50+Living JUNE 2020

50+Living of Western NC

Scrumptious Strawberries

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From Sunburns to Survivor

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June 2020

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An American Mom

By JeanAnn Taylor

A

s I w r ite t his pie ce, it is a stor my, March mor ning . We are is ol ate d i n ou r homes w hi l e we wait for t his l atest v i r us to dissip ate. A lt houg h t he d af fo d i ls and che r r y t re e s are bl o oming , t he world s e ems to b e qu ite t he disma l pl ace r ig ht now. I have to ad mit, it’s e asy to l et mys el f fe el depress e d ab out t he st ate of our count r y and t he world ; t he u n k now n asp e c t s and rep erc ussions s e em to o bi g to pro cess. The on ly way I k now how to st ay p os it ive is to rememb er w hat I have to b e g rate f u l for—w hich is a l ot . I a ls o ne e d to re me mb e r t hat we c an, indiv idu a l ly and c ol l e c t ively, come out of this stronger and better.

The re are t wo imp or t ant hol id ays in May : Mot he r’s D ay and Ar me d Forc es D ay. B ot h c el ebrat i ons have g re at me aning for me. Fi rst, not hi ng comp ares to t he honor and l ove of mot he rho o d. Now, my “ b abies” are g row n a du lts w it h c are ers and l ives ap ar t f rom me. My d au g hte r works at a prest ig ious univers it y i n Pe nns y lvan i a and my s on is in t he Unite d St ates Ai r Force. I’m s o proud of t hem, and happy t he y fou nd t he c are ers t he y were c a l l e d to. A lt houg h t he re is dist ance, not hing c an s ep ar ate t he relationships we share. I’m thankful to be their mom.

Ar me d Forces D ay b egan on May 20 , 1 9 5 0 , w he n Pre si d e nt Tr uman de cl are d t his d ay as a way for cit i ze ns to unite and honor t hei r m i l it ar y he ro e s. In 1961, President Kenne dy d e cl are d Ar me d Forces D ay to b e a nat i ona l hol i d ay celebrate d on t he t hird Saturd ay of e ach May, w h i ch w i l l b e May 16, 2020. I’m t han k f u l to live in a countr y that honors those who protect us.

Eve n t hou g h t here are and a lways w i l l b e i ne qu a lit i e s , p e opl e in Amer ic a are genera l ly

regard e d w it h resp e c t, no matter t he i r i nc ome, race, or s o ci a l st atus . Amer i c a, more t han any ot her count r y has c amp ai g ne d agai nst t he e v i ls of d is cr i mi nat i on . O ur he a lt hy c u ltu re a l l ow s us to live ac t ive, adventurous lives. We have t he g i f t of choi ce— our f ate is not d ef ine d for us.

We c an cho os e to st ay w here we we re b or n or venture of f to f ar away l ands . We c an cho o s e to work as an account ant or f ar mer or p ai nte r or f lor ist. We have t he f re e d om to worsh ip as we b eli e ve w it hout p ers e c ut i on . For a l l t he s e reasons and many more, I’m thankful to live in America.

At t his p oi nt, it is uncle ar w he t he r t he re w i l l b e gat her i ngs , p arad es , or e ve n chu rch s er v i ces w here we c an come toget he r to celebrate Mother’s Day, Armed Forces Day or . . . any t hi ng . We may have to s ett le for Fa c e Ti me t his Mot her’s D ay. What we c an d o is t a ke c are of ours elves s o t hat w hen t his n i g ht mare is over, we’ l l b e he a lt hy and re ady to re pl e nish t he d ef i cit of hugs . To celebrate and show ou r supp or t for our mi lit ar y on Ar me d Forc e s D ay, we c an f ly our Amer i c an f l ag on t he f ront porch and send care packages to those who are deployed.

I’m an Amer i c an mom. In many w ay s t he re is not hi ng p ar t i c u l arly sp e ci a l ab out me. I st r ive to d o t he r i g ht t hi ng . I t a ke c are of my s el f and t hos e w hom I love. I e at he a lt hy fo o ds, exercis e d ai ly, and d on’t s moke. I ke e p my hous e organ i z e d and cle an . I work except i ona l ly hard to me et my go a ls and aspi rat i ons . My l i fe is prett y s i mple re a l ly. But i n many w ay s, my l i fe is except i ona l ly bless e d — b e c aus e I’m a mom w ho lives i n Amer i c a.

June 2020 | 50+ Living | 3

A Note From the Editor Welcome Back!

W e ’ r e s o t h a n kfu l t o b e b a c k a n d s o g l a d y o u a r e h e r e ! D u e t o t h e v i r u s t h a t c r e a t e d ext r e m e h a v o c i n o u r l i v e s , w e w e r e u n a b l e t o p r i nt th e A p r i l a n d M a y issu es of 5 0 + L iv i n g . We a re th r i l l e d to o ffe r s o m e o f o u r fa v o r it e a rt i c l e s f ro m t h e p a st t w o m o n t h s t o y o u i n t h i s J u n e i s s u e — a l o n g w it h a fe w n e w p i e c e s .

J u n e i s o f c o u rs e t h e b e g i n n i n g o f s u m m e r ( J u n e 2 0 ) , Fa t h e r ’ s D a y ( J u n e 2 1 ) , a n d s e v e ra l ot h e r s p e c i a l d a y s . O n e i m p o rta n t d a y w e s h o u l d n e v e r fo r g e t i s D - D a y . O n J u n e 6 , 1 9 4 4 , y o u n g , b ra v e A m e r i c a n s st o r m e d t h e b e a c h e s o f N o r m a n d y F ra n c e t o fo r c e N a z i s o u t o f W e st e r n E u ro p e . D e s p it e t u r b u l e n t st o r m s a n d h e a v y r e s i sta n c e , t h e i r l o y a l t y a n d s h e e r g r it l e d t h e s e m e n t o f i g ht fo r t h e f r e e d o m w e st i l l h a v e to da y .

Once a ga in, we l ive in a tim e of S o m e t i m e s w h e n I ’ m fe e l i n g b l u e , I n o m a tt e r w h a t i s g o i n g o n a r o u n d a n d h o p e . I h o p e y o u w i l l s it b a c k , issu e of 5 0 + L iv i n g .

u n c e rta i n t y , y e t w e h a v e s o m u c h t o b e t h a n kfu l fo r . s it d o w n a n d m a ke a l i st o f g ra t it u d e . I t ’ s a r e m i n d e r t h a t m e , I st i l l h a v e w h a t r e a l l y m a tt e rs : h e a l t h , l o v e , f r e e d o m , l e t g o o f t h e c o n fu s i o n t h a t c i r c l e s a ro u n d u s , a n d e n j o y t h i s

J e a n A n n Ta y l o r

50+Living

CONTENTS

of Western NC

3 5 8 9

50pluslivingWNC.com

An American Mom

10 Top 5 Retirement

Taylor'd with Style Raise the Barre

13 All About Avocados 14 Love Your Skin

Sandy's Food for Thought Strawberries Are Here!

Summer's Delicious Delights

4 | 50+ Living | June 2020

Questions

"A father is neither an anchor to hold us back nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way."

Taylor’d with Style

Raise the Barre

By JeanAnn Taylor or many years, I taught little ones how to plie, point their toes, tap their feet, and twirl. I adored my job. The cuteness of three-year-olds in tutus is priceless. Although I no longer teach children how to dance, dance recitals and sequined costumes bring back fond memories. As a dancer, I’m naturally drawn to tulle, shoes that lace up, full skirts, and flowy fabrics.

So, I’m thrilled whenever I see these style elements back in fashion, as they are now.

F

Dance and fashion are complementar y art forms.

Costumes play an important role in the stor ytelling of a dance. Fashion designers are inspired by the juxtaposition of athletic, yet willowy dancers, and the colors and allure of sheer and shiny fabrics. Depending on the intent, these perfect artpartners can work together to reflect elegance and refinement, or they can represent a dark, impish vibe.

Elaborate costumes were originally made by, and for, male dancers. These costumes mirrored the fashion of the day and were only adapted to accommodate the movement with lighterweight fabrics and shorter hemlines. It wasn’t until the late 1700s that ballet became dominated by women. As more women entered the dance world, light, air y costumes became more established. However, while these garments were considered appropriate for performing, they were in no way considered appropriate for wearing out into society. It would take nearly two-hundred years before this idea was acceptable.

The quintessential image of a ballerina wearing a tutu and laced-up pointe shoes began with Swedish dancer Marie Taglioni. In 1832, this exceptionally ladylike and talented ballerina wore a white, fitted bodice and a sheer calflength tulle skirt when she danced in the ballet La Sylphide. This was the first ballet where dancing on pointe was presented in an aesthetically pleasing way, opposed to a clumsy acrobatic stunt. Ever y ballerina soon aspired to dance in this graceful manner.

By 1932, one hundred years later, ballet was highly regarded and regularly featured in fashion magazines; ballerinas were often the models. Many pages and articles were devoted to the ballet, the costumes, and how the two art forms blend effortlessly together.

This trend was encouraged by designers Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli who glamorized the ballerina figure. The “New Look” fashion of Christian Dior in 1947 was highly influenced by the romantic and fullskirted ballerina dress. The movie, The Red Shoes (1948) fueled the enthusiasm for feminine ballerina fashion.

The 1950s full-circle poodle skirts are another spin-off of the ballerina skirt. This trend continued until the 1970s when sadly, ballerina fashion lost its appeal as women campaigned for equality in masculine garments. While some women chose to wear dull pants and blazers, many fashion designers held on and refused to let go of the innate beauty of ballet. To withstand the cultural shift, they introduced unique and whimsical elements to the standard classical ballet dress. Best known for this movement is Betsey Johnson. Gleaning from continued on page 7 June 2020 | 50+ Living | 5

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jennifer Adams Sandy McCall Gigi Steel JeanAnn Taylor Gina Trippi P.O. Box 18416 | Asheville, NC 28814 828.230.7537 50pluslivingWNC.com All advertising published in 50+Living of Western NC is believed to be truthful and accurate. However AVL Media, Inc. assumes no responsibility and shall have no liability whatsoever for errors, including without limitation, typographical errors or omissions in 50+Living of Western NC. Any reference made to AVL Media, Inc. is not to be construed as making any representation, warranty or guarantee concerning the information on properties advertised in 50+Living of Western NC. The content of all ads contained herein are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. The opinions and statements contained in advertising or elsewhere in this publication are those of the authors of such opinions and are not necessarily those of AVL Media, Inc. AVL Media, Inc. reserves the right to edit or refuse any advertising submitted to this publication.

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her great love of dance and art, she created embellished, colorful, whimsical, and often outlandish fashions. Her unique brand remains popular today.

As fashion will always be fickle and cyclical, we are once again seeing a resurgence in balletinspired clothing. Recent runways have been referred to as an “explosion of tulle.” The good news is that you don’t have to be a seven-year-old to wear dance fashion. There are grown-up ways to express your inner ballerina without looking like you are playing dress-up. Streetwear ballet style can look chic and sophisticated.

Layering is an essential element of dance wear.

Bodysuits, camisoles, and tanks are worn with body-hugging wrap-tops or cardigans. Never say never when it comes to fashion; corsets are back. Fortunately this time, the corset fits the woman rather than the woman fitting the corset. The street-fashion rule of, if the top is full the bottom should be fitted, if the bottom is full the top should be fitted, remains true in ballet-fashion. This contrast presents a pleasing silhouette. As most ballet skirts are full, fitted tops are the rule. Button-up tops can also look chic with a ballet-inspired skirt.

The current popularity of leggings originates from the tights worn by ballerinas. The rule when wearing leggings outside of ballet class is to cover your derrière.

True ballerina skirts are typically made from chiffon or tulle. Streetwear fashions can be made with rayon, polyester, or lightweight cotton. The essential element is that the fabric is thin enough, and the silhouette is full enough for spontaneous twirling. Most silhouettes are circular or gathered, but if gathers don’t appeal to you, a pleated skirt can give the desired twirl factor without all the fuss. Crinolines with layers of ruffles may not suit your style, but one soft layer of chiffon under your skirt will allow it to fall pleasingly around your body.

Stylish ballet flats go with practically ever ything: leggings, jeans, skirts, and even shorts. They may be embellished with cr ystals

and bows—and are available in so many colors.

Jessica Simpson has a line of ballet flats that look almost exactly like a pair of pointe shoes—complete with a toe box. Lace-up boots for winter weather have a ballet vibe, and pink Keds are a nice choice for outdoor fun.

Adornments of sequins, cr ystals, and bows are not limited to shoes. These sparkly enhancements are found on tops, skirts, and jeans. Flounces can grace tops and skirts for extra frilly fripper y. Dancers often wear something in their hair—a pretty headband, feathers, flowers, combs, or even a fascinator.

Belts are worn to define the waist and add a point of interest. You had me at petal pink.

But any dreamy, romantic shade of lilac, celadon, peach, or pistachio will reflect the ballerina aura. It may seem contradictor y, but ballet fashion is often simple. Dancers wear small, delicate jewelr y such as studs and thin necklaces. Care is taken to wear jewelr y that doesn’t interfere with the dance or catch on lightweight fabrics.

To truly capture the essence of a dancer, you must consider your posture and poise.

Dancers work exceptionally hard to maintain perfect-as-possible posture. To look like a dancer, relax your shoulders, lift your chin, and elongate your spine. Gentle, graceful movements will reflect an elegant and composed demeanor.

I love ballet fashion and I love seeing women who are not afraid or intimidated to express their femininity with pretty clothes. This romantic style of cool, soft, flowy fabrics is perfect for warm, summer gatherings. So, raise the barre to elegance. The ballet-inspired fashion forecast looks good. It is anticipated to be as trendy in the future as it has been in the past.

"The popularity of ballet f lats is thought to have been inf luenced by World War ll. Since ballet shoes were not rationed, they became alternatives to standard footwear."

June 2020 | 50+ Living | 7

Sandy’s Food for Thought Strawberries Are Here!

By Sandy McCall

“Strawberries are one of my favorite fruits. They are versatile, sweet, and beautiful. �������������� strawberries most of the year in our local grocery stores, I long for fresh strawberries from my garden or from local farmers. Oftentimes, I add a strawberry or two to other dishes, like entrees, to add color and a little sweetness.

Sometimes I make dishes centered around fresh strawberries. Today I am making one of my favorite strawberry

”

desserts. My version is called Roasted Strawberry Clafoutis with a Maple-Balsamic Drizzle. Try it for breakfast too!

Ro aste d Str aw b err y C l afouti s w ith Mapl e-Ba ls ami c Driz z l e 1 2 -16 ou nc e s f re sh st raw b e r r ie s , div ide d 1 / 4 c up b a ls am ic v ine gar 1 / 8 c up pu re maple sy r up ( more if you li ke it swe eter) for ro ast i ng b e r r i es 1 ⁄4 c up pu re maple sy r up for c a ke 3 eg g s 1 c up c o c onut mi l k or d air y mi l k 1 te asp o on v an i l l a e x t rac t 1 ⁄8 te asp o on s e a s a lt O pt : 1⁄ 8 te asp o on c in namon 1 ⁄4 te asp o on b a k ing p owde r 1 ⁄2 c up a l mond f lour Prehe at ove n to 375° After trimming and quartering the strawberries, put half of the berries into a small baking dish and reserve the remaining berries. Whisk together 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar and 1/8 cup maple syrup (more if you like it sweeter). Pour over the berries in the baking dish and stir gently. Roast berries for 15-20 minutes.

While berries are roasting, make cake by putting dry ingredients into the food processor. Mix until combined. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, remaining maple syrup and vanilla extract. While the food processor is running, add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and blend until well combined. Pour batter into a buttered 8” cast iron skillet or a buttered cake pan.

Remove strawberries from the oven, cool slightly. Strain liquid from berries and reserve. Arrange berries evenly on top of cake batter and push them slightly into batter. Bake for about 30 minutes until the cake is puffed, slightly browned and until a knife comes out clean.

Let stand for 10 minutes while you prepare balsamic-maple drizzle. Pour the reserved balsamic-maple syrup mixture into a small cast iron skillet. Heat until it starts to thicken and reduce slightly. It will thicken further as it cools. Set aside.

When you are ready to serve, cut cake into slices, top each piece with a few remaining berries and drizzle with reduced balsamic-maple drizzle. Cake is best served while warm but also can be refrigerated for later use.

Optional: add whipped and sweetened coconut cream or dairy cream.

Sandy McCall is the Broker/Owner of Southern Life Realty. Email: SandysFoodForThought@gmail.com 8 | 50+ Living | June 2020

Summer’s Delicious Delights

By Gigi Steel

W

elcome to summertime when fruits and vegetables are fresh and plentiful! After a long, cold winter, sweet strawberries and luscious cherries are a welcome treat. However, before you enjoy these summer pleasures, here are a few things to remember for the safety of you and your loved ones.

Fruits and vegetables are often available unpackaged so that you can pick and choose as you please. This is great, but it also means that the product you purchase should be cleaned thoroughly before eating. There are many ways plant food can become contaminated before it reaches your table. Animals can taint produce while it’s still on the ground, chemicals can seep into products, and poor hygiene of workers can spread germs. Every time food is touched, there is opportunity for contamination.

To combat the spread of bacteria and to simply not be gross, there are a few simple steps to take before consuming those delicious summer fruits and vegetables. First, choose food that is not damaged. Bruises or cuts can allow bacteria to go inside the flesh of the food. Wash your hands before handling food, and then wash the bounty before slicing, dicing, or peeling. Bacteria and dirt on the surface can be pushed inside the food when it is cut. This means that even cantaloupes, watermelons, potatoes, and other throwaway skins should be washed before cutting. If I’m going to eat the skin, such as with zucchini, apples, and tomatoes, I like to give them a little baking soda or salt scrub. The abrasiveness ensures that chemicals and dirt are washed down the drain. A vegetable brush is another way to get them squeaky-clean. For delicate fruits such as strawberries and blueberries, I recommend placing your fruit in a strainer and running water over them for several minutes.

Now that your yummies are clean and ready to eat, here are a few interesting facts about our favorite summertime fruits.

Strawberries First fruit of spring High in Vitamin C Member of the rose family Only fruit with the seeds on the outside Blueberries Considered to be the healthiest fruit The U.S. is the largest manufacturer in the world Have a long season—from mid-June to mid-August Have pretty bell-shaped flowers Cherries One tree can provide 7,000 cherries One tree can be harvested in seven seconds by “tree-shaking” The record for cherry-pit spitting is 93 feet Super high in antioxidants Peaches High in Vitamin A and C Peach blooms may aid digestion when consumed Largest peach cobbler recorded is 11 feet by 5 feet The fuzzy skin is edible, but unfavored by many Watermelon Cousin to pumpkins, cucumbers, and squash Contains 92% water and 6% sugar Rind can be eaten raw, stir-fried, or pickled Heaviest watermelon weighed 350.5 pounds and was grown in Sevierville, Tennessee

June 2020 | 50+ Living | 9

Top 5 Retirement Planning Questions

W

hen should I start planning for retirement?

I read an article recently that answered this question and it made me think, hmmmm. The answer was to start saving for retirement in your twenties. I thought, wow, that seems like a young age to start saving. Most people are in that stage of being right out of college, looking for employment, carrying student loan debt, saving for a reliable car, or down payment on a house. However, in reality, the sooner you start the better off you will be when retirement rolls around.

When I first started in this business over twenty years ago, I began contributing $25 to my Roth IRA per pay period. I was convinced to do this because of a chart called “The Cost of Waiting.” This is an illustration that shows these figures: If you start investing $250 per month at: Age 25, the value of your account by age 65 could be $878,570 Age 35, the value of your account by age 65 could be $375,073 Age 45, the value of your account by age 65 could be $148,236 *This is a hypothetical example for illustration purposes only and does not represent an actual investment. Assuming an 8% annual rate of return.

How do I start? I always tell our clients the first place to start is your company retirement plan, if one is offered. You should aim to contribute each pay period up to the amount of the company match. Company match is free money as long as you stay with the company to the end of the vesting period, typically five years.

If you have more discretionary income left after retirement plan contributions or your company doesn’t offer a retirement plan, consider contributing to a Roth IRA. The maximum contribution amount for those under age 50 is $6,000 (or $500 per month).

10 | 50+ Living | June 2020

For those over 50, you can contribute up to $7,000 (or $583 per month). If you have discretionary income over and above those two options, then consider opening a taxable account, which has no contribution limits. Most importantly, autodraft is your best bet. You are more likely to be disciplined about saving money if you don’t have to think about it each month.

How much is enough? I’m asked this question often and the answer is always “it depends.” I know this seems cagey, but it truly is the answer. For many years, people would say if you have one million dollars in your portfolio at your retirement, you would be set. That definitely could be the case, but for some people, it doesn’t work. Our clients have so many different factors in their lives that determine how much is enough. Those range from accumulated savings, living expenses, healthcare issues, risk tolerance, children, and so on. When reviewing your retirement plan, it’s a good idea to make a list of your goals, review your expenses, and have a financial planner run some projections for you. This will help you determine if you are on track to reach your goals.

What is my biggest threat? Threats to not achieving your retirement goals come in various sizes. Not having saved enough by the time you retire is challenging. Living beyond your means and carrying a significant amount of debt during your lifetime could derail your retirement. In our business, the biggest threat we see to a client’s retirement is the cost of healthcare and long term care. Healthcare costs if you retire before age 65 (before Medicare starts) can really take a bite out of your retirement. It’s not uncommon to be paying more than $1,000 per month per person for a high deductible health care plan. That’s $12,000 per year for health insurance that covers costs only after the $7,000 deductible has been paid out of pocket. Health insurance costs are increasing each year. Long term care costs are even higher than health insurance in retirement. Long term care costs in

nt ns

North Carolina, for example, are approximately $95,000 per year for a semi-private room in a nursing home. [DS1] If you need memory care, and this is happening more and more, add twenty five percent to that cost of care in a facility. What can you do to prepare? Keep yourself mentally and physically healthy with low stress levels as much as possible, save money to meet your goals, and buy insurance to share the risk of health and long term care expenses.

Why do women seem to be behind when it comes to retirement savings versus men? Women are behind from the very beginning when it comes to retirement savings. Mainly for four different reasons: Women make about 81.6 [DS2] cents on each dollar that a man makes (which has not improved much in the last 20 years.) Pensions and Social Security benefits are often less for women if they took time out of the workforce to stay at home with their children for one or more years. Women have a longer life expectancy, often living five to seven years longer than men. “Gray divorce,” those that happen after age 50, are leaving women with 40% of their pre-marital income to plan their future.

What other questions do you have about retirement? Jennifer Adams, CFP®, CDFA™ is a financial planner with Starks Financial Group in Asheville. She specializes in retirement planning and divorce planning for women. Find her at starksfinancial.com.

(440 Montford Ave. Asheville, NC 28801 // 828-285-8777). Starks Financial Group is not a registered broker/deal, and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. This article expresses the opinions of Jennifer L. Adams and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ and CFP® in the U.S.

Sources: Cost of Care. www.genworth.com, www.forbes.com.

The foregoing information has been obtained by sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete, it is not a statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision, and it does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Jennifer Adams and not necessarily those of Raymond James. 401k plans are long term retirement savings vehicles. Withdrawal of pre-tax contributions and/or earnings will be subject to ordinary income tax and, if taken prior to 59.5, maybe be subject to a 10% federal penalty. Like Traditional IRAs, contribution limits apply to Roth IRAs. In addition, with a Roth IRA, your allowable contribution may be reduced or eliminated if your annual income exceeds certain limits. Contributions to a Roth IRA are never tax deductible, but if certain conditions are met, distributions will be completely taxfree.

Invest in the Bigger Picture.

With Sustainable, Responsible Investing, we can help you develop a portfolio that balances the issues you care about most with the financial goals you want to meet. Because in the end, we’re all invested together.

Get started with a free consultation at sfginfo@raymondjames.com

P L A N N I N G W I T H H E A R T. I N V E S T I N G W I T H P U R P O S E .

starksfinancial.com 828.285.8777 | 877.285.RJFS (7537) 440 Montford Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 Starks Financial Group is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of the strategy selected. Sustainable/ Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) considers qualitative environmental, social and corporate governance, also known as ESG criteria, which may be subjective in nature. There are additional risks associated with Sustainable/Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), including limited diversification and the potential for increased volatility. There is no guarantee that SRI products or strategies will produce returns similar to traditional investments. Because SRI criteria exclude certain securities/products for non-financial reasons, investors may forego some market opportunities available to those who do not use these criteria.

Investors should consult their investment professional prior to making an investment decision.

June 2020 | 50+ Living | 11

Unleash Your Backyard Gourmet!

No other outdoor cooker can match the quality and versatility of a Big Green Egg. Grilling Roasting, Baking or Smoking - is truly is The Ultimate Cooking experience!® BigGreenEgg.com COPYRIGHT BIG GREEN EGG INC.

136 Weaver Blvd, Weaverville NC ) 828.645.8811 1888 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville NC ) 828.676.0047 3340 Boylston Hwy, Mills River NC ) 828.891.4545

812 Merrimon Ave, Asheville NC ) 828.505.3672 10 Westridge Market Pl, Candler NC ) 828.527.6468

The Lodge at Mills River A leader in Short term Rehabilitation takes pride in excellence. We promise to serve the residents and families with compassion and integrity. The Lodge is committed to providing experienced care in a cheerful environment that features: • Private Rooms • TV/Internet Services • Ice Cream Shop • Rehab Gym • Salon & Spa • Spacious common areas The Lodge offers physical, speech and occupational therapies in the community.

Therapy services can be provided in an inpatient or outpatient need.

We invite you to visit the community, meet our dedicated staff and discover for yourself what makes The Lodge at Mills River a leader in Short Term Rehabilitation.

Now Accepting Patients. Call Today.

828-684-4857 5593 Old Haywood Rd., Mills River www.sanstonehealth.com/lodgeatmillsriver

12 | 50+ Living | June 2020

ADVERTORIAL

All About Avocados

by Gina Trippi

tempers the heat and calms the spices. Avocados are now in ice cream, sweet drinks and vinaigrette.

Avocado is back on the table and on the walls! The all white kitchen is yielding to the resurgence of the celebrated 1960’s color and the avocado itself is showing up with everything from toast to dessert. The color palette is your call but we can help with the avocado, the fruit, palate pairing.

But for all its virtues, the avocado has a bad reputation for wine pairing. Natalie MacLean, author of Red, White, and Drunk All Over says: “I put them in a category I call ‘Green Wine Stalkers’ because their natural compounds don’t marry well with many wine styles.”

The relatively mild avocado, indigenous to Central America, with its creamy texture started as an aphrodisiac!

By 1871, the avocado had found its way to California.

Hass and Fuerte are the two most easily accessible varieties. While Hass has more oil content and Fuerte more fiber, the two are similar in taste and interchangeable for recipes and for our purpose of pairing.

Look for a white wine with high acidity to cut through the sweetness and fat in the fruit. A New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc such as Kim Crawford or Alois Lageder Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige would be good matches. If you prefer red, avoid tannic wines and opt for Domaine Depueble Beaujolais or California Pinot Noir such as Bodan Roan.

Got a great recipe and the wine ready but the avocado is not yet ripe? Put no more than a few avocados in a paper bag with an apple at room temperature. The apple emits ethylene gas, a ripening agent. And to stop the avocado from turning brown, a teaspoon of lemon or lime juice helps the fruit retain its lovely green color.

Most of us think of the avocado as uniquely suited to Mexican dishes but this versatile fruit is holding its own in many other cuisines. You have no doubt encountered western style sushi known as the California Roll. So, now the avocado is surrounded by cucumbers instead of black beans and salsa! And the avocado is a welcomed addition to any dish with the heat turned up as the natural fat

Depending on the heat level of the recipe, the pairing may require a demisec Vouvray such as La Vigne Des Sablons or a domestic sparkling like Roederer Brut. And in case of doubt, call for backup! A middle of the road Rosé works with almost anything almost anytime!

Finally, many fear the avocado for its fat content.

But rejoice! It is, as they say, the good fat. Avocado is loaded with heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, the kind that doctors say can lower the bad LDL cholesterol and maintain levels of the good HDL cholesterol.

Pick up avocados and let us pair a wine to your recipe @MetroWines. Painting the walls is up to you!

Charlotte Street! It’s the Next BIG Thing!

“Big Shop Selection. Small Shop Service” 828-575-9525 | metrowinesasheville.com June 2020 | 50+ Living | 13

Love Your Skin

By JeanAnn Taylor

I

g re w up i n t he Sunshine St ate. My summers we re sp e nt at t he l o c a l com munit y p o ol, at my f r i e nd’s p o ol, or at t he b e ach. As I b aske d i n t he Flor i d a sunshine, I r ubb e d b aby oi l on my sk i n to e n hance t he r ays tur ning my natura l ly f ai r comple xi on into t he mo st b e aut if u l shad e of bronze I cou ld get —and I b e c ame g l or iously t an .

My te e nage go a l e ach sum mer was to get t an , put on a w h ite ha lter top, and d ance under t he bl ack l i g hts at t he Pl ante en—our sma l l, hometow n d anci ng sp ot. I rememb er d anc ing to my f avor ite s ongs : “Brow n Sugar,” “Mag g ie May,” and “R o ck You r B aby.” Su ch f un! I had l ong brow n hai r t hat fel l p ast my w aist , and l i ke most of my f r i ends , I p ar te d it i n t he m idd l e and l et it hang dow n on e it he r s i de of my face. I was a t ypic a l 1 9 7 0 s g i rl.

I had many terrible sunburns growing up. E ach spring, our church youth group boarded a bus for a day at the beach. My tender, white skin was not ready for a long day of such intense sun exposure.

By nightfall, my f lesh began to turn straw berr y red, and during the night I could barely tolerate my nightgown touching me. A couple of days later, tiny blisters developed and my skin literally peeled off. As this was common for many of my f riends, I didn’t recognize it as disturbing or unusual. After this initial insult to my skin, I spent the rest of my summers getting less severe, but always too much sun exposure. Like I said, having a tan was my goal; and it was practically expected in the 70s—especially in Florida.

Fortunately, by the time I was 20 years old, I began to understand the dangers of excessive sun exposure. Unfortunately, it was too late.

14 | 50+ Living | June 2020

As an adu lt, I had my sk i n regu l arly che cke d for sk i n c ancer. T han k f u l ly, on ly a fe w sma l l, “pre c ancerous” sp ots on my ar ms were fou nd and were able to b e remove d w it h li quid nit ro ge n.

T hen i n 2 0 0 5 , my w hole world f lipp e d up si d e d ow n . T here was a sp ot on my he ad, r i g ht w he re I p ar te d my hai r as a te enager. It w asn’t a l ar m i ng to me, but it just wou ld n’t go away. I f i na l ly aske d my d o c tor ab out it, and t he l o ok i n h is e ye i mme d i ately f r i g htene d me. A bi op sy re ve a l e d t hat it was c ancer, and surger y wou l d b e re qu i re d to remove it. T his t i me, it was to o d e e p to remove at t he sur f ace.

I have to say, the surger y was an absolutely horrible experience. As I lay on the table, completely awake and aware, the surgeon cut away at the cancer, which was just above my forehead.

The plan was to cut the cancer out, then test the specimen to make sure it was all contained.

Unfor tunately, the first attempt proved to be unsuccessful. I had to go through the cutting again. This time my doctor was more aggressive as he realized the cancer had grown “f ingers” that had spread out and attached to my skull. I listened in horror as he scraped a knife across my bone to remove any lingering cancer cells. Hours later when the two surgeries were f inally over, he had removed a large area of my scalp—all the way down to my skull. As you can imagine, recover y was painful, long, and emotional. I had to clean my skull ever y night until the wound f inally healed and became a scar.

T he “s c a lpi ng” as I c a l l it, change d me. I we nt t hroug h a lot of p ai n — phy s i c a l ly and me nt a l ly.

I will always remember the day I stood in f ront of my mirror and decided that if I could learn to love myself with this ugly hole in my head, I could do anything. In a ver y spiritual w a y, t h e s c a l p i n g s h o w e d m e w h o I r e a l l y a m because I sur vived something that could have easily destroyed me.

After healing and regaining a new sense of confidence, I began attending cancer awareness events. One particular breast c a n c e r e v e n t , h o w e v e r, b r o u g h t a n e g a t i v e awareness to me. As I walked into the room, I w a s a s k e d i f I h a d h a d c a n c e r. I r e p l i e d , “ Ye s ,” and was handed a rose. Then the woman asked, “Did you have breast cancer? ” I said, “ N o , I h a d s k i n c a n c e r,” a n d s h e a c t u a l l y to ok the rose f rom my hand! That exp erience led me to realize how different cancers are r a n k e d i n o u r s o c i e t y. Ap p a r e n t l y, m y s k i n c a n c e r w a s n’t a s s i g n i f i c a n t a s s o m e o n e e l s e’s breast cancer—at least not in the minds of others.

H o w e v e r, h e r e a r e t h e f a c t s : Skin cancer is the most common cancer in t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s .

Over 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin c a n c e r e v e r y d a y.

More t han two p eople die of skin cancer e v e r y h o u r.

More p eople are diagnos ed wit h skin cancer each year than all other cancers combined.

O ver eight billion dollars are spent treating s k i n c a n c e r e a c h y e a r.

M a y i s S k i n C a n c e r Aw a r e n e s s m o n t h . Yo u p r o b a b l y w o n’t h e a r m u c h a b o u t i t . T h e r e w o n’t b e m a r c h e s , f u n d - r a i s i n g e v e n t s , o r a n y o t h e r p u b l i c i t y a f f a i r s . T h e r e w o n’t b e c u t e s l o g a n s o n t - s h i r t s l i k e , “ S a v e S e c o n d B a s e ,” “ D o i t f o r t h e G i r l s ,” o r “ P i n k Po w e r.” I b e t m o s t p e o p l e d o n’t k n o w w h a t c o l o r r i b b o n s y m b o l i z e s s k i n c a n c e r. It ’s b l a c k .

A s s u m m e r i s j u s t a r o u n d t h e c o r n e r, remember to take care of your skin and n e v e r, e v e r t h i n k , It w o n’ t h a p p e n t o m e . We a r s u n s c r e e n a n d a w i d e - b r i m m e d h a t . Av o i d t h e s u n n i e s t t i m e o f t h e d a y. I ’v e c o m e t o l o v e m y p a l e , w h i t e s k i n . I d o n’t e v e n w e a r f a k e t a n in-a-can creams any more. Our skin is our largest organ—wor thy of care and respect.

Ta n s k i n i s o u t ; h e a l t h y s k i n i s b e a u t i f u l .

WNC Bridge

FOUNDATION

Estate Sales

A PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTH

wncbridge.org

SERVICES

DOWNSIZING? MOVING? RELOCATING? HANDLING AN ESTATE? Whatever the circumstances, home transitions can be stressful. Our experienced team is here for you.

We have helped thousands of area clients pack, move, and liquidate furnishings, household items, artwork—even cars.

Whether you’re moving, settling an estate, or just want to streamline your life, we can make the process easier.

Proceeds from estate sales are divided equally between the seller and WNC Bridge Foundation Estate Sales and Services. There are no additional fees for our services.

CALL TODAY FOR A FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION 828-575-2509 EXTENSION 100

75 FAIRVIEW ROAD Asheville, NC 28803

VOLUNTEER! WNC Bridge Foundation retail operations are friendly, upbeat places to serve as volunteer. Folks of all walks and ages are making a positive impact in our community.

Call 828-575-2509 to learn more

Thrift Store

WNC Bridge

FOUNDATION A PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTH

wncbridge.org

ASHEVILLE 75 FAIRVIEW ROAD In Biltmore Village

828-274-8206 HOURS Monday–Saturday, 9–5 Donation Center, 10–4

WEAVERVILLE 285 NORTH MAIN STREET I-26 Exit 18 @ Monticello Rd

HOURS Tuesday–Saturday, 10–5 Donation Center, 10–4

ACCEPTING DONATIONS of gently-used household items and furniture. For pick-up of large items call 828-575-2509.

June 2020 | 50+ Living | 15

North Carolina Estate Planning Attorneys Offices in Asheville & Hendersonville Some important goals of any estate plan are to protect assets and minimize tax liability.

It is critical to provide the latest estate planning tools to achieve these objectives.

We were one of first law firms in Western North Carolina to use family limited partnerships (FLPs), limited liability companies (LLCs), and revocable living trusts to protect people’s estate plan. Other ways to protect assets and avoid unnecessary tax liability include: Business succession planning | Medicaid planning for nursing home care |IRA planning Charitable planning |Estate tax and gift tax planning |Asset protection

4000+ TRUSTED CLIENTS | TRUSTS • WILLS • POA 7 QUALIFIED ATTORNEYS | www. strausslaw.com Asheville Office 77 Central Avenue, Suite F | Asheville, NC, 28801 Phone: 828-258-0994 Fax: 828-252-4921

Hendersonville Office 104 N. Washington Street | Hendersonville, NC, 28739 Phone: 828-696-1811 Fax: 828-696-1816

Full service agency ...

Are you ready to buy, sell or do you need a property manager?

We specialize in YOU! Call Sandy at 828-273-9755 or email Sandy@SouthernLifeRealty.com “Your Dream, Our Expertise ... Matching People With Property”

Sandy McCall

Broker/Owner

www.SouthernLifeRealty.com

16 | 50+ Living | June 2020