All About Women March 2014 by Mountain Times Publications

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publisher Gene Fowler

executive editor Tom Mayer

editor Sherrie Norris sherrie@aawmag.com 828.264.3612, ext. 251

Copy editor Anna Oakes

writers Emily Apple Heather Brandon Sharon Carlton Bonnie Church Yozette “Yogi” Collins Hollie Greene Josh Jarman Heather Jordan Linda Killian Ariel Parsons Heather Samudio Sue Spirit

production & design Meleah Bryan Jennifer Canosa Kristin Powers

advertising Leigh Ann Moody 828.264.6397, ext. 271

cover photo by Rob Moore

contents women in the news wendy jessen jane eberle mom’s world hollie greene kari’s home for women young at heart jody poe blue ridge acupuncture gwen dhing and zumba macie’s battle valerie mazza home décor and more you go, girl allison shoemake high country courtesies a dream fulﬁlled by the book fashion living well caldwell hospice travel healthy recipes on a budget

gwen dhing

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wendy jessen

hollie greene

jody poe

valerie mazza

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editor’s note Oh, the month of March, ﬁlled with anticipation of better things to come — mainly the warm sunny days of spring. We have certainly experienced an interesting winter with a number of weatherrelated phenomenon. We’ve felt the earth tremble, we’ve heard the heavens rumble with thunder as snow fell softly to the ground around us. We’ve seen the thermometer descend to record breaking lows and we’ve enjoyed days when the mercury rose just as dramatically in the opposite direction. We’ve had rain that puddled and rain that froze as it hit the earth‘s surface. We’ve experienced historical “moons,” including the Full Snow Moon and the “super moon,” which seemed really big and very close. There’s a saying around these parts — and it rings quite true: If you don’t like the weather, just hang around a few minutes, and it will change. Such is life in its ever-changing seasons, don’t you think? We may have our own ideas of what we think, or hope, will happen, but none of us have any real assurance from one day to the next, or from one minute to the next.

There are things we can do to improve the life we are given, and to make the most of the time we have left. Several of the features and columns on the following pages will conﬁrm that idea. It is our duty to take care of our health. I fail miserably, but I start every day with the good intention of doing something in a more positive way than I did the day before. It’s important to remember that it’s not just our physical health that deserves close attention, but also our mental, emotional and spiritual conditions that require close monitoring and nurturing. Getting out of “sync” in any one or more of these areas can dramatically affect our overall wellbeing. I have adopted, as my own mantra, a phrase that I recently read, which is simple, but profound: I’m going to make the rest of my life the best of my life. Hopefully, something in this month’s magazine will trigger you to take that ﬁrst step toward “the rest” — and join me in making it the best. As it happens,

WOMENINTHENEWS App State women's basketball team visits cancer center

The App State Women's Basketball team delivered gifts to the Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center staff and patients in honor of their Think Pink Game on Saturday, February 15. Photo submitted

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WOMENINTHENEWS

Photos by Sherrie Norris

Women take the lead in Relay for Life

Jeannie Caviness is recognized as ‘Committee member of the year,’ for her valuable contributions to her church team (Deerfield Dream Team) and to the year-round success of Relay for Life in Watauga County.

For the third year in a row, Amber Hamby earns the top fundraiser title in the children’s division, with $3,145 for her team, Bethel Believers. She is pictured with Melissa Hiatt, community manager, representing the American Cancer Society.

Jennifer Lacey, right, accepts the 2013 Heart of Relay Award from Kathy Idol, event co-chair.

Delivering a compelling speech to those gathered at the 2014 Relay for Life kickoff on Feb. 6, Caitlin Lemon, a psychology major at Appalachian State University, shares her personal reasons for participating in Relay for Life.

Women were in the majority of those gathered on Feb. 6 to officially kickoff the 2014 Relay for Life fundraising campaign in Watauga County. The main event, scheduled for June 20, may be four months away, but it’s never too early to start ﬁghting cancer, says Kathy Idol, who is returning as co-chair, along with Brian Barker, who also serves as accounting chairman, and has made signiﬁcant contributions to the local Relay for many years. The event also celebrated last year’s success, which included 36 teams comprised of 288 team members raising $115,327.50 in Watauga County.

The goal for 2014 has been set at $138,000. The three teams raising the most money in 2013 were: Friends for Life ($11,406), Deerﬁeld Dream Team ($11,259.75), and Jerry’s Intimidators ($10,621.00). Della Presnell was recognized as the individual having raised the most money for her team, Ted’s Troops, with $4,290. Presnell has, for several years, consistently been honored as the adult raising the most money for Relay in Watauga County in memory of her son. Amber Hamby earned the top fundraiser title in the children’s division, with $3,145 for her team, Bethel Believers.

Receiving the coveted Heart of Relay Award was Jennifer Lacey, new chair of the Parkway Patriots school team. She helped reenergize the team when Donna Raichel and Elizabeth Buchanan, fellow Parkway teachers, were diagnosed with cancer. Jeannie Caviness was recognized as committee member of the year for her valuable contributions to her church team (Deerﬁeld Dream Team) and to the yearround success of Relay. For more information about the 2014 Watauga County Relay for Life, email idolk7@yahoo.com or melissa.hiatt@cancer.org.

The Appalachian State Women's Basketball team took a break from the hardwood in Feb. to visit Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center at which time they delivered gifts for the center’s staff and patients. The visit was made in honor of the team’s third annual Think Pink basketball game against UNCG on Saturday, Feb. 15. The team was given a tour of the facility, offered a chance to ask questions about the center, pose for pictures and exchange hugs with staff and patients. "This Think Pink game is about so much more than basketball," says Coach Darcie Vincent. "It's about celebrating life and showcasing our love and support for those families impacted by this disease." Perhaps the most meaningful moment

of their visit took place while visiting patients in the chemotherapy infusion room. These patients, often conﬁned to their treatment chairs for hours at a time, were delighted by the encouragement of the lady Mountaineers. During the visit, the team distributed goodie bags and invitations to attend their Think Pink Play4Kay basketball game day, which featured a double header against Wofford. Admission to the games was free, but donations were accepted at the door for the Play4Kay Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Play4Kay, established in honor of former NC State women's basketball coach Kay Yow, is an initiative to raise awareness about breast cancer and funds for research on the court, across campuses and in com-

munities. Last year, $4,000 was raised in support of cancer research through the Mountaineers Think Pink basketball games. (This year’s amount was not available at press time.) "My dad is a cancer survivor," says Ashley Bassett-Smith, sophomore biology major. "I think it's wonderful that, as a team, we can give back to the medical community and be a part of something bigger than ourselves." For more information about the team, visit www.appstatesports.com. To learn more about Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center call (828) 262-4332 or visit www. apprhs.org/cancer-center.

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

WOMENINTHENEWS

Nunsense cast: Front row l-r: Sister Leo, Tiffany Christian; Sister Mary Amnesia, Lauren Hayworth; Standing l-r: Music Director Andrea McDonough; Sister Hubert, Amy Beane; Rev. Mother, Cheryl Scott, and Sister Robert Anne, Maureen Renihan.

Local Women Produce, Direct and Star in ‘Nunsense’ Six local women will bring the house down when they bring the musical comedy “Nunsense,” to the stage at Harvest House Performing Arts Center in Boone on March 21 and 22. Written by Dan Goggin, “Nunsense” is the secondlongest-running off-Broadway show in history and will be the first all-adult production of the Boone-based BeanStalk Community Theatre. “Nunsense” follows the valiant efforts of five surviving members of the Order of the Little Sisters of Hoboken to raise money to cover the burial costs of the last four (of 52) members of their convent who were accidentally poisoned by their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God. To pay for the burials, the sisters take over a high school auditorium to mount a fundraising variety show that includes outrageous songs, dancing and an audience quiz. The cast of “Nunsense” includes women who are bringing immense talent and experience to the local stage: Cheryl Scott, as Reverend Mother and Sister Mary Regina; Amy Beane, creative director of BeanStalk, will play the role of Sister Hubert. Starring as Sister Robert Anne will be Maureen Renihan. Sister Mary Amnesia will fill the role of Lauren Hayworth; Aspiring ballerina, Sister Leo, will be played by Tiffany Christian; Hope Bennett will direct the performance;

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music director is Andrea McDonough, BSCTs cofounder and executive producer. Board members Mel Grant and Elizabeth Cole, round out the production crew as stage manager and prop/costume mistress. BSCT Board member Daphne Speer is coordinating ticket sales and publicity. Neva Specht, BSCT vicepresident is producing the show. Casa Rustica is catering the dinner theatre; glutenfree and vegetarian entrees available with advance notice, prior to March 10. Individual tickets for “Nunsense” are on sale at Boone Drug at Deerfield and on-line at www.beanstalkcommunitytheatre.com, for $35 (prior to March 1) and $40 (after to March 1). Individual tickets and tickets for a table of eight may be purchased at Andrea McDonough’s State Farm Insurance office, 450 New Market Blvd, Suite 1, Boone. On-site childcare that will be available for $10 for first child and $5 for each additional child; maximum fee of $25 per family. As the only community theatre actively producing shows in the area, BSCT is a volunteer nonprofit organization. For more information, call (828) 312-0263, email beanstalkcommunitytheatre@gmail.com or visit www. Beanstalkcommunitytheatre.com.

WOMENINTHENEWS Photos by Jeff Eason

Blowing Rock Women Honored At Chamber event

Barbara Wright, left, receives the Jerry Burns Ambassador Award from Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Charles Hardin.

Lisa Lamont, along with Gary Smith, accepts the chamber’s Award for Cultural Enrichment on behalf of Ensemble Stage.

From left, Misty Watson and Linda Laughter accept the Award for Service to the Community of behalf of Blowing Rock C.A.R.E.S.

Melissa Pickett, along wither husband, Ray Pickett, accepts the Business of the Year Award for the Blowing Rock Inn from Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Charles Hardin

Deborah McDowell, owner of Mountainaire Inn and Log Cabins, accepts the award for her Best Winter Wonderland Lighting.

Lori Inman, Denise Weinkle and Ann Barker, better known as The Three Musketeers, share the 2013 Blowing Rock Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year Award.

Several women were among the honorees for their contributions to life in Blowing Rock at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce’s 27th annual Awards Luncheon at Chetola Resort in Feb. During the event, Cathy Robbins, who, along with her husband, Chris Robbins, operates Tweetsie Railroad and Wild West Theme Park, was introduced as the new president of the Chamber for the coming year, keeping alive a long-held tradition of Chamber leaders in her husband’s family.

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Intermission: A noun, a break Kathy and Wendy at Baptist Hospital

Journals

Lee and Wendy, Mother’s Day 2013

Wendy Jessen and her husband, Lee, experienced what she calls an “intermission” in their busy, retired life following a tragic accident in June 2013. In the proverbial wink of an eye or, in this case, the flicker of a flame, she says, their lives were forever impacted following a pleasant evening entertaining colleagues. “Some of my former coworkers from Green Valley Elementary School gathered on our deck for an end-of-the-school-year celebration,” she says. “After much fun and discussing our summer plans — and rejoicing at the prospect of sleeping late — they left, while my husband of 45 years and I began cleaning up the deck.” The Jessens still are not sure what happened next, whether the lighted fire pot on the table was accidentally knocked off the table, or if the fire was strengthened by the wind. Nevertheless, a stream of

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flames rose from the pot onto the plastic tablecloth, and in an instant, Wendy’s cotton skirt was also flaming. “Lee threw me to the deck floor and grabbed a blanket from inside to wrap me in,” she says. “He also quickly grabbed the fire extinguisher as the flames had raced onto the deck, and then put me in the car to go to Watauga Medical Center.” Wendy’s next memory, she says, was being asked, “Mrs. Jessen, do you know where you are?” The six weeks that followed are still “hard to digest,” Wendy says, after learning that she had severe burns to the right side of her body — hand, arm, torso, leg and foot. The first few days of hospitalization, from Boone to Winston Salem, she says, were focused on stabilizing her condition in an effort to prevent infection. Two of her good friends, Kathy New-

ton and Gail Richards, who had been among her guests on that evening, she says, “quickly mobilized other friends from Boone and Greensboro to rally around us during this critical time while I was a patient at the Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem.” Having graduated from Greensboro College in the ‘60s, Wendy and Lee had kept close ties with friends in that area; Wendy also had a cousin, Mark, and his wife, Lori, who lived nearby in Lewisville. “Other than that, our family is scattered,” she says. “My brother, Gary, lives in Paradise Valley, Ariz., two sons, Jon and Erik, in Durango, Co., and a married son, Jeff, and his wife and 2-year-old son, in Alaska.” Her ﬁrst few days at the hospital are still a blur, she says. “But, thankfully, Lee and Kathy kept a daily journal for me, noting foods, medications, procedures, visits from friends and my overall condition, as

best they could perceive it.” Coming out of surgery, Wendy recalls, she had “extremely frightening dreams.” “Strangely enough,” she says, she dreamed she was working in a chair factory In Lenoir, making red leather chairs. “The foreman was yelling at me to hurry up in my production quotas, because if I didn’t hurry, my job would be taken and sent to China. What? Talk about fear!” Wendy remembers crying every time her husband left the hospital. “He wasn’t sure if I was in pain, upset — obviously about my condition — or if I was just homesick,” she says. “Like most women my age, I had never been away from my husband, except for when I was in the hospital having babies, and an occasional girls’ weekend to the beach.” Relying on Lee’s connections with the Watauga Humane Society, Wendy says, “as well as our good teacher friends from Green Valley and Blowing Rock, we were able to have someone stay at the house with our pets, when Lee stayed at my cousin’s in Lewisville.” Following two skin grafts, Wendy was eventually moved from intensive care to the hospital’s burn unit. “The staff at Baptist was amazing,” she says. She stayed cold all the time, which she eventually discovered, was a direct result of the burns. In addition to family and close friends, members and staff of Boone United Methodist Church visited often, “lifting me up spiritually during this difficult time,” she says. Her journey to wellness, not yet complete, has required immense courage, but Wendy says she was never “a particularly brave person.” Revisiting the incident, seeing the ﬂames in her mind, Wendy says, set her in panic mode, “from time to time.” “I am not sure, except for the grace of God, how I survived,” she says. “I remember feeling as if I had been punished in some way.” In reading about how to deal with unexpected tragedy, Wendy says, she learned the therapeutic effect of reaching out to others experiencing difficulty. “A dear Green Valley teacher with whom I had worked, had unexpectedly lost her daughter last winter, so Kathy got her phone number for me and I called her,”

Wendy says. “We had a lovely chat about everything from the horrendous rains Watauga County was experiencing (which I had luckily missed), to the events of (her) summer vacation. We eventually got around to talking about her loss. She told me that at least I know who cares about me, because they are visiting or sending cards. Her daughter died and never knew of those things, she said. That was so profound for me.” After moving to the Stich Center for rehabilitation to help her regain use of her right hand, arm and leg again, Wendy was able to enjoy “a bit of socialization again,” she says, which included an indoor picnic provided by Kathy, daily visits with her cousins Mark and Lori, and Skype sessions with her sons. “My brother and his wife were able to visit, as well as my devoted Greensboro College friends, like Clare, who drove practically every day from Greensboro,” she says, “and many of my Boone friends.” Fear remained a factor, she admits, which kept her on an emotional roller coaster. “I was so lonely at night that I called one of our sons in an earlier time zone and chatted away,” she says, “carefully steering the conversation away from any fright I might have been experiencing at the time.” Her son, Erik, was able to ﬂy from Durango, a few days before she was released from the hospital, and joined his father in caregiver training. Following her hospital discharge, the Jessens stopped for barbecue on their way home, at which time, Wendy says, she had “an epiphany of sorts,” while sitting at the restaurant watching Erik enjoy his sweet tea. “No one in the restaurant knew of my frightful experience, but Lee, Erik and me,” she says. “I decided, at that point, to exemplify courage and let it shine. I wanted others to see how faith can lead you through an intermission.” During the ﬁrst few weeks at home, Wendy says, their compassionate circle of friends provided meals and the “gift” of housecleaning. “We are so blessed to have the wellness center nearby, where I could continue my therapy for my hand and my legs,” she says. “I was told I needed to get back to normal — whatever that means — by returning to my previous activities, such as

church attendance, book club and weekly coffee with my retired teacher friends.” Since she could not drive, Lee became the chauffeur. “It was similar to the movie, ‘Driving Miss Daisy,’ but I have to admit, the line wore thin with me, after a while,” she says. “Going to coffee with ‘the girls,’ and numerous trips to Michaels wore thin on Lee’s nerves, too.” With her medical team anticipating a full year’s recovery period, Wendy is happy to report that, “at least,” the uncomfortable stinging from the graft sites has subsided. “I found that rolling a cold Pepsi can on my upper legs helped, and it was a lot cheaper than drugs, although I am still taking a few of those,” she says. She has begun to make great strides in other areas of her life, as well, including being able to use her cursive handwriting skills in writing thank-you notes, making metal jewelry and mixed media journals. She is walking at least two miles on outings with her dog, Abby, at Brookshire Park, weather permitting, or otherwise, at the Wellness Center track. Facing each day without fear is her goal. “I once read that courage was not the absence of fear, just the triumph over it,” she says. She is now back to substitute teaching and teaching a few art classes through the university. “We have a March trip planned to Alaska to meet our newly-born twin granddaughters. I am not much of a flier, but I think I can lose the white knuckles from now on,” she says. While teaching gifted students in Watauga County, her room “was peppered,” she says, with posters of Albert Einstein. “From one of those was a quote that has jumped out recently,” she says: ‘Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty, find opportunity.’ I guess I am using this as an opportunity to show my faith.”

sherrie norris Editor, All About Women

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

Cancer survivor

Jane Eberle benefits from the new Thrive Oncology Program

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Cancer survivor Jane Eberle says she is thankful for the compassionate cancer, surgical and rehabilitative care she has received from Appalachian Regional Healthcare System. When she was in her early 20s, the ambitious Watauga County native left her home in Blowing Rock with eyes set on Washington D.C. Always fascinated by politics, Jane spent the next 35 years working in and around Capitol Hill. Her impressive career includes serving under Congressman Jim Broyhill, as well as former presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. Jane’s perennial devotion to her exciting career was eventually overshadowed by the familiar allure of the mountains. In 2002, she decided to move back to the High Country to retrace her favorite hiking trails and spend some more time on the golf course. Tragedy struck in 2006 when Jane was diagnosed with breast cancer. Devastated, she elected to have her mastectomy preformed at Watauga Medical Center. “I love Watauga Medical Center,” Jane says through a tearful smile. “It is convenient and has provided excellent care for me over the years through each of my procedures.” In 2009, Jane was once again a patient at Watauga Medical Center when she had her right hip replaced. “After my successful hip replacement, everything was going ﬁne. Until last year, when the cancer raised its ugly head again,” she says. “I noticed suspicious tumor markers last August and I was diagnosed in October with triple negative breast cancer.” One of the unfortunate outcomes of triple negative breast cancer is that the only treatment option available is chemo-

therapy. In January, under the direction of medical oncologist Anne Sobol, Jane began chemotherapy treatments at the Seby B. Jones Cancer Center. Regrettably, the cancer morphed into metastatic breast cancer and spread to her lower spine and lymph nodes. Discouraged by the prognosis that chemotherapy would be a necessity for the remainder of her life, Jane found solace in Paul Young, an oncology nurse at Seby B. Jones Cancer Center, who has 14 years of experience working with cancer patients. He does a remarkable job partnering with patients and their families, offering assistance with education, emotional support and help obtaining ﬁnancial assistance. “Paul is a wonderful encourager,” Jane says “He is very attentive to my condition and he recommended that I participate in the Thrive program.” Offered at the Paul H. Broyhill Wellness Center, Thrive is a medically supervised program that transitions patients from more acute phases of chronic disease management to wellness. Thrive consists of three components — rehabilitation, cardiopulmonary and oncology. “Jane was a good candidate for Thrive because she was suffering from the draining effects of chemotherapy,” Paul says. “She was very upbeat about the opportunity and willing to take part in the program.”

The Thrive program, offered three days a week, provides a multidisciplinary team approach to wellness. The wellness staff works in collaboration with the pa-

REPLENISH tient’s physician to measure outcomes as they transition to a healthier lifestyle. Jane felt exhausted and depressed after each chemotherapy treatment, she says. However, since joining the Thrive program, a little over four months ago, she has regained her strength and joined a support group. “I cannot say enough good things about the Thrive staff,” Jane shares. “They keep a good eye on us as we make our way through a variety of exercises each session. Besides feeling better, I would have to say the most encouraging part is forming instantaneous friendships with other cancer survivors. We are all there for the same reason and we encourage each other.” Jane, who recently decided to have her left hip replaced at Watauga Medical Center, shares that she is “very impressed” with how health care has advanced in the High Country during her lifetime. “When I was growing up, the hospital was still located across from where Stick Boy Bread is now, she says. “We, in Watauga County, are so blessed to have our present facilities. It enables the residents to have quality healthcare without having to go off the mountain. I am so impressed with (WMC CEO) Richard Sparks and how the care is now so expansive.” Jane looked forward to the winter so she could wear sweaters once again. “My faith is what keeps me going,” she says. “I believe God has a plan so I can have hope.” For more information about Thrive, call (828) 266-1060 or visit www.apprhs.org/thrive. For more information about Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center, visit www.apprhs.org/sbjcc.

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mom’sworld

Moving Forward “No one can go back, but everyone can go forward. And tomorrow, when the sun rises, all you will have to say to yourself is: I am going to think of this day as the first day of my life.” (Manuscript found in Accra, Paulo Coelho)

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Treating today as the first day of the rest of your life sounds like a cliché, and like the energetic voice playing on some selfmotivation tape, urging us all to reach our full potential. However, many of us find ourselves stuck in such dysfunction that we work twice as hard to perpetuate than what it would take if we just let go of what lays behind us. Sometimes this dysfunction is physical. We sit on the couch because, when we get up and exercise, the sore knee/hip/shoulder that stopped our routine in the first place, feels worse. Our minds are convinced that this is self-torture, that we will never be what we were in high school, and that we’re really not that uncomfortable in our own skin as what we thought. As a health care provider, I struggle to help motivate women who find themselves stuck in such a rut. Part of this encouragement is psyching women up for the physical reality of fighting the gravitational pull of the sofa and hoping for the second part of Newton’s law. For those of you who, like me, have slept a “few” nights since high school physics class, this law is formally known as the law of inertia, and reads: “An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an unbalanced force. An object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.” In summary, then, the key is to start the motion so that you have the tendency to stay in motion, literally. The unbalanced force is what I consider to be the “oomph” to actually move us off the couch, such as the phone call of a friend, a personal trainer, a race you signed up for, a swimsuit or outfit you bought, or even just the realization that falls out of the sky and crashes into your brain one day, that you are sick of being winded every time you climb a flight of stairs. Creating an exercise routine begins with the desire, is sustained by (hopefully) an improved sense of being, and is propelled forward by setting reachable goals and continuing to strive for the next step

for yourself. It is not about what someone else has done. Instead, many people begin to thrive off of the mini-victories they have in accomplishing goals that previously seemed unreachable. I am continuously inspired and amazed by the women whose postings I read on a women’s running group on Facebook, started with simply getting off the couch and walking intervals of ﬁve minutes at a time. Just reading their stories gets me psyched to get my butt out of bed, as well. Sometimes, there are no physical obstacles, but rather mental health issues that keep us from moving forward. Depression, anxiety and other mental health problems can immobilize us not only from physical activity, but also from seeking out goals for ourselves. Many of these illnesses have biochemical components, as well as situational features. Like physical problems, these issues also create inertia in those individuals that are affected. Getting out of bed can seem monumental, let alone going to work or to the gym. I have seen many women in my practice, and known other people in my personal life, for whom depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders (and others) have contributed to a broken sense of self and an inertia of the spirit. Some have obtained help from psychiatrists, counselors, psychologists, alternative therapies and medication, or a combination of these options. But we, as society, have failed many people, as well. There can still be an attitude of needing to “buck up” and “just cope,” without acknowledgement of how debilitating such illnesses can be — and without the social support structures to help. Most research supports a multi-faceted approach to coping with mental health, and thankfully, many people do move through these conditions and still function well in their personal and professional lives. As friends and families, sometimes it is hard to know how best to help. A good start is to lend an ear, help someone to get into professional counseling, encourage

them to get in with a health care professional, and communicate your love and support to that person. Many studies have shown that exercise results in improvement in anxiety symptoms and depression, as well as physical and psychological quality of life. Getting outside, enjoying nature, taking a walk, riding a bike, running, skiing, swimming and so many other activities can take our mind out of a rut and into a better space. If you have a friend who struggles with these issues, why not reach out to her and make a date at the gym or park to help defeat their inertia and start the process of moving forward. Life thrives on this energy of motion, and besides, today is a new day.

Sources: Herring MP, O’Connor PJ, Dishman RK (2010). The effect of exercise training on anxiety symptoms among patients: a systematic review. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(4):321. Martin CK, Church TS, Thompson AM, Earnest CP, Blair SN (2009). Exercise dose and quality of life: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(3):269. For more information on how to get help with some of the problems you may be facing, call: Fitness: Paul H. Broyhill Wellness Center in Boone: (828) 262-1060; Williams YMCA of Avery County: 828-737-5500 Daymark Recovery Services: crisis line (877) 492-2785 or (828) 733-5889 (Avery); or (828) 264-8759 (Watauga). Outpatient Behavioral Health: Cannon Memorial Hospital (828) 737-7889; Watauga Medical Center - (828) 268-9454 OASIS (domestic violence): crisis 828-2625035 or office 828-264-1532 heather jordan, CNM, MSN Comments or questions? 828.737.7711, ext. 253 landh@localnet.com

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

The Miles after 20 “What are you most afraid of?” my friend asks just before his wave of the Asheville marathon started. “The miles after 20,” I answer. “Because I haven’t run those yet. I don’t know what to expect.” He nods, “Well, you have to get there first.” His eyes were full of understanding. “You simply have to get there first.” And, he was right. There is no way to know what would happen in those miles after 20 until I had run the first 20 of the race. I hold onto this bit of wisdom as my 6:14 a.m. wave begins. Later, when I see the 20-mile marker, and, finally, when I cross the finish line, I understand what he meant. To get there, first I had to start. Long before my 18-week training plan for the marathon, well before I ran in any race, the first step was to put on my shoes and start running. Small steps in the beginning. Doing a run/walk combination and gradually increasing to a mile, two miles, eventually three. At first, I didn’t think about running a greater distance. I heard about races and people who could run eight, 10, or 13 miles, but I never considered this as an option for me. I couldn’t imagine having that kind of endurance. Then, something started to happen. As I added distance to my runs and increased my pace, I began to feel more confident in my physical abilities. I felt stronger. I had more focus. I began to understand my body in a new way. I was more conscious of what I ate, how much I slept, and the amount of energy I had when I was running regularly versus the workouts I missed. My desire

to run allowed me to examine my life in a healthier way. With this new mindset, I began to run in races: 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons. And, one day in June of 2013, I clicked on the submit button to register for my first marathon. The training was intense. As my long run distance increased, I had to find new routes around Avery County. (Did you know that if you train in Avery, you are always running hills? And, that it is beautiful? And that at every turn, you are looking at a mountain?) With all the miles of training in my head and legs, the first 15 miles of the marathon go by in a blur. I am so excited to be out there, to actually participate, that before I knew it, I am in the last 10 miles of the race. Close to mile 18, I feel my calves flare, ready to cramp. I have to slow down. After I pass the 20 mark, I can feel my quads tighten up, and when I wipe my face, there was no more sweat, only salt.

mountains in Avery County stretch out in my head. The voices of my friends and family echo in my heart. An endurance born out of tears, sweat, and love sooth my aching body with the reminder that this is what you trained for. This is why you run! There comes a point in running when it is about something more than exercise and fitness. It is about life. I feel most alive when I am outside on an early summer morning, pushing myself up a hill to catch a glimpse of the sun as it makes it way over a mountain. Or when I crest the top of a hill I never thought I could run. Or when I keep going when every part of me wants to quit. And, isn’t that life? Enjoying the surprise of a sunrise, accomplishing a goal you never expected to achieve, and moving forward even when loss, betrayal, or hurt make you want to give up and quit? When I turn the final curve, I see my mom, my daughter and my aunt waiting just past the finish line. I raise my arms in victory. Even though everything in my life had changed in the past year — at times my daily life had felt like those miles after 20 — I cross the finish line! And, in that moment, I understand that there is more. There is life beyond the finish line. There will be something beyond this temporary pain and hardship. As tears course down my cheeks, I wrap my arms around my daughter and feel only gratitude to be alive in that moment, to live, to love, to run!

There comes a point in running when it is about something more than exercise and fitness. It is about life.

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

What I fear in those last few miles is being out there alone, trying to ﬁnd the courage to keep going, even though it hurt. With each step I take, the muscles in my legs beg me to stop, if only for a second. The miles I run up and down the

Hollie Greene Hollie Greene is an English teacher who loves stories, words and the mountains of North Carolina.

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

to offer restoration This new season holds great hope for a Vilas couple’s plans to help women ﬁnd freedom from addiction through providing a Christ-centered place of restoration. Kari’s Home for Women is quickly taking shape for a spring 2014 opening, says executive director Michelle Lundgren. Michelle and her husband, John Lundgren, are pursuing their family’s desire to bring hope to others who have been entrapped by drug and alcohol addiction. The Lundgrens met while serving on the board of Freedom Farm Ministries, a local drug and alcohol rehabilitation ministry for men, where they became aware of the need for a similar outreach for women. With the blessings of Freedom Farm, they began to seek a group with which to partner to make that happen. Sadly, they discovered that no other groups were available within a 75-100 mile range of Watauga County. That knowledge fueled their motivation to pursue the opportunity to provide a safe place for women to experience healing and deliverance. The Lundgrens spent the summer of 2012 researching, visiting similar organizations and recruiting others to come alongside them to lend professional expertise. Within a short time, they obtained incorporation for Kari’s Home for Women, as well as a non-proﬁt status. They put into place a sixmember board of directors consisting of administrators of drug and alcohol recovery min-

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

istries, leaders of faith-based recovery groups, ﬁnancial experts and counseling professionals. In addition to the Lundgrens, the board includes Doris W. Isaacs, treasurer; Stephanie Davis, secretary; John Padgett, Trish Martin and Susan Daley. They are joined by a board of advisors and a prayer team. Kari’s Home, which will be located in Western Watauga County, held its ﬁrst major fundraising event last November and raised more than $10,000 toward operations. “Key volunteers are now beginning to come forward as we move forward with additional fund raising, community awareness and networking,” says Michelle. The Lundgrens, who attend Alliance Bible Fellowship and are active in the life group and women ministries there, have gained an impressive support system for their project. “Our plan is to serve women ages 18 – 40 who desire to approach their recovery from a faith-based perspective,” says Michelle. “They must not have used drugs or addictive substances for a minimum of 30 days prior to admission.” Women will not be allowed to bring their children and the location of the ministry will not be publicized for safety concerns. However, visitation opportunities will be available for family members. “This program is a focused solely on getting the women to a place of stability and continued sobriety,” Michelle says.

Meeting the need Meeting the needs of women who are in recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol, or who are recovering from abuse or emotional trauma, is what Kari’s Home for Women is all about. “Our purpose and mission is to provide a residential setting where women can heal in a Christ-centered environment, experience female mentorship, participate in focused Bible study, and participate in structured community involvement as they learn to live life soberly and productively,” Michelle says. “The intent is to prepare these women to return to society with new coping skills and with the ability to care for themselves through the life preparation skills they learn while a resident at Kari’s Home.

Programming Because Kari’s Home is a Christian, faith-based ministry and not a rehabilitation program, its programming will focus on helping the women recover through the empowerment of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “We will welcome those who do not profess to be a Christian,” Michelle says, “but they will be expected to participate in the Bible studies and follow rules and regulations, violation of which will result in immediate dismissal.” The daily routine will include both personal and corporate times of Bible study and worship, as well as a personal time of discovery and healing. The women will be assisted in their studies by staff and volunteers from local faith-based groups, churches and related organizations; oneon-one counseling will be provided by trained psychological and pastoral counselors. To help subsidize operating costs, the residents will also participate in daily chores such as gardening and preserving the harvest and working together in group activities,” Michelle says. “Women from the local community will serve as mentors and role models as they teach life-skills classes such as cooking, sewing, budgeting, exercise, time-management and parenting.” The initial pilot program for Kari’s

Home will be six months. The future success of program graduates, Michelle says, will depend in part on making available the resources that the women will need to transition into a lifestyle of self- sustainability and sobriety. Kari’s Home for Women is a donor supported non-profit. “Although we do have a fee structure set up for those women who have a sponsoring family member or church, the vast majority of our residents will be without financial resources,” Michelle says. “Sustainability will be dependent upon raising funds from like minded individuals, businesses, and churches. “Household and gardening supplies will be solicited through our newsletter and website,” Michelle says. “Pro-bono or reduced rate services will also be solicited for programming needs such as professional counseling and for operational needs such as maintenance and repairs. For-profit enterprises are also being considered, such as making hand crafted items to sell at craft fairs and growing extra produce to sell at the local farmers markets.” Kari’s Home for Women is named in memory of Kari Lundgren, John Lundgren’s oldest sibling, who died at age 18. The proposed location for the ministry once served as a dairy farm and a summer camp for children. “It offers a serene environment, the ideal place for women to intentionally focus on the issues that are fueling addictive behaviors,” Michelle says. In their research, the Lundgrens learned that women living in the High Country region, especially Watauga, Avery, Ashe and Wilkes counties who are struggling to overcome addictive behaviors, have few choices for recovery in a residential setting. “Local agencies can provide a woman with temporary shelter if she is in a domestic violence situation, or overnight accommodations if she is homeless,” says Michelle, “and the local network of mental health providers can provide her with counseling, for a fee, but they cannot offer her a safe place to regroup and concentrate on her behavior and the causes of her compulsions and addictions. If the woman is pregnant, she can ac-

cess free resource and counseling; if she needs food or medication, those too are available. But what is not available is a faith-based, residential recovery program to help women heal emotionally, physically and spiritually.” This program is focused solely on getting the women to a place of stability and continued sobriety. Visitation will be allowed, although no children will be allowed to stay with their mothers. The ministry has purchased a used double-wide mobile home, which will accommodate up to four women. Other buildings on the property will be renovated to house additional participants as funds allow. “We will begin accepting applications for our ﬁrst ladies in May.” Says Michelle. “The application will be available on our website by April.” Among the ministry’s “greatest needs right now,” Michelle says, is a house manager —“the woman who will live with the ladies and serve as their mentor,” and monthly operational support.

Supporting Kari’s Home for Women Donations of building materials, ﬂooring and paint are currently being accepted for the renovation of the mobile home. Gifts and gift cards (to local building suppliers) to help with Kari’s Home for Women may be mailed to P.O. Box 284, Vilas, N.C. 28692 Credit card donations are also accepted. Call Michelle Lundgren at (828) 406-7591 or email Karishomeforwomen@ gmail.com to make a credit card donation. Gifts items will also be needed to refurbish and furnish the mobile home, equip the office and stock the pantry. For more information, visit www. karishome.org, and follow on Facebook.

sherrie norris Editor, All About Women

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

youngatheart

Hit

the

Road

Photos Submitted

When we travel, my husband, Roger, and I typically choose a location and stay there for the duration of our trip. Having never taken a road trip, we decided to give it a go last November. Based on past experiences, I believe we would have fun most anywhere — except Kansas. I’m not too sure about Kansas. Joking aside, and no offense to Kansas, our shared sense of adventure generally guarantees good times. We planned out an itinerary with stops in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. You’ve heard the adage, “Expect the unexpected?” That’s because things don’t always turn out as planned. Day 1: Boone, N.C., to Savannah, Ga. Savannah is one of my favorite spots — full of history, interesting architecture, picturesque squares and delicious cuisine — and is the only place I have visited where a parking lot was being torn down

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

and restored as a park. After a six-hour drive, we arrived to bright sun and pleasant temperatures; it was a good start to our trip. We strolled the expansive historic district until sunset and grabbed dinner at an old favorite, Churchill’s Pub. We ended the evening at Jen’s & Friends, a fun little martini bar that specializes in dessert martinis, and yes, the Butterﬁnger martini is spot on. Day 2: Savannah, Ga., to Hutchinson Island, Fla. We settled in for another six-hour drive and headed south to Hutchinson Island, a barrier island accessed by bridges from two towns, Stuart and Jensen Beach. The island is situated off the Atlantic Coast, north of West Palm Beach. After settling in at our hotel, we ventured to Jensen Beach for dinner at Crawdaddy’s, where we enjoyed great Cajun food while listening to the live Zydeco band playing on the patio. Pleased and sleepy, Roger and I retired for

the day with dreams of sun, surf and sandy beaches. Day 3: Hutchinson Island, Fla. The sun was out, there was a light breeze, and we were eager to explore the beach. In retrospect, I should have realized that we were not going to get to embrace our inner beach bums when the towel hut attendant said, “Good luck out there,” as he handed over towels with a smirk. What was a light breeze by the pool was hurricane-strength gusts at the shoreline, resulting in unswimmable waters due to the intense riptides, not to mention complimentary exfoliations from the constant barrage of sand. Making a quick retreat, we resigned ourselves to lounging by the pool. It was not to be; the sky darkened in early afternoon and rainstorms dominated the remainder of the day. The monsoon-like conditions rattled the glass door to our balcony late into the evening.

Day 4: Hutchinson Island, Fla. Rain! We went to breakfast at local favorite, Jan’s Place — where they serve gargantuan omelets that nearly made me forget the horrid weather — and then to explore historic downtown Stuart. Darting in and out of shops to escape the deluge, I was glad that I had packed my raincoat. I would soon wish for a heavier coat as an unexpected cold front crept across the country. Day 5: Hutchinson Island, Fla. to St. Augustine, Fla. On the day of our departure, the sun came out again. Roger, determined to swim, ventured into the ocean, only to emerge moments later slightly bruised and battered from the broken shells and other sharp bits that saturated the churned-up waves. Disappointed, but determined to enjoy our next destination, we headed north to St. Augustine. St. Augustine, founded in 1565 and our nation’s oldest city, has a unique history written by a mix of cultures — Spanish, English, Greek, Native American and African American — that is still celebrated today at the city’s historic landmarks and museums. We arrived to ﬁnd the Old Town historic district wrapped in twinkling lights for their Night of Lights holiday celebration. It was quite lovely. We strolled the cobblestone streets, anticipating the next few days. Our evening was cut short when the heavens opened, drenching us in a matter of minutes as we ﬂed through now empty alleys in search of the car. Day 6: St. Augustine, Fla. Cold! We were unprepared for the drastic drop in temperature. Piling on what layers of clothing we had brought,

Determined to swim, Roger didn’t stay in the water very long.

Despite a drastic drop in temperature, we enjoyed touring St. Augustine, our nation’s oldest city.

Roger and I set out to explore St. Augustine, marching past historic homes and hotels, museums and living history demonstrations, bars and boutiques. We rode the tourist trolley to learn about the city and to warm our borderline-frostbit extremities. We savored guava pastries and Café con Leche at a hole-in-the-wall Cuban bakery and sipped unfortunate wine at a local winery. We had dinner with friends who happened to be in town and finished with a ghost tour. I am typically a sucker for a good ghost tour. This one may or may not have been good, I was too cold to notice. Day 7: St. Augustine, Fla. On Thanksgiving Day, we set out to tour the open sights, stopping first at the Lightner Museum, housed in the former Hotel Alcazar. The hotel was built by railroad magnate Henry Flagler in the late 1800s; Flager’s name is synonymous with St. Augustine for his many contributions to the city and because Flagler College, a leading liberal arts institution, shares his name. After St. Augustine’s decline as a destination for America’s elite in the mid 1900s, Chicago publisher, Otto C. Lightner, purchased the building to house his extensive collections. Roger and I wandered the galleries, amused to see case after case filled with buttons, toy soldiers, matchbox covers, toasters, cut crystal and more. After the warmth of the museum, we headed to the Castillo de San Marcos to

test our surefootedness on the gusty openair fortiﬁcations. The fort, now a National Park Service monument, was built by the Spanish in the late 1600s and constructed of coquina, an indigenous shell stone. As you would expect, it was cold and windy, but hey, there were cannons. Day 8: St. Augustine, Fla. to Charleston, S.C. We ended our trip on a high note in Charleston. We arrived, after a ﬁve- hour drive, travel-weary yet eagerly awaiting our dinner reservation at Husk, James Beard Award-winning Chef Sean Brock’s restaurant celebrating Southern food. The menu changes daily and features only regionally-sourced ingredients. Was it expensive? Yes! Was it worth it? Every penny! Any trip will have highs and lows, but can also be a great adventure if you have the right attitude. Although we were plagued with weather woes, Roger and I managed to see and do a great deal, and our enthusiasm for travel remains unwavering. “I think we should consider California for our next trip,” Roger said recently. “Great,” I responded, “Let’s hit the road!”

heather brandon Considers life to be one big anthropological ﬁeld experience. She observes and reports. She enjoys travel, food and wine and adventures with her husband, Roger.

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

Photo by Yogi Collins

Growing up in California,

Jody Poe Moving In a New Direction

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

Jody Poe thought she’d be an anthropologist, studying the development of humans past and present. And although life rarely goes the way we expect, Jody has been studying humans — through her own family and their small business. Like many women, Jody has a laundry list of titles that have kept her busy for years: mom to four boys, wife to her husband, Conrad, business owner, grandmother, animal lover — and, like many women, Jody often puts her family ahead of her own needs and wants. It’s easy for those enjoyable things to become a drain. Jody admits that she felt that way at one point, but when she noticed how it affected her, she changed her mindset. “I used to burn a lot of energy resisting where my life was taking me,” she says.

“I hadn’t expected to be a small business owner, you know? But, I’ve ﬁnally given up trying to force what I want to do and just go wherever my days lead me. I just do a good job and have fun where I am, because life is short.” An introvert by nature, Jody’s energy is renewed from quiet times alone rather than with groups of people. “I’m a hermit,” she says. “There are some days I have to make sure my smile gets to my eyes so that people know I’m genuinely happy to see them. I don’t like being the center of attention. I like to blend into the background. That’s where I like to be. I just like to be mellow.” That’s one reason a recent change in her career is an exciting one for Jody on a personal level. After 13 years in business, Conrad’s Coffee Company closed its retail shop this past December so the Poes could focus on their wholesale business. The change has been welcome and positive for Jody and her family, but not without some mixed emotions. “It deﬁnitely was bittersweet closing the shop,” say Jody. “I miss the cus-

‘I used to burn a lot of energy resisting where my life was taking me,’ she says. ‘I hadn’t expected to be a small business owner, you know? But, I’ve finally given up trying to force what I want to do and just go wherever my days lead me. I just do a good job and have fun where I am, because life is short.’ tomers. They were our friends and family. But, nothing stays the same in life, and I can’t ﬁght it, so I may as well go with it, right?” And while this new direction is exciting, there’s more excitement coming in July when Jody welcomes her fourth grandchild. “It’s super-fun having little kids around again,” she says. “They can say the funniest things. Raising my kids was a blur. That’s why, for my recent birthday, all I asked for was a card with a memory in it.” She received only one. “Maybe the other boys don’t have memories. It must have been all that Sudafed I was feeding them.” (She’s just kidding.) For now, Jody is welcoming the new phase and changes in her life, rather than resisting them. “We’re just moving in a different direction and we’re going with it,” she says. “It’s actually really exciting. I deﬁnitely see God doing something; I’m just not sure what it is yet.”

Yozette ‘Yogi’ Collins Mom, television producer/writer, and obsessive internet researcher. Though her name suggests otherwise, she is not (yet) an actual yogi.

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Mast Mobile PET CARE & ACUPUNCTURE ACUPUNCTURE, PLLC 828-963-2600 Susan Mast, D.V.M. drsamast@yahoo.com

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Heart Center of Wilkes Regional can help you get in touch with your heart. Our board-certiﬁed cardiologists specialize in noninvasive treatments and testing including echocardiology, stress testing, nuclear studies, EKG, arrhythmia evaluation and much more. Get in touch with your heart and make the most out of life.

www.WilkesRegional.org 336-651-8760 MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

Blue Ridge Acupuncture and Natural Medicine

What you gain from losing By Lisa Gorla

Many people struggle with extra weight and we all know why we should lose it. For starters, added weight stresses our spine and joints, which often increases pain. More importantly, being overweight increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and certain types of cancers. Perhaps the real toll it takes on us, however, is how it makes us feel about ourselves. We have seen many patients who eat well and exercise, but still can’t lose weight. So the question then becomes: How to lose weight, safely?

Medical Weight Loss with Dr. Emma When we decided to add Medical Weight Loss to our Integrative East-West practice, we needed a protocol that could be individualized, like the custom care we offer our patients. We were able to ﬁnd that in Dr. Emma’s HCG protocol. Dr. Sheri L. Emma, a New York physician, has done research on thousands of weight loss patients and created new protocols from Dr. Albert T. W. Simeon’s (who was considered a medical genius) protocol of the ‘50s, based on the individual needs of the patients. She has been featured several times on the Dr. Oz Show. The best part of offering MWL is watching the transformation in people’s lives

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

A life-changing program This diet is gaining widespread popularity for being a life-changing and failsafe weight loss-program. Our weight-loss program provides the support one needs to change eating habits, improve overall health and appearance and sustain improvements once the weight loss program has ended. The basis to this medically-supervised weight loss program is the administration of a natural hormone that is produced by the body during pregnancy. The hormone supplement causes the body to release abnormal fat deposits and serves as an appetite suppressant. To be successful for weight loss, the administration of the hormone is combined with a low-calorie diet. This allows the hormone to release fat deposits on the body, rather than releasing the fat in actively consumed food. This diet plan is an important part of the weight loss program because it provides speciﬁc details of foods and quantities that can be consumed. Other effects of the hormone and our weight loss program, besides weight loss and body reshaping, are improved health and better sleep. Most of our patients have exhibited lower cholesterol, blood sugar

levels and blood pressure while on our weight loss program. This medical weight loss program is a life-changing experience because it gets rid of the fat that matters — the “bad” fat. Normal weight loss programs ﬁrst reduce normal fat deposits and then structural fat, which leaves patients with sagging, older looking skin. The hormone-supplemented weight loss program, however, releases abnormal fat deposits, which allows for the reshaping of the body. It is used as part of a complete program of dietary and nutritional support, along with weekly follow-up appointments with our nurse practitioner, Claudia Burkhalter, who has been trained in this model. The complete program is everything you need to get started, and with all of the followup visits and support, it is everything you need to be successful. You just have to be ready to lose the weight.

Is it for you? There are some contraindications with the program, so all of our patients have a thorough consultation with our nurse practitioner to be sure they are candidates for the program. We are about helping people get healthy and feel good again so they can enjoy their lives, and for many people, weight loss is an important part of

that equation. Di Lanphear is one of our patients who had been struggling with weight-related pain conditions and was one of the ﬁrst people we told about our new MWL program. For us at the clinic, watching Di’s progress was amazing. We were all very excited for her (as we are all our patients) as we watched her transform right before our eyes. She has continued to lose after completing the program by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Blue Ridge Acupuncture & Natural Medicine is located at 610 State Farm Road, Suite B in Boone. For more information, call (828) 265-8668 or visit www.booneholistichealth.com.

A happy, healthy Di Lanphear. Photo submitted

2082 Blowing Rock Rd • Boone, NC 28607 828-264-4660 www.cfarestaurant.com/boone/home

di’s story “Since about 1998, I have been gaining weight and unable to lose any,” Di says. “ After my divorce, I just seemed to keep putting it on. The more weight I gained, the less outgoing and confident I felt. I never wanted my picture taken; I didn’t want any evidence of how heavy I had gotten. I have back problems from an accident, and as I gained more weight, it felt more and more difficult to do every day things. Just getting out of bed was hard. Emotionally, I felt depressed and stuck — unable to change my life. Over the years, I’ve tried the Atkins diet, many, many, over-the-counter pills, and various workout things — even a belt you wear around your midsection to help you sweat the inches off. Nothing worked. When Lisa told me about Dr. Emma’s Medical Weight Loss program, I was having severe problems with my knees. The pain was constant, and I knew it was due to my excess weight. The program sounded pretty easy, and I wanted and needed to lose the weight. I decided to do it. In roughly three months, I lost 60 pounds. How has it affected my life? Physically, I have been able to do a lot more. I have much more energy and much less pain. My knees don’t hurt; I get out of bed effortlessly. Emotionally, I am much more confident. My posture is better. When I look in the mirror, I like who’s looking back at me — for the first time in many years. My attitude is now positive, and I don’t feel depressed or hopeless. I feel like there are many possibilities out there for me; my overall feeling is happy. Throughout the program, I felt like I had a support team. People in my corner giving me encouragement. When I had questions, or felt like I was struggling, I felt cared for; I had a support team. Everyone has been there for me happily sharing in my success. Since completing the program, I have come to realize how important exercise and awareness of food are. I have gained so much by losing 75 pounds. My confidence, happiness, and a desire to continue this way of life are a result of having completed this program. I went from a tight size 18 to a size 10 fitting comfortably. My life feels more like a life worth living.”

State-of-the-art short term & outpatient physical, occupational & speech rehabilitation.

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

Photos by Rob Moore

It’s more than a workout, it’s a way of life For Gwen Dhing and dozens like her in the High Country — and about 14 million in more than 150 countries — Zumba is so much more than a fitness workout. It’s a way of life, a social event, a party, and some even consider it an addiction — but it’s a good one and it changes lives. Fourteen years ago, Zumba was a new fitness program created by Colombian dancer and choreographer, Alberto “Beto” Perez, and it quickly gained popularity across the world. It’s a fun and effective workout that includes some aerobics with energetic dance moves – from hiphop to salsa, and choreographed to Latin and international music. Gwen not only loves Zumba for what it does for her, she also loves teaching it to others six times a week between the Paul H. Broyhill Wellness Center and Deer Valley Racquet Club in Boone. She is a licensed Zumba trainer and is also certified through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, specializing in group exercise, personal training, weight training, step aerobics, aquacise and Pilates. Gwen began teaching aerobics in 1990; she later became interested in Zumba after hearing her sister rave about the classes she attended. “She never was big on working out, so I knew Zumba had to be something different,” Gwen says. Deciding to see for herself what it was all about, Gwen says, she purchased the Zum-

ba DVD, popped it into the DVD player in her living room — with husband Ronald, and son, Jett, watching — and before she knew it, she was dancing until she was soaked with sweat. “I knew immediately that this was something I could do and wanted to do,” she says. “It went right along with my style of teaching, so I decided to get licensed. Then, I contacted the Wellness Center about introducing it there.” Her first class, “A Taste of Zumba,” had 50 people in attendance and her second class, the following week, had 70. “We have since maintained a consistent attendance of at least 40 people each session,” she says. Zumba has been the most popular group exercise that Gwen has ever taught. “I love teaching Zumba and the reason is simple – every class feels like a party; it makes you feel good inside and out,” she says. “It offers flexibility and there are no rules. There are four basic moves that you can follow, or you can do your own thing. You just need to move, that’s it.” Teaching fitness is a big part of Gwen’s life. “I’ve had the same (teaching) schedule for 20 years,” she says. “I love helping people take care of themselves. They count on me and we all keep each other accountable.” It’s easy for her class members to “get lost in the music,” Gwen says. “It’s their time. They don’t have to think about a thing for the entire hour while the music is playing.” Following the suggested Latin music and moves is energizing, Gwen says. “Zumba is definitely not boring. We’re not used to moving our bodies that way, but the more you do it,

APRIL 2013 | AAWMAG.COM

Zumba is so much fun it doesn’t seem like exercise.

the less intimidating it is. Everything is always fresh — even if you hear the same song, you can mix up your moves. Plus, nobody is watching you. Everyone is doing their own thing. And you sweat a lot. You burn a lot of calories, but you have such a good time, it doesn’t feel like you’re exercising.” Dance is nothing new for Gwen, who grew up in Kannapolis and took lessons from age of 2 until 18. “My aunt owned a dance studio, so I was always there with my cousins and friends,” she says. By the third grade, Gwen says, she was “a little chubby,” but growing up across the street from her health-conscious grandmother kept her on the right track. “She was always reminding me to take care of myself, to drink lots of water, to eat healthy foods and to take care of my teeth and eyes,” Gwen says. Gwen became “very athletic,” in school and was involved in various extra curricular activities. At 14, she was “making up dances” with her friends during their sleepovers, she says, and was the captain of her high school dance team, which she refers to as “the letter girls.” “We danced while the band played,” she says. Following graduation from AL Brown

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

High School, she came to Boone to attend Appalachian State University in 1985; she was on the Appalettes Dance Team for two years. She majored in public relations and media advertising, and graduated with a degree in communications. In the meantime, she had started waiting tables at Makoto’s, where she met Ronald. “Once I started working at Makoto’s, I quit the dance team because there just wasn’t enough time to do it all,” she says. However, Makoto’s employee meal was her downfall. “ I gained about 20 pounds eating late at night and not exercising,” Gwen says. “One day, I looked in the mirror and decided that something had to change, so I started going to aerobics classes at Absolutely Aerobics with my boss, Wendy (Mackorell) Jones. She and Julie Taylor (owner of Pilates Studio of Boone) were owners and instructors at AA and whipped me back into shape.” With a healthy diet and exercising three to four times a week, Gwen says, the 20 pounds came off. “I loved the classes so much that I decided I wanted to be an instructor, too. Wendy and Julie trained me to become an AFAA certiﬁed aerobics instructor in Oct. 1990.” She “jumped in with both feet,” she says, taking over Julie’s classes when Julie became pregnant. She’s been teaching classes ever since. “When AA closed down, my students followed d me to Fitness Works and when the Wellness ess Center opened in 1998, I started teaching g all types of classes there.” Upon graduating ating from ASU in 1990, Gwen also became me the general manager of Makoto’s in 1990 and eventually she and Ronald purchased rchased the business, now known as Makoto’s o’s Japanese Steak ak House and Sushi hi Bar. Gwen is a busy wife and mother; r; her son, Jett, is now 15 and is actively

involved in sports. He plays soccer for Watauga High School seasonally, and yearround for NC Soccer Fusion Premier, which requires training three times a week in the Winston Salem/Greensboro area. He is also health conscious, Gwen says, likes basketball, and is learning the restaurant business by working Saturday nights. In addition to teaching Zumba, owning and operating a business, Gwen is known for her community spirit and her willingness to contribute time, talent and much more for a good cause. She is a founding member of Celebrity Serve, an annual fundraiser for area nonprofit organizations; she has become easily identifiable in the energetic role of Tina Turner during the annual Groovy Nights fundraiser for the Blowing Rock Community Foundation; she has served as emcee for the annual Goodwill Fashion Show to benefit the Hospitality House, and she helped steer the capitol campaign for the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex. Gwen leads by example and makes conscious efforts to take care of herself by eating the right foods and, of course, getting plenty of exercise. “I pay attention to what I put inside my body,” she says. “I do like to eat — and I eat Sushi every day. I do not deprive myself, but neither am I a glutton. If I want cake, I’ll have cake, but not every day.” And, she loves working out six times a week — with her Zumba friends. “It’s something I absolutely love,” she says. To learn more about Zumba, check out “Gwen’s Zumba Class” on Facebook or try out a class at the Wellness Center on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.; Thursdays at 4:15 p.m. and on Saturdays at 9:15. Classes at Deer Valley Racquet Club are held on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

The Wendy McDonald Estes readily admits, “Yes, I am a Zumba junkie. How do you burn almost 500 plus calories in one hour, while feeling like you’re at a great dance party and knowing no one is watching or judging you?” It’s Zumba, she says “where it’s just me and the dance floor and everything else disappears. I have one body and one life; I want to take care of it and Zumba is a fun way to do it.” Nita Matzen credits Gwen Dhing and her Zumba classes for helping her avoid knee replacement surgery and enjoy activities that she loves to do — pain free and with no pain medicine. “I couldn’t even walk up or down stairs before I started Zumba four years ago,” she says. “And, I had to walk with a cane. I was told that knee replacement was my only option.” Three months after she joined the class, she was able to hit the stairway. “Gwen is so good for us, but she is also concerned about young people being healthy and forming good lifetime habits,” she says. “Several years ago, I ran a program that brought middle school students from around the region onto the ASU campus to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — the STEM careers. Gwen voluntarily taught a Zumba session with these students. They had fun and were able to make connections between the health and exercise sciences and activities, such as Zumba.” Nita calls Gwen “a good role model for the middle school girls.” Their positive experience with her, Nita says, was a contributing factor to many of the girls considering STEM careers — “which is important since women are frequently under represented in the science fields.” Heather Wright says that Zumba is an exercise that not only made a positive difference in her life, “It changed me life,” she says. She believes that it can help many other people feel great. “In fact, it enlightens the mind, strengthens the body and inspires the human spirit,” she says. “I am grateful to able to take a Zumba class, and having Gwen Dhing as a talented instructor has been wonderful. Gwen has a lot of creative vision and knows how to encourage her students, by combining the art of dance and fitness in the most encouraging ways.”

‘Family’ Talks Martha Maiden calls herself a “Zumba fanatic,” who returned to class with her arm in a sling following surgery. “I am obsessed,” she says. “I am one of those who plans her life around Zumba, and have been doing it since soon after Gwen started the classes. I love dancing and I think it’s the best possible way to exercise.” Martha says she also loves the people in her classes and finds them to be “very supportive of each other,” and that Gwen has such a positive, upbeat attitude. “It’s a great release,” she says. “It’s my personal reward.” Bea Young Smith is a three-year cancer survivor, who was “so weak after my surgery and chemo,” she says, but came to Zumba at her daughter’s suggestion. “I’ve never been able to stick to an exercise program before, but I’ve been here for three years, now. It feels good when you can do something that makes you feel strong again, after you think your body has deserted you. Gwen makes it so much fun for us. After one or two classes, you’re pretty much addicted.” Donna Lebert says the effects of Zumba on her life have been unbelievable. “It’s so good for us, not only for us physically, but for our mental well-being, too.” Gwen makes working out so much fun and we are all like a team. We are accountable to each other and we miss each other when someone is not here. It’s so much fun to get here — and we’re still laughing when we leave.” Christy Pruess, who says she is one of the loudest members of the class, has her special “spot” on the dance floor near the front — “and every body knows it.” She has been doing Zumba since 2009, right after her son was born. “I love it,” she says. “I love to dance. It’s a huge stress reliever and I look forward to it three days a week. My husband and kids knows this is my time.” Christy says the class has just “morphed” from an exercise class to a circle of friends that has become “almost like family.” She loves it so much, she says, that she named the dog her family adopted from the Humane Society, Zumba. Tori Greene, a self-described “hardcore tomboy,” said the first day she tried Zumba, she quit.

“The second day, I quit again. I said it’s not for me, I’ve never been a dancer.” The third day was the charm, Tori says. “It shapes you and tones you like a lady and it’s something that a woman, regardless of her shape, size or age, can do,” she says. “Nobody cares what you look like and we all come here to have fun.” Also a softball player, Tori says she has taken Zumba to the dugout.” It’s unbelievably easy — and Gwen is the best instructor ever.” Christy Kennedy is a stay-at-home mom whose family moved to Boone three years ago. “I didn’t know anyone and decided, on a whim, to come to the Wellness Center,” she says. “I fell in love with Zumba — and Gwen. It’s my excuse to get out of the house and to be somebody besides mom for a little while. It is so much fun.” Alyson Ebaugh loves not only the ﬁtness that Zumba provides, but also the spirit of community it offers. “We are accountable to each other,” she says. “Most of us are here for every session, every week, but if one of us misses a class, the others are calling to see what’s wrong. That kind of support keeps me actively engaged and keeps me coming back. If I come in having a bad hair day, it doesn’t take long for one of my Zumba friends to come around and cheer me up.” Corinna Dietrich admits that she has become a Zumba addict, “literally,” she says. “I want to be here. Even when I’ve been sick, I didn’t want to miss. We love Gwen and the other girls we are with, and we have so much fun every time we come. Yes, it’s exercise, but it’s so much more. We have the best time when we are together. I’m just sorry it took me so long to get here.” Nancy Caudill says Zumba is a fun way to exercise, burn calories and see friends. “Gwen is an excellent instructor and makes it a lot of fun for us.”

sherrie norris Editor, All About Women

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

Holly Beard, at left, and husband, Eric Beard of Grassy Creek, are supporting their daughter, Macie, center, and doing all they can to help her in her battle with Stage 4 Wilms Tumors. Photo by Michelle Goodman Photography

Macie’s Battle Tougher than she should have to be It’s hard for parents to see their children sick, sad or upset, and when a child is battling for their life, the pain can be unimaginable. No one knows that any better than Holly Beard and her husband, Eric, of Grassy Creek. The two loving parents are doing everything in their power to help their 3 ½-year- old daughter, Macie Beard, ﬁght her Stage 4 diagnosis of a rare kidney cancer known as Wilms Tumors. Primarily affecting children, Wilms

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

Tumors is considered the most common cancer of the kidneys in children. Macie’s case was diagnosed soon after her pediatrician in Boone ordered a computed tomography (CT) scan on Oct. 7, to help him diagnose “tummy troubles,” says Holly. “I knew something was going on, but I wasn’t prepared to hear that Macie had numerous tumors and that they were cancerous.” Macie and her family were sent directly to Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston Salem, where she went through several hours of IVs, X-rays and waiting.

The next day, Macie’s team of doctors told the family they were guessing it was neuroblastoma, a rare type of childhood cancer that develops in infants and young children, but a biopsy could not be done until the following day. It was a hard time for Holly and Eric; they couldn’t allow Macie to eat or drink anything until after the biopsy was done. Denying their little girl something to eat or drink was like child abuse, Holy says, “Especially when she said, ‘But, mommy, I just want one little sip of water.’” Following the biopsy and placement

‘We just let God take control and take care of it. It is all in his hands. I’m blessed that God gave her to me.’ - Holly Beard of a medi-port, Macie was released on Oct. 11. Less than a week later, the Beards were called to meet with Dr. Kevin Buckley who told them that Macie had Wilms Tumors, stage 4. Macie received her ﬁrst chemotherapy treatment that day. Since then, Macie has undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgery to remove the original tumor on her left kidney, and removal of her left kidney. She is still facing more chemotherapy, as well as 14 to 16 radiation treatments. Regarding her prognosis, the doctors are obviously hoping for remission, Holly says, “but they just don’t know for sure. The biggest concerns now are the tumors that have been discovered on her liver. “It would do more harm than good to remove them, we were told,” Holly says. Helping their daughter through this battle has been harder than they could’ve imagined, Holly says, “We couldn’t get through this without the support from our family and friends.” Holly knows she has to be strong for her daughter, but says, “I would rather it be me any day than her. I’d take her place in a heartbeat. She is just so tough. She is tougher than any 3-year-old should have to be, and she never complains,” Holly says. “She has always been my miracle baby and this puts it in perspective.” Holly is employed through Skyline; her husband works as a contractor with FedEx. “We are blessed,” she says. “Everyone has been so good to us.” In times like these, Holly says, “You do what you have to do.” Whatever little Macie needs, her parents try to meet her need. With uncertainty for the future, Holly says her faith in God, and the prayers of family and friends, have kept her going.

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Following her fifth round of chemotherapy, Macie Beard enjoys ice cream and cheese pizza. Photo by Holly Beard

“We just let God take control and take care of it. It is all in his hands. I’m blessed that God gave her to me.” The community is currently showing support to Macie and her family through a T-shirt sale, which may be accessed at www.4thandmarket.com/macie-beardfundraisers. The T-shirts come in long sleeves and short, in black or white, and read “Wear Gold for Macie” and “Team Macie. For with God nothing will be impossible. Luke 1:37.” Donations may also be made at any First Citizens Bank to the Macie Beard Family Donation Account. Her journey may also be followed on Facebook by searching for “Macie’s Battle.”

HEATHER SAMUDIO heather@mountaintimes.com

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

Valerie Mazza, second from left, with three of her boot camp participants: Stacey Gibson, Janet Belden and Maureen Klinedinst. Photo submitted

Going All Out for Fitness with Valerie Mazza 32

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

By now, many of the New Year’s resolutions we’ve made have faded. Wait. Faded? How about, we’ve broken and stomped on those resolutions with fantastic flair? Yeah, that fits better. But we also know that swimsuit season is on its way and we might need to get back on track. Fast. Valerie Mazza and her All Out Fitness Camp is right down our alley. Valerie, a native of France who came to the U.S. on a college tennis scholarship, started All Out Fitness Camp, aka “boot camp,” in Boone in 2009. The camp offers excellent physical results, but it also has evolved the past five years into a bit of a surprise. “When I first started this camp it was just about getting in shape and losing weight,” Valerie explains, “but a social aspect to the group developed that I never expected, and now it’s my biggest selling point. It’s the boot camp family: they know each other from boot camp and they become friends. I can’t even teach on Mondays,” she laughs. “Everybody’s telling everyone what they did over the weekend. It’s like, OK, guys, can we start now?”

As a former boot camp glutton, I can attest to not only the friendly atmosphere, but also to the value of it. I am a reluctant exerciser at best, and many times the thought of exercising exhausted me. But knowing my fellow campers and I would laugh and cheer each other through the workout got me in the door. Apparently, misery really does love company. Don’t let the “boot camp” nickname scare you, though. Yes, with a master’s degree in exercise physiology and a ﬁtness competitor at the national level, Valerie designs challenging full-body workouts for each class, but she has a way about her that motivates without being harsh or critical in any way. “I want to be motivating and inspiring, but if someone doesn’t give what they can, I’m going to let them know,” she says. “If you’re not going to do the work, you’re better off staying home and eating Cheetos because it’s way more enjoyable and cheaper.” If you aren’t sure a boot camp style workout is for you, Valerie offers a free trial week with zero pressure. “What I tell them is, come,” she says.

“There’s no pressure on me and no pressure on you. Come try it. See how you like the group. See if it’s something you would even like. If you don’t love it, I’m not offended. At least if someone joins, I know they love it.” “The ﬁrst few weeks are hard, but you know what,” Valerie asks, “you’re going to be sore and proud of it. It’s temporary. It’s going to go away, and you’re going to come out of it stronger. I don’t have a gentle way to get people into exercise. The free week is the way to go. Your try it and see how you like it. If not, at least you know what it’s like.” All Out Fitness Camp meets in the National Guard Armory in Boone during the winter and moves outside with improved weather. For more information, contact Valerie Mazza at www.alloutﬁtnesscamp.com or (828) 773-6482.

Yozette ‘Yogi’ Collins Mom, television producer/writer, and obsessive internet researcher. Though her name suggests otherwise, she is not (yet) an actual yogi.

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for friends as this month’s column relates. My friend Sherri Charlton of West Jefferson, had an adjoining traditional den and dining room, but she wanted to take it in a completely different direction. The French Country look with all of its shades of blue and red, which she loves, would mean a big change for her, but one day she just looked at me and said, “I’m ready.” We sat down to discuss her idea and all she that had dreamed it would be. I then searched through pictures and shared with her a variety of concepts, so I would know exactly what she we needed to make her dream a reality. This is a good time to say that your ideas might change along the way, so don’t be surprised if they do. As the process moves along, it’s normal to see something you hadn’t thought of previously. Or, you might decide you don’t like what you thought you liked. You don’t really know what’s out there until you get out there. One example in this decorating project was ﬁnding a rug that we initially thought would look great in the den, but we were a little hesitant, so we waited before making the purchase. We celebrated that decision later down the road when we found the perfect rug for the space. I can assure you your planning and dreaming will all come together at the right time, but it often requires patience. If your ﬁrst choice doesn’t get you totally excited, don’t go with it. Just wait for the perfect one to come along, because it most certainly will. We began with a blank slate by removing the wall-to-wall carpet in the den and

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

dining room and replacing it with beautiful oak ﬂoors to match the adjoining foyer. This simple step opened up the two rooms and made them look as if we had added square footage. Just remember, hardwoods will always expand your space. As an individual, I have my own favorite styles and colors, but as a decorator, I have to leave all of that behind and pick up the ideas and colors that make my clients happy. Everyone in my circle of friends knows I’m not a fan of blue, so when this project of French Country came into play, I had to learn to like it. I must confess, I was pleasantly surprised at the way her new blue walls made the rooms come alive. She had kept them white for many years, thinking they added light, but what happens when you choose a soft color tone, the eye is soothed, making your lamps your light source, not a stark white wall. We used Sherwin Williams “Blissful Blue” and it made the two adjoining rooms so restful. The stained beams and wood trim on her doors and windows, we had considered painting cream, but after the blue walls were painted, the wood trim made a wonderful contrast. She blessed some friends with the old sofa and chairs, and we set out to purchase new ones. She chose a light cream-colored sectional sofa that we accented with pillows in reds and blues. Just remember when decorating, you can choose a solid sofa in any color and accent with pillows. This will allow you to easily change the look of your sofa in the future. Also, you can purchase novelty pillows for each season. Lighting was an issue in the den. Track lighting was already running down the

length of the center beam, but it cast shadows below, causing dark spaces. We solved this by having the electrician run an almost invisible line from the top beam down to the cross beams. By hanging the tracks and lights on the sides of each cross beams, it brought the light closer to the furniture and floor for better lighting. After placing them on a dimmer, she now has plenty of light when she needs it, or by dimming them she has a cozy atmosphere. Since the sofa is a solid cream, we jazzed up the room with two chairs covered with French Country fabric that coordinate with several colors from the pillows. A new ottoman was purchased and covered with a stripe fabric in the same colors. Don’t be afraid to try different prints when tackling a project. Plaids, stripes, solids, paisley, and floral all coordinate as long as the colors are in the same family. In other words, the red is the same red; the blue is the same blue, etc. For Sherri’s house, we have taken all of these, pulled them together, and grounded the entire room with the new rug. This beautiful rug has become one of our best choices. It’s a subtle cream, with light blue, and a vibrant red that has tied this entire room together with style. We sat in her new den the other day and as we looked at the finished work, Sherri said, “I love my new den,” and that made this decorator smile.

Linda Killian Cabin Design Interior Decorating killiancabin@aol.com

Photos by Linda Killian

At times in my career, I have the great privilege of designing

AFTER

From s dream to real ity

BEFORE

HomeDÉcorAndMore

YouGoGirl

Setting the Pace

During the fall of 2013, Avery Middle School completed its first season of Girls on Track, the middle school program for Girls on the Run. Founded in 1996 by Molly Barker, the girls’ running program focuses on health, fitness, and the self-esteem that is found in achieving a goal. In a 12-week season, 10 girls in sixth-eighth grades, participated in lessons that included how to better organize and prioritize, how to handle stress in a positive way, and how to appreciate the qualities that makes each girl unique. Following the lessons, the team began to train for a 5k, the 3.1- mile run that highlights the skills acquired during the season. Through running on the soccer field, the high school track, and in the middle gym school, the girls and coaches, Erika McLean and Hollie Greene, worked together to find a pace that would allow each team member to reach her goal. On Dec. 7, 2013, along with several other Girls on the Run teams in the High Country, the AMS runners completed their first 5 K. The race, held in Valle Crucis Community Park, was a celebration of strength, perseverance, and unity. AMS will lead another team of runners in the fall. Hollie Greene Hollie Greene is an English teacher who loves stories, words and the mountains of North Carolina.

Photos by Heather Samudio

Clearing clouds for rainbows

New shop owner, Allison Shoemake, credits daughter, Jaylee, with inspiring her artwork and the name of her shop, Rainbow Resurrections, which features folk art, handmade jewelry and more. She said her daughter has been her biggest inspiration to change her life and work to accomplish her goals.

Allison Shoemake had her own dreams and goals as a young girl, but like many people, she went through some trials and tribulations in life that kept pushing her down. She could’ve stayed down and let depression keep a ﬁrm hold on her, but with the support of her family and profound words from her daughter, Jaylee, she found the strength to get back into life. Allison was struggling with depression and didn’t want to face the world, but as she began to see the world through her daughter’s eyes, her spark started to come back and she saw the need to “not just exist, but to live,” she says. “Through the depression, my parents stood by me and helped me in every way they could,” says Allison. “They tried to get me help, but I refused. I just sat at home and existed.” One day when Jaylee and Allison were together, 4-year-old Jaylee said something that made Allison re-evaluate her life and

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

put things in perspective. “God saw that you were sad and crying and he made me for you,” she told her mother. Allison said she was overcome with emotion and knew immediately there was so much more to life than the fog of depression she was experiencing. “Jaylee was my biggest inspiration,” says Allison. “Hearing those words and seeing her dreams made me see my own, and I knew I needed to accomplish my dreams to be able to help her. I felt like if I didn’t show her how to accomplish things, she isn’t going to know.” Allison was a single mother in a small town. Some terrible personal tragedies had weighed down on her, but she knew she couldn’t keep holding on to the negative thoughts. She began to learn about the power of positive thinking. She watched a show called “What the Bleep Do We Know?” “They did this water test,” she says. “With one container of water, they said

blessings and good words to it and these beautiful snowflakes formed. With the other container, they said negative things and bad words and these ugly, gnarly and cancer-looking blobs formed.” From her daughter’s words to this revelation about positive thinking, Allison’s perspective changed. She knew she had to change her opinion of herself and speak positively about herself and the future — for both her daughter and herself. “When Jaylee started talking to me like, saying such profound things and talking about her dreams, I decided I had to do something,” she says. “I had to show her that you have to pay your dues and work toward what you want.” Allison’s first goal was to lose weight so she could gain more confidence. So, that’s what she did. “I just decided that I was not going to care so much about what other people thought,” she says. “I’m going to be me. If I’m weird, I’m weird. If they have a prob-

lem, it’s their problem, not mine. It made a huge difference.” In addition to changing her way of thinking, Allison also decided to get more involved with her art. She had been interested in art all of her life, but she was always afraid to try doing something with it. With her new revelations and new way of thinking, she resolved to make it part of her life and a way to help others. Allison realized she could possibly make a living as an artist when she used a bag of acrylic paint and ﬁnger-painted an old chair a friend’s mom found in her basement. “His mom and dad know a lot about art and his mom loved the chair,” Allison says. “To this day, they still have it. At one point, the chair broke and they sent it to be repaired. That’s how much they liked it. For me to have impressed someone who knew about art, it made me say, ‘hey, maybe I should get into it’.” Allison moved into an apartment in downtown West Jefferson with Jaylee and opened her own studio, or as she likes to call it, her “hippie shop.” It’s a major step for her, since she’s only been painting for three years. Her shop, “Rainbow Resurrections,” is located on Jefferson Avenue in West Jefferson, next door to Clayton Proctor’s Ripples Gallery. Allison’s’ shop features her folk art, as well as creations from other artists. The shop’s name came to Allison by way of her daughter and mom, Brenda Shoemake. “My mom calls Jaylee her sunshine, and I love rain,” Allison says. “When you combine the two, you get a rainbow and Jaylee has always loved rainbows.” When creating some of her folk art, Allison said she uses and recycles old items, bring them back to life. With this combination, “Rainbow Resurrections” was born. Her folk art includes paintings she has done on canvas, tables and chairs. One piece of work that ﬁts more on the resurrection side includes an old window frame that came from her grandparents’ home.

‘

She used wire clothes hangers and tin cans to create ﬂowers in a windowsill. Allison likes doing art that makes people think. “I don’t care what they think, as long as they are thinking,” she says. And, she isn’t in it for the money. “I don’t want to get rich. I just want to be able to take care of my daughter, help her with her dreams and then to help other people,” Allison In addition to paintings, Allison Shoemake also creates folk art pieces such as this old window frame with flowers made from wire clothes says “I want to make enough hangers and tin cans. money to start a charity that will beneﬁt others. “I just since I was pregnant and then helped with want a way to reach out to others. The Jaylee since she was born,” she says. “Jaybig dream I have is to be able to buy forelee absolutely adores my dad. She is a paclosed homes and put people in them who paw’s girl. She loves my parents.” need a home,” she says. “Basic human Through everything she has experineeds should be met. People shouldn’t enced, Allison says, the best piece of adhave to be homeless, cold or hungry.” vice she can give to someone is not to give Allison has already started on the path up. to helping others by allowing some other “Never give up, because I’m not giving local artists to include their art in her shop. up. I could’ve given up, but I’ve changed In addition to her own art, Rainbow my life around,” she says. “When you give Resurrections includes handmade purses up, you lose sight of everything — and I by Cassondra Goodman, bath salts, body had lost sight of it all.” scrubs and more, by Jennifer Byland with “I’m trying so hard to make a place for Decadent by Design. myself in the world, and it’s going to take One of her vendors designs handmade me a while, but I’m going to do it,” she earrings and makes dog collars with lavsays. “I don’t want to give up and just exist. ender inside them that helps calm dogs I want to live.” when they are worn. And, that is what she’s doing, but her She also sells paintings by Seleste biggest accomplishment isn’t creating art Penley, vintage clothing from Sara Ford, or opening a gallery. She says her biggest canes by Brian Coffey, and photography accomplishment is “raising a good kid. by Blythe Dudley. Whenever she tells me what is important Allison also credits her parents, Brento her, things like kindness and compasda and J.C. Shoemake, her sister, Nikki sion; that is the thing I’m most proud of. Norris, and her family and friends with She is so ambitious for a little kid and so helping her get to where she is today. very thoughtful.” “My parents are great people,” she Winter is the slower season in West says. “They’ve been married for 38 years Jefferson and Allison’s shop is closed for and they are so kind-hearted. My mom now, but she will have a grand re-opening and I may have disagreements, like any in the Spring. mom and daughter, but she never leaves “I’m doing some updates and painting or walks away. I’m so blessed and thankful and will re-open in a couple months,” she and grateful to God for giving her to me. said. “I’m hoping to open back up by April “Both my parents have helped me or May at the latest.”

I’m trying so hard to make a place for myself in the world, and it’s going to take me a while, but I’m going to do it,’ she says. ‘I don’t want to give up and just exist. I want to live.

’

For more information about Rainbow Resurrections, visit the shop on Facebook or call (828) 434-0747.

HEATHER SAMUDIO heather@mountaintimes.com

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

highcountrycourtesies

Baby, Oh Baby! Infant Etiquette • Welcome • Protect • Support • Spring, the season of re-birth, arrives this month reminding us of fresh starts and regeneration. The inspiration of new life awakens fresh hope within us. Just as spring stirs us, gazing into the face of a newborn inspires us to dream about the possibilities ahead for each precious, unique being. The miracle of life especially speaks 38

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

to something within us females, imploring us to celebrate, to protect and to foster each new creation. Consider the following (updated) classic guidelines of courtesy when you commemorate the arrival of a child. Many of the suggestions were offered by mothers who have recently walked through this chapter of life:

WELCOME Gestures of celebration range from a card or a visit to gifts or time helping around the house. Personalized or handmade gifts are especially meaningful. The closer you are to the family, and the more you are able to help, the more you should consider being involved. Call before visiting. Keep visits brief (under 30 minutes). Understand that your visit focuses on the baby; parents are probably too consumed to extend full-blown hospitality. Wait for parents to ask if you would like to hold the baby; allow parents to dictate what is best for the infant. Bring food appropriate for the entire family; check ahead of time for food allergies or restrictions, especially for breastfeeding moms. During the first weeks, consider bringing food that can be frozen for later use, and include lunch and breakfast items as well as dinner. Giving grocery and store gift cards, diapers, wipes, and normal groceries (i.e.: paper products, bread, fruit) for daily consumption is particularly beneficial for families. Include siblings with small gifts; items to entertain older children in independent activity without the potential to create a mess are greatly appreciated (DVDs, coloring/activity books, Legos, puzzles, window clings). Rather than extend an open-ended offer, propose help for specific times in running errands, taking older siblings for playdates, carpooling, bringing food, or helping with housework. Provide a playdate for siblings or babysitting at home to allow the new mother a peaceful shower and rest.

touching. Avoid touching a baby’s hands and face, and teach children to do the same. When holding a teething baby who attempts to “gum” you, ask parents for a proper chewing toy for baby. When a baby is covered in a carrier, ask if you may see the child, rather than lift the covering.

SUPPORT

Do not guess the sex of a child or a due date. Do not approach a breastfeeding mother while the child is nursing. Make no assumptions about number of children, or whether this child was “an accident.” Be kind.

FAMILY PREPARATION

Families need encouragement as they adapt to the changes their new arrivals bring.

Within the family, preparations can ease the time of adjustment.

Recognize “new mom” hormones and sleep deprivation are a perfect storm for heightened emotions, and grant moms an extra dose of understanding.

Spouses can anticipate irritability from sleep-interrupted nights; plan to be extra forgiving and gracious with each other.

Offer supportive words for their parenting choices.

Parents can teach older children their important roles in the family, engage them in the plan for caring for their newest sibling and reward them for fulﬁlling their individual, age-appropriate responsibilities.

Extend advice or comparisons only if asked. Curb curiosity about intimate matters (like choices to breastfeed or not, circumcision, etc.). Keep negative personal experiences to yourself. Volunteer to clean their house or provide the services of a housekeeper. Taking the initiative to bring a meal or provide assistance at a set time will prevent the mom from asking for help.

IN PUBLIC We can all extend kindness to parents who have their hands full. Offer assistance with doors, loading groceries or returning shopping carts. Do not intrude as a stranger and touch or ask to hold a child.

Family members should be aware to not bore others with lengthy ‘babyrelated” stories and numerous photos. In celebrating the arrival of a child, we can intentionally provide encouragement, protection and support through gestures ranging from the simplest smile to the most well-thought, handcrafted remembrance. However you choose to use your talents and time to commemorate, embrace the miracle of life with hope and joy. Sharon Carlton Sharon Carlton, High Country Courtesies ©2014 Sharon Carlton writes and speaks on modern etiquette and life skill topics. She conducts High Country Courtesies Dining Etiquette and Customer Service Workshops, and she is director of High Country Cotillion, a social education program for youth. Contact her at sharoncarlton@charter.net.

PROTECT Preventing the spread of germs is vital for the health and welfare of the infant and the entire family. Please do not visit or approach infants if you or any of your family members are ill. Always ask permission before touching a baby. Wash or sanitize your hands before

• Courtesy Estimates • Experienced & Knowledgeable Sales Staff • Professional & Warranted Installations MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

A Dream Fulfilled Paul H. Broyhill Wellness Center

Alphonse Marie Louis, the 17th century French writer, poet and politician once said, “There is a woman at the beginning of all great things.” When looking back to its humble beginnings, this was certainly the case for Paul H. Broyhill Wellness Center, part of Appalachian Regional Healthcare System (ARHS).

In the beginning “I remember when the dream of having a Wellness Center in Boone was just that, a dream,” says Jodi Cash, director of the Wellness Center. Cash, a Watauga County native and ﬁtness enthusiast, can clearly recall the excitement she felt 19 years ago when President and CEO Richard Sparks, then President of Watauga Medical Center (WMC), ﬁrst shared his vision for open-

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

ing a Wellness Center. As a result of his vision, a needs assessment was conducted for a Wellness Center in Boone. The study revealed that, though the High Country is home to ample outdoor fitness opportunities, it severely lacked indoor wellness options for residents. “I will never forget those early conversations I had with Richard,” says Cash with a reminiscent smile. “As a leader in the community in which I grew up, it was inspiring to watch him lobby for improvements in my hometown.” Once the project was approved, she was hired to lead the initiative from its onset. Always known as one who could overcome obstacles, the swim coach, who grew up rock climbing with her father, felt up to the challenge. She fondly remembers her first work space as a couch outside of the Human Resources office. Soon after, a temporary fitness room consisting of a treadmill, a stepper machine and a desk

for Jodi was set up right beside the WMC cafeteria. “I spent most of my time in the beginning surveying different community groups to determine wellness interests,” says Jodi. “The excitement around the project proved to be contagious and far reaching.” Thanks in large part to the lead gift from Paul H. Broyhill and a host of more than 200 other donors, a total surpassing $2.5 million was raised over the years in support of the two-part massive construction project. A ceremonial ground-breaking took place in 1996, and in 1998 Paul H. Broyhill Wellness Center opened its doors to the community. The second phase took place in 2005, when the lap pool, therapy pool and more than 22,000 square feet were added to the facility.

More than a Gym The 63,000-square-foot Wellness Center includes an indoor track, two pools, racquetball and basketball courts, a variety of fitness classes, a fully equipped cardio gym, locker rooms, a massage therapy studio and childcare services. Beyond its extensive list of amenities the Wellness Center fitness staff is perhaps even more impressive. The highly trained and supportive staff all share backgrounds in either exercise science or health promotion. Paul Moore, assistant director of the Wellness Center, is a registered dietitian who has won multiple awards through the North Carolina Dietitian Association. Most recently, Moore received the Outstanding Dietitian of the Year Award in 2012 and the Young Dietitian of the Year Award in 2013.Thanks to Moore, members can learn about, measure and improve their nutrition as it aligns with their desired fitness outcomes. “The goal from the very beginning has always been to establish a place for the community to connect.” said Cash. “Over the years, we have worked hard to create an inclusive culture by means of not just welcoming new members, but getting them plugged in.” An example of this can be found in CrossFit Boone. CrossFit, a premiere strength and conditioning program, was brought to Boone in 2012. The program, which welcomes more than 400 visits a month, has become a community within a community for members of the Wellness Center. Debra Williams, a work from home artist and mom said, “I love the community of CrossFit Boone. The members have become [for me and my husband] our family in Boone.” In addition to CrossFit Boone, the Wellness Center offers an array of other adult fitness classes. A few of the most popular include Zumba, Yoga, Spin, Water Fitness, Triple Threat and Prenatal exercise classes. The Wellness Center also provides a variety of youth programs, including BLAST, Youth Strength and Conditioning and Kid Strong.

healthcare system, Sparks’ vision from the beginning was to have the Wellness Center also serve as a place for patients to have access to rehabilitation services. From the beginning, a section of the Wellness Center was allocated for physical therapy. The current Rehabilitation Center, adjacent to the Wellness Center, was added in 2005 as part of the phase two expansion project. The location of the facility allows patients access to the Wellness Center’s strength and conditioning equipment and pools. The Rehabilitation Center staff offer comprehensive, multidisciplinary services including treatment for neurologic, orthopeadic, women’s health, Lymphedema prevention/ management and chronic health conditions. In July 2013, ARHS opened Appalachian Regional Orthopeadic and Sports Medicine Center (AppOrtho). This step proved to be the capstone piece to the healthcare system’s ongoing effort to provide a comprehensive continuum of care for patients in the High Country. AppOrtho, the official sports medicine provider for Appalachian State University Athletics, consists of an expert team of two board certiﬁed orthopeadic surgeons and a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician. “We have come a long way in the past 16 years,” says Sparks. “Thanks to the addition of AppOrtho, patients, in most cases may now stay on the mountain for their surgery, rehab and transition back to wellness.” THRIVE, is one of the programs that has originated as a result of the continuum of care available through the healthcare system. THRIVE is a medically supervised program at the Wellness Center that transitions patients from more acute

Looking Forward When asked about future plans for the Wellness Center, Cash simply smiled and says, “Making our wellness community even stronger.” “We are constantly looking to see how we can flex and grow our programs to reach and benefit more people in our community,” she says. In 2013, the Wellness Center began offering the Silver Sneakers program to members who qualify. Silver Sneakers is an energizing program that helps older adults take greater control of their health by encouraging physical activity. In the months ahead, another new addition to the Wellness Center is being made thanks to funds raised through ARHS Foundation. In an effort to provide a safe wellness home for everyone, the Foundation purchased an Apex Challenge 7,000 machine optimized for wheelchair users. This unique piece of equipment will allow these members to perform a variety of exercises at the Wellness Center independently. The Wellness Center, home to more than 2,200 active members, has truly grown from its humble beginnings. Its state-of-the-art facility, paired with its invaluable partnership with the healthcare system, has made the Wellness Center a pillar of fitness, health and community in the High Country. “To be honest, I get emotional just thinking about how the dream has become a reality over the years,” said Cash. “I truly feel honored to be a part of something much bigger than myself that is doing so much good for our community.” To learn more about the Paul H. Broyhill Wellness Center visit www.apprhs. org\wellness-center. For more information about Appalachian Regional Healthcare System visit www.apprhs.org. JOSH JARMAN

Continuum of Care As an invaluable component to the

phases of chronic disease management to wellness. The program, which requires a physician referral, consists of a Cardiopulmonary Track as well as an Oncology Track. Since its inception in 2011, THRIVE has helped 110 patients improve their quality of life.

Jodi Cash. Photo submitted

Josh Jarman is the Community Liaison, Corporate Communications at Appalachian Regional Healthcare System

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

‘A Warrant for Mrs. Lincoln’ Nancy Schleifer’s “A Warrant for Mrs. Lincoln” does not tout itself as a feminist novel, and it would be unfair to write it off as “merely” a woman’s story. Tackling a period when women’s roles are often treated as ancillary at best, Schleifer has created a work of historical fiction where women drive the action, and she presents both their struggles and achievements with an understated grace. At the center of the action lies the controversial insanity trial of Mary Todd Lincoln, 10 years after the assassination of her husband, President Abraham Lincoln. That tale alone would be compelling in its own right. However, Mrs. Lincoln’s trial and ensuing institutionalization prove to be merely the unifying thread in a story of much broader scope. The overall narrative spans such events as the Great Chicago Fire and the passing of the laws banning women from legal practice. “A Warrant for Mrs. Lincoln” is a gem among self-published novels, meticulously researched in its history and fully developed as a piece of fiction. Schleifer blends elements of history, romance, and literary fiction into a narrative, which is both evocative and cerebral. Lush descriptions lend dimension to the landscape of 19th- century Chicago, and even those without prior knowledge of the historical context will find

themselves guided by a sure hand. Meanwhile, the underlying emotional tug and pull of the story is anything but textbook. The novel weaves together two casts of characters: one real, the other fictitious. Real historical characters, of course, include Mary Lincoln and her family, as well as the members of her trial, and Myra Bradwell. A friend of Mary’s, Myra Bradwell was denied access to the Illinois Bar and went on to found the Chicago Legal News. But, despite formidable company and the novel’s own title, the story belongs, arguably, to its fictional narrator, Helen Waite. Helen shows an aptitude for legal work during a period when women’s involvement in the law is, itself, a hotly contested legal issue, and she finds herself torn in her sense of purpose. Despite experiencing fulfillment in both love and career, she is forced by circumstance to choose between the two, and a fair portion of the story revolves around the consequences of that choice. The author employs a unique format in her storytelling, jumping between two characters and three time frames, from one chapter to the next. Helen’s first-person narration describes both her past, as a young woman, and present, in her 60s, while Mary’s sections are written in third-person text. What may sound like a confusing stylistic choice is very legible and serves

to heighten tension through the different threads. Although history plays its allotted role in the plot, “A Warrant for Mrs. Lincoln” is ultimately a character-driven piece. Helen presents a “strong female lead” without the predictable brassiness often associated with that characterization. Mary, meanwhile, is portrayed in a way that is both ﬂawed and sympathetic: grieving, well-meaning, selfabsorbed — and quite sane. An attorney by trade, Nancy Schleifer draws upon her own legal knowledge to offer insight through ﬁction into Mary’s trial and the general attitude of the law towards women at the time that it took place. She mentions in her author’s note the mixed opinions among historians regarding the trial. Even today, she points out, the genders are divided in how they interpret the events, with support of Mary Lincoln’s sanity skewed toward the female set. “A Warrant for Mrs. Lincoln” is a complex, absorbing and uplifting story. It promises a transporting read for a long evening that will satisfy both history buffs and hopeless romantics in equal measure. They say to “write what you know.” If Nancy Schleifer has followed this rule, then she knows the courage it takes for a woman to stand up for right, to make a name for herself without denying her femininity. Her work is well worth the read and a welcome addition to the canon of local authors.

Ariel Parsons A graduate of Appalachian State, a quintessential English major and selfproclaimed word junkie.

About the Author Nancy Schleifer is licensed to practice law in both North Carolina and Florida, she has worked as an appellate attorney and litigator and spent more than 20 years advocating for children. She received her master’s degree in English and her juris doctorate from the University of Miami and has taught courses in both literature and law. Originally from Florida, Schleifer now lives in Banner Elk and owns a legal practice in Boone.

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

Having achieved substantial publication credit in the legal ﬁeld, Nancy Schleifer self-published “A Warrant for Mrs. Lincoln,” her ﬁrst novel, through Xlibris in 2007. It won a bronze regional Independent Publisher Book Award for the Great Lakes region and tied for the One Book One Community choice at the Amelia Island Book Festival. Learn more at www.nancyschleiferlaw. com.

Spring Into Fashion It’s almost time to put your snow boots and fuzzy sweaters in the back of the closet and refresh your style for a new spring look. Whether you prefer vibrant colors and sophisticated florals or a quieter, more subtle tone, you can walk through any door feeling ambitious, confident and adventurous. Warm up with this season’s newest color palette and make the perfect first impression. A few “go-to” basics that every woman should own help set the stage without breaking the bank. It’s as simple as mingling mini-florals, plaids and plenty of faded denim together to help find your look. The perfect color and styles can be tricky, but the following tips will help you break away from the winter blues: Flower power: Nature helps to flaunt your assets with elegant floral prints this spring. Word Play: Not so many slogans as statements, but the trend of plastering words across everything is evident in the season’s market. Fringing: Cowgirl meets flapper in a slinky dress or silk trench coat with dusty cowgirl boots — or a pair of denim overalls with heels. Lady-like lace: A “girly” lace dress is perfect, and patterned flats keep it from

being over-the-top dressy. Shoes: Cut-out heels, pointy ﬂats, appliqués and ankle-cut heels are the rage. Button-ups and cardigans: Early spring weather is unpredictable and a cover-up takes the chill away. Any style and pattern can quickly update an ordinary outﬁt. Metallic: You’ll glow even when the lights are low. Nautical inspiration: The classy striped dress, airy cotton shirts, anchor pendants and the closet full of red, white and blue will be right at home, even in the mountains. Prints! Ethnic inspiration — Aztec and tribal prints continue to have a hold on the fashion world this year. Timeless treasures! Spring mix: Combining pastels is proving its staying power, once again. Neon? Forget it and focus your attention on more established and nature-kissed colors that dazzle. Subtle or bold? Wear violet tulip when you want to feel feminine, but not “too cutesy.” This romantic, sweet, vintage purple is the perfect way to express your femininity, but if you dare to be bold, try radiant orchid as its more sophisticated counterpart.

Got blue? Traditional blue will remain a seasonal favorite as its varied shades provide a perfect balance between the ordinary and the extraordinary. Energetic and sociable? Go for celosia, which refers to flaming colors of the sunset and grabs attention wherever it goes; cayenne shouts determination and enthusiasm; freesia is a confident yellow that burns brighter than the summer sun. Feeling artistic? Try hemlock, a subtle earthy green. Never out of style: Black and white is always a winner, but this season, it’s all about bringing it together with energetic colors. Springtime provides a great opportunity to wear colorful, fun, floral and expressive designs. So, whether you want something that expresses your bold attitude with a few graphics or multicultural designs thrown in for good measure, you are in luck. Fortunately, the same goes if you prefer a more subtle, quieter and earthy appeal.

Emily apple Emily Apple is an Appalachian State graduate with a degree in fashion design and merchandising.

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

LivingWell

Fighting Germs, Staying Healthy

We are deep into the season of sniffles, coughs, sneezes and the flu. One way to fight sickness during this time of year is to stay away from people. For most of us, that is not an option. The next best strategy is to keep your immune system strong enough to ward off the germs that make you sick. The most important part of that strategy is to live well. When your body is continually battling poor health habits, your immune cells, like soldiers who grow weary in battle, lose some of their protective effects. Following is a simple action plan for keeping your immune system in fighting shape: Kick the bad habits: Tobacco, excess alcohol and excess sugar wreak havoc on your immune system. They reduce the ability of immune cells to pursue and devour viruses and bacteria. Get a good night’s sleep: The immune system requires energy to fight back against bugs and bacteria. A good way to keep it from getting run down is to take short naps and go to bed at a decent hour. Manage stress: Stress triggers the adrenal glands to release epinephrine (aka, adrenaline) and cortisol. These stress hormones enhance your immune function for very short periods of time. Problems arise when you are continually stressed. Chronic stress wears down your immune system.

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

Take a daily brisk walk: It is thought that exercise speeds up the rate that immune cells move through the bloodstream. This keeps germs from getting a foothold. Nourish your body: The father of medicine, Hippocrates, counseled that food should be your medicine. This makes your kitchen nature’s medicine cabinet. Keep it stocked with immune-fortifying nutrients. Water: Drinking water helps to improve the transport of immune cells and prevents the membranes of the respiratory tract from dehydrating. In addition to water, try herbal teas with a touch of lemon and ginger. Citrus fruits and green vegetables: They are packed with vitamins and minerals that help support the immune system, providing antioxidants and vitamin C. Lean protein: Your immune system is very dependent on dietary protein. The components necessary for immune function (white blood cells, antibodies, T-cells, etc.) are made from protein-rich molecules. Curry: Curry contains curcuminoids. Scientists have found that curcuminoids increase levels of a protein called CAMP that helps the immune system to ﬁght off bacteria, viruses and fungi the ﬁrst time they try to attack. CAMP is the only known

antimicrobial of its type in humans. Mushrooms: Shiitake and maitake mushrooms contain compounds known as beta-glucans. Lab studies are finding that the beta-glucans activate production of T-cells and natural killer cells, the ones that actively fight viral and bacterial infection. Keep your hands clean: Wash your hands with soap and water and keep a sanitizer in your purse for those times when you can’t wash your hands. Germs are easily spread on shopping carts, door handles and money. Being close to others when they are sniffling and sneezing provides an ideal opportunity to pick up their germs, and innocently touching your face offers them a free ride into your body. Use a humidifier: Viruses spread more efficiently in dry, heated air. Reduce their transport by keeping the air humidified. Always check with your health-care provider for verification before making diet and lifestyle changes. An easy way to do that is to show her or him this column and ask for additional or other recommendations.

bonnie church Certiﬁed Life and Wellness Coach Author, columist, motivational speaker and certiﬁed trainer for TLS Weight Loss Solution

Caldwell Hospice Now Serving High Country After more than 30 years of helping patients and families in Caldwell and adjoining counties face the end-of-life journey, Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care expanded its service area in January to include patients and their families in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties. All services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a registered nurse, physician, medical social worker and chaplain on call. “Our desire to provide quality endof-life care and our awareness of the existing need for services led us to expand our services to western North Carolina’s High Country,” chief executive officer Cathy Swanson says. “We have a physician, nurses, medical social workers, certified nursing assistants, chaplains, and volunteers based at a Boone work station, and soon in Avery County.” Caldwell Hospice’s partnership with Appalachian Regional Healthcare System was essential. “We have a very similar vision and mission and see many opportunities to work together in the care of our patients,” stated Chuck Mantooth, president, Watauga Medical Center. “Through our clinical collaboration, Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care and Appalachian Regional Healthcare System will leverage our resources and program strengths to provide outstanding hospice and palliative care locally at Watauga Medical Center, the Seby B. Jones Cancer Center, and in the home setting.” Caldwell Hospice’s interdisciplinary team addresses patients’ physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, giving them the chance to resolve unfinished business and share valuable time with their families. Specialized cardiac, pulmonary, and dementia care programs help primary caregivers take a more active role in managing patients’ symptoms, thereby enhancing their quality of life. Boone resident Bob Bumgarner writes, “From the first time we met with the Caldwell Hospice staff, we were comfortable and confident in their ability to take

Hospice volunteer Gladys Ferguson loves sharing words of comfort with patients she visits on a regular basis. Photo submitted.

care of dad — medically, emotionally, and spiritually — and when mom’s time came, we were more than comfortable with the decision to allow Caldwell Hospice to come in.” Following a patient’s death, the extensive bereavement services are important: support groups, grief workshops, educational programs, handwritten notes to the primary caregivers at meaningful anniversaries, etc. for families as long as 13 months after the patient’s death. “When a person you dearly love is nearing the end of their physical life here on this earth, it is a very difficult time for them and family and friends,” writes Blowing Rock resident Harvey Bauman. “Caldwell Hospice, with its talented medical and social skills staff, is at your side, helping and sharing each hour with the patient and family.” Caldwell Hospice also offers palliative care services through AIM: Advanced Illness Management. The Caldwell Hospice medical director, palliative care nurse, nurse practitioner, the patient’s primary physician, patient and primary caregiver work together to resolve symptoms related to the serious illness, educate, and encourage the patient and caregiver to regain quality of life. Committed volunteers are a vital part of the services: 11th Hour volunteers are available during patients’ ﬁnal 24-48 hours; bereavement volunteers make phone calls and write notes to family members in the

months following patients’ deaths; volunteer chaplains visit with patients and families, if requested, for spiritual and emotional support; vigil music volunteers bring soothing music to patients in their final hours; patient-family volunteers help with light chores, read, or just visit. Volunteers also provide the Legacy Project for videotaping patients’ life stories and Veterans Honoring Veterans for recognizing patients’ military service. During volunteer training, staff members explain disease progression and patients’ needs; they tell about getting to know patients and families, answering their questions, finding information for them when needed, “being there,” and listening. The first High Country adult volunteer training sessions just ended; the second training will be in the spring of 2014. People sometimes worry that they aren’t “right” for the task — they won’t know what to say; they’ll do something wrong. “All the training is something I can take and use,” says long-time Caldwell Hospice volunteer Reba Barlow. “One patient at a time, one family at a time.” Some hospice patients don’t have family close by, Reba says. Caregivers may need to talk or someone to with the patient while they run errands. It’s as much a blessing for the volunteers as for the patients. “You come away like you’ve been served. What did I do? I just sat there and listened,” she says. Caldwell Hospice, a private, nonprofit organization, certified by Medicare and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, offers hospice care for patients with a prognosis of about six months, regardless of ability to pay. The team goes “wherever patients call home” —private residences, long-term-care facilities, hospitals or its inpatient units in Lenoir and Hudson. Caldwell Hospice opened North Carolina’s first free-standing inpatient hospice unit in 1989. To learn more about Caldwell Hospice in the High Country, call (828) 754-0101; Ashe County residents can call (844) 6956876. MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

Elephant Bones, Rose-Colored Hippos, and Wild Dogs: Living the Safari Life in Botswana Part I Photos Submitted

Our safari Jeep in Botswana.

I’ve eagerly and happily read the entire No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series of books by Alexander McCall Smith, about Precious Ramotswe, a kind, intuitive woman of traditional build who hangs out her shingle as a detective in Botswana. From Precious, I learned words and phrases in her Setswana language, the names of trees, birds, and places, and the fact that Botswana is an exemplary, peace-loving country. It almost seemed as if I could travel to Botswana, small, landlocked, snuggled just north of South Africa, and meet Precious, herself. Well, I did travel recently with Overseas Adventure Travel to a very different part of Botswana, to Baobab Camp, run by Wilderness Safaris. I got plenty of chances to try out “Dumela, Mma” (“Good day, madame”), “Dumela, Rra” (“Good day, sir”), and “Kiah le Booha!” (“Thank you”) with our wonderful staff of cooks, housekeep-

MARCH 2014 | AAWMAG.COM

ers and safari guides. We were welcomed to Baobab Camp by the entire staff drumming, dancing, ululating (lamenting loudly) and singing in harmony. They handed out ice-cold wet towels and served us lemonade.

Lion sleeping in the Okavango Delta.

On our ﬁrst Jeep safari ride in the cool of early morning, we drifted silently along soft sand lanes, awestruck that we were really in Africa. We were totally in

the moment, not missing a thing: skulls of bison, chalky-white hyena poop, the body of a dead lion that had been burned, huge bleached elephant bones, blue-headed guinea fowl, and orbs of elephant dung that looked like crazy yarn balls. The Chobe River runs through the rich Okavango Delta like a luminous light blue ribbon threading a lawn-green dress. Ranks of slender impalas raced in meadows dotted with acacia and baobab trees. Dazzles of zebras and towers of giraffes moved thoughtfully through clearings. Parades of elephants swung by. We passed an elephant corpse: leathery charcoal skin stretched across gigantic white bones. We chased a pack of 10 wild dogs, rarest of animals, pursuing an impala. The pack included four 3-month-old pups cared for by their auntie. “Look! Lion tracks!” our guide cried, and the jeep was off. Soon, we found a

pride of lions asleep in the shade of a Mopani tree. We could have reached out and touched them. They looked like huge soft, cuddly toys. Back at camp, we welcomed Margaret, Grace and Emily from a nearby village, who demonstrated the making of baskets from palm ﬁbers. Women learn the craft from their grandmothers. To dye the white palm strands, they boil bird plum bark for brown, rusty cans for gray, sorghum leaves for pink, carbon paper for blue, aloe vera for yellow, root of the toothbrush tree for orange and grass for green. Talk about resourceful. A rose-colored river sunset was the backdrop for our hippo viewing. As grayblue skies melted into dusk’s purples and charcoals, we raised a toast as the hippos frolicked, wallowed and challenged each other to ﬁght. Gunmetal-black hippos turned purple, then pink-dappled, as the sun slid below the horizon. From our tent porch we could watch elephants, hippos and baboons passing by until we were called to dinner — a typical Botswanan feast that would make Precious Ramotswe proud: white polenta with tomato sauce, squash, dinner rolls, spinach with peanut butter, and, for the nonvegetarians, beef, the pride of Botswana. As the evening slipped away, we happily joined the staff in more singing, dancing, drumming, and ululating. We had, indeed, found a home in Botswana.

Day’s End Hippos yawn, wallow the crocodile-strewn Chobe, darkness falling fast. Sunset paints them pink and rose, a watercolor vision —Sue Spirit

A Botswanan woman making palm strand baskets.

Bantus from Botswana Pod of hippos bathing: slippery black rocks Elephants trumpeting: triumphant tuba arpeggios Cicada evening chorus: hundreds of off-key piccolos tuning up

Overseas Adventure Travel is a company that lets 12-15 travelers experience a country by traveling to its out-of-the-way places, meeting and getting to know the Chobe people. Each group has a leader from that country. Go to oattravels.com for more information.

Hippos circling: graceless water ballet

sue spirit

Pod of hippos at rest in the river: rotund rubber raft

Writes poetry and essays about nature, spirituality, writing, and travel. She has a little cabin in the mountains. degreesoffreedom@frontier.com

Hippos in the Chobe River.

On our first Jeep safari ride in the cool of early morning, we drifted silently along soft sand lanes, awestruck that we were really in Africa.

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Eating Healthy on a Budget

Making the switch from fast food and prepared meals to a healthier diet can seem daunting and expensive. However, by following a few simple tips, provided by the American Cancer Society, you can plan, shop and actually save money while eating better. The following tips are suggested to get you started on the right track: • Cut down on waste by planning your meals and snacks and creating a shopping list in advance. An added bonus is fewer trips to the store, which means fewer chances to buy foods on impulse that you don’t really need. • Look for coupons and specials. Try to plan your meals around what’s on sale. When you ﬁnd a good sale on items you eat often, try to buy in bulk. • Plan some meals that use sources of protein other than meat, such as beans. • Choose fresh produce that is in season, when prices are usually lowest, or plan your meals using vegetables and fruits that are, according to the USDA, typically the cheapest: potatoes, lettuce, eggplant, greens, summer squash, carrots, tomatillos, watermelon, bananas, apples, pears, pineapple and peaches. • Try substituting less costly frozen or canned vegetables and fruits in recipes; they often work just as well as fresh.

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• Choose fruits that are canned in 100 percent fruit juice, and buy vegetables that are marked “no salt added” or “low sodium.” • Avoid pre-cut and pre-washed vegetables, bagged salad mixes and processed foods, all of which typically cost more than foods you prepare yourself. • Pay attention to the unit price when comparing grocery items items, and consider store brand and generic versions of your favorite foods. • If you ﬁnd yourself short on time during the week, try to cook ahead and freeze meals, or prepare extra and save leftovers for days when you might otherwise be tempted to get take-out or fast food. • To keep food from going to waste, add leftover vegetables to casseroles or soups, and use overripe fruit for smoothies (or freeze and save for later). Old habits can be hard to break, but ﬁnding creative ways to make eating healthy, convenient and affordable can make you feel good. It can help reduce your risk of cancer and other diseases — without breaking your budget — and it’s easier than you think. Get inspired with the following healthy recipes

Fruit Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing 8 cups fresh fruit, cut into bite-sized pieces 2-2/3 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt 1 teaspoon poppy seeds Combine all fruit in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, fold poppy seeds into yogurt with a whisk or spatula. Spoon a portion of fruit salad into individual serving dishes, then pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of yogurt mixture over the fruit — or set out the fruit salad and yogurt dressing separately and invite your guests to help themselves. Equal parts of peeled peaches and oranges, chunks of pineapple, grapes, and berries are suggested, but you may use any fruit you like. Serves 8 Per Serving (approximate) Calories 184 Total Fat 1.5 g Note: Low-fat yogurt is an excellent source of B vitamins, protein and calcium, and is thought to supply the intestinal tract with good bacteria to help keep it in good working order.

Festive Tuna Roll-Ups Bright red or green pepper rings dress up this easy appetizer made from familiar ingredients. Keep the fat content low by choosing tuna packed in water rather than oil. 1 (6 oz.) can white tuna in water, drained and ﬂaked 1 tablespoon light mayonnaise 4 tortillas, spinach (green), tomato (red), or whole-wheat 8 dill pickle spears 4 carrots, shredded 8 pepper rings, green or red Mix tuna and mayonnaise in a small bowl. Lay out each tortilla. Spread tuna in a line down the center of each. Top tuna with 2 pickles per tortilla and carrots. Roll each tortilla burrito-style; keep closed by wrapping 2 pepper rings around each tortilla. Cut each rollup in half and center pepper ring on each half. Serves 8 Per Serving (approximate) Calories 190 Total Fat 3g

Rice with Orzo and Mint Orzo is a tiny, rice-shaped pasta that works well with the nutty flavor of the brown rice in this recipe. Enjoy ½ cup of this flavorful side dish (cooked), and you’ll need only two more servings of whole grain foods to meet ACS healthy eating guidelines. Refined grains, such as white rice, lose much of their vitamins, minerals, and all of their fiber in processing. ½ cup orzo 1 teaspoon olive oil 3 cups fat-free chicken broth 1-1/3 cups uncooked brown rice ½ teaspoon garlic salt 3 tablespoons fresh mint

In a medium saucepan on mediumhigh heat, brown orzo in olive oil, stirring constantly. Pour in chicken broth and bring to boil. Add rice and garlic salt and return to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in fresh mint. Serves 8 Per Serving (approximate) Calories 149 Total Fat 2g

Tuscan White Bean Salad on Crostini Quick and easy, this makes an elegant appetizer or a flavorful side dish for meals. Begin tossing the ingredients together about 45 minutes before serving so the salad can chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. The beans, tomatoes, onions, and parsley are rich in cancer-fighting nutrients and the calorie count easily fits within most diets. Serve this salad with simple crostini. For salad dressing: 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided 1 garlic clove, minced 1 teaspoon dried oregano ¼ cup cider vinegar For bean salad: 2 (16 oz.) cans cannelloni beans or other white beans, rinsed and drained 1½ cups diced plum tomato ½ cup chopped Vidalia or other sweet onion ½ cup (2 oz.) crumbled blue cheese 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley ½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground pepper For crostini: Two loaves deli-style bread for the crostini (French, Italian, or whole-wheat, for example). To prepare salad dressing: In a nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and oregano; sauté for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar. To prepare the salad: In a large bowl, combine remaining teaspoon of olive oil and the next 7 ingredients (beans through pepper). Add the dressing to the bean salad; toss lightly. Cover and chill for 30 minutes before serving. To prepare crostini: Slice bread thinly. Toast under a broiler or in the toaster. Top with bean salad. Note: Cannelloni beans are large, white Italian kidney beans. Great Northern beans, which look like white lima beans, can be substituted for Cannelloni beans in most recipes.

Serves: 8 Per Serving (approximate) Calories 289 Total Fat 6g Source: American Cancer Society “Celebrate! Healthy Entertaining for Any Occasion” sherrie norris Editor, All About Women

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