Atlanta Senior Life - June 2020

Charles Seabrook

O’Neill Williams

Seabrook tracks Georgia’s wild places

By Mark Woolsey

As a youngster, Charles Seabrook wore out some serious shoe leather roaming among the salt marshes and stately live oaks of his native Johns Island, South Carolina. Those explorations set a pattern for later life- and occasionally got him into trouble.

“One day I was coming around a tree and I ran smack into a bobcat,” the veteran journalist recalls. “He wasn’t more than about two feet from me. I was frozen, rigid. And he was looking directly into my eyes.”

After a brief and tense staredown, the big cat turned tail and loped off into the brush-and Seabrook started breathing again.

The metro Atlanta naturalist is still ambling decades later as he pens the long-running “Wild Georgia” column for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

His love of the written word, natural curiosity and a keen eye for his surroundings have made him a fixture in environmental and nature journalism in Georgia. The 75-year-old has written books, won awards for his work, gives

talks to civic groups and posts nature photos on Facebook.

Long before all that, Seabrook had decided that exploring a coastal island was not nearly enough to slake his wanderlust.

“My dad had a subscription to National Geographic and I’d read about all these exotic, faraway places and I wished I could travel to them,” he said. “I didn’t realize just what I had right at home.”

He needn’t have fretted about travel. Journeys taking him around the globe would come his way soon enough.

A four-year Air Force stint led Seabrook to a base in Texas, where he began taking college courses. He expanded on that after returning to his home state by landing a journalism degree.

Soon, he had wangled a job at the Charleston News and Courier. Seabrook thought he’d died and gone to Heaven. A job in his hometown and an outlet for his writing suited him just fine.

He was soon disabused of that notion, realizing that knowing a lot of folks on his nearby and

Charles Seabrook

Continued from page 3 successor AJC.

close-knit native island could be a liability as well as an advantage.

As Seabrook relates it, “I was heading to an assignment one day and I ran my car into a ditch. A close friend of my older brother’s came along and pulled me out. Later on he was being investigated for possible bribery. Here this guy had done me a big favor and I had to write about him.”

He quit and headed back to school, taking science courses at the University of South Carolina. Seabrook picked up a biology degree and aimed at eventual admission to medical school.

On a 1972 trip to Atlanta to visit a former journalism colleague who’d landed at the Atlanta Journal, he had a serendipitous conversation with Durwood McAlister, one of the paper’s top editors. McAlister offered Seabrook a science writer’s job a few days later. Seabrook took the job and never left, eventually retiring from the

Seabrook staked out a solid presence on both the science beat early on and after his switch to environmental writing in the late 1980s. He broke new ground and scratched his travel itch through attending science conferences all over the world. As for exotic: the newspaper sent him up the Amazon River twice as he covered the destruction of the rain forest and the smuggling of wild creatures; and a trip to Alaska to cover 1989’s Exxon Valdez oil spilled led to camping out on a church pew because all the available hotel rooms had been snatched up by reporters and bureaucrats.

Also, “I was the one of the first in the country to report about this mysterious disease that was cropping up among the gay community, which we now know as AIDS,” Seabrook said.

He turned out crisp copy about its impact in Atlanta and elsewhere, the suffering of victims, the early stigma and the science involved, winning awards

from the Associated Press, United Press International and others for his work.

On another occasion, attending a routine Georgia Department of Natural Resources conference yielded a series of exposes.

“They handed out a report on water quality in Georgia and at the end of a number of case descriptions, there were these initialed notations. I started asking questions about them and the DNR commissioner basically said, ‘You don’t need to worry about those.’ “

But Seabrook connected with a source who painstakingly took him on a tour through the obscure lettering – which, as it turned out, detailed some serious water pollution violations. Seabrook’s articles led to legislative changes governing water quality in Georgia and contributed to a massive lawsuit forcing the city of Atlanta to upgrade its sewage system.

“I didn’t know a lot about the environmental beat when I started out, “he said, “but I learned

a helluva lot.”

His work led to a more active role with the Georgia Botanical Society as he intensified his nature studies. “My heart gladdens when I come across the stunning white blossoms of bloodroot, or hear the jaunty song of a Carolina Wren, or watch a bumblebee sip nectar from a Virginia bluebell, “he wrote.

And he keeps his nature columns timely; a recent entry extolled the virtues of tromping the woods as a relief valve from COVID-19 concerns.

“I am more about connectivity. The birds wouldn’t be there without plants. A lot of plants wouldn’t be there without the birds. And a lot of plants wouldn’t be here without pollinators like the bees.”

One of his books is a treatise on corruption and questionable practices in the Georgia kaolin mining Industry. A second turns an eye on Cumberland Island and its denizens and a third focuses on southeast coastal salt marshes.

And on occasion, scary encounters still come his way.

“A few years ago I was on this trail on a slope and with trees on one side and a fairly steep drop on the other. I took a misstep and I started tumbling. I could feel my head hitting on each rock going down. When I got to the bottom, I checked it out and I had nothing but bumps and bruises, but I had an expensive camera lens that I ruined.”

Undaunted, he carried on exploring from the highest peaks of the Blue Ridge to the wild tangle of Cumberland but COVID-19 has, understandably, put that on the back burner. He celebrates Georgia’s diversity of ecosystems but worries that factors such as climate change and invasive species are diminishing the panoply of plants and creatures.

As to why his love for the Georgia outdoors, well, bloomed, Seabrook is a bit mystified.

“I gave a talk at a church in early February and the woman who introduced me asked why I did this. I said ‘I don’t know. It’s just my basic curiosity.’ To me a healthy curiosity is God-given.”

Williams built his broadcasting career on outdoor sports

By Mark Woolsey

Callers who get O’Neill Williams’ voicemail get a surprise -- and a chuckle. “O’Neill can’t come to the phone right now because he’s wrestling crocodiles,” says a pleasantsounding woman with an Australian accent. “Please try again.”

It’s clear that this is not a guy who takes himself too seriouslyin some respects.

What Williams does take seriously is his media miniempire of popular outdoor shows on WSB radio, Fox TV, cable networks and YouTube, along with a podcast, a newsletter, a presence on social media and a book- with a second on the way. There’s good reason to take his accomplishments seriously: they have been enshrined in The Georgia Hunting and Fishing Hall of Fame, The Legends of the Outdoors National Hall of Fame, The Georgia Radio Hall of Fame and other lists of luminaries.

Williams’ knowledge of field and stream is broad, deep and confidently expressed. While

and an attentive student of others in the field, what’s perhaps not as obvious is his considerable business savvy and a willingness to put the spotlight on others.

Throw in Williams’ ability to connect with anyone and everyone and a self-deprecating “aw shucks” personal style and it’s not hard to see why he’s become a go-to advisor and TV buddy to hundreds of thousands of hunting and angling enthusiasts.

But, as he himself says, it took a while for those stars to align.

Nicknamed “professor” by some, Williams’ first classrooms were Georgia fishing holes where he paired with his grandfather. Then, his family settled in DeKalb County, where, at age 14, he and a friend “went to local where you’d pay a dollar to fish. We caught so many that we’d sell them to other people on the bank.”

There was a trick to it, he admits. “We’d buy a can of corn and throw it out as we were casting,” Williams said. “Every fish in the lake would be in front of us. And people would literally stand behind us and order to catch the next fish.”

His early entrepreneurial

O’Neill Williams

manager in the food industry. But the challenge, the freedom and the simple peace of the woods and streams never relaxed their hold on him. With techniques greatly refined from his “canned corn” days, he kicked off his broadcasting career by doing shows on weekends.

By the 1990s, he was tired of the corporate life and bailed out to concentrate on his outdoor projects. “When I decided to give it my full attention, it exploded,” he said.

Selling his own ads, he beefed up a loyal core of sponsors, many of whom remain on board today.

Jackson County businessman Kevin King is part of that roster. Initially unsure as to

had to concentrate. We had things to achieve.”

The year 1965 marked the end of his academic career at Emory (graduation) and the beginning of a long-term partnership with wife

whether buying outdoor show commercials would connect him with his customers, he decided to take a chance, saying “I like what you do and what you stand for.” It worked.

King said he admires Williams not only for his hunting and fishing knowledge, but also because “when he brings a guest on his show, he allows them to talk about what they know. He never belittles anyone, but he then interjects what he knows.”

his listeners and viewers and to his fellow TV hosts and guides. On his home turf in the southeast, Williams doesn’t need hunting guides, he said, but if he’s heading to, say Montana or Texas, he seeks advice from locals on the terrain and on what weaponry is needed. He hires someone from the area and lets them hold forth on his shows.

There are also the interests of the audience to weigh.

Gail. They’ve been married for 55 years and she helps with his radio show and other projects.

Williams carved out a successful career as a sales

His style has produced loyal fans. One recent caller to his radio show, which is broadcast from his trophy-festooned hunting and fishing lodge in north Georgia and syndicated nationally, put it this way: “This is Wade from Bowling Green Kentucky,” the caller said. “I just wanted to say I love you. If I ever call you again and don’t tell you I love you first thing, you can hang up on me.”

Williams said he’s grateful to

“If I’m in Mississippi and hunting deer, people would say ‘I might want to go there.’ But if I’m in Afghanistan hunting bighorn sheep, then people aren’t going to say they’re going.”

He actually hasn’t hunted in Afghanistan, he admits, but he has filmed shows from California to Indiana, from Montana to Florida and overseas in places such as Argentina and South Africa. His fishing forays have taken him from Canada to Costa Rica.

Friends, including fishing partner David Altman, say there’s more to Williams than, “Here’s where they’re biting.” He’s a voracious reader. And a knowledgeable movie buff. He snared top honors as a bodybuilder in his 40s. And his background includes stints in high school wrestling, baseball and as a professional bass fisherman.

“I have been blessed with his friendship,” Altman said. “He’s a man of great humility and introspection who’s also been very successful.”

At 76, Williams doesn’t tromp through the woods and wade the streams as much as he used to. He heads out maybe two dozen times a year, he said. But he still delights in fishing for large-mouth bass and striper or hunting deer, and, on occasion, hogs.

He said he doesn’t mind holing up in a deer stand, but he expresses more appreciation for fishing, with its greater variation of both challenges and methodologies.

“My most enjoyable days are when I don’t have to catch or kill anything,” he says. “I have more fun when there isn’t a camera around.”

A strong conservationist, Williams is quick to defend

hunting and fishing to those who look down their noses at it. He points out that taxes and fees outdoor sportspeople pay support conservation programs and that fishing and hunting make powerful, positive impressions on young minds.

“It’s a lesson for youngsters. There are rules and there’s no one there to make sure that you follow them, so you’re on your own,” he said. Among his rules? “You don’t hunt at night, you don’t catch over your limit, and you buy a license.”

How long will he stay at it? Another three or four years, perhaps. He still enjoys it, has no ailments to contend with and he wants to keep the folks who work for him employed.

So, until then, you’ll still be able to hear the signature tagline from his shows: “If you’re too busy to go fishing and take a child along, you’re too busy.”

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Check out nature, but do it safely

By Mark Woolsey

Stir-crazy walkers and runners -- including plenty of seniors – are heading outside for a breath of fresh air and a brief break from sheltering in place as coronavirus pandemic has widened and deepened. They’re on metro Atlanta sidewalks, running tracks at schools and on park and nature trails, sometimes clogging them.

Local naturalists say May is a wonderful time to get up-close and personal with Georgia’s outdoors. Resultant health benefits will pile up, but experts also stress keeping health concerns and safe practices in mind during the COVID-19 crisis.

As they say on construction projects, “safety first.” And do a little homework before setting out.

National Park Service Ranger and environmental educator Jerry Hightower said people headed out of their homes should check on where they can and can’t go.

Hightower said trails in the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area were closed because walkers weren’t observing social-distancing guidelines. Some local jurisdictions have blocked park entrances too.

Avril Loy James follows those distancing guidelines closely. She’s a certified health education specialist and a Piedmont Women’s Heart Care coordinator. She advises staying a minimum of six feet from others and recommends wearing a mask when outside. She adds that if you’re out on a trail or street and it looks like someone is heading right for you, step out of the way safely, if you can.

Coronavirus concerns aside, James is a huge proponent of walking regularly. In addition to the cardiovascular benefits, hitting the pavement has been shown to have positive impacts on weight and stress management as well as immune system function.

She said that seniors wanting to begin putting one foot in front of the other should aim for time, not distance. “If you have, say, obesity or joint issues you might want to start out saying, ‘I’ll walk for 10 minutes, the second week 15, and the third week 20,’ “she said.

Hightower has his own yardstick.

“If you’re walking and get to the point where you can’t carry on a conversation, then you’re overdoing it,” he said. “Also take a break now and then because when you are still, that’s when you’re going to catch a glimpse of wildlife. And don’t overestimate. You can say, ‘I‘ve hiked this trail before,’ but it may have been 20 years ago.”

Both have some advice on where to go to catch the springtime display of flora and fauna.

Hightower said among his favorite places to get outside are the Chattahoochee National Forest in North Georgia, reachable in a 45-minute drive up Ga. 400. Closer in, there’s Sawnee Mountain and its several miles of trails in Forsyth County and Cochran Mill Park in South Fulton.

James said her she prefers to stay away from concrete, as trails are easier on the knees. One of her preferred treks is around the base of Kennesaw Mountain, for example. And come springtime, she said, “I like seeing all of the seedlings and saplings, all of the blooms.”

Hightower said springs is a good time to check out Georgia’s outdoors. “The trilliums (wildflowers) will be going great guns, “he said. “The native azaleas as well and the ferns. “He said that no state has more trillium varieties than Georgia.

Journalist Charles Seabrook, who writes the Wild Georgia column for

Jerry Hightower

Avril Loy James

the AJC, says that Queen Anne’s Lace and wild hydrangea are among the plants he looks for.

For those wanting to spot wildlife, Hightower said a trip to the mountains can yield encounters with grouse, wild turkeys, and salamanders and, yes, bears. He said May is time when bears are emerging and becoming more active. Closer in, a large number of varieties of birds can be seen in Metro Atlanta.

“This is the time of the year when young animals are coming out and they tend to be kind of stupid. So, you could see nearly anything.”

Hightower adds that it’s a particularly good reptile-observing month, in that it’s not yet so hot that such creatures restrict their wanderings to the nighttime.

Experts say said there are some preparations to consider before donning walking shoes.

“Wear sunscreen or a hat, because even if it’s not really hot there’s a lot of sun and its reflecting off the asphalt and you could get a burn,” James said.

She discourages wearing headphones in order to be more attuned to what’s taking place in one’s surroundings.

Hightower- who is in his 70s- has some advice specific to the mature, advising them to always carry a little more water than needed because dehydration is “something seniors need to be aware of and concerned about.” Make sure the trusty cellphone is charged up, he stresses.

“And I always carry a day pack when I’m away from the car. That includes a first-aid kit because it’s always nice to have a Band-Aid to slap on a scrape or a cut.”

James is big on stretching after you finish.

She said that if you want to stretch before you walk, do very gentle stretching. Save the more vigorous stretching for after you’re done. Of you’re only going to do one set of stretches, she said, wait until after your workout.

On-site Testing Kits

Protecting

We are monitoring CDC, federal and state guidelines for health and safety.

Measures:

• Connective Technology: Families and residents can stay digitally informed about their loved ones’ ongoing care.

• On-site Therapy Continues: Physical, occupational and speech therapy services have been adjusted using social distancing practices.

If you have questions, just call for more information.

Seniors join the fight against COVID-19

By Joe Earle

Once COVID-19 began its spread across the country, Sarah Pawli wanted to help fight it. After having worked for decades as a nurse and medical administrator in Atlanta, she felt she could be useful in helping patients deal with the virus and with efforts to control it.

“I have this God-given skill set. I can’t just let it go to waste,” she said. “I can’t do nothing, I reached out [and said], ‘If there’s any way I can help, I want to be involved.’”

At age 64, she also knew she was one of the people being warned to stay far, far away from those who were infected by the new coronavirus. Seniors quickly were identified as one of the groups of people most liable to be made seriously ill or even killed by the virus. As a group, they were warned to stay at home and avoid people who were infected.

But as most seniors have sheltered in place, some senior medical care providers have decided to join the fight against the virus. Some have moved into jobs where they have little or no personal contact with sick patients, but others have joined younger colleagues on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight.

Pawli, who retired to Hiawassee in the Georgia mountains after a career as a cardiology nurse at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, found a part-time nursing job that allowed her to work at an office in Blairsville. Since March 18, she’s spent a couple of days a week helping staff a hotline for people with coronavirus questions.

“With this hotline, I’m helping my front-line colleagues,” she said. “I’m also helping my community.”

At the same time, she’s able to stay away from the front lines the battle against the virus. “I work in my dining room,” she said. “That’s the beauty of it. I don’t have to go to hospital.”

in Roswell, does go into work a full shift each week in the hospital’s intensive care unit, where, in recent months, he has regularly cared for COVID-19 patients.

“I feel like I’m needed now more than ever,” he said. “The reason I got into nursing in the first place was to help people, and the COVID patients really need help.”

Hutcheson, who was born in Atlanta and now lives near Cumming, said he’s worked in nursing for 44 years, including three decades at North Fulton s. He worked at hospitals in California, Idaho and Arizona before that. “I’ve had a good life,” he said. “It’s been a heck of a trip.”

Before the spread of coronavirus, his ICU patients tended to be ones suffering from injuries received in accidents or from heart attacks.

COVID patients he sees “are generally pretty sick,” he said. Some need ventilators to breathe. ICU nurses, who are used to taking precautions against infectious diseases, take extra steps because of new coronavirus. ‘We always wear two pairs of shoes, a gown, a hat and N-95 mask, and maybe another mask,” he said. “Plus, we have eye protection.”

The illness puts other demands on nurses. Because efforts to contain the disease require isolating patients, “we make a special effort to communicate with COVID patients’ families,” he said.

Pawli, too, believes providing correct information to the people who need it is important to help them deal with the pandemic.

“People are scared,” she said. “They don’t know what to believe. I can draw on my 40 years of healthcare experience and share my knowledge.”

Callers she chatted with have ranged from college students to elderly residents. One elderly man said he and his wife had stayed in their home for weeks to avoid the virus. Now they worried that if they left home, they might risk spreading the virus.

“All we wanted to know was would it be OK if they went outside for a while,” she said. “I told him to wear a mask, but absolutely he should go outside and enjoy some sunshine.”

Bob Hutcheson, a 71-year-old nurse at Wellstar North Fulton Hospital

Veteran nurse Bob Hutcheson works in the intensive care unit of the Wellstar North Fulton Hospital.

Nurse Sarah Pawli asnwers questions on a COVID-19 hotline from her home in the Georgia mountains.

We’ll get through, but watch for cheats

You probably are as tired as I am of each newscast opening with a statement of doom and gloom facing the world. They’re fixated on statistics, trying to one-up the other to see how soon we’ll all be erased from the earth.

Things to remember when watching television and online media reports.

A. Don’t use any one source as a sole source.

B. News networks have agendas.

C. Bad news sells, good news doesn’t.

So, relax and know that despite that canned look of concern on the anchor’s pancake-makeup-laden face, we will recover from this and go on to live, in my case, semiproductive lives.

Still, in a time where it seems all focus is on the virus and the problem it brings, a product of COVID-19 is the attempt to get rich by way of the criminal act of depriving people of their money by way of fraudulent solicitation based on fear mongering.

STAY SAFE

Steve Rose is a retired Sandy Springs Police Captain, veteran Fulton County police officer and freelance writer. He is the author the book “Why Do My Mystic Journeys Always Lead to the Waffle House?” and the column “View from a Cop.”

Recently, I took a look at some of the fraudulent activity surfacing directly related to the virus. Initially, these were some of the top scams that were uncovered. However, it is normal for certain scams to fade away and others take their place, depending on the success of the fraudulent activity. I would still watch out for these.

1. Men in Coats- One or more men show up in lab coats and fake CDC credentials. Some are looking for personal information and others, looking to see what is in your home, casing it for a later break in. If this scenario occurs in your neighborhood, call 911 and let the cops check it out. CDC will confirm any activity that is legitimate.

2. Fake Red Cross members going door-to-door. Do your homework ahead of time and check those websites to see if this is consistent with their policies. Chances are they are not.

3. Random Solicitation- This is intended to allow the victim to see the new vaccine -- for a price. You can bet a fake vaccine will be thrown out there soon.

4. Sales scams- Although catching up by increased production, there is still a demand for surgical masks and sanitizers, all of which can be ordered online.

5. Stock Scams, beware of stock investments in companies that offer products that can prevent, detect or cure coronavirus. These are pressure sales, urging the victims to buy now before the prices soar.

6. Phishing Schemes, be careful when searching online for information on “covid” or “coronavirus.” The cybersecurity firm Check Point says more than half are likely to be malicious. Here’s your cheat sheet.

A. Be wary of anyone asking for money for coronavirus victims, or disease research, especially if they want prepaid credit cards or gift cards.

B. Ignore phone calls or emails from strangers urging you to invest in the newest hot coronavirus stocks.

C. Don’t click on links or download files from unexpected emails, even if the email address looks like a company or person you recognize. The same goes for unfamiliar websites.

D. Avoid online offers for coronavirus-related vaccines or cures. They simply are not legitimate.

Coronavirus scams depend on the same things as they try to deprive you of your money: collecting money up front money and gathering your personal information. “Red flares” that can signal scams and should raise questions are requests for personal information and/or purchases requiring pre-paid gift cards.

It was only a few short weeks ago that we thought we’d never see a roll of toilet paper again, but the fact is, we’re catching up.

So, take care of yourselves, especially your elders, in a time where isolation is needed for recovery. If you’re going shopping, go early.

Go over simple rules with your family members as a way to protect against fraud. Verify everything. Don’t agree to accept anything you didn’t request, especially unsolicited offers, without consulting another family member.

And use the internet to get the facts from legitimate websites, starting with the CDC. (www.cdc.gov.)

Finding ways to break down feelings of isolation as people shelter in place

Roswell writer and retired U.S. Army Col. Jim Blair has been kind of lonely lately. During the ongoing pause in daily life to try to curtail the spread of COVID-19, he’s found he’s spending more time in front of the TV.

In a humorous article he emailed to friends, Blair says he’s close to coming down with what he called “Cabin Fever Blues.” He’s had his fill of TV’s endless news shows and ads, but he has absorbed a few lessons along the way.

“I plan to wash my hands, eat a wholesome snack, wash my hands, take my meds, wash my hands, crawl into my new customized bed, think about how lucky I am to enjoy my new rare fiber Egyptian sheets

to avoid catching and spreading the deadly disease.

“With shelterin-place orders during the pandemic, most of the ways older adults stay connected with others are ill-advised or even prevented because of the risk of exposure to COVID-19,” Dr. Pamela Dorsett, an Atlanta clinical psychologist, said in an email. “Daily routines have been disrupted and in-person interactions extremely limited or non-existent. Under such circumstances, older adults may feel depressed, anxious, isolated or lonely.”

Georgia adults over the age of 65 have been asked to stay home as much as possible until June 12.

In addition, long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, personal care homes, assisted living facilities, and similar community living homes, have enhanced infection control protocols to help ensure safer living conditions. Sometimes that means turning away visitors, even family members, for the time being.

because of COVID-19, people are finding new ways for seniors to connect.

“When we feel we have some control over a stressful situation, we feel stress less intensely,” said Dorsett. “Accessibility to resources that help older adults connect with others, such as technology, and the skills to utilize the resources provide a

greater sense of control.”

These days, she said, families may need to try a little harder to stay in touch with their elder members, but she suggests the extra effort will be worthwhile.

“It’s the right time to ensure they have the resources they need to connect with others,” she wrote. After all, getting through a pandemic is a new experience for

and the world’s most exquisite pillow and watch old reruns of ‘Gunsmoke,’” he wrote.

Plenty of Georgians, especially seniors, are starting to feel that same cabin fever. They’re trying to cope as they look forward to the return of what used to be considered normal life. That was before COVID-19 led to government recommendations that residents “shelter in place”

Research shows that loneliness can bring on many problems for older adults, including a diminished quality of life, stress and depression, Dorsett wrote. Dealing with that isolation is important, and

Judith L. Kanne, RN, BSN, BA is a registered nurse and freelance writer who lives in Atlanta.

SPECIAL

Dunwoody program leader Kate Borden, top at right, directs a group of seniors at Country Gardens senior living facility in an online workout. She can see the class on her computer screen, at bottom right, and they can see her on theirs.

Dr. Pamela Dorsett

all of us. So, perhaps comfort — like safety — exists in numbers?

Therapist Scott Bea of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio says one thing that we can all do is “remember that literally billions of other people are in the same boat.”

Another thing we can do is to limit the amount of news we watch each day. In April, writer and blogger John O’Leary wrote that one study – actually done before the pandemic began –found 94% of articles shared by the media are negative. “That’s a stunningly high 19 of every 20 stories,” he wrote.

Some seniors have learned to use their computers and phones as a way to connect with others through videoconferencing using programs such as Zoom or Skype. Those programs can allow seniors to see and chat online with grandchildren and other family members while still practicing social distancing.

“Videoconferencing, virtual

activities, phone calls, emails and even visits separated by windows or glass doors help to maintain contact,” Dorsett says.

In April, Dunwoody’s city recreation department found another way to connect. It announced a plan to provide some seniors with exercise classes via Zoom. Country Gardens Dunwoody, a senior living facility, was the first to sign up and already has held exercises classes.

“Senior living facilities have been an area of concern,” Dunwoody Parks and Recreation Supervisor Rachel Waldron said, who said some senior facilities had been seeking ways to support their residents’ mental and physical well-being even before the pandemic.

“The COVID-19 crisis has been especially difficult for senior living residents, who are more vulnerable and really can’t get out very often,” Waldron said.

“We are always looking for new

ways to let them know we’re here for them.”

On the mental health side, a pen pal program began May 1 for residents of the Country Gardens facility. With help from the community to serve as pen

pals, new “connections” are being formed among all those who want to participate. Interested families or individuals can sign up by sending an email to: parks@dunwoodyga.gov.

STUCK AT HOME? TRY SOMETHING NEW …

■ Eat nutritious meals, if possible. Those late-night peanutbutter-and-jelly half-sandwiches aren’t helping with weight control and my not give the joy that can come from planning a special dinner.

■ Stick with a routine, if possible. Maybe it’s morning stretches when you first wake up, or touching your toes before crawling into bed? If you set time aside to make it happen, you will usually feel much better.

■ Learn a new skill, if you can. Or even try an old skill and see if it adds something special to your day. The main point is to “connect” with others via Bingo on Zoom, or bridge in the main dining area if you are in a senior living situation.

■ Don’t wait for the children or grandchildren to call you. If you’re lonely, give someone a call. If not a family member, then think of a friend that might like to know you’re doing OK.

Source: Cleveland Clinic

The $400 mobile phone

Are you considering a new mobile phone but don’t want to pay $600 to $1200? This may be a golden age for your golden years – at least as far as phones are concerned.

While seniors usually don’t live on their phones like their children or grandchildren, we’re starting to find more uses for our phones. But we don’t want to break the bank or feel like we’re forced to pay more than we want for a new one.

imagine. But what may really ring your bell is price. If that’s the case, you can find phones from $100 to $150. You’ll even be able to send and receive text messages, and a basic smartphone will even let you use email and browse websites.

Gene Rubel

The Digital Device Doctor cures digital anxiety for seniors and home/home-office users. A graduate of Harvard Business School, “Doctor Gene” spent more than 30 years in international business. He can be reached at generubel@gmail.com.

The phone providers may have picked up our vibe. The $400 phone market is white hot competitively. In the past year, Google released its Pixel 3a, and Apple followed up with the iPhone SE2020 just a few months ago. As we prepared this article, word leaked that Google’s Pixel 4a may be on sale by the time you read this.

The choices are amazing and overwhelming, but we think you’ll be a winner no matter which phone you buy – today or in the next three to six weeks. Before you head to off to an online search to do your homework, you should ask yourself a couple of questions:

1. What am I using my phone for?

2. Where should I buy it?

There is no argument that a flip phone or very basic smart phone fits the need for many seniors.

The flip phone lets you talk to people with the same service and quality as the latest and greatest offerings from those who specialize in delivering more bells and whistles than many can

The caveat is you get what you pay for. With a flip phone, windows are small, so you’ll either need to receive only short messages (as SMS technology was first designed) or prepare to scroll to read texts, and the system for sending them on a numeric keypad is cumbersome. Forget about email, the internet and taking or viewing photos.

The basic smartphone will handle email and let you access the internet, and it should have a camera for photos and videos. But the screens will be small, and image quality will be poor, especially if your eyesight isn’t what used to be.

The $400 Bargain

By stepping up to $400 for a mobile phone, you’ll essentially open the same doors (or internet windows) as those with much more expensive phones. And you’ll sacrifice very little, if anything, by getting a phone in this price range. Even Apple is in on this trend with one of the two phones that are generally toprated for the money.

Apple’s iPhone SE and Google’s Pixel 3a were at the top of the class as we wrote this. We have every confidence the Pixel 4a and any iPhone that comes along will remain at the top. They let you do everything your grandkids can do at a price you and your kids will like.

If this is your first venture into

a smartphone, the key difference is their operating systems. The iPhone SE uses the Apple iOS, and the Google Pixel 3a uses Google’s Android OS, which it shares with basically every phone that’s not an Apple.

Our purpose is not to get into the details of how each phone works or tell you which one is better. I personally like Google phones for their combination of price, quality and features, while others prefer Apple for their quality and features. Apple has always been more expensive, but the $400 price tag seems to have leveled this playing field.

some feature upgrades even as Apple goes to one or two new OS generations.

The Google Pixel 3a, my personal favorite, shares a lot of the technology from Google’s top-of-the-line phones. It has a high-quality processor, more than capable of meeting the graphics needs of even video gamers, which you could use to surprise your grandchildren. It’s been around a little longer than the iPhone SE, which means it’s due for an upgrade to push Apple.

For the same price, the Google 3a has a larger screen than the

So, what makes the iPhone SE special? We think it’s the combination of old and new. The “old” part is that it has the look and feel of the iPhone 8, the last iPhone with the home button, and with its 4.7-inch screen, it’s roughly the same size. The “new” part is on the inside. It shares the processor of iPhone 11, giving you speed and quality graphics, both of which are critical as you find yourself using your phone for more than a few basics.

You also get the same batterylife expectations and wireless charging as well as 64 or 128 GB of storage for handling more photo and video files and mobile applications. You won’t get the same camera as the latest iPhone, but the SE’s camera is more than adequate for most people. If you want a better camera, step up the iPhone XR for another $200.

If you’re replacing an older iPhone, having Apple’s latest OS means you should have a phone that will last more than just a few years. That’s because you’ll get bug and security updates and

iPhone SE (almost 1 inch bigger when measured diagonally), but unlike the Apple, it has the top-ofthe-line camera.

Its smart features include Now Playing, which recognizes music playing in your vicinity; Call Screen, which filters out incoming spam calls; and Active Edge, which allows you to launch Google Assistant. You also get 64 GB of storage and free unlimited high-quality photo storage with Google Photos. It also has an audio jack and a fast charger that gives you seven hours of battery life in just 15 minutes.

There’s also NFC support for Google Pay, which means you can leave your credit card in your wallet or at home. For another $80, you can get the Pixel 3a XL with a larger screen.

Upping the Ante

The Pixel 4a should raise the stakes based on what we’ve seen in all the prerelease speculation. It looks like Google will hold the $400 price (which means the

Google Pixel 4 Pixel 3 Alternative Google Pixel 3A iPhone SE 2020

3a price will drop) and keep the same $80 upcharge for the larger display in the XL.

In summary, the new features in the Pixel 4a include a slightly larger screen with higher resolution for better viewing –and a better camera to match. It will retain the headphone jack, which many will appreciate because they won’t need to invest in wireless earbuds.

From the side-by-side comparisons we’ve seen, the specs for the Google Pixel 4a and iPhone SE2020 are essentially the same. If you’re an Apple fan or Pixel fan, you will be happy with either choice.

The Android OS for mobile phones gives you more flexibility in choosing the phone’s manufacturer. We’ve seen a lot of good reviews for the Nokia 7.2, which is $50 cheaper than the Pixel 3a and has a larger screen. It runs Android One, which has its pros and cons. Its more strippeddown code helps the phone operate faster, and it will get fast version updates for two years and security updates for three years. But it may not give you may not get all the bells and whistles you’ll find on other phones.

If you want to drop down below $400, you can consider the Moto G7 from Motorola, which has a good camera, and Samsung’s Galaxy A50, which also has a good camera and fastcharge capability.

Once you decide on what phone to buy, you’ll need to decide where to buy it. In broad general terms, you can get your phone from a carrier (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.), online, from a manufacturer’s store or website or from a retailer.

Buying from a carrier can get you a huge discount on the phone, but you get a “locked” phone. This means you’re generally locked into a phone will only work on that carrier’s network and a contract. If the phone and carrier have a good combination

of features, you can do OK. but in our experience, buying the phone from your carrier is limiting.

The other options give you an “unlocked” phone, which makes you a free agent for choosing your carrier and switching carriers. You will need to pay for the phone up front (carriers build the cost into a monthly lease), but you’ll get more flexibility.

If you buy your phone online, you’ll need to set it up yourself or get help from a third-party, such as a family member, friend, or IT consultant. Setup involves transferring all your data (contacts, email, photos, etc.) to the cloud by backing up your old phone. Then, you can complete the setup by transferring it all from the cloud to your new phone.

It’s similar to the process of setting up a new computer. As long as you’re comfortable with doing this or having someone do it for you, the online market can net you the best purchase price, although manufacturers’ stores and retailers can match the price you find.

Going to a store lets you compare the look and feel of several phones. Of course, at the Apple Store, you’ll only compare Apple phones, but you can see if the Apple SE or another model is to your liking. If you go to a manufacturer’s store, you’ll get more hands-on help with transferring data from your old phone to your new one.

Going to a retailer, such as Best Buy, Walmart or Target, will let you compare several models from multiple manufacturers. Depending on the retailer and the people on hand to serve you, the quality of the information and level of help will vary.

In the end, the phone you buy and where you buy it depends on the phone you want, the carrier you want, and your comfort level with the people you buy it from.

is a single premium deferred annuity. May not be available in all states. Policy form numbers and provisions may vary. A.M. Best Company rating based on financial strength, management skill and integrity, but is not a statement of fact nor recommendation to purchase a policy. Rates are guaranteed for 3, 5, 7 or 10 years, depending on the guarantee period selected at policy issue and are subject to change. Within 30 days prior to the end of the Initial Interest Guarantee Period, we will send you notification informing you the date the Guarantee Period is ending and provide the renewal rate and Surrender Charges in effect for the subsequent Guarantee Period. Excess withdrawals are subject to a Surrender Charge and market value adjustments. The IRS may impose a penalty for withdrawals prior to age 59 ½. Most jurisdictions do not impose a premium tax on annuity premium payments. However, for those that do, we may deduct them from Your Contract when we need to pay them, which may be when you withdraw your contract value, when you start to receive income payments, or when a death benefit is paid. Check with your producer and other policy documents for specific information on premium taxes. All annuity features, risks, limitations, and costs should

Surviving quarantine with new four-legged friends

By Donna Williams Lewis

It took a long time for Harold McClure to get over the loss of his Shih Tzu Sadie after she died from a fall. For years, he couldn’t face the thought of getting a new dog.

Lately, that tide began turning.

The Stockbridge transportation retiree shares a trailer with his son, a trucker who’s often gone on the road. McClure wanted some companionship and was looking for something to do away from home.

His thoughts propelled him to become a volunteer several months ago at the DeKalb County Animal Shelter in Chamblee.

He’d only been there a few weeks when the coronavirus pandemic gripped the U.S. Suddenly, McClure was on the front lines of a mad scramble for animal adopters.

The county-owned animal shelters in DeKalb and Fulton counties are managed by LifeLine Animal Project, a nonprofit that’s working to turn them into no-kill shelters.

There were about 1,000 to 1,200 animals in LifeLine’s three facilities in mid-March, according to Karen Hirsch, LifeLine’s public relations

director. Some were court cases who can’t be adopted until their cases come to trial, which can take as long as a year.

“We acted swiftly to try to get out all the animals that we could because we had no idea whether our shelters were going to be forced to close,” Hirsch said. “There were so many unknowns.”

The community answered LifeLine’s SOS call, big-time. In the first week after the shelter’s plea for help, more than 750 animals were adopted or fostered.

So many cages were emptied that LifeLine was able to rescue animals from about six rural shelters that were closing, saving about 100 animals that were going to be euthanized, Hirsch said.

“We’ve been thrilled beyond expectation with how the Atlanta community has come forward and helped,” she said.

Some of the recent adopters and fosters had wanted a pet before the quarantine but didn’t think they had time to care for an animal, she said, and some had never before thought about getting a pet but wanted to help.

PET SPOTLIGHT

Meet Carrera, a low-key lady who appreciates the calmer things in life. Give her a good window to look out of and a pillow to nap on, and she’ll be perfectly content! Carrera is a friendly gal who will greet you with polite meows and rub her head against your legs to let you know that she loves you. She gets along well with the other cats at the shelter and would do just fine with another kitty who appreciates relaxing as much as she does. This beautiful cat is perfect for someone looking for a low-maintenance family member. To meet Carrera, please email adoptions@lifelineanimal.org.

Fiddlestick, shown at left with LifeLine volunteer Hannah Craig, is a very gentle 2-year-old who thrives on human affection and attention. Whether he is curled up next to his foster mom or climbing onto his foster dad’s lap (if invited), Fiddlestick likes to be close to people. Although he isn’t aware that he weighs 53 lbs., he is a true gentle giant who is calm and easy-going. His foster parents say he is housebroken, easy to walk, has stolen their hearts and will steal yours too! Fiddlestick is neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. His adoption fee for those 65+ is only $40! To meet this wonderful dog, please email adoption@dekalbanimalservices.com.

Harold McClure and Mo.

In all of March, 813 animals were adopted and 792 went into foster homes, a surge from March a year ago, when 573 animals were adopted and 233 fostered.

In April, another 566 animals were adopted and 459 went into foster homes.

“The feedback we’ve heard is amazing,” Hirsch said. “I’ve heard some people who live by themselves saying they would be so lonely without this animal in their life.”

Others have said they’re grateful for the levity and structure pets have brought to their homes, and a few families have said their new pets are making online schooling more bearable for kids.

“They can have a dog in their lap while they’re doing their schoolwork and that’s fun for them,” Hirsch said. “Having a pet in the home seems to lighten the mood for everybody.”

Meeting Mo

One of the recent adoptees is Mo, a Tibetan spaniel/Pekingese mix that is believed to be about 6 years old. McClure asked for Mo the moment he saw his picture on the shelter’s website. He had been hoping for a small dog, and they go quickly. And he was glad he was an older dog, for age compatibility.

On April 4, McClure met with the woman who’d found Mo wandering in the Buford Highway area. LifeLine is asking people who bring in strays to consider becoming “friendly finders” and, after

ADOPTING WITH LIFELINE

Following national recommendations related to the pandemic, Lifeline has instituted some new safety procedures to protect staff and the public, including currently operating by appointment only.

■ A mandatory online adoption questionnaire asks for information about home settings and the kind of animals sought so that potential matches can be found. There’s a separate questionnaire for potential fosters.

■ Shelter viewing is limited to no more than 10 visitors at a time. All visitors must wear masks. Curbside viewing is available and there is an off-leash, fenced play yard outside.

■ Check for fee specials. The current senior rate for dog or cat adoption is $40 for seniors (ages 55+). The fee includes a free first vet visit at the Lifeline clinic, microchipping, spaying or neutering and vaccinations.

■ LifeLine operates shelters in DeKalb County at 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road in Chamblee and in Fulton County at 3180 Presidential Drive, Atlanta, and 860 Marietta Boulevard, Atlanta.

intake work is done, foster them until shelter operations resume.

“I walked up to Mo’s cage and he was just as gentle as he could be,” McClure said. “He’s a smaller dog, absolutely beautiful.”

He took him home, for good.

Brushing time is bonding time, and creating routines around Mo’s needs has helped bring “a little bit more structure” to his own life, McClure said.

It wasn’t long before the two of them began to figure each other out.

One night, McClure stayed up watching TV past their regular bedtime, about 10:30 p.m. He’d noticed that Mo had already jumped into bed, but when McClure didn’t follow him within a few minutes he jumped down.

“He comes back in here and sits at my feet, sits there and looks up at me as if to say, ‘Uh, it’s bedtime,’” McClure said.

Mo is a lap dog and a very picky eater who’s “a little bit stubborn about certain things,” he said. “Like, if I call him and he decides he don’t want to come, he ain’t coming. It don’t matter what kind of treat you’re holding or what. He’s a very independent little boy.”

Continued on page 18

COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER CONTACT INFO

■ DeKalb and Fulton counties. lifelineanimal.org or 404-292-8800.

■ Cobb County. cobbcounty.org/public-safety/animalservices or 770-499-4136.

■ Gwinnett County. gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/ departments/communityservices/animalwelfareenforcement or 770-339-3200.

LifeLine’s DeKalb County Animal Services shelter employees proudly showoff empty kennels after over 750 animals were adopted or fostered during March. Employees pictured front to back: Zoie Cushing, Sarah Currier, Denise Davis, Alaska Matthews and Eli Mayfield. (LifeLine Animal Project)

“Overall, I’m really happy with him,” McClure said. “I was really lucky to get him.”

‘He sticks by me like glue’

LifeLine is encouraging people to avoid surrendering unwanted pets until shelter operations resume but is still accepting them in emergency situations.

By mid-May, LifeLine had a waiting list for foster homes but always has a need for adopters.

“We have 660 animals in foster care that are now available,” Hirsch said.

Druid Hills resident Andrea Jantel-Grubiak was reluctant at first to bring her new dog Ryan into her life.

She attends a support group to help deal with the loss of her border collie Skylar, who died of cancer last September.

In January, a friend asked Jantel-Grubiak if she would take in Ryan, a foster dog from a foster home that wasn’t working out. The very active 2-year-old dog, thought to be a border collie mix, wasn’t a good fit for a home that did not have a fenced yard and did have a 12-yearold dog already.

Jantel-Grubiak didn’t feel ready to become attached to another dog but agreed to let Ryan visit for play dates. Later, she and her husband, Jim Grubiak, began accepting him for longer stays. When coronavirus hit, they offered to become his new foster family, and enrolled him in a dog training school.

Now they’re his forever family. They adopted Ryan on April 21.

Friends have told Jantel-Grubiak that quarantine life has made them feel bored, lonely or anxious. “I don’t feel like that,” she said. One reason is Ryan, who she said is “very affectionate, very playful.”

“He’s just a really sweet, nice dog. He’s learning things and looks so happy when he does something like sit or stay or come. … He sticks by me like glue,” she said.

“Skylar’s space was not easy to fill. He has filled a certain loneliness that we had,” she said. “While the loneliness still stays a little in the background, the fact that he’s here and he’s so proud of himself when he does little things … it just feels very rewarding.”

She and her husband have no children, but haven’t thought of their dogs as their children, she said.

“I sort of consider my animals like another part of me. The animal is like what completes you. … It’s a certain emotional completion, especially during coronavirus, while we’re sort of stranded at home,” Jantel-Grubiak said. “With people you have conversations, but with animals, it’s what they show you.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP

■ Donate services. Volunteers help in many ways at the shelter and from home. Remote activities include creating simple flyers about available animals, acting as “social media ambassadors” by sharing pet profiles online, and making enrichment toys for dogs.

■ Donate goods. Among the shelter’s needs are nursery supplies for kittens, blankets and towels, newspapers for lining cages, and food for animals with special needs. See the website for more needs.

■ Give money. Donations help pay for surgeries for injured animals and help support the Pets for Life program. Pets for Life aims to keep people and their pets together by offering those in need free pet care services including spaying or neutering, vaccinations and supplies.

Atlanta History Center asks residents to save, donate materials about historic pandemic

By John Ruch

The coronavirus pandemic is a disaster that will be long remembered — and the Atlanta History Center is asking area residents, business owners and others to start preserving items now for posterity’s historical record.

In a new initiative called the “Corona Collective,” the Buckhead-based museum is seeking stories and materials of various types that preserve experiences of this desperate and challenging time. That includes physical items, though the History Center will not accept them during social distancing measures.

“Contemporary collecting is basically predicting the future, and someone in the future I’m sure will wish we had thought of something to save right now,” said Sheffield Hale, the History Center’s president and CEO,’ in a written statement. “A great example are artifacts from the Spanish Flu pandemic in Atlanta [in 19181919]; there were similar restrictions then, but few artifacts representing that.”

The initiative launched April 7, and within two weeks had received materials from more than 100 people, ranging from personal essays to photo collections to videos.

Paul Crater, vice president of collections and research services at the museum, said donated items include a 26-year-old woman’s account of how she nearly died of COVID-19 and a Google Docs file describing ways to help shuttered restaurants and their employees. Then there are more whimsical artifacts.

“We received a short documen-

tary about this band who played social distancing shows in Ormewood Park before the stay-athome order, and they’re being tugged around in boat by a truck and they’re playing to people while people are sitting on their porches, and it’s really fun,” he said.

On the History Center’s website, Collections Manager Erica Hague gave an overview of the effort. “We are living through historic times—times that we need your help to document,” she wrote. “At Atlanta History Center, it is our mission to preserve and interpret the history of the greater Atlanta area for future generations—and we’re reaching out to you for help.

“… Though you may not realize it, you’re already documenting this time of constant change. You create the historic record when you take a photo of something that makes you feel more connected while self-isolating. Maybe you’ve seen a sign, received an email, or in some other way have connected with the rapidly changing world in the wake of [the] coronavirus. Perhaps it was the empty toilet paper aisle at Kroger, a furlough notice, the cancellation of a planned trip, emails from your child’s school, or a note to an at-risk loved one. Maybe it’s the receipt for a donation you made to support a local small business or essential employee.”

Hale noted that commonplace items can be valuable now, because they are often lost in the long run, not preserved because they were seen as not special at the time. “That which is most

Ryan

common shall be least common,” he said, citing a common phrase in the History Center’s Civil War collecting.

Crater said that similar efforts from the DeKalb History Center and the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were among the inspirations for the “Corona Collective.”

A particular model for gathering history as it happened, he said, was a similar program by the Missouri History Center during the 2014 Ferguson police-shooting protests.

Choosing which items to preserve in the museum’s collection -- and even how to preserve such items as that Google Docs file with its hundreds of hyperlinks -- are among the challenges of the effort, Crater said. “But I’ve always had this aspiration to do something like this and to be nimble like this,” he added, and the opportunities are big, too.

One goal is to use the material as starting points to solicit donations of physical items and oral histories when it is safe to do so. Another possibility: pop-up exhibits highlighting some of the neighborhood-oriented artifacts and inviting residents of those areas who might never have visited the museum before.

The museum chose to seize the moment and collect history in action that affects everyone, Crater said, and the submissions so far show a “sense of civic involvement and humanity that is really compelling to me.”

The History Center will consider materials from residents of cities in the immediate metro Atlanta area, including Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs. Residents of other areas will be

directed to local historical societies elsewhere, said spokesperson Howard Pousner.

The museum’s staff is taking photos in the neighborhoods as part of the collection as well, with many of the images available on the website at atlantahistorycenter.com/research/coronavirus-collective. The website includes details about what types of materials will be accepted, copyright and other usage rights, and other information about the “Co-

Collective.”

OTHER PANDEMIC HISTORY PROJECTS

The following organizations also are seeking pandemic items and memories from metro Atlantans.

DeKalb History Center

“The COVID-19 Chronicles” dekalbhistory.org

Heritage Sandy Springs

“COVID-19 Community Journal Project” facebook.com/heritagesandysprings

Georgia Historical Society

“COVID-19 in Georgia” georgiahistory.com

rona

ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER STAFF

A sign promotes social distancing on the Atlanta BeltLine. The Atlanta History Center is asking residents to keep an eye out for and to hep preserve items such as signs that illustrate how the COVID-19 pandemic is changing lives. The History Center hopes to add such items to its collections.

A field guide to us old folks

All the talk surrounding ways to protect ourselves during the spread of the coronavirus has got me thinking. They keep saying the “elderly” should take special precautions. But who are they talking about? Who are the elderly? Am I one?

I guess that when classified strictly by age, I am. Honestly, there’s no question. I’m 67 and will hit 68 all too soon. That’s a big chunk of my Biblically allotted three score and 10. But that number was set a long time ago. I hope Higher Powers factor in inflation and add a few years nowadays.

Besides, I may remember the 1950s, but I don’t feel old. Well, not really.

It’s true I don’t have the stamina I had when I was younger, but I make up for that with hard-won guile.

these days

Joe Earle is editor-at-large and has lived in metro Atlanta for over 30 years. He can be reached at joeearle@ reporternewspapers.net

And while I sometimes roll my eyes when younger people start talking about politics or music, I think that’s just because wisdom comes from experience and sometimes you really had to be there to understand why it’s worth making a fuss about whether you grew up a Beatles fan or a Rolling Stones fan. (I rolled with the Stones, of course.)

Still, the more I thought about it, the more I thought just trying to cast a person as “elderly” or “not elderly” didn’t really go far enough. What counts as old nowadays? AARP lets folks in at 50. The government says you can wait until you’re 72 to start drawing down your IRA, that money you’re saving for when you’re old.

I suspect that one single category isn’t enough to portray the “certain age” that qualifies as no-longer-young. As any number of bumper stickers tell us, there are all kinds of old people out there and there are lots of ways to be elderly without being old. One can be a proud family matriarch or a still-skydiving-at-age-80 kind of guy.

I thought we could use more consideration about just who the elderly really are. So, here are some kinds of “seniors” to consider when trying to decide just who really is “elderly.” Consider it the start of a Field Guide to Retirees and Other Old Folks, just like the guides for birds or wildflowers. Only less reliable.

Here, then, are a few types to watch for in the wild.

Yodas. These are The Elders who inspire anguish in their kids and adulation in their grandkids and can still do what is needed to hold the clan together. They’re family centered. They plan and stage-manage family events to share the wisdom that comes with their graying crowns. You can see them at the beach, sipping gin-andtonics or bottled Coca-Colas while the grandkids frolic in the surf. And they still host holiday dinners for all the cousins. Often, you admire them, but they still make you feel inadequate.

The Won’t-Let-It-Goes . They’re convinced the family, the family heritage, or at least the family business will never make

it without them and the kids will never be ready to take over and don’t want to anyway, so they’ll just keep working, thank you very much. They deny they’re getting older and defy you to say differently.

Seniors Starting Over. These are the “life starts over with Social Security” folks. With work, kids and college days and costs – their own and their kids’ –behind them, they can start thinking about travelling to distant shores or learning to play ukulele or jumping out of airplanes. They’re slowing a bit, but fun to be around.

The Hobbyists. They know what they like and they stick to it. They’ve probably spent their whole working lives just waiting for a chance to lock themselves in their basements and get to woodworking or quilting or writing the Great American Novel or building massive layouts for their model trains or slot cars. These folks are rarely seen in public, except at gatherings of like-minded hobbyists. Otherwise, they’re just too busy to be bothered. The Forever Young. These folks find their 60s bring rejuvenation. They’ve worked hard all their lives for family and fortune, and now they’re loading up the RV and hitting the highway to see as many National Parks as they can before they die. They can be fun to hang with, too, if you can ever catch up with them.

The Still Got it and Still Working It. Some folks just don’t know when to quit. They’re no different at 80 than they were at 40. For them, snorkeling, rebuilding a carburetor or dancing The Shag at age 75 presents no problem.

The Old-Fashioned. They remember vividly how things used to be done, don’t understand why things had to change and they ask a lot of questions. Weren’t movies better when they told real stories and not just ones from comic books? Wasn’t music better when it was made by people and not machines? Wasn’t it better when cars were bigger, houses were cheaper, and nobody had to eat kale? For them, life’s a puzzle nowadays.

The Stick-In-The-Muds. These folks really do act like they’re old. For them, everything was better in the Old Days, whenever those days happen to have been. The economy, music, movies, the government, the newspapers, the phones, heck even the hometown baseball team -- all were better 10, 20, 30 years ago. These folks can seem happiest when they have something to complain about.

When I looked over my groups, I realized I didn’t really belong in any of them. Some parts of me fit into some parts of them, but I didn’t feel altogether comfortable in any single one. So, I made up another category.

The Just-Happy-To-Be-Heres. Me, I’m just happy to still be around. I can do pretty much what I want and when I want. I’m eager to keep rolling along. As long as the Stones can still do it, I figure so can I.

But for now, we should all just keep our distance, wash our hands and stay safe.

Rolling Stones

Ask Rusty: When should I claim Social Security?

Dear Rusty:

I am 65 and still working and plan to work for some time to come. My birthdate is February 1955. My wife is 64 and not working. Her birthdate is January 1956. Half of my benefit is more than half of hers.

I am confused on the spousal benefit rules. If she were to take her Social Security early, before she reaches her full retirement age, what are the rules that affect her?

Signed:

Confused Husband

Dear Confused:

First, I must clarify that spousal benefits do not work as you have suggested, that “half of my benefit is more than half of hers.” Spousal benefits are always based upon the amount the individuals are due at their full retirement age, regardless of the age at which they claim.

If half of your benefit at your full retirement age (FRA) is more than your wife’s full benefit at her full retirement age, then the difference between those two numbers is a “spousal boost” which is added to your wife’s own payment amount when her spouse benefit starts. If she has reached her FRA when you claim and her spouse benefit starts, your

wife will get the entire spousal boost; if she has not, the spousal boost will be reduced.

Your wife cannot collect a spousal benefit until you start collecting your Social Security, so if she claims benefits before you claim, she will initially get only what she is entitled to on her own work record. Then when you claim, the “spousal boost” will be added to her benefit.

Russell Gloor is a certified Social Security advisor with the Association of Mature American Citizens

If you claim at your FRA, your wife will not yet have reached her full retirement age, so her spousal boost amount will be reduced and added to her own reduced benefit amount, making her total benefit as your spouse less than 50% of your FRA benefit amount.

Your full retirement age is 66 years and 2 months, and you won’t be entitled to full benefits until you reach that age.

For your awareness, you can wait beyond your FRA and earn delayed retirement credits, up to age 70, when your benefit would be about 31% more than it would be at your FRA, but your wife cannot get her spousal boost until you claim. And also for your awareness, if you claim benefits before you reach your FRA and continue to work, you’ll be subject to Social Security’s earnings limit ($18,240 for 2020)

which, if exceeded, will cause SS to take back some of your benefits. The earnings limit goes up by about 2.5 times in the year you reach your FRA and goes away when you reach your full retirement age.

Your wife’s full retirement age is 66 years and 4 months and any benefits she claims on her own record prior to reaching that age will be reduced. At 64 she could claim her own benefit from her own work record (assuming she has at least 40 SS credits), but that benefit would be reduced to about 85% of what she would get at her FRA. And claiming at age 64 would also affect the amount of her spousal benefit when that

starts.

The only way your wife can get 100% of the amount she is due as your spouse is to wait until her FRA to claim any benefit. If she claims her own benefit at age 64 or any time before her FRA, not only will her own benefit be reduced, but her eventual benefit as your spouse will be less than 50% of your FRA benefit amount, even if you wait to claim until your wife reaches her FRA. That’s because her spousal boost, when it occurs, will be added to the reduced SS retirement amount she is getting because she claimed before her full retirement age.

You are certainly not alone to be confused about spousal benefits, as this is one of the most confusing areas of Social Security’s rules. But I hope the above provides what you and your wife need to make an informed claiming decision.

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity.

To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/socialsecurity-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

The 2 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] [https://www. amac.us] is a senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. We act and speak on their behalf, protecting their interests and offering a practical insight on how to best solve the problems they face today.

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Museums and attractions create virtual exhibitions, activities during coronavirus closures

Metro Atlanta museums and attractions have closed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit and explore what some of them have to offer. Many local and intown attractions have set up online experiences, including webcams, exhibitions, activities and more.

Here are a few places to check out from the comfort of your home computer.

Atlanta History Center

Did you know you can explore much of Atlanta History Center’s museum, archival, and oral history collections online? Check out their online collections, where you can access everything from books to newspapers and magazines, manuscripts, and visual collections of digitized photographs, audio and video recordings.

www.atlantahistorycenter.com

Georgia Aquarium livestreams

Wondering how the residents at 225 Baker Street are doing? Get some “face time” with penguins, jellyfish, sea otters, beluga whales and more on Georgia Aquarium’s multiple webcams. www.georgiaaquarium.org/ webcam/ocean-voyager

Children’s Museum of Atlanta virtual learning

To help families keep their little ones engaged, Children’s Museum of Atlanta has debuted a new virtual program called “#CMAatHome.” Each weekday at 11 a.m., the museum will provide an interactive activity, vocabulary list, song list or book recommendation to help parents and kids stay engaged with education. Additional programming is expected to launch in the coming days, including live singing and story time with the Imaginators, Q&A sessions with Professor Labcoat and more. https://childrensmuseumatlanta.org/ blog

National Center for Civil and Human Rights digital programming

The center says it will provide digital programming about promoting and protecting rights. You can follow announcements through the museum’s social handles (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) and on its website. www.civilandhumanrights.org/ptivirtual

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High Museum of Art

You can explore images, check out activities and watch informative videos at high.org

Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)

Check out online challenges, meet-ups, workshops and much more for ages 8 to 18. Topics including 3D design, architecture, coding with “Minecraft,” and industrial and interior design.

www. museumofdesign.org/ moda-online-home

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Fernbank may be closed, but now you can “Museum at Home” with educational videos, fun facts, behind-the-scenes photos, quizzes and more.

www.fernbankmuseum. org/visit/museum-at-home

Michael C. Carlos Museum

The museum is posting weekly online exhibits, puzzles and activities so you can “Carlos from Home.” https://carlos.emory.edu

Compiled by Collin Kelley, John Ruch and Joe Earle “Rama Leaves for Exile, Bharata Laments” is among the works at the Carlos Museum that are available for online viewing. (Special)

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