Slidell Magazine - 77th Edition by Slidell Magazine

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Editor’s Letter

Kendra Maness

Editor/Publisher Slidell Magazine

My brother, Cyle Maness, and his beautiful fiancee, Tandra Lockhart, were killed by a drunk driver on the night of their engagement party, 3 days before Christmas. They were buried side by side on Christmas Eve 1991.

Cover Artist zac mcgovern

All of this is a fact. I don’t need to dramatize it any because just the facts are heart wrenching enough.

Kendra, 6 years old, eyeing Santa skeptically The Christmas holidays are here and with them, a wealth of emotion for my family. You know, it really stinks when a holiday as special as Christmas is forever linked with the loss of a dear loved one. But, it happens. People die every day and Christmas time is no exception. No one is immune to loss, and too often that loss comes at a time when it seems as if everyone else is their happiest, and you are at your lowest. I’m a happy gal every day of my life, so I’m trying to make my way through this Christmas season with the same attitude I carry with me the rest of the year. This year is a bit different, however. It’s the 25th anniversary of my brother’s passing. (The word “anniversary” seems so awkward here, but I don’t know another term to use.)

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Since then, as you can imagine, Christmas has never been the same. I muddle through, as does my family. I remember wishing my sisters a “bearable” Christmas, and smiling through tears to try to bring some levity to a truly difficult time. One of the hardest parts about losing someone this time of year is that you become the “Debbie Downer” of the holiday season. Once the loss occurs, it seems that all the happy Christmas memories are gone and replaced by the dark cloud of your loss. When my family’s loss is known, we become the party’s buzz kill, so we almost feel obligated to keep it a secret. It makes Christmas an isolated time for us. So, here’s me revealing the big secret, so the cloud can be lifted. I am choosing to be happy this Christmas. Not the fake-smile happy that I’ve perfected for twenty-five years, but the REAL happy born of those that I DO have, rather than the ones I’ve lost. I can find that happiness with my family and friends while still honoring my brother and my memories of him. And I’ll start right now. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Kendra Maness - Editor/Publisher Editor@SlidellMag.com

Devin Reeson - Graphic Designer Graphics@SlidellMag.com Illustrations by: Zac McGovern www.HalMundane.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS EFOP, Charlotte Lowry Collins The Storyteller, John Case Jockularity, Corey Hogue Pet Points, Jeff Perret, DVM Crimmi-Mommly Insane, Leslie Gates Making Cents of Your Money, Mike Rich MikeRich@MyPontchartrain.com In the Shadow of Mickey & Minnie, Donna Bush Donna.Bush@yahoo.com Once Upon A Time, excerpt from Images of America: Slidell by Bonnie Vanney

COVER ART BY ZAC MCGOVERN

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Zac McGovern is the talented illustrator behind the hilarity of Slidell Magazine’s Crimi-Mommly Insane and the cartoon Lil’ Loopy (a character based upon his daughter). This is his second cover. Zac was raised in Slidell. He says, “I may never know what drew me to seek attention for expressing myself through cartoons. All I can say is my parents encouraged me to be who I was, even when they didn’t necessarily agree with where my inclinations were taking me. I never quite fit in!” “But you know something? I love people. I like to draw their big noses and weird chins. I like to capture cartoons of people in their strangest, most unguarded moments. And I like to draw cartoons that are about the innocence and purity of children. Children are one of the greatest gifts, not because they are always easy to get along with or because they always make sense, but because there’s an honesty in kids and their world view that is all an old cynic needs to chill and enjoy a flower or a sunny day.” “People throw the word “artist” around like it means something. I’m just a person. A simple person who wants to say something like anyone else. At the end of the day, I hope for the future and it’s not because it’s easier. No, I believe in hope because I want the kids right now to be better than us. For me, that’s what my art is all about.”

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DECEMBER 2016

Extraordinarily Fascinating “Ordinary” People by Charlotte Lowry Collins

Joseph Dubuisson “The cemetery is an open space among the ruins, covered in winter with violets and daisies. It might make one in love with death, to think that one should be buried in so sweet a place.” Percy Bysshe Shelley, Adonais

Who knew that cemeteries were such lively places? Perhaps some of you, but certainly not me. When Mr. Joe suggested we interview at Dubuisson Cemetery, I pictured a pastoral scene under the ancient oaks. It was one of those crisp November afternoons. A slight, North breeze tickled the

moss, but the dappled sunlight on my back brought warmth. I’ve always marveled over the oldest markers in this cemetery near my house. They are written entirely in French, with birth dates that go back as far as the 1700’s. Included in these graves are Native Americans, Europeans, Creoles, and cousins of cousins that are buried here. Adjacent to the cemetery is also a plot granted by one of the traveling priests to the Reviere family. Francois Dubuisson donated this land for this purpose, and they came from France, some via Montreal, to settle “New France”. We placed our chairs near the entrance, facing the memorial plaque dedicated to Joe’s mother, Alice Carpenter Dubuisson. While her husband was from our community known as Bonfouca, she hailed from Pachuta, a town near Shabuta, Mississippi. Alice was appalled by the lack of policies over the interments here at the Dubuisson Cemetery. She soon initiated policies and procedures to protect the family plots. Then she generated funds to have a fence erected to deter vandalism.

Ultimately, she tended this cemetery most of her adult life.

Joe pointed at the entry way and reminisced, “She would pack a picnic, a cooler of drinks, and set up a table right there for days before All Saints Day. As the families would show up to prepare the tombs and markers, she would request money to maintain the grounds. Almost every family represented here came to whitewash their tombs and clean the gravesites, so she was quite successful.

Candles were placed, waiting to be lit at dusk on All Saints Day. On that day each year, families see relatives they may not see any other time of the year. Then the stories begin, and continue on throughout the evening, as long as there is someone left to listen.” I hope my readers will allow me to interject a moment in order to describe All Saint’s Day. As the proud families finish their work, the priest arrives. He prays in Latin over each tomb, sprinkling holy water for a blessing. The holy event culminates with a beautiful, poetic evening. The setting couldn’t be more picturesque, with moss adorning ancient oaks, Cherokee Rose, and cypress trees on the bayou’s edge, all reflecting the rose hue from a fall sunset. Then twilight falls, and the voices quiet. One by one the candles are lit. Just when your eyes begin to fail, the candles denote the aisles between the graves. The noise picks up as story telling begins. I was amazed when Joe explained that the current Cemetery Committee still operates with the funds his mother generated. She passed in 1987. “Katrina put a huge drain on the account, but we have enough to get the grass cut,” he interjected. “We still have an active board, and we hope to have every grave marked some day.” One exceptional lady on the cemetery committee is Mrs Helen Doucet. She worked with Joe’s mother is very helpful in cemetery operations still today. “Couldn’t do it without her,” Joe says. Joe begins to note the nearby markers. “This is my father, Joseph E. Dubuisson, and their little still born baby was interred with him. That one is my great aunt, there’s my cousin, and over there is another cousin. Here’s my great uncle. You know, my mother knew everybody in here. I have to refer to my paperwork for the visiting family members that I rarely see.” I heard a rustling in the fallen leaves, and Maurice Doucette appeared. Joe was quick to tell me what a great neighbor Maurice was for the cemetery. “We had a pile of debris that was over 200 years old, and Maurice allowed us to move it onto his property so we could clean up the cemetery. As it happened, an archeologist, Joseph Yarbrough, discovered it, and asked to explore the contents since it was now outside the cemetery boundary.” I suddenly remembered speaking to Joseph at the Slidell Library while he was displaying the collection. He found buttons, shoes, small statues and little artifacts. Behind us a car door closed, and a couple emerged with dried flowers. They went over to their family tomb and set to work. Almost simultaneously, a man came by and Joe’s eyes followed each visitor to identify the family. When he saw that the last man was cleaning the Broom tomb, he said, “Well, he must be another cousin.” Joe watched their activity all the while we were talking. Finally, the Broom relative approached us on his way back to the car, and I deduced that he was my friend Holly’s cousin. After he left, Joe laughed and said, “I’ll tell you something odd. There were these two Broom brothers and one Broom

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sister. The boys each married a Dubuisson sister, and that Broom girl married their Dubuisson brother. They were triple cousins,” he laughed. The two families intertwined in many instances, and Joe was able to recall names of couples who did so going back several generations. When I asked about the reason for the attraction, Joe smiled wryly and said, “Small gene pool,” and off he went. Looking back over his shoulder, Joe offered, “Let’s take a stroll. See those tombs that look like stumps? Those are for Woodsmen of the World members. I’ll have one like them, as I was President of the local chapter for a time.” I looked up the group and discovered that WoodmenLife is a fraternal organization designed to help members and their families in times of need. It began as a non-profit Life Insurance Company with a Financial Advising component. Their values include family commitments, and a patriotic pledge. Volunteering is an important aspect. They donate American flags to fire houses, schools, and other public services dedicated to our community. Another role is donating wheelchairs to those in need. After 9/11, they stepped in to help organize remembrance ceremonies at schools. A large part of their activities also focus on orphans and senior citizens. Walking past the handmade crosses and tombs still bring me wonder and joy. I have photographed this cemetery under so many magical light conditions. Most tombs are more traditional, but the creative ones always grab my attention. There are iron and plaster crosses, wood crosses, and figurines that adorn these graves. I stopped at the site of multiple tiny graves. Joe pointed out that many of them fell victim to the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. This also provided a fascinating research opportunity. It is purported to have killed more people worldwide than the “The Great War”, and traveled from Spain to the Americas as victory dawned and men came home.

Finally we reached the back corner on the left hand side. It is the oldest section. Many of the Dubuissons and Cousins, who donated this land for the cemetery, have tombs back there. There are World War I veterans’ tombs, as well as World War II and recent veterans. I saw that a Mr. Frederick was born in Denmark. Then I spied Dr. Adolphe Dubourg’s family tomb. There is a great story about him saving one of the Cousin brothers from the soldiers by painting him with iodine, and proclaiming him to be highly contagious. Another research jaunt revealed that Dr. Dubourg is cited as the first doctor to perform a vaginal hysterectomy in America, if not in the world, according to Professor E. S. Lewis of Tulane. Reaching a tomb that was prepared for a new interment, Joe demonstrated how the wood would be flipped to allow ashes to return to the dirt underneath. Then the next body would be placed on top of the wood. Families had to wait at least seven years before a tomb could be re-entered. Sometimes they had to wait an additional period of time before disintegration to dust was complete. Joe was solemn when he explained that timing has to be informed by a funeral home before it is approved. The sealed tombs are for one person or however many vaults are in the tomb. In contrast, the open-top tomb allows the burial process to continue without disturbing the ground. In the case of dirt mounds, if a biodegradable coffin was used, then remains are moved to the side as the plot is dug the next time. A small area is dug deeper, and the remains are placed first. Then the recent burial is placed on top. Metal caskets are intended for a single burial, as they degrade very slowly. I asked how many were in each tomb. Joe shook his head, “There is no accurate count of past interments within each site. All we have is the memory of those who care-take this cemetery. We only have a few sites that have been abandoned by their families. Of course we continue to care take them. I became the Sexton, or sacristan, and now regulate the activities for this graveyard.” One thing the Sexton is responsible for is emergency management. After Katrina, Joe discovered that fourteen caskets had broken loose. Eight of the caskets had drifted out of the graveyard. Joe pointed to one that still had broken straps. I saw so many sad things after Katrina, but seeing eight caskets sitting outside the cemetery entrance was particularly disturbing. I asked what he did before retirement, and Joe explained that he was a data processor and product specialist engineer. Joe laughed and said, “My first computer was half transistors and half vacuum tubes. Those computers were big enough that I could crawl inside one. I trained at Keesler Air Force base, then was stationed for two and a half years in Guthrie, West Virginia on a mountain top radar site.” “Pay in the first couple of years in the Air Force wasn’t that great. At the time I entered service, I was supporting my mom after Dad died at 51 years old. In order to make

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Work of Christmas Begins When the song of the angels is stilled when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with the flocks, then the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal those broken in spirit, to feed the hungry, to release the oppressed, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among all peoples, to make a little music with the heart... And to radiate the Light of Christ, every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say. Then the work of Christmas begins. -Howard Thurman, adapted

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ends meet, I took on extra details. This was when I began to engage fully in death and funerals. I did Military Guard Honors, as part of the rifle party. We concluded a lot of funerals. I took this honor seriously. The saddest ones were the young soldiers with young children and wives.” Joe looked off at the horizon briefly.

Katrina, but I also look after Mom’s grave at Forest Lawn. I realize now that we need to preserve our heritage, and history itself, for that matter. Young people tend to look only at the here and now, taking the past for granted. We get too wrapped up in ourselves. There would be a lot fewer problems if we had more respect for ourselves and others.”

“My mother was so concerned that there would be no one to take over and tend her grave here, that she asked to be buried at Forest Lawn. I stepped in as Sexton after

Sweeping his eyes over the names, he pointed out more relatives, “This is Tom Faciane, the bridge tender. I was a pall bearer. I am related to the Penas, Madisons, Facianes, Galatas, Pichons and Brooms.” About this time, my friend, Belinda Pichon, walked up and we talked about her baby’s burial here. She touched the letters on her brother’s grave, and told Joe she wanted to volunteer to help make markers for the unidentified graves.

Joe remarked that he needed more volunteers and donors. “The grass

has to be cut by hand and weed eater. Mowers just can’t fit. I really wish we could get a different fence. One that is aesthetic. Not like the chain link we have now. I don’t want it to look like a concentration camp. Mr. Perrin behind the cemetery was going to weld a nice fence for us, but he fell ill and never got to do so. I really think we need a chart at the entrance that identifies where each family lies. New comers might get more involved if they knew where each member’s remains are. We are in need of cement workers also. It would be nice to be able to take part in the permanent marker trackers system the state is initiating. But my main goal is for this cemetery to gain the designation it deserves as a National Historical Site.” As the sun began to set, and the chill fell, Joe Dubuisson concluded with, “I’ll do what I can while I can.” There are so many interesting cemeteries in and around Slidell. If you aren’t a history fan yet, you will be by the time you begin asking questions. Questions lead to stories, and history is there for the seekers.

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NOVEMBER

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SAINTS AT CARDINALS • 3:05PM

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Storyteller THE CHRISTMAS TREE In the 1950s, our Christmas trees were always small pines that look nothing like your present day trees. They had almost no conical shape to them, but they did make the house smell good because they were fresh cut. Most all of our friends and neighbors had the same type, and they were never over three or four feet tall. A few families had a cedar tree, but only if they lived on an old home place where cedar had been planted because it was thought to be a natural insect repellant. There were no Christmas tree lots that were operated for charity by the Lions Club or the First Methodist Church.

Sometime we would take a ball from a sweet gum tree and wrap the gum foil around it. That looked something like a star. The lights were about the size of your thumb and when one went out, they all went out. There was an exception to this. It must have been in the mid or late 1950s. The exception was silver colored artificial trees. A light that rotated was placed at the base, and the rotation would cause the tree to change colors. My mother said that was tacky. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a southern word that means not classy. Mother used it a lot. There was another exception. That exception was the tree that the Naughtons had. It was different. The Naughtons were different. They,

The decorations were very basic with silver bells crafted from tin foil, or even the tin foil backing of a chewing gum wrapper.

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as we would say, had money. They were also Catholic. Mother liked them as neighbors because Catholics would decorate for Christmas more than the Protestants and Mother liked Christmas decorations. There were only about sixty people that were Catholics in our area. Most of them had migrated north from New Orleans. Some, like the Naughtons, came when the lumber business was making fortunes for investors. Others were Italians who followed the banana and fruit peddling business north and established grocery stores. All good people, but different, and their Christmas decorations were a sight to see.

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Mr. Naughton and his wife had moved from town to the country some years before. They sold their home in town, which most thought was a mansion. He built a likewise beautiful place on a hill that overlooked one of the prettiest valleys in the county. As I said, he had money, and as a kid I could not understand where it came from. They said he â&#x20AC;&#x153;managed his investments.â&#x20AC;? When I was younger this confused me. I had never seen a store that sold investments and I had never seen a pasture where any investments were planted or raised. It did not matter even then, I knew he had money. Mr. and Mrs. Naughton did not have any kids and I heard mother say that if you did not have kids, it was easy to have money. In addition to having outdoor music and a snow making machine, every year Mr. Naughton would order a tree from somewhere up North. It was some type of fir I suppose, and he was the only one in the county that had one. It came on a railway car, packed in a wooden crate. When the tree was uncrated, he would give the crate to us. We would use the wood to make our forts, hideouts or treehouses. This was an unofficial Christmas present to the few boys who lived nearby. We all liked this family. They would give us odd jobs around their place and pay us well. About three weeks before Christmas, a few grown men would put the tree and crate on a log truck and bring it from the train depot to his yard. There, they would help him erect it and lavishly decorate it. I suppose he paid them well too.

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Just after Thanksgiving, about the time that the Christmas tree would arrive on the train, Mr. Naughton was involved in an accident. He fell down the stairs. It was gossiped that the Naughtons participated in social drinking. That was a new term in our part of the country. Prior to knowing the Naughtons, you were either a teetotaler or a drunk; there was no in between. Rumor had it that the family, and some of their friends from town and New Orleans, would have social drinks on some afternoons during this season. If the truth be known, a lot of not-so-affluent families were having drinks in the afternoon, but it was a secret, and they were called cocktails. Anyway, it was assumed he had fallen due to drinking and had broken his leg.

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been about sixteen at the time. Mr. Naughton asked him if, when the tree arrived, he would climb it and decorate it for him. He told Tommy that it would take about four hours, and he offered Tommy $30 for the job. Tommy had never seen that much money in one spot in his life. Neither had I, but I was not part of this arrangement. I did go to town the day the tree was to arrive. I was more interested in seeing how much wood was in the crate than anything else. The train came. There was no tree. It had failed to be shipped because the company who had been paid for it had gone out of business. It was too late to order another one. Mr. Naughton was disappointed and so were the neighbors. Tommy was disappointed in not getting the $30. I wished desperately to be a hero for both Tommy and Mr. Naughton, but since I could not climb I had to win their attention another way. I mentioned Cedar trees. It was rumored that if there was a large cedar tree on an old home place, there may be gold buried at its roots. Well, I remembered there was such a tree at the Old Martin place. It had

long been abandoned, but around the old house were a number of cedar trees. It was evident by the disturbed earth at their bases that the roots had been tested for gold. I never heard if any was found. If my memory is correct, the largest Cedar was an almost perfect Christmas tree shape and at least 20 or 25 feet tall. I told Tommy, and he knew about the tree too. We agreed to surprise Mr. Naughton. We felled the tree with a dull, rusty crosscut saw. It took a long time. Then we were faced with the dilemma of transporting it to the Naughton house. Tommy’s family had once had a mule that pulled a slide. A slide was similar to a sled, but was made to slide over dry land, not snow. The mule had died a couple of years back, but they still had the slide. We hooked the slide to the old Willis Jeepster my dad had, and drug the tree to Mr. Naughton’s. He was not home. We used the Jeep to help us raise and stabilize the tree. We were just finishing up when Mr. Naughton arrived home and hobbled out of his pickup on his crutches. I don’t think I have ever seen a happier man.

The result was, in addition to Tommy getting his $30, Mr. Naughton gave us $200 for the tree. Now honestly, not even our parents had ever seen that much money. We did not tell them either; but they knew something had happened when we gave everyone in our families nice Christmas gifts. We even kept some of the money for ourselves. As soon as the new year began, Mr. Naughton began clearing forty acres of fertile bottom land. He bought some tree stock that the Agricultural Extension Service said would grow well in the south. He planted Christmas trees. To this very day, his nephews manage his investments. These investments are Christmas trees growing in one of the first Christmas tree farms in the state. Closing note: I know a man that made millions discovering oil. His secret was to drill under the largest cedar tree. Maybe there was some truth to the gold story. Merry Christmas.

 John Case

December 2016

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The next First Christmas

here are a lot of firsts to be experienced in life, and the first Christmas holiday after a major life event is perhaps the most poignant. As we pay homage to the Christ child’s birth, we also honor the past and the promise of the future.

Dear Slidell, Merry Christmas from Our Home to Yours.

My 2016 Christmas marks the yin and yang of my life. It will be the first Christmas since my beloved mother, Julia DiGiovanni, passed in February. And it’s the first Christmas of my dear grandson, Zac Alexander Sand, who was born in August! What a joy this new life has brought into the world. As I put up my tree this year, I considered the joy of my earliest memories of the tradition. They are all beautiful ones.

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What’s the earliest memory you have of Christmas Day? Is it colorful ornaments on your family tree? Perhaps you remember the anticipation of ripping paper off gaily wrapped presents? And, ah, the tantalizing aromas of Mom’s cooking for days and days leading up to the best meal of the year is surely hard to forget.

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Like you, my memories of the traditions of the holiday season warm my heart. This year, I’m starting new traditions of peace and love tenderly stoking that warmth.

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My new Christmas tree is a far cry from the aluminum tree highlighted with a wheel of light casting shadows of color on the silver branches in the 60’s. My, how progressive we thought we were! Yet my tree this year is just as impossible to find in Louisiana’s nature, as it’s flocked with (artificial) snow! But the decorations nestled in its branches are the very best of the old and the new that make my Christmas bright. My family keepsake decorations were stored in the attic eleven years ago, when all of the rest of my belongings were destroyed. The fact that those decorations were spared makes them all the more treasured. Right after Thanksgiving, I bring down from storage the manger scene that my mom displayed when I was a little girl. My husband’s grandmother, Acilie Veran Fastring’s, fragile Santa and his reindeer proudly march along my mantle. A little bird from my daughter’s mobile hangs low, as it did when she was a baby and could reach up and touch the wings. Ornaments my son made in grade school, along with photos of him and his sister, are always placed near the outer branches so I can see them easily when I walk by. A handmade ornament of a couple on a motorcycle reminds me of the rides my husband and I shared once upon a time. My son, Clint, and I made macramé ornaments for the first Christmas after my daughter Gina passed away, and we fashioned a star covered with shiny foil for the tiptop.

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This year, there are new additions that are as special and meaningful to me as the comforting old favorites. There’s a Relay For Life ornament in honor of my Mom, and a little angel that used to hang on her tree. And a photograph of Zac is on an ornament on the highest branches, closest to the shiny star his father and I made so long ago. Scattered among my tree’s branches, for the first time in this latest of my “first” Christmases, are Japanese peace cranes called orizuru.

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My friends, Jeff and Stephanie Ito, visited last month and they folded several origami cranes for me. As fragile as the birds they resemble, they represent a story that speaks to every heart. You see, a little Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki, who developed leukemia after being exposed to radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II, began making origami cranes when she was hospitalized, with the goal of making one thousand of them. Sadako was inspired by the senbazuru, a Japanese legend that a thousand paper cranes brings peace, a long life, and good luck.

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Jeff and his family recently visited the Hiroshima Peace Park, and witnessed the tens of thousands peace cranes folded by people all over the world wishing for peace and nuclear disarmament. Jeff told me that his aunts folded cranes for him some 30+ years ago when he faced an illness. “They have always held important meaning to me because of this. There is a cultural meaning and sentiment behind it,” he said. Jeff left cranes tucked in several spots in my home when his family stayed with me. Finding each one was a delightful surprise. I have tenderly picked up each and placed them among the branches of my flocked tree. I’ve long had a peace crane wall-hanging in my home, gifted by my talented friend, Laverne Bourgeois. “I was going through a rough time after my momma passed and needed something spiritual to help in healing,” she told me. “The art of folding the origami was very therapeutic.” So, you see, the peace crane symbolizes hope and rebirth, and is a fitting new tradition for my holiday. There are so many frontiers to cross, so many traditions to reinvent, when the number of loved ones around the table faces the inevitable shift. The origami crane’s addition to my tree, and my future trees, have added the peace I needed to complete this Christmas’s promise of the future.

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Of Your Money By Mike Rich, CFP® Pontchartrain Investment Management

When it comes to money (& cleaning out the garage), small steps can lead to BIG results. Mary and I built our home in Slidell in 2004. We moved in a few days before Christmas, and things were hectic. A lot of stuff ended up in our garage, and my (good) intention was to gradually arrange things after the holidays and get rid of anything we didn’t need. It didn’t happen as planned. In August the following year, Hurricane Katrina and her flooding took care of the garage for me, or so I thought. Almost magically, it filled up again as we rebuilt our home. It’s funny how that happens. What wasn’t funny was Mary’s nagging me over the past several years about how awful the garage looked and what was I going to do about it. So, to put an end to my misery, I vowed to her that I would “take care of it.”

Merry Christmas!

I dreaded that job. Where do I begin? What do I throw away? What do I keep? The task was overwhelming, so I kept putting it off. Finally, I got a grip and said to myself, “Mike, start with something small.” Believe it or not, I still had a box of MREs left over from Katrina sitting on a shelf. Thinking they couldn’t possibly be good (they weren’t good when they were new), I hauled the box out to the street for the trash guys. That small effort energized me, so I sat on a chair in my driveway and had a beer to celebrate. Then, I tackled another shelf. This time, I threw away a collection of plastic beach toys that we hadn’t used in about three years. Gone. With those two victories under my belt, I was on my way. It’s taking a few more weekends, but my garage is looking pretty good these days, and Mary is off my back. Actually, she’s on my back about other home projects, but the garage deal bought me some brownie points. By the way, if any of you boat-owners out there are in the market for a 60 HP, four-stroke, major-brand outboard motor with only a few hours on it, have I got a deal for you. Just like not knowing where to begin when tackling a messy garage, a lot of folks are intimidated when they’re faced with getting their financial lives in order. “How do I begin? Who should I call? How do I know what I need?” Money matters can be overwhelming, so my advice is to start small. Here are some of the baby steps you can take to make the job more manageable:

Step 1) Build your emergency fund. Steve Kernahan Andy Prud e

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Few things are more devastating to a long-term financial plan than to be forced to stop it or raid your retirement fund to pay for a short-term emergency. Rich or poor, everyone needs an emergency fund to handle unexpected expenses that seem to pop up out of nowhere. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but it should be something you keep your hands off unless you have an emergency expense. One of the best ways to handle this is to make it automatic. Set up an online savings account, link it to your checking or debit account, and deposit a bit of money into this account every time you get paid. If you don’t have much money to begin, start with $50. Before you know it (and if you stick with it), you just might end up with a tidy sum that will keep you from having to use your credit card to pay the plumber when your garbage disposal stops working.

Step 2) Protect your income. Before I became a financial advisor, I worked for 19 years for a very good company that offered great benefits. During those 19 years, 15 of my co-workers suffered some type of long-term disability event. That’s almost one every year. Our group disability policy was my co-workers’ lifeline. If you are a wage-earner in your family, you’d better be protecting your income from a devastating illness or accident. If you don’t have group disability income coverage at work, talk with me about an individual policy. I’ll be honest with you: disability insurance premiums are not cheap. But, think about this: if your income stopped for six months, 12 months, or longer, what would your family do to get money? If you don’t have a good answer, call me.1

Step 3) Protect your family in case you die too soon. When I was growing up, a guy on our street died in a tragic car accident. He and his wife had four kids, the youngest of whom was two years old. The man didn’t have any life insurance, because “he didn’t believe in it,” according to what my dad heard. You can imagine the effect it had on the family. The

easiest way to deal with this situation is to buy term life insurance. For many people, especially young parents who are starting families and need a lot of life insurance, it’s usually affordable. If you don’t know how much insurance you need to protect your family, call me.1

Step 4) Start a long-term savings and investment plan. I can’t guarantee your success, but if you start early, the greatest gift you have when investing is time. As many times as I’ve gone through this calculation with clients, I never tire of it. Think about this: a 25-year old who invests $142 a month at an average 8% rate of return can amass about $500,000 in 40 years. That’s real money, and $284 a month could make her a millionaire. It doesn’t happen overnight, you have to be consistent, and it helps a lot if you ignore the short-term gyrations of the financial markets. If you don’t have $142, go with a smaller amount, say $100, or $50, or $25. I’ll help you get started. By the way, even if you are in your 50s, consider the fact that your retirement could last 25, 30, or more years. You’re going to need a lot of money to get through that. It’s never too late to start saving and investing. Call me.2

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Cleaning out my garage seemed daunting when I looked at the enormity of the job. However, it turned out to be a lot easier after I realized I didn’t have to do it all at once (sitting in my driveway and drinking beer helped, too). Getting your financial life in order isn’t difficult, either. It just takes a little time and effort. The baby steps I wrote about above can get you way beyond where the average American family is, and, once in place, you’ve already done most of the hard work. Call me, and we’ll get started.

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This 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. 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.

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Keeping Slidell Beautiful

SLIDELL TREE GIVE-AWAY Mark your calendars, Christmas is coming again in January! The City of Slidell Tree Board is treating residents to gifts that can last a lifetime – free trees! The mission of the Tree Board is to work with the City of Slidell to successfully manage the planting, protection, maintenance and removal of public trees within the city limits; to make recommendations to the city regarding the general health and welfare of Slidell’s urban forest resource; to organize public educational events and programs; and to organize activities to celebrate Louisiana’s Arbor Day. Board Chairman Jonathan Dedon is a state and city licensed arborist. He says, “Slidell is known for it’s beautiful greenery. We want to encourage and sustain our natural green spaces as well as provide residents with the opportunity and education to grow their own. It’s one of the reasons why people love living in Slidell.” 26

The Tree Board is a division of Keep Slidell Beautiful, a City of Slidell program that focuses on litter prevention, beautification, community improvement, and waste reduction through partnerships, education, and activities, to improve the quality of life for citizens in Slidell. In 2007, Slidell was designated a “Tree City USA” by the LA Dept. of Agriculture. This November, the Slidell Tree Board received a Keep America Beautiful/UPS Tree Planting Grant for $5,000. These funds allowed the Tree Board to plant 43 native trees of 30 gallon size on Pontchartrain Drive, Old Spanish Trail, Gause Blvd., throughout Olde Towne and in Heritage Park. The trees were Bald Cypress, River Birch, Red Swamp Maple, and Live Oak. Crepe myrtles and camellias were also planted. The Tree Board is just one of the many active programs within Keep Slidell Beautiful. Other programs include:

Citywide Cleanups Two citywide cleanups a year draw participation from students, civic groups, churches and citizens, with 2/3 of the volunteers picking up litter and 1/3 working on beautification projects. Parade Anti-Litter Program “The success of parades should be measured by the smiles on our faces and not the amount of litter on our streets,” KSB Director Bill Mauser urges parade goers. There are 520 vinyl trash containers along the city’s four and a half mile parade route. Since using the trashcans, there has been a 70% reduction in litter on the streets. Krewes are reminded to use the extra trash containers at the beginning and end of the parades. Clean/Green Schools This year, KSB provided up to $200 in Education Grants to local Green Team

Schools for their school projects relating to litter prevention, beautification or environmental issues. Abney’s “Compost Gardening” project had students learning how to fertilize plants organically in their Teaching Garden. Brock’s project “Playing in the Dirt” taught students about reusing rainwater to water gardens, planting and caring for flowers, and recycling. Honey Island’s Project “Beautifying the Honeybee Hangout” purchased a garden bench, birdbath, flag and flagpole to enhance their outdoor classroom. Salmen High “Salmen Recycles” purchased receptacles to recycle cans and plastic. Whispering Forest “Environmental/ Beautification and Education” will teach students how waste can be converted to useful compost, which improves organic vegetable, flower and butterfly gardens. A rainwater barrel will teach the children to use rainwater instead of wasting tap water in our gardens, which saves water and money.

Bayou Bonfouca Cleanup Palmetto’s Restaurant and KSB partner each year on two Bayou Bonfouca Cleanups. Volunteers are rewarded with free admission to an all-day Music Fest on the Bayou sponsored by Palmetto’s. Greenwood Cemetery Project The Greenwood Cemetery Project continues with the cleaning and painting of tombs and removal of tree stumps at Slidell’s oldest cemetery. Senior Citizen’s Center Landscaping KSB has been hard at work, constructing flower beds, planting flowers and shrubs and revitalizing existing landscape. Adopt-A-Street The Adopt-A-Street Program allows volunteer organizations, groups, scouts, schools, or businesses to become active in their community by contributing toward the effort to maintain litter-free streets, parks, or other areas in the city. KSB currently has 17 different groups who have adopted streets. Adopt groups commit to clean their adopted area four times a year.

KSB’s other ongoing projects include city-wide litter prevention programs, community service programs, household hazard waste collection days, and recycling programs. Tree Board Meetings are held at Fritchie Gym, the second Wednesday every month at 4pm. Slidell residents are encouraged to attend and GET INVOLVED! Join us at Heritage Park on January 21 to pick out your tree and do your part in Keeping Slidell Beautiful!

SLIDELL TREE GIVE-AWAY SATURDAY, JAN. 21, 2017 9AM - 2PM (or until all trees are gone) HERITAGE PARK FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE! One tree per family Tree Types: Red Maple, Red Bud, Fringe, Japanese Magnolia, Japanese Maple, Mayhaw, Sycamore, Eagleston Holly, Celeste Fig, River Birch, Loquat, Shumard Oak and 3 varieties of Crepe Myrtles (Tonto, Natchez, Muskogee) Quantity: 20 - 30 of each tree

In the Shadow of Mickey & Minnie

Story & Photos by Donna Bush

Just a 45-minute drive from Orlando and the world of Disney, I discovered Mother Nature’s bounty of wildlife. Although my best friend, Kristi, would not agree with me, there really is more to Florida than visiting Disney. Don’t get me wrong, Disney can be tons of fun. I’ve been a couple of times to Florida and once to California, but anyone who knows me, knows the further away from crowds, the happier I will be. While I was recently in Lakeland for an outdoor writer conference (and not visiting Disney), I discovered a couple of terrific attractions that would be fun for the whole family.

We hope you enjoy this installment from award-winning outdoors photographer and writer, Donna Bush. Inspired by life... Curiosity seeker...Inviting all Slidell Magazine readers to join her.

My favorite was Circle B Bar Reserve about half way between Lakeland and Winter Haven, a 1267 acre Polk County Nature Reserve. Formerly a cattle ranch, much of the property was converted to pasture by pumping off the water. After the purchase in 2000, the property was restored to its normal hydrologic function providing perfect habitat for Florida native

species in 2005 and 2006. This marsh restoration project provided an excellent environment for a regrowth of wading birds, waterfowl, ospreys and bald eagles. Alligators are beyond plentiful! The way the marsh was restored added to the tolerance of the wildlife, as they adapted to large construction vehicles only accessing the building area on a certain path. The other benefit is the levee trails are only above water trails, so the majority of wildlife will use the same trail that you are on. Therefore, a bobcat, coyote or rabbit will be on your trail to avoid getting wet. On the other hand, most alligators will only cross the trail from one wetland area to another. They may choose to lay and sun on the trail but normally will not be traversing the trail as we would. As a veteran wildlife photographer of 20+ years, I know what it is like to get close to wildlife, and to not get close to wildlife, and to be totally skunked by wildlife. I’ve got so many butt photos in my collection that I thought about producing a wildlife

butt photo calendar. I’ve got deer butts, bear butts, duck butts, elk butts, moose butts, eagle butts, great blue heron butts, ibis butts…Well you get the picture! You can imagine my excitement when I found a place where I could shoot awesome up-close photos of great blue herons (GBH). Anyone who has ever tried to photograph a GBH, kayaked/canoed close to one, or even walked near one knows it doesn’t matter your mode of transportation or how quietly you might approach. They see you, smell you, hear you and take off squawking to the high heavens about your intrusion! This was not true at Circle B Bar! My first morning outing was in search of a stellar sunrise. It turned out to be kind of a blah sunrise, but being out there that early was worth the lack of sleep, coffee and breakfast. We had the preserve all to ourselves at 6am as we pushed our way down the trail to get to the best sunset photo spot. The view from the deck was alright this morning, but would have been better with more light and less overcast clouds. I worked my way around and got some decent shots with a great white egret in my foreground. I had the typical Florida weather with unexpected showers. Even though it was October, there were no cool fronts to give the stunning skies at sunrise and sunset. Bummer! And I thought to myself, I left cool weather in Slidell to come to Florida for this! What was I thinking? But, wait! After my non-spectacular sunrise, we walked the trail to see what wildlife we might encounter. WOW! First

there was spectacular scenery. Then there was the great egret haloed by the rising sun. Then my first limpkin! We don’t have them in Louisiana or close by, only in Florida, Central and South America. Quite a highlight! But then there was the great blue heron! I stopped well away from it so I could get a photo, but it didn’t fly away. So, I stealthily worked my way closer and it still didn’t fly away. I took way too many pictures of him/her because he/she didn’t fly away. I wanted to see all the wildlife I could get in my lens! I’d been told about a resident bobcat with kittens. I desperately wanted to see them. My husband, Eric, and I eased our way closer to the great blue and it still didn’t move. If I hadn’t seen it fly in, I would have thought it was fake. Of course, I still kept taking pictures! We walked all the way up to it and past it and it still didn’t move. I was in shock. I whispered to Eric, “I can never get this close! I love this place!” Just when I thought I had experienced the best, a pair of great blue herons flew down to the trail in front of me and began displaying. They walked around, strutting their stuff, flapping their wings and looking into the trees. I later learned that they were most likely raised in a nest on this trail. While they were displaying and I felt like I was in heaven, an alligator crossed the trail between the two great blues! WOW! These weren’t my only great blues of the trip. There were many, many more! As were there many more alligators and limpkins. Of course, in Louisiana I’m no stranger to alligators, but these were really close

and even crossed the trail right in front of us. I would never advocate approaching dangerously close to alligators or any wildlife. I want to remind everyone that these are wild animals. We are not in a zoo and wild animals can react unpredictably. I did not have a dangerous encounter with any wildlife, nor do I want to. If an alligator is laying on the trail, it is best to turn around and go in the other direction. These trails are not wide enough for you to safely walk around a gator, even though the gator will usually pass where there’s a 3-4 foot opening on each side of the trail. As you walk the trails, you can easily see the gator crossings as they are worn down on both sides of the water like a slide. All that being said, we saw several gators cross our trail and we cautiously approached each opening looking carefully to both sides. Always be aware that mama alligators are very protective of their nests and their young. They will hiss and chase you if you get too close. We saw a few juvenile gators from this summer’s hatch. They look quite cute and harmless at that age. Limpkins are small heron-like birds that feed almost entirely on apple snails, which 29

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I never did see the bobcat, but I met photographers who did. We met Rob on our last day at Circle B. He walked with us along the trails, pointing out local nesting spots for great blues, bald eagles, and barred owls. After we returned home, Rob captured shots of the bobcat hunting and catching a limpkin for dinner! Limpkins appear to be a mainstay of the bobcat diet. Good job Rob!

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unfortunately are extremely plentiful in Florida. There are at least five varieties of apple snails in Florida, but only one is native, the Florida apple snail. The one most frequently consumed is the island apple snail, a very invasive creature known for wiping out rice crops. Sadly, they are beginning to appear in Louisiana, which is bad news for our rice farmers! If you are out for a walk or paddle in our marsh or swamps, keep an eye open for what appears to be a fat pink caterpillar about an inch to inch and a half long. These are clutches of up to 1000 eggs! I’ve seen and photographed them in Jean Lafitte National Park. Luckily for Florida, the limpkins are doing their part by eating the snails! I didn’t expect to see juveniles as late as October, but I found 2 families of limpkins each with 3-4 chicks. They were difficult to photograph as Mom kept them mostly out of sight for their own protection.

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I did photograph reddish egrets, which I’ve struggled with shooting for a number of years. I even captured shots of them as they shaded the water to hunt for prey. By shading the water, they draw fish into the shadows. It also aids them in seeing through the water on a bright sunny day, just as we would shade our eyes or wear polarized sunglasses. There were common gallinules, which are plentiful in Louisiana and always sound to me like they are laughing over some really good joke or story! Previously known as common moorhens, they are prevalent from Canada to Chile. They are quite vocal with a brilliant red shield over their bill and some had juveniles with them. Another awesome find! Also, there were purple gallinules, which are spectacular! They sport a dark purple head, neck and underside, green

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back, red bill tipped with yellow, light blue forehead, and yellow legs. The colorfulness makes them the painted bunting of marsh birds. Circle B Bar Reserve has attractions for all ages. Polk’s Nature Discovery Center is located on-site and full of educational activities for children and adults. You can learn about the various habitats of Central Florida. Kids can climb into a tree to discover plants and animals of the area; learn what wildlife inhabits the wetlands and why wetlands are important; at the lake exhibit learn about the 554 lakes found in Polk County and the difference between a pristine and polluted lake; plus much more in the other exhibits. For anyone not up to the hike a tram tour is offered. Check www.polknature.com for dates and times, plus a wealth of other events. There are 38 named lakes within the city limits of Lakeland, hence the city’s name. Seventeen are natural and the remaining man-made. My favorite was Lake Morton, home of the Lakeland swans. There were four species of them – 2 black and 2 white. I’ve never seen black swans before. They are incredible! Swans began in Lakeland in the 1920’s as pets, but by 1954 they were completely wiped out from disease and alligator consumption. In 1957, a Lakeland resident who was visiting England reached out to the Queen of England for assistance with replenishing the swans. Who knew that the Queen owned the swans living on the Thames River that were part of Richard the Lion-Hearted’s flock? Queen Elizabeth graciously donated a pair to the city. The pair quickly learned to evade the resident alligators and their descendants still reside there to this day. Sadly, their wings are clipped, but they are beautiful to observe, along with the wood storks, several varieties of ducks, white ibis, and more great blue herons. Free to access with picnic areas, this is a great place for kids and adults to get a close up view of many different bird species. The various bird species are so accustomed to people that I captured a shot of Eric and a wood stork that appeared as if they were waiting at the bus stop together! It’s one of my favorites. In reality, the wood stork thought Eric would offer a handout of some kind.

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The last place that I will mention is Bok Tower Gardens, also about a 45-minute drive from Disney and a National Historic Landmark. The 50-acre garden is located at an astounding altitude (for Florida) of 298 feet, offering magnificent sunrise views and beautiful vistas of the surrounding area. It also provides a bird sanctuary to 126 different species and a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail.

Original owner, Edward W. Bok, commissioned famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr. to design and build a beautiful garden at the highest peak to stun every visitor with its beauty. He succeeded! It provides an informal woodland setting with spectacular vistas and breathtaking views along with tranquil resting spots and reflection pools, affording all of the necessary ingredients to offer a beautiful wildlife habitat.

Additionally, there is the Singing Tower Carillon, which is a set of 60 bells in the tower, ranging in weight from 16 pounds to nearly 12 tons! WOW! That’s a lot of bells! Bok, originally from the Netherlands, remembered the music of the carillons from his youth and wanted to recreate them. He did! Every 30 minutes, recorded music drifts through the gardens, and each day a concert is provided at 1 and 3pm. I highly recommend taking a bench

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by the tower and enjoying the concert. It enhances the peace and solitude of the gardens. I know most of you are thinking, Gardens? Sounds pretty but the kids will be bored. Well, think again! Opened earlier this year is Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden next door to the visitor center. Spoiler alert – it’s not just for kids! I found myself wanting to explore the discovery gardens and play just as much as any kid! This children’s garden provides 2.7 acres of nature-inspired wonder and discovery, offering a Florida hammock forest with logs, rocks and water to explore. The educational intention of the garden is to relay the importance of plants to animals and to humans for food, shelter and happiness. A mission that is interwoven with my every wish – reach children at a young age and teach them the importance of nature, plants, wildlife and they will protect it as adults! “Reflecting the art and spirit of Bok Tower Gardens, Hammock Hollow incorporates cooling water features, vibrant plantings, a boardwalk, play areas with climbing features, a stage for little performers, and plenty of space to build, dig, create and explore.” Swirls of a pebble mosaic, such as the redheaded woodpecker and gopher tortoise, welcome you as you enter the Hollow. An indigo snake sculpture invites children to grab a bucket and feel the sand flow through their fingers as they play in the coolest of sand boxes. From here, you can venture to River Run to cool off in refreshing fountains, spray jets, misters and foggers as you make your way through the river. A sprawling shady canopy provides activities such as the Word Garden – words painted on rocks where you can make sentences or phrases; the Fence Swift Stumpery draws attention to the beauty of stumps. There’s a Fox Den log climb, a Stick Stack for building kid-sized structures and forts, and the Fairy House trail where garden fairies can be found living in houses built by children. I’ve only briefly touched on all of the children activities included in Hammock Hollow. All of the activities I’ve mentioned in this article are free except for Bok Tower and Gardens. Adult tickets are $12-18 and children aged 5-12 are $3-8. These are such reasonable prices compared to Disney prices! Next time you go to Florida to visit Disney, add a little freedom to your agenda and free (or almost free) stuff to your trip. Get a close-up wildlife adventure at Circle B and Lake Morton. Enjoy beautiful gardens and music plus an awesome new children’s playground at Bok Tower Gardens for a very nominal fee. You may just surprise yourself with how much there is to enjoy and appreciate without the Mickey ears.

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Reader’s Submission

by Kelly Lutman

Strategies for a Healthful Holiday With the arrival of the holiday season, our to-do list seems to get longer and our social calendar gets even more crowded. We have decorating to do, gifts to purchase and wrap, travel to plan, parties to attend or host, and numerous family traditions to uphold. Do you view the holidays with eager anticipation, or is there a tinge of dread lurking in the back of your mind?

really need food. I have often found that I don’t. An extra tip … throughout the day of a party, make a point of drinking at least 5 glasses of water before the event. You will provide needed hydration for your body and help to reduce your inclination to indulge.

Holiday gatherings often involve food and drinks that hold emotional ties to our childhood memories or are presented to tempt your taste buds and offer a moment of decadent pleasure. Either way, it is difficult to pass up what is served, and all too quickly we have snacked and sampled our way to extra pounds, brain fog, and perhaps misery.

Our culture seems to have adopted the adage that “sleep is overrated” for the sake of having more hours to accomplish the many tasks on our list. Yet medical studies have clearly demonstrated the importance of sleep for our wellness. While you may consider sleep to be “lost time”, your body is quite busy replenishing hormones, repairing damaged tissue, processing toxins, and often solving the problems you have puzzled over through the day. Explore ways that you can make sleep more of a priority and I believe that you will be surprised at how much more productive you are during the day.

You can choose to change your path and discover a new way to approach the holidays. No matter what your experience has been in the past, you aren’t destined to repeating the same cycle. I invite you to explore some strategies that help keep you energized and in better balance through this holiday season so that you enter the new year in better shape than last year.

Stay Hydrated This is a simple strategy that has turned my life around. Did you know that dehydration can be masked as hunger? It’s not unusual for us to feel hungry, as opposed to dry-mouth thirsty, when our bodies are actually asking for water. Test it for yourself. The next time you feel hungry outside of a normal meal time, drink a full glass of water and wait 10 minutes to re-evaluate whether you 34

Get More ZZZs

Choose Realistic Exercise Let’s face it, when our list becomes longer than the hours in our day, the first items that fall from our schedule are often the ways that we take care of ourselves … what I call self-care. Exercise is a part of self-care, as is sleep. You may have been in the habit of taking classes at the gym, or going out for a run, or any number of approaches for working out, yet it’s easy to drop that from the plan when the demand for your time is high. It’s okay to skip the longer forms of exercise, but I encourage you to consider ways

that you can incorporate movement in shorter spurts. And it doesn’t have to include weights or even tennis shoes. One of my favorites is parking further out in the parking lot so that I get more walking before entering the building. This works whether I’m shopping or going to work – I often find that I can get into the building before those who are waiting for close spaces, and I’m less likely to get dings in my car! If you work in a multi-story building, skip the elevator and take the stairs. On the home front, get your kids outside for a bike ride or brisk walk around your neighborhood. The key is to keep moving! These are just a few ways to support improved wellness on an everyday basis. You may already be working on these areas in your life. But what about the parties? What can you do to foster a healthful outcome while still enjoying the festivities?

Eat Before the Party Just as it is risky to go grocery shopping when you are hungry, arriving at a party that way can set you up for overload. I know - you want to save room for that special food that your hostess is known for serving – I get it. And you still can look forward to savoring that treat without going overboard, if you eat a small snack focused on high-fiber, raw vegetables with a glass of water, or blend up a green smoothie so that you drink your fiber and liquid together. By doing so, you will curb your appetite to avoid overeating, and your body will appreciate the energy that this nutritious snack provides.

Plan Your Plate We’ve all approached a buffet table, picked up a plate at one end and begun filling it with tasty morsels. By the time you reach the other end, your plate is piled with much more food than you would normally eat, often because you found more enticing foods at the far end of the table. I have found that I avoid that overload by strolling along the food table to plan my choices before I even grab a plate. You can also think of your plate as a budget. If you have that space allowance, how do you want to spend it? As a Health Coach, I encourage my clients to fill half of the plate with vegetables or fruit, and try to keep the high-sugar treats to a quarter of the plate. The remainder of the plate would be for protein and a healthy source of fat (bring on the guacamole and nuts).

Socialize Away from the Table You go to a party to visit with your friends and meet new people. If you are anything like me, I’m guessing that you find yourself mindlessly snacking when you stand near food – whether the buffet or a snack bowl – while you are talking. True confession? I can’t have a candy dish on my desk or coffee table, because I’m the one who will empty it one morsel at a time. Knowing myself, I find it much safer to choose a position away from the food where I can focus more on the people with whom I am talking. Might this approach help you, too?

Limit Your Alcohol Yes, I’ve gotta go there. Not because I want to squelch your fun, but because as a Health Coach I need you to be aware of what it does to your body. Alcohol quickly enters your blood stream and dominates the attention of your liver as it is processed. When your liver is focused on alcohol, it shifts away from digestion and is not able to support the processing of the fatty foods you are eating. Combine this with the higher levels of processed sugar you are likely eating, and you have a recipe for added fat storage and possible indigestion. Perhaps planning to drink fewer alcoholic drinks alternated with sparkling water and lime (or another simple, alcohol- and sugar-free liquid) would help to relieve the burden on your liver and improve your digestion?

Stay Positive Slidell Magazine’s motto of “Keep It Fresh, Keep It Positive” is a valuable approach for life! We have the privilege of choosing our attitudes. In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, a positive attitude can be infectious and alleviate a great deal of unnecessary stress. I find it helpful to purpose to smile at people throughout the day, and to close each day by noting my gratitude for people I encountered or events that occurred that day in my journal. Do you have a gratitude journal? We can’t realistically expect to make major changes in our lives in the midst of the holiday season. Yet you may have found one or two of these strategies here that you can incorporate daily or on special occasions to help you arrive at the first week of the new year without feeling defeated. Share your plans with a family member or friend so that they can encourage you along the way. Your life – your health – is worth too much to simply fall into the holidays and hope that you come out in January without having done too much damage. Plan your approach to carry you through the demands of the season and help you enter the new year as a victor. What first step will you take to pursue wellness?

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