Slidell Magazine - May 2023

WE SAY KEEP IT FRESH KEEP IT POSITIVE

Vol. 151 May 2023

New Urgent Care Now Open

Now with two convenient locations, Pelican Urgent Care, Ochsner and Slidell Memorial Hospital provide the care you need when you need it. Our extended and weekend hours at both our Gause and West End locations make getting the care you need easy.

New Urgent Care Now Open

New Urgent Care Now Open

Now with two convenient locations, Pelican Urgent Care, Ochsner and Slidell Memorial Hospital provide the care you need when you need it. Our extended and weekend hours at both our Gause and West End locations make getting the care you need easy.

Learn more at ochsner.org/pelicanurgentcare

Pelican Urgent Care – West End

Now with two convenient locations, Pelican Urgent Care, Ochsner and Slidell Memorial Hospital provide the care you need when you need it. Our extended and weekend hours at both our Gause and West End locations make getting the care you need easy.

Learn more at ochsner.org/pelicanurgentcare

63025 West End Blvd. | Slidell, LA 70461 985-607-6400

Learn more at ochsner.org/pelicanurgentcare

Pelican Urgent Care – West End

Pelican Urgent Care – West End

63025 West End Blvd. | Slidell, LA 70461 985-607-6400

63025 West End Blvd. | Slidell, LA 70461 985-607-6400

Kim, Urgent Care Patient

Thank

Saturday, May 13, 2023

Slidell’s Heritage Park

Concert starts at 5 pm

Free Admission!

(985) 646-4375

MySlidell.com

Renaissance $5,000 Sponsors:

Neoclassical $1,000 Sponsors: Councilman Bill & Laura Borchert

Lori’s Art Depot • Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien Insurance

Impressionism $500 Sponsors: David Carollo, Attorney-at-Law • CiCi’s Pizza

Mayor Greg Cromer • State Representative Mary DuBuisson, District 90

Roberta’s Cleaners • Slidell Historic Antique Association

The City of Slidell presents

Northshore Community Orchestra

COVER: “CHILD OF HEAVEN”

ARTIST: mandie manzano

Artist, Mango Lover, Water Ninja, Occasional Jedi, Sneezer Extraordinaire and Extremely Serious Person of Extreme Seriousness...

From Mandie: My goal is to minister through art and to share God’s light. I hope to spread love and life with the work I create and to encourage people who need a reminder of how loved they are by their heavenly Father. That there is good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for! -Tolkien moment :-) and, of course, to always see His light in the darkest of times.

If you are reading this, I’d love to take this time to let you know that I believe YOU are a masterpiece created by the ultimate artist. You are an original. There is only one of you. You are highly valued and priceless. Signed, sealed, and delivered by His precious love.†

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the earthly and heavenly moms, and to those mothers who have children on earth and in Heaven.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on my journey for the past decade and beyond. I appreciate you all and I am so grateful! -M2

Happy Mother’s Day to you too, Mandie, as you await the birth of your second precious child! You can view and purchase more of Mandie’s amazing art at: www.mandiemanzano.com

MAGAZINE

Kendra Maness Editor / Publisher Editor@slidellmag.com

CONTRIBUTING

John Case

“The Storyteller”

Charlotte Collins

Extraordinary Slidell Neighbors

Mike Rich

Making Cents of Your Money

Michael Bell Graphic Designer Graphics@slidellmag.com

Krista Gregory Administrative Assistant Krista@slidellmag.com

Suzie Hunt Synch on the Streets

Ronda M. Gabb Legal-Ease

Rose Marie Sand

Blessing Boxes

Kendra Maness SMH Appearance Center

The blackberries are starting to bloom. They remind me of one of my favorite short-short stories by Vincent Gore that ran in Slidell Magazine in 2010. Here it is again, for your enjoyment:

It’s that time of year again. You know the time I’m talking about100 degrees in the shade, humidity that consumes you like a hot towel from a barber’s chair, mosquitoes the size of buzzards and equally as aggressive and, oh yes, blackberries.

Now, I like my berries as much as the next guy but I’m also a huge fan of avoiding heat stroke, poison ivy, snake bites, spider attacks and bleeding palms. Call me a simple man, but I prefer the air conditioned comfort of Wal-Mart over sweltering, gnat-infested roadside brush any day of the week. One pound of blackberries at Wal-Mart: $3.99.

Having two daughters, however, makes a father resign all logic and self interest. “Daddy, let’s go pick some blackberries!” Truth be told, Daddy would rather have an IRS audit or a hydrochloric acid enema than pick blackberries. But, pick blackberries, I shall.

This exercise demands preparation and specialized equipment, the likes of which would make our armed forces blush with envy. Long-sleeved wool shirt, scratchy gloves, industrial strength bug repellant, plastic bucket, mason jar of iced tea, and one large wooden stick. The latter is mostly ornamental, but admittedly makes me feel more manly and more “outdoorsy.” Kind of like Johnny Appleseed or Davey Crockett, the carrying of a large stick is somehow empowering. Nevermind that its only practical application is to be thrown at a snake as I run in the opposite direction with total disregard for my manhood. One pound of blackberries at Wal-Mart: $3.99.

“Come on, Daddy. This will be fun!” my youngest, Kymber, pleads. “Yeah Daddy, we’ll get some vanilla ice cream, too!” adds my oldest, Victoria. I wonder now if I will be asked to seed and nurture the vanilla bean plant, milk a cow (with whom I have no prior intimacy) and handchurn the wooden ice cream maker as well.

After what must be 13 hours of randomly wandering through the Bataan Death March that is blackberry picking, we have finally obtained what we came for: 5 ounces of blackberries. Having the life-saving elixir in hand, we can now go forth in triumphant giddiness to consume said ambrosia. I have braved near stroke, animal attack and severe dehydration from the self-imposed sauna of my Bob the Builder attire for a precious 5 ounces of gold. One pound of blackberries at Wal-Mart: $3.99

Still, after all is said and done, and as my daughters and I devour our delicious berry-laden ice cream, I revel in my new found manhood. There is something very satisfying about taming nature and further cementing your role as the greatest dad ever, all at the same time. So, as I drain the poisonous venom from my swollen ankle, I can’t help but smile. One pound of blackberries at Wal-Mart: $3.99. Eating freshly picked berries with the two most beautiful girls in the world: Priceless.

It is strange the way our perceptions change so immediately and thoroughly as our circumstances shift. Most of the time, the vast majority of us are fortunate enough, or you may consider it blessed enough, to experience an active, healthy lifestyle. We take for granted simple things like taking a walk, picking things up we may have dropped, or enjoying a blissful night’s sleep in our own bed. Then one false move, and we may be suddenly thrown into a different world. Just that quickly, we could be shocked to find that we can no longer experience these same things due to sciatica and spinal injury, as was the case for my husband. We were trying to start a healthy lifestyle, stretching with a little yoga, when I heard him howl. And that was the end of that.

Lucky for us, we were referred for a spinal procedure, which led us to Dr. Tran. Waiting a month for the spinal injection was out of the question, and we heard from several friends how great this doctor was. My husband came out of the procedure smiling,

and finding his way back to normal activities. I don’t think we would ever take health for granted again, and his story is one of success! On his follow up visits, he and Dr. Tran began to share their life experiences together, and Tom found this Extraordinary Slidell Neighbor for us.

With a broad, genuine smile and a strong handshake, Dr. Tran invited me into his office. He ushered me to a big, comfortable, wing-backed chair, and sat across from me with rapt attention. He quickly explained that his interest in medicine began in fifth grade. This was when his normal lifestyle came to an end. You see, his younger brother was born with a congenital heart defect called a coarctation of the aorta.

Dr. Tran explained his experience, “Obviously I couldn’t understand much at that time. I just knew that something wasn’t right. My family was at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans all the time. My brother, Vincent, stayed in the NICU after his birth. My father would pick me up at Our Lady of Lourdes School and we would drive to the

hospital. My mom would be in with my brother, but my Dad and I would be in the waiting room because children weren’t allowed in the NICU. I would do my homework there, and we had dinner there. That was our routine. Often, late at night, they might let me briefly see my brother.”

Unfortunately, Vincent’s condition grew more serious after the infant suffered a stroke during his open heart surgery. The stroke led to more complications and Vincent lived in Children’s Hospital for the first year of his life.

With his usual easy manner, Dr. Tran related, “Vincent is my only sibling. So it wasn’t the typical sibling experience, but it’s all I know, and I wanted to be there for him. This was my first real exposure to medicine in general, and it played a big role in my life when I was young. Then, once Vincent came home, I had to grow up very quickly. Before that year, I was the only child and I took a lot for granted. Things revolved more around me. Suddenly, I had to learn how to step up to take care of him whenever my mom or dad

A biography by Charlotte Collins

Dr. Neilson Tran

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

John F. Kennedy

needed to do anything. Mom obviously couldn’t work anymore because Vincent required 24-hour care, seven days a week. My mom, Hien Tran, is probably one of the toughest people I know. She taught me that we always take care of each other. You can’t sit there and ponder why bad things are happening. You just think about how you’re going to handle it. My dad, Peter Tran, was now the sole bread winner, which meant our whole lives changed that quickly. He always told me ‘no pain, no gain’. When he would see me struggle, he would make sure that I didn’t quit. When it came to school, he made sure that I worked hard, but never got too full of myself when I was succeeding. I was definitely taught to make sure that you always remain humble and work hard.”

How amazing, when a young child is willing to give of himself to that degree. It went beyond the standard baby care of changing and bathing. Because he was on a ventilator for so long, Vincent did not learn to talk or swallow and would need a feeding tube. He also had to be watched vigilantly as choking was a real hazard.

By his high school years, Neilson was able to regain a more normal life. His parents wanted him involved in extracurricular activities and to be well rounded. He quickly got involved in cross country running, tennis, and became editor of the school newspaper. Throughout it all, Neilson’s grades were always high. He graduated in 2006 in the top ten percent of his class at Pope John Paul High School.

As you may have gathered, Neilson went to Catholic schools most of his life, including Loyola University for undergraduate school. His family was strongly Catholic, as were most of his friends. They were Vietnamese, and very involved in the Mary Queen of Vietnam Church in New Orleans East. He definitely attributed the discipline from this upbringing as providing the structure toward his success as a doctor.

From there, he went to Medical School at LSU in New Orleans. He wanted to be close to home in case he was needed. On weekends, he often watched Vincent, as he is permanently disabled. Caring for him is something Neilson has done lovingly all his life. I truly believe this has helped him to be the incredible doctor he has become today.

Dr. Tran recalled, “When I applied for medical school, I didn’t know what kind of doctor I wanted to be. The first two years were just studying, taking tests, and trying to survive. The third year is when you do clinicals, which is where you get more hands-on experience. We would rotate with different doctors, work at different hospitals, and experience different areas of specialty. This is your chance to find where your interests fall. I determined that I wanted to do procedures and interventions with my hands.”

These procedures require anesthetic training, which is another area of interest for Dr. Tran. After medical school, he went to Ochsner for another four years for his Residency training. As he described, “You have to know the science of anesthesia, know your patient and the procedure. You want to make sure you deliver anesthesia safely, not over medicate, but also not under medicate. You have to know this side of pharmacology, the science and medicine, but you also get to do certain procedures with your hands like I did for your husband. It was a nice balance of all the areas in which I was interested. After my second year of residency at Ochsner, I had to decide the sub specialty in which to branch off. I was exposed to anesthesia for cardiac patients, pediatric patients, and finally pain management.”

He put a lot of thought into his future direction. One day he realized that both of his first possibilities involved procedures where he may never see his patient again. It bothered him that there wasn’t a lot of continuity. Dr. Tran detailed, “In Pain Management, doctors need to learn about their patient’s pain, learn about their history, and build off of this information. So when you see them again, you are picking up where you left off. I think that is probably one of the main things I value most about my profession today. The relationships that I develop are key, not only with my patients, but with my co-workers, colleagues, and staff.”

I, for one, was grateful he decided to specialize in spinal procedures. He even did an extra year of training as a fellowship in pain management at the University of Illinois in Chicago. That year was actually his only year away from his nuclear family, so it was a big decision. Thankfully, he had married his wife, Amanda, six months beforehand, so they went together. Both of them agreed they wanted to come back home to Slidell before they made the move.

The Tran family: Parents Peter and Hien, Neilson and baby brother Vincent on their homecoming from Children’s Hospital.

A young Neilson Tran

Home for Neilson Tran has been Slidell since the fifth grade. His parents moved from their family home and their church in New Orleans East to provide a small town atmosphere for their children. His wife’s family is also Vietnamese and from New Orleans East.

There were so many similarities between Amanda and Neilson. Both sets of their grandparents were refugees from the Vietnam War when South Vietnam was losing the war. Dr. Tran elaborated, “They all came over here because their lives were in danger. They knew it would be difficult coming to a new country where they did not have the time to learn to speak English. To make matters worse, our family was forced to separate, and came at different times in the mid-70’s. My mom, Hien, was 12 years old and starting 7th grade when she was told to leave first, and to bring four of her siblings, while two siblings stayed back. They fled South Vietnam on a boat in the middle of the night to find safety. There were many camps in different countries, but eventually, they all made it to a safe haven that transported them together to America. My mom and two of her younger siblings were under foster care when they first came here, until they were old enough to go to college.”

I sat mesmerized by these details. Can you even fathom doing such a think when you are only twelve years old? Hien still has contact with the children of the foster family, and Neilson considers them his uncles. It seemed to be a great dynamic.

Eventually, Neilson’s grandmother, also named Hien, and his youngest uncle, Chung, joined the family in New Orleans East. I learned that Chung is actually a pulmonary critical care doctor on the West Bank today. Dr. Tran explained, “I think all of us have a similar mentality. Our families came here with nothing, and becoming a doctor was probably the biggest thing you could do. We were motivated to work as hard as humanly possible because it was like they were given a second lease on life. Grandma Hien Mo made sure all of her seven children graduated from college, which is pretty remarkable.” Dr. Tran also explained that she came from a very patriarchal society. Having lost her husband, and raising seven children in war conditions, she had to be extremely tough. His paternal grandparents are quite different. His grandfather, Bao, is the patriarch, so his wife Hien is able to be more of a doting grandmother. He was a shrimper, and she shucked oysters for a living. Both had a great work ethic, which obviously was an inspiration for the next generations.

Dr. Tran found his wife, Amanda, to be of his same mindset and upbringing. She is Vietnamese American also, lived in New Orleans East, and had an interest in medicine herself.

His smile spread as he spoke of her, “Amanda Vu was a freshman and I was a sophomore at Loyola when we met. I was her Chemistry tutor, and we got to know each other. She was in Pharmacy School. I would say one of the main things in our favor was that neither of us ever stopped. I couldn’t take breaks during my twelve years of my undergraduate and doctoral process. I often worked overnight, like all physicians do at some point. But even during training, I would sign up to moonlight and work extra shifts, which I consider very valuable. The more you work and the more you learn about taking care of patients, the more experience you bring to them, even if it’s not all directly related to what I’m doing now.”

Although both were extremely business, love blossomed. They were married during his last year of training for anesthesia at Ochsner. Amanda had already graduated and was a professional pharmacist when Neilson decided to study in Chicago. It could have been a conflict, but not for this couple. Amanda accompanied him and got a pharmaceutical job in Chicago.

Once the couple moved back to Slidell, Amanda transitioned from a traditional physical pharmacy setting to a specialty pharmacy. She calls her patients who take non-traditional drugs for conditions like rheumatology, cancer, and less common drugs almost every day. She counsels them on dosing, side effects, and makes sure these drugs are being taken appropriately and that the patient is responding well. The best part of her new position is that she is able to compile all of this information in an electronic medical record on her computer from her home. COVID had many numerous negative impacts, but one positive thing that it brought was a move away from costly office spaces. Amanda was able to be home during Nielson’s initial long hours.

As for Dr. Tran’s career, he started with Ochsner in Slidell for Pain Management, then transitioned to working independently for Paradigm Health System and Sterling Surgery in the last three months, which is where my husband met him. But what I didn’t expect was the level of detail he noted about each patient. Using his fingers, he air-typed almost like a pianist. Dr. Tran gestured, “I take a lot of notes! I type very fast, like a court recorder. So essentially, when you tell me about the details and the information of what has been going on with your pain, I transcribe it as we are speaking. Then I review them just before we meet again. After all, doctors are human beings, we’re going to forget certain things. This allows me to have a very detailed recollection of what we’ve done, and that helps dictate where we’re going in terms of treatment. Pain is complicated, and I want to make sure I have gone through all the details of which doctors you have seen, what procedures they have

“I absolutely love it! Slidell

is my guide to all things local.”

-- Saide H. --

“We ordered a subscription for family who moved away. They love receiving it!”

-- Mary Beth M. --

done, and what medications they have tried. Then there are the pain specific questions like where does it travel, what motion brings it on? I always say, it’s not about how you’re doing at the moment, but rather how you’re trending compared to when we first met. Basically, I am always assessing your complete picture.”

So what’s the worst part of his job? The limitations of medicine and biotechnology. Dr. Tran admitted, “I have to maintain a very realistic lens for what I am able to do. As we all know, there is no magic pill or injection that can fix everything. I want to be able to help every patient, but they have to be involved in their own health, also. I would love for every patient to have great outcomes, but the truth is that a lot depends on them. They have to be willing to do therapy and get those muscles back, so it is definitely a two

way street, for sure. The main thing for my part is to be consistent and reliable. I’m always trying to reflect on what I can do better. I look at all the possibilities, and don’t leave any stone unturned. Then, I know I’m doing the best I can humanly do. At the same time, there has to be a certain level of self recognition or humility. If I cannot do the best for my patient, then can I point them in the right direction.”

Luckily, there are always new breakthroughs and new technologies. Dr. Tran recalled, “When I started as a medical student, we were using paper charts. Then we transitioned to electronic charts. Now, there are networks that connect all this information. From my laptop, I can look at any x-rays or MRIs a patient has had. I can see what other doctors have prescribed, and get the whole picture of my patient’s history. We can all look at it together.”

For work and life balance, Neilson and Amanda make sure they take time for themselves on their off hours. For Neilson, cooking is a source of relaxation. He enjoys making Vietnamese soups called pho with rice noodles. Making the broth and adding a delicate blend of spices and vegetables is an art form I am told. Neilson likened it to the art of making a gumbo taste just right.

Having traveled to Vietnam twice certainly helped him discern the nuances of traditional Vietnamese food. His first visit was with his mom when he was 21 and just starting medical school. They went to visit his mom’s little sister, Huygens Pham, a law professor, who had a guest teaching arrangement in Vietnam. They toured South Vietnam, central Vietnam, and North Vietnam, experiencing the diversity the country had to offer.

1.) Neilson’s maternal grandmother, Mo Pham, and his Uncle Chung were the last members of his family to immigrate during the Vietnam War. 2.) Neilson’s mom, Hein Pham, as a baby with her siblings (L-R) Chien, Chuc, and Hien Nguyen. 3.) Fishing has always been a Tran family tradition 4.) Neilson and brother Vincent

1-2.) Neilson & Amanda Tran began dating when they were students at Loyola. 3.) Neilson’s maternal and paternal families celebrate with him at his Medical School graduation from LSU New Orleans in 2014. 4.) Neilson’s sunset proposal to Amanda in May 2016 at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

Neilson returned to Vietnam with Amanda soon after they married in order for him to meet her grandparents. This trip was a more intimate experience with Amanda’s extended family. They stayed with them and saw more of local day-to-day life. Neilson regained some of his Vietnamese language skills that were lost from childhood. It was his first language, up until he started elementary school. Amanda is fluent in both languages.

Dr. Tran shared, “I’m very cognizant of the fact that it was a long, long road for my family, and I’m very grateful of what it took to get here. Sometimes it may look easy to gain the luxuries we have in America. But we always try to remember to be grateful and truly appreciate every experience we are offered.”

In the future, he and Amanda plan to travel more and hike the U.S. He affirmed, “We try to stay active and fit, so we like to explore and hike together. We both try to maintain our health for longevity. I practice the things that I preach to my patients. When you exercise, you maintain the optimal body weight, which means less stress on your back, and it slows things like arthritis and spinal degeneration.”

As far as their time after hours, Dr. Tran smiled and agreed that he and Amanda really like Slidell and what our coastal region offers. He and his dad love to fish for speckled trout in Lake Pontchartrain. This bonding time began when Neilson was a two-year old tot, and they still enjoy this today. “It’s what we do to decompress.”

Have you noticed parents and their youngsters seem to be outdoors more? Here in St. Tammany Parish, we are fortunate to have a plethora of natural and scenic waterways, walking trails like the Trace, wildlife management paths and boardwalks, and lots of green space and trees! I intend to get walking more and explore what is right in our own community. A bonus is that most of these things are free! As we age, we learn that we can’t take the most important things for granted. I would love to see the next generation being grateful stewards of our beautiful parish. Dr. Tran was taught this from a young age. I also hope to see them value human compassion and effort, as Dr. Tran has done so successfully. The world will be their oyster!

1.) Neilson as an Honor Roll student at Our Lady of Lourdes in Slidell. 2.) Freshman basketball at Pope John Paul ll High School. 3.) Neilson enjoys pool time with his younger brother. 4.) College graduation 2010, Loyola New Orleans, with paternal grandparents Hien & Bao Tran, and cousin Martha Pham, who graduated from Xavier pharmacy school the same day.

1.) Neilson & Amanda’s wedding day, December 2017, with their parents. 2.) Fishing trip in Mexico Beach, Florida with dad and family on mother’s side. 3.) Neilson and Amanda traveled to Vietnam after they were married to meet Amanda’s grandparents, Man Thi Tran and Rinh Van Vu, in 2018. 4.) A recent family photo of the Tran family.

The Storyteller

THE

BAPTISM OF TINA JO

It took me a few minutes, but the photo posted on social media looked familiar. Then I read the caption, Old Swim Hole on Highway 51 South. Like aging people, the years can change nature’s terrain also; but, like seeing an acquaintance from the past, with a closer look, you wonder why you didn’t recognize it to begin with. How familiar I was with that place, and for so many reasons. Not the least was its connection to Tina Jo Brewer. Not that she was the first, because she was just one of many. I myself would be baptized

in that creek, but that would be four or five years later.

The picture reminded me of my dad’s comment, “This is a nice rocky bottom place to swim and baptize, but if they keep cutting timber near the banks, by the time you’re my age, it won’t be deep enough to piss in.”

I considered that strong language for my dad to use and felt a little sacrilege that he was referring to our baptizing creek. Lots of sins had been forgiven by that water; it wasn’t fair to say anything about pissing in it.

Club of Slidell North Shore

RCSN was proud to sponsor the inaugural A Storybook Kind of Day. Leadership Northshore student & RCSN member, Rich Delgado, volunteers with Ariel (wife LaDonna).

RCSN supported a recent Rotoplast mission to India. Club member Sharron Newton served as head nurse as Rotoplast teams repaired cleft lips and palates and provided medical support to burn victims.

My daddy wasn’t a preacher but, at that time, he was tall and strong. A lot of people asked him to baptize them. I think part of the reason was that my grandpa, who was the preacher, was too old and feeble to do the job. I am sure they feared that if he dipped them in the water, they may not come out. So, Daddy was a good choice.

Creek baptizings were a spectacle, a ritual you might say. Larger, more modern churches had indoor heated baptisteries, but Jesus was baptized in a river, so some people wanted to follow his example.

If it was to be a creek baptizing, people tended to get motivated to be saved in the spring or summer. Obviously, the creek water was cold in the winter. To be truthful, it was cold in the summer, too, as it was fed by numerous springs from upstream. The warm spring weather brought people out. Some would bring picnic baskets to the occasion. There also would be gospel singing, which was a source of entertainment at the time.

I thought the whole process was somewhat archaic. Why did you have to embarrass yourself by getting drenched in a creek to be saved? The Methodists, Presbyterians, and even the Catholics didn’t do that. Maybe when it came my time, I would join one of those churches.

The ceremony would start with a prayer and most likely a couple of gospel songs. Almost always one song would be Shall We Gather at the River. After this, the repentant was led into the water holding on to my daddy’s arm. Then another prayer would be said leading to the submersion.

Back to Tina Jo. There was a larger than normal crowd there that day and I noticed the crowd consisted of more men than usual. I thought I knew the reason. The reason was Tina Jo. You could say, anytime she was around, she was the main attraction.

Tina Joe’s appearance was somewhere between beautiful and sleazy. With a change of dress and more properly applied makeup, she could have been a model somewhere. Maybe, as she was that day, she could have been the bartender at the local country and western tavern. It needs no explanation that, if she leaned over the bar, she would have gotten big tips.

It had not rained in some time and the level of the water in the creek was low. The water, if it flowed at all, flowed slowly. The yellow or gold pollen had settled over the creek, as if to paint it gold. It was the only time I saw the phenomenon and I equated it with nature offering a special decoration for Tina’s special day. I thought

maybe Tina was going to be baptized in golden water. Is there a special meaning to that? I still don’t know, but I remember it.

In conservative communities, women did not wear pants, especially for religious events; but for baptizing they most often did. This provided more modesty. After the event, they would go into Mr. Cleves’s house that was located adjacent to the creek, change clothes, and reappear as the new Christian women they were. Usually, there would be applause, and some would become emotional to the point of tears.

Just before Tina Jo and my dad went into the water, it was my job to go into the creek and splash around to make sure there were no snakes. I would be on stand by in the water with a stick, just in case one appeared.

Tina Jo did not disappoint. She wore a rather close-fitting white linen skirt with a like blouse. As she walked into the water, her clothing became transparent. I noticed the panic on the church ladies’ faces, but the men were mesmerized. It got worse.

Dad went through the normal protocol. He asked her if she believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and died for the forgiveness of her sins.

She said yes.

Dad then leaned her backwards into the water, raised his left hand, and said, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son.”

As her upper torso come out of the water, it was obvious she was not wearing a bra. The cold water emphasized this.

Dad recognized this and, for reasons still unknown, he pushed her back under the water. He then said, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.”

Maybe Dad thought the Holy Ghost would intervene and block the view of her upper torso. It didn’t. It was as visible as if she had nothing on.

Believe it or not, something even worse was about to happen. I was following close behind as she and Dad waded from the creek. I saw it about the same time as all those watching did. It was obvious she didn’t have panties on either.

There was more. As if she had not placed the highest indignity on the sanctimonious group already, there was a tattoo was plainly visible on her rear. Debate would go on for weeks, arguing if it was a T for Tina or a cross for Christ.

I saw things differently. The gold pollen had seeped into the fabric of her clothing and I saw what I thought was a religious miracle - a beautiful woman clothed in fine linen and gold. Others didn’t see it that way. There was commotion among the women. One, who had spread her lunch on a tablecloth, ripped the cloth from the ground, spilling the food. She rushed to make Tina Jo a respectable woman. It was if all the women descended on her at the same time and, when she was deemed modest, they retreated to a gathering within my hearing distance.

“What kind of woman would be caught dead without underwear?” I heard one ask.

“What would the doctor say if she had to go to the hospital?” another said.

Another said she did it on purpose, just to get attention. There were few kind remarks.

This happened on a Sunday afternoon. It was the gossip on front porches and telephone party lines throughout the entire community for the next week and even for months to come.

I am sure Tina Jo was made aware of the dissension she had caused. Knowing a little about her, she may not have minded it. Maybe she did have a slutty side, but she did come to church the next Sunday. She had been shunned by the pious, so she inconspicuously eased in the building and took a seat at the rear right side of the church.

As the church filled, not one woman sat on that side of the church. It was awkward; but what was to come would even bring more attention to the conflict.

Ministers do their best to prepare an appropriate sermon, but sometimes it is not received in that light. My grandfather started the sermon with several readings. The first:

Revelation 19:8

She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure. For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saint.

He then he read Revelation 3:5

Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels.

from painting & dent repair, to frame & body alignment, as well as interior repair & detailing.

He didn’t stop there, he quoted a few more scriptures mentioning white linen and gold. I don’t think the ladies in the crowd heard any of them. They were hiding behind the hand fans given to the church by the local funeral home.

Unfortunately, the sermon did little to rectify Tina Jo’s transgression. That was the last time she ever attended that church.

Tina Jo must have moved away; or, at least, I never saw her in person again. I am sure her absence was appreciated by most of the female congregation members.

Mrs. Fanny Flowers worked for a company called Luziers. The manufacture ladies’ bras and I think they are still in business today. At that time, she would visit your home and, in its privacy, properly fit you. My mother used her services. I have no idea how long a bra lasts, but I think Mrs. Fanny came every year or so and Mother would order a couple, maybe three. The measurements were kept on file and, when the bras were delivered by mail, there would be a catalog showing other colors and designs that you could order based on your history the company had on file. It was a few years after the baptizing. I was probably 18 by then, and Mother’s order arrived in the mail. Inside was a magazine of other possible designs. It was in color, which was unusual for the time, and it featured real models. I guess you could say it was the nearest thing to a Playboy Magazine I had been exposed to, so I took it to my retreat and studied it carefully. On page two, there she was. Tina Jo, in living color. She had become a model of a sort.

I would learn through an acquaintance of hers that she had made her way to Dallas and attempted to become a fashion model. She learned she was not the type needed at that time. The prototype was now the flat chested, anorexically thin type, as portrayed by Twiggy. The Marilyn Monroe types were passee.

As to her religious endeavors after she never attended our church again, I just don’t know. However, I expect, knowing her, she continued to dress in white linen and delighted in being the main attraction.

John S. Case May 2023

When you choose Allstate to protect what matters most, you get an expert agent who will make it easy for you to save. Like with bundling your insurance. Its’ the simplest way for you to save time and money, while getting protection for the things that matter most. Stop by or call today and let’s get you bundled up.

by: Mike Rich, CFP® | Pontchartrain Investment Management

TICK. TICK. TICK.

The beautiful children you see here are four of my six grandkids. They are happy and well-adjusted, and they bring much joy to my life. They are also blissfully unaware of a potential disaster that might confront them when they are old like me: a vastly reduced Social Security benefit.

Shortly before I started to write this article, I read that the trustees of our nation’s Social Security program are predicting that the funds supporting the program will be depleted in 2034, one year earlier than was reported last year. If nothing is done to fix this, 70 million Americans will receive

less than what they are receiving now in their monthly checks. It will not be pretty. It also won’t be pretty for my grandkids or anyone else. The clock is ticking.

I am not in a position to fix the Social Security problem, but I can help you prepare for what might be an uncertain future. Here are two things everyone needs to know:

 If you don’t save at least 15 to 20% of your gross income for your later years, those years might end up pretty crummy. Yes, it’s a big chunk out of your paycheck, but I honestly do not know of any other realistic way to deal with this.

Read

 Compound interest is a beautiful thing, and it works best over a long period of time. One hundred dollars a month invested on the first of the month and earning 7% per year for 40 years will result in $264,012.48. That’s not a miracle, it’s math. No one can guarantee 7% every year, but you get the picture about how this might work for you.1

 Don’t put all of your retirement money in your 401(k) or tax-deductible IRA. Just as the future of Social Security is cloudy, we also don’t know about future tax rates, but my guess is they will be higher than today. Under current law, any money coming out of a qualified retirement plan will be taxed as ordinary income. The last thing I want for my clients is to have all of their retirement money taxed before they have a chance to spend it. When it comes to investing, tax diversification is just as important as asset allocation,

but tax planning has to happen l-o-n-g before you are ready to start using your money.

My cute little grandkids probably don’t spend much time thinking about these things, but you should. If you are ready to take control of your financial life, call me for an appointment and let’s make a plan

1This is a hypothetical example and is not representative of any specific situation. Your results will vary. The hypothetical rate of return used does not reflect the deduction of fees and charges inherent to investing. In this example, compounding occurs monthly. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

Tulane

Blessing Boxes

Story by Rose Marie Sand

“Mankind’s greatest blessing is its Humanity.”

—

Perhaps one of the best kept secrets and one of the best things about Slidell can be found in small boxes scattered throughout the city and surrounding areas. Called “Blessing Boxes” or “Community Love Boxes,” these small house-type structures on front lawns of some businesses or homes in the area provide resources to help struggling or unhoused people with the basics of life.

“Food Insecurity was one of the main reasons why the box idea was started,” explained Amy Thomas. Amy and her husband, Eric, have been involved with building, maintaining, and stocking the little pantries since 2018.

The Thomases and a band of volunteers check the boxes often and resupply as needed.

One such volunteer, mother and daughter duo Meg and Rai, consider the blessing boxes a direct, anonymous, and comfortable way to help others.

“We have been in need in the past and we relied on food pantries,” said Meg. “When we were at our lowest, we had to accept help. Because of the food boxes, people don’t have to ask for help - it’s not awkward or uncomfortable for the recipients. It became more important because people need more.”

“There are many church programs that provide meals for holidays, or even weekly hot meals. But we would think about the recipients and wonder how they are doing all of the other days of the year. It made me feel I needed to do it more often.”

Her daughter, Rai, has been restocking a few boxes for quite a while but explained that especially during the pandemic years, filling the boxes filled a need to safely help others.

She also realized that they provide an always available place for people to get things to eat who may not have transportation or refrigerators.

Wald Wassermann —

She said her friends know of her passion for the boxes because of her social media posts, and they often donate items or dollars to help.

Social media has also been the way that Amy Thomas, who created and maintains the boxes, reaches out for assistance with maintenance on a Facebook page called “Community Love Boxes.”

“Every six months or so, I put a call out on my Facebook page for box maintenance help. The maintenance consists of basic cleaning, small repairs such as tightening of the doors etc. I also ask that they let me know if the box needs serious repairs such as new wood, plexiglass, paint etc.”

“Most box keepers are good about taking care of the boxes and letting me know if they need anything throughout the year. I am very lucky to have such great keepers. They are truly amazing,” Amy said.

Rai’s dedication to stocking the boxes has her traveling to salvage stores to find boxed milk, healthy cereal, peanut butter, ramen, and canned goods with a pull tab.

LOCAL BOX LOCATIONS

Boxes below are listed by city (starting with Slidell) and include the type of donations accepted at each.

 SLIDELL

American Legion Post 185 1680 St. Ann Place / Slidell (food, toiletries / necessities)

126 Meadow Moss Dr / Slidell (food, toiletries / necessities)

219 Tumblebrook St / Slidell (food & books)

Dr. Seuss Little Library

3819 Berkley St. / Slidell (books only)

Slidell Bark Park

901 Howze Beach Rd / Slidell (pet food, pet supplies)

S&H Eats

1830 US Hwy 190 / Slidell (food)

Green Oaks Apothecary

2238 1st St / Slidell (food, toiletries / necessities)

The Pet Food Pantry

550 Old Spanish Trail / Slidell (food, books / necessities)

26 Cypress Meadow Loop / Slidell (books only)

Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien

2001 1st. St / Slidell (food, toiletries / necessities)

 PEARL RIVER

39460 Willis Alley / Pearl River (food, books / necessities)

P.R. United Methodist Church

65480 Hwy 41 / Pearl River (food, toiletries / necessities)

 ABITA SPRINGS

The Woman’s Center

71667 Leveson St / Abita Springs (food, toiletries / necessities)

 LACOMBE

434 Mini Storage

61864 LA Hwy 434 / Lacombe (food, toiletries / necessities

Head Start

60366 S. 24th St / Lacombe (food, toiletries / necessities)

St. Tammany Animal Services

31078 Hwy 36 / Lacombe (pet food and pet supplies)

Lacombe Recreation Center 61100 N. 12th St / Lacombe (books & sports equipment)

 MANDEVILLE

A + Help

606 Lafitte St / Mandeville (food, books / necessities)

528 Kleber St / Mandeville (food, books, toys / necessities)

 COVINGTON

Bogue Chitto Association Memorial Park

1025 N Columbia St / Covington (food, toiletries / necessities)

Head Start

73060 E. Stadium Dr / Covington (food, toiletries / necessities)

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

1 N. Marigold Dr. / Covington (food, toiletries / necessities)

 MADISONVILLE

Church of the Good Shepherd 501 Cedar St. / Madisonville ( food, toiletries /necessities)

“Single serve, ready-made things are great for people who may not have a home to cook, and that are healthy and filling. I try to put things in the boxes that don’t need seasonings, too, and we occasionally put treats - everybody deserves a treat sometimes,” Rai added.

“I consider the fact that a lot of the people that have need of the food may not have a place to cook it. The need is currently so great, I could burn through a $100 trip to the savage store once a week to supply two boxes,” Rai said. “Sometimes we put toiletries inside, and can openers are also quickly picked up.”

Meg shared a story of finding out just how important the boxes are

to the community. “We were just leaving stocking a box when a lady rode up on a bike. When she saw the peanut butter in the box, she said, ‘Oh, this is great! My grandkids are visiting and I don’t have anything for them!’”

Several of the boxes are painted & decorated, and no two are alike. Eric built the initial boxes in 2018 and had the knowledge on how to make them weatherproof, as he has a construction background.

Amy also maintains a list of locations of the boxes they built, as well as others that have been added by other residents or groups.These boxes are a never-closed and easy way to support our community, and show the humanity that the Slidell

area is known for. The food boxes must have nonperishable items.

“The boxes are USED! They are a blessing. I absolutely love them and I am thrilled to be a part of it,” said Amy.

In the month of May, Amy and Eric Thomas are once again doing maintenance on some of the 26 boxes that include food boxes, little libraries and even pet pantries. The food boxes are kept waterproof and must contain only non perishable items.

“People can email me at amyreneethomas@gmail.com or call or text at 985-285-1602 to let me know if they would be interested in helping,” said Amy.

MARCH 2017: I was rushing to a pet physical therapy appointment. My dog-daughter, Hannah, was still recovering from ACL surgery on both legs and required constant care. With the huge plastic cone of shame around her head, lifting her rather rotund rump into the car was a bit challenging and awkward, to say the least. With a mighty heave, I placed her safely in the backseat of my car. That’s when I felt the pop.

I knew this feeling; it had happened before. It wasn’t physically painful, but the emotional and psychological pain was very real. It had been twelve years since my bilateral mastectomy from breast cancer, and my body was still rejecting the implants from my reconstructive surgery.

I hurried inside to the bathroom. Standing before the mirror, there was no doubt my implant had torn. I was embarrassed about my lop-sided appearance and infuriated that my journey through cancer was still haunting me. I had heard about the SMH Appearance Center and the help they give to cancer patients. But I didn’t have cancer anymore. And, when I did, SMH wasn’t where I received my treatment. I called anyway. That’s when I met Wendy Barber.

The Appearance Center

Story by Kendra Maness, Editor

I went to the SMH Appearance Center the next day. Wendy was the “fitter” and she was a ray of sunshine! Her genuine warmth and positive attitude made me at ease almost immediately. “We’re going to get you looking and feeling great again, I promise,” she comforted. Wendy led me into a private, well-lit area with wigs, mannequins and scarves on every shelf. We started “shopping” through the drawers to find just the right size and style of prosthetic and bra. Hey, these weren’t just grandma styles! Some of them were lacy and pretty, just like a normal bra. A bit of fitting and trying different options in the dressing room, and I walked out looking and feeling great again, just like Wendy promised.

Normal. Great. Pretty. These feelings are hard to come by when a woman has lost her hair, or had a mastectomy, due to cancer. That’s exactly why the SMH Foundation opened the Appearance Center.

Located within the SMH Regional Cancer Center, the Appearance Center has come a long way since my visit back in 2017. Their remodel Grand Opening was held in March 2022 where they unveiled a completely renovated, spacious, calming and beautiful atmosphere with even more offerings for cancer patients.

Laurie Panzeca, Executive Director of the SMH Foundation, treated me to a grand tour this past month. Smiling as I told her my story, she said, “We want to get the word out, for more people to know that the Appearance Center is here for them, free of charge. It doesn’t matter where you had your cancer treatment, or when; the Appearance Center is here to help you.”

Laurie gave me some background information on the SMH Foundation. “We were created originally in 2008 as a department of the hospital. We were limited in the things that we could do as part of a public entity; so, in 2016, we became our own nonprofit organization to better deliver our mission.”

The SMH Foundation mission is to help Slidell Memorial Hospital change and save lives by raising money to fund the mission of the hospital, which is “to improve the quality of life in our community.” From the Fit as a Firefighter summer camp to wigs and garments for cancer patients, the SMH Foundation strives to make a real impact in the lives of their Slidell neighbors and beyond. Laurie explains, “It’s not just cancer; it’s cardiac rehab and cardiology, labor and delivery, the NICU... we support community outreach heavily and any other department that our donors feel that they want to support.”

“Last year, we funded a specialized bed for the babies in NICU and 7 warmers for the labor and delivery department at SMH. The hospital mileage handles all of the buildings and structures. The Foundation helps with equipment and furniture and other items to help the patients feel more comfortable when they’re going through treatment or to enhance their treatment and their recovery.”

The Appearance Center’s services are available because of the SMH Foundation. The Center holds a special place in Laurie’s heart. “Cancer is so hard for anybody

to go through. My mom was a licensed cosmetologist and she always worried about her appearance, which I loved. When she was going through cancer and losing her hair, she looked at me and said, ‘I’m taking control. We’re going to shave my head.’ And I helped her shave it. But my mom still wanted to look like herself. She wore her hair in a bob before and she wanted to have a bob afterwards. That’s the wig we went and picked out for her.”

The Appearance Center was created to give people those options. “I want people to feel loved and supported when they are going through that. I wanted something that was a spa or boutique-like experience where, if you’re a very private person, we can draw the curtains and it can be you alone, or with just another family member. But if you want to have a wig party and have champagne, we have enough room for all of your friends! You can come in here and celebrate and we can help lift your spirits. We want to give people back that control.”

So, how does someone utilize the services the Appearance Center has to offer? “When someone gets diagnosed with cancer, they have lots and lots going on. The Cancer Center has a patient navigator and other patient resource professionals upstairs to help. But when you’re diagnosed, you’re so overwhelmed with information about all these possibilities you’re going through; whether it’s surgeries or chemotherapy, radiation, whatever your treatment is. So, even though patients are told about the Appearance Center, I still feel like not enough patients know that this is here. That’s what we’re hoping to do - let people know that if they need a wig, a head wrap, a scarf, a chemo blanket, or a bra with a prosthesis, or any of the other things that we offer free of charge, we’re here. Even if you don’t lose your hair immediately, or if surgery isn’t the first part of your treatment and you don’t need us until later on, we’re here!”

Laurie was definitely speaking my language. I remembered back to my cancer journey in 2005. Chemotherapy caused me to lose my hair immediately. I wasn’t selfconscious about it at first; I sported the bald look fairly well, and even had a bit of fun with it. But, as time wore on, the stares and whispers became hard to handle. I started to feel like I had lost my privacy because my bald head told the world that I had cancer. I just wanted to be “normal” and go out to eat like everyone else without it being a big deal. I started wearing wigs a few months into treatment, once I realized that cancer treatment is a marathon, not a sprint.

SMH Regional Cancer Center St. Tammany Cancer Fund

Lori Hoffman Von Matre Appearance Center

Wigs and patient support garments

Infusion therapy pumps

Infusion therapy chairs

Transportation

Education and Outreach

Fit as a Firefighter summer camp program

Girl/Boy Talk

School handwashing program

Discounted mammograms

Free health screenings

Capital and Equipment

Labor and delivery specialty beds

Mammography data reporting system

Blood pressure cuffs for screenings through SMH Community Outreach

Cardio-pulmonary rehab equipment

The Appearance Center and their gifts of free wigs didn’t exist when I was diagnosed, so my wig options were limited by my budget. I bought a short black wig, hoping to look like Uma Thurman from Pulp Fiction, and a long, red-haired wig, just to see if I liked it (I did). Sharing this with Laurie, she laughed and nodded her head. “Exactly! When they come in for a wig, we’ll have that conversation. They’re shown all the offerings and they start talking about color and style. It’s exciting for a lot of patients. Do they want to look like they normally look, or do they want to try something different and fun? We give them those options.”

The remodel and expansion to the Appearance Center offers every option imaginable. “In March 2022, we did the remodel. We had a generous family donate the original appearance center in honor of their daughter who had gone through breast cancer. She was a young professional and she wanted a natural hair wig and she saw that there was a lack of resources in the community. They reminded us that cancer happens at different ages and they were able to honor her and give to anybody who wanted a wig.”

With cancer, particularly breast cancer, being diagnosed in more and more younger women (I was 33), the expanded and improved wig area is a blessing. “The old wig room had more gray hair and older styles. There wasn’t really anything for anybody young and vibrant, or anybody who wanted to feel young and vibrant. We wanted to change that.”

Laurie adds, “And there’s definitely a difference between real hair and synthetic wigs. We wanted to make sure that we had enough real hair wigs

also because those are expensive and some people can’t afford those. So we have a great mix now.”

Accompanying their free wig, patients also get a free plastic head form to help the wigs hold their shape and style and to make it easier to dry after washing.

The Appearance Center also offers a large variety of head wraps and scarves in every color and pattern imaginable. I tried on a head wrap. Very fashionable! Laurie tells me, “My mom would wear her wig out in public but, when she was home, she didn’t want to itch from the wig. She wanted to be comfortable, so she would wear a wrap.” There are also knitted caps and items that were donated by community members, civic groups, and churches. Wendy soon joined us on our tour. Wendy and I have seen each other a few times over the years since my bra fitting in 2017, and she’s always good for a bright smile and a warm hug.

Laurie Panzeca SMH Foundation Executive Director

Programs Funded by the SMH Foundation

Since 2010, the SMH Foundation has granted $913, 309 to SMH for programs, services, and equipment!

Wendy Barber has been a Certified Mastectomy Fitter at the Appearance Center for eight years. The Foundation paid for her training in Atlanta at ABC University (American Breast Care). A certified mastectomy fitter measures a patient and properly fits, dispenses, and adjusts external breast prostheses, bras, and related supplies. They are integral to the physical and emotional well-being of patients, providing instruction and training on how to properly use and maintain post-mastectomy products.

Wendy’s full time job is upstairs in the Cancer Center as the financial resource coordinator. “I find money for patients to help pay for their treatment. I’ll find grants and copay assistance to help meet their out of pocket expenses and their deductible.”

It’s hard not to love Wendy when she helps you look great and pay the bills!

Patients set an appointment with Wendy and she meets them downstairs at the Appearance Center, just like she did with me. “It’s my favorite part of the day when someone comes in,” Wendy beams. “When they come in, they’re pretty vulnerable. I want to make them feel comfortable and leave with a smile.”

“I had a lady come in last week and I fit her in like five minutes, we were done. Then, I have one lady right now that I can’t fit her, but I don’t want to disappoint her. So I ordered some prosthetics in her size and I told her, ‘When I get these items in, I’m going to bring you in and we’ll make you look just like you want.’ Because I want everybody to leave with something so that they feel good.”

“I remember the first time I saw a mastectomy. I had no idea that they removed everything. I was kind of shocked. That’s when my training kicked in. Now, I’m accustomed to it. When I fit them and they look at themselves in the mirror, you know, their eyes just light up.” Wendy’s eyes begin to tear. “It gives me goosebumps. It’s incredible to see them smile.”

Another part of Wendy’s job is to listen. “I like meeting them and I like hearing their stories. A lot of times they open up. The older ones that have gone through treatment, they tend to be more open than somebody that’s just starting out. There are the ladies who say, ‘I had this done six or so years ago...’ as they take their little tissues and socks out of their bra,” she smiles. “I fit them and show them, ‘Look, this prosthetic fits right here in this little pocket so it won’t slip out.’ And I show them how realistic it can look and feel and they are just amazed!”

Wendy continues, “This is a free gift to ladies who need it. We give two bras and a prosthetic or two prosthetics. Because, in the summertime, you’re going to sweat and you need another one. I also give them a contact name for a person that actually bills insurance for the bras in case you need more than two.”

Laurie adds, “One of the things I want to impart is how important it is to have a center like this in our community. When you have cancer, you’re going through so much emotionally and physically. If a small thing like a wig or a cap can help you get through that day better, or a bra can help you kick your shoulders back and have a different self esteem, we want to provide that.”

“We have every style and size imaginable to make sure that when you come in, we have a good assortment for you. If not, we’ll order it. I’m happy to do that. That’s why our fundraising is so important - the needs change and they grow. I don’t ever want to tell the Cancer Center that the Foundation doesn’t have the money to pay for whatever needs to be in this room.”

Laurie has a vision for expansion, and doesn’t limit that vision to just one direction. “I want to grow with the community and I want to be open to what the needs are as the population changes. We tell the staff, ‘If your patients are asking for something else, let us know so that we can provide it.’”

If you or someone you know is in need of the services offered through the Appearance Center, you can contact the SMH Regional Cancer Center at (985) 280-6600.

2023 MAJOR SPONSORS

Imagine one of these scenarios – You wake up in the middle of the night with mild abdominal pain. You trip while carrying boxes up the stairs and can no longer put weight on your ankle. Your child wakes with a spiked fever. What do you do? Do you visit your local emergency room? Do you head to the nearest urgent care? Or do you wait to see your primary care provider? While the answer is not always simple, knowing where to seek treatment and the differences between primary care, urgent care and emergency care could potentially save your life.

Primary Care – Comprehensive and Continuous Care

• Non life-threatening allergic reactions

• Minor burns or injuries

• Mild asthma

• Rashes or other skin irritations

• Back pain

Urgent Care – Immediate medical attention for common illnesses

• Sprains, broken bones and fractures needing X-ray

• Coughs, colds and sore throats

• Urinary pain

• Non life-threatening allergic reactions

• Fevers or flu-like symptoms

• Rashes or other skin irritations

Emergency Care – Treatment for severe and life-threatening conditions

• Severe chest pain

• Severe asthma attack/difficulty breathing

• Severe head trauma

• Severe allergic reaction

• Severe abdominal pain

• Severe dehydration

You may be thinking, why go to an urgent care when I know an emergency room can treat my symptoms too? Here are a few reasons:

Space – These facilities help unclog ERs. All too often, ERs are full of those who could have gone to a doctor if the office was open, or for common issues that aren’t necessarily “emergencies.” Urgent care provides another place for people to go for quality care!

Price Matters – It’s cost effective to skip the ER. Within the next 15 years, six out of every ten Baby Boomers will have to manage a chronic condition. Offering physical therapy and check-ups, urgent care can cut hundreds of dollars off the cost of care. Not to mention, any visit, from the smallest child to a senior citizen, will be significantly less expensive.

Speed – You may actually get care faster by going to an urgent care clinic. The average visit lasts under an hour, whereas ER wait times can be an hour or more, not including treatment.

The key thing to remember is the severity of the health problem. If the condition is life-threatening, go to an emergency room immediately. If the condition is a minor illness or injury, take advantage of the convenience and affordability your local urgent care has to offer!

The brain is really ugly. I mean UGGG----LY. It is slimy, wrinkled, and drab. So what makes a brain “beautiful”?

Dr. Daniel Amen, “the” pioneer in Attention Deficit Disorder, studied brains with nuclear imaging then correlated those images to behaviors he evaluated in patients with all sorts of brain disorders. His “beautiful” brain looks smooth and homogeneous compared to a pocked and cratered “moonscape” abused brain. He found that the beautiful brain rarely suffered from attention or memory disorders and is usually mentally stable. He also noticed that patients with poor nutrition, poor sleep and exercise habits, smokers, and drug abusers consistently had “ugly” pocked and cratered brain scans. Using these scans, combined with intensive interviews and testing, he was able to transform many of these “ugly” brains into healthy and beautiful brains. He observed marked improvement in memory, attention, tasking, and emotions.

Combining brain scans with symptoms and mood scores, Dr. Amen found seven (7) major patterns of Attention Deficit Disorders each requiring different behavioral and medical treatments. However, he found that all brains improve in brain scan appearance and symptom scores with specific life-style and supplement use. Below is a very abbreviated summary of his recommendations:

1) Exercise consistently improves brain function, even mild exercise (walking).

2) Meditation or prayer helps “calm” brains that appear “on fire” in scans and improved the activity in the frontal cortex so vital to attention and focus.

3) Adequate sleep is crucial to brain growth and recovery.

Stanford A. Owen, M.D. is Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists, and the Neuroscience Education Institute as a Master Psychopharmacologist. He is certified in Hyperbaric Oxygen and a Fellow in the Obesity Society.

A Beautiful Brain

4) Low sugar, low carbohydrate, and low animal fat diets improve brain function. Seafood, eggs, vegetables, whole fruit, nuts, and lean meats heal brains. Animal fat (pork, beef, dairy) combined with carbohydrate (wheat, corn, rice, potatoes) stimulate toxic cytokines made by the fat cells, liver, and intestine that damage brains. Examples of these combinations are cereal and milk, bread and butter, sandwiches, biscuits and sausage, pasta, pizza, fries, cakes, cookies, and snacks. Pure sugar is worse—soda, juice, milk, sweet tea.

5) Supplements with protein amino acids (smoothies) quickly and immediately replenish diseased brains by providing energy and repair.

6) Adequate vitamins and minerals help stressed, anxious brains. Magnesium, vitamin D3, methyl-folate, and fish oil calm and improve mood while increasing sleep. They increase focus, tasking, and organization.

7) NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucliotide) given intravenously helps drug- abused brains, migraine, and PTSD while reducing cravings.

8) Simple visual-processing disorders (Irlen’s Syndrome) can be corrected by using colored lenses while reading and writing.

These are simple, natural, and inexpensive interventions everyone can make to improve brain function and ADD while making your brain “beautiful”.

Synch on the Streets

Tap -2-3-4-5-6-7-8. There’s a distinctive metallic sound on every other beat, as the chairs hit the asphalt.

Sashay -2-3-4-5-6-7-8. Lawn chairs with brightly colored webbing sway twice to the left and then to the right.

Bobbie -2-3-4-5-6-7-8. After dipping down to the left side, the chairs make a large circle toward the sky. Sunshine glints off the sparkling camellia logos affixed to the chairs.

Wiggle -2-3-4-5-6-7-8. Arms getting a rest, the chairs twist back and forth while the marcher gets ready for the next move.

For members of Slidell Synch, life is lived by an 8-count.

In our corner of the Northshore, parade season is that special time between Thanksgiving and Lenten Fish Fry nights. You may find yourself standing at the curb during one of Slidell’s many outdoor

moving spectacles. Music is blaring from gigantic mobile speakers and colorful treasure (or refuse, depending on your point of view) is flying from enthusiastic throwsters on flashy floats.

Suddenly the mood changes and there’s a shout.

“Hey, there’s the lawn chair ladies!”

People’s attentions move down the route where marchers in bright turquoise bowling shirts are twirling vintage lawn chairs to the tune of Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September”. As sunlight flashes off their brightly blinged visors, the marching group’s steps are in-line and the chairs move in choreographed motion like a well-oiled machine. The crowds start to groove along to the classic song and some even mimic the brigade’s moves.

The members of Slidell Synch are living their motto - “Having Fun and Making People Smile”.

Story by Suzie Hunt

With a plethora of parading groups entertaining crowds on the Northshore, what does it take to be an internationally award-winning marching group? It takes gumption; a lot of energy; and vintage, webbed, aluminum lawn chairs. You may ask, why lawn chairs? The best answer is Why Not?

Formed in 2018, Slidell Synch has grown in membership and notoriety due to their unique routines and their enthusiastic performances. One of the group’s choreographers is charter member Carol Wolfram.

“My Synch journey started as a favor for a friend. I would never have guessed how much I would come to enjoy the music, the moves, and the response from the crowd as we pass by in a parade,” said Carol.

In the beginning, the founding members started out with simple moves using vintage chairs found in attics, garages, and flea markets. Synch adopted as their signature song “Dancing in the Streets” by Martha and the Vandellas.

“It’s been our theme song since the very beginning and the first number new members learn when they join,” shared Ade Lowrey. Ade was there when the original concept of Slidell Synch was embraced by a group of friends

around the table in a Mexican restaurant. Reportedly, margaritas may have been involved.

“Several of us had had a lot of fun together in the Mona Lisa & MoonPie parades. The idea of using lawn chairs as props was so wacky, I knew this would be a blast as well,” said another charter member, Amy Kussmann.

From a slow start that August, the group gained momentum. On a chilly night in December, with fourteen marchers, including their music man extraordinaire Mark Smith, Slidell Synch debuted on the streets of Olde Towne. Unbeknownst to anyone in authority, Synch flash mobbed the patrons of Christmas Under the Stars. Pulling a speaker on a garden cart and with help to close off the street one block at a time, Slidell Synch performed an impromptu parade for the first time to the cheers and hoots from the crowd gathered in Griffin Park. A Star was Born!

Synch continued to evolve and grown. Women joined the group for a variety of reasons.

“I joined because my friend Lin said it was a great way to get some exercise while having fun with a great group of ladies,” said Maria Nunley.

“I joined because of my mother (Rosanna Rosa). Being

a stay-at-home mom does become lonely and this group has been a great way to meet some wonderful women,” said Emily Carrubba. Emily and Rosanna are often partners on the parade route.

The lawn chair brigade has recruited members in a variety of ways. A personal invite, and sometimes a little peer pressure, have helped a few members show up for that first practice.

“I kept seeing how much fun everyone was having when I would watch Synch perform. Even though it was soooo out of my comfort zone, there was a little voice inside me that told me I should give this a chance. I don’t think I would have been brave enough to go alone if my friend Lilly (Rowland) hadn’t agreed to come too. After the first practice, I was sold,” shared Lisa Bartels.

Ranging in age from 30ish to women enjoying their eighth decade, the lawn chair brigade boasts an eclectic membership. Taking a break from their hectic lives for two hours every Tuesday night, they are energized by each other and the creativity flows. It is due to that creativity, and many hours of hard work, that the group has won the Mackie “Mack-a-Doos” Gomez Memorial Award for Best Marching Group from Slidell’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade three times in its short history. They were also recognized as the Best Karaoke Dance Group on the Carnival Valor cruise ship last October. Plans are underway to defend the international title this fall.

Not even a pandemic could keep this group down. In the early days of Covid, the group donned masks and practiced (6 feet apart) marching in circles in the parking lot at Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Synch participated in a virtual Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans to the theme of “House Party”, courtesy of the videography talents of Mark, their music-man. When the video debuted on You Tube during the 2021 Mardi Gras season, it garnered more than 1,500 hits in the first week.

Not only does Slidell Synch perform in parades on the Northshore, the brigade also entertains enthusiastic crowds at other venues. Synch has led off walk-a-thons, charmed guests at various non-profit fundraisers and shared their take on performance art at civic events.

“The parades are fun but doing the half-time show for the Northshore Lethal Ladies Roller Derby had to be an all-time high for me. I also enjoy performing at the assisted living and nursing homes,” said Jill Scholl.

During the pandemic, when they could not do a show in the lobby for the residents or parade down the halls, Synch members would march around the outside perimeter of various senior citizen homes.

“It was wonderful to see them watching out the windows or standing in the doorways. To see the smiles on their faces because someone cared enough to bring them some joy was special,” said Bettie Walter.

Photos courtesy of Friends of Slidell Synch and LA Pheauxtography

As the members became a seasoned performance group, they also bonded as friends. When somber issues touched the marchers, such as a death in the family or serious illness or injury, their fellow Synch members stepped up to offer support. It may have been in the form of a casserole delivered for dinner or a funny get-well card. Sometimes the biggest help was having a place to leave the outside world behind for a bit, to march in circles and laugh with friends when a routine went wonky.

“From the first meeting, I have loved this group and its mission. It’s fun and great to have people excited to see us when we perform. Even more importantly, I’ve made some great new friends,” said Susie Andres.

What’s in store for Slidell Synch in the future? Growth! Interested? Drop in on any Tuesday night and give it a whirl. Current members have a lawn chair waiting with your name on it. Coordination is not a requirement, but a sense of humor is.

“The camaraderie is wonderful and the giggles, endless!” Debbie Frombola shared with a grin. “Practices are a great way to relax and just have fun for a few hours each week.”

“Having Fun and Making People Smile.” The members of Slidell Synch have excelled at doing both.

From the contact info at the end of this article, you may have guessed that I am a member of Slidell Synch. I was sitting at the table when Synch was born. Being part of a lawn chair brigade was a dream of mine since growing up in Wisconsin and watching these groups perform in the annual 4th of July parade. It has been a joy and a privilege to share this dream and my Tuesday nights with this group of fabulous women (and Ron Davis, our music guy and bus driver).

See you on the parade route - Suzie

Synch membership is open to women aged 21 and older. Practices are every Tuesday night from 6-8 p.m. in the John Wesley Center at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 360 Robert Blvd. More information is available on the Slidell Synch Facebook page or by emailing suzie@suzie-hunt.com.

“Your Estate Matters”

By Ronda M. Gabb, NP, JD, RFC

WE’RE A

Legal-ease

CREMATION NATION

In 1979, only 5% of Americans chose to be cremated. That figure rose to over 56% in 2020, and it is projected that by 2035, almost 80% of us will choose cremation over either burial or medical donation. So yes, that definitely makes us a “Cremation Nation!”

There are many factors which attribute to this rise in popularity. Probably first and foremost, is economics. “Direct” cremations, meaning cremation only with no other services, are about one-quarter the cost of a traditional funeral. In our local area, I was surprised that the most inexpensive direct cremation was only $1,395 compared to the most expensive one being more than double that amount at $2,895. Check out PARTING.COM for local prices.

Another reason is demographics. Families move around now more than ever and are sometimes hesitant to “commit” to purchasing plots and crypts with a particular cemetery until permanent retirement roots are laid, and even then we see folks move again to be closer to kids and grandkids as they age. You have to admit, cremains are certainly easier to move than a casket!

The drastic changes in religious doctrines have also had an impact. In the past, many religions frowned upon cremation, where now most religions allow it. The first U.S. crematorium was opened in 1876 by Francis LeMoyne in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and it was severely criticized by the Catholic church. But in 1963, Pope

Paul VI lifted the ban on cremation, and by 1997 Catholics allowed the ashes to be present at the funeral Mass. However, the Catholic religion does not allow the scattering, separating, or co-mingling of the ashes; they must be kept intact and placed in a hallowed place (e.g. not on your mantel).

Burials at sea are interesting and even involve the government! For example, you must be more than three nautical miles from shore and you must report the burial to the EPA within 30 days after the burial. You’re also NOT supposed to dump Fido’s cremains in the sea with his owner (human remains only). For more information visit: epa.gov/oceandumping/burial-sea. Interestingly, while the Catholic religion does not allow the ashes to be scattered at sea, a burial at sea is allowed (along with a special prayer) as long as the container, made to keep the ashes intact, is dropped to the bottom of the sea.

I wonder if the religious aspect is why the South (which tends to be more religious) has the lowest cremation rates in the nation. In Mississippi only 27.9% are cremated, followed by 32.6% in Alabama, and 37.1% in Louisiana. The highest cremation states are Nevada at 80%, Oregon at 78.9% and Washington at 76.7%. The lowest is Utah because cremation is frowned upon in the Mormon religion.

Louisiana has some very strict laws regarding cremation. If you have made

no prior legal arrangements, and you wish to be cremated, your spouse must agree to the cremation. If you have no spouse, then a majority of your adult children must agree. If you have no spouse or living children, then it goes down to your adult grandchildren, if none, then to your parents, then to your siblings. If there are none of the aforementioned, then your closest adult relatives would have to approve the cremation. So what happens if we can’t get a majority? Then off to Court we go, as we need a Judge’s Order. Who wants that expense and heartache at such a difficult time?

Specifying your desire to be cremated in a notarized Last Will and Testament can avoid these approvals. We always encourage our clients to openly and actively discuss their funeral arrangements with their family and loved ones. We spend a great deal of time with clients to assure that their final wishes will be honored, in light of so many clients wishing to be cremated.

If you don’t have a notarized Last Will, then you can execute a “Declaration of Burial Desires.” This is a legal document where you designate an “authorized agent” to carry out your wishes for cremation, burial, and funeral. You must keep your agent informed of your wishes, including interment or inurnment. To be compliant with our law, this Declaration must be notarized.

Now you know how to join the Cremation Nation!

See other articles and issues of interest!

Ronda M. Gabb and Ronald “Chip” W. Morrison Jr. are both Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialists, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. Chip and Ronda combined have devoted over 40 years of practice solely to estate planning, and are Members of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and the Governor’s Elder Law Task Force. Ronda is also a Registered Financial Consultant. While Chip and Ronda both reside on the Northshore, Gabb Morrison LLP has offices in Covington and Metairie.

OUT TAKES

April was a busy month in Slidell. Here are a few of the moments Slidell Magazine enjoyed!

1.) Past Queen Andromedas of the Krewe of Perseus at their annual luncheon 2.) Kendra visits STARC to

1.) Emi LOVES the animal pictures from Donna Bush in Slidell Magazine! 2.) Welcome to Slidell Clear View Optical 3.) Gwendolyn Clement is one cool chick! 4.) Sheriff candidate Tommy Williams visits with Governor candidate Sharon Hewitt at the Slidell Magazine booth at Slidell Street Fair

1-2.) Ellen Lamarque (Queenie) and LaDonna Delgado (Ariel) were big hits with the STARC folks, kids and parents at A Storybook Kind of Day 3.) Kendra gives hugs to the larger-than-life Ronnie Dunaway in Olde Towne 4.) Rotarians at work on Robert Blvd. for Keep Slidell Beautiful

THE ADHD ICEBERG

THE ADHD

WHAT PEOPLE THINK ADHD IS: WHAT PEOPLE THINK ADHD IS:

FIDGETING DEPRESSION

WHAT adhd actually IS: WHAT adhd actually IS:

DIFFICULTY FOLLOWING & MAINTAINING CONVERSATIONS

RELENTLESSLY LOSING ITEMS

AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER

UNCONTROLLABLE FIDGETING

SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER

TROUBLE RECALLING COMMONLY USED WORDS

FORGETTING TO EAT, SLEEP, GO TO THE BATHROOM

INABILITY TO FOCUS EVEN IF THERE ARE NO DISTRACTIONS

PROBLEMS FOCUSING ON THINGS EVEN IF THEY ARE OF INTEREST

DIFFICULTY SWITCHING TASKS OR INABILITY TO STICK TO ONE

HYPERFIXATIONS

POOR SENSE OF TIME

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS