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Sponsored by Vivian O'Nay
Spring Fashion Brings a Buzz Every year of a similar easy to wipe clean material personal style at any the shift from like Bogg bags but they are slightly more age! Winter to fashion-forward. This year they have Spring fashion been remade In the past brings a buzz into a cool months of excitement basket weave we have to all of the design with seen a shift stylists who more color from bright work at Vivian options. These statement O’Nay. There is are a favorite of earrings to just something our customers more classic about the first because you pieces. Our pastels to arrive can buy fun customers in a sea of dark interchangeable love how a sweaters that straps to great piece inspires us to change the style of classic start wanting of your bag. jewelry can to revamp our Our ladies are be worn for own wardrobes! also still loving all seasons Tops adorned with plaid paneling or Longer warm the look and and with accents throughout days are ahead functionality so many and our minds dance with thoughts of neoprene different ensembles. We are of vacations to the lake and beach. bags. They are an exclusive retailer of a new Whether you are staying home and going great because Versa Totes will continue to be a top brand out for an afternoon with friends or you can throw headed to the nearest body of water- the them in the washing machine, and jewelry line girls at VON will have you ready to turn they will still look as good as new! This hand crafted heads this season! year instead of just the traditional large in Auburn, neoprene totes we are seeing backpacks AL called Zoe As boxes of clothing begin to get and makeup bags in this material. Both & Zeke. We unpacked and hung for you all to shop, Versa Totes and Neoprene bags are great can’t keep we have been taking notes to see what because they are easy to clean and will her unique the most common upcoming trends will stand the test of time! but timeless be. In past articles we have focused on necklaces, a lot of trends which have stayed the Fashion is supposed to be fun and gives bracelets, same for the past few years such as an outlet of self-expression. Something and earrings Zoe & Zeke Jewelry From Auburn animal print and variations of tye dye. new is always on the rise and it’s exciting in stock! We are excited to report a new trend is to see what will be trending next! We Women of all ages and style preferences becoming prevalent in the fashion world love seeing how you all will style all of are loving her collection! In the past which is Spring plaids. Along with full the upcoming trends this Spring season. few months, we have also seen the plaid tops in pretty pastels we are also We would love the opportunity to help fan favorite brand ENewton selling seeing tops adorned with plaid paneling you find something you feel confident tremendously. These pieces are going to or accents throughout. in. Stop by Vivian O’Nay where we have only increase in popularity as we head something for everyone! into the Spring and Summer months Bright solid-colored tops, dresses, and because you can shower, sweat, and We would love to hear back from you jumpsuits are always an easy go to. We swim in all of the items from this brand! on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ are seeing a lot of fun colors such as Our ladies love a good low maintenance shopVivianONay/) or email (vivianonay@ fuchsia, banana, hot coral, and neon but timeless jewelry line. gmail.com). Visit Vivian O'Nay and find pink. They stay in style year after year your fashion sense, they're located at 3500 and pair beautifully under a denim We project Versa Totes will continue Wetumpka Highway, Montgomery, AL. You jacket for cooler nights. Wearing bright to be one of our top brands for the can call 334.290.5268 or visit colors can show off your confidence and upcoming season. They are made out www.vivianonay.com
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Contents
March 2022 Volume 12 Issue 9
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
Facebook.com/RiverRegionBoom C.S. Lewis
Thought Relationships Taste Inspiration
Humor Advice Health Community
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
Carl Bard
4 Spring Fashion Brings a Buzz 11 The Anatomy of Facial Aging – What’s Happening to My Face? Dr. Blake Raggio 12 Publisher's Column 16 The Effects of Nature on Cognition and Memory
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18 Name That Car-Nick Thomas 22 Creamy Italian Pasta Skillet 24 What’s in a Name? When It Comes to Wine, a Lot
Features 30 Aging Rebels Don’t Give Up: They Reinvest in Life
36 When It Comes to Dating, Grandma Knows Best
38 "Widow Maker" Leads to Poetic Outcome Thanks for Reading BOOM!
Departments 44 This and That A variety of TIDBITS
58 Greg Budell "THOSE WERE THE DAYS"
42 Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier: Booth Western Art Museum
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page 18
32 28th Annual Culinary Caper to benefit MACOA 33 New Book Provides Inspiration for Anyone Dealing with Cancer 34 Do not Become a Victim of Identity Theft! 40 Shamrocks are for Sharing By Sheila Galloway Robertson
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41 OLLI at AUM Spring Classes 44 The Righteous Brothers: Bill Medley & Bucky Heard
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47 Zoo Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, March 26-27 50 Historic Partridge Inn, Iconic Augusta Landmark 52 BOOM! Cover Profile 60 FREE Essential Oils Webinar Tracy Bhalla
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page 44
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62 BOOM! Reader Discounts
Free Subscriptions @ w w w. r i ve rre gio n b o o m.co m BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine is published monthly by River Region Publications, P.O. Box 6203, Montgomery, AL 36106. The phone number is 334.324.3472. Copyright 2022 by River Region Publications. No part of this publication can be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.
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Dr. Blake Raggio, Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
The Anatomy of Facial Aging – What’s Happening to My Face? for the superficial soft tissues of the face. These ligaments, which originate from the bone and attach to the skin and overlying fat pads, weaken over time, and thus contribute (with the help of gravity) to the sagging skin and fat we see with aging.
Recently we discussed why more and more Baby Boomers are undergoing cosmetic procedures to reverse the signs of aging. This month, I would like to discuss the “Anatomy of Facial Aging” to better elucidate the causes of those bothersome changes one may experience as you age. The Certainties of Aging
The aging process involves the complex interplay of several key elements including diet, exercise, sleep, genetics, environmental factors (sun exposure, wind damage), and tobacco use, to name a few. Despite our best attempts to alter these variables, the certainty remains—aging will inevitably occur. When it comes to facial aging, there exists several predictable transformations to the tissues of the face, which include the skin, muscle, fat, bone, and retaining ligaments. Skin Aging skin loses key structural components which contribute to its strength (collagen), elasticity (elastin), and hydration (hyaluronic acid). Aged skin thus becomes dryer, thinner, less elastic, less voluminous, and more likely to wrinkle or sag, such as occurs with excess skin of the upper eyelids or the neck. Muscle The muscles around the face and eyes may become more hyperactive and contribute to excess wrinkles or puffiness. Alternatively, the muscles of the face may weaken and atrophy which contributes to a deflated look and decreases support for the rest of the facial soft tissues. Retaining Ligaments Facial ligaments provide structural support The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Fat The most recent and relevant research regarding the anatomy of facial aging pertains to the understanding of the facial fat pads. In short, the facial fat pads are partitioned into separate compartments and exists in two distinct layers (superficial and deep), both of which contribute to the overall balance of the face. In short, some areas lose fat, such as the cheeks and the temples, which creates a hollowed and deflated look. On the other hand, some areas gain fat, such as around the mouth and the jaw, which contribute to the so-called “nasolabial folds” and “jowls”. Lastly, some fat pads become more visible as they protrude from their intended position due to adjacent structural defects, such as occurs with herniated orbital fat creating lower eyelid bags. Overall, this errant redistribution of the facial fat pads leads to the creation or worsening of folds, shadows, and other contour irregularities which embody the telltale signs of aging. Bone We experience significant loss of facial bone with aging. Without the structural support of the bone, the overlying soft tissues (skin, muscle, fat) also display
noticeable changes such as hollowing of the eyes, temporal wasting, cheek deflation, and poor jawline definition.
As one can see, the progressive loss of fat and bone represents a key contributor to the facial aging process. Therefore, I often recommend re-volumizing the face with either dermal fillers or facial fat grafting to anybody contemplating a facelift or other facial rejuvenation procedure. I can’t say it enough, but volume replacement is key! What can I do to combat the facial aging process? First, relax. Aging is normal and beautiful, so embrace it for all that it means to you. Second, one must recognize that the changes in balance, proportion, and symmetry associated with the aging face are unique to each patient, and thus a customized treatment plan remains paramount to achieve optimal results. Next, you should consult with a physician who has specialty training in the area you are looking to improve, and who may recommend treatments ranging from noninvasive modalities (e.g., botulinum toxin, fillers, lasers, chemical peels) to more advanced surgical options (e.g., facelift, brow lift, fat grafting, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty). Lastly, choose a surgeon whom you trust. There is nothing more important than the relationship you have with your doctor. In Good Health, Dr. Blake Raggio Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Alabama Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
334-373-3611 www.ALplasticsurgery.com Dr.Raggio@alplasticsurgery.com R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
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Publisher’s Letter
Find Your Artist
My wife and I recently traveled to Rosemary Beach for a few days, a getaway from the routine, the home offices, ongoing projects, reminders all of what we should be doing. As you know, if you don’t have life’s reminders staring you in the face, you begin to let go and allow fresher thoughts to grow. We both love our creative sides but many times they get snuffed out by our daily lives. Getting away nourishes our creativity.
The mission of BOOM! is to serve the folks of the River Region age 50 plus with information and ideas to inspire new experiences, better quality of life and new beginnings.
Publisher/Editor Jim Watson 334.324.3472 cell/text jim@riverregionboom.com
During the travel time we listened to an audiobook called The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. The author has a process she uses to help you unlock and unblock your creativity, motivating you to get in touch with your desire to be an artist, whether that’s playing music, acting, writing or my wife’s favorite, painting. There are many artists living in each of us and this book helps you recognize the artist in you and tries to help you set it free. The New York Times said: “Julia Cameron invented the way people renovate the creative soul” If you’re interested in reading the book send me a text that says, “free my artist” to 334.324.3472 and we’ll randomly send out 10 books during March. Jim Watson, Publisher jim@riverregionboom.com
Contributing Writers Donna Apidone Jeff Barganier Dan Berger Tracy Bhalla Greg Budell
Our cover profile this month is an artist, a painter, her name is Barbara Davis. She wanted to be a painter since she was 14, making a living as a painter came much later. Barbara’s commitment, persistence and practice allowed her to find the opportunities to do what she loved and to be paid for it, what a blessing! In getting to know Barbara, you realize how important it is to find inspiration in other people’s life journey. She inspired the artist in myself and my wife Sandy. I know you’ll enjoy getting to know Barbara as we have, and I hope you’ll share her story with a friend. Let your artist be inspired.
Barbara Davis Randi Mazzella Susan Moore Dr. Blake Raggio Sheila Galloway Robertson Nancy K. Schlossberg Nick Thomas
Cover Photography Photography by DiAnna Paulk photographybydiannapaulk.com
Advertising
Jim Watson, 334.324.3472 jim@riverregionboom.com
As usual we have many more words to share for your reading pleasure. Greg Budell shares his observations in his column “Those Were The Days” referring to a groundbreaking TV show that made us all stop and think about how best to live with one another. Greg pokes the “wokesters” as only he can, you’ll enjoy the read. Jeff Barganier found the most wonderful museum in Cartersville, GA and found out what 4.5 ounces of beer would do for his wife Cindy. I’m sure glad Jeff is a traveling man. We have stories about Aging Rebels who don’t give up, Grandma knows best when it comes to dating, and a “Widow Maker” that led to some beautiful poetry. Other words you’ll find are Shamrocks, Identity Theft, the Effects of Nature, and a whole lot more. Tracy Bhalla is offering a free essential oils webinar, but you must register right away, by March 8th There’s more good reads so please take a few minutes and enjoy the experience; it was created for you. Thanks to all of our readers and your feedback. Please remember our advertisers and those who support BOOM! We are a community and our relationship to each other is important. Spend your money in support. Thanks for reading and sharing, age well my friends.
Facebook.com/RiverRegionBoom
Jim
334.324.3472 cell/text jim@riverregionboom.com
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The Effects of Nature on Cognition and Memory All of us occasionally suffer from “brain fog.” It is when we are unable to focus on a task, become frustrated and are easily irritated. Have you ever noticed how taking a breath of fresh air suddenly makes you feel refreshed and rejuvenated? It is as if you have been injected with energy. The expression “use it or lose it” is commonly used in the UK. As with all parts of the body, processes can slow down if the brain is not exercised; keeping it active is of huge importance. That 10-minute break from your computer screen, watching wild birds on a feeder, or squirrels running about a park while you stretch your legs are examples of how we can interact mentally and emotionally with nature and recharge part of our brain. As a child, I had the good fortune of being raised in a village in the countryside. When not in school, it was the norm to go out into the surrounding fields to explore, climb trees and enjoy the fresh air. Many of my friends recall similar childhoods. We didn’t play video games, there were fewer channels on TV, and indoor entertainment usually consisted of reading or craft activities. Lessons at school were punctuated with playtime on the field, running at full speed. We felt refreshed and ready to concentrate on learning afterward, the cobwebs having been thoroughly swept away. Science now shows the restorative capacity of the natural world to be true; nature does indeed refresh us and also has a positive effect on our brains. When studying or at work, there is a need to focus for extended periods of time. However, the capacity to apply direct attention (focus on a specific thing or cognitive process) declines over time; we start to daydream, clarity of thought is lost, and the ability to concentrate reduces. The sights and sounds from the natural environment generally arouse our curiosity in a gentle manner.
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No direct attention is necessary; the mind has a chance to replenish. An urban environment can be jarring and dangerous; close attention must be paid to our surroundings in order to avoid accidents; being hit by vehicles or knocking over pedestrians. In such an environment, our brains are not able to relax and recuperate. Studies on university students in the UK have demonstrated that taking 15-minute breaks in a natural environment resulted in an enhanced capacity to complete tasks and retain information. When given four mentalagility tests to complete, their capacity for directed attention showed significant recovery after the outdoor break. The study also showed that short breaks involving exercise in a natural setting had a more positive effect on recovery from directed attention fatigue than a sedentary break indoors. Although both actual and virtual exposure to nature influences cognitive ability, memory and attention, physically being in a natural environment produces a greater positive effect. Similar research on the elderly comparing the effects of restorative breaks taken within their care home to those taken in its garden where they interacted with nature, showed that after time spent in the natural setting, the test participants’ ability to concentrate on tasks had increased significantly. Similarly, studies conducted involving
memory tests (remembering a list of numbers or symbols) also showed that interacting with the natural world improved the participants’ short-term memory. With an aging global population, conditions such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s are growing concerns. Recent Australian research into the effects of exercise on cognitive decline has also shown that an optimal amount can improve spatial learning. This research is now being used to try and reverse the effects of Dementia; tying exercise into improving neural connectivity in the hippocampus (the area of the brain responsible for memory, learning, and emotions). This potential improvement in our neural networks paired with increased concentration and memory brought about by being surrounded by nature could lead to a winning combination for our long-term mental health. For those of us whose lives revolve around working in an office, possibly with little chance to escape to a green space during lunch break, the view from the window is an important asset in work performance as well as job satisfaction. A green outdoor environment has been shown to increase workers’ mind function and ability to organize their work and combat mental fatigue. If physical access to that green space is not possible, the view from the window provides a ‘micro-break’ where the brain can relax. Thus, natural environments provide important ‘psychological ecosystem services’ benefiting cognitive flexibility, the working memory, and attention control. We should try to capitalize on the potential benefits of outdoor breaks, incorporate attractive outdoor spaces on campuses, workspace and care homes, and facilitate movement through these to enhance our concentration and overall feelings of well-being. This article was first published in Radiant Life Magazine
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Jest a Moment Automobile names are important to car manufacturers who often assigned labels that intrigue or arouse our sense of adventure and excitement. What bold driver wouldn’t want to be seen trekking through the rugged wilderness in a Ford Explorer, Toyota Land Cruiser, or Nissan Pathfinder?
Name That Car
Some drivers probably select specific models according to his or her profession. Can’t you see an astronomer behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Eclipse or an optometrist in a Ford Focus? And what proctologist could resist parking a Ford Probe outside the surgery? You know if Captain Kirk needed ground transportation, he’d have demanded a Volkswagen Transporter, while the infamous Heidi Fleiss almost certainly would have treated her “girls” to a fleet of Escorts.
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Were they alive today, some historic figures might have chosen their car by name, too: Harry Houdini surely would have driven a Ford Escape, while Mozart would have chosen to maneuver the streets of Vienna in a Hyundai Sonata. Sir Edmund Hillary would have felt right at home climbing into an old Mercury Mountaineer, but would have avoided the Chevy Avalanche. And British adventurer Percy Fawcett, lost while exploring the Amazon, could have really used a Jeep Compass. Over the years, the animal kingdom
By Nick Thomas
has frequently represented automobile names such as the Mercury Cougar, Dodge Ram, and VW Beetle. Ford loved horse names and produced the Mustang, Bronco and Pinto. Wisely, they never produced a Ford Gelding – probably a little too Freudian for young male drivers.
I’ve often wondered about the fate of my first US car, a Chevy Chevette, not exactly a vehicle to worship as it rattled along the Interstate in the 80s powered by an engine that roared like an electric toothbrush. I suspect by now it’s been melted down and recycled into a faster and more graceful vehicle, such as the one my neighbor owns ...... a John Deere. Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama, and has written features, columns, and interviews for many newspapers and magazines. See www. getnickt.org.
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Creamy Italian Pasta Skillet
This quick and easy Creamy Italian Pasta Skillet combines ground beef, a jar of marinara or spaghetti sauce, some onions, garlic, pasta, cheese, and a little heavy cream for a hearty dish that’s perfect for those busy weeknights when you’re short on time. But trust me… this dish isn’t short on flavor. Ingredients 8 ounces rotini pasta (or other short pasta) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound lean ground beef 1 medium onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 cup beef broth/stock 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend Instructions 1. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, drain, and set aside. 2. In a large, deep skillet over medium high heat, heat the olive oil then add the ground beef and onion. Brown the ground beef until cooked through, drain the excess grease away. 3. Return the meat to the skillet over medium heat and add the garlic. Cook until fragrant – about 1 minute. Add the Italian seasoning and beef stock and stir to combine – being sure to scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the marinara. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened. 4. Stir in the heavy cream and the cheese. Stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the pasta to the skillet and stir. Serve immediately. Source: www.southernbite,com
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What’s in a Name? By Dan Berger
When It Comes to Wine, a Lot When you buy a French Chablis, it will be made only from Chardonnay grapes grown in a small district in France, because that’s required under French law.
alcohol period (Prohibition), so the matter became moot. When Prohibition was lifted on Dec. 5, 1933, the French again toyed with the idea of trying to get Champagne stricken from use in the United States, but by then the entire California wine business was in shambles, with only poor-quality grapes left in vineyards that had largely been left untended for 16 years.
Likewise, when you buy a Sancerre, it can only be a sauvignon blanc from the eastern Loire Valley. A Beaujolais can only be made from the Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc grape grown in a district of Burgundy. It has been about 15 years since the United States belatedly agreed to recognize such wine terms as protected place names because they’re actual regions in Europe. It’s kind of like “Parmigiano Reggiano,” which can only be made in certain Italian districts, although “parmesan” is an Americanized version that’s widely used—and one that gourmets usually hate. The controversy over place names still riles many Europeans, such as the many producers of cheddar cheese in the English village of Cheddar in Somerset— where the cheese originated—using a proprietary process. Today, the word cheddar is used around the world indiscriminately, much to the anger of Somersetians. One of the most interesting place name arguments involves Champagne, which can only come from that district in France. As such, it must be capitalized and can’t be used by wineries for new U.S. wines. Yet it’s still used on wine labels of several
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U.S. wineries because of a curious series of historic events. The French have long claimed that several French place names had been unfairly usurped by U.S. wineries in the years before Prohibition and after, including Chablis and Burgundy. All of the U.S. wineries using that term use it for blended red wines. The French claim (rightly) that not one American Chablis or Burgundy was anything remotely close to their French antecedents. Champagne was also widely used on U.S. wine labels for anything that had bubbles, further angering the French. France tried to outlaw these practices by international treaty in 1891 and later with a special clause in the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, which dealt with the end of World War I. However, President Woodrow Wilson’s controversial efforts to set up the League of Nations ended with the United States never signing that treaty, although other nations did. Besides, by that time, the United States was just entering a zero-
Moreover, only one “Champagne” was being made in California in the 1930s—by winery owner Paul Masson, a French expatriate, who started making it in 1892. It wouldn’t be until the 1960s that sparkling winemaking resumed in California. And the French had other things on their minds, such as the rebuilding of Europe after WWII, Communism, NATO, nuclear power. … By contrast, California “Champagne” was too tiny a subject to worry about. It wasn’t until 2006 that the French (and other European nations) resumed campaigns against the misuse of their place names. That led to a pact. The United States agreed to ban most French place names such as Champagne, Chablis, and Burgundy for all new wines—but it grandfathered in the use of those names for wineries that had long-established brands using the terms. Among them was Sonoma County sparkling wine producer Korbel, which still can call its bubblies “California Champagne Source: www.theepochtimes.com
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Any Age Any Stage Conference
March is Women’s History Month and in honor of that The Crossings at Eastchase is hosting a women’s conference called Any Age Any Stage on March 8th from 9 AM- 3 PM. The event will include sessions on women’s empowerment, women’s health, special guests, and a special beauty break provided by Dillard’s. You don’t want to miss it. Register by March 4th to attend at Anyageanystage.eventbrite.com. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Jerusalem Quartet
Thursday, April 21, 2022 7:30 p.m. Pre-Concert Spring Dinner For the 2022 spring concert, we will host the thrilling Jerusalem Quartet from Israel. The Jerusalem Quartet takes the experience of listening to a string quartet like that of a conversation among four intelligent people. It is like listening to a single instrument with 16 strings. Since their debut in 1996, the Quartet is a regular guest on the world’s great concert stages. “An absolute triumph. Their playing has everything you could possibly wish for.” -BBC Music Magazine www.montgomery-chamber-music.org
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LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS MAR. 3–APR. 3 Music by Alan Menken | Lyrics and a Book by Howard Ashman. In this deviously delicious sci-fi rock musical, meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names “Audrey II” (after his coworker crush). This foulmouthed, R&B-singing carnivorous plant promises unending fame and fortune to the down-and-out Seymore as long as he keeps feeding Scan to Order it. From the Tony ASF Tickets and Oscar awardwinning creators of Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid. Visit www.asf.net
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By Nancy K. Schlossberg
Aging Rebels Don’t Give Up: They Reinvest in Life
A group known as "Aging Rebels," who are in their seventies, eighties and nineties and members of the Senior Friendship Centers in Sarasota, Fla., meet regularly to discuss issues that can press hard on us during the last third of life.
They ask, and answer, questions like these: Am I living in the right place? Can I deal with loneliness during the pandemic? How do I build relationships with family, partners, friends, and colleagues? How do I cope with losses that accompany aging? How can I build resiliency? Here's how a few of them have found the answers they were looking for: Creating New Paths and Reframing Loss Some Aging Rebels have crafted paths that help them remain in the moment after a devastating loss or multiple losses. Like Henry (who, like other Aging Rebels, prefers not to reveal his last name). Henry represents the power of moving beyond yourself and caring for others, also known as the helper-therapy principle. His father died when Henry was 16. In his 40s, Henry had a divorce followed by the unexpected death of his mother. This double-whammy left him feeling temporarily shut down and has reverberated throughout his life since then. Nevertheless, Henry has had a nourishing relationship with a cousin, an extended family, a close friend, and a second wife. Perhaps most important for his dealing with loss, Henry developed a spiritual side, working with an old friend to develop a program training interfaith chaplains. He then helped start a singing group supporting people in hospice care. Lately, Henry has been helping other older adults write their memoirs. Henry represents the power of moving beyond yourself and caring for others, also known as the helpertherapy principle. Redefining Expectations
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In her 50s, she went back to school and became a licensed clinical social worker. Slowly, her self-esteem returned. She eventually met and married a loving man. At almost 84, despite a chronic illness, Samantha is about to retire from her psychotherapy practice to make time in her life for her volunteer work and her newfound passion for art printmaking.
Beryl is an Aging Rebel who found a way to redefine the holidays when she was feeling isolated and lonely in the pandemic. She has lost her best buddy, a close colleague and many other good friends. Given the limits on traveling during the Covid pandemic, Beryl had no friends with whom to celebrate Thanksgiving last fall. But she realized she could be alone without being lonely. Beryl made a delicious turkey breast along with her favorite cranberry sauce, and ate a lovely lunch by herself, followed by watching one of her favorite movies on Netflix. She consciously decided to reframe her holiday, redefining it from the Norman Rockwell version to an opportunity to create new holiday traditions, ones that were different but still enjoyable and meaningful. Beryl was experiencing what's sometimes called a "non-event." That's a tradition or event that you expect to occur — but doesn't. Reinventing Yourself Samantha has found ways to reinvent herself despite overwhelming losses that "kept piling up," she said. After ending a toxic relationship with her husband, she fell in love but that ended when she became aware her new partner was having multiple affairs. At the same time, one of Samantha's daughters was killed in an accident. Samantha felt she wanted to die. Over time, with the support of a therapist, she began to get her life in order.
Michael is another Aging Rebel who reinvented himself. His loving wife died when he was 82; she'd also been his best friend and social director. Faced with creating a new life, Michael met regularly with a small group of men for lunch at the Senior Friendship Center. That led him to start a current events discussion group. It was so successful, another nonprofit invited him to replicate the group. Michael also started and co-led a group focused on aging issues, which eventually became the Aging Rebels. Learning to Rebound Other Aging Rebels, like Ruth, have learned to just let life take you along. After Ruth's husband died, she relocated to Florida and, at 97, moved into a retirement community where she met a man who became the love of her life. After he died when she was over 100, Ruth faced the reality that men would no longer be her focus. As Ruth says: "I just go with the flow and enjoy life." So, she continued performing on the piano at private gatherings, playing bridge four times each week and taking charge of her investments. As Ruth says: "I just go with the flow and enjoy life." Joan was her husband's caregiver as he developed dementia. She felt trapped, lonely and often frustrated. Both their families were up north and not able to help. Taking care of him and their house was too much for Joan, so she and her husband moved into an apartment building downtown about five years ago. After Joan's husband died, she realized what a wonderful community of caring women and staff were in her building. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
They all reached out to her, and she never felt alone. Many have since become her friends; they socialize, enjoy dinners and theater together. Her advice: Keep looking, don't give up. Strengthening Existing Bonds Stan is a very active man in his mid-80s who wants and needs attachments. But he is absolutely not interested in romance or intimacy. He explains: "My wife was the love of my life. When she died after several years of fighting cancer, I was devastated. I knew that loss could never be replaced." To compensate, Stan has focused on relationships that are still central to his life: his three children, who rotate calling him daily and visit at least once a month; two sets of local in-laws; his biweekly men's discussion group and other scattered friends in the community. Stan's advice: Nurture your existing relationships. Forming a Bond with a Non-Human Companion Irene, an elegant lady who was a media personality and singer, had it all – a fabulous career and an adoring husband. But when she was 82, her husband died and she lost her hearing and ability to perform. Overwhelmed by grief, Irene discovered through an organization called Canine Companions that there are dogs specially trained to help those with hearing loss. After a two year wait, she became eligible to get one. These days, she's totally invested in her relationship with her certified service companion: "Butter." The Lesson From the Aging Rebels Unfortunately, as we age, there will inevitably be breaks in our attachments — because of illness, death, moving, vulnerability, and misunderstandings. To handle this, we need resilience, the emotional flexibility to grieve losses, while opening ourselves to new relationships and experiences, and savoring the surprises life has in store for us. As one Aging Rebel says, "We are adventurers in this life, with no assurance that each adventure will work out as planned. But we must be willing to take risks." Source: www.nextavenue.org
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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28th Annual Culinary Caper to benefit MACOA Return of the Culinary Caper Luncheon to be held April 10, 2022
The Montgomery Area Council on Aging (MACOA) announces the 28th Annual Culinary Caper. This year’s Culinary Caper will see the return of the in-person luncheon at the RSA Activity Center. In addition to the luncheon, an Online Auction and Raffle will be held. The Online Auction will take place Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 10 at www.BiddingForGood.com/MACOA. Raffle tickets are currently on sale until April 10, 2022. Tickets are only $10 per chance and will enter participants into the raffle for the grand prize of $1,000 worth of gift cards to local restaurants in the River Region! Raffle Winner will be announced at the luncheon, winner does
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not have to be present to win. To purchase a raffle ticket, seat, or table at the event, call the MACOA office at 334263-0532. All proceeds raised from the Culinary Caper will support MACOA and MACOA’s Meals on Wheels program serving homebound seniors. MACOA’s flagship program is Meals on Wheels which utilizes volunteers to deliver 416 hot nutritious meals each weekday to homebound seniors facing food insecurity via 35 delivery routes. Meals on Wheels is much more than meals; it is a lifeline to seniors in Montgomery
County by serving as a safety check and combating isolation by having volunteers visiting on a daily basis. Recent data confirms our clients range in age from 60 to 103, with 22% distinguished American veterans and spouses of veterans. WHAT: 28th Annual Culinary Caper Luncheon and Online Auction and Raffle to benefit Montgomery Area Council on Aging (MACOA) WHEN: Luncheon, Sunday April 10, 2022. Door open at 12 p.m. Lunch served at 12:30 p.m. Online Auction: Friday, April 8, 9:00 a.m. CST – Sunday, April 10, 2022, 5:00 p.m. CST WHERE: Luncheon at RSA Activity Center, 201 S Union St, Montgomery, AL 36104 Online Auction at www.BiddingForGood. com/MACOA
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
New Book Provides Inspiration for Anyone Dealing with Cancer or Other Health Diagnoses Devoted wife and author, Mari D. Martin, has released her inspiring new book “Come Home Alive: The Power of Knowing How to Work Together to Make it Through the Crisis of Cancer” which details the difficult journey she and her husband Chris went through after he was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer. At the heart of the book is the couple’s love story, shared by the caregiver, to provide inspiration to other family caregivers that what they do day and night matters and to encourage the patient to never give up. Determined not to let the cancer diagnosis take control of their lives,
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Martin and her husband set forth on a plan for him to come home alive. Rooted in faith and hope, their plan started with daily time together and ended with a practice of thankfulness and expecting a miracle. Now they are sharing the steps that allowed them to get through their own crisis, still in love as ever before, to provide encouragement for other couples and families who may be facing similar health challenges so they may learn from their experience and have the faith to come out stronger in the end. To order this book visit www.comehomealivebook.com
WIN THIS BOOK Text "I'm a caregiver" to 334.324.3472 then you'll be entered to win a copy of “Come Home Alive”
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Do not Become a Victim of Identity Theft!
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased concerns by consumers about identity theft. A survey found that 83% of Americans are concerned about their identity being stolen and distress levels have increased 32% since the emergence of the virus. Of more concern, 10% of adults report being a victim of identity theft since the onset of the pandemic. Identity theft takes different forms including tax returns, government benefits like Social Security, medical insurance, credit cards, bank accounts, and other types of financial accounts. Susan Moore of Moore Wealth Management, Inc. (MWM) in Montgomery, AL conducts a free workshop/webinar every year in March on techniques to prevent identity theft. The workshop is updated every year to include new types of identity theft that are occurring and new measures to counteract them. Due to the pandemic, this year’s workshop will be conducted by webinar on Wednesday, March 30th from noon to 1:30 p.m., is complimentary and without obligation. There will be both a live and recorded version. Please call the Moore Wealth Management office for further information or reservations at 334.270.1672 or email Sarah@ moorewealthmanagement.com. If you miss the webinar, we also offer free consultations that are without obligation. Webinar participants receive an action plan containing things to do to minimize the chances that they become victims of identity theft. Topics include methods to protect your credit rating, credit, and debit cards, as well as banking
Financial Thoughts with Susan Moore
By Susan Clayton Moore, J.D.
Principal of Moore Wealth Management, Inc.
and brokerage accounts. We review how criminals use scanners to collect information on cards used at ATMs, gas pumps and convenience stores. We cover how to protect your electronic exposure on the internet, your computer and cell phone, including passwords and logins, encryption, secure emails, computer hacking and viruses, spyware, and malware. One of the areas of identity theft that is growing the fastest is in medical insurance fraud, fraudulent tax returns and Social Security benefits. We discuss how to monitor and protect these areas where retirees are especially vulnerable. Finally, we go over common-sense techniques to thwart some of the most common ways thieves get access to your identity. For example, you should never mail payments on your bills from your mailbox at home. You should shred your boarding passes from airline
flights because they contain sensitive information hidden in the bar codes on the passes. We conduct a variety of workshops and seminars at MWM. The mission statement of MWM is very simple: “and then some.” We attempt to do what is expected, what is required “and then some.” The Identity Theft workshop is part of our monthly “and then some” workshops. In addition, MWM conducts monthly current events market updates that attempt to explain what is going on in the financial world. If you would like to be on the mailing list or receive email notifications of upcoming seminars, please call 334.270.1672. Susan Clayton Moore, J.D., is a financial advisor and wealth manager of Moore Wealth Management, Inc., with offices in Auburn, Montgomery, and Alexander City, AL. Susan has under advisement assets over $170 million (as of 1.21.2022) in brokerage and advisory assets through Kestra Financial and has been a financial planner for over 37 years. Contact Susan at 334.270.1672. Email contact is susan@moorewealthmanagement.com. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney or tax advisor regarding your individual situation. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Kestra IS or Kestra AS are not affiliated with Moore Wealth Management, Inc. https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures
“Do not Become a Victim of Identity Theft!” webinar March 30th, Noon, Register today 334.270.1672 Webinar participants receive an action plan containing things to do to minimize the chances that they become victims of identity theft. Topics include methods to protect your credit rating, credit, and debit cards, as well as banking and brokerage accounts. We review how criminals use scanners to collect information on cards used at ATMs, gas pumps and convenience stores.
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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By Randi Mazzella
When It Comes to Dating, Grandma Knows Best The granddaughter and grandmother team behind the 'Excuse My Grandma' podcast share what they are teaching each other about dating
How Dating Has Changed It makes sense that Murstein values her grandma's insight regarding relationships: She has been married for 58 years. "Back then, most couples were introduced through friends or family," explains Rudnick. "There was less premarital sex,
Kim Murstein, 25, was living in New York City when the pandemic began in March 2020. She wanted to get away, so she moved in with her grandparents in Florida. Murstein says, "I have always been close to my grandparents, especially my grandma Gail. I know she has my best interest at heart, and I am comfortable talking to her about anything." So it wasn't surprising that when they were living together, Gail Rudnick, 79, started weighing in on her granddaughter's dating life. "I was on a lot of dating apps, and my grandma would put in her two cents. She gave me opinions on where we were going and the outfits I wore," says Murstein.
Kim Murstein and Gail Rudnick, co-hosts of the podcast Excuse My Grandma
Rudnick says, "Dating is a lot different now than when I was young. We didn't have apps or texting. Kimmy taught me all the dating lingo [like] 'sliding into DMs' and 'ghosting' someone." [The first expression means sending someone you don't know a direct message on Twitter or Instagram; the second means ending communication without warning.] Murstein, a producer, thought that the generational differences between the two of them about sex, dating and relationships would make a good subject for a podcast. "There seems to be a divide between the generations. Younger people accuse boomers of being out of touch, and that older adults are looking down on millennials. When we started Excuse My Grandma, there wasn't another podcast that showcased the perspectives of people fifty years apart in age and how we could learn from one another," she says.
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Communication is Different Murstein says that her grandmother's advice regarding communication is very different from what friends her own age have to say. She explains, "My friends and I tend to overanalyze texts from our dates, looking for hidden meanings and sometimes making excuses. My grandma sees red flags right away."
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so you got married first, then you got to know each other. And if you weren't married by the time you were twenty-two years old, you felt like an old maid." Watching her granddaughter navigate dating, Rudnick is impressed and believes this generation is a lot better off in many ways. She says, "Today, more women have careers. They are getting married later in life and waiting until they really know someone before committing." "Dating apps are like having access to several bars in your pocket," says Murstein. "If you don't like what you see, you keep swiping. It allows you to meet a lot of people from different places. You are not confined to just people nearby and you don't need someone to make an introduction." Adds Rudnick, "The apps widen the dating pool, which is good, but they also cause you to make quick judgments about people based on the photos they post in their profile rather than getting to know them."
"If someone is interested in you, they will show it," says Rudnick. "And while women can pursue someone they like, I think men like to be in charge. They like to chase — it's human nature. So let them be the initiator and later, the relationship can become fifty-fifty. That may be old-fashioned, but that is what I believe."
Another pet peeve of Grandma Gail's is too much texting. "I understand it at first," she says. "But as you get to know someone, you should be talking more and texting less. And there is no need to send little texts back and forth; it just makes things complicated." Meeting the 'One' For Murstein, first dates are easy, but after that, it gets complicated. "I'm happy to get to know someone, make small talk about where they went to school, what they do for a living… but dates two and three get tougher. I start wondering, are we a good fit for the future?" she says. Rudnick calls herself "a big believer in second chances," adding, "It takes more than one date to get to know someone." Says her granddaughter, "I do think it's dangerous because the dating pool is so big. We are looking for that perfect person and don't have to settle." Grandma Gail counters, "There is no such thing as perfect. This generation is too The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
focused on having a 'spark.' You want to find someone you are comfortable with and could see starting a life together. " Grandma and Granddaughter Agree to Disagree Even though they value each other's opinions, the two women disagree with some aspects of dating. One is outfits for dates. Rudnick thinks a simple black dress is ideal for a first date, whereas Murstein's generation leans towards more casual attire like jeans.
Experts Weigh In with Advice About Giving Dating Advice While Kim Murstein is open to her grandma's advice on dating, other adult children may not be as receptive. Emma Giordano, a New York City-based therapist with Empower Your Mind Therapy says "The main reason why parents want to be involved in their adult children's love lives is because they care and want what is best for their children. They spend their lives dedicated to the success and wellbeing of their children,
They also don't see eye-toeye when it is time to meet the family. In Rudnick's view, "After two or three dates, you should meet his family. A person's family is a good indicator of their values. You want to know where he comes from." Murstein strongly disagrees, saying, "If he wants me to meet his parents after three dates, that is a red flag to me. That sounds desperate!" Bridging the Generation Gap While dating has changed over the years, some advice is timeless. "Kim and I aren't professional psychologists or life experts. But we are two strong believers in love," says Rudnick. Murstein is grateful to have a chance to learn from her grandma's vast life experience. "People have said they could never be as open with their grandmother as I am, or they wish they could communicate with their grandma the way that I do. My advice is to give it a try. Reach out to your grandma and start a dialogue. Bridge the gap and be open to another vantage point," she says. "And if you don't have a grandmother or you don't feel she would be receptive, I am happy to share Grandma Gail."
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Parents should still tread lightly if adult children are open to dating advice. "When parents express their desires to share their feelings on a child's dating path, they need to find a way to balance their care with uplifting their child's freedom," says Giordano. "Rather than telling them what to do, act as a dating 'coach.' This role allows parents to educate their child on making informed choices regarding safety, comfort and compatibility." If your child does introduce you to someone they are dating, be open-minded. Saltz says, "It's a bit of a dance for parents. You want to be welcoming, considering the person might stick around for a while. But you don't want to get so attached or invested that your child feels pressure to make it work if the relationship is not suitable for them." Having known their child their whole life, parents may feel confident that they know what they should be looking for in a partner. Saltz cautions, "If you see damaging, abusive behavior going on, you have a responsibility to step in. But otherwise, your child needs to know you respect their decisions regarding who they date. Let them know that you love them, and you are on their team always."
and that does not stop when they become adults." Cultural backgrounds, spiritual beliefs and family values can also come into play, she adds. Psychiatrist Gail Saltz, associate professor of psychiatry at the New YorkPresbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine and host of the "How Can I Help?" podcast from iHeartRadio, says, "It is not inherently good or bad for a parent to be involved in an adult child's dating life. Some children welcome their parent's input while others prefer they stay out of that aspect of their personal life."
While parents may want to protect their adult children from making mistakes or getting hurt, it isn't possible or even optimal. "It can be challenging to relinquish control and watch your child face the consequences of their actions, but they are more likely to take those lessons to heart when they experience it themselves," says Giordano. "Allowing them to make these mistakes and feel supported in their choices will go a long way in building trust, valuing your advice and strengthening your relationship. Source: www.nextavenue.org
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By Donna Apidone
"Widow Maker" Leads to Poetic Outcome Following her husband's near-fatal heart attacks, Pamela Anderson-Bartholet found emotional healing by writing poetry
If it hadn't been for a quick-thinking desk clerk at the hotel, she might not have known her husband was sick.
We have him in the ER, and he's had a couple more cardiac arrests. We're trying to find the blockage. And every second counts. We're doing everything we can.'
If it hadn't been for an understanding highway patrol officer, she might not have found the airport. If it hadn't been for a cardiologist's experience, her husband might not have lived. And if it hadn't been for her habit of documenting her life in poetry, Pamela Anderson-Bartholet might not have written "Widow Maker." In just 26 poems, Anderson-Bartholet shares the progression of her husband Al Bartholet's multiple heart attacks and recovery, and their family's experience with shock and healing. You might not think to translate such a crisis into art, but for AndersonBartholet, poetry is the most natural outlet. "It was just my way of expressing myself," she said. "I love poetry because I can revise and work it out on the page."
Credit: Aaron Burden
called Anderson-Bartholet but the only information he had was that her husband had been taken to George Washington University Hospital. So she started the five-hour drive north. Her phone rang again. "The doctor came on, one of the cardiologists in ER, and I said, 'I can keep talking to you because I'm hands-free in my car.' She said, 'Why don't you pull over? Just take all the time you need, and once you're in a safe place, let me know.' And I thought, 'This is going to be bad. This is going to be really bad.'"
'This is Going to Be Really Bad' There was a lot to work out for the couple. In June 2015, both were on business that took them away from their Virginia home on the day Bartholet collapsed.
As Anderson-Bartholet recalls the moment, her speech slows down, and she chokes up.
She was in North Carolina, and he was in a hotel in Washington, DC. The desk clerk
"I finally pulled over, and she said, 'He's had a series of cardiac arrests at this point. He had two in the ambulance.
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find the airport."
"Then I thought, I can't drive it," Anderson-Bartholet said. "I'm going to go to the closest airport. The rain is falling, falling, falling, and I'm driving, driving, driving, and I cannot
The next part of the story is as sweet as it is horrifying. Anderson-Bartholet saw that a state highway patrol officer had pulled over on the side of the road. She got the officer's attention and broke down in tears.
Poet Pamela Anderson-Bartholet
"I said, 'I have to find the airport, and I can't find it.' And he said, 'Are you sure you can drive?' I was a wreck. And I said, 'I'm sure I can drive. I just have to get to the airport,'' she explained. "And he said, 'Just follow me.' And he guided me to the airport."
Stenosis or narrowing of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery — the technical description for the heart attack known
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as "the widow maker" — is often deadly. The odds were stacked against Bartholet, and his wife knew it from the beginning. "Several doctors told us several times that ninety percent of all people just don't make it with the widow maker. When the doctor came in and visited us [in ICU], she said to Al, 'When you came in, we thought you were dead.' Five times his heart stopped." Her husband's surgery was successful. In slightly more than hour, doctors revived him multiple times, found the blockage and inserted a stent. His recovery took several months. Her emotional recovery took just as long.
being vigilant with what he was eating. The writing helped a lot, but then" — and here her voice gets light and bright — "I started practicing yoga." Yoga gives Anderson-Bartholet a focus, just as poetry does. "I found that if I was standing on one foot, trying not to fall over, it was the only thing I could think about. I couldn't think about the past, which was so painful, and I couldn't worry about the future, which felt so tenuous. I had to think about that pose in that second."
Turning to Poetry as Therapy "I felt like my senses were exposed. Everything I was seeing — everything — was this bright color, like a big spotlight shining on things, which is so exhausting. We were both exhausted," she said. Anderson-Bartholet turned to poetry as her therapy. She has been writing since childhood. She studied English and has a master of fine arts in poetry. "Once I started to write, and unleashed that, it was so much more freeing," she said. "I didn't talk about it for a long time. I just wrote and wrote and wrote." Anderson-Bartholet continued, "I'm a lover of prose, but I can't work on that massive canvas. It's too much for me. Poetry allows me to take a single idea that expresses that particular feeling or thought. When I put it on a page, it's almost like putting it in a box. Then I've captured that, and I can move on from it in a different way." Poetry was only part of the healing. "The writing helped, and it helped to have tasks like organizing his pills or The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
advice of one of his doctors.
It's been almost six years since Al Bartholet collapsed. The couple lives in Ohio now. They are taking the nonmedical
"'Don't turn into a cardiac cripple,'" Anderson-Bartholet quoted the doctor. "That's someone who is afraid to do anything in the future. It's always a part of us, but not it's not the only thing. It's 'a' thing. And so just move on from that to enjoy family and friends and other experiences." Anderson-Bartholet's poetry now benefits other families with similar experiences. Her book is distributed by a local hospital to people going through cardiac rehabilitation. "To help them understand they are absolutely not alone," she said. "Somebody else is dealing with the metrics and the pills and the fear… and the triumph of getting through. And still, here we are, and it's a beautiful day."
An Excerpt from "Widow Maker" What Color Are the Blue Ridge Mountains? …I ask my husband as we drive east on Route 33 toward Skyline Drive and the Shenandoah National Park. We debate this question as if it were the most vital issue of the day. Dusty blue. Gray blue. It is three weeks exactly since his world stopped five times: Twice in the ambulance, thrice in ER. Widow maker, a surgeon told us. A miracle he survived, said another. And it does seem like a miracle right now, our car cruising comfortably at 60. John Martyn's Solid Air whispering through the sound system. My hand snugged into his and resting on the console between us. Smoky blue. Shadow blue. We don't talk about the days he lost in ICU, plumber's auger down his throat and balloon pump doing his heart's work. When I explain to friends, I demonstrate: This is his heart, I say, making a fist with my left hand. Over the top I wrap my right thumb, index and middle fingers These are his arteries. In the webbing between index and middle, that's where it happened. Where a speck stoppered his heart like a cork in a wine bottle Ocean blue. Rain cloud blue. I don't mention my newest nightmare: A dog that lunged at me then snapped its jaws around my demonstration fingers. The way my free digits gripped its snout, bearing down and dragging the beast toward me, our eyes locked and terror growing. Steel blue. Slate blue. We drive, and I want to keep going, past our street and up the steep, curving highway. Past the fear that my heart might continue beating after his is done. Source: www.nextavenue.org
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Master Gardener's Perspective
By Sheila Galloway Robertson
Shamrocks are for Sharing
March 17th is in the air, and my shamrocks are “restoring” their hardy growth, getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day!
stem. The “deadheading” only serves to make the shamrocks grow more beautifully.
Oxalis, commonly called a shamrock plant, grows a green and purple leaf, both of which produce lovely pink and white blooms. Did you know that this special plant “sleeps at night”? Around dusk time, the leaves begin to close up; and when morning arrives, this plant opens up to start the new day.
I hope this plan for your shamrock plants will help them grow all year and delight you and many other gardeners.
Late winter is a prime time to repot or plant the oxalis rhizomes, which are the small roots. If repotting, you should begin by filling clay pots with good soil, and place the tubers under the soil, keeping the soil moist. If potting the shamrocks for display indoors, be sure to place the pots in front of a sunny window. Shamrocks also make lovely additions to the garden as ground covers. When planting shamrocks in the soil, you should place the oxalis rhizomes horizontally or you can angle them diagonally. Whether planted in pots or planted in the soil, the rhizomes will need normal fertilizing. Apply the fertilizer around the rhizomes, not directly on them. The shamrocks will show their new growth in a few weeks, especially with God’s beautiful sunshine shining on the plant. When the leaves become “droopy,” they should be pinched off or cut off from the lower
My special interest with shamrocks begins with my family background. I am first generation Scotch/Irish. My mother and father were born in Glasgow, Scotland, so the identity is strong. Besides my love for shamrocks, I have a fondness for Scottish heather which grows profusely there. Extending the connection to the next generation, our daughter Susan Heather Robertson Sturdivant was born on St. Patrick’s Day! This is considered -“A modern Irish blessing!” I always loved this Ancient Irish Blessing,
one that reminds me of the beauties of growing shamrocks—the work, the sunshine, the rain, the friendship of sharing, and how happy they make me. May there always be work for your hands to do May your purse always hold a coin or two May the sun always shine on your window pane May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain May the hand of a friend always be near you May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. (Unknown author)
Shamrocks grow profusely, so that enables me to share the plant with neighbors, friends, and family. Once you get started, you’ll be sharing, too. And everyone knows, the best way to enjoy a blessing is to pass it on! So, enjoy the blessings of growing and sharing shamrocks, and May your hearts feel the joy and love of shamrocks forever. Sheila G. Robertson, a Master Gardener in the Capital City Master Gardener Association since 2008, lives in Montgomery. For more information on becoming a master gardener, visit our web site, www.capcitymga.org or email capcitymga@gmail.com.
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OLLI at AUM CLASS SCHEDULE Spring Term April 04 – May 20, 2022 MONDAYS 10:00 - 11:30 am
TUESDAYS 10:00 - 11:30 am
Tai Chi for Pain Management, Ruth DeRamus and Elaine Ward
Brain Bowl, Lynda Smitherman
10:00 - 11:30 am
Arts & Crafts Fun! (Bonus Opportunity)
Posters: 150 Years of Communication, Advertising, and Propaganda, Ann Linder
12:45 - 2:15 pm
Writing Workshop: Writing and Printing Your Favorite Family Memories, Nancy Grisham Anderson
2:30 - 4:00 pm
Making Jewelry with Beads, Al and Sue Medina
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10:00 - 11:30 am
10:00 am - Indefinite Hiking Group, Dottie Blair
2:30 - 4:00 pm
Masterpieces of the Imaginations: A Great Courses Video by Professor Eric S. Rabkin, Jim Barber and Herb Shivers
WEDNESDAYS 10:00 - 11:30 am
Art on View: Exhibitions at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Elisabeth Palmer and museum docents (meets at the Museum)
10:00 - 11:30 am
Arts & Crafts Fun! (Bonus Opportunity)
12:45 - 2:15 pm
Line Dancing, Wayne Nicholson
JOIN TODAY!
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Travel Experiences with Jeff and Cindy Barganier
Booth Western Art Museum “You get me in trouble when you take me on these road trips,” she says. But more on that later. For now, let me tell you about a truly amazing museum we’ve discovered in Cartersville, Georgia. This trip served my Booth Western Art Museum Entrance wish to celeman’s wrath when he dissected Georgia in brate Cindy’s birthday which I proposed to a reign of terror. do by having our grandbabies in Georgia sing Happy Birthday to her, which they indeed did in the presence of cake, candles and the works. But prior to the happiness of that occasion, I took her exploring for a whole day. Cartersville is a skip, hop and a jump north of Atlanta just off I-75. One of its buildings features the first-ever brick-wall Coca-Cola advertisement. As we enter the historic downtown area, we pass an old Standard Oil station converted into an eclectic coffee shop, a quaint barber shop, a cute little mission-styled home, an old mansion near the street, a beautiful old courthouse with what looks like a copper dome, lots of interesting eateries: bistros, seafood, a biscuit shop—all near the historic 1854 depot that barely survived General Sher-
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Jeff with life like statue
We take a left on Museum Drive and
ion of the museum. Rave reviews. Like us, the Stockmeyer’s are on their way to visit grandchildren—in sunny Florida. They’re delightful people to talk with but we cut our chat short because it’s 25 degrees. Surrounding the museum are colossal sculptures. I immediately recognize Lewis and Clark shooting the rapids in a canoe somewhere in the Great Northwest. There’s a cowboy riding a bucking horse; a native-American straining to shoot an arrow skyward; a weathered cowboy with saddle in hand. Even an authentic totem pole stands against the wall of this amazing edifice. We enter and are blown away. This is a 120,000 square foot museum featuring contemporary Western art, Civil War art, Presidential portraits & letters, an interactive gallery for children and much, much more. Its main level has a store and café. Three levels in all, you could spend a week here and learn volumes about American history. As a matter of fact, I may come back and do just Modern West Exhibits that. That’s how grand I find it. It’s the second largest museum in Georgia and one of the largest in the country. In 2020 and 2021, this Smithsonian affiliate museum was recipient of USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Award. And it’s located in this sleepy Georgia town that, in and of itself, gushes history.
Native Indian Exhibits
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quickly find the Booth Museum and ample parking. Approaching the main entrance, we meet Todd and Kelly Stockmeyer of Michigan as they exit; and ask their opin-
I’m kind of lost in my thoughts as I stroll from one painting to the next. Cindy’s nowhere to be seen. I hear her speaking in a distant cavernous gallery and walk toward her voice. She’s found three new friends: artists Marsha Hamby Savage, Anne Spivey and Terry Metzler. They’re
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discussing … art. The ladies give us a few tips on exploring the museum as we continue our separate ways. After viewing art for a couple of hours, we drive over to the Downtown Gallery—an extension of the Booth Museum—where works of local and regional artists are featured. We locate wonderful works by Marsha Hamby Savage whom we have just met. Cindy has a “thing” about old train depots so we cross the street to visit Cartersville’s. The depot now serves as the town’s welcome center. Receptionist Cindy Smith gives us a tour that includes showing us how Confederate soldiers created gun ports in the brick wall of an upper floor in an effort to save the depot from Sherman’s troops. As we depart the depot looking for something else to write about, Cindy (the birthday girl) remarks that we must return to Cartersville and spend more time. (Perhaps the Cartersville CVB could help make that happen?) We cruise the track-divided town and soon discover Drowned Valley Brewery. Of note here is the fact that Cindy doesn’t really drink anything stronger than coffee—most of the time. But I enjoy visiting these small-town breweries for the atmosphere, conversation with the locals and, of course, to sample their creations. (It comes with the job.) The brewery is located in what appears to have once been an automotive
Presidential Gallery
Civil War Gallery
showroom. The space reminds me of one any event, we decline refills. I escort her of our favorite restaurants in Lee County, to the car where she gets the silly-giggles. Alabama called The Waverly Local. But I Everything, it seems, is hilarious. “I’ve had digress. We approach the affable young nothing to eat all day long but half a croisbartender who helps us select the perfect sant,” she explains. (We just ate pretzels.) craft beers. He brings Cindy a Then she laughs, “I’m small sample of “Long Gone a lot more laid back Blonde.” Where do they when I’m drunk. You come up with these names? get me in trouble when She likes it! She likes it a lot. you take me on these So, we order her a 9-ounce road trips.” Yikes! It was glass. I select my own, order only nine ounces. And some pretzels, and we grab a I drank half of it. Next table. The bartender comes adventure in search over and gives us a little of culture, I’ll be sure historical perspective on why and delete the Long the establishment is called Gone Blonde from the Drowned Valley. It seems, on itinerary. his march through the area, Sherman decided to flood the Cindy and Jeff enjoy a beer whole valley by either blowing up a dam or creating one. If there’s a beer Learn More: named for Sherman, it is no doubt a bitter www.downtowncartersville.org brew to folks in these parts! www.boothmuseum.org www.drownedvalleybrewing.com After a while, Cindy looks at me with a www.annespiveyfineart.com funny smile and says, “I’m about fifty www.terrymetzler.com percent drunk.” Now, I’m perplexed about how a girl can be fifty percent drunk. In www.marshasavage.co
Jeff S. Barganier is a novelist, travel writer and manager of Cindy Barganier Interiors LLC. He travels far and wide upon the slightest excuse for something interesting to write about. Contact: Jeffbarganier@knology.net. Instagram: @jeffbarganier. Visit: www.jeffbarganier.com.
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FIDDLER ON THE ROOF | Broadway In Birmingham
The original production won ten Tony Awards®, including a special Tony Award® for becoming the longest-running Broadway musical of all time. You’ll be there when the sun rises on this new production, with stunning movement and dance from acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter, based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins. A wonderful cast and a lavish orchestra tell this heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and the timeless traditions that define faith and family. Featuring the Broadway classics “Tradition,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “To Life,” FIDDLER ON THE ROOF will introduce a new generation to this uplifting celebration that raises its cup to joy! To love! To life! Performances: Thursday, March 31, 2022: 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 1, 2022: 8:00 p.m., Saturday, April 2, 2022: 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 2, 2022: 8:00 p.m., Sunday, April 3, 2022: 1:00 p.m., Sunday, April 3, 2022: 6:30 p.m. ACT I: 1 hour 30 minutes- INTERMISSION: 15 minutes- ACT II: 1 hour 10 minutes -RUNNING TIME: 2 hours 55 minutes. For tickets visit www.americantheatreguild.com/birmingham/shows/fiddler
The Righteous Brothers: Bill Medley & Bucky Heard @ Gogue Performing Arts Center Blue-eyed soul pioneers The Righteous Brothers are back! With a string of number-one classic hits, including the most played song in radio history, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame duo topped the charts for four decades. For this tour, Bill Medley teams with Alabama native and Auburn University alum Bucky Heard. A gutsy rock and roll singer with incredible vocal range, Heard has shared the stage with legends like Andy Williams and Glen Campbell, and is the perfect fit for The Righteous Brothers’ live performances. This concert experience features the group’s biggest hits—”Lovin’ Feelin’,” “Soul & Inspiration,” “Unchained Melody,” “Rock and Roll Heaven,” and Medley’s Grammy Award-winning “The Time of My Life” from Dirty Dancing, and much, much more! Performance is April 23, tickets available at www.goguecenter.auburn.edu
Local Financial Advisor Offers “Do not Become a Victim of Identity Theft!” webinar Susan Moore of Moore Wealth Management, Inc. (MWM) in Montgomery, AL conducts a free workshop/ webinar every year in March on techniques to prevent identity theft. The workshop is updated every year to include new types of identity theft that are occurring and new measures to counteract them. Due to the pandemic, this year’s workshop will be conducted by webinar on Wednesday, March 30th from noon to 1:30 p.m., is complimentary and without obligation. There will be both a live and recorded version. Please call the Moore Wealth Management office for further information or reservations at 334.270.1672 or email Sarah@moorewealthmanagement.com. If you miss the webinar, we also offer free consultations that are
Susan Clayton Moore, J.D. without obligation. Webinar participants receive an action plan containing things to do to minimize the chances that they become victims of identity theft. Topics include methods to protect your credit rating, credit, and debit cards, as well as banking and brokerage accounts. We review how criminals use scanners to collect information on cards used at ATMs, gas pumps and convenience stores.
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Jannah Bailey Named River Region United Way President & CEO The River Region United Way has named Jannah Bailey as its new President and CEO. Bailey will join RRUW on March 1. She succeeds Ron Simmons, who was recently named the new Chief Officer, Destination and Community Development, at the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. Bailey, a Montgomery native, is joining RRUW after leading Child Protect Children’s Advocacy Center for more than two decades. Child Protect, an RRUW affiliate agency, was established in 1989 to help law enforcement investigate child abuse cases. Bailey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Juvenile Corrections from Auburn University at Montgomery. She is married to retired Montgomery Family Court Judge Bob Bailey. Bailey is also an active member of the Montgomery Sunrise Rotary Club and a graduate of Leadership Montgomery and Leadership Alabama. In 2018 Bailey was named the Leading Lady Award for Professional and Community Service by the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama. Her family was selected as a Family of the Year in 2010 by the Family Guidance Center. Since 2019, she has represented District 5 on the Montgomery County Board of Education. “The board and leadership of the River Region United Way are excited to welcome Jannah Bailey to our team,” said Rhea Ingram, Ph.D., chair of the River Region United Way Board of Directors. “She is bringing to RRUW a deep understanding of the challenges River Region families face and decades of experience creating broad and diverse coalitions to drive change. We have no doubt that her experience leading nonprofits and her energy and passion for serving others will help RRUW continue to evolve to serve the River Region better.” “I am both humbled and excited about becoming the next director of the River Region United Way,” Jannah Bailey said. “We are not your grandmother’s United Way! I am looking forward to working with the staff and board to continue United Way’s mission and respond to our region’s needs.” The River Region United Way serves more than 40 community partner agencies in Montgomery, Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes and Macon counties. Source, www.alabamanews.net
Bob Dylan Live, Rough and Rowdy Ways World Wide Tour The Rough and Rowdy Ways World Wide Tour (2021-2024) was announced in September 2021. [5] The shows were announced as the first leg of a world tour in support of Dylan's album Rough And Rowdy Ways, set to run until 2024. It was the first time he had played to a live audience since December 2019, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forcing Dylan to pause his decades-long 'Never Ending Tour'. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin on November 2, 2021, the first show of the first leg of the tour, Dylan introduced two new members of his touring band: drummer Charley Drayton, replacing Matt Chamberlain, and guitarist Doug Lancio, replacing Charlie Sexton. Dylan played eight of the 10 songs from Rough and Rowdy Ways at every show on this leg of the tour, which was acclaimed by critics, some of whom noted that it was rare for a "legacy artist" to focus so extensively on recent material in live performance. Performance monday March 21, for tickets visit www.mpaconline.org
Capital City Master Gardeners Association Lunch & Learn @ The Armory, Capital City Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn, the 1st Wednesday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They will meet at Armory Learning Arts Building, 1018 Madison Ave., Montgomery 36104. Mark your calendars, March 2, "Butterflies of Alabama", Soyna Moore, Autauga County Master Gardener, will be presenting the program, “Butterflies of Alabama”. You have seen butterflies in your own backyard. Can you identify them? Do you know how to attract them? What are their feeding habits? April 6, "Backyard Fruits", Mallory Kelley, ACES, Regional Extension Agent, will present a program on “Backyard Fruits”. If you have always wanted to grow fruit in your own yard, join us for ideas about planting different fruit varieties that are perfect for this area. Learn about best practices for harvesting a fruit crop at home. Join us for this Lunch and Learn program and find out! This will be fun! Plan to wear your mask and socially distance, as mandated by the City of Montgomery. BRING A SACK LUNCH, FREE PROGRAM, WATER PROVIDED, For information, please contact the Montgomery County Extension Office 334.270.4133. Also visit www.capcitymga.org.
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Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott performing at Alys Stephens Center
Reserve your seat for the event of the season. The VIVA HEALTH Gala is more than a performance. The funds raised are instrumental to UAB Arts and directly support AEIVA, AIM, ArtPlay and the ASC. This year’s event will culminate the celebration of the Alys Stephens Center’s 25th Anniversary and ArtPlay Community Arts Education’s 10th Anniversary. We are thrilled to welcome Grammy Award-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma back to the Jemison Concert stage. Ma and pianist, Kathryn Stott will share their most recent musical collaboration, “Songs of Comfort and Hope.” This new album includes 21 new recordings, which span modern arrangements of traditional folk tunes, canonical pop songs, jazz standards, and mainstays from the Western classical repertoire. Come celebrate and support our organizations with an unforgettable evening. Ticket information at www.alysstephens.org/gala
Last free webinar is March 8th
Unlock the Power of Essential Oils Why aromatherapy certification is the life-changing key you’ve been looking for Register for FREE https://www.aromahead.com/acp-webinar-aff?ref=tracybhalla
You’ll walk away with: Eye-opening essential oil facts you may not have considered, for example: • Skin-safety tips when using essential oils in the sun • Why Latin names can make ALL the difference in your blends • A closer look at the importance of essential oil chemistry • How GC/MS tests reveal the inner workings of your essential oils A clear picture of where you are in your essential oil journey and what’s next for you, based on: • True or false questions that will help you assess your knowledge (+ all the answers!) • A vision of what essential oil confidence and credibility really looks like • The multitude of ways aromatherapy certification will open the door to incredible opportunities in your life!
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Last free webinar is March 8th
There is such a wealth of knowledge in these courses, you will not regret taking a look, and who knows? It could be a turning point in your life. I would particularly advise the many folks out there who are selling EOs but don’t actually know much about them to take advantage of this great webinar. Pass it on to your DoTerra or Young Living folks! I can’t stress how important it is that we use these super concentrated substances with • NAHA (National Association for Holistic the care and awe that they deserve – and you Aromatherapy) deserve! You will get so much more out of • AIA (Association for International Aromatherapy) them than you do now and once you start to • IFPA (International Federation of truly understand the science behind why they can do the things they Professional Aromatherapists) do, you will be able to make blends for yourself If you appreciate essential oils and want to and for others and truly get more out of every drop, I know you’ll love this training! I know I did! (Did I mention that be able to help people. scan QR code to register it’s FREE??) Now isn’t that just the for FREE EO course best feeling?! https://www.aromahead.com/acp-webinaraff?ref=tracybhalla >>>> Last free webinar date is March 8th, HURRY! Here’s a bit more about why we partner with the Aromahead Institute... Aromahead makes the study and therapeutic use of essential oils accessible to thousands of casual learners and healing arts professionals around the globe. Their education is backed by industry-leading organizations, including
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Zoo Weekend at the Montgomery Zoo, Saturday and Sunday, March 26-27 Join us for the 46th Annual Zoo Weekend at the Montgomery Zoo, Saturday and Sunday, March 26-27, 9am - 6pm daily (last admission at 5pm). Grab your friends and family, and join us for this annual zoo spring fundraiser as the Montgomery Zoo is transformed into a festive, carnival-like environment with two stages of live entertainment featuring local and regional bands, games, rides, bouncy houses, big inflatable slides, petting zoo, animal encounters, karate demos, school choirs, dance troops, MFD Smoke House, MPD and Montgomery County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit presentation, live animal presentations, a vast assortment of delicious concessions, and a time outdoors viewing and enjoying wildlife from around the world. The Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum is a 42-acre zoological facility located minutes from the heart of historic, downtown Montgomery. The Montgomery Zoo features five continental realms displaying a variety of exotic animals native to Africa, Asia, Australia, North America, and South America. A trademark addition of the Zoo is the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum, housing the one of the Southeast’s largest collections of preserved North American wildlife, artifacts, and fossils. The Zoo also features a fresh and saltwater exhibit, Waters of the World, exhibiting aquatic wildlife encompassing the globe. Learn more and have a personal wildlife experience at our giraffe encounter, parakeet cove, lion training sessions, elephant keeper talks, and petting zoo. Take a step on the wild side while enjoying a sky lift adventure ride, train ride, rock climbing wall, twin spin, and big inflatable slides. Enjoy these many activities, fantastic food and have fun together at an affordable price during Zoo Weekend at the Montgomery Zoo. It is also an excellent opportunity to take advantage of discounted annual memberships. All event proceeds from this event will be contributed to the construction of a new Reptile Facility with its feature animals being the critically endangered, Gharial, an Indian crocodile, King Cobra, Komodo Dragon, and Galapagos Giant Tortoise. Locations: Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Museum 2301 Coliseum Parkway, Montgomery, Alabama 36110. For more visit www.montgomeryyzoo.com
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See Green and Sleep Better with the Allay Therapy Lamp All light, including artificial light, is made up of different color waves. Red, blue, yellow and green waves all make up the light we see. These light waves create brain activity via electrical signals transmitted through the eye. These signals affect everything from mood to sleep, as well as creating headache pain. While there has been much made in the media about the blue light waves from technology screens disturbing sleep, the reality is that any and every light source with a combination of waves can be problematic. Except for one: green light waves. While green light still sends electrical signals to the brain, those signals are much smaller and far less disturbing than the other colors. The science behind headaches for most people involves sensitivity to light. The brain calming effects of the specific and narrow band of patented green light wavelengths used by the Allay Lamp reduces migraine pain, stress and improves sleep quality. Talk about mood boosting; sleep does a body good! With the help of a neuroscientist, a team of entrepreneurs and an engineer from NASA, the Allay Lamp was developed to address the needs of people who suffer with headaches, light sensitivity, difficulty sleeping, and the resulting stress that comes with those disruptions. It’s just a bonus that the lovely shade of green the lamps emit are a perfect addition to any space where calm needs to prevail. To learn morre visit www.allaylamp.com
Explore the History of the Gulf South Through Decorative ArtsLamp On view, through April 10, 2022, Pieces of History: Decorative Arts of the Gulf South reflects the stories of the early migrants to Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana through the items they purchased, created, and used while they made their homes and lives. It is accompanied by, Walk Humbly, an exhibition conceived in two parts: works that address the issues surrounding artist Nell Gottlieb’s family’s cotton plantation legacy and new works created in response to the decorative objects in the adjacent exhibition, Pieces of History. For more info visit www.mmfa.com
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Caregiver of the Month Spotlight:
OLLIE DAVIS
Ollie has been a part of the Home Care Assistance of Montgomery family since October of 2021. In the past 45 days Ollie has proven to be one of the most reliable caregivers that we have. It did not matter the time, nor the hour Ollie was there to care for any client who needed care. She embodies LOVE, INFECTIOUS SMILE, EMPATHY, AND COMPASSION.
“One person caring for another represents life’s greatest value. -John Rohn”. Mrs. Ollie WE SALUTE YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE! For more information visit www.homecareassistancemontgomery.com
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Historic Partridge Inn, Iconic Augusta Landmark A Destination to Explore
Undergoing Refurbishment to emerge with fresh, new design throughout
AUGUSTA, GA. -- The Partridge Inn, Augusta’s historic landmark hotel, is preparing to welcome guests to its next decade of impeccable service and aweinspiring design. The historic hotel will start the transformation on September 15th, temporarily closing its doors to the public, emerging with a targeted re-grand reopening in late March of 2022, well in advance of Augusta’s most iconic event, The Masters Tournament. The property will go through a complete transformation of all its public spaces and guest rooms. This top to bottom update will include installing a newly designed and expansive indoor bar, long considered the “watering hole” of Augusta, and will see the refurbishment of its iconic rooftop bar, which will have expanded indoor and outdoor covered seating. The Partridge Inn’s landmark 200 ft. verandah will stay intact with additional upgrades for greater allweather usage. All ballrooms and meeting space will go through complete redesign well in advance of the hotels bustling wedding business in April, May, and June. “At The Partridge Inn, we hold a deep understanding of the role this beautiful property plays within the Augusta community,” Greg Winey, President of NorthPointe Hospitality Management, said. “From its beginning as a well-appointed inn, The Partridge Inn has long stood as a beacon of the community. In this redesign, these layers come together to weave a rich patchwork worthy of the stories and good times that have been had there. We will be delighted to welcome guests into a new Partridge Inn that has maintained its historic charm.”
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The exterior of The Partridge Inn will retain its beautiful, traditional white shade and, of course, its iconic verandahs. Inside, through these transformative renovations, historical touches will be added to every corner of this beautiful property, connecting the venerable past with “today” through artwork, displays and more. Interior decor in the hotel’s luxurious guest rooms will feature minimalist, yet elevated detail, utilizing a color scheme that will ring
patio area, with gold accents and botanical details that create a charming and romantic atmosphere perfect for preparing for that big day. On the top floor, the hotel’s rooftop bar will undergo an expansion, with increased outdoor seating and square footage, eliminating the current indoor space in favor of a larger covered, outdoor bar area. Its new, updated design will offer a whimsical escape for locals and guests alike. On the main level, guests will be
familiar to those who have been longtime patrons of The Partridge Inn. The new sage green and cream color palettes, warm wood furnishings and botanical decor motifs will also pay a nod to Augusta, known as The Garden City. Guest rooms will also receive new bathrooms, drapes, carpeting, lighting, historic pictures, desks, nightstands, luxury linens, open closet systems with coffee stations and new HD 55” TVs. New carpets throughout all public spaces will evoke a nod to decades past, with the subtle detailing remnant of art deco styles. The reimagined lobby will greet guests with unprecedented hospitality, Southern charm, and comfort, welcoming all with open arms to the bright future of Augusta’s crown jewel.
treated to a newly heated saltwater pool.
A bridal suite will be added, enhancing the hotel’s popular wedding offerings. The new suite will feature a kitchenette and
The P.I. Bar and Grill, an iconic, “Readers’ Choice Award Winner” in Augusta for the past five years, will see a complete overhaul and new name, 8595. Fresh paint, flooring, furniture, and an entirely new and expansive bar layout will allow patrons to gather 360 degrees at 8595. Under the direction of Executive Chef Thomas Jacobs, 8595 will offer Southern fare with a modern twist. A few sample menu items include Duck Fat Fried Chicken, Ginger BBQ Glazed Short Rib, Roasted Hen, Pan Seared Salmon and Shrimp & Grits. The hotel’s rooftop restaurant and lounge, Six South Rooftop Bar, will serve small plates, handcrafted cocktails, and Southern oysters. “We are honored to be part of the Partridge Inn’s long, esteemed history. Our The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
partnership with the existing ownership and management team is a testament to our commitment to the property, local Augusta community and valued staff members,” says Andrew Lam, Director of Real Estate at Taconic Capital. “We’re excited to breathe new life and excitement into the hotel’s iconic character through a multitude of upgrades and new touches.” Taconic Capital is a new co-owner of The Partridge Inn, having purchased a majority stake in the hotel in August. Founded in 1999, Taconic is a global investment firm that pursues a multi-strategy investment approach dedicated to generating strong risk-adjusted returns. Originally constructed as a private home in the 1890s and later opened as a hotel, the 112-year- old property is steeped in tradition, with the city’s past mingling with its bright present. Throughout the years, the hotel has served as a gathering place for celebrities, professional athletes, dignitaries, and government officials alike. Its grand ballrooms have not only entertained the likes of President Warren G Harding, but have also hosted generations of weddings, family gatherings and community celebrations. The epitome of Southern hospitality, this esteemed hotel has also become part of the fabric of Augusta’s long- standing Masters traditions, with guests returning year after year to rub elbows with the rich and famous, reunite with old friends and, of course, watch one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world. It was and remains to this day the place to see and be seen in Augusta. Walking through
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Guest Room
the hallowed halls of this iconic hotel, one can feel its memories. Its floorboards, walls and sweeping verandahs hold reminders of a bygone era, of generations worth of weddings, celebrations, and reunions, of laughter, joy and community. The Partridge Inn has had many incarnations over the years, but it has always been a force in Augusta. Like renovations before it, preservation of the Partridge Inn’s history will remain paramount. Though large areas of the hotel will see a transformation, there is a deep understanding of the hotel’s connection to the Summerville neighborhood, Augusta and the longtime returning guests who count on the PI to act as great stewards of lasting memories. The Partridge Inn,
Rooftop
beloved by both out-of- town patrons and locals alike, will continue to maintain its Southern Charm by preserving its historic, timeless exterior design which includes its over 200 ft. verandah that watches over the city at night. About The Partridge Inn The Partridge Inn, located in the historic Summerville neighborhood of Augusta, Ga, began life in the 1890s as a modest twostory private residence, opening as The Partridge Inn in 1910. The hotel enjoyed such great success that expansion after expansion led to its present city-block size in 1929. The hotel gained prominence as a central gathering spot for the winter elite, hosting golf legends, presidents and legendary tea-dances in its grand halls and
Bar ballrooms, while the ground floor housed a post office, telegraph office, flower shop, bookstore, barbershop, and hairdressing parlor. The hotel consists of five guest room floors and a rooftop located on the sixth floor. The historic hotel has 143 rooms, many of which overlook the Augusta skyline or the garden pool area. The hotel also offers a fitness room, complimentary Wi-Fi, in- room refrigerators, coffee stations and HD 55” TVs in guest rooms and workstations.
The Partridge Inn may be found online at www.partridgeinn.com Phone: (706) 737-8888 Connect with the hotel on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ThePartridgeInn/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/thepartridgeinn/
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BOOM! COVER PROFILE
Barbara Davis, Artist Like Him, light makes everything beautiful!
This month’s cover profile is about creativity and persistence in doing what you love to do and making a living doing it. Barbara Davis is living her dream of painting for a living, and she has established herself as an accomplished artist with a special gift from God. As an artist, Barbara especially loves the light she has discovered through her work, she prefers plein air, painting outdoors, painting from life. This painting style was life-changing, and it inspired her to paint wherever she was, vacations, most weekends and even some nights after work or in her car on lunch hour! Barbara became an artist who painted life and light among other subjects. One of her unique talents is painting the live scene at weddings and special events, a skill for only the best artists, the ones who can work against the clock! We recently spent some time with Barbara in a garden where she was most at home, with her French easel, the variations of nature’s light… she is an inspiration for any of us who want to find our creative path. We hope you enjoy getting to know Barbara as much as we have and be sure to share this month’s cover profile with a friend. children, but we have always lived here since we married.
BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e., where you’re from, education, what brought you to the Montgomery area, did you raise your family here, schools, married, family, etc.?
BOOM!: You have been painting since you were 14, please share your journey to
Barbara: I was born here in Montgomery and raised here except for almost a year Barbara with her husband John when we lived in Selma when becoming a fullI was four years old. My dad opened time artist who a store there for the company he was sells paintings for with, but we came right back to the a living at Barbara same house, and I’ve never left here. I Davis Fine Art? went to Floyd Elementary (where I first At some point in met my husband, John!), Floyd Junior your journey, you High and Lanier High School. I graduated discovered en with a degree in Fine Art from Auburn plein air, what is it University Montgomery in 1987. John and why do you love it so? and I were married at Trinity Presbyterian Church in 1988. We don’t have any
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Barbara: Being a full-time artist is all I ever wanted to do. It’s not something you pop out of college and start doing, though! It takes a lot of time to develop your skill, get into galleries, establish yourself and sell enough to make a living. Because we needed my income, too, I did many other jobs and even gave up on ever being a full-time artist at one point. It kept tugging at me and I knew deep down it was what God called me to do. I just didn’t know why, if He had called me to do it, had years gone by without it happening. When I turned 40, I was exasperated. I knew this art career was not going to fall into my lap. I began to paint
A Selfie moment, John and Barbara
wholeheartedly and trusting God with where it would lead.
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A Few Days in April, 10x10, oil
So, on a Florida trip that summer of 2004, I picked up some magazines to read on the beach and one of them was American Artist. In that issue, there was an article about plein air painting and another article about an artist who loved to paint in plein air. (Plein air painting is painting outdoors; painting from life.) I wanted my paintings to look like the ones I saw in the magazine and determined to get a French easel when I got home and start painting in plein air! It was life-changing! I was hooked! I painted every weekend, on vacation and even some nights after work or in my car on my lunch hour! My work improved and I began to get into competitions, art shows and win some prizes. I networked with some wonderful artists and arts organizations like The Montgomery Art Guild and Alabama Plein Air Artists. This all gave me a great deal of confidence and I gained gallery representation soon after and This Kiss, 16x20, oil
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Pike Road Hayfield, 10x10, oil
began to sell. So, plein air painting was such a door for me into this full-time life as an artist.
Summer Plate, 10x10, oil
I absolutely love it because you can see the light and shadows and you experience the landscape as you paint it – all the good and the bad! BOOM!: Barbara you paint in oil and will paint most anything, could you tell us more about what you enjoy painting? What is your fascination with the sky and clouds? What role does light play in your work?
Barbara painting a special event with Auburn Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl
Cousins, 16x16, oil
Barbara: Light is what it’s all about for me – light and shadow. It creates the sense of form and brings the subject to life. My love for painting the sky came from my plein air work. I struggled with painting realistic clouds, so I began to really focus on them. Suddenly, my landscapes started becoming skyscapes. I remember the late Mark Johnson, former Director of MMFA, told me once “your horizon lines are getting lower and lower”! Remembering Rod, 18x24, oil
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I always though, Also, it’s given me the experience of remember and am an talking to people while I am painting. being old soul fascinated by particularly I get to the venue about an hour and the sky even loving Nat a half before the guests arrive so I as a child. King Cole, can work on the background and the Maybe we all Glenn placement of the still things – tables, were as kids! Miller, flowers. I sort of plot out head sizes so I I remember Louis can get proportions correct and place the a project Armstrong, bride and groom. By the time everyone during spring Bing gets there, I’m ready to start painting in the third Crosby. the people. I’m quickly scanning for the grade where wedding party and for relatives, often we had to BOOM!: depending on a kind bridesmaid or Painting live at Governor Kay Ivey’s Inaugural Ball write down You have groomsman to point out the relatives for the weather details for the day during a unique skill in that you do Live Event me! It takes about three and a half hours the month of March. My father had Paintings for weddings and special for a 16x20 to be completed. worked in an air traffic control tower occasions. during his time in the Air Force, so he Please share BOOM!: With loved weather, too! We watched the how you a busy life, skies together and tracked the types of do these how do you clouds. I think that’s when I first fell in paintings like to spend love with clouds. with the time with clock running family and But there’s something deeper for me so to speak? friends? with light and skies. There’s a spirituality Do you ever about it and certainly an obvious feel the Barbara: metaphor for Jesus, the Light of the pressure of John and I World! Like Him, light makes everything time? don’t have beautiful! children, Barbara: I but we do Psalm 19:1 says “The heavens declare always feel have a large the glory of God; the firmament shows the pressure family on my His handiwork” and Revelation 1:7 says of time! Not side and we Chewie Ball, 11x14, oil “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, only time, get together and every eye will see Him,…” but also the pressure of getting in the with some or all pretty regularly! There’s people I need to when I don’t even know usually something always going on! We BOOM!: Does who they are, do stay busy, though, and in addition to music play a what sort of John’s full-time job with the Alabama part in your composition Attorney General, he teaches part-time creativity? will I work at local universities. So between that Which music out quickly, and me working most weekends, it is genres fit your getting lights hard to get that social life in. We manage artistic style and darks though and love spending time with best? in the right friends! I particularly love it when art places, getting and socializing meet and I can paint with Barbara: I love proportions my fellow artists or we can go to the listening to right, and so museums, art shows, and painting events music while I many other together! In this job, you make friends paint and really things! I feel with artists literally all over the world. do feel like I my plein air I’ve met so many friends at various paint best when experience conventions and we keep in touch I have music has taught me through social media and Zoom chats on. It’s usually to paint fast which I am so thankful for! That’s the classical – cello because that probably the best thing that came from most likely. I love sun surely Covid – the openness to Zoom and other Barbara and her sisters, BJ, Betsy, and Brenda, and her so many genres, moves fast! ways to see your long-distance friends! mother, Patsy, celebrate Christmas pandemic-style!
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BOOM!: What are some of your favorite travel experiences? Favorite vacation spot? Any travel dreams planned?
think that’s why we love those long drives! I love the Southern hospitality and charm and the roots of home. I love that I can run into someone I’ve known since childhood almost every day.
want to make people happy more as I get older, but also be happy with myself and grow closer to God with each passing year! BOOM!: Give us three words that describe you? Barbara: Christian, introspective, sensitive
Barbara: We BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or aren’t big other activities that grab your attention? travelers, We need more Brush with Spring, 9x12, oil but my beautiful and Barbara: I love to bake and especially favorite place is Washington, D.C.! Oh, quiet natural areas that we can enjoy love to paint cookies – with food the museums and the history!! I can’t safely. We need get enough!! Again, our schedules don’t more safety. We really allow for vacations much, but need more love when my painting work takes me to a for each other that great location we will tack on a day or results in safety and two and enjoy it! I really would love to go peace. There was a to New England and paint away – oh, and time when I could go eat lobster! just about anywhere and paint standing BOOM!: Do you have time to be involved on the sidewalk. in community, civic or other activities? I don’t feel safe anymore to do that. Barbara: We go to Christchurch and love it! I’m in the Ionian Club and the Daffodil BOOM!: As you’ve Garden Club and also participate in aged, how have your various civic and community events as an priorities changed? artist both here in Montgomery and out How would you of town. describe what it means to “age well”? “We 4 Paint” show opening reception at Stonehenge Gallery: Barbara, Julia BOOM!: How do you like to relax and Wallace, Camilla Armstrong, and Carol Pugsley Jones wind down from a creative day of Barbara: It’s become painting? a priority for me to rest more! I have to coloring, of course! If I weren’t an artist, intentionally make room for it and make I think I would want to have a bakery. I Barbara: We love to take myself just slow down. I also love to visit antique stores and John long drives and watch old have a hard time saying loves it, too! When we are out of town, movies and read, read, “no” and that has become we love to pop in some and see what read! a priority, too! I think vintage treasures we can find! aging well means to get BOOM!: What is it better rather than worse! BOOM!: What are some of the future about living in the Haven’t we all known challenges you’re contemplating for Montgomery/River the elder who becomes the brand Barbara Davis Fine Art? For Region area that you like? a grumpy complainer? I yourself? What do we need more want to be the opposite of? and I think that is aging Barbara: My main artistic future well! I always think of challenge is to improve with portraiture. Barbara: I love that I our neighbor across the It is such a challenge and frustratingly so live where I grew up street when I was a little and I want to be more at ease with it. For and on every street I girl. She baked cakes, myself, take the pressure off. Not be so Pretty in Pink, 18x14, oil have a memory – and grew roses, invited the hard on myself that I lose the joy in what John and I have shared kids over to play with her I do. memories here from childhood days. I big Collie that looked just like Lassie! I The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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BOOM!: Many people over 50 experience a renewed sense of purpose, new goals, etc. How would you describe this sense of renewal in your life? Any advice for the rest of us seeking renewal? What are your thoughts on retirement? Barbara: I was just about 50 when I became a full-time artist. Since my last job was a thirteen-year career at a local bank, many people thought I had just retired when actually I was achieving a life-long dream. After years of painting on the side, I was able to leave that other work world and pursue my passion. Have you heard the old saying “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”? It’s almost true. Not every day is a dream, but it is a wonderful thing to think that I never really want to retire. In my teaching, I often encounter students who fell in love with art in their younger days. They may even have an art degree. Life got in the way – much like it did with me. Other jobs beckoned out of necessity, marriage, children – things pulled them away and now they want to pursue it. Just do it! What is there to be afraid of? BOOM!: What role does your husband John play in your creativity? Does he provide inspiration? Helping hand or get out of the way? Do you and your husband John collect art? Favorite artists?
Height of Heaven, 36x48, oil
Barbara: John is my absolute biggest cheerleader!! I don’t know what I would do without him!! He carries me to just about every single wedding I paint – he helps me load and unload and set up. We text throughout so he knows when to come get me. Many times, he sits in the car and reads or watches a movie for HOURS while he waits and all the time telling me he’s fine and having a great time. He is a real trooper! We have been to some pretty remote locations so there is nothing to do and nowhere to go but sit in the car! He’s taken me on painting excursions and to workshops and events and has become quite a good critic! We do collect art and our favorites were done by our friends who are artists! It’s like having your home full of your friends when you glance from wall to wall and see their artwork! BOOM!: For BOOM! readers interested in developing their artistic creativity, what advice would you give them? Do you offer workshops or lessons for aspiring artists? Where can readers purchase your paintings?
Barbara: I think the best advice is to get a sketchbook and a set of pencils and draw every single day. Draw the same things over and over, too. Beyond that, buy magazines or follow artists you admire and find out when they are teaching. Many have great demonstrations on YouTube and since Covid so many workshops are offered online. I do occasionally teach workshops – not as much as I used to. I often teach at Forstall Art in Birmingham and at the Pike Road Arts Center. My paintings can be purchased through my website which www.BarbaraDavisArt.com, at Stonehenge Gallery in Montgomery, Beverly McNeil Gallery in Birmingham, The Local Market in Auburn, Gallery 905 in Selma, and Local and Bloom and the Pike Road Arts Center in Pike Road. We want to thank Barbara for sharing some of her unique story with us this month. Thanks also to DiAnna Paulk for her quality cover photo of Barbara, taken in the beautiful Gardens of Grace Episcopal Church, Pike Road. If you have comments or would like to reach out to Barbara you can contact her through her website at www.barbaradavisart.com, or if you would like to add Barbara's art to your collection you can view many pieces on there as well. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions about our cover profiles, including nominating someone, please send them to Jim Watson at jim@riverregionboom.com.
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By Greg Budell
The Mayor of BOOMTOWN
"THOSE WERE THE DAYS" "A true story from the Greg files"
January 12, 1971- a date which will live in “famy” (that is the opposite of “infamy”, isn’t it?)
that saved Tricky Dick’s place on the 1952 Republican ticket. On the morning of 1/12/71 Professor Berman gave us an assignment. He said, “Tonight on TV there is a show premiering and I want you to watch it. I must warn you that this is not ‘Gilligan’s Island’. It’s a comedy but very different. You will hear words and terms used in this show that have never been on network TV previously. It’s called ‘All In The Family’. Watch it tonight and we’ll discuss it tomorrow”.
I attended Chicago Public Schools. Even so, I still managed to make it into the University of Illinois Chicago campus. We were just starting our Winter semester on the aforementioned date. As a Mass Communications major, my most important lesson every day was in the car. The radio (AM only at the time) was set to WLS. I listened and learned tuned into “Superjock” Larry Lujack, my radio hero. Hugely popular, Larry was the “un-jock” in the era of the “un-cola” (7-UP). While most DJs were babbling highspeed gibberish, Lujack was the complete opposite. Deliberate and sarcastic, he was loved and hated by people, but everyone listened! Years later after he retired, I thanked him for my career because he taught me how to grow an audience. Lesson One? Don’t be a benign, odorless, bland peoplepleasing personality because everyone will find you boring and unmemorable. It didn’t hurt I’d spent the previous summer working in the music department at WLS, a job I finagled right out of high school. I never got to meet Lujack because he was intensely private and did his show from a completely curtained studio. Much of my work involved collecting info from a quaint thing called A Record Store, so I wasn’t in the building much anyway. I’d look at those closed curtains knowing greatness was on the other side. It was kind of like the gate they kept King Kong behind.
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For once, I did my homework.
Wow. This column just went off the rails. Thanks for letting me tip my hat to the greatest DJ ever. On 1/12/71 my first class was Speech 102. It was a cool class. Professor Berman had us listen to historical media moments. One class was devoted to experiencing the 1938 broadcast of Orson Welles “War of the Worlds”. That was an infamous date in media history as his broadcast induced panic among people who missed the disclaimer at the beginning of the show. It was amusing to think people actually thought Martians were attacking New Jersey (sometimes I think they settled NJ but that’s a different column for a different day). We studied Richard Nixon’s “Checkers” speech. That was a nationally broadcast event featuring a cute dog, a cloth coat for Nixon’s wife Pat, and nuclear hokeyness
All In The Family was very different. AITF was the first sitcom to hold a mirror up to American reality. It was not Dick Van Dyke sidestepping an Ottoman for laughs. Archie Bunker (Caroll O’Connor) was like a lot of people in 1971. He was a man with many fears and prejudices. His in-house nemesis was Meathead (Rob Reiner), a college student who called his fatherin-law every name in the book while enjoying free room and board on Archie’s dime. Meathead was married to Archie’s daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers) and Archie’s wife Edith was brilliantly played by Jean Stapleton. For seven seasons AITF changed America. With laughter. All In The Family kept no sacred cows. It explored issues from racial attitudes, ethnic stereotypes, and every other form of human frailty. The show inspired many BOOMer moms to discover life after raising kids, when Edith, against Archie’s wishes, gets a job outside the Bunker home.
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The show would routinely draw audiences of 40 million viewers per week. It was the next-day topic at every water cooler in the country. The media praised it for its attempt at an honest portrayal of American society and all of its shortcomings. EVERYONE’s shortcomings. AITF spawned a number of hugely successful spinoffs, with The Jeffersons (featuring a successful but flawed black man), and Maude (a super liberated woman) among them. All In The Family is the show we need today. Socially, we are going backwards. My BOOMer brothers and sisters, we’ve lived through some challenging and amazing times. I’ve seen immeasurable social strides made in our world, in part because shows like All In The Family taught people not to be afraid of each other. Thanks to today’s “woke” culture, no network would dare run a show that would force people of every persuasion to look in the mirror and laugh at their humanity. I blame politicians. When Americans actually began getting along, working together, sharing cultures and seeing the
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value in each other, it had to be stopped. In the 70s, artists like Neil Young used free speech to take on The Establishment. Now rich and get-offmy-lawn old, Young recently attempted to shut down the Joe Rogan podcast because Rogan was broaching unique lines of thinking on Covid, vaccines and other topics the Wokesters like Young don’t want discussed. Seriously, Neil? You just sold your songwriting catalogue for $150 million. Spend some money and stop spending time looking for things to offend you. He’s so “woke” he lives in darkness. Our First Amendment is pure. I may not agree with what you say but you have the absolute right to say it. A few years back, President Obama quickly blamed Cambridge University police when they questioned one of his friends who appeared to be breaking into his own house. As it turned out, the police were doing their job but Obama, instead of apologizing for his rush to judgement, dismissed it by calling for a “dialogue on race”. In its time, All In The Family and similar shows were that dialogue. We learned. We laughed- with and at each other, but mostly at ourselves. It was a dialogue, not a shaming lecture. We were All In The Family.
We’re reliving the 70s in all the wrong ways. An old TV show from that era might be just what we need to laugh again. Maybe Neil Young can star in that new All In The Family. His intolerance of new lines of thinking is straight from Central Casting. And Joe Rogan is no Meathead. Perhaps, once again, we might sing “those were the days”.
(If you have a comment on this column, email me at gregbudell@ aol.com. It's still fun to hear from new people!) Greg Budell lives in Montgomery with his wife, Roz, Stepson, Sho, and dogs Hershey and Briscoe. He’s been in radio since 1970, and has marked 16 years in the River Region. He hosts the Newstalk 93.1FM Morning Show with Rich Thomas, Jay Scott & Jessie Lynn, 6-9 AM Monday-Friday. He returns weekday afternoons from 3-6 PM for Happy Hour with sidekick Rosie Brock. Greg can be reached at gregbudell@aol.com.
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Smart Health - Nature's Way - Tracy Bhalla
EO Education
I don’t know if I ever told you this, but I searched for a long time to find a school that I was certain would give me the best, both US and internationally recognized qualification as a certified aromatherapist. Andrea Butje’s school – The Aromahead Institute – was the perfect fit, for me and thousands of others. Becoming a credible certified aromatherapist is not something to take lightly; many courses will offer you 10, 20, maybe 30 hours tuition, pat you on the back and tell you “off you go!” Neither AIA (Alliance of International Aromatherapists) nor NAHA (National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy) would recognize that as an actual certified training course though.
If you are serious about educating yourself in the correct use of aromatherapy essential oils, you need to start with your education provider and only use one that is a recognized school with NAHA and/or AIA. To be a certified aromatherapist recognized by NAHA/AIA expect your training to be in the region of 3-400 hours(!) Of course, you don’t need to jump right in to that level, there are plenty of shorter courses to give you a feel of the subject and encourage you to take those next steps. I don’t know many people today who have absolutely no experience with essential oils and all the various claims about their wellnessenhancing properties. But very few have taken the time to learn exactly how to realize the full potential of these incredible natural substances. Essential oil education can help you separate fact from fiction and feel confident selecting the right oils to achieve the results you are looking for, every time. That’s why I’m excited to partner with The Aromahead Institute to offer the BOOM community access to a FREE, eye-opening essential oil training opportunity! Here’s the details:
Last free webinar is March 8th
Unlock the Power of Essential Oils Why aromatherapy certification is the life-changing key you’ve been looking for Register for FREE https://www.aromahead.com/acp-webinar-aff?ref=tracybhalla
You’ll walk away with: Eye-opening essential oil facts you may not have considered, for example: • Skin-safety tips when using essential oils in the sun • Why Latin names can make ALL the difference in your blends • A closer look at the importance of essential oil chemistry • How GC/MS tests reveal the inner workings of your essential oils A clear picture of where you are in your essential oil journey and what’s next for you, based on: • True or false questions that will help you assess your knowledge (+ all the answers!) • A vision of what essential oil confidence and credibility really looks like • The multitude of ways aromatherapy certification will open the door to incredible opportunities in your life!
Here’s a bit more about why we partner with the Aromahead Institute... Aromahead makes the study and therapeutic use of essential oils accessible to thousands of casual learners and healing arts professionals around the globe. Their education is backed by industry-leading organizations, including • NAHA (National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy) • AIA (Association for International Aromatherapy) • IFPA (International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists) If you appreciate essential oils and want to get more out of every drop, I know you’ll love this training! I know I did! (Did I mention that it’s FREE??) https://www.aromahead.com/acpwebinar-aff?ref=tracybhalla
Last free webinar is March 8th
There is such a wealth of knowledge in these courses, you will not regret taking a look, and who knows? It could be a turning point in your life. I would particularly advise the many folks out there who are selling EOs but don’t actually know much about them to take advantage of this great webinar. Pass it on to your DoTerra or Young Living folks! I can’t stress how important it is that we use these super concentrated substances with the care and awe that they deserve – and you deserve! You will get so much more out of them than you do now and once you start to truly understand the science behind why they can do the things they do, you will be able to make blends for yourself and for others and truly be able to help people. Now isn’t that just the best scan QR code to register for FREE EO course feeling?! >>>> Last free webinar date is March 8th, HURRY!
email: nyrbhalla@gmail.com I web: us.nyrorganic.com/shop/tracybhalla I www. LogHouseAromatics.com Tracy Bhalla, independent consultant with NYR Organics and founder of LogHouseAromatics.com; after 25 years of using homeopathic remedies, it was time to take charge and complete my Aromatherapy Certification, which I achieved April 2020 and since founded LogHouseAromatics.com as a source for useful essential oil and general natural health information and a place to purchase certain products. email: nyrbhalla@gmail.com I am here to answer any questions you may have.
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