HEALTH & BEAUTY
NOVEMBER 13, 2020
WWW.THEPRESS.NET
|
13
Watching the electoral process play out “ Through my almost
In 1951, the year I was born, Harry S. Truman was the 33rd president of the United States. Obviously, I couldn’t vote for him. Then in 1953, the people elected Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower as number 34 and again, I was too young to vote, of course, but he was Senior the first president orner that I can actually remember. This week was the election of our 46th president of the United States and the world watched another historical and extremely unique process. This time, as in Marla the last nine elections, I Luckhardt did get to vote! The office of the President of the United States (POTUS) was established in 1789 and the first, George Washington, won the only unanimous vote of the Electoral College. That has never happened again. The shortest presidency lasted only 31 days, giving that sad honor to William H. Harrison who died in 1841, and the longest was Franklin D. Roosevelt who served over twelve years, before dying early in his fourth term in 1945. The only U.S. president to have served more than two
terms that changed with the ratification of the 22 amendment to the Constitution in 1951. It states that no person may be elected president more than twice, and no one who has served more than two years of a term in which someone else was elected may be reelected more than once. Grover Cleveland’s historical legacy was being the only president who served two nonconsecutive terms in office and is counted as the 22nd and 24th leader of our nation. The first POTUS that had an impact on me was John F. Kennedy. The youngest, age 43, and first Catholic President to be elected, Kennedy had a charisma like no other. I was 9 years old when he was sworn into office with his beautiful wife, Jackie, by his side in January 1961. We called his time in office Camelot and the country was in love with both of them, as least I was. His assassination in 1963 left our nation devastated at the loss of not only such a young man but the brutal destruction of hope. I was in Mr. Berzon’s Spanish class when they announced he was shot in Dallas. We were ushered outside as we waited for parents to pick us up, bring us home and try to make sense of what just happened. Walter Cronkite famously announced his passing that evening on the news and lives were forever changed.
Through my almost seven decades, I have seen the good and the not so good. We have always survived and moved on when things were not the easiest. President Richard M. Nixon was not high on the list of the best, of course, and resigned the office after the Watergate scandal left him little choice. I was glued to the television during those hearings, mesmerized by the history I was witnessing. Who will ever forget him getting on that helicopter with his two arms up in the air with peace signs as he boarded and said farewell? No president was perfect and not everyone agreed with all of the policies but there certainly were some that were regarded a heck of a lot better than Nixon. The history of our country and the leaders we have had always fascinated me. Not the greatest student, I excelled in history
Health officials from across the Bay Area are asking the public to fight the flu by getting the annual vaccination for influenza right now. Each winter, people sick with flu crowd hospitals and urgent care clinics, resources that may be strained due to COVID-19. Early and timely flu shots can prevent a disease that hospitalizes 200,000 Americans every year. It is important to get a new flu vaccine each year. The flu vaccine offers pro-
tection for many months, but not forever. Also, the strains of influenza circulating in the community change over time, and the current vaccine offers protection against those strains. To keep yourself and your family out of the hospital, doctors recommend an annual flu shot for everyone age 6 months or older. The flu shot is a safe, effective way to reduce your chance of missing work or ending up in the hospital due to
severe flu. Symptoms of the flu can be similar to early symptoms of COVID-19, meaning that this year, people with flu symptoms may require a COVID-19 test and may need to stay home from work and isolate away from their families while awaiting results. It takes about two weeks for the flu vaccine to become effective after you get the shot, so getting vaccinated in advance of the arrival of severe flu in the Bay Area
C
seven decades, I have seen the good and the not so good. We have always survived and moved on when things were not the easiest.
”
because of that fascination and the fact that I had a wonderful teacher made it even more enjoyable. Every president had their own stories, accomplishments and, yes, mistakes that have been chronicled and archived for history buffs like me to enjoy. This week we learned the result of our current election. The stressful and endless days of counting the ballots had everyone on the edge of their seats as well as the edge or end of our wits. While some were quite pleased with the final decision, others were gravely disappointed. I get it as I try to put myself in the other person’s shoes when I can. With a very high-stakes process like a presidential election, someone wins and someone loses. That’s how it’s been for over 220 years in our country, and so far, it seems to have worked out. We are a democracy. Now it’s time to hopefully blend our differences into a common ground of healing, concentrate on the move toward an answer to the COVID-19 crisis and all the peripheral affects it has had on all of us. We are a strong and resilient country and history will be a lot kinder if we work together. Stay diligent, safe and well. I wish us all peace. Marla Luckhardt is a Brentwood resident who works with several local senior care and advocacy groups. Reach her at marla2054@ aol.com.
Experts say it’s not too late for the flu shot
offers the best protection. While the flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older, it is especially important for pregnant women, children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and those with chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes. People who live in the same household with someone at high risk can help protect that person from severe flu by getting a flu shot.
Worship Services Camino Diablo Rd. & McCabe Rd. Byron • 634-6625
MASSES
Sat. Evening 5:00 pm Mass Sunday Community Life Center 8:30 & 10:30 am 12:30 pm/Español Weekday: Mon-Thurs: 9:00 am – Chapel P.O. Box 476, Byron 94514
www.stannechurchbyron.com
Immaculate Heart of Mary
www.IHMBrentwood.com
MASSES / MISAS SATURDAY/SÁBADO: 5pm English; 6:30pm Español SUNDAY/DOMINGO 7:30am • 9:00am • 12:30pm English 10:45am • 2:00pm Español; 5:00pm Latin 500 Fairview • Brentwood • 634-4154
REZ!
Resurrection
OPEN HEAVENS
Ministries
COMMUNITY CHURCH
Come experience Open Heavens in your life at our
“Connecting People to Christ”
Pastor Dave Prill
Sunday Worship
• 8:30 - Classic • 9:30 - Sunday School - all ages • 10:45 - Family Praise 1275 Fairview Ave. • Brentwood
634-5180
www.rezministry.org an outreach of the Lutheran Church Missouri – Synod
Delta Community Presbyterian Church 1900 Willow Lake Rd. Discovery Bay (925) 634-0184
www.dcpcfamily.org
Brentwood rentwood C Community ommunity B United nited M Methodist ethodist C Church hurch U Reconciling Congregation Love God... Love People... Serve The World... Sunday Worship Service
SundayAM Worship Service 10:30 10:30 AM Sunday School Sunday School & Youth&Ministry Youth Ministry 809 Second Street 809 Second Street Downtown Brentwood Downtown Brentwood (925) 634-3093 (925) 634-3093
www.brentwoodumc.org www.brentwoodumc.org
SUNDAYS @ Knightsen School 1923 Delta Road, Knightsen
10:00 AM - Worship See Website for Details Pastor: Frank Griffith
Join us Sundays www.goldenhills.org
(925)516-0653
• Sunday Worship 10am • Daily Fellowship 7pm to 8pm • Friday Miracle Prayers 10pm to 1am 3933A Walnut Blvd. Brentwood • 481-4936
www.openheavenscommunitychurch.org
Let others know about your services Advertise your hours & location here for as low as
25
$
Call 634-1441 today!
Mariner's DISCOVERY Church
Indoor Worship Service Sundays @ 10 am EXCELSIOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 14301 BYRON HWY., BYRON ONLINE WORSHIP: www.ourmdc.org 925-354-1096 DELIVERING GOD'S LOVE FOLLOW CDC GUIDLINES WEAR A MASK SOCIAL DISTANCE
