BOOM! March 2023

Sponsored by Vivian O'Nay

Exciting New Trends for Spring!

Exciting new trends are on the rise for Spring! The ladies at Vivian O'Nay just returned from the first apparel show of 2023. Items are already starting to arrive in store, and we are so excited to bring the latest fashions to you.

As most of us already know- trends have a way of making their way back around from different decades of the past. If only we all saved our favorite pair of ray-bans from the ‘50’s or Birkenstocks from the ‘70’s! We wanted to start by noting the things from the past which are coming back in style for the year.

This Spring puff sleeves are on the rise in dresses and tops. Typically, we are seeing this style choice paired with all cotton materials. We are loving this come-back and think it will pair perfectly with beachy bottoms and accessories for the warmer days ahead. Puff sleeves give a little bit of a feminine flare to any ensemble.

For workwear, chunky loafers (pictured) are making a comeback from the ‘90’s. This style compliments your favorite pair of pixie pants effortlessly. A lot of

the options we are seeing in this shoe variation have a platform style bottom and a chunky chain across the top.

Girly accessories like pearl or jewel encrusted earrings and headbands are on the rise for Spring and give that perfect feminine touch to a solid top or dress for work or church. We are also seeing chenille patches (pictured) with cute sayings or shapes making up fun styles on sweatshirts and graphic tees.

Be on the lookout for airy midi dresses to be a strong trend for the upcoming year. This keeps your look nice and appropriate while also staying in style. We love this look in any variation of solid colors or bold prints.

Skinny jeans will be here to stay for a while to give more oversized tops a balanced look. However, straight leg jeans are definitely the most popular style in trousers and denim this year. We will all be rocking this style in a cropped variation this Spring to perfectly show off your shoes!

Prints have stayed the same for the

past few years with leopard, tie dye, and florals always being on our radar. We were thrilled to see some new patterns on the rise like the full leopard (pictured), checkered, bold abstract styles, zebra, and …

The latest trend we are bringing back to everyone is Permanent Jewelry which we will now be offering in store. This is a clasp-less bracelet, necklace, or anklet in sterling or gold filled material which can have charms added. You never take it off but can easily cut it off if needed. Getting matching pieces with your friends and family members will be something fun and different to do!

That's a wrap on everything you need to know about the upcoming trends for the season! The stylists at Vivian O'Nay would love to help you find the perfect timeless pieces or try something new. Come by and see us for all of your fashion needs in sizes Small-3X.

Chunky loafers are making a come back. Check out this pair from Naked Feet

Chenille patches make a fun addition to graphic tees and sweatshirts

Designer inspired leopard print will be sure to turn heads

Publisher/Editor

Jim Watson 334.324.3472 cell/text jim@riverregionboom.com

Contributing Writers

Jeff Barganier

Tracy Bhalla

Rashelle Brown

Greg Budell

Sara Zeff Geber

Margaret Morganroth Gullette

Lisa Hemphill

Susan Moore

Susan O’Conner

Dr. Blake Raggio

Lisa B. Samalonis

Sherry Schumann

Nick Thomas

Sandy Scott Watson

Cover Photography

Photography by DiAnna Paulk photographybydiannapaulk.com

Advertising

Jim Watson, 334.324.3472 jim@riverregionboom.com

Happy Light Be Gone!

Well they say it’s time to reset our clocks this month and I’m glad. It seems I’ve been in the dark longer than I should be. My attitude may reflect the fact that my mind and body have been daylight deprived too long. My wife Sandy probably feels it too. I bought her one of those Happy Therapy Lights for Christmas because she can feel the effects of SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. I’m not sure if it’s working but when we huddle together in front of the Happy Therapy Light with a glass of wine, we start to feel happy, but we’ll get even more happier when we can sit on the deck at 6 pm bathing in evening sunlight! I hope you’re Spring Forward on March 12 brings a smile to your face, with or without the wine ��

This month’s cover profile doesn’t worry too much about the effect of time changes because with her wandering spirit she just travels to another time zone to feel good! Her name is Lisa Hemphill and she’s a Travel Advisor at Sadie’s Global Travel in Montgomery. I wanted to share her story with you because she represents how many of us would define aging well, seeing the world and helping others experience their travel dreams. Hopefully you’ll receive some inspiration from Lisa’s story and perhaps act on your own travel dreams and seek new experiences. Please share Lisa with your friends and family, we all need a good travel advisor!

A few other stories to look for this month would be our friend Greg Budell and his desire to get us in the bowling alley again. Saturdays at Bama Lanes on Atlanta Highway. I have many fond memories from the bowling alley, and they represent the old school fun that is still FUN. Take your grandkids and family…there will be lots of laughs to go around. We also have a feature from a 75-year-old woman who’s an Instagram sensation because she got herself in shape physically and mentally, she says it's never too late and we’re giving away her book, check it out!

What about the most romantic place? Well, a granddaughter honors her grandmother’s place and it’s a sweet ending. Do you have stuff that needs to be gone? We provide some guidance on how to get rid of it, make some money and feel OK about it. Stuff is stressful, but not anymore. Finally, let me congratulate Betty Hutchinson for sending in her completed February BOOM! Word Search, she won $50 BOOM BUCKS! We’re doing it again this month check it out and be a winner.

I hope you enjoy this month’s issue. There’s plenty of good reads for your reading pleasure, so sit back, grab your favorite beverage, and enjoy the experience. And thanks for sharing BOOM! with friends and family, I appreciate it. And remember to enjoy the extra daylight, add wine if you prefer ��

Age well my friends.

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.

Jim Watson, Publisher jim@riverregionboom.com

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.

weaken and atrophy which contributes to a deflated look and decreases support for the rest of the facial soft tissues.

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

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

The most recent and relevant research regarding the anatomy of facial aging pertains to the understanding of the 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 which embody the telltale signs of aging.

Bone

We experience 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 all that 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

non-invasive modalities (e.g., botulinum toxin, fillers, lasers, chemical peels) to more 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 the relationship you have with your doctor.

In Good Health,

Dr. Blake Raggio

Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

128 Mitylene Park Ln. Montgomery, AL 36117 334-373-3611

www.ALplasticsurgery.com

Dr.Raggio@alplasticsurgery.com

Facelift/Necklift by Dr. Raggio

By Sherry Schumann

Grandparenting Ministry A Movement of God - Christian Grandparenting Network

A movement is underfoot. Christian grandparents around the world are awakening to the realization that God has given us a specific purpose for this season of life. At the heart of this movement is a man named Cavin Harper.

Who is Cavin Harper?

A graduate of Baylor University and Denver Seminary, Cavin served as an associate pastor in Denver, CO for seventeen years. He and Diane, his bride of nearly fifty-four years, have two daughters and nine grandchildren. They currently live in Colorado Springs. Cavin’s life changed in June 1997, the day his first grandchild was born. While cradling Thomas, who was only a few hours old, Cavin experienced something “more than an age awakening or the blessing of witnessing a new generation arrive on the scene.”

What was this awakening? It was the realization that we as grandparents are called to pass down our faith to our children and grandchildren, lest they become like Jacob’s stiff-necked grandchildren “who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10). As a result of this revelation, Cavin formed Elderquest Ministries, which was later renamed Christian Grandparenting Network.

Grand Camps

A year after Thomas’ birth, Cavin and Diane developed and established the first GrandCamp at facilities in the beautiful Rocky Mountains surrounding Pikes Peak.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with GrandCamp, it’s a five-day, faith-filled adventure that affords grandparents the opportunity to build strong relationships, create lasting memories, study God’s Word, and share the love of Christ with their grandchildren.

There are currently five GrandCamps in the United States and two in Canada. In 2017, Christian Grandparenting Network introduced the Grand Day Out format for churches. This one-day program provides a powerful introduction to the GrandCamp experience through the local church.

G@P Groups

Recognizing the need for grandparents to pray for their grandchildren, Cavin invited Lillian Penner to join his staff in 2007. With Cavin’s blessing, Lillian initiated Grandparents @ Prayer groups (affectionately known as G@P) around the world. These groups of two or more grandparents meet on a regular basis to pray for their children and grandchildren. Lillian and Cavin also established the second Sunday in September, as a day for grandparents to intercede on behalf of their loved ones. This day, which is called Grandparents Day of Prayer, coincides with National Grandparents Day.

Closing Thoughts

As the CEO of Christian Grandparenting

Network for nearly twenty-five years, Cavin laid the groundwork for the grandparent ministries that exist today and is rightfully known as the “Grandfather of Grandparenting Ministries.” A nationally recognized speaker and author of three books (Not On Our Watch, Courageous Grandparenting, and Raising Your Grandkids), he faithfully encourages grandparents to “proclaim God’s might to another generation and his power to all those to come” (Psalm 71:8, paraphrased). He exemplifies the phrase, “Don’t retire… REFIRE.”

Facts don’t cover the essence of a man; therefore, I won’t give you anymore biographical information about Cavin. Instead, I want to share with you what he hopes to accomplish in his lifetime. I found this list in the preface of his book, Courageous Grandparenting:

1. I want to live as courageously and intentionally as I can so that (our grandchildren) will understand the Gospel and choose to walk in the truth.

2. I don’t want to be found guilty of trivializing or neglecting my responsibility as a “Keeper of the Spring.”

3. I don’t want to be a barn-builder; I want to be a legacy-builder—the kind of legacy my grandkids will want to embrace and will outlive me for generations after me.

4. I want them to see the glory, the goodness, the grace, and the greatness of God in me, and I want them to want it for themselves.

Source: www.CHRISTIANGRANDPARENTING.com

Cavin Harper

Alabama Shakespeare Festival announces Greta Lambert Retirement

After nearly 38 years at Alabama Shakespeare Festival as an actor and staff member, Deputy Artistic Director and Education Director Greta Lambert is retiring from her staff position. Fittingly, said Lambert, she will depart her staff role during ASF’s production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest (Feb. 23–Mar. 12, 2023), in which she leads the cast in the role of Prospero. Widely considered to be Shakespeare’s final play, Lambert said it’s a fine farewell for this stage of her career.

Lambert came to ASF in 1985 in the theater’s premiere production in its Montgomery, Ala. Home, the Carolyn Blount Theatre. Lambert debuted at ASF as Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream to a packed house of state and national government leaders and celebrities, including Tony Randall and Olivia De Havilland. Lambert quickly established herself as an asset to the theater on and off the stage.

Lambert has performed in nearly 100 productions, but in her various staff roles, she has also served as coach, director, and educator. As a member of ASF’s first resident company, she coached graduate performance students and young professional company members, directed 17 MFA and ASF Fellowship productions, taught countless adult and youth acting classes, and supervised performance and technical theatre camps and classes.

“Greta’s artistry, skill, and generosity as an actor, director, and educator seem to know no bounds,” said ASF Artistic Director Rick Dildine. “We’ll definitely miss her presence in the building on a daily basis, but we look forward to having her perform in many more productions here at ASF — and to following her as an actor wherever she may be performing.”

“Greta is a creative tour de force,” said

ASF Executive Director Todd Schmidt. “She brings excellence and a spirit of cooperation to everything she does, and we’ll miss her tremendously as a part of our everyday artistic endeavors.”

Lambert, a native of Birmingham, Ala., said she never dreamed of a career as a staff member at a theater in Alabama. “Like most young people, I didn’t know where life would take me. I thought success would be Broadway, film, and TV. The last place I wanted to go was Alabama. It took me so many years, by way of D.C. and then New York, and then the first offer I got was to audition at ASF for 10 weeks? I just took it because I wanted to pay an agent a commission. I came here for roles and discovered that that’s really what success was to me: playing great roles where I grew and learned, and I came back as many years as I could. And then I became more than an actor: I became part of this wonderful team of theatremakers.”

Emmy Award-winning actor Michael Emerson came to ASF and met Lambert as a graduate student: “My first impression was of a warm and sociable person, gentle and funny, a good hostess who welcomed us into what was her home and took care of the people around her. And as time went on, it turned out that this is what she offered to an audience, as well — a warm invitation into the world of the play where you would be looked after, put at your ease, entertained. It's a world where you’re in good hands since Greta has such a formidable set of actor tools:

her natural beauty, her lovely voice, command of movement, intelligence, timing, humor, heart, and mystery, empathy, a true mastering of a difficult craft.”

Emmy Award-winning actor and director Carrie Preston recalls how Lambert shaped her understanding of success as an actor and director: “Seeing Greta in Hedda Gabler, with her every restless move, her command of the language and stage was something I’d never seen before [and] how that could be crafted and executed, almost like a dance, that a character could and should be constructed like a house, from the foundation up. I didn’t know how to do that, but I knew I wanted to try.”

Former ASF acting company member Greg Thornton said, “Superlatives abound and where to begin? Luminous, inspiring, heart-rending, a shining presence, the best of stage partners. It was and continues to be a privilege to stand in the room and on the stage with Greta. You know at every turn, she will deliver the goods, and then some. How lucky are we to be in her company.”

Asked what she’ll miss most about her time on the ASF staff, Lambert said, without hesitation: “The people. ASF is a great hive, with everyone buzzing around to make beautiful theatre. From our artists to artisans, our administrative teams, the people who sell the tickets and hand out the playbills, I’ll miss seeing all of my fellow worker bees in the hive every day.”

Sheet Pan Steak and Veggies

Perfectly seasoned, melt-in-your-mouth tender steak with potatoes and broccoli. All made on 1 single sheet pan! EASY CLEAN UP!

Ingredients:

2 pounds baby red potatoes

16 ounces broccoli florets

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried thyme

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 pounds 1-inch-thick top sirloin steak, patted dry

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to broil. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray.

2. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until parboiled for 12-15 minutes; drain well.

3. Place potatoes and broccoli in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet. Add olive oil, garlic and thyme; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Gently toss to combine.

4. Season steaks with salt and pepper, to taste, and add to the baking sheet in a single layer.

5. Place into oven and broil until the steak is browned and charred at the edges, about 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare, or until desired doneness.

6. Serve immediately with garlic butter, if desired.

Source: https://damndelicious.net/2016/12/16/sheet-pansteak-and-veggies/

Montgomery Great Strides Walk

Great Strides provides a fantastic opportunity for family, friends, students, and colleagues to come together and make a difference. The event harnesses the power of people with a shared vision and encourages collaboration, team building, and leadership, as we take steps to find a cure for cystic fibrosis. Your participation in Great Strides matters a lot! We don’t just want to treat CF, we want to end CF. The time is now. Together, we can cross the finish line.

MONTGOMERY GREAT STRIDES, April 15, 2023 | Location: The Tipping Point at Hampstead, 5015 Hampstead High Street. Check-in: 9:00 AM | Walk: 10:00 AM | Distance: 1 mile. register here https://fightcf.cff.org

By Margaret Morganroth Gullette

My Father's Frugal Habits Make Sense Now

As a child, she didn't get her dad's thriftiness. Why she does now.

My father had plenty of habits that irritated my mother. But nothing irritated her more than "Marty being cheap." As a child, I didn't understand it either.

For instance, my father turned off the lights in rooms that people had just left. Sometimes we were leaving just to come right back in, but whenever he was home, he would march cross the little hallway from wherever he was at either end of the house to click the light switches down. Did he like a dark house?

With the lights off, the forest-green end of the house was as dismal as a real Hansel and Gretel woods. My mother would march right back from wherever she had been to defiantly flick the switches up.

My father also saved things. He wore the same plaid flannel shirts year after year, one on top of another, even indoors. In the basement shop, when I was invited, he took long, thick crooked nails that had been pulled out of boards with the claw end of the hammer and smashed them with the fat butt end, so they straightened out like new.

Saving Rusted Nails in Little Glass Jars

He saved rusted nails, which had

turned a delicate copper color I liked. Each size went into its own unmatched little glass jar: screws, screw-eyes, all the iron nails: the tenpenny, brads, roofing nails, slender white finish nails and even some upholstery nails with stubby shanks hidden by golden curving indented tops.

But the frugal habit my mother mocked most was my father's taking the little bitty soap ends and mashing them together so they made a small irregular cake or many-sided oily squashed muffin.

He didn't explain to me why he was doing any of those things. He didn't explain anything, except, rarely, American politics. He was a silent man.

Maybe in those days, my mother flattened him. But she was a good mother to me, and you don't judge your parents when you are still so young it's difficult to tell them apart. Later, when I was married, they came to visit to say

they were a happy couple now. My mother, as it were, apologized. She said gaily, because it was all in the past, "I didn't let him be the captain of his own ship." They had a good year before he got sick with ALS.

The Stories I Told About My Father

As an adult, I used to tell friends those amusing childhood stories about my freaky father — straightening bent nails, turning lights off, saving soap ends. People recognized he did those things to save money.

In the middle class, where my husband and I had slowly risen to occupy a fairly secure place, saving money had begun to seem odd. It was "cheap," just as my upwardly mobile mother had said, even before the postwar boom really got started lifting our boat.

My generation's goal, as we were moving up economic ladders, was to spend on visible objects, showing taste as well as means.

But over time, I noticed that as I told the stories, they had lost the tinge of being amusing foibles. They began to edge toward being about thrift. Conspicuous consumption had seemed cruelly elite during the Great Depression, which marked both my parents, though in opposite ways.

Likewise, after the Great Recession of 2008, waste of any kind began to seem excessive, ostentatious, brutal and stupid. Saving became not a mere trend, but a value and a virtue of those who could manage it. The planet cannot take the rapid, steady diminution of its resources forever.

How I See My Father's Frugal Habits Now

Plenty of people are replicating some of my dad's frugal habits. Anyone with any sense now wants to save electricity, because so much of it still comes from fossil fuels. Everyone goes around smoothing down the dimmers.

I've come to see differently what I once thought of as my father's eccentricities. I've come closer to him in spirit.

Since he gave me his jars, my own basement shop has held his nail collection and I draw on the legacy.

Just recently, when I mentioned the soap ends, a close friend said with a smile that was only slightly embarrassed: "How do you do that?"

"Oh, it's quick and easy," I began. "You get a few slivers wet and soft and slimy and you crush them and press them and rub them around until they hold together. It feels so nice."

Margaret Morganroth Gullette is the author of the prize-winning book, "Ending Ageism, or How Not to Shoot Old People," and a Resident Scholar at the Women's Studies Research Center, Brandeis University. Gullette is writing a new book, "American Eldercide, How It Happened, How to Prevent It."

Source: www.NextAvenue.org

The author as a child with her dad

By Nick Thomas

Ram on the Run

By a curious coincidence, March not only signifies the beginning of the astrological zodiac sign Aries – the flying ram – but also happens to be the month, back in the 70s, of my own rather memorable sheep encounter.

As a college student in the late 70s, one of my many odd jobs was driving an ambulance for an animal shelter. Working a couple of evenings a week for the princely sum of $20 per night, I would nap in the clinic while waiting on calls from the public to collect injured homeless animals and transport them safely back to the clinic where a vet would examine them.

I know this may seem a bit elaborate for an animal shelter in those days but remember, this was back when there were still a few medical doctors who made house calls.

One of the most interesting rescues came early one Sunday morning from a woman who had awoken to find a large sheep roaming around her suburban backyard. I arrived to find her and some neighbors gathered, musing over the massive animal lurking behind a row of bushes. When I drove up, I’m sure I heard one wisecracking neighbor mutter: “Hey Mary, lost your little lamb?”

But there was nothing lamb-like about this woolly beast. He was a large 120-lb Merino ram and you didn’t have to be

Little Bo-Peep to see that this guy had lost his way and was far from content. Each time I approached the animal he bolted passed me causing me to stumble earthwards more than once, much to the amusement of the jeering onlookers. While none offered assistance, they did vocalize encouragement – for the sheep.

After retrieving a length of rope, I stood before my adversary planning the capture. Having watched far too many Western movies as a child, I felt quite qualified to throw a rope around a fat old sheep!

I soon realized that years as a couch cowboy had, in fact, failed to provide the necessary practical skills to quickly construct, let alone operate, an effective lasso. My attempt yielded a rather limp and pathetic-looking piece of twisted cord that must have amused the mob of chuckling spectators.

After several attempts, I managed to rope just about every object in the

backyard – several tree branches, the garbage can, the lawn mower, the most vocal and obnoxious neighbor (okay, I’ll admit that one was intentional) – everything, that is, except the darn ram.

By now, the bystanders were wavering between contempt and hysterics. My face was red from embarrassment and exhaustion, but my patience eventually paid off. As the flying fleecy fellow made yet another dash for freedom, I managed to slip the rope over its head, before tumbling to the ground one last indignant time.

To my surprise, and relief, the animal became quite docile after capture as I led it towards the vehicle where it calmly climbed into the back. From there, it was back to the vet for a checkup.

Attempts to locate the owner failed and I was later told that the Merino, a breed prized for their fine soft wool, had been transferred to a sheep farm. But in the years that followed, I could never purchase a new sweater without wondering if it had come from the 4-legged woolly foe that had left me slightly bruised after our animated March tussle.

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.

Gogue Center Closes 2022–23 season with Smokey Robinson, Chicago

The Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University closes its 2022–23 season with two highly anticipated performances—legend Smokey Robinson (Saturday, April 22; Ham Amphitheatre) and the 25th anniversary tour of Broadway’s awardwinning “Chicago” (Wednesday, May 3 and Thursday, May 4; Woltosz Theatre).

A prolific singer-songwriter, record producer and executive, Smokey Robinson is a cornerstone figure of American music. As a co-founder of Motown Records with Berry Gordy, he was instrumental in crafting the signature Motown sound that would leave an indelible, far-reaching impact on the future of popular songwriting.

In 1960, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles recorded Motown’s first million-selling hit, “Shop Around.” That decade, Robinson produced 26 topforty hits with The Miracles, including “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “I Second That Emotion” and the group’s only number-one pop hit, “The Tears of a Clown.” As one of Motown’s major songwriters and producers, Robinson penned several more hit singles such as, “Who’s Loving You,” “My Guy,” “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “My Girl,” “Get Ready” and “Ain’t That Peculiar.”

Robinson has been inducted into the Kennedy Center, awarded an individual

star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a second star with The Miracles. He has been awarded a National Medal of the Arts, a Heritage Award at the Soul Train Music Awards and a BET Lifetime Achievement Award and has received honorary doctorates from Howard University and the Berklee College of Music. Robinson was named The Recording Academy’s MusiCares Person of the Year in February 2023.

Robinson’s performance is presented

as part of the Gogue Center’s 2022–23 Amphitheatre Series.

After 25 years, “Chicago” is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy-shake: a universal tale of fame, fortune and

all that jazz, with one showstopping song after another and some of the most astonishing dancing audiences have ever seen. It’s no wonder the performance has been honored with six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy Award and thousands of standing ovations.

“Chicago” is the longest running American musical on Broadway and the second-longest running show in Broadway history.

“Chicago” is presented as part of the Gogue Center’s 2023–23 Broadway Series.

Tickets are available for both performances and can be purchased online at www.goguecentertickets.auburn.edu, by telephone at 334.844.TIXS (8497), and in person at the Gogue Center box office, located at 910 South College Street, Auburn, Alabama.

By Sara Zeff Geber

The 4 Most Common Types of 'Gray Affairs'

An author’s 30-year anecdotal study of infidelity finds older women are as likely as younger women to have extramarital affairs

Are extramarital affairs confined to those in the first half of life? Does a woman's interest in having a romantic relationship outside of the marriage vows wane after menopause? Apparently not, says Susan Shapiro Barash, author of "A Passion for More: Affairs that Make or Break Us," who released a revised and updated version of her 2001 book in October, 2022.

For the past 30 years, Barash has been studying female infidelity and her most recent finding is that "gray affairs," while unusual when she first started interviewing her volunteer subjects, are now quite common.

In her three decades of anecdotal, qualitative research she has focused exclusively on heterosexual women, and the subjects she has interviewed represent a wide spectrum of ethnicity, race, religion, financial status, educational level and child-bearing status. However, her most recent appeal for interview candidates yielded more women over 55 than any other age group.

In the past three years, Barash has interviewed women in their 60s, 70s, and 80s, with the oldest being 83. Her book covers all age groups, but,

in her words, "what women over fifty reported in this round of interviews was a notable finding for me and a departure from the earlier years of tracking female infidelity."

One of the more interesting discoveries from her research is that 90% of the women surveyed (of all ages) had no guilt or remorse about their actions. Women reported actively pursuing their affairs with a sense of entitlement.

Barash has attributed much of that sentiment to women having a greater sense of self-esteem in their lives. They earn a living, they buy what they need, and they have a sense of agency in their lives that wasn't true for most women 30 years ago. She found that older women are similar to younger women in their willingness to engage in extramarital affairs, for a variety of reasons.

4 Types of 'Gray Affairs'

In addition, Barash found that older womens' affairs fell into the same

categories as that of their younger counterparts:

Empowering Affairs: With more opportunities for women today in every aspect of life, some women now engage with younger men and in workplace affairs. There is a strong corollary here with the much older story of the successful male executive who engages in an affair with a younger woman. Barash relates this "boytoy" mentality to a fear of aging.

Sex-Driven Affairs: Usually the result of stale marriages in which the physical connection had dwindled. The major component of this type of affair is the sex, which comes with fewer boundaries or rules. Women who talked to Barash about these kinds of affairs frequently reported an out-ofbody experience they weren't willing (or able) to have with their husbands.

Love Affairs: Unanticipated and often heartbreaking, these affairs happen when women least expect them. Often, they break up the marriage or are used as a wake-up call for the husband to re-evaluate the relationship and battle for his wife to stay.

Self Esteem Affairs: Women who describe these kinds of affairs talk of feeling overwhelmed with the responsibilities of work, caring for children of all ages, and/or household duties. The new man makes them feel special in a way their husbands do not.

Reliable Numbers Hard to Find

One of Barash's more interesting findings is that extramarital affairs don't necessarily lead to the break-up of the marriage. In over half of the cases she chronicled, the marriage stayed intact and was sometimes strengthened by the affair, whether or not the liaison was disclosed to the spouse.

Often it is a wake-up call that the marriage or primary relationship is languishing and needs attention. In other cases, an affair may serve as a pressure-release valve on the marriage, lowering a woman's expectations of her husband to be all things to her, and in an odd way allowing her to be happier within her marriage.

Barash's anecdotal research does not lend itself to an estimate of the prevalence of infidelity in older women. In other literature, there are widely varying estimates of the prevalence of infidelity in American society. Some experts claim it is as low as 35%, other put it at over 50%. Reliable numbers are difficult to find in the literature and most researchers agree that the subject is challenging to study due to the reluctance of subjects to honestly disclose their behavior.

Sara Zeff Geber, Ph.D., is the nation’s foremost expert on Solo Aging. She is an author, professional speaker, and certified retirement coach. In 2018, Sara was named an “Influencer in Aging” by PBS’ Next Avenue and is a regular contributor to Forbes. com in the areas of aging and retirement.

Sara’s book, "Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers: A Retirement and Aging Roadmap for Single and Child-free Adults," was published in 2018, and was selected that year as a ‘best book on aging well’ by the WSJ. Find out more about Sara on her website, www.LifeEncore.com and on LinkedIn.

Source: www.nextavenue.org

26th Annual Herb Day 2023

Sponsored by the Alabama Herb Society

We are Celebrating “Earth Day” on “Herb Day”

The 26th annual Herb Day, Saturday, April 22, 2023, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm, sponsored by Alabama Herb Society, will be held on the corner of 5 Bell Road and the Atlanta Hwy on the grounds of Grace Presbyterian Church, Montgomery, Alabama under the shade of the towering Pecan trees. For more information go to www.Alabamaherbsociety.org or info@alabamaherbsociety.org, or find us on Facebook @Alabama Herb Society.

The annual ‘Herb Day’ festival is a free, fun-filled, public educational event for the entire family. Lectures/demonstrations featuring experts on identifying, growing, and using herbs – including herbal recipes. There will be live music, prizes to be raffled and the opportunity to find that perfect Mother’s Day gift and garden accessories in the open-air market. A variety of vendors will be there to sell their garden related wares including a huge selection of herbs and a variety of plants including Hosta’s, miscellaneous crafts, herbal teas, various wood working, sundry yard art, local artist presenting their art, and more. Grace Presbyterian Church will be cooking up those delicious “Hot Dogs” and BAR B Q to raise funds for their mission work. You need to be there!

Wow! What a Day it will be!

The Alabama Herb Society (AHS) is a non-profit volunteer organization. Our purpose is to promote the study, growth, and use of herbs in an enjoyable and friendly atmosphere. Programs during the monthly meetings range from the use of herbs, their medicinal properties, culinary use of herbs, educational lectures on research, and how to plant and grow herbs. Some of the programs are handson! Members’ plant and maintain the Crump Senior Center Garden located at 1751 Cong. W. L. Dickinson Dr. in Montgomery, Alabama, share knowledge and experience of its members with the community: schools, church groups, public garden groups, and garden clubs, and is sponsoring the 26th Annual Herb Day Event on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Come and celebrate “Herb Day” on “Earth Day” with us, April 22, 2023, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

‘The Most Romantic Place’

Woman Relives Grandma’s Love Story With Engagement Photo at Bryce Canyon, 63 Years Later

A granddaughter has honored her grandparents’ sweet love story after getting engaged at their favorite spot. She and her fiance also paid tribute to the magical moment by recreating an iconic photo of her grandparents from six decades ago.

Paige Orton’s grandparents Elva and Steve first met each other at Bryce Canyon in Utah in the summer of 1959.

Elva first laid eyes on Steve while looking out the window of a Utah Parks Company employee bus headed for Bryce Canyon. The girl next to Elva happened to know Steve, and Elva wished out loud that Steve would ask her on a date, according to a Facebook post by Bryce Canyon National Park.

Steve invited Elva to meet him for a fireside activity with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints less than a week later and they shared their first kiss. Elva said: “We could walk straight out in front of the Lodge to the rim. There was a great place to make out, so we did that quite frequently. What can I say? We were madly in love!”

The couple was certain that they wanted to marry each other that summer, however, Steve left on a church mission to Australia. They then made a pact that they would reunite at Bryce Canyon where their love story began.

“My future husband and I wrote letters … it was our dream to meet back here

at Bryce after two years,” Elva told the National Park Service in an interview.

When Steve returned, Elva caught the first bus from her new place of work at the Grand Canyon, where she was saving up for college by working both as program director and at the post office. The bus driver was in on the couple’s special moment. As soon as they neared the canyon, he began honking the horn, and the whole bus cheered to see Steve waiting for his beloved.

Steve was then hired as a bellhop in the Grand Canyon. Dating as canyon employees was “the best,” Elva said. Their love intensified, and Steve forged a romantic plan.

“At 5:00 in the morning, he came scratching at the door … and he said, ‘Elva, let’s go out on the rim, I want

to talk to you,'” Elva said. “We have prayer, and decided we wanted to get married before school started.”

The couple tied the knot two weeks later, on Sept. 22, 1962. They then traveled the world, taught in China, and, after Steve joined the military, lived in five different states. In the course of their life the pair welcomed seven children and eventually 17 grandchildren, KSL reported.

After almost 55 years of marriage, Steve passed away in 2017.

In celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary, Elva returned to Bryce Canyon with her extended family in September 2022.

They were moved to find Steve’s signature from 1957 carved near an employee’s linen cabin doorway but that wasn’t the only nostalgic moment.

The morning after, Paige was visited by her boyfriend, Garrett Arnoldsen, who drove through the night to surprise her at the canyon rim at sunrise. He proposed.

“She said yes,” Bryce Canyon National Park shared on Facebook. “In homage to her grandparents, they then recreated a photo taken of Elva and Steve at Bryce Point in 1959.”

“Growing up, this has been the most romantic place in the world to me

Steve and Elva at Bryce Point in 1959 Garrett and Paige at Bryce Point in 2022

Garrett proposing to Paige

(Courtesy of the Orton family)

because of your story,” Paige said to her grandmother.

Surrounded by family, the newly engaged couple recreated a photo of Elva and Steve in their Sunday best, looking out over the canyon. It must have been taken when Elva’s parents came to visit, Elva said, since neither she nor Steve had a camera.

In Paige and Garrett’s loving recreation, the groom-to-be faces the camera with a faraway smile, like Steve, while Paige has her back turned and is looking out over the hoodoos with one foot tucked behind the other, like Elva.

Elva was touched and honored that her granddaughter, Paige, kept her and Steve’s love story alive with her own pictureperfect proposal.

Elva said: “It made me very, very happy that she would want, that they would want, to start their love story in Bryce Canyon.”

Share your stories with us at emg. inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at www.TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter

Elva Orton touring the deluxe cabins near the Bryce Lodge.

By Sandy Scott Watson

Memories of Sweet William & Compost!

My dear husband Jim gifted me the Master Gardener course as part of my Christmas gifts. It has been a desire for many years. I feel like a giant sponge. Sitting in class or studying I am constantly reminded of my father. He always had an incredible garden and could create a positive result with composting.

My dad was born in Coffee county Mississippi in 1925. William T. Scott; WT; Bill or Scotty were his many monikers. His father died when he was two and the struggles began. Grandmother moved to North Alabama with two little boys to be closer to her family and to make things worse the Great Depression began in 1929. Dad survived hard times and eventually moved to Selma where he met my mom. In 1950 he took a job at an Army Post in Maryland as a machinist. Daddy built our house, fished, hunted, trapped and ran a crab line in the salty waters of the Chesapeake Bay, and he gardened! I say he had ‘ten green thumbs!’ Neighbors and friends benefitted from his garden. I remember his tomatoes oh, his tomatoes! I sat many times with my parents snapping green beans. Mother was not one who canned so we had a huge chest freezer, it held many treasures thru the years, baked

apples, all sorts of vegetables, venison, beef, fish and sliced peaches, yum. When my brother Barry was eight or nine years old our dad took him to fish in a contest above Atkinson Dam. He won by catching a huge catfish, full of roe. At that time home sewers fed into the rivers that flowed into the Bay. Thankfully that has been rectified. We did not eat bottom feeders! After the celebration that cat was buried in the garden because dad knew that fish contained naturally occurring amino acids, vitamins, hormones and enzymes for soil health? He also brought in organic fertilizers like manure and mushroom compost that added the benefit of increasing organic matter in the soil and supporting soil microbes. My father was a self-taught man who loved nature. When I followed him thru the woods, he knew the name of every tree and plant, like ‘crow’s feet’ which is a vine that grows along the ground. We pulled it up to make Christmas wreathes.

I am not certain when I began composting. I think in Madison,

Wisconsin. I met a wonderful lady who had traveled to see many gardens of the world. On her property were apple trees. You could pick all you wanted but you had to pick up any fruit from the ground and toss it onto the compost pile.

I have an Aunt Bertha who grew up and has lived on the land in Elmore county all her life. She is a gracious lady who can grow, cook, can or put up anything. Her jams, oh my! On a visit to her home one time she handed me a container of veggie-scraps and asked me to toss it off her porch onto her flower bed. I have been tossing mine off the deck ever since. In her gracious southern drawl, she once told me “Sandra, the wilderness will overtake you!” God put Adam into Eden to tend and keep it. How can we do less?

In our short time together, Jim has learned about composting and has tolerated it well. He now saves eggshells and plant scrapes when he cooks. Yes, ladies he cooks and works in the yard!

Life in general keeps me from being in my lovely garden 24-7. God’s creation is far beyond all imagining. Did you know that plants sense gravity? That is why roots grow down!

Sandy Scott Watson, an intern in the 2019 Master Gardener Class, lives in Montgomery. For more information on becoming a master gardener, visit www.capcitymag.org or email capcitymag@gmail.com

William T. Scott, Sandy's Dad

Sandy's brother, Barry Scott, w/Prize Catfish

Sandy, forever a "composter"

Spring and Summer 2023 at AUM OLLI

Winter lingers with its cold, rainy, windy days. Despite the cold and rain, AUM OLLI is busy making plans for classes for the spring and summer terms of 2023. The spring term is April 03 – May 19, 2023, with seven sessions of each class. The summer mini-term is Mondays and Tuesdays of the four weeks of June. The favorite repeated classes will, of course, stay in the schedules, but there will be new classes in all categories – study/discussion, active, and hands-on (DIY). (The new catalog for both terms will be available in print and online by mid-March.)

New study/discussion classes for the spring term include analyses of historical and current events in the Middle East and East Asia. How often have you mused that you wished to be better informed on what is going on in these parts of the world and how these events affect the U. S.? There is also a course that provides an overview of legal issues people need to consider as they age. For fun, one study class will read

and discuss contemporary female mystery writers.

Spring and summer terms will both include new exercise classes in addition to the ongoing Tai Chi for Pain Management in the spring term. The new introduction to Tai Chi class in the spring will meet two days a week and once a week in the summer. Also added in the summer is an exercise class designed to improve flexibility, balance, and strength. The popular line dancing class will be offered both terms.

In spring or summer terms, participants will have the opportunity to improve their abilities in watercolor painting, zentangle, or writing. New in the hands-on category for spring is an introduction to quilting (tee-shirt memory quilts). Jewelry making with beads continues to gain in popularity each term and is on the schedule for both terms.

Because the summer term is only four

weeks, the only bonus opportunities offered are the book discussion groups – one at the Center for Lifelong Learning (meets twice a month) and one at the Selma – Dallas County Public Library (meets once a month). Spring term has not only the two book groups but a full schedule of lunch presentations and field trips. Subjects covered in the lunch presentations are Alabama rocks, Faberge eggs, and the training of service dogs. In addition, there will be a performance by AUMcapella. Field trips include a popular wine and food tasting at Peppertree Steaks N’ Wines and a trip to a service dog training facility.

Battle of New Orleans

The American frontier burned with revival when the War of 1812 broke out. For the second time in a hundred years, God was calling America out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Today, by contrast, doctrines of demons proliferate in the minds of men. Delusions abound.

The American people mimic sheep in the face of oppression. Our ramparts have fallen.

But in the early 1800’s, with the American Revolution miraculously won, and the seeds of Abolition already sown, Americans harbored no illusions about the nature of despotism. Nor would they allow the British to reestablish dictatorial rule on their watch.

Andrew Jackson was the last U.S. president to have involvement in the Revolutionary War, and is the only president to have been a prisoner of war. As a thirteen-year-old POW, a British officer slashed Jackson with a sword when he refused to clean the officer’s boots. The scars on Jackson’s head and left hand were still visible when he led his unorthodox Army against British regulars at the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815.

Fighting for America were U.S. Army regulars alongside New Orleans militia, slaves and former slaves, Choctaw Indians, Kentucky and Tennessee frontiersmen, and a band of cutthroat pirates led by the notorious Jean Lafitte. Jackson’s forces numbered about 5,000. The British: 10,000. But the Battle of New Orleans was a decisive American victory and horrific slaughter of British troops. According to Thomas Fleming writing for MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History, Winter 2001, British General “Pakenham’s assault had consumed 3,326 men. Of those, 828 were killed and 2,468 were wounded—with more than half of the latter listed as ‘permanently disabled,’ a medical term that usually meant an amputated leg or arm. The remainder were taken prisoner. The losses in individual regiments make the slaughter even more apparent. The

Highlanders lost 868 men out of 1,000. In Gibbs’ column the light infantry lost 650 out of 862. Only 134 survived from the 816 men in the luckless, badly led 44th Regiment. Jackson’s men, behind their mud rampart, had lost only eight men killed and 14 wounded. Old Hickory could only express a sense of wonder at these numbers. ‘The unerring hand of Providence shielded my men,’ he said.” The battle lasted about two hours with the greatest carnage occurring in thirty minutes as Britain’s most professional officers made huge tactical blunders. For example, the 1000 “Highlanders” were annihilated when ordered to march diagonally across the field of battle directly in front of the American rampart.

American folk music song writer Jimmy Driftwood gave a pretty accurate description of the battle in his Battle of New Orleans lyrics:

In 1814, we took a little trip Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip We took a little bacon and we took a little beans And we caught the bloody British in a town near New Orleans

We fired our guns and the British kept a-comin'

There wasn't nigh as many as there was

Beauregard House

Chalmette Monument

a while ago

We fired once more and they begin to runnin'

On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico

Tragically, the battle was fought after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent between the U.S. and Great Britain, formally ending the War of 1812. Later, President Andrew Jackson was asked if the battle had been fought in vain. He replied that, had the British won the Battle of New Orleans, and fortified the southwestern frontier with British troops, Great Britain would have reneged on the Treaty of Ghent. Had that happened, we might, today, be a much smaller nation, if a nation at all.

The Chalmette National Cemetery lies about 500 meters to the southeast of the American line of defense. It’s the final resting place of Union soldiers who died in Louisiana during the Civil War. This hallowed ground also contains remains of veterans of the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Vietnam; and four Americans who fought in the

Reenacters

Battle of 1812, including one who fought in the Battle of New Orleans.

Notable structures at the battlefield site include the Malus-Beauregard House built about 20 years after the Battle, and the Chalmette Monument. The monument was constructed between 1855 and 1908. The cornerstone of this impressive obelisk was laid within days of Andrew Jackson’s 25th Anniversary visit to the battleground. Visitors are allowed to climb to its top for views of the surrounding area.

The small Visitors Center features displays, a short video, souvenirs, water and snacks. When we visited the site on the 208th anniversary of the battle, reenactors were present

conducting canon and musket firing demonstrations, and discussing history with attendees. For maximum enjoyment, plan to go on a day when the weather is beautiful. Be prepared, depending on the number of visitors, to park a couple of miles away at the Civic Center to catch the yellow-schoolbus shuttle. While there, remember to pray against the progressive forces of spiritual darkness undermining our nation, that we might continue to live in peace and freedom; and triumph over tyranny.

For more info use keyword “Chalmette” at www.nps.gov

Jeff S. Barganier is a novelist, travel writer and manager of Cindy Barganier Interiors LLC (www.cindybarganier.com). 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 and take them with you when you travel!

Cindy with Textile Maker Reenacters

This & tHAT i

The 7th Annual American Village Festival of Tulips is NOW OPEN!

Stroll through a field of 100,000 tulips, in all the colors of the rainbow. Pick the ones you want to keep – tulips are $2.00 each, and include both flower and bulb. Bring your family and friends and don’t forget your camera. The tulips and the American Village’s beautiful campus create a one-of-a-kind backdrop for photos. We are nearing peak bloom (when the majority of the flowers are open). The American Village will be open Monday-Saturday 104, and Sunday 12-4 during the Festival of Tulips begins (weather permitting). Admission to the Festival of Tulips is $5 per person, free to veterans, active military and children ages 4 and under. *Enter the front gate and follow the signs to the parking lot directly beside the tulip field. You’ll pay admission and pay for the tulips you pick at the field. For more visit https://www. americanvillage.org/festival-of-tulips/

ASF-Million Dollar Quartet, Tickets @ www.asf.net

APR. 13–MAY 7, 2023 Festival Stage | Recommended Ages 13+, On December 4, 1956, a twist of fate brought together Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. Million Dollar Quartet is a celebration of the contagious spirit, freewheeling excitement, and thrilling sounds of the once-in-alifetime event where four of music’s best talents came together. This is a rocking night of classic music!. For more vist www.asf.net

Stores_Steak Out_Steaks & Wine

The Vintage Olive_Capital City-Ace Hardware_Orange Therapy_Down the Street

Chappy's Deli_Health Wise Foods_Eastbrook Flea Market_John Lee Paints

Home Care Assistance_Doug's 2_Baumhower’s Restaurant_Jan's Beach House

San Marcos_Chris'

www.RiverRegionBoom.com

YOUR HOME FLOWN AIRPORT: MONTGOMERY REGIONAL AIRPORT

Traveling local matters, the Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) offers competitive prices and direct flights to four non-stop destinations and hundreds of connections worldwide, reaching the globe. MGM has always been an intelligent alternative to flying, but we’re making strides to ensure passengers have a better experience. How? By being better in all the ways that matter to travelers. Better means convenient parking located close to the terminal. Better means shorter TSA wait lines averaging less than five minutes. Better also means a calmer and more comfortable atmosphere; from the moment passengers walk into the terminal to their arrival at the gate, MGM creates a pleasant experience for first-time and returning travelers. Choose convenience. Live Life to the Fullest. Fly MGM. Book Now www.flymgm.com

Caregiver of the Month Spotlight: Monica Bozeman

Monica has been with Home Care Assistance since 2021 and has over 15 years of experience. She has a great track record and is determined to make a difference in the lives of her clients. She is dedicated, reliable, knowledgeable, and empathetic. If you ever want to have a caregiver on your team Monica is one of the best!

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.”- Amelia Earhart

We appreciate your hard work and dedication, thank you for a job Well Done!!

For more information visit www.homecareassistancemontgomery.com

Annual Spring Wine Festival 2023

Corbin Farms annual Spring Wine Festival is officially planned for Saturday, April 15th from 11-6PM packed with loads of fun!! There will be local vendors, food trucks, live music, grape stomping, great food and wine from CFW, and some great gear to help kick off spring in the South! This is a come-and-go style event, so you’re able to enjoy the event when you’re able! The winery will be open only for this event, and is a ticketed event ONLY. With limited tickets available at the door, we highly encourage that tickets are purchased in advance! This event is RAIN OR SHINE! Tickets are $27 for adults(21+) or $8 for children(<21). Adult tickets includes 2 drink tickets, grape stomp ticket, Corbin Cash(valid towards any purchase made with the winery on 04/15/23), in a Corbin Farms tote bag! Child’s Ticket includes a grape stomp ticket and a ticket for a soft drink. Music Lineup: Skylar Wallace 11am-2pm, Matt Broach 2:30-5:30pm. Vendors: Wasabi Juans, Waffle Stop, Michelle's Chocolate Lab, Spun Sugars, Bird Dog Soap Co., SC Watercolors, The Crafty Owl, Jodie's Canvases, JDL Crafts, Printing, & More, Don't Worry Bead Happy, Jess Be Happy, SebCo Designs, Uniquely Jillian. The Southern Pup Co., The T-Shirt Fairy, AL Designs, Bugs & Bees Children's Boutique. www.corbinfarmswinery.com

Artist: Ashley V Blalock

Montgomery Regional Airport

This & tHAT i

Capri & MMFA Present: Mary Cassatt: Painting The Modern Woman

Presented in partnership with the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Introduced by Margaret Lynne Ausfeld, Huead of Curatorial. Mary Cassatt made a career painting the lives of the women around her. Her radical images showed them as intellectual, feminine and real, which was a major shift in the way women appeared in art. Presenting her astonishing prints, pastels and paintings, this film introduces us to the often overlooked Impressionist whose own career was as full of contradiction as the women she painted. She printed, sketched, and painted dozens of images of mothers and children yet she never married or had children herself. She was a classically trained artist but chose to join a group of Parisian radicals the Impressionists a movement that transformed the language of art. The world's most eminent Cassatt curators and scholars help tell this riveting tale of great social and cultural change; a time when women were fighting for their rights and the language of art was completely re-written. Mary Cassatt and her modern women were at the heart of it all.

Grief Share Support Group

A GriefShare Support Group -- Your Journey from Mourning to Joy -- meets every Wednesday through April 26 from 10 AM until noon. All meetings will be in the East Sanctuary. This is a free group with discussion concerning stages of grief, the storms that accompany it, and ways of dealing with loss. Sorry, childcare is not available during this time. www.frazer.church

Join us for the March AGLOW Montgomery Lighthouse service LIVE in person!

Thursday, March 16 @ 10:00 am. Please come & join us at St James Church - 9045 Vaughn Rd, Montgomery, AL. The service will be streamed LIVE onto the AGLOW Montgomery YouTube channel & FB Page @aglowmgm. AGLOW Montgomery is apart of AGLOW International. Aglow is a dynamic, global Kingdom movement made up of women and men with a single purpose: to see God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. New AGLOW State President, Neva Welch, will be our guest speaker! Remember AGLOW meets every 2nd Thursday @ 12:00 noon for Lunch & Learn and then every 3rd Thursday for the month Lighthouse Service. We also have prayer times every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month @ 10:00 am. Please MARK your CALENDAR for the rest of 2023! MONTGOMERY do not burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aglow with His spirit! Romans 12:11-13, Pray for MONTGOMERY to be SET AGLOW with the Holy Spirit!

BOOMERS, share your stuff with BOOM! We Love to Bring BOOMERS Together, send info and pics to jim@riverregionboom.com

Zoo Weekend @ the Montgomery Zoo, March 25-26

Join us for a festival and carnival-like wild weekend, March 25-26, 9am5pm at Zoo Weekend, our annual Spring fundraiser at the Montgomery Zoo. This fun-filled event at the Montgomery Zoo has been going on for generations and loved by all ages. The weekend will be filled with great music, live entertainment, animal presentations and programs, games, prizes, rides, tons of yummy concessions, and fun, fun, fun! Admission includes: Entry to the Zoo and Mann Museum, Entry Waters of the World, Entry to Parakeet Cove and Petting Zoo, Entry to our Reptile Facility. Additional fun, attractions, and rides: Train ride: $3 per person, Giraffe Encounter: $3 per person, Sky lift ride: $5 per person, Game sheets: $5 per sheet (10 tickets per sheet), Parakeet sticks: $2 per stick,Petting Zoo food: $2 per pouch, Concessions: Prices vary. Zoo Weekend Admissions: Adults: $18, Children (ages 3-12 years old): $14, Toddlers (2 years old and younger): FREE, Montgomery Zoo members: FREE

The Jazz at Lincoln Center @ Gogue Performing Arts Center

The Jazz at Lincoln Center presents a touring initiative that provides an accessible opportunity to present great jazz programming, featuring up-and-coming musicians who have been identified as rising stars by JALC. The initiative also allows for expansion of JALC’s mission “to entertain, enrich and expand a global community for jazz through performance, education and advocacy.” First presented as the 2016 season opener at Jazz at Lincoln Center, “Songs We Love” is a journey through the first 50 years of jazz song. Under the musical direction of Riley Mulherkar, three guest vocalists will join an all-star band made up of New York’s rising stars. Combining their distinct talents, the group will sing their way through four decades of music, beginning with the early blues and jazz of the 1920s and ending in the early 1950s. Iconic singers to be explored include Ma Rainey, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland. Date: March 19th, 2023, Time: 7:30 PM. For tickets visit https://goguecentertickets.auburn.edu/Online/

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, April 5, “Square Foot Gardening” Henry Lucas, CCMGA Master Gardener, will present “Square Foot Gardening”. Do you have a small yard and think you don’t have room for a garden? This program is for you! Henry Lucas will show an easy way to plant vegetables in a twelve-foot square. What a perfect family activity or for grandparents and grandkids! How about a birthday party with a square foot garden for each child attending? Join us!! Don’t miss this program! 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.

By Lisa B. Samalonis

Fitness Influencer Joan MacDonald: It’s Not Too Late to Embrace a Healthier Life

The 75-year-old social media sensation and author shares thoughts on the power of changing your outlook

Seventy-five-year-old Joan MacDonald transformed her body and life over the last five years — going from overweight and on several medications to drug-free and fit with a muscular physique. In the process, she became an Instagram fitness influencer.

She and her daughter Michelle MacDonald, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and chef, are coauthors of "Flex Your Age: Defy Stereotypes & Reclaim Empowerment."

Joan, who lives in Canada and Mexico, said her daughter suggested she "take her on as a client" when she saw the then 70-year-old was out of breath climbing stairs. Michelle, leader of The Wonder Women online training program, and her husband, Jean-Jacques Barrett, are owners of Tulum Strength Club.

Turning Point

"My body was breaking down," said Joan, who had edema, low energy, and was on numerous medicines for arthritis, high blood pressure and acid reflux.

"I had to have a conversation with myself: You are not happy with life; you need to change," Joan said, adding she knew that Michelle had improved her own health and the lives of many others. Working with her daughter, Joan became

stronger, healthier and more energetic.

Despite the TrainwithJoan Instagram page, where she posts her workouts and meals, having more than 1.7 million followers, she doesn't consider herself a celebrity. "People can relate to me. I am not super beautiful. I am very ordinary, so they don't find me unapproachable," she said.

In August 2019, she posted a video of doing 225-pound hip thrusts. "The page gained followers after that," she said with a chuckle. Joan noted how much fitness matters. "I enjoy life much better, especially when I can move around with more agility," she said.

She added that getting fit is worth it because your body and outlook change, and you have much more energy to do the things you want.

Mind and Body Book

"Flex Your Age" is not filled with meal plans and exercise workouts. Instead, the book includes their personal stories, how Joan shifted her mindset to a long-term healthier lifestyle, and also steps for readers to do it.

It focuses on fitness fundamentals (like building muscle), getting help (with a trainer or a coach), mindful nutrition (following a macro-based diet), handling disruptions and finding a supportive community.

Joan MacDonald shared with Next Avenue key takeaways from "Flex Your Age" and her outlook on living a healthy life. (The following interview has been edited for clarity and length).

Next Avenue: What advice do you give people concerned about their health but who don't know where to start?

Joan MacDonald: Start by getting up and moving. As we get older, we tend to believe the myth that once you reach 40, forget it. But that is not true. Michelle proved it through me and through all the other lifestyle transformations of women in her group.

People should only jump into some things at a time. Take it slow to avoid

"I never let my age factor in trying to do this. Some people think you must be a certain way as you age. But why can't we be what we want to be? We are not hurting anybody, and we are making ourselves healthier." | Credit: @trainwithjoan/Instagram

injury. Are you in a hurry? This is the rest of your life we are talking about. Let it just come as you are learning. Don't expect miracles in the beginning.

Did you ever get discouraged? Yes. My worst problems with motivation were during the first year. I wanted to be done. I didn't realize there was no 'done.' It's a change you make in your whole life. It's just how you do things now. When I don't feel like working out — those feelings are fleeting.

Once I get to the gym and do my warmups, it changes my whole persona. Also, I have stubbornness in me. I wanted to please my family, like my daughter and her husband, because they were giving a lot to me by just taking me on as a client.

So I had to work for it. I had to see results because someone else had faith in me.

This has been a progression for you over the last five years. Are there some days you still don't feel like working out?

Yes, even if I don't want to start, by the time I am finished, I feel like, 'Hey, I did it! I accomplished something.' I prefer to work out first thing in the morning, so I have the rest of the day to do what I must.

It is only sometimes what I want to do, but it is attached to this lifestyle. If I am sick and don't work out, I feel like something is missing from my day.

Although I have wanted to quit several times, I can't because these people (online and at the gym) keep telling me I have given them hope, so I have to be there for them.

Your Instagram is inspirational. You seem to be happy and enjoying your life.

I only had Instagram in November of 2017. Michelle opened up this platform for me so I could give other people a boost and get myself out of myself. Before I started, I was becoming more of a hermit. I didn't think anyone would

read anything I had to say on Instagram. We have built a community through Instagram and the app. I read the comments and responded. The people in the community are phenomenal, and they are right there supporting each other.

These lifestyle changes are not going to come naturally. You have to work for it. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy.

How will the book help readers?

It gives insight into how to get going, what is required of you and how to handle it. The book touches on your mindset, what you eat and drink, how you sleep, if you are doing meditation, stretching — all those things combine to make you whole.

You have to have a goal. It doesn't have to be a huge one. Some people start with assisted exercises because they can only move some. The book gives hope but tells you to be patient. You are changing all this to live better.

Did you think you were too old to make this change?

I never let my age factor in trying to do this. Some people think you must be a certain way as you age. But why can't we be what we want to be? We are not hurting anybody, and we are making ourselves healthier.

How are you now?

Much better. That first year, I got off the medications with my doctor monitoring me slowly. I wouldn't say I liked taking pills, so that was great. I have a lot of energy and do weight training and cardio, like swimming and biking.

How have you changed your diet?

Before, I only ate two or three meals a day. Now I have five smaller meals with balanced macros. I keep my food simple because I don't want to cook all the time. When I do prep, it is usually for three days of meals. Then, I get the food ready, so I can grab something out of the fridge, weigh it out, and put it together in one bowl.

Any final thoughts or advice?

Try not to get so discouraged when things don't work out exactly how you want them to — just pivot. You will be disappointed along the way; there is no escaping from that. That's life, but don't let it rule you.

Enjoy every moment you can, get the most out of it, and when bad things come, you can shove them aside. Just keep trying and doing what you want to do. Don't say you can't have it. You deserve love and laughter in your life, which doesn't end when you're 40 or 50. You can have joy and happiness until the day you die.

Source: www.nextavenue.org

Lisa B. Samalonis is a writer and editor based in New Jersey. She writes about health, parenting, books, and personal finance.

Lisa Hemphill, Wandering Spirit

This month’s cover profile is Lisa Hemphill, a wandering spirit by any measure! In fact, as we write this intro Lisa, and her husband John are on a cruise sailing around the tip of South America. Just another adventure for Lisa. Of course, when you’re a Travel Advisor at Sadie’s Global Travel, chances are you’re going to experience the world differently. As we age, traveling is one of the most rewarding experiences we can have. Seeing how other people live, unique cultures, customs, food, etc. is a great way to enhance the process of aging well. Lisa is the epitome of that and we’re proud to share her story this month. We think you’ll get some ideas on how to live with a wandering spirit and I’m sure Lisa will lend a hand if you need a travel advisor!

BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e. are you from the Montgomery area, did you raise your family here, schools, marriage, family, etc.?

Lisa: My husband, John is retired Air Force, and he ended his career teaching at Maxwell/Gunter AFB after 25 years of service. We always thought we’d move closer to home when the kids married, but instead we moved a little further east to Pike Road and have planted some strong roots in our church and community.

We moved here when our daughter was in college and our son was finishing high school at LAMP. Our daughter, Amelia received her veterinary degree from Auburn University and our son, Brandon received his medical degree from UAB so we kind of settled in this great area. Both our children married wonderful spouses and have blessed us with 6 beautiful grandchildren (Amelia and Drexel have 3 daughters, and Brandon and Brittny have 1 son, 2 daughters)

BOOM!: Lisa, for many years you were the Southeast Region Development

“if you’ve been somewhere before and can’t find your way back, you're lost, otherwise its an adventure.”

Lisa and the Pyramids

Lisa riding scooter in Downtown Atlanta

Lisa and husband John “walking like Egyptians” on their Egyptian cruise

Lisa in a quiet spot in the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam

Director for the Arthritis Foundation, Southeast Region. Please share with our readers how you got involved with the Arthritis Foundation and your roles?

Lisa: I wasn’t looking for a position when the Arthritis Foundation found me. My predecessor, Gary Tomlin and I met at a health fair and he said he wanted me to have his job when he retired. I was humbled, but he was persistent, so we had lunch and he told me about the Jingle Bell Run/ Walk for arthritis and what a great event it was. So I said I’ll help you put it on this year, and see where this takes us. I was hooked because I met some amazing people with arthritis. I learned that children got Arthritis and how it affected the entire family. At that time there was NO pediatric Rheumatologist in the state of Alabama. We changed that during my tenure and now children with Arthritis are being cared for by some amazing physicians and treatment has greatly improved.

My greatest love was Camp MASH (Make Arthritis Stop Hurting) which is a week-long camp for kids with Arthritis. Being a part of that camp was lifechanging. Each child’s smile melted my heart and I’ve watched so many of those kids grow up to be

adults and live very successful lives. Thank you, Facebook, for allowing me to see the wonderful adults they became. Camp Mash continues every summer and I pray for the camp and the people who give their time and energy to helping those kids have a changed life.

What were some of the benefits in helping support those who are challenged by arthritis? Camp Mash, being an ally, raising money for arthritis research, knowing and loving each person that called our office. I remember taking a 4 year old girl to meet the governor. He knew why the adults were there, but he asked the little “hero” why she was there, and she said “I’ve got ARFRITIS”. He was blown away as he didn’t realize kids get arthritis too. I guess you could say, every step of advocacy changed the face of arthritis and I’m still blessed to have been a part of such a great organization.

BOOM!: Since leaving the Arthritis Foundation you became a Travel Advisor with Sadie’s Global Travel in Montgomery. Your Sadie’s online bio says you were born with a wandering spirit, would

you describe what that means?

Lisa: Sadie’s has been a great place for me to be at this time of my life. Again, I had retired from the Arthritis Foundation and was enjoying doing crafts and things around the house, but decided that I needed something else to do for fulfillment in my life. My friend, Marcel McElroy, called me one day and said I have the perfect opportunity for you. And that afternoon I was interviewing with Ann Osten, President of Sadie’s Global Travel and she offered me a learning position. I was so excited about working in the travel industry as you can’t have a better fit than someone who loves to travel matched with helping people who want to travel.

I grew up in a rural area outside of Atlanta Georgia, and our version of travel

was going to the beach or mountains for a long weekend and I loved it. I can remember a day in high school when the English teacher showed slides to us of her adventure in England. Everyone else in the class was taking a nap and yet I was mesmerized by seeing Stonehenge and learning about those awesome stone pillars. At that moment, I said “I’m going to see those one day.” Little did I know that within 10 years we would be living in England and our weekends were seeing as much of England, Scotland and Wales as possible. We had a VW bus and took the kids on a pallet in the floor (hey this was before seatbelts) and take day trips to castles, steam engine shows, historic monuments, as well as the Scottish Highlands and almost getting blown off the Wales/Cardiff bridge

gust.

by wind

Lisa and husband John attending great niece’s wedding (Georgia)

The Hemphill’s – Christopher, (almost) 17, Sophie, 15, Kate, 8, Brittny and Brandon

The Ray’s – Amelia, Campbell, 13, Camille, 15, Cameron, 17, Drexel

Yet it was all an adventure.

And the adventure keeps on coming. One of my daddy’s favorite sayings was “if you’ve been somewhere before and can’t find your way back, you're lost, otherwise its an adventure.” I love adventures.

How has your wandering spirit benefitted your clients? Because of living in Europe for 10 years we have seen and explored a lot of territory, so that wandering spirit truly benefits our clients as we can share our experiences with them. Since I love experiencing new places and countries, it is great to share that knowledge and experience with my clients.

BOOM!: It has been said that “everyone needs a good travel agent”, can you explain why?

Lisa: A good travel agent knows their client, and listens to their needs. A Great Travel Agent is part of their trip, from the planning, budgeting, researching and managing the trip. We also go the extra mile at Sadie’s in service and quality. After the trip is complete a great agent, has sealed their relationship with the client to continue serving their travel needs for future travel.

What’s the most rewarding part of your work? Sending a client on a wonderful destination and hearing

all about their experience and excitement when they return. Giving a client the gift of memories is an amazing opportunity. How many careers can offer that.

Does your husband John travel with you much? Yes, John and I are usually a package deal. There are many times that I do a ‘girl’s trip’ and or a Travel Agent learning trip, but he loves to travel as much as I do.

BOOM!: What are some of your favorite travel experiences?

Lisa: Every place I’ve been holds a special place in my heart. From my first trip on an airplane to being on a Sampan in the Mekong River and everywhere in between. As diverse as you can get, but my memories just keep growing. Favorite vacation spot? I would have to say, drinking hot chocolate or a glass of wine in any piazza in Italy.

Any travel dreams planned? We have had a very ambitious travel schedule in 2022. In March we visited Egypt with a river cruise along the Nile., then July we spent a week on the big island of Hawaii with our very good friends, then in October we visited Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. People ask me why? And my answer is because I’ve never been there. For 2023 we are doing a South American cruise from Santiago Chile to Buenos Aires, Argentina. In fact, we may be there at the time of this printing. Then later in the summer we plan to do another river cruise from Basel to Munich with friends. We might actually slow down a little after that, but I doubt it as we “aren’t getting any younger.””

My dream trip will be the African Safari, of course with a camera in hand, not a gun as I would love to see these magnificent beasts in their natural environment, and Machu Pichu and Galapagos and…and… I laugh because if I plan a great trip for a client, that is where I want to go next. 

BOOM!: What is it about living in the Montgomery/River Region that you like?

Lisa: I like the fact that Montgomery is a “big/small town” where we have the small town charm with some city amenities. if you are involved in your local church or have kids in school, you are all family.

What do we need more of? We need more people that love to travel. 

BOOM!: Do you have time to be involved in community and/or civic organizations?

Lisa: I have scaled back my community service and focus more on family and friends.

John and Lisa at The Temple of the Reclining Buddha in Thailand

Lisa exporing her drink options at Chateau Meichtry/North Georgia

John and Lisa sharing a Sampan ride along the Mekong River in Vietnam

BOOM!: What are you most passionate about?

Lisa: I suppose that could be boiled down into helping others and in the travel business that means passionate about the destination we are sending them to and being part of their life changing experience.

BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or other activities that grab your attention?

Lisa: Obviously travel is my favorite hobby, from jumping in the car and heading to the beach or mountains or planning trips for John and me. I do love to read and its feast or famine. I can devour a book or not read for weeks/ months at a time.

BOOM!: As you’ve aged, how have your priorities changed?

Lisa: Earlier in my life I was very action driven. Wanted to be the best I could be at my job, but when you are a military wife, “have orders will move”. Therefore I always worked or volunteered at each base we lived, and we lived in some great places. I would say now, I am more

laid back and focused on results and relationships.

“How would you describe what it means to “age well”? Aging well means taking care of yourself and those you love,

sharing our day. This is sometimes with a glass of wine with our firepit in the winter and fans in the summer. Great way to unwind and refresh.

BOOM!: You and your husband are HS sweethearts... Would you share your love story and some of the qualities of a long-lasting marriage…?

physically, emotionally and spiritually. Doing our best to stay healthy, active and vital to a ripe old age.

BOOM!: How do you like to relax and wind down from a full day of activity?

Lisa: I love to do “porch time” with John and friends/neighbors. That simply means we spend time on our back porch

Lisa: Oh my goodness. Our love story has never ended. We “first met” when he played baseball for my brother in laws team in Sandy Springs, GA. To make a long story short I was quite forward and picked him out as the cutest boy on the team. Then I called him on the phone (forbidden for girls to call boys in those days) and asked him to bring a picture of himself to the next game. He didn’t show at that game, and I was a dejected 13 year old who was “stood up.” Fast forward a few years later and my best friend kept wanting me to meet this “guy” and I asked who it was, she said John Hemphill and I vehemently said No Way. She persisted and somehow managed for us to cross paths at our high school. She did the quick intros, I screamed John Hemphill, NO! and ran into the bathroom. I guess

John and Lisa in Hawaii – Aloha!

Lisa visiting with a local at Angkor Wat Temple, Cambodia

Lisa and Steffanie Patterson at the Temple of Luxor, Egypt

Lisa and John sharing a PDA At the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

he was confused, but he hasn’t’ stopped chasing me yet.  Fast forward, we finally discussed the “dissing” and he fessed up that his parents made him go out of town. Since this was “pre” caller ID he could not get in touch with me. Forgiven!

We just celebrated 50 years of marriage and our secret for a successful marriage is no secret. Marriage is a full time job that you must commit and work at ever day to build trust, communication and respect. Surprises don’t hurt either!  We’ve had good times and tough patches, but we always worked them out because quitting is never an option. We put God first in our marriage and He is the reason He chose us to be one!

How do you and John like to spend time with family? Our family has gotten bigger and now the grands are almost all teenagers, so spending time with them gets harder and harder. We did a family trip last November with all 12 of us and it was so much fun! I would love to make it a family tradition. Hey, can ya’ll do it again?

Describe your experience as a mother and grandmother? John and I were young when we married and our greatest gift is being parents to our beautiful kids. We loved being there to nurture and support them all through their years. Being grandparents just magnified that. Seeing that little baby (all 6 of them) for the first time fills you with unfathomable joy. They are a joy and a blessing and when they run to you to give you a hug (at least the youngest still does), it is the best feeling in the world. The older ones will still hug us in public so that is a blessing.

What do your grandkids call you? Our grands call us Mimi and Papa John (cause like the pizza, he always delivers) 

BOOM!: What are some of the future challenges you’re contemplating for yourself?

Lisa: Knowing when is the right time to slow down; or do I really want to run a marathon. The answer is no but don’t tell anyone.

your life? Any advice for the rest of us seeking renewal? Never give up on your dreams, keep making goals and always have something to look forward to (of course for me, it’s the next trip). Never Ever give up. Live your life to the fullest. As Clint Eastwood said “don’t let the old (wo)man in!

What are your thoughts on a future retirement? As long as I continue to love what I do, I’ll stay at it. Of course, there is always the thought I may not be a viable asset for my clients. At that point I’ll pass the torch to someone that has the love of travel that I do.

BOOM!: Lisa, give us three words that describe you?

Lisa: Compassionate, Adventurous, and Never boring!  Yes, that is 4 words, but I’ve never been much of a rule follower!

BOOM!: Many people, as they age, experience a renewed sense of purpose, new goals, etc.

Lisa: Aging has changed so many things about the way we live our life. We have found “satisfaction” and comfort in living our lives daily. We no longer worry about “keeping up appearances” but spend more time being comfortable with who we are. Sometimes we are like little kids, still wondering what we are going to do when we grow up. In all seriousness, with age comes comfort and a strong sense of peace. How would you describe this sense of renewal in

We want to thank Lisa for sharing some of her life's story with us this month. If you're thinking about traveling and need a travel advisor, give Lisa a call at Sadies Global Travel, she's probably been where you want to go or she may even go with you! To learn more visit www.sadies.com or call lisa at 334.213.0000 We hope you’ll share Lisa's story with friends and family, they’ll enjoy the reading experience. Thanks to DiAnna Paulk and her creative photography skills, you're the best! If you have questions, comments, or suggestions about our cover profiles, including nominating someone, please text them to Jim Watson at 334.324.3472 or email them to jim@riverregionboom.com

High school sweethearts, Lisa and John, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary

PINHEADS! BOWLING IS BACK!

Ethnically speaking, I come from a long line of bowling teams.

Chicago winters limited recreational choices to bowling and um, uh, well- I’ll think of it later. Pretty much everybody bowled.

I remember my first time. Pops had just gotten his own brand-new ball so he took me with him to try it out. I was about 5. While Pops practiced, I grabbed a 6 pound “kid ball” and shocked my father by bowling a 103! I’d beg him to take me bowling for the rest of my Baby Boomerhood.

Every so often I’d take Pops’ ball to see if I could reach the holes with my fingers. It became a unique growth chart. I was about 14 when my hand finally fit the

ball. I even used it (Dad’s bowling career ended early) for a while before my hand required my own new ball.

I learned the game from watching it on TV. Back then, the football season ended in December, so to kill the time before the Chicago Cubs returned with the spring dandelions, my brother and I watched professional bowling on TV, Saturdays and Sundays. I learned the scoring system before I threw my first ball. Bro and I had replica plastic pins so we’d bowl in the basement using those pins and a 16 inch softball. The racket drove Mom to a vodka gimlet or two but it kept us out of the snow drifts and trouble.

Among the pros of that era was a Hall of Famer named Don Carter. When

Don had his own alley in South Florida after retiring, we became friends. The PBA held a nationally televised pro event there, and Don invited me to attend. He got me a seat BETWEEN THE COMPETITORS. I was on the ABC telecast coast to coast and witnessed the conversion of bowling’s toughest split- the 7-10. You can find it by looking up “John Mazza 7-10” on YouTube! A childhood hero gave me the bowling experience of a lifetime. Small world.

These memories were rejuvenated by a recent return to my cherished sport. Around 2008 a friend invited me to bowl as a substitute in a Tuesday night league at the legendary Bama Lanes on Atlanta Highway. I loved it, and a one night stand became a 7 year affair. I averaged about 180, but there were guys in that league who bowled perfect games.

"A true story from the Greg files"

Jacquelyn and daughter Lola show how it is done!

Bama Lanes, 3020 Atlanta Hwy, Montgomery, AL

4 year old Steven enjoys creating "Pindemonium"

My temper would flare up when the pins didn’t fall my way. A guy on my team named Steve Durrough (who could be wildly inconsistent himself) taught me a valuable lesson. “I don’t know about you but I’m here to have fun, d-mmit!”. A mild mannered accountant and great guy, Steve became my tax accountant. He’s been doing them for 15 years now. That, no matter what Steve says, is not always fun.

I left the league because staying out late Tuesday nights and getting up at 2:22AM for a radio show became a challenge. Still, I subsequently spent many happy Saturday afternoons at Bama Lanes teaching my stepson to bowl. Good times.

The local legend of Bama Lanes grew in part to the house bar-r Kegler’s Kove. It was there my friend, Tommy Shaw, genius singer/guitarist for Styx cut his teeth. In the irony of irony, when I worked for Styx in Chicago during the 70s, I was the guy who picked Tommy up at the airport the day he joined the band. Small world, The Sequel.

Sadly, the 60 year legacy of Bama Lanes took a hit in January of last year when a punk thug went up there looking for someone with whom he had a score to settle. It ended tragically. For the first time in its history, locals had doubts about safety. It was an incident

that could have happened at any local business.

It was a blow to owner Steve Landers. After enduring Covid impacts, Steve invested in extensive refurbishments. Only days after finishing the makeover, this incident occurred. Meanwhile, Steve’s Prattville Bama Lanes rolled along without a hitch.

Still, uncertainty dug into business and Steve had to contemplate the unimaginable- closing a local landmark. He teamed up with NewsTalk 93.1FM. My suggestion?

“Take it back”!

We began a series of Saturday afternoon gatherings for listeners-those who bowl and those who wanted to join our affable gang for food, beverage and camaraderie. Meanwhile,

I’ve used my platform to let people know Bama Lanes is safe, secure and a place to have fun with the family.

Among those who attended the first get together was local attorney (and friend) Jacquelyn Tomlinson. An accomplished athlete herself, she brought along her 4 year old son Steven and 2 year old daughter, Lola. (Pictured) Jacquelyn wowed the spectators by throwing shot after shot, gliding down the alley with Lola cradled in one arm while

gracefully releasing the ball toward the pins. Watching Steven was a blast for everybody, watching him walk his kiddie ball to the foul line and push it pinward.

Seeing Steven react to knocking the pins down- pure joy every time- brought applause from the gallery. We all enjoyed excellent bowling alley pizza, and the best French fries in the world (deep fried in oil, like they should be).

Each subsequent gathering has brought more people back to bowling and Bama Lanes. I hope you’ll join us in getting this local landmark thriving again.

Oh, hey- the “other” indoor activity I couldn’t remember earlier? Billiards! Bama Lanes has pool tables too!

Funny how that came back to me right on cue!

(If you have a comment on this column, email me at gregbudell@aol.com. It's still fun to hear from new people!)

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

Do not Become a Victim of Identity Theft!

Identity theft cases continue to increase, both in numbers of incidents and costs.

According to the FTC, fraud complaints increased 19% for 2021 to more than 5.8 million. Financial losses from fraud rose 77% from the previous year, to more than $6.1 billion. Consumer identity theft complaints increased to 1.43 million, an increase of 3.3%. Identity theft takes different forms including tax returns, government benefits like Social Security, medical insurance, credit cards, bank accounts, and other types of financial accounts.

Susan Moore of Moore Wealth Management, Inc. (MWM) in Montgomery, AL conducts a free workshop/webinar every year in March on techniques to prevent identity theft. The workshop is updated every year to include new types of identity theft that are occurring and new measures to counteract them. This year’s workshop will be conducted by webinar on Wednesday, March 29th from noon to 1:30 p.m., is complimentary and without obligation. There will be both a live and recorded version. Please call the Moore Wealth Management office for further information or reservations at 334.270.1672 or email Sarah@ moorewealthmanagement.com. If you miss the webinar, we also offer free consultations that are without obligation.

Webinar participants receive an action plan containing things to do to minimize the chances that they become victims of identity theft. Topics include methods to protect your credit rating, credit, and debit

Financial Thoughts with Susan Moore

shred your boarding passes from airline flights because they contain sensitive information hidden in the bar codes on the passes.

By Susan Clayton Moore, J.D. Principal of Moore Wealth Management, Inc.

cards, as well as banking and brokerage accounts. We review how criminals use scanners to collect information on cards used at ATMs, gas pumps and convenience stores. We cover how to protect your electronic exposure on the internet, your computer and cell phone, including passwords and logins, encryption, secure emails, computer hacking and viruses, spyware, and malware.

One of the areas of identity theft that is growing the fastest is in medical insurance fraud, fraudulent tax returns and Social Security benefits. We discuss how to monitor and protect these areas where retirees are especially vulnerable. Finally, we go over common-sense techniques to thwart some of the most common ways thieves get access to your identity. For example, you should never mail payments on your bills from your mailbox at home. You should

Do not Become a Victim of Identity Theft!

We conduct a variety of workshops and seminars at MWM. The mission statement of MWM is very simple: “and then some.” We attempt to do what is expected, what is required “and then some.” The Identity Theft workshop is part of our monthly “and then some” workshops. In addition, MWM conducts monthly current events market updates that attempt to explain what is going on in the financial world. If you would like to be on the mailing list or receive email notifications of upcoming seminars, please call 334.270.1672.

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 nearly 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/KFDisclosures

Webinar participants receive an action plan containing things to do to minimize the chances that they become victims of identity theft. Topics include methods to protect your credit rating, credit, and debit cards, as well as banking and brokerage accounts.

Smart Health - Nature's Way - Tracy Bhalla

Epsom Salts

Why everyone should have a (big) bag of Epsom salts on hand

Everyone has heard of Epsom Salts, maybe even used them as a bath soak for sore muscles –and boy, does that work! – but how many of you knew just how versatile this innocuous white substance is?

Let’s start with the name - Epsom salt, which is a bit of a misnomer as it is not really a salt at all, but a mineral compound comprised of magnesium and sulfate. It is named after the town in England where it was originally discovered, Epsom in Surrey.

These “salts” have been used for centuries as a natural remedy for a number of ailments, some of which we will outline below. It also has many beauty, gardening and household uses. Both magnesium and sulfate are readily absorbed into the skin – the largest organ in the body and also the most easily accessible.

Over 325 enzymes in the body are regulated by magnesium, which also supports muscle and nerve function. Chronically low levels can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes. Sulfates improve the rate at which nutrients are absorbed and help to flush out toxins.

So let’s start with how Epsom salts can help us with our health:

1) The classic Epsom salt bath is a great way to soothe sore muscles, cramps, bruises and joint pain; even menstrual pain can improve with a good soak. Soaking in an Epsom salt bath is also a wonderful way to relax and relieve stress. Add 2 cups of salts to a warm bath. Mix the salt in so it dissolves in the water. Soak for at least 10-15 minutes for best results. This is also a great treatment for sunburn!

2) Use the salts as an exfoliant to keep skin healthy and glowing. Massage onto damp skin and rinse off with warm water. Using in the bath or shower is a great idea. Exfoliation removes the natural buildup of dead skin cells, which if not removed can cause dullness and blemishes. You can even use this in your face wash to exfoliate your face, and in a hand wash to do your hands.

3) Dry, cracked lips can be painful and unsightly. Mix equal parts coconut oil and Epsom salts to create a moisturizing lip scrub.

4) Hand and foot soak – Add ¼ cup of Epsom salts to a large bowl of warm water; soak for at least 15 minutes. While in the soak you can also give them an exfoliating scrub. This will sooth and smooth rough skin, help remove ingrained dirt and soothe aching joints. It also helps reduce odors and foot fungus.

5) Mixing 2 teaspoons of Epsom salts in a glass of water, and drinking it, can help relieve constipation.

6) Epsom salts have a wonderful ability to draw toxins out of our body. Soaking in a bath for 10-15 minutes is a great way to reduce swelling. Mix 1-2 cups of Epsom salts in a warm bath and mix to dissolve

in water. Use as a compress to treat mosquito bites, bee stings and poison ivy rashes. Mix 2 tablespoons with 1 cup of warm water; soak a clean cloth in the mixture and hold on the affected area until the pain, burning an itching have gone.

7) You can also use Epsom salts to help remove splinters. Soak in a bowl of very warm water with a few tablespoons of Epsom salts dissolved in it. The salts and heat will help draw out the splinter and keep the area clean.

8) Surprisingly Epsom salts also make a great deep conditioner to add volume and remove grease from your hair. Combine equal parts of organic hair conditioner and Epsom salts and apply liberally to hair. Let sit for 20 minutes, then rinse clean. And for some more surprising uses:

9) For an all-natural but powerful tile cleaner, mix equal parts liquid dish soap and Epsom salts. Scrub onto tiles with a sponge and rinse clean.

10) If you’re having unwanted insect issues, a natural remedy would be to mix ¼ cup of Epsom salts with 2 cups of water and place in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture around windows, door frames, the exterior perimeter of your house to deter insects safely, without nasty chemicals.

11) Use as a natural fertilizer; for greener grass, mix 1 cup of Epsom salts with a gallon of water and spray over the lawn area. For potted plants, especially tomatoes, simply sprinkle Epsom salts around the base of the plants every week.

12) Mix 4 cups of Epsom salts with 20 drops of your favorite essential oil and add a quarter cup to each load of laundry to help remove detergent build up in the machine. It also helps soften your clothes.

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.

By Rashelle Brown

How to Sell Your Stuff and Be OK With It

Technology makes selling unused stuff easier than ever, but it can’t help you get over their sentimental value. Luckily, we’ve got expert advice on how to do both.

Whether you're downsizing, decluttering, or dealing with the estate of a loved one, chances are you've got some stuff you could stand to get rid of. And while you'll probably choose to donate or give away some items, other possessions can be sold, sometimes for quite a bit of cash.

In this article we'll cover how to sell items online, including tips on creating listings that will net top dollar, as well as how to avoid payment scams and stay safe when handing the items over in person. And if there are some items you haven't been able to part with for sentimental reasons, we've solicited expert advice on how to work through that, too.

Where and How to List Your Stuff

The key to getting the most for your items is a great listing. Before you start composing one, decide where to list your items. There are many online options; some of the best-known and heavily trafficked sites are eBay,

Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.

Both eBay and Facebook require you to establish an account before you can list your items, but Craigslist does not. If you already have a Facebook profile, Marketplace can be a quick and easy way to sell your items.

If you've got high-value collectibles, antiques or other rare items, eBay is a good option, because your listing is more likely to appear in search engines like Google. Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are good for selling household items, sporting goods and other commonly used items that people are looking to specifically buy second-hand.

Once you decide where to list an item, read the selling guidelines and recommendations provided by each site. This can not only help you create

a good listing but can also protect you from scams and keep you safe. (More on that in a minute.)

Debbie Center, a 61-year-old artist and musician from Nevis, Minnesota, has been selling things on eBay for decades. "Right in the beginning, I set up a separate bank account just called 'eBay'," Center said. "Seeing that account build up is really huge motivation to keep going."

Tips on Eye-Catching Listings

She had several tips on how to make your listing stand out. "My top tip is to take really good photos of the item," she said. People want to see exactly what they're buying, so be sure to capture your item from all angles.

Next, write a detailed description, including the brand and model, precise dimensions, weight, energy usage, etc. "Also, be very honest about any flaws," Center said. "People appreciate the honesty, and that does more for your reputation than trying to conceal something."

Center tells about a vehicle she sold far over the Blue Book value by making fun of everything that was wrong with it in her listing. "People loved the

The key to getting the most for your items is a great listing. | Credit: Getty

humor," she said, "and it pretty much went viral!"

Finally, Center recommends doing some research to see whether the same or comparable items are listed for sale, and then price your item competitively.

Selling Safely

When selling your items online, it's important to protect yourself, both from phishing scams and, if you'll be handing over the items in person, from physical assault. Again, it's important to read the seller guidelines of whatever site you're using and follow those recommendations.

There are a few other things you can do besides that, though, to protect yourself.

First, when you create your seller account, be sure you're using a strong password. Weak passwords are the quickest way to get your account hacked, which can lead to financial or other problems down the road.

When buyers contact you, pay attention to their message. If there are many misspelled words, poor grammar or awkward syntax, it could be from a phishing bot or an out-of-country group.

Check Out Your Buyers

If you're using Facebook Marketplace, you can click on the buyer's profile and see whether they look like a legitimate user or not. A long history of posts and a high number of friends are clues that you're dealing with an actual interested buyer. But a profile whose only posts are updated profile pictures should raise red flags.

Once you find a buyer and negotiate the price, either ship the item to avoid meeting in person (and don't forget

to build the shipping cost into your negotiation) or insist on meeting in a public place. The parking lot of your local police department is a great option, but grocery stores, gas stations or anywhere there are likely to be other people around are also fine.

That's what Pat Abraham, an 80-yearold retired schoolteacher from Hackensack, Minnesota, did when she sold her late husband's ice fishing gear this winter. "I met the polite young man at the gas station in Akeley (a nearby town), handed over the stuff and got $60 cash," she said with satisfaction.

Letting Go of Sentimental Items

One of the biggest hurdles to selling your items is working up the courage to list them in the first place. Most of us struggle to let go of items with sentimental value, but Dr. Jessica Beachkofsky, a board-certified psychiatrist with her own practice in Tampa, Florida, has advice on how to overcome that resistance.

Beachkofsky said people get attached to items for one of three reasons. "First, we identify with those things. They relate to our personal identity somehow," she said. "Second, they actually stand in for relationships. And then, with sentimental items, they act as a memory device to remind us of people, places or past times in our lives."

Regardless of why you feel attached to a certain item, Beachkofsky said, "be thoughtful and ask why you haven't gotten rid of it in the first place." Once you've addressed that issue, you might find it easy to let go of the object.

If an item triggers a fond memory for you, recognize that the item is not the memory itself, so you can find other ways to store the memory that don't

take up physical space.

Save Memories, Not Stuff

Beachkofsky recommends taking photos of the item, journaling or making a video of your memories of the person, place or time it represents to you. She also recommends keeping a bowl of small rocks on which you can write the name of an item you disposed of. That way, you'll have a tangible item you can pick up and look at to spark those fond memories.

Of course, sometimes you might decide not to sell your items at all. Abraham prefers to give her most sentimental items away.

"The idea of giving something to the special people in my life is very important to me," she said. But there are some things she's hanging onto: "My marble collection, my precious stone collection, the sterling silver that I hardly ever use, and my coin collection — I'm keeping those until I'm gone."

Rashelle Brown is a long-time fitness professional and freelance writer with hundreds of bylines in print and online. She is a regular contributor for NextAvenue and the Active Network, and is the author of Reboot Your Body: Unlocking the Genetic Secrets to Permanent Weight Loss (Turner Publishing). Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram @RashelleBrownMN.

Source: www.nextavenue.org