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A guide to good living in the Brazos Valley

Inside...

Physical therapy

Physical therapists can help with pain using natural methods Pg. 4

Health

Vision changes that occur as you age Pg. 9 November 2015 • Vol. 15, Issue 4 • A monthly publication of the Bryan-College Station Eagle

Recognizing those who serve Bryan man shares Vietnam War experience, see local Veterans Day events PAGE 6

PUBLISHER Crystal DuPre

SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR/ PUBLICATION DESIGNER Shauna Lewis

DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING Sean Lewis

shauna.lewis@theeagle.com

DISPLAY ADVERTISING MANAGER Linda Brinkman

SPECIAL PROJECTS/ MARKETING COORDINATOR Erika Liesman

CONTENTS

Physical therapy: Get help with pain naturally Financial literacy: Peace in divorce Feature: Recognizing those who serve Memory medic: Why senior years are the best Health: Vision changes as you age Calendar: Local events for seniors

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Cover photo by Mike Neu: A veteran salutes during last year’s Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Park in College Station. See this year’s local Veterans Day events, page 6.

Senior Circle is out to expand your horizons

Come play with someone your own age!

with an exciting calendar of events scheduled around town and around the world. If you’re 50 or better, want to meet new people, learn more about your health, travel and just have fun, then Senior Circle is for you. Dues are just $15 a year.

To join or for more information, call 979-764-5107 or visit CSMedCenter.com.

Become part of the Circle.

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Keys to a life well lived, from those near the end of life

“There is nothing quite as satisfying as a life well lived,” Steve said. “I’ve got regrets, but those are all water under the bridge now. I’m living each day making the best decisions I know how, and trying to let the rest go.”

A life well lived. Most of us would like to be able to say that. In many ways, there is no substitute for experience. We learn and grow as we age, hopefully building within us a reservoir of what is commonly called “wisdom.”

One dictionary defines wisdom as “the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight.” Another says wisdom is “a habit or disposition to perform the action with the highest degree of adequacy under any given circumstance.” In other words, wisdom is the ability to do the best thing possible, in the best way possible, given what’s happening at the Gary Roe Hospice moment.

Wise King Solomon once said to his son: “Get wisdom.

Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” We can’t do without it. With it, we can make a huge impact.

Life is a moving target. Wisdom helps us aim well.

November is National Hospice Month. As a hospice chaplain, I get to meet with and listen to people who are approaching what I call “the rim of the canyon.” Standing in the present, they look back and evaluate decades of ups and downs, successes and failures.

Many see things more clearly than they ever have. As they speak, wisdom flows.

Today I would like to share a little of their wisdom with you. In a variety of ways, I have heard the following five “wise sayings” from most of my patients. My heart resonated with them. Perhaps yours will, too.

1. “Life is about people and relationships. Never forget that.”

Ralph said that, while smiling and tearing up at the same time. I’ve heard some version of this from almost every hospice patient I’ve had the honor to serve. Both their greatest joys and most painful regrets involve other people.

Our personalities, likes, dislikes and almost everything about us are profoundly influenced (if not determined) by who we’re connected T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

to, how deeply, and when. We’re all of incredible value, and have more impact and influence than we realize. We love and are loved. We’ve been wounded, and we’ve hurt others. We’re far from perfect, and we’re in this together. Life is indeed about relationships.

2. “I’m not in control of very much.”

“I can’t believe all the time and energy I wasted trying to control things. I missed out on a lot,” Sally said.

I can relate. Yes, there are plenty of control freaks out there. These folks can’t settle unless they’re trying to fix someone or something. But all of us have the “control gene” to some degree.

We think we know what we want, and many times unconsciously speak and act in such a way to move things in that direction. We employ a variety of strategies: criticism, niceness, anger, placating, silence, talkativeness, fear, deception, guilt, etc. We have quite a few control weapons in our arsenal.

In reality, Sally is right. We’re not in control of very much. We don’t cause our own hearts to beat or our lungs to function. We do have some say, however, about what thoughts we allow to take up residence in our minds and the actions that stem from them.

What if we turned our energies from control to disciplining our minds toward loving thoughts and behaviors?

I’m betting our relationships would benefit.

3. “I wish I had learned to let go of more, sooner.”

“I spent a lot of time worrying. I hung onto what happened along the way - what I did to others, and what they did to me. I didn’t know I was adding weight to my life. No wonder things got heavier and more difficult,” Stephanie shared.

For many of us, life has been a war. We’ve been wounded, some of us severely. We’ve been wronged, abused, neglected, slandered, rejected and passed over. Wounds accumulate. Scar tissue can take over our hearts. When our scars get bumped by other things in life, an old wound can instantly become fresh again.

We all have baggage. Unpacking it along the way isn’t easy. Traveling light is a skill to be developed over time. Life requires almost continual forgiveness - of others and ourselves. Learning to let go is hard, but worth it. It’s difficult to embrace life or people with clenched

fists.

4. “Life is like a roller coaster, or maybe a war.”

“Things haven’t turned out like I hoped or planned. I’ve been surprised a lot - some good, some not. You never know what’s coming,” Paul said.

Life is unpredictable. Like a roller coaster, it has ups, downs, sudden curves and jolts. It can be thrilling and terrifying. I remember the familiar theme park announcement: “Keep your arms and legs inside the car at all times, and make sure your seatbelt is securely fastened.”

Life is tough. It can be painful. Our losses mount, and grief can run deep.

We get tired of dodging bullets. Our challenges seem to grow instead of diminishing. If this is a roller coaster, let’s learn to ride it well. It’s not so much what curves, climbs and sudden drops we experience, but how we think about, interpret and deal with them that counts. Much of life seems to be about overcoming.

5. “Gratitude has saved me time and again.”

“For years I focused on what I

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lost. Finally, I decided to be grateful for what I still had. As I did, my thanksgiving list grew,” Lois said.

What we see depends on what lens we’re looking through. If we gaze through the lens of loss (what we used to have and could do), the scenery will be dull and bleak. If we choose the corrective lens of gratitude (looking for the good, practicing thanksgiving), smiles begin to crease our hearts and faces. Practicing gratitude can be hard.

Our world can be negative. Cynical voices are loud and command a lot of attention. But we can still discipline our minds to look for and see the good.

We can speak positively and focus on encouraging others. Our hearts will be warmed in the process.

I’m so grateful for my hospice patients and their wisdom. They give me perspective and clarity. I hope their words have encouraged you, too. We’re all in this together. Here’s to living wisely.

Gary Roe is an author, speaker, and chaplain with Hospice Brazos Valley.

Reach him at groe@hospicebrazosvalley. org or 979-821-2266, or visit his website at www.garyroe.com.

2015

November 3, 2015 | 3

Physical therapists can often help with pain using natural methods

Last month was Physical Therapy Month. It appears to be a good time to address a few key points about physical therapy, in particular, what we can do for you, how the profession has changed, and when to see a physical therapist.

Many people rely on their health care provider, often their physician, to refer them to a specialist when needed. More than ever the physician is the “gatekeeper” to your additional Leon Bradway treatment options.

Physical Therapy For instance, if you have pain, they can give you a prescription and send you home, they can refer you to a specialist for injections, they can refer you to a surgeon to be evaluated for surgery, they can refer you for more natural options, such as physical therapy or even options outside the “referral required process,” such as massage or yoga. Because your doctor is the expert, you may not spend much time thinking about who they are sending you to or why. You may assume you are referred to the person with the most skills or experience.

Unfortunately, the reality is somewhat different. Many physicians and other health care providers are now employees of hospitals. They may, therefore, refer you to someone in the hospital system. They may not refer you to a particular specialist, unaware that the specialist has the skills and knowledge to help you. For example, many physicians do not realize that physical therapists can help patients with incontinence naturally.

The physical therapy profession has changed significantly over the last 30 years. Today, all physical therapists graduate with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, and have more knowledge and training than those of us who graduated with a bachelor’s or master’s 30 to 40 years ago. I should point out that just as in any profession, years of experience and additional training are important in selecting a physical therapist in addition to education. Just as with a physician, you will likely get a more skilled diagnosis and an effective treatment plan, and thus realize a quicker, more positive outcome, if the physical therapist has treated many different patients over the years, and has continued to exceed

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basic educational requirements. For example, I graduated initially with a bachelor’s degree. I then went on to obtain a master’s in orthopedics and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy.

Further, I am credentialed to do EMG/ NCVs and have advanced training in: manual therapy, manipulation, trigger point dry needling, golf swing analysis, runner’s analysis and so forth. I also have more than 30 years of experience treating a wide range of conditions, making my diagnostic skills accurate and my treatment plans effective.

Why am I saying all of this? For two reasons: First, our profession has changed in terms of entrance requirements and overall education and training, more so than any other medical professional.

However, not everyone is aware of the education and training a doctor of physical therapy possesses, specifically as it relates to neuromuscular issues, and thus may not refer you to a physical therapist when it is the best, most natural option. A doctor of physical therapy (DPT) has years of education and training pertaining to muscle, soft tissue, and nerve and skeletal systems. Their knowledge about the human body includes joint structures, nervous systems, pathology of body systems, differential diagnoses, determining the cause of the problem and treatment planning.

The human body is made up of more than 600 muscles that give us life in movement, strength and play. Many aches and pains that we incur from daily living, occupation, accidents, sports activities and aging involves injury to the nervous and musculoskeletal system. Physical therapists are specialists in these systems. Physical therapists are qualified and skilled to resolve pain (back, neck, head, TMJ, joint, shoulder, foot, etc.), balance, dizziness, preparation for and recovery from surgery, strengthening, increasing flexibility, resolving old and repeated injuries, avoiding repeated work injuries, helping post pregnancy/ childbirth, incontinence, pelvic pain in men and women and so forth. Further, physical therapy is natural, and in my opinion should be tried before injections, medications or surgery -- all of which may be necessary at some point. But why not start with the most conservative treatment?

Many providers are not fully aware of the changes in the physical therapy profession and what therapists

Referral for profit was eliminated with are capable of doing to help their the Stark Law, although exceptions patients naturally. Thus, they may were made for patient convenience not refer to physical therapy when (such as surgeons who employ and it is appropriate. This situation is exacerbated by the lack of direct access refer to their own physical therapists, hospitals that employ both physicians to physical therapy for patients. In and physical therapists). However, Texas you can see a physical therapist with the recent changes in healthcare, for a consult or evaluation without a referral for profit appears to be physician’s referral, and many patients take this route. However, you cannot be increasing. treated by a physical therapist without You have a choice of who you see, a physician’s referral. In most cases, instead of relying on a referral. Do if the physician has seen the patient your homework and tell your doctor regularly, they will send a referral who you wish to see. Regardless of who after reviewing the physical therapist’s treats you, if you aren’t seeing progress evaluation; however, this is changing in three to four visits and your physical as more and more patients are waiting therapist has not talked with you longer before they can be treated, about this or adjusted your program, as physicians are inundated with talk to them. You must advocate for paperwork to comply with insurance yourself, and ensure your questions requirements and changes. So patients are answered and your desires are must wait to be treated, despite the fact respected. that skilled and qualified help is readily In recognition of National Physical available. Most other states allow direct Therapy Month, we are providing a access to physical therapy. free lecture on “Natural Treatment Second, who you see is important.

Options for those Suffering with Pelvic The criteria you would use in selecting Pain” from 7 to 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at the any professional should hold true for a Sports, Back & Pain Management physical therapist. You want someone Clinic. Call or email today to make a who has the highest level of knowledge, reservation, as space is limited. If you skill and ability. Unfortunately, how have any questions, contact 979-776you locate this person isn’t easy and 2225 or sbpmcoffice@gmail.com. is getting harder. Changes in the Leon Bradway is a doctor of physical health care environment have created therapy and director of the Sports, Back a situation where the process of and Pain Management Clinic. See www. referring to specialists has changed. bvphysicaltherapy.com.

As I mentioned, a majority of physicians IN-HOME SENIOR CARE SERVICES are now employees of ® hospitals. Hospitals are employing physicians for many reasons, including the fact that physicians control the Interactive Caregiving® is the unique way our Comfort Keepers® referral process. As an deliver care to our clients. It centers on four interrelated aspects employee, the physician – engagement of the mind, an active body, proper nutrition, and may be required to send all referrals to a safety. A plan of Care which addresses these aspects, together, centralized department, will enhance quality of life and ultimately, independence. where others determine where to send the SERVICES referrals; many likely Companion Care • Personal Care stay inside the hospitalLight Housekeeping owned facilities. As an In-Home Safety Solutions independent practitioner, I have experienced an abrupt halt of referrals from physicians, only to find out the practice was sold to a hospital and patients are being referred internally.

Does this mean your 244 Southwest Parkway East • College Station, TX 77840 referral is going to the most qualified provider? w w w. s e n i o r c a r e c o l l e g e s t a t i o n . c o m

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Ways to future peace with family, finances when facing divorce There is hope. If you are a parent and you suspect divorce is in your future, you can mitigate future financial and family damage if you avoid a litigated divorce. If you cannot prevent the divorce, then opt for a collaborative TracY Stewart divorce. Four local Financial Literacy experts who know both sides of the coin share their wisdom.

how to mitigate future modifications.

“On collaborative divorce cases, Wilson shows each spouse how to anticipate the many nuances and issues that will come up in the future. During a collaborative divorce, she teaches both parents how to clearly communicate needs and desires, plus how to continue that path in the post-divorce years. I have never heard of a modification after a collaborative divorce.”

The shocking cost of failures to communicate Just how expensive is a modification? According to Kassi Horner, family law attorney with Peterson Law Group, “It depends on the nature of the case, but on average, you are looking at a minimum of $5,000 per parent.” Michel has seen costs climb up to “the price of a new car.”

Horner has had a parent who went back to court for modifications three times in three years, while Hencerling has a client who took five trips back to court. The failure to communicate can seriously erode college savings and retirement nest eggs.

Children in the middle Child and family therapist Faith Wilson, MA, LPC, describes a common post-divorce holiday.

“One parent wants to do the holidays like they always have. Well, they forgot about the new girlfriend, boyfriend or the new spouse. They don’t consider how they will get the unhappy in-laws together. This wonderful blended idea blows up.”

The scenes have such impressionable consequences that family members suffer in the future. “People think they can just throw everyone together and The solution everything will be just wonderful. But For parents who cannot prevent instead, they cannot forget the pain divorce, the trick to avoiding future when holidays come around.” modifications is to first choose the The rest of the year can also be sprinkled with landmines, particularly if parents go back to court for litigated modifications of child support or visitation. Modifications Dedicated to being your preferred provider are every bit as complex of medical equipment & supplies as the original divorce.

With the passage of time, there are more facts to consider and often more hostility than in the divorce. Family law attorney Wendy Wood Hencerling explains, “People who go back to court have an axe to grind, and the litigation makes everything worse. Modifications are expensive. Wounds go deeper. Children are polarized. In-laws are polarized. Everyone takes a side.”

Family law attorney Randy Michel has seen 979.696.0261 | altusmedicalequipment.com 2551Texas Ave South Suite A | College Station,TX. Wilson teach his clients

collaborative divorce process and avoid a litigious one. Wilson says the parenting plan worked out in a collaborative divorce will be crafted for the individual needs of the family members. In her 38 years, she has never seen a parenting plan in a litigation case where the attorneys tailored it to the family. When Wilson helps parents design a parenting plan in a collaborative divorce, she asks Mom and Dad a lot of what-if questions. “I try to fit the parenting plan for today and for the future. This decreases the amount of conflict they might otherwise experience. And if they need help in the years after the divorce, they can return to the collaborative setting. They can meet with a collaborative child specialist who will help them reach agreements by reminding Mom and Dad how to work together in a safe, supportive environment.”

Hencerling knows that “even the most litigious couples would have benefited had they started out in the collaborative divorce process.

Litigation makes everything worse.”

Parents are at the mercy of the court

Contact Tracy B. Stewart, CPA, PFS, CFF, CDFA, CFP® at www.

TexasDivorceCPA.com.

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Robert Herring, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology

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to get a visitation modification hearing date before the holidays. “Collaborative Divorce moves at the couple’s pace. You want a resolution now? We will make it happen. You want to meet at 2 a.m.? We will do it. The judge won’t do that.”

I asked Horner if the collaborative divorce process could have prevented those expensive modification hearings.

“Absolutely. The collaborative approach would have allowed these parents to take the time and make use of professionals to work through the hurt and anger. They would focus on their long-term goals instead of using the adversarial court system and their children to hurt each other,” she said.

Horner’s final advice for divorcing couples with children? “You had children together, you owe it to them to engage in the calm and supportive atmosphere of the collaborative divorce approach instead of the atmosphere of conflict, anxiety and stress inherent in the traditional divorce litigation.”

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November 3, 2015 | 5

Recognizing th

Bryan man shares experience in Army during Vi

By HOLLI L. KOSTER Special to The Eagle

On Nov. 11 68-year-old Saturnino Carpio of Bryan is one of hundreds expected to gather for the Veterans Day Ceremony held annually in the Louis L. Adam Memorial Plaza of Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station.

While his U.S. Army service during the Vietnam War was brief – he suffered serious injuries on a search and destroy mission just two days after his arrival to Cu Chi, Vietnam – Carpio says his memories of those days remain vivid.

Carpio’s service Carpio graduated from Bryan’s Stephen F. Austin High School in 1966, and months later was called up to enlist in the U.S. Army through the draft lottery. He attended boot camp and basic training in Fort Polk, Louisiana, and then transferred to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio where he received advanced training as a medic.

After he graduated from medic training, the Army stationed Carpio in Washington, D.C.’s Walter Reed Hospital, where he served for several months before he received his orders to travel to Vietnam.

Deployment to Vietnam In September 1967, Carpio was assigned to the 25th Infantry in Vietnam, which had its base camp in Cu Chi. Carpio said the Army tried to divide the medics’ year of Vietnam service equally between their service at base camp and search and destroy missions out in the jungle. While some medics immediately went to serve out their first six months at base camp, Carpio’s orders were to immediately serve in the jungle.

About 1 p.m. on Oct. 24, Carpio and his platoon were on a search and destroy mission when a Claymore mine exploded nearby, injuring the entire platoon.

“I remember that we were just walking, and it was a beautiful day. The sky was blue, and the sun was out,” said Carpio. “It was about 1 or 1:30 in the afternoon, and I remember hearing a loud boom. The next thing I know, I’m laying on the ground looking up at that beautiful sky, and my ears are ringing.”

Carpio said he soon began to hear the voices of other soldiers that had been hit. He also realized that another medic had been injured, and he tried to get up to help him.

“Then my sergeant came by and pushed me back down to the ground,” said Carpio. “That’s when I noticed that I had blood all over my hand, and I knew I had been injured.”

The explosion had split Carpio’s right leg wide open and damaged his chest and two of his toes, requiring 300 stitches.

Later, Carpio noticed that a piece of shrapnel from the mine had also struck his camera, which he carried in a backpack over his left side. Had it not been for carrying the camera, the shrapnel could

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have hit his heart and possibly killed him, Carpio said.

Everyone in the platoon survived the attack, Carpio said, though many were badly wounded.

Decoration and return to civilian life When the Army returned Carpio to the U.S., he served out his last six months in permanent duty in Fort Hood, and later declined an offer from his company commander to remain in the Army.

Then he took his time traveling home – alone by car, instead of by plane. Vietnam was an unpopular war, and Carpio knew that civilians were harassing soldiers upon their return.

Carpio received a Purple Heart for his wounds, several ribbons and badges for his foreign service and a Sharpshooter Badge, one that surprised Carpio because he had never even held a rifle prior to his time in the military.

“It took me a few months to get adjusted to civilian life again,” Carpio said, “and then I finally decided I had to go to work.”

He took his first job after the military with a furniture company for several months, realizing that it was not something he wanted to do long term. Then, he decided to attend the Institute of Electronic Science, an electronics school located on an Air Force base that is now part of the Texas A&M University campus.

After he finished school, he was offered several different jobs, including one for the Federal Aviation Administration in Dallas, but he chose to work for GTE in College Station.

From 1971 until his retirement in May, he worked as a central office technician for the company, at its office off Holleman Drive.

He has a son, a stepson, three daughters and nine grandchildren.

to the memorial’s Wall of Honor. T names of 5,000 military service me The event will also include mus anthem and “Texas, Our Texas” an Veterans Day, special recognition o presentation of the Advocate Awar salute.

Michael Beggs, a former memb Corps of Cadets, Ross Volunteers a keynote address. Beggs served dur worked in the defense industry as overseeing various weapons system Marine Corps, where his duties req world. Beggs and his wife Darragh

Additional Veterans Day eve Nov. 6 • College Hills Elementary prog College Station. The school will ho each classroom where a veteran co students about their history. Each to honor the veteran who visits the decorate the front hallways for the lunch. They focus on students lear

Veterans Day Each year on Veterans Day, Carpio attends the ceremony held at Veterans Park, where his children have purchased a name plaque in his honor.

He says the newest monument, a Vietnam Memorial called Hot LZ, stirs emotions connected to his time in Vietnam. The life-size bronze fuselage, installed in May of 2014, depicts a Huey helicopter, hovering over the ground as it drops off soldiers during the war.

Carpio said the sound of choppers also takes him back to that time, and that it’s often difficult for him to watch films about Vietnam.

This year’s Veterans Day Ceremony, hosted by the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board of Directors, will be held at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at Veterans Park, 3101 Harvey Road in College Station.

Jose V. Martinez, who formerly served in the U Activities will commence with the “Honor Wall Roll Call,” a reading of military veteran names recently added Korean wars, points to his name on the Wall of H Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Sta

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hose who serve

ietnam War, see upcoming Veterans Day events

The wall currently contains the en and women from the area. sical renditions of the national nd “Taps,” as well as a history of of Brazos Valley Heroes, a special rd and Patriot Award and a rifle

ber of the Texas A&M University and Yell Leaders, will give the ring the Vietnam War and later a systems engineer and manager ms under the U.S. Navy and quired travel throughout the h live in College Station.

ents

grams - 1101 Williams St. in old individual celebrations for omes to a class to talk with the classroom has different ways eir classes. The school will also e day and serve the veterans rning about the purpose of the

day and individualizing how each veteran is honored.

• Bryan High School’s Veterans Night - 3450 Campus Drive in Bryan. Veterans Night during the Bryan vs. Rudder Football Game.

Nov. 10 • Bowen Elementary’s Fifth Grade Veterans Day Program – 6:307:30 p.m., 3870 Copperfield Drive in Bryan. Program for parents and the public.

• Creek View Elementary’s Veterans Day program - 6:30 p.m., 1001 Eagle Ave. in College Station. The school will perform the national anthem and other patriotic songs. It will also present a slide show of students with their family members who are either veterans or active military members. Veterans can participate in the songs and stand when their corresponding military song is played.

• Oakwood Intermediate’s Veterans Day program - 2:30-3:15 p.m., 106 Holik St. in College Station

Nov. 11 • Jane Long Middle School’s Veterans Day program - 9-10 a.m., 1106 N. Harvey Mitchell Parkway in Bryan. Band and orchestra performance.

• Sam Rayburn Middle School’s Veterans Day program - 8-10:45 a.m., 1048 N. Earl Rudder Freeway in Bryan.

Veterans photos will be placed on the honor wall.

Appreciation reception will be held in the library at 8 a.m. Student Council will host a Veterans Day Assembly to honor local veterans and those currently serving beginning at 9:45 a.m.

• Navarro Elementary’s Veterans Day program - 10:05 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., 4619 Northwood Drive in Bryan. Veterans will eat with their children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren. The school will decorate the stage and take pictures of the student and veteran for their Facebook page and website.

• Henderson Elementary’s fourth grade Veterans Day program - 6:30-7:30 p.m., 801 Matous Drive in Bryan.

• Neal Elementary’s third grade Veterans Day program - 1:30-2:30 p.m., 801 W. Martin Luther King Jr. St. in Bryan • Mitchell Elementary’s Veterans Day program - 1:30-2:30 p.m., 2500 Austin’s Colony Parkway in Bryan.

• Johnson Elementary’s fifth grade Veterans Photo by Mike Neu Day program - 2:30-3:30 p.m., 3800 Oak Hill Drive in Bryan. Fifth graders will attend Field of Valor at United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam and Veterans Park.

Honor during last year’s Veterans Day Ceremony at • College Station Middle School’s Veterans Day ation.

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program - 8:30-10 a.m., 900 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Light refreshments for veterans at 8:30 a.m. in lecture room; 9 a.m.

Veterans Day program in main gym. Patriotic performances by band, choir and orchestra, student essay contest winners, art show winners and guest speaker. The public is invited.

• A&M Consolidated Middle School’s Veterans Day program - 9 a.m., 105 Holik St. in College Station. The theater, band, orchestra and choir programs will perform in the gym, and a guest speaker will present. Parents are invited to watch their children perform.

• College Station High School’s Veterans Day program - 8:20 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 4002 Victoria Ave. in College Station. The school will host a small panel of veterans from different branches of the U.S. military, who will share their stories and experiences. Students will be able to ask questions about their service to the nation. Students in CSHS Social Studies classes will be able to participate in the event.

• Pebble Creek Elementary’s Veterans Day program - 7:40-8 a.m., 200 Parkview Dr. in College Station. The school will honor veterans at the morning assembly. One of the students will tell the history of Veterans Day; the choir and fourth graders will sing patriotic songs; and students will present cards to the veterans.

Nov. 12 • Stephen F. Austin Middle School’s Veterans Day program Lunch time, 801 S. Ennis St. in Bryan. Inviting veterans to lunch and playing a video during announcements time.

• Kemp-Carver Elementary’s fourth grade Veterans Day program - 6-7 p.m., 750 Bruin Trace in Bryan.

• Houston Elementary’s Veterans Day program - 5:30-6:30 p.m., 4501 Canterbury Dr. in Bryan. Reception for veterans in library, followed by musical program and slideshow starting at 6 p.m. in cafeteria.

• Crockett Elementary’s second and third grade Veterans Day program - 6-7 p.m., 401 Elm Ave. in Bryan.

• Neal Elementary’s third grade Veterans Day program - 6-7 p.m., 801 W. Martin Luther King Jr. St. in Bryan.

• Branch Elementary’s fifth grade Veterans Day program - 6:307:30 p.m., 2040 W. Villa Maria Road in Bryan.

Nov. 19 Southwood Valley Elementary’s Veterans Day program - 7 p.m., 2700 Brothers Blvd. in College Station. The school will honor the sounds and styles of American-made music during their fourth grade production of “Celebrating American Music” in the cafeteria.

Veterans are invited to attend.

For more information on school events, call Bryan ISD at 979209-1000 or College Station ISD at 979-764-5400. For more details on the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial board and events, call 979-6966247 or visit www.bvvm.org.

November 3, 2015 | 7

Aging: Why later years are actually the best time of your life When you were a teenager, were you ever told, “Enjoy this time; it’s the best years of your life?”

What a stupid thing to say. Youth is wasted on the young, and for most people, youth is hardly the best years of life.

Ours is a youth-obsessed culture, demanding living in the now with youthful gusto. Who has time for lessons learned and the wisdom that comes with age? Here’s one example that only older people know: All this excitement about legalizing marijuana is being fomented by people who know nothing of the exhaustive social science marijuana research conducted in the 1930s and the harmful biological effects in the 1970s. Older scholars know about this, but younger ones seem woefully uninformed Dr. Bill Klemm and uninterested in “old” research.

The Memory Medic Actually, that applies to old research in all fields.

We are all going to get old, assuming we don’t die first. Our friends, relatives and loved ones are or will get old. As baby boomers retire, older people are coming to dominate the population. Modern medicine and the wide pursuit of healthier living styles have enabled many older people to live longer and remain vigorous and productive in their old age. Yet, in this country and many other western countries, we shun, neglect and sometimes abuse the old. This is the theme of a recent blog by the CEO of a medical products company, Sue Chen.

Chen contends that as people age, others lose interest in engaging with them. A recent National Research Council study indicated that older adults are stigmatized as a group. Older people are treated like old people in social groups and in the workplace.

Less is expected of seniors. Seniors in turn expect less of themselves. Chen asserts that younger people shun the elderly, and don’t want to think about aging because they are afraid of their own impending aging. They know that older people become more socially isolated and that the loneliness is magnified when divorce or death causes the loss of a spouse.

Children are unintentionally conditioned to have negative bias about older people. Young families often shut out older parents, aunts and uncles. We seem to have abandoned the “extended family” concept that was so wholesomely dominant only a few decades ago.

Fear of further aging and being sick and lonely grows with each passing year. Fear of aging is unwarranted, at least for healthy seniors with sufficient retirement income. Actually, one’s later years can be the best years of life. Helen Hayes, at 73, said, “The hardest years are between 10 and 70.” Paul

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Meyer, upon reaching 70, claimed, “Life begins at 70.”

By that time we all have accumulated a rich reserve of life experiences and lessons learned. He tries to do all the things he has always done. He points out some of the many advantages of old age, such as people expecting less of you. What you do accomplish makes a bigger impression because it isn’t expected. At 70 you have more choices. You can act your age or act young. You can do things you didn’t have time for in the past, particularly “smelling the roses.” You can take naps without feeling guilty. You feel less guilty about the way you raised your kids because now they know just how hard raising kids is and are having many of the same difficulties and angst as you did.

Time becomes precious because it is running out. You therefore spend it more wisely. You don’t waste time on harmful emotions or personal animosities.

Now at 81, my experience is consistent with what Hayes and Meyer concluded. I am, even though semiretired, more efficient and at least as productive in my profession as when I “retired.” Amazingly, I have discovered more free time to work. And now I get to do what I want to do, not what others want me to do.

But the biggest advantage of aging, as I see it, is that older people have typically learned more about how to cope with disappointment and adversity and how to squeeze the sweet and good juice out of life.

In the absence of debilitating sickness, aging can be a great blessing. There are many things people can and should be doing to make the senior years the best years of their lives. These include eating well, exercising frequently and vigorously, constructing a positive emotional attitude, becoming more active in mental and social life, getting frequent medical checkups, and most of all, I think, living with an honorable purpose.

To know more about aging well, check out my

e-book, “Improve Your Memory for a Healthy Brain.

Memory Is the Canary in Your Brain’s Coal Mine,” available at Smashwords.com. My “Improve Learning and Memory” blog is at http://thankyoubain. blogspot.com.

Sources: www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acpr of:oso/9780195138931.001.0001/acprof-9780195138931chapter-4. Accessed Oct. 17, 2015.

Chen, Sue (2015). “What you don’t know about aging could kill you.” www.huffingtonpost. com/hippo-reads/what-you-dont-know-about_9_b_8091512.html Meyer, Paul J. (2000). “Making the rest the best.

Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul.” Deerfield Beach, Fl.: Health Communications. p. 480-486.

William Klemm is a senior professor of neuroscience at Texas A&M University and book author. See his blog at http://thankyoubrain.blogspot. com.

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Vision changes that occur as you age Metro Creative Connection

As a person gets older certain bodily changes are to be expected. For example, muscle tone may diminish and bones can become more fragile as we age. Exercise and healthy eating may be able to stave off some of the effects of aging, but avoiding vision problems may require some additional effort.

Vision naturally diminishes as we age, but not all vision changes are related to aging. Many natural changes are not severe and may only require a minor adjustment in prescription glasses or contact lenses.

Improved lighting or bigger print may help remedy other issues, including blurry text.

However, certain conditions that people blame on getting older really may be hereditary or a byproduct

Not all vision problems are directly correlated to aging. Adults should speak with their eye doctors about any problems they may be having.

of an illness. There’s a difference between changes that are the result of aging and those that are not.

Recognizing the differences can help individuals get the treatment necessary to prevent permanent eye damage.

Age-related changes Difficulty seeing clearly for reading and close work is one of the most common age-related vision issues. This condition can begin as early as age 40 and worsen as a person gets older. Variation in the eyes’ ability to focus properly is called presbyopia, and it will worsen over time.

Other normal signs of aging include problems with glare from headlights or the sun. Lens changes in the eye can cause light to be scattered rather than focused on the retina. This leads to more glare. In dim conditions, a person may find he or she needs more light to see well. That’s because muscles that control pupil size and reaction to light lose some strength.

Changes in color perception also may begin. The normally clear lens of the eye can discolor, making it difficult to distinguish between certain hues.

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Conditions not directly tied to aging Certain eye disorders may become more prevalent as a person gets older, but that does not mean they are a byproduct of aging. Macular degeneration, which causes spotty loss of detail or sudden and severe loss of central vision, may occur. This condition is a result of damage to the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for detail, color and daylight vision.

Risk factors for macular degeneration include high cholesterol, diabetes smoking, and untreated high blood pressure. Poor circulation to the retina is the most common cause of macular degeneration.

Glaucoma is another condition linked to aging.

Glaucoma is caused by damage to the optic nerve by fluid pressure inside the eye. Patients with glaucoma typically do not exhibit early symptoms. Glaucoma is only detectable through routine vision examinations.

According to the Mayo Clinic, about half of all 65-year-old Americans have some degree of cataract formation in their eyes. People who have cataracts may think they’re an unavoidable part of getting older. While aging may increase the risk of getting cataracts, according to Lighthouse International, its true cause is unknown. Other risks include long-term exposure to the sun’s rays, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and eye injury.

Illnesses like diabetes can affect eyesight in many different ways. Proper treatment for diabetes and management of the condition can prevent a number of eye disorders.

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Adults should not assume all vision changes are a direct result of getting older. Annual vision examinations by qualified eye doctors can pinpoint the cause of problems and find treatment options that are successful.

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CALENDAR Ongoing

Sit and Fit Chair Exercises - Gentle workout while sitting in a chair. Features fatburning aerobics and weight lifting. Seniors meet at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from noon to 1 p.m. For more details, contact 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx. gov.

Line Dancing - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, holds line dancing for seniors on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and on Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact 979-764-6351, 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Bluegrass Jam Session – Bluegrass Jam Session is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. All levels. Bring string instruments and a friend. For more details, contact 979764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Friday Bridge - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, offers bridge for seniors on Fridays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. For more, contact 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Learn how to play 42 dominoes Learn the game of 42 every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov for more information.

42 dominoes - Seniors meet every Thursday to play 42 at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more details, contact 979-7646351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Game Night from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Table games and dominoes provided or bring your own favorite game. Meet friends and enjoy a fun game night. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@ cstx.gov.

Line dance workshop for beginners – Seniors are invited to a free line dance workshop for beginners, held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the first, second and third Monday of each month, at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Learn the steps and terminology. No registration necessary.

Call 764-6351 or email mrodgers@cstx. gov for more information.

Dominoes - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays dominoes all day on Tuesdays and Fridays and from noon to closing Wednesdays. Sack lunch for those playing dominoes from 11:30 a.m. to noon Wednesdays. For more details: 979-8226873/ www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens. weebly.com.

Bridge – Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Bridge from 12:30 p.m. until closing on Tuesdays; noon to closing on Thursdays; and 12:20 p.m. to closing Fridays. Partner needed Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more details: 979-822-6873 or www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Games - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays board games, Scrabble and other card games on Tuesdays.

For more details: 979-822-6873/ www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Bible study – Bible study is held for seniors at 9:15 a.m. every Thursday at Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor St. in College Station. Contact 979-764-3779 or awilliams@cstx.gov for more information.

Bible study - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, holds Bible study 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. on Wednesdays. For more information, call 979-822-6873 or visit www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Learn to play Maj Jongg - Seniors interested in learning the game will meet at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station on Thursdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, call 764-6371 or email mrodgers @cstx.gov.

Exercise class - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, holds exercise class 9:45 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. For more details, call 979-822-6873 or visit www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Game Night - Seniors are invited to

10 | November 3, 2015

Bingo - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays

Bingo 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays.

For more details: 979-822-6873 or www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Canasta - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Canasta from 11:30 a.m. to closing on Thursdays. For more details, call 979-822-6873 or visit www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Potluck luncheon - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, has a potluck luncheon 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fridays. For more, call 979-822-6873 or visit www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

One-on-one computer help - Held 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Saturdays at Larry J. Ringer Library, 1818 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy. S. in College Station. Contact the Reference Desk to schedule a 30-minute session, at 979-764-3416. For more information, visit www.bcslibrary.org.

Nov. 9

Free help for iPad users - Learn how to get the most out of your iPad. Bring an iPad. Class size limited. Class meets at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, 9-10 a.m.

RSVP at 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx. gov.

Free help for tablet computer users Bring your tablet to class. Class size limited.

Class meets at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. RSVP at 979764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Nov. 11

Computer Club for Seniors - The Computer Club is open to all seniors interested in learning more about computers.

The topic is “What’s new in gadgets and wearable technology.” Meetings are held at Carter’s Creek Training Room, 2200 North Forest Parkway in College Station at 9:30 a.m. No pre-registration needed. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@ cstx.gov.

Veterans Day Ceremony - Veterans Day Ceremony, hosted by the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board of Directors, will be held at 4:30 p.m. at Veterans Park, 3101 Harvey Road in College Station.

Activities will commence with the “Honor

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Wall Roll Call,” a reading of military veteran names recently added to the memorial’s Wall of Honor. The event will also include musical renditions of the national anthem and “Texas, Our Texas” and “Taps,” as well as a history of Veterans Day, special recognition of Brazos Valley heroes, a special presentation of the Advocate Award and Patriot Award and a rifle salute. For more information, visit www.bvvm.org.

Nov. 17

Free Seminar on “Ins & Outs of Medicare” - Informative session on Medicare with Stacey Urbanczyk, benefits counselor II with Area Agency on Aging of the Brazos Valley. Seminar begins at 10 a.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

For more information call 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Nov. 18

Exploring History Luncheon with J. Griffis Smith, former Texas Highways photo editor - The College Station Historic Preservation Committee and the College Station Parks and Recreation Department present monthly lectures with lunch on the history of the community. Luncheons are held at Aldersgate Church, 2201 Earl Rudder Freeway S. in College Station.

Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m.; the cost is $5. Speaker will begin at noon.

Reservation is needed for lunch; reserve the Friday before the event at 979-7646351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Genealogy Computer User Group: “How to Create and Use Your Family Tree” - The group shares an interest in computer genealogical information and meets on the third Wednesday of the month at Carter Creek Training Room, 2200 N. Forest Parkway, 9:30-11 a.m. Open to all older adults. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-7646371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Nov. 19

Free Movie and Popcorn: “Max” Seniors are invited to enjoy a free movie and popcorn at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Movie begins at 1 p.m. Contact 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov for more information.

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Yearly eye exams can reveal more than just vision trouble Metro Creative Connection

More evidence points to the importance of routine eye exams, not only to pinpoint potential conditions of the eye, but also to serve as windows to diseases that affect the entire body.

Now more than ever it is essential to make and keep annual eye exams, as they can help to reveal the first signs of serious ailments.

Doctors from around the world say dozens of diseases — from certain cancers to arthritis to high blood pressure — can show symptoms in the eye. Under the watchful and knowing gaze of an eyecare professional, individuals can get early diagnosis and begin treatment promptly.

According to Dr. Roy Chuck, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, there are many

systemic diseases that can be seen in the eye.

In addition to the conditions mentioned, jaundice can indicate liver disease while retinal detachment and bleeding in new blood vessels may indicate hypertension.

By looking at the color of the cornea, some doctors can tell if a patient has elevated levels of cholesterol. Many people have had their eye doctors be the first healthcare professional to detect the presence of their diabetes.

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