The Good Life - September 2019 by Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

The good

life Sunday, September 29, 2019

Off the grid Zambia, Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last great destination

THE GOOD LIFE

| SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019

Size matters when two forces meet. Flapping ears tells us to back off and give him space at the South Luangwa National Park, Bushcamp Company, Mfuwe, Zambia. COURTESY PHOTO

Wide-eyed in Zambia: Africa’s last great place ANNE Z. COOKE

Tribune News Service

MFUWE, Zambia lex Stewart, waiting on the steps of Bilimungwe Lodge, deep in the Zambian bush, likes nothing better than surprising first-time visitors to this wilderness outpost with an introduction to the next-door neighbors. “Come in, come in, you’re just in time,” she urges, a twinkle in her eye, leading me to the rear deck of the lodge, one of six Bushcamp Company lodges in the South Luangwa National Park. When she points to the backyard waterhole, I get it. There they are, two female

elephants and a baby, splashing each other, cooling off on this hot October day. “Junior is a year old now,” says Stewart, beaming as the little guy rolls over and over in a bathtub-shaped hole, smacking the water with his trunk and feet, the very image of a 4-year-old let loose in a wading pool. “And that’s Harry,” adds Stewart, as a hefty hippopotamus rises up in the water, blinks at the commotion and sinks back down. “He walks over from the Luangwa River to get away from the other males,” she says, tossing back her hair, a thick white mane. “He likes it here, where he’s top dog.”

After 26 hours and three flights from California to Zambia, in southern Africa, with a three-hour drive from Bushcamp’s Mfuwe Lodge to Bilimungwe, I was dragging. But not for long. I’d forgotten how it feels on your first day in the bush. Exhilarated and wide-eyed. Over the moon. And then, sobering up, eager but cautious. A safari lodge is a thousand times better than any zoo, but you — not the animals — are the ones in the cage. “You need to be aware, to look around you, and especially, never go out at night without an escort,” says Bushcamp manager

Amy Alderman. The safe way to watch lions is from an off-road vehicle, which the big cats ignore. When your tracker climbs up on the fender and your guide shifts gears, the adventure begins, a search for the legendary “Big Five,” (lions, leopards, elephants, hippos and buffalo); and the “Lesser Eleven”: hyenas, zebras, impalas, bushbucks, giraffe, wildebeest, rhinos, wild dogs, crocodiles, civets and genets. Why this trip, our fourth to the region? Steve, my husband, showed me a South African Airways ticket sale online, and I said it was too good to pass up. And

we had a plan. Fly from Washington, D.C., to Johannesburg, then north to Lusaka and Mfuwe, transfer to Mfuwe Lodge, then to Bilimungwe and later to Chamilandu. Next, fly south to Livingston for a couple of days at the Islands of Siankaba, the riverside resort in the Zambezi River. Finally, a flight to Skukuza, in South Africa, for a visit to Earth Lodge and Bush Lodge, in the 160,000-acre Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, on the border of Kruger National Park. Sixteen days, five game-lodge destinations, and none of them alike. Please see ZAMBIA, Page 3

THE GOOD LIFE

Zambia From 2

I picked Bilimungwe and Chamilandu for the location, in the wilderness and off the grid. With rustic cabins, six to eight guests, friendly staff, first-class guides and a dedication to wildlife preservation, they sounded perfect. Built of logs, planks, reeds and thatching, the cabins were a work of art. And with striped pillows, African colors, flush toilet, running water, screens and a single solar-powered nightlight, I felt right at home. But the lodges weren’t identical. Bilimungwe looked over a waterhole; Chamilandu had a river view and a “hide” above an elephant path. Chamilandu’s dinners were served by the river; at Bilimungwe we ate on the deck by candlelight, sharing wine and hashing over the day’s surprises. The lions that killed and ate

the buffalo, the bush babies in the Mahogany tree and the discovery — to our mutual astonishment — that our fellow guests, a couple from England, live next door to my English cousins. Manda Chisanga, our guide, the award-winning naturalist and a keen-eyed tracker, was both tireless and professional. “Did you hear that?” he asked. “It’s an Eagle Owl. He’s on that tree branch, there, no, to the left. And over there, the grass is moving but there’s no wind tonight. Do you see the leopard?” Steve picked the next destination, the Islands of Siankaba, on an island in the mighty Zambezi, where the river is wide and shallow. Spectacular views from the lodge take it all in, from the trees in the foreground to Zimbabwe, on the river’s far side. Sleeping late we relaxed, swam in the pool, took a sunset cruise, joined an off-island picnic and got into a mokoro (canoe) for a

guided ride, launched from the dock. Dinner times were especially busy; the restaurant has a local following. We spent our last week in South Africa at two very different safari lodges, the starkly minimalist Earth Lodge and its partner, Bush Camp, a family-friendly resort, both in the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve. Despite a day lost to rain, we didn’t miss a drive, bouncing over the hills in comfortable vehicles, with rain gear on board and miles of new territory to explore. When our guide and tracker, Lazarus Mahore and Louis Mkamsi, spotted paw prints in the dirt, they drove over every bush until they found the lions, asleep in the grass. But the lodges themselves couldn’t have been more different. Channeling the Neanderthals, Earth Lodge’s 13 luxury suites were caves, richly decorated dugouts in the side of a hill, invisible from the top

COURTESY PHOTO‌

Assuming the yoga position, the “waterhole bend,” this giraffe gets a drink at Bilimungwe, Bushcamp Company, Mfuwe, Zambia.

Sunday, September 29, 2019 | 3

or sides. We sat in our plunge pool outside the front windows and watched the impala graze in complete privacy. The lounges, tidy rock gardens, weathered tree trunks, bar, wine cellar and dining room echoed the motif, fresh and inviting but spartan. Even the dinner guests fit the mold, eating at the next table, alone and

in silence. In contrast, Bush Camp, with 25 luxury suites, popped with energy. Game drives mattered, but as part of the larger experience. The high school kids in short-shorts, celebrating a birthday, said it best. “First person to see a rhino gets the prize.” Please see ZAMBIA, Page 4

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THE GOOD LIFE

“We will meet again some time.” Nosiya Sabiya, a Shangaan shaman and village elder

Zambia From 3

The food, served buffet style on a half-dozen tables heaped high, ran from meats, fish and pasta to salads, fruit, vegetables, breads and cookies, while the guests, sitting wherever there was space, mingled and exchanged names. You could leave your kids in the Children’s Center, tour Huntington Village or visit two nearby schools, both supported by the game lodges. Or you could meet village elder Nosiya Sabiya, a Shangaan shaman. Invited into her rondavel, I sat down, crossed my legs, she rolled the knucklebones and then she spoke, the words I’d hoped to hear: “We will meet again some time.”

The Nitty Gritty

PLANNING: There are no African safaris that you can’t afford. Tent camping and 35-person tours, favored by students and young couples, are cheap and fun. Highpriced lodges cost more because they offer more, from personal airport transfers to private cabins, comfortable beds, meals, beverages, game drives, offsite tours and even laundry service. GETTING THERE: For South African Airways’ routes, flight times and special offers see www.flysaa. com. Visas to enter Zambia are sold at the Lusaka Airport; the $50 visa is slightly more expensive but provides multiple entries. STAYING: See the Bushcamp Company at www.bushcampcompany.com; the Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge at www.sabisabi.com; and the Islands of Siankaba at www. siankaba.net. These and similar safari lodge websites provide photos, maps and descriptions of lodging, meals, wildlife, game drives and climate. All-inclusive safari lodge rates per person, per night, range from $570 to $1,000 or more.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Bilimungwe Lodge, more rustic comfort home-made in Africa, crafted out of logs, planks, reeds and thatch. Bushcamp Company game lodges, Mfuwe, Zambia.

Expert trackers, Lazarus and Louis, find gold; a pride of lions sleeping off dinner. Earth Camp Lodge, Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, South Africa.

Those we love don't go away, They walk beside us every day, Unseen, unheard, but always near, Still loved, still missed and very dear.

"Our Way Of Life Since 1901" 319-352-1187 • www.kaisercorson.com WAVERLY | SHELL ROCK | DENVER | READLYN

4 | Sunday, September 29, 2019

THE GOOD LIFE

“We will meet again some time.” Nosiya Sabiya, a Shangaan shaman and village elder

Zambia From 3

The Nitty Gritty

COURTESY PHOTOS

Bilimungwe Lodge, more rustic comfort home-made in Africa, crafted out of logs, planks, reeds and thatch. Bushcamp Company game lodges, Mfuwe, Zambia.

Expert trackers, Lazarus and Louis, find gold; a pride of lions sleeping off dinner. Earth Camp Lodge, Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, South Africa.

Those we love don't go away, They walk beside us every day, Unseen, unheard, but always near, Still loved, still missed and very dear.

"Our Way Of Life Since 1901" 319-352-1187 • www.kaisercorson.com WAVERLY | SHELL ROCK | DENVER | READLYN

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Sunday, September 29, 2019 | 5

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Thai Chicken Noodle Soup‌

This coconut milk-based soup has just the right amount of spiciness 2 tablespoons butter 1 large (1 cup) onion, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce 1 (14-ounce) can light coconut milk 1 quart (4 cups) reduced sodium

Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

chicken broth

2 cups shredded chicken 1 cup sugar snap peas 1 medium (1 cup) red bell pep-

per, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon fish sauce 2 ounces thin rice noodles, bro-

ken apart

2 tablespoons lime juice Chopped fresh cilantro leaves,

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if desired Melt butter in saucepan over medium-high heat until sizzling. Add onions; cook 3 minutes or until softened. Stir in garlic sauce; cook 1 minute. Add coconut milk and chicken broth. Cover; cook until mixture just comes to a boil. Uncover; add chicken, peas, bell pepper, fish sauce, and rice noodles; cook until mixture comes to a boil. Continue cooking 4 minutes or until noodles are softened. Stir in lime juice. Garnish individual servings with cilantro, if desired. Makes 6 servings. Landolakes.com recipe

Roasted Vegetable Soup with Cheese Croutons‌

Smoked paprika and cilantro add unique flavor to this roasted vegetable soup. We suggest doubling the cheesy croutons — they’ll go fast! Please see SOUPS, Page 7

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SENSATIONAL SOUPS & SALADS

no-salt-added or low-sodium Garnish individual servings with ‌Soups and salads go together black-eyed peas, rinsed and like salt and pepper, chocolate cilantro, if desired. Makes 6 servings. drained and peanut butter – you get the Landolakes.com recipe 1 can (15 ¼ ounces) low-sodium drift! It’s a classic combo that’s or no-salt-added whole-kernel perfect for cool fall evenings. Black-Eyed Pea, corn Up the comfort quotient of Corn and Rice Salad‌ 1 package (8 ½ ounces) brown your weeknight suppers with a 2 cans (15 ½ ounces each) rice, microwaved according to comforting bowl of warm, homemade soup. Pair it with a crisp, crunch salad to create a filling meal that won’t leave you feeling stuffed. Punching up the plants on your Steve, a lifelong resident, has been a real estate broker plate can lead to better nutrition in your house, too, according to and manager since 1973. He uses his expertise to assist the American Heart Association. clients in real estate transactions in homes, commercial, A survey from Aramark, the larg- and investment properties. Steve is managing broker of est U.S. based food service comLockard Realty and is consistently a leading buyer and pany, found many people want to ease up on meat consump- seller agent. He has served on several local boards of tion, and 2 out of 3 want to eat directors over the past 30 years, and as a Waterloo- Cedar more fruits and vegetables. Try Falls Board of Realtors officer and director. putting vegetables and fruits center-stage with these heartContact Steve today to help healthy salads.

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Thai Chicken Noodle Soup‌

2 tablespoons butter 1 large (1 cup) onion, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce 1 (14-ounce) can light coconut milk 1 quart (4 cups) reduced sodium

chicken broth

2 cups shredded chicken 1 cup sugar snap peas 1 medium (1 cup) red bell pep-

per, thinly sliced ken apart

2 tablespoons lime juice Chopped fresh cilantro leaves,

¹⁄8 teaspoon black pepper

In large bowl, stir peas, corn, rice, celery, pepper, parsley, olive oil, water and black pepper until combined. Makes 6 servings. American Heart Association recipe

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This coconut milk-based soup has just the right amount of spiciness

1 tablespoon fish sauce 2 ounces thin rice noodles, bro-

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8 | Sunday, September 29, 2019

‘Cow for College’ shares retired vet’s childhood on Kansas farm MELODY PARKER

melody.parker@wcfcourier.com ‌

‌CEDAR FALLS — James Kenyon’s first job was selling eggs. Every Saturday morning, the young farm boy loaded a crate of 30 dozen brown eggs into his red wagon. With his faithful dog trotting at his side, he pulled the wagon around his rural community selling eggs door-to-door. That early success ignited his entrepreneurial spirit. Noting how his father used chicken manure as a garden fertilizer, he recruited three pals and their wagons and set off with three loads of chicken poop to sell in town — 25 cents per load. They found just one buyer for their stinky wares and sold her all three loads for a quarter. The retired Cedar Falls veterinarian shares these and other childhood reminiscences in his second book, “A Cow for College and Other Stories of 1950s Farm Life,” published by Meadowlark Books. His third book, “Golden Rule Days: History and Recollections of 109 Closed Kansas High Schools” was recently released by Meadowlark. Writing has become yet another career for Kenyon. His first book, “The Art of Listening to the Heart,” featured tales — and tails — of his 35-year career caring for creatures great and small, which was published in 2017. As a vet, he tended sheep, horses, goats, chickens, cows, pigs, turkeys, even elk during his career, along with dogs, cats and other critters. In “A Cow for College,” Kenyon was “between 6 and 13 years old in these stories. They’re all about growing up on a farm and the life lessons that came along with those experiences,” he explained. Kenyon was born and raised near Bogue, Kansas, on

BRANDON POLLOCK PHOTOS, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Author and retired veterinarian James Kenyon, wearing his favorite writing hat.

‘Golden Rule Days’ is Kansas-born Kenyon’s ode to 109 closed Kansas high schools. He is writing a similar book about Iowa schools.

a third-generation family grain and livestock farm. It was here that he found his heart for veterinarian medicine. The collection includes stories about Kenyon’s crush on his first-grade teacher, his first kiss, church revivals, the art of milking cows, the importance of naming a cow and his love for a farm dog he bought as a puppy for 50 cents from a friend and named Tuffy. He also learned about life, death, birth and loss through his work with animals and learned to plow wheat fields seated on his dad’s lap on a tractor beneath a Kansas blue sky. “This is what farm life was like in the 1950s. The neat thing is that I was able to put in conversations with my father for a more personal touch. They aren’t exact, but reminiscent of the scenes I write about. I think it helps readers to visualize the scenes. That’s part of the enjoyment of reading,” Kenyon said.

as well as personal interviews with former students for stories, anecdotes, facts and photographs. Kenyon’s book also encompasses Kansas history into the 20th century, including statehood, involvement in the Civil War and Quantrill’s Raiders’ massacre at Lawrence. He is now hard at work on a similar book about Iowa’s schools. “It’s been neat finding people who are still alive and willing to talk about their school. I’ve already done some interviews and visited 50 counties since Jan. 1,” Kenyon said. The retired vet expects the project to take roughly 18 months to be completed and published. “It’s exciting. Since I began writing, I’ve become more discerning. I want each story to be good and entertaining,” Kenyon added. The soft-cover books are available at the Hearst Center

The book received the 2018 Martin Kansas History Book Award. Kenyon was inspired to write “Golden Rule Days” after a trip through western Kansas 50 years after graduating from his six-member senior class. As a youth, he played ball in 32 towns and now, all but one had lost their high schools. School consolidations, loss of population and the disappearance of small communities due to floods and other natural and economic disasters are among reasons for the loss. The author wanted to rescue the histories of these rural and small-town high schools that once dotted the Kansas landscape. “It took me 15 months and 12 trips to Kansas to visit every one of Kansas’ 105 counties,” Kenyon explained. Five counties never had a high school. He conducted research at local libraries, museums, historical societies and newspaper offices,

Kenyon shares his memories about growing up on a Kansas farm in the 1950s in ‘A Cow for College.’ for the Arts, Cedar Falls Tourism and Visitors Bureau, Hearst Center for the Arts and online booksellers.

THE GOOD LIFE

Sunday, September 29, 2019 | 9

Here’s a simple Medicare explanation

SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO‌

Common sense protections against elder fraud abuse ‌Older people are at a greater risk of fraud and other forms of financial exploitation. The U.S. Postal Service has seen an increase in mail fraud and is promoting community strength and fraud awareness as a way to prevent abuse. Social Security agrees. You can help your more vulnerable loved ones fight fraud. You or a loved one might receive an advertisement in the mail, but it could be from a private company or even a scammer. United States law prohibits people or non-government businesses from using words or emblems that mislead others. Their advertising can’t lead people to believe that they represent, are somehow affiliated with, or endorsed or approved by Social Security. Scammers commonly target people who are looking for Social Security program and benefit information. If you receive misleading information about Social Security, send the complete advertisement, including the envelope it came in, to: Office of the Inspector General Fraud Hotline Social Security Administration P.O. Box 17768 Baltimore, MD 21235 Community can simply mean your family unit. The more you

know about what your loved ones are exposed to, the better you can protect them. We also receive reports where someone pretending to be a Social Security employee has contacted members of the public. The intent of this type of call may be to steal your identity and/or money from your bank accounts. They may state that your Social Security number will be suspended or they may demand immediate payment. The caller generally asks you for personal information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, your mother’s maiden name, or your bank or financial account information. You should not provide any of this information to these individuals. It’s possible that a Social Security employee may contact you to follow-up on a previous application for Social Security benefits or to follow-up on other business you initiated with Social Security. Remember, Social Security employees will never threaten you or demand any kind of payment in exchange for services. It’s important that you report any and all fraud. This can only strengthen our communities and your family. You can report Social Security fraud at oig.ssa. gov/report.

‌Social Security and Medicare are both programs that are household names, but do you know the true difference? Both programs help safeguard millions of Americans as well as improve the quality of life for their family and friends. While Social Security offers retirement, disability, and survivors benefits, Medicare provides health insurance. Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older and younger people receiving Social Security disability benefits. The program helps with the cost of health care, but it doesn’t cover all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care. When you first enroll in Medicare and during certain times of the year, you can choose how you get your Medicare coverage. There are 2 main ways to get Medicare:

your Medicare premiums and other medical costs, you may be able to get help from your state. States offer programs for people eligible for or entitled to Medicare who have low income. Some programs may pay for Medicare premiums and some pay Medicare deductibles and

coinsurance. To qualify, you must have limited income and resources. You can learn more about Medicare, including how to apply for Medicare and get a replacement Medicare card, at www.socialsecurity.gov/benefits/medicare.

Original Medicare‌

Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). If you want drug coverage, you can join a separate Part D plan. To help pay your out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare (like your deductible and 20 percent coinsurance), you can also shop for and buy supplemental coverage. Examples include coverage from a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy, or from a former employer or union.

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Medicare Advantage (also known as Part C)‌

Medicare Advantage is an “all in one” alternative to Original Medicare. These “bundled” plans include Part A, Part B, and usually Part D. Part C plans may have lower out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare. They also may offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover — like vision, hearing, dental, and more. If you can’t afford to pay

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10 | Sunday, September 29, 2019

SENIOR LIVING

of single-family homes. Other possibilities include sharing a place with other solo agers — “Golden Girls” style — or renting a room to a younger person.

Enlist or hire your future guardians Estate planning attorneys recommend all adults have documents in place that allow

someone else to make decisions should they become incapacitated. These documents include powers of attorney for finances and for health care. (The medical power of attorney may also be called an advanced health care directive). Without this paperwork, solo agers could become wards of the court with strangers making decisions for them, Geber says.

Advice for ‘solo agers’ Aging gracefully without a familial support system LIZ WESTON| NerdWallet

etirement coach Sara Zeff Geber visited several Northern California assisted living facilities to interview “solo agers” — people, either single or coupled, who don’t have children to help them as they grow older. At many facilities, she couldn’t find any. That puzzled her until she realized that adult children are often the ones pushing the move into long-term care facilities. “Who is it that gets mom or dad to move out of the twostory, single-family home?” says Geber, founder of LifeEncore coaching service in Santa Rosa, California. “The kids badger and cajole.” Many people won’t have children to look after them as they age, either because they didn’t have kids or the ones they have aren’t available or reliable. Without that help, they face greater risks of isolation, financial exploitation, malnutrition

and other ills, says Geber, author of “Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers.” Who will let them know when it’s time to stop driving? Who will notice signs of physical or cognitive decline and find appropriate help? Who will pay their bills, vet their financial advisers and monitor their bank accounts? Who will hire and supervise caretakers or research nursing facilities when they can no longer care for themselves?

Build a community

People who don’t expand their social networks can find themselves isolated and lonely as friends die or move closer to their grandkids. Strengthening ties with relatives and making new friends, particularly younger ones, can counteract that trend. So can cultivating relationships with neighbors, coffee shop buddies and other acquaintances. A 2014 study found people with more of these “weak tie” relationships reported being happier.

Choose your home carefully

Your current home may not be

the ideal place to grow older, especially if you won’t have many opportunities to socialize after you stop driving. But not everyone wants or can afford 55-plus developments, assisted living or continuing care retirement communities, which require residents to be healthy when they move in but then offer skilled nursing or long-term care to those who need it. Some communities have organized “villages ,” which are nonprofit associations typically created and staffed by residents of a neighborhood to provide services such as transportation and access to vetted service providers. “Co-housing,” where people build clusters of homes around shared spaces that encourage interaction, is another model available in some cities. Or you could look for “naturally occurring retirement communities” where residents socialize and informally look out for each other. These communities can crop up in a variety of locations, including apartment houses, condos, mobile home parks and even tightknit neighborhoods

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Sunday, September 29, 2019 | 11

Thank you, Cedar Valley, for your votes and your support. mmunity 1st place, Retirement Co

1st place, Home Health Agency (atHome with Western Home)

1st place, Nursing Hom e & Assisted Living

1st place, Therapist Kristin Henry

Honorable Mention, Therapist Stephanie Hansen

Honorable Mention, Receptionist Suzanne Makinster

VILLAS & TOWNHOMES • INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY SUPPORT ASSISTED LIVING THE COTTAGES • THE DEERY SUITES • MARTIN CENTER • AT HOME WITH WESTERN HOME www.WesternHomeCommunities.org

12 | Sunday, September 29, 2019

THE GOOD LIFE

Thank you, Cedar Valley, for your votes and your support. mmunity 1st place, Retirement Co

1st place, Home Health Agency (atHome with Western Home)

1st place, Nursing Hom e & Assisted Living

1st place, Therapist Kristin Henry

Honorable Mention, Therapist Stephanie Hansen

Honorable Mention, Receptionist Suzanne Makinster