Prime Magazine Nov 2016 by Bob Corley

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Celebrating Life

November 2016

GOLF

Alabama’s Money Trail plus • Thanksgiving Quiz • Technology for Seniors • 6 Painkiller Myths

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EDITOR’S NOTE

November 2016 • Volume 7 • Issue 8

PUBLISHER Bob Corley, primemontgomery@gmail.com EDITOR Sandra Polizos, primeeditor@gmail.com ART DIRECTOR Callie Corley, primemagdesign@gmail.com WRITERS Mark Fagan, Andrea Gross, James R. Hansen, William McDonald, Ourania Papacharalambous PHOTOGRAPHERS Irv Green CONTRIBUTORS Niko Corley, Clarie Hubbard, Gary M. Kaye, Kylle’ McKinney, Bob Moos, Arlene Morris, Nick Thomas, Alan Wallace SALES Bob Corley • 334-202-0114 primemontgomery@gmail.com Suzanne Roquemore • 334-546-0010 suzannerprime@gmail.com Prime Montgomery 7956 Vaughn Road, #144 Montgomery, AL 36116 • 334-202-0114 www.primemontgomery.com ISSN 2152-9035

Prime Montgomery is a publication of The Polizos/Corley Group, LLC. Original content is copyright 2016 by The Polizos/Corley Group, LLC., all rights reserved, with replication of any portion prohibited without written permission. Opinions expressed are those of contributing writer(s) and not necessarily those of The Polizos/ Corley Group, LLC. Prime Montgomery is published monthly except for the combined issue of December/January. Information in articles, departments, columns, and other content areas, as well as advertisements, does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Prime Montgomery magazine. Items relating to health, finances, and legal issues are not offered as substitutes for the advice and consultation of health, financial, and legal professionals. Consult properly degreed and licensed professionals when dealing with financial, medical, emotional, or legal matters. We accept no liability for errors or omissions, and are not responsible for advertiser claims.

November 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com

wo enduring qualities of children are their straight-forwardness, and their capacity to connect previously unconnected elements, producing a new observation. They are blatantly honest, asking unknowingly probing questions and making insightful observations without realizing it. They are without guile, and will lay it on the line when observing the world around them. One day, after thumbing through Bob’s and my wedding photo album with our granddaughter, she made a perfectly normal observation about her Papou (Greek for grandfather). “Yiayia,” she said, some- Sandra Polizos what suprised, “Papou have hair in these pictures!” “Yes, he does,” I replied, having watched my husband slowly grow bald over our ensuing 37 years of marriage. As she perused the remaining photos I saw her stop and study one picture in particular. It was Bob leaping off the floor in a spirited Greek dance during our wedding reception, his hair flying high above his head. You could almost see the question forming in her three-and-a-half-year-old brain. “What happen to Papou’s hair?” she asked. More interested in her thoughts than any answer I’d give, I turned the question back on her. “What do you think happened to his hair?” She pondered it for a few seconds, still studying the photograph. Suddenly she looked up, confident in her answer. “I think it blowed away!” From her point of view it was infinitely logical, and her conviction was undeniable — no androgenic alopecia, no receding hairline. The wind just blew it away. On another afternoon, as we wandered around our backyard with squirrels leaping limb-to-limb above us, we were picking up acorns and letting the grandchildren toss them in the fountain to make a splash. “Did you know squirrels eat these?” Bob observed, showing them how to stand back and toss the acorns into the fountain from a distance to make a bigger splash. Our two-year-old grandson, about to heave a handful of acorns into the water, stopped and looked up at the frenzied pace of the jumping squirrels. Looking back at the treasure in his hand, his face suddenly grew serious as he walked to the edge of the patio and threw the acorns into the grass. “Why he do that?” Sister asked. Our grandson’s face still deadpan, he pointed with his finger. “Squirrel want to eat,” he thoughtully explained. While assuring him it’s okay to toss a few acorns into the fountain, and relating why we really didn’t really even want squirrels around the yard anyway, Bob soon yielded, helping him gather acorns from the patio and tossing them into the yard. “Here, squirrel,” said our grandson, dropping several acorns in the grass. “Time to eat.” The depth of a child’s imagination is astonishing. What they can conjure up in those young brains amazes me. Whether they imagine a grandfather’s hair flying away in the wind, or see themselves preparing a meal for a small squirrel, often our best role as parents and grandparents is not to inject the rational world into our conversations. We must protect them, of course, from danger and injury, and provide guidance when instruction is called for. But being as much observer as participant can teach us, too. The old saying, “See the world through a child’s eyes,” is never more important than when we’re being schooled in the company of these astonishing little people.

November 2016 Table of Contents Editor’s Note 4 Quick Reads 6

Doctor vs Computer:Who wins?

Yard ‘n Garden 9 Lasagna gardening?

Medicare 10

Does your plan meet your 2017 needs?

Thankgiving Quiz 12

What Native American group helped the Pilgrims?

A Gracious Plenty 13

When to toss leftovers (+ Turkey Tetrazzini)

Archaelogy & Adventure 14 Cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde

Money Wi$e 17

Defense: good in sports, good for investing

Drive for Show, Putt for Dough 18 Golf means green in Alabama

Prime Wins Awards 21

For writing, design, photography, website

Tinseltown Talks 22

Stephanie Cole: Shakespeare to Public TV

Social Security 24

Wounded Warrior disability benefits Photo by Meg McKinney

In Every Life 25

Alzheimer’s awareness

Debunking Pain-killer Myths 26 6 “facts” you thought you knew

Alzheimer’s App 27

Teen seeks to re-connect with her grandmother

Look Again... 29

Mirrors don’t reflect what’s in your soul

Crossword & Sudoku Puzzles 30 Answers on page 32

History’s Mystery 31 Who ARE these people?

Calendar 33 Circa 1955, Montgomery, AL

Off the Beaten Path 34 Pleasant Surprise

www.primemontgomery.com | November 2016

Less weight loss benefit with high-protein diet Dieters sometimes consume extra protein to stave off hunger and prevent loss of muscle tissue that often comes with weight loss. But in a study of 34 postmenopausal women with obesity, researchers at Washington U. School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, found eating too much protein eliminates an important health benefit of weight loss: improvement in insulin sensitivity, critical to lowering diabetes risk. The findings were published in the journal Cell Reports. The study found women who lost weight eating a high-protein diet didn’t experience any improvements in insulin sensitivity, but women who lost weight eating less protein were significantly more sensitive to insulin at the conclusion of the study. That’s important, because in many overweight and obese people, insulin does not effectively control blood-sugar levels, and eventually the result is type 2 diabetes. Insulin sensitivity is a good marker of metabolic health, one that typically improves with weight loss. The women in the study who lost weight while consuming less protein experienced a 25 to 30% improvement in their sensitivity to insulin.

Quick Reads TV at 2, Antisocial at 13? By age 13, children who watch too much television are at risk of victimization, social isolation, and adopting violent and antisocial behavior toward other students. This is the findings of a new study, done at the U. of Montreal’s School of Psychoeducation, that set out to examine the long-term affect of TV during toddlerhood on later development of peer relationships, positive social identity, and getting along well with others. “Children who watched a lot of television growing up,” said the study’s principal investigator, “were more likely to prefer solitude, experience peer victimization, and adopt aggressive and antisocial behavior toward their peers at the end of the first year of middle school.” The study noted that the transition to middle school is a crucial stage in adolescent development, also observing that too much TV viewing at age 13 tended to pose additional risks of social impairment.

U. of Montreal, Sainte-Justine Research Center, a mother-child research institution. Press release via Newswise.

Washington U. School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Press release provided by ScienceDaily (www.sciencedaily.com/release)

Social Isolation: Men and women are different Male and female mice have similar responses to physical stress, but new research suggests females, not males, feel stressed when alone. The findings, from the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the U. of Calgary, Canada, provide further proof that strategies for coping with stress are sex-specific. They also highlight the importance of a social network for females in particular, and pave the way for future research into whether females befriend others as a coping mechanism during stressful situations. “Many species, including humans, use social interaction to 6 November 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com

reduce the effects of stress,” said senior author Jaideep Bains, PhD, Professor of Physiology & Pharmacology. “In fact, the lack of a social network may itself be stressful.” The research suggests young girls are more sensitive to social stress than boys, implying social networks are more important for females in general. The findings raise the interesting question of whether social and environmental changes during the crucial pre-adolescent period could have long-term consequences for how males and females respond to stressful events later in life. U. of Calgary, Canada. Press release provided by ScienceDaily (www.sciencedaily.com/release)

Physician vs. Computer: Who wins? Each year, millions of people use Internet programs or apps to check their symptoms or to self-diagnose. Yet how these computerized symptom-checkers fare against physicians has not been well studied. Until now. According to a new study by researchers at Harvard Medical School, physicians’ performance is vastly superior, and that doctors make a correct diagnosis more than twice as often as 23 commonly used symptom-checker apps. The findings were published recently in JAMA Internal Medicine. For example, physicians were quicker than the digital platforms in listing the correct diagnosis for a variety of symptoms 72% of the time, compared with 34% of the time for the digital platforms. Despite outperforming the machines, physicians still made errors in about 15 percent of cases. Researchers say developing computer-based algorithms to be used in conjunction with human decisionmaking may help further reduce diagnostic errors. Harvard Medical School, Harvard U. Press release via Newswise.

Calcium supplements may damage heart More than half of women over 60 take calcium supplements, many without the oversight of a physician, believing it will reduce their risk of osteoporosis. But after analyzing 10 years of medical tests on more than 2,700 people in a federally funded heart disease study, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and elsewhere conclude that taking calcium in the form of supplements may raise the risk of plaque buildup in arteries and heart damage, although a diet high in calcium-rich foods appears be protective.

Baby Boomers have stronger work ethic. NOT! There’s no truth to the popular belief that members of the Baby Boom generation (1946-1964) have a greater work ethic than people born a decade or two later. This is according to a team of researchers at Wayne State University, Detroit, published in Springer’s Journal of Business and Psychology. Analysis of 77 different studies and 105 different measure of work ethics found no differences in the work ethic of different generations, including the hours worked and commitment to family and work. The media and academia often suggest Baby Boomers endorse higher levels of work ethic than the younger so-called Generation X (1965-1980) and Millennials (1981-1999). The economic success of the United States and Europe around the turn of the 20th to the 21st century is often ascribed to the so-called Protestant work ethic of members of the Baby Boom generation They are said to place work central in their lives, to avoid wasting time and to be ethical in their dealings with others. Their work ethic is also associated with greater job satisfaction and performance, conscientiousness, greater commitment to the organization they belong to and little time for social loafing. Study findings don’t support a difference in work ethic between generations. Wayne State U, Detroit. Press release provided by ScienceDaily (www.sciencedaily.com/release).

In a report on the research, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers caution their work only documents an association between calcium supplements and atherosclerosis, and does not prove cause and effect. But they say the results add to growing scientific concerns about the potential harms of supplements, and they urge a consultation with a knowledgeable physician before using calcium supplements. An estimated 43% American adult men and women take a supplement that includes calcium, according the National Institutes of Health. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Press release provided by ScienceDaily (www.sciencedaily.com/release). www.primemontgomery.com | November 2016

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YARD ‘N GARDEN

Lasagna Gardening By Clarie Hubbard

y father, Papa John, as he was fondly called by his family, took great pride in his vegetable garden during the later years of his life. My grandmother was an avid gardener too, working mostly with flowers. I’m not sure which of the family lines my gardening-genes came from, but I began to really enjoy my yard and flower garden ten years or so ago. If anything is blooming, it finds its way into my house to a vase for my husband and me to enjoy, or for friends and family who might come over for a visit. The truth is, I love color and fresh flowers in my home all year ‘round. On occasion, I’ve been known to buy a bouquet at the grocery store if I can’t come up with anything out of my garden. Four years ago we moved to a small patio home with a very small garden. My husband joked that I brought as many plants to Alabama as we had pieces of furniture from our home in South Carolina. First we added truckloads of good soil to the garden and planted it with things I had rooted or dug up from our previous home, as well as adding some new plants. Since we moved to Montgomery and established our beds in the front of the

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house and in the patio garden on the side of the house, I began to look into “lasagna gardening.” It interested me for several reasons. For starters, we didn’t have to till up the ground. We just chose an area for the garden, laid cinder blocks and began building layers — like you do when making lasagna. I’m sure that’s how it got its name! We chose an area across the alley behind our house in a spot that receives plenty of sunlight. The first layer we put

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down was cardboard (you can also use layers of newspaper) to keep the weeds out. Then we alternated layers of “brown” (carbon) with layers of “green” (nitrogen). The “brown” could be black and white shredded newspaper, shredded brown paper bags, peat moss, pine needles or pine bark, or leaves. The “green” can be lawn clippings, vegetable and fruit scrapes, cuttings, coffee grounds and crushed egg shells. We topped our creation off by adding three to four inches of peat moss, moo-nure (manure), and garden soil. We also watered heavily between each layer. I planted zinnias, daffodils, hyacinths, lilies, tulips and gladiolas in my cut-flower bed. I also planted marigolds in the holes of the cinder blocks. The flower garden did so well last year that we’ve made another raised bed this year, where I will try my hand at growing vegetables. We’re using the same lasagna layering technique to build up the soil as we did with the cutflower bed. The new bed is situated east to west and the taller veggies will be planted on the north side so they don’t cast a shadow on the shorter veggies. With any luck, I’ll discover I possess gardening genes from both my flowergrowing grandmother as well as my vegetable-growing dad. Claire Hubbard, an intern in the 2016 Master Gardener Class, lives in Montgomery. For more information on becoming a master gardener, visit www.capcitymga.org or email capcitymga@gmail.com. www.primemontgomery.com | November 2016

MEDICARE

Check your Medicare health and drug plans N

By Bob Moos

ow’s the time for Alabama residents with Medicare to check their health and drug coverage for 2017. Medicare’s open enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 until Dec. 7. Open enrollment is the best time to make sure your health and drug plans still meet your individual needs, especially if you’ve had any changes in your health. By now insurers should have notified you of any adjustments in your health or drug coverage or any changes in your out-of-pocket costs for next year. The average monthly premium for a Medicare Advantage plan will drop by $1.19 to $31.40, while the average monthly premium for a basic drug plan will inch up $1.50 to $34. Medicare Advantage remains a strong alternative for people who prefer to receive care through a private insurer rather than through Medicare’s original fee-forservice program.Enrollment in the private Medicare Advantage plans is expected to grow by 1.2 million to 18.5 million people in 2017 – about 32 percent of Medicare beneficiaries. Even if you’ve been satisfied with your health and drug coverage, you may benefit from reviewing all your options. Shopping around may save you money or improve your coverage. Alabama residents in Medicare’s original fee-for-service program can choose from 24 drug plans with monthly premiums ranging from $17 to $118. Look beyond premiums, though. The only way to determine the true cost of your drug coverage is to consider other factors like deductibles, co-payments and coinsurance. Medicare’s website – www.medicare. gov – has the best tool for helping you narrow your search for a new health or drug plan. Just click on “Find Health and Drug Plans.” After entering your ZIP code and the list of your prescriptions, you can use the “Medicare Plan Finder” tool to compare your coverage and out-of-pocket costs under different plans. The quality of a health or drug plan’s customer service should be considered, too. To help you identify the best and worst, the Plan Finder

November 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com

provides star ratings for each plan. A gold star will show plans with the highest, five-star rating, while a warning icon will alert you to plans that have performed poorly for at least the past three years. Besides using Medicare.gov, you can call Medicare’s toll-free help line at 1-800-633-4227 or consult your “Medicare & You 2017 Handbook,” which you have just received in the mail. One-on-one benefits counseling is also available through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. In Alabama, you should call 1-800243-5463. Thanks to the health care law, you’ll enjoy more savings on your prescriptions in 2017 once you land in the coverage gap, known as the “doughnut hole.” You’ll receive a 60 percent discount on your brand-name drugs and a 49 percent discount on your generic drugs while in the gap. The doughnut hole begins once you and your drug plan have spent $3,700 for your drugs. If you’re having difficulty affording your medications, you may qualify for extra help with your drug coverage premiums, deductibles and co-payments. The amount of help depends on your income and resources. But, generally, you’ll pay no more than $3.30 for generic drugs and $8.25 for brand-name drugs. Thirty-eight percent of Alabama residents with Medicare’s drug coverage now get such a break. To learn more about whether you qualify for extra help, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ prescriptionhelp or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. Again this fall and winter, many Americans younger than 65 will shop for health care policies for themselves and their families on the recently launched Health Insurance Marketplace. But the marketplace doesn’t affect you, since you have your health insurance through Medicare. Just as you’ve always done each fall, your attention should be focused on whether you’d like to make any changes in your Medicare health and drug plans. There’s no better time to check that coverage. Any changes you make will take effect on Jan. 1. Bob Moos is the Southeast public affairs officer for the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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FEATURE

Test Your Thanksgiving Knowledge By Ourania Papacharalambous

1. The Pilgrims first landed at what we now call: a. Plymouth, Mass. b. Provincetown, Mass. c. Providence, R.I. 2. Why did the Pilgrims come to North America? a. To escape religious persecution b. In search of a better life c. To spread Christianity to Native Americans 3. Before it carried the Pilgrims to America, the Mayflower was: a. A battleship b. A passenger ferry c. A wine vessel

9. The modern Thanksgiving Day holiday was created by: a. Thomas Jefferson b. Abraham Lincoln c. Theodore Roosevelt 10. What causes people to feel sleepy after a big Thanksgiving meal? a. Tryptophan b. Carbohydrates c. Sugar

4. The Pilgrims typically wore: a. Black and white outfits b. Mostly leather c. Linen and wool clothes 5. True or False: The Pilgrims' 1621 feast was the first Thanksgiving in what is now the United States. a.True b. False 6. The Native American group that helped the English colonists in 1621 was the: a. Wampanoag b. Narragansett c. Patuxet 7. Only one of these statements about the 1621 Thanksgiving is true. Which one? a. The celebration lasted three days. b. More Pilgrims than Native Americans took part in the feast. c. Pilgrims and Native Americans sat at one table for the feast. 8. Which was most likely on the menu for the Pilgrims' celebration? a. Turkey and cranberry sauce b. Venison and mashed potatoes c. Wild fowl and pumpkin

November 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com

ANSWERS: 1. b; 2. b; 3. c; 4. c; 5. a; 6. a; 7. a; 8. c; 9. b; 10. b.

Courtesy: grandparents.com, a lifestyle site that celebrates the grandparent community by providing trusted information about family & relationships, health & well-being, travel & retirement, and more. Follow the site on Twitter (@grandparentscom) and on Facebook (facebook.com/grandparentscom).

A GRACIOUS PLENTY

Love Your Leftovers: 4 tips to reduce food waste

mericans waste an estimated 40 percent of the food they buy. In fact, the average person wastes an estimated 25 pounds of food every month, and dairy products are thrown out more than other foods, even produce. Learning kitchen tricks and strategies to store dairy products properly can help reduce food waste. There are many ways to make a difference, including using products correctly and being creative in the kitchen. n To toss could be a loss. Research conducted by the Midwest Dairy Association found more than half of consumers don't understand the meaning of "Sell-By" or "Use-By" dates on dairy products. These dates actually indicate peak quality, not safety. Dairy products can be safely consumed beyond the "Sell-By," "Best-By" or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Use-By" dates up to one week for milk, up to 10 days for yogurt, and weeks or months for most soft and hard cheeses.

n Know when to throw it. Discard dairy products if they have an off flavor, odor or appearance. Soft cheese or yogurt with mold should be discarded. Mold on hard cheese should be removed by cutting off a 1-inch square around the affected area and throwing it away; the rest is safe to eat. n Love your dairy leftovers. Rely on dairy's versatility to transform leftover ingredients into a new creative meal idea. For example, milk and cheese can help turn tonight's roasted turkey breast into tomorrow's Turkey Tetrazzini with Cheddar and Parmesan. n Portion and freeze future meals. Soups, stews and casseroles all freeze well, including those that contain dairy products. Milk is best when used within three months of freezing and yogurt when used within two months. For best quality, soft cheeses should be used within two to three months of freezing and hard cheese within six months.

Turkey Tetrazzini with Cheddar and Parmesan Prep time: 40 minutes | Cook time: 45 minutes |Servings: 6 n n n n n n n

Nonstick cooking spray 1 package (12 ounces) whole-wheat penne pasta 2 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup flour 3 cups low-fat milk 1 cup fat-free low-sodium chicken broth 1/2 cup dry white wine (or additional chicken broth)

n n n n n n

1/2 teaspoon pepper 2 cups sliced white button mushrooms 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 cups diced cooked turkey breast 1 cup frozen peas 1 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese Heat oven to 350 F. Spray shallow 2- to 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. Cook pasta according to package directions. In large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and stir in flour. Stirring constantly, cook about 2 minutes. Whisk in milk, chicken broth, wine and pepper; bring mixture to a boil. Stir in mushrooms, reduce heat and cook about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, or until mixture thickens and mushrooms are softened. Stir Parmesan cheese, pasta, turkey and peas into milk mixture; spoon into prepared baking dish. Top with cheddar cheese and cover loosely with foil. Bake about 45 minutes, or until bubbling at edges and heated through. Courtesy: Family Features. Source: Midwest Dairy Association www.primemontgomery.com | November 2016

FEATURE

Mesa Verde

Cliff Palace is the largest dwelling in Mesa Verde with 150 rooms. It once housed approximately 100 people.

Architecture, Archaeology, Adventure

Story by Andrea Gross | Photos by Irv Green

take a deep breath, reach for the side rails, and scramble up a ten-rung ladder. There before me is a small city, tucked into a shelf on a canyon wall, protected by a huge overhang. Some of the buildings are circular, like tall towers. Others are rectangular, with sharp, crisp angles; all are made of sandstone bricks and have small, open windows. I’m in the Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park, one of only 59 places the United States Congress has declared worthy of this designation. Here in the southwest corner of Colorado, using nothing but rocks and sticks as tools, an ancient people created not only a city, but an entire society. They farmed, prayed, made pottery and wove

November 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com

sandals for approximately 700 years, roughly 600 to 1300 AD. There are more than 600 archeological sites at Mesa Verde, ranging in size from small one-room huts to large multi-storied compounds. They are so unusual, so well preserved and awe-inspiring, that in 1906 President Theodore Roosevelt signed a special Mesa Verde National Park Bill, granting protected status to the 52,000-acre site. Ten years later the National Park Service was created to oversee the 84 million acres set aside “to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of [this country] for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations,” and Mesa Verde was officially put under the

Above: Kivas were used for religious purposes and as well as for political gatherings. Below: Rangers lead visitors through some of Mesa Verde’s most well-known ruins.

Visitors to Cliff Palace must climb five 8- to 10-foot ladders.

jurisdiction of the new agency. Today Mesa Verde is the only national park devoted exclusively to archeological remains and one of only fourteen national parks also designated as a World Heritage Centre. Several of the remains are visible from roadside overlooks; a few can be explored independently; others can only be visited during Ranger-led tours. My husband and I begin with a tour through Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde’s largest cliff dwelling. We climb uneven steps and ladders, peer into alcoves, look down into kivas (circular structures used for religious, ceremonial or

political purposes), and marvel at the architectural skill as well as the communal structure that existed so many years ago. The actual walk through Cliff Palace is short, only about ¼ mile round trip, and the steps, though uneven, aren’t that steep. But the park is approximately 7,000 feet above sea level, meaning the air is thin and short walks seem long. For those who are reasonably fit — and who’ve taken a few days to acclimate themselves to the high elevation — the tour is worth every huff and puff. After Cliff Palace, we’re ready to tackle a more difficult site.

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The Ancestral Puebloans were skilled architects and craftsmen. A sign at the Visitor Center encourages folks “to begin the day as the Ancestral Pueblo people have for generations.” I like the idea of getting into the skin of ancient people and am all ready to sign up for a tour of the Balcony House, when I read that I’ll not only have to climb a 32-foot ladder, but I’ll also have to crawl through an 18-inch-wide tunnel. It occurs to me that far from getting into the skin of the ancients, my hips might not even get into the tunnel. I convince my husband to go to Wetherill Mesa instead so we can see Step House on a self-guided exploration that’s open to people of all ages — and presumably all hip widths — as long as they can carry ½ gallon of water. This is definitely more my style. No one knows exactly why the ancient folks left the dwellings they’d so carefully constructed, but for the Pueblo people of the Southwest, who they were is no mystery. They claim the cliff dwellers as their ancestors. Anasazi, the word previously used when referring to the inhabitants of Mesa Verde, is a Navajo word, given to them by those who discovered the deserted dwellings in the 1880s. It means “ancient ones,” but it implies, say today’s Puebloans, that the ancient ones were 16 November 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com

ancestors of the Navajo people rather than of the Puebloans. What’s more, the Navajo word for “ancient” can also be translated as “enemy,” and today’s Pueblo people are understandably reluctant to have their ancestors described not only by a Navajo word, but by one that can be interpreted as meaning an enemy. “That’s why we now call the cliff dwell-

ers ‘Ancestral Puebloans,’” says a park Ranger. “It’s a more accurate description of who they were.” Point well taken, although personally, I could have found an even better description. “Genius” is the one that comes to mind. For an expanded version of this article as well as information on other Colorado attractions, go to www. traveltizers.com.

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MONEYWI $ E

Winning Through Defense

hough I was never especially good at it, I used to play a little tennis. One of the most valuable things that I learned, and that any tennis player should understand, is that more points are lost than won. In other words, more points are decided when a player makes a mistake than when the other player makes an unreAlan Wallace turnable brilliant shot. The same point is valid in much of financial management: Success is not so much dependent on the awesome decisions that one makes as it is by the avoidance of bone-headed choices, especially when the impact is large. The goal should be to try to avoid costly mistakes, especially big ones. Where do people make big mistakes? Here are a few examples. One of the biggest outlays most people make is for housing. In addition, homes are illiquid—it can take a long time to sell one. If you pay too much for a house, buy one in a location that turns out to be unsatisfactory, or buy knowing that you will be moving before long, you are taking a bigger risk that you will not get out of the house what you put into it. And the potential loss is proportional to the cost of the house. Vehicles are the second most expensive outlay for many people, so the same thing holds true here, though to a lesser degree. Insurance is a great invention. It only came into being in the last couple of centuries, but it can help us manage lots of risk. I know of more than one situation where someone overlooked a premium due date on a house or car, had a major incident, and regrettably

found themselves without coverage. Accidentally letting needed coverage drop is a mistake that can cost thousands of dollars. A third way to lose a fair amount of money is to take investment risk that you do not understand, for instance, in your retirement account. To avoid painful losses, you need to understand how different types of assets perform under various circumstances. Learn from experience with lesser amounts before making larger commitments. It may also be imprudent to buy a financial product (including certain annuity and insurance policies) that you do not comprehend. Frankly, some are so complex that an advanced degree seems necessary to figure them out. A fourth bad idea is to cosign on a loan made to another person “to help them out.” The other person could be a child, grandchild, sibling or friend. The cosigner is obligated to repay the loan if the primary borrower does not, even though the cosigner did not benefit from the purchase. If the person wanting to make the purchase cannot qualify for the loan, it would be better to think of another way to assist than by committing to repay what they borrow. More than one relationship was destroyed by cosigning, not to mention the financial havoc it can produce. In short, any decision that involves a sizable amount of money or the risk of material loss requires more than normal consideration, study, data gathering, and perhaps reliance on professional assistance. In financial decision making you are competing against other players in the market place. The likelihood of consistently serving aces or making other splendid shots is remote. A better strategy for success is suggested by the observation of Harry Callahan that, “A man’s got to know his limitations.” If you know that you cannot always be brilliant, focus on avoiding errors, especially when the risks and potential costs are high. Alan Wallace, CFA, ChFC, CLU, is a Senior Private Wealth Advisor for Ronald Blue & Co.’s Montgomery office, www.ronblue.com/location-al. He can be reached at 334-270-5960, or by e-mail at alan.wallace@ronblue. com. | 4954450-09-16

“The goal should be to try to avoid costly mistakes, especially big ones.” www.primemontgomery.com | November 2016

Alabama’s

FEATURE

Hole-in-One T

Adapted from an article by James R. Hansen | Photos as noted

he Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is a series of championship courses across Alabama based on the designs of legendary American golfcourse architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The system, which includes resorts, spas, and dining facilities, is part of a massive financial investment and economic development project sponsored by the Retirement Systems of Alabama. Praised widely by critics and players alike for the affordability and the quality of play, the Trail has been cited in the media as one of the world's top-ten trips and featured prominently in the book Fifty Places to Play Golf Before You Die by Chris Santella. The plan for the golf trail was originally conceived by David G. Bronner, a Minnesota native who in 1973 took over as chief executive officer of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, the pension funds for public employees. Bronner, who earned a law and doctoral degree from the University of Alabama, initially concentrated on traditional investments. By the mid-1980s, however, in order to diversify the fund and bring more business and industry to the state, he embarked on a highly unusual strategy. Inspired by Field of Dreams, a 1989 Hollywood film in which a farmer builds a baseball field to attract tourism, Bronner decided to fund construction of a series of championship-caliber public golf courses, seeing the courses as a fulcrum for boosting tourism, attracting retirees, and spurring economic growth in Alabama. He brought in Robert "Bobby" Vaughan, former director of golf at Tanglewood Golf Club in Clemmons, North Carolina, to put together a design team for the project. Vaughan formed the SunBelt Golf Corporation and, with Bronner's assistance, began forming alliances with municipalities, corporations, and private developers throughout the state to secure donations of prime land for the courses

Lakewood, Point Clear. (Tad Denson)

along the state's interstate highway system. When the property was secured, SunBelt began hiring experts from the U.S. golf industry to develop, construct, and operate what would be the largest single golf-course construction project ever undertaken at one time anywhere in the world. Early on, Bronner and Vaughn seized on the idea of establishing a "trail" of courses that would meander across the state, from the foothills of the Appalachians in north Alabama to the Gulf of Mexico in the south. Winter residents of the Gulf Coast heading south could play golf as soon as they crossed the Tennessee line and continue all the way to Mobile Bay.

“…the largest single golf-course construction project ever undertaken at one time anywhere in the world.” 18

November 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com

The next challenge was to decide on a name for the trail that golfers from around the world would instantly recognize and associate with championship golf. They settled on Robert Trent Jones, arguably the premier golf-course architect in the world. In a career that spanned nearly 70 years, Jones designed or redesigned almost 500 top-flight golf courses in 45 states and 35 countries. Jones's belief that every golf hole should be "a hard par but an easy bogey" exerted a profound impact on American golf in the second half of the twentieth century. Capitol Hill, Prattville. (Mark Tucker) Jones visited the state and inspected several sites. Although in semi-retirement, he agreed to tackle the project, leaving most of the detailed design work to his principal associate, Roger Rulewich. The Trail courses reflected all the essential elements of Robert Trent Jones' personal design philosophy, in which "risk-reward" shots became a staple of modern golf. The golf courses on the Trail would live up to Jones' highest standards, offering genuine Ross Bridge, Birmingham. (Michael Clemmer) championship layouts designed to stand the test of time and pose major tests for generations of golfers. Aspiring to a level of difficulty that even surpassed the expectations of Jones himself, SunBelt president Bobby Vaughn encouraged Jones' associate Roger Rulewich to make the trail courses as difficult as possible, while at the same time offering value to players at various skill levels. A wide variety of teeing locations, pegged to ability level rather than age or gender, enabled golfers to play the courses at Cambrian Ridge, Greenville. (Michael Clemmer) varying distances. This flexibility was needed to make the Trail a satisfying golfing experience for a mass market, an experience that would challenge the best golfers in the world, yet at the same time allow an enjoyable outing for casual and beginning golfers. Adding to the flexibility was the inclusion of

Above: Grand National, Opelika/Auburn. (Michael Clemmer) Below: Oxmoor Valley, Birmingham. (Meg McKinney)

Above: Magnolia Grove Crossings, Mobile. (Michael Clemmer) Below: Hampton Cove, Huntsville. (Meg McKinney)

so-called short courses, highly challenging circuits located at seven of the 11 trail facilities. At least three of these courses have merited consideration as the most challenging par-3 courses in the world. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail opened in 1992 with four courses: n Grand National (Opelika, 54 holes); n Hampton Cove (Huntsville, 54 holes); n Magnolia Grove (Mobile, 54 holes); n Oxmoor Valley (Birmingham, 54 holes). The following year, three additional courses opened: Highland Oaks (Dothan, 54 holes); Cambrian Ridge (Greenville, 54 holes)

n n

Silver Lakes (Anniston/Gadsden, 36 holes).

The system has since expanded with four more sites: Capitol Hill (Prattville/Montgomery, 54 holes); Ross Bridge (Hoover, 18 holes); Lakewood Golf Club (Point Clear, 18 holes); The Shoals (Florence, 36 holes).

n n n n

The Trail has earned nearly universal acclaim, winning accolades and awards from numerous golf and tourism magazines, transforming Alabama into one of the world's top golf destinations. Information courtesy Encyclopedia of Alabama, www.encyclopediaofalabama.org.

The Economics of Golf

T Highland Oaks, Dothan. (Michael Clemmer)

Silver Lakes, Anniston (Dan Brothers)

The Shoals, Florence. (Meg McKinney)

By Mark Fagan

he late Arnold Palmer was a gentleman in the “Gentleman’s Game.” He inspired countless people worldwide to take up golf, not only through his winning style of play, but with his outgoing personality. Even if you’re not a golfer, as an Alabama resident you benefit from the increased interest Palmer brought to the game, and the economic impact of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail (RTJ). Since the Trail was created, tourism spending has increased from $462 million to $1.4 billion in Montgomery, Autauga, Elmore, Lee and Butler counties alone. Direct and indirect travel-related jobs in these counties have risen from 8,712 prior to the Trail’s inception, to 21,088 jobs in 2015, producing $578 million in earnings. Overall, tourism spending associated with the RTJ Trail - both golf courses and accompanying hotels - was $7.5 billion in 2015. Whether or not you play the game, golf has provided Alabama with an influx of tourists - national and international - enjoying the courses, the lodging, the dining, and the hospitality for which we’re famous. Since 1993, RTJ courses have hosted 12 million rounds of golf, half of which were played by out-of-state golfers. Courses on the Trail have also hosted 32 LPGA, Senior PGA, and PGA tournaments, with 350 hours of worldwide TV coverage of these tournaments being seen on the Golf Channel, co-founded by Arnold Palmer. Adding to the Trail’s reputation, Danny Willet, winner of the 2016 Masters, played two years for Jacksonville State University on their home course at Silver Lakes, a Trail site. Silver Lakes has many similarities to Augusta National - latitude, weather, wind, topography, course design - no doubt preparing Willet to excel at the Masters, in effect, bringing golf in Alabama full circle. Mark Fagan was a professor at Jacksonville State University for 32 years, where he researched and published papers on retirees and economic development. His latest book is “The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail: Its History and Economic Impact.” To contact Dr. Fagan, e-mail mfagan@jsu.

Prime Wins at Annual Magazine Conference Prime magazine received seven awards at the North American Mature Publishers Association (NAMPA) annual conference in September in Denver, Colorado, including Best Website. NAMPA represents 41 magazines and newspaper across the U.S focusing on the senior market, with Prime competing with publications with circulations up to 25,000.. The combined monthly circulation of NAMPA members is 2.4 million. Awards were judged by the University of Missouri School of Journalism, with judges’ comments below. Alabama’s Top 13 Health Issues: Your Input Sought A draft of the 2015 Alabama Community Health Assessment (CHA) is available on-line for public review and comment. The final document will provide information that can be used for local community health improvement initiatives. The top 13 health issues were derived from a survey involving diverse agencies, organizations, community groups, health care providers and citizens across Alabama. The top 13 issues, in order of importance, were determined to be:

Quick Reads Low Back Pain Relief Strategy If you suffer from back pain, you’re not alone. A lifetime of walking, standing, lifting and twisting causes significant low back pain in 80 percent of all adults. The good news is acute low back pain usually goes away on its own, with little or no intervention. But if you’re looking for ways to ease your pain in the interim, try the following to aid in symptom relief and recovery:

n n n n n

Rest up, but not too much! No longer than a day or two after your injury if pain is severe, as long periods of bed rest can weaken muscles and do more harm than good. Get back on track, but start slowly, returning to regular activity as soon as you’re able in order to get your back conditioned and help prevent a relapse. Take short walks throughout the day, and wear athletic shoes while walking. n Pull your stomach in slightly as you walk to support your back and limit the length of your steps to minimize tension on the back. n Try to walk on asphalt instead of cement, as cement is harder and can stress your back. n Use a heat wrap (safer than a heating pad; available in drugstores) or a heating blanket for temporary relief of muscle spasms and pain. n

n n

Exercise & Diabetes Even without showing cardio benefits, diabetics who exercise can better control blood glucose levels, according to new research by U. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center cardiologists. Researchers found that waist circumference, percentage of body fat, and hemoglobin A1c levels − a test of long-term blood sugar − all improved in diabetic participants who exercised compared to those who did not. These benefits were seen whether the exercise was aerobic, resistance training, or a combination. “What we observed is that exercise improves diabetes control regardless of improvement in exercise capacity,” said study co-author Dr. Jarett Berry, UTSW Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Clinical Sciences. The study proposes that exercise-training programs for people with Type 2 diabetes should measure improvements in glycemic control, waist circumference, and percentage of body fat, rather than cardio-vascular improvements.

Pain relievers such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin® or naproxen Aleve®) can provide short-term relief when taken as directed by your doctor. Limit the use of these drugs to no longer than one or two weeks. Excessive/ long-term use can cause stomach ulcers and bleeding (NSAIDs) or liver damage (acetaminophen), especially in older adults. Don’t use them at all if you’re at risk for these adverse effects.

– UT Southwestern Medical Center via Science Daily, www.sciencedaily.com

– Scientific American, www.healthafter50.com

Dementia & Aluminum: No Connection

The discovery of larger-than-expected amounts of aluminum in the brains of some people who died of Alzheimer’s generated a great deal of publicity a number of years ago. Worried that aluminum might somehow promote the disease, many people threw away cans, cookware, cosmetics, antacids, antiperspirants and other items containing the metal. However, studies of people exposed to large quantities of aluminum did not reveal an increased risk of dementia. Most likely, aluminum deposits in brain tissue are a result — not a cause — of the underlying abnormalities associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Incidentally, more aluminum leaches into soft drinks from glass bottles — which contain approximately 1 percent aluminum —than from aluminum cans, which are coated with a thin layer of plastic. – Scientific American, www.healthafter50.com.

n n n n n n n n

Access to Care Mental Health and Substance Abuse Poor Pregnancy Outcomes Nutrition and Physical Activity Cardiovascular Diseases Sexually Transmitted Infections Cancer Child Abuse and Neglect Diabetes Geriatrics Injury and Violence Prevention Oral Health Cigarette Smoking

“We appreciate the assistance and support of our stakeholders in providing useful information,” State Health Officer Dr. Donald Williamson said. “We are hopeful that the information collected in this document will be a helpful resource that will be used in shaping healthier communities.” The public is invited to view the document on-line and submit comments before the CHA is finalized. The draft can be seen at www.adph. org/accreditation. E-mail comments to carrie.allison@adph.state.al.us.

Simple Strategy for Weight Loss For those wishing to lose weight and keep it off, here’s a simple strategy that works: step on a scale each day and track the results. A two-year Cornell U. study, recently published in the Journal of Obesity, found that frequent self-weighing and tracking results on a chart were effective for both losing weight and keeping it off, especially for men. Subjects who lost weight the first year in the program were able to maintain that lost weight throughout the second year. This is important because studies show that about 40 percent of weight lost with any dietary treatment is regained in one year, and almost 100 percent of weight loss is regained at the end of five years. “You just need a bathroom scale and an excel spreadsheet or even a piece of graph paper,” said David Levitsky, professor of nutrition and psychology at Cornell and the paper’s senior author. “It seems to work better for men than women, for reasons we cannot figure out yet.” Researchers believe stepping on a scale and tracking one’s weight acts as a reinforcement for behaviors such as eating less, and strengthens others such as going for a walk. The method “forces you to be aware of the connection between your eating and your weight,” said Levitsky. “It used to be taught that you shouldn’t weigh yourself daily, and this is just the reverse.”

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease: First Step The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease involves a careful accumulation of information to confirm the presence of cognitive impairment and rule out other possible causes, such as depression, hypothyroidism, vitamin B12 deficiency or an undetected stroke. The process begins with a detailed medical history, a short test or interview to probe mental status and a physical and neurologic examination. Interviews with close friends or family members also can provide crucial information. Laboratory tests and, in certain cases, imaging scans of the brain may be performed. If you suspect you or a family member may have Alzheimer’s disease, the best first step is to consult a family doctor whom you know well. Many general practitioners are quite expert in evaluating patients for Alzheimer’s disease. Those who are not, or who feel that symptoms are atypical and should be evaluated by a specialist, can refer you to a neurologist, geriatrician or geriatric psychiatrist. If Alzheimer’s disease is in fact present, patients may benefit from a class of medications known as cholinesterase inhibitors. These drugs may result in slight improvements in memory and reasoning, slow cognitive decline and lessen psychological and behavioral problems. However, they don’t halt progression of the disease. – Scientific American, www.healthafter50.com.

– Information from Cornell U. via Science Daily, www.sciencedaily.com.

1st Place, Briefs/Shorts “Quick Reads offers a depth of content as well as a broad mix of topics from wide-ranging sources for its readers.... Each item includes a web address to the original source. It’s a true reader service.”

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Dec. 2015/Jan. 2016

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

A Pleasant Surprise “Roostertails,” he mumbled, dejected, peering into the tackle box. “Of all the lures. Roostertails.” He’d set the tackle box with the spoons, buck-tail jigs and other assorted saltwater lures by the back door so he’d be sure not to leave it behind. Considering all his tackle boxes looked alike, had the culprit been anyone other than himself, it would have been an easy enough mistake to forgive. Except it wasn’t. The similarity of his tackle boxes was little consolation as he sat on the beach, arms resting on the tops of his bare knees, sun rising over his left shoulder, surveying the wide open Gulf. Two hundred miles away a small plastic box whose contents were worth a mere twenty dollars held, at this moment, a much greater value. Had he been fishing even once this year, sticking the wrong tackle box amid the mountain of luggage, diaper bags and baby toys would not have been as significant. There was a time when not a week went by he didn’t wet a line — fly rod, spinning rod, bait caster, trolling. It didn’t matter the fishing style or type of equipment, so long as the fish were biting. But then life took over. Work demands grew as did familial responsibilities, and suddenly there was no time for fishing. He looked forward to any reason to be away from the office, but this beach trip especially because his oldest child had begun to show an interest in the pursuit he so enjoyed. He’d catch himself daydreaming of pulling bull redfish up on the sand, waves rolling over their glimmering copper bodies, as his daughter stood alongside beaming with pride and giddy with excitement. “Daddy,” she’d say, “you got a big one!” and they’d both smile for the picture he’d later frame and place prominently on his desk, the way it certainly would have gone except for his tackle box error. His wife’s voice brought him back to reality. “I thought you were going fishing?” she asked perplexed, their infant son bouncing on her hip and strangely mirroring the same expression. He explained his plight, how he’d grabbed the wrong lures, and that it would be a wasted effort. He even showed her the box of Roostertails as proof. Undeterred, she pointed to a silver one with a red skirt. “Ooh,” she said encouragingly. “Why don’t you try that one?” She clearly didn’t understand the gravity of the situation, he realized, and further explanation would prove futile. It was simple: fish were smart, fishermen, not so much. It would be pointless, and anyone walking by would go home and talk

about that crazy tourist casting bass lures from the beach. He sighed, stood up and began breaking down his rod and reel. “You know, there’s someone who really wants to fish with her daddy,” his wife said, a bit of force now gracefully present in her tone. He looked at his daughter playing in the sand and half-smiled. “Hey, baby,” you want to go fishing?” he asked. They waded to the second sandbar, his daughter on his shoulders holding the rod, bass lures tucked under his arm. “Catch me a fish Daddy! Catch me a fish!” she said as he cast the red-skirted Roostertail into the trough of dark water straight ahead. He was reeling steadily and holding his breath, hoping that failing the first time wouldn’t diminish her enthusiasm, when his line stopped like it hit a wall. “Seaweed,” he muttered, preparing to jerk the rod and clear the lure of the debris, when the sound of line peeling from his reel stopped him. He pumped and reeled, gaining on the fish, and in a few moments had a small but heavily-muscled Jack Crevalle in his hand. He held the fish up to pry the Roostertail from its mouth, both of them equally surprised to see the other. He looked at his wide-eyed daughter, a smile extending across her face. “Can I touch it?” she asked. She marveled at the fish’s smooth skin and coloring. He told her the fish’s name, tossed the Jack back into the surf, and cast into the trough again. Two turns of the reel’s handle yielded another strike. He drove the hook home and the drag proceeded to sing its beautiful song, one he hadn’t heard in some time. His daughter wanted to touch every fish they caught, eventually working her way up to holding the rod and doing some of the reeling. When the skin between his middle and ring finger began to ache from fighting the little Jacks, they turned back toward shore. “Well, how did you do?” his wife asked as they stepped out of the water. “We lost count,” he said, with a smile as wide as his daughter’s. “She’s hooked. And me, well, I may have a new favorite lure. And a new fishing partner.” Niko Corley is a USCG-licensed charter boat captain and spends his free time on the water or in the woods. To contact him e-mail niko.corley@gmail.com.

Niko Corley

2nd Place, Personal Essay (Niko Corley) “This fishing tale is about a father hooking a daughter on his love of fishing... told with dialogue and scene recreation. The ending wraps up the story (and) subtly makes the bigger point about parenting.”

1st Place, Cover Photo (Bob Corley) “Subtle, elegant typography allows viewers to concentrate on the subject. Excellent low-key lighting highlights his face and body language. The warm colors match his expression.”

September 2015

FREE FOR YOU

Lela Foshee’s Recipe for Life

August 2015

One candle lit the world.

Oh, my aching feet!

Merry Christmas

Cooking with Grandkids

(and what to do about them)

plus: Shopping the Outlet Malls

PLUS: Capitol City Artists 7th Annual Showcase

3rd Place, Overall Design (Callie Corley) “Prime seamlessly mixes illustrations and photographs throughout the magazine... good use of white space helps guide readers. Clean covers illustrate feature articles well. Opening feature spreads are particularly strong.” 3rd Place, Profile (Bob Corley) “Perhaps the strongest character that actor Greg Thornton portrays is himself. The writer helps that character come to life, giving us a peek into the personality of a man who makes his living by hiding it.”

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Back On Stage By Bob Corley

reg Thornton is moving ahead by going back. another passion, music. Having relinquished his role as Artistic Director of “I formed a trio called Trinity with friends I’d known in Montgomery’s Cloverdale Playhouse, he’s headhigh school,” he recalls. “We were the house band for a couing back to the stage. This month, ple of clubs in New Jersey. I would Thornton, 66, takes on the lead role have loved to be a singer-songwritof Prospero in the Orlando Shakeer.” speare Theatre’s production of The Thornton would finish a music Tempest. gig at 2 a.m., then drive to an act“Actors don’t stop,” he states flatly, ing gig the same day. After the trio relaxing on a sofa in his cramped, disbanded, acting took over, with soon-to-be-vacated office at the legitimate theatre dominating most Cloverdale Playhouse. “I do it of his career. because I love it. It feeds me in the “Television and movies favor best possible way I can imagine.” the young and attractive,” he says, A working actor for more than “while the theatre is less restrictive four decades, Thornton has perfor older, more mature actors. You formed on stage, in daytime soaps, can develop a career in the theand primetime dramas. Prior to his atre over time, particularly in the stint as the Playhouse’s first Artistic Shakespearean world. You can go Director, he was a resident actor at from Hamlet, to that Scottish guy, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and now - My Gosh! - I’ve been as well as theatres in San Diego, offered Prospero!” Denver, Princeton and others. At But Thornton recognizes time is a time in life when many people a relentless pursuer, causing even contemplate retirement, he’s excited the most accomplished actor to to be stepping back on stage. glance over his shoulder. As Rene’ Gallimard in “Madame Butterfly,” St. Louis “I’m not giving up. There’s no rea- Repertory Theatre, 1996. “Sir Laurence Olivier had this son to. I feel sharp,” says Thornton. terror when he was in his early 60s “For some actors it’s a chance to be someone else,” he says, about never being able to remember his lines. And that’s leaning in, bringing hazel eyes and a chiseled countenance what it is. Terror. The fear as you get older that I’m just gonto bear on the too-frequently asked question of why he’s an na forget things.” actor. It’s a question he admits is difficult to answer. His answer to the terror is to know the script inside and “The things that fascinate out. me are the different ele“Even if we run the show ments of a person’s charfor two months, that script acter, the things that go on is on my dressing table inside of people,” he says, every night. It’s like handrecalling one of the greatest cuffed to me,” he says. “I compliments anyone has spend a lot of time pacing ever given him following a back and forth before the performance. show, walking around, run“They said, ‘God, I hated ning lines in my head.” you but I understood you.’ ” For Thornton, returning While acting has been to the stage, particularly to a lifelong career, it wasn’t a role such as Prospero, is the first, or only, path he exciting, and terrifying. considered. “It makes you nervous, so “I wanted to be a monk,” you work harder. Acting is says Thornton. “That’s kind what I do. If you stop doing of where I was headed early As Horace Giddens in “Little Foxes,” Alabama Shakespeare Festival, it for awhile, if you keep 1992. on.” turning down job offers, He grew up in New Jerthey’ll stop coming,” he sey, 20 miles from New York City. As a high school student says with an air of finality. “I just want to get back to what I at St. Benedict’s in Newark, he participated in theatre from know I do well.” his freshman year, forming friendships that would lead to How well he performs was apparent to Terry Teachout,

www.primemontgomery.com | November 2016

TINSELTOWN TALKS

One of Britain’s Finest By Nick Thomas

Above: Graham Crowden, Stephanie Cole in “Waiting for God.” (screenshot) Below: Cole, the Fool, in “King Lear, Bristol Old Vic. (photo by Simon Annand)

merican audiences were introduced to British actress Stephanie Cole when she portrayed grumpy, sharp-witted Diana Trent, a resident of the Bayview Retirement Village in the 1990s sitcom “Waiting for God.” A decade later, Cole was back on U.S. Public TV playing a more congenial matriarchal character in another popular British comedy import, “Doc Martin.” Turning 75 last month, Cole’s current work schedule might be the envy of many actors. “I’m in two popular series (‘Man Down’ and ‘Still Open all Hours’) and do one in the spring and the other in autumn,” said Cole from her home near Bath, west of London. “That gives me time to fit a play in between.” This year, that summer theatrical diversion was a production of “King Lear” at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre (www.bristololdvic.org.uk). “It’s their 250th anniversary making it the oldest continually working theatre in the British Isles,” explained Cole. “For this year’s King Lear production they used third-year students in all the roles except for Lear, Gloucester, and the Fool – I played the Fool! But it was very special for me.” Cole began her career at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in the 1950s and rubbed shoulders with theater greats such as Sir Laurence Olivier. An encounter at a small comedy theater early in her career was especially memorable. “A gentleman came backstage and wanted to visit someone in the dressing room. I recognized him immediately as John Gielgud. I led him to the room and as I raised my hand to knock on the door preparing to announce him, I turned and asked ‘Who shall I say it is?’ He said ‘It… it’s John Gielgud.’ I said ‘Yes, yes, of course, I’m sorry’ and felt an utter twit, but was so thrilled to be face-to-face with such a great actor.” In the early 80s, Cole’s big TV break came in “Tenko,” a sobering BBC drama that followed the hardships of woman prisoners held in internment camps after the Japanese invasion of Singapore in 1942. “When you’re seen every week in a very

“After a certain age you don’t feel old in your head, although your body might occasionally remind you!” 22

November 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com

Inset: Cole (L) and cast members in “Tenko.” Left: Cole and Martin McLunes in “Doc Martin.”

popular series it changes your career,” she said. While “Tenko” is less known in the U.S., it was “Waiting for God” that made Cole a household name to Public TV viewers

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across the country. “I laughed when I first read the script and knew I wanted the part,” said Cole. “I thought it was wonderful to have two elderly characters in the starring roles. Parts for older actors and actresses are often not interesting or their characters are just there to be made fun of.” Cole became a patron of British Age Concern, an organization that offers support and services to seniors. She also worked with the British Schizophrenia Fellowship, and for all her work was awarded an O.B.E. “I’m not sure if I made an impact,” she said modestly, “but it would be nice if I did.” Beginning in 2004, Cole appeared in the first 4 seasons of “Doc Martin” playing aunt to star Martin Clunes. The show was filmed on the beautiful Cornwall coast, but Cole’s involvement was bittersweet. “My husband was ill when we filmed the first series and I signed on with the proviso that if he got worse they would immediately release me,” she explained. “Unfortunately he did and I had to rush back home, but sadly he died. So although I worked with wonderful people in a beautiful setting, the show is not something I look back on with particular joy as it was such a sad and difficult personal time for me.” But there was no hint of trepidation surrounding her October birthday, an anniversary she says means less and less. “After a certain age you don’t feel old in your head, although your body might occasionally remind you!” she laughed. “The passage of time, to coin a phrase, is a matter of complete embuggerance as far as I’m concerned.” Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 600 magazines and newspapers. www.primemontgomery.com | November 2016

SOCIAL SECURITY

Our Wounded Warriors

very Veterans Day, the nation honors the brave men and women who risk their lives to protect our country and the freedoms we cherish. Social Security honors veterans and active duty members of the military every day by giving them the support they deserve. A vital part of that is administering the Social Security disability program. For those who return home with injuries, Social Security is a resource they can turn Kylle’ McKinney to for disability benefits. Social Security’s Wounded Warriors website is at www.socialsecurity.gov/ woundedwarriors. The Wounded Warriors website has answers to many commonly asked questions, and shares other useful information about disability benefits, including how veterans can receive expedited processing of disability claims. Benefits available through Social Security are different from those available from the Department of Veterans Affairs and require a separate application. The expedited process is available to military service members who become disabled while on active military service

November 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com

on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs. Even active duty military who continue to receive pay while in a hospital or on medical leave should consider applying for disability benefits if they’re unable to work due to a disabling condition. Active duty status and receipt of military pay doesn’t necessarily prevent payment of Social Security disability benefits. Although a person can’t receive Social Security disability benefits while engaging in substantial work for pay or profit, receipt of military payments should never stop someone from applying for disability benefits from Social Security. Learn more by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors. With over 80 years of experience and compassionate service, Social Security is proud to support our veterans and active duty members of the military. Let these heroes know they can count on us when they need to take advantage of their earned benefits, today and tomorrow. Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached by e-mail at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov.

IN EVERY LIFE

Alzheimer’s Awareness N

ovember is designated as World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of several types of cognitive decline or dementia (de=without, mentia=mind). The 2016 estimate (using data from the 2010 U. Arlene Morris S. Census) is that 5.4 billion Americans of all ages have AD: 5.2 million age 65 and older and about 200,000 under age 65 who have younger onset AD. A rich source of information is available in the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2016 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, which includes a special report about the Personal Financial Impact of Alzheimer’s on Families (see ‘resources’). Alzheimer’s is under-diagnosed and underreported. Symptoms include changes in mood, difficulty with memory, word recall, reasoning, judgment, problemsolving, and balance (or transient loss of consciousness) that are components of everyday activities. Sometimes, these symptoms are experienced due to depression, delirium, side effects of medications or use of alcohol, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, or mild cognitive im-

pairment (MCI) that may progress to AD. Early recognition of symptoms promotes earlier diagnosis and treatment, especially of potentially reversible conditions (‘resources’). Although the cause is unknown, recent research has identified strong links between specific clusters of genes to the development of amyloid-beta protein fragments, which collect to develop plaques outside brain neurons. The protein “tau” is also involved as it twists into tangles inside the neurons. These changes lead to destruction of neurons, so that the brain has areas of missing tissue that can be seen on diagnostic imaging. Although each person’s experience with AD is unique, early-onset AD usually progresses more quickly because the disease pathology is more aggressive, thought to be due to a greater production of amyloid-beta proteins. Although there are some medications approved by the Federal Drug Administration for AD, these medications do not cure it or stop the progression. Often, other diseases are experienced by those who are hospitalized with AD, such as congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer. Prevention or man-

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agement of these diseases may also help AD symptoms. Additionally, recent research findings have indicated that a multi-pronged approach is beneficial. One promising study involved carefully personalized metabolic enhancements based on an individualized assessment to reduce inflammation and glucose levels, and replace specific vitamins (‘resources’). Other studies include: benefits of exercise to maintain function and circulation, mental stimulation such as word games or learning another language or music, managing stress and healthy diet. Family caregivers are an important consideration. Care for caregivers is imperative to prevent decline in both the caregiver and care recipient. In Sept. 2016, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine published a report from the Committee on Family Caregiving for Older Adults (‘resources’). It provides data that should be considered and discussed among families. Additionally, information is available from the Alabama Agency on Aging (‘resources’). Resources Alzheimer’s Assn. Facts — http://bit.ly/1VBMD7l Early Signs/Symptoms — http://bit.ly/28Y2Aks. New Study — http://bit.ly/2dMMu1d Caregiver Report — http://bit.ly/2cpg9vd AL Agency on Aging — http://www.alabamaageline.gov/ Arlene H. Morris, EdD, RN, CNE is Professor of Nursing, Auburn Montgomery School of Nursing. Reach her at amorris@ aum.edu. Correction: The author regrets an error in the October 2016 In Every Life column that stated, “IPF is a subtype of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, in the pattern of unusual interstitial pneumonia." It should have stated “usual” interstitial pneumonia. www.primemontgomery.com | November 2016

HEALTH

Painkillers

6 Myths Debunked

By the Chronic Conditions Team at Cleveland Clinic

hen it comes to prescription pain medications, there’s a lot of misinformation out there. Whether you’re searching for information about how they can help you relieve pain, or reading the latest tabloid story about a celebrity addict, separating fact from fiction can be tough. Here, Richard Rosenquist, MD, Chairman of Pain Management at Cleveland Clinic, debunks six common myths about prescription painkillers, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone.

Myth 4: There are no long-term consequences Addiction is not the only risk that comes with prescription pain medications. When you take them for extended periods of time, they also can harm your body’s endocrine system and throw your hormones out of whack, affecting everything from your libido to your risk of osteoporosis. “There are a lot of bad things that can happen, but people don’t always hear you when you describe them,” Dr. Rosenquist says.

Myth 1: The more you take, the better they work More does not equal better. It’s true that in the short term — after a severe injury, for example — two pills may be more effective than one at relieving pain. But over time, taking too much backfires. Research suggests that chronic use of pain medications sensitizes a portion of the nervous system and modifies the way your brain and spinal cord interpret pain signals, Dr. Rosenquist says. “You develop a tolerance to the medication over time,” he says. “Sometimes if you take chronic pain medications for a long time, your pain may actually get worse.”

Myth 5: You should avoid painkillers altogether As you can tell, there is plenty of scary information about painkillers. However, there are certainly legitimate uses. In addition to treating the pain from acute injuries, a very small fraction of chronic pain patients see improvements in both pain levels and function from taking pain medications — especially when other pain management techniques fail for them. For the majority of people, though, prescription pain medications should be a shortterm treatment at most.

Myth 2: If you take them for a valid reason, you can’t get addicted “It can’t happen to me. I’m a good citizen. I’m a normal person. I couldn’t possibly get addicted.” Thinking this way is dangerous. Even if you start taking a prescription pain medication for a legitimate reason, you run the risk of addiction. It has nothing to do with moral character and everything to do with the highly addictive nature of these drugs. Myth 3: Everyone who takes them gets addicted On the flipside, just because you take a prescription painkiller does not mean you will become addicted. It depends largely on your own personal risk of addiction. That’s why Dr. Rosenquist and others in pain management screen for risk factors: a family history of addiction, a personal history of alcohol and drug abuse, or certain psychiatric disorders. “If I’m considering prescribing opioids, I’m going to do drug screening and make sure you’re not taking recreational drugs,” Dr. Rosenquist notes. “If somebody uses recreational drugs, the likelihood they’re going to use pain medications inappropriately is really high.” Not everyone gets addicted, but everyone who takes painkillers for an extended time period will experience symptoms of withdrawal if they suddenly stop. It’s a natural reaction. 26

November 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com

Myth 6: Pain medication can fix your pain This may be the biggest myth of all. Pain medications simply mask your symptoms; they don’t treat the root cause of your pain. That’s why Dr. Rosenquist focuses on making a diagnosis and addressing the cause of the pain whenever possible to help improve your function rather than just how you feel. Are you moving better? Are you able to get back to work? These are important questions about function. So is the question of whether you’ve been making efforts to get better. For example, have you been following doctor’s orders and doing physical therapy to recover from an injury? Have you been losing weight if you’re suffering from weight-related joint pain or back pain? “If you’re not doing the other things you need to do to get better, I’m not going to keep prescribing those drugs,” Dr. Rosenquist says. “On their own, they’re not therapeutic.” Related Materials: Drug Addictions Are Physical Illnesses (video); http://cle. clinic/2df9B0D Opiates Kill More People Than Car Accidents (video); http:// cle.clinic/2ecY1Fo Choose Painkillers Carefully If You Take Coumadin; http://cle. clinic/2dNtKgT Courtesy: Health Hub, Cleveland Clinic; Read article at http://cle.clinic/2e4Gmzd.

TECH 50+

Tech for Health: Alzheimer’s App I

By Gary M. Kaye

n recent years I’ve come across a number of instances in which students have developed devices and apps to help seniors and the disabled, but I was genuinely impressed by the creation of twelveyear-old Emma Yang, one of the recipients of the “Ten Under Twenty” innovation awards announced at this year’s Consumer Electronics conference. Her creation, “Timeless,” is an app to help Alzheimer’s patients, their caregivers, and their families. Emma was inspired to create Timeless by her frustration in trying to connect with her grandmother half way around the world. “When I was eight years old, my grandma thought I was 13,” said Emma. “And then one day, she forgot my birthday and my Dad’s birthday. My grandma suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease. She lives in Hong Kong and we live in New York. The distance makes it hard to stay engaged with her, especially as the illness progresses.” For her grandmother, recognizing and remembering people was becoming increasingly difficult. She would also call people repetitively and repeat things she’d already said. Remembering phone numbers and addresses made it difficult to stay in touch with family and friends. Emma’s distance from her grandmother was a problem, but Alzheimer’s was also preventing them from staying connected. Emma’s Timeless app directly addresses problems of memory loss and confusion. It’s not unusual for an Alzheimer’s patient to make multiple phone calls to the same person in a short period of time. If Timeless detects that, the app will stop the call and ask, “Are you sure you want to make this call?” Other problems include the inability to remember the names of family and friends, or even the patient’s own name. Timeless includes tools such as facial recognition to help deal with this, as well as a button to remind the patient of his or her own name. “I utilized an artificial-intelligence-

Emma Yang visiting with her grandmother in China.

based facial recognition platform in my app,” said Emma. “When given a photo of a person, the app compares it with a pre-enrolled one and identifies who the person is. In the app, the user can recognize who is in front of them.” The app provides family and friends with a means of updating their activities to keep the patient involved. “My idea is simple,” Emma said. “An app that helps Alzheimer’s patients recognize their loved ones, remember events, and stay connected and engaged with the people around them.” Emma’s hope is that the app will allow Alzheimer’s patients to maintain their independence, even if their condition isn’t curable. We caught up with Emma in Hong Kong where she was visiting her grandmother. Emma: My dad’s a software engineer, so he helped me with the technical areas of the project. I was also supported by a doctor who specializes in Alzheimer’s Disease patients, so I gave her a demo of my app and she gave me feedback along the way that really helped me. And also for the facial recognition part of the app, where you can take a picture of a person, I had been using a platform developed by a startup in Miami called Kairos. I found them and I used the platform to develop that part of the app. They were really supportive and helped me through the process of implementing it into my app and making sure it worked. www.primemontgomery.com | November 2016

Tech50+: How much research did you do to see if there was anything else on the marketplace that was comparable to this? Emma: I did do a lot of research on what Alzheimer’s patients have difficulty with, things like having difficulty recognizing people and staying engaged. I tried to implement those features into the app as much as possible. Tech50+: As near as you could tell there was nobody else doing anything quite like this, is that correct? Emma: That’s correct. I looked around and I couldn’t find anything like this. Tech50+: Where is the app at this stage, in terms of development and deployment? Emma: I have a fully-functional prototype right now, but I’m still in the process of fully developing it. I plan to finish developing it and roll it out by the end of the year. I plan to be able to test it in the hands of real Alzheimer’s patients after I fully develop it. Emma notes that while we may be a long way from a cure for this insidious disease, there are things that can be done

2014-15

Season

to improve the quality of life of the patient and the family. The potential for technology to help Emma’s grandmother, and others suffering from Alzheimer’s, is what inspired her to create Timeless, allowing technology to do what it’s good at, such as facial recognition, to solve problems common to Alzheimer’s patients. “Despite the difficulties of the illness,” said Emma, “Alzheimer’s patients too should be able to cherish the timeless moments in life.” You can meet Emma and see a demonstration of her “Timeless” app at https://vimeo.com/168872977. Gary Kaye is the creator and Chief Content Officer of Tech50+, (www.tech50plus.com), the leading website covering technology from the Baby Boomer perspective. Kaye has been covering high tech for more than 30 years with outlets including NBC, ABC, CNN and Fox Business. He is a regular contributor to AARP and other websites on issues regarding the nexus of technology, seniors and baby boomers.

1976-2016

Classical Season Concert I • October 10 • 7:30pm Concert II • November 21 • 7:30pm Concert III • December 13 • 7:30pm Concert IV • February 20 • 7:30pm Concert V • May 1 • 7:30pm

Kris Kendrick

Fellowship Series

Cello, October 27 • 7:30pm Cello, November 13 • 2:30pm Violin, December 1 • 7:30pm Violin, January 8 • 2:30pm Cello, February 5 • 2:30pm Violin, March 5 • 2:30pm montgomerysymphony.org / 240-4004 November 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com

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ESSAY

Look again...

By William McDonald

he looks in the mirror. Looking back are watery eyes rimmed with wrinkles. She turns away. Look again! Watery eyes rimmed with wrinkles? Or a sea of tears salvaged in the sands of time. Tears of love, tears of joy, tears of anger, tears of sadness and hope and fear and worry and compassion and relief; tears of a lifetime given only to you. Watery eyes rimmed with wrinkles? No. A sea of tears salvaged in the sands of time to remind you – you are who you’ve always been. In the mirror she sees shoulders slightly bent, hands spotted, knuckles stiff with arthritis. She turns away. Look again! Shoulders slightly bent? Or a reminder of all that you have carried through the years. See in those slightly bent shoulders the burdens you lifted from those who could bear them no longer and remember each one. Can you see their faces, flush with freedom because you were there to carry the load awhile? Can you see, on those slightly bent shoulders, the lives you touched and changed? Hands spotted, knuckles stiff with arthritis? Every scar, every

spot, is a reminder of every responsibility ever placed in those hands. Every child at birth and every promise you made that you would not let them down. Every responsibility put in your hands in your job, in your family, in your home. Knuckles stiff with arthritis? They’re reminders of the pain that comes with holding on too long … or letting go. In the mirror she sees a stomach, stretched and scarred, a sagging body empty of its poise and purpose. She turns away. Look again! A stomach, stretched and scarred? That’s the imprint of a life you nurtured, protected, readied and then, at the perfect moment, coaxed into the world. It’s not a sagging body empty of its poise and purpose, but a tapestry unfolding a life with no limits. In the mirror she sees a woman, as alive inside as she has always been. On the outside? Not a body betrayed, but a life, illustrated. William McDonald/Author/Old Friends (Endless Love). Available at: www.oldfriendsendlesslove.com She looks in the mirror.

Outdoor Dining

From Hampstead’s October Farm Invasion (photos by Nick Drollette Photography)

www.primemontgomery.com | November 2016

PRIME DIVERSIONS ACROSS 1 Also 4 Hotelier Helmsley 9 Make small adjustments to 14 Post-ER area 15 First stage 16 ABBA’s “__ Mia” 17 Black-and-white cruiser 19 High-tech prefix with space 20 Memorial __ Kettering: NYC hospital 21 Teensy bit 23 Word on a penny 24 Yin’s partner 25 Black-and-white puzzles 27 When doubled, a Pacific island 29 Actor DiCaprio, familiarly 30 Black-and-white music makers 35 “The Jetsons” boy 39 Go over snow 40 Painkiller with a Meltaways children’s brand 42 “__ Maria” 43 2014 film about civil rights marches 45 Black-and-white companion 47 Outfielder’s asset 49 Brouhahas

50 Black-and-white flag 56 Take five 59 October birthstone 60 Curly-horned goat 61 Happen 62 Really casual “No prob!” 64 Black-and-white ocean predator 66 Pal of Threepio 67 Behave theatrically 68 Type 69 Way up or way down 70 Meeting of church delegates 71 Albany is its cap. DOWN 1 Slightly sloshed 2 City in Florida’s horse country 3 Released from jail until trial 4 Diving lake bird 5 Picture that shows more detail: Abbr. 6 “Sesame Street” grouch 7 “Sweet!” 8 Gillette razors 9 HBO rival 10 “Totally awesome!” 11 Campfire glower 12 Modify, as a law

13 Go-__: mini racers 18 Tease relentlessly 22 ISP option 25 Like dense brownies 26 Little shaver, to Burns 28 Dial type on old phones 30 Ltr. add-ons 31 Eisenhower nickname 32 Days of yore, quaintly 33 Supporting vote 34 NBC show that celebrated its 40th anniversary in Feb. 36 Cause an uproar of Biblical proportions? 37 Fertility clinic eggs 38 Itch 41 Actor Sharif 44 Shoplifter catcher, often 46 Handheld burning light 48 Med. scan 50 __ Brothers: pop music trio 51 Dizzying painting genre 52 Coffeehouse order 53 Bassoon relatives 54 Potentially infectious 55 Former jailbird 57 Tarnish 58 Tough hikes 61 Didn’t pay yet 63 Laughs from Santa 65 From __ Z © 2016 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, INC.

Sudoku and Crossword Puzzle Answers on page 32. 30

November 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com

HISTORY’S MYSTERIES

Do You Know These People?

he Department of Archives and History and Prime magazine have been successful in identifying numerous people in photographs featured in this column. Your help has been invaluable. This month, Archives is hosting a “reunion,” bringing together many of the people in this year’s photographs. If you’re in one of the photos in any of our 2016 issues, and haven’t been contacted, please call or e-mail Meredith McDonough, 334-353-5442, meredith.mcdonough@ archives.alabama.gov, or e-mail Bob Corley at Prime magazine, primemontgomery@gmail.com.

Top Right: December 5, 1959. “Beatnik Party,” possibly at the home of Starr and Virginia Smith, Montgomery, AL. (John E. Scott, photographer) Bottom Right: Circa 1955. Eads Quartet and young woman seated at a piano. WBAM radio studio, Montgomery, AL. (Horace Perry, photographer) Below: November 24, 1966. Crowd in the bleachers during homecoming activities, Alabama State College (ASU), Montgomery, AL. (Jim Peppler, photographer)

www.primemontgomery.com | November 2016

Art Walk: Representing 5 Studio Artists Cloverdale-Idlewild Neighborhood

SELF-GUIDED TOURS & SALES (All studios within walking distance)

December 3 • 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. December 4 • Noon to 2 p.m. Pottery• Paintings Photography• Jewelry • 651 Hubbard St. • 3325 LeBron Rd. • 3316 Montezuma Rd. • 3334 Montezuma Rd. • 3135 Montezuma Rd.

November 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com

November in the River Region “Garden Tool Selection” Lunch & Learn Nov. 2, noon-1 pm. Free. Armory Learning Arts Center, 1018 Madison Ave, Mtgy. Bring sack lunch. Drinks provided. Capital City Master Gardener Assn. For info contact Mtgy. Co. Extension Office (334) 270-4133. P:ke Road Arts & Crafts Fair Nov. 5, 9 am-4 pm. Marks House, Pike Road. 200+ vendors, unique items, food. Rated a Top Ten Event in 2016 by Alabama Tourism Dept. For info/directions visit www. pikeroadartsandcraftsfair.com, call 334-657-2012, or email jlivings41960@hotmail.com. Joe Thomas Jr. Guitar Pull Nov. 15, 7-9 pm. Cloverdale Playhouse, Old Cloverdale. Songwriters perform/discuss their music. $10 (includes complimentary beverages). For info call (334) 262-1530 or visit www.cloverdaleplayhouse.org. International Food Tasting Fundraiser Nov. 13, 2-4 pm, Southern Homes/Gardens, 8820 Vaughn Rd., Montgomery. Benefits MACOA’s Meals on Wheels program. (See page 24 for details.) Newcomers Club Luncheon/Program Nov. 16, 11 am. Arrowhead CC. Speaker: Kim Wolfe, Exec. Dir. Montgomery Symphony. $18. Reservationsby noon Nov. 14. For info contact Jan Burdette, jan8410@ bellsouth.net or (334) 593-9266. Alzheimer’s/Autism Fundraiser Nov. 19, 5 pm, Biscuits Stadium, Mtgy. Dinner, auction. $50/ticket. BBQ dinner, live band. Auction items include Saban & Malzahn signed footballs, beach get-away, jewelry, paintings, $10,000 cash draw down. For info contact Lynn, 334-215-4483, or lpcox@lrdmarketing.com. Interfaith Nativity Exhibit Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 1-8 pm. Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, 3460 Carter Hill Rd., Mtgy. Free. Hundreds of nativity scenes from around the world. Concert each evening. Art Walk - 5 Studio Artists Dec. 3 (8a-3p), Dec 4 (noon-2p). Cloverdale-Idlewild neighborhood. Potters, painters, photographers, jewelry makers. (See opposite page for details.) “Natural Holiday Decor” Lunch & Learn Dec. 7, noon-1 pm. Free. Armory Learning Arts Center, 1018 Madison Ave, Mtgy. Bring sack lunch. Drinks provided. Capital City Master Gardener Assn. For info contact Mtgy. Co. Extension Office (334) 270-4133. Appalachian Craft Fair Dec. 10, (9am-2pm), Dec. 11 (8am-noon). Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 6610 Vaughn Rd., Mtgy. 100+ crafters; baskets, jewelry, dolls, toys, games, ornaments. For info contact Steve Badskey, 334-272-6152 or steve@aldersgateumc.org, or visit www.aldersgateumc. org. www.primemontgomery.com | November 2016

OFF THE BEATEN PATH (Editor’s Note: Niko Corley’s November, 2015 column, reprinted here, received a Personal Essay Award at the North American Mature Publishers Association Conference in September, in Denver, CO. See page 21 for judges comments.)

A Pleasant Surprise

“Roostertails,” he mumbled, dejected, peering into the tackle box. “Of all the lures. Roostertails.” He’d set the tackle box with the spoons, buck-tail jigs and other assorted saltwater lures by the back door so he’d be sure not to leave it behind. Considering all his tackle boxes looked alike, had the culprit been anyone other than himself, it would have been an easy enough mistake to forgive. Except it wasn’t. The similarity of his tackle boxes was little consolation as he sat on the beach, arms resting on the tops of his bare knees, sun rising over his left shoulder, surveying the wide open Gulf. Two hundred miles away a small plastic box whose contents were worth a mere twenty dollars held, at this moment, a much greater value. Had he been fishing even once this year, sticking the wrong tackle box amid the mountain of luggage, diaper bags and baby toys would not have been as significant. There was a time when not a week went by he didn’t wet a line — fly rod, spinning rod, bait caster, trolling. It didn’t matter the fishing style or type of equipment, so long as the fish were biting. But then life took over. Work demands grew as did familial responsibilities, and suddenly there was no time for fishing. He looked forward to any reason to be away from the office, but this beach trip especially because his oldest child had begun to show an interest in the pursuit he so enjoyed. He’d catch himself daydreaming of pulling bull redfish up on the sand, waves rolling over their glimmering copper bodies, as his daughter stood alongside beaming with pride and giddy with excitement. “Daddy,” she’d say, “you got a big one!” and they’d both smile for the picture he’d later frame and place prominently on his desk, the way it certainly would have gone except for his tackle box error. His wife’s voice brought him back to reality. “I thought you were going fishing?” she asked perplexed, their infant son bouncing on her hip and strangely mirroring the same expression. He explained his plight, how he’d grabbed the wrong lures, and that it would be a wasted effort. He even showed her the box of Roostertails as proof. Undeterred, she pointed to a silver one with a red skirt. “Ooh,” she said encouragingly. “Why don’t you try that one?” She clearly didn’t understand the gravity of the situation, he realized, and further explanation would prove futile. It was simple: fish were smart, fishermen, not so much. It would be pointless, and anyone walking by would go home and talk about that crazy tourist casting bass lures from the beach. He sighed, stood up and began breaking down his rod and reel. 34

November 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com

“You know, there’s someone who really wants to fish with her daddy,” his wife said, a bit of force now gracefully present in her tone. He looked at his daughter playing in the sand and halfsmiled. “Hey, baby,” you want to go fishing?” he asked. They waded to the second sandbar, his daughter on his shoulders holding the rod, bass lures tucked under his arm. “Catch me a fish Daddy! Catch me a fish!” she said as he cast the red-skirted Roostertail into the trough of dark water straight ahead. He was reeling steadily and holding his breath, hoping that failing the first time wouldn’t diminish her enthusiasm, when his line stopped like it hit a wall. “Seaweed,” he muttered, preparing to jerk the rod and clear the lure of the debris, when the sound of line peeling from his reel stopped him. He pumped and reeled, gaining on the fish, and in a few moments had a small but heavily-muscled Jack Crevalle in his hand. He held the fish up to pry the Roostertail from its mouth, both of them equally surprised to see the other. He looked at his wideeyed daughter, a smile extending across her face. “Can I touch it?” she asked. She marveled at the fish’s smooth skin and coloring. He told her the fish’s name, tossed the Jack back into the surf, and cast into the trough again. Two turns of the reel’s handle yielded another strike. He drove the hook home and the drag proceeded to sing its beautiful song, one he hadn’t heard in some time. His daughter wanted to touch every fish they caught, eventually working her way up to holding the rod and doing some of the reeling. When the skin between his middle and ring finger began to ache from fighting the little Jacks, they turned back toward shore. “Well, how did you do?” his wife asked as they stepped out of the water. “We lost count,” he said, with a smile as wide as his daughter’s. “She’s hooked. And me, well, I may have a new favorite lure. And a new fishing partner.”

Niko Corley is a USCG-licensed charter boat captain and spends his free time on the water or in the woods. To contact him e-mail niko.corley@gmail.com.

Niko Corley

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