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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Dr. Blake Raggio, Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Necklift: What You Need to Know In last month’s article I discussed the ins and outs of the “Facelift,” a popular cosmetic surgical procedure used to reverse the signs of aging of the mid-face. This month I will discuss the nuances of a “Necklift,” a similarly powerful procedure used to rejuvenate the neck and jawline.
Yes and no. While several non-surgical options for neck rejuvenation exist, such as injectables (e.g., Botox, fillers, Kybella), lasers (e.g., CO2, IPL), threads, and energy-based devices (e.g., radiofrequency, ultrasound), such options often require multiple treatments and are associated with relatively unpredictable, temporary, and limited results. So yes, non-surgical alternatives do exist; however, they each have inherent limitations and should never be considered as an equal replacement to a surgical Necklift.
What is a “Necklift”? In short, the term “Necklift” describes the surgical procedure wherein agerelated changes to the neck are addressed to recreate a more youthful appearance to those structures affected by the aging process. In a successful Necklift redundant neck skin is excised, loose muscles are tightened, and excessive neck fat is trimmed. More experienced surgeons may implement additional techniques to improve neck contour which may include jawline/chin augmentation, submandibular gland reduction, or digastric muscle trimming. Ultimately these techniques, used either alone or in combination, create a more rejuvenated appearance to the neck. What is the associated downtime with a Necklift? The Necklift procedure is typically performed in an operating room setting under general anesthesia (you are sleeping) and takes 4-6 hours to perform depending on the techniques being implemented. Social downtime may last anywhere from 1-3 weeks depending on several factors including your underlying health and soft tissue quality, amongst other variables. Costs vary considerably ($3000 plus) and will be based upon your surgeon’s experience and preferred technique, the operative setting and anesthesia required, and the need for other procedures. What are the different types of “Necklift”? The Necklift has undergone many iterations since its initial description wherein only redundant skin was removed without repositioning any underlying structures, thus creating the unsightly “pulled” look associated with such antiquated procedures. Now that we have a better understanding of the neck-related aging process, more comprehensive treatment The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Who is a good candidate for a surgical Necklift? Although most patients who undergo a Necklift are in there 40’s to 50’s, men and women of any age who suffer from age-related neck changes would benefit from the surgery. Ultimately, a detailed assessment of your underlying anatomy is required to determine if a Necklift coincides with your aesthetic goals and expectations.
options are available to address the underlying issues at hand. To that effect several types of Necklift variations exist today, which can vary based on their incision requirements (behind the ear, under the chin) and their manner of tissue repositioning (“suture suspension” versus “deep-plane”). Ultimately, the best thing you can do is to ask your surgeon how he/she plans to address each of your underlying problem areas as alluded to above, including redundant skin, loose muscle, excess fat, bulging submandibular glands, and/or poor jawline definition. Ultimately, every patient is different, and every surgeon is different; so, find someone whom you trust to deliver results consistent with your goals and expectations. Are there alternatives to a surgical Necklift?
How can I learn more about a Necklift? If you are interested in learning more about a Necklift, I suggest consulting with a surgeon experienced in facial rejuvenation surgery. This will ensure that you receive a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan. As a fellowship-trained Facial Plastic Surgeon, I always encourage patients to understand the treatment options available to them before deciding on their plan of action, as often-times, a combined modality (surgical and non-surgical) represents the best option. As always, choose a surgeon whom you trust. There is nothing more important than the relationship you have with your doctor. In Good Health, Dr. Blake Raggio Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon Alabama Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 334.373.3611 (office) www.ALplasticsurgery.com R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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BOOM!, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Contents
October 2021 Volume 12 Issue 4
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
Facebook.com/RiverRegionBoom C.S. Lewis
Thought Relationships Taste Inspiration
Humor Advice Health Community
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
Carl Bard
9 Necklift FAQs: What You Need to Know, Dr. Blake Raggio 11 Montgomery Chamber Music Season 14 Publisher's Column "My Breast Cancer Story" 16 BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
page 22
19 'Pop-Up' Walking Trail
Features 22 Confabulation... Is Your Parent Lying?
26 Living Off-the-Grid, Cottage on the Water
32 How Listening Can Improve Your Health and Well-Being
36 Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier: Micanopy... Okey dokey
Departments 38 This and That A variety of TIDBITS
Love Them Everyday!
52 Greg Budell A CROCODILE NAMED FRANK
20 Apple Dapple Sheet Cake 21 The 2021-2022 Festival Season at ASF 24 Can You Afford to Retire? with Susan Moore 28 AUM OLLI Begins Fall Term 2021 - 2022
page 11
30 Walk to End Alzheimer's 34 Look out for Naked Ladies by Virginia Gregory
page 44
page 19
page 36
page 41
page 26
38 America’s Oldest Park Ranger 42 Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival 43 Harvest Jam
page 24
page 34
page 30
page 32
page 38
Free Subscriptions @ w w w. r i ve rre gio n b o o m.co m
44 BOOM! Cover Profile 54 Reader Discounts
BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine is published monthly by River Region Publications, P.O. Box 6203, Montgomery, AL 36106. The phone number is 334.324.3472. Copyright 2021 by River Region Publications. No part of this publication can be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.
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Publisher’s Letter
My Breast Cancer Story
The mission of BOOM! is to serve the folks of the River Region age 50 plus with information and ideas to inspire new experiences, better quality of life and new beginnings.
Publisher/Editor Jim Watson 334.324.3472 cell/text jim@riverregionboom.com
Contributing Writers Jeff Barganier Greg Budell
Judy Gerstel Virginia Gregory Amanda Lambert Susan Moore Dr. Blake Raggio Janeese Spencer Annette Januzzi Wick
Cover Photography Photography by DiAnna Paulk photographybydiannapaulk.com
Advertising
Jim Watson, 334.324.3472 jim@riverregionboom.com
Facebook.com/RiverRegionBoom
Many of you have one. Mine began with my first wife, Marty. Each year during October I share my Breast Cancer Story with our readers. Everyone who has experienced Breast Cancer knows the bond we all share yet everyone’s story is unique. I consider my experience a blessing. Breast Cancer’s Blessing Could life be any better? My wife and I were truly enjoying the fruits of our labor. We were business partners; she was the boss and I was her advisor. Jim Watson, Publisher jim@riverregionboom.com We had been publishing Montgomery Parents for eight years and serving our community with something we thought was worth doing. We were “empty nesters”, and our schedules allowed for travel and plenty of time to love on the grandkids. Through our effort we had discovered the joy of “made for each other”, because both of us brought something to our marriage and business relationship the other didn’t have. We became a complete work of love. After a 40-year relationship stemming from a 9th grade history class encounter, Marty and I had discovered the “sweet spot” of happiness and we were enjoying the blessing of God’s design. And then we weren’t. In April of 2003, our lives changed. Marty and I were sitting in our living room as our family doctor told Marty she had metastatic breast cancer. We were paralyzed by the thought. It’s as if our brains were frozen. It was a Friday afternoon, so we would have to spend the weekend with this intruder; we were being held hostage by breast cancer until Monday’s appointment with the oncologist. We both struggled to understand the why. I researched breast cancer and learned too much while Marty began sharing with family and friends the “news” no one wanted to hear. As an optimist I was going to get to the bottom of this problem and find a solution. Marty, who had a deep faith, knew the solution was with God. Of course, we both would press and probe our doctors for answers and hope and got some of both. But in the end, our journey with breast cancer led to God and the peace that only He can provide. Breast cancer changed our lives, but God was the director. I became a caregiver, and like many men, was pretty unfamiliar with the job description. But when your wife has breast cancer and every day together is truly precious, you ask a lot of dumb questions and you get smart quick. I’m not talking medical stuff, I’m talking laundry and cooking and pill organizing and, most importantly, serving. Marty lived 30 months after her diagnosis and I wouldn’t trade one moment of serving her for anything in this world. The blessing of serving is hard to realize and appreciate because we all want for ourselves. Our nature is to be selfish. But when you serve someone you forget about your needs and value someone else’s. I learned that from Marty. She was a selfless, caring person and when I took on that role in our lives it was an abundant blessing. Marty showed me where to find hope and how to never lose it. Our hope was and is in God. God’s blessings aren’t about being in the best place of your life, they’re about being in the best place with Him. Our Cover Profile this month is Janeese Spencer, a Certified John Maxwell Life Coach, speaker and Christian Counselor. Janeese shares her story and how a Life Coach can help with the many challenges we have as we age, including health issues. Janeese has faced her share of challenges with a strong faith in God and His Will. Her strength and leadership obviously emanates by His presence and she is an inspiration to many. Janeese's story is a must read experience and very shareable. I hope you will.
Jim
334.324.3472 cell/text
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BOOM! starts conversations and shares stories. Share your business with BOOM! readers. For more information call/text 334.324.3472 or visit www.riverregionboom.com October 2021 RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH Pray in Pink is an opportunity for houses of worship and any groups or organizations to honor breast cancer survivors and remember those who have lost their fight to this disease.
Through Pray in Pink (PIP) events, life-saving information can be provided, breast cancer stories can be shared and it's a perfect opportunity to celebrate life with survivors. Pray in Pink has always been planned during the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, however, a PIP event could be any time of the year. JTL GOLF CLASSIC Join us as we tee-up to provide more mammograms and support for Alabamians. Our first-ever golf tournament will be a double-shotgun event held in Montgomery, AL at Wynlakes Golf & Country Club on Monday, October 18, 2021. Team and sponsorship opportunities are available. Chip In for Breast Cancer!
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Scan to Register
Registration is FREE and it includes a 15page resource PDF of ideas, suggestions and educational information for your Pray in Pink event. If you have any questions, please e-mail prayinpink@joytolife.org or call 334-284-5433. One registration per organization, please.
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Beat the Odds Casino Night The Beat the Odds Casino Night and Drawdown Event is a exciting party with a casino night theme, a drawdown for a chance to win $10,000, and a BIG 5 auction. The event features real casino tables, complete with dealers for blackjack and other card games, as well as a craps table, roulette wheel, and even slot machines. Guests will enjoy live music and a wonderful buffet. There are fantastic prizes at the end of the evening such as a pair of Iron Bowl tickets, a YETI Cooler, a weekend getaway and a $250 Amazon Gift Card. The owner of the winning drawdown ticket will go home with $10,000, which makes for an exciting conclusion to the evening. There will be a wine pull and a bourbon raffle. Enjoy an evening with us as we raise money to help local cancer patients in Central Alabama “Beat the Odds!” Date: Thursday October 21, 2021, Time: 6 P.M to 9 P.M., Venue: Wynlakes Country Club. Call the Cancer Wellness Foundation for more information Scan For Tickets 334.273.2279
Fight Breast Cancer With Love & Money!
Advanced orthopaedic care is closer than you think.
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A 'Pop-Up' Walking Trail Coming to Cloverdale
Pedestrians will get their own lane along the streets of Cloverdale this fall as part of a temporary walking trail, and those behind the project hope it's just the beginning of something much bigger. River Region Trails is working with the city of Montgomery to connect a sidewalk walking path along Felder and Fairview avenues to a "buffered" pedestrian street lane along College Street and Cloverdale Road with cones and wayfaring signage. It will connect into a two-mile loop as part of a "pop-up" trail that lasts for 16 days starting October 8. While the trail is temporary, organizers say the point is to show people the appeal of walking trails, particularly in areas with wide streets and traffic mitigation needs. They're hoping that will help build momentum for a permanent, citywide project. "We’re telling people, look we need better pedestrian infrastructure. Here’s what that would look like," said Andrew Szymanski of the nonprofit River Region Trails. The pop-up project is being funded by an AARP Community Challenge grant, money that is meant to back a push for more livable communities. In the long term, River Region Trails is putting together a plan for a permanent, 85-mile web of walking and biking trails that would connect neighborhoods, colleges, retail areas, businesses and historic sites from the Montgomery Regional Airport to the Tallapoosa River. The Mission: River Region Trails, Inc. is committed to developing a network of pedestrian greenways, parks, and outdoor resources in the River Region. The organization will coordinate the efforts of citizens, corporate partners, and local governments to plan, fund, and develop natural space for public use, which will invariably have a positive impact on community health, quality of life, economic development, transportation, and neighborhood connectivity. You can see more about Scan to those plans at Visit Website www.riverregiontrails.org. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Apple Dapple Sheet Cake
Y'all, this Apple Dapple Sheet Cake is seriously one of the best apple cakes I've ever had. It might be because it's loaded with apples. Or it might be the brown sugar butter caramel sauce that it gets soaked in. You might have seen this one before, but probably not quite like this!
Ingredients 1 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted 2 cups sugar 3 large eggs, room temperature 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 3 cups diced apples* – (3 to 4 apples) 1 cup chopped pecans Caramel Sauce 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1/4 cup milk 1/2 cup unsalted butter Instructions I Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. I In a large bowl, stir together the oil, melted butter, and sugar. Add the eggs and mix well. Stir in the vanilla. I In another bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in the apples and pecans. I Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. Poke holes all throughout the cake with a skewer or toothpick. I Make the caramel sauce by combining the brown sugar, milk, and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 1/2 minutes or until the mixture is about 200°F. Drizzle the sauce over the warm cake – paying special attention to get the sauce down into the holes poked into the cake. Allow to cool, then slice and serve at room temperature or slightly warm. Store covered in the refrigerator. Notes * Firm apples like Granny Smiths work best in this recipe, but Fuji, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady will work as well. Source: www.southernbite.com/apple-dapple-sheet-cake/
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ASF returns to its stages for its 50th season, filled with musicals, exciting new works, and one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies. The 2021-2022 Festival Season at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, which features nine productions exploring stories of contemporary culture, heroic activists, everyday people in extraordinary times, and lots of music. In its 50th season, ASF continues its mission of building community with captivating stories that speak to and represent all people in the South. “It's time to come back together. The long intermission is finally coming to a close,” said ASF Artistic Director Rick Dildine. “Plus, it’s a milestone year we are coming into: our 50th anniversary season! On July 12, 1972, in Anniston, AL, ASF had its inaugural season. This season spans real life to fairy tale. It celebrates families and heritage. It spans from Medieval Scotland to modern day Ferguson, MO. World premieres and some classics that never get old. There’s serious art and some pure campy moments. Almost all of the shows have never been performed at ASF.” For the holidays, ASF returns to its Festival and Octagon stages with Rogers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella and Greta Lambert’s one-woman adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. In the new year, Shakespeare’s most famous power couple comes to life in Macbeth, followed by yet more blind ambition with the mega-hit musical Little Shop Of Horrors. The season continues with compelling stories based on actual events: Until the Flood and Freedom Rider (another world premiere). ASF wraps up its season with two summer musicals The Marvelous Wonderettes and American Mariachi. Subscriptions are on sale now at ASF.net or by calling the ASF Box Scan to Order Office at 334-271-5353. ASF Tickets The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Is My Parent Lying? Confabulation: What It Is And How to Deal With It
Confabulation
By Amanda Lambert
Confabulation and Caregiving One of the more disturbing aspects of confabulation is when your parent accuses you or another caregiver of stealing or mistreating them. Dementia is often characterized by paranoia and delusions, which can be heartbreaking and stressful. Your parent is someone you had mutual trust with, and it is almost as if they are a different person now.
Confabulation may not be a term you are familiar with, but one whose symptoms you will recognize. If your parent is confabulating, it can be very challenging to deal with and even harder to know how to respond. You may wonder- is my parent lying to me? How do I know if the information they are giving me is reliable? In many situations, you may know for a fact that something your parent is telling you isn’t true- that the recollection of events didn’t happen. However, in other cases, you may be relying on your parent to say to you whether they saw a healthcare provider or complied with medical directives. Most confabulation occurs as a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, but other causes exist. We will guide you through this emotionally draining condition and offer some coping and communication techniques. What Causes Confabulation? There are two main situations under which confabulation occurs. The first type is in response to a question that the person feels pressured to answer and may make up something incorrect rather than say that they don’t know. The other situation occurs spontaneously, and these confabulations can be quite bizarre or fantastic. Other times your parent’s stories may be benign, like making up a story about what they did on the weekend even though it never occurred.
The leading causes of confabulation are Alzheimer’s disease, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, or traumatic head injury. Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome results from an alcohol use problem, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Regardless of the cause, most people who have symptoms of confabulation usually have damage in two areas of the brain: the frontal lobes and the corpus callosum. The frontal lobe is crucial for memory. Consequences of Confabulation Associated with Dementia If you recognize confabulation in a parent, it is essential to realize that they are not lying and completely believe what they are telling you. Your parent is subconsciously creating stories as a way to conceal their memory loss. They don’t know that they aren’t telling the truth and have no doubt what they are saying is true. Confabulation can affect your relationship with your parent and complicate the caregiving situation due to other dementia behaviors.
Confabulation and Safety If a person acts on the thoughts they have, it can be catastrophic. For example, if your parent believes that someone will pick them up to go “home,” and they go out into the cold and wander. Or, they think that they can cook or drive safely when they can’t. Confabulation and Relationships Even though you may understand and accept that your parent’s confabulation is unavoidable, others may not feel that way. Family and friends may be shocked and confused by confabulation, which only further alienates your parent from others. Techniques to Coping with Confabulation There are ways to cope with a parent who confabulates, and by following these suggestions, things may improve. Anything that creates more stability and calm will help. • Use Validation Therapy Techniques Validation therapy is a way to approach
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adults who have Alzheimer’s or dementia with empathy, comfort, and reassurance. Rather than correcting or getting angry with the person who confabulates, validation therapy recommends the following: • Stay calm and focused. Breathe deeply. • Reminisce and talk about the past. • Acknowledge the emotion behind the false memory. • Reassure and don’t correct • Create a Memory Book Memory books are a great way to create a photo album or scrapbook of important events in your parent’s life. When someone confabulates, they are losing track of the past. Memory books can provide comfort and stability by reminding people of the positive people and events in their life. • Understanding the Purpose of Confabulation If you understand the purpose of confabulation, it will help you learn how to respond in a caring and compassionate way. • People with dementia are confused and overwhelmed by memory loss and confusion. Confabulation is a way of making sense of their situation. • When a person is asked a question and doesn’t know the answer, it can be disempowering. Confabulation is a way of gaining relevance in the world and providing a sense of control over surroundings. • Filling in memory gaps is a way of creating an alternate reality that is reassuring. • Emotional Regulation of Responses How you respond to your parent who confabulates has a significant impact on their stress and comfort level. We have some suggestions for anyone who is caring for a parent with dementia who confabulates. • Using clear and simple language • Reduce stress in the environment such as loud noises and lots of people • Minimize distractions • Stay calm and don’t get angry • Allow your parent time for processing information
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Can You Afford to Retire?
Can you afford to retire? The pandemic has pushed many people to confront this question earlier than they may have planned. The answer may be more complicated than you think, and an incorrect answer could be costly. To correctly answer the question, it may help to build a retirement income and expenses pyramid.
Longevity risk is one reason that the answer is complicated. Many people retiring today lives twentyfive years or longer after they retire; think of that as being unemployed for 25 years. In addition, that twentyfive-year period is filled with three different phases with different sets of expenses: the Go-Go years, the Slow-Go years, and the No-Go years. Another complication is that your lifestyle when you retire may be totally different, with a different set of expenses; it’s a whole new budget. Finally, your sources of income are likely to be different and subject to new sets of risks.
Financial Thoughts with Susan Moore
By Susan Clayton Moore, J.D.
Principal of Moore Wealth Management, Inc.
annuities and pensions. This involves a whole set of questions: when to take Social Security to maximize it for your circumstances; when and how to take income from the annuities; and which pension option to take and is your pension safe (is it at risk because of underfunding)?
On Wednesday, October 27th from noon to 1:30 p.m. Susan Moore of Moore Wealth Management, Inc. will be conducting a complimentary webinar that covers how to build your pyramid, estimating what your income and expenses will be during retirement. 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.
Once you’ve determined the guaranteed sources of income that make up the foundation, then you must budget and figure out your essential expenses, which include food, housing, healthcare, and taxes. These expenses may vary widely in the three phases of Go-Go, Slow-Go and No-Go. This too involves a whole set of questions: how to maximize your healthcare coverage and minimize your costs; can you afford to age in place or do you need to plan to downsize into independent or assisted living options; and how to minimize taxes on Social Security and avoid higher Medicare premiums.
A pyramid approach attempts to prioritize the sources of income and expenses. First, you build the foundation of the pyramid with your guaranteed sources of income which include Social Security, some types of
Then you build the middle level of the pyramid which includes your variable sources of income from savings and investment portfolios and your desired expenses like vacations, hobbies, entertainment and taking care of
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family. Like the essential expenses, these may vary widely depending up on the three phases. A portfolio producing an income is subject to different risks than one in which you are accumulating assets. Conventional wisdom was that a safe withdrawal rate from a portfolio was 4%; new studies show that in a low interest rate world the “new” safe withdrawal rate is 2.5% to 3%. ¹ In addition, a portfolio producing an income is subject to greater risks of sustained losses than a portfolio providing no distributions. Finally, you are ready to build the top of the pyramid which include your legacy plans: helping to fund grandchildren’s education, gifts to family while you’re alive and at your death; and philanthropic giving while you’re alive and at your death. These should be funded with your longerterm holdings or illiquid investments. Retiring is complicated. The old adage applies: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Build your pyramid! 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 3.31.2021) in brokerage and advisory assets through Kestra Financial and has been a financial planner over 38 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 with regard to your individual situation. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Kestra IS or Kestra AS are not affiliated with Moore Wealth Management, Inc. https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures ¹https://www.onefpa.org/journal/Pages/The%204%20Percent%20 Rule%20Is%20Not%20Safe%20in%20a%20Low-Yield%20World.aspx
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Living Off-the-Grid
By Judy Gerstel
The dream was to live year-round on the water in a spacious fourseason floating cottage untethered to the land, travelling the waves whenever the whim and winds beckoned.
The first thing to figure out was how to float the cottage.
Some people dream about castles in the air. Joe Nimens dreamt about a cottage on the water.
The challenge was to float two conjoined shipping containers and their household contents, a total of about 30,000 lb.
“We thought about building a standard steel barge and a house on top of that,” he says. “We considered every imaginable flotation method, from thousands of two-liter pop bottles to plastic or steel barrels to foam filled things. There are a million ways to make things float — and we thought about all of them.”
Not near the water. Not beside the water. Not perched over the water. His dream was to live year-round on the water in a spacious four-season floating cottage untethered to the land, travelling the waves wherever and whenever the whim and winds beckoned. A year ago, on Labor Day 2020, after selling their homes in Coldwater and Orillia, Ontario, Canada, Joe, 49, and his partner Erin Morano, 59, set out to build their dream.
Photos Courtesy of Live Outside The Box
Even though Joe had worked on building cottages, barges and docks for decades, he was unsure about how to achieve the results he wanted. With no prototype or instructions to guide him — his research failed to turn up the structure he envisioned –- he had to rely on his mechanical engineering training and resourcefulness, and figure things out for himself every step of the way. “For every bit of steel, nut and bolt and wood, I’ve done the analysis,” he says, “how thick the installation should be, the
Now, a short ramp over the water leads from the shore to a charming shabby chic, Muskoka-style, fully outfitted cottage that can float to islands in Georgian Bay or all the way to Toronto. In the meantime, it’s docked at Severn Marina, where Erin has decorated the large attached floating patio with pots of colourful flowers and herbs alongside the barbecue and deck chairs. The cottage started as massive shipping containers measuring 53 ft. long by 8 1/2 ft. wide by 9 1/2 ft. tall. They were sourced on Kijiji from a container broker in Bolton, Ontario, and delivered to a vacant area on the shore near the boat launch of Severn Marina in Port Severn, Ontario.
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He explains that on the west coast, logs bundled together provide enough flotation to build a house on top, but that method is expensive and floats too deeply in the water. “What we wanted to achieve was less than a foot of draft so we could easily bring it close to shorelines and step on and off with a short ramp.” The solution was to build floating platforms layered with expanded polystyrene, similar to the Styrofoam used in coolers. “We used R70 on and under the floor and R35 on the walls,” Joe explains. “The floor blocks are 4 by 8 by 1 inches thick, and the ones on the walls are half that.”
strength of the window frames and what it takes to hold the roof up if you put glass on one side.”
The couple were also determined that their floating cottage would be able to pass through the 45 locks of the Trent-Severn Waterway, which connects Georgian Bay to Lake Ontario.
He adds, “I wanted to find a way to build it in the most indestructible way possible so if everything goes wrong, there’s still no water in the living room.”
The locks are 22 ft. wide and so they ended up building two separate floating structures. One double container structure measuring 17 ft. wide is the
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house and the other identical structure is the workshop where the tools and firewood are stored.
“And then,” he adds, “maybe we’ll start work on a rooftop patio with stairs for access and railings all around.”
Yes, the floating cottage has a wood stove, a propane stove, a refrigerator with freezer, a king-size bed, a shower, a winterized water line and a toilet that incinerates its contents. “There’s no sewage septic tank so no possibility of cracking or breaking,” says Joe. The toilet was the third-highest expense after the shipping containers and the cost of insulation and flotation materials. The cottage is completely self-sufficient and functional off the grid, with a back-up generator.
A Home for all Seasons But what about the winter? On the water? That’s one of the first questions the couple is asked when people come by to see their unique dwelling.
Most of the summer, the cottage was plugged into power from the Severn Marina where it was docked. For now, it’s still plugged into power from the Severn Marina where it’s docked this summer, but Joe has designed it to work totally with solar energy. He also plans to experiment with wind energy. He’s researching how much battery capacity he’d need in order to keep the lights on and watch TV if there are too many days without sun. At the beginning of August, the couple floated their cottage and workshop barge to Little Lake. “We are completely off the grid,” Joe reported, “and still working on our solar system which is taking on increasing loads as we learn to trust it more and more each day.” He’s still working on windows and wood facia for the barge structure.
No problem, says Joe. He’s used the same spuds that raise oil rigs above the water to pull the cottage up. “We can raise the building off the water so there’s no worry about ice, storms or the wave action of big passing cruisers,” he explains. “We can raise it 8 ft. off the water and park boats underneath but mostly we’d raise it about 3 ft.” There’s a 40 hp. motor that moves the structure at a rate of four or five miles per hour. “It works great but we’d never move it on a windy day,” he says. Joe’s biggest challenge, besides figuring out how to float it, was the plumbing and heating. He says he worked 40 hours/week since the beginning of October with part-time help of about 20 hours/week. Just moving the cottage onto the water took about 60 hours of work even though it was built near the shoreline. “There was about 40 ft. between the front door and the lake and the whole process took about a week. We had to build our own marine railway that would move 10 ft. at a time and we had to do
it 15 times to get the whole thing out on the water.” He’s spending the last few weeks of summer replacing one side of the containers with a wall-to-wall-to-ceiling window and installing siding on the rest of it. And then, he’ll be ready … to build another one. Turning a Passion Into a Business So many people have expressed interest in having a floating cottage like his that he’s planning to launch a business building them. “People think it’s the coolest thing ever,” he says. “They’re fascinated by the idea of it, that it’s possible, that it’s livable yearround and can float in only 6 in. of water. It blows people’s minds.” An all-seasons, off-the-grid cottage like his would cost about $350,000 to $400,000, he suggests, while the cost of a simple, small summer cottage or bunkie could be around $50,000. Check out their cottage website, www.lotb.ca to see pictures of the project in progress, more pictures of the finished product and information about contacting them.
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Source: www.everythingzoomer.com
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AUM OLLI Begins Fall Term 2021 - 2022 Classes have begun for the 2021 – 2022 fall term of AUM OLLI. Members are studying World War II, the history of Route 66, and the exhibitions currently at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. They are also refining photography skills, making jewelry, creating art works out of torn paper, weaving pine needle baskets, and preserving family stories. Those wanting a more active class are taking Tai Chi for pain management.
the many opportunities for volunteering in the River Region. There is also one session about a new book of poetry. Lunch programs meet in the Center for Lifelong Learning at 75 TechnaCenter Drive from 11:35 a.m. – 12:35 p.m.
Even though these classes have been going for a couple of weeks, members of AUM OLLI still have ways to get involved by registering for bonus opportunities or for field trips.
There are two book discussion groups that are bonus opportunities. The one that meets at the Center has sessions twice a month on the first and third Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. The reading list is available online. The other group meets in the Selma – Dallas County Public Library on the second Tuesday of the month from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
There are several options in bonus opportunities (which require only membership fees and not a class fee). AUM OLLI offers a variety of programs in the lunch presentation schedule. In addition to speakers on the status of AUM and the OLLI program, speakers will advise members about buying cars or
Field trips are also offered for members. The first field trip of the fall will be wine and food tasting at Peppertree Steaks and Wines. Since each hour-long session allows a maximum of ten people, OLLI members can choose October 05, 06, 19, or 20, at Noon or 3:00 p.m., giving them a choice of eight sessions. Members
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need to register with AUM OLLI, but they will pay the $30.00 fee when they arrive at Peppertree. The second field trip is scheduled for December 10. Members will go by bus to Camden, Alabama, to have lunch at GainesRidge, a pre-Civil War house repurposed as a dinner club. After lunch, the group will go into Camden to do holiday shopping at Black Belt Treasures, which features Black Belt artists. Both of these locations have websites providing more details. Join AUM OLLI now for a $40.00 annual membership fee, and take advantage of these unique opportunities. For more updates and information about AUM OLLI, go to www.aum.edu/OLLI.
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By Annette Januzzi Wick
How Listening Can Improve Your Health and Well-Being By nature, I'm curious. Listening to others share their life experiences is a core strength I developed as a recruiter in the tech industry and refined during my work as a writing coach. After months in lockdown, while socializing again, I found myself overwhelmed by the speech patterns of friends, neighbors and colleagues who talked in rapid fashion, as if emptying themselves of any story left untold. The pandemic forced us into facing the computer or sitting on the couch. Our interactions were defined by a flat screen or an equally flat day. Then, a text arrived from a close friend. She noted how the past 18 months had prompted a desire to connect more with people who listened to her. My youngest sister also phoned. She wanted to discuss our relationship and how we needed to listen to other one with more intent (we're Italian and we typically trip over one another's sentences). What kinds of listening were they referring to, and what happened to us during this time to create such desire to be heard? How can we improve our listening skills for each other — and ourselves?
psychologist, and his founding of clientcentered therapy, which incorporated a more empathetic approach. For instance, our cognition fades as we grow older and the ability to process language and respond appropriately diminishes. The National Institute on Aging recommends active or reflective listening when communicating with loved ones, first by making eye contact, which encourages everyone to focus. Second, slowing the conversation provides ample time for a response. In the past months, we've all had need to mourn a loss. Third, minimizing distractions and limiting interruptions keeps the emphasis on the present topic. Giving space to breathe, think and act is empowering in any conversation.
What Is Listening? Webster's Dictionary defines listening as paying attention to sound. Here are a few specific types of listening that can benefit us all:
In my writing groups, we also practice this strategy. Writers read their works aloud. After, we echo back a few of the writers' phrases that intrigued us, signaling their words have been heard.
• An active or reflective listening strategy involves trying to understand a speaker's idea, then offering the information back to the speaker to confirm the idea has been understood. These terms arose from the work of Carl Rogers, an eminent
• Deep or comprehensive listening, according to the Center for Spirituality at the University of Minnesota, is the process of listening to learn. We might turn on our music players to enjoy classical notes playing in the background
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of our lives, but a musician listens to learn. How was that arpeggio played, in ascending or descending order? At the intrapersonal level, deep listening teaches us about ourselves. What are our likes and dislikes? On an interpersonal level, instead of shifting the conversation to ourselves, we listen more consciously to what a colleague, parent, or friend is trying to tell us. Finally, at a group level, we hear about important issues via a collective voice that might not otherwise be articulated by an individual. My friend, Lisa Burns is active in her small, urban church in northern Kentucky where there is a great need for food, shelter and hope. During the pandemic, she became a vessel into which others poured forth their lives. She had nowhere to empty out her own. On the other hand, my sister, single and working from home in Cleveland, was tired of the baseline screen interactions with colleagues who she once chatted with at the office's proverbial water cooler. They both longed for deep listening in their lives. • In motivational interviewing, the interviewer asks only open-ended questions and listens carefully to the responses. In the silent spaces, the interviewee reflects on his or her thoughts, considers decision-making patterns more deeply, and possibly expresses an interest in changing their mind or actions. This technique is used often in clinical settings to influence patient behaviors and can equally be applied to current efforts of bridging the political divide, thereby providing a key benefit that arises from these listening sessions. Adam Grant, a Wharton organizational psychologist and author The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
of "Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know," says, “Don’t try to change someone else’s mind. Instead, help them find their own motivation to change.” Listening 'Inside This World' The pandemic forced us into facing the computer or sitting on the couch. Our interactions were defined by a flat screen or an equally flat day. Television shows like "Ted Lasso" and "The Queen's Gambit" were attention-grabbing, but were we paying attention to the sounds around us? My friend Lisa was a gregarious person with plenty of family living nearby. My sister lived alone. How had listening become so critical to both? In the past months, many of us had a need to mourn a loss. We've sought experiences that would deepen or mend any connection that had been severed and longed for the company of someone who could patiently sit in the discomfort of words we needed to say without interjecting with a more gripping story of their own. During Rob Lowe's "Literally" podcast, Oprah Winfrey also reminds us, "A willingness to ask other people what happened to them, opens up an aperture
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for that question to also be answered by yourself." Shopping at a plant nursery this past spring, I asked a clerk to point me toward the pots of lavender. She clapped her hands, excited to talk to someone — about lavender, about anything gardenrelated. "It's been a long winter," she said. My feet cramped in tennis shoes and my temples throbbed in the early heat. Though not pressed for time, I was tired. Despite my hurry to buy the flowers, I immersed myself in the chat about plants
and remembered, "It's not about me." To paraphrase the poet, Mary Oliver, we were born to look, to listen, to lose ourselves inside this soft world. Here are a few tips to listen and stay engaged: • Echo someone’s words and let them know they’ve been heard. • Allow space in your conversations to respond to challenging statements. • Be curious. Inquiring about someone else’s life is how we learn about ourselves. Source: www.nextavenue.org
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Master Gardener's Perspective
by Virginia Gregory
Look out for Naked Ladies
When the brutal heat of summer is finally passing and taking the most vibrant garden colors with it, there is a bloom that shines like a Las Vegas showgirl down county roads and in a few lucky gardens. Blooming LYCORIS RADIATA glows like a siren light from a distance, but up close the frilly profusion of petals sticking up gave some sour soul the excuse to call this gorgeous firework bloom the ugly name “SPIDER LILY.” It’s almost like the common name was thought up by the plainer flowers that were bitter jealous and couldn’t stand to admit what a looker LYCORIS RADIATA really is. As a little girl, the much more apt common name stuck in my head “NAKED LADIES”— Now that is a name that captures this attentiongrabbing spectacle that happens every September!
But before you get the impression that these blooms are debauched and difficult, please understand that LYCORIS RADIATA is one of the most modest plants the rest of the year. After the September pageant show is gone and forgotten, some dark green strappy leaves with a thin white stripe come out and make it through the whole winter, disappearing with the summer heat. So, plant these girls anywhere, because you are not mowing, spraying, or weed eating in the winter, and they will grow unmolested during the cool season. This plant behavior leads to the third common name “SURPRISE LILY” which captures one of the most endearing qualities of the flower. The bud jumps up seemingly overnight from bare ground with its neon curling filaments and puts
you want to sit by and who you want to avoid.
on a peepshow when our gardener’s hearts need it most. Scientist tagged the flower “LYCORIS RADIATA” indicating radial symmetry of the petals, but just plain “radiant lily” would describe her better. Other common names for this flamboyant gal describe her other properties. “Magic lily”, “equinox lily”, “hurricane lily”, “ditch lily” and “schoolyard lily” are some you might hear. LYCORIS RADIATA and her sisters have been playing peek-a boo in our Alabama landscapes since they arrived from south Asia in the mid 1800’s with other amaryllis. If you don’t already have some, you are late to this party! Many varieties of lycoris bulbs can be had from online nurseries, but surely, it’s more fun to make friends with a generous gardener that has some to spare. The best way involves finding something in your yard to swap for lycoris bulbs so that the next time you are at dinner party you can work in the question; “Does anyone have extra naked ladies to trade?” Quickly, you can discern who
I’ve moved seven times since leaving Montgomery in 1986 and planted Alabama lycoris bulbs in a half dozen gardens in other states. It’s good to think the “ladies” are putting on the show every September for new audiences. My move back home to Montgomery was a rush, so I couldn’t dig and drag much garden along with me. But leaving lycoris in my Charlotte garden didn’t matter, because the same generous clump I originally dug from in 1986 is still thriving in mother’s garden. The lesson here is that “NAKED LADIES” are tough, enduring, and faithful bloomers. That is why they bring beauty to ditches and pastures as well as manicured borders. These beauty queens do not need petty sashes and tiaras to be recognized for the stunners they are. LYCORIS RADIATA is gorgeous enough to make us pull the car over and stare no matter where they choose to jump up and flash their eyepopping show every September. Virginia Gregory, an intern in the 2021 Master Gardener Class, lives in Pike Road, AL. For more information on becoming a master gardener, visit www.capcitymga. org or email capcitymga@gmail.com.
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Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier
Micanopy...Okey Micanopy... Okey dokey At first, Cindy is reluctant when I suggest we hop in the car and drive 340 miles to visit a petite community just south of Gainesville, Florida. It’s named for once powerful Seminole Chief Micanopy (ca. 1780-1849). But she warms to the idea when I explain we’ll be staying at the majestic Herlong Mansion Bed and Breakfast. And that antique shops, interesting architecture, ancient moss-covered oaks, narrow roads and old churches adorn the small town close to where Marjorie Kennan Rawlings wrote her classic 1939 novel, The Yearling. We leave early. It’s a 5.5-hour drive from the River Region. An hour will be lost crossing into East Florida. Ubiquitous, depraved signs mar Interstate 75 South, advertising “adult” stores and the “Café Risque” that “bares all.” Sad and disgusting. But we press on. At Exit 374 we turn left, passing the Café Risque on our right. The parking lot is vacant and all’s quiet. In close proximity, we passed the local elementary school. I became fascinated with Micanopy, Florida (pop. 600) when the name appeared in William Bartram’s Travels. Reading Bartram’s 1770’s adventures for the umpteenth time, I learned the brilliant Quaker botanist had ventured near the present-day site of Micanopy. On the drive down, I keep referring to Florida’s oldest inland town as “My-Canopy.” But Katherine, Herlong Mansion’s attractive red-headed hostess, pronounces it correctly for me: “Micka-no-pee.” It’s helpful to remember that Micanopy rhymes with the adverb “okey dokey.” (See Merriam Webster.) Katherine shows us to our room,
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Herlong Mansion
Magnolia, featuring a king bed, claw-foot tub and period antiques. On the wall outside our door hang old photos. And framed letters from the 1930’s make for insightful reading. The mansion’s Cindy and a 1930's Era Ford interior floors and walls combine stunning woods, reflecting the original owner’s lumber trade. The manicured grounds include what Cindy calls a “Sound of Music” gazebo. A vintage 30’s Ford is parked by the porte cochere.
Pedestrian-friendly Micanopy is a delightful town with wonderful possibilities. But the commercial district leaves us scratching our heads. Omnipresent Buddha statues and the smell of incense detract from the historic appeal of an area where Florida’s aboriginal records indicate Hernando De Soto encountered an early Timucua Indian Village as far back as 1539. American history unfurled like a tsunami here over the ensuing centuries. Strangely, Micanopy is called “the town that time forgot.” Micanopy apparently has a dark side, too. Cruising neighborhoods, we find a beautiful old church close to an ancient cemetery. Someone has turned the structure into a residence and decorated the transom over the front door with evil images that appear permanent in nature rather than mere Halloween decoration. We visit Lotus & Buddha Art Collective where owner Chelsey Cook offers her guests excellent complimentary coffee and wines. Chelsey represents numerous local artists and features delightful handmade crafts. I purchase two sets of colorful hairpins for special nieces and gloat as Chelsey lovingly wraps them for me. As Micanopy’s stores begin to close, we
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Elephant Ears Dwarf Cindy
Jeff's Dinner @ Antonio's
head four miles south to Antonio’s for dinner. According to the restaurant’s Web site, Chef Antonio was born in his grandmother’s house on the Isle of Ponza just off the coast of Naples, Italy. His passion for Italian cooking began in her kitchen when he was only 9 years old. Later he owned and operated his own restaurants in Milan and Ponza. When Antonio came to the states in 1999, he stayed true to his heritage of producing the kind of Italian food he cooked with his grandmother. Essential ingredients and techniques set his food apart. Antonio’s recipes are simple and fresh, just like in his grandmother’s kitchen. I thoroughly enjoy my clams and mussels over spaghetti with a glass of white wine. We return to Herlong Mansion after a great meal. I find a note missed earlier: Welcome, Jeff—Please make yourselves at home & let us know if there’s anything
Lily Pads @Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
we may do to make your stay most enjoyable! Thank you, Katherine. Class management. Our bed is like sleeping on a cloud, and we sleep soundly. Next morning, we enjoy a delightful breakfast of fruit, grits, scrambled eggs, biscuits and sausage gravy. Afterward, I peruse the guest book. One guest wrote: What an amazing piece of heaven. We had a very enjoyable and quiet stay. The hospitality was above and beyond! Breakfast was delicious and plentiful. Thank you again so much. We will definitely be back. Along 75 North, we spot a sign for Kanapaha Botanical Gardens off Exit 384 and decide to check it out. For ten bucks a head, Kanapaha Gardens offers weary travelers an extraordinary respite from
Gazebo At Herlong Mansion
the rush of the frantic six-lane Interstate. Two hours is required to see the whole park. But, to stay on schedule, we visit for about thirty minutes. The excursion is still well worth the money. Kanapaha Gardens features lily pads so large that children have been photographed sitting on them! No joke. See their Web site. We watch foot-long Koi fish swim among the lily pads and stroll along enchanting trails amidst myriad trees and flora. The elephant ear plants are so large that an adult could wrap up in one leaf. Florida, it appears, has so much more than beach. So, when travelling south on I-75, consider a stop in Micanopy. Okey dokey? www.antonios.co https://micanopytown.com https://kanapaha.org
Jeff S. Barganier is a novelist, travel writer and manager of Cindy Barganier Interiors LLC. He travels far and wide upon the slightest excuse for something interesting to write about. Contact: Jeffbarganier@knology.net. Instagram: @jeffbarganier. Visit: www.jeffbarganier.com.
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‘America’s Oldest Park Ranger’ Is Only Her Latest Chapter Betty Reid Soskin has fought to ensure that American history includes the stories that get overlooked. As she turns 100, few stories have been more remarkable than hers. The Rosie the Riveter / World War II Home Front National Historical Park, which sprawls across the former shipyards in Richmond, Calif., on the northeast edge of San Francisco Bay, tells the enormous story of the largest wartime mobilization in American history and the sweeping social changes it sparked. Visitors can climb aboard an enormous Victory ship, one of more than 700 vessels produced in Richmond — and, in the gift shop, pick up swag emblazoned with the iconic image of the red-kerchiefed Rosie herself, arm flexed up with “We Can Do It!” bravado. But for many, the park is synonymous with another woman: Betty. Betty Reid Soskin, who turned 100 on Sept. 22, is the oldest active ranger in the National Park Service. Over the past decade and a half, she has become both an icon of the service and an unlikely celebrity, drawing overflow crowds to talks and a steady stream of media interviewers eager for the eloquent words of an Scan QR to Read More indomitable 5 feet 3 inch great-grandmother once described by a colleague as “sort of like Bette Davis, Angela Davis and Yoda all rolled into one.” For more visit www.nps.gov/articles/000/betty-reid-soskin.htm
Do You Know, How a Hummingbird’s Tongue Works? Many BOOM! readers spend quality time in their yards feeding and watching these amazing little creatures. It's no surprise that hummingbirds have very long tongues, but do you know just how long they are? It can actually stick out as far as the bill is long. And did you know that when it is not in use it wraps under the jaw, behind and over the head? Or that it is actually forked? If you scan the QR code with your phone you'll be able to see a 3 minute video explaining how the Hummer's tongue works, it's AMAZING! Share with the grandkids and others...or visit www.journeynorth. org/tm/humm/tongue_fluid_trap.html Scan QR to View Video
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Rob Schneider, I Have Issues Tour @ MPAC Rob Schneider is an accomplished actor, comedian, screenwriter and director. A stand-up comic and veteran of the award-winning NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live. Schneider started his stand-up career in high school opening for the popular San Francisco band “Head On,” and was a regular guest on local radio. An opening slot for Dennis Miller garnered him an appearance on the HBO’s “13th Annual Young Comedians” special also hosted by Miller. The special led him to a coveted position as a writer for SNL in 1988. Schneider swiftly moved from a writer and featured player to a full cast member with a cast that included Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade and the late Chris Farley. Friday October 8, 8 pm. www.mpaconline.org Scan QR to Order Tickets
Capital City Master Gardeners Association Lunch & Learn @ The Armory, October 6, “Destructive Insects” and November 3, "Shade Gradening" Capital City Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn, the 1st Wednesday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They will meet at Armory Learning Arts Building, 1018 Madison Ave., Montgomery 36104. Mark your calendars, October 6, “Destructive Insects”, Anthony Yarbrough, Master Gardener, will be presenting the program, “Destructive Insects”. Join us to learn about insects causing problems in your home yard, garden, and elsewhere. Find out helpful remedies to control these nuisance pests! November 3, Shade Gardening, Mary McCroan, Advanced Master Gardener, will be presenting the program, “Shade Gardening”. Join us to learn about gardening with an abundance of shade in the yard. How can you add color to the landscape and which plants work the best with limited sunshine? Find out the answers to these and other questions during Mary’s presentation. Plan to wear your mask and socially distance, as mandated by the City of Montgomery. 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.
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Contemporary Artist Lesley Dill Brings History to Life in Latest Exhibition @ MMFA
On view, October 9, 2021 through January 2, 2022, Lesley Dill, Wilderness: Light Sizzles Around Me carefully interweaves imagery, text, and historical visionaries into stunning three-dimensional encounters. Curator of Art Jennifer Jankauskas, Ph.D., states, “Throughout her work, Dill utilizes language to examine the human condition. In Wilderness: Light Sizzles Around Me, each persona that Dill represents played an instrumental part in the formation of our nation’s history. By bringing these historical figures back to life in large-scale figurative sculptures and banners, Dill introduces many of us to their powerful and brave words and actions. Scan QR to Learn More Her combination of art and language evokes the fervor and spirituality that drove each of these individuals, providing new ways for us to examine, interpret, and find inspiration not only our past, but our present.” For more information, visit https://mmfa.org/exhibition/lesley-dill-wilderness/
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Montgomery Christian School Invites You to a Lunch & Learn
Montgomery Christian School is a non-profit elementary school which provides challenging academics in a Christ-centered environment to families with limited school choice. Every student is on scholarship and pays a portion of tuition. We need community members to partner with us to help share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and educate these amazing students. Monthly, MCS host a “Lunch and Learn” as an opportunity to meet people who are interested in praying, giving, and investing in our mission. Come join us to learn more. The event is the second Tuesday of every month from noon to 1:00p.m. RSVP to Ann Amster at 334.386.1749 or development@montgomerychristianschool.org. For more information, please go to www.MontgomeryChristianSchool.org.
Continue a Life of Meaning Beyond Retirement In 2002, with his business partner, Adam Zuercher, Tony Hixon launched Hixon Zuercher Capital Management—a fee-only wealth management firm. Tony wanted to help clients ensure that they wouldn’t outlive their money—and possibly even have enough saved to accomplish their bucket-list goals. However, after several years of running a numbers-first business and serving his clients well in their financial lives, a family crisis changed his thinking. Tony’s mother retired from her job as the director of a hospice agency, and she quickly fell into a deep depression as she lost her purpose and fulfillment derived from a lifelong career she had been passionate about. On March 22, 2011, Tony’s mother tragically took her own life. After this life-changing tragedy, Tony made it his goal to help pre-retirees not repeat the mistakes his mom made as she transitioned from her career into retirement. You need a plan for both your finances and your lifestyle. Retirement Stepping Stones will help ensure that your retirement brings you pleasure, serenity of mind, and the enjoyment of a life well-lived. That your transition is from success to significance. That you find a newfound hope and a newfound purpose. That retirement brings you your best years. www.amazon.com
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The 37th annual Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival The 37th annual Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival will feature more than 200 nationally acclaimed songwriters in venues along the Florida / Alabama Gulf Coast from November 4th - 14th, 2021. The festival is an opportunity for seasoned and aspiring songwriters and musicians from all over the world to have their songs heard, and for the public to learn the stories behind the lyrics that only the song’s author can express. During this exciting 11 day festival, performers will be hosted in over two dozen venues along the FL/AL Gulf Coast. For Scan QR more info visit www.frankbrownsongwriters.com
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Can You Afford to Retire?
On Wednesday, October 27th from noon to 1:30 p.m. Susan Moore of Moore Wealth Management, Inc. will be conducting a complimentary webinar, Can You Afford to Retire?, that covers how to build your pyramid, estimating what your income and expenses will be during retirement. 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.
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The Shoppes at EastChase kicks off Fall with Harvest Jam
Harvest Jam returns to The Shoppes at EastChase this year offering festive fall fun for music fans, farmers market shoppers, craft beer lovers, and families from the river region on Saturday, October 16 from 11 AM – 2 PM near H&M and the new Sephora. Free of charge and family-friendly, this event features live music by The Tuckahoe Travelers, a Birmingham-based country music band, local makers, artist and farmers, kids’ activities, and a craft beer tasting. Donations for the tasting and pumpkin patch will benefit Child Protect, a Children’s Advocacy Center that exists to minimize that trauma and help rebuild young lives shattered by child abuse. The market will feature local favorites like Yarbrough Homestead, MADE Cookies, Ziegler Farms, and more. www.theshoppesateastchase.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Caregiver of the Month Spotlight:
Shundra Hutcherson
The “Pandemic” has been difficult for caregivers alike, as they seem to face the daily struggle of caregiver burnout. Shundra Hutcherson never ran from her calling and instead embraced it with the ability to provide care and assistance to our client’s without missing a beat. Her clients are more than just another case, they are extended family who are treated with dignity and respect. When it comes to hard work, compassion, kindness, empathy, and professionalism Shundra embodies it all. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, we at HCA Salute you for a Job Well-done!!
“Shundra we truly appreciate you for going ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY” For more information visit www.homecareassistancemontgomery.com
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BOOM! COVER PROFILE
Janeese Spencer
Teacher, Speaker, Life Coach... This month’s cover profile is a woman who has been teaching and coaching for many years. Her name is Janeese Spencer, she is the Executive Director, Founder and Owner of Venture Life Coaching in Montgomery, Al. She also has a significant role as a teacher and speaker for various organizations in the southeast. She is a certified life coach with the John Maxwell Team, which is one of the foremost coaching organizations in the world. Many readers will know Janeese from her work at Saint James UMC along side her husband, Lester Spencer, Senior Pastor. We caught up with Janeese after a recent teaching series at Saint James for this month’s photo shoot. She shared much of her story with us and we believe you’ll enjoy getting to know her as much as we have. We all need a good coach now and then and she would be a good one to turn to! We also hope you’ll share her story with friends and family. BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography., where you are from, education, what brought you to Montgomery, did you raise your family here, schools, married family etc. Janeese: I am originally from Atlanta, Georgia. My parents, Jim and Grace Lowry were married 72 years and raised my 5 siblings and me in a strong Christian home in Atlanta. I am the fifth of six children and I learned a great deal about marriage, family, faith and a strong value system from their example. My father was a bomber pilot in WW II and later became Vice President of a Company called Dogwood Fabrics where he worked for nearly 40 years. They both instilled in each of my siblings a strong work ethic. They also worked hard to be fair to each of their children with their love, time, resources and care. That is no small feat with 6 children.
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Janeese sharing a teaching moment at Saint James UMC
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Their unconditional love for each other and for each of us was beautiful. My growing up years were full of fun, sports, church and family celebrations. My mom was intentional about celebrations and pulling the family together. We were a big sports family and so there was always a game on with great food and friends. My mother was a good cook and always made room for others to join our table. The door was
always open and so was her heart. My mom only had a high school education, but she was one of the wisest people I have ever known. She had a way of always making time for people. People would knock on that old screen door at our house in Embry Hills and come on in where she would listen, love and counsel people. Looking back, I don’t know how she managed to make time for so many people while juggling the lives of 6 children who were very active, teaching one child who had special needs and caring for my grandmother. I had no idea that her lifestyle choices would impact me both on a professional and personal level. I also saw that what grounded her was her faith and relationship with Jesus. Her Bible stayed next to her den chair and you could The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
always find her I am also an serve the people of this great church and reading it when Executive the River Region community. It has also she would take a Director with been an amazing faith journey to see break, especially the John how the Lord has moved in our lives and late at night. I Maxwell our church. would hear her Team, which praying and see allows me Lester is absolutely my best friend! We her with her the privilege love sharing life together. He is the most Bible open. She of Coaching, fun person to hang out with, and he is truly was my Training and always up for a new fun adventure with spiritual mentor Speaking. I me. After 33 years of marriage, I can and taught me am a certified honestly say that he amazes me as he so much about member of continues to be a godly man who is full Jesus, faith and American of integrity, and a man who has a deep the importance Association love for the Lord and people. of serving your of Christian family, other Counselors We have three children, Harden, Ciara people and and am a and Joshua who grew up in Montgomery. His church. My Certified All three of our children went to Trinity siblings and I are Marriage Presbyterian School. Harden graduated forever blessed to Enrichment from Huntingdon College and we are so have had parents Counselor. grateful for the awesome experience he of this caliber. had at Huntingdon. I believe Huntingdon Janeese with husband Lester I went to I met my College is such an asset to our Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C. husband Lester while we were in community and is an excellent choice for where I received a Bachelors of Science seminary together. We have anyone looking degree in Counseling Psychology with a been married for 33 years and for a college minor in Religion. After graduating from have loved serving in ministry education. college, I attended Emory University in together most of our married Then, he Atlanta, Georgia where I graduated with life. When we first got married, went to Duke a Masters of we served University Divinity from on staff at and received the Candler Auburn United a Master of School of Methodist Divinity and Theology. Church for 6 he is currently I later did years. Then enrolled a 2 -year we were at George postgraduate afforded the Washington fellowship opportunity, University, in in Pastoral to move to Washington Care and Montgomery D.C. where is Counseling. to serve as working on Following Pastors at Saint a Masters in UAB Nursing School Graduation seminary, I James UMC. Legislative was ordained Affairs. He is as a Pastor When we first moved to currently working for a Congressman in in the United Saint James, the church Washington, DC as a Legislative Assistant. Methodist was originally located on Church. I South Court Street. We Our daughter Ciara graduated from UAB have served led the church through Nursing School and is currently finishing as a pastor a relocation process her last year on her Doctorate of Nursing in various and now the church is Practice at UAB. She is married to Alex capacities for located at the corner of Perkins, and they reside in Birmingham. Family at daughter Ciara’s wedding over 33 years Vaughn and Ryan Road. Alex is the Creative Director for Knight in the Alabama-West Florida Conference We have served Saint James for 23 years. Eady in Birmingham of the United Methodist Church. It has been the greatest honor and joy to
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Our youngest son Joshua graduated from Auburn University with two degrees in Finance and Psychology. He resides in Nashville, Tn. and is employed as a Field Auditor by Crestmark Bank, which is a commercial bank. All three of our children call Montgomery home and are grateful Janeese and Lester taveling with Compassion International for the friendships in Uganda and Kenya and education they I believe people and organizations are received in the schools in the River looking for ways to grow, and they are Region. looking for practical steps to move beyond their current status. I saw a huge BOOM!: You are the Executive Director, need and wanted to be Founder and Owner of Venture Life a part of helping people Coaching in Montgomery, Al. Would you discovers positive please share what Venture Life Coaching solutions through Life is and why you decided to start it? What Coaching. are some of the biggest rewards of VLC? Biggest Challenges?
increase productivity, empower you to unlock solutions to your future and discover ways to overcome barriers and limiting beliefs. Simply put Coaching is all about growth. We offer comprehensive Coaching services for Adults, Couples, Parents, High School/College Students and Families. Focus areas include Marriage and Family, Parenting, Grief, Spiritual Direction, Divorce Recovery, Premarital, Discovering Purpose, Professional Development to name a few. Second, we offer Training Solutions for Businesses, Organizations and Churches. One of the greatest strengths of the business is that I am an Executive Director with the John Maxwell Team. The Maxwell methodology is a proven win for organizations and teams who want to succeed. As businesses continue to navigate the complexities
Venture Life Coaching is a business focused on serving the needs of individuals, families and business leaders/ organizations. Venture Life Coaching offers three services: Coaching, Training, Speaking.
Janeese: I had been feeling a tug for several years to specifically focus on my passions of coaching, speaking and training. I had been offering Counseling/ Coaching services for over 30 years primarily within the church. Years ago, I made a strategic shift to embrace more Ribbon Cutting for Venture LIfe Coaching of a Coaching model, and I began to see firsthand how people and organizations began to experience exponential growth and challenges of today, my goal is Coaching is one of the leading tools that as they began implementing coaching to collaborate with businesses and successful principles. organizations to provide the needed people utilize As a result resources and trainings to accelerate to equip of that, I felt growth. We can customize your Training themselves called to open experience and target specific growth to take the business needs of your organization, along with intentional, as an LLC in incorporating Maxwell’s key principles for creative and 2017 so that success. life-giving I could focus next steps on offering I believe that healthy and winning professionally Coaching, organizations are being more proactive or personally. Training and in offering Training options for their Coaching Speaking staff team. Venture Life Coaching offers will help you services to a variety of Training opportunities regain clarity the larger to increase your professional and and direction community. organizational potential such as Janeese and Lester in Jersualem in your life, Leadership Development, Team Building,
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Janeese appearing as Guest Chaplain-Speaker at Camp Glisson, North Georgia
Communication and Personality Profiling, Conflict Resolution, Strategic Planning and Balancing Work and Home. Third, we offer Speaking services for your next keynote event. Whether it is for a conference, seminar or workshop, I have over 25 years' experience speaking throughout the southeast at conferences, retreats and seminars. My experience coupled with my ability to personalize your keynote needs and the goals of the organization are my strengths. Venture Life Coaching seeks to provide challenge, inspiration and wisdom. The greatest rewards of Venture Life Coaching is the honor to work with a variety of businesses and organizations in the River Region and to see those organizations increase productivity, enhance leadership development, build team morale and experience professional growth as a result of the Coaching and Training experiences. Equally important is the privilege to partner with individuals and couples as we seek to empower them to reach their greatest potential on a personal, relational or spiritual level. BOOM!: You are a certified Life Coach with the John Maxwell Team, who is John Maxwell and why did you choose his organization to work with? Janeese: After much research of various organizations that were doing Life Coaching, this felt like the best fit for The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
me. John Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, life coach, speaker and author who has written over 100 books and sold over 24 million copies in 50 languages. He was identified as the most popular leadership expert in the world by INC. Magazine. Leadershipguru.net has voted him as the top leadership professional 6 years in a row.
Janeese: The purpose of a Life Coach is to empower people or organizations to make progress in their lives in order to attain greater fulfillment or success. Life Coaches aid their clients in improving their careers, their relationships and the quality of their life.
Whether I am working with a business/ organization, individual, couple or family, people often times find themselves The John Maxwell Team is one of the stuck. They aren’t sure the best way to top training and move forward, certification to grow, to organizations for resolve an Life Coaches. I issue, or to even was first certified dream about as a member of their future. the John Maxwell Whatever the Team to Coach, circumstance, Speak and Train. I love helping I am now an people or Executive Director organizations and honored to put together a be affiliated with strategic and this professional individualized organization. plan that will Preaching at Ken Austin's Church This organization empower them has enhanced my previous 30 years of to take those necessary steps so that professional training and counseling they can find success, meaning and experience. I love learning and am purpose. constantly being stretched to grow professionally through the John Maxwell I believe that with the ever-changing Team. demands and stressors of life, the BOOM!: Can you explain what the purpose of a Life coach is? What is the Janeese Spencer approach to Life Coaching?
services of Venture Life Coaching can be a catalyst to help you get the breakthroughs you need personally, relationally, spiritually or professionally.
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The ultimate goal is provide proven and professional services that enable individuals or organizations to grow and succeed. This is at the heart of my coaching philosophy. Venture Life Coaching is here to serve you or your organization. We hope you will explore the various services available to you. We encourage you to take a growth step. When you choose to embrace the Coaching process, you are choosing to get unstuck; you are choosing to maximize your potential. We liken a Life Coach to having a Physical / Personal Trainer. When you get a physical /personal fitness trainer, you feel good about taking a positive step for yourself. You should feel the same way about having a Life Coach. Be proactive. Step out and do something positive for yourself or your organization
me throughout our marriage. I would not be the person I am today without him. He has always been a constant voice of encouragement to me. In my early years of ministry, he was the one constantly challenging me to embrace my teaching and leadership gifts. I was much more comfortable in the background, but he saw gifts in me that I didn’t see in myself.
Janeese and Lester with family
of issues such as being grandparents, empty nesters, and/or caregiving, grief, divorce, financial difficulties, health issues, relocating or juggling multiple roles and demands. Whatever the issues are, life coaching can help you navigate your older adult years in a way that is life giving to you.
In the same fashion, he was highly instrumental in helping me take the leap to open my own business. The older I get, the more I am aware that it is a rare gift to have a spouse who believes in you and is willing to do whatever he can to help you be successful in utilizing your gifts. He is my biggest cheerleader and advocate! I always want to be available to him to offer any kind of support and even life coaching tips if he seeks that out from me. We have learned to laugh a lot about
BOOM!: The aging process or getting old can be a difficult time for some people, how would a life coach help us better navigate the aging journey? How would our readers hire you to be their Life Coach?
If I can be of any service to you or someone you know, the best way to contact me is through the Venture Life Coaching website which is www. venturelifecoaching. net.
Janeese: I believe each new season of life has its opportunities and challenges. We all have a choice as to how we want to maximize these new seasons we face especially as we age. I want to make the most of these years, and I want to spend these years doing things that have eternal value. Intentionality is the key to making sure that this happens. Life Coaching can be a tremendous source of support and can empower you to live into the next season of your life with grace, confidence, hope and purpose. I believe we all want to make a difference with our lives. As we age, we may find ourselves dealing with a myriad
BOOM!: Janeese, you were a Teaching Pastor for many years with Saint James UMC and your husband, Lester Spencer is Janeese and Lester sailing in the Virgin Islands the current Pastor of Saint James UMC, how has your husband been helpful in how we both can give each other a few your life coaching business? Like many coaching tips, even when we are not wives do you provide him with a little actually desirous of it. “life coaching” from time to time? BOOM!: With a busy life, how do you like Janeese: I can’t say enough about the to spend time with friends and family? support and love that Lester has given
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Janeese: I absolutely love time with my family. Now, that we are officially empty nesters, we find that we have to be really intentional about making sure that we get regular times with our kids together and individually. We love vacationing together, celebrating the holidays and we are always looking for a new adventure to enjoy. We all love the outdoors, travel, sports, playing games and, of course, eating/cooking together. When the weather is right, there is nothing sweeter than sitting down at our fire pit, roasting some marshmallows and enjoying conversation for hours as we share our hearts and passions. There is no greater joy! I am also blessed with some of the sweetest friends. I cherish my friendships and any time I get to be with them whether that is over a meal, a cup of coffee, a facetime conversation or taking a girl's trip. The older I get the more I am grateful for those people who make time for you and believe the best in you and for you! I especially treasure sharing our faith together and holding each other accountable to live and love like Christ. BOOM!: What are some of your favorite travel experiences? Favorite vacation spot? Any travel dreams? Janeese: Lester and I have placed a very high value on travel and creating memories together, with our family and with our church family. I think our mission trips to serve in various countries have been some of our favorite experiences. Lester has a huge heart for missions and actually took me on my first overseas trip to Honduras/Utila and later to Nicaragua in the middle of the Contra War…lol. He has literally led hundreds of teams. We both felt passionate about taking our kids on mission trips at an early age. We wanted to expand their worldview and their faith especially in regards to caring for the poor and the least of these. All three of our kids would tell you that those trips have shaped them into who they are today. Ciara actually received her calling into the medical field while she was serving with Lester in Africa at a The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
medical clinic. We have traveled to a number of countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Panama, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Honduras, Bahamas, Brazil, and Belize. Some other fun destinations have been traveling throughout Europe, Australia and Israel.
to revitalize, innovate and grow our communities. Lester and I love the hearts of the people here and look forward to continuing to serve with others here in the future.
I would love to see more small/quaint gathering places for people to enjoy the outdoors and fellowship together. I believe our community would welcome more places and ways to connect and meet Because we love people that are safe Janeese hiking in Maroon Bells being in God’s and family friendly. creation, we have A second hope enjoyed many years of back packing, for the city is to see our Public School camping and/or white water canoeing System thrive at the highest level for the in places such as Glacier National Park, future education of our students. Jackson Hole and the Tetons, Colorado, the Appalachian Trail and the Smokey BOOM!: As you’ve aged, how have your Mountains. priorities changed? We also enjoy all the beach activities such as snorkeling, diving and sailing. Lester is a great sailor, and we just recently got back from sailing around the Virgin Islands with some dear friends. A few items on our bucket list are going to Alaska, traveling the northeast and hitting some new stops in Europe. Something new for us has been leading a tour group to Israel, and we are looking at future dates to lead a group next year. BOOM!: How do you like to relax and wind down from a day’s work? Janeese: We live out in the country, so I love being outside by the lake and enjoying the wildlife and a quiet evening. I enjoy taking walks, biking, kayaking, cooking a healthy meal, and being with my sweet husband, family or friends. BOOM!: What is about living in Montgomery/River Region area that you like? What do we need more of? Janeese: I love the River Region; the small town feel and the southern hospitality. I believe the leadership of our cities and towns have worked hard
Janeese: I have always placed a high value on relationships and investing in people. but I have tried to protect my time better by eliminating things from my schedule that hinder me from doing this. A new priority for me has been focusing on my own health and self-care. The greater the demands in my life, the more I realize the necessity to take care of my emotional, spiritual, physical and relational health. I am much more intentional about building margin in my schedule for times of refueling, rest, fun, relationships and my own spiritual growth. BOOM!: Give us three words that describe you? Janeese: Passionate, Adventurous, and Grateful BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or other activities that grab your attention? Janeese: I love sports and sporting events. I grew up in a family where we all played sports and were avid sports fans and now my kids are too. We especially love attending Auburn Games
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and Atlanta United Soccer games. I do admit that I am a Georgia girl, so I do pull for most any Georgia teams even those Georgia bulldogs! BOOM!: What are some of the future challenges you're contemplating for Venture Life Coaching? For yourself? What are your thoughts on retirement? Janeese: The greatest challenge for Venture Life Coaching is meeting the enormous mental health needs that have been emerging, especially since Covid. We are experiencing that the need and requests for Life Coaching has grown exponentially in the last 2 years, and we are exploring diverse ways to meet the ever growing needs. There is an increased demand for me to expand the time I give to motivational speaking and training with organizations. I find that many businesses/organizations are exploring greater ways to take care of their teams and broadening their leadership development opportunities for their staff. My thoughts on Retirement? I am having way too much fun at Venture Life Coaching to consider retirement. I will always have a heart to serve people in any way that I can so in that sense I guess I’ll never retire. BOOM!: Many people over 50 are experiencing a renewed sense of purpose, new goals etc.? How would you describe this sense of renewal in your life? Any advice for the rest of us seeking renewal? Janeese: I launched this new business in my mid 50’s with the support of my husband, my church, many friends and colleagues. It has been incredibly fulfilling and challenging, but I love that I have been able to focus on what I am most passionate about which is coaching, training, speaking and leadership development. I have met some incredible people through this journey and I have learned so much about myself. One of my greatest joys that have brought renewal
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and fresh zeal to my life is that I love being able to celebrate with people when it comes to their successes. I love empowering people to be what they feel called to be. As people have availed themselves to the Coaching process, I have seen people start businesses, branch out into speaking, write books, teach and lead at new heights in their organizations. I have seen individuals letting go of jobs they weren’t fulfilled in only to find a job where they are now thriving. I have seen people learn to navigate the stress, anxiety and fears in their lives in such a way that they have found a newfound freedom and passion for life. I have seen marriages and other significant relationships restored. It is the highest privilege to be in the journey with people and cheer people on to their next and greatest Venture. If you are interested in pursuing something new in your life, I would encourage you to listen to those nudges you’ve been feeling. It is never to late to take a risk. I love that old saying that says, ”Failure is never failure as long as you learn something from it.” My belief is what do I have to lose by trying… absolutely nothing! The truth is most of us have longings that have lain dormant for years. I want to encourage you to take that step to do the thing that keeps coming back to you. You know that thing that you say, if I could only do_________ I would be so happy. It’s never to late to take that courageous step. I encourage you to run it by some of your friends or family to get their input. Often times, people who love you and truly have your best interest at heart will confirm and clarify your best next steps. BOOM!: Faith has been an important part of your life; please share with us some of your faith journey and how faith has guided your life? Janeese: The biggest inspiration in my life is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I have been a Christian for 47 years, and it was the best decision I have ever made. I started serving in the church during high school and found such joy in sharing
my faith and love for Christ. My youth pastor, family and friends all began to help me see and name my spiritual gifts. They began to see my gifts for ministry but that was the last thing I wanted to do. I wanted to pursue a degree in Marriage and Family Counseling and that was my plan when I graduated from college. Yet, in my senior year of college, my professor pulled me aside and asked to meet with me. I had been leading a Christian organization on campus, and he watched me throughout the year and encouraged me to consider full time Christian service. He challenged me to go to seminary and so did my oldest brother who was a United Methodist pastor. Back in 1984, I had no role models for women in ministry. It was not accepted or encouraged. The bottom line was I knew the Lord had been speaking to me, but I just didn’t want to be in ministry. I sat down with my parents and sought their advice. I really thought my Dad would say that it wasn’t a good idea; in fact, I was hoping he would say that. We discussed the difficulties of ministry and the challenges I would have. He asked me one questions, “Do you think the Lord is calling you?” I said, “Yes I do.” He proceeded to say one of the most profound things to me that has stayed with me my entire ministry when he said, “ If the Lord has called you, that’s all the approval you need.” It didn’t matter to him that I was female, what mattered was that I was being obedient to God’s voice. It was definitely a huge step of faith for me to have a “yes” in my spirit to go seminary. When I went to seminary, there were only a few women enrolled. I was definitely in uncharted waters. Ministry and following Christ has not always been easy as a female Pastor, but the Lord has enabled me to stay faithful to my call. For every small sacrifice or challenge I have had to face, the blessings, the deep joy, the contentment and the peace of being a disciple of Jesus have been far greater. After many years of serving the Lord, I spiritually went through a very difficult desert season that lasted a few years. The Lord used this time to do a much needed heart surgery on me. I was The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
struggling in every area of my life, and I could not fix some of those deep wounds. During this time, I received the deeper work of the Holy Spirit that forever changed the trajectory of my life. The work of the Holy Spirit set me free from some unresolved hurts and wounds that had kept me in bondage. My marriage, my parenting and my own inner peace were forever changed because of the work of the Holy Spirit. It was during this season that the Lord ignited a fire in me to disciple and teach His people. He birthed a fresh love in me for His Church! The people of Saint James UMC are my family, and they supported, encouraged and nurtured me over the years in my spiritual journey and calling. I am forever grateful for the love they have given me so that I could utilize my gifts for ministry. One of the greatest joys of my ministry has been the high honor of teaching the Word of God through a Community Wide Women’s Bible Study called Renew at Saint James UMC. I love that He has given me such a deep love for His Word and for the hearts of women. My hunger to know Him more intimately is coupled with my desire for others to know Him too! Another huge step of faith for me was to trust the Lord’s leading to start the Venture Life Coaching business. He has challenged me to trust Him with this new direction in my life. It has been scary and yet exciting at the same time. The Lord has provided for me and has given me more opportunities to serve people than I ever could have imagined. He has cultivated in me compassion to develop leaders and to coach and serve others. Sometimes I just sit back and laugh at the many times I second-guess His ways, but He is always on point if we will let Him lead. All I know is that I am forever grateful for the love and kindness of the Lord to me. I am forever grateful for my husband, children and extended family. I am
forever grateful for every opportunity He has given me to serve both inside and outside the church. I am forever grateful just to be His daughter. At the core of who I am is the deepest desire to honor the Lord with my life, my family and my profession. Following Christ has been the greatest adventure! I love the daily journey with Him. I look forward to knowing what He has in store for me each day. Learning to surrender my life and my choices to Him was a difficult concept for me in my early years of our relationship. What I have discovered is the more I live an integrated life with Christ, the more I bring Him into my every day world, the more I love and appreciate Christ as my Lord and Savior!
We want to thank Janeese for sharing some of her story with us this month, especially some of the interesting aspects of what it means to have a Life Coach to help us navigate a life full of possibilities. Thanks also to DiAnna Paulk for her quality cover photo of Lisa taken in the Courtyard of Saint James UMC. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions about our cover profiles, including nominating someone, please send them to Jim Watson at jim@riverregionboom.com.
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By Greg Budell
The Mayor of BOOMTOWN
A CROCODILE NAMED FRANK "A true story from the Greg files"
I never got to meet Norm Macdonald. I know what I would have said- “thank you!”. Norm helped me achieve a personal miracle. The aging process produces a more pragmatic reaction to celebrity passing’s. The shock and awe experienced in our younger days is replaced by “I’m glad it wasn’t me”. Death is the tie that binds us to the rich and famous. Just like us regular folks (a term which also gains new meaning with age), they can’t buy their way out. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not cheerleading the Grim Reaper. Very few celebrity deaths have impacted me emotionally. I had tears when Mickey Mantle died. Part of my youth passed with him. I had them again when I learned- to my surprise- that Norm died at the age of just 61. No one knew he’d been battling cancer for 9 years. Macdonald frequently joked that he did not want to be remembered as someone who “battled cancer and lost” because he’d be seen as a loser. Somehow that take makes me smile. In 25 years of Miami radio, my favorite job was my last one- newsman and sidekick to a woman on an adult rock station. In this gig I had to prepare 7 five-minute newscasts between 5:35AM and 8:35AM. I had 90 seconds to work with and was determined to make them count. My boss, a brilliant programmer named Rob Sidney, gave me permission to make them “different”.
Obviously, the stories had to be true, but I could write some clever punchlines when it worked. Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” desk was America’s first true A crocodile named Frank “fake news” broadcast. I loved Chevy Chase in the show’s early years. Dennis Miller did some clever stuff, but my absolute favorite was Norm Macdonald. I studied the hell out of him. This was prior to YouTube’s creation so finding old SNL broadcasts was no easy task. Find them I did, and I’d watch Norm- casually setting up a story with that cat-that-atethe-canary grin, followed by an oftenbrutal punchline. In one instance, he did an item on the Rolling Stone’s Keith Richards who had undergone some medical procedure. Norm wrapped the story by saying “Richards is expected to make a full recovery and resume his usual activity- CHEATING DEATH”. On another occasion he popped a photo of First Lady Hillary Clinton, leaned back in his anchor chair, and said, “Hey look- it’s the First Witch!” (Except he substituted the “w” in witch with a “b” and yes, the
studio audience loved it. Norm was a relentless believer that OJ Simpson killed his ex-wife Nicole Brown and the unfortunate Ron Goldman. On the Weekend Update following OJ’s “not guilty” verdict he opened with “Murder is now legal in the state of California”. This did not please an NBC executive named Don Ohlmeyer who, as head of the sports division of the network, became close friends (as close as anyone dare get) with OJ. He called Macdonald into his office and suggested he knock off the OJ jokes. Norm nodded, left, and did nothing but OJ jokes the following Saturday night. Ohlmeyer had him canned. This did not play well with SNL fans. Less than 18 months later, Norm was back as HOST. Typical of Norm, he noted that only a year and a half previously, he was fired for being “not funny”. In his triumphant return as host, he said “it’s not that I’ve gotten funnier, just that the show really sucks!”. The crowd ate it up, and he proceeded to tell viewers “Stick around because we have a really lousy show for ya!”. Late night talkers loved Norm Macdonald. He delivered big ratings. His most memorable appearance may have been with John Stewart (who was very
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funny) when he talked about the death of the Crocodile Hunter. Stewart did not want to laugh over this story but had no choice. Norm noted that 44 years was “a ripe old age for a crocodile hunter”. In a scenario only Norm could conjure up, he spoke about word of the Crocodile Hunter’s demise, spreading through the crocodile community. “Who got him-Frank?”. Frank. What a great name for a crocodile! Of course, none of the crocodiles could claim credit for doing in their nemesis. In Norm’s words, he was killed by “some fruity fish”. Stewart could not stop laughing through the entire story. After Norm died, my favorite satire site of these times, the fearless Babylon Bee (CHECK THEM OUT!) ran a headline that stated, “American Productivity Drops 97% as America Binge-watches Norm Macdonald Clips”. I’ve been playing Norm’s stuff on the radio in Montgomery for years including the Crocodile Hunter story. It never gets old.
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The podium was 30 feet away but when they called my name as the winner, my walk-up represented a journey far greater. It was a gutter to glory moment I dared only dream about at the beginning of 2001. Norm Macdonald had a very real role in that award. Like the crocodiles, I’d conquered my nemesis.
Best Weekend Update Anchor, Ever
If I may be Frank.
If you’ve never heard Norm tell the story of The Moth, or the Pig With A Wooden Leg, check them out. About that personal miracle Norm Macdonald helped me achieve. That newsman/sidekick job- in April 2001, was my chance to climb back on the Miami radio stage, a resurrection from alcohol fueled mistakes that had many looking at my radio career as finished. I learned from studying (and not stealing from) Norm Macdonald. A mere seven months after climbing out of my self-dug radio grave, I was at the Miami Radio Awards, sitting among many peers who had cheered my demise. There were 4 nominations for Best Newscast, a writing award. Three of them were for me.
Thanks for letting me share it with you. (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, Stepson, Sho, and dogs Hershey and Briscoe. He’s been in radio since 1970, and has marked 16 years in the River Region. He hosts the Newstalk 93.1FM Morning Show with Rich Thomas, Jay Scott & Jessie Lynn, 6-9 AM Monday-Friday. He returns weekday afternoons from 3-6 PM for Happy Hour with sidekick Rosie Brock. Greg can be reached at gregbudell@aol.com.
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