News of
9.3.12
www.newsofkingspoint.com
September, 2012
Looney “ROMEOs” Gather Where Guys Can Be Guys
By NOKP Staff, with Al Hurlbrink & Phyllis Hodges Photos by Phyllis Hodges Initially, they came looking for a place just to talk and to laugh. They have come away with the sort of fun friendships that only come from getting together simply because you want to. Seven days a week around 7:45 AM they begin to arrive at the McDonald’s at Crossroads Shopping Center. They are the ROMEOs, a group of Retired Old Men Eating Out. The guys come and go for the next 90 minutes or so. They wander in, grab breakfast or a cup of coffee and find an open seat at the bar or at a nearby table. Conversation flows. No topic is off limits. The guys chew on politics, current events, religion, sports – anything that is on their minds. The group is informal and, at times, irreverent. But, according to group member, Al Hurlbrink, the conversation is good-natured and rarely contentious. “If a guy gets out of hand, we let him know. We don’t
Many of the regulars wear the Looney hats or pins, but that’s about as formal as these “meetings” get. There is no agenda, no organization, no official minutes and no roll call. But that doesn’t mean the guys don’t notice if a regular is missing. Al assures me they look out for each other. “If we have a guy who’s been coming and he Continued on Page 3
Looney “ROMEOs”, a group of Retired Old Men Eating Out.
mind different opinions, but we’re there to have a good time. This is about camaraderie.” That group camaraderie began across an ocean with a British men’s club known as the Loonies. One of the Sun City Center ROMEOs met a man overseas who had formed a “Looney” club
in Britain. Eventually the man passed away, leaving a box full of caps, pins and other “Looney” memorabilia. The guys decided to keep the Looney legacy alive. They donned the caps and In thanks for her hospitality, the Loonies adopted the friendly, guys presented McDonald’s Manager, Sue being guys, attitude. Maynard, with flowers.
Former Kings Point Resident in a Fight for Her Life
Special to NOKP Eating should give us energy and strength, not make us ill. But, beginning in 2010, Jan McManus, a former Kings Point resident and former president of the Kings Point Travel Club, started becoming extremely ill every time she tried to eat. After undergoing multiple tests, she was diagnosed with gastroparesis and gastric motility syndrome. These illnesses began to cause her intestines to stop functioning properly. The condition progressed and, sadly, she had to have her stomach removed last year. Doctors say a stomach / pancreas / small bowel transplant is essential to her survival, and she is currently undergoing testing in hopes of being added to the transplant waiting list soon. Despite these challenges, Jan is passionate about life, and she looks forward to feeling healthy again after receiving a transplant. She has a big heart, and her family means the world to her. Jan’s mother, Gloria, is a wonderful, supportive friend,
Where In The World ........ 5 & 6 CARE....................................... 7 Debbie Caneen 33573 ................... 8, 9,10 & 11 Golf....................................... 12 Deputy Chris......................... 14
Jan McManus, former president of the Kings Point Travel Club.
and she is extremely grateful for the love of her siblings, nieces, nephews and friends. Before doctors put in a PICC line, Jan loved to swim. But, because swimming can pose a risk to the PICC line, she cannot swim until she is healthy enough to have the line removed. Whether she’s
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experiencing good days or bad days, she’s always determined to continue fighting to overcome this frightening health crisis. But right now, she needs your help. Jan’s hope for a new life comes at a very high price. A stomach/pancreas/small bowel transplant costs approximately
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$1 million. And that’s only the beginning. Even though her health insurance will cover the transplant itself, Jan faces significant medical expenses. For the rest of her life, she will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. The cost of post-transplant medications can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month—and they are as critical to her survival as the transplant itself. When she receives her transplant, Jan must temporarily relocate 320 miles from her home to be near the transplant center in Miami during recovery, incurring substantial expenses for travel, food and lodging. What if your life depended on the compassion and generosity of others? The National Foundation for Transplants (NFT) is working with volunteers and supporters to help relieve the growing burden of expenses for Jan and her family. NFT has been assisting transplant patients with advocacy and fundraising Continued on Page 3