I’d admit, this is one of my favorite times of the year! There’s something about the decorations, music and the memories that make me smile. While many people dream of a white Christmas, I personally prefer the warm glow of a cacti dressed up in holiday lights.
While the holidays for many are celebrated with football, food, friends, family and faith. For other’s this festive season is a difficult reminder of loss and loneliness. My hope this Christmas is as you’re preparing for your holiday gatherings, you won’t forget to keep an eye out for those who might need an extra dose of encouragement or an invitation to celebrate with your family and friends.
Regardless of what your holidays look like, I hope you enjoy each moment by focusing on what you have— not what you don’t. Also, if you’re looking for last minute gifts, please support the advertisers who make each issue of The Grand Season possible.
Here’s to wishing you a magical Christmas, Hanukkah and a Happy New Year!
Melissa Whitton Editor/ Associate Publisher
STRANGE BUT TRUE
Cotton candy was invented in 1895 by candy maker John C. Wharton and dentist William Morrison, who called it “fairy floss” and sold thousands of servings at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904. It was renamed “cotton candy” in the 1920s by Josef Lascaux—another dentist—who sold the saccharine confection to his patients.
In 1674, the Women’s Petition Against Coffee claimed the beverage was turning Britishmen into “useless corpse[s]” and proposed a ban on it for anyone under the age of 60.
The plot of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” was partly inspired by the collision of holiday store decorations.
Eugene V. Debs ran for president in 1920 while serving a prison sentence in Atlanta Federal Penitentiary for his protests against World War I. He still captured nearly 1 million votes.
In a study by the Smell and Taste Treatment Research Foundation, the scent women found most arousing was Good & Plenty candy mixed with cucumber.
Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of peanut butter getting stuck to the roof of your mouth.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was the U.S. capital for the shortest period of time, a mere day, on Sept. 27, 1777.
Aretha Franklin’s voice was declared a “natural resource” of the state of Michigan.
LOVE THRIVE
Prioritize your relationship.
December is one of the busiest times of the year for couples. Add in the art of balancing the expectations of a major holiday, combined with the financial impact of a rough year, can take a toll on even the strongest of relationships. This year, instead of focusing on what you need to do for others, take time to focus on building your relationship. Here are some tips to help you:
Change the routine
We’re creatures of pattern and comfort, but when things aren’t going so well it can be worse to go by the way you’ve always done things. Your yearly routine might actually be doing you more harm than good, especially if you are focusing less on quality time with each other and more on the
‘experience’ of Christmas. Rather than making plans to do the same mundane routine you always do, why not change things up and plan things you as a couple can look forward to.
Be a couple first
Socializing is a big part of the festive season, but if you neglect your relationship it will only drive a wedge between you. Rather than using the busyness of the holidays be an excuse to put your relationship on the back burner, use it as a time to rekindle your love and focus on spending real time together.
Communication is vital
Do an activity you both enjoy or recreate a special date night you had – by rediscovering what you
love about each other, it can make the festive time easier to handle. They say there is strength in numbers! Talking to your partner openly about what you both want to achieve this holiday season, as well as figuring out a schedule together, will allow you to be on the same page while avoiding any Christmas Day arguments about miscommunication.
Be grateful for the ordinary
Sometimes we have a certain vision in our head, but it doesn’t always work out; rather than magnifying things that are going wrong, focus on what’s going right. Meeting the holiday season with gratitude will only make it that much more magical, even if nothing in your life has changed.
You are cordially invited to Our Exclusive Educational Seminar on Precious Metals. Would you like to learn more about safeguarding your savings and retirement?
Join us for an informative seminar where you will learn the essentials of investing in physical gold and silver. Discover the benefits of owning precious metals and everything you need to know before investing. Knowledge is power.
Date: Saturday January 25, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: The Links Neighborhood Grill 18823 N Country Club Pkwy, Peoria, AZ 85382
Bonus: Complimentary lunch provided following the seminar
Limited Seats Available – Reserve Your Spot Today Call to Reserve: 480-896-2197 You can also register here:
FLASHBACK
Answers on pg. 16
1. Who wrote and released “Stuck in the Middle With You” in 1973?
2. What were the names of Bob Seger’s three bands over the years?
3. Mr. Mister had two songs that went to No. 1 on the charts. What were they?
4. “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” was a chart topper for which group?
5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “Well, you can rock it, you can roll it, Do the stomp and even stroll it.”
Jesse Olmedo, MD
James Barlow, MD Victoria Phan, PA-C
Brigitte Sledge, DO
DINING GUIDE
FLASHBACK
Answers from pg. 12
1. Stealers Wheel. The Scottish rock group was only together for three years before disbanding. They reunited in 2008 long enough to begin producing a music video for the song.
2. Bob Seger and the Last Heard, The Bob Seger System and The Silver Bullet Band. His first real break came when “Katmandu” was used in Cher’s 1985 film “Mask.”
3. “Broken Wings” and “Kyrie,” both in 1985. The group netted Grammy noms in 1986 and 1987.
4. Poison, in 1988.
5. “At the Hop,” by Danny & The Juniors, in 1957. The Juniors, originally called The Juvenairs, were introduced to the song when it was known as “Do the Bop.” Concerned that The Bop dance craze was fading, the song was changed to “The Hop.”
Need a quick batch of cookies? Keep a box mix of cake on hand. Instead of the listed ingredients, add two eggs and a halfcup of oil to the mix. Mix and shape, then bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. They are really good, and you can get pretty creative.
When holiday cookie time comes, keep a plastic pitcher of hot water in the sink. Toss cookie cutters into it when you are done with them, so the corners are soaking. They really seem to only need a rinse and a quick brushoff afterward.
Dinner and a Movie!
INSPIRE HOPE WARMS THE SOUL
Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.
Vaclav Havel
Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.
Joseph Addison
There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow.
Orison Swett Marden
We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
If it were not for hopes, the heart would break.
Thomas Fuller
Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings.
Elie Wiesel
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Albert Einstein
Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.
Robert H. Schuller
1. Is the book of Zechariah (KJV) in the Old or New Testament or neither?
2. From Numbers 21:6, what repulsive creatures bit the Israelites in the wilderness? Scorpions, Fiery Serpents, Vipers, Ravens
3. Before the Tower of Babel, how many languages were in the world? 1, 2, 3, 4
4. From Matthew 7:7, Jesus said that we should seek, knock and ...? Adorn, Ask, Try, Inspire
5. Whose last verse is, “Remember me, O my God, for good”? Genesis, Matthew, Nehemiah, Hebrews
6. How old was Adam when he died? 30, 130, 430, 930
2) Fiery Serpents 3) 1 4) Ask 5) Nehemiah 6) 930
BIBLE TRIVIA
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
BEVERAGE CLUB
CELEBRATE THE SEASON
Eggnog
Cocktail
Ingredients
4 oz. full fat eggnog, plus extra for garnishing
Spiced cookies, crushed
2 oz. spiced rum
1 oz. vanilla vodka
1 oz. dark rum
1/2 oz. eggnog syrup
Cinnamon sugar
Freshly-ground nutmeg
Directions
1. Wet the rim of a glass with the extra eggnog and dip it in the crushed spiced cookies.
2. Mix the spiced rum, vanilla vodka, dark rum, eggnog syrup, and 4 oz. of full fat eggnog in a cocktail shaker.
3. Pour the mixture into the rimmed glass.
4. Garnish with cinnamon sugar and freshlyground nutmeg and serve.
AAA SENIOR PLACEMENT AZ
A Message from Sue Royer
“I was born and raised in inner city Chicago, the sixth of eighteen children with fifteen brothers. Being the oldest daughter, I was always a caregiver which I believe influenced me to pursue work in the healthcare industry. Today, I have three daughters and five grandchildren.
Years ago, I volunteered for hospice and knew immediately that helping seniors was my calling. I was soon employed by hospice but I felt something was missing. I realized it was the limited time I was able to spend with my clients. Having my own business allows me to provide the intimate hands on service needed in our community. I am committed to our seniors throughout their lives and I thank the community for the opportunity to serve.”
Sue RoyerDirector
About Us
Since 2002, AAA Senior Placement AZ has been offering FREE services helping seniors find safe, affordable and loving assisted living.
When it becomes too difficult for you or your loved ones to safely manage daily living and/or manage medical needs, call Sue Royer for help navigating the many options available.
We are specialists in all levels of assisted living care resources with referrals to Arizona’s best:
• Group Homes
• Assisted Living Communities
• In-Home Primary Care Physicians
• Home Health Care Therapy
• Transportation
• Private Duty In-Home Care
• Respite Care
• Alzheimer’s Care
• Memory Care
• Hospice
• Support Groups
Assisted living resources accepting:
• Private pay
• Arizona Long Term Care-ALTCS
• Medicaid
• VA Benefits
6 Reasons You Should Call
AAA Senior Placement AZ
• We are well known and respected in the medical community.
• All clients are given a thorough assessment to determine proper placement needs.
• There is never a fee charged to the senior or their family for our service.
• We are NOT contractually bound to any outside business. This allows us to serve our clients with only their interests in mind.
• Years of knowledge and experience in the field of senior care.
• AAA Senior Placement AZ is family owned, allowing us to give you quality, personalized service.
