I don’t know about you, but October is my absolute favorite month. The weather is finally cool, the leaves are changing to beautiful scarlets, oranges and golds, and all the best food is on the menu!
In Florida, October means lots of outdoor dining with wine, beer and spirits galore. In the Lifestyles After 50 readership area along I-75, there are no fewer than eight celebrations of Oktoberfest, everywhere from Mount Dora to Cape Coral. See the article on what to wear to Oktoberfest on pages 8 and 9 and make note of the festival nearest you!
October is also the month of Halloween, which happens to be my favorite holiday. I think this stems from when I was a child in the 1970s. I was that child with hippie dippy parents who believed sugar was evil; we ate only free range, farm to table, organic foods. As you can tell, my parents were way ahead of the trend and now I consider myself lucky, but at the time I thought it was a horrible imposition because none of my classmates ate that way. I used to go over to a friend’s house each day after school because her mother had an entire cabinet full of Little Debbie snack cakes, potato chips, and PopTarts and the refrigerator always had 2-liter Cokes in it (and Diet Coke, Sprite, and Fanta
orange soda). For lunch at school, my brother and I ate freshly prepared chicken salad on whole grain bread with raisins as a snack – in recycled paper lunch bags, no less – but my friends had metal Superman lunchboxes from which they pulled bologna and Kraft cheese slices on Wonder bread with yellow mustard… and Pringles.
However, Halloween was the great equalizer. It was the one day a year when I was allowed to dress up like Princess Leia (my brother was Darth Vader) and go house to house begging for food like a street urchin from “Oliver.” I always came home with my plastic pumpkin bucket brimming with treats, and my brother and I would spread our hoard over the living room floor and spend hours swapping candy for what we liked best: we learned the art of negotiating in those sessions! I wanted anything chocolate, and he was more a Twizzlers and jellybeans kind of guy. (We also secretly made fun of the neighbors who bought cheap hard candies from the dollar store and praised those who gave out full size Snickers bars.)
This year, no matter how you spend your October – with friends at home, or at Oktoberfest or a Halloween party – I wish you a fabulous, healthy, and beautiful fall!
Until next time,
Editor Michele Baker Michele.Baker@lifestylesafter50.com
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Two years ago during the pandemic, TikTok user Rosie Grant discovered how many people left recipes on their tombstones – a way for some to share their love through food even after they pass away. After spotting “Kay’s Fudge” followed by the words, “Wherever she goes, there’s laughter,” Grant started photographing the recipes and learning about the authors. Most were dessert recipes on women’s tombstones.
Grant considers herself a “culinary archeologist” as she recreates the treats in her own kitchen. So far, she’s collected 22 recipes and finds it comforting that someone’s legacy might be their carrot cake recipe, so Grant started making and bringing snickerdoodles and guava cobbler to the graveyards to share with visitors and honor the cooks’ memories.
Grant’s passion for the project is obvious; one of her cemetery videos garnered over 7 million views. She now travels to cemeteries collecting recipes from gravestones. She never cooked before but now says, “I’m literally learning how to cook through the dead,” and wants her own tombstone to share a clam linguine or mac ‘n cheese recipe. “The two things we inevitably do in life are eat food and die someday,” Grant says, “so it’s a shared experience
and to many, it brings back memories of their grandparents.” Her 114,400 TikTok followers are begging her to compile a cookbook.
Corbin has done just that in “Recipes from the Grave, Wonderful Dishes for the Here and After,” collecting over 100 recipes and including brief biographies about the contributor, cooking suggestions, measurement substitutions and tips for baking bread, pies and cakes. He includes Ann Landers’ meatloaf recipe, and a recipe by Ruth Corbin Graves called “How to Preserve a Husband.”
“For a finished product, husband should be wrapped in a mantle of kindness, kept warm with the fire of devotion, and served with peaches and cream. Husbands prepared this way will keep for years.”
Corbin admits that most of these family recipes are probably 100 years old and were baked on stoves fueled by wood or coal or cow chips but “all are well crafted,” he says, “and all harken back to a time in America when the supper table was a place for the family to recharge, unwind, and enjoy each other’s company.”
Grant and Corbin remind us of the importance of food in our lives, as food for the body, food for the soul, and as memories that bind us across generations.
“Recipes from the Grave”
- by Kathy A. Megyeri
BY RANDAL C. HILL
“Ordinary Angels” is based on a true story of Sharon Steves (Hilary Swank), a recovering alcoholic hairdresser in smalltown Kentucky. When she is told, “Find a reason to be here that’s bigger than you are,” she discovers a renewed sense of purpose when she learns about Ed Schmidt (Alan Ritchson). He’s a local widower working hard to make ends meet for his two young daughters. Michelle, the younger, needs a liver transplant.
Sharon becomes an “ordinary angel” when she decides to help the family and take on seemingly impossible odds, among which is a $400,000 charge for the transplant. When Sharon asks for the entire $400,000 to be erased, a panel of hospital power folks offer collective smirks. “Was that funny?” Sharon asks defiantly.
The worst snowstorm in recent memory adds to the woes when Ed’s daughter Michelle needs to be flown to a hospital 700 miles away for her transplant.
At one point, Sharon is asked, “How did it become your responsibility to save her?”
Her response: “Because I’m here…because I can.”
Two-time Oscar winner Swank tells why she signed to do the film. “I was drawn to this beautiful true story because it’s such a powerful reminder that angels reside everywhere among us. And that faith, hope, grit and positivity are all powerful fuel for miracles. It’s also a story about the power of organ donation, something incredibly near and dear to my heart. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of this story and message.”
Producer Kevin Downs finishes, “I hope this film inspires many to not just talk about how we can love our neighbor but actually show how we can love our neighbor in ways that put others in front. I’m hoping that this gives an example of what one community did in the face of extraordinary circumstances and how they rallied together and lifted each other up. We could use a lot more of that, I think.”
“Ordinary Angels” opens nationwide from Lionsgate on October 13.
Hansel the Yorkie says Happy Oktoberfest from Englewood
This tangy salad is a fun take on the classic Vietnamese banh mi sandwich.
• ½ cup rice vinegar
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ cup water
• 10 oz. shredded carrots
• 1 small radish, peeled and cut into matchsticks
Ingredients for the Salad:
• 1 lb. rotini pasta
• 1 rotisserie chicken
• 1 cucumber, peeled and diced
• 1 cup chopped mint
• 1 cup chopped cilantro
Ingredients for the Dressing:
• 1-¼ cups mayonnaise
• 3 Tablespoons sriracha sauce
• Juice of 1 lime (about ¼ cup)
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
Method:
Make the pickled vegetables: combine the vinegar, sugar, salt, water, carrots and radish in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat and transfer to a glass jar. Cover and refrigerate at least 15 minutes while prepping the rest of the salad.
Make the dressing by whisking together the dressing ingredients; set aside.
This vegetarian pasta is easy to make, refreshing and delicious. Feel free to substitute your favorite spices, or to add leftovers such as corn, green beans, tomatoes, peas, or cooked carrots. For a hearty omnivore’s meal, add chicken or poached salmon.
Ingredients:
• 8 oz. bowtie pasta
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 2-3 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), reserve the liquid
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Method:
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Juice of 1 lemon (about ¼ cup)
• 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup basil leaves, washed and chopped
• 1 cup chopped parsley
• 2 Tablespoons capers (optional)
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until slightly soft, about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water; set aside to finish cooling.
Coarsely chop the rotisserie chicken and place in a bowl. Add the drained pickled vegetables.
Toss pasta, chicken, dressing and pickled vegetables. Add cucumbers, mint and cilantro, toss to combine.
Chill at least 1 hour before serving to allow pasta to absorb the dressing and become firm. Refrigerate leftovers.
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook 12-15 minutes until done. Drain, rinse, and set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and garlic; cook 1 minute. Add garbanzo beans and spices. Cook 3 minutes, stirring gently. Add capers (if using), chickpea liquid, and cooked pasta. Bring to
a simmer and cook 2 more minutes.
Remove from heat; add lemon juice, parmesan, basil and parsley. Serve warm, garnished with more parmesan. Refrigerate leftovers.
If you’re a beer lover, you already know that the traditional German Oktoberfest – the world’s oldest festival celebrating that delicious beverage – occurs mostly in September. Here in the US, we celebrate throughout October, instead. But no matter when you celebrate and no matter what your favorite beer is, it will taste better if you’re wearing traditional clothing to set the mood. That means dirndl for women and lederhosen for men.
Taken directly from Oktoberfest.de, the official site of the 188th annual beer fest, come these unusual facts and tidbits about the costumes:
In the 19th century, the typical work attire of farm maids in Bavaria and Austria was a long, sleeveless dress over a shirt and an apron made of bed linens. Around 1930, city folks traveling to relax in the Alps took a liking to these traditional outfits. Around the same time, an Alpine-guesthouse
themed operetta caused a sensation in the USA, where “The White Horse Inn” was a box office hit on Broadway and was performed 223 times. Suddenly the traditional outfits seen in the play were chic and anyone who wanted to be at the forefront of fashion wore dresses with traditional costume elements.
The world’s most expensive dirndl
Dirndl are available at any price range. The brightly colored
mini dirndl is relatively cheap, and you can buy a knockoff version on Amazon for about $50. Real dirndl with silk aprons and lace blouses will run you $400 or so. But the world’s most expensive dirndl is made of pure wild silk and embroidered with 150,000 Swarovski crystals. That dress will cost you around $100,000!
Far removed from wild silk and Swarovski are the rogue dirndl that appear year after year. These include “dresses” made of thermoplastic in the navy and white colors of Germany’s Schalke 04 soccer team, skintight red leather or even peacock-style dresses. In 2006, Columbian dressmaker
Miguel Caballero went a bit too far when he designed a bulletproof dirndl. (He later declared it a marketing gag.)
When we think of lederhosen (literally “leather pants”) we inevitably picture Bavaria. It’s true that they are customary for Germany’s largest state — but it’s not only there. Other Alpine peoples such as Austrians, the Swiss and the inhabitants of South Tyrol happily slip on a pair.
Maybe it’s a bit excessive to call lederhosen functional, but they are capable of more than you’d believe. Deerskin is soft and pleasant, robust and durable. It protects you from the elements, keeps you warm in cold weather, and cools you on sunny days. It also adapts particularly well to liquids such as rain (or spilled beer).
Like the kilt, this question reflects one of the great mysteries: with or without underwear? Lederhosen should fit snugly and sometimes there really isn’t enough room for underwear, especially not boxers. Today it’s a matter of personal preference, but the story was very different prior to the 1940s, when all men went commando in their lederhosen
Buy in store at Hollerbach’s Outfitters
(111 Magnolia Ave., Sanford, Seminole County). Visit www.hollerbachsoutfitters.com or call 407-321-2204, ext. 1.
Or, order online at www.Lederhosenstore.com or www.Germanimporthaus.com.
Once you’ve got your Trachten (traditional clothing, head to an Oktoberfest celebration near you:
September 29-30, October 6-7: German American Society Oktoberfest
8098 66th St. N, Pinellas Park. www.GermanTampa.com
October 7: Oktoberfest Mount Dora in downtown Mount Dora
www.mountdora.com
October 13-15: Oktoberfest Tampa at Curtis Hixon Park
www.oktoberfesttampa.com
October 13-15: Sarasota Rocktoberfest at JD Halem Park
www.destinationdowntownsarasota.com
October 14: Oktoberfest on the Beach at Kolb Park, Indian Rocks Beach
www.IRBAction2000.com
October 20-22: Upper Tampa Bay Oktoberfest at Tampa Bay Downs
www.business.UTBChamber.com
October 20-22 and 27-29: Cape Coral Oktoberfest at the German American Social Club of Cape Coral
www.GASC-CapeCoral.com
October 28: Central Florida Oktoberfest at the German American Society in Casselberry
www.OrlandoGermanClub.com
The clinical definition of constipation is any two of the following symptoms for at least 12 weeks (not necessarily consecutive) in the previous year: straining during bowel movements, lumpy or hard stool, a sensation of obstruction or incomplete evacuation, and/or fewer than three bowel movements per week.
Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints in the United States; it most often affects women and adults age 65 and over. Common causes of constipation include insufficient intake of fiber and liquids, lack of exercise, medications, older age and abuse of laxatives.
The most common cause of constipation is a diet low in fiber and high in fats. The bulk and soft texture of fiber help prevent hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass. Fiber is the part of fruits, vegetables, and grains that the body cannot digest. (Keep in mind that many refined and processed foods we eat have the natural fiber removed.)
Many seniors eat a low-fiber diet that causes constipation. Some lose interest in eating and choose convenience foods low in fiber – others have difficulties chewing or swallowing and this leads them to eat soft processed foods low in fiber.
Liquids add bulk to stools making bowel movements softer and easier to pass. People who are constipated should drink about eight 8-ounce glasses of liquids a day. Avoid drinks with caffeine and alcohol because they dehydrate.
Not enough exercise can lead to constipation, although doctors do not know why. If you want to move your bowels, move your body.
Some medications can cause constipation: pain medications (especially narcotics), antacids that contain aluminum and calcium,
month.
blood pressure medications (calcium channel blockers), anti-Parkinson’s drugs, antispasmodics, antidepressants, iron supplements, diuretics and anticonvulsants.
Aging may affect bowel regularity because a slower metabolism results in less intestinal activity and muscle tone.
Laxatives usually are not necessary to treat constipation and can be habit-forming, as the colon begins to rely on laxatives to bring on bowel movements. Over time, laxatives can damage nerve cells in the colon and interfere with the colon’s natural ability to contract. For the same reason, regular use of enemas can also lead to a loss of normal bowel function.
Most people with constipation can be treated with changes in diet and exercise. A diet with 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day is recommended. Other changes that can help include drinking enough liquids, engaging in daily exercise, and reserving enough time to have a bowel movement. In addition, the urge to have a bowel movement should not be ignored.
All Rights Reserved © 2023 by Fred Cicetti
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Baker Senior Center Naples, a nonprofit that provides comprehensive programs and social services for seniors, has been awarded a $60,000 grant from the Moorings Park Foundation to grow the number of weekly Brain Joggers classes for older adults with early memory loss and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Brain Joggers offers individuals with MCI or similar conditions the chance to share practical advice and coping skills as well as to discuss feelings, concerns and frustrations. The objectives are to stimulate thinking and memory, help maintain physical functioning, teach language skills and memory techniques, and to help them socialize.
MCI is not considered dementia, but roughly 10 to 15 percent of people with MCI may develop dementia each year. Studies conducted by the Alzheimer’s Association have shown that early intervention and proactive management of Alzheimer’s and other dementias can improve the quality of life of affected individuals and their caregivers.
Seniors diagnosed with MCI experience a notable decline in at least one area of thinking skills, such as memory, that is greater than the standard memory changes caused by aging, but less than those of dementia. Mild cognitive impairment does not prevent a person from performing everyday tasks or enjoying social engagement. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that roughly 15 to 20 percent of people over age 65 may have MCI.
Baker Senior Center Naples services address the emotional and social needs of seniors in Collier and southern Lee counties. For additional information on Baker Senior Center Naples, visit NaplesSeniorCenter.org.
Partial List of Sponsors
Edith Heyck didn’t expect she’d be 72 years old and living alone. “I always thought I’d be married,” she says. “I was definitely raised to be a wife, and I never imagined I’d be on my own.” Heyck, an artist in Massachusetts, is one of nearly 38 million adults living alone – in 2022, nearly 16 million people aged 65 and older in the US lived solo, three times more than in the 1960s. And as Baby Boomers age, that number is expected to grow even more.
One factor fueling the number of seniors in solo households: rising divorce rates among adults over 50.
“We were just floored by our findings,” says Susan L. Brown, co-director of the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University. Brown’s research popularized the term “gray divorce” to describe this phenomenon – something that used to be a rarity, but now has become much more common. “Well over a third of people who are getting divorced now are over the age of 50,” Brown says. “We just can’t ignore that group anymore.”
Brown found that from 1990 to 2010, the divorce rate for people over 50 in the United States had doubled. Even though divorce rates for the overall population are declining, for adults over 65, the divorce rate is still rising. “This means more and more people are going to be aging, probably, alone, and outside of marriage,
This salad is a twist on the Mexican street food – grilled corn slathered with a creamy, spicy dressing and topped with cotija cheese.
Ingredients for the Dressing:
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup sour cream
• Juice of 2 limes (about ½ cup)
• 1-1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon hot sauce (optional) into matchsticks
Method:
Make the dressing by whisking together all the dressing ingredients. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat until shimmering. Add corn kernels and toss to coat.
Ingredients for the Salad:
• 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 lb. frozen corn kernels, thawed
• 1 lb. rigatoni pasta
• 1 cup cotija cheese, crumbled, plus more for garnish
• 1 bunch scallions, white and light green parts only, sliced
• 1 cup chopped cilantro
certainly,” Brown says.
Susan Myres knows to some people it may sound illogical to end marriages later in life, especially when death could be looming. But as a divorce attorney in Houston with decades of experience, she’s heard plenty of reasons from older clients who are calling it quits.
Myres says that differing perspectives on vaccines, masks and politics during the pandemic seems to have played a role in many recent cases that have come across her desk. “I’ve seen a pretty sharp increase in mature couples who have adult children and…grandchildren,” she says.
Some older people initiating divorces feel they’ve simply drifted too far apart from their spouses, while some have suffered abuse or discovered shocking transgressions, Myres says. All of them – including some clients in their 80s – feel like any years of life they have left are too precious to spend with the wrong person.
Experts say that could have significant consequences for communities across the country – especially if more isn’t done to provide better social services. “Who’s going to care for them as they age is a really big question, since most are not repartnering,” Brown says.
Cook without stirring for 2 minutes until lightly charred. Toss and repeat until all corn is charred, about 8-10 minutes.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until slightly soft,
about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
In a large bowl, toss pasta, dressing, corn kernels, cheese, scallions and cilantro.
Chill at least 1 hour before serving to allow pasta to absorb the dressing and become firm. Serve with additional cheese and lime wedges. Refrigerate leftovers.
The perfect recipe to take advantage of fresh berries available in plenty at the local farmer’s market.
Ingredients:
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup (1 stick), unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced (about
• 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup fresh strawberries, diced ½ cup fresh blueberries
Table Tennis, or Ping Pong, is a sport that is thought of for the youthful and athletic. But it also holds benefits for seniors both physically and mentally.
Hand-to-eye coordination, quickness of reflexes and quick physical movement are some of the benefits that Table Tennis offers to seniors. This active game can give aid to physical fitness and general health.
Table Tennis is a low-impact sport. It is easier on the body, overall. Thus, making this sport an option for seniors that want to be active but, at the same time, keeping careful of their limitations. This low impact sport can help in improving balance and coordination which can help in preventing falls.
It can also be good for socializing and making friends.
Strategy, fast thinking and concentration are required for this game. This trio has the ability of helping seniors with mental stimulation and cognitive thinking.
Jigsaw puzzles can be fun, interesting and entertaining for all ages including seniors. Jigsaw puzzles are thought to be one of the best ways to keep minds sharp and can be a way to help keep the brain active.
They are known for helping with mental speed and being a mental escape according to Professor Marcel Danesi. He is a professor at the University of Toronto in semiotics, the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation. Puzzles in general are a good way to improve cognitive skills. The participant needs to concentrate on remembering the pieces and assembling the pieces in a certain order.
Seniors may need to choose a puzzle according to their limitations. If you have poor vision or arthritis a puzzle with larger pieces may be easier to handle.
One hundred piece or less puzzles may be better for those with impairments such as dementia or Alzheimer’s.
When it comes to Medicare, I’m in the know—and available in your neighorhood.
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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States. According to the National Cancer Institute, one in eight American females will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women who are 50 to 74 years old and are at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every two years.
Breast Cancer Risks
• Getting older -- most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50
• Genetic mutations -- such as BRCA1 and BRCA2
• Early menstrual period – starting before age 12
• Late or no pregnancy – first pregnancy after age 30
• Starting menopause after age 55
• Not being physically active
• Being overweight or obese after menopause
• Having dense breasts
• Using combination hormone therapy --estrogen and progestin
• Personal or family history of breast cancer
• Personal history of certain non-cancerous breast diseases
• Previous treatment using radiation therapy
• Women who took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES)
• Drinking alcohol -- risk increases the larger the amount consumed
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
• New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
• Thickening or swelling of part of the breast
• Irritation or dimpling of breast skin
• Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast
• Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood
• Any change in the size or the shape of the breast
• Pain in breast
For more information, visit: www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast
Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
I have really been looking forward to October. When it arrives, we are immediately one week into Fall. It portends to be a nice, pleasant month, “not too hot, not too cold, but just right,” according to Goldilocks. It’s the time of year when everything, including the porridge, is pumpkin spice flavored! The main reason I look forward to the month these days is Samuel Adams’ seasonal Oktoberfest Beer, which is one of the few times I indulge.
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Sometimes I take my beer out by the pool, but I haven’t been in the pool this year at all, having gotten basal cell carcinoma on my nose from being in the pool last year. Plus, I’ve only just this week been released to get into the pool by my cardiologist, as I’m now 4 months out from open-heart surgery. I am now a CABG Patched Kid.
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My brain is also patchy, because logically, October should be the eighth month (as “octo” = 8). I guess no one was willing to argue with Julius Caesar at the time. The good news is, there are only two months remaining for hurricane season. But then, there’s always that one, rebellious hurricane out there who can’t read a calendar. October is also known for Oktoberfest. Is that when German children put on their lederhosen and go from door to door, begging for candy?
No, I’m sorry, that’s Halloween, which, depending on your perspective, began as a “Christian” celebration when in 835 AD, Pope Gregory IV moved the celebration for all the martyrs (later all saints) from May 13 to November 1. The night before became known as All Hallow’s Eve, later shortened to Hallowe’en. There are also purported ties with Samhain, which was first observed by Celtic Pagans. On this day the Celts believed the veil between the living and the dead was especially thin.
Since I now live in a gated retirement community rather than a regular subdivision, I no longer have the option of gimbal-mounting a cauldron of boiling oil atop my roof to thwart trick or treaters. Sadly, the HOA made me take it down.
That’s OK, though, because the last time I celebrated Halloween, I was as a teen. I entered a costume contest dressed as a #2 Pencil. I lost (and got weird looks). My Dad, who in real life is a priest, dressed as the Devil. (He won.)
If October has special memories for you, share them with Mike at micwrighthamo@gmail.com.
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5595 – I AM YOUNG SPIRITED. 74, ND, NS, NDrgs. Christian lady in search of life partner. Friends first. Am very active, love dancing, laughter and working out. Looking for the same. Please send a recent photo.
5436 - TAMPA VETERAN NEEDS COMPANION QUICKLY. SW, 60, looking for healthy, W, 45-65 for LTR. Need compuer operations, applications expert and handy homemaker. Quiet music, parks, swimming, local touring. Veteran literary a plus. Tampa.
5599 – SEARCHING FOR SOMEONE. I am SWF, 80 yy, NS, ND, Blond/Gray hair, 5’2”. ISO SWM for eating out, listening to country, western, gospel music, travel, sports. THIS COULD BE YOU!
5427 - SEEKING SINCERE, HONEST GENTLEMAN. I’m 70s, HWP, NS, ND, like to meet SWM with same interest for LTR. Laid back, no drama. Like animals. Hillsborough & Pasco.
5600 – HEALTHY, ACTIVE, RETIRED, WDHF, 5’5”, 130 lbs, physically fit, secure, good SOH, 70’s. Enjoys travel, beaches, dance. NS, ND. ISO, WSM, 70’s who likes the same. Let’s have fun. Clearwater/Dunedin area.
5425 - SINCERE CHRISTIAN WOMAN desires C-man who really loves God and is active, lives a healthy life, helps his neighbor, enjoys nature (including picnics), canoeing and a friend to all animals. I’m all of the above. I’m a W ,etite lady with long hair and chearful. Age 60’s, Age preferred: Mid 50’s and up. I live in Hillsborough County. Please write me, tell me about yourself.
5601 – R U THE 1? Want gentleman who touches the heart & tickles the soul! I’m 79, W, J, WW, NS, 5’, 135 lbs, platinum hair, pleasant personality & looks. Love music, theatre, restaurants, fishing, pets & board games. Sun City.
5431 – LONELY WWF, looking for love & companion. Man should be 70 to 80 yrs old. I am nancially secure, have a car & condo. I live in N. St. Pete.
5602 – SWF, 5’4”,120 lbs, auburn hair, blue eyes, retired paralegal. I enjoy the outdoors, dancing, movies, and dinner out. I enjoy attending church and cooking. I am from a large family.
5429 - HERE, DURING COVID-19 IN S. FT. MYERS. ISO friendship only with W, widower in early 80’s. SOH, honest, NS. I am W, WW, HWP, attractive & intellgent. Please respond with phone/email. Be safe & well.
5604 – LOOKING FOR SOULMATE. I’m 80 y young, 5’5”, 120#, blonde. Like dancing, Elks, beach, state parks, reading, short trips, museums, picniks in the park, movies. SWCF. Write OK. Largo & Seminole
5413 - WW ISO BUDDY, FRIEND to pal around with who’s about my age, 80’s, gal or guy with SOH. Good health, nancially secure to have fun & enjoy life. No Trumpers or religious zealots please. Let the good times roll.
5573 – HI, I’M MARVIN. Looking for companion, I am 85YY, WM, WW, C, NS, 5’9”, 165 lbs., SOH. Excellent health and very active. Southern country gentleman. This is my first experience with this. Homeowner with pool, semi-retired, own truck dealership. Please send phone number. Let’s talk. Let’s have fun.
5419 - HAVE A NICE DAY. SWF, 75 yo, 5’5”, slender, brunette, green eyes, adventurous, love walks, parks, outdoors, healthy food. Am happy, loving, kind. LTR, intimacy? Have photo. Tampa.
4119 - Seeking Honest gentleman. Former airline stewardess and model, 5’4”, 104 lbs., slender, white with Ph.D. in healthcare. Fulbright scholar, eats healthy and exercises. Likes sports and animals. WW. Loves the Lord. Florida.
MEN SEEKING WOMEN
5588 – SWM, 78, recently widowed, seeks SWF in 60’s, SW Florida resident who is affectionate, energetic, active gal for LTR. NS, ND. I enjoy oldies music/shows, beaches, pools, BQ’s. Send phone number. We will talk.
5411 - BM seeks LTR with 50-65 yr old woman of character. I am 6’0”, 180 lbs, 60 year old. NS. Children are adults. Free to travel. I am a one woman man. Race is not an issuecharacter is!
5591 – NEW TO ME. Secure SWM, 5’7”, 150#, NS, ND, seeks romantic, relocatable female for life partner, best friend, lover. Share my home. Save that rent for good things. Please send description, photo, phone.
5407 - ISO BF, 50+, slender build who likes to read, go out to eat, movies, laid back, enjoys laughter & is drama free. Look forward to hearing from you. I am a WM, 5’11”, 155 lbs, NS and drama free.
5415 - M, WW, NS, SD, HWP, P, FF, likes cards, walks, cooking, travel, fun.
5593 – HI LADIES! I’m 61, 160 lbs, 5’7” hgt., physically fit, enjoy swimming pool & beach, art fest’s, going out having fun, sense of humor, doing new things. Looking for same ages 57-65. Venice.
5592 – WISH YOU WERE HERE. I’m a SWM, 5’6”, 180 lb, SOH, NS, ND, SD, CONDO who likes happy hour, restaurants, shopping, TV, the Elks, going places, kissing, holding hands. ISO SF, white or asian, fun, easy going, smiles, overweight OK, enjoys life – then contact me. Thank you. Pinellas Park.
5424 - HI, Lonely guy, WM, 5’8”, 160 lbs, a young mid-seventies, NS, NS, t, active and adventuresome. Seeks lady, mid-sixties to early seventies, HWP, exercises, possible romance, LTR. Let’s be happy and celebrate life.
5393 - SWM, 69, 5’11”, AVG. Hair black, thinning, DAV, honest, sincere, relocated Hudson. Retired Leo. ISO WHF, widow preferred, attractive, sm. butt, NS, ND, handy homemaker, intimacy yes, no baggage, drama.
5428 - M, WW, NS, SD, HWP, R, TLC, 70’s. Likes sharing many activities together, quiet evenings; be adventurous.
5594 – I’M LOOKING FOR A FEMALE COMPANION in the Tampa Bay area. I am 86 YY, WM, WW, C, NS, 5’9”, 165 lbs, SOH. Excellent health, very active. Southern country gentleman. This is my first experience with this. Homeowner with pool, semi-retired, own truck dealership. Write to me, let’s have fun.
5426 - EASY GOING MAN. I’m 69, 140 lbs, 5’7”, widower, lives alone. Seeking other gentlemen for friendship, to get together and enjoy each other’s company. Will answer alll.
5598 – YOU & ME – TOGETHER. SWM, 5’6”, 175 lbs, 70’s, SD, NS, SOH, NDrgs. Condo. Likes: happy hour, restaurants, the Elks, TV, movies, shopping, kissing, holding hands. ISO SWF or Asian. SOH. Fun easy going, smiles, enjoys life.
5369 – Looking For Ms Right. Retired New York Attorney, former New York Police O cer, looking for loving relationship with kind and sincere, self-caring lady. 65 – 75. Widow preferred. Clearwater area.
5603 – NEVER SETTLED FOR LESS. That was a mistake. Nobody’s perfect. Neither are you OR ME. Searching for white caring woman, under five foot seven, any age. Risk takers only please. Reachable from anywhere!
5412 - LOOKING FOR ADVENTEROUS WOMAN. SWM, NS, healthy, retired, enjoys country music, home cooking, day trips to scenic attractions, sun rises, sunsets, movies, walks in the park. For more info, write me. Pinellas County.
5416 - LOOKING FOR COMPANION. SWM
seeking t, attractive, female. Very handsome, very t senior. 5’11”, 175, blue eyes, silver hair. Let’s enjoy life’s pleasures. Dunedin.
5417 - PINELLAS PARK, FUN LOVING
5605 – YOU & ME TOGETHER. ISO White or Asian F. Fun, easy going, smiles, enjoys life. SWM, 70’s, 5’6”, SOH, ND, NS, SD, condo. Like happy hour, restaurants, the Elks, TV, movies, shopping, kissing, holding hands. Let’s talk. Pinellas Park.
SWM, seeking SWW to enjoy sports activities, bridge, dominoes, pinochle and swimming at Mainlands. I’m 88 and very active. Looking for SWW over 70. I’m 6’3”, 235 lbs and a dancer. Pinellas Park.
5606 – TRIED THIS BEFORE. It worked great. 9 years but she passed on. 78 yr old guy wants younger gal with spunkiness left. NS, ND, loves all neighbors even enemies. Adventurist.
5607 – SEXY SIX FOOT TWO EYES OF BLUE. 200 pound athletic boy who looks a lot younger than 62 wants a fun, youthful companion to explore the world with. Come with me! PG, PC, NFM, NP.
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CommonLY USeD ABBReViATionS: F-Female, M-Male, S-Single, D-Divorced, WWWidow, A-Asian, B-Black, H-Hispanic, I-Indian, W-White, C-Christian, J-Jewish, YO-Years Old, YY-Years Young, ISO-In Search Of, SOH-Sense Of Humor, SM-Smokes, S-Light Smoker, NSNon Smoker, ND-Non Drinker, SD-Social (Light) Drinker, DR-Drinks, NDrg- No Drugs, LTR-Long Term Relationship, HWP-Height & Weight Proportional, R-Retired, P-Professional, FF-Friendship First, TLC-Tender Loving Care.
TITLE:
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Exclusive early bird ticket and motorcoach transportation offer to the Daytona 500 Sunday February 18. 3:00 p.m. with departures from the SarasotaBradenton Clearwater-Dunedin, Largo, Seminole and St. Petersburg areas. Just $179 per person includes a race ticket with the ticket value alone of $220. Our package includes your ticket and bus transportation for just $179. A portion of ticket proceeds is being donated to the American Legion to benefit Veterans programs.. Option to add UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race Access for just $86 (a $110 Value)
5 Days/ 4 Nights, Monday –Friday November 6-10 $995 per person (double occupancy) Includes: Round-Trip Motorcoach to Tampa Airport, Round-trip non-stop air to Las Vegas, Round-trip Airport to Hotel Transfers, 4nights accommodations at the fabulous Excalibur Hotel & Casino.
Friday-Monday December 15-18 Nashville Country Christmas $1979 per person (double occupancy). includes roundtrip airfare, roundtrip bus to Sarasota Airport from St. Petersburg area, 3 nights lodging at Gaylord Opryland Resort., 6 Meals, four shows including Christmas Dinner show in ballroom at Gaylord Opryland Resort with Darryl Worley and friends, Amy Grant & Vince Gill at the Ryman, General Jackson Showboat Luncheon Cruise with entertainment., Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame, guided city tour of Nashville, Delta Flatboat ride, Treasures for the Holidays, Ice.
Monday-Thursday January 22-25, 2024- $1789 per person (double occupancy) round trip air from Tampa to Key West, round trip transportation to Tampa Airport, round trip trolley transportation to and from hotel. 3 nights in Key West at Florida Keys and Key West Lodging Association’s “Property of the Year”, the Doubletree Grand Key Resort located a mile from the airport. Complimentary transportation from hotel to Duval Street and the beaches.
NEW
The
Wed,
Monday February 5- Friday February 9, 2024 $1999 per person (double occupancy) Roundtrip airfare from Tampa to New Orleans, 5 days , 4 nights accommodations in French Quarter 7 Meals New Orleans School of Cooking, comprehensive city tour of New Orleans, Mardi Gras World Museum, National World War II Museum (including 4D film), Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise, Louisiana Swamp Boat tour, and reserved parade bleacher seating for four parades in New Orleans
KLINE TOURS
(727)-439-5520 | www. klinetours.net/florida-departures
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Serving the Florida Gulf Coast
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BY EVELYN B. KELLY, PHD
October in Sleepy Hollow is “the most wonderful time of the year.” There are blazing Jack-o-lanterns, exciting street fairs, and yards decorated with a kaleidoscope of reds, greens, and yellows. We are approaching Sleepy Hollow from Tarrytown, NY along Route 9. Buried under the black asphalt is the dirt road supposedly traversed by Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman, made famous by the writer Washington Irving in the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
I creep along as part of the crowd, haunted by my thoughts of the headless horseman riding past this ghostly oak tree; all of New York must have emptied into this small valley. Despite the mob, I want to find the past in the present and concentrate on the spirit and history of this interesting Dutch colony.
It all began in 1609 when the Dutch East India Company hired explorer Henry Hudson, who found and named a magnificent river and made way for colonies of Dutch people to lay down family roots in 1658. The settlers were energetic trappers and farmers who pioneered free trade and tolerance. They also brought a wealth of tales – including their ghost stories – with them. In fact, the area is considered one of the most haunted places in the U.S.
Washington Irving inspired the renaming of the village of Sleepy Hollow (until 1996, it was called North Tarrytown). He moved to the area in 1798 to avoid the outbreaks of yellow fever. He was introduced to local ghost stories, including a tale of a Hessian soldier, a mercenary for the British, whose head was shot off by a Continental Army cannon. The moral of his story: Do not let superstition guide your actions and overwhelm your reason.
From the crowds here, it does appear that his intent is hidden in the hoopla.
When I was a kid, someone once told me that whenever you pass a cemetery, hold your breath so you will not breathe in evil spirits. My maxim is tested as our guide led us to the old Dutch church and its churchyard prominently mentioned in the legend. The ghost rides in a nightly quest of his head, hurrying to get back to his grave before daybreak. The two-acre churchyard is the resting place of settlers like those that inspired Katrina Van Tassel and Brom Bones.
The 90-acre Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, on the other hand, has unique headstones, magnificent mausoleums, twisting narrow roads, and over 45,000 gravesites.
Washington Irving himself is buried here along with Andrew Carnegie, Walter Chrysler, Elizabeth Arden, Brooke Astor, and William Rockefeller. It is heavily wooded with cedars, sycamores, and oaks.
Ghosts are not only on land, but in the water. An area where the river widens is called Tappan Zee: “Tappan” for the native tribe that lived in the region and “Zee,” the Dutch word for sea. The glowing ghost ship – The Flying Dutchman – has been sighted in the Hudson; it appears during a turbulent storm and then disappears.
Even with the crowds I was alone in my own thoughts, reflecting on the names on the tombstones and periodically reminded of these great people. However, it was satisfying seeing the crowds having fun and enjoying themselves. I realized that this was not only a sleepy tourist destination but was a wide-awake land of history and peace, a place of celebration of life and joy.
OCTOBER 5: THE MUSIC MAN
Fort Myers Theatre, 16120 San Carlos Blvd., Fort Myers
OCTOBER 6: BELLTOBER BEER FEST 2023
Bell Tower, 13499 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers
OCTOBER 7: MATCHBOX TWENTY
Hammond Stadium, 14100 6 Mile Cypress Pkwy., Fort Myers
OCTOBER 13-15: FARMTOBERFEST WEEK 3
Crazy Dingo Brewing Company, 8500 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers
OCTOBER 13-31: HALLOWEEN NOTTE
The Charlotte County Fair, 2333 El Jobean Rd., Port Charlotte
OCTOBER 15: HAIRSPRAY
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers
OCTOBER 20: HOME & GARDEN SHOW
Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center, 75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda
OCTOBER 20: FOREVER ABBA CANADA
Center for Performing Arts, 701 Carmalita St., Punta Gorda
OCTOBER 21: FORT MYERS FALL COMEDY FESTIVAL
Fort Myers Theatre, 16120 San Carlos Blvd., Fort Myers
OCTOBER 21: SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SYMPHONY: BRAVE NEW POPS 1
R.E.M. EXPLORED
7500 College Pkwy, Fort Myers
OCTOBER 21: SARASOTA WATER LANTERN FESTIVAL
Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Cir., Sarasota
OCTOBER 21: PUNTA GORDA HALF MARATHON & 5K
Laishley Park, Punta Gorda
OCTOBER 21: ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR
Port Charlotte Town Center, 1441 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte
OCTOBER 27: HOTEL CALIFORNIA: A SALUTE TO THE EAGLES
Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center, 75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda
OCTOBER 27, 29: FORT MYERS HOME & REMODELING SHOW
Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Rd., North Fort Myers
OCTOBER 30: ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
2600 Old 41 Rd., Bonita Springs
Information from Social Security Administration
Q: How does SSI work? Who is eligible? (G. Vergara, Doral)
Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) is a federal program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes). It provides monthly payments to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. The base monthly federal amount varies depending on your living arrangement and countable income.
Not everyone gets the same amount. You may get more if you live in a state that adds money to the federal SSI payment. You may get less if you have other income such as wages, pensions, or Social Security benefits. You may also get less if someone pays your household expenses or if you live with a spouse and he or she has income.
You may be able to get SSI if your resources are worth $2,000 or less. A couple may be able to get SSI if they have resources worth $3,000 or less.
Anyone may apply. The SSI program provides monthly payments to people who:
• Are at least age 65 or blind or disabled.
• Have limited income (wages, pensions, etc.).
• Have limited resources (the things you own).
• Are U.S. citizens, nationals of the U.S., or some noncitizens.
• Reside in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands.
For superstar Gladys Knight, recording “Midnight Train to Georgia” was probably like singing poignant lines from a diary. She once said, “I was going through the exact same thing that I was [singing] about when recording, which is probably why it sounds so personal.”
It all came about when Mississippi-born singer-songwriter Jim Weatherly moved to Los Angeles to try his luck in the recording industry. One evening in 1970, he phoned Lee Majors, an actor friend who had just started dating model Farrah Fawcett. “Lee and I were in a flag football league together,” Weatherly recalled. “Farrah answered the phone. She said Lee wasn’t home and that she was packing to take a midnight plane to Houston to visit her folks. I thought, ‘What a great idea for a song’.”
After Jim hung up the phone, he grabbed his guitar and created “Midnight Plane to Houston” in 45 minutes.
It was shown to gospel icon Cissy Houston—Whitney’s mother. “I loved it right away,” Houston said. “But I wanted to change the title. My people are from Georgia, and they didn’t take planes to Houston or anywhere else. They took trains. We recorded ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ in Memphis in 1972, but my label didn’t do much to promote it.”
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.
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.
Weatherly’s song was then passed on to Gladys Knight, another Georgia native. Knight said, “I listened to Cissy’s version and I loved it, but I wanted to do something moody— horns, keyboards and other instruments to create texture and spark something in me.” Knight then recorded her signature song, which told of a man relinquishing his dreams of Hollywood stardom to return home, with the love of his life choosing to follow him:
L. A. proved too much for the man // He’s leaving the life he’s come to know He said he’s going back to find what’s left of his world // The world he left behind not so long ago
He’s leaving on that midnight train to Georgia
“While recording that single, I was thinking about my own situation,” Knight admitted later when discussing her chart-topping, Grammy-winning smash hit on Buddha Records. “My husband at the time was unhappy that we didn’t have a more traditional marriage because I was often on the road or recording. Ultimately, it all proved too much for him, like the song said.”
Happy Halloween from Zephyrhills
Sometimes our bodies send us signals to tell us something is not quite right. While it might be tempting to dismiss certain symptoms as insignificant, they have the potential to evolve into more serious conditions if left untreated.
Here are 10 red-flag symptoms that should never be ignored:
1. Severe headaches: Do not dismiss sudden and severe headaches as they could be a sign of life-threatening conditions like an aneurysm or a burst blood vessel in the brain.
2. Chest pain: It’s not always a heart problem. It could be a sign of a blood clot, collapsed lung, ruptured esophagus or other complications. Pay attention for alternate symptoms such as faintness, vomiting and cold sweat.
3. Changes in vision: Losing vision in one eye could be a stroke, caused by a lack of oxygen supply to the brain, often resulting in problems on one side of the body.
4. Shortness of breath: Unexpected
shortness of breath might indicate an anxiety attack, a blood clot in a lung or artery, or certain cardiovascular issues.
5. Constant fatigue: Feeling excessively tired all the time, beyond normal exhaustion, could be an early signal of a heart attack.
6. Sudden weight loss or gain: Unexplained weight loss could be linked to cancer, an overactive thyroid gland or liver diseases. On the other hand, sudden weight gain without a known cause may also require medical attention.
7. Nausea or vomiting: Frequent vomiting immediately after meals could be a sign of stomach cancer, gallbladder disease or severe food poisoning.
8. Coughing: Coughing up blood could indicate an underlying infection that requires medical attention.
9. Fever: A fever is the body’s response to infection. If your temperature reaches 103 degrees Fahrenheit or if you have a low-
grade fever that lasts for more than seven days, it is critical to seek medical attention.
10. Unusual bleeding: If you notice blood in your urine or stools, or if you cough or vomit blood, it is important to take it seriously. Blood in the urine can indicate conditions like bladder cancer, kidney disease, infections or injuries. Blood in the stools may be a sign of trauma, hemorrhoids, or more serious issues like colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. Vomiting blood could indicate an ulcer or esophageal tear, while coughing up blood could be linked to lung cancer.
By being proactive and seeking timely medical attention, we can promote early diagnosis, proper treatment and overall well-being. Your doctor is your partner in maintaining good health and they can guide you through any concerns or fears you may have. Together, we can keep you feeling your best.