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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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January 2024
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
BOOM!, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Contents January 2024
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Volume 14 Issue 6
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis
Thought Relationships Taste Inspiration
Humor Advice Health Community
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
Carl Bard
6 Mercy Fundraiser Gala 12 Publisher's Letter 15 The Anatomy of Facial Aging -Dr. Raggio 17 Your Fourth Quarter 18 Jest a Moment: Take a Hike in the New Year, but Beware
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20 BOOM! Covers 2023
Features 36 100-Year-Old 32 My Husband's End-of-Life Companion: Influencer Shares Her Secrets A Cat Named Maggie
38 Launching a New Business? Invest in Yourself
44 Jeff Barganier: Cave Spring, Georgia
Happy New Year!
Departments 46 This and That A variety of TIDBITS
40 The Lost Art of Flirtation
58 Greg Budell TALES FROM THE BOOMER BOUDOIR
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22 SWEDISH MEATBALLS 26 How to Write Your Own Obituary 34 Resolve to Thrive in 2024 42 Potatoes & Pups -Ruth Padgett 43 AUM OLLI Begins the 2024 Winter Term 46 Golden GirlsThe laughs Continue 49 Humor 50 Is Living to 100 All It's Cracked Up to Be?
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52 BOOM! Cover Profile Erlene Taylor 60 If Something Happened to You, Are Your Records Organized-Susan Moore
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62 Respiratory Aid by Tracy Bhalla 63 Word Search Contest
BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine is published monthly by River Region Publications, P.O. Box 6203, Montgomery, AL 36106. The phone number is 334.324.3472. Copyright 2024 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
What's Your Word in 2024? In preparing for the new year, I have been focusing on a simple way to understand myself, my values, hopes, and dreams. One word. That’s right, instead of setting a specific goal, choose a word that captures the mindset you want to adopt in 2024—a word that will nudge you toward positive change whenever you think of it.
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.
Publisher/Editor Jim Watson 334.324.3472 cell/text jim@riverregionboom.com
Contributing Writers Jeff Barganier Tracy Bhalla Kimberly Blaker Greg Budell
Chris Farrell Catherine Hiller Randi Mazzella Kerri Miller Susan Moore Ruth Padgett Dr. Blake Raggio Susan Stasiak Erlene Taylor Nick Thomas
Cover Photography Photography by DiAnna Paulk photographybydiannapaulk.com
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Jim Watson, 334.324.3472 jim@riverregionboom.com
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This annual word-of-the-year exercise can help you reflect on your values, intentions, and hopes for the new year. Here are a few tips on how to get started. Write down things that made you happy. What felt good? What do you get Jim Watson, Publisher jim@riverregionboom.com excited about? What would it take to feel this way all the time? Now, think about what parts of your life could be better. What causes stress? How does your work look to you? Do you get excited about your day? How are your relationships? How’s your physical health? How’s your mental well-being? How do you feel when you look in the mirror? As you reflect on these questions words will come to mind that define how you want to manage your life. For example, you may desire a new focus on diet and exercise. Instead of starting a new diet plan or exercising 30 minutes every day, you may choose Healthy as your word of the year. The word Healthy will nudge you to better choices in your diet and exercise, and over the course of the year, your better choices will show up in a better you. The real benefit is thinking about a word that can guide you, providing more focus on the things that matter most to you in the year ahead. What’s your one word? This month’s cover profile is Erlene Taylor, a massage therapist with more than 22 years experience. She understands the value of her work because so many of her clients have shared the positive results of her therapy. In a world where stress lives around every corner, a quality massage can be the answer when it comes to destressing, and Erlene is one of the best in the River Region. Another interesting aspect is that Erlene found love a couple of years ago and is now married to Barry Purdie. And when love comes a knocking at our age, it is a welcome blessing because I think we are made to be with someone. Finally, Erlene embraces aging well, by sharing her skills and helping others destress, planning new travel experiences, loving the grandbabies...and enjoying time spent with Barry. We recently spent some time with Erlene and it was time well spent. We hope you enjoy the reading experience, and if you’re inclined, schedule a massage session with Erlene at www.peacefulkneads.com. Please share with friends. We have plenty more good reads to stimulate your thinking in some way. Our friend Greg Budell shares his experiences in the Boomer Boudoir, and I think many of you will have similar experiences; I know I did! Jeff Barganier went off to Georgia and discovered a quaint little town with a cave spring running right through it, so they named the town after it. It's worth a read, too. As we age, we find ourselves in the 4th quarter of life, and that’s when we feel called to give back, to use the skills we’ve developed over the years, or maybe we want to serve others who are in need. This month, we asked Robyn Blessing with Life on Wheels to share her thoughts on how you can help her mission to serve women who are pregnant and seeking support and understanding. Robyn and her team are a tremendous blessing for these women and their families. Please read her article and see if you can share your skills in helping them serve these women looking for some answers. They would welcome your support. Thanks for taking a few moments of your valuable time to read the January issue and maybe share it with friends and family; I appreciate each of you. Happy New Year and Much Success! Age well, my friends.
RECYCLE Share with a Friend!
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Dr. Blake Raggio, Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
The Anatomy of Facial Aging – What’s Happening to My Face?
Recently we discussed why more and more Baby Boomers are undergoing cosmetic procedures to reverse the signs of aging. This month, we’ll discuss the “Anatomy of Facial Aging” to better elucidate the causes of those bothersome changes one may experience as you age.
The Certainties of Aging The aging process involves the complex interplay of several key elements including diet, exercise, sleep, genetics, environmental factors (sun exposure, wind damage), and tobacco use, to name a few. Despite our best attempts to alter these variables, the certainty remains—aging will inevitably occur. When it comes to facial aging, there exists several predictable transformations to the tissues of the face, which include the skin, muscle, fat, bone, and retaining ligaments. Skin Aging skin loses key structural components which contribute to its strength (collagen), elasticity (elastin), and hydration (hyaluronic acid). Aged skin thus becomes dryer, thinner, less elastic, less voluminous, and more likely to wrinkle or sag, such as occurs with excess skin of the upper eyelids or the neck. Muscle The muscles around the face and eyes may become more hyperactive and contribute to excess wrinkles or puffiness. Alternatively, the muscles of the face may weaken and atrophy, which contributes to a deflated look and decreases support for the rest of the facial soft tissues.
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Retaining Ligaments Facial ligaments provide structural support for the superficial soft tissues of the face. These ligaments, which originate from the bone and attach to the skin and overlying fat pads, weaken over time, and thus contribute (with the help of gravity) to the sagging skin and fat we see with aging.
Fat The most recent and relevant research regarding the anatomy of facial aging pertains to the understanding of facial fat pads. In short, the facial fat pads are partitioned into separate compartments and exist in two distinct layers (superficial and deep), both of which contribute to the overall balance of the face. In short, some areas lose fat, such as the cheeks and the temples, which creates a hollow and deflated look. On the other hand, some areas gain fat, such as around the mouth and the jaw, which contribute to the so-called “nasolabial folds” and “jowls”. Lastly, some fat pads become more visible as they protrude from their intended position due to adjacent structural defects, such as occurs with herniated orbital fat creating lower eyelid bags. Overall, this errant redistribution of the facial fat pads leads to the creation or worsening of folds, shadows, and other contour irregularities that embody the telltale signs of aging. Bone We experience a significant loss of facial bone with aging. Without the structural support of the bone, the overlying soft tissues (skin, muscle, fat) also display noticeable changes such as hollowing of the eyes, temporal wasting, cheek deflation, and poor jawline definition. In short, the progressive loss of fat and
bone represents a key contributor to the facial aging process. Therefore, I often recommend re-volumizing the face with either dermal fillers or facial fat grafting to anybody contemplating a facelift or other facial rejuvenation procedure. I can’t say it enough, but volume replacement is key! What can I do to combat the facial aging process? First, relax. Aging is normal and beautiful, so embrace it for everything it means to you. Second, one must recognize that the changes in balance, proportion, and symmetry associated with the aging face are unique to each patient, and thus a customized treatment plan remains paramount to achieve optimal results. Next, you should consult with a physician who has specialty training in the area you are looking to improve, and who may recommend treatments ranging from noninvasive modalities (e.g., botulinum toxin, fillers, lasers, chemical peels) to more
Facelift/Necklift by Dr. Raggio
advanced surgical options (e.g., facelift, brow lift, fat grafting, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty). Lastly, choose a surgeon whom you trust. There are few things more important than your relationship with your doctor. In Good Health,
Blake Raggio, M.D. Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon www.raggiomd.com doctor@raggiomd.com
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Learn to create with water-soluble oil paint, a high-quality alternative paint that allows artists to work without the harsh solvents used with traditional oil paints, with Craig Reynolds at our WaterSoluble Oil Painting Workshop on Jan. 18 & 19, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily at the Pike Road Arts Center (944 Wallahatchie Rd)! Many artists enjoy the speed that comes from working with water-soluble oil paints. These paints dry considerably faster than traditional oils, though not as fast as acrylics. Artist Craig Reynolds, who started using water-soluble oil paints when he realized he had an allergic reaction to the solvents used in painting with traditional oils, finds that using water-soluble oils en plein air painting allows him to quickly develop finished pieces, which is a plus when "chasing the shadows!” This two-day workshop is $225 per person, and lunch will be $5 for those who do not bring their own. Learn more or register today: email Arts Council Coordinator Patty Payne at patty@ pikeroad.us! A full supply list will be provided upon inquiry.
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Serve On Mission in
Your Fourth Quarter Serve in the River Region Mission field! The talents you have, the skills you have mastered and the wisdom you have gained can be invaluable to your community in your “fourth quarter” of life. Local Mission’s Team Life On Wheels offers free pregnancy testing, limited obstetric ultrasounds, and community service referrals to women who have not yet seen a physician for their current pregnancy nor had any prenatal care. Our Mission States: We use the power of ultrasound to serve women, save babies, and share Jesus. We operate out of a Class A Newmar RV that is specially designed for ultrasounds and we take the “mobile unit” to different locations in the River Region Monday -Friday (College Campuses, Eastbrook, South Perry Street, Carmichael Ave, Atlanta Highway, Madison Avenue, Wetumpka, Prattville); anywhere we think we will meet women needing our services. We only see women who are not under the care of a physician, so we see many underserved women who need help! We bring services to women in their own communities. No appointment is needed, professional services are available at no cost to them, and most of all, we provide compassionate, non-judgmental support and a sympathetic listening ear. There are so many women in our community who could benefit from local services if they knew they existed! Low birth weight babies are the third largest health problem in Alabama, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. Little or no prenatal care certainly contributes to this, and we are able to offer our clients access to prenatal care and much more! Because we connect with our clients, they are often open to hearing the Gospel. Over 300 clients and their family members have decided to trust Jesus Christ – over 70 in 2023! Thirtyone local churches of different denominations partner with us to connect and disciple women who have made a Christ decision and are looking to join a local church. What a blessing to work together to further the work of the Kingdom! Volunteers with Life On Wheels are trained as: Client Advocates: women trained to work with clients on the mobile unit Data Entry: women trained to enter medical information for clients on the mobile unit Drivers: Men who take the mobile unit to our locations and then return in a staff car to the garage (training is provided and no CDL is needed) Part-Time Staff Positions available: Licensed Ultrasound Techs (RDMS or comparable) Licensed RN or LPN trained in OB Scanning For more info check out our website at www.lifeonwheelsalabama.com or contact Robyn at mom@lifeonwheelsalabama.com or call or text 334-221-8166 Join our Mission Team and use your “fourth quarter” to make an eternal difference!
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Jest a Moment
By Nick Thomas
Take a Hike in the New Year, but Beware
Resolving to hike your way to a healthier new year is a commendable goal. But exercise caution – embarking on 50-mile weekend wilderness walks does require preparation. Here are three tips to consider before woodland wandering.
creative with word games as you plow into the unknown, miles from civilization. On one hike, we crafted a list of alternative old movie titles to remind us what potential misfortunes might lie ahead on a lengthy trail. You’ll get the idea with some examples:
First, choose a suitable trail that matches your fitness level. If the furthest you’ve walked recently is to the The author's cat 'celebrating' Christmas - photo Nick Thomas refrigerator and then required two family members to carry you back to the couch, tackling a Grand Second, be sure to wear good-fitting Canyon descent should not be your footwear. Too tight, and blisters will immediate goal. erupt with volcanic wrath. Too loose, and you may consider stuffing handfuls I did the Canyon, some years ago, and of leafy trail plants into your socks about halfway down remembered that to prevent your feet from rattling in the reverse of the idiomatic phrase, oversized boots. Just make sure none are “what goes up must come down,” poison ivy. can be agonizingly true when hiking. While the winding path to the bottom Should you be afflicted by the irritating is considerably longer than the mile foliage while hiking, you may become vertical drop to the Colorado River, it’s philosophical and wonder what God was not too difficult when aided by a gentle thinking when He created the wicked gravity assist. weed. Was He having a rough day or was He just furious with Adam and Eve? “I’ll But the return journey is a different teach those darn kids to streak through story. Including several lengthy side my garden in their birthday suits and excursions, our hike stretched to over swipe my fruit,” you may postulate 8 hours and almost 20 miles. About God announced way back when, as He halfway into the return, I was being sprinkled on a divine dose of Miraclepassed by women, children, and women Gro. with children in strollers. A feisty grandma with an aluminum walker left Many other potential hazards await me in her dust. Even a team of those the trail trekker including overheating, famous sloth-like Canyon mules with exhaustion, sunburn, profuse sweating, stout tourists perched on their backs body odors, skin abrasions, bugs, wild overtook me. Those rock-hard leather animals, sudden downpours, getting saddles atop the old mules with one lost from your group, and unexpected hoof in the glue factory and tilting temperature changes. So, finally, perilously close to the narrow trail’s consider relaxing impromptu sing-alongs 1,000-foot drop looked remarkably with your companions. Alternatively, be inviting.
“The Green Mile After Mile After Mile….” “No Backcountry for Old Crybabies” “Forrest Grump” “Unhappy Feet” “Dial M for Missing” “3 Men Acting Like Babies” “12 Angry Wasps” “Chances with Wolves” “Bear Spray” “Moby Tick” “Great Balls of Fire Ants!” “The 39 Million Steps” “Das Boot is Too Tight” “Singin’ in the Flash Flood” “Guess Who’s Not Coming Back for Dinner” “A Farewell to Dry Arms” “A Scar is Born” “Hannah and her Blisters” “Ben-Hurts and so Does Everyone Else” “Breathless in Seattle” “Frozen, Too” “Roam Alone” “Fry Noon” “My Fair Lady Should Have Used Sunscreen” “Three Little Words: Carry Me Back” “For a Few More Dollars … We Could Have Hired a Damn Jeep” “Armageddon ….. Outta Here" Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama, and has written features, columns, and interviews for many newspapers and magazines. See www.getnickt.org.
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What is in a Rain Garden? Good question. The Alabama Herb Society, sponsors of the Herb Day Festival in April, is about to find out. A Rain Garden is a wonderful way of diverting polluted and unused water from parking lots, driveways, downspouts, and roofs into the garden, thus keeping the polluted water from making its way into the river system. Wonderful for the environment and free water for your lawn or garden. The existing garden at the Crump Senior Center, 1751 Congressman Dickinson Dr. Montgomery, Alabama, will be our
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test garden. There, we are surrounded by roadways, parking lots, and several businesses. The Herb Society will be using the funds from the annual April Herb Day Festival, along with an amazing grant from the State of Alabama Department of Environmental Management, to build swells, install rain barrels ( we will be having a workshop on water capture soon), construct porous walkways, and a water garden filled with native plants. We would love for you to come to one of our meetings at
6 pm on the 3rd Tuesday of the Month at the Crump Center and find out more about what is in a rain garden. Please check out our Facebook page, Alabama Herb Society, or call Jean Szabo at 334.233.9746.
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SWEDISH MEATBALLS
Warm up your Winter
Nothing beats homemade meatballs smothered in a creamy gravy sauce
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 onion, diced 1 pound ground beef 1 pound ground pork ½ cup Panko* 2 large egg yolks ¼ teaspoon ground allspice ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste FOR THE GRAVY ¼ cup unsalted butter ⅓ cup all-purpose flour 4 cups beef broth ¾ cup sour cream Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Instructions:
1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and cook, stirring frequently, until onions have become translucent, about 2-3 minutes. 2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, Panko, egg yolks, allspice, nutmeg and cooked onion; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Using a wooden spoon or clean hands, stir until well combined. Roll the mixture into 1 1/4-to-1 1/2-inch meatballs, forming about 24 meatballs. 3. Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Add meatballs, in batches, and cook until all sides are browned, about 4-5 minutes. Transfer to a paper towellined plate. 4. To make the gravy, melt butter in the skillet. Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in beef broth and cook, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in sour cream; season with salt and pepper, to taste. 5. Stir in meatballs and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through and thickened, about 8-10 minutes. 6. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired. Source: https://damndelicious.net/2014/02/21/swedish-meatballs/
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Ted the Wine Guy & Company Presents
The Big Wine Bash Friday, February 23, 6-8 pm Archibald Center, Downtown Montgomery The Big Wine Bash. A wonderfully diverse wine tasting, over 100 wines from California, Oregon, Washington, Spain, France, Australia and Italy will be open for tasting. The annual Big Wine Bash tasting includes these wineries, Alexander Valley Vineyards, Vineyard 29, J Vineyards, Orin Swift, Hedges Estate, Hess Estate...and more to come! For info call or drop by Ted the Wine Guy & Company 3062 Zelda Road, Montgomery phone: 334.395.9911. Business Hours Mon, Tue, Thu-Sat: 9 - 6 Wed: 9 to 5:30 Closed Sunday
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How to Write Your Own Obituary When you pass away, who will tell the story of your life? Generally, an obituary is written by someone close to the deceased to share a bit about their life and legacy. But this can be complicated for a grieving person with a short time to put together the details of another's life that they may not know fully or recall during an emotional time. Today, many people are starting to write their own obituaries before their deaths to have a say in how they're remembered. Writing your own obituary allows you to share your perspective on your life, what was important to you, and a final message for loved ones you leave behind. Writing your own obituary can also be a very cathartic and healing process as you review your life path and the journeys that brought you to where you are now. If you're dealing with a terminal illness, worsening memory, or neurological problems, preparing an obituary now can be a positive way to take control of your
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own narrative. This way, you can decide for yourself what your last message to the world will be. Writing down your personal history allows you to share your memories, life, and lessons learned with others rather than leaving it to someone else to share their interpretation of you and your life.
by Kimberly Blaker
Getting started If you're feeling stuck or unsure where to start, the following steps and tips will help you get going:
1. Decide where you want to share your obituary and ask for the publication's specific recommendations or requirements for length or content and how the submission process works. You don't want to put all your effort into a
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meaningful obituary only to find out it doesn't meet your chosen publication's guidelines. 2. As you begin the process of deciding what to include, think about why you're writing your obituary. Who is it for? Do you want to inspire others? Encourage them? Warn others to avoid the mistakes you made? Or just share something about your life and time on this earth? 3. The obituary celebrates and provides a record of your unique, individual life. So if you have the opportunity to write it, make it reflect your personality. It doesn't have to be a serious or somber reflection; it should sound like you. Don't be afraid to make jokes or be silly. Writing your own obituary means that you get to share your life with your own voice. 4. Some basic details that obituaries usually include are: • your name • birth and death dates
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• other significant dates • a list of close family or friends • your education or career path • notable achievements • hobbies • special interests • places traveled • things that emphasize your uniqueness • your interests • something that brought you joy or fulfillment • funeral arrangements or a memorial, depending on your wishes 5. Your obituary is your place to leave your mark. So decide what's important for you to communicate as your legacy. The content and the format are up to you. You might even want to write more than one version for different purposes. Maybe write a shorter version to be published in the newspaper. Then create a longer, memoir-like record of your life to share with loved ones. 6. Decide with whom you'll entrust your obituary. This may be a trusted friend or
family member, your lawyer (along with instructions in your will as to how your obituary will be shared), or an obituary service. 7. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Writing an obituary can be an overwhelming and emotional process. So talk with trusted family members or friends for emotional support and perhaps share your obituary for feedback. Death is unpredictable, inevitable, and out of our control. For many, it makes the idea of dying scary and leads to avoiding dealing with anything related to it. When you choose to write your own obituary, you acknowledge this uncertainty and embrace the idea that none of us live forever – yet we can still make an impact even after we're gone. Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer. She also owns an online store, Sage Rare & Collectible Books, specializing in out-of-print, scarce, signed, and first editions; fine bindings; ephemera and more at www.sagerarebooks.com
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Sage Advice for Stepping Into a New Year...
Mark Twain offered some sage advice when he said
"AGE is an issue of mind-over-matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."
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Blues in the Night
FEB 8–MAR 3, 2024 Octagon Stage Recommended Ages 12+ The soul of the blues wails out full and strong in Blues in the Night, a scorching, Tony-nominated musical! The 26 hot and torchy numbers tell of the sweet, sexy, and sorrowful experiences three women have with the lying, cheating snake of a man who does them wrong. Glorious songs from Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Alberta Hunter, Jimmy Cox, Ida Cox, and more tell of the pain and misery of life and love — and the dogged determination to get through it all — that is the essence of the blues.
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My Husband's End-of-Life Companion:
A Cat Named Maggie By Susan Stasiak
Enter Maggie Wanting to amend my insult, I desperately scanned my mind to find agreeable options. Then it came. What about borrowing a cat for a while? A real cat. Maybe my sister Joyce, who lived nearby, might let us borrow her cat, Maggie. We could do a test drive over the weekend to see if Maggie would like our home and us.
During my husband's final months with Alzheimer's, a borrowed cat brought unexpected joy to our lives At least twice a week, Chuck asked, "When are we getting a cat? You said we could get a cat!" Chuck loved cats. I loved cats, too. But as Chuck's spousal caregiver, I dreaded having more responsibilities — I had plenty of duties. Though, I did feel guilty. Chuck never asked for much compared to what he'd already given up on this unplanned end-of-life journey we plodded through together. Six years after the Alzheimer's and COPD diagnoses, he could no longer travel. A cat in our now-permanent Sarasota, Florida home would be Chuck's last cat. If I said no, how could I make it up to him? Luckily, I spotted a magazine ad for robotic therapy pets to soothe dementia patients. Would he accept a mechanical cat? It might work. After all, a mechanical therapy cat wasn't too far-fetched from what Chuck already enjoyed — a stuffed animal he named "Penelope Penguin." Penelope was a gift from my 8-year-old grandson, who had a thing for penguins. Chuck talked about Penelope often and arranged her daily on the sofa — sitting up or lying down. So, naturally, I assumed the mechanical pet would be a reasonable compromise. Chuck would get a lifelike cat with some form of companionship. And I would get no fur-laden furniture, no litter clean up, and no food-demanding "meows" first thing in the morning. Looking for a Compromise "How's Penelope doing today?" I asked Chuck on one of his more lucid days. He heard me but didn't respond, though I had his attention.
Maggie | Credit: Susan Stasiak
"I notice you move Penelope when you change position. But today, you're up, and she's lying down. Is there something going on?" Chuck said nothing, but his squinted-eye contact and an ever-so-slight scowl on his face signaled to me he was suspicious of something going on. It's funny how he could sense that. "Honey, are you aware there are lifelike stuffed cats like your penguin, but with moving features? They sit on your lap like real cats, moving their heads, tails and even purr." Still, no response. "Chuck, do you think you might want a cat like that?" He sharpened his focus but said nothing. Then, after a long pause, Chuck roared, "I want a real cat!" Mmm, I guess that wasn't such a good idea. I mumbled something about enjoying Penelope Penguin, then dropped the subject. So much for mechanical cats.
I described the lending idea to my sister, and she readily approved. She rationalized that Maggie would get more attention from us since her dog Daisy always nosed into visitors' engagement toward the cat anyway. Then I explained our plan to Chuck. He didn't disagree. So, Joyce and I prepared for a weekend trial and Maggie arrived for a visit. Chuck watched intently. If I could have written a job description for the perfect cat in our home, I would have missed some of Maggie's subtle but effective qualities as she seamlessly acclimated to our condo. As an older cat, her pace matched ours, still with some curiosity and playfulness to spare. And her companionship was perfectly aligned with our lifestyle. She'd saunter onto the screened porch, smelling nature up close, then choose one of the two pond views to spy on the blue herons or screeching limpkins that took off or landed near her watch. On most mornings, Chuck joined her on the lanai. Soon, they became nature buddies, entertained by the usual creatures of interest — the curved-bill white ibis wading in the pond's edge about 20 feet from the porch and the noisy anhinga sunbathing with charcoal black outstretched wings looking injured and croaking like frogs.
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The Gift of 'Miss Maggie' On breezy days, Chuck and Maggie watched the pond's water — the rippling surface reflected the sun with dancing, mesmerizing sparkles. Though Chuck's inner landscape had declined from his dementia, Maggie's presence was a connection not dependent on a spoken language. Miss Maggie, affectionately renamed by Chuck, had a mellow temperament — reserved and subtly charming, like Chuck. As a "tortie," Maggie's orange, black, and white tortoiseshell was striking but mottled like her sweet, understated nature. She reminded me of what I loved about Chuck's gentle qualities that drew me into his secret garden slowly for delightful discoveries over our years together. Some cats keep a boundary with people until the cat decides when to get cozy. Maggie let Chuck know when she was ready for him by parking herself in his line of sight right next to her brush. Chuck had a job, and he did it eagerly almost every day.
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Maggie's unique gift to me was her gentle paw tapping on my arm each evening at 8:45, reminding me, 'It's a good time for a brushing, Susan.' Even when I was engrossed in a computer project, she'd tap me precisely at 8:45 p.m. If I didn't respond immediately, she'd follow with another light tap on my arm within ten seconds. Nothing pesky, just a nearly imperceptible touch. Those predictable prods were reliable memory aids for me — the perfect time to give Chuck his nightly medications. A Comforting Presence The fun with our new family of three far outweighed the inconveniences I'd imagined. Maggie enriched our lives, linking Chuck and me in simple ways. Since Chuck's evolving diseases erased complex conversations, we gained a new type of bonding through Maggie. Our laughter from Maggie's playful displays of speed and agility as she unpredictably scampered through the condo were heartcentered amusements. Maggie's test run stretched into a year,
and Chuck asked, "So, how long will we have Maggie?" "As long as Maggie needs to stay," Joyce answered. It's been over two years since Chuck passed away, and Maggie is a permanent resident in my home now. I wonder if Chuck knew how much comfort Maggie would be for me. Our Miss Maggie lovingly waits for me to come home at any time; she cuddles with me every night; and I never hear any irritating "meows" for food in the morning. Thank you, Chuck. And thank you, Joyce. Susan Stasiak was a 7-year spousal family caregiver for her partner Chuck, who had dementia, COPD, and congestive heart failure. Susan is now a caregiver advocate, author, and speaker for the mental health preservation of caregivers. Susan transferred her 30 years-experience with psychological-behavioral practices in the workplace to her caregiving to reduce emotional turmoil and limit stress for her loved one and herself. Source www.nextavenue.org
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New Year, Resilient You: Resolve to Thrive in 2024 Looking for a resolution to help you thrive in the new year? It's not always possible to avoid tough times and challenges. But you can take steps to build your resilience—your ability to face and bounce back from hardship, loss or change. Building resilience can help you handle
whatever the future holds. This year, resolve to try some of these simple activities to help you cope with stress and build resilience. Accept your feelings. It's normal to feel sad or overwhelmed at times. You might feel as if you need to be brave or tough, but, according to HelpGuide, denying your
emotions can make it harder to cope with them. Take a moment to acknowledge what you feel, even if it's unpleasant. Take control. You might not be able to take charge of every problem. For example, you can't control changes to the economy or the health challenges a family member is facing. Instead, focus on how you respond to those challenges— like hunting for a new job or spending time with a family member who needs support. That can help you move forward, according to HelpGuide. Try this pen-andpaper activity: 1. Jot down the things you can't control. 2. Write down the things you can control. 3. Tell yourself to let go of worries about the things you can't control. 4. Plan your next steps using the list of things you can control. Look at your past. Take a moment to remember challenges you've faced before. Think about how you got through them. Remind yourself that you've faced tough situations before, and trust that you can do it again. Use the lessons you've learned to help yourself move forward. Even remembering what actions didn't help can prepare you to cope better in the future, says HelpGuide. Schedule self-care. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), stress affects both your mind and your body. Taking care of yourself physically can help you cope. So don't compromise on the things that get you out of bed every day and refuel you. Try to: • Commit to a regular sleep schedule. • Block out time for exercise. • Make time for family and friends. • Spend time outdoors. • Schedule time for activities and hobbies you enjoy. Lean on others. Asking friends and family for help can be what you need to get out of a difficult situation, physically and mentally. Tell someone how you are feeling—and ask how they're doing too. Helping others cope can help you feel less isolated, according to the APA.
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January 2024
BOOM! 35
By Randi Mazzella
100-Year-Old Influencer Shares Her Secrets Mildred Kirschenbaum has become a social media star and is happily offering the lessons of her ten decades. In August 2022, Gayle Kirschenbaum, 68, an Emmy-award-winning filmmaker, began posting videos of her mother Mildred on her TikTok and Instagram channels when Mildred was turning 99 years old. The New Yorkborn Kirschenbaum (who recently celebrated her 100th birthday) became a viral sensation almost immediately. Her secret? Simply being herself and sharing what she has learned about life in the last ten decades. It's All About Attitude Mildred Kirschenbaum says that throughout her life she has been a positive person. "I don't sweat the small stuff," she explains. But she has noticed over the years that many people get frustrated by little injustices and minor inconveniences. "So many people carry the weight of the world in a negative way," explains Kirschenbaum. "They can't help themselves; they just have to complain." Kirschenbaum believes negativity ages people. She's seen peers and even people 20 years her junior brought down by their bad attitudes. She says, "People complain because they don't like their meal at a restaurant and my attitude is, 'Big deal! If you don't like your meal, order two desserts.' There is no need to be upset." Kirschenbaum has similar advice for people who complain their kids never call them. "If they call you once a week, call them once a week and then you'll
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And there are many things Kirschenbaum wants to do. She loves to travel and just returned from an 18- day transatlantic cruise with her children to celebrate her birthday. She dabbles in the stock market and plays canasta and bridge. She likes to gamble and partake in happy hour.
Mildred Kirschenbaum | Credit: Gayle Kirschenbaum
talk to them twice a week." Don't Hold a Grudge Kirschenbaum married her husband when she was 18 years old. "Back then, you had to get married if you wanted to have sex," says Kirschenbaum. "So, I got married." Although she would describe her marriage as a happy one, she admits they fought every day.
"My usual drink is a vodka and tonic," says Kirschenbaum. "It's medicinal; the vodka is a natural disinfectant and the tonic relieves leg cramps." She still likes to dress up and wear makeup. "I've always known how to put myself together," says Kirschenbaum. "Some people are color blind or don't know what trousers go with what blouse. If you don't know, you should ask someone. You can still put yourself together and look good even wearing sweatpants."
"We were married for 60 years and ask anybody, they will say we argued all the time," says Kirschenbaum. "But we never went to bed angry. We would fight, but we would make up because what is the point of staying angry? I didn't want the negativity to build between us. In the end, I always knew that when I went to bed, I was lying next to my best friend."
Limits But Not Limitations For Kirschenbaum, it is about understanding her limits but not placing limitations on herself. She drives a car but only locally to the market or her club. "If I know I am going out late or a far distance, I ask someone else to drive," she explains, "I am not going to not go out, but I know my limits." When asked if she plays pickleball, she laughs and says, "Pickleball? At my age, that would be cripple-ball!"
Not Too Old to Enjoy Life "Some people seem surprised that at 100 years old, I don't want to roll up and stop going out," says Kirschenbaum. "But why would I? Why would I be too old to do something I want to do?"
Kirschenbaum's can-do attitude propelled her to agree to sing a duet with TikTok artist Jax. "I never heard of Jax, but my great-grandkids were so excited," says Kirschenbaum. "If she (Jax) asked me to ice skate, I'd have said, 'No, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
not in a million years!' But singing a song with her, I thought, 'Why can't I do that?' and it was a lot of fun." Plan Ahead "You are never too old to do things, but you must be proactive," she explains. "If you want to travel, you may need to get a wheelchair at the airport. When I was on the cruise, I called ahead to order a scooter to get around. So many people stopped me and asked, 'How did you get that scooter?' It's not hard; you have to advocate for yourself."
In 2006, she lost her husband. Kirschenbaum says, "Losing a spouse is hard in a different way; it changes your life." While she believes it is easier for women than men to live alone and take care of themselves, she admits being a widow changes your relationships. "People are nice at first, but after a while, married women don't want a single woman hanging around with them," she explains.
Another tip is not to let pride get in the way. "I'm not a proud person. I would never say, 'I wouldn't do this.' If I need a scooter to get around, I'll use a scooter. It's better than not going on the trip," says Kirschenbaum.
Fortunately, she didn't have to relocate when her husband died. "Instead of buying a big house when we moved to Florida, we bought a two-bedroom villa," she explains. "Many widows have to downsize when their husbands die, but I could stay put and not disrupt the life I had built.
Getting Through Hard Times While she loves life, she has gone through hard times. A mother of three, her son died after a battle with cancer. "Burying a child is the worst thing that can happen to a person. That kind of hurt never heals," says Kirschenbaum.
Although she lives alone, Kirschenbaum says she doesn't feel alone. "I have a social life, my card games, my friends in the community," she says. "And I have my kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. They all have busy lives, as they should, but they call me and we can FaceTime.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
I visit them, they visit me and we travel together too." Kirschenbaum is also working on a book. Ready to Listen Asked why she thinks she became so famous at this age, Kirschenbaum explains, "You get up in years and people want to know, 'What is your secret? What can I do to be like you?'" She likens it to a song on the radio. "It's on in the background, but you may not always stop to listen to the words. I've been here, being me, but now, at 100 years old, people are ready to pay attention to what I have to say." Randi Mazzella is a freelance writer specializing in a wide range of topics from parenting to pop culture to life after 50. She is a mother of three grown children and lives in New Jersey with her husband. Read more of her work on www.randimazzella.com. Source www.nextavenue.org
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By Chris Farrell
Launching a New Business?
Invest in Yourself Foundation. "Banks or other lenders want to see historical trends."
Outside financing options are scarce for workers who leave their old jobs to start their own businesses, but they do have options. Many experienced workers in the second half of life are joining the ranks of entrepreneurs rather than sticking with their current job or retiring. They're using their experience, skills and creativity to start new enterprises and to embrace self-employment.
"Why not? Go ahead and do it."
In recent decades an ecosystem of advice, knowledge and support for would-be entrepreneurs has evolved throughout the country. Many of these organizations offer new entrepreneurs training, mentors and access to lowinterest-rate loans. Older people are well suited to the startup culture, whether they are pushed into it by involuntary retirement or pulled into it by entrepreneurial passion. These second-life entrepreneurs are adept at solving problems, thanks to long years of work experience and deep networks of business contacts. In 1996, 14.8% of entrepreneurs were 55 to 64 years old and by 2020, 24.5% were 55 to 64 years old, according to the Kauffman Foundation. "Entrepreneurship can be really fun," says William Gartner, the Bertarelli Foundation Distinguished Professor of Family Entrepreneurship at Babson College near Wellesley, Massachusetts.
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Where to Find Financing? The question is, how should 50-year and older entrepreneurs finance their startup? Getting access to capital to fund a new business is difficult for anyone. But older entrepreneurs confront the additional challenge that potential funders often see their advanced age as a negative. Venture capitalists and angel investors generally are not interested. They look for businesses with national and global ambitions, while many businesses started in the second half of life are small, with a handful of employees at most. Banks aren't eager to lend to startups, either. The credit risk is too great to offer loans to businesses without a track record. "It can often be a challenge for a business starting out to get money," says Shakia Webb, Senior Program Officer, Capital Access, at the Kauffman
The primary source of startup capital? Personal savings. Bootstrap finance. Rainy day funds. That's right, founders typically finance their own startups, putting up 57% of the funding for nascent ventures, according to "Financing the Emerging Firm," a 2012 paper that Gartner wrote with Casey Frid at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis and John C Alexander at Clemson University in South Carolina. (An implication of their study, they note, is the amount of bootstrap financing dwarfs any other source of outside financing, including venture capital.) "People need to realize that the money will come from their own pockets," says Gartner. "Not much will come from family and friends. Banks loans are rare." Start as a Side Hustle A new business typically needs about 18 to 24 months before it can sustain itself with a positive cash flow. That means you'll need enough savings to keep your business afloat that long. Alternatively, Gartner says many entrepreneurs first nurture their business venture as a side hustle while still working full time to bring in an income. The real investment price paid by these entrepreneurs is time, or really a lack of time outside of work and side hustle.
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They learn how to generate the cash flow they need before launching their business as a full-time enterprise. Whether financed out of savings, earnings from a job or some combination, you will want to limit your downside risk to disappointment and setbacks. "Smart entrepreneurs never lose more than what they can afford to lose," says Gartner. "You play out small wins over time and test the marketplace over time." A Whole New Career The experience of Rosemarie Kelly Ndupuechi is instructive. She had a long and rewarding career in national sales at the agricultural giant Cargill, the largest privately held company in the U.S. (Ndupuechi sprinkles sayings she learned at Cargill throughout our conversation. Her favorite for new entrepreneurs is the catchphrase: Crawl. Walk. Run.) She left Cargill in 2013 and looked around at what to do next. Intrigued by the event-planning business, she initially volunteered for a well-known local planning company. She learned the ropes of event planning and in 2014, with the support of a mentor, launched 3E Productions: Engaged Energized Events. The event planning company serves corporate and nonprofit clients in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. She has about eight employees on contract; they all have other jobs. She started her business by tapping into savings. "I seeded the business," she says. "I had a rainyday fund."
Many of these organizations offer new entrepreneurs training, mentors and access to low-interest-rate loans. They also share the goal of growing the ranks of entrepreneurs, especially among Black people, women and other minorities and communities long ignored by traditional funders. Case in point: Women Venture in St. Paul, Minnesota. The organization can offer Small Business Administration loans ranging from $500 to $100,000 under SBA's Microloan Program. The loans, which come with a 6% interest rate, are commonly used for small but critical purchases — say, a laptop for business. New entrepreneurs with less-thansterling credit histories can boost their credit scores by repaying the loans. In addition to running her own business, Ndupuechi is Chief Advancement and Marketing Officer at Women Ventures. "I tell entrepreneurs, don't use the credit card," she says. "Please, please, please don't use your credit card to access capital. That's 17% interest." Classes and Mentors The real value of organizations like Women Venture lies less with their ability to lend money and more in their classes and mentorship for teaching the basics of starting and running a business. A key theme that emerges from reviewing the financing options for the typical 50-plus entrepreneur is the importance of investing in expanding your knowledge and skills that will boost
the odds your business idea will become profitable and succeed. "Working for someone else is very different from working for yourself," says Ndupuechi. "Invest in yourself." Among the training options in your community to research are the Kauffman Foundation's FastTrac program. The program for aspiring entrepreneurs offers lessons and tools to start and grow your business idea. The program is flexible, with courses offered virtually (self-paced or with a cohort of your peers via a FastTrac affiliate) or in-person (virtual or blended course). AARP offers a number of programs for startups, including Work for Yourself@50+. Befriend Bankers Assuming your business grows over time, bankers will become more interested in doing business with you. They'll want to see your books and other financial and tax documents. Yet even before you have the kind of information banks will want to see it can pay to get to know a bank. By the time it makes sense for you to do business with a lender they will already have some knowledge of your journey and progress. "Go to them first," says Webb. "Build a relationship with a banker." Options exist when it comes to financing your business. But in the early days of transforming your business idea into a real-world enterprise the most valuable resource is your personal savings or the earnings from your job. Count on it. Chris Farrell is senior economics contributor for American Public Media's Marketplace. An award-winning journalist, he is author of the books "Purpose and a Paycheck: Finding Meaning, Money and Happiness in the Second Half of Life" and "Unretirement: How Baby Boomers Are Changing the Way We Think About Work, Community and
Options for Entrepreneurs There are other ways to find money. In recent decades an ecosystem of advice, knowledge and support for would-be entrepreneurs has evolved throughout the country. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
the Good Life." Source: www.nextavenue.org faceb o o k. co m / R iver Re gio n Bo o m
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By Catherine Hiller
The Lost Art of Flirtation Flirting is playful and fun, a simple way to add some flavor to the day. If only we still lived in a flirtatious age! My parents' generation still flirted. There was appreciative banter between men and women in stores, at the garage, and at parties. It was one of the little pleasures of life, this sign that somebody found you attractive. It was not about picking someone up or taking them to bed. Flirtation came with an "if only" sign. Flirtation signaled, "I find you appealing. If only!" "My mother was charm personified. I sometimes watched as she met someone new, man or woman. I saw her give the person her entire attention. It seemed her eyes and ears actually grew bigger." There are a hundred "if onlys": if only you and/or I weren't taken, if only we had more time, if only we were the same age, if only we lived near each other. The fact that most flirtation had no outcome made it light and safe. Flirting was usually flattering and fun, leaving both parties uplifted. And it wasn't just for the young. My mother, Glynne, went on flirting into her eighties, although she was, at the time, happily married. She would look a man in the eye and then look downward, smiling (a flirtatious ploy apparently common throughout the world). Or she would touch her finger to his wrist for one brief moment. Or she would make a mildly suggestive remark, perhaps a double entendre. Her elderly male friends adored it (though not always their wives). Flirting and charm go together, and charm has also fallen out of style.
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To charm someone is to beguile and enchant them. Perhaps we fear being helpless and manipulated and so are suspicious of charm. Yet a person of charm is often a person of empathy who picks up on subtle hints. One way to charm another, as good sales people know, is to express interest and insight into who they are. We are charmed
because we feel understood — the ultimate draw. My mother was charm personified. I sometimes watched as she met someone new, man or woman. I saw her give the person her entire attention. It seemed her eyes and ears actually grew bigger. Soon, the talk would get animated, and phone numbers would be exchanged. Charm is not in vogue today, which is a pity. A charming man or woman makes life more fun. A charming individual knows just how to make you smile and just how you like to be teased. Gentle teasing, of course, is a good way to flirt, as it implies intimacy and affection. A Delicate Balance Flirtation is always light-hearted, never threatening. To flirt is to maintain a delicate balance between interest and restraint. Flirtation "incarnates concession and withdrawal in the playful rhythm of constant alternation," wrote the 19th century German philosopher
George Simmel in his essay "Flirtation." "Flirtation is play because it doesn't take anything seriously." I came of age in the sixties, and my Boomer generation was not into flirting at all. Perhaps it was too indirect, too courtly. We were throwing off the shackles of earlier traditions and throwing out flirtation as well. Total honesty among strangers and friends was ideal. Why be indirect when you could hit the nail with the hammer? "You are so far out. Wanna come to my place?" Still, until about twenty years ago, there was some residual flirtation in the workplace that might not be tolerated today. It was okay to compliment somebody's outfit or hairstyle at the office, even if the person was of the opposite sex; it wasn't thought to be sexual aggression. Inquiries into somebody's weekend plans were just common courtesy and not considered stalking. Studies indicate that flirtation in the workplace is just a form of fun and is rarely viewed as threatening. It seems a shame to stamp out something so benign. The men and women in the generations after mine seem more cautious in general about relating to each other. My sons came of age during HIV, and as they grew up, colleges were mandating rules of consent (a big improvement over the silent wrestling of my youth). I think many young people today don't dare flirt, either because the other person might respond too completely or because they are genuinely worried about causing offense. What is the line between flirtation and harassment? Recently, a woman in my neighborhood found a note under her windshield wiper with the simple message: "You're cute." Instead of being pleased at this sweet and inoffensive sentiment, she got worried. What, she asked her neighbors, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
should she do? Some of the respondents on NextDoor thought she should now park in different locations; others thought she should take the note to the police. I'm surprised they didn't demand DNA testing and a public execution. Forever Lost? Perhaps the younger generation misses flirtation. I'm heartened by a recent interview in The Wall Street Journal, "Amelia Dimoldenberg Thinks We're All Forgetting How to Flirt." Dimoldenberg, 29, is a British comedian and host of the YouTube channel, "Chicken Shop Date," which has two million subscribers. She talks about one aspect of flirting, the put-down: "Maybe it's the Britishness of me, but part of flirting is taking someone down a peg. Sort of pointing out things that you think they love about themselves or think they're the best at, and then you're sort of poking fun at them in a sweet way. Flirting, to me, is making fun of boys." Who isn't intrigued by a person who knows your point of pride and jokes with you about it? "You are just ridiculously tall!" Occasionally, I throw a mild flirt (a little joke, a raised eyebrow) at someone I encounter in my day — the officer at the bank, the jeweler who fixes my earrings — just to see what will ensue. To be honest, I can't tell if they even notice! Most of us are no longer attuned to flirtation, nor do people expect it from a woman of my years. If only ... we still lived in a flirtatious age! An age of innuendo and suggestion and wit. Flirting is playful and fun, a simple way to add some flavor to the day. Flirtation acknowledges that we are alive to attraction, and it serves up the message with sweet comic rue. Flirtation says, "You are adorable, and we will never ..." Catherine Hiller’s 10th book and 6th novel, Cybill Unbound, about the romantic adventures of an older woman, was published Feb 14, 2023. She also wrote Skin (“Good, brave, and joyful fiction” — John Updike) and the controversial Just Say Yes: A Marijuana Memoir. Her substack is The Pleasure Principle. Source www.nextavenue.org The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Master Gardener's Perspective
Potatoes & Pups
Retiring in Montgomery, AL, and purchasing our first house in 15 years presented a number of interesting adventures. Perhaps the most amusing adventure was my attempt to stabilize the soil at the point where the neighborhood water drain exited through the end of our back yard, under the fence, and into the large cement drain. Rain was an unwelcome event since it heralded the development of deep mud and standing water at the back fence from our sloped yard and our neighbor's water flow. The water level would often climb a foot to a foot and a half up the fence as it flowed to the far end of the fence and finally into the cement drain.
With the substantial slope of our yard towards the back fence and the frequent flooding, grass, shrubs, and flowers would not grow. Perhaps cat tails and other swamp shrubs would have done well. I'd take anything that would interrupt the constant washing of the soil towards the edge of our yard where it was washed under the fence and into the drain, leaving a barren, muddy section of yard. Being a full-time working mom and Air Force apartment dweller my entire marriage, I had little experience or knowledge of gardening. In fact, the only experience with gardening that I had was from my uncle's farm in Vermont, experiences well dated. But, I am a problem solver. I could Google with the best, and like coming up with solutions, trying them out, and improving on them. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. So, I figured I had two basic issues: rain with water accumulation and depletion of soil with water runoff. Now off to problem solving. I knew I wasn't going to change the rainfall in Montgomery. I also couldn't change the landscaping slope so that the yard was
level because we were the water escape for our neighborhood. We considered a French drain to tackle the water accumulation but hadn't yet made a commitment to the expense. Could I find plants thirsty enough to gobble up the water and have sufficient root power to stabilize my soil, too? I liked wandering through the aisles of Home Depot, (but now I know I was really wandering through the aisles of a big box store.) So, during the course of wandering, I happened upon shelves of plants in little black plastic trays. Hmmmm. I wondered. Could I stabilize the soil by planting a whole tray of thirsty little plants? And there they were, sweet potatoes. They were charming plants with pretty leaves, and I knew they had good roots and would spread as vines. Perfect. In the next moment I was there at the register with my precious cargo, on the way to valiantly rescuing my yard! By afternoon, they were all planted, scattered all around the area where the water flowed under the fence and out to the cement drain. Fast forward! The plan worked. There I was patting myself on the back. The plants settled in and began their avid growth spurts. Within weeks I had a robust area of sweet potato plants and vines holding my soil in place. How's that for Yankee ingenuity? You, who are much more plant savvy, may have gotten ahead of me at this point. You
By Ruth Padgett
probably have already figured out what happened next, but I had no idea those wonderful vines were intent on providing me a little drama and a lot of humor. Miss Trixie Doodle and her fairly new sister, Dixie Mae, had discovered a treasure. Our clever little Montgomery Humane Society adoptees enthusiastically brought me my first orange orb. Now, you have to understand, it was fairly chewed, so I was a little uncertain about what this lovely gift was. I tossed it neatly away and didn't give it another thought. But not so fast. The next day, I was presented with two more. This went on for about 2 weeks as my suspicions grew, and those pups were exuberantly spending time among the vines. Yes. I'm a little slow when it comes to agriculture, but it finally dawned on me. Sweet potato vines ...Sweet potatoes! My clever plan to stabilize my soil resulted in a hardy growth of young sweet potatoes and muddy paws. In order to save myself many more hours of washing paws, I harvested my first batch of home-grown sweet potatoes. And once again, the soil that I had so carefully stabilized was now a muddy pond leaking under the fence on its way to the cement drain. And our clever pups had discovered the beauty of mud baths and well-rewarded digging. Yankee ingenuity? Foiled by the pups and the potatoes! Epilogue: The French drain has been installed along with garden fabric wrapped around fencing and installed at the fence with rocks and pebbles reinforcing the area. The author has attended 2 gardening series with OLLI at Auburn University Montgomery and is currently enrolled in the Master Gardening Class, and our pups, curiously, are on sweet potato dog food. Ruth Padgett, a Master Gardener in the Capital City Master Gardener Association since 2016, lives in Montgomery. For more information on becoming a master gardener, visit our web site, www.capcitymqa. org or email capcitymga@gmail.com.
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42 BOOM!
January 2024
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AUM OLLI Begins the 2024 Winter Term January 2024 brings a new term for AUM OLLI members, a term with a full schedule of new and repeated opportunities. Everyone should make a New Year’s Resolution to get active mentally and physically in the New Year. Then the best way to fulfill that resolution is by becoming an AUM OLLI member and registering for courses, lunch presentations, and field trips. Classes begin January 22 and end the week of March 8, 2024; classes meet weekly for an hour and a half. In addition to the weekly classes, we are offering two oneday workshops: Thursday, February 1, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Introduction to Dot Painting, and Thursday, February 8, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – The Art of Seeing with Your Camera. The winter schedule includes a number of new courses, on subjects ranging from art, food, and strolling in Paris to the Hamas – Israeli War, learning new things about computers, learning to play bridge, and reading historical novels. Popular courses that are updated and repeated are
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
theatre appreciation, quilting, pickleball, watercolor, Mah Jongg, photography, and a study of the exhibits at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (a class that meets at the Museum). The lunch presentations, which routinely meet either on Mondays or Wednesdays from 11:35 a.m. to 12:35 p.m., cover a wide variety of subjects: the season at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, photography, USGS (which shares the Center for Lifelong Learning with AUM OLLI), science fiction, World War II posters, Montgomery Whitewater, and tips on how to plan a safe vacation. “Variety” also describes the subjects of the winter term field trips: a trip to the Gogue Performing Arts Center to see the national touring company production of To Kill a Mockingbird starring Richard Thomas, a tour of Hyundai Manufacturing, touring the AUM campus (Theatre AUM, the bookstore, and the library), an afternoon of AUM women’s and men’s basketball games (with a meal), and a wine and food tasting tour at Peppertree Steaks N’ Wines.
There are some courses, lunch presentations, and field trips that are closed, but there are important reasons to register for the closed ones and to get on the waiting list: some individuals, because of a change in schedules, have to withdraw from a course before the term begins; sometimes we are able to make additional seats available to accommodate people on the waiting list; and, even if these two things do not happen, being on the waiting list gives an individual priority registration the next time the course is offered. Until January 2, 2024, only online registration is available – go to the AUM OLLI website (www.aum.edu/OLLI) to view the catalog. On January 2, in-person or telephone registration will return. Get an early start on fulfilling New Year’s Resolutions by registering with AUM OLLI!
JOIN TODAY! Tell your friends! www.aum.edu/OLLI
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January 2024
BOOM! 43
Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier
Cave Spring, Georgia Photography by Jeff Barganier
Cave Spring Water
Jeff @ The Evergreen Store
Pure Spring Water Flowing from Cave Spring
Walking along the scenic pond, I meet fellow visitor, Trey, from Tallapoosa, Georgia, 45 minutes from Cave Spring. Trey explains that people come from miles around to fill their bottles with the pure spring water. “I think that (water) literally is coming right out from the cave,” he says. He points at the green door on the cave entrance. “That green door, when open, you can go right into the cave. It’s been closed off for many years because people were polluting it with trash.”
of Atlanta, the other from Leesburg, Alabama.
The crystal-clear pond is teeming with fish and lurking about are a few dozen geese that appear to own the place. But fishing is permitted maybe once a year. Farther along, I meet Cassius and his dad who are from Arizona and live on the Colorado River. Cassius is adept at getting the fish to surface. I watch as he tosses something onto the water, causing the fish to fight over it.
Cindy has disappeared down the street somewhere. I step into Antiques on the Square and meet Hollis Jane at the register. She’s an aspiring future Auburn student from just across the state line in Alabama. She gives me a bit of recent history about the town square. “My grandmother had a store here in Cave Spring. Her name was Martha Jane Montgomery. She had Linde Marie’s (space) next door.” (Linde Marie’s is a
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“What brings you to Cave Spring?” I ask. “This is a really quaint little place. I like it,” one says. They meet here because it’s half way between their respective homes. “I love it. It’s beautiful,” adds the other. “My ex-son-in-law’s church that they used to go to would have baptisms right here in this creek. He was baptized right here in the creek.”
Fish Pond from Cave Spring
We stroll from the cave spring in Rolater Park and toward the town square. I meet Brenda and Vicki, who, it turns out, are on a sisters’ getaway. I learn that one sister is from Villa Rica, 35 miles west
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
steak house.) “That used to be her home décor, fudge, and gift shop. She had it for a little over twenty years.” Today, Hollis’ mother operates Martha Jane’s Fudge across the street. When I ask her what she likes about Cave Spring, she answers, “I like how it’s small. Everybody knows each other here. It’s a community effort and everybody kind of helps each other out to make the town look good. I wish the owner was here. He’s the one who does all the plants in town, and all the pots and everything; and makes it look pretty. He works really hard to make this town look good.” Next door at Evergreen on Broad, I meet Maddi whose dad is an Emergency Medical Technician in Cave Spring. “We have a lot of history. This store used to be a breakfast diner called Shumake’s. We left its original mural on the wall,” she says, pointing at the colorful brick wall behind me. “We just opened this a little over a year ago. And everything is going very well.” “How’s your traffic?” I ask. “It’s kind of weird because we’ve had people come in here from New York or Indiana. And they say, ‘I’ve heard about your store.’ And I ask, ‘How? How could you hear about it all the way up there?’ And they say, ‘Well, we have friends who live here, and they come up and tell us about your store; and say come check it out.’ I’m like, wow! Okay!” Maddie
Restaurant
Streetview
tells us that in the summer, when it is “super-hot,” people come to Cave Spring and jump in the cold spring water. She thinks one of the poignant aspects of the area is its history. “There was a hospital here during the Civil War that treated wounded soldiers. Later on, it became a school for the deaf.” And, something that gets me excited, there’s a trailhead at Rolater Park for the Pinhoti Hiking Trail that ends at Flagg Mountain in Alabama. (See BOOM! November 2020: jeffbarganier.com.) Maddi says people also come from the North to hike the Pinhoti. Cindy and I stroll down the street and buy some Martha Jane’s Fudge for the road. Then we stop by Local Joe’s Barbeque for a late lunch. They have wonderful banana pudding! I ask the sweet lady at the register, “How much for banana pudding?”
Fudge Store
She points at two Styrofoam cups on the counter. Then she shakes the little one at me, saying, “This one’s two ninety-nine. But it’s just enough to make you mad!” She puts that cup down and picks up the larger cup. “This one’s four ninety-nine. You might as well go ahead and buy this one!” And so, I did. Cave Spring is a one-stop-light town that’s easy to zip through in seconds. That’s what we used to do. But I’ve discovered that everyone is treated like family here. It’s like coming home. It’s one of those charming finds I’m reluctant to write about. I’d rather keep it— puddin’ and all—to myself.
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Jeff S. Barganier is a novelist, travel writer and manager of Cindy Barganier Interiors LLC. He travels far and wide upon the slightest excuse for something interesting to write about. Contact: Jeffbarganier@knology.net. Instagram: @jeffbarganier. You may print out Jeff ’s features at www.jeffbarganier.com.
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January 2024
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Ho Ho Shen Ho, Cotton State Santas MPAC Presents Yun February 13, 7:30 pm The Farmer's Market Cafe siteand of abe jolly Be prepared to traverse time andwas space mesmerized as overand 70 beauty Santas of andfive Mrs. Clauses It’s visited by thegathering action, humor, millennia. Montgomery for the bi-monthly meeting of "Cotton an experience that will uplift your spirit and touch your Santas", an Alabama of IBRBS - The heart.States Shen Yun is a grand display chapter of beauty, goodness, International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas. faith, and traditional virtues. Its stories celebrate heroes Montgomery's River Region Santa along withand a team and values that brought human civilization peace of local Santa prosperity throughout ages. It’s a rare experience in today’s performers welcomed the guests with an excellent meal and program featuring "Santa Slate", world, what some even call a message of hope. Shen Yun a Montgomery-based African-American Santa who shared his story. This was the first time the opens a portal to a civilization of enchanting beauty and group chose Montgomery as a meeting place and as CSS President Steve Rusk of Gardendale enlightening wisdom, leaving millions around the world in mentioned "The Capital City is a great location! She opened up and treated us well." The visitors awe. Find out why! left with gift bags consisting of a Montgomery guide book, a sample of ALAGA hot sauce, and anticipation of another excellent visit next year. Cotton States Santas are a group 200 “The best! of Theover best! The best!” —Charles Wadsworth, professional Christmas Entertainers who meet regularly for fellowship founding and education. artisticMeetings director of the Chamber Music Society are held in different locations across the state. The next meeting will be May atCenter, Guntersville. ofinLincoln “This is the best I have ever seen. It was so uplifting. It spoke to everything that is good in this world.”—Glen Duncan, Grammy America's Band, The Beach Boys @ MPAC May 17 Award-winning musician, “The show gave me real sense of goodness and meaning in life.”—Anna Liceica, soloist, American Ballet Theater, “It makes you dream As The Beach Boys mark more than a half century of making of a heavenly world. It’s something that really restores you, regenerates you.”—Filippa Giordano, famous Italian-Mexican singer, “I music, the group continues to ride the crest of a wave feel elevated, I feel like I’m in a better mood...You can be immersed in love and compassion here, so come see it.”, —Taiya Himebauch, unequalled in America’s musical history. The Beach Boys – therapist. For tickets visit www.mpaconline.org who have become synonymous with the California lifestyle and an American icon, are bringing their shows to fans around the world.Convention Since the band’sComplex co-founder, lead-singer Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue - Birmingham-Jefferson and chief lyricist Mike Love penned the lyrics to The Beach Thursday March 14, 7:30 Boys’ first hit, “Surfin’” (1961), dozens of the bands chart Thank you for being a…fan! Following sold out performances and rave reviews have become eternal anthems of American youth: across the country in 2023, The Golden Girls are back and better than ever toppers with “Surfin’ USA,” “Surfer Girl,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” a brand new stage show that’s more exciting than a trip to the Rusty Anchor. Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue brings Miami’s sassiest seniors to stages“California Girls,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Barbara Ann,” “Good Vibrations,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Rock and Roll Music” around the country for one more hurrah. We find Sophia out on bail after being and “Kokomo.” The Beach Boys have sold over 100 million busted by the DEA for running a drug ring for retirees. Blanche and Rose have records founded CreakN, a thriving sex app for seniors. And Dorothy is trying to hold it all worldwide and have received more than 33 RIAA Platinum together with help from a new (much) younger sex-crazed lover. Golden Girls: The and Gold record awards. The Rock And Roll Hall of Laughs Continue allows audiences to relive the heartfelt hilarity of the four Famers ladies where also honored at the 2001 Grammy Awards with who never stopped being best friends.for ticket info visit https://www.bjcc.org/the Lifetime Achievement Award. With more than five decades of touring under their belts, The Beach Boys upcoming-events/golden-girls-the-laughs-continue/ have performed more concerts than any major rock band in history. Montgomery performance at MPAC, Wednesday, May 17. For tickets visit www.mpaconline.org Free Digital Subscriptions at www.RiverRegionBoom.com
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David Brewer Singers Present an evening of Gospel Music at Jan's Beach House The David Brewer Singers will present an evening of Gospel Music at Jan's Beach House located at 850 Eastern Blvd in Montgomery. There will be great food and drinks and great Gospel Music from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Call your friends and plan for an evening of fun and fellowship! Tuesdays, January 16, February 20, March 19
Free Subscriptions @ w w w. r i ve r re gio n b o o m.co m Capital City Master Gardeners Association Lunch & Learn @ Montgomery Cultural Arts Center Capital City Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn, the 1st Wednesday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They will meet at Montgomery Cultural Arts Center (Armory Learning Arts Building), 1018 Madison Ave., Montgomery 36104. Mark your calendars, February 7, 2024, “All About Seeds” Come join us on February 7 and get some answers from Mallory Kelley, ACES Horticulturist, who will present “All About Seeds”. If you’ve wondered about starting seeds for your Spring garden, here is a chance to learn some best practices for successful planting. When is the best time to plant? Do you need grow lights? Can you start seeds indoors? Join us and find some answers! . Come join us! BRING A SACK LUNCH, FREE PROGRAM, WATER PROVIDED, For information, please contact the Montgomery County Extension Office 334.270.4133. Also visit www.capcitymga.org.
Frazer Offers GriefShare Support Group This GriefShare group is offered for anyone who has lost a loved one. We use the new GriefShare 4.0 video-based curriculum followed by discussion concerning the stages of grief, the storms that come with it, and ways of dealing with loss. The class meets every Wednesday for 13 weeks beginning Jan. 17. All classes will meet from 10 AM to noon in the East Sanctuary, Frazer Church. Workbooks are $10 each. Childcare is not available. Contact BJ Nave with any questions, rnave@frazer.church 334.495.6343. Weekly on Wednesday until April 10, 2024.
Turn Screen Time into Family Time with ARO Transform your family with an Aro Membership. Aro is the first solution designed specifically for families looking to reduce screen time and increase quality time together. An app that guides you to healthier habits, a charging station that measures how often you put down your phone, and habit-forming data to help you be more intentional. Meet the first in-home digital wellbeing solution designed for families. Aro ensures you don’t miss out on what’s most important by making it easy for everyone to put down their phones and be fully present. "Our family LOVES our ARO. We're spending more and more time away from our phones every day, which is helping us relax and enjoy real life." To learn more visit www.goaro.com
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January 2024
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A Beautiful Mess @ MMFA, January 26 through April 14, 2024 The diverse roster of women artists in A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard twist, tie, and braid tactile, utilitarian materials to push the boundaries of fiber art and elevate the traditional status of weaving, knotting, and macramé. The artists in this exhibition transform rope, yarn, clay, wire, and extension cords into wall hangings and sculptures that range from minimal and hyper-organized to expansive, organic installations. Mining a lifetime of experiences, the artists explore personal and political ideals and freely break the rules to create works that make a strong cultural and intellectual impact. By bringing their unique stories to the forefront, the artists draw from potent source material to create sculptures and installations staggering in beauty and conceptual underpinnings. These works tell profoundly personal and powerful histories, not only about the artist, but about the traditions and norms we honor and those that need to be addressed and eradicated. The artists confront uncomfortable issues like racism, sexism, patriarchal systems, and climate change. They also reveal the brilliance of the natural world, the richness of tradition, and the power of self-acceptance, all while demonstrating extraordinary technical skill. For more info visit www.mmfa.org
New Medicare Scam. Be Wary The Department of Health and Human Services is warning about a new scam involving Remote Patient Monitoring. This scam involves signing up Medicare enrollees for remote patient monitoring (RPM). Legitimate RPM involves using medical devices such as scales, lucose monitors, blood pressure cuffs, cardiac rhythm devices, and other equipment to remotely monitor for anomalies in patients with chronic medical conditions. This new treatment is beneficial for those whose condition might deteriorate quickly, where monitoring can reduce complications, hospitalizations, or death. Unscrupulous companies are signing up Medicare enrollees for this service, regardless of medical necessity. Scammers have several ways to make contact. It may involve phone solicitations (“cold calling”), internet ads (“click bait”), or television advertising. Ignore advertisements for free or low cost Durable Medical Equipment. If you receive a phone call, hang up, first copying the number on your display. Then call the fraud line listed in the graphic above: 1-800-447-8477. Never accept a shipment of durable medical equipment unless your health care provider prescribed it for you after a consultation. If it is left on your doorstep, return it to sender. Source: Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services. Call 334-2404680 with questions about Medicare or Medicare Fraud.
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January 2024
BOOM! 49
Is Living to 100 All It's Cracked Up to Be?
An expert says we should aim for a 'bold but common-sense national goal' of adding 'a decade of healthy birthdays after retirement age'
Kole's book, titled "The Big 100: The New World of Super-Aging," profiles late-agers like Jane Goodall who tells Kole, "Aging hasn't worried me, and death itself holds no fear for me at all."
On the day that Erma S. blew out the candles on her fiftieth birthday cake her life wasn't even half over. (At her request, we are not using her last name.)
But I found "The Big 100" most intriguing when it delved into the scientific research of why a relatively few (but increasing number) of people live to be very old.
Most Americans can expect to live 25 or even 30 years beyond the half-century mark, but the 102-year-old Colorado native suspected she would live well beyond that. She had longevity in her family. "My mother and her sisters all lived into their 90s," she wrote in a snail-mailed letter to me, "so it was not a surprise that I might live that long." Still, even as Erma moved from late middle age into old age, she anticipated the loss of contemporaries — her husband and several friends — but she didn't expect to endure the devastating deaths of a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter. "Those were difficult times," she wrote. "I believe you take it the best you can at the time but it was hard losing them and I miss them." Erma also misses her independence. Both her hearing and her vision are greatly diminished and she says it makes daily life "much more difficult." Still, her days are punctuated by visits with family and friends, and she is grateful to have lived long enough to watch her great-grandkids grow up. Erma S. is part of a remarkable transformation in the demography of this country. She is at the vanguard of a wave of 85+ year-old Americans who will number close to 20 million in the next 40 years. And the Census Bureau projects that among those millions of late-age older adults will be at least 500,000 people who are 100 years old or older.
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Will most of those "senior" seniors be flourishing? Or will they be mired in ill health with chronic conditions and preventable disease? Health Span vs. Age Span Bellevue Hospital physician Dave Choshki asserted in a September New York Times op-ed that Americans need to focus on a longer health span; the years of good health, rather than reaching some arbitrary age. He writes that global health estimates reveal that the average American "can expect to celebrate only a single birthday in good health after the traditional retirement age of 65." The metrics for the Japanese, Costa Ricans and Australians, for instance, project an average of a health span that reaches 70 years old. Instead, Choshki suggests, the United States should aim "for a bold but commonsense national goal" of adding "a decade of healthy birthdays after retirement age." Former Associated Press journalist (and grandson of a super-ager who lived to be 104) William J. Kole agrees. The author of a new book about centenarians, he said in an interview, "Any discussion of long life span has to be paired with a discussion of health span."
The 'Escapists' Dr. Thomas Perls directs the New England Centenarian Study. He told Kole that DNA and genetic markers associated with heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's and cancer seem to play a pivotal role in reaching 100 and beyond. He calls the centenarians who have eluded all age-related diseases "escapists." Fifteen percent of people who live to 100 fall into this category. But there are a significant number of centenarians who have succumbed to cancer or heart disease earlier in their lives and survived it and who go on to live another ten or twenty years. "The older you get, the healthier you've been," Perls says. Which is why Kole, who spent fifteen years smoking, working long hours and eating too much, took up marathon running. He is making up for lost time. When I ask him about the ignominy of having written about centenarians and then expiring before his 100th birthday, he laughs. "Having written the book, I'm now obligated to live to 100." Kerri Miller is the host of a show about books & authors for Minnesota Public Radio and the Chief Enthusiast for a book-focused travel company called SirenSojourns. Source www.nextavenue.org
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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January 2024
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Erlene Taylor BOOM! COVER PROFILE
Massage Therapist
I was visiting Atlanta when a friend sent me to a spa to get a massage, and when the therapist was massaging me, there was a heavenly feeling. Then I knew that it would be an experience I would like to share with every person on Earth! This month’s cover profile is Erlene Taylor, a massage therapist with more than 22 years experience. She understands the value of her work because so many of her clients have shared the positive results of her therapy. In a world where stress lives around every corner, a quality massage can be the answer when it comes to coping. Erlene found love a couple of years ago and is now married to Barry Purdie. When love comes a knocking at our age, it is a welcome blessing because we are made to be with someone. Erlene is aging well, sharing her skills by helping others, planning new travel experiences, loving the grandbabies...and enjoying time spent with Barry. We recently spent some with Erlene and it was time well spent. We hope you enjoy the reading experience, and if you’re inclined, schedule a massage session with Erlene at www.peacefulkneads.com. Please share with friends.
Erlene showing some of her style
BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e., where you’re from, education, what brought you to the Montgomery area, children, family, etc.?
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Erlene and husband Barry share a moment
Erlene: I am from Waugh, Alabama, a little area we called Hickory Bend. Born January 2nd, 1951, to Vivian Mitchell Taylor and Joseph Taylor. I have five older sisters and one brother. My brother was a special
Erlene dressed and ready for the Ball
needs child. My siblings and I were caregivers for him all his life. Only two sisters are still living. My father was a farmer and cotton planter. We all shared farm duties as children. We milked cows and fed the hogs The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Would you and chickens. We therapist. I genuinely feel that God please share learned the value touched my hands that day, and the why you became of hard work and rest is history, so massage therapy a Massage strong family is my calling...I FOUND IT! I knew Therapist and ties. I thought I had to attend massage school, so the training that of my mother, I went to the first school that came was required to Vivian, as one of to Montgomery. In the midst of achieve it? God's angels on my search, my father passed, and I Earth. I don't ever became caretaker for my brother; he Erlene: I knew remember her was a paraplegic; he didn't t alk much, I was supposed speaking in anger but he had a smile that would light up to be doing or harshness to the room; his name was John. We had something or about anyone! one nephew who would take time out special, but I We would walk of his schedule to come and visit him didn't know together down and talk with him. I took complete what that was. the railroad track care of John, including feeding and I completed to a little school getting him in and out of the car. It cosmetology called Katie was a work of love and obligation. school but Bowen. There, I Selfie time, Erlene and Barry realized that was had a wonderful BOOM!: What different types of not for me. I also tried real estate teacher, Mrs. Fannie Robinson. I massage therapy do you offer your school and Bob will never forget her; she was quite clients? Do Fain gave me the a positive influence in my life. The you have a opportunity to work school was grades 1-3. Then to preference? at his firm. I was Waugh elementary and on to Georgia grateful, but I still Washington high. Some of my older Erlene: I have had not found my sisters and their families had moved now been doing calling. to the Bronx, New York, to find work. massage for I went to live with them for a time. over 22 years. I was visiting Atlanta There they each spent their time My specialties when a friend sent teaching and guiding me through are Swedish me to a spa to get life and sharing their families. I have and Eastlan a massage, and one daughter, Angela Taylor, three massage with when the therapist grandchildren, four great-grands, and aromatherapy. was massaging one great-great-grandchild. All live in Hot Stone me, there was a the Montgomery area. massage is a heavenly feeling. favorite for Erlene's daughter Angela Taylor BOOM!: fibromyalgia Then I knew that Erlene, with cranial-sacral therapy and it would be an you are a lymphatic drainage. experience I would Licensed like to share with Massage BOOM!: What are some of the every person on Therapist major benefits of receiving massage Earth! So, I said to and have therapy? How can people schedule an God, God, if I can been appointment with you? make people feel helping like this, it is what I people Erlene: Everyone seems to be so tense want to do. I knew heal and, dare I say, angry, overly stressed. that it would be my through Massage reduces muscle tightness, calling and I wasn't massage neck and shoulder pain. It improves satisfied until I for more blood circulation and reduces stress was a licensed, than 20 levels and anxiety. It's a reset for Erlene with Sisters, L-R: Diane, Mary, Georgia practicing massage years. your mind and muscles. I'm currently The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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woman of faith. Would you share your Christian Journey and the guidance God has provided?
working with Nikki Roberts, owner of Peaceful Kneads Massage, located at 8101 Seaton Place, Montgomery, 334-324-7499. You may also book online at www. peacefulkneads. com. Gift certificates are available.
About Aesthetics. I will forever be thankful for God’s blessings. BOOM!: What is it about living in the Montgomery/River Region area that you like? What do we need more of? Erlene: I like the convenience of shopping, dining out, and being able to travel around Montgomery within 20 minutes to any desired location, including medical appointments. Montgomery is close to Birmingham, Atlanta, and the beaches.
Erlene: I am a member Erlene's granddaughter, Jaliyah, playing dress up in of St John Grandma's hat and reading glasses Baptist BOOM!: How do you like to relax and missionary Church in Waugh since wind down from a full day of activity? childhood. I grew up going to church it wasn't a journey BOOM!: Like other mature women, Erlene: I enjoy it was a lifestyle. you were able to find a new love at relaxing on My parents an older age. You and Barry were the patio with made sure of it. married a few years ago. Could you my flowers I always say that share some of your love story with our and husband God does have a readers? enjoying a sense of humor. glass of white Once he lets Erlene: I was introduced by a mutual wine. you go through friend to Barry Q. Purdie. He retired the battle and from the military after 22 years and BOOM!: With sometimes lets was also a sous chef. It was in the a busy life, you laugh after. beginning of Covid-19. He would how do you God has guided come over, and we would sit out like to spend me through some on the patio at night with the lights time with bumpy roads on and music and talk for hours...some family and my quest to find dancing, and it was so romantic. We friends? my purpose. At would drive to Panama City Beach, every turn has have lunch, and go sightseeing. He’s Erlene's grandchildren, L-R: Jaliyah, Trashad, Trejon at Grandma's house Erlene: put the right the love of my life, a kind, gentle man Spending time who has won my shopping for bargains, in Thrift stores, people in my path. heart, not an easy and Junking with friends. Gradene Mitchum hurdle! We were owned a hair salon married a year BOOM!: What are some of your called ‘Class Act’; later. Life with him favorite travel experiences? Favorite she gave me the has been amazing, getaway spot? Are any travel dreams opportunity to work and we have planned? there doing Electrolysis enjoyed vacations and permanent hair to a resort in Erlene: Some of my favorite travel removal. One day, Virginia and a trip experiences have been to Gatlinburg Sandy Scott came to to the Tennessee / Pigeon Forge; I have been up and me as a client, and mountains. He is a down the East Coast, so I would we have been friends wonderful provider, like to travel west, especially to the and like family ever and yes, he does mountains and Hot Springs, Arkansas. since. In time I had the the cooking! Williamsburg, Va., and Orlando, FL. opportunity to work Erlene's grandchildren, are also on my radar for future trips. beside her in her spa, BOOM!: As a L-R: Jaliyah, Trashad as infants
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Erlene: I have a desire/ dream to build a home on my family land and Waugh.
Other plans are to go to Destin, FL, for a week and travel to Europe. BOOM!: As you’ve aged, how have your priorities changed? How would you describe what it means to “age well”? What are your thoughts on retirement?
BOOM!: Give us three words that describe you. Erlene: Caring, Interactive, Loyal
Erlene: My priorities include spending more time with my family, husband, and great grandkids. I have aged gracefully and am taking care of my health and medical needs. My thoughts and feelings on retirement are relaxing enjoying family and travel to different destinations across the country.
We want to thank Erlene for sharing some of her life's story with us this month. Erlene has a special touch and loves helping others with her massage Erlene's Garden therapy skills. We hope you’ll share Erlene’s story Erlene and Barry at masquerade ball with friends and family, they’ll enjoy the reading experience. If you want to reach out to Erlene, give her a call at 334.324.7499 or schedule a massage at www.peacefulkneads.com. Thanks to DiAnna Paulk and BOOM!: Do you have any her creative photography hobbies or other activities skills. If you have questions, that grab your attention? comments, or suggestions Erlene's long time fur buddy, Candy Erlene at lunch, Ritz Carlton in Atlanta about our cover profiles, Erlene: My hobbies including nominating include dancing, bowling, BOOM!: What are some of the future someone, please text them decorating my home inside, planting challenges you’re contemplating for to Jim Watson at 334.324.3472 or my garden, and designing my yourself? email jim@riverregionboom.com.
courtyard.
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By Greg Budell
The Mayor of BOOMTOWN
"A true story from the Greg files"
TALES FROM THE BOOMER BOUDOIR
“The Waterbed” contact akin to a tuning fork.
If you came here looking for those kind of tales you’ll have to buy a copy of my pamphlet, “Lies, Gross Exaggerations and More Lies”.
The waterbed must have been the brainchild of a chiropractor. Injuries were common, and God forbid you lay down for a short nap I recently held with your car court with Early, primitive tail-bone breaking waterbed keys in your a decidedly pocket. Landlords began forbidding younger group of people. Somehow them because of flash flood issues. the conversation came around to 200 gallons of water can do a lot of waterbeds. When first introduced they damage, especially when leaking were a sales phenomenon. My young uncontrollably from an apartment friends were curious about them. above the first floor. Some of you may remember the early model waterbeds. At inception, the waterbed was little more than a big rubber bladder filled with water. Some were so flimsy you’d need Dramamine to counter the motion sickness when settling in. Unlike a regular mattress you couldn’t just lustily jump in because no matter how filled it was, many a soul hit the cement-hard mattress bottom landing directly on their coccyx. For some reason, they were set in bed frames with hardwood side rails, so entering or exiting, one had to protect the shin bone from a scrape or
The luxurious Zip Code
Early editions also presented serious impediments to the lovemaking
process. A buddy who owned one of those early editions actually poured a pound of gelatin powder into his waterbed hoping it would firm things up. That, after he bounced his wife into the nightstand. It didn’t work. He didn’t mention if he threw in a can of fruit cocktail to give it some extra zest. Technology soon saved the waterbed from an early demise. Much like the guy who said “people will be less inclined to fly through car windshields if we strap them in”, someone decided to pad the side rails. This was soon followed by padded headboards! But the bigger issue remained, “how do we make this thing more like a standard mattress instead of a kiddie pool covered in heavy cellophane?”. Thus, the invention of the cellular waterbed mattress. Hundreds of small compartments made the waterbed more comfortable. You could leap on top without creating a rip tide. If you got reckless while checking your mail in bed, and the opener slipped, it would puncture one cell which was easily fixed.
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That’s when I bought one. Greatest sleep ever. Enough give to support the entire body and up to the rigors of, you know, things that happen in bed. Like opening mail. The entire bed was so big I nicknamed it The Zip Code. I was living 25 stories up next to Biscayne Bay in Miami, so the view was premium. I did, however, have to get condo approval because the darn thing when filled, weighed 2400 pounds! It was my HQ. During my third year I married my daughter’s mom, and it was decided that nice as it was, a condo with a balcony 25 stories up was not ideal for a crawling child. I insisted the bed go to the new house and won that debate. The last night there, I dispatched Mom and Janelle to the new one-story house and spent one final night on old faithful.
When you need to sleep, a mattress is a mattress. I went through some tough times in ensuing years and slept on some dandy mattresses, some little better than a gymnasium mat. I eventually found a bed as big as the Zip Code, with leather padded headboard but for a conventional mattress. Meanwhile, Big Sleep continues to find new ways to reinvent the way we sleep. I have friends who bought into the Craftmatic idea. Those are too hospitalbeddy for me. I don’t understand the Sleep Number concept. My bed is also a workstation. Lots of electronics and wires and if I ever had an “accident” I’d face a certain, hissing electrocution. My dog, Briscoe, always takes the place where my feet would normally be, so I sleep in what I call the “Crime Scene” position because I’m not going to disturb my little gremlin. I may be getting older but I’m quite flexible!
I stuck the drain hose in and laid down for one final night by the bay. It worked well, because by morning it was down to a few gallons. I got My young friends dressed, let the movers come listened politely Briscoe's gotta have his spot in and cart everything in that to my oral history and he gets it! condo to the new house. and didn’t seem Though not technically inclined I set to think they missed anything special. up the bed in our new place. A golf Waterbeds are still made and sold to course view replaced the starry nights a niche sleep market. I won’t go test by the bay. flopping though it’d be cool to see how they’ve improved. I’ll settle for the But not for long. A few months into the memory. new house, I was told a regular bed and mattress would be in order. I gave The Zip Code! Long may she wave. it to a friend who was thrilled to have it. Share your thoughts on my experiences or other comments via email at gregbudell@aol.com. It's always fun to hear from BOOM! readers.
Greg Budell lives in Montgomery with his wife, Roz, and dog, Brisco. He's been in radio since 1970, and has marked 17 years in the River Region. He hosts the Newstalk 93.1FM Morning Show with Rich Thomas and Jay Scott, 6-9 AM Monday - Friday. He returns weekday afternoons from 3-6 PM for Happy Hour with sidekick, Rosie Brock. Greg can be reached at gregbudell@aol.com
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If Something Happened to You, Are Your Records Organized?
Are your records organized? If something were to happen to you would it be easy for loved ones to take over your affairs or settle your estate? Would they know where to find all your necessary healthcare information, legal documents, passwords, and PINs? Would they know how bills are paid and how sources of income are credited to your bank account?
Not to worry. Every January, we conduct a workshop called Life in a Box. We give you a step-by-step approach to gather all relevant records, so they are all contained or referenced in one fire-resistant box. We will conduct the 2024 webinar at noon on Wednesday, January 25th. For further information and reservations, please call 334.270.1672, or email sarah@ moorewealthmanagement.com. If you miss the webinar, we also offer free consultations that are without obligation. The ten categories we cover in detail include healthcare, estate planning, tax records, investments and bank accounts, liabilities, insurance, military records, personal identification documentation, deeds and similar documents, and a miscellaneous one that covers pet information, house maintenance, etc. In addition, we go over what to keep
Financial Thoughts with Susan Moore
electronic means to store passwords and PINs so loved ones can access them in an emergency and help protect you from identity theft. Make one of your new year’s resolutions to get your records organized. Our webinar and method is designed to help you get your Life in a Box organized. We make it easy so once organized, it is easy to keep it that way!
By Susan Clayton Moore, J.D.
Principal of Moore Wealth Management, Inc.
where, for example, in a safe deposit box, fire-resistant box at home, in a file cabinet or with your attorney or financial advisor. For example, it is advisable NOT to keep the only original of your will in your safe deposit box and we will tell you why. Another example is your passport. A copy of the passport should be kept in the safe deposit box, but not the original, and we will tell you why. We also go over ways to manage technology. If something were to happen to you, loved ones need to be able to access electronic as well as paper records. To do so, they have to know passwords and PINs. We go over
Susan Clayton Moore, J.D., is a financial advisor and wealth manager of Moore Wealth Management, Inc.., with offices in Auburn, Montgomery, and Alexander City, AL. Susan has under advisement over $170 million (as of 1.21.2022) in brokerage and advisory assets through Kestra Financial and has been a financial planner for over 40 years. Contact Susan at 334.270.1672. Email contact is susan@moorewealthmanagement.com The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney or tax advisor regarding your individual situation. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Kestra IS or Kestra AS are not affiliated with Moore Wealth Management, Inc. https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures
“Life in a Box” webinar Wednesday, January 25th, Noon, Register today 334.270.1672
At Moore Wealth Management, every January, we conduct a workshop called Life in a Box. We give you a step-by-step approach to gather all relevant records, so they are all contained or referenced in one fire-resistant box. The ten categories we cover in detail include healthcare, estate planning, tax records, investments and bank accounts, liabilities, insurance, military records, personal identification documentation, deeds and similar documents, and a miscellaneous one that covers pet information, house maintenance, etc.
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Smart Health - Nature's Way - Tracy Bhalla
Respiratory Aid It is the season for all sorts of respiratory viruses to take hold, from Covid to RSV to the Flu to any number of unknown and unnamed viruses that are “going around”. So if you can help your body protect itself against them by supporting the immune system in a natural way, then why would you not want to do that? And if you do succumb to one or more of these seasonal issues, at least you can naturally support your body by alleviating the symptoms using a carefully curated selection of essential oils. Essential oils benefit respiratory health in various ways, thanks to their unique chemical compounds and therapeutic properties. One of the most notable benefits is their ability to reduce inflammation in the respiratory system, which can help alleviate symptoms of conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and sinusitis. Another major advantage of some of the best essential oils is their antimicrobial properties, which can help combat bacteria, viruses, and fungi responsible for respiratory infections. Essential oils may support a healthier respiratory system by inhibiting the growth of these harmful microorganisms and preventing further complications. Additionally, essential oils can help activate the limbic system, responsible for modulating physiological functions such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, further enhancing their respiratory support. Essential oils can be easily inhaled due to their volatile nature, allowing them to reach the upper parts of the respiratory tract and provide targeted support. By utilizing essential oils through essential oil inhalation, we can harness their therapeutic benefits and promote overall
respiratory health, making it easier to breathe and enjoy life to the fullest. Inhalation can be as simple as putting a drop or two on a handkerchief or tissue and breathing it in directly from that, or as “complicated” as using a diffuser to disperse the micro droplets into the air; alternatively you can also create your own inhaler, much like a Vicks Inhaler, with your oil/s of choice or put a drop in a bowl of steaming water and put your head over it (towel over your head to concentrate the steam).Inhalation is one of the most effective ways to utilize essential oils for respiratory support. Certain precautions should be taken when using essential oils for specific health conditions, children, and pregnant individuals. Here are some guidelines to follow: • Individuals suffering from asthma, allergies, or any other respiratory conditions should seek medical advice before using essential oils. • Essential oils should not be used on children under the age of 2. • Pregnant women should consult a medical professional before using essential oils to ensure their safety.
airways, reduce inflammation, and ease congestion, promoting better respiratory health. It also includes bornyl acetate and β-caryophyllene, which may provide relief from respiratory discomfort and reduce inflammation. 2) Eucalyptus Dives (Eucalyptus dives – don’t often get the same common name as Latin name!) Extracted from the leaves of the plant, this oil is a popular natural remedy for respiratory issues thanks to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Inhaling eucalyptus may help clear congestion, making it easier to breathe by opening up airways and reducing inflammation in the respiratory system. It is also commonly found in holistic remedies such as chest rubs, salves, and steam blends, which are ideal for supporting respiratory health. Eucalyptus Dives oil eases congestion and aids breathing by removing mucus with compounds like piperitone and α-phellandrene. It fights infections with terpinolene and terpinen-4-ol, while 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) clears airways and relieves discomfort.
Two of my favorite oils for relieving respiratory issues are: 1) Siberian Fir (Abies sibirica) Extracted from the needles of the plant, also known as Siberian fir needle oil, is a powerful essential oil for respiratory health, boasting antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and decongestant properties that make it helpful for relief when experiencing a respiratory infection. It has been used traditionally in parts of Siberia as a natural remedy to alleviate colds and coughs.
Many of the evergreens, pines, spruces, balsams, are awesome respiratory oils, so if you don’t have the two listed, you do have alternatives. Plus, it is important to use oils that you like the smell of, so substitute based on accessibility as well as your personal likes and dislikes. As outlined before, it is a very simple procedure to inhale the oils and get the benefits that way, as well as it being the single most effective way to help the respiratory system. Let me know how your experience goes. I’d love to hear about it.
Siberian fir oil contains compounds like camphene, limonene, α-pinene, and δ-3-carene, which can help open
I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year!
email: nyrbhalla@gmail.com I web: us.nyrorganic.com/shop/tracybhalla I www. LogHouseAromatics.com Tracy Bhalla, independent consultant with NYR Organics and founder of LogHouseAromatics.com; after 25 years of using homeopathic remedies, it was time to take charge and complete my Aromatherapy Certification, which I achieved April 2020 and since founded LogHouseAromatics.com as a source for useful essential oil and general natural health information and a place to purchase certain products. email: nyrbhalla@gmail.com I am here to answer any questions you may have.
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