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Dallas Decorator, David Call, Talks Color Palette for 2013 Wine & “Superfoods” – Good for You! Boomer of the Year -Dianne Shaw boomers... living life to the fullest JAN | FEB 2013 | boomerbuzzmagazine.com
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04 | CONTENTS
January | February IN THIS ISSUE
PUBLISHER’S LETTER 07 What a Great Year! FEATURE 08 A Passion for Color, Boomer of the Year HEALTHY BALANCE 16 Who Said We Weren’t Going to Make it, “Superfoods” AT HOME 20 The Season for Indoor Seeds THE EPICUREAN 22 Where is the Best BBQ STYLE WATCH 24 Designer with an Eye, You Can be a Silver Fox! BOOM VOYAGE 28 New Mexico - Winter, Vacation Decisions REDEFINING 32 On Being Invisible, Changing the World WEALTHY & WISE 40 It’s Your Money BOOMER BUZZ 38 Tech Tips, New Year Motivational Apps BLOG SPEAK 46 Book Clubs, 4 Easy Date Ideas MEDICAL MATTERS 48 You Can Catch the Flu, The Heart of the Matter SENIOR SCENE 56 How to Talk to Aging Parents ON THE COVER Jhil & Jim Wilkins of Plano, Texas enjoy a healthy glass of red wine at The Alcove Wine, Beer & Espresso Bar in Dallas. 469.237.7084 | info@boomerbuzzmagazine.com boomers... living life to the fullest
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06 | MASTHEAD
www.creative80design.com | 972.413.8081
PUBLISHER Robin Roberson
EDITOR-IN-CHEIF Micki Sanders
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Linda Moncrief
ADVERTISING SALES Teresa Otten
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Drew Prescott
CREATIVE DESIGN Creative80 Design Studios
Creative Contributors Photography - Becca Menig J. Michael Brown, Brown Lane Studios
Contributing Writers Christina Castle Angela S. Deppe Jackie Dishner Jillian Jacks Sonja Kabell Carla McMahon Claire Maestri Adam Mandel Becca Menig
Becca Niederkrum Jet Parker Scott Schilling Peggy Schilling Stanford Smythe Jacqueline Sommerville Cynthia Stock Nick Trout
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER | 07
PUBLISHER’S LETTER What a great year 2012 was and to all of you, our readers, we genuinely say “Thank You” for your support and generosity over the first year of publishing information for and about baby boomers. As the new year dawns I reflect on how exciting our first year was, but more importantly, how well received our issues have been. You like us! You really like us!! It is our promise that 2013 will be even better. We have defined the areas of content that are most important to you as boomers living life to the fullest and we plan more detailed features for you on Redefining: ourselves, our retirement or careers and the way we live life in today’s world, Medical Matters: what is in the news and important for us at boomer age, and Features on various topics from healthy recipes to style and travel. Our new information portal website will be launched this month and we know you will find useful and insightful information on life as a boomer and for your aging parents. There is so much news that will affect our futures and we want to keep you abreast of what matters most. With explanations, education and resources the website will offer much: Top News, Featured Articles, Travel Topics as well as Healthy Living and Senior Scene. In the Spotlight will offer highlights on Boomer Profiles, The Arts and Veterans. And of course there will be innumerous Resources for services and products important for our lifestyles and our aging parents. We are proud to announce the launching of Boomer Buzz Texas Magazine this month. It will be a supplement to our national issue and will provide articles on different subjects and happenings in and around the great state. This will be the first of the state issues we plan to introduce and we know how important it will be for local news, interesting topics and resources for local readers. The staff at Boomer Buzz Magazine is delighted to congratulate our first Boomer of the Year 2012, Mrs. Dianne Shaw of Rowlett, Texas. She truly exemplifies a boomer living life to the fullest! And we want to wish you a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. We hope you will continue to enjoy reading Boomer Buzz, as well as Boomer Buzz Texas and will use the new website as your source for key information on life as a baby boomer. Best Always,
Color Trends 2013
with Dallas Decorator. David Call
FEATURE A Passion for Color | 09
A Passion for Color By Christina Castle If you’re like me, Spring can’t come fast enough, as I am not so vibrant following a busy holiday season. Parties galore this year. So come with me and we can experience Pantone’s Fashion Colors for 2013 with Monaco Blue anchoring a soothing palette that embraces the new classics along with a rainbow of vibrant accent tones. Ten fabulous colors predicted to drive the colorful passion in you!
To help us navigate this panorama of colors, we have the inspiration of Dallas designer, David Call, with David Call Interiors, who will show us his inspiration from all the vibrancy of the colors and how to utilize them to add a little spice to your lifestyle. But first, let’s review exactly what the palette for this spring looks like.
Pantone Color Institute's executive director, Leatrice Eiseman, explained that the winning shade, Monaco Blue, "speaks to the practicality that we are seeing in society. You have to realize there is still concern out there for the economy." It is a calm and anchoring color to the rest of collection which includes nine other colors-Dusk Blue, Emerald, Grayed Jade, Linen, Poppy Red, African Violet, Tender Shoots, Lemon Zest and Nectarine.
10 | FEATURE A Passion for Color
According to Call, these enticing colors will brighten our fashion future for both home and personal style, begging us to dream of exotic tropical lands, so grab your sarong and hit that island of color or think more monarch-like and use this regal color to build a more traditional peaceful look. Vibrant but cool, Monaco is perfect for everything from a Taffeta Cocktail Dress to a striking table set with Hermẻs Porcelain Dinnerware and a vase filled with Poppies…deliciously inky blue that is classic and modern at the same time when paired with accents of brilliance. And Call says that is how you must think of it.
David says, “The modern twist on a regal color, Monaco Blue, has basic black running for the back of the closet. Now don’t get me wrong, keep that Audrey “Little Black Dress”. But let’s face it, the classic tones of this blue have been tapping on the shoulder of designers for several years. Its fresh, light mood for spring amplifies a must-have attraction-light enough for the season and fearless enough to conquer all the new styles confirming our suspicions that “this” blue has something special.” David states you will see it in pantsuits, Bermuda shorts, and accent color on dresses. Scarves and jewelry will sparkle with this shade which ranges between sapphire and cobalt. David Call Interiors has been creating Sophisticated yet Livable designs in Dallas and around the country for almost 20 years and David’s experience has made him exceptional at pulling together nuggets of decor that make a home pop with choice selections of color and style. While fresh and vivacious, the new Monaco Blue embraces the classic tones of the French Riviera yet when complimented with the bold accent colors of the season, makes a new statement like the sunset bolts of from the brilliant ball of fire dipping over the blue water. The trick is in knowing how to use them together. What is truly brilliant about these colors is that they are already being found on the runways of New York and Dallas. Popping into fabrics, rugs, lighting….they are splattered everywhere. “Because Monaco Blue pairs well with most any other color, you can use it as a wall color and consider it the “neutral” in the room,” states Call. It lends itself to most any décor.
FEATURE A Passion for Color | 11
David has hand selected a wonderful collection of accessories in the new hues; everything from Citron to Emerald to Neutral. You want to reach out and feel the textures and richness of the colors!
Call excitedly explains, “These patterns will awaken your home and can be used in so many ways, from accent pillows and ottomans to vases, rugs and even tables. They can make that bold punch your home is salivating for. Don’t be afraid, go ahead and jump into color! Rug: Darius Rug by Stark Carpet, www.Starkcarpet.com 6 Accessory Pics: All accessories by Global Views available through David Call Interiors, www.globalviews.com Dinnerware: Bleus d'Ailleurs by Hermes. Available through Dahlgren Duck, through David Call Interiors. www.dahlgrenduck.com David Call Interiors is offering a 25% discount when you mention Boomer Buzz Magazine for your purchases.
Boomer of the Year 2012 Dianne Shaw Living Life to the Fullest
"I Choose to be Happy Every Day." Wife Intervener || Artist Artist ||Volunteer Volunteer Wife & Mother || Interperter Interpreter & Intervener
FEATURE Boomer of the Year | 13 Dianne Shaw, a resident of Rowlett, Texas has been selected Boomer Buzz Magazine’s Boomer of the Year 2012. She epitomizes all the wonderful attributes which exemplify baby boomers everywhere, living life to the fullest. What impressed us most is Dianne’s philosophy that she has two choices every morning when she wakes up: She can be happy or she cannot be happy. This lady lives by her words and she is happy every day. Born prematurely, at Baylor Hospital, on April 10, 1947, Dianne is the oldest of four. Her mother had scarlet fever and Dianne’s gift for caregiving began caring for her, as a young child.
She married Mickey Shaw in in 1966, a Vietnam veteran and for many years Dianne was involved with AnySoldier.com, a voluntary organization with lists of military personnel with whom you can connect, communicate and support. You select who you wish to correspond with and personally take it from there.
Across her years of volunteering Dianne and Mickey have personally sent many necessary and recreational items around the globe to soldiers, male and female: Triple-blade razors, deodorant, chap stick, lip gloss, personal hygiene products, hair conditioner, bottles of sanitizer, shoes, clothing, blankets, flannel pants, twin sheets, (they love the wild and crazy ones like Spider Man), sunglasses, books, comic books, word-find puzzle books, coloring books and crayons used in rehab for wounded soldiers, microwave popcorn, chocolate in the winter and hard candy in the summer. “The soldiers love things they can hand out to kids,” so she once sent a box of brightly colored water pistols which were a big hit! Until she and Mickey learned it was illegal, they copied music of every genre and sent 80 CD’s at a time to soldiers. She especially liked to send upbeat songs, once mailing YMCA by Village People and was inundated with requests for many more copies, as soldiers were dancing around the base singing and moving to music. She recently sent 8 cases of syrup to a military unit for their recently acquired Slurpee machine. President George W. Bush honored Mrs. Shaw with a presidential medal for her contributions to our military and from what we have learned there is no one more deserving of such an esteemed award. She joined a support group for wives of veterans, which was helpful to her in the beginning, but she stayed on to help other wives of returning husbands/soldiers and recently she’s been very active in the Veterans Resource Center. Opened in Sept 2012, the new facility provides many types of assistance that homeless veterans need; shower and laundry facilities, job and housing assistance, technology training. She rarely goes to the VA for medical services with her husband that she doesn’t bring something for The Veterans Resource Center.
14 | FEATURE Boomer of the Year She’s been active with Veterans Stand Downs, a national program that sponsors 1 to 3 day events providing services to homeless vets; food, clothing, health screenings, benefits counseling and referral services. And while doing all of the veteran volunteering, Dianne worked full time for ten years as the activities director at a local (Carrollton) nursing facility and with her husband raised their son, Jason, who was born prematurely and profoundly deaf. She learned sign language and was active in his education. She located the Callier Center for Communication Disorders, enrolled Jason and even drove other children to the program because their parents worked. Shaw went to work as a Special Education aide and, before retiring, became an Intervener for a deaf-blind student (an intervener becomes the eyes and ears for a deaf-blind person, signing in their hand.) As you can see, Dianne is a determined, energetic individual who cares for others and believes in doing all you can to facilitate making life better for those in need of assistance. Today, son Jason is the first deaf journeyman certified in solar installations in the nation and if you read his story (http://www.cleantx.org/blog/howi-became-first-deaf-certified-solar-pv-installer) you will see that he is a chip off the ole block…his mother’s that is! As a child, Dianne had little confidence; describing herself as a “scaredy-cat”, always hoping the teacher wouldn’t call on her. She fell in love with a picture of Bambi and wanted to draw it but knew she couldn’t. Her mother told her she could and made her keep working until it looked good. But it wasn’t until Dianne was thirty that she delved into art. She had put all of her energy into helping others and she instinctively knew she needed to do something stimulating and relaxing for herself. So one night a week she took a china painting class. “I’ve always liked detail,” Dianne says, like the “mosaics, intricate lace, and the soft, delicate details in china painting.” Classes were every Wednesday when Jason was little. “I can do this,” she began to think. Di now thinks anyone can paint if they practice. She studied for 10 years then took a 15 year break before she picked it up again and learned much more the second time around from a German instructor. “I learned about shadow and light which translate to any art.” She went on to sew, crochet, tie-dye, make jewelry, wire wraps, decorative painting and murals, clothing and carving wood canes for soldiers.
“Every day is a good day when I get up ... because I decided it would be.” It was at that time in her 30s that Dianne decided she would enjoy every moment. “Every day is a good day when I get up because I decided it would be.” She always says, “It starts
boomers... living life to the fullest
FEATURE Boomer of the Year | 15 with me and it starts with you” or “I help things get started.” Or maybe “Your attitude is everything. Opportunities come every day” or “I’m a good listener and I provide what might be needed.” And she summed it up by saying that she usually thinks, “–How can I make it better for someone?” And that is obviously how she has lived her life! Today she’s most involved at a local level. It might be volunteering to be the face painter for her city of Rowlett’s DART opening where she donned a silly chicken hat and had the children lined up for funny faces. She sews Stoma covers for veterans, crochets baby bonnets for Parkland, creates a pair of “pretty” shoes for the 78 year old nursing home patient and makes warm stocking hats for homeless vets. And she spends much time with nieces/nephews who
live nearby.
You can find Mrs. Shaw most mornings at the corner McDonald’s having breakfast with the small group of regulars, always on alert for a good cause, like this month’s financial and material support for a homeless family of 7. Or she can be found sitting with one of the regular’s husband who’s on Hospice, while the wife gets out for a while and does a little grocery shopping.
As Boomer Buzz Texas Magazine reviewed the many wonderful applicants submitted for Boomer of the Year, there was no doubt that Dianne Shaw was living life to the fullest in every way possible and for that reason we are happy and honored to name her Boomer of the Year for 2012. With the heart of a hippie, this baby boomer says she would like to live in an artist commune and her car is even reminiscent of a hippie van painted with flower power. Baby boomers are known as the generation of change and Dianne Shaw most definitely makes us all proud!
16 | Healthy Balance Who Said We Weren’t Going to Make it?
Who Said We Weren’t Going to Make It? By Scott Schilling Congratulations! You made it…and I did too! Take that Mayans! Take that Fiscal Cliff! Take that (Fill in the Blank with whomever or whatever suggested you were done!)
2013 is here and stands to be the best year in many. How can I say that you ask? Simple…the decision has been made to make it so! Believe it or not, how you think about a situation starts the ball rolling towards how it is going to turn out. If you truly believe 2013 is going to be an awesome year…then it can be. Think back to Napoleon Hill, “Whatever the mind of a man (or woman) can conceive and believe…it can achieve!” Henry Ford said it this way, “Think you can…Think you can’t…you’re right either way!” The thoughts you think create the feelings you feel leading to the actions you take which achieve the results you achieve. You have far more control than you may have though you have. It only seems fitting to come out of the blocks encouraging all us Boomers to get our heads squarely screwed on and get set to make 2013 awesome! One of my long time mentors, Zig Ziglar, often shared what has become my life’s motto, “You can have anything in life you want…if you simply help enough other people get what they
boomers... living life to the fullest
want!” It’s actually one of the reasons I am honored that Robin Roberson has asked me to consistently contribute to BoomerBuzz magazine. If I can pass along any wisdom or tips through these articles, then you will accomplish more…and with that…I trust that good things will happen for all of us! Throughout the year, I’ll pass along a variety of things for your consideration. Some you’ll like and immediately act upon…and others…maybe not-so-much. The intent is to provide value and encourage you to consistently move towards greater fulfillment and enjoyment in your life. After all…as Boomers, we deserve it don’t we? Boomers, this ain’t our first Rodeo. I’m pretty sure that like me, you’ve been up against it before and come out smelling like a rose. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t always been fun…or exactly how you thought it would look…but you made it none-the-less. So…as we’re starting 2013 together, let’s tackle a couple common issues to get this year rolling positively. Most people are awesome when it comes to making New Year’s resolutions…they’re just not quite as good about keeping them!
Healthy Balance Who Said We Weren’t Going to Make it? | 17
18 | HEALTHY BALANCE Exceptional “Superfoods” Help You Stay Slim
Raise a Glass! Wine & Exceptional “Superfoods” By Carla McMahon
Is wine good for you? In moderation, yes! According to Mayo Clinic, red wine has long been thought of as heart healthy. The alcohol and non-alcoholic phytochemicals (natural occurring plant compounds) may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of "good" cholesterol and protecting against artery damage. Wine has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, certain cancers and slow the progression of neurological degenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. Resveratrol might be a key ingredient in red wine that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces "bad" cholesterol and prevents blood clots. Flavanoids and resveratrol in wine act as antioxidants, preventing molecules known as “free radicals” from causing cellular damage in the body. Studies suggest that resveratrol can produce potent anti-thrombotic agents that can potentially improve cardiovascular health and lower the risk for coronary heart disease. While they strengthen bones, help prevent chronic diseases, improve your eyesight, and even sharpen your mind, “superfoods”, as they have been tagged, not only have wonderful health benefits, but may also keep you slim or so new evidence suggests. They are nutritional powerhouses which should be packed into your daily diet. And “superfoods” will help with weight loss. So raise a glass and enjoy a “superfoods” meal and watch how healthy you will feel. Great start to a new year! Grapefruit If you change nothing else about your diet, eating half a grapefruit before each meal may help you lose up to a pound a week! It is an excellent source of protein and for weight loss it is the compound in the tangy fruit which can lower insulin, a fat-storage hormone. Black Beans Gain 15 grams of protein without any saturated fat found in other protein sources, like red meat, with a serving of black beans! Have them as a side dish, in soup or a salad. Oats Stay full throughout the day with the rich fiber of oats that contain “resistant starch” which is a healthy carb that burns fat and boosts metabolism. A great start to your day! Avocados Avocados contain oleic acid which is a healthy mono-saturated fat and can keep you from being hungry. They are also full of protein and fiber. Enjoy them alone, in a salad or on a healthy sandwich. Salmon Salmon is an excellent source of high quality protein, contains all essential amino acids, is rich in minerals and is loaded with vitamins A, D, B6 and B12. But most important, it has Omega-3 oil, that decreases the risk of coronary heart disease and cancers. Blueberries Best known for their anti-aging effects, blueberries, while tiny, are a powerful figure-friendly eat: A 1-cup serving sets you back only 80 calories, and helps you feel full with 4 grams of fiber. Pair them with oats for a “super” breakfast or just nibble from a bowl of them. Broccoli Broccoli is the king of low carb vegetables and is a great source of Vitamin C, Calcium, Fiber, Iron and Potassium. It reduces the risk of a heart attack by boosting the body’s ability to fight off cell damage and can boost DNA repair in cells possibly stopping them becoming cancerous. Brown Rice Brown rice is a low-energy-density food, meaning it's heavy and filling but low in calories, Plus, brown rice is a heartier, fiber packed alternative to less-than-super white rice. Like oats, it contains resistant starch, which boosts metabolism and burns fat. Its mild nutty flavor compliments many foods so it is easy to add to a meal.
boomers... living life to the fullest
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20 | AT HOME Winter, The Season for Indoor Seed Sprouting
Winter, The Season for Indoor Seed Sprouting By Jillian Jacks
Winter provides a well-deserved break from outdoor gardening by Mother Nature. During the chillier months of the year, you can sprout and grow seeds by a sunny window or start an indoor herb garden. Grow organic for food sources later or plants and flowers for your garden. Starting seeds indoors will give you earlier vegetables and flowers, and your cultivar choices will be endless. The process of germination may seem complex, but the act of seed planting is reassuringly simple. Just take it step-by-step, and you’ll soon be presiding over a healthy crop of seedlings. Select your work area—a surface at a comfortable height and close to a water supply where you’ll have room to spread things out. Assemble your equipment: seed-starting containers, starting medium or soil mix, watering can, labels, marking pen, and seed packets. You can start seedlings in open flats, in individual sections of a market pack, or in pots. Individual containers are preferable, because the less you disturb tender roots, the better. Some containers, such as peat pots, paper pots, and soil blocks, go right into the garden with the plant during transplanting. Other pots must be slipped off the root ball before planting.
boomers... living life to the fullest
AT HOME Winter, The Season for Indoor Seed Sprouting | 21 Make it simple and buy bagged seed-starting mix or make your own by combining one part vermiculite or perlite with one part peat moss, milled sphagnum moss, coir, or well-screened compost. Let your seedlings grow in such a mixture until they develop their first true leaves, and then transplant into a nutrient-rich potting mix. Directions for sprouting your seeds: 1. Fill pots or seed trays with soil medium 2. Read directions on seed packets to see depth for planting 3. Plant 2-3 seeds in each section 4. Keep soil moist until seeds sprout (spray bottle can be used for this) 5. Do not saturate soil, only the area surrounding the seed needs to be wet 6. Once sprouted, do not let the soil dry out 7. Once seedlings get over 2” tall, they can be separated and replanted in other containers and moved outside when weather permits. Put the containers of planted seeds in a warm place where you can check them daily. And as soon as you notice sprouts nudging above the soil surface, expose the flat to light. Home temperatures are especially important when sprouting herbs. If 70 degrees or above, choose warm weather herbs which include: basil, thyme, dill, oregano and sage. If below 70 degrees or near a drafty window, use cool weather herbs like parsley, cilantro or chervil. Small plants can be raised indoors for a couple of months and then planted outside during the early spring. To plan the best time to start seedlings indoors in spring, you need to know the approximate date of the average last spring frost in your area. Count back from that date the number of weeks indicated below to determine the appropriate starting date for various crops. An asterisk (*) indicates a cold-hardy plant that can be set out 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost.
12 to 14 weeks: onions, leeks, chives, pansies, impatiens, and coleus 8 to 12 weeks: peppers, lettuce, cabbage-family crops, petunias, snapdragons, alyssum, and other hardy annual flowers 6 to 8 weeks: eggplants, tomatoes 5 to 6 weeks: zinnias, cockscombs (Celosia spp.), marigolds, other tender annuals 2 to 4 weeks: cucumbers, melons, okra, pumpkins, squash
Jillian Jacks lives in Florida and writes on a variety of topics with emphasis on food and entertaining.
22 | The Epicurean Where Is The Best BBQ In The Country?
Where Is The Best BBQ In The Country? Depends on Who You Ask! By Jillian Jacks Barbecue is the Mystical Communion of Fire, Smoke and Meat.
Where do you go for the most original, authentic and flavorful barbecue in the country? This is a big nation and it appears the answer is…it depends on where you live and what you grew up eating. Barbecue, barbeque or BBQ is one of the many types of foods which most individuals love, regardless of whether it is as a backyard homecooked dish or in your favorite smokehouse. It is enjoyed by individuals of all ages! Barbecuing means to utilize smoke and spice in slowly tenderizing pork or beef into a luscious and tasty meal. All over the globe, individuals have their own variations of this well-loved dish. Factors on which the variations are dependent include the kind of meats used, the sauce or additional seasoning of the meats, the time when the flavoring is added during preparation, the presence of smoke in the cooking process, and in some instances pre-boiling of the meats. Irrespective of the area you are living in, the United States of America barbecue is an American tradition transferred down from generation to generation. While there is no doubt that barbecue is an American specialty, there are a lot of presumptions about the origins of this great meal. Whether it is Carolina, Tennessee, Kansas or Texas, each state has its
boomers... living life to the fullest
own history and definition of barbecue and it is quite understandable that each claims title to the “best in the land”. And each rightfully so! But, let's look at where most people think of barbecue: the South. Here, smoking woods are the more traditional and hickory, mesquite, pecan and oak are key choices for flavoring the meat strongly. Memphis, Tennessee barbecue is home to some of the best ribs around. They come wet and dry, the former slathered in sauce before and after cooking, the latter rubbed in spices. The Carolinas are home to some of the more distinctive barbecue styles and pulled pork is premier. Vinegar is a large component in the sauce along with the "Carolina Gold" sauce, Kansas City is known as the world's barbecue capital. This city prides itself on its many different cuts and kinds of meat, from burnt ends to smoked turkey. This is likely due to the fact that during the late 19th century, Kansas City was a rail crossroads and by the 20th century, it was a large meatpacking city. Local hickory is common, but the key distinction in Kansas City BBQ is the sauce. Here it is served tableside, is tomato-based and comes in a variety of sweet, tangy and spic
The Epicurean Where Is The Best BBQ In The Country? | 23
And of course, we can't forget Texas barbecue. Here there are four styles, but the most common are the Central and East varieties. In the East style, the meat is cooked until it falls off the bone, over hickory. Then it is rubbed with tomato-based sauce. The Central style involves spiced rubs and pecan or oak smoking. It's hard to pin the best barbecue joint or even the best barbecue region in the entire country. It just comes down to…taste and preference. The way I look at it, just enjoy it all. When in Memphis have ribs, in the Carolinas a pulled pork sandwich with slaw and in Kansas beef and Texas have either as long as it falls off the bone! Most chefs or barbecue smokers will tell you it's a triple play… the meat you choose, the seasoning/basting combination and the wood it's cooked over. And of course each has their own “secret” recipe or ingredient that makes theirs hands down the best you will ever put in your mouth! Many say the secret to great barbecue is the quality of meats you are working with. General census is that Midwestern corn fed beef is an exceptional choice. It's best to find beef that has been somewhat aged which helps with locking in the natural juices of the meat. And you should make sure the
prime or choice cuts are hand trimmed and chemical free. And for the finishing touches some smokers say marinating is essential and others say basting is. Whether it is tomato or vinegar based all barbecue cooks agree sauce/basting for flavor is important. But again, what I learned is it depends on what you grew up eating and ultimately loving. And of course, all barbecue smokers’ secret blends are stowed away under lock and key! Some grill over very hot fire, others start hot and move to lower temperatures for a long amount of time while some say it is all in the wood you cook over and not really the temperature. No matter which wood is used one thing all good barbecue has in common is the special aroma that fills the air when cooking. That smoke actually penetrates the meat, infusing it with a full flavor. Your mouth starts watering even before you step foot through the front doors of your favorite hitching post, the barbecue smoking contest or backyard cookout on Sunday afternoon. Somehow that scent of meat and wood is like nirvana to your taste buds no matter which part of this great country you live in. Smack those lips, smell the aroma and lick your fingers! Jillian Jacks writes on a variety of topics with emphasis on food and entertaining. She lives in Florida where she enjoys year-round entertaining with her family and friends
24 | sTYLE wATCH Designers with an Eye toward Baby Boomers
Designers with an Eye toward Baby Boomers By Carla McMahon Although there are many fabulously talented fashion designers, three stand out for attaining pop culture status as the leaders of the baby boomer fashion revolution, and it was a major revolution! From across the pond came Mary Quant who gave us the mini skirt which went from Twiggy and mod fame to de rigueur for young women around the world. Skin burst onto the scene and has really never left! Pantyhose, go-go boots and skimpy little tops became the new fashion craze worn by all young ladies who are now boomers with a flair for fashion still. Next, came Halston whose fashions defined boomers in the 1970s and 80s. The pillbox hat on Jacqueline Kennedy was a hit and the patchwork hippie styles took a backseat to the minimalist look that was sleek and glamorous. Ultra suede, flowing caftans and halter dresses became the newest boomer style. Halston was one of the first designers to recognize the significance of marketing his own brand to middle America and did so at JC Penney stores. And who wasn’t influenced by Yves St. Laurent? He introduced an array of baby boomer looks, including safari jackets, tight pants and tall thigh-high boots, pop art chic, Chinese chic. The glamorization of male fashion for females was pioneered by Laurent, beginning with his famous Le Smoking Suit and followed by blazers, pant suits and leather jackets. This led the way to the polished business fashion that boomer working women in the 1980s demanded. Designers Donna Karan and Giorgio Armani stood on Laurent’s broad shouldered dress forms.
Has there ever been or will there ever be again, a fashion era as creative? Probably not; it was like the Golden Age of Rock and Roll. But even though that youthful culture was a designer’s niche market, it still is. It is just a baby boomer market now with women who think carefully about their purchases and who expect quality and versatility. And they want real value! According to the The Doneger Group, that forecasts fashion trends. The mature baby boomers are regaining fashion economic control. Designers are finally taking notice and making a leap in understanding the buying power and desire for fashion trends by the older boomer market. After all 60 is the new 40! Thakoon Panichgul’s timeless designs showcase careful tailoring, couture-inspired silhouettes, and beautiful fabrics. From his 2013 Spring runway show it was evident he was inspired by the mod 60s boxy poplin tops, organza cocktail dresses and the embroidered trapeze dress with braided leather trim. Exotic patterns cut into those shapes, like his A line butterfly print laser cut like a butterfly, were outstanding! And fresh and light were the semi-sheer sweaters in pale blue and coral worn over crisp white shirtdresses.
boomers... living life to the fullest
sTYLE wATCH Designers with an Eye toward Baby Boomers | 25 Oscar de la Rente does not concern himself about arcane inspiration. He simply makes beautiful clothes! It is no small feat to dress women around the globe and make them look and feel good about themselves at any age. But he seems to do so season after season and 2013 is no exception. His mid- calf length, thick cotton lace and embroidered ribbons gave a nod to the boomer generation during their youth while his exciting short gowns exuded feathers and bright colored plastic flowers which express the playful young side every woman feels. Oscar is still one of the world’s most acclaimed designers.
Donna Karen, a baby boomer herself, is celebrated for her popular DKNY line. And she has said she would only design clothes that she would also wear herself, so boomer females identify with her style. As they age, so does she, and her clothes evolve with her. The 2013 collection gives thought and reverence to the poetic, reflective moments which boomers felt as youthful hip females who believed in love and peace. Clothes that make you want to take a step away from the hustle and bustle of the business world women worked so hard to be a part of. Fashion, to some people, is everything. Just like fashion trends, baby boomers aren't ever left behind and when it comes to fashion they want clothes that have attitude; they are full of life, screaming and kicking to the world around them that they too can keep up with the trends of today. Designers are taking notice!
Carla McMahon is a homemaker and freelance writer of interests for women. She lives with her family in North Carolina.
26 | Style Watch yOU CAN BE A SILVER FOX!
You Can be a Silver Fox! So, you're a baby boomer now and have reached or passed retirement age. That does not mean you have to give up on looking stylish and feeling good about how you present yourself. Life does not end at 50! Here are some 21st century tips on hair care for more mature women who realize they can be silver foxes! Versatile VaVoom! Boomers (more mature women) don't have to wear their hair short anymore. Who decided that anyway!! While a short cut is certainly easy and acceptable, now it is fine for older women to wear a sleek, modern cut that frames the face and reaches the shoulders. Plus, it can be worn at the nape, in a ponytail with a ball cap, in a chignon or French twist for an evening on the town! No Orphan Annie Here! If you wear your hair longer, consider a straightening iron. Grey hair is courser and frizzier, especially in humidity. Straightening irons are similar to curling irons and can help flatten the frizzies that come with grey or white hair. A large curling iron can do the same trick and leave some wave in your hair. And there are so many new products to control the frizz. Finish it off with a good medium hold hairspray that adds shine, and you can have a sleek hair style. Does She or Doesn’t She? If your hair is changing color you might consi-
boomers... living life to the fullest
By Jacqueline Sommerville
der going grey but you can pick the color grey you want to be. Or consider a light brown or strawberry blond that flatters your skin tone and is more natural and believable. Black and bright red are harsh colors that make an older woman look even older, and trust me, no one believes your hair is that color naturally anymore! A gentle color brings softness to your face and raises the question "Does she or doesn't she?" Who Is That?! Women lose hair thickness and volume as they age just like men, especially on the top of the head. If you have lost a lot of your hair to the point you are selfconscious, consider a wig. Synthetic fibers have improved a great deal in the past decades. As with hair color, go with a soft, flattering and if your budget will allow, you might even want to get a couple of different cuts and/or shades for different looks. Tricks of the Trade If your hair is just thinning a little near the front or around your part, use eye shadow to fill in the thinning spots, as stylist do for actresses. Pick an eye shadow that is the same color as your hair. To fill in small areas, just use the sponge applicator that comes with the eye shadow. To cover more ground, get a makeup brush and apply the powder to the thinning areas. You might also want to ask your doctor or dermatologist about using Minoxidil which comes in a formula just for women. Watercolors by talented young artists, Fe & Anastasia Aguirre from Dallas, Texas.
Style Watch Winter Hot Fashions | 27
turn back time Babette Curtis “at any age, Every woman deserves the most beautiful skin possible.”
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28 | Boom Voyage New Mexico - A Winter Sports Playground
New Mexico - A Winter Sports Playground By Nick Trout Skiing in New Mexico? Because of the reputation that much of the American Southwest holds for heat (oh, but it's a "dry heat"!), many people are unaware of the excellent options for winter snow sports here. Most people are clueless that it even snows in the Land of Enchantment. They think New Mexico in the U.S. southwest is part of sunny Mexico. Movies made here typically depict rock mesas and arid plains rather than its snow-capped peaks and steep mountains that are part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range in the northern part of the state. For skiers, this land is enchanted from late November through early April. Everything that makes a ski day perfect is here: deep blue skies, abundant soft snow, varied terrain and uncrowded slopes. Hardcore ski buffs probably know of Taos Ski Valley, but few realize that the state’s elevation and rugged terrain compensate for its southern latitude to provide a setting for memorable snow sports. Its elevation also extends the typical ski season through the month of April. New Mexico's low humidity creates great conditions for snow sports and beautiful blue skies.
Nearly a dozen ski areas dot the mountains of New Mexico, including two that are dedicated to cross-country skiing and others to Alpine skiing and/or cross-country skiing. Several are clustered around the Enchanted Circle, an 80-mile road with the state’s tallest mountain, 13,161-foot Wheeler Peak, at its center. The Enchanted Circle route whirls deliriously through passes and alpine forests, overlooking valleys and mesas, with boulders and scrub and sage dotting the way. Unlike the impersonal commercial ski resorts, the northern New Mexico ski areas are homier, in all the right ways. They are comfortable and unassuming but well-tended—especially where it matters most, on the slopes. Many of the areas are family owned, supported by the history and pride that comes from knowing one's name is tied to a business. In these family-run resorts, the passion for the sport is apparent, too—picture a kid whose first skis are bronzed instead of her baby shoes, who has snow in her blood, and who hears snow reports at dinner instead of stock reports, and a picture emerges of the owners and operators of two of the ski areas, Taos Ski Valley and Red River. Even the seasoned instructors here embody the passion of those who have made their sport their livelihood. The entire state boasts more than 400 trails for Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding. Distinctive New Mexican features create excellent conditions for winter sports: high temperatures in January reaching the 40s during the day, particularly in the “lower” elevations, for a
boomers... living life to the fullest
Boom Voyage New Mexico - A Winter Sports Playground | 29 comfortable day on the slopes; plenty of sunshine and deep blue skies; high, rugged mountain ranges; 200 inches of snowfall a year; and low humidity, for a dry, powdery snow. In addition, the slopes and lifts are less crowded than those at many of the better-known resorts, and lift ticket and rental prices are lower. These are five of New Mexico's popular ski areas: Red River, The Enchanted Forest, Angel Fire Resort, Taos Ski Valley, and Ski Santa Fe. Red River’s Family Friendly Skiing and Mountain Town Red River’s slopes rise above a friendly, quiet little town. Many of the hotels and restaurants are within walking distance of the two main lifts. Beginners, intermediates and expert skiers find slopes they can enjoy, in fairly equal balance. Red River’s close attention to the science and technology of snowmaking and grooming create superior conditions—be sure to hit the slopes early to take full advantage of each morning’s unadulterated fun. The Enchanted Forest, Dedicated to Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing Just off of the Enchanted Circle, cross-country skiers find an area designed just for them, The Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area, nestled in Bobcat Pass. The Enchanted Forest has more than 18 miles of trails groomed for cross-country skiing, featuring mountain views of Wheeler and Latir peaks. The area is also open to snowshoeing, one of the fastest-growing winter sports.
Angel Fire: Alpine Ski, Cross-Country Ski, Snowboard, and Other Winter Sports Angel Fire also offers cross-country skiing at the summit of the mountain, with views of Wheeler Peak Beginners discover excellent skiing for their level, but there are runs for every level, with half of the total being rated for intermediates and a quarter each for beginners and advanced. The 13-mile trail system features skating as well as single track. For the adrenaline junkies, Angel Fire has two freestyle terrain parks, Lowrider and Liberation Park, of short rails, fun boxes, jumps and rollers, and a half-pipe, as well as glade skiing. Taos Ski Valley, Legendary, Challenging Ski Slopes Taos Ski Valley is legendary for its challenging expert drops—“slopes” would be a misnomer. Here, many expert skiers may feel humbled. Even the beginner and intermediate trails are more difficult than in many other ski areas. The rugged mountain leaves little allowance for wide beginner trails, and drops from the trail seem omnipresent. However, any confident but careful beginner can navigate and enjoy the trails, with only a bit of elevated heart rate. The stats at Taos tell more of the story of this challenging mountain. Ski Santa Fe, Extra-High-Elevation Skiing Ski Santa Fe is among the highest ski areas in the United States—its base is situated at 10,350 feet and The New Millennium triple chairlift takes expert and intermediate snow enthusiasts to 12,075 feet. The ski area is kid friendly, with a Chipmunk Corner Children’s Center and a Children’s Adventure Land loop off of the Lower Broadway Trail. They have a freestyle terrain park, dubbed “The Bone Yard.” Planning Your Ski Trip to New Mexico A winter trip to northern New Mexico’s Land of Enchantment will please the serious skier and the determined tourist. The ski season in these high-elevation New Mexico areas extends through the end of March. Lowlanders should remember that the high altitude will leave them more breathless and can cause some adjustment issues. To avoid this problem, remember to drink plenty of fluids, especially water, juices, and sports drinks, before and during the travels. Be careful with alcohol, which not only contributes to dehydration but, at these heights, its effects are exacerbated. Those who aren’t accustomed to aerobic activity or have heart issues should take it easy the first couple of days.
Nick Trout touts news from the financial industry and subjects that interest men…and women!
30 | Boom Voyage Vacation Decisions to Consider: Cruise Ship or Charter Yacht?
Vacation Decisions to Consider: Cruise Ship or Charter Yacht? By Peggy Schilling If you think all ocean vacations offer the same experiences, consider this basic distinction. A cruise ship package is preplanned for mass appeal while a charter yacht is customized for a select party of guests. Suppose two couples set out for similar vacations at sea with one main difference. The Shipleys went for the traditional public cruise on an enormous ship with over 2,000 other passengers while the Carters opted for chartering a private yacht with three other couples who’ve been close friends for years. Read on to discover how their cruise experiences compared.
when, where and whatever they wanted. Their personal chef created stunning culinary masterpieces to satisfy their unique preferences and dietary needs. Meals were served according to their requested schedules. Yet any other time the Carters wanted snacks and drinks, they were ready at a moment’s notice. And whenever they wanted to lounge on deck, plenty of comfortable cushioned seating was waiting.
Early on, the Shipleys realized that the term cruise line refers to how much time you send standing in line. Whether boarding or disembarking, ordering or receiving food and drinks, selecting from buffets or activities, a wait was usually involved. The cruise line gave the Shipleys assigned mealtimes and seats. Among strangers with whom they had little in common, they consumed mass-produced food. They also had to rise earlier than they wanted to grab deck chairs or they’d all be taken.
But as the Carters’ party of eight got off in the tiny St. Bart’s, they were able to enjoy each attraction at their own pace. Small islands assured coastlines would be shared only with other yachters because large cruise liners can’t dock in shallow waters. The Carters enjoyed the freedom of picking their own ports and following their own schedule, making spur-of-the-moment stops at points that caught their eyes and lingering as long as they pleased.
Meanwhile the Carters had the run of their yacht, hopping on and off quickly and mingling within their own small gathering of friends as they pleased. They ate and drank
boomers... living life to the fullest
Cruise packages stick to a structured itinerary of pre-planned major destinations and activities. So the Shipleys had to go on arranged tours as part of the ships’ invasion when it docked at scheduled stops. Imagine 1,500 passengers descending onto St. Thomas at once only to overwhelm shops, restaurants and beaches plus frustrate everyone involved!
The Shipleys were just another couple of unknown faces vying for the attention of numerous busy personnel on a noisy, crowded ship. But on the Carters’ yacht, the crew quickly became well acquainted with
Boom Voyage Vacation Decisions to Consider: Boom Voyage Cruise Ship spiritual or Charter Destinations Yacht? || 31
the guests and relaxed into an easy firstname routine. Like a small hand-picked private staff, the Carter’s gracious crew was devoted to anticipating their every need and serving them promptly. Unfortunately the Shipleys seemed lost in the shuffle, handled like passengers by strangers. Yet the Carters felt welcome in their close-knit group fawned over like special guests by charming hosts. Now would you rather travel like the Shipleys on a huge packed cruise ship waiting for service or in the style of the Carters enjoying being among friends on a cozy charter yacht while waited on like royalty? So…you’re probably asking yourself, “How does the cost of a crewed charter yacht compare with a traditional cruise? That’s what many vacationers think is the determining factor when trying to choose between the two. Cruise ship base costs average $1,500 $4,000 per person per week on a luxury liner (Radisson, Seaborn, Cunard, etc.). This depends on time of year, type of stateroom, location, etc. and may or may not include discounted airfare to meet the ship. It generally does NOT include telephone calls, faxes, excursions (diving, snorkeling, guided tours, etc.), alcoholic beverages and tipping. A typical charter yacht costs about $1,500 $3,000 per person per week when three or four couples are traveling together. This is based on a 50 to 85-foot sailboat or
catamaran. Vacationing on a power yacht can run double that or more. In all charter instances, airfare to meet the yacht is extra. Most sail and catamaran charters are sold as “all-inclusive.” This means that the only extra charges you will incur are for telephone/faxes and tipping. Food, alcohol (wet bar), water sports and shore excursions are all included in your base charter fee.
So the bottom line is that price shouldn’t be the limiting factor in making your cruise versus charter decision. If you’re more comfortable in a structured environment, meeting and interacting with mostly new people in a hotel-like setting—then any luxury cruise liners would be a great vacation for you. On the other hand, if you prefer setting your own schedule and really being able to enjoy the company of friends and family on a beautiful private yacht with personalized service—then a crewed charter yacht is the perfect choice for your vacation of a lifetime. Peggy Schilling is a charter specialist who enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge of the charter industry to help you discover and experience the wonderful advantages of taking a charter yacht vacation.www.selectcharters.com
32 | Redefining ON BEING INVISIBLE
On Being Invisible By Sixties Chick
Invisible: 1.Not visible; not capable of being seen. 2. Too indistinct or minute to be seen; imperceptible. 3. Not apparent to the mind, not readily grasped. 4. Not publicly or openly acknowledged. (Funk & Wagnalls Standard College Dictionary, 1968) I rarely read books labeled “humorous” or concerning “contemporary women.” With a main character named Clover, I almost stopped reading. I put the book down and checked the titles in my stack of unread novels. Something inside guided me back to “Calling Invisible Women,” by Jeanne Ray. Luckily I surrendered to instinct. This short yet powerful novel resonated with and affirmed many of my life experiences over the years. Today it assumes an honored place on my “to keep” shelf. Dog-eared pages,
boomers... living life to the fullest
highlighted lines, and notes in the margins remind me why this novel touched the essence of my being. The story is deceptively simple. After taking her dog for a walk, fiftysomething Clover takes a shower, looks in the mirror, and sees a floating toothbrush scrubbing an empty space. She calls her dog. He responds to her voice and validates her existence, but she can’t see herself. Had I never felt invisible, I might not have read on. But there I was in my mind, standing next to Clover, not seeing myself and not being seen. Clover considers reasonable explanations: the humid mist on the mirror, the glare of the bathroom light, insanity, even a stroke. She calls the busy pediatric office of her chronically inaccessible
Redefining ON BEING INVISIBLE | 33
husband. While on hold the line goes dead. Clover decides to awaken her adult son, who is jobless and living at home. By the time she rouses him and asks if he can see her, she is back. And so begins a story about a woman who is not seen by those she loves when she is visible and who is seen by those who don’t know her when she is invisible. She is a woman of “definite substance and no form.” The generation of women to which I belong focused attention on basic issues critical to our gender. Reproductive rights, sexual freedom, the value of the single life, childless living as a viable choice, inequality and sexual harassment in school and in the workplace, the power of a unified voting block. Although they are very important concerns, these things don’t explain why I, and the two women I am closest to, insert “invisible” when describing how we perceive our lives. My mother, sister, and I are all college educated, have enjoyed long, successful careers in our respective fields. We read extensively and believe selfimprovement and personal enrichment are part of the “good life.” Why then, do we see ourselves as not being seen?
I asked my mom if it was because we were
in service professions. Does being a teacher or a nurse put one in the class of “other”? In my search for a feminist identity, early reading about the patriarch identified women as being just that. Is it size? I am big for a woman. Big bones. Big feet. Broad shoulders. My sister is just the opposite. Yet we both have experienced similar moments. Is it demeanor? After a decade of competitive swimming, I have never been a shrinking violet. Why is it that in the most intimidating arena of Critical Care I feel the most visible? In personal one-to-one interactions I feel hidden? My first school dance fomented the concept of invisibility. Wallflower suggests presence. Lined up around a dance floor waiting to be picked implies being seen. If a girl is never picked, she feels invisible. When I asked a doctor for birth control pills my freshman year in college, he seemed to look both at and through me and asked “What for?” When I applied for my first job, the interviewer asked what my future husband planned to do. It never occurred to her that I would choose a career over matrimony. I don’t think those types of questions are legal anymore. Financing my first home, the loan
34 | Redefining ON BEING INVISIBLE
officer wanted a co-signer. Was there a chromosome pair preference? I didn’t ask. During Bill Clinton’s first four years in office, for Halloween I wore a Hillary mask and passed out universal health care cards at work. I was told by a physician people didn’t dispute my politics, but they would pay more attention if I toned down my delivery. Handing out my self-made health care cards, I had said nothing. For all its bittersweet humor, Calling Invisible Women revolves around one sublime irony. Clover meets and joins a group of society’s invisible women who have discovered the cause of their condition. A combination of drugs used by them all to stave off the body’s response to aging and one botox treatment causes the side effect of invisibility. One drug company made all three drugs and IT KNEW the possible consequences. When this knowledge is revealed it reminds the women that by today’s standard of whoredom to the bottom line, they are “a reasonable loss.” At work I have forgotten things new nurses will never need to learn. I talk about using a common seizure medicine for the treatment of irregular heart rhythms and they think I’m lying or crazy. I balk at assessing a patient wearing gloves. To touch the skin through gloves is like eating a microwaved steak versus one from the grill. New policies mandate nurses put on gloves before
boomers... living life to the fullest
touching a patient. The magic of social net-working eludes me. I chat and comment and call myself a Facebook wallflower, although I would love to do the dance. I believe this sense of invisibility transcends age. I can’t pinpoint where it started for me. I don’t know if I could have done anything to stop myself from fading away. Like all human interaction, I insist there is some dynamic,a “willful insensitivity” Ms. Ray calls it, that allows a person to negate his own or another’s existence. What is so satisfying about this book and my life at the age of sixty-one is that there is a happy ending. Ms. Ray describes finding a place where each person will be “lit from within.” I have found a lot of these places: drinking coffee on the love seat in the morning with my husband and two cats, sitting before an empty white screen waiting for me to fill it with the words of my soul, hearing my Mom’s voice on the phone and feeling her close although she is five hundred miles away, going to a class, any class, where I learn more about anything, reading words so beautiful, so potent, they compel me to turn the page and read on. For Thanksgiving I pray everyone will find a special place that will light them from within. Thank-you Jeanne Ray for giving this invisible woman form. Cynthia Stock is a registered Nurse and freelance writer working on her first book.
BY GIVING JUST A FEW HOURS OF MY DAY
I HELP CHILDREN PREPARE FOR
ABECAUSE LIFETIME OF LEARNING I DON’T JUST WEAR THE SHIRT, I LIVE IT. GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. LIVE UNITED
®
Ruth Rusie is part of United Way’s ongoing work to improve the education, income, and health of our communities. To find out how you can help create opportunities for a better life for all, visit LIVEUNITED.ORG. ®
Know Thyself
A Seminar of Self Exploration Have you ever wanted to know why you made a specific decision or responded to a situation in a certain way? If so, come join other women who are also interested in fulfilling this responsibility to themselves. The journey starts with first understanding that many of the decisions women make are unconscious to them. As you become conscious of the choices you make, you get to become a more active participant in the decision-making process. Unless you take the time to explore your life, you may find yourself repeating the same themes or patterns again and again, wondering why you remain in the same place. "My experience with Dr. Christian was more than I expected. The story, and the symbolism behind it, allowed me to explore life experiences that have challenged me or caused me to lose sight of my goals, values, and who I am as a person, wife, mother, friend, sister and daughter. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to embark on a powerful 'journey' and true awakening of the soul." - Group Member
Date: January 27, 2013 Time: 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. Location: The Spa at Willow Bend 6101 Chapel Hill Blvd #102, Plano, Texas Cost: $95.00 Registration: RSVP by January 21, 2013. Space is limited. Please call 972.741.8387 Presenters Rozan Christian is a licensed professional counselor with a doctoral degree in counseling from the University of North Texas. She also holds a master's degree in education from Southern Methodist University. Maintaining a private practice in Dallas which focuses on life transitions, she draws from the research that she has conducted related to life-changing events. She integrates the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects in the therapeutic process; assisting clients in understanding the patterns that have influenced their lives. These patterns become the basis of each client's life story, and by understanding them, Rozan helps her clients create new ones that are more life- generative. Carol Brickell is a human resources professional and an award-winning children’s book author. She has served as a manager of leadership development for a global IT company and was responsible for the design and delivery of an educational program to improve leadership and coaching skills. She is currently serving as a recruiting manager, where every day she meets new people, learns about their talents, and matches them with job opportunities. Her children’s book Cinco the Clinic Cat is based on her experiences working once a year at a clinic in Honduras. All profits from book sales go to clinics with a need in Latin America. Carol enjoys doing book readings for children and inspirational speeches for adults based on the story behind the book. In addition, Carol has won numerous awards at Toastmasters for impromptu and prepared speech.
www.rosanchristian.com
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972.741.8387
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rozan@rozanchristian.com
Redefining The Dreaded Interview Follow Up | 37
The DREADED Interview Follow Up By Stanford Smythe Whether you celebrated Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, or just getting a few days off from your new career search at retirement age, you may think that hiring managers are not going to respond to you. How long should you wait before you start your job search steps again? No one wants to come back to work and have hundreds of emails that are asking for interview follow ups. What happens between the first job interview and making the hiring decision will vary from company to company and position to position. When closing the interview you probably asked for information about what happens next in the interview process. How do you conduct yourself in terms of this process? When and how should you follow up to keep the focus on your application but to avoid being an annoyance. If you know the time frame for the hiring decision you will have a better idea of how soon to follow up. So, how can you position yourself at the top of the list when you were in the search process with a company prior to the holidays?
Keep it short. You are more likely to hear from a prospective employer when you are showing respect for their time. Explain your potential value to the team. Unless the hiring manager sees you as an added value to their team, other candidates could be ranked ahead of you. Be smart not pushy. Leaving messages for your next boss when you really want the job may be appropriate, but the timing of those messages and the content are important. Acknowledge the timing. It’s amazing how many people forget to take time to simply mention that they know that the message they are leaving is during the holidays and the person may not get it until a week or so later.
H
By talking about that in your message, you are showing your professionalism and your ability to be a team player.
If you think that follow up is not important or relevant – you’re wrong. You need to make the first move that shows you are interested in the job and that your skills fit the position. Being direct but respectful will put you at the front of the line of candidates. Conduct your interview follow up with enthusiasm, determination and in a professional manner and provide the interviewer with further evidence of your suitability. View the follow-up as an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment and expertise and set yourself apart from the other candidates! Thank them again for the interview and ask when you can expect a final decision. A successful candidate does not sit back and wait once the interview is over. Proactive job interview follow up will demonstrate your commitment and your professionalism to the company and gives you the edge over the other candidates.
Stanford Smythe is a speaker, writer and business owner.
38 | Boomer Buzz Relationships with Beverly
Changing the World as We Know It… The Memnosyne Foundation
What would life be like if people of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds around the world came together for a deeper understanding of peace and conscious encouragement of positive global collaboration in critical areas of knowledge? The Memnosyne Foundation has a unique concept addressing the idea that interrelationships between the world, the human beings, the environment, the economy, even peace itself, are interwoven and what happens on one side of the world affects what happens on the other side. It was created because the world is facing globalization, the processes that promote world-wide exchanges of national and cultural resources, and if, as a global people, we do not learn to collaborate respectfully with the exchange of information, ideas and open dialogue we will implode as humanity. The mission of the Memnosyne Foundation is to help the diverse people of the world to deliberately advocate an evolution for themselves and for future generations by providing mankind with the means to embrace a global world, to forge alliances between people of all races and cultures and to peacefully seek understanding of other’s value; to give humans the opportunity to empower themselves, to be resourceful in identifying with world social issues and developing cognizant
boomers... living life to the fullest
cultural creativity and an understanding of the need for change in the world today. Founded by Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk and Joshua Frenk, The Memnosyne Foundation’s vision and philosophy is that “the sky is the limit” if we learn to embrace each other’s intelligence, cultures, sciences, arts and learn to be fascinated by each other. If we perpetuate a state of “awe and respect” for what we could accomplish as a collaborative people, one world, so to speak, then we can truly make a difference in life as we know it today, not only for ourselves but for generations to come. Wouldn’t sharing information between countries that are strong in science with those rich in art or others with a higher understanding for economics and math be amazing? What could we accomplish as one people forging a united world? How far could we grow and expand man’s humanity to man? What could we learn about each other, our beliefs and traditions? Work by the foundation includes Interfaith and Human Rights, Green Technology and Environmental Issues, Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Preservation and The Arts in countries around the globe and it is organized around six areas of knowledge: Interfaith Inquiry, Environment, Science and Economics, Indigenous Culture, Spirituality, Art, Health and Medicine, Global and Local Outreach. The goals for each Memnosyne
Boomer Buzz / Tech Tips | 39 Foundation center are to: Provide a safe, neutral environment in which to seek understanding through the exchange of ideas, foster shared human values, establish opportunities to unite in thought and collaborate in action, and promote global peace by recognizing the value of each individual's knowledge. Dallas, Texas is home to The Memnosyne Foundation as it is a broadly diverse city with an acceptance of many ethnicities, races, and religions. The future vision is for a Campus for Humanity where community and spiritual leaders, scientists and health professionals, artists and educators can meet for an exchange of open minded enlightenment in a compassionate setting free from constraints. The Memnosyne Virtual Campus will be the online version of the Campus for Humanity which offers an immediate global presence for the same participatory exchange of knowledge and collaboration. It will consist of easily
accessible elements which include text, video and audio. Can you imagine a world where countries shared scientific, medical and environmental information for the betterment of mankind, where different cultures and religions are embraced and respected with an intellectual approach to understanding each other’s views and where the arts are appreciated and shared, the environment discussed? Where wars are not a consideration? Where our children’s children are assured a peaceful, intelligent world in which to live? One where they can be and do anything they want? The need for change in the world as we know it today is necessary and by examining all that the Memnosyne Foundation is doing on a local, national and global level will allow each of us the opportunity to participate in this exciting movement. After all, baby boomers are the generation of change.
Memnosyne Foundation & The Center for Collaboration & Dialogue Texas Mawlid Celebration Saturday, February 9, 2013 Opening Reception: 6:00pm Keynote Address: 7:00pm By Renowned Speaker: Prof. Dr. John L. Esposito Prophet Mohammed & Social Justice In Islam A model for the rest of the nation, Texas Mawlid will be the catalyst for greater understanding and cooperation for serving those in need in the Dallas metroplex.
IILM Center 2101 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas 75075 Dr. John L Esposito is a professor of Religion and International Affairs and of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University. He has served as consultant to the U.S. Department of State, European and Asian governments and corporations, universities, and the media worldwide. He has served as Vice President (2011) and President (2012) of the American Academy of Religion and a member of the E. C. European Network of Experts on De-Radicalization and the board of C-1 World Dialogue and an ambassador for the UN Alliance of Civilizations. He has numerous publications and awards both in teaching and his contributions to peace with more than 45 books and monographs to his credit. Dr. Esposito is also Editor-in-Chief of Oxford Islamic Studies Online and Series Editor of The Oxford Library of Islamic Studies, Editor-in Chief of The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World (6 vols.); The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World (4 vols.), The Oxford History of Islam, The Oxford Dictionary of Islam, and The Islamic World: Past and Present (3 vols.).
40 | wEALTHY WISE iT’S YOUR MONEY
It’s Your Money $$$$$ By Angela S. Deppe
Social Security is one of the largest and more complicated sources of retirement income. Almost all Americans are eligible, but very few retirees receive any guidance on how to properly maximize their benefits.
The Social Security benefit that you have paid into your entire working years is designed to be a supplemental source of retirement income to help you keep your financial dignity and independence in retirement. It may also be one of the most confusing programs costing you thousands of dollars during your golden years without proper planning. For millions of Americans, Social Security is the foundation of their retirement income plan, providing up to half of their income. More than likely it offers one of the only sources of lifetime, inflation adjusted income you can count on. Social Security is a social insurance program that is primarily funded through dedicated payroll taxes called Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). It is the largest government program of its type in the world as measured in dollars and is one of the single greatest expenditures in the federal budget. Even
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though it was written into law in 1935, payroll taxes weren’t collected to pay for the system until 1937. Originally, you had the choice of taking a lump sum or monthly payout. In the first 3 years, everyone took the lump sum, with Ernest Ackerman being the first American to receive a lump sum payment in 1937. He received a total of 17 cents and had paid 5 cents into the program. The first monthly check was issued in January of 1940 to Ida May Fuller of Ludlow, VT. She is also the first American who truly maximized the value of her Social Security benefit. She paid a total of $24.75 into the system for 3 years, 1937, 1938 and 1939. The first monthly payment she received was for $22.54, and by her second check she had already received more out of Social Security than she had paid into the system. Any guess on how long Ida May lived for? Let me give you a hint. In the 1930s, if you lived until 60 you were doing pretty well. In fact, life expectancy in 1930 was only 58 for men and 62 for women. Miss Fuller actually lived to be 100 years old and maximized her benefits by choosing the monthly payout. Over her lifetime, she collected just under $23,000 in total Social Security benefits having contributed only $24.75 - a return of over 92,000%!
wEALTHY WISE iT’S YOUR MONEY | 41
It’s a wonderful story (posted on www.ssa.gov), but also highlights the importance of understanding how you can maximize your Social Security benefits. Just think, what if Ida May had taken the lump-sum payout? Looking back, didn’t your parent’s generation make retirement look easy? They collected their pension check, collected their Social Security, and made up for any shortfalls with the interest income from their savings. Americans today have little confidence in their ability to afford a comfortable lifestyle in retirement because today’s retirement looks very different from a generation or two ago. Different not just from a longevity standpoint, but the sources of retirement income have changed as well. The Boston College Center for Retirement Research estimates that the number of employees covered by a defined benefit retirement plan (the ones we think of as traditional pension plans) declined from 62% in 1983 to 17% in 2010. Most of us will have to fund our retirement with income from our own individual and employer-sponsored savings like 401k(s), IRAs, Simple Plans,etc.
This self-funded retirement becomes even more challenging in today’s
savings and investing environment characterized by above average unemployment, low interest rates and high volatility in global stock markets. The good news is that one connection between yesterday’s retirement and today’s retirement is Social Security.
The spirit of Social Security not only survives today, but the role of Social Security has never been more important. For most of us, Social Security may be the only source of lifetime inflation adjusted income to help us meet our essential retirement living expenses. So we challenge you to look at this important retirement asset, a system we have paid into our entire working years, more closely. It’s important that we understand the thousands of dollars we may be costing ourselves, our spouses, and even our children by simply taking Social Security benefits as early as we can. If you count yourself among the majority of baby boomers who fear outliving their money more than they fear death, it's time to break with American tradition. More than two-thirds of Americans claim their Social Security benefit before they reach their Full Retirement Age (FRA), effectively denying themselves payouts that could be more than 75 percent higher if they just waited a bit longer to starting collecting. If you're looking to boost your retirement income,
42 | WEALTHY WISE IT’S YOUR MONEY
it's time for a major rethink on when to claim Social Security.
Let’s look at a quick example of how many Americans are leaving thousands of dollars on the table. For a married couple, the decision when the higher earning spouse collects their benefit can have a big impact on the lower earning spouse based on how the survivor benefit works. For example, if the higher earning spouse collects their benefit at 62, they will not only reduce their own individual benefit by up to 25%, but it will also reduce the survivor benefit by up to 17.5%! This is a common mistake that can cost the surviving spouse thousands of dollars at a time in their lives when they need the income the most. If the higher earning spouse waits to collect their benefit until age 70, it will not only increase their own individual benefit by up to 32%, but
it will also increase the survivor benefit paid to the surviving spouse. In addition, many American’s don’t realize they may be eligible for a spousal benefit. For married couples, the decision of when to collect Social Security should be a joint decision, not an individual one. One final point is that many divorcees are currently unaware that they may be eligible for a spousal benefit and survivor benefit based off an ex-spouse’s social security benefit. When all of these benefits are factored in, you can create a claiming strategy that will truly maximize your total Social Security income. For more tips, answers and easy-tounderstand strategies to help you maximize your Social Security income, Social Security Central has written a book with you in mind: It’s Your Money! Simple Strategies to Maximize Your Social Security Income. You’ve paid into Social Security for years. Don’t you owe it to yourself to maximize your benefits when the time comes? It’s Your Money!
Angela S. Deppe is a CPA and owner of Social Security Central, an online consulting business on Social Security benefits. She lives with her family in Chicago
To help you figure out which Social Security maximization strategy is best for you and your family, Social Security Central's simple and quick Benefit Go to Maximization calculator tells you when and how to collect. http://socialsecuritycentral.com/get-the-answers/ and use this must-have tool to calculate your maximum cumulative lifetime Social Security benefits.
BOOMERBUZZ NEW YEAR MOTIVATIONAL APPS| 43
New Year Motivational Apps By Jet Parker
The world we live in today is completely different from that of a decade ago. Technology has made inroads in almost every aspect of our lives, with no exception for health and healthy living. If you, like many people making healthy New Year’s resolutions, plan to balance the holiday overeating you did with a renewed dedication to exercise, there are several new motivational apps you might find beneficial.
Yog, which is a social app, enables iPhone users to schedule runs together virtually in real time, no matter where in the world they are. The idea is that you run at the same time, “compete” if you want and even receive medals for your participation. During your run, Yog tracks useful stats like your pace and calories burned. Plus, audio and on-screen placing notifications show your progress in relation to other runners.
In other words, if you hate competition, this may not be the app for you. But if you’ve always wanted to go a little Michael Johnson or Flo Jo on some friends (or strangers), Yog has you covered.
Polar, the leader in heart rate monitoring and fitness assessment technologies has introduced the new Polar Beat – a next generation exercise training app which represents the next step to help users train smarter to improve performance. Polar Beat adds exercise intelligence to training data to surpass apps which simply track exercise, so a user knows what the body has achieved and what to do to meet a desired fitness goal. Drawing on its 35-year legacy, Polar Beat adds meaning and direction to workouts, whether a person has just signed up to a local gym, or is world class triathlete or works out indoors. Another most effective app for promoting your health and fitness is Recipe Search. Although clear from the name of this app, the main purpose is to provide a list of recipes with over 70,000 per category. That’s enough to keep you in delicious and tantalizing dishes for years to come. The only thing you have to do is to feed the details of ingredients you have on hand into the program and it will provide you a long list of dishes made from the ingredients you mentioned. For anyone and everyone fighting the battle of the holiday bulge the answer could be just a click away.
Apps are a dime a dozen but many are worth their weight in gold! Jet Parker is a freelance writer who lives with his family in Plano, Texas.
boomers... living life to the fullest
Medical Matters Inspiring & Realistic Health Program | 45 BOOMER BUZZ WONDERS IF SHE STARTED IT. MAYBE THIS YEAR! THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012
tell me, daisy Should I? Should I not? Should I? Should I not? Should I? Should I not?
Should I start a book club? I'm weighing it, sitting on the stoop despite the chill, plucking petals off a perfectly beautiful daisy. I want to! I'm scared to! I want to! I'm scared to! I want to! I'm scared to! Let me explain... My life is filled with people I love. They are wonderful. They are smart and accomplished and generous and I enjoy every minute I spend with them. But they don't know of Bill Buford. Is he writing a book about his time in French kitchens? Will Gabrielle Hamilton write another masterpiece? Will Simon Hopkinson offer us Burnt Chicken? No one around me speaks this language and Spoke can only take so much... I want to design a club which is first and foremost about the writing; food writing in many forms. It's tricky, such a book club. Who would want to join? Most importantly, will we be on the same page?
46 | BLOG SPEAKS FROM 3960 BOOK CLUB
4 Easy-To-Plan Date Ideas Bored by dinner-and-a-movie dates? Our blogger offers out-of-the-box ideas that won't stress you out. By Jackie Dishner
Want to avoid the "dinner and a movie" routine, but worried about planning your upcoming date? Whether it’s the first or several dates in, planning carries with it at least little natural anxiety. What if she doesn’t like my idea? What if I don’t like his? With a little help, you can make the most of your time with a new romance by having on hand a few ideas to get you started. And what if one of you doesn’t like what the other has in store? Well then, move on to the next in line. With these date ideas, at least the planning’s easy-going—even if your partner is not: With this idea, you don’t have to worry about last-minute calls. Be spontaneous and suggest a festival. I met my date recently at what was being billed as the First Annual Honey Festival (pictured above). Sponsored by The Boulders Resort in Carefree, Arizona, the event proved to be a simple way to address a call from my guy who was just returning home from his morning bike ride with his buddies. Everything you might need to be entertained is right there: food, wine, live music, art, craft booths, and more. boomers... living life to the fullest
BLOG SPEAKS FROM 3960 BOOK CLUB | 47
Art, history, science, music, the military. If you decide to get cultured or learn something new on your next date, a trip to your nearest museum can do the trick. Planning might require only a single question. Does he like art? Does she like history? If you’re both into music, for example, there might be a museum visit in your near future, weekday or weekend. Better yet, cultural venues often have on-site restaurants so you can take the tour (guided or not) and grab something to eat afterwards. Before you leave, you can even shop for souvenirs and take home a pleasant reminder of time well spent. Nothing spells fun like the outdoors. For your next date, consider a bike ride or a hike on a local trail. If neither of you own a bike and you don’t live near a rental facility, hiking takes nothing more than a sturdy pair of shoes for your feet, a little sunscreen, and hat to shade your skin, water to quench your thirst and maybe a granola bar or two for sustenance. Should something go wrong—a slip on a rock, for example—an outdoor adventure can be a great way to determine how compatible you both are. After all, you want to know that you’ll both be there to help each other back up. If one of you is visiting the other from out of town, an easy way to entertain your date might be to take him on a historic walking tour. Generally offered free through your local or regional historical society, the tours offer a fun way to get to know someone by introducing them to your hometown’s history. In some cases, historic re-enactors may charge for a guided tour at specific times on weekends. Otherwise, you can simply follow the map on your own. Look for walking tour pamphlets at your state and local tourism centers or convention & visitor bureaus. If nothing else appeals to you, but you really do want to avoid that same old routine, offer to have lunch. If you’re getting together during the week, lunch provides a sweet break during your workday. If it’s on the weekend, you can both prepare something to bring for a picnic in the park. Or, you can agree to meet at your nearest lunch counter and reminisce about days gone by. Another benefit of meeting for lunch means you won’t be staying out late, which saves your evening so you have time to visit with the grandkids.
Jackie Dishner, grandmother to three toddlers and author of Backroads & Byways of Arizona, writes from Phoenix, Arizona, mostly about food & wine, lifestyle and travel. You can find more of her work and http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com.
48 | Medical Matters dON’T BE FOOLED... yOU CAN CATCH THE FLU!
Don’t be Fooled…You CAN Catch the Flu! By Carla McMahon
The dreaded flu season is upon us and if you honestly do not think it will happen to you, think again! The flu typically comes on hard and fast, and anyone who has experienced it will tell you that you do not want it. Understanding what the flu is, symptoms and how to treat it can lessen the severity for you or a family member. For those of us at boomer age or seniors the flu can be serious and precautions should be taken during the season.
to two weeks, but can sometimes lead to secondary infections or other complications, generally in certain highrisk groups including the very old and the very young. These secondary effects can cause serious illness or even death. Workplaces, retirement, assisted living or nursing homes and schools are at particular risk of outbreaks. There are three main types of influenza virus that cause illness in human beings: Type A, Type B, and Type C. Type A influenza virus causes the most severe illness, and is typically what people mean when they refer to the "flu virus." Peak season is late fall to early spring and Type A influenza has historically been responsible for many
Flu is characterized by high fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, sore throat, and a dry cough. These symptoms can be similar to the common cold, but the flu is caused by a different family of viruses, and symptoms are typically much more severe. Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus which attacks cells in the upper respiratory tract, including those in the nose, throat, bronchi, and lungs. It generally runs its course in one
boomers... living life to the fullest
flu pandemics over the years. Type B influenza is much milder than Type A viruses, and is active all year round. Most major outbreaks are attributed to Type B. Type C influenza is the least common and its symptoms are generally much milder and generally does not cause epidemics.
Medical Matters DON’T BE FOOLED... YOU CAN CATCH THE FLU! | 49
For many people, vigorous personal hygiene may be enough to avoid the flu. But for those at high risk (boomers, seniors, those with weakened immune systems, and people with certain diseases) the flu vaccine is essential in providing protection outbreaks.
against
yearly
Each year's flu vaccine always includes the two most active strains of Type A influenza. If public health officials
CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older should have a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. To decrease their risk of severe flu illness those at high risk (over age 65, young children, pregnant women and those with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart and lung disease) should get a vaccine. Caregivers and health care workers and people who live with those in the high risk category or who are around children under 6 months old should be vaccinated to keep from spreading flu.
2. Take steps to prevent spreading germs.
determine that a new virus strain has emerged as a potential danger, a special vaccine is made to combat it and is added to the annual vaccination. The strain of Type B virus most active in the population is usually included in the annual flu vaccine. Because it is rare and very mild, Type C is not included in yearly vaccines. The CDC urges you to take the following actions to protect yourself and others from influenza (the flu) because it is a contagious serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death: 1. Get a flu vaccine.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth because germs spread this way. Use your elbow instead of your hand to open public doors, as you touch your face with your hands and can get germs that way.
50 | Medical Matters LET’S Cryo GET What? TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER
Let’s Get to the Heart of the Matter By Sonja Kabell
The heart is a miraculous, mystical muscle. When I hear the word “heart” I think of good music, love, red roses and cupids flying around the overhead, shooting their arrows into unsuspecting couples. We can die of a broken heart, we can be heartless, and we can have a joyful heart. It is even said that you see better with your heart instead of your eyes. The heart is the most powerful muscle in the body. Although it is powerful, it is small, about the size of a clenched fist. The small, mighty heart never rest, as it works all the time, day and night. This extraordinary muscle beats approximately 100,000 times a day. Its job is to pump our precious blood throughout our bodies so we can continue to live. We must protect our heart, not only from breaking but from being broken. This powerhouse needs you to help keep it pumping smoothly so you can enjoy life. We are born with a healthy heart and it's important to keep yours in good shape. Here are some things that you can do to help keep your heart happy: Check your blood pressure on a regular basis. A normal resting blood pressure reading is 120/80. Untreated sustained high blood pressure can increase your risk of stroke and heart attack. There may not be any symptoms, which is why it is referred to as the "silent killer." Keep tabs on your blood pressure. Keep activity as part of your regular schedule. Remember that your heart is a muscle. If you want it to be strong, you need to exercise it. Swimming, walking, biking are all great activities. Just keep moving! Eat a wide variety of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. Avoid foods high in unhealthy fats, such as saturated fats and trans fats, sugars and an over indulgence of alcohol. If you smoke, stop! Smoking will damage the heart and blood vessels. According to the latest studies, omega-3 fish oil supplements appear to have a protective effect against cardiovascular disease in seniors. In particular, the fish oil supplements may help prevent massive and fatal heart attacks. Also, a trustworthy coenzyme Q10 supplement is also a great defender of the heart. This vitamin is an antioxidant that helps fight heart disease. Love your heart. You can’t live without it! Sonja Kabell, Weight Loss and Wellness Consultant, Founder of Creating Healthy Lifestyles, like their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/creatinghealthylifestyles for hints and tips on being healthy.
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Medical Matters EASY STEPS TO BETTER HEART HEALTH | 51
Simple Steps to Better Heart Health By Christina Castle Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day. These conditions are also leading causes of disability preventing people from working and enjoying family activities. Unfortunately, baby boomers are the largest segment of those at risk so doing all you can to be healthier and prevent yourself from having to face the consequences is critically important. You are at higher risk of heart disease if you are a woman age 55 or older, a man age 45 or older or a person with a family history of early heart disease.
February, American Heart Month, is dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and increasing knowledge about prevention. By educating yourself on the dangers of heart disease you can make simple changes to get on track to better heart health. Steps for Heart Health: • Watch your weight.
52 | Medical Matters EASY STEPS TO BETTER HEART HEALTH
• Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke. • Control your cholesterol and blood pressure. • If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation. • Get active and eat healthy. • Talk to your doctor about taking aspirin every day if you are a man over the age of 45 or a woman over 55. • Manage stress. Cholesterol is a kind of fat in your blood that is naturally formed in your body. It is normal, and essential to certain cell functions. There are three types of fat in your blood; each is unique and affects your body in a different way. And because they are different, each has a different ideal level. High cholesterol itself isn't painful; in fact, you can't feel it at all. Even if you have a serious cholesterol problem, you may feel perfectly healthy. Working with your doctor by taking a simple blood test can help you determine if you have high cholesterol. And if so, the first steps in managing it should be to make changes in your diet and exercise habits. LDL cholesterol (“bad”) is the major cholesterol carrier in your blood. But when too much LDL cholesterol circulates, it can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries. This buildup, called plaque, can slow blood flow to your heart, brain, and other organs. HDL cholesterol (“good”) is another type of lipid (fat) found in the blood. Unlike bad cholesterol, having higher levels of HDL cholesterol is desirable. Triglycerides are the third type of fat in the blood. They're made in the liver and also come from foods that you eat. A high triglyceride level combined with low HDL or high LDL is associated with the buildup of fat in the blood. That's one reason why you want your trigs to be lower. Eating healthier means making a commitment to eating fresh, whole foods. Making a change in your diet and exercise habits is a big commitment. Take note of each day’s progress, feel good about how you feel and proud you are changing to a healthier lifestyle. Lower Cholesterol Naturally with the following foods: boomers... living life to the fullest
Medical Matters EASY STEPS TO BETTER HEART HEALTH | 53
Oranges Besides being a great source of vitamin C, oranges contain phytosterols (plant sterols), a type of fat found in nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables which block cholesterol from being absorbed by the cells in the intestines, thus lowering cholesterol.
Eating oranges with breakfast, as a snack or dessert is a wonderful way to aide in lowering cholesterol. Flaxseed Flaxseed contains two substances--soluable fiber and lignon--that block the production of LDL or "bad" cholesterol. These substances also increase the body's ability to get rid of cholesterol. A great way to include flaxseed to your diet is by adding ground flaxseed to smoothies or oatmeal. Beans Beans contain a type of fiber that is consumed by good bacteria in the colon which then form fatty acids that move to the liver where they block the production of "bad" (LDL) cholesterol. Enjoy beans as a side dish to any meal, as or in a soup. Garlic Garlic is a food with many health benefits, one of which is cholesterol management. It has been found to interfere with the liver's ability to make cholesterol and found to help the cardiovascular system. There is also some evidence that it can even act as an anti-fungal and an antibiotic. Try it raw, roasted and added to foods or crushed and served on bread as a paste. Soy Soy protein has been found to boost the effectiveness and amount of LDL receptors in the liver, thus its ability to rid the blood of cholesterol. It’s secret? Phytoestrogens, a group of naturally occurring non-steroidal plant compounds.
Take the First Step to a Heart-Healthy Life.
Start! Walking. Start! Something. Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in America. But did you know that just 30 minutes a day of physical activity can improve your health and decrease your risk of heart disease? An easy way to work physical activity into your regular routine is to start walking. For every single hour of regular, vigorous exercise, you can add two hours to your life expectancy. It’s easy to Start! whether you’re by yourself or with friends, family and co-workers. You’ll all feel a difference and live longer, heart-healthier lives. Join the movement.
heart.org/myheartmylife
©2011, American Heart Association 7/11DS3368
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56 | Senior Scene HOW TO TALK TO AGING PARENTS ABOUT ELDER CARE
How to Talk to Aging Parents about Elder Care By Claire Maestri
Understand Your Loved One’s Desire to Maintain Independence. “Our treatment of both older people and children reflects the value we place on independence and autonomy. We do our best to make our children independent from birth. We leave them all alone in rooms with the lights out and tell them, ‘Go to sleep by yourselves.’ And the old people we respect most are the ones who will fight for their independence, who would sooner starve to death than ask for help.” -Margaret Mead
While fully embracing the above statement, understand the limitations of your loved one, and determine where assistance for him/her results in the loss of dignity. First and foremost, let your loved one know that a caregiver is not going to strip them of anything they can do on their own. Instead, having an assistant will allow them to be independent for a longer period of time. A professional caregiver can do the things they don’t enjoy
boomers... living life to the fullest
Senior Scene MAINTAIN YOUR LOVED ONE’S ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS | 05
doing around the house. That allows their time and energy to be focused on life’s joys rather than nuisances. After all, that is what we want in our golden years, isn’t it? The need to maintain independence is a major friction point when you discuss aging and care options with your senior loved one. You, as the familial caregiver, can see areas that are being neglected. Often, your loved one has grown accustomed to living without certain necessities that would not have previously gone unattended. As time passes and tasks become more difficult, these areas became less important for your loved one to address. They no longer “see” those issues. As you begin to impose yourself or interject to ensure these issues are addressed, seniors will often push back because of the natural desire to protect their complete independence. As the above quote states, independence and pride make it hard to ask for help. Your loved one would not have participated in previous activities or performed duties if they weren’t important before. Evaluate areas where caregivers can intervene and compensate to ensure that your loved one returns to enjoying areas of life that have fallen to the wayside. A great example is someone who might have forfeited a spot in a regular bridge game because it became difficult to get to and from the location where the gathering occurred. A caregiver can assist with transportation or even help prepare for the gathering to take place at your loved one’s home. When addressing the issues of dignity and independence, think creatively. Allow professionals to help you problem solve. Most of all, listen to the struggle that your loved one faces and help them understand that these limitations can be overcome.
Claire Maestri is a freelance writer of senior topics and an expert in helping families find quality senior care options. She lives with her family in Dallas, TX.
58 | Senior Scene HOW TO TALK TO AGING PARENTS ABOUT ELDER CARE
How to Talk to Aging Parents about Elder Care By Claire Maestri Maintain your Loved One’s Ability to Make Decisions.
The objective of this article is to assist you in broaching the subject of care with your loved one. This might be discussing the possibility of having someone come into his/her home, or the possibility of a move that would provide them with more aggressive care.
care with your aging loved ones. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration: financial circumstances, hobbies, lifestyle, level of independence, how to find a living environment where they will thrive and, last but not least, their opinions on subject of aging.
Start this conversation sooner rather than later, the same way you would begin planning for college. When addressing education, we don’t wait until our child’s senior year to focus on funding, grades, extra-curricular activities and learning environment. This all starts when they are beginning their education process. The same rule should apply when discussing boomers... living life to the fullest
One of the most frustrating things is having someone question your ability to take care of yourself! When talking with your loved one about care, recognize that he/she still has the ability to make decisions. Talk with them about what type of care you think they need, and then discuss whether this is the same care they think they need. Be very open to their thoughts and don’t get
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disagree or argue, table the discussion and wait until everyone cools down. Refuse to argue or fight over this issue. Keep it light and loving. Again, if stress rises too much – just change the subject and come back to the topic later.
defensive or react to things they may say about your ideas. Work hard to be a good listener and not just a talker. Maintain their ability to make a choice. Regardless of how you feel about your own aging process, respect the way they want to age and the way they wish to receive care. Don’t dictate care based on your needs alone. Give your loved one two good choices. Rather than asking if they want care or not, ask if they would like care on Mondays and Fridays or Tuesdays and Saturdays. Empower them with part of the decision making process. Provide multiple caregivers to interview. Let them pick which one they like best. Keep things light hearted. If you begin to
Understand that maintaining your loved one’s ability to choose their caregiver will actually allow you more wiggle room for other areas of negotiation.
Regardless of how much time and energy you spend preparing for this conversation, it will not be easy. Be sure to have this conversation early, even before you need care. It’s particularly difficult when you have a loved one in a crisis situation and you have not previously addressed these important issues.
Claire Maestri is the Director of Senior Care Services for Mom's Best Friend of Dallas, a freelance writer of senior topics and an expert in helping families find quality senior care options.
Remodeling for Seniors by Adam Mandel
While many seniors move to retirement communities or into institutional settings, more and more seniors are deciding not to take that path. In a recent survey, 89% of seniors said that they want to stay in their homes for the remainder of their lives. This is known as “Aging-in-Place.” AARP defines Aging-in-Place as remaining in one’s home safely, independently, and comfortably regardless of age, income or ability level. There are many high quality home health care and home companion services that assist seniors with remaining in their homes. Religious institutions and social services agencies also provide a wealth of services to enable people to age-inplace. But what happens if a person needs to use a wheelchair or walker and there are front steps to get into the house and narrow doorways throughout the home? What if there are bathtubs, thick carpeting and other non-accessible features in the house? Does that mean the homeowner must move or be forced to live in one room? We see this issue frequently, but
fortunately there is a solution. It’s possible to make modifications in a home to make it safer and more accessible. In many cases, the cost of these renovations only represent a few months’ worth of expenses of assisted living or other senior living options. One of the big concerns we hear when discussing remodeling is that the home owners do not want their house to look like a “nursing home.” Fortunately we can make the necessary modifications in a beautiful, non-institutional manner. There doesn’t have to be a trade-off. A well-designed home should be attractive and offer accessibility and safety for all residents and visitors. As a company that specializes in performing modifications to the homes of senior citizens and those with disabilities, we’ve developed a process to determine the specific needs of our clients. With our assessment, we analyze the home environment as well as the client’s physical needs and interests. In understanding the client’s needs, it’s important to work with the client, his/her health care providers and his/ her family to not only understand his/
her current physical limitations (mobility, vision, dexterity, etc.) but also how these issues will progress over the coming years. We also want to learn about the client’s interests. Do they like to cook or garden? Once we’ve completed the assessment, we prepare a client-specific report that outlines home safety issues and our modification recommendations. Common modifications include: Widen doorways and hallways to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. Build zero threshold entries to the home (eliminate the need to use steps to get into the house). Install zero threshold showers. It’s common to remove a bathtub and replace it with a beautiful roll-in shower. Install single lever or hands-free faucets. Lower selected counters in kitchens and bathrooms to allow access for seated people. Provide space under counters to allow access for seated people. Replace door knobs with lever handles. Replace knobs on cabinets and other fixtures with easy to grasp hardware. Improve lighting throughout the house, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens. Replace carpeting with hardwood and tile to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers.
Many of these modifications are basic tenets of a design philosophy known as “Universal Design.” The idea behind universal design is to make things as accessible to as many people as possible in a natural, non-institutional manner. The design should work for both an 80-year old couple as well as a 30-year old couple with a 2-year old child. For example, a wider doorway is not only better for a wheelchair user but is also more convenient for a parent pushing a baby in a stroller. Most homes weren’t built with the needs of seniors or people with disabilities in mind. However, homeowners can modify their homes rather than being forced to move. If done properly, these renovations will not only improve accessibility and safety but will also increase the value of the home.
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