known benefits that were specifically created to help senior veterans and their family members, as well as their survivors. To be eligible, however, your parents’ income and assets in most cases will need to be below certain limits, and your dad’s discharge from the military must have been under conditions other than dishonorable. Here is a breakdown of four benefits that are often overlooked by older vets and their families. Veterans Pension - This is available to limitedincome veterans who are age 65 and older or are totally disabled and who served at least 90 days of active military service with at least one day of service during a period of war (stateside or overseas). To be eligible, your parents’ assets will generally need to be under $80,000, not including their house and vehicle. Their annual “countable income” must be under $15,493 or $11,830 for a single veteran. Countable income includes earnings, disability and retirement payments, interest and dividends, and net income from business or farming, minus medical expenses if they exceed at least 5 percent of their total income. Death Pension - This is available to lowincome surviving spouses and dependents of wartime veterans whose death was not related to military service. To receive this benefit, a surviving spouse’s annual income must be under $7,933, or under $9,696 if she is housebound (minus medical expenses), with cash assets under $80,000.

Aid and Attendance - This little known benefit can help elderly veterans and their spouses pay for in-home care, an assisted living facility, or nursing home care. It pays up to $1,949 per month in addition to the monthly pension benefits. To qualify, the veteran must be 65 or older (or permanently disabled), have served during wartime, and meet certain financial and medical requirements. To qualify medically, one of your parents would need assistance with basic everyday living tasks like eating, bathing, dressing, or going to the bathroom. Being blind or in a nursing home or assisted living facility for mental incapacity also qualifies. To qualify financially, your parents’ annual income as a couple (minus medical and long-term care expenses) cannot exceed $23,396; $19,736 for a single veteran; or $12,681 for a surviving spouse. Their assets must be less that $80,000, excluding their home and car. Burial Benefits - Regardless of income and assets, this benefit provides all veterans, spouses, and dependents a free burial at a national cemetery and a free grave marker. Unfortunately, funeral or cremation costs are not covered. However, some veterans may qualify for a $300 funeral allowance and $300 for a plot if they choose to be buried in a private cemetery. To learn more see www.cem. va.gov. VA Resources - A good place to learn about all types of veterans’ benefits is online at www. ebenefits.va.gov or www.vba.va.gov. Or, contact your regional VA office or local veterans service organization, where you can get personalized help and assistance in filing claims. See www.va.gov/ statedva.htm for contact information, or call the VA benefits helpline at 800-827-1000. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book. MSN

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Wisdom from the ages Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I have ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more. 1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch. 5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone. 8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it. 9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. 11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present. 12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry. 13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it. 15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks. 16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. 17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful, or joyful. 18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger. 19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer. 21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special

occasion. Today is special. 22. Over-prepare, then go with the flow. 23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple. 24. The most important sex organ is the brain. 25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. 26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words “In five years, will this matter?” 27. Always choose life. 28. Forgive everyone and everything. 29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time. 31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 33. Believe in miracles. 34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do. 35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. 36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young. 37. Your children get only one childhood. 38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. 39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. 40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back. 41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 42. The best is yet to come... 43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up. 44. Yield. 45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift. MSN

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The Historic Adams House and Adams Museum are a Tribute to Deadwood By Bernice Karnop You always hear about the gunmen, gold seekers, and gamblers. But if you go to the Adams Museum and the Historic Adams House in Deadwood, South Dakota, you will find that some of characters attracted to the wild gold rush town in the late 1800s were community builders of upstanding character. Both Harris Franklin and Will Emory Adams came to Deadwood in 1877 as men of modest means and both achieved great wealth - not by panning the gold, but by selling to the miners. Franklin made a fortune in the wholesale liquor business before diversifying to cattle, gold mining, and banking. Adams transported a wagonload of hardware to Dakota Territory, and, recognizing opportunity, he stayed and opened a grocery store. In 1893, Harris Franklin and his wife Anna built a lovely Queen Ann style house, complete with a pointed tower. The local paper carried many articles on it, saying it was the grandest house west of the Mississippi. Certainly not many houses in the west had central heat, hot and cold running water, and electricity back then. The Franklins even had electronic bells to summon the servants. Impressive as it was, Anna was ready to upgrade only three years later. No do-it-yourselfer, she hired a Chicago firm to redecorate the whole interior. Anna died in January 1902. A few years after her death, Harris passed it on to their only son, Nathan. Also a Deadwood businessman, who served as mayor from 1914 to 1918, Nathan moved to New York and sold the house to W.E. and Alice Adams in 1920 for $8,500. Adams, a self-educated businessman, also diversified his business interests. In 1894, he built the four-story Adams block, still impressive today in this historic town. A grand feature of this building was a modern elevator run by water power. Adams served as mayor for six terms. However, their married daughter died of typhoid, and then Alice was diagnosed with cancer. She died days before their second daughter and her baby died of childbirth complications. In the memory of the loss of his entire family and as a tribute to Black Hills pioneers, he built the Adams museum in 1930 and gifted it to the city. It is the Black Hills’ oldest museum. Today’s visitors see reminders of the legends of Deadwood - Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Deadwood Dick, and Potato Creek Johnny. The three floors of eclectic exhibits also include folk art, Lakota bead and quill work, natural history of the Black Hills, and much more. All floors are wheelchair accessible. When Adams was 73, he remarried a 29-yearold widow from Lead, Mary Vicich. In 1934, he died of a stroke at age 80. Two years later, Mary closed the elegant house, leaving the contents intact for half a century. In 1987, she finally sold it to bed and breakfast inn owners. Then, the City of Deadwood’s Historic Preservation Commission bought and restored it at a cost of $1.5 million. It opened to the public as a museum in the summer of 2000. Today, the historic Adams House offers tours that begin on the hour from April through October. The first floor is wheelchair accessible. MSN

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The Museum Of The Mountain Man In Pinedale, Wyoming, Spotlights Robust Explorers Article and Photo by Bernice Karnop The mountain men had little in the way of amenities and nothing in the way of health care. But these first white guys in the west were tough. Jim Bridger survived an encounter with Blackfeet warriors along the Madison River in October 1832, but he came away with a couple of arrow points in his back. His cohort, Broken Hand Fitzpatrick, dug one out with his knife but failed in his attempt to extract the second one. Three years later, when Bridger arrived at the Rendezvous on the Green River near where Pinedale, Wyoming, is now, it was still there and still bothered him. Rendezvous were devised by Andrew Henry and William Ashley of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company as a way for the trappers to unload their furs and refurbish their supplies without taking the long trip back to St. Louis. The first one in 1824 TICKET SA L BEGIN ES

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was a huge success, and they grew in size, popularity, and raucousness until the last one in 1840. The rendezvous drew trappers, traders, company men, Indians, and anyone in the neighborhood. In 1835, Dr. Marcus Whitman, a missionary doctor on his way to Oregon, happened to be in the neighborhood. Bridger asked him to remove the arrow point. Rev. Samuel Parker, who was traveling with Whitman, wrote that it was hooked around a large bone, making it difficult to remove. “The doctor pursued the operation with great selfpossession and perseverance, and his patient manifested equal firmness,” Parker wrote. With a substantial audience of white and native men, Whitman extracted a three-inch iron arrowhead from Bridger’s back. Following this impressive show, Dr. Whitman spent some very busy days in camp treating a plethora of medical concerns. If you think digging up information about the Fur Trade era resembles extracting arrow points from men’s backs, I have good news for you. The Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale, Wyoming, has taken the pain and effort out of it. Do not miss stopping at this bright, clean facility. Both you and your grandchildren will be delighted with the inter-active displays, historic information, and films of stunning scenery in Sublette County, Wyoming, named for another real mountain man. I came away impressed with how important these solitary, innovative men were to the opening of the West. Pinedale is located on the east side of the lofty Wind River Range on Highway 191. You will find Highway 191 at Hoback Junction south of Jackson. It heads into the heart of Mountain Man country, following the historic Hoback River through the scenic canyon. About halfway to Pinedale, you cross into the Green River drainage. The Wind River, Gros Ventre, and Wyoming Mountains soar above this wide valley, which is already a lofty 7,000 feet. Gannett Peak in the Wind River Range is Wyoming’s highest spot at 13,804 feet. The scenery begs you to stop, take photos, or sit and dream a bit. Those infected with the Mountain Man spirit may want to return to this prime hunting and fishing country. Pinedale is a hub for guest ranches, fishing resorts, outfitters, and guides who will help expand your adventure. There are also good motels (Cont’d on page 52)

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Museum of the Mountain Man - continued from page 50 and campgrounds if you want to explore on your own. Highway signage points out the location of the Green River Rendezvous. The Green River hosted six different Rendezvous - more than any other place where Rendezvous were held during the early 1800’s. The Museum of the Mountain Man holds Rendezvous Days the second weekend in July each year, with field trips, lectures, music, skill demonstrations, and more. The museum, an excellent stop anytime of year, is packed with displays and stories about the Fur Trade era, Plains Indians, western exploration, and early settlers of western Wyoming Jim Bridger’s rifle is there, as well as the traps and equipment used by the Mountain Men. Trade beads, artwork, beavers, and the history of those who followed the trails blazed by the Mountain Men through nearby South Pass are covered. It is the only museum I have seen with an authentic buffalo chip on display. There is a display of the earliest humans discovered in Wyoming in the basement of the museum. Discovered during the development of the Jonah Gas Field 30 miles south of Pinedale, you will see what a camp might have looked like 6,000 years ago. Structures consisted of a willow frame covered with sagebrush. Archeologists have determined what the people ate, how they cooked their food, and how their flint knapping skills were used to make atlatl points. When you have seen the Museum of the Mountain Man, take the road

from there four miles to Fremont Lake, created by the glacial moraine in front of the Wind River Range. The second largest natural lake in Wyoming, it is 11 miles long, half a mile wide, and 600 feet deep. Campgrounds, public and private, are available, with places to picnic, camp, hike, or launch your boat. There are trails at the fish hatchery at the lower ends of the lake as well. If you drive on up the mountain, you will get a bird’s eye view of the lake, the Wind River Mountains, and the area around Pinedale. In Pinedale, you will find shops with gear and gifts for the western lifestyle. Quilters will want to check out the quilt and fabric store. Be sure to stop at the Rock Rabbit, a quaint restaurant on the main street, for ice cream or a meal. The pictured Rock Rabbit on the sign is a copy of the rock drawings discovered not far from Pinedale. The Museum of the Mountain Man is open 9am to 5pm daily from May 1 to September 30 and 9am to 4pm weekdays in October. Appointments may be made to see the museum at other times. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for grandchildren from 6 to 12 years old. Learn more at www.museumofthemountainman.com, or call 877-686-6266 for further information. MSN

Tulips Galore Paint Colorful Panorama At Washington Festival By Craig & Liz Larcom Vibrant tulip fields splash the landscape in western Washington’s Skagit Valley each April. So many people drive to see the spectacle that, in 1984, folks in Mount Vernon decided to create a festival - the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was born. Today, it is the biggest festival in the northwestern part of the state, attended by hundreds of thousands. Seniors, young couples, families with kids, and photographers come to enjoy the tulips. For many, it would not be spring without a trip to the Skagit Valley, 60 miles north of Seattle. Most growers raise red or yellow tulips, planted in stripes a foot wide. New maps each year tell

where the tulips (and daffodils and irises) grow. To reduce disease and improve the soil, growers rotate the tulips with other crops, so tulips only grow in any particular field every five years. To keep visitors upto-date as the season progresses, an online map at www.tulips. com tells which fields are blooming. Bloom time runs about two weeks and varies with each year’s weather, which is why the festival runs from April 1 to 30. Flexible travelers keep in touch by phone or on the web to arrive at peak bloom. Those who need to decide in advance have the best odds between April 9 and 17. In addition to driving past fields of vivid blooms, visitors can stop at two show gardens. Bright purple tulips, two-color tulips, tulips with white petal tips, and ruffled tulips are just a few of the varied tulips to be found.

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Founders of both companies in the Skagit tulip-growing business today emigrated from Holland. The Washington Bulb Company’s owners, the Roozen family, made the jump from Holland to the Skagit in 1947. William Roozen, Sr. came with an extensive tulip pedigree - the family began growing tulips in the mid-1700s. Putting his knowledge of tulips to use, William began his bulb farm in the Skagit with five acres of land, some used farm equipment, and a lot of energy. From that humble start, the family business became the Washington Bulb Company, now the nation’s largest bulb grower. Festival visitors enjoy a three-acre display garden, planted with 90 kinds of tulips. The display uses a mind-boggling quarter-million bulbs. Beyond the garden with its windmill lies a 15-acre field of tulips. Another company, the Skagit Valley Bulb Farm, offers its show garden at Tulip Town. In addition to a windmill and the World Peace Garden, fifteen eye-pleasing acres of colorful tulips flourish out back plus a building full of vendors. The building is especially welcome in the event of April showers. Visitors who would rather ride, or who want an elevated view of the fields at Tulip Town, can take a tractor-pulled “trolley” ride around the fields for $2. Descendants of the DeGoede brothers run the Skagit Valley Bulb Farm, whose family also emigrated from Holland. Henry and John arrived in 1948. Over the years, the Skagit valley tulip extravaganza has spawned a multitude of ways to see the festival, including bicycle and motor coach tours, and flights over the tulip fields in helicopters. Visitors can even arrive via a clipper-ship-and-bus combination from Seattle. Those who come on the weekends should be prepared for heavy traffic, but the trade-off is a heap of additional activities from which to choose. Art in the Pickle Barn, the Kiwanis salmon barbecue, a home tour, a parade, concerts, the Tulip Run, a quilt walk, and a “Prodigious Potato” Silent Auction are just a sampling of events scheduled in April. Bulb growers here produce more tulips than anywhere else in the nation, owing to the extended growing season of the maritime climate and the rich topsoil. For buyers, the ideal conditions will translate to robust bulbs that grow exceptionally well. Luckily for viewers, the procedure is to let the bulbs blossom before the growers top them. (After topping, the bulbs stay in the ground to grow until summer, when the growers dig them up.) Farmers also cut a small percentage of the blooms to sell as cut flowers during the festival. Savvy visitors, take note of the damp climate and bring foot gear that can handle mud in case the fields happen to be wet. For more information, pick up a brochure at the Tulip Festival Office at 311 West Kincaid in Mount Vernon, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, have one mailed to you from the Tulip Festival Office (360-428-5959), or download one from at www.tulipfestival.org. Check on how the bloom is going at the same phone number or check online. MSN

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Our bodies are our gardens to which our wills are gardeners. - William Shakespeare

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Tammy Thompson Paints With Yarn Article and Photo by Gail Jokerst Ask someone what comes to mind when you say the words “artistic medium” and you will likely hear answers such as painting, sculpture, or music. What you are not likely to hear cited is the one medium that fires Tammy Thompson’s imagination - knitting. Granted, naysayers could argue that cardigans hardly compare to landscapes, bronzes, and operas as far as creative merit. But they would have difficulty proving their point after seeing the artistry displayed in the hand-knit garments Tammy designs. “You can paint with yarn, create subtle shading so it looks almost like a watercolor when you’re done,” says Tammy, who has developed well over 200 original patterns for mittens, hats, scarves, socks, vests, and sweaters. “Knitting is most definitely an art form. It can’t be put into a box; it can’t be judged. Like any artistic expression, knitting is correct if it makes you or someone else happy.” Unfortunately, hand knitting has had a rough go of it in modern times. Thanks to the ready availability of machine-made knitted garments, nobody has to handcraft scarves or mittens today. And

thanks to the amount of time required to complete even the smallest and simplest of garments, knitting holds limited appeal. “People don’t easily commit to this type of art because it takes hours,” comments Tammy. “They want everything instantaneously, which is a shame. They miss out on the softness of life because they’re in such a rush. But everything worthwhile takes time. Like a new friendship, you have to let things unfold. If you don’t want to take the time, you drop it.” The fad that brought knitting out of semi-obscurity occurred around four years ago when eyelash scarves became fashionable, and it seemed like everyone was making them. Part of the scarves’ allure was the speed with which they could be created because they called for big needles and big yarn. By knitting’s pokey standards, results became visible almost instantaneously. Although the popularity of eyelash scarves dwindled, people committed to the craft started to emerge. Fortunately for Tammy, who learned to cast on stitches during childhood, she has always loved knitting’s leisurely pace. For her, it is all about the slow process, not the rushing to complete a project. “The one and only quality really required is patience. Knitting will teach you patience. You have to be willing to stick with something and see it through to the end. It’s the doing that gets things done,” summarizes Tammy. “Then you gain the satisfaction and can say, ‘Yes, I did this!’”

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Despite the time investment and in some cases the financial investment, knitting continues to fill a niche in the hearts of a select group of dedicated artisans who pursue knitting for reasons as varied as the articles they produce. Some knit because they enjoy the feel of yarn slipping through their fingers or because they like working with sumptuous colorful fibers from around the world. Others love to fashion wearable art that is both beautiful and functional. Still others find knitting a soothing pastime that provides a gentle respite from the hustle and bustle of modern life. “It’s a quiet art that gives you time to contemplate and think. For me, it’s something I need to do. I need to constantly create new things even though there are no guarantees with knitting. It’s always a surprise at the end,” says Tammy, whose love for this craft prompted her to open her own yarn shop, Woolen Collectibles, in Kalispell. “Every new project I start is challenging until I finish it. Up until that point, it is an idea in mind. The challenge comes in picking the right fiber, needle size, and pattern. I can picture the garment in my head. Sometimes what I make evolves into what I picture; sometimes it doesn’t,” admits Tammy. “But that’s the art of it. The not-knowing adds a sense of adventure.” As Tammy points out, two people could follow the same pattern using the same type of yarn and the same size needles and the outcomes would differ. “It’s you in that work - your spirit, your essence at the moment you are creating each stitch,” she says. “The pattern is only a guideline. Since the garment you’re making is done by your own hand, it has to be unique and won’t look like anyone else’s.” Surprisingly, over the past few years, college-aged men have shown an interest in mastering this art form invented by the ancient Egyptians. Many have taken up knitting for one specific purpose: to create hats they can wear in winter to keep warm while snowboarding or skiing. “They want something funky, out of the ordinary, to wear. Most of them won’t make sweaters, though,” adds Tammy, who estimates that about ten percent of her customers are men. “Knitting attracts men with an artistic bent. I think they find it relaxing.” While it may seem unusual to think of men purling and using cable needles, according to Tammy knitting and the male gender share a long history dating back to medieval Europe when men belonged to knitting guilds. “Although in America knitting is still considered women’s work, men on ships have always knit and repaired their own garments. And even today, men and boys are taught to knit in Scandinavia,” adds Tammy, whose designs are heavily influenced by the three major styles of northern Europe: Arans, Fair Isles, and Ganseys. All originally designed for people working outdoors, mostly men. “They wore the sweaters when they went out to sea to fish while women usually wore shawls to ward off chills,” explains Tammy. “Traditionally, knitting was a utilitarian craft meant to keep you warm. Patterns have always followed function with designs passed down from mother to daughter. Arans were for outerwear. They’re made from heavy weight wool with cable designs. Fair Isles made from Shetland wool are known for their warmth as well as their colorful patterns incorporating up to 20 different colors. Ganseys, the lightest weight and densest of the three, use yarn without any loft. Since they are tightly knit on small needles, they are almost impermeable to wind and water. That makes them ideal undergarments.” If you want to get started knitting - whether to eventually craft one of those traditional fisherman sweaters or something easier

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such as a scarf - Tammy offers the following advice, “Go to a local yarn shop where you live and take a beginner’s class. If you can make a knit or purl stitch, you can be creative from there. Most importantly, let yourself move beyond the mistakes. Finish what you start and you’ll see what you can do better the next time. Be okay with the imperfections,” she adds. “Life has them. So does knitting.” For more information, contact Tammy at 406-756-8746 or woolencollectibles@legendsoft.net. You can also visit her shop at 904 7th Ave East in Kalispell (11-4 Tuesday through Friday and 12-2 Saturdays) or her web site www.woolencollectibles.com. MSN

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A Recipe For Culinary Success By Gail Jokerst Take one part education, one part entertainment, and blend smoothly with generous portions of four-star fare. What do you get? A delightful dining experience at Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) called Chef’s Table, where as many as 55 guests sit in the teaching kitchen and watch culinary arts interns prepare and serve an elegant meal. From the time you sample a medley of light hors d’oeuvres until you scrape the last morsel of dessert onto your fork, you know this is a dining event you won’t soon forget. Once guests are seated at long stainless steel prep tables set with table runners and linen napkins, Master Chef Howard Karp takes over in his dual roles as host and educator. He introduces each of the evening’s three courses describing what you will be eating while also explaining how various items were prepared. If you are fast with a pencil, [Photo by B. James Jokerst] you can even jot down a recipe or cooking tip he imparts on the handy notepad next to your plate. One of the college’s two culinary arts instructors - the other being Chef Hillary Ginepra - Chef Howard started Chef’s Table in January 2009 as a way to give first-year culinary-arts interns restaurant-style experience in a supportive environment. That support is especially important considering students have only 28 weeks over two semesters to learn the gamut of cooking methods. They practice everything from sautéing, panfrying, and oven–roasting to broiling, poaching, and baking. And that only comprises one phase of their education. “Rather than throw them out into the world for their internships,” Chef Howard explains, “I thought it would be good to keep them in the nest. It gives them more time to learn how we see as an artist and how food should be presented.” As evidenced by the frequency with which these reservations-required dinners sell out, their popularity has only grown with time. Despite the $38 per person price, no one balks at the entry fee for these delectable three-course meals. Since

$15 is tax deductible and the proceeds benefit the college’s culinary arts program, people can even feel downright virtuous about splurging for one of these Friday nights on the town. The students preparing the Chef’s Table meals are as varied as the menus offered each week and come from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds. Some enter the class with little cooking experience but a deep desire to learn this age-old craft. Others begin with years of frontof-the-house expertise. “I’ve always wanted to go to culinary school and expand my knowledge of the hospitality field. Being in the back of the house lets you be creative,” says Jo Ann Murillo, who worked previously for a hotel chain. She signed up for this particular program for several reasons: “The instructors were from the big schools and offered the same curricula as the big schools but with smaller classes and one-on-one- attention.” Tom Hinkley’s prior career was in the administrative end of the restaurant business before he entered FVCC’s program. He has been impressed by the high standards set by Chef Howard and Chef Hillary. “They are very quality conscious about the products they buy and what they teach us to make. We take no shortcuts,” says Tom while portionweighing mounds of seasoned shellfish destined to become that night’s crab cake appetizer. “We don’t buy mayonnaise; we make our own. We don’t buy crème fraiche; we make that, too.” No sooner has Tom finished speaking then a voice pipes up from behind him, “Yeah, we even bake our own bread if we need breadcrumbs.” Another student, Darrell Lindenmuth, had planned to study respiratory therapy but couldn’t muster the enthusiasm to go through with it. When a friend suggested he do something he enjoyed, Darrell decided to pursue his passion for cooking, an interest he had shelved for too long. “The program is way cool,” comments Darrell as he takes his turn sweeping the kitchen floor before dinner guests arrive. “You’ve got to have dreams and live for something. So many people let their dreams die.” “In the short 12 weeks, I’ve learned a lot more than I expected. It’s amazing,” adds Matthew Mecca, who made the butter-rich brioche that accompanied the evening’s entrée—panroasted halibut with morels atop a bed of spring vegetables. Along with Warren Elmore, one of the dinner’s cookie bakers, he gently swirled together tempered Belgian bittersweet and white chocolates before dipping strawberries in the molten

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bath to serve as part of the dessert course. Among the many lessons taught each semester is one that requires no textbooks and probably comes as a surprise to most students. “They have to learn how to work with one another. It’s a synergy,� says Chef Howard. “If it doesn’t happen they fail and I won’t let them fail.� As one husband said of his wife who is enrolled in the program, “She has learned to perform at a higher level by learning to be part of a team.� No matter what their prior experience with food preparation, all the interns agree that becoming a professional chef requires more of them than anyone ever anticipated. Not only do these students study the fundamentals of classical cooking and baking, they also take food-safety, writing, and business classes. On top of that, they plan, execute, serve, and clean up after each of the weekly Chef’s Table dinners for a semester. “It’s worth all the effort,� says a beaming Jo Ann Murillo. “At the end of the day, you feel really fulfilled.� For more information about Chef’s Table or to make a reservation, call 406756-3963 or visit www.fvcc.edu/news-events/academic-news/chef-s-table. MSN

The Teddy Bear Legacy - continued from cover bear’s features until she gets something that appeals to her. She has made bears as short as one inch and as tall as 36 inches. However, her average bruin stands 14 inches high. While Sherry’s smaller bears must be hand-sewn, her larger ones can be partially sewn by machine. That makes them easier for her to fashion though she is quick to add that there is nothing hard about making teddy bears‌ except perhaps for the clean up after she puts away her scissors for the night. Nowadays, Sherry sells her whimsical creations at craft shows and farmers’ markets in the Flathead and through her web sites. Her reputation has spread by word of mouth and she receives orders from around the state. In addition, she sells to an international market. “It turns out that people from all over the world - from Germany, England, and Canada - like teddy bears as much as Americans do,â€? notes Sherry, who was surprised to discover that her bruins appealed more to adults than to children. According to Sherry, unlike their parents or grandparents, kids do not run to the bears when they see them. “I think they have to be educated to appreciate them because kids today are so interested in electronic things. For adults, teddy bears bring back childhood memories and they want to share those memories,â€? remarks Sherry. “People who grew up with teddy bears want to pass along that part of their childhood to those they love.â€? One of the most poignant ways people are keeping alive the teddy bear legacy is through Sherry’s Memory Bears. She creates unique designs for each of these made-to-order bears, which are always constructed from nostalgic clothing or quilts with special meaning to a family. Over the years Sherry has fashioned Memory Bears from military and work uniforms, mink stoles, aprons, wedding gowns, and hunting pants to name just a few of the items customers have given her to carry out her commissions. Sherry’s aunt, who lived near Choteau, gave the doll-maker her first order for a Memory Bear a decade ago when she asked if Sherry could make a teddy bear out of a mid-calf length muskrat coat her late husband had bought for her. “Originally, it was a fancy coat - very warm. But as the elbows wore out and it tattered around the edges, my aunt wore it only to feed the calves on their ranch,â€? recalls Sherry, who figured the coat was around 35 years old by the time she received it. “My aunt’s grandson had grown up seeing her in this coat, so it had sentimental value for the whole family,â€? continues Sherry. “Since there was still some fairly nice fur left in the body of the coat, I was able to make a 14-inch teddy bear from it. The boy’s mom liked it so much she asked if there was enough fur left over to make another bear for her. And there was.â€? Since then, Sherry has continued to fulfill requests for these heartwarming bears, which comprise about half of her business and provide a seemingly endless source (Cont’d on page 59)

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The Teddy Bear Legacy - continued from page 57 of creative challenges. One remarkable commission came from a Havre family preparing for a big reunion. They delivered to Sherry three boxes filled with shirts, bathrobes, skirts, and pants from which they wanted 46 bears. Much to the clan’s delight, Sherry filled eight large boxes with bears made from the salvaged fabric. Although she does this labor-intensive work for pay, Sherry receives another reward that makes

her job all the sweeter. “People truly appreciate something that is handcrafted and not mass produced. When they get emotional and tear up when they first see their Memory Bear,” says Sherry, “I know it really means something to them.” For more information, visit www.sherrysbears. com, www.sherrya135.etsy.com or call 406-8925990. MSN

Some People Have a Way With Words - When Insults Had Class Submitted by Julie HollarBrantley There was a time when insulting someone was viewed as an art form. The glorious insults below are from an era before the English language became one filled with expletives and devoid of creativity. 1. He had delusions of adequacy. - Walter Kerr 2. He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. - Winston Churchill 3. Lady to Winston Churchill, “If I were your wife, I would give you poison.” To which Churchill responded, “Madam, if I were your husband, I would take it!” 4. I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure. - Clarence Darrow 5. He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary. - William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway) 6. Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I’ll waste no time reading it. - Moses Hadas 7. I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it. - Mark Twain 8. He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends. - Oscar Wilde 9. I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend... if you have one. -

George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill 10. Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... if there is one. - Winston Churchill, in response 11. I feel so miserable without you; it’s almost like having you here. - Stephen Bishop 12. He is a self-made man and worships his creator. - John Bright 13. I’ve just learned about his illness. Let’s hope it’s nothing trivial. - Irvin S. Cobb 14. He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others. - Samuel Johnson 15. He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up. - Paul Keating 16. In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily. - Charles, Count MSN Talleyrand

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Key questions to ask the nursing home By Tait Trussell, Senior Wire At least 3.2 million people in this country will spend some time in a nursing home this year. You hope and pray that you are not one of them. But if it appears you are headed that way, a national voluntary group has developed a list of questions you and your family members should ask to promote skilled and compassionate nursing care. AConsumers must take a more active role in pushing for higher quality care for family members and themselves,@ points out Mary Jane Koren, M.D., M.P.H. She is the chair of Advancing Excellence in America=s Nursing Homes. She also is assistant vice president of the Commonwealth Fund in New York, a health systems foundation. To help member nursing homes improve, the Advancing Excellence campaign’s website furnishes technical assistance, online resources, and other materials for nursing home staff and consumers. There are 28 participating organizations representing nursing homes, health care professionals, care workers, quality-improvement experts, and government agencies, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Veterans Administration. Half of the nation=s nursing homes have joined Advancing Excellence. You can get a copy of the campaign=s new guide at www.nhqualitycampaign. org. Questions to ask when considering a nursing home • What ongoing training is available to the staff? Continuing training helps staff learn new skills and methods for improved care. It also translates into increased job satisfaction. This creates stable staffing and higher quality care.

• How many caregivers should each patient have? A patient should have as few different caregivers as possible. Strong bonds are often developed between the patient and a caregiver who consistently offers care for the resident. Consistent care assignments are important for all residents, but they are especially important for patients with Alzheimer=s because they can easily become distressed when dealing with unfamiliar people. • Are staff members trained to handle special conditions and resulting behaviors, such as those associated with Alzheimer=s? Staff should understand that wandering and yelling are typical. • What is your plan for pressure ulcer (bedsore) prevention? The skin, as with other parts of the body, can fail over time. Residents who cannot move by themselves are likely to have pressure sores. Bedsores can develop on heels, hips, ankles, elbows, shoulders, and ears - wherever skin is exposed to pressure for long periods of time. Staff can prevent them by inspecting patients’ skin daily. Staff also should keep residents clean and dry from incontinence. And staff should make sure patients eat and drink nutritious food and fluids. • How do you assess and treat residents’ pain? Pain can be difficult to measure. Staff should inquire about patients= comfort and pain level daily. For someone with dementia, staff should watch for pain signs such as pacing, holding a body part, or grimacing. • How are medications handled? Residents often take several drugs. Some are prescribed. Some are over-the-counter, such as vitamins. The more medications, the greater the possibility of dangerous interactions. Nursing home staff should continually assess the potential complications of these drugs. Addition of any new medica-

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tion requires monitoring by the nursing staff. Staff should notice sleepiness or confusion that could be caused by medications. • Are staff members familiar with your family member=s medical background, as well as his or her preferences? Residents and family members should share as much information as possible with staff. If a resident likes to eat early or listen to the radio, staff should know this. • How are suggestions from family members handled? Collaboration with staff should be sought. If issues continue to arise, alert the nursing

home administration and attend the care-planning meetings to get more information. • Does the nursing home have a long-range plan to improve care for everyone? How often are quality assurance meetings held? Does the nursing home have a specific plan to address potential problems? What issues are they currently working on? • Does the facility have a consumer satisfaction survey? If so, ask to see it. A high satisfaction rating by residents and families often correlates with higher quality care. MSN

Personal and Financial Costs of Elder Abuse Staggering By Tait Trussell, Senior Wire $2.6 billion may seem a piddling amount when Washington is tossing around trillions of dollars like Frisbees. But this $2.6 billion is important. It’s the cost of elder financial abuse. It was calculated in a new report entitled Broken Trust: Elders, Families, and Finances. The report was produced by the National Committee for Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in conjunction with the Mature Market Institute of Metlife Insurance Company. Financial abuse to elders, tragically, is “most often perpetrated by family members and caregivers,” the report said. It also said that up to one million older Americans may be the victims of this form of abuse each year. The typical victim of financial elder abuse is between the ages of 70 and 89, is a white female, frail, and cognitively impaired, according to the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA). Related additional costs, such as healthcare, social services, legal fees, investigations, prosecution, and lost income and assets “reach tens of millions of dollars annually,” the report added. The report included prevention advice for older adults and their families. The report also said that for every abuse case discovered, some four or more go unreported. The current recession may account for some increased vulnerability, the report noted. The typical victim tends to be too trusting of

others and may be lonely or isolated. The victims tend to be a rather diverse population, however. In a three-month span in 2008, the news media reported $400 million in loses attributable to elder fraud and abuse. Family friends and strangers were blamed for $14 million. Reported Medicare and Medicaid fraud accounted for $121 million, and shady businesses reportedly stole $250 million, the report said. Elder financial abuse takes many shapes, including fraud through coupons, mail, and telemarketing; contracting and repair scams; false and fraudulent advice from unscrupulous stock brokers, bank loan officials, insurance agents, and accountants; as well as abuse of powers of attorney and guardianship; identity theft by internet phishing (this comes from the analogy to fishing by internet scammers for information used for fraudulent purposes); failure to fulfill contracted healthcare services; and Medicare and Medicaid fraud. With the present shaky economy, seniors “are a greater risk than ever of having their financial security threatened,” said Sandra Timmermann, director of Metlife Mature Market Institute. “And for every dollar lost to theft and abuse, there are still more related costs associated with stress and healthcare and the intervention of social service, investigative, and legal entities,” she added. Scholars and practitioners speculate that, like perpetrators of other types of elder abuse, family members who exploit their elder relatives are often dependent on them financially, and their actions may be influenced by other factors such as drug

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or alcohol abuse. Pamela B. Teaster, NCPEA president, said that data provided through the National Center on Elder Abuse daily news feed proved invaluable. “The feed tracks media reports of elder abuse through Google and Yahoo alerts, a process that scans billions of web pages.... We had real-time information on financial elder abuse and information from numerous sources.” Researchers from NCPEA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University reviewed all articles from April through June 2008 from the Administration on Aging’s National Center on Elder Abuse, a new data base which tracks news stories

through Google and Yahoo. The report states that the justice and social service systems are often inadequately trained, staffed, and funded to address the elder financial abuse problem. Further, it is sometimes hard to tell whether financial abuse actually occurred or whether one unwittingly or unknowingly made a poor financial decision. Under-reporting is attributed often to embarrassment and self-blame, or even a lack of realization that abuse has occurred. Reports vary as to whether women or men are more vulnerable to financial abuse. But isolation and loneliness leave a person more exposed to theft. Some 48 percent of women over age 75 live

alone, according to the Administration on Aging. Sixty percent of confirmed cases of elder abuse involve an adult child, usually a son. Signs of abuse include fear of a caregiver, isolation from family and friends, a disheveled appearance, anxiety about finances, new best friends, and missing belongings. Elder financial abuse can be prevented through education about one’s rights and about various types of scams; financial conservatorship and/or power of attorney for those who are vulnerable; aid from social services and medical personnel; and added news media attention, the report suggested. MSN

Where to Donate Unused Assistive Equipment By Jim Miller Donating old or unused assistive living equipment is a wonderful way to help those in need who cannot afford it, and in most cases, it is tax deductible too. Here are some good places to check. Mobility Equipment - Many foundations and organizations would be more than happy to receive your dad’s old wheelchair, walker, and canes. Local charities such as Easter Seals,

United Way, American Red Cross, or the Muscular Dystrophy Association are all great options, as well as Independent Living Centers (see ilru. org to find one near you) that help people with disabilities. Local hospital foundations, children’s hospitals, school districts, veteran’s service organizations, and even churches are also good places that often accept these types of donations. Or, you could donate to your local Goodwill store or Salvation Army. Eyeglasses - One of the best places to donate old eyeglasses is to the Lions Club Recycle for Sight program. They collect nearly 30 million pairs of glasses each year and distribute them to people in need in developing countries. To donate, look for a Lion’s Club glasses donation drop-off box in your community. You can often find them at libraries, community centers, churches, schools, and many local eye doctor offices, or contact your local Lions Club for drop-off locations. Call 800747-4448 to get the number to your state Lions Club office, which can refer you to your community representative, or visit lionsclubs.org. New Eyes for the Needy (neweyesfortheneedy.org) is another good organization that collects unused eyeglasses and distributes them abroad to people in need. Hearing Aids - To donate old hearing aids, hearing aid parts, or other assistive listening devices check out Hear Now (starkeyhearingfoundation.org/hear-now.php, 800-648-4327), a nonprofit program that is part of the Starkey Hearing

Foundation. They collect around 40,000 hearing aids each year, have them reconditioned, and resell them using the revenue to buy new hearing aids for people who cannot afford them. Hearing aids and other assistive hearing devices should be sent to Hear Now, 6700 Washington Avenue South, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Another great place to donate is the Lions Club Hearing Aid Recycling Program. Old hearing aids should be mailed in to one of their 21 hearing aid recycling centers. Your state Lions Club (call 800-747-4448 to get the phone number) can give you the mailing address, or go to lionsclubs.org. Other local service organizations that may accept hearing aid donations are Sertoma, Knights of Columbus, Masons, Kiwanis, and Optimists clubs. There are also some states, cities, counties, and even local groups that have collection programs. Contact your Area Aging Agency (call 800-677-1116 to get your local number) or the nearest Hearing Loss Association of America chapter (see hearingloss.org) to inquire. Tax Deduction - Do not forget that donations to nonprofits are tax-deductible, so when you drop off your donated item(s), be sure to ask for a receipt for your tax records. Or, if you are mailing it in or are using one of the Lions Club drop-off boxes, you will need to include a note requesting a letter of acknowledgement of the donation. Savvy Tips: If you have other assistive devices or daily living equipment you would like to donate but cannot find a home for, contact your state assistive technologies director (see ataporg.org). They typically accept a wide variety of assistive living aids or may be able to refer you to groups or organizations that do. Or try usedhme.com, a free listing service website that lets you donate, sell, or buy used home medical equipment. MSN

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Survival in a Black Hour: Alicja Edward’s Journey as a Slave Laborer in the Soviet Union Article and Photo by Bernice Karnop Alicja Edwards, from Eureka, is a small energetic woman with blue eyes the color and intensity of Yogo sapphires. The best memories of her 86 years include coming to the United States at the end of World War II. “When I was learning to live here it was a riot what I used to do,” she ssays with a gig giggle. Her worst mem memories are of a fforced depart parture from her comfortabl able home in P Poland, a lon long ride in a crowded train car built for animals, a and three years of sslave lab bor in the Soviet Union. Months before, her father had been in interred in the Russian gulag. There is nothing funny about these memories. It started with a pounding on the door in the middle of the night. It still seems absurd, the houseful of armed Red Army soldiers sent to round up a grandmother and mother with two children, but this was the way Stalin treated his own people. “Stalin was ruthless. Human life didn’t matter. We were told to work without regard to conditions or health. If you survived, you were lucky. If you perished, they didn’t care. Old people who could not work had no value in the eyes of this government,” she says. In 1940 the Soviets deported an estimated 1,700,000 Poles to prisons and slave labor camps in the Soviet Union. Life in the Soviet Union was horribly different from Alicja’s carefree childhood in Poland. In Poland Alicja took lessons in ballet, piano, and art. She studied French and English. After being dropped in Kazakhstan, the petite 16-year-old used a heavy, hand-blistering shovel to remove stubborn brush so the land could be planted with wheat to feed the Russian Army. Her pay was a few stingy grams of dark bread. Later she planted and harvested using primitive tools, learned to drive stubborn oxen, and tried to keep the fires burning as a janitor in a drafty school. They froze in winter’s bitter cold and sweated through the brutal summer heat. The family scrambled to find food, clothing, and fuel where they could. Grandmother died, but the rest of them, including her father, survived.

“Each person has built into them the strength that comes in the very black hour,” she says, “although perhaps they don’t know it until it is required of them. It’s that inner strength that tells you to survive and how to survive. You have to go along each day and pray and hope that there will be an end to it, that one day you will be a survivor.” Alicja’s family was allowed to escape into Persia, today’s Iran, near the end of 1942. The war continued to rage and the Allies were in Persia shuttling supplies to Stalin’s government. “We were items, not quite human yet, but we became human. We had nothing, but we began to breathe a very fresh air, the air of freedom. We didn’t have to look behind us and to the side and see if there is a whip or something worse waiting for us,” Alicja says. They were DPs - displaced persons - ridden with diseases including malaria, bloody dysentery, and yellow jaundice. Alicja had all three at once. Iranian doctors treated them with compassion, and wherever they went, they were welcomed. Readers can only imagine what a relief and joy this was to them. Alicja loved being in the ancient land where the likes of Omar Khayyam and Hammerabi lived. She visited museums and soaked up the history she had studied in school in Poland. One thing troubles Alicja to this day. The Allies

ordered them not to tell what the Soviet Union had done to them. They couldn’t afford to offend Stalin, their ally, so this holocaust was swept under the rug and forgotten in the shadow of all of Hitler’s atrocities. Only recently has she made it her goal to tell this hidden piece of history. Alicja’s mother was killed in an accident in Iran, and the rest of them were scheduled go to a Polish settlement camp in India. Instead, in 1945 she married Ernest Edwards, an American Army officer. He had helped her study English, bringing books to the Army mess hall where she worked. He brought several of the works of Shakespeare. When she used Shakespearian English in modern conversations he had to correct her. Ernest returned to the U.S., but the American Embassy wouldn’t allow her to accompany him. “You have to have a birth certificate,” they insisted. “Stalin didn’t give it to me,” she retorted. She joined him a few months later. The Edwards lived in Japan, Europe, and the U.S. during his Army career. Understanding the language and the gadgets in this country created some hilarious situations. For example, she listened to the radio to get used to American English. One day it got strangely silent. She heard a doorknob turn and the ominous creak of an opening door and she was terrified. “I thought the Chicago Mafia had come for me,”

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she says. Actually the sounds came from Inner Sanctum, a radio show that mastered chilling sound effects and ominous organ music. When they moved to Georgia she struggled to understand the Southern accent. On her first shopping trip by herself she brought her purchases to the check out counter, paid for the items and started to leave. The clerk called out, “You all come back, you hear.” Puzzled, she returned to the counter. He just looked at her and said, “Ma’am?” “He called me back and then he didn’t want anything,” she indignantly told her husband later. In addition to the funny stories, Alicja adds the joy of sponsoring both her dad and her brother to come to the U.S. Her father, as an officer in the Polish army, saw action at the battle of Monte Cassino. Her brother attended college here and became a chemical engineer. After the war Alicja studied art in France and later at the Art Institute of Chicago. She studied piano in Japan and was a concert pianist. They have two children, a son who lives in Eureka and a daughter who visits often from Chicago. After retiring from the service, Ernest worked as an art and antique appraiser near Chicago for 35 years. Alicja loved working with him and learning the history of different items. In 2002, after the death of her husband, Alicja wrote And God was Our Witness, detailing her experiences during the family’s exile in the Soviet

Union. She started it as a response to her children and other people’s questions. “I couldn’t do justice to it in a couple of sentences,” she says. This is a piece of history that still is not widely known and she is proud to say that a copy of her book is now in the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Alicja moved to Montana in 2004 and opened Around the Corner Antiques and Art, in Eureka, and continues to paint and write. She has lectured in several states, and likes especially to talk in schools. She’s spoken in high schools and middle schools in Northwest Montana, and at Flathead Community College. She hopes young people will take away the knowledge that people can survive through terrible conditions. She is finishing a second book and has plans for a third. “People take freedom for granted. Freedom is our most precious asset that we have. I know because I lost it.” Telling her story is healing, she says. “I give myself inspiration when I talk. My memories are like looking at a ship in a bottle. I see them but they don’t hurt me so much.” In her book, And God Was our Witness, Alicja Edwards tells the little known history of her and fellow Poles and other Eastern Europeans forced into slave labor in the Soviet Union during World War II. You may order the book at Amazon.com. Contact her by mail at Around the Corner Antiques and Art, 305 First Avenue East, P.O. Box 526, Eureka, MT, 59917 or by phone at 406-297-7263. MSN

Why Preplan Your Funeral? By Craig Ziegler Maybe you are like many of our families and have asked yourself that very question. Maybe you have had a nagging feeling something needs to be done, but you are not sure why or even how to start. Let me ease your mind a bit and answer some basic questions in the process. Simply put, preplanning provides peace of mind for everyone involved. A carefully preplanned funeral service can be extremely comforting to your family, as it spares them from having to face decisions that can be both emotionally and financially difficult at the time of death. It can give them lasting satisfaction to know that they have acted in accordance with your wishes. Making pre-arrangements can be as simple or as detailed as you wish. You can make the selection of the services, casket/urn, music,

pastor, and even supply most of the obituary information, etc. or simply record the information that will be needed for legal forms and other paperwork. Another reason to preplan is to ensure that your family will receive all of the benefits to which they are entitled. It is important that all of your personal records, insurance numbers, and location of important papers be accessible to your family in the event of your death. These vital details and your personal wishes for your funeral can be recorded ahead of time. This ensures that your beneficiaries will receive the protection you worked and planned for when they need it most. Many people prefer cremation as their form of disposition when they die. This option brings with it several unique questions that need to be addressed; and this is best done in the process of making a pre-arrangement. Another difficult decision can be the final resting place of the cremated remains. Niche placement, in-ground burial, scattering, and keeping them indefinitely are just some of the options you have in making this decision. Although not required when making prearrangements, most people choose to set aside funds that will cover their future funeral and final expenses. A good prepayment plan will allow you to control costs, avoid emotional overspending, and lock-in prices on the services and merchandise you select. If death occurs while traveling, a completed pre-arrangement can be invaluable. Your family will only need to call the funeral home in charge of your arrangements. Your local funeral director can handle everything from that point on, saving your family time, money, and untold frustration. Finally, preplanning can be a very important estate planning tool when considering spending down in anticipation of a nursing home admission. Federal and state guidelines are quite specific regarding this matter and, done properly, preplanning can help you qualify for state assistance before all your money is gone. As you can see, there are many good reasons to preplan. When you give your family the gift of preplanning, they will thank you for it and you will have what you really want - peace of mind. MSN

APRIL/MAY 2011

Remembering Yesteryear’s Somers: Phillis Edmiston Article and Photo by Gail Jokerst Fans of Tennessee Ernie Ford can recall the line “I owe my soul to the company store” from one of the most popular singles ever recorded, Sixteen Tons. That song describes what many Montanans once faced living in company towns where rent and grocery bills were docked from workers’ pay through the company store. Phillis Paar Edmiston grew up in the Flathead Valley during the Great Depression and spent her childhood years in the company town of Somers. At that time, the Somers Lumber Company - owned by the Great Northern Railway - had a company store that thrived along with the town. Phillis’s father, who career-stepped from tiebucker (someone who shouldered ties to stack on railroad cars) to chief engineer at the tie treating plant, fared better under the system than the song’s coal miners because at Somers workers could advance. But sometimes, he too ran a tab and outspent his wages. “A company salesman would come to our home, write down the orders for groceries and supplies, and fill us in on local news before leaving. Later that day a company truck would deliver the order. My parents hoped that, at best, they would come out even at the end of each month after the $18 rent and grocery bills were deducted,” recollects Phillis. “However, Dad was always grateful just to have a job during the Depression.” Although today Somers qualifies more as a sleepy Kalispell satellite than a boomtown, back in its heyday, the village sidewalks were bustling and the population was growing. “We had a Methodist, Lutheran, and Catholic church. There was also one bank, one barber shop, one drugstore, one boarding house, one dance hall where my mother played the piano for silent movies, one bakery, one meat market, and a lot of softball teams,” comments Phillis. She has especially fond memories of the town’s one pool hall because they sold big scoops of vanilla ice cream perched atop cones. “Since my sister and I couldn’t go in the pool hall, Dad would bring us ice cream cones outside. They always smelled smoky, like cigars,” says Phillis, who did not mind a lick that they did. Unlike most of her friends who lived in one of the “shotgun” homes, Phillis was born in a house on Pavilion Hill close to the town’s water tank and was delivered by the company doctor. She clearly recalls the important role Flathead Lake played for the lumber company during her youth. One of her

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most vivid memories is the tugboat Paul Bunyan that formerly plied the lake’s waters. Its job was to pull log rafts (booms) from various bays and tow them to the mill at Somers. Today, the retired Paul Bunyan rests at the Miracle of America Museum near Polson. From a recreational perspective, the lake played an important role in the lives of the town’s families. “Before Kerr Dam was built in the 1930s, the Somers beach was so big you could have car races down there, and the men of the town played horse shoes there. Now there is no beach. Everyone went swimming in the lake day and night - kids with inner tubes as well as adults. We’d put our inner tubes in the rumble seat of my parents’ Ford, which they bought used, and the whole family would drive down to the lake. During the winter, we’d go ice-skating. Some years it reached 25 below and the lake would freeze over. Dad would borrow railroad flares filled with kerosene to light up the ice for night skating. We’d build a bonfire on the ice,” recollects Phillis, “and sit on logs to keep warm while putting on our skates or shoes. When we got cold, we’d skate back to the bonfire.” Despite the hard economic times, Christmas was a favorite holiday for Phillis, thanks to members of the local Oddfellows Lodge. Every December, this civic group brought smiles to the faces of Somers’s children. Each year, it arranged for Santa to pay a visit to the home of every child under twelve. “Santa came with a bag full of gifts on a horsedrawn company sleigh complete with bells,” says Phillis. “I always knew there was a Santa Claus and never questioned why the sleigh was drawn by horses instead of reindeer.” Despite the relative wealth many have today compared with the lean years of the 1930s, Phillis is not so sure people are better off. “My grandparents farmed in the lower valley, so we got our pork from them, and my sister and I picked gooseberries for pie at their farm. Everyone in town had a garden, and we raised chickens ourselves. We made our own entertainment, whether it was at the lake or through scout troops and 4-H. The girls would cook in the winter and sew in the summer, bringing our projects to Kalispell to compete in the county fair. Everyone had less back then,” concludes Phillis, “but we were happy and we went on with life. Somers was a wholesome place to raise kids and to be a kid.” MSN

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Free Passes: Try Some on a Day Drive from Helena Article and Photo by Bernice Karnop The Continental Divide snakes north and south through Montana like a giant zipper, determining which direction every drop of water on the continent will flow. The Great Divide, as it is sometimes called, is a chain of high peaks from which water flows to the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Gulf of Mexico, or the Arctic Ocean by way of Hudson Bay. The mountains were formidable barriers to early day travelers. Finding a low spot where they could pass from one side to the other challenged explorers like Lewis and Clark, road builders like John Mullan, and railroad barons like Jim Hill. Today’s travelers can drive cross any number of passes in the Continental Divide in a car and on paved roads. Stop for a moment and appreciate that fact. Then fill your tank and take a day trip to the backbone of the continent. What for? Vistas that go on forever, wildflowers that take your breath away, deer, elk, and other astonishing creatures, birds, hiking trails, and more. Simply put, it renews your spirit.

One of the easiest day trips to cross multiple passes starts in Helena. Flescher Pass - Leave I-15 at the Lincoln exit, about eight miles north of town, and drive northwest on highway 270 toward the mountains. Enjoy the beautiful creek bottoms and when you get to the Marysville road, detour in for a look at the ruins of the Drumlummon mine. Early prospectors took more than $3 million worth of gold from these creeks before Thomas Cruse staked his claim to one that reportedly brought out $50 million more. Cruse shared the wealth by financing the lovely Helena Cathedral. You can drive a bit farther and look at the Discovery Basin ski area. Back on 270, you will switchback to the top of Flescher Pass, 6,350 feet high. There are trails in this area including the Continental Divide trail. You do not have to walk from the Canadian to the Mexican border to enjoy a bit of it. When you cross the pass, you are not far from Ted Kaczynski’s hide out, but don’t look now. The cabin is gone and he is no hero. When you reach the junction, turn toward Lincoln on 200. Lincoln - Stop at the Forest Service Ranger Station just before you enter town. Smokey the Bear is standing out front. Inside you will see the Lincoln grizzly killed by a truck on Highway 200 west of Lincoln in 2007. The 12-year old male generated numerous news articles because he was one of the largest grizzlies in Montana. He weighed 830 pounds and would have stood about eight feet tall. The average male weighs 500 pounds. Four taxidermists, three from Montana and one from Pennsylvania, donated

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their skills and did their work in the Lincoln Community Center where people dropped in to watch. Raptor and fish mounts will also catch your eye here, and you can purchase a small number of nature books and even a Smokey the Bear stuffed animal, if you want to get something for the grandkids. And if you are so inclined, you can even read about the capture of Ted Kaczynski. Hooper Park in Lincoln is full of big trees, picnic tables, and camping spots if you want to spend the night or simply stop for a picnic. Deer and elk are seen wandering through here, along with the smaller creatures. Have you tried an ice cream cone from the Pit Stop? Friends call this cool, delicious treat from here “the best deal in Montana.” Stemple Pass - The gravel road to Stemple Pass goes south out of Lincoln. After you cross this 6,376-foot pass, you will drive back to the Flescher Pass road, Highway 279, from which you can return to Helena. Again, you will be rewarded with amazing vistas, access to trails, wildflowers, and surprise glimpses of wild creatures. McDonald Pass - If you feel more confident sticking to the pavement, you can do a different but equally satisfying circle tour back to Helena. From Lincoln, continue west on Highway 200 and take Highway 141 to Avon. You will find a broad

peaceful valley dotted with hayfields. Look for beaverslide hay stackers that are used to create loose haystacks, a rarity in this day of giant round bales. At Avon, turn left onto U.S. 12 and head back to Helena over 6,320-foot McDonald Pass. I never get tired of the views going down the east side of this pass into the Helena valley. Any time of day, any season, they are amazing. If you have taken your time to enjoy the rest of the trip, you will see the lights of the valley glittering like nuggets in the dark. Mullan Pass - Mullen Pass is a drive for another day. It is also a gravel road and a 4-wheel drive is recommended. The significance of this pass, as the name implies, is that John Mullan brought his wagon road through here in 1853, which is very early in Montana history. Mullan built a road from Fort Benton to Walla Walla, Washington through 624 miles of very challenging raw terrain. To get to Mullan Pass take the Birdseye Road out of Helena, and drive northwest until you get to the Austin turnoff. Austin was a flag station on the Northern Pacific near what was once a booming placer camp known as Greenhorn. Look for a long tunnel that the NP built in 1882. The road comes out on Highway 12 just below McDonald Pass. MSN

Montana Senior Olympics In Great Falls, June 9-11, 2011 By Bernice Karnop For the first time ever, the city of Great Falls will host the Montana Senior Olympic Games, June 9-11, 2011. We encourage readers to participate with this friendly, welcoming group that is always looking for new people to join in the fun. Kay Newman, executive director from Bozeman, says, “All ability levels are encouraged to participate because to enter is to win.” The games, which consist of twelve different sports, are open to men and women who are fifty years and older. Events include archery, basketball (3 on 3 and shooting), bowling, cycling, golf, horseshoes, racquetball, road race, swimming, tennis, table tennis, and track and field. Athletes compete with their peers in age brackets of fiveyear increments, for example, 50-54, 55-59, and 60-64, etc. Maybe you are thinking, “Oh, I play just for fun. I couldn’t compete.” Veteran Senior Olympics competitor Charlotte Sanddal from Helena, who is 88 years old, says, “Well, that is exactly what we want, people who play just for fun! If you can’t have fun doing it, don’t waste your time.” Before she started swimming at the Senior Olympics, she had no experience with competing. “I just paddled around most of my life,” she says. Through the Senior Olympics, she received a lot of good coaching and is still learning - and winning. Entry booklets will be available April 1. Athletes who have competed in recent years will receive a booklet in the mail. New participant may contact MSO headquarters at 2200 Bridger

Drive, Bozeman, MT 59715, by calling 406-5865543, or by e-mailing kayjn@imt.net to receive a booklet. Entry fees, which help cover the cost of the games, are $10 for early registration plus $4 for each event entered. Early registration closes May 23. The Games open Friday, June 10, with dinner at the Holiday Inn. Athletes will be introduced, and the Outstanding Athlete of the Year will be announced. This Outstanding Athlete is a person who has demonstrated the ability to continue to exercise and compete despite physical disabilities or illness. Send nominations for this award to Kay at the contact information listed above. Include

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the person’s name and information about his or her experiences. Medal winners at last year’s summer games in Kalispell qualified for the 2011 National Senior Games in Houston, Texas, where they expect some 10,000 entrants. Kay reminds people that the competition is friendly. “We encourage you to stay active to help

maintain your good health and physical fitness,” she adds. Also part of the Senior Olympics is the Senior Softball Tournament, which will be in Kalispell on July 15-17. The softball tournament registration deadline is July 2. For more information about the softball tournament, contact Jim Valentino at 406-837-9994. MSN

If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have time to do something about it. - Anthony D’Angelo

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 69

Tips For Beginners: The Approach Shot By Dane Pearson After mastering the concept of the tee shot, the next step as a golf instruction beginner is to move on to the short game and what are known as approach shots. For most people, these shots will be increasingly more difficult because they require more skill and patience than a simple tee shot. There are a variety of approach shots, all of which are used in different situations depending on where your initial shot lands on the course. However, your intention with these shots is always to land on the green. The pitch shot is an approach shot that is played from farther away than the other shots. Using a wedge, the ideal pitch shot is the perfect combination of enough swing momentum to carry your shot through, but not enough to send it sailing over the green. Trajectory will be low to average depending on how far you are from the cup. It is very important to make sure the ball does not roll too far. You must start off with a slightly open stance, positioning your right foot directly across from the ball. When following through on a pitch shot, always make sure to keep your backswing as short as you possibly can. Failure to keep your backswing in check will usually cause you to instinctively put the brakes on your shot while accelerating, which is a definite no-no. You want to have enough confidence in your wedge to let the club do the work for you. Do not think you have to assist the ball through the air. Another approach shot is known as the chip shot. You will need to use a chip shot once you are within about 30 yards of the green, usually after a fairway drive or tee shot. The idea is for this shot to have a much shorter trajectory, so you will need to use a less lofted club. Proper weight distribution is paramount to getting off a decent chip shot. If you are a right handed golfer, you want to put the majority of your weight on the left side and hold this position through the duration of your shot. There are generally two kinds of chip shots that concern us. The first one is known as the bump-and-run shot, and the second is a flop shot. The bump-and-run is usually taken with an 8, 7, or 6 iron club and with the clubface hooded. That way your shot will have less loft. You also want to have just enough power in your backswing to follow through. The flop shot is used when you want to get over an obstacle like a rough patch or a sand trap,

so you are going to want to have a much higher trajectory in order to push the ball over. Open up your stance and follow through as far under the ball as possible to try and pop it up, and you will keep your ball away from the danger zones with a good position for a subsequent shot. With every aspect of golf there is one answer – practice, practice, practice… and pretty soon you will be good at approach shots. MSN The all new

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PAGE 70 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2011

RVing Marks 100 Years: Campgrounds Offer like Zip Lines and Wet and Wild Fun

A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably. - William Penn

By Ann Hattes RVing – the quintessential American product and industry – marks its 100-year anniversary. Nowhere do more Americans gather to celebrate their love of RVing than at The Rally, held annually at sites around the U.S. (Redmond, Oregon July 14-17, 2011). Attendees from every state and province in the U.S. and Canada gather to celebrate their passion of the open road and to learn about the RV industry. The Rally features the latest in recreational vehicles (RVs) and accessories with live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and educational seminars. New RV models from top manufacturers are displayed and available for test drives. (www.therally. com) Campgrounds and RV resorts today offer an increasing variety of challenging physical activities like ziplines, rope courses, and “wet and wild” weeks. Some offer paintball and laser tag while Pineland Camping Park in Arkdale, Wis., has just installed a 4-story inflatable waterslide. Granville, Ohio, campground owner Mark Kasper shook his head in disbelief when his 79-year-old mother, Phyllis, climbed a 30-foot staircase and rode his park’s 300-foot long zipline, literally dangling alongside a river that skirts the west end of the park. That was four years ago, and to this day, 83-year-old Phyllis Kasper holds the record for being the oldest person to ride the zipline at Lazy River a 195-site campground just east of Columbus. But do not think for a moment that the elder Kasper will easily surrender her title. “She told me that if anyone older than her rides the zipline, she’ll wait until she reaches that age and ride it again,” Mark Kasper said. “We hope she will.” As campgrounds across the country are investing in unique and challenging physical activities to keep their guests entertained, other parks are offering unique accommodations. Treehouse Camp in Rohrersville, Md., near the Appalachian Trail, for example, offers its guests the chance to escape to the forest, while spending the night in tree house cottages that literally stand on stilts, eight to 10 feet above the ground. “The kids really have a lot of fun here, and when the kids are happy, the parents are happy, said Louise Soroko, the park’s co-owner. Here is a sampling of other privately owned and operated campgrounds, RV parks, and resorts across the country that offer unique activities and accommodations: • Beaver Lake Campground in Custer, S.D., an 81-site campground located 20 to 25 minutes from Mount Rushmore and Wind Cave National Park, offers a 360-foot-long water slide as well as cabin and teepee rentals, and more than 40 bicycles for guest use. • Coloma Resort in Coloma, Calif., located near the site where gold was discovered in California, offers a challenging ropes course as well as opportunities for gold panning, white water rafting, and even classes in yoga. For those who do not have their own RV or tent, the resort also offers tent cabins and RVs, park models, and bunkhouse rentals. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Williamsport, Md. is planning Wet and Wild Weeks. “Wherever you are in the park and whatever you do that week, there is a very good chance you are going to get wet,” said park co-owner Vicki Vitkun. For help locating unique campgrounds visit www.gocampingamerica.com. MSN

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 71

MON TANA

SENIOR LIVING GUIDE

TM

F I R S T

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S E R I E S

You're Making the Right Choice By Karen Powers, The Goodman Group

You are making the right choice.

At some point we all need help for ourselves or someone we love. The truth is, none of us desire or expect to spend time in a nursing home or to leave our home behind for care in assisted living. Realizing that you, your mother or your husband needs more care than you can give is one of the tougher moments in life. To make it more difficult, often you feel that you have no choice in the matter. In an ideal world, families could provide all of the care needed, money would not be a concern, and our bodies would give out quietly in the night at just the right time. In the real world, nursing homes and senior living communities provide care, companionship, life enrichment and restoration. Over the next year, we would like to explore with you the idea of feeling good about the choices you need to make when it comes to care. Choices are not gone just because life has become limited due to reduced physical, mental and health capabilities. It does take time to accept these limitations, a nursing home or assisted living community is the place to work beyond these limitations and bring choice back into life. Ultimately, getting the right care is the right choice. 2011 will bring a continuing series on the subject of care in a nursing home and assisted living; we invite you to learn more about the choices that still exist for a person during this life transition.

For more articles and resources see the Senior Living Guide Blog at montanasenior.wordpress.com

Ready to Tour?

Lunch is on Us! We invite you to see, feel and taste what makes The Village Senior Residence and Westpark Village stand apart in Montana senior living choices. You and one guest are invited for lunch in our dining room any Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. PLEASE CALL FOR RESERVATIONS: The Village Senior Residence • Cindi Kenck (406) 549-1300 Westpark Village • Cheryl Mankle (406) 652-4886

Thank you!

At some point, we all need help for ourselves or someone we love and we have to make the choice.

Getting the right care is the right choice. W E OFFER A CONT INUUM OF C ARE: REHABILI TATION • MEMORY C ARE LONG TERM C ARE • END OF LIFE C ARE

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PAGE 72 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2011

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