HealthNEWS
March 2014
for Boomers and Beyond
Just for seniors: Make Food Safety a priority The older we get, the more important it is for us to make sure our food is germ-free and safe to eat. There are at least two reasons why: First, an older body has a harder time fighting off food-borne bacteria. For example, an age-related decrease in digestive fluids may allow germs usually killed by stomach acid to survive. Older kidneys may be less able to filter bacteria from the blood. The immune system may no longer be as robust.
• Set your refrigerator at 40 degrees or below and your freezer at 0 degrees or below. • Reheat leftovers to 165 degrees. Boil leftover soups and gravies. • Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave--not on the kitchen counter. • Throw away any packaged food that’s past its use-by date.
Second, our living arrangements later in life may change so that we cook at home less often and eat more food delivered to us from elsewhere–food that may go bad unless we see to it properly. To lower the risk of getting sick from food: • Wash your hands before and after meals. This simple step can cut your risk for foodborne illnesses in half. • Refrigerate or freeze all perishable food. Don’t leave food out for more than two hours. This includes take-out food, restaurant leftovers or any meals you have delivered. • Refrigerate leftovers in small, shallow containers. They’ll cool faster. Sources: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
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Join us at Frazer for a year of preaching through this life-changing book that will show you exactly who Jesus Christ is. “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” –John 20:30-31 THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 2014, Pastors Tim Thompson and Patrick Quinn will be preaching verse by verse through the gospel of John in all of Frazer’s Sunday morning worship services. Jesus made the remarkable claim that He came to give you life—real, abundant, overflowing life right now, and eternal life in the world to come. This teaching series will lead you to the heart of who this Jesus is and what it means to believe in Him.
Frazer Church: find hope, Follow Jesus • Sunday worship 8, 9:30 & 11AM 6000 atlanta Hwy. Montgomery • frazerumc.org • 334.2728622 •
BOOM!, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Contents
March 2014
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
Volume 4 Issue 8
Carl Bard
Thought Relationships Taste Inspiration
Humor Advice Health Community
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis
3 Jackson Hospital’s Health News 6 Publisher’s Letter 8 What you don’t eat can hurt you 14 BOOM! Cover Profile 17 Montgomery Chorale 40th Annversary! 18 The Yin & Yang... Dr. Michael Bowman 22 Things That Matter: Rules of Thumb page 10
24 Boomers Drive RV Popularity 25 Day Trippin’ in Alabama Eufaula Pilgrimage
Features 21 Ready to DOWNsize? 28 50 Reasons
We’re Living Through the Greatest period in history.
Empty nesters thinking about smaller...
Departments 10 This and That Interesting Stuff
26 Strong Bones Leigh Anne Richards
36 DWTS Sea Cruise The popular TV show goes cruising and dancing!.
30 Spring into Action! Take Control of Your Hearing 32 “ATTACK THE NET”
44 {12} Things
Solutions for Bored Boomers
33 Cooking for one or two...
46 Greg Budell
Costco is for Lovers!
34 Tips When Traveling Abroad 35 BOOM! Advertising
BOOM!
39 MATCH MADE A Man’s Viewpoint
COVER PROFILE
40 Dreaming of a Second Act?
page14
41 Balancing Work & Family 43 Art & Soul
page 32
page 17
page 24
BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine is published monthly by River Region Publications, 6398 Eastwood Glen Pl., Montgomery, AL 36117. The phone number for voice and fax is 334.523.9510. Copyright 2014 by River Region Publications. No part of this publication can be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.
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publisher’s letter
Perspective The mission of BOOM! is to serve the folks of the River Region age 50 plus with information and ideas to inspire new experiences, better quality of life and new beginnings.
Are we better off today than we used to be? That’s the age old question many of us ask ourselves from time to time as we age. I think we do that because our past is bigger than our future. So we compare how it used to be to how it is today and then we begin thinking about the “Good Old days” when things were somehow better. It’s not true.
Publisher/Editor Jim Watson, 334.523.9510 jim@riverregionboom.com
Associate Editor Kelly Watson kelly@riverregionboom.com
Contributing Writers Sandi Aplin Lynne Blackwell
According to an article I recently read, we are living through the greatest period of world history and the writer, Morgan Housel lists 50 reasons why it’s true. He provides a new perspective on how to look at the world Jim Watson, Publisher in which we live and I’ve reprinted those 50 reasons on page 28. I believe its important to rethink our perspective on the world sometimes because we’re so caught up in the trivial that we lose sight of the real important changes that occur over time.
For example, the first iPhone was introduced on June 29, 2007. Yesterday I was talking on the fifth version in less than seven years. Things are changing rather quickly. Sometimes we get all gloom and doom about the world but fail to realize how fast things are actually improving, and just how amazing our world has become. I hope you’ll share some of the 50 reasons with others, especially the grandkids. Maybe they’ll see the world a little differently.
Dr. Bettie Borton Dr. Michael Bowman Greg Budell Erica Curless Morgan Housel Lee Lawrence
Kim Hone-McMahan Leigh Anne Richards Wina Sturgeon Becky Taylor Deborah M. Todd Kathy Witt
Cover Photography Kim Bethea The Studio @ EastChase thestudioateastchase@gmail.com
www.thestudioateastchase.com 334.239.3196
Advertising
Jim Watson, 334.523.9510 jim@riverregionboom.com
In addition to the new perspective in this month’s issue we have the pleasure of featuring Becky Taylor as our BOOM! Cover Profile. Becky is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Montgomery Chorale. She also directs the music ministries at the Church of the Ascension. After spending some time with Becky I will be buying tickets to their 40th anniversary concert coming up on April 5th and I’m sure many of you will do the same. Her profile begins on page 14.
Greg Budell introduces his future wife. That’s right, Costco is for lovers, so hurry on down to page 46 and get the news! I’ve never heard of it before but Dr. Michael Bowman discusses the Yin & Yang of Facial Aging, no one can describe it the way he can, very interesting.
Are you a fan of “Dancing With The Stars”? They have a cruise for that and Kathy Witt tells us more in her Bucket List feature on page 36. And do you know what a butt foul is? Well it’s a part of a volleyball game they play in assisted living facilities, what a great way to spend your time as a 90 year old! Read more on page 32. There’s plenty more good reads in this month’s issue. So take a few minutes and enjoy the best reading experience in the River Region for the 50+ community. By the way you can read the current issue of BOOM! online at RiverRegionBoom.com and you can now read every back issue in our archives. So if you want to catch up or explore past Cover Profiles it’s a great place to start.
Design & Layout Lake House Graphics
Distribution
Thanks for being part of the BOOM! Community and for all of your comments. I love to listen.
Network Delivery
Printing Publications Press, Montgomery, AL 334.244.0436
Jim jim@riverregionboom.com 334.324.3472 cell/text 334.523.9510 office
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What you don’t eat can hurt you By the time humans hit the mid-century mark, their bodies have changed _ both inside and out. One of the changes that few people are aware of comes in the process of eating and absorbing nutrients. Start with the sense of smell. After age 50, it declines dramatically. The problem is that the ‘taste’ of food is dependent on the sense of smell. “Oh, that smells good,” we say, reacting to the delicious odors automatically by salivating and wanting to eat what we’re sniffing. No smells, no appetite stimulus. However, that’s just one reason why mid-aged adults often suffer from clinical malnutrition. An additional reason is that time changes the way adults absorb nutrients. Mid-agers can no longer extract all existing vitamin B from their food. Supplements are often the only way to ensure all of the essential vitamin complex is absorbed. The lack of even one factor may prevent all the rest of the nutrient from getting into the system. Another essential complex is vitamin D, yes, D is also a complex of many nutrients, which, as you probably already know, are absorbed naturally by sunlight on the skin. But here’s what most people don’t know: as we age, our skin radically declines in its ability to synthesize D from sunshine. Two big problems come from not getting enough of this vitamin. One is that D helps prevent depression and the mental fogginess of age. The other is that the nutrient is used by the body to absorb calcium from food.
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Without enough D, mid-agers may not get enough calcium. That could weaken bones and even cause heart problems. Since boomers can’t depend on the sun, supplements are important, even required. In fact, those older than 60 should take twice the recommended daily dose of vitamin D, and twice the recommended amount of calcium. New studies and clinical trials have proven that older adults who take D supplements can help slow bone conditions like osteoporosis and the loss of bone density. Antioxidants like vitamins C and E are also required in greater supply, because the immune system starts to slow down as we age. Many doctors recommend that those older than 50 take a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement, specifically one made for seniors, if possible. America is just one of the world’s highly developed countries where there are large numbers of mid-agers with nutrient deficiencies. One such deficiency is vitamin B6, (pyridoxine), the absence of which can cause symptoms of dementia. Two other factors to stay aware of after the age of 50: one is a decline in both the sense of taste and the feeling of hunger, another is a decline in the thirst response. A midager may go a day or more without eating enough, and without missing the forgotten meals. At the same time, because there’s
no feeling of being thirsty, the same person may neglect drinking liquids. Dehydration can set in. Those older than 50 often must take deliberate steps to keep track of their nutrition and hydration. Make it a timedependent habit. At certain times during the day, drink at least a cup of liquid. Eat a bevy of nutritious snacks (not chips or crackers) throughout the day. Eat at least two full meals, one every morning and one in the afternoon. While older folks don’t have the same calorie needs as those who are younger, they DO have the same nutrient needs. That makes food choices even more important for mid-agers. Yes, it may be a pain to cook, especially for those who live alone. But eating to protect both body and brain is not that much of a chore when the benefits are added up. The good news is that serious memory problems and dementia affect less than a 10th of those older than 65. In today’s world of available nutrients, just about everyone can stay sharp regardless of age. Dementia and other brain problems affect only 20 percent of people over 85. Wina Sturgeon is an active boomer who offers news on the science of anti-aging and staying youthful (c) 2014, Adventure Sports Weekly Distributed by MCT Information Services
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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This & tHAT We Need Dogs
It’s a fact: dogs make you live longer. Petting a dog is proven to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. If you are looking for a four-pawed member of the family, here are a few things for Boomers to think about. First, get an adult dog. With an adult dog, you are more likely to have a good idea of health history and temperament, and you’re past the time and money involved in raising a puppy. Second, check out shelters and rescue groups to get a great pet — breed mixes may often have fewer health problems than their purebred counterparts. If you want a purebred puppy, be sure to find a reputable breeder, because if you don’t, you may end up with a poorly socialized dog or a dog with health issues who doesn’t measure up to the full potential of the breed. (You may also be supporting puppy mills if you choose the wrong source for your pup, and you don’t want to do that.) Finally, SUPPORT RESCUES!!! You can find them all over the internet.One highly recommended rescue in our area is Wannabe Rescued out of Selma, AL. (wannaberescued@aol.com and on Facebook) and also Montgomery, Elmore and Lee County Humane Societies. Not ready to commit? Consider being a Foster – it is a great way to pass on the love and keep great dogs on hold for forever homes!
Ellen McNair Receives Prestigious Statewide Economic Development Award Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President of Corporate Development Ellen McNair has received the David R. Echols Distinguished Service Award in Economic Development. The award was presented to McNair by the Alabama Department of Commerce at the Economic Development Association of Alabama Winter Conference in Birmingham. “It is no surprise that Ellen McNair was selected to receive such a prestigious award,” said Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board of Directors Leslie L. Sanders. “She has dedicated her career to advancing the economic prosperity of this community, and as a result, the River Region has reaped the benefits of her contributions.” Prior to her current position, McNair served as the first woman project manager at the Alabama Development Office. She was also the first woman CEcD in the state, the first woman president of the Economic Development Association of Alabama and the first woman to lead a major metro area’s economic development efforts.
Swing into Spring...FREE Concert!
A vintage photo of Susan Woody
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Capitol Sounds Concert Band and the Montgomery Recreators featuring, Susan Woody will be performing a free concert on March 20, 7 pm, Taylor Rd. Baptist Church, 1685 Taylor Road in Montgomery. Did we say FREE? Yes, take advantage of this live performance of some of the River Regions finest musical talent. Both bands are non-profits and sponsored by the Parks and Recreations, City of Montgomery. The Capitol Sounds Concert Band has been around since 1972, and the Montgomery Recreators since 1974. If you have questions please call 334.625.4661.
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BOOMERS, share your stuff with BOOM! We Love to Bring BOOMERS Together, send info and pics to jim@riverregionboom.com
The Most Unique Shopping Experience in Alabama The most unique shopping experience in Alabama is in Scottsboro at Unclaimed Baggage. Doyle Owens filled a pick-up truck with his first purchase of unclaimed baggage from a Washington D.C. bus line in 1970. Little did he know that this business would one day span a city block and attract people as diverse as the items in the store.Starting from that first load of unclaimed luggage, the company, run by Doyle, his wife Sue, and their two boys, grew into a thriving business over the next forty years.Relationships with airline and other transportation companies across the country were forged. Regional magazines and newspapers began featuring the ‘land of lost luggage’.Exposure on national TV networks gave Unclaimed Baggage Center access to adventurous shoppers nationwide who flocked to Scottsboro. Catering to the curious as well as a loyal following of treasure hunters, this one-of-a-kind store has become a must-see attraction in Alabama. So pack your own bag and make your way to the corner of Unclaimed Baggage Boulevard and Lost Luggage Lane in Scottsboro, Alabama. 509 W Willow St, Scottsboro, AL 35768. 256.259.1525 or visit unclaimedbaggage.com
Hittin’ for Hospice Tennis Tournament Hospice of Montgomery will host its 4th annual Hittin’ for Hospice Tennis Tournament on Thursday, March 13, 2014 at Wynlakes Golf and Country Club. Two sessions will be available for play: AM Session 8:30-11:00 a.m. and PM Session 12:00-2:30 p.m. Participation in the Hittin’ for Hospice Tennis Tournament supports Hospice of Montgomery, which is Montgomery’s ONLY independent, nonprofit hospice provider in the River Region. Funds will provide counseling and bereavement services to families, community education seminars, and care for terminally ill patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Enjoy a day of competition and fun, all while supporting a meaningful and much needed cause. Cost is $100 Team of 2/$50.00 Individual and includes warm up, breakfast, lunch, player gift and fabulous prizes. Reservations are required. Please call Wynlakes to register at 334-273-8425.
Gardening Basics The March 22nd class “Gardening Basics” Organic Gardening Workshop from EAT South will cover the basics of planning a garden, planting seeds and starts, soil health and cultivation, compost building and importance, pest and disease management, and irrigation systems. It’s only a two hour class, but participants will walk away armed with all the information they need to get started. Participants should be prepared to be outside: water, clothes that can get dirty and sunscreen are essentials. EAT South asks for a $10 donation for the workshops, which are led by EAT South experts Edwin Marty and Jetson Brown. To find out more and reserve your spot, call 334.422.9331 or email info@ eatsouth.org. Space is limited! The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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More
Living Well Alabama Central Alabama Aging Consortium is sponsoring a Living Well Alabama Chronic Disease Self-Management Workshop in March. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) consists of a six-week course designed to teach people with illnesses such as heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, COPD, fibromyalgia, diabetes, chronic pain and other chronic illnesses to manage their diseases, feel better, and lead more productive lives, living life to the fullest. The program is free and open to those with chronic health conditions as well as their families, friends, and caregivers. Classes are taught by two trained leaders for 2 ½ hours once a week. The workshop is interactive and participants learn skills and strategies for managing their symptoms such as pain and fatigue; they learn about healthy eating, relaxation techniques, overcoming depression, managing daily tasks, exercising safely, and attain skills in other areas. The workshop will be held at the Crump Senior Center, 1750 Congressman Dickinson Drive in Montgomery, beginning Thursday, March 27, 2014 and end on May 1st. The hours are from 12:30 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. Registration is required and enrollment is limited. There may be funding available for respite care. To register or for more information regarding future classes, contact Myrtle Scott or Jane Mitchel at Central Alabama Aging Consortium at (334) 240-4666
Junior League of Montgomery Shamrock Shuffle 10K On Saturday, March 15, 2014, the Junior League of Montgomery will host the Shamrock Shuffle 10K Race at the Edward Thompson Ball Fields located at 1655 Ray Thorington Road. Shuffling starts at 7:30am. In addition to the 10K race, the Shamrock Shuffle will also consist of a 2K Fun Run. A standout feature of this race is the inclusion of adaptive sports for persons with disabilities. Registration is open! To sign up for the race, please visit www.jlmontgomery. org, or you can sign up at the Junior League office, located at 3570 Carter Hill Road. This family friendly event will have many activities going on throughout the morning, so there is something for everyone, even those who are attending to support a runner.
Get Your Beach On! Get in touch with your inner artist at the Orange Beach Festival of Art. Held at the Coastal Arts Center at Orange Beach and Waterfront Park from March 8-9, festival goers will have the opportunity to celebrate visual, performing, music and culinary arts with more than 90 artists’ work on display. This free festival will also include the Kid’s Art Alley, live music and a culinary arts court showcasing local food. Public parking will be located at The Wharf, and shuttles will be provided for $2 each way. No parking will be available on site. For more information, visit www.orangebeachartsfestival.com. The Wharf’s C-Spire Wireless Concert Series -- which features performances in a 10,000-seat outdoor amphitheater in Orange Beach -- kicks off with back-to-back concerts on March 14 and 15 with Jason Aldean and special guests Florida Georgia Line and Tyler Farr. Tickets for the 2014 Night Train Tour range from $59.75 to $73.10. Due to popular demand, limited tickets are available. This concert serves as the kick-off for Concerts at the Coast, a Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism initiative to showcase the area’s caliber of live music performances throughout the year along Alabama’s beaches. To purchase tickets, go to www.amphitheateratthewharf.com. The Wharf Boat and Yacht Show will take place from March 27-30 featuring more than $90 million in boats and marine products, including more than 125 wet slip boats and yachts and 250 trailerable boats on land. Other highlights include children’s art classes led by a marine artist, a fashion show, exhibitor displays, seminars, live music and a special invitation only Thursday night event. Show hours vary per day, and admission is $7 per adult with children 12 and under admitted free. This event is pet-friendly. Visit www.wharfboatshow.com for more information
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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BOOM! COVER PROFILE
Becky Taylor, Bravo!
BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e. where you’re from, education, what brought you to the Montgomery area, did you raise your family here, schools, married, family, etc? Becky: I grew up in Pensacola, Florida. I moved to Montgomery in 1977, a single mother of a precious 2 year old, Patrick. I had attended Huntingdon College and always loved this part of Alabama, so Montgomery seemed a good fit. My undergraduate degree is in Music Education from Florida State University. At the age of 48, I went to the University of Alabama and received a Master’s Degree in Organ Performance and Choral Conducting. I am married to Bill Taylor, a talented Baritone, and my partner in all of my music making. I was the organist/Interim Choir Director at First United Methodist Church in the early 80”s and I’ve taught music at both Montgomery Academy and St. James Schools. In 1983, I earned Paralegal Certification and worked at Capell Howard for five years in the Corporate and Estate Planning areas. I was once described in an article as the ‘peripatetic’ Becky Padgett, and I had to
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churches for over 50 years. I thought that I would be teaching music in schools, but full-time church work has been a great vocation and avocation for me. After my time at First Methodist, I returned to the Episcopal Church, attending Grace Church in Mt. Meigs and Church of the Ascension, on and off. In around 1984, Mark Waldo, who was the rector at Ascension, asked if I would work with the children, right at a time when I was really missing working with young people. The next year, Jean Hinds, who had been the organist at Ascension for 40 years, decided to retire, and they asked if I would be the organist. Then in the early 90’s, I was asked to become the choir director. I left Montgomery thinking that I would probably not return, but following my graduate work at UA, I was asked to come back to Ascension full time. I really love Church of the Ascension, the people, the building, the outreach, and so it was like coming home. Elmore DeMott Photography
This month’s BOOM! profile is Becky Taylor. Becky is one of those rare people who have dedicated themselves to providing a quality musical experience for those of us who live in the River Region. Becky does this first by directing the music ministries at the Church of The Ascension in Montgomery and by adding a beautiful sound to our culture by conducting the Montgomery Chorale. Needless to say, music is a way of life for Becky and the River Region’s quality of life is better for it. We visited with Becky recently and she shared some of her life’s journey with us. Hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as we have. Bravo!
Becky teaching the children
look up the word, but I think it probably describes me pretty well. I have worked with the City of Montgomery, Joanna Bosko, in establishing arts opportunities and the early years of Jubilee. I‘ve done musical direction and teaching for several shows for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Jasmine Hill Arts Council, Montgomery Little Theatre and the Montgomery Children’s Theatre. I’ve performed or worked with the Montgomery Symphony, Alabama Dance Theatre, Montgomery Ballet and Capitol Sounds. I’ve played for hundreds of weddings, funerals, engagement parties and other events. I was the founding Director of the Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts, working with John Bell and St. James School in making sure that the arts are an integral part of education. I got to have a choir at Tutwiler Prison for two years. BOOM!: Music seems to be part of your DNA, especially worship music. Could you describe your musical journey, which led you to become the Director of Music Ministries at the Church of The Ascension? How would you describe the importance of music in worship? Becky: I grew up in the Episcopal Church. When I was 12 years old, my church (St. Christopher’s in Pensacola) asked if I would like to become the assistant organist. It was a great job for me until I went away to college. With the exception of a few periods here and there, I have been the playing the organ for
I also have been associated with Temple Beth Or, our Reform Synagogue in Montgomery, and love being able to share music and worship with the Jewish tradition and my friends there. I believe that we are created for worship and that music is a gift that allows us to be one with all of creation in praise of the Creator. Music is an effective and powerful way to enter into God’s presence and express our praise and thanks. I try to remind people that in Scripture, we are told to sing and music many times. To sing is to be open and vulnerable, using our very life, the breath, to express ourselves. That’s why it’s difficult for people to sing by themselves before others, and it’s why it’s important to sing to express praise and thanksgiving. There is surrender to things that we cannot perceive with music and so it takes us to a place not burdened by our everyday lives. In addition, music prepares our hearts and minds to receive what God is saying to us.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
I long for the unity of the children of God; I grieve over the examples we set as Christians in the ways that we act and treat others. I have purposely been active with various denominations and traditions and Music is the place that we can come together in worship.
repertoire and often an artistic level of excellence that may not always be available in church choirs. Community singing groups have long been an important part of American culture and the Arts would not be complete without the Choral organizations. A simple audition is required to be part of the Chorale or Youth Chorale. Membership in the Youth Chorale is for young people ages 8-18, boys with unchanged voices.
of that, I haven’t found myself in a surprising place. What I have found, is a sense wanting to be more of my authentic self, whatever that means. I think that often, we find ourselves defined by the people around us and the demands of life. At my age, I want to discover the things that may have been laid aside earlier that are part of who I was created to be. I feel like it might be personality traits or talents or even things that I do, but I’m ready to discover those. I believe that quiet time is a very important part of renewal. Journaling and listening are the most helpful to me.
Elmore DeMott Photography
Elmore DeMott Photography
Elmore DeMott Photography
BOOM!: One of Montgomery’s oldest BOOM!: What are you most passionate musical performing about? BOOM!: The Montgomery Chorale arts organization and is having a 40th Anniversary its official performing Becky: Not to be redundant, but I suppose Concert on Saturday, April 5th. choral group, The worship is my deepest passion. I also want Can you share more about this big Montgomery Chorale everyone to experience the rewards of great event? is celebrating its music done really well. I 40th anniversary Becky at Church of The Ascension get frustrated with the Becky: The Chorale this year. As the acceptance of mediocrity. is celebrating 40 years of Artistic Director, would you please share your bringing beautiful choral experience with The Montgomery Chorale? BOOM!: How do you like to music to our community. It is How do you get children involved? relax and wind down from a one of Montgomery’s oldest hard day’s work? performing arts organizations Becky: I first became part of the Montgomery and was recognized by the Chorale soon after I moved to Montgomery in Becky: Anything outdoors City as Montgomery’s official 1977. Gene Jarvis, the director at that time, really feeds me, although I Choral group. In celebrating asked if I would play for a performance. I have to confess that often I that milestone, we wanted to don’t really remember when I became the just plop down on the couch. bring something extraordinary official accompanist, but I played for Chorale Bill and I enjoy golf, but I to the community. Bach’s on and off from then on. While I was doing am renewed and relaxed by Mass in B Minor is one of my graduate work, the Chorale asked me to even just reading outdoors. the greatest musical works serve as Interim Director for a year after Ric Reading both fiction and noncomposed. I wanted to Smith left. A couple of years after I moved fiction is one of my favorite be sure that we would not back to Montgomery, I auditioned, along things to do. just sing the notes, but be with several others, to become Director Becky and Bill sharing music able to present in 2002. One of the first BOOM!: Favorite vacation spot? Any travel this great work in a musical and things that I did was to dreams planned for the future? inspiring way, so last year we establish the Montgomery learned one of the movements Youth Chorale, so that we Becky: I’m a beach person, love the water. Bill for our spring concert. There was would be preparing the next and I fell in love with Venice on a trip several a leap musically for the Chorale generation for community years ago. We liked the ‘wandering’ aspect in learning and presenting it, and singing and provide a place of being there and the beauty of the city. I so I decided that we would tackle for young artists with unique sang with the Florida State University Singers it. (see more about this unique talents to come together in residence at the Festival of Two Worlds in concert on page 17) from all over our community Spoleto, Italy, in 1971. We lived with local not only to receive musical families during out five-week stay there. I BOOM!: Many Boomers are training but to meet and really enjoyed being immersed in the local experiencing a renewed sense of work with children from all culture, finding favorite restaurants, being purpose, new goals, new careers, over the area. part of the city life. The Ascension Choir has especially if they’ve experienced been invited to be in residence at Salisbury the empty nest syndrome of their One of the reasons that Becky and Bill sharing golf Cathedral, England, this summer. We’ll be kids moving on. How would you I love Chorale and Youth there for 10 days, singing Evensong every describe this sense of renewal in your life? Chorale is that people from many different afternoon and the Sunday morning principle Any advice for the rest of us seeking renewal? backgrounds, cultures and occupations come Eucharist. I feel like that will be the same together to create and share beauty. We sort of opportunity to get to know that area Becky: I have been so blessed to have a put aside differences and become one unit, and people by ‘living’ there and participating very active life musically, and I have always, which is a great example for the world. There in the life of the people. We’re very excited probably to the detriment of everyone around are many church choirs, which many of our about that. me, reexamined by life periodically. Because members sing in, but this allows people with an extraordinary interest to experience
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BOOM!: As someone who is involved with the arts and faith community, do you have time to serve in other areas of Montgomery? Becky: I was privileged to be in a Leadership Montgomery Class a couple of years ago, and I considered my contribution as part of my work in the arts. However, I got to meet and work with people from many different parts of the City and learn about the inner workings of all aspects of life here. It was a great experience. BOOM!: If you weren’t the Director of Music Ministries at Church of The Ascension, what kind of work would you be doing? Dream Job? Becky: That’s almost impossible for me to even consider that, but I suppose I would really love a job that kept me outdoors. I have enjoyed gardening, although I don’t get to do it much, and probably would like to be a caretaker of some kind that allowed me to be outdoors. BOOM!: What is it about living in the Montgomery/River Region area that you like? Becky: People are always at the top of my list of why I enjoy living in this area. I also love the beauty of this area. I have been privileged to see the River Region culture broaden over the past 37+ years, new people, new ideas. Life is very gracious here in many ways and I’m thankful that I don’t live in an area where it is difficult to connect with people. BOOM!: As you’ve aged, how have your ambitions changed?
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Becky: Like most people, I suppose, I don’t feel as though I have to constantly prove myself or explain who I am to people. I have gotten to do many things that were on my ‘bucket list,’ especially in my work with the Chorale. I’ve played with the orchestra, played for dance classes, even played and sang with a Bluegrass/Country band for a few years! I will always want to make music with people, BOOM!: Give us three words that describe you? Becky: Musical, Strong, Loyal BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or other activities that grab your attention? Becky: Golf, horseback riding, when I can, again – anything outdoors. BOOM!: Do you have any ideas on how we can nurture and broaden the River Region Art Community? Becky: Collaboration between the arts and organizations is always a benefit to us all. We all need to constantly find ways to reach diverse groups and to support each other in our efforts. BOOM!: We understand your husband is a baritone, describe his involvement with your musical career? Your golf game? Becky: I could not have had the musical life that I have without Bill. He and I met when we were in the 9th grade in Chorus class. We
had four years of doing some pretty incredible music together, and then didn’t see each other for another 19 years or so, although we kept up through friends. When we did get back together, I loved the fact that we both had a love of good music, the importance of a spiritual life and a mutual love of golf. I had not played in several years and he was on the course all of the time. One day when I was riding with him on the course, I suddenly just knew I had to hit a golf ball again! It’s been a great hobby to share, although most couples that both play golf will tell you it’s not without its tension. But musically, Bill is at the heart of what I do. I was already established in Montgomery when he moved here, but he is actually a very fine conductor, gets a wonderful sound from choirs. His vocal talent, though, has made him indispensable for singing in the choirs that I have conducted. He not only supports what we do together in that way, but it is such a gift to have someone that is a great musician, that understands the musical ideas, that I can discuss things with. He has sung professionally all over the country, especially after winning the District Metropolitan Opera Auditions in the 70’s. His knowledge of vocal repertoire and his musicality has been absolutely vital to all that we have done together. If you have any questions for Becky Taylor, you can reach her at 334.265.3737 or Beckytaylor@ coascension.org. We want to thank Becky for participating in this month’s BOOM! Cover Profile. Thanks also, to Kim Bethea from The Studio @ Eastchase for her professional photos. If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please send them to jim@riverregionboom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Montgomery Chorale
April 5th celebration of a major milestone...
The Montgomery Chorale will make history this spring in celebration of a major milestone. To mark its 40th anniversary, the chorale will join forces with members of the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra to present a musical work rarely, if ever, performed in its entirety in Montgomery. Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B Minor represents the chorale’s most ambitious project to date. The composition is considered Bach’s most noteworthy achievement. Its size and scope are unmatched in classical choral literature. Even The Washington Post wrote, “The mass requires a superhuman effort to perform.” Adding to the authenticity of the performance, the concert will be given in one of Montgomery’s most historic churches and will feature musical instruments used during Bach’s lifetime. Members of the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra accepted the chorale’s invitation to bring their Baroque-period instruments to Montgomery and accompany the chorale at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Becky Taylor conducts the Montgomery Chorale
Based in Roswell, Georgia, the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra is made up of top-notch, professional musicians who perform on instruments The B Minor Mass is a musical setting of the world’s most historic made in the Baroque era (or on authentic replicas). The string Christian liturgy—the Latin Mass. A form of this mass is still celebrated instruments are fitted with gut rather than steel strings and are every Sunday by millions played with bows of an earlier design that produce of people in the Catholic, unique tones and articulations. Wind instruments Lutheran and Anglican are made of wood and brass instruments have no faiths. Movements valves, allowing for individual expression not found include the traditional in a “modern” symphony orchestra. In addition to Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus & their performance, the orchestra members will meet Benedictus and Agnus privately with children in The Montgomery Music Dei. Project. The diverse group of students (presently With its Anglican heritage over 200) will have an opportunity to see the older and local historical instruments up close, learning about their own Julie Andrijeski leads the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, visit atlantabaroque.org significance, St. John’s instruments’ histories. The concert is scheduled for Episcopal Church is a Saturday, April 5th, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. Premium tickets for $50 per befitting concert setting. Its graceful interior and natural acoustics are person include a pre-concert reception and reserved seating. General well-suited for the work. The church was organized in Montgomery in admission tickets are $25. Tickets for students and seniors (65+) are the early 1800s, just 80 years after Bach’s death. $15. Tickets can be purchased online at montgomerychorale.org or you can call 334.265.3737.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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March 2014
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The Yin & Yang of Facial Aging Presented by River Region Facial Plastics
Hello, this is Dr. Michael Bowman with River Region Facial Plastics. This month I’d like to discuss an interesting change in how we address facial aging. As a facial plastic surgeon, my job is to examine the face and analyze it in order to determine the best plan for rejuvenation. I have noticed that, like a coin, there are two different aspects of the facial aging process. Most of us are familiar with “positive aging.” This term encompasses many of the changes our clients notice when they come in for their consultation. Specifically, I am referring to the changes that can happen as we get older. These things are not present in our youth, but come about as one ages. Positive aging includes things like sun damage, wrinkling, drooping, sagging jowls, etc. In the past, this was the only aspect of facial aging that was usually addressed. It is important, however, not to forget the flip side of the coin: “negative aging.” I am referring to the things that we lose, as we get older. Specifically, our faces lose volume in a specific and predictable pattern. It is much easier to overlook this aspect of the aging process because it is so easy to ignore what has been lost. However, this aspect of aging cannot be ignored if we want to have the most natural looking rejuvenation possible. Negative aging usually shows up first in a younger face. There are three main areas of volume loss. First, loss of the lateral and deep malar (cheek) fat allows the cheekbones to become more prominent. Medially, loss of cheek
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volume causes the cheek to recede relative to the lower lid. This creates what is often called the tear trough (the area below the lower eyelid) to become very prominent. Finally, volume loss in the temple creates a subtle, but noticeable area of volume loss that affects patients of every age. Positive aging is usually treated with procedures of some type. For example, sagging of the lower face and neck can be corrected with a QuickLift®. Drooping of the upper eyelids and bulging of the lower eyelids can be corrected with a blepharoplasty (eyelid rejuvenation). These procedures are very effective, but do have some associated downtime and recovery. The great news is that treatment of negative aging involves replacement of the lost volume, and this can usually be done with injectable office procedures with minimal downtime and recovery. Our two main treatment options for volume replacement at River Region Facial Plastics are Sculptra® and Voluma™ XC. Both products are excellent and effective, but they work differently. Sculptra® is a biostimulator which helps your face build its own collagen, and in turn, gives you long lasting volume replacement. Since opening in 2012, we have become the leading injector of Sculptra® in Alabama. It is an outstanding and dependable product, but it does take a while for the results to come about
since it depends on your body’s own processes to create the new collagen. The wait is worthwhile, though, since most patients see results which last 2-3 years before needing a touch up. We are very excited about a new product that we mentioned last month: Voluma™ XC. Voluma™ XC is the newest hyaluronic acid (HA) filler to enter the US market. It is in the Juvederm® family of fillers and is produced by Allergan, the makers of Botox® Cosmetic. We are proud to be the first and only providers of Voluma™ XC in the River Region at the time I am writing this article. Voluma™ XC is unique among HA fillers because it is FDA approved for results that last up to 2 years! Like the rest of the HA fillers, Voluma™ XC also gives immediate results, so it is an excellent choice for patients who need instant rejuvenation. Although it is rarely necessary, like other HA fillers, Voluma™ XC can be dissolved with a product called hyaluronidiase. As mentioned above, most volume treatments like Sculptra® and Voluma™ XC are office procedures that take 30 minutes or less and have minimal downtime and recovery. I hope you will give us a call to set up your free consultation so we can help create your own customized beauty plan and determine which treatments will be best for you. Yours In Good Health, Dr. Michael Bowman 334.270.2003 doctors@RiverRegionFacialPlastics.com www.RiverRegionFacialPlastics.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Ready to
and find the best deal on your next place. The advantage men and women considering downsizing haveis that they are rarely in a rush to move out of their current home and into their next one. This gives them ample time to make the real estate market work for them.
DOWNsize? Once their kids have left the nest, many men and women over 50 begin to consider downsizing their homes. Downsizing to a smaller home can be beneficial for a variety of reasons, including less home to clean and maintain, more affordable utility bills and lower property taxes. But the decision to downsize is rarely black and white, and men and women often struggle with that decision. Perhaps the most difficult part of the decision of whether or not to downsize to a smaller home concerns the sentimental attachment many homeowners, especially those with children, have to their homes. The home might be too big for your current needs, but it also was the same place where your son took his first steps and where your daughter lost her first tooth. Saying goodbye to a place that was home to so many memories isn’t easy. But there’s more than just sentimental value to consider when deciding whether or not to downsize your home after the kids have grown up and moved out. Personal finances Your financial situation merits significant consideration when deciding if the time is right to downsize your home. If your retirement nest egg is not as substantial as you would like it to be, then it would seem as though downsizing to a smaller, more affordable home is a great opportunity for you to start catching up on your retirement savings. But that’s only true if your new home won’t incur any additional expenses that are already taken care of in your current home. For example, your current home may be fully furnished, while a new, smaller home may require you to buy all new furniture because your existing items simply won’t fit. The cost of such furnishings can be considerable. If you plan to move into a condominium, you can expect to pay monthly homeowners
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
association fees, and such fees are often substantial. So while the condo itself might be smaller, the additional expenses associated with the property may end up making the smaller home more expensive and preventyou from saving more money for retirement. Real estate market There are seller’s markets and there are buyer’s markets, and ideally you would like to sell your home in a seller’s market. But keep in mind that this might be the same market in which you hope to buy a new home. The nature of the real estate market depends on a host of factors, including geography. If the city or town where you currently live is in the midst of a seller’s market and you are planning on moving to a location where buyers have the upper hand, then now might be a great time to move. But if you currently live in a buyer’s market and hope to move to a seller’s market, then you may end up paying a steep price, even when downsizing to a smaller home. Things may even themselves out if you want to downsize to a smaller home within your current community, but do your homework nonetheless, researching the time of year when you’re most likely to get the most for your home
Space How much space do you really need? Once the kids have moved out, couples may feel like all of that extra space is going to waste. But that can be a kneejerk reaction, and upon a more thorough examination of the space and your needs you may just find that you can put all of that extra square footage to good use after all. If you have always wanted your own art studio, then now might be the perfect time to make that a reality. Always wanted a room devoted to home theater? Get to work on converting your basement from an all-purpose game room to your own private movie theater. If, after considering the space in your home, you find that the extra square footage really is just upkeep you aren’t especially interested in doing, then you would no doubt like a cozier home that’s less of a responsibility to maintain. Downsizing a home is something many men and women over 50 consider after their children have moved out. Such a decision is rarely easy, so homeowners should take as much time as they need before making a final decision to move or stay put.
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March 2014
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Things that Matter
With Lee Lawrence
Things That Matter: Rules of Thumb Do you remember doing something so dumb that you looked around to see if anyone had seen you do it? Have you ever done something you thought silly but had always been told that was what you should do so you just did it without a question? A couple weeks ago I enjoyed both of those feelings at precisely the same time. I had hosted a workshop that had lasted late into the evening and was returning to my farm in Tallassee. I was driving on a two lane highway and hadn’t seen another car for hours. I approached a traffic light in front of a manufacturing plant just outside a small community just as it turned red. Out of habit, I came to the expected full stop and waited for what seemed like an eternity before I got the green light and its permission to continue home. I’m pretty sure the stop light was designed for traffic control at shift changes and high traffic count, certainly not for a lone driver in the middle of the night. Even though there was not a car in sight, I sat through the entire red light simply because I was indoctrinated to not run a red light. Afterwards, I felt both dumb and silly. I did look to see if anyone was watching a lone driver in the middle of no-where sitting at a red light for no apparent reason. Investors often react very much as I did when making financial decisions. I’m reminded of a client I helped retire several years ago. He was in his mid-seventies and had worked at the same firm for fifty years. In planning for his upcoming retirement, we discussed his vision of retirement, subsequent estate goals, and eventually how to position retirement income and assets to meet each of them. I’m a firm believer that retirement assets need to be assigned to specific goals. Each dollar should have a job. During our conversations, he identified his retirement ambition was to make furniture in the shop behind his home. I further discovered that throughout his life he had been given tools, bought tools, and inherited tools. His shop was furnished and complete to do what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. He had also been very frugal and disciplined in his saving and investing and was financially secure. I had to ask one more question! “Why, when he was financially secure and had the tools for his hobby had he worked so long”. I will never forget his answer.
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He said “I was told as a boy that if I wanted success I should work as hard as I could for as long as I could”. So I did. Much the same as my sitting at a stop light for no reason or the client doing what his dad had told him, we are influenced in our financial decisions by what parents believed or by investment truths that have become antiquated. Did your parents tell you to have your home paid off at retirement? Mine did. I have been in the financial services industry for thirty plus years and have seen major changes in tax laws, rates of return, and even investment products. Some of you may remember mortgage rates in the late 70’s being in the high teens or CD’s paying upwards of 13% in the 80’s. How about mutual fund returns in the 90’s? Vague tax laws, an uncertain investment and economic environment, and increasing longevity are “Things That Matter” and fuel the need to challenge some of the old investment “Rules of Thumb”. When planning for a successful retirement it is prudent that we question “Rules of Thumb” and what” Daddy said”! There are major differences between the time we live in and that of our parents. To justify my hypothesis let me provide a few examples. In our parent’s generation, where life expectancy was much shorter, taking Social Security benefits at the earliest possible age may well have made good financial sense. Today our potential for longevity has made Social Security benefits a viable retirement asset that needs its own strategy and should be made part of a coordinated retirement plan. Thousands of dollars of potential benefits may be lost by not fully understanding available Social Security strategies and the consequence of improper Social Security timing. Another changing venue is that of tax sheltered or qualified retirement plans. Changes in tax laws may actually make your qualified plans like 401(k) s and IRAs less tax efficient. Theoretically, you were supposed to retire in a lower tax bracket to maximize tax efficiency. Potential loss of taxable deductions and changes to individual income tax rates challenge that rule of thumb and may make investment options such as the Roth IRA more tax efficient. The question “Would you rather pay tax on the seed or on the crop?” comes to mind. Have you been told that investments ‘fixed and variable” work like a see/saw? Supposedly, when the stock market return is up fixed
investment returns will be down and visaversa. In the last 10 years we have seen both alternatives, fixed and variable, move in the same direction more than once. While portfolio balance and diversity are extremely important, the selection of an investment may be more appropriate and effective if based on the goal it is to accomplish during retirement rather than how it is positioned on the see/ saw. The investment should be identified as an income source or an asset and be assigned a goal within a coordinated financial plan. I do not mean to infer that the old rules should not be considered, just that they should not be taken for granted. We acquire and retire in a time when uncertainty has become certainty. You are the one with the most to gain if you become actively involved in your financial future and the most to lose if you do not. Experience has taught me that a successful retirement is predicated on disciplined preparation and planning. Alice in her travels in Wonderland came to a “T” in the road. Confused, she asked if she should turn left or right. When asked where she was going, she admitted to not knowing. The answer to her question left or right should give pause to all. The answer “If you do not know where you are going, it makes no difference if you turn left or right.” Successful retirement is unlikely if you have not first identified the ”Things That Matter”. What do you want your retirement to look like? When do you want it to begin? How much income will you need and for how long? What do you want to happen with your estate? My intent is to help you realize that the planning process is essential for success and must be based on your unique vision. Old rules and things you have been told are simply considerations. One “Rule of Thumb” I still believe in, “People do not plan to fail, they fail to plan”! Lee Lawrence Signature Financial Solutions LLC 8128 Old Federal Road Montgomery, AL. 36117 www.signaturefinancialsolutionsllc.com 334-546-7597 Lee Lawrence is an investment advisor representative of and securities are offered through, USA Financial Securities Corporation. Member FINRA/SIPC A Registered Investment Advisor. 6020 E. Fulton St., Ada, MI. 49301. Signature Financial Solutions LLC is not affiliated with USA Financial Securities. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Retirement. Too much emphasis is put on the hike up.
Too much emphasis is put on the hike up. The climb down the mountain is where it can get interesting.
Dear Lee,
We’ve reached the
of the retirement
top
mountain. Please he
us with our descen
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Request our COMPLIMENTARY Retirement Survival Guide by calling us at (334) 819-7001.
Helping you with “the things that matter.”
Retirement Income Management Retirement Tax Portfolio Management Proactive Risk Management College Planning Financial Estate Distribution Planning
Lee Lawrence 8128 OLD FEDERAL RD., MONTGOMERY, AL 36117 | 334.819.7001 | WWW.SIGNATUREFINANCIALSOLUTIONSLLC.COM
Lee Lawrence is an investment advisor representative of and securities are offered through, USA Financial Securities Corporation, Member FINRA/SIPC. A Registered Investment Advisor. 6020 E. Fulton St., Ada, MI 49301. Signature Financial Solutions, LLC is not affiliated with USA Financial Securities. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Boomers Drive RV Popularity
By Erica Curless
Baby boomers are keeping the RV industry rolling, especially through the recent sluggish economy. Travelers in their 50s and early 60s are bolstering the industry by heading out on the highway for adventure. The boomer generation is putting a new twist on the traditional motor home adventure and its not traveling to an RV park to play bridge! The popularity of RVing is growing, as is the attendance of RV shows across the country, where dealers sell 140 units in four days. That growth is with younger baby boomers. By next year, all of America’s 78 million boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, will be older than 50. Those are the people with the time and money to travel, especially by RV. Last year national RV sales through November were up 12.8 percent. So instead of that Hawaiian vacation, families, often multi-generation, pack into the RV and go on a $1,500 vacation. Boomers also are more adventuresome than the previous generation. Being 50 or 60 today is not the 50 or 60 of 20 years ago. They don’t want to play bridge. They want to swim and golf. There are even spa RV parks. Nick Dietz, president of an Airstream Dealer, said baby boomers have generally traveled the world and are tired of airports, especially with all the new security precautions.
“Now they’ve got a bedroom, bathroom and food with them full time,” Dietz said of RVing converts. “It doesn’t get better than that. And they can travel with pets.” Many Airstream owners are avid
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adventurers who love to tent camp and hike. “The ground is getting harder and they want something more comfortable,” Dietz added.
Westfalia is currently making camper conversions but is no longer associated with Volkswagen, according to the Westfalia website.
Many boomers pick the iconic aluminum Airstream because they remember the trailers from their childhood, Dietz said of the company that began in 1931. Nearly 70 percent of all Airstreams ever built are still on the road, he added, praising their quality construction and longevity.
If potential RVers aren’t quite up for buying new, there are campers, tent trailers, motor homes and anything on wheels advertised on Craigslist every day, said Julianne G. Crane, The SpokesmanReview’s former Wheel Life columnist, who now spends the majority of her year reporting on the RV lifestyle from her truck camper.
“That history is unique to the image,” Deitz said of the shiny, aerodynamic trailers easily distinguishable on the highway. “Otherwise a white box is a white box.” When you think of boomers and camping, the stereotypical image of the 1960s hippies camping in Volkswagen Westfalias comes to mind. The popular van campers are no longer in production, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a vintage model to buy and join the thousands of others cruising the road in VW style.
Cody said the highlights from this year’s RV show are mostly new and improved technology with gadgets such as backup cameras, satellite dishes that work from nearly any location, and GPS. The campers have come a long way from the former tin shells with a couple of beds and no insulation. “Some of these are nicer than most homes,” Cody said. More Information: leisurevans.com airstream.com (c)2014, The Spokesman-Review Distributed by MCT Information Services
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Day Trippin’ in Alabama WHEN: April 3rd through the 6th, 2014 WHAT: 49th Annual Eufaula Pilgrimage WHERE: Eufaula, Alabama Plan a visit to the 49th Annual Eufaula Pilgrimage, Alabama’s Oldest Tour of Homes, on April 3-6. These beautiful, historic homes are open for daylight and candlelight visits. You and your family can also enjoy music by Three on a String, Afternoon Teas, the Art Show, Tales from the Tomb, Confederate Battle Camp, and a Historic Cemetery Tour. Nestled on the banks of the Chattahoochee River at the junction of U.S. Highway 431 and 82, Eufaula is a picturesque town noted for its Southern hospitality and its beautiful Greek Revival and Italianate mansions that bear witness to its settlers’ early prosperity. Lovely Queen Anne cottages and Victorian homes beckon visitors to savor the delights of small town life. You will be able to customize your visit to many private residences open to the public only during this annual event. Choose among daytime and evening homes and gardens to tour, and enjoy an afternoon tea. The band Three on a String will perform all kinds of music - classic old standards, country, bluegrass, and folk music on Thursday night at the city auditorium. Visit historic Fairview Cemetery where both famous and notorious residents “come to life” at sunset to tell their stories in the popular dramatization of Tales of the Tomb. Explore quaint shops downtown, visit historic churches, or just enjoy a stroll down shady streets lined with dogwoods, magnolias, and live oaks. You will find some of the South’s most treasured artists exhibiting their works in the heart of the Seth Lore Historic district. Daytime tour hours are from 9 am to 5 pm Central time on Friday and Saturday. Candlelight tour hours are from 6 pm to 9 pm Central time on Friday and Saturday. Sunday hours are 1 pm to 4 pm Central time. Group rates are available and Active and Retired Military are free with a valid military ID. Enjoy a beautiful spring weekend at one of the prettiest little towns in the South! 1-888-383-2852 or www.eufaulapilgrimage.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Fitness over Fifty
By Leigh Anne Richards
Exercise for Strong Bones Osteoporosis is a bone weakening disorder that may result in fractures of the hip and spine which can impair mobility and independence. Osteoporosis is Leigh Anne Richards a major cause of disability in older women. Many people mistakenly think that exercise will lead to fracture if one has osteoporosis. However, using your muscles helps protect your bones. Certain types of exercise will strengthen muscles and bones while other types of exercise are designed to improve balance – which can prevent falls. Women who have been physically active throughout their lives generally have stronger bones than do women who have led more sedentary lives. It is never too late to start exercising. Exercising if you have osteoporosis means finding the safest and most enjoyable activities for your overall health and amount of bone loss. There is no one size fits all prescription. Always consult your physician before starting any exercise program. You may need to have bone density measurements and/ or fitness assessments before proceeding into an exercise program. Because there are many varying degrees of osteoporosis, your doctor needs to advise on what exercises are appropriate for you. The types of activities often recommended for people with osteoporosis are as follow: Strength training exercises, especially those for the upper back Weight bearing aerobic activities Flexibility exercises Stability and balance exercises Strength Training Strength training includes the use of free weights, weight machines, resistance
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bands, body weight exercises as well as water exercise to strengthen the muscles in the spine and upper body. Strength training can work directly on your bones to slow mineral loss. Two to three days a week is all that is needed. If you don’t have much time for resistance training, do small amounts at a time. You can do one body part per day. For example, do arms one day, legs the next and trunk the next. Yoga and Pilates can also improve strength and flexibility. However, certain exercises that have you bend forward may increase the risk of breaking a bone in the spine. A physician or physical therapist can give you guidance on what is appropriate for you. Weight bearing aerobic activities Weight bearing exercises involve doing aerobic exercises on your feet, with your bones supporting your weight. Weight bearing exercise can be high impact or low impact Examples of low impact would include dancing, walking, low impact aerobic dance, stair climbing, elliptical machine. These types of exercises work directly on the bones in your legs, hips and lower spine to slow mineral loss. They also provide cardiovascular benefits as well to boost the heart and the circulatory system. High impact weight bearing exercise helps build bone and keep them strong. If you have a broken bone due to osteoporosis or you are at risk for breaking a bone, you may need to avoid high impact activities. Examples of high impact activities would include: jumping rope, jogging/running, high impact dance aerobics, tennis, etc. Thirty minutes on most days of the week is needed. Do a 30 minute session or multiple sessions spread throughout the day (three ten minute sessions). Non Impact Exercise- Balance, Posture and Functional Fall prevention is important for people who have osteoporosis. Stability and balance exercises help your muscles work together in a way that helps keep
you more stable and less likely to fall. Simple exercises like standing on one leg, or movement based exercises like Tai Chi can improve stability and balance. Posture exercises reduce the rounded or “sloping” shoulders thus helping you decrease the chance of breaking a bone in the spine. Functional exercises help improve how well you move with everyday activities such as climbing stairs or getting up from the couch. These exercises can be done everyday or as often as needed. You may want to focus on one area more than another based on what you need. Work with a physical therapist or an exercise professional to learn the exercises that are right for you. Movements to possibly avoid Your health care provider can advise you in this area depending on the severity of the osteoporosis and the location of it. High impact activities such as jogging or jumping may lead to fractures in weakened bones. Also avoid jerky, rapid movements. Use slow controlled movements. Bending and Twisting exercises are also contraindicated for people with osteoporosis. Exercises, in which you bend forward and twist from the waist such as touching your toes or doing sit-ups, can increase your risk of compression fractures in your spine. Golf, tennis, and some yoga poses would be unadvised. As always seek medical advice before embarking on an exercise program. If you re not sure how healthy your bones are, talk to your doctor. Don’t let fear of fractures keep you from having fun and being active. ** Information taken from The National Osteoporosis Foundation and the Mayo Clinic Leigh Anne Richards, MEd, Certified Personal Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, General Manager- MetroFitness. For any questions or comments, contact Leigh Anne at LAMetrofit@aol. com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Forget No More!
How many times have you gotten into your car and started driving, only to realize that you’ve forgotten your phone? Probably a few too many. Here’s cool gadget that will help you keep track of up to 10 items. It’s called Bringrr (as in ringer) and it’s upping the ante in the world of tracking devices, acting as a reminder service for you to grab your phone, your keys, your wallet, or maybe your grandkids before heading out. Just kidding about the grandkids, you should probably remember them or you may lose privileges! Basically you attach a BringTag to whatever it is you need to keep track of, then pair the Bringrr device with your smartphone using Bluetooth so it can track the item via GPS. When you pop Bringrr into your car like a charger and start the car, Bringrr will either shine a nice calming blue to reassure you that you have your phone with you, or display an angry red and emit a warning before you head out of the driveway. check out more info at their website bringrr.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Aid to Inmate Mothers Hosts Show of
Inmate Art Fundraiser at Local Artists’ Home The nonprofit agency Aid to Inmate Mothers (AIM) will host a fundraiser and silent auction, “Hearts on Fire,” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, featuring artwork created by women in a prison art class. The reception will be held at Firehouse No. 9, 1164 S. McDonough Street, Montgomery. The firehouse is the home, studio, and Italian-style garden of artists David Braly and Mark Montoya. Tickets to this event are $25 each and may be purchased in advance by calling 334.262.2245 or by writing carol@inmatemoms.org. The art displayed will be available for purchase. The event will kick off a capital campaign to raise funds to pay off the mortgage of AIM’s new transitional home.
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50 Reasons We’re Living Through the Greatest Period in World History By Morgan Housel, The Motley Fool
I recently talked to a doctor who retired after a 30-year career. I asked him how much medicine had changed during the three decades he practiced. “Oh, tremendously,” he said. He listed off a dozen examples. Deaths from heart disease and stroke are way down. Cancer survival rates are way up. We’re better at diagnosing, treating, preventing, and curing disease than ever before. The problem, the doctor said, is that these advances happen slowly over time, so you probably don’t hear about them. If cancer survival rates improve, say, 1% per year, any given year’s progress looks low, but over three decades, extraordinary progress is made. Compare health-care improvements with the stuff that gets talked about in the news — NBC anchor Andrea Mitchell interrupted a Congresswoman last week to announce Justin Bieber’s arrest — and you can understand why Americans aren’t optimistic about the country’s direction. We ignore the really important news because it happens slowly, but we obsess over trivial news because it happens all day long. Expanding on my belief that everything is amazing and nobody is happy, here are 50 facts that show we’re actually living through the greatest period in world history. 1. U.S. life expectancy at birth was 39 years in 1800, 49 years in 1900, 68 years in 1950, and 79 years today. The average newborn today can expect to live an entire generation longer than his great-grandparents could. 2. A flu pandemic in 1918 infected 500 million people and killed as many as 100 million. In his book The Great Influenza, John Barry describes the illness as if “someone were hammering a wedge into your skull just behind the eyes, and body aches so intense they felt like bones breaking.” Today, you can go to Safeway and get a flu shot. It costs 15 bucks. You might feel a little poke. 3. In 1950, 23 people per 100,000 Americans died each year in traffic accidents, according to the Census Bureau. That fell to 11 per 100,000 by 2009. If the traffic mortality rate had not declined, 37,800 more Americans would have died last year than actually did. In the time it will take you to read this article, one American is alive who would have died in a car accident 60 years ago. 4. In 1949, Popular Mechanics magazine made the bold prediction that someday a computer could weigh less than 1 ton. I wrote this sentence on an iPad that weighs 0.73 pounds. 5. The average American now retires at age 62. One hundred years ago, the average American died at age 51. Enjoy your golden years — your ancestors didn’t get any of them. 6. In his 1770s book The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith wrote: “It is not uncommon in the highlands of Scotland for a mother who has borne 20 children not to have 2 alive.” Infant mortality in America has dropped from 58 per 1,000 births in 1933 to less than six per 1,000 births in 2010, according to the World Health Organization. There are about 11,000 births in America each day, so this improvement means more than 200,000 infants now survive each year who wouldn’t have 80 years ago. That’s like adding a city
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the size of Boise, Idaho, every year. 7. America averaged 20,919 murders per year in the 1990s, and 16,211 per year in the 2000s, according to the FBI. If the murder rate had not fallen, 47,000 more Americans would have been killed in the last decade than actually were. That’s more than the population of Biloxi, Miss. 8. Despite a surge in airline travel, there were half as many fatal plane accidents in 2012 than there were in 1960, according to the Aviation Safety Network. 9. No one has died from a new nuclear weapon attack since 1945. If you went back to 1950 and asked the world’s smartest political scientists, they would have told you the odds of seeing that happen would be close to 0%. You don’t have to be very imaginative to think that the most important news story of the past 70 years is what didn’t happen. Congratulations, world. 10. People worry that the U.S. economy will end up stagnant like Japan’s. Next time you hear that, remember that unemployment in Japan hasn’t been above 5.6% in the past 25 years, its government corruption ranking has consistently improved, incomes per capita adjusted for purchasing power have grown at a decent rate, and life expectancy has risen by nearly five years. I can think of worse scenarios. 11. Two percent of American homes had electricity in 1900. J.P Morgan (the man) was one of the first to install electricity in his home, and it required a private power plant on his property. Even by 1950, close to 30% of American homes didn’t have electricity. It wasn’t until the 1970s that virtually all homes were powered. Adjusted for wage growth, electricity cost more than 10 times as much in 1900 as it does today, according to professor Julian Simon. 12. According to the Federal Reserve, the number of lifetime years spent in leisure — retirement plus time off during your
working years — rose from 11 years in 1870 to 35 years by 1990. Given the rise in life expectancy, it’s probably close to 40 years today. Which is amazing: The average American spends nearly half his life in leisure. If you had told this to the average American 100 years ago, that person would have considered you wealthy beyond imagination. 13. We are having a national discussion about whether a $7.25-per-hour minimum wage is too low. But even adjusted for inflation, the minimum wage was less than $4 per hour as recently as the late 1940s. The top 1% have captured most of the wage growth over the past three decades, but nearly everyone has grown richer — much richer — during the past seven decades. 14. In 1952, 38,000 people contracted polio in America alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In 2012, there were fewer than 300 reported cases of polio in the entire world. 15. From 1920 to 1949, an average of 433,000 people died each year globally from “extreme weather events.” That figure has plunged to 27,500 per year, according to Indur Goklany of the International Policy Network, largely thanks to “increases in societies’ collective adaptive capacities.” 16. Worldwide deaths from battle have plunged from 300 per 100,000 people during World War II, to the low teens during the 1970s, to less than 10 in the 1980s, to fewer than one in the 21st century, according to Harvard professor Steven Pinker. “War really is going out of style,” he says. 17. Median household income adjusted for inflation was around $25,000 per year during the 1950s. It’s nearly double that amount today. We have false nostalgia about the prosperity of the 1950s because our definition of what counts as “middle class” has been inflated — see the 34% rise in the size of the median American home in just the past 25 years. If you dig into how the average The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
“prosperous” American family lived in the 1950s, I think you’ll find a standard of living we’d call “poverty” today. 18. Reported rape per 100,000 Americans dropped from 42.3 in 1991 to 27.5 in 2010, according to the FBI. Robbery has dropped from 272 per 100,000 in 1991 to 119 in 2010. There were nearly 4 million fewer property crimes in 2010 than there were in 1991, which is amazing when you consider the U.S. population grew by 60 million during that period. 19. According to the Census Bureau, only one in 10 American homes had air conditioning in 1960. That rose to 49% in 1973, and 89% today — the 11% that don’t are mostly in cold climates. Simple improvements like this have changed our lives in immeasurable ways. 20. Almost no homes had a refrigerator in 1900, according to Frederick Lewis Allan’s The Big Change, let alone a car. Today they sell cars with refrigerators in them. 21. Adjusted for overall inflation, the cost of an average round-trip airline ticket fell 50% from 1978 to 2011, according to Airlines for America. 22. According to the Census Bureau, the average new home now has more bathrooms than occupants. 23. According to the Census Bureau, in 1900 there was one housing unit for every five Americans. Today, there’s one for every three. In 1910 the average home had 1.13 occupants per room. By 1997 it was down to 0.42 occupants per room. 24. According to professor Julian Simon, the average American house or apartment is twice as large as the average house or apartment in Japan, and three times larger than the average home or apartment in Russia. 25. Relative to hourly wages, the cost of an average new car has fallen fourfold since 1915, according to professor Julian Simon. 26. Google Maps is free. If you think about this for a few moments, it’s really astounding. It’s probably the single most useful piece of software ever invented, and it’s free for anyone to use. 27. High school graduation rates are at a 40year high, according to Education Week. 28. The death rate from strokes has declined by 75% since the 1960s, according to the National Institutes of Health. Death from heart attacks has plunged, too: If the heart attack survival had had not declined since the 1960s, the number of Americans dying each year from heart disease would be more than 1 million higher than it currently is. 29. In 1900, African Americans had an illiteracy rate of nearly 45%, according to the The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Census Bureau. Today, it’s statistically close to zero. 30. People talk about how expensive college is today, but a century ago fewer than one in 20 Americans ever stepped foot in a university. College wasn’t an option at any price for some minorities because of segregation just six decades ago. 31. The average American work week has declined from 66 hours in 1850, to 51 hours in 1909, to 34.8 today, according to the Federal Reserve. Enjoy your weekend. 32. Incomes have grown so much faster than food prices that the average American household now spends less than half as much of its income on food as it did in the 1950s. Relative to wages, the price of food has declined more than 90% since the 19th century, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 33. As of March 2013, there were 8.99 million millionaire households in the U.S., according to the Spectrum Group. Put them together and they would make the largest city in the country, and the 18th largest city in the world, just behind Tokyo. We talk a lot about wealth concentration in the United States, but it’s not just the very top that has done well. 34. More than 40% of adults smoked in 1965, according to the Centers for Disease Control. By 2011, 19% did. 35. In 1900, 44% of all American jobs were in farming. Today, around 2% are. We’ve become so efficient at the basic need of feeding ourselves that nearly half the population can now work on other stuff. 36. One of the reasons Social Security and Medicare are underfunded is that the average American is living longer than ever before. I think this is literally the best problem to have. 37. In 1940, less than 5% of the adult population held a bachelor’s degree or higher. By 2012, more than 30% did, according to the Census Bureau. 38. U.S. oil production in September was the highest it’s been since 1989, and growth shows no sign of slowing. We produced 57% more oil in America in September 2013 than we did in September 2007. The International Energy Agency projects that America will be the world’s largest oil producer as soon as 2015. 39. The average American car got 13 miles per gallon in 1975, and more than 26 miles per gallon in 2013, according to the Energy Protection Agency. This has an effect identical to cutting the cost of gasoline in half. 40. Annual inflation in the United States hasn’t been above 10% since 1981 and has been below 5% in 77% of years over the past
seven decades. When you consider all the hatred directed toward the Federal Reserve, this is astounding. 41. The percentage of Americans age 65 and older who live in poverty has dropped from nearly 30% in 1966 to less than 10% by 2010. For the elderly, the war on poverty has pretty much been won. 42. Adjusted for inflation, the average monthly Social Security benefit for retirees has increased from $378 in 1940 to $1,277 by 2010. What used to be a safety net is now a proper pension. 43. If you think Americans aren’t prepared for retirement today, you should have seen what it was like a century ago. In 1900, 65% of men over age 65 were still in the labor force. By 2010, that figure was down to 22%. The entire concept of retirement is unique to the past few decades. Half a century ago, most Americans worked until they died. 44. From 1920 to 1980, an average of 395 people per 100,000 died from famine worldwide each decade. During the 2000s, that fell to three per 100,000, according to The Economist. 45. The cost of solar panels has declined by 75% since 2008, according to the Department of Energy. Last I checked, the sun is offering its services for free. 46. As recently as 1950, nearly 40% of American homes didn’t have a telephone. Today, there are 500 million Internetconnected devices in America, or enough for 5.7 per household. 47. According to AT&T archives and the Dallas Fed, a three-minute phone call from New York to San Francisco cost $341 in 1915, and $12.66 in 1960, adjusted for inflation. Today, Republic Wireless offers unlimited talk, text, and data for $5 a month. 48. In 1990, the American auto industry produced 7.15 vehicles per auto employee. In 2010 it produced 11.2 vehicles per employee. Manufacturing efficiency has improved dramatically. 49. You need an annual income of $34,000 a year to be in the richest 1% of the world, according to World Bank economist Branko Milanovic’s 2010 book The Haves and the Have-Nots. To be in the top half of the globe you need to earn just $1,225 a year. For the top 20%, it’s $5,000 per year. Enter the top 10% with $12,000 a year. To be included in the top 0.1% requires an annual income of $70,000. America’s poorest are some of the world’s richest. 50. Only 4% of humans get to live in America. Odds are you’re one of them. We’ve got it made. Be thankful. morganhousel.com r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
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Healthy Hearing
By Dr. Bettie Borton Au.D.
Spring into Action! Take Control of Your Hearing this Season! With spring approaching, we can begin to enjoy the activities that bring us closer to nature, or, at the very least, give us a reason to spend quality time outside. Dr. Bettie Borton Au. D. Walking, playing golf, gardening and biking are just a few ways to enjoy the weather—by ourselves or with a loved one. These activities help us stay active, connected with those close to us, and immersed in the fresh, open air. Spending time outdoors is wonderful for our social, mental, and physical wellbeing.
Despite the positive aspects of the spring season, the increasing temperatures and heavy rains often result in allergy symptoms caused by plant pollen. Individuals who experience allergies may notice runny noses and itchy eyes, and many others may feel pressure, ringing in the ears, or even occasional dizziness. These allergy symptoms are the immune system’s response to an allergen. As a result, histamine releasing antibodies are created, resulting in sneezing, itchy noses, and congestion. The histamine causes an increase in the creation of mucous as well, which can result in ear symptoms. In particular, the Eustachian tube, which is a drainage channel for the middle ear, can function less effectively with this inflammation. Types of hearing issues commonly associated with allergies—
Fullness: Allergies may result in excess fluid in the ear that puts pressure on the eardrum and causes pain. The fluid results in a “clogged” sensation and can inhibit your ability to hear efficiently. Fluid accumulation can result in conductive hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss: Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves cannot properly travel through the ear and across the minuscule bones of the middle ear, where they are subsequently transferred to the cochlea, or inner
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ear. This type of hearing loss is often temporary, but it makes it challenging to hear soft sounds and makes things sound softer than they are.
Fluctuating hearing: Because allergies can cause a variable level of fluid in the middle ear, you may feel like your hearing is fluctuating. Ear wax, swimmer’s ear, and the presence of a foreign body or benign tumors are additional causes of conductive hearing loss.
Ear infections: It should come as no surprise that with allergies the threat of infection increases. Greater levels of moisture in the ear from fluid allow bacteria to flourish, and can cause a middle ear infection. Chronic middle ear infections can result in tinnitus or hearing loss, especially if left untreated, and medical intervention is indicated. Individuals who experience hearing loss or tinnitus during allergy season will likely notice improvement in symptoms as allergy triggers lessen. However, it is best to visit your audiologist to make sure that your concerns do not require treatment.
Don’t forget spring cleaning— For those of us who wear hearing instruments, it is vital to remember the importance of spring cleaning. Dirt, oil, moisture, and earwax can build up on hearing devices, affecting the device’s performance. Increased allergens can also clog the hearing aid microphones. Replacing the covers of microphone ports is an easy fix. Your audiologist can advise you regarding the best ways to ensure proper functioning and cleanliness of your devices. The following do’s and don’t’s can help you keep your hearing aids in working order. • Have your external ear canals cleaned! (By a professional, not a Q-tip). Keep hearing aids and your ears free from earwax to avoid causing any permanent damage to your hearing aids. Your audiologist can help! • Use the right cleaning tools. Your hearing aids should have come equipped with the appropriate cleaning tools needed to keep them in working order.
Visit your audiologist if you have lost your cleaning tools or if you feel like you did not receive any tools, but remember, your audiologist has better, more professional cleaning equipment than you do, so make regular cleanings part of your maintenance plan. • Clean hearing aids regularly! Nightly cleaning is often most convenient. Use a dry, soft, low-lint cloth to clean your hearing aids. Other cleaning solutions can pose more harm than good to the hearing aids. • Clean your battery compartment. Battery contacts should be cleaned with plain cotton swabs. By keeping the battery contacts free from dirt, you can help keep your hearing aid at full power and limit any intermittency with the performance of your hearing devices. • Hearing aid storage is important. When your hearing aids are not in your ears, you should keep them in a cool and moisturefree place. At night, you will want to leave the battery door open to help preserve battery life. Consider using an electronic storage device to prolong the life of your hearing devices. • Moisture is not your friend! Your hearing aids should be kept dry and should never be worn in the shower, but if you happen to accidentally jump in the shower with them in place, open the battery door and allow the hearing aids to dry out immediately. See your audiologist if you have concerns about the function of the hearing aids. Make an appointment with our practice today and we’ll give you a free clean and check of your current devices—just to help you protect your investment in better hearing. For more information please contact Doctors Hearing Clinic at (334) 396-1635. Content adapted from Healthy Hearing website.
Dr. Bettie B. Borton is a licensed audiologist in Alabama, was the first board certified audiologist in Montgomery, served as National Chair of the American Board of Audiology, and has recently assumed her position as President of the American Academy of Audiology. Co-authored by Dr. Brittany Spahr and Casey Gonzalez, Doctoral Extern, LSU Health.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Read About Them @ RiverRegionBoom.com Allison Posell
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“ATTACK THE NET” Never too old to play volleyball
By Kim Hone-McMahan
Imagine being 92 years old and selected to be a member of a traveling volleyball team. When Mary Varca, a resident at the Gables of Hudson, telephoned her daughter a few weeks ago to tell her the news, Marianne LaRose worried that her mom may have lost her marbles. “I thought something might have happened to her brain, and she had been fine up until then,” said LaRose, laughing. But Varca’s marbles are all intact. It just so happens that she has a killer spike. Varca and her teammates from the Gables of Hudson visited the Gables of KentRidge recently for a scrimmage in the facility’s commons. About 20 residents between the ages of 65 and 101 from both homes sat in chairs and punched a beach ball over a net. A fire burned in a nearby fireplace, music from a player piano mingled with the laughter, and a bartender in the corner was preparing Tequila Sunrises for happy hour at the assisted living facility. “We came with our game faces on!” said Nancy Martinez, activities director at Hudson, clapping her hands for emphasis. When Varca, who played volleyball at Garfield High School more than seven decades ago, missed a particularly difficult shot, she raised her hand to her face, looked at her daughter and grandson, Rocco LaRose, and flashed a mischievous grin. The matches and practices, which are a regular part of the activities at both locations, generally draw a dozen or so cheerleaders who gather to watch. On occasion, a team from the Streetsboro Senior Center also offers a little competition. “I want you to know that the bookies ... are tracking this game. I said ‘bookies,’ not ‘cookies,’” joked Mike Wojno, owner of both facilities.
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The games are terrific, said some residents, particularly for those who have been active most of their lives. And while it may look like a soft sport for seniors, staying in their seats can sometimes be an issue when the athletes lunge for the ball. “Foster, you are about to get a butt foul,” a call that’s made when a player rises off his seat, warned Kent activity director Kaylin Miller. “My wife says my butt is foul,” quipped someone in the room. Wojno and others in the business know that as baby boomers age, there will be many more seniors in search of facilities that cater to active older folks. Statistics back up that point: The Pew Research Center projects that about 10,000 people in the United States will turn 65 each day for the next 15 years. “The trend is ... not (to) see assisted living as a ‘nursing home,’ but more of an exclusive senior living experience,” Wojno said, noting that because more residents are being visited by younger family members, his facilities are adding putting greens, Wi-Fi, playgrounds for grandchildren and sports bars. Volleyball is just one of a full slate of activities at the facilities, including mind games, day trips to casinos, manicures and cooking demonstrations. Residents Skype with loved ones who can’t physically visit. Following the scrimmage, Foster Schafer sported a wide grin. “Oh, I really enjoy
volleyball,” the 90-year-old said, wearing a T-shirt bearing the team’s name, “The Boomerangs,” on the front and “We’ll be back” on the rear. Residents from both facilities were invited to stay for happy hour, complete with homemade chips and spinach and artichoke dip. While happy hour generally includes drinks with and without alcohol, chef Brian Albrecht admitted that he was mixing all of the day’s cocktails without tequila, to keep the guests from Hudson steady on their feet to board the bus for home. “This isn’t a place to come and die,” Wojno said, motioning to the volleyball players. “This is a place to live and celebrate life.” (c)2014 Akron Beacon Journal Distributed by MCT Information Services The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Cooking for one or two...
Seniors face many changes as they move into their golden years. Downsizing living spaces and vehicles is common, as is implementing certain changes to improve quality of life. Many seniors also scale back in the kitchen, where some must make changes because of medical conditions. While it seems like reducing food portions would be easy, those used to prepping meals for a large family may find it difficult. The following tips can make meal preparation efficient and cost-effective. * Divide and store. Supermarkets are increasingly offering larger packages of food products as well as “family size” offerings to compete with warehouse clubs. Buying in bulk can help individuals save money, but it may not always be practical for people living alone or with just a spouse. If you must buy in bulk, invest in a food vacuum sealer or freezer storage bags. Immediately separate meats and poultry into smaller portions before storing them in the freezer. Otherwise, look for bulk items that are individually wrapped to maintain freshness. Many canned and jarred items can be covered and stored in the refrigerator after containers are opened. * Plan meals with similar ingredients. To reduce food waste, use leftovers to create casseroles or mix them in with new meals. Broiled or grilled chicken can be used to make soups, stir-fry dishes, fajitas, and sandwiches. The fewer ingredients you have to buy, the smaller the risk of spoilage. * Cut recipes in half. Recipes can be cut down depending on how many mouths need to be fed. When baking, cutting back on proportions of ingredients can be challenging. Search online for recipe-scaling programs that can make the work easier. * Cook on the weekend. Use a weekend day to prepare food and package it into small containers in the refrigerator or freezer. Then the containers can be taken out as needed and heated quickly in the microwave for fast meals. *Organize a meal-sharing club. Get together with a few friends who also have empty nests and split cooking duties. If you’re accustomed to cooking larger portion sizes, do so and then spread the wealth with others in the group. Then sit back and relax when it is your opportunity to have meals delivered to you.
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Tips When Traveling Abroad Men and women often dream of jetsetting around the world when they retire. Traveling the globe without worrying about timelines or what’s going on back at the office is something many retirees reward themselves with after a life of hard work. As liberating as world travel can be, retirees still must exercise caution when traveling abroad. The following are a few safety tips for retirees who are ready to make their dream retirements a reality by setting off for parts unknown. * Stay in touch. Escapism is a big part of the attraction of travel for travelers young and old. But while you may want to avoid contact with the outside world on your travels, it’s still necessary to stay in touch with your loved ones. Retirees who plan to take extended trips overseas should purchase an international mobile phone plan that allows them to use their phones regardless of what country they happen to be in. A quick text message to a son or daughter back home is all it takes to let your family know you are safe and having the time of your life. Work out a communication plan with your loved ones back home before departing, agreeing to contact them via phone call, email or Skype at least once per week for the duration of your trip. This is a good way to share your experiences and help your relatives rest easy knowing that you are safe. * Don’t store all of your important documents in one place. When traveling overseas, it can be convenient to keep important items like traveler’s cheques, credit cards, passports, and identification in one place. However, storing all of your sensitive documents or financial items in
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one place is very risky, as a lost or stolen bag can leave you without identification or access to your funds. When traveling, couples should carry their own passports on their persons and split up credit cards and traveler’s cheques. This way you still have access to your funds, and one of you still has identification should items be lost or stolen.
get a full physical. Refill any medications you will need during your trip, and speak with your physician about how to handle any medical emergencies while overseas. Carry your physician’s name and telephone number with you at all times, so local medical professionals
* Do your homework. Unplanned day trips are common among travelers who have been traveling for long periods of time. While such jaunts can add an element of spontaneity to a trip, they also can be quite dangerous if travelers have not done their homework on a particular destination. You do not want to end up in a place where tourists are not welcome or frequent targets of criminals. In addition, you don’t want to visit a city or town and know nothing of its customs or etiquette. For example, locals may react negatively to visitors who have ignored accepted local standards for attire. You can still make spontaneous trips, but make sure you gather some background information, be it from the Internet, locals where you are currently staying or the hotel concierge, on a given locale and its customs before visiting.
can contact him or her should you experience a medical emergency. Once you have arrived at your destination, it’s important that you continue to prioritize your health. Make sure the water is safe to drink before taking a sip, and investigate local cuisine to ensure it won’t enflame any existing medical conditions you may have. The quality of medical care varies greatly across the globe, so you must prioritize your health whenever leaving the country and avoid anything that might put your health in jeopardy.
* Make sure your health will not be compromised. Retirees cannot travel in the same manner they did in the carefree days of their youth. Before traveling abroad, visit your physician and
* Travel with friends or family if possible. If you have friends or family who also are retirees with time on their hands, organize a group trip abroad. Groups are less likely to be targeted by criminals than couples, and overseas trips with friends or family members can make trips overseas that much more memorable and enjoyable. Overseas travel is a popular goal of men and women on the verge of retirement or those who have already called it a career. But safety must remain a priority when traveling abroad.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Bucket List Adventure:
By Kathy Witt
Dancing With The Stars
Sea Cruise
For many of the 2,100 or so passengers on Holland America Line’s glittery “Dancing With the Stars: At Sea” theme cruises, meeting Emmy Awardwinner and five-time “Dancing with the Stars” champion Derek Hough, Kym Johnson, Joey Fatone and Sabrina Bryan is an item to check off the bucket list. In fact, for one passenger on the Jan. 12 Champions cruise aboard the ms Nieuw Amsterdam, Johnson, the statuesque Aussie dancing pro and two-time mirror ball trophy winner was the bucket list adventure. “A passenger told me I was on her husband’s bucket list,” said Johnson.
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“He wanted to dance with me.” While the celebs appreciate they are the adventure for some, and Johnson did oblige the husband with a dance, each has his or her own wish list item, too. Carson Kressley, the Emmy-winning television star, celebrity stylist and fashion designer, wants to shop the great cities of the world. Irish dancer Tristan MacManus fancies a visit to Australia. Fatone, perhaps best known as a member of the boyband ‘N Sync, wants to see the Northern Lights. Actress/singer Bryan, who starred in “The Cheetah Girl” movies, would love to do a two-week cruise, aboard a Holland America Line (HAL) cruise ship, of course, to New Zealand.
“To go to different places, to experience different cultures, it’s the spice of life,” said Emma Slater, who hopes to explore Southeast Asia. The English-born dancer/ actress, who joined “DWTS” in 2012, also played Hen in the 2008 movie, “Mamma Mia!” “It makes us who we are.” Talk about spice. To be among the more than 16 million viewers who tune in weekly to watch the fancy footwork unfold on ABC’s hit “Dancing With the Stars” TV show is one thing. To see the stars perform in person from one of the less than 900 seats in the Nieuw Amsterdam’s multi-level Showroom at Sea, so close you can observe the sequins from the dancers’ costumes flying loose and scattering across the stage, is something else. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Add to this the sheer accessibility of the stars featured on Holland America cruises, dance lessons with the “DWTS” pros; Q&As with the stars; formal photographs with the full celebrity lineup; autograph signing sessions; a fashion show with the stars glammed up in “DWTS” show costumes; chance encounters all over the ship, plus a chance to weigh in on the guest competitors’ performances via the “applause-o-meter,” and you’ve got one supersized bucket list adventure. The 2013 Dancing With the Stars: At Sea theme cruises culminated earlier this year on the January Champions cruise. That cruise brought together the passenger-winners from each of HAL’s 15 cruise ships to compete for the legendary mirror ball trophy. The highlight? Watching celebrity judges Hough, Johnson, MacManus, Slater, “DWTS” dancing pro Sharna Burgess, dancer and choreographer Jaymz Tuaileva and Nieuw Amsterdam’s cruise director, Eric Dowis, critique the competitors during several elimination performances. The stars’ interactions and Dowis’ dry, mostly off-topic observations brought down the house. The fun continues through 2014, with “Dancing with the Stars: At Sea” programming on every sailing throughout the year. Once again, the program will culminate with a Champions cruise guest dance-off competition, this year set for the Dec. 6 Caribbean sailing aboard the ms Westerdam. Additionally, there are six theme cruises this year featuring “Dancing with the Stars” events, including dance lessons, a chance to meet the stars, ask questions and take photos, and a killer production number starring the celebrities and dance pros. Scheduled to appear on all 2014 theme cruises are dancers Johnson and MacManus and celebrities Bryan and Kressley. The schedule: June 14 and June 21, seven-day Alaska roundtrip from Vancouver aboard ms Zuiderdam; July 26 and Aug. 2, seven-day Alaska roundtrip from Seattle aboard ms Westerdam; and Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, seven-day eastern Caribbean roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
aboard ms Westerdam. Other DWTS dance pros and celebs will be added to the lineup as they are confirmed. MORE INFO: Holland America Cruises, www.HollandAmerica.com. ADVENTURE GUIDE TO DON’T-MISS MOMENTS W Lounging in a super squishy chaise in a wooden, sherbet-colored cabana at Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private Caribbean island, and enjoying a misting fan, a fridge stocked with cold drinks and an afternoon snack of tortilla chips, veggies, fresh fruit and assorted dips. Oh, and sipping refreshingly delicious margaritas from the pirate-ship bar mere steps away. W Bumping into the “DWTS” celebs while ordering a latte at Explorations Cafe, lounging in the Silk Den, sipping a cordial in the Piano Bar and working out on the elliptical machine in the fitness center. The beauty of the HAL “DWTS” theme cruises is the accessibility of the stars. You can pass the time of day with them, swap gossip, even pose for a quick photo. W Sampling different foods, atmosphere and gastronomical theatricality each evening: spa cuisine at the two-tiered Manhattan Dining Room, Southeast Asian delicacies at Tamarind, Italian share-size dishes at Canaletto, artisanal nibbles at Pinnacle Grill. W Enjoying poolside lounging and ocean views from the comfy confines of your (rented) cabana on Lido deck. It’s stocked with lots of goodies and the wait staff brings champagne in the afternoon. Even better: renting one of the more private and exclusive Cabana Club tented retreats on the 11th deck. It comes with all the amenities, plus snob appeal.
W Being front row center at the “Dancing With the Stars: At Sea” Championship Finale and seeing the first-ever “DWTS” Mirror Ball Trophy at sea awarded. Allyse Ishino, who represented HAL’s ms Westerdam, came from behind and knocked the audience on its collective ear with her impassioned tango, snatching the trophy from Todd Greenquist (ms Amsterdam) and Kristin Capaldo (ms Noordam) with her professional-level dancing and showmanship. ADVENTURE GEAR TO TAKE ALONG On a HAL “Dancing With the Stars: At Sea” cruise, you need shoes. Lots and lots of shoes, for dinner and dancing, clubbing and calisthenics, shore touring and shopping. Biaggi makes a bag sized perfectly to hold a half dozen pairs of shoes or more with room left over for cosmetic and 3-1-1 bags: the 5.3-lb. Contempo 18-inch Foldable 2-Wheel Fashion Tote in hardwearing nylon. ($159.99, www.Biaggi.com) Smaller than the average carry-on bag, soft-sided and flexible, this tote will always find a spot to squish into in the increasingly crowded overhead bins. The compact size and light weight make it manageable to heft, even loaded with your shoes. The bag has several organizing pockets, including one on the exterior to tuck your cellphone and boarding passes into. Once aboard your cruise ship, it can be quickly unpacked, collapsed and stowed neatly beneath the bed or in a closet. Utilitarian features aside, this bag, like all Biaggi bags, has a beautiful sheen to it no matter which color you pick (black, brown, purple, aqua) and comes with a storage bag with carry handles, a nice touch. Trims in contrasting colors add a bit of glam and the signature Biaggi padded lining provides extra protection. Wheels are sturdy and cooperative when pulling the tote through the terminal or down a skinny airplane aisle. Author, travel and lifestyle writer, and travel goods expert Kathy Witt feels you should never get to the end of your bucket list; there’s just too much to see and do in the world. She can be reached at KathyWitt24@gmail.com or www.KathyWitt.com. (c) 2014, Kathy Witt. Distributed by MCT Information Services r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
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By Deborah M. Todd
Guarding Personal Memories From Prying Eyes
One year after social media archives site forever.com was launched with plans to corner the long-term digital storage market, a secondary goal of guarding personal memories from prying eyes has taken center stage.
Part digital family album and part time capsule, Forever targets mature audiences seeking to share and maintain family histories. Ancestral photos, marriage licenses and senior graduation pictures can be uploaded to the site and, before the year is out, audio and video streams also will be able to be saved. A one-time $295 fee buys permanent membership, a unique subdomain name, two hours of customer service support via phone and one permanent “social gigabyte,” which holds around 1,000 photos. Customers still holding on to special moments via VHS or even Super 8 film can send them to Forever’s digital team to transfer to a high-definition digital video. The company promises that any media saved on the site is preserved for the member’s entire life and then can be accessed by approved parties for another 100 years. The money is invested in a fund to guarantee the site is maintained. Forever has made security a top priority by backing up all data three times in several locations around the world and by using bank-level encryption for transmissions. The cloud-based social sharing site founded last December by Meakem Becker Venture Capital co-founder Glen Meakem has already reached financial and statistical milestones hard to come by for breakout companies. Six months after its May 2012 founding, the company closed a $9 million round of Series A financing funded at least partially through Meakem Becker. One month later, it opened for business in a gleaming downtown Pittsburgh office space on the 20th floor of One PPG Place.
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In December 2013, after a successful August launch and November consumer campaign netted more than 1,000 paid members, Forever closed a Series B funding round worth $8.6 million. Meakem declined to say how much of each round was funded by Meakem Becker. Meakem acknowledged his venture capitalist background and entrepreneurial experience have given him a leg up on the average startup when it comes to fundraising. After an extensive career with companies such as Kraft-General Foods and General Electric, he founded automated software and services site FreeMarkets Inc. That grew to more than 1,200 employees and nearly $200 million in revenues by 2004, when it was sold to Ariba for approximately $500 million. He believes Forever’s greatest marketplace advantage comes from filling a need in an untapped market. “We offer a more transparent, intimate experience,” he said. “Other social networking sites purposefully make privacy settings ambiguous, you may not even be sure who will see your post until after you hit ‘Send.’ “On Forever, your sharing permissions are always very clear. Every piece of content can be marked private, friends and family, or public.” Noting a class action lawsuit has been filed against Facebook claiming that site scans private messages in order to sell information to advertisers, Meakem said the public is growing tired of the idea that free service equals full access to personal data. He believes Forever is at the forefront of a movement that says true privacy is worth paying for. “Google, Facebook and Flickr aren’t free, they’re data mining you and selling access to you.” (c)2014 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Distributed by MCT Information Services
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MATCH MADE adventures in online dating with Mia Hunter
This month I thought I would do something a little different. So I asked a very eligible, very handsome man who is on Match to tell me his thoughts on the Laws of Attraction for online dating. I’ve written lots about what women are looking for, and what men should and should not do, but it is time to change horses. Here is some sage advice from A Mano. I think his advice is brilliant. Heads up “Ladies… First of all, remember that this is not personal. In spite of what you might think, when you go onto a service like Match, you are dealing not with individuals, per se, but with human nature in the collective sense. In other words, this is marketing and advertising… There are dozens of new postings every day, and thousands in total to choose from. So how do you separate yourself from the others who are vying for the same “Mr Right”? Photos count. If you don’t have any photos, or if your photos are all taken in the bathroom mirror, or reflect poorly on who you are, then the best profile in the world won’t get you what you are looking for. We all look at the photos. If the photos are not appealing, we don’t read the profile – we hit “next” and move on. Profiles are key: Here are my 3 “Be’s”: Be positive; Be consistent; Be authentic. Be positive: We tend to telegraph to others how we feel about ourselves or what has happened to us by how we describe who we are looking for. So, if you “just want a guy who will be nice to me (for a change)”, or “If you’re a liar or a cheat, don’t bother”, or even, “if there any nice guys left out there”, it’s a bit
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of a red flag. It says “I’ve just had a bad experience – so watch out”. Why would a guy respond to that? If your purpose is to vent – go for it. But if your purpose is to find someone, then don’t hold us accountable in your profile for the sins of your previous relationships. We weren’t even there, and it is certainly isn’t a way to get new guys interested. Be consistent: Make sure there are no glaring inconsistencies in your photos or your profile. If you suggest that you love being around people, then don’t show 25 pictures of just you in different outfits. Take pictures in settings that you enjoy – tell a story about yourself through your pictures, and then back that up in your profile. Like being positive, being consistent is a filter – it doesn’t get us to press the “email her now” button, but it does keep us on your page…
Be authentic: OK, now you’re in the selling mode. This is what gets your “Mr Right” to press the “email her now” button. So, who are you? What are a couple of things that you really like to do that set you apart? Men are looking for authenticity, just like you are. So if you love to get dirty and build things – say that. You cook a mean casserole from a recipe handed down from your great grandmother? You’re really into photography – say it. You went to the Arctic Circle and lived in the wild for 2 weeks? Say it. Tell a story. And if you don’t have anything to tell? Then get out and do something. Make building your profile your focus. What makes you happiest? Make a bucket list and start working your way down. And as you mark things off, add them to your profile. There is nothing sexier than a woman who is unafraid to try something new… Besides, it’s a heck of a lot more fun way to live, irrespective of your profile… So how does this all work out? Well, there is this woman in Montgomery, Alabama who has me writing articles on dating… I don’t know if I am right for her – or vice versa – but I was attracted to her picture (thought she was gorgeous) and extremely attracted to her profile. She is positive, consistent, and clearly authentic. And she told a great story. And so whatever happens, I feel like I am lucky to have met her. And that’s ultimately the way it should be. “ Stay tuned – there will be more to this story! Mia Hunter is a mother, grandmother and equestrienne. Born and raised in the River Region, she stays busy writing, riding her horses and feeding her creativity. She is still looking for Mr. Right. Send all comments to Miahunter5858@gmail.com
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Dreaming of a Second Act? The days when professionals would spend their entire professional lives with a single firm are largely a thing of the past. In fact, many people not only switch companies multiple times before retirement, but some even switch professions before retiring. As exciting as it can be to pursue a new career, men and women over 50 know that such a decision is not without risk. While younger professionals with few obligations can often handle bumps in the road on their way to a second career, older professionals making a similar move often must consider the potential effects such a pursuit might have on their families, finances and futures, including their retirements. But as difficult as it may seem to pursue a second career after your fiftieth birthday, there are steps men and women over 50 can take when pursuing a new career to ensure their second act is as successful as the first. * Decide what you want, and not just what you want to do. The desire to pursue a second career no doubt stems from more than just dissatisfaction with a current profession. Many people switch jobs or even careers because they find their current careers too demanding, leaving little time for family or hobbies that have nothing to do with work. If what you really want is more time at home or more time to pursue a particular hobby, then keep this in mind when looking for a second career, and make sure that career won’t demand too much of your time. For example, if your goal in finding a new career is to get more work-life balance, then starting your own business, which can require long hours at the outset and even after the business has established itself, might not be for you. But if what you want is a more challenging career and to be your own boss, then you will likely find the cost of achieving that goal, even if that cost is more demands on your time, is worth it.
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* Assess your skillset. Professionals over 50 have lots to offer, but it’s still important for such men and women to make an honest assessment of their skillset and find a career in which those skills are transferable. Some men and women might want to pursue a second career that will make little to no use of their skillset, and that’s perfectly alright. But extra schooling might be necessary in such situations, and going back to school oftentimes requires a considerable commitment of both time and money. For those who simply want to put their existing skills to use in a different field or environment, assess those skills and look for lines of work in which they figure to be especially valuable. If there are any particular aspects of your current job that you want to avoid in the future, consider that when assessing your skills and choosing a second career. Even if they don’t know it, established professionals over 50 have many transferable skills, and such skills can be aconsiderable asset when pursuing a second career, especially when those skills have been assessed and can be applied to a new profession. * Make a trial run. Nowhere does it say that professionals can’t take a trial run at a second career while still fully engaged in their first career. In fact, testing the waters before you jump in is a good way to gauge your interest in a potential second career and how well your skillset applies to that field. A trial run, which can be conducted by volunteering with a nonprofit organization or through a part-time job or simply offering your services to a company free of charge in exchange for a chance to learn how the business operates, can shed light on the inner workings of a particular industry, showing you how things work behind the curtain. Testing the waters may reaffirm your belief that a certain line of work is for you, or it might send you back to the drawing board. Either way, it’s valuable experience that may reassure you that
whatever decision you ultimately make is the right one. * Don’t go it alone. Switching careers after 50 carries some risk, but it’s certainly a risk that many before you have been willing to take. If you know any people, be it a friend, family member or former or even current colleague, who has reinvented themselves professionally, then speak with these people and ask for any advice they might have. If you know you want out of your current career but aren’t quite sure of what you want to do next, those who have faced a similar fork in the road may be able to help you narrow down your options. The notion of changing careers is exciting, and you can expect your personal and professional confidantes to share your excitement and be willing to help you in any way they can. Making a career change after 50 can be a risky yet ultimately rewarding move, especially for those men and women who take a thoughtful approach to finding their second careers. LP143967 CAPTION: Many men and women over 50 have turned their personal passions into successful second careers.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Balancing work and family life is a major challenge for many professionals. Many established professionals find it stressful to juggle the demands of successful careers with the obligations they have to their families, and regaining that balance once it has been lost only adds to that stress. Part of the difficulty of balancing work and family life is that the challenge is ongoing. The threat of losing your worklife balance is never too far away, but there are steps men and women can take to regain that balance once it’s been lost. * Start documenting your activities. No one operates at 100 percent efficiency all the time, but balancing obligations at work with those at home is especially difficult when time is routinely lost to trivial matters or tasks at work that can be delegated to others. These timeconsuming tasks have a tendency to add up, but professionals rarely take note of the smaller tasks or distractions that cost them time. Start documenting your activities on a daily basis, jotting down how each hour of your day is spent, both at home and at work. Do this for several weeks, after which time a pattern will likely develop, and you can see where you are wasting time and where you are being most efficient with your time. When you sit down to examine your notes, look for ways to free up time
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Balancing work and family life
without sacrificing the quality of your work or the quality of time you spend with your family. Don’t be afraid to make changes. * Don’t go it alone. Teamwork is important at home and around the office and can help overburdened professionals regain their work-life balance. If you tend to go it alone in the office, reach out to your colleagues more often, seeking their help on projects and offering your help in return. This can drastically cut back on the hours you spend in the office, giving you more quality time at home. But you also can work with your family to free up more time. Assign tasks around the house so you aren’t doing chores during the time you do have at home. Split cooking duties with your spouse or even the kids if they’re old enough and delegate other household tasks as well. Such tasks can be tackled while you’re at work so the family can spend more time together each night and on weekends. * Stop emulating Atlas. In Greek mythology, Atlas was condemned to standing at the edge of the Earth and holding the weight of Uranus on his shoulders. Many professionals can no doubt empathize with Atlas, even if taking such weight on their shoulders
was self-inflicted. Regaining work-life balance may require taking some of that weight off of your shoulders by learning to respectfully decline extra projects around the office or in your personal life. You can still pitch in on special projects at work without spearheading them, much like you can still spend time with your kids at the ballpark even if you aren’t their coach. Cutting back on your obligations is a great way to reduce stress and free up time to focus on the things that mean the most to you. * Think outside the box. If you have examined your daily activities and commitments but can’t seem to find any ways to regain your work-life balance, start looking for unique ways to make the time you spend at work and the time you spend at home more proportionate. Consider telecommuting one or two days per week to free up time to spend with your family. If moving is an option, consider moving closer to your office so you aren’t spending so much time commuting to and from work each day. Even if you have seemingly exhausted all options, chances are strong there is a solution to help you regain your worklife balance. But sometimes that balance requires a little creativity and some giveand-take with both your employer and your family.
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Fe at u re d A r t i st s T h i s M o nth, Anne Hugghins and John Mazaheri Journey of Two Artists
On March 13th from 5:30 to 7:30pm, Gallery One Fine Art will host a dramatic exhibition of works by member artists Anne Hugghins and John Mazaheri
I feel very fortunate to have teachers who have encouraged me and shared their knowledge. Some of these artists are Guido Frick, a German artist and student of the late Russian master, Sergei Bongart, Ted Goerschner, Kevin MacPherson, Charles Sovek, Ann Templeton, Camille Przewodek and Barbara Flowers. Many of the art lessons were during my travels to France, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Italy and New Zealand. My favorite is the Tuscan and Italian Lakes region. There is
abstraction, but sometimes my work does not seem truly abstract, probably because the inspiration comes from nature. My subjects are the sky, the horizon, the ocean, deserts and mountains; my intention is not to represent them in a conscious way, I just want to express my feelings and sensations through form and color.”
A true intellectual with an Anne unquenchable desire for knowledge Grantham he studied art at Ecole des BeauxHugghins Arts in Paris, France, graduated with joined our a degree in printmaking (equivalent group in MFA), earned a Master’s degree in February French Literature from University of 2010. Provence, France and earned his PHD Anne’s Artist in French from Brown University in Statement: Providence, Rhode Island . In 1989, “My first he (and his family) moved to Auburn, experience Alabama to teach French at Auburn in painting University. was about twenty-five years ago. I Symphony in Blue 20x16 oil on linen painted in nothing like the light acrylics for a long time and then in in the Umbrian/Tuscan watercolors for a few years. Finally, I area. It seems to have a discovered how much I loved painting glow that I haven’t seen in oil.” in any other place. I start each day standing at my Anne’s paintings include a wide easel with brush in hand, range of subject matter, figurative, ready to greet the day. I landscape, floral/still life and am so blessed to have my seascape. Light and shadows are her love of painting. It has main focus when painting and in her shown me the beauty of opinion, without these two elements, nature in a way I never there is no painting. She looks for the Abstract Landscape 24x36 acrylic on canvas thought possible. Every play of sunlight on objects and the day is a precious gift.” way the light bounces off the subject Visit Gallery One Fine Art which casts shadows and reflections. 423 Cloverdale Road, Montgomery, AL Gallery Director Sandi Aplin John Mazaheri also joined Gallery One She uses both brush and palette knife sandiaplin@aol.com in May of 2010. He is a very prolific in her paintings. Anne says, “ I like 334.269.1114 painter and has a wonderful grasp the texture achieved with the palette www.galleryonefineart.com of composition and scale. He says, knife and the variation of textures “I have always loved and practiced when using both brush and knife.
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Art & Soul
By Sandi Aplin
WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY BOARD 2014 WINTER WORKSHOP, EXPO AND LUNCHEON
The Women’s Philanthropy Board (WPB), the flagship division of Auburn University’s Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, was established in 2002 with the mission of inspiring, educating and enabling individuals to develop their full leadership potential, achieve independence as financial donors and decision makers, serve as mentors for future generations of philanthropists and broaden the base of financial support to the College of Human Sciences. To achieve its mission, WPB host three large scale educational programs each year: a Fall Colloquium and Luncheon, a Winter Workshop and Luncheon and a Spring Symposium and Luncheon. WPB also supports student mentoring initiatives and has provided almost $450,000 in scholarships, faculty awards and programmatic grants to the College during its 12 years in existence. WPB held is 2014 Winter Workshop and Luncheon on February 4th and featured keynote speaker, Echo Garrett, a 1982 Auburn University alumna, award-winning author and co-founder of the Orange Duffel Bag Initiative. Garrett’s presentation, “Why It’s Not Too Late for Our Nation’s Most Vulnerable Teens,” capped off the day’s events which included a morning leadership, mentoring and career panel session with three fellow Auburn alumni: Beverly Farrington, ’77, founder and principal designer, Accents of the South, Inc.; Vickie Orr Wiley, ’93, Auburn basketball legend, Olympian, and current administrator at the Harris Early Learning Center in Birmingham; and Retired Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess, ’74, Auburn’s senior counsel for national security programs, cyber programs and military affairs. Each panelist provided insight into their occupations and organizations and serve as mentors for students and other attendees.
Drummond Thorne Stukes Executive Director for the Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies and Women’s Philanthropy Board. “She is the perfect example of an individual who saw a societal need and set out to make a difference through a nonprofit leadership role.” The 12th Annual WPB Spring Symposium is scheduled for Monday, April 7, 2014 and will feature luncheon keynote speaker Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose. org. Symposium topics and speakers include: “2014 Economic Outlook & Overview of the Federal Reserve Bank,” presented by Lesley McClure, regional executive and vice president of the Birmingham Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, “The Future of Healthcare: The Impact of Obamacare,” presented by Tanshia Carino, Ph.D., executive vice president and John Linnehan, manager, Avalere Health, and “Sustaining Legacies: Gender, Wealth and Giving,” presented by Janet Bodnar, author and editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. For more information please call (334) 844-9156 or to purchase tickets visit www.humsci. auburn.edu/wpb. In addition to its educational, mentoring and scholarship programs, the organization has been the inspiration for the development
of a minor in philanthropy and nonprofit studies in the College of Human Sciences, Camp iCare® (a summer camp for kids ages 6-12) and REAL Cents REAL Change® (a learning series and summer residential camp for teens ages 13-18). Women’s Philanthropy Board Corporate partners provide funds to assist in underwriting WPB’s educational events. These partners include Alabama Power, Auburn University Outreach, BB&T, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Charlotte Gaston Interiors, Dubberly, Dean & Associates – UBS, The Flower Store, The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, Kiplinger, Mary Wynne Estes – Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Verizon and Warren Averett Wilson Price LLC. There are 150 individual member donors throughout the country that provide financial support to WPB. If you are interested in learning more about supporting WPB, please call Kim Walker, WPB (334) 8449156 or (kde0004@auburn.edu). Sandi Aplin, Director of Gallery One Fine Art A free lance writer living in Montgomery, Alabama www.galleryonefineart.com
“Echo Garrett, through her work with the Orange Duffel Bag Initiative, is providing hope to youth at a time in their lives when many feel hopeless,” said Sidney James Nahkjavan, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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March 2014
{12 Things} for active boomers and beyond
SELMA, ALABAMA
Bridge Crossing Jubilee Thursday through Sunday, March 6-10 The weekend is a commemoration of the anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” and the Selma to Montgomery March. Activities include a pageant, a dance, women and youth conferences, a parade, festival, interfaith service and National Voting Rights Hall of Fame induction. Please visit. www. bcjubilee.org. or call 334.526.2626 for a schedule of events.
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA Veg Out!!! Hampstead Farm Tuesday, March 11th, 7-9pm
Join EAT South for their monthly plant-based diet pot luck dinners on the second Tuesday of the month. March - September at 7pm and October - February 6pm. Located at the EAT South Farm at Hampstead community. Look for a big red barn! For more information, call 334.422.9331 or email info@eatsouth.org. Visit us on Facebook - :www. facebook.com/VegOutMontgomery
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
Southeastern Livestock Exposition and Rodeo Garrett Coliseum Thurs-Sat., March 13-15 Round up your little cowboys and cowgirls for an action packed afternoon or night at the Rodeo! Professional bull riders, steer wrestlers, barrel racers and calf ropers from all over the country will be competing for points at this year’s Rodeo! There will be plenty of entertainment from the clowns as well, and the Grand Entry is always Grand. For ticket info and event times, visit slerodeo.com.
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MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
“Sweet Charity” Davis Theater, Downtown Montgomery Thursday, March 13th, 7-9pm This classic Broadway musical premiered in 1966 and won five Tony Awards. It also ran in the West End as well as having revivals and international productions. “Sweet Charity” is a tender, poignant and consistently funny look at the adventures, or rather misadventures, in the ways of love encountered by the gullible and guileless Charity Valentine - an unlucky soul who always gives her heart and her earnings to the wrong man. The tuneful score by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields includes hits such as “Hey, Big Spender,” “Rhythm of Life,” “I’m A Brass Band” and “If My Friends Could See Me Now.” For more information visit, troy.edu/davistheatre
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
The Taming of the Shrew Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 1 Festival Drive March 14-30, 7:30pm & 2pm Loose objects and sparks fly in what may be the most hilarious battle of the sexes ever written. No man is a match for the wild-tempered and seemingly unmarriable Kate. That’s a problem because until Kate is married, her father won’t let beautiful and desirable younger sister Bianca tie the knot with one of her hot to trot beaus. But things change when Petruchio swaggers into town and turns his eye toward Kate—with explosive results. Tickets may be obtained on line at asf.net, by phone at 800.841.4273 or by visiting the ASF box office at 1 Festival Drive in the heart of Montgomery’s beautiful Blount Cultural Park.
FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA
Fairhope Arts Festival Downtown Fairhope along the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay Friday-Sunday, March 14-16 Over 230 exhibitors from throughout the nation will bring The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
their best works to show and sell at this prestigious juried show. Live entertainment will be going on throughout the three-day event and unique cuisine will be served up in the food court. It all takes place on the streets of beautiful downtown Fairhope, Alabama. For more info visit fairhopealabama.net or call 251.928.6387
ELBERTA, ALABAMA
Elberta German Sausage Festival Downtown Elberta Saturday, March 27th, 8am-5pm Come to the German Sausage Festival for Elberta’s famous German sausage & sauerkraut, plus continuous entertainment for adults and children, and 250 arts & crafts booths. Other scrumptious foods will include German style filled cabbage, potato salad, goulash, red beans & rice, hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, ice cream, popcorn and peanuts. The Bellview Stumpfiddle Band will perform with the North End Stompers, and cloggers, carnival rides and polka, country and German music will also be provided for entertainment. There will be about 7,000 pounds of German Sausage sold and an estimated 30,000 visitors! For more information visit elbertafire.com.
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
“Nebraska” Capri Theater, Old Cloverdale March 20th through 26th, various times After receiving a sweepstakes letter in the mail, a cantankerous father thinks he’s struck it rich, and wrangles his son into taking a road trip to claim the fortune. Shot in black and white across four states, Nebraska tells the stories of family life in the heartland of America. Nominated for six Oscars, Winner of Best Actor for Bruce Dern. For more information call the box office at 334.262.4858 or visit capritheatre.org
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
Ron White in Concert MPAC-Montgomery Performing Arts Center Saturday, March 22, 8pm Comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White is best known as the cigar smoking, scotch drinking funnyman from the “Blue Collar Comedy” phenomenon. He has two Grammy nominations, a Gold Record, three of the top rated one-hour TV specials in Comedy Central history, a book that appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List, CD and DVD sales of over 10 Million units. For more information visit mpaconline.org/events The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA
RIVERBLAST!: Port Columbus Civil War Naval Museum Columbus, Georgia. Saturday, March 22, 10-4pm (EDT) Outdoor program includes drills, encampment, cannon firings, and shipboard programming by living history interpreters. Indoor program, 1-4 pm (EDT), Rivers to the Past, presents the seldom told personal stories of the sailors, solders, and civilians, both free and enslaved, who lived, worked, and served along the banks of the Chattahoochee River during the American Civil War. Admission charged. For more information, call 706.327.9798. Website: portcolumbus.org
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
Disney Junior “Pirate and Princess Adventure” MPAC-Montgomery Performing Arts Center Thursday, March 27th, 6pm Grab the grandkids, your tiaras and doubloons and take in the Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure. Mickey and Minnie are taking their seats too at this never-before-seen live show featuring your favorite characters from Disney Junior’s hit series, Sofia the First and Jake and the Never Land Pirates. Filled with new music, amazing effects, thrilling action and endless surprises. Special bonus, starting ten minutes before every performance join loveable Doc McStuffins for a special pre-show! Free to all ticket holders. For ticket sales and more info visit mpaconline.org/events
ENTERPRISE, ALABAMA
40th Annual Piney Woods Arts Festival Enterprise State Community College Saturday, April 5, 9 am - 5 pm; Sunday, April 6, 12 - 4 pm One of the oldest juried arts and crafts shows in the area, the festival features original art and crafts by approximately 100 artists, a children’s fun center, food and entertainment. Special events include a Civil War Living Display and the Weevil City Cruisers Car & Truck Show (Saturday only). Free admission. For information, call 334.406.2787 or visit CoffeeCountyArtsAlliance.com. It ’s a Great Time to Be Booming! Please submit any events/pictures to jim@riverregionboom.com
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By Greg Budell
The Mayor of BOOMTOWN
SIX FLAGS OVER COSTCO By the time you read this…I’ll be married.
In the movies that line always ends “I’ll be dead”. Quite to the contrary. Very alive. Very sane (mostly). Before you can say “won’t this be #4?” my reply will be “but I haven’t done it in 25 years”.
This is happening because one morning on Q 96.1 FM, I mindlessly muttered something about looking into a Costco membership. Listening that morning? A local Costco marketing maven named Rosalind who offered to come to the radio station and sign me up. I took her up on the offer. She was very sweet, and very passionate about Costco. She did such a great job selling the merits of membership that I had no choice. Had I refused, I’d have been questioning my own intelligence. I signed up, escorted her to the radio station exit and watched her walk to her car. She looked as hot walking away as she did walking in, one of those “do you serve fries with that shake?” moments. Something had to be done!
That was October 13, 2009. I know because her “thank you” note is still archived on Facebook. I must have said something on the air because she sent a note the next day thanking me for calling her a “hottie”, adding “you are quite yummy yourself”. Well duh! I think she liked me! You can figure out the rest without any help from me.
Soon, I was learning the Art of Shopping at Costco. Their shopping carts make you feel like a kid again because they’re huge. The first time I used one I wanted to climb in and have Mom push me around the store. A standard grocery buggy comes up to my
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waist. Costco carts tuck in…under the average person’s chin.
Everything at Costco is super sized. On my first visit I swear I was standing face to face with a 6 foot tall box of Honey Nut Cheerios. Need toilet paper? Pick up the convenient 72 roll package! You won’t need to buy it for another year! But finding places to store all those rolls is a challenge. I think I still have a few in my attic from 2009. Clothing is not on shelves at Costco. It is laid out in fields.
“Grazing” is fun at Costco. One tour through the store will provide you with samples from every food group including the naughty ones.
Feeling run down? By yourself a barrel of vitamins! Cover your next 2 Thanksgivings with one pumpkin pie. Batteries are available by the suitcase so you can change out your remote at the slightest hint it is running low. It’s not all fun and games at The Big Store. The most gut wrenching sight is the Cigarette Prison. I soon was on a first name basis with the Cigarette Warden, who ventures into the stacks of Marlboro boxes resting behind an 80 foot chain link fence.
The best lunch deal in town? A Costco dog and soda at the snack bar. $1.59 and you’re stuffed and refreshed after walking through the canyons of merchandise. You can even buy a new car at Costco, though I’m not sure how they scan it at the checkout line.
The Rosalind Package I found at Costco comes complete with 2 sons- Patrick, a gifted actor-funnyman now in his mid 20s, and Shandor (“Sho”) Tex- who at 13 is already smarter than I will ever be. They are both handsome, polite young gentlemen.
I am bringing one Princess (my daughter Janelle) and 2 screwy dogs into the marriage. It should be fun!
I am ready. This may be marriage number 4 but I don’t see the first attempts as marriage failures. I failed the marriages. I know why I failed and have worked on those personal shortcomings.
This will be my first marriage as a grown up, if that helps.
My parents and most of those from the Greatest Generation taught us an important lesson. Life happens. Hang in there. Divorce has become too acceptable, so that rather than see it as an option of last resort, it has become an easy out with no social stigma.
“She constantly complains about whiskers in the sink!” “He leaves his socks on the floor and the toilet seat up!” Years ago, those situations went with the turf. Now they are grounds for divorce. I love it when a listener calls my show to do a shout out for their spouse of 20, 30 or 40+ years. I’d love to see society trend back in that direction.
So, after 4 years with my Costco Cutie I’m as ready as I will ever be. We have met and passed challenges. Costco - where membership has privileges (and a few benefits I never dreamed of!).
Greg Budell lives in Montgomery with his dog Hershey. He’s a 25 year veteran of radio who hosts the Greg & Susan morning show 6-9 am and Happy Hour 3-6 pm on NEWSTALK 93.1, Greg can be reached at gregbudell@aol.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
March 2014
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine