Marching Into Spring and Celebrating Women’s Month
March is a great month in Florida – the weather is beautiful, the skies are blue, and the season of festivals and great barbecue is starting up.
March brings with it the amazing holiday of St. Patrick’s Day (read more in The Wright Stuff and the column by Jan Cox) and the chance to drink good beer, sing Irish songs, and wear green to avoid being pinched by leprechauns (or so I’ve been told).
We also celebrate women in March! We wish you a Happy Women’s Day on March 8, and you’ll really enjoy Kathy Megyeri’s book review of “Women of Interest: The Ultimate Book of Women’s Trivia,” by Alicia Alvrez.
On March 22, spring officially begins... another beautiful year lies ahead!
Finally, we’ve included some delicious and easy recipes to celebrate St.
Patrick’s Day: Corned Beef Pizza Rolls, Shamrock Crackers, and Stout and Honey Roast Beef.
Until next time, may the luck of the Irish be with you and have a happy March!
With gratitude,
Have a great month and we'll see you in April!
Lifestyles After 50 Volume 34, Issue 3
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Armchair Adventures: It’s a Salty, Salty World
By Evelyn Kelly, PhDOf our 86 countries and travels, the salt flats in Bolivia were definitely the most memorable. Tourist flyers on Bolivia tout the steepest streets of LaPaz, the witches’ market, and the Great Salt Flats. My daughter Natalie and I did not know what to expect from any of these, especially a salt desert.
Our guide Jeannete and the driver Jose (who spoke no English) met us in Potosi to take us through the Great Salt Flats. After driving about 5 hours, we had our first glimpse of a salt desert. Spectacular! The desert had been a lake that dried up and left huge hexagonal plates of salt as far as the eye could see.
As our small SUV crunched along on the salt with no roads or no signs, we glimpsed the meaning of infinity. All perspective was turned upside down. Clouds above reflected on the ground; we were floating among the clouds. People a few feet away seemed like they were miles in the distance. Their reflections on salt were mirror images on the ground.
The salt building Tayka del Desierto is billed as the world’s most remote hotel. As we traversed the salt
floors to our room, we ran our hands along walls of salt blocks. Solar energy creates a heating system based on radiation that circulates hot water and emits heat. We were told to use the shower before 4:00 PM, when it shuts off automatically.
As we were trying to sleep under piles of blankets I said to Natalie, “Wow, this bed is hard.” Turns out we were sleeping on a one-inch cotton mattress placed on a salt slab!
After an early breakfast on a salt table, we were on the road again. Natalie said, “I had a terrible dream last night. We were stuck on the salt flats and left to die.” We had traveled about an hour, and the car started smoking. Was Natalie’s dream coming true? Jeannete assured us that Jose was a master mechanic. After a few hours, he did manage to fix the car enough to hobble into town and the plane that would take us home.
Bolivia was unexpected and wonderful – amazing. You learn to take things in stride. It is, after all, a salty, salty world.
Encourage the children in your life to read, learn at home and play using their imagination with Kids Dinosaur of the Month Club.
St. Patrick’s Day from Holiday, FL
Each monthly subscription box contains a personalized letter, gift shop-quality dinosaur toy and books including stickers, dinosaur facts and phonetic pronunciations.
Order the Dino Binder as well and give the child a personalized binder where they can organize their coloring pages and their personalized Membership Certificate, Member Card and collectible Dino Cards.
Visit our website at www.kidsdinosaurofthemonthclub.com or call 215-321-3032
ABOUT THE COVER:
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women everywhere. The day also marks a call to action for continuing and accelerating women’s equality in areas like equal pay for the same job, equal access for women of color and older women, and recognition of women’s unique leadership abilities.
IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific. Find out more at InternationalWomensDay.com.
6 Ideas to Celebrate Older Women on International Women’s Day
Adapted from a blog post on oasisspace.com
By Michele BakerInternational Women’s Day is a oneof-a-kind occasion to recognize and honor all of the important ladies in your life. It doesn’t matter if it’s your mom, grandma, a female friend, or a tutor, each forms an essential part of your life. They are our loyal supporters and our beloved companions.
For those of you who are fortunate to reside within commuting distance of your mother (or grandmother, or any female whose kindness and wisdom you are particularly thankful for), the finest present of all is to spend the day with her. But even if you live far away, it is still possible to show your love.
1. Custom Puzzles
More than a simple recreational pastime, putting a puzzle together helps minimize the risk of dementia and also alleviates the development of the condition. (This is true for the majority of mental activities and puzzles.) Turn a beautiful photograph into a customized puzzle for a unique gift.
2. Books
Reading books is a favored everyday activity for over 70% of older women, so what better present than a lovely book? If your loved senior woman has a preferred genre, there isn’t much doubt about it. Otherwise, you may offer her a diary that was written and drawn by the grandchildren.
3. Donate in Her Name
What can you offer the senior woman who has everything? Perhaps a gift to those less privileged, given in her name. Discuss your donation goals with your loved senior woman and note her passions or chosen charities, or select a charity that all female family members admire.
4. Unique Cards from Grandchildren
If the woman you wish to celebrate is the grandmother, engage the grandchildren for a day and at the same time produce something special and genuine for the beloved matriarch of the family. The children may also create additional cards for other elderly women who live nearby.
5. Plan A Surprise Party
Prepare a secret women’s day celebration with the assistance of other family members. Serve the dishes and beverages that your mom or grandma would enjoy, the flowers she prefers, and music from her era.
6. Breakfast in Bed
Begin International Women’s Day early on March 8 by bringing her breakfast to bed. Prepare her favorite meals, such as waffles, omelets, or sausages, and accompany them with a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice or sparkling water. A beautiful letter on the tray reminds your beloved senior woman that you consider yourself fortunate in having her as a companion.
6 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism
Adapted from an article by: Dan LeMoine, author of “Fear No Food”
March is National Nutrition Month, and according to the CDC, 90% of Americans have a poor diet. As we age, it becomes even more important to fuel our bodies the right way. But age also brings a slower metabolism, which means that even if we’re eating right, we may still see weight gain. Here are some easy ways to boost your metabolism.
Lifestyle change: Drink your H2O.
Drink plenty of water – the kind with trace minerals and electrolytes – which boosts metabolism and helps your body burn calories more efficiently.
Lifestyle change: Beef up your protein intake.
Eating protein boosts metabolism as it requires more energy to digest compared to carbs or fat. Protein-rich foods include chicken, fish, eggs, nuts, and legumes and help maintain proper body composition and lean muscle mass.
Lifestyle change: Get moving.
Maintaining muscle mass will increase your metabolic rate. Sticking with a consistent exercise routine that incorporates slow steady state cardio and light resistance training can help you build and maintain muscle mass.
Foods to eat: Whole grains.
Brown rice, quinoa, and whole-wheat bread are high in fiber and can help keep you full, which may prevent overeating and help maintain a healthy weight. Despite keto and other low-carb diets, grains can be a key part of a well-rounded diet that promotes healthy weight.
Foods to add: Spices.
Certain spices like cayenne pepper and ginger can increase body temperature and boost metabolism. They can also add flavor to your food without adding extra calories.
Beverages to drink: Green tea.
Drinking green tea can increase metabolism and promote fat burning. The antioxidants in green tea, called catechins, have been shown to increase the body’s ability to burn fat as fuel.
St. Patrick: Legend and History Intertwined
By Jan Larraine CoxAs we all don our green clothing in honor of St. Patrick on Friday March 17, bear in mind back in the day, the official color was instead, blue! We typically wear green because of the green stripe in the Irish flag and also since the nickname for Ireland is “The Emerald Isle.” A benefit to wearing green is that it makes a person invisible to leprechauns. So continue to wear green if you don’t want them to pinch you!
The legend begins: embedded in the parapet of Blarney Castle in Cork, the Blarney Stone is said to bless one with the skill of smooth talk and flattery, luck and eloquence to those who kiss it.
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle, was born in Roman times in Scotland or Wales about 386 A.D. to wealthy parents. His consort Sheelah is now considered his wife.
Patrick was originally a shepherd. Legend has it that loneliness caused fear in him which led him to accept Christianity for solace. He later attempted to free the Christian slaves which he had converted.
Legend also has it that he sought to drive out snakes from
Ireland and chased them to the sea as he believed they were a symbol of the devil. Snakes had reportedly attacked him during a 40-day fast on a hill. But there is no sign of snakes in the fossil records of Ireland.
Captured by an Irish raiding party Patrick was sold into slavery across the Irish Sea. After six years he escaped and returned to his family and studies in other parts of Europe. Eventually he became a priest and surprisingly, felt called to return to the area where he was enslaved, this time as a missionary. In Ireland he spoke out against slavery in Western Europe.
He worked to make his adopted land of Ireland a better place, and fought against xenophobia, the hatred and fear of foreigners. While Patrick served as missionary to Ireland, he also served as a bishop there. He is considered to have brought Christianity to all parts of Ireland and thought to be at least partially responsible for the conversion of the Picts and Saxons.
St. Patrick died about 460 A.D. on the very day we celebrate him, March 17. He was buried at Down Cathedral, which is the Church of Ireland cathedral, which stands on the site of a Benedictine Monastery.
BOOK REVIEW
“Women Of Interest, The Ultimate Book of Women’s Trivia,” by Alicia Alvrez
Did you know that 64% of women sleep on the left side of the bed? Or that being a judge was the only career not open to women in ancient Egypt? How about that divorce rates are 38% lower in cities with major league baseball teams, or the fact that the very first Artichoke Queen was Marilyn Monroe in 1947?
Throughout history, women have been the story tellers, the keepers of family history, and the wellspring of general knowledge, but men are deemed superior as dispensers of minutiae. However, in “Women of Interest, The Ultimate Book of Women’s Trivia,” by Alicia Alvrez, information about us, our lives, our history, our loves, and our personalities are collected to be savored, shared and gloated upon.
Women invented the bulletproof vest, the square-bottomed brown bag, the fire escape, the game Monopoly, the laser printer, and windshield wipers. Female nurses earn about 5% more than their male counterparts. Over 55% of all U.S. purchases are controlled by women. So, women should revel in their greatness and enjoy each morsel but give thanks to writer, women’s studies scholar, and avid trivia fan Alvrez. She’s collected this extensive, educational, and enjoyable compilation of facts about women, which is her specialty.
The book isn’t just a simple listing of trivia – the facts are put in
by Kathy A. Megyericontext and interspersed with caricatures of famous women and their charming quotes like actress Jean Harlow, who answered a reporter who inquired about her morning routine by saying, “I like to wake up feeling a new man.” Bette Davis divulged the secret to a good marriage as “separate bedrooms and separate bathrooms.” Elizabeth Taylor also famously said, “I’ve only slept with men I’ve been married to. How many women can make that claim?” and Dolly Parton said, “I would never stoop so low as to be fashionable,” or Audrey Hepburn’s finest piece of advice, “Elegance is the only beauty that never fades.”
Thus, in this humorous compendium of facts about us women, the reader will gain immense pride in herself and her accomplishments. She will be delighted in learning such facts like researchers at Northwestern University who found that men change their minds two to three times more than women. This book is the perfect gift for women who love to laugh, gossip, play trivia, or just feel good about themselves and their accomplishments throughout history and about those the world over who advanced civilization. One reader advised, “Get this book for every woman in your life.” I was so delighted with my copy that I ordered more for each of my girlfriend’s birthdays.
“Women Of Interest, The Ultimate Book of Women’s Trivia,” is by Alicia Alvrez (Mango, 2021, 224 pp.). Alvrez is also the author of “The Ladies’ Room Reader” and “Mama Says: The Best Advice from Some of The World’s Best Mothers.”
THE HEALTHY GEEZER
What exactly does glaucoma do to your eyes?
Glaucoma is defined as a group of diseases that can damage the eye’s optic nerve, which carries images from the eye to the brain.
Here’s how glaucoma works:
A clear fluid flows through a small space at the front of the eye called the anterior chamber. If you have glaucoma, the fluid drains too slowly out of the eye and pressure builds up. This pressure may damage the optic nerve. However, increased eye pressure doesn’t necessarily mean you have glaucoma. It means you are at risk for glaucoma. A person has glaucoma only if the optic nerve is damaged.
Glaucoma can develop in one or both eyes. The most common type of glaucoma starts out with no symptoms. Without treatment, people with glaucoma will slowly lose their peripheral vision. Eventually, the middle of your vision field may decrease until you are blind.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in the United States. Any vision that glaucoma destroys cannot be restored. So early diagnosis of glaucoma is extremely important, because there are treatments that may save remaining vision.
Almost three million people in the U.S. have glaucoma. Those at highest risk are AfricanAmericans, everyone over age 60, and people with a family history of glaucoma.
Glaucoma is just one reason seniors should make regular visits to an eye doctor. Glaucoma is detected through a comprehensive eye exam that includes a visual acuity test, visual field test, dilated eye exam, tonometry, and
pachymetry.
A visual acuity test measures vision at various distances. A visual field test measures peripheral vision. In a dilated eye exam, a special magnifying lens is used to examine the inside of the eye. In tonometry, an instrument measures the pressure inside the eye. With pachymetry, an instrument is used to measure the thickness of your cornea, the transparent part of the front of the eye.
The most common treatments for glaucoma are medication and surgery. Medications for glaucoma may come in eye drops or pills. For most people with glaucoma, regular use of medications will control the increased fluid pressure.
Laser surgery is another treatment for glaucoma. The laser is focused on the part of the anterior chamber where the fluid leaves the eye. This makes it easier for fluid to exit the eye. Over time, the effect of this surgery may wear off. Patients who have laser surgery may need to keep taking glaucoma drugs.
Studies have shown that the early detection and treatment of glaucoma is the best way to control the disease. So, have your eyes examined thoroughly and regularly if you are in a high-risk category. And that includes all of us geezers.
All Rights Reserved © 2022 by Fred Cicetti Send your general health questions to Healthy Geezer with Lifestyles After 50 in the subject line to fred@healthygeezer.com
Queen of the Day: Bonita Springs resident turns 103
Dorothy Newberry was smiling ear to ear as she saw the large group of friends and family in the crowd at The Terraces at Bonita Springs to celebrate her 103rd birthday. The party took place on December 22 and was a holiday-themed event. (Technically, Mrs. Newberry turned 103 on Christmas Eve.)
Nearly every day, you can find Dorothy Newberry out for a walk around her home at The Terraces at Bonita Springs. It’s something she’s enjoyed doing for going on eight years. You wouldn’t know it by looking at her that she’s 103.
Mrs. Newberry spent much of her life traveling the world with her husband. She’s visited 60 different countries and settled down in the Sunshine State. The Bonita Springs resident says the secret to a long and happy life includes eating well, exercising daily, and hoping for good genes.
CUTEST PET CUTEST PET
Do you think you’ve got the cutest pet? Show him or her off in the next issue of Lifestyles! We’re looking for the best dressed and most festive companions that our audience has to offer. See information on how to submit your fur baby for publication below.
For submissions:
Send us a little bit about your pet (100 words or less) along with the best photo in their modeling portfolio and what city you live in to Michele.Baker@lifestylesafter50.com with the words “Cutest Pet” in the subject line, or through our Facebook at www.facebook.com/LifestylesAfter50. Submissions must be before the 15th of every month, otherwise it will be held for a potential feature in the following issue’s publication. Include your name, phone number and Florida city. Submissions are published on a basis of what space is available.
Recipes
St. Paddy’s Day Corned Beef Pizza Rolls
Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home Test Kitchen
These easy-to-make rolls are like eating a Reuben in a roll!
Ingredients:
• 1 tube ready to bake pizza crust (roll out, such as Pillsbury Classic Pizza Crust)
• 3/4 lb. thinly sliced corned beef
• 1/2 lb. thinly sliced lacy Swiss cheese
1. Preheat the oven to 375°.
2. Roll out pizza dough onto a lightly floured surface and shape it into a 10” x 15” rectangle.
3. Arrange corned beef and
Shamrock Crackers
• 1 teaspoon caraway seeds (optional)
• Thousand Island dressing
• 1 cup drained sauerkraut (optional)
Swiss cheese slices to within 3/4” of the edges. On a long side, roll up jellyroll style to make a 15” log. Pinch the seam to seal.
4. Carefully cut into fifteen (15) 1-inch slices and
Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Ingredients:
• Round crackers
• 2 mini cucumbers
1. Spread herbed cream cheese onto round crackers.
2. With a citrus zester, cut strips of skin from 1 mini cucumber for stems. Cut additional mini cucumbers into thin slices; cut each
• Herbed cream cheese
• Fresh dill sprigs
slice into fourths. For the clover leaves, arrange 4 pieces of sliced cucumber. Add the cucumber skin stems.
3. Place dill sprigs at base for grass.
place the slices with sides touching on a parchment lined baking sheet.
5. Cover pizza swirls with greased foil; bake covered for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15-20
minutes longer until golden brown. Serve warm with a drizzle of Thousand Island dressing and a tablespoon of sauerkraut on top. es). Makes 4-6 servings.
BOOK REVIEW
Since 2007, Karin J. Bohleke has served as the director of the Fashion Archives and Museum of Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, PA. An avid seamstress, embroiderer and lace maker since childhood, she’s studied vintage clothing styles by creating highly accurate reproduction clothing. She and her husband also collect vintage clothing and fashion magazines in French and English, and use their resources to teach others about American material culture.
As a member of the Costume Society of America, Bohleke pursues her interests in historic fashions, needle arts, languages, social dance, and 19thcentury women’s travel accounts, and assists in identifying and dating of nineteenth-century photographs of women and evaluating and dating the costume collections.
What will endear her most to readers is her lavishly photographed and researched book of the exhibit entitled “The Fashions of Fiction from Pamela to Gatsby,” where she brings together the two loves from her academic life: historic costume and classic literature. (“Pamela’s” 18th
Fashions of Fiction from
by Karin J. Ph.D.century gown is part of Shippensburg University’s collection.)
Note perhaps the passage in “Madam Bovary” where she holds out to the fire her foot clad in a small black boot – and see illustrated a pair of the side-lacing boots (“bottines” in French) that were popular in the 1840s, the time period of the classic novel.
In Fitzgerald’s 1923 novel “The Great Gatsby,” Gatsby purchases a dress for his guest Lucile that would cost approximately $3,858 today. The lavish gowns pictured in Bohleke’s book certainly fit that description of French fashion, luxury, and high prices!
We suggest browsing the original novels in one hand and “The Fashions of Fiction” in the other, which brings famous literary characters to life by illustrating how clothing enhances the authors’ character development and context. Amazing!
Buy the book at www.fashionarchives.org. he Best Advice from Some of The World’s Best Mothers.”
Smart Garden 3 Does All the Work!
The Smart Garden 3 by Click & Grow is an innovative indoor garden that cares for itself and grows fresh, flavourful herbs, fruits and vegetables for you... no green thumb required!
Experience all the benefits of having your own garden, no matter where you live, or how small your space. The Click & Grow indoor garden works just like a capsule coffee machine, but for plants. Instead of coffee pods, they offer biodegradable plant pods that have seeds and nutrients inside so you could enjoy homegrown produce and flowers all year.
Smart Soil inside the pods is made of natural, renewable, biodegradable material that has no GMOs, herbicides, or pesticides, so plants grow up to 30% faster.
With Click & Grow indoor gardens you’ll get perfectly calibrated automated watering, light and nutrients; homegrown, organic, pesticide free fresh food and flowers; a complimentary set of three basil plant pods; and an app to make you a true plant expert. Plus, there are more than 75 + different plant varieties to choose from, including various kinds of lettuce, basil, several kinds of mint, lemon balm, rosemary, lavender, oregano, thyme, sage, and more! Flower choices include pansies, cornflower, snapdragons, sweet alyssum, just to name a few. Or, use your own seeds!
“The
Pamela to Gatsby”
Bohleke,
- by Kathy A. Megyeri
Stout and Honey Crockpot Beef Roast
Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Allow this delicious roast to cook all day while you’re out enjoying the March air, then sit down to a hearty, St. Patrick’s Day inspired dish of meat and potatoes for supper.
Ingredients:
• 4-5 small red potatoes (about 1/2 lb.), scrubbed
• 3 medium carrots (about 1/2 lb.), peeled and cut into 1/2inch discs
• 1 medium onion, quartered
• 1 boneless beef chuck roast (about 2 lbs.), trimmed
• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) beef broth
• 1 cup stout beer (or additional beef broth)
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 cup cold water
• Minced fresh thyme, optional
1. In a hot skillet, sear roast quickly on all sides; transfer to crock pot. Top with potatoes, carrots and onion. In a small bowl, combine the other ingredients (except thyme); pour over top. Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours, until meat and vegetables are tender.
2. Slice beef and keep warm. Strain cooking juices,
reserving vegetables and 1 cup liquid. Skim fat from reserved liquid; transfer liquid to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; gradually stir into juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve with beef and vegetables. If desired, top with fresh thyme.
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West and Central Florida. CarePlus is an HMO SNP plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Florida Medicaid Program. Enrollment in CarePlus depends on contract renewal. This plan is available to anyone receiving both Medicare and Medicaid: Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB/QMB+), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries (SLMB/SLMB+), Qualifying Individuals (QI), Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals (QDWI) and other Full Benefit Dual Eligibles (FBDE). No amounts on the CareEssentials Card can be used to purchase Medicare-covered prescriptions or services, nor can it be converted to cash. Important: At CarePlus, it is important you are treated fairly. CarePlus Health Plans, Inc. complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, age, marital status, religion, or language in their programs and activities, including in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, their programs and activities. The following department has been designated to handle inquiries regarding CarePlus’ non-discrimination policies: Member Services, PO Box 277810, Miramar, FL 33027, 1-800-794-5907 (TTY: 711). Auxiliary aids and services, free of charge, are available to you. 1-800-794-5907 (TTY: 711). CarePlus provides free auxiliary aids and services, such as qualified sign language interpreters, video remote interpretation, and written information in other formats to people with disabilities when such auxiliary aids and services are necessary to ensure an equal opportunity to participate. This information is available for free in other languages. Please call our Member Services number at 1-800-794-5907. Hours of operation: October 1 - March 31, 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 1 - September 30, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You may leave a voicemail after hours, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays and we will return your call within one business day. Español (Spanish): Esta información está disponible de forma gratuita en otros idiomas. Favor de llamar a Servicios para Afiliados al número que aparece anteriormente. Kreyòl Ayisyen (French Creole): Enfòmasyon sa a disponib gratis nan lòt lang. Tanpri rele nimewo Sèvis pou Manm nou yo ki nan lis anwo an. H1019_MKBNDMFNPRcareneedsplus2023_M
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“Rocky Mountain High”
BY: RANDAL C. HILLJohn Denver and his wife Annie moved to Aspen, Colorado, in December 1970, hoping to purchase a home in the couple’s favorite part of their favorite state. What they discovered was that everything cost much more they could afford. The two thus bought land in a nearby scenic valley, with plans to build a house there the next year—if John’s career star continued its ascent.
The success of “Rocky Mountain High” would put their minds at ease.
In his autobiography, Take Me Home, Denver stated, “I remember, almost to the moment, when that song started to take shape in my head.” He recalled how he and Annie and some friends had hiked up to Lake Williams to camp below the stars and watch the Perseid meteor showers. (They are called the Perseids because the point from which they appear to hail lies in the constellation Perseus.)
“Imagine a moonless night in the Rockies in the dead of summer and you have it…We were right below the tree line, just about 10,000 feet. Around midnight, I got up and could see the shadow from the starlight, there was so much light from the stars. I went back and lay down in front of our tent, thinking about how in nature all things, large and small, were interwoven, when swoosh, a meteor went smoking by. It got bigger and bigger until the tail stretched out all the way across the sky and burned itself out. It was raining fire in the sky.” He began work on a folk tune about the experience with
friend Mike Taylor, an acoustic guitarist who had performed with John and had also moved to Aspen. The result was Denver’s autobiographical “Rocky Mountain High.” After John tweaked it for several months, the resulting RCA Records single became a Top 10 classic.
The Colorado Rocky Mountain high
I’ve seen it rainin’ fire in the sky
The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullaby
Rocky Mountain high
However, his creation became controversial when some listeners thought the word “high” referred to drug use. (Nine times we hear high in Colorado in the background whenever the line Rocky Mountain high is sung.) This led John to testify before a Senate hearing. “My song ‘Rocky Mountain High’ was banned from many radio stations as a drug-related song,” he said. “This was obviously done by people who had never seen or been to the Rocky Mountains and also had never experienced the elation or the joy that one feels when observing something as wondrous as the Perseid meteor shower.”
End of discussion.
In 1915, “Where the Columbines Grow” became Colorado’s state song. In 1973, “Rocky Mountain High” was added as the official second one.
ANSWER TO #5138
Last Month’s Answers Enter To Win!
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
1. Shade tree 4. Requests permission 8. Riches
Place
MARCH MARCHES ON
Frank
Jacqueline F. O’Keffe, Ft. Myers
We now know whether March came in like a lion or not, and time will tell whether or not it goes out like a lamb. Or as John Belushi explained on SNL, that in Norway, it comes in like a polar bear, and goes out like a walrus.
Like most months, March is noteworthy, because of a particular holiday, in this case, St. Patrick’s Day.
Like most holidays, in spite of their purpose or the meaning behind them, they will be commandeered and converted into reasons for drinking alcohol in large quantities. Statistics show that America has more drinking holidays than the United Kingdom has bank holidays.
#5169
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
1. State 2. Office cabinet 3. Misfortunes 4. Coat part
Creator
Enthusiastic
19. Ms. Lee 20. Felt indignant about
Feudal subjects
Change direction
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day of Lent: abbr. 11. Cosmetic case item
Put underground
Beauty’s movie partner
Article of faith
“...__ by your outfit that you are...”
Bride’s item
On March 17, many people will be drinking Guinness, singing Irish songs, and basically pretending to be Irish, whether or not there’s one drop of Irish blood in their veins and in spite of not having any knowledge of the story of Saint Patrick.
Well, I’m here to set you straight about the true story of Saint Patrick, and why he is a legend.
Saint Patrick was born in Roman Britain. When he was 19 years old, with only the clothes on his back and a pennywhistle he traveled by foot on a spiritual journey of self-discovery. He ended his pilgrimage in the Irish town of Wexford, which at the time was besieged by a snake infestation. Patrick promised to eliminate the snakes in return for money, to which the townsfolk agreed.
Standing up on the hillside, he began playing his pennywhistle, which lured the snakes to him. Then pointing his whistle, he directed them to slither over the edge of the cliffs, where they drowned in the Celtic Sea.
However, after Patrick succeeded in leading the snakes away, the townsfolk failed to pay him. In revenge, Patrick tricked and kidnaped 130 children from the town, and they were never seen again.
Now that you have the truth under your belt, feel free to celebrate your holiday at your favorite local Irish Pub. Sláinte!
Michael has visited several Irish pubs in Florida, aside from Finnegan’s Bar & Grill at Universal Studios and Ragland Road at Disney Springs. If you’ve a favorite, share it at micwrighthamo@gmail.com
The VIPcare Patient Experience
Going to see your doctor is probably never on your list of things to do for fun; however, it’s important in maintaining your health, especially for adults 65 and older. Patients who have an ongoing relationship with their primary care physician have fewer health incidences and unnecessary ER visits. That’s why you need a doctor that you’re comfortable with and who you trust. One you can turn to 24/7.
Quality over Quantity
It can be hard to find that doctor with whom you truly connect. Healthcare has become so rushed. It’s like doctors compete to see the most patients. Sadly, that doesn’t leave much time for one-on-one time.
That was the key difference Dan and Tina DiFrancesco noticed with VIPcare after moving from Pennsylvania.
....
“They make you feel like you’re the only one,” Tina said. “It’s really the first doctor that I’ve had like that.” ....
Time for a Better Experience
Dan had two doctors before visiting VIPcare. He admits they were nice but immediately noticed a different experience upon switching. “The doctors, they care,” he said. “You get an X-ray or something, they call you, ‘how did you make out.’”
By taking the time to know you and your health history, your primary care physician can provide you with the unique care you need and deserve. No more running around from doctor to doctor for answers. Your doctor is your direct link to comprehensive care. ....
“The whole office, they follow up,” Tina said about her VIPcare experience. “The next day, they’re on the phone with you. It’s great.”
Your Journey to Better Health
Real health care is getting you healthy and keeping you healthy. Find a trusted partner in your health and get the care and attention you deserve.
Memories of My Big Brother John
By Curt D. BakerIt was the 1950s, we lived on a farm, and life was slower and simpler. After school and chores, there was time to play: cards, board games, tag, or if somebody cleared a field recently, baseball. But the best entertainment was created by us, and those games were passed down through the generations, including some I got from my big brother John that I passed along to my own kids, and grandkids. John was the master gameinventor.
I remember my favorite game. In our farmhouse, the middle room on the first floor was carpeted and the kitchen had linoleum. The old potbelly stove was the focus of “You’re Out.” You’d stand at the stove and toss a bundledup sock wherever you could, run through the carpeted room around the dining room table, and back to the kitchen where you took advantage of the slick linoleum to slide into the stove (just like in baseball) before the sock could be retrieved and you were tagged out.
An outdoor game John invented involved a football that if caught on one bounce, could be drop-kicked back. If not, you had to kick it back where it was on the ground. This was basically a combination of football and soccer with the two big oak trees as one goal and the corn crib door as the other.
Two more games he invented for us (there were lots of them) were haymow basketball and batting cobs. We played
haymow basketball on the second floor of our barn, where our stepdad Melvin kept a part of it cleared for us as a makeshift court. (We used a volleyball as the basketball.)
For batting cobs, we’d head out to the steer yard, shoo the animals into the shed, grab an old axe handle for a bat and a carefullyselected corn cob as a ball, and there you go. The steer yard became a bonafide baseball field. And spinning those cobs really made them do tricks on the way to the plate. Hard to hit. We didn’t run bases, just judged an out or a hit depending on where the cob landed. If a fly ball (or in this case, fly cob) landed in the feed bunk, it was considered an error by the invisible defense.
I could go on and on; these games are just the highlights, the ones we liked the best and played the most. But I am certain of one thing: having that example he set for those things is absolutely what led me to invent games for my own boys. I invented game after game for them, and they still talk about them today. I’d say that’s an impact, and using imagination to make up games that were really fun, and all from simple things like a volley ball, a rolled-up sock, or a corn cob. Amazing.
In June 2021 I lost my big brother John to cancer... I miss him every day. But he lives on in our memories whenever my sons and their kids play his games.
AROUND TOWN
MARCH 8: ART & SOUL NIGHT
Live music, an artisan market, community classes, chair massages, tapas and grab-and-go bites, and a cash bar with beer and wine. Produce, local vendors, area artists and craftsmen. FREE.
Shangri-La Springs, 277 Old 41 Rd., Bonita Springs
MARCH 11-12: 7TH ANNUAL PUNTA GORDA SULLIVAN
STREET CRAFT FESTIVAL
Sullivan Street comes to life with the arts and crafts of the most talented craft artisans in this community celebration. FREE.
Laishley Park, 331 Sullivan St., Punta Gorda
MARCH 12: RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS
Take a nostalgic journey through the legendary musical stylings of one of the greatest rock and roll duos of all time. Tickets $63 and up.
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Pkwy., Fort Myers
http://righteousbrothers.com/
MARCH 13: GORDON LIGHTFOOT
After 50+ years of hit song making, esteemed singer-songwriter and musician Gordon Lightfoot will not disappoint. Tickets $149 and up.
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Pkwy, Fort Myers
MARCH 21: MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
The Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical is inspired by the true story of the famed Sun Studios recording session with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. Tickets $72 and up.
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Pkwy, Fort Myers
MARCH 25: 19TH ANNUAL WEST COAST MUSCLE CAR CLUB’S BENEFIT CAR & TRUCK SHOW
Music by Tommy Tunes, assorted food trucks, beer, vendors, and NSRA safety inspections. Limited to 300 participants and has sold out in past years. $35 preregistration is requested.
Bonita Springs Poker Room, 28020 Race Track Rd, Bonita Springs
MARCH 25: GARDEN EXTRAVAGANZA
A beautiful outdoor setting with plenty of plants for sale. FREE. 4500 Harbor Blvd., Port Charlotte
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WE WANT YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS WE WANT YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS
Send us your community news! We’re looking to share good news that influences your community. From organizational events to honorary people, we want to share your news.
For submissions:
Send the information (150 words or less) and a photo of the people involved to Michele.Baker@lifestylesafter50.com with the words “Community News” in the subject line, or through our Facebook at www.facebook.com/LifestylesAfter50. News must be before the 15th of every month, otherwise it will be held as potential news for the following issue’s publication. Include your name and current Florida city along with the contact information for the news event. News is published on a basis of what space is available.
Movie Preview: “Champions”
BY RANDAL C. HILLThree decades after “White Men Can’t Jump,” Woody Harrelson again immerses himself in the world of basketball, this time as a coach. “Champions” is the Americanized version of the well-received 2018 Spanish basketball movie “Campeones,” the true story of a group of young people who earned 12 Special Olympics championships in 15 years.
Harrelson portrays Marcus Aldridge, a bumbling, hottempered minor league coach who gets fired, gets drunk, and gets into an accident with a police car. He is ordered to perform community service coaching a basketball team of eight boys with special needs.
He quickly becomes discouraged. “It’s impossible to coach these guys,” he grumbles. But he is told, “You don’t have to turn them into the Lakers—they just need to feel like a team.”
Aldridge eventually realizes that if he can do well with this group, perhaps he can one day return to coaching a “regular” team and possibly even become an NBA
coach. Along the way, he also becomes aware that he is bonding with these boys, and he sets to work encouraging them to do well enough to become part of the Special Olympics playoffs.
Though the boys play their hearts out, they continue to struggle. One day a new member joins, a girl named Tina. Stocky of build and snarky of attitude, she sneers at Aldridge and asks her teammates, “Where did you get this guy?”
“He just showed up one day,” comes the answer.
Kaitlin Olson (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) plays Alex, Aldridge’s love interest. Ernie Hudson from the Ghostbusters franchise and Cheech Marin of the Cheech and Chong duo round out the solid supporting cast.
Bobby Farrelly (“There’s Something About Mary” and “Dumb and Dumber”) makes his directorial debut with “Champions,” and Mark Rizzo (Disney and Fox Family) has written the compassionate script.
“Champions” opens nationwide in theaters on March 24.
Q&As about Supplemental Security Income Information
from Social Security Administration
QUESTION
What is the monthly premium for Medicare Part B? (M. Anderson, Cooper City)
ANSWER
For 2023, the amount is $164.90 a month.
QUESTION
I started working and have employee group insurance coverage; how can I terminate my Medicare Part B (medical insurance)? (P. Collins, Miami Beach)
ANSWER
You can voluntarily terminate your Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). However, you may need to have a personal interview with Social Security to review the risks of dropping coverage. To find out more, call 1-800-7721213.
QUESTION
What are Medicare late enrollment penalties? (J. Emerson, North Bay Village)
ANSWER
In most cases, if you don’t sign up for Medicare when you’re first eligible, you may have to pay a higher monthly premium. It’s important to sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period, unless you have other coverage that’s similar in value to Medicare (like from an employer). If you don’t, you may
have to pay an extra amount, called a late enrollment penalty. Late enrollment penalties:
• Are added to your monthly premium.
• Are not a one-time late fee.
• Are usually charged for as long as you have that type of coverage (for most people, that’s a lifetime penalty). The Part A penalty is different.
• Increase the longer you wait to sign up – they’re based on how long you go without coverage similar to Medicare
QUESTION
What is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)? (K. Itraulde, Coconut Creek)
ANSWER
Social Security uses the term “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) to describe a level of work activity and earnings and to help determine your eligibility for SSDI. Work is “substantial” if it involves doing significant physical or mental activities or a combination of both. Work activity does not need to be performed on a full-time basis to be substantial — part-time work may also be SGA.