COMO Living Magazine - February/March 2017

COMO VO L .8 / COLUMB IA LIFES T YLE A N D CU LT U R E

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A BUSINESS TIMES COMPANY PUBLICATION

EDITORIAL Deb Valvo, Publisher Deb@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Brenna McDermott, Editor Brenna@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Matt Patston, Managing Editor Matt@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Libby Wall, Editorial Assistant Libby@BusinessTimesCompany.com

DESIGN Keith Borgmeyer, Art Director Keith@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Cassidy Shearrer, Editorial Designer Cassidy@BusinessTimesCompany.com

C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S Kate Morrow, Graphic Designer Kate@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Jordan Watts, Editorial Designer Jordan@BusinessTimesCompany.com

MARKETING R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S Deb Valvo, Marketing Consultant Deb@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Cassi Cody, Marketing Consultant Cassi@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Tami Turner, Marketing Consultant Tami@BusinessTimesCompany.com

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MANAGEMENT Erica Pefferman, President

LE T TER from THE PU B LISHER

CONSTANT INSPIRATION It recently occurred to me that I work in an environment that is all about inspiration.

And this where you say, “Duh,” but stick with me here.

I am readily inspired by people who break with tradition (and rules, truth be told).

I love stumbling upon these fascinating characters in our community and then finding a reason to tell their equally fascinating stories. I’m inspired by the unique, the bold, and the dear people that add such great color to Columbia.

And, with that in mind, I’m a huge fan of Stacie Pottinger, whose photography is featured in this issue.

Everyone who meets her feels the same. She’s as talented, dear, bold, and unique as they come. My inspiration continues to grow as I read about George, Sue, and Edie — I want to emulate and drink wine with all them! Not only are they just fun people, but they break all the rules our society attempts to impose upon them at this stage in their lives (back to that rule-breaking behavior I’m so fond of ). And then we meet the Hlamyo family. Talk about pure, bold inspiration.

In my position, it seems that there is an opportunity to be impacted nearly everywhere you look. The key is to look. So, in these pages, inspiration abounds, as it will in our magazines to follow. For that, I am so very grateful. And inspired.

To be inspired is great; to inspire is incredible.

Erica@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Renea Sapp, Vice President ReneaS@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Amy Ferrari, Operations Manager Amy@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Fran Patrick, Account Manager Fran@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Deb Valvo Publisher deb@businesstimescompany.com COMO L I V I N G

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COM O LIVING Business Times Company 2001 Corporate Place, Suite 100 Columbia, MO 65202

P: 573-499-1830 Website: comolivingmag.com Twitter: @COMOLivingMag Facebook: facebook.com/ COMOLivingMagazine Instagram: @comolivingmag —

CONTRIBUTING

LE T TE R from TH E E D I T O R

PHOTOGRAPHERS

FULFILLING THE DREAM I can’t wait for you to meet Pau and Cing Cing Hlamyo. When I first met them, their international food store, Shwe Market, had been open about three weeks. Pau held their 3-month-old, Thiha, in his arms and their two daughters, Kimnu and Mawi Mawi, were roaming the store.

I was there with photographer Keith Borgmeyer to capture images of their life at the new store. Cing Cing seemed less than thrilled about the prospect of a camera being on her. She’s a burgeoning entrepreneur. Pau has a great job at the Kraft plant and helps out at the store on his days off. Cing Cing warmed up to the camera when surrounded by her beautiful family, and I saw contentment on her face.

The Hlamyo family is living the American dream. It’s been a long journey ever since Pau and Cing Cing fled Burma, and they should feel immense pride in the life they’ve built for themselves here in Columbia. Meet them on page 62.

I feel pride in our evolving content in the magazine. You’ll find some stories of cultural significance here, from Columbia seniors who are living life to the fullest (page 56) to the beauty of the aged (page 50) to the stunning locally made jewelry found in our community (page 45).

I’ve truly enjoyed taking the reins of COMO Living for the past three issues. We’ve been on the search for a new permanent editor as I return my focus to our sister publication, Columbia Business Times, and we’ve found the perfect person to carry the publication forward towards even better content.

That person is CL’s new editor, Beth Bramstedt. Beth has been a freelance writer for us for years. She is creative, passionate, and kind. With her ties to the community and her background in journalism and marketing, I know she is the perfect choice for our ambitious magazine. Please welcome her!

Keith Borgmeyer, Anastasia Pottinger, Alexanderia Rinehart, Glory Photography CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Christy Asper, Beth Bramstedt, Anne Churchill, Anna Comfort, Sarah Everett, Alex George, Van Hawxby, Madelyne Maag, Josie Mickey, Jordan Milne, Jill Orr, Carolyn Paris, Doug Solliday COMO LIVING BOARD Muriel Browder, Jenny Bouatay, Adonica Coleman, Becky Erdel, Krista Kippenberger, Ann Merrifield, Jill Orr, Carolyn Paris —

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Brenna McDermott

for $29.95. Call Amy Ferrari at 573-499-

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CON TE N TS FEATURES / DEPARTMENTS

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Letter from the Publisher Letter from the Editor COMO Living Advisory Board Shelf Life: The Book That Changed My Life

25 Libations:

26 31

A Stiff Drink for Winter’s End Gourmet: Ethnic Dishes

Day in the Life: Quin Gresham, Lyceum Theater

39

Home Tour: Loft of Luxury

45 50 56 62 72 78 80 83

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COMO L I V I N G

Fashion: Locally Made Jewelry Honoring Centenarians A Fervor for Life It Takes a Village Be a Tourist in Your Own Town Wellness: Floating Away Move of the Month: Squats Mom in the Middle: Look Who’s Talking Life Coaching: Be Olympic with Your Time

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87 Unleashed: Get Your Dog in Shape 89 Engagements 90 Midwest Wedding Crashers:

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Twist on Traditions

Wedding Confidential: Top Five Budget Busters February/March Datebook For What It’s Worth: An Ocean-spanning Heirloom

103 Strong Woman: Cathy Salter 106 Couple You Should Know:

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Tom O’Connor and Diana Moxon

ABOUT THE BOARD

GET OUT OF YOUR CULTURE ZONE The value of trying something new.

This month, we asked our COMO Living advisory board to try a new cultural or artistic experience. They shared the results of this experiment with us.

Becky Erdel My artistic challenge is to get back to drawing and painting. Art used to be part of my daily life. I taught art for 20 years — then we opened Inside Outlet! There was no time for my art. I have not picked up a pencil or paint brush for over 15 years, and I was so excited to get back to my passion. I’m starting with pencil drawings of some of my favorite family photos, and I’m making note cards using these drawings. People are my favorite subject, and painting will be my next mission.

I have three big canvases primed and ready.

Ann Merrifield This month’s challenge was a little more difficult for me, as I already enjoy a variety of artistic and cultural experiences — I attend Roots N Blues every year, I love Artlandish Fridays downtown, I watch movies at Ragtag frequently (as a matter of fact, I’m going there after I finish writing this), I’ve painted (badly) at Paint the Town, I love the Blue Note, and I’m a new board member for the Missouri Symphony Society. So when asked to try something new culturally or artistically, I stretched myself a bit and volunteered to take a dance class.

What the heck was I thinking? How could I have forgotten that I have a scar on my chin from square dancing in eighth grade?

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I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say that I’m never going to quit my day job to become a jazz dancer!

So, with apologies to my fellow board members, who I’m sure tried something brand new, I did something I’ve done before, only in a different way — I accompanied a variety of small choral acts over the holiday season out at Barnes and Noble. I’ve played the piano most of my life, but I’ve never done so in a shopping mall — it was great fun. I learned that young people still enjoy singing Christmas carols and that people never tire of listening to them.

I’m certainly enjoying these monthly challenges, but I’m putting this out there right now — if next month’s is to try a new athletic experience, I may have to quit the board.

(Need I remind you of the scar on my chin from square dancing?)

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ABOUT THE BOARD

Krista Kippenberger

Carolyn Paris

Jill Orr

This year, Curt and I decided to choose a cooking class for our team at Focus on Health as our holiday party.

Ashley, with Back 2 Basics Cooking, came up with a menu. The only things we knew to expect were food and wine!

Our team of 13 split into two groups, one cooking while the other got to visit. We asked each other random questions and tried to come up with the right answers. Time passed quickly because when we weren’t just cooking — we were doing something fun with our team.

The food we made was different than what I would make at home, with different ingredients and fun kitchen tools I had never seen. Like a Veggetti! I must have one. By the end, we were starving and sat down together to share in a meal we prepared as a team.

Everyone loved the food and we took home the recipes. Sometimes it’s not about the food; it’s about the people you prepare it with.

My mother’s birthday is in mid-December.

We usually go out for a nice lunch to celebrate.

However, this year, I was out with friends when I heard them talking about attending the upcoming Mannheim Steamroller Christmas concert. I got online to order tickets — and dang it, they were sold out. I put the word out that I was looking for two tickets. Lo and behold, the day of the concert, my friends John and Melody came through.

My mom and I decided to wear our “dress-up” hats, which come from her mother and cousin circa 1960. They are beautiful. The one my mother wore was turquoise and blue, made of feathers. My mother and her family were committed to the arts, which allowed music to be a part of my upbringing. Being with my mom and listening to wonderful music made this birthday an extra special memory.

For my challenge, I attended a concert as a part of the We Always Swing Jazz Series. My husband is a big jazz fan and is always trying to get me to go with him to these sorts of deals, and I am always begging not to go, with excuses about having to stay home and clean out my sock drawer. But this time I went, and here is what I learned: First, I have an enormous amount of respect for jazz musicians and their ability to improvise.

Second, the We Always Swing Jazz Series is an absolute local treasure, and Columbia is so very lucky to have it. Third, I do not like jazz.

Much like my new puppy, who wants to be potty-trained, I want to like jazz — I just don’t.

There is a small part of me that considers this a personal failure, but in the end, I think music just isn’t my thing. Words are my thing. And that is what makes the arts so great: there is something for everyone. Now I just have to try explaining that to my husband . . .

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SHELF LIFE

I’M NOT CRYING, YOU’RE CRYING! THE COMO LIVING TEAM SHARES THEIR FAVORITE TEAR-JERKERS. Brenna McDermott’s Must-Read: “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy It’s the end of the world — you’re still alive. How do you go on living when everything is bleak, food is scarce, and people are more dangerous than ever? I know I shed some tears while reading this book, but more than that was the feeling of melancholy that lingered after finishing the book. An excellent, gripping read. While I was first thrown off by McCarthy’s writing style, I came to love his prose.

Megan Whitehead’s Must-Read: “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”

by Stephen Chbosky I have read this book twice now: once as a teenager struggling with how to use my creative skills, and once as an adult with a career in reading and writing. The protagonist, Charlie, must learn to navigate the hardships of life with the help of vastly different mentors. The heartbreak of suicide, the struggle of creativity, and the dissonance that can occur between friends all mix together for a deeply emotional read.

Beth Bramstedt’s Must-Read: “The Mountain Between Us”

by Charles Martin Author Charles Martin first caught my attention with “Unwritten.”

He creates compelling, authentic characters who are struggling to deal honestly with the real issues of life. Such is the case with this story of two strangers whose plane goes down in the mountains on their way home to see family. “The Mountain Between Us” has all the elements of a great read: drama, suspense, danger, friendship.

It’s a story of grief, of love, and of survival. It will have you on the edge of your seat and grabbing for a tissue.

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SHELF LIFE

THE BOOK THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

A memory about a beautiful escape.

by A L E X G E O R G E

A

bout 25 years ago, I was on a coach that was traveling between Oxford, where I was a student, and London.

The motorway between the two cities is a particularly unappealing stretch of road called the M40. It is flat, straight, bleak. Urban sprawl morphs into bland suburbia and then into unprepossessing countryside.

I was traveling back from a visit to my girlfriend. It had not gone well. She had begun the painful process of trying to break up with me, a development that I was trying my best to ignore. It was also pouring rain — that dreary, especially wet rain that England does so well. If all this wasn’t enough, the driver suddenly pulled off the highway onto the hard shoulder and the coach shuddered to a halt. There was a blast of static from the front as the driver spoke to someone on the radio. Then he got up from his seat, turned to face the assembled passengers, and mumbled something vague about mechanical failure. He had called for a replacement coach, he told us, but it would be coming from London, and would not be there for at least an hour. There was a collective, and very English, sigh.

I sat in my seat, marooned on the side of that miserable road with the rain streaming down the window next to me.

My soon-to-be-ex girlfriend was behind me, and dreary legal textbooks awaited my return. And I couldn’t remember ever feeling happier.

The reason? A 600-page novel by John Fowles called “The Magus.” It tells the story of a young Englishman who goes to a Greek island and becomes embroiled in a bewildering series of adventures in which the lines between reality and fantasy become impossibly blurred.

Fowles plays with the reader like a cat with

a ball of string, pulling you first one way and then another. To read this novel is to be delighted, confounded, and elated, sometimes all at once. Nothing is ever quite how it seems.

And the language remains some of the most gorgeous prose I’ve ever read.

So when the coach broke down on that dismal afternoon, I didn’t care. I actually thought: good. I wasn’t in rainy Oxfordshire, you see; I was on that Greek island, and I desperately didn’t want to leave.

It was a moment that changed my life. In that instant, I understood the transformative power of literature. Fowles cast a spell on me so bewitching that the world beyond the pages of the book had (mercifully) disappeared. I was spirited away, wholly and completely, to another place.

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I thought about books differently after that, and a few years later I began to write myself, curious to see if I could pull off Fowles’ trick.

Even now, every time I sit down at my keyboard, I remember my miraculous escape from that broken-down, rain-lashed coach. My stories are passports, providing me with safe passage to the worlds I create in my head. I hope they provide an escape route for my readers too.

ALEX GEORGE Born in England, Alex has lived in Columbia for 12 years. His book, “Setting Free the Kites,” was published in January.

Alex founded the Unbound Book Festival.

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L I B AT I O N S

A STIFF DRINK FOR WINTER’S END

DogMaster’s spin on a famed Irish cocktail.

by VA N H AW X BY

I

am Van Hawxby, the owner of DogMaster Distillery here in Columbia. We produce whiskeys, rums, and vodkas, and we source our grains and barrels from Central Missouri suppliers. We like to say that you can taste a little bit of Missouri in every sip you take. In addition to the high quality spirits we produce, we also have a tasting room where we craft simple, well-made cocktails: ones you can easily make at home.

I have over six years of experience working as a professional bartender, and I enjoy experimenting with different ingredients to craft new and creative drinks. But I also have a passion for classic cocktails, which is how we end up with a drink like this.

Luck of the Whiskey In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, we’re going to put an American twist on an Irish whiskey cocktail, the McGlashan. The McGlashan is a rather stiff cocktail with warm flavors of orange and ginger. I feel it makes a wonderful cocktail for the winter months. The McGlashan originated at the Dead Rabbit Pub in New York City, recognized as one of the top Irish pubs in the world.

You will need: • 3 ounces DogMaster whiskey • 1 ounce ginger simple syrup (see recipe below) • 1 tablespoon orange marmalade • Juice of ½ lemon • 4 or 5 dashes of The Bitter Housewife barrel-aged bitters • Orange wedge to garnish

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds.

Pour in a rocks glass that contains a large ice ball (molds can be found at many local retailers). If you are unable to find an ice ball, you can substitute a few cubes of ice, but be sure not to use too many — you would not want to dilute this cocktail. One might find that this drink is a pleasant departure from the traditional Manhattan or old-fashioned while still staying firmly in the realm of whiskey.

Ginger Simple Syrup • 8 ounces grated ginger • 2 cups water • 2 cups stevia sweetener (you can use sugar, but stevia tastes great and keeps the cocktail’s calorie count down) COMO L I V I N G

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Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and boil for at least five minutes. Strain the liquid from the ginger and store in a bottle in the refrigerator. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the ginger simple syrup. It’s great in other whiskey cocktails.

VA N H AW X BY Van Hawxby is the Dogmaster and the man behind the bar at his craft distillery in the North Village Arts District, the first of its kind in Columbia.

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A taste of Culture Local Thai and Indian restaurants put their twist on traditional dishes for COMO Living’s gourmet spread this issue.

photos by K E I TH B O RG M E Y E R

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GOURMET

thip thai

Restaurant Chef Kittikoon Chompupong Roasted duck with curry A specially prepared spicy red curry with roasted duck, fresh fruit, and herbs.

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india’s house Chef Sonny Singh Chicken tikka masala Tandoori chicken

Top left: Charcoal roasted chicken cubes in a moderately spiced sauce.

Chicken marinated in yogurt RAN G E Fsauce R Ewith E fresh herbs and selected Indian spices.

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GOURMET

Mango Lassi A refreshing yogurt drink churned with fresh mangos.

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D AY I N T H E L I F E

QUIN GRESHAM

YEARS AT ARROW ROCK LYCEUM

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Bringing the art of theater to mid-Missouri.

by M A D E LY N E M A AG

W

hen the lights dim down over the Lyceum Theater’s auditorium, the audience shifts their focus into another world. Together they laugh, they gasp, and they cry as a story unfolds between actors on the stage. Each detail that helps tell each story would not be possible without every member of Lyceum Theater working behind the scenes. Quin Gresham, who is the producing artistic director for the theater, located in Arrow Rock, is lucky enough to see both sides of theater when a production happens.

“It is exciting and equally gratifying to sit in the back of the theater when the show opens,” Quin says. “I get to see what all the hard work we’ve done does emotionally to an audience.

It’s a special thing because we are all sitting in a dark room with different ideas, but we come together to enjoy theater.”

Quin has worked in theater for about 20 years, but, to him, the time has felt like nothing at all.

He began his career back in the summer of 1996.

At the time, Quin attended the Conservatory Theater of Arts program at Webster University, where director Marla Woodruff helped him realize and pursue his passion for directing.

“She is an incredible human being, teacher, and the first person to give me a taste of what I was eventually going to do with my life,” Quin says. “If I didn’t meet her, I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today.”

Early on, Woodruff reached out to Quin by giving him opportunities to lead smaller productions outside of his writing and directing classes. His goal was to eventually work his way up to a role in theater management. Little did he know, this opportunity would arrive sooner than expected.

“Before I got into Lyceum Theater, I was asked by my friends over coffee to be its associate director,” Quin says. “And I was eager to take that position, since it would give me more arts management experience

and was where I wanted to go in my career.”

Shortly after Quin started with Lyceum, Philip Coffield, the theater’s longtime associate artistic director, fell ill and asked Quin if he would take his place.

"IT’S A SPECIAL THING BECAUSE WE ARE ALL SITTING IN A DARK ROOM WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS, BUT WE COME TOGETHER TO ENJOY THEATER." “He really wanted me to stay with the theater,” Quin says. “After Phil retired, we would talk on the phone and he would give me a crash course in theater management. It was heartbreaking to see him go, but he was and continues to be a big inspiration of mine today.”

Today, and especially during theater season, Quin can always be found doing something for

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the theater. Depending on the time of year, this could mean anything from dashing around the Lyceum’s property to checking in on the tiny details of a production, or handpicking and contracting actors and actresses in New York.

How does this theater draw audiences and Broadway actors to a tiny town in the middle of Missouri? Arrow Rock currently holds a population of 56, according to the road signs Quin sees when driving into work. It’s a rustic town preserved in the heart of the Midwest and quite a distance from some of Missouri’s larger cities. Yet the town and theater draw people in from near and far. Quin says it's all in the magic of theater and the town.

“The surroundings of the theater are unmatched in historical accuracy,” Quin says.

“It is a well maintained town and it makes people feel like they’ve travelled back to the 19th century.”

Of course, a theater would be nothing without its cast of actors, actresses, stage assistants, art directors, designers, and others present to prepare

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D AY I N T H E L I F E

for a production. The cohesiveness of this Lyceum unit would not be possible without the oversight of Quin. No day is ever the same for him, but Quin will do whatever it takes to make a show go on, which sometimes means stepping in to act or direct a production. He does whatever he can to help the staff of Lyceum.

“You don’t always know how much offstage work it takes to make a production successful,” Quin says. “It isn’t always the person on stage, or the sound person, but sometimes it is the person who makes sure people show up on time or travel safely, or who pays the bills on time. Everyone who brings these productions, this theater, to life — they work hard.”

At the end of the day, the moment Quin enjoys most is when he is able to sit back at the beginning of a performance and watch as the theater darkens, the stage brightens, and one of Lyceum’s productions comes to life. He says it’s a magical moment to see these audience members, no matter their differences, come together to enjoy one story at a mid-Missouri theatre.

Top: From the Lyceum's performance of “1776,” which Gresham directed.

Bottom: From the Lyceum's "A Christmas Carol."

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DAY I N T H E L I F E

A T Y P I C A L DAY 9:00 a.m.: Quin arrives at the office.

He checks emails and voicemails that might have crept in overnight.

9:30 a.m.: Quin

meets with administrative staff to discuss finances, how the box office is doing for the week, and any scheduled marketing materials, and they brainstorm new methods to reach their audience.

These meetings vary from day to day.

11:00 a.m.:

Quin makes the rounds through the production departments: scenics, costumes, electrics, sound, and props. He and the department heads discuss what special circumstances are at hand and check their progress for the next show opening.

1:00 p.m.: Quin

visits the rehearsal hall, perhaps to watch a run-through of the upcoming production. This will be followed by a notes session with the director (if he’s not the director) to discuss areas of the production that Quin thinks need to be made more clear for the audience.

3:00 p.m.:

Production meeting.

These meetings vary in length and in scope, but the production stage manager delivers notes to the various production departments and they discuss strategies and solutions.

4:00 p.m.: Quin squeezes in a nap, if he’s able.

5:00 p.m.: Quin returns to the office to catch up on all the emails and voicemails that he’s missed while running around Arrow Rock.

7:00 p.m.: Quin

checks in with production departments before the house opens for an 8 p.m. show. He visits the dressing rooms to chat with the actors before they head onstage for the evening.

7:30 p.m.: Quin welcomes their patrons to the show.

The administrative staff and board members are a constant presence at all performances.

10:30 p.m.: Quin

heads home and gets the coffee pot ready for the next morning.

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JEROME RACKERS

ANNE TUCKLEY HOME

LIFESTYLES FURNITURE

Whether it’s home maintenance, design tips, or style advice, this team has you covered.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

5 REASONS YOU SHOULD PLAN YOUR SUMMER RENOVATION PROJECTS THIS WINTER

BY CALE KLIETHERMES Find more at: www.kliethermes.com

When the weather is chilly and you’re forced to stay inside, curled up in front of the fire, it’s hard to think about the warm breezes and sunshine of summer without feeling a twinge of nostalgia. However, all that time spent inside this winter could come in handy if you use it to plan your summer renovation projects!

Surprisingly, now is the best time to be thinking ahead about future updates to your home. If you’re planning something like a full kitchen renovation, or something outdoors like a new deck, screened-in porch or extensive landscaping, it’s important to give yourself enough time to plan accordingly.

Here are 5 parts of the renovation process that will benefit from thinking about your summer projects this winter.

PLANNING This is a big one! If you want to build a new deck or add an outdoor kitchen, I bet you want to enjoy these extra amenities this summer, right? If you start the planning process now, you’ll have plenty of time to talk to and hire a contractor, work on the plans, and start on the project before summer rolls around.

RESEARCHING This is an important phase in the planning process. This stage includes researching different contractors in your area. This gives you time to look over past projects, learn about each company and even gives you time to look at the materials you might need for the project.

This is especially important in a kitchen project where materials like cabinets, countertops and appliances can differ greatly in style and price!

DESIGNING Spend some time on Pinterest or binge-watch your favorite HGTV show to decide what you

CALE KLIETHERMES

KLIETHERMES HOMES & REMODELING

Cale Kliethermes has learned the construction business from the ground up, working with his father to uphold the 40-year legacy that is Kliethermes Homes & Remodeling. Having been immersed in the industry since his teenage years, Cale possesses decades’ worth of expert knowledge and experience regarding new construction and remodels. Cale studied business administration and finance at Regis University, in Denver, Colorado, and earned his CGR (Certified Graduate Remodeler) designation from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). He also served in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps, where he built secure housing and observation posts. Cale specializes in leading homeowners through the creative process of designing their ideal home, and he is skilled in determining unique solutions that result in life-changing differences.

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want your finished project to look like. If you have an idea of what you want, this will make it easier for the contractor and designer to work together to put a design in place that you will love. Plus, it gives you a chance to add your own personality into the project.

BUDGETING The more time you allocate to do your research and plan, the more time you have to shop around for a company that will work with your budget – not just for a contractor, but for materials as well! Also, the more time spent planning, the less likely you are to run into unexpected costs down the road.

ENJOYING This one is obviously a given, but it’s much easier to watch the transformation of your home and enjoy your new space when the process goes smoothly. Giving yourself and the crew enough time to plan and execute your project means being able to use your new space when you need it most – those warm summer months!

What do you have planned for your home in 2017? If you want your home to be summer-ready, Kliethermes can help you turn your winter dreams into a summer reality. Call (573) 446-2222 or visit kliethermes.com for more information!

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STAGING: A PERFECT RECIPE

BY ANNE TUCKLEY Find more at: AnneTuckleyhome.com

One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is when I unveil a staged home to its owner - the quiet gasps followed by a dropped jaw, a silent pause, and the eventual, “How did you make my stuff look so good?”

Staging, the act of preparing a house for the real estate market, is an art. It is the art of manipulating a three-dimensional space to draw the viewer’s eyes in a pre-determined flow throughout the room with the intention of leaving the viewer with the desire to stay in the space.

The faster you can make someone want to be in your home, the more demand you create, and the faster you sell your home at a higher price point.

What’s not to love about that?

As with any art form, staging requires a special creative ability to maximize its benefit. The same pieces will not lead to the same result. I like to equate staging to cooking. Give two people a chicken, sweet potatoes, an onion, and water and tell them they can do whatever they want and use any spices. A less creative, or perhaps a less culinary-inclined individual, may boil the chicken with some salt and pepper, microwave the sweet potatoes, and dice the onion as a garnish; a culinary artist may use spices, onion, and the bones and organs of the chicken to create a broth, strain the broth, add baked sweet potato, puree together into a thick soup, and garnish with shredded, turmeric roasted chicken.

Both are perfectly reasonable results of the assignment, but which is more desirably executed?

Inspiration and innovation are the backbone of staging.

Still not convinced of its importance?

Think about all of those gorgeous rooms in magazines that you aspire to recreate.

They are all staged.

COMO COMO LLI V I VI N I NGG

ANNE TUCKLEY

ANNE TUCKLEY HOME

Anne has been in the interior design industry for over 20 years and has resided in many metropolitan cities from NYC to Houston while honing in on her skills.

Her specialties are interior design and home staging, with a focus on unique perception. Anne graduated with a BFA in fine art with a concentration in design and illustration. She has extensive experience in designing new construction as well as remodeling and conceptualizing out-of-the-box ideas. She ensures cutting edge design and superb customer service.

108 Corporate Lake Place, Columbia, MO 65203 573-639-1989 | AnneTuckleyhome.com

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SPONSORED CONTENT

LIVING IN COLOR Find more at: lifestylescomo.com

Sometimes clothes can be a good analogy for your furniture. For example: lots of people I know look in their closet and have lots of great clothes in their signature color. Let’s say it’s black. When you really branch out, you wear gray. You know you should explore different, brighter colors, but you’re not sure where to start.

Many people find that they have a similar problem with their furniture. They’ve surrounded themselves in their homes with more of the same: beige, beige, and more beige. Or, if you’re really modern: gray, gray, and more gray.

With our clothes, we all know that it doesn’t take much to take make a boring outfit look great: sometimes it just takes the right necktie or necklace. You can use the same concept to find that statement piece of color for your home. Here’s four easy steps to accomplish just that: 1. Add an accent wall of color. It’s just one wall. If you hate it, it’s easy to go back and cover it up. This isn’t permanent, so the fear level can be controlled. Pick a small wall, paint three or four of your favorite choices on it, and sit with it for a few days to see how you feel. Then choose your best option and go for it.

2. Get a statement chair. Get it upholstered in a fabric of your choosing. Much like you sample the paint, ask your furniture store to take home samples of fabric and lay them in the room to see how the lighting and your other pieces work with it.

Custom upholstery is the easiest way to get something exactly your style on anything you want — maybe it’s just a storage ottoman that matches the new color on your statement wall.

3. Choosing a statement table that makes the room pop. A great sofa table or entertainment center in a

4.

splash of color can be an affordable way to get new life out of your classically colored furniture.

Rugs are also a fantastic way to make a room pop. There are countless textures, styles, shapes, and colors to choose from. This small and easy investment might be just what you need to express yourself in the new year.

COMO L I V I N G

JEROME RACKERS LIFESTYLES FURNITURE

Jerome Rackers is from Columbia, Missouri and has been at Lifestyles Furniture for 25 years. He began his career at Lifestyles Furniture as the assistant manager and within three months became manager. After three years as manager, Jerome and his wife, Cheryl, purchased Lifestyles Furniture in July 1995. Jerome specializes in interior design and helping customers finding solutions to their home-furnishing needs. As owner and operator of Lifestyles Furniture, Jerome manages the staff, selects all floor stock, does the bookkeeping, plans and executes advertising and handles day-to-day operations.

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Luxury LOFT OF

BERRY BUILDING North Village Arts District

by JO R DAN M I L NE photos by K E I TH B O RG M E Y E R

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HOME TOUR

“I’m not from around here, so being downtown allows me to go to the local bars and restaurants and make family here.”

- DAV I D SW I N B U R N E

N

Another of Swinburne’s favorite aspects of the space is its location — indulgences and conveniences are within a stone’s throw.

“I’m not from around here, so being downtown allows me to go to the local bars and restaurants and make family here,” he says. “You also have the clothing store, groceries, the florist. All of your friends come downtown, and you’re already here.”

Convenience continued to be key as Swinburne sought furnishings to feather his self-proclaimed “man nest.” He looked no further than his downstairs neighbor, the interior design firm Studio Home.

estled at the intersection of Walnut and Orr streets is the historic Berry Building. Built in the 1924, the 35,000-square-foot post-andbeam building once served as a grocery warehouse before being renovated in 2010. It’s now a cornerstone of the North Village Arts District and the home of 12 luxury loft apartments and an eclectic mix of businesses. John and Vicki Ott own the building.

“The building has the feel I wanted in a studio,” says David Swinburne, who began renting one of the lofts in August 2016. “It’s so cool that there are businesses right below me.”

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THE FUTURE OF LEAD GENERATION IS HERE

MOBILE CONQUESTING Cutting-edge mobile advertising for your business.

BusinessTimesInteractive.com/mobile COMO L I V I N G

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go in with contractors and slap up some walls, but the space wouldn’t be nearly as dynamic.”

The overall result is the stunning yet simple design that allows Swinburne’s electronics and furniture to flow seamlessly with the steel, brick, and wood interior of the structure itself.

Globe lighting hangs between exposed beams, venting, and piping, playing on shades of blacks and browns to create an industrial yet refined feel.

“My favorite piece is the Herman Miller Eames lounge chair and ottoman,” says Swinburne. “There’s one just like it at the New York Museum of Modern Art. It’s functional and comfortable, and people who know what it is appreciate it.”

The loft is function meets fashion indeed. Even Swinburne’s sleek bicycle, parked in the living room, is a practical piece of the decor.

“My process mixed designer pieces with contemporary to create a play of stylish and useful,” says Studio Home designer Tim Lehmann. “The idea was also to create a long-term investment so David can continue to use the pieces wherever he lives.”

Lehmann created a portfolio, walking Swinburne through everything from the furniture to the fabric. “Luckily for him, I had nothing,” Swinburne says with a laugh.

Lehmann says the freedom with the project was one of his favorite aspects.

Swinburne asked for a “masculine, sophisticated, wellrounded feel.” Using the existing raw features of the studio as their canvas, Lehmann and Swinburne melded visions.

“All of the building’s original detailing incorporated into this space is what makes it so cool,” says Lehmann. “You could COMO L I V I N G

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Love

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by L I BB Y WALL AN D B ETH B R AMSTE DT photos by KEITH B OR GME Y E R

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W earable art

Six local artists illustrate why jewelry is more than an accessory; it’s a work of art.

FA S H I O N

Meet the artists JEN N Y MCG E E

M A RY B E NJAM I N

KENNETH GREENE

SA RA H S E AT

Artist Jenny McGee started her jewelry line in 2013 to create wearable pieces of art.

Handmade beads are Mary Benjamin’s specialty. The studio art and ceramic enthusiast first began creating her own clay jewelry in the mid ’80s. She uses her own technique to create one-of-a-kind pieces.

Downtown artist Kenny Greene has been creating and restoring jewelry in Columbia since 1979.

Thirty years ago, Sarah Seat purchased a single, Somali amber bead that intrigued her and hooked her into a lifelong fascination with beaded adornment.

Photos 1, 2, 10, 12

“A piece of jewelry became a solution to get more people to

Photos 3,8

Photo 6

Kenny is an expert in silver and turquoise, and enjoys designing his own custom pieces. He apprenticed in Seattle, Washington with a student of Charles Loloma, one of the most famous Native American jewelry designers of the 20th century.

word placed on the

“It involves coloring batches of moist porcelain with commercial stains, then stacking and manipulating these colors in various ways to create a long loaf of pattern,” Mary says. The loaf is sliced into pieces, which are shaped, sanded, and fired in a kiln.

inside to encourage

“It’s a mesmerizing

behind the cluttered

and remind someone

process because

jeweler’s bench in

how embraced and

you may have some

his store, Monarch

cherished they are.”

idea of the internal

Jewelry, in the North

own an original work of art,” Jenny says.

“Each piece of jewelry has an inspiring

Jenny begins with a piece of copper or silver and paints the top and bottom.

Freshwater pearls, turquoise, or a type of stone are added and each piece is glazed.

Her jewelry can be found online at expressandheal. com, as well as in Poppy and in brandonjacobs gallery, in Kansas City.

“I’m playing the whole time,” he says from

pattern, but it’s always Village Arts District. a surprise to see it revealed,” she says.

Mary’s jewelry can be found at Bluestem Missouri Crafts.

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His philosophy? “Always do the best job you can — that’s paramount,” he says. “Be honest and straightforward. That’s what’s important to me.”

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Photo 7

“I have been making wearable beaded art ever since,” she says.

Sarah draws her inspiration from her large bead collection gathered from her travels locally and abroad.

Her collection includes semi-precious beads, freshwater pearls, Czech glass, seed beads, sterling silver, and Swarovski crystal.

Sarah is now retired and has returned to Missouri, where she enjoys the arts community through the Columbia Art League.

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Nails by Jessica Safranski, Varsity Nails

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FA S H I O N

STEP HANI E THOMPS ON Photo 4, 9, 11

Stephanie Thompson has always had a passion for creativity. The Dallas native was working at Poppy in the summer of 2010 when the owner suggested she create a few pieces for the shop.

With a fondness for color and a retro style, Stephanie strived to incorporate vintage elements or salvaged jewelry components in each piece.

“My floral jewelry often reminds me of Depression11

era flour sacks that were printed with patterns so women could turn them into dresses,� Stephanie says.

Her jewelry can be found at Poppy and on Etsy.

JU LI E C HATMAN Photo 5

Julie Chatman is a teacher by day and artist by night, where she creates elegant jewelry from ordinary objects like dominos at prices anyone can afford. Her work is on display at the Columbia Art League.

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Honoring Centenarians

by B E T H B R A M S T E D T photos by A N A S TA S I A P O T T I N G E R

L

ocal artist Anastasia Pottinger fell into photographing the elderly by accident.

Six years ago, Stacie’s mother was the personal assistant to an adventurous 101-year-old woman. While getting her ready for a massage, she noticed the unique beauty of her skin. Thinking of Stacie’s photography work, her mom asked the woman if she ever had her picture taken nude. She had not.

“She was my first model,” Stacie shares. She staged a photoshoot for the woman, playing with the light on her skin to capture abstract images of her body. “It was a touching and vulnerable experience.”

Stacie knew she had stumbled upon something unique and special, something only time could create. She entered the photos in several contests, began winning awards, and was invited to a portfolio review in New York. The attention and opportunities gave her the inspiration to seek out additional models.

“I love hearing their stories and appreciate their willingness to try anything,” Stacie says about her models. “We actually talk a lot longer than I photograph.”

In 2014, Feature Shoot, a photography website, picked up Stacey’s images and they went viral. Her story was featured online at CNN’s Photo Blog, The Huffington Post, boredpanda, and more.

Stacie has now photographed six centenarians from across the country, including a woman who lives north of Los Angeles and is now 107. Her hope is to continue the project later this year and eventually publish a book of her photographs.

“I want to capture mysterious images,” Stacie explains. One of her favorite photos features a woman’s torso with her breasts lying on her stomach. “If you see the face, you’re looking at someone rather than looking into something.”

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“If you see the face, you’re looking at someone rather than

looking into something.”

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“The models often ask why I would want to photograph them. They feel old and ugly.

But then they see the work and are proud to be part of it.”

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“I have a huge level of respect for their vulnerability and what they are willing to do.”

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While Stacie has experienced the national limelight, she is also a local artisan who enjoys putting her personality into her craft at Rogue Studios on Orr Street. She has a background in human development and family studies and strives to capture the dynamics of the individuals and families she meets on film.

“I do love humans and working with humans on any spectrum,” Stacie shares.

“Yet the centenarian project is special because it’s all mine. I don’t have to worry about satisfying anyone else.”

Stacie extended this theme into COMO Living’s story on local people living life to the fullest into their 90s. See page 56.

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A

FERVOR

FOR LIFE Three Columbia seniors live life passionately.

By Beth Bramstedt Photos by Anastasia Pottinger

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SUE WINN On a grim, icy day in December, Sue Winn, 89, sits tucked in her apartment at Provision Living, watching out the window as cars slide their way down Chapel Hill Road. Inside, her room looks warm, with white wicker furniture and pops of hot pink in her throw pillows and décor.

A book from the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, featuring Chanel, sits on her coffee table, reflecting her love of both travel and fashion. Looking like she stepped out of a magazine herself, Sue sports a matching magenta vest, her hair perfectly in place and her jewelry sparkling.

“I love clothes, especially pretty combinations like pink, yellow, and green,” she shares. “They give a lift to living.” Sue thinks she gets the obsession from her mother, who loved hats. “I just hope I have enough money to see my love of clothes through to the end,” she says with a grin.

Sue also loves getting to know people.

She admits her wardrobe has opened many doors for her. “People have always noticed what I was wearing and would come talk to me,” she says.

Sue grew up in Salisbury, Missouri, was valedictorian of her high school class, and went on to study music in college.

She married John Winn, and they raised their two daughters in a house nearby,

where she lived until moving to Provision

sounds crazy. I just wanted to have a good

Living last fall. She adores her three

time all the way through.”

grandsons and great-grandson, and she

Part of Sue’s fun has been traveling

served for 55 years as a member of a local

the world. “I started in Ireland when I

PEO Sisterhood group.

was 50, and I have seen every country I

"I JUST WANTED TO HAVE A GOOD TIME ALL THE WAY THROUGH." COMO L I V I N G

“I will be 90 in May,” Sue says. “It

Sue Winn

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wanted to see,” she says. Her excursions

"I NEVER LET MY FEET DRAG." have taken her across Europe and into Asia. “While I was on one trip, I would start planning another.”

Which adventure remains closest to her heart? “Ireland was my favorite. Being Irish, I felt like I had close family ties to it,” she explains, describing a memorable experience touring an Irish castle.

Sue’s travels have also taken her to some places repeatedly, like New York. One year, she was invited to tag along with her daughter, who was taking a class of 22 kids to the Big Apple. The excursion became a 22-year tradition.

“There is always something new and different going on outside in New York,” Sue says, recalling a time the streets were lined with decorated pianos for people to play.

Over 90 years, there is one thing Sue never learned to care about — food. “I eat just enough to get by on,” she says.

“I’d rather spend my meal time talking with friends.” She also admits that she hasn’t changed dress sizes since high school. Her one vice is chocolate. “I’d eat it for all my meals and in between if I could.”

Although she hasn’t left the state recently, Sue’s favorite traveling adventure is her weekly trip to Boonville on Sunday afternoons. Why Boonville? The Russell Stover shop, of course. “I have eaten Russell Stover’s candy all my life, a pound a week, and I’ll go with anyone who will take me,” she says emphatically.

Sue’s advice for aging gracefully? “I steer clear of people with a negative outlook.

It’s too easy to become that way,” she says.

“And I sleep. That’s another thing I really love to do!”

George Hoey

GEORGE HOEY Sitting in the bistro at the Village of Bedford Walk, George Hoey, 84, is on his best behavior. He’s been reading “1776”

by David McCullough, and he stops to share about life and his thoughts on

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getting older. His blue wool sweater brings out the color in his eyes, which gleam with a hint of mischief.

“Age is just a number,” George says with a smile. “It’s all about how you use it.”

A former resident of Chicago, George

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moved to Columbia following his wife’s death in late 2014 to be near his son, who lives in Ashland. Having lived two miles from Wrigley Field with a career as a PE teacher and coach, George says he couldn’t get enough of the Chicago Cubs, all things sports, and a good party.

“I never let my feet drag,” George says. “I was all over the place.”

George’s adventures included being part of Maguire University, a fictitious college created by a group of Chicago high school basketball coaches in order to score tickets to the NCAA Final Four. The idea was hatched in 1963 at Maguire’s Pub in Forest Park, Illinois.

George won’t confirm or deny the details (the official Maguire University website lists him as vice president), but he does

volunteer at University Hospital on Monday and at the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.

“George moved from out of town and wanted be part of the community,” says Village of Bedford Walk community relations specialist Brittany Lambiris. “He really rallies around the other residents and encourages them to get involved.”

Lambiris says that George’s desire to serve in the community was the inspiration for the Bedford Gives Back program, which the Village of Bedford Walk developed to get other residents involved in volunteer work. George also serves as an ambassador for the Bedford Walk community as one of six residents who welcome and engage new people.

I think it’s meant to have fun,” he shares.

“There are hard times, but you can’t dwell on them all your life. You have to move on.”

EDIE BRENNAN Edie Brennan, 91, has spent her morning out and about. After her daily walk with a friend (a routine she started at age 49) and running a few errands, she drives back to the Terrace, determined to make the most of her day.

Inside her modest two-bedroom apartment, Edie skitters about, putting her coat and hat in their place while pointing out her latest quilting project spread out on the couch. She eventually takes a seat there, adjusting her artistic metal frames, and gets down to business.

“I don’t understand how people

“I’M LIVING WHILE I’M ALIVE,” SHE SAYS WITH DETERMINATION, “AND I’M GOING TO ENJOY EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE.” admit to having attended the Final Four every year since 1980, and he’s looking forward to Phoenix this year.

“I do like to party!” he says.

It’s no surprise that one of George’s favorite activities at the Village of Bedford Walk is the Happy Hour, catered by Room 38 every Wednesday afternoon. He also had the opportunity to show off his bartending skills at a holiday brunch for the staff in December.

His drink of choice? A simple beer, like Miller Lite.

“I wanted life and I’ve found it here at The Village of Bedford Walk,” George says.

“I can’t gush enough about the place. It’s my home and this is my family.”

George prioritizes his time to

In his free time, George is serious about staying fit. He walks three miles several times a week and does water aerobics in the facility’s resistance pool. “I may creak once in a while,” he says, “but I’m not going to say I can’t do it. I’ll just do what I can.”

An obvious highlight of 2016 for George was the Cubs winning the World Series. To fully immerse himself in the experience, he watched the games in his room, where he could yell and scream at the TV screen.

“Cardinal fans give me business all over the place,” George says with a devilish grin, “but this year I gave it all back to them!”

George’s antidote to aging? “I love life.

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just eat, bathe, sleep, and get up to eat again. They’re not interested in anything,” she laments.

Edie grew up in St. Louis, went to Webster University, and spent most of her career working as a secretary in the Kirkwood School District. She raised two boys and moved to Columbia during the devastation of the 1993 flood, to be near her son in Harrisburg.

Edie might choose to spend her days void of a computer or TV, but her life still holds plenty of adventure. One of her favorite activities is horseback riding.

“I love traveling and always wanted to go down into the Grand Canyon on a mule,” Edie shares. “One of my friends told me to take lessons or it would kill me!”

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Despite her fear after being thrown from a horse as a teenager, Edie started taking riding classes and spent several vacations on dude ranches. Eight or so years later, she fulfilled her dream, thankful for her developed muscles and her friend’s advice.

Edie still rides today, traveling to RS Ranch in Bourbon, Missouri twice a year to spend three days exploring the Ozarks scenery from atop her horse. “I chose RS Ranch because they have gated horses,” Edie explains, “which trot in a way that’s easier on seniors.”

Edie has built a relationship with the ranch’s owner and considers her an adopted daughter. “You never know when I might get a call from Tanya, alerting me to an upcoming group that would get a kick out of riding with an old lady,” Edie says with a laugh.

Edie’s modes of transportation even stretch beyond horses and her car. Before moving to Columbia, she also had her pilot’s license.

Having heard a retired employee from McDonnell Douglas, a St. Louis-based airplane manufacturer, talk about learning to fly when he retired, Edie took the challenge. Although she struggled with altitude sickness, she enrolled in ground school in her early 60s and learned to fly on a Cessna 182. “I passed and was the only lady in the club,” Edie recounts. “My dad wasn’t too happy.”

Edie originally quit riding to fly, but she’s now back to riding again. And, of course, she also quilts.

“My goal is to do as much to a quilt as possible to make it beautiful before I let it go,” Edie shares. One of her masterpieces has won several best-in-show awards and took more than 800 hours to quilt and 120 hours to assemble and finish. It appraised for $2,500.

“Unfortunately, I’m aging out of my

Edie Brennan

hobby,” she shares. “It’s awful.” Because

own. “I try not to fuss and instead learn to

of decreased eyesight and reduced

adapt,” she says.

manipulation in her fingers, projects seem to take her three times as long.

Yet Edie has a low tolerance for crabbiness and negativity, including her

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Edie’s attitude about aging? “I’m living while I’m alive,” she says with determination, “and I’m going to enjoy every day of my life.”

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It Takes

a

Village

More than 8,000 refugees live in mid-Missouri. They’ve fled persecution and danger from around the world and taken their families across borders and oceans. They’ve ended up in the middle of America. For them, success comes from the community that takes them in.

by A N N A C O M F O R T ph o to s by K E I T H B O R G M E Y E R

(Clockwise from bottom left) Kimnu, Mawi Mawi, Cing Cing, Pau, and Thiha Hlamyo.

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“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”

— Brené Brown, researcher and author

C

ing Cing Hlamyo was five months pregnant with her second child when she and her husband, Pau, stepped off of a plane in Columbia. They had traveled for days with a toddler in tow, starting in Malaysia with stops in Japan, Los Angeles, and Memphis. But their journey had started four years earlier, in Burma.

Pau and Cing Cing had been married only a short time when Pau was forced into working for the ruling Burmese military.

Faced with the prospect of lifelong slavery, the young couple made a choice. “He had to leave, and I didn’t want to be alone in Burma,” Cing Cing recalls. So they left their families and fled across the border into Malaysia, where they began life as refugees.

150 refugees are resettled in mid-Missouri annually, and there are more than 8,000 currently living in the area. While each one has a unique story, they all share some common experiences in the new community they now call home.

Disorientation, Reorientation Barry Stoll is the director of City of Refuge, an organization providing aid to refugees in mid-Missouri. As such, he knows the ins and outs of the rigorous screening process people must go through before they can be classified as refugees. Stoll says: “The vetting process, despite what some people may think, is extremely thorough. So a few get to make it over here from their respective countries.”

Getting cleared to enter the United States as a refugee takes an average of 18 to 24 months. For Cing Cing and Pau, it took four years. While they waited for the United Nations Human Rights Council to check their story and classify them as refugees, they worked at a restaurant, picking up a smattering of English, Malay, and Chinese.

It was a stressful time.

“We didn’t have passports in Malaysia,” Cing Cing explains. “If you didn’t have passports, anytime, the police could come

Kimnu and Thiha Hlamyo.

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and take you to the jail. And so all the time we had to look around, worry. After we got into the United States, we already had the right documents. We had everything, so we didn’t have to worry. But even then, sometimes, if we heard a police car, we were scared.”

Pam Ingram, who runs Granny’s House, an after-school program for children in public housing, says this lingering anxiety is common among the refugees she works with, many of whom have fled genocide, war, and decades-long stays in refugee camps. “When you have a population of people who live their lives in 911 mode, so to speak, they have a lot of PTSD and emotional or mental health needs,” Pam says. “But who can help them if you don’t know their language and their culture?”

About 80 percent of the young people in the Granny’s House program are African refugees. “Mostly from Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Congo, Liberia, Sudan . . . I counted 12 countries one day,” Pam says.

“I know there are some I’m forgetting.” She also works with families from Iraq, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern nations.

Many arrive without much more than the clothes on their backs and a few precious yet portable mementos from happier times, often articles of traditional clothing.

Workers from Refugee and Immigration Services, an arm of Catholic Charities that partners with the federal government, meet refugees at the airport and take them to an apartment or house, with rent covered for about six months. During that time, says Barry, “they have to learn English, get a job, get a driver’s license, get a car, get to where they can pay for housing.”

The transition is more or less jarring depending on the person’s life before displacement. Those who come from metropolitan areas, like Baghdad, already know some English and grew up with

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Cing Cing works at her new international grocery store, Shwe Market, on Vandiver Drive.

electricity and other modern amenities.

“But some folks know zero English,” Barry explains. “They’ve never been around electricity, plumbing, because for the last 20 years they’ve been in a refugee camp. For those folks, the prospect of getting settled in a couple of months is completely impossible.”

Local organizations like Granny’s House and City of Refuge connect with families to help with the transition over the long term.

City of Refuge provides a range of services, from English tutoring to job placement. Its founder, Jen Wheeler, wanted to expand services beyond her originally for-profit cleaning company, Safi Sana, which she created to provide employment for refugees while they learned English. Pau Hlamyo was Safi Sana’s first full-time employee.

Granny’s House works with many refugee children, giving them a place to forge

positive peer relationships and get help with school work. Pam says, “We try to avoid anything that would make it look like we’re trying to be ‘knights on the white horses.’

We interact with people and see that they have so much to offer. They have needs, but they have a lot of beautiful things to offer. Their resilience, their work ethic, the children’s gratitude is amazing.”

Mother of Nations Refugee children tend to learn English quicker than their parents through the immersion of attending school. But because of the trauma many refugee children suffer, some require individualized education plans, and parents aren’t always able to converse effectively with teachers and administrators. The language barrier can lead to confusion, frustration, and struggling children. For Columbia’s African

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refugees, Caritas Habimana steps in to fill the communication gap.

Officially, Caritas works as an interpreter for several organizations, including Columbia Public Schools and the Family Health Center. But virtually every person connected to the refugee community in Columbia will tell you that Caritas is much more than an interpreter. “[Refugee families] really need a lot of advocates,” Pam says, “and Caritas is one of their main ones.”

Caritas understands the struggles of refugees because she was a refugee herself.

In her native Rwanda, Caritas was a teacher at the French embassy, and her husband worked for Doctors without Borders. “We had a good living,” she says. “We were stable. We had a house. We accomplished everything people need to accomplish. We had children. It felt like life would go on.”

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But the horrors of the Rwandan civil war shattered that life. During the genocide in 1994, Caritas escaped with some of her siblings into Uganda. Her mother and many other family members were killed.

“I didn’t have my children,” she says. “I didn’t know where anybody was. We just ran apart.” Months later, she was reunited with her children and husband in Kenya, and the family was, eventually, cleared for resettlement in the United States.

Caritas says it’s easy for some to forget that refugees are ordinary people, impacted by circumstances outside of their control.

“I should be in Rwanda right now,” she says. “I had a normal, good life. I wasn’t rich, but it was my life. My life wasn’t bad.

It can happen to anyone. That’s something everyone should understand.”

Caritas and her family adjusted to American life, but it was 15 years before she found her calling. One day, she saw a family leaving Gerbes with groceries balanced on their heads. She instantly recognized them as Africans. Caritas says, “I approached them, and [it turned out that] I speak the same language as them. So we became friends. I said, ‘Where are you going? Where do you live?’ And they took me to their house.”

At the house, it was clear that the family needed help. “The meat was on the counter, tomato sauce in the fridge,” she says. “They didn’t know how to turn on the range. It was too much.” One of the children had a high fever. Caritas helped the family find a doctor, and it turned out that the child had meningitis.

Helping her new friends required a lot of Caritas’ attention. “I would leave my job, which was day care, at six o’clock, and then I would stop by and check on them.”

She read their mail to them, she says, “and reading the mail leads me to do this, and

doing that, and doing that — I quit my job. I said, I’m quitting this job. Because if I didn’t quit the job, somebody was going to die, and [one day] God will ask me if I was aware of it.”

Caritas picked up more flexible jobs to cover her bills, mostly through her new work with the refugee families. She has a gift for languages, and over the course of her life she has learned many: Kinyarwanda (her native language), Swahili, Kirundi, Lingala, French, and English. One of her interpreting jobs is with Sherryl Laws, a social worker who helps refugees in the area. Caritas translates for Sherryl’s African clients. For a time, Cing Cing Hlamyo did the same for Burmese clients.

“I have jobs here and there,” Caritas says, “but most of the time, I’m not working for money, I’m volunteering.” Her planner is so full of appointments and meetings for her refugee friends that when her friends wanted to take her out for her birthday in November, she said no. “Sorry! This year, I’m not growing up.”

She drives people to doctor’s appointments, helps them apply for housing and other necessities, and holds their children accountable in school. Pam Ingram says: “Every Granny’s House kid’s mother, father, teacher, counselor, doctor, has Caritas’ number on speed-dial. I couldn’t do what I’ve done with refugee families without Caritas.

If I have a problem and have to talk to the parents, I’ll call her and have her translate.”

Caritas acknowledges that her workload is enormous, and she says God gives her unexpected breaks when she starts to feel burned out. What makes it all worth it, though, is seeing refugee families thrive through community. “It’s like we became brothers,” she says.

150 refugees are resettled in mid-Missouri annually. While each has a unique story, they all share common experiences in this new community they now call home.

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A woman Caritas has been helping recently found out that her mother had been killed in Africa. Not long after, the woman had a miscarriage. Other families gathered to cook meals for her and raised money to help her in her time of need. Caritas often thinks about struggles like this in the refugee community and the role they play in their new lives.

“Sometimes I sit down and think, This is something good that has happened,” she says.

“Refugees are here together. It’s something big. It’s powerful . . . children are growing.

They are going to college. It’s beautiful.”

All this volunteer work, Caritas says, “makes me feel good, because you have to have a start. I’m proud of them. They are hard workers. They work, they take care of their families, and I don’t see anything negative about them.”

Barry Stoll says that no matter where the refugees come from, their drive to work and provide a stable life for their families in this new place is a thing to behold. He says: “My wife is always getting calls from [employers] saying, ‘When are you going to bring us some more refugees?’ It’s part of what I’m trying to communicate to the

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community: Hey, there’s a labor force, there’s a work ethic among us that we need to tap.”

Here to Stay Cing Cing and Pau have lived in Columbia for seven years now. Their daughters, Kimnu and Mawi Mawi, attend Christian Fellowship School, and Cing Cing gave birth to a son, Thiha, in November. Pau works at Columbia’s Kraft plant, and, on his days off, he helps Cing Cing at her new business: an international food market.

Cing Cing’s idea for the store came from an all-too-American problem: struggling to find a work–life balance. “I want to stay with my kids,” she says. “I want to work, but, at a company, I don’t have time to spend with my kids. So I thought, if I had my own business, I would be able to hang out with my kids.”

Barry helped Cing Cing bring her plan to fruition. “When I have to go to an office or I have to go to Jeff City, he’s with me,” she says. “I didn’t understand about everything — the license for the business, the bank account. I only just wanted to open a business. So I can’t stand without Barry.” As she says this, Barry and Pau carry sacks of rice into the store and stack them along the front wall.

Cing Cing has started importing products directly from Burma, which she and other refugees couldn’t find elsewhere in Columbia. The shelves of Shwe Market are full of products from around the world. “It’s all kind of mixed in, but the things especially from Burma, we put them in one place. And they come — Burmese, Cambodians, Americans, they come and look.”

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Cing Cing and Pau miss their families in Burma and plan to visit soon. They had hoped for a trip in 2016, but life — namely, baby Thiha’s impending arrival — got in the way.

Caritas has returned to her beloved Rwanda twice, and she’s overjoyed at the healing she has seen there. Her most recent trip was to attend the opening of a women’s counseling center, founded by her sister and named after their mother.

“I want people to be aware of who the refugees are, because of the politics right now and all of this going on,” says Caritas.

“I’m aware that people don’t know. Who is the refugee? Where did [they] come from?

Who is this person? That’s what people should understand. Because once you know them, I see that love.”

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Join the Jazz Series for these great concerts during April and check out our website for more information on all other exciting activities.

April 2 Laurence Hobgood Trio @ Murry’s April 12 Dr. Carlos Perez-Mesa Memorial Concert

feat. Arturo O'Farrill @ Whitmore Recital Hall

April 30 SFJAZZ Collective: The Music of Miles Davis & Originals @ The Blue Note

# www.WeAlwaysSwing.org | 573/ 449-3009 | 21 N Tenth Street, Columbia, MO

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Be a Tourist in Your Own Town Take a day to wander.

by S A R A H E V E R E T T ph o to s by A L E X A N D E R I A R I N E H A R T

M

ost townies can remember when Cool Stuff was on Broadway, when the downtown

Shakespeare’s was the only Shakespeare’s, and when the tallest building in Columbia wasn’t a parking garage. The District has been through drastic changes in the last five years — apartments are on the rise, parking options and payment methods have changed, and favorite businesses have come, gone, and even come back again.

“We’ve had quite an increase in downtown living with several new residential apartment-type buildings, and that has brought a lot more people and a lot more activity,” says Katie Essing, executive director of The District. “The retail landscape has gone to mixed-use developments, where people are living and working and having entertainment options.”

That sounds a lot like the downtown Columbia of 2017 and beyond — residential space on the top with new retail and restaurants on the bottom, even though you may be sticking to your same three favorites that have been around forever.

“There’s a lot more variety in the restaurants than people first think of,” says Megan McConachie, strategic communications director for the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The District has become a destination in itself; it’s an experience that really shouldn’t be taken for granted.”

And if you’re a lifelong Columbian — if you feel like you’ve done everything there is to do — try being a tourist downtown for a day. Go places you’ve never been. Here’s what you might find.

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in Alley A. And whether you’re a longtime fan or you’re just looking for a new type of story, check out Rock Bottom Comics (Walnut).

Tip: Mark the weekend of April 21 to check out the Unbound Book Festival on the Stephens College campus.

Athlete

E

ssing has directed other shopping centers before, but none quite like The District: 50 square blocks of shopping, restaurants, and entertainment.

“When you choose downtown, you also are getting a very artistic community,” Essing says. The North Village Arts District houses galleries, film companies, dance and yoga studios, a music school, and a theater.

“Then, even as you extend throughout downtown, you’ve got the Columbia Art League, Missouri Theater, Bluestem — you know, there’s a variety of places that you can just enjoy and see and be part of that artistic community,” Essing says. “Even from a film perspective, you’ve got Ragtag where you can see independent, different films, and that’s what’s unique about downtown.”

Essing also considers the Talking Horse Theater a “hidden treasure”— where patrons can watch local actors and then visit DogMaster Distillery next door.

The District’s daytime economy is supported by employees from the City and Boone County, the downtown banks and business headquarters, and shopping, while the nightlife is supported by live music, restaurants, clubs, and bars.

“Downtown is very local,” Essing says. “The majority of our businesses are local and unique to Columbia, and I think that makes it a really special kind of environment. Also, it has really passionate business owners that communicate with each other. It’s just a really close network.”

Gidget’s Garage owner Kim Daus is one of these passionate business owners. Along with her husband, Craig Daus, she sells

handmade jewelry, notecards, cigar-box guitars, and more out of her quirky retail space in Alley A. “I don’t necessarily think about who I’m trying to attract,” she says. “I think what’s worked best for me is just selling what I like.

I think that if you really like the product you’re selling, then you’ll be more successful.”

Daus says she feels a sense of community downtown, especially during events like Artrageous Weekend and Living Windows.

“It’s kind of like we’re all in summer camp together,” she says. “It’s a really good feeling to know that everybody’s out supporting each other.”

She also says the number of locally-owned shops is a unique way for Columbians to give back to the community: “That’s going to help downtown grow and prosper. For some reason I feel like, with all of Columbia, there’s different little pockets, and downtown is its own little pocket.”

DOWNTOWN ADVENTURES FOR THE… Bookworm Stop at the Columbia Public Library (Broadway) on the way downtown to check out a few books. Visit Yellow Dog Bookshop (Ninth Street) downtown to find a pre-loved fiction adventure or two, and you can sell or trade some of your old favorites. Take your books to read in Shortwave Coffee, a hideaway

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Bike downtown via the MKT Trail — The District has over 150 bike racks, and there are bike corrals on South Ninth and in the Arts District. Grab a healthy lunch at Main Squeeze or Ingredient (both on Ninth), or Nourish Café (E. Broadway). Shop for new gear at Ultramax Sports or The Alpine Shop. You can purchase a membership at the Wilson’s Fitness location in North Village, or you can opt for a run outside.

Cool down with yoga at Alley Cat or Yoga Sol. If you need any groceries, stop by the Root Cellar (North Village) for local fresh produce and meat.

Tip: If you like road races, the St. Patrick’s Day 5K takes place downtown.

Old Soul Do some vintage shopping at Maude Vintage or Absolute Vintage (Broadway), New Beginning Consignment Clothing (Tenth), or Leo’s Old Clothes (Ninth). Visit the State Historical Society in Ellis Library (on the campus stretch of Hitt), or schedule a visit

Tip: The Social Room doubles as a hair salon. You’ll need a password, so follow their social media, ask around, or complete a fun task to get in.

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to the recently restored Blind Boone Home (N. Fourth). Visit the historical Wabash Bus Station in North Village; the David Spear paintings next to the original train ticket windows depict the history of the station. At night, travel back in time and visit Columbia’s speakeasy-themed lounge, The Social Room (Eighth).

Artist The North Village Arts District’s nearly 10 galleries are great places for viewing and purchasing art. There are also handmade items at Poppy, Route, Gidget’s Garage, and Bluestem on the other side of downtown.

While you’re there, visit the Columbia Art League gallery and La Feria gallery in Alley A. For a hands-on experience, create your own art at The Canvas on Broadway, Confetti Craft Co., The Mud Room, or Wildy’s World Mural Makers.

Tip: First Fridays in North Village are a great way to visit galleries during the evenings, and they often include activities for kids.

Movie Buff The True/False Weekend (March 2 through 5 this year) is the best time to catch films downtown, but Ragtag shows indies every day. The recently closed 9th Street Video (may it rest in peace) was the place to find movie rentals for many years — but if you ask the gang around Ragtag, they’ll give you a few great movies to find online.

Tip: The Citizen Jane Film Festival, which features independent films by women, takes place in Columbia October 26 through 29 this year.

Musician Visit Hitt Records, Slackers, and Vinyl Renaissance to peruse through albums old and new. Find one of the painted pianos outside and play a tune. Check out the cigarbox guitars and ukuleles at Gidget’s Garage.

See a concert at The Blue Note, Rose Music Hall, Café Berlin, or the Missouri Theater.

Tip: One of the hallmarks of The District is the live music. If you’re not into larger music halls, try Nash Vegas or Broadway Brewery. Or just hang out on the sidewalk and wait for a busker to show up.

ALLEYS, ALLEYS, ALLEYS Go in them. They have shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Alley A is located between Ninth and Tenth Streets.

“It’s kind of a cool example when you’ve got a full downtown, and you know there’s more that could be had,” Kim Daus says.

“You know, you do something like this with an alley. You flip it inside out.”

The alley now houses Shortwave Coffee, Kampai sushi, La Feria art gallery, Good Nature, and Gidget’s Garage. Other spots to check out in the alleys are Craft Beer Cellar and Günter Hans.

Daus, owner of Gidget’s Garage, says the alley allows her to attract customers in a

different way. “The alley gives us, as a small business, an opportunity,” she says. “If we want to promote the store, we can have live music. It’s a nice little refuge for customers to walk around without traffic. We can put chairs out. We kind of feel like we can do what we want in the alley.”

Daus says most Gidget’s Garage customers find the store by just wandering in. “I do think a lot of my customers are university staff that have the ability to just walk around downtown, and out-of-towners are actually my best customers,” she says. “Those are the people that have the time to meander and find the alley.”

THE PARKING SITUATION Parallel parking is the worst, especially if it gives you flashbacks to your driver’s license test and you’ve avoided it ever since. Here’s a refresher for all of us: choose a spot with lots of room in the front and the back. Pull your car in front of the space. Stop. Put the car in reverse. Cut the wheel. Cut it! Cut it more!!! Then, slowly, very slowly, ease into the back corner of the space.

(Are you having flashbacks yet?)

Have no fear: parallel parking is not the only option. There are garages downtown at Eighth and Walnut, Eighth and Cherry, Sixth and Cherry, Tenth and Cherry, Fifth and Walnut, and Short Street, and the cost to park in a garage is less than street parking. On Saturday, Sunday, and on weekdays past 6 p.m., parking is

free in garages. There is no time limit for parking in a garage, unlike some meters downtown. There are also 10-hour meters on the edges of downtown for those who will be in The District all day.

“I think one of the big things that we’re working on as a community is parking downtown,” says Essing. “You know, you still can find parking pretty easily, but it is a concern that we hear from a lot of folks as something that needs to be addressed.”

Essing says the City works closely with The District on parking solutions. New meters were installed in January that have COMO Park card capability. COMO Park cards are prepaid cards that can be inserted into the

meter to charge for the exact amount of time parked. They can be obtained and loaded on the third floor of City Hall.

Downtown parking can also be paid for via Parkmobile, an app the City uses.

“The growth of downtown is something that we’re constantly monitoring, and we’re trying to meet the demands of what that growth entails,” City of Columbia parking director Tanner Morrell says. “Whether it’s credit card capability or smartphone app capability, we’re always trying to meet the demands of technology.” Morrell says these options are great for downtown businesses to provide for their employees, or for students who live or visit downtown. Coin payment will continue to be an option as well.

Morrell says the city is also hoping to add automated systems in the garages to better monitor the occupancy, demand, and peak hours. He, like Essing, believes that people shouldn’t shy away from downtown for fear of parking.

“There’s a stigma about coming downtown that parking’s not going to be available, and I understand that it’s frustrating when you’re going to the bank or out to eat or to a show, but there’s usually parking within half a block of wherever you want to go,” Morrell says.

Don’t let parking stop you from making the trip downtown. You may have to walk a bit to get where you’re going, but on that walk, you might wander into a shop you’ve never seen before.

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WELLNESS

FLOATING AWAY

A new exper i e n ce for your s e l f-care reg imen .

by B E T H B R A M S T E D T

W

hen was the last time it was so quiet that you could hear the rhythm of your breath? So still you could feel your heart beating in your chest? So calm that nothing else mattered?

For me, it was just a few hours before writing this.

I consider myself well-versed in self-care tools and methods. I practice silence and solitude. I enjoy meditation and retreats. I indulge myself with facials and massages, and I even own a hot tub. So I was excited to add a new experience to my wellness regimen thanks to Clarity Float Spa. The floating experience has been popularized by figures like NBA MVP Stephen Curry and promises to provide a space to melt away the worries, remove distractions, and expose new layers of tranquility. A promise of 90 minutes in a saltwater cabin designed to create a near zero-gravity state and limited sensory environment. A chance to be alone, enhance my clarity and creativity, and experience nothingness. Pure bliss.

And it was.

But first I had to get over the awkwardness and embarrassment of trying something for the first time — not knowing what to expect and being afraid I would somehow do it wrong.

More specifically, I had to get past stripping off my clothes, removing my makeup, and showering in near darkness in someone else’s bathroom. I mean, what’s a girl to do with the clumps of hair that always seem to come out of her head when she washes it? And where was that trash can? I felt exposed.

And what about flailing around in the shallow 93.5-degree water, feet in the air, trying to get my arms and neck situated so I could relax? I felt so clumsy.

But after a while, it all came together. I felt weightless, suspended in air. A complete sense of calm. My to-do list from an hour before still

touched my sense of awareness, but it seemed unimportant. Time stood still, or moved quickly. I’m not sure because it didn’t matter.

No one was calling me or needing me.

My world was completely dark and quiet. I felt empowered.

After some time, my senses began to awaken.

I had the urge to wiggle my toes, to stick my ears above the water line and listen to the occasional

NO ONE WAS CALLING ME OR NEEDING ME. MY WORLD WAS COMPLETELY DARK AND QUIET. I FELT EMPOWERED.

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drip of water from something, somewhere. I moved my arms, pointed and flexed my feet, and even tried a few water ballet moves.

Why not? It was my time and no one was watching.

Just as I wondered how long it had been, soft music began playing, signaling my session had ended. I stood up, my skin tingling and feeling refreshed.

I got dressed and headed out, feeling more connected to myself and the world around me. I was ready for a glass of moscato, my fuzzy blanket, and whatever life might throw at me next.

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FITNESS

SQUATS, ANYONE?

St re ngthe n you r l owe r b ody a n d core simul tan eousl y.

by E R I C K A H I L L

Move: Traditional squat.

Purpose: A squat is one of the best functional exercises; it promotes mobility and balance. Squats help burn fat, tone the body, and provide whole body benefits.

Target Area: Squats target lower body muscles (quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves). But your back and abs also work to support your spine in a squat, and that strengthens your entire core.

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How to do it: Step 1: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointed slightly out to take pressure off your knees.

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Step 2: Flex through knees and hips as if sitting in a chair.

Step 3: Sitting deep into the squat, your goal is to have your knees in line with your hips at a 90 degree angle. Careful not to let you knees bow inward, keeping your heels on the ground.

Step 4: If you struggle to keep your form as you lower down, or, if you find your heels rise off the floor, place an object (like a book) under your heels.

4 ERICKA HILL

Step 5: To get back up, reverse motion.

Trainer tip: Add weight for added strength and difficulty.

Ericka Hill is a personal coach at Wilson's Fitness.

She is an exercise therapy specialist in female functional fitness and is also a certified yoga instructor.

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Try this move for 20 reps three to four times a day.

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MOM IN THE MIDDLE

LOOK WHO’S TALKING St ay wo ke a n d s l ay t e e n s l a n g .

by J I L L O R R

E

very generation of teenagers has its own slang. Adults aren’t meant to understand it, and, in fact, that is the whole point. We chose language partly to express our identity, and, since teenagers naturally want to create an identity separate from that of their parents, they use different words, expressions, and phrases. It helps create distance and establish boundaries . . . blah, blah, blah. I get it; we all get it. But if you’re anything like me, you still want to know what the heck your kids are talking about.

So, lovely readers, in pursuit of this lofty intellectual goal of understanding (with nothing at all to do with being desperate to connect with my increasingly independent children), I am going to attempt to decode the latest teenage slang.

I will admit that I recently saw a similar segment on the “Today” show, and when I asked my 15-year-old son if these words were used by teenagers IRL (in real life), he said, “Mom, you shouldn’t get all your information about teenagers from the ‘Today’ show.”

To which I replied, “Well, they are my only source because someone doesn’t want to share his innermost thoughts and feelings with me.”

And then he ran out of the room so fast he left a little trail of smoke behind him.

I want to be clear that the fallout from this will not be pretty. The moment my children read this, I will be dead to them. And not “dead” in the cool way (see No. 3 below); dead in the “I have never seen this woman before” and “Drop me off three blocks from JILL ORR Jill is a stay-at-home mom of two and an MU grad with a degree in journalism and master's in social work, with an emphasis on children and family studies.

school” way. But that is a risk I am willing to take. Plus, I kind of love embarrassing my kids. I consider it one of the rewards of parenting teenagers, and those can be few and far between. So, without further ado, here are 10 of the most up-to-date slang words teenagers are using. * Lit: This is how the kids say something is great. Example: “My mom, Jill Orr, is so lit.”

Stay woke: Originally, the term “stay woke” was a warning to be hypervigilant in the face of racial and social injustice. However, when teens use it these days, it is often used ironically or as a joke to be aware of something that poses no real threat. Example: “Fletcher’s mom is decoding teen slang in COMO Living this month. Stay woke!”

Dead: When something is so funny or cool

THE MOMENT MY CHILDREN READ THIS, I WILL BE DEAD TO THEM. AND NOT “DEAD” IN THE COOL WAY. or surprising that one “dies” of laughter or envy or embarrassment. Often used in text communication. Example: “Ellie’s mom just told me to ‘stay woke.’ *DEAD*” GOAT: This is an acronym, used in written and verbal communication, meaning Greatest of All Time. Example: “My mom is the GOAT.” Squad goals: When your friend group has something that everyone else admires. Often used as a caption for a picture on Instagram or Twitter. Example: A mom might write #squadgoals below a picture of her with her other mom friends if they are out past 8 p.m. on a weeknight for a non-kid-related event.

But considering my son’s high school recently had a “squad goals” day, I’m guessing this term is on its way to the teenage dumpster.

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Fam: Do not expect your kids to describe you as their fam. Forget that you have provided them with food, clothing, and shelter for their entire lives. Their fam is made up of their very closest friends, their inner circle, and does not generally include anyone who lives in their home . . . no matter how many times you tell them that makes no sense and that other kids would kill to call you their fam because you are super cool.

Thirsty: Do not offer up a glass of milk if you hear your kids or their friends say someone is “thirsty.” When used by a teen, this means desperate, or overeager. Example: A certain middle-aged woman might be called “thirsty” if she tries to use teenage slang as a way to relate to her kids.

Smh: Abbreviation for “shaking my head” to convey disbelief in the face of stupidity.

Used in written communication, usually text.

Example: “My mom won’t stop calling herself the GOAT. *Smh*” Slay: To do something really well.

Example: “I am really slaying this article on teenage slang.”

Throw shade: To voice disapproval.

Example: Fletcher and Ellie will throw some serious shade on their mom after reading this article even though it was super lit. (Oh yeah, that’s a twofer. Slayed it! Hundo P! [Bonus word: that means 100 percent].) *Please note that I am writing this in December of 2016, even though it will not appear in print until February of 2017, so there is a high probability that these terms have already gone the way of other disgraced teen slang terms like bae, on fleek, and YOLO. Apparently, the only people using these words now are adults having a midlife crisis, or 9-year-old boys on Instagram.

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LIFE COACHING

BE OLYMPIC WITH YOUR TIME How to wo rk h a rd t h e r i g ht way.

by C A R O LY N PA R I S

M

any of us start the new year with great expectation: “This is the year!” Then, a month into it, we find ourselves in nearly the same place we were before the new year began. Thinking we have too many demands, too little time, feeling tired, hungover, flabby. The list goes on.

In my work, I see a couple reasons for this. I notice people who are either trying to stuff as much into their day as they can, which leads to exhaustion, arrogance, being overwhelmed, fear, compulsion, and sacrifice, or they put things off until the last minute, which leads to sloth, disappointment, overindulgence, resistance, and settling.

If we’re suffering or “ just surviving” in one area of our life, we are apt to be selfindulgent in another. Often, people have painted themselves into a corner where they can’t possibly put in any more hours at work, or can’t control their eating, or watch too much Netflix, and simply can’t feel any more shame. There are all these negative feelings and behaviors, and people in this place

become maxed out. These are all artificial, inauthentic behaviors and activities that are — to say the least — not the key ingredients to success. In fact, these are ingredients to a life of sacrificing.

And sacrificing doesn’t work. If we played a sport like this, we would eventually injure ourselves. It’s called overtraining. It is the unintended consequence of pushing one’s personal limits. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There really is another option, but people often don’t like it. It’s simple, but it’s not easy. It’s fundamental, but it’s not sexy.

Here’s the bottom line: the fundamentals will get it done. The fundamentals are: go to bed early, get up early, plan your day, go live into your plan, eat healthy food, rest when you’re tired, and drink water.

These are activities that are known to be foundations for success, yet people want to ignore them and try to be successful anyway.

What actually works is balanced high performance over time.

Is today the day you interrupt your self-

Three ways to be Olympic with your time: 1. Set a timer.

2. Stay focused on the task.

3. Do the most important thing first.

Do it excellently and as quickly as you can!

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defeating cycle by going to bed earlier and waking up earlier? Is today the day you book a date at the gym with your friend so you actually show up? Is today the day you get some accountability with yourself? Is today the day you eat one serving instead of three?

Is this the day you decide to not get drunk, not get high, not inhale sugar? Is this the day you decide you don’t need coffee to get out of bed?

Rather than being a victim to time, approach time like an Olympic athlete.

Olympic athletes never over train. Olympians do as much as they can, in an excellent way, as efficiently as they can. What would that look like in your life?

So can we ease back, can we slow down?

Can we take some things out, put some other things in?

Write down your commitments from last year. Which ones should you carry over and which ones should stop? Also, make a list of your personal daily fundamentals. Put these fundamentals in your calendar — and set alerts to drink water. Set reminders to get up from your desk and move your body. Be creative with your personal fundamentals. I know, not sexy. But proven to work.

Try on this new way of approaching the fundamentals and time. Be Olympic! How much excellent work can you do in how little time? Now that you have settled into this supportive routine, what will you do with your newfound time and freedom?

C A R O LY N PA R I S An executive consultant and coach, Carolyn works with high performers.

She helps clients create balance, fun, and satisfaction so they attain sustainable success.

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UNLEASHED

GET YOUR DOG IN SHAPE And lay off the treats. OK, maybe a few treats.

by J O S I E M I C K E Y

R

esolutions for the New Year were made . . . and now broken. Chances are that yours included getting into shape but did you include your pets?

We love our furry friends, but not always in a healthy way. Those eyes look into our soul, and we assume they need a treat. I have an English Springer Spaniel who has the softest brown eyes, so I know that look. She stares at me, my heart melts, and it’s hard not to hand over every treat I own.

Yet research shows that eye contact may be as meaningful to our pets as it is to us, so those treats probably aren’t necessary. And if you’re exercising, why not include your fourlegged friend? Your bond will grow stronger and you’ll both benefit.

What they eat also matters, so do your research and talk to your veterinarian. Know what ingredients are in your brand of dog food and how many calories your pet needs daily.

Those suggested amounts on the bag work well; my dog is 11 years old and at a healthy weight.

If you enjoy baking, making your own treats can also control calories. Here's one recipe:

Bacon Cookies for Dogs Source: myrecipes.com

Ingredients 3 slices uncured bacon 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ 1/2 cup flax seed 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk 1 large egg 1 cup low sodium chicken broth 1/3 cup chopped parsley

Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 350. Line two shallow baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Fry bacon over medium heat until crisp, usually six to seven minutes. Drain bacon and finely chop. Reserve one tablespoon of bacon fat.

3. Combine bacon, flour, wheat germ, and dry milk in medium bowl. Whisk together reserved bacon fat, egg, broth, and parsley

in separate bowl. Mix together and stir with rubber spatula until rough dough forms. Knead dough five or six times until it comes together.

4. Turn dough onto lightly floured work surface and roll out to a 1/4-inch thickness.

With a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut treats and transfer to baking sheets. Press scraps together, knead once or twice, roll out to 1/4-inch thickness, and cut out more treats.

5. Bake treats until lightly browned and fairly hard, rotating pans once, for 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. Biscuits will harden as they cool.

Store in airtight container.

JOSIE MICKEY I didn't expect to own a business grooming dogs.

As the owner of The Pet Fair, I love perfecting my craft and building a trustworthy home away from home for our guests.

Sleepy Kitty

COMO Living readers share photos of their sleeping pals.

Owner: Alexanderia Rinehart After having a little too much cat nip, Rio loves taking a rest in the windowsill. This silly cat managed to knock over the entire Christmas tree last year and wouldn’t go near it this holiday season.

Owner: Allie Rost Charlie is a Brittany spaniel. Following an afternoon of swimming and playing at the farm with his other doggy friends, Charlie loves to plop down in front of the fire, or take a snooze on his special chair in the living room.

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Owner: JJ and Kate Musgrove Sophie, a Coton de Tulear, loves playing with stuffed animals. She carries her toys to the top of the steps then tosses them down.

After an afternoon of play, she cuddles up for a nap in her owner’s lap.

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beautiful moments

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ENGAGEMENTS

ENGAGEMENTS

by LIBBY WALL

JASON THOMAS AND HOLLIE BOULDEN

CRYSTAL RICHARDSON AND SAMUEL ATAGANA

C

rystal Richardson and Samuel Atagana officially first met on March 1, 2012 at an impromptu open mic night at The Bridge in Columbia. They didn’t talk much, but Crystal listened as Sam sang and strummed his guitar. “From that night on, I became his biggest fan,” she says.

They had their first meaningful encounter on accident, more than a year later, at another one of Sam’s performances, where he serenaded her in the parking lot after the show. They have dubbed this day “Re-met You Day.” Sam and Crystal quickly fell in love after re-meeting, and three years, two puppies, four countries, and countless adventures later, Sam knew it was time. On Crystal’s birthday, December 13, 2016, Sam proposed on the ice at Washington Park Ice Arena in Jefferson City, where Crystal coaches figure skating. Somewhere between Sam’s fake fall to one knee and Crystal “blacking out,” he popped the question and she said yes.

Crystal works as the digital marketing manager at The Business Times Company. Sam is a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves and works as a civilian personnel and finance administrator for the Department of Defense in Independence. “I commute four hours every day so I can come home to my love of forever,” Sam says.

Both are looking forward to planning the rest of their lives together, but Crystal says, “Right now, we’re just trying to figure out a way to work in the same city.”

J

ason Thomas first saw Hollie Boulden six months before he ever spoke to her. She was waitressing at Emmet’s Kitchen and Tap in Fayette. Jason’s mom, upon another visit to Emmet’s, remembered Hollie and told her she’d really like her son. And she did like him — a lot.

Both Jason and Hollie come from mid-Missouri families, and both went to school near home (Jason at Missouri State, where he graduated in 2010; Hollie at MU, where she graduated in December). Jason proposed in November, on an unconventional hike through Pickens Nose, in North Carolina. “At the time, there were fires in the North Carolina mountains, and the trails ended up being closed,” Hollie says. “We just climbed past the “no trespassing” sign — Jason said, ‘Come on, it’ll be fun!’”

They got busted by park rangers before reaching the end of the hike. Worried that he was going to miss his chance, Jason proposed then, in front of the rangers, who gave the happy couple a ride back down the mountain.

Hollie currently works as a yoga instructor in Columbia, and Jason works in Atlanta, where the couple will settle down after their May wedding. “We’re looking forward to being together full-time and journeying through life together,” Jason says. “We both can’t wait to travel and establish a family together.”

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WEDDINGS

TWIST ON TRADITIONS

by C H R I S T Y A S P E R | ph o to by G L O RY P H O T O G R A P H Y

W

e met the Steinbeck-Archullas almost a year ago at a local wedding show. The mom and daughter duo were paper lovers, and we were thrilled to work with them on their wedding stationery. As they sat in our studio sharing their intimate wedding plans, we knew this was a wedding worth putting in the books.

The day of Llana’s wedding was supernatural.

It had rained a few days prior, and it was predicted to rain again. Much of their wedding was to take place outdoors — it would have been heartbreaking if the forecast had been right. But it couldn’t have been a nicer day, and we were excited to crash this wedding.

We hadn’t even been there five minutes before we were spotted. Yikes! This was a first.

We were clueless about how to react. The mother of bride rushed over to us, arms wide open, and excitedly pronounced, “You’re here to crash the wedding!” She quickly ushered us in to meet a few of the vendors and attendees.

We were treated like royalty and given the best seats in the house. It was not the welcome we usually anticipate, but, then again, nothing about this wedding was traditional.

The ceremony and the reception were all held at Blue Bell Farms. It was magical.

The ceremony was set up outdoors, and the backdrop of the white barn was picture perfect. Afterwards, there was a fun cocktail hour followed by one memorable reception put on by Bleu Events and Safari Sound.

We could have written pages and pages about this wedding, but we wanted to focus on CHRISTY ASPER Christy Asper started The Ink Café, an invitation and stationery service in 2015.

Since then, she received a Best of the Best award for wedding invitations from St. Louis’ Best Bridal.

giving any bride-to-be a little bit of inspiration by highlighting the things about this wedding that gave a modern twist to the old traditions.

Llana had planned her wedding over several months, and she wanted it to stand out. At the beginning of the ceremony, she discarded the traditional music and walked down the aisle to an old Elvis love song. The bride and groom each had a friend of the opposite sex stand with their wedding party as the couple exchanged vows. Instead of a unity candle or sand jars, the couple had a carpenter friend build them a board the size of a picture frame affixed with three thick cords. Llana and Jordan took the cords and begin braiding them. In the end, they had turned into a beautiful cross — the couple wanted to have their guests know how important their faith was and how they wanted God to be the center of their marriage. They had a Bible verse written on the board, and it was a beautiful expression of who they are as a couple.

The cocktail hour wasn’t ordinary either.

Bleu Events set up a bar area (with decadent appetizers) outdoors. Blue Bell lit a bonfire and Pretty Little Things arranged an adorable s’mores table for all their guests.

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The reception was also full of surprises.

The couple had spent days creating coloring books for the children, which they handed out during the meal. (The kids loved them.)

The centerpieces were beautifully decorated

by Paisley Bowtique & Floral Design. It was refreshing to see a wedding that did not choose to DIY everything; often, brides spend their wedding day fretting over the décor and the set-up of the reception, but Llana wanted to focus on enjoying the day. She hired BHive Events for their day-of coordination. The couple chose to have a cake at their rehearsal dinner but not at their reception — instead, they had Bleu Events create an ice cream bar with an extravagant amount of toppings. It was the first time we had seen ice cream at a wedding, and we loved the idea.

This wedding was a perfect example of how unplugging can lead you to create a wedding that is uniquely yours. Cheers to this sweet couple! May every day be filled with the wonder and adventure that filled your wedding day.

Check out COMOLivingMag.com for a complete resource list and more wedding pictures.

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WEDDINGS

TOP FIVE BUDGET BUSTERS The perfect wedding comes from a perfect budget.

by A N N E C H U R C H I L L

F

or AnnaBelle Events, it’s inquiry season — all the couples who got engaged in the fall and over the holidays are ready to start planning. One of your first steps is building your budget.

If you’ve made the wise choice of hiring a wedding planner (nudge, nudge) then a budget meeting will be one of their first todos. Include all contributors in these talks, because you’ll need everyone on the same page about why flowers cost $4,000, or how a videographer is completely different than a photographer (and you need both!).

Rather than go through all the things you should budget for, we are going to cover things you should avoid — the budget busters.

1. Exclusive Venues While recommended vendors are great, having exclusive vendors is much different.

This will lock you into their prices, services, and policies. If you find a venue with exclusive agreements, make sure you have pricing from all those vendors before signing your venue contract.

than a few grand, right? Wrong! You also need bathrooms, power generators, outdoor lighting, parking, parking lighting, transportation to and from parking, rain plan items, catering tent and equipment, ice and ice trailer, fans or A/C or heat, bug spray, landscaping — and that’s just naming the essential items.

2. Venues without Amenities

4. Unvoiced Parent Opinions

Yes, I’m sticking to venues for two of these busters — it’s the first thing you book and it determines nearly every other vendor you use.

Our No. 2 budget buster is the venue that is just a building — maybe it has bathrooms (let’s hope) and a “caterer kitchen” (meaning sink, water, and refrigeration). The price is right, so you think you’ve scored. Take a breath — then sprint to your nearest rental service (A-1 Rental is awesome) and get estimates on everything else. Don’t let rentals be a budget buster just because you thought the venue was a good deal.

This is why you should include contributors in budget talks. At that meeting, encourage everyone to voice their full, specific opinions.

Real-life story: A bride’s dad said steak and decent wine were a must. We got it accounted and budgeted for. Fast-forward a few months to the catering tasting. Dad ended up wanting filets and table service for everyone. As you can imagine, the price of a filet times 350 guests was much different than standard wedding steak. The budget was busted, and guess who it fell back on? The bride. And she ended up having to cut things she really wanted because of it.

3. The Outdoors The everlasting trend of Midwest weddings!

You throw up a white tent and invite your closest 100 friends and family. It won’t be more

5. An Untracked Budget Track every single thing that you and anyone else spends. If you don’t, you will end up

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going crazy in one of two ways. The first is when you go crazy saying, “I’m spending like a crazy person!” and think you’ve overspent — because when else in your life are you dropping $1,000 deposit checks every other day? The second is when you go crazy saying, “Everything is going to be fine!” and start rattling off those $1,000 checks like nothing.

Then you go to add everything up and realize you busted your budget. Then you have to cut things like gifts to your wedding party, alterations, and even hair and makeup.

There are your budget busters! Rip this page out and put it at the front of the budget section in your wedding binder. Leave the busting for the groomsmen’s moves on the dance floor.

ANNE CHURCHILL Anne is the founder of AnnaBelle Events. Her newest venture, Jubilee Planning Studio, opens in 2017 as Columbia's one-stop planning shop.

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DOC TALK Columbia is fortunate to have access to some of the nation’s best health care professionals and most cutting edge technology. Learn more about some of the area’s top providers in this special section.

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Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. It is unique because it is a form of cancer we can prevent from occurring with regular screening. If every American who met the recommended criteria for colonoscopies received one, we could almost eliminate colorectal cancer.

LASIK surgery can correct refractive errors including nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. If you’ve thought about undergoing LASIK surgery, there are a few factors to consider, such as your age, general health, corrective vision prescription and the health of your eyes.

We perform a comprehensive eye exam and specialized testing to assess your potential. If you have cataracts, you may be a candidate for bladeless laser cataract surgery, the most advanced cataract removal technology available.

The American College of Gastroenterology recommends that people age 50 or older receive a colonoscopy once every 10 years.

Those people at higher risk also should be screened earlier or more often. The college recommends African Americans begin screening at age 45 and people with close family members who have been diagnosed with colon cancer be screened every five years beginning at age 40 or 10 years before the age when their youngest affected relative was diagnosed.

At MU Health Care, we offer several options for regular colorectal cancer screenings including the most popular choice colonoscopies, as well as CT ‘colonoscopy’ scan.

We want to help restore your vision and free you from the burden of corrective lenses. If you’d like to learn more about LASIK surgery, MU Health Care hosts free seminars for prospective patients. You can find a list of upcoming seminars at MUHealth.org/LASIK.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and we want you to know that preventive screenings save lives. Learn more about your risk factors by visiting our website or by calling MU Health Care’s Missouri Digestive Health Center.

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DOC DOCTALK TALK

SPONSORED CONTENT

DOC TALK

CHRISTINE FRANZESE, M.D.

PRADEEP SAHOTA, M.D. SLEEP DISORDER SPECIALIST

ALLERGIST

Millions of Americans don’t think twice before checking the “penicillin allergy” option on their medical forms. Maybe you remember having a reaction in your early childhood, or perhaps you experienced an adverse reaction to a penicillin-class medication in the past. The truth is, many people who believe that they have an allergy to penicillin do not.

Has your significant other ever nudged you in the middle of the night because your breathing became erratic?

Are you a heavy snorer who often feels tired even after a full night’s sleep? If so, there’s a strong chance that you may have obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which your breathing repeatedly stops and starts. At MU Health Care, our sleep medicine physicians offer a host of options to help you get a good — and safe — night’s rest.

The misdiagnosis of a penicillin allergy has three main issues. Patients often have higher health care costs, have an increased risk for antibiotic resistance and experience suboptimal antibiotic therapy.

To help combat these issues and properly diagnose penicillin allergy, we now offer penicillin testing. Penicillin allergy testing is similar to regular allergy testing. The initial evaluation takes about one hour and involves skin tests, and most patients are diagnosed at the end of this exam. If the skin testing is negative for a penicillin allergy, it is followed up with an oral test at the same time.

Sleep studies are an excellent way to diagnose a potential sleep disorder. During a sleep study, we record and monitor all aspects of your sleep through sensors attached to your head and chest. The test is safe and painless.

It can be done in one of our comfortable and private sleep study rooms. Or, if you’d rather not spend a night away from home, we also offer in-home sleep studies.

While sleep apnea is a primary sleep disorder — one in five adults has sleep apnea — we can diagnose and treat all other conditions such as narcolepsy/excessive sleepiness, restless leg syndrome, insomnia, parasomnia and other sleep disorders.

Let us help you get a proper diagnosis.

Discuss testing with your allergy provider and call MU Health Care’s ENT and Allergy Center at (573) 817-3000 when you’re ready to get an accurate diagnosis.

If you’re yearning for a good night’s sleep, contact our sleep specialists at (573) 882-1515 or visit MUHealth.org.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

DOC TALK

DOC TALK

DOC TALK

AARON GRAY, M.D.

MARY DOHRMANN, M.D. MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE CLINIC

SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIAN

Many Americans believe heart disease affects mostly men, but the reality is that just as many women die each year from the disease. The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockages of coronary arteries, which is the main cause of heart attacks.

Although concussions typically are associated with sports, they can happen to anyone.

Automobile crashes, falling from playground equipment and sledding could cause a jarring impact to the head, resulting in a concussion.

The classic symptoms of heart attack include crushing chest pain and severe pain in one arm or both arms. For women, some type of pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest also can be a symptom. Women are more likely to have symptoms unrelated to chest pain, such as:

A concussion may have occurred if an athlete has these initial signs or symptoms: • • • • • • • •

• Neck, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort • Shortness of breath • Nausea or vomiting • Profuse or abnormal sweating • Lightheadedness or dizziness • Unusual fatigue

Treatment of concussion involves monitoring and rest from both physical and mental activity.

Individuals who have had one concussion seem to be more susceptible to another, especially if the new injury occurs before recovering from the symptoms of the previous concussion.

The first step for women is to know the risk factors for heart disease. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, family history and obesity are risk factors for heart disease and affect both men and women.

If a concussion is suspected, a health care professional needs to determine when the individual can safely return to activity.

All women face the risk of heart disease, but being aware of the symptoms and risks unique to women, and making healthy lifestyle changes, offers a better chance of preventing it.

For an evaluation with a sports medicine specialist, please contact the Missouri Orthopaedic Institute at (573) 882-2263.

For more information about heart health, please visit www.MUHealth.org/heart.

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Appears dazed or stunned Confused about position, plays or score Headache, nausea or vomiting Poor balance or clumsiness Dizziness Loss of consciousness (even briefly) Blurry or double vision Behavioral or attitude changes

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SPONSORED CONTENT

DOC TALK

GEORGE KOBUROV, M.D.

SARAH HWANG, M.D.

MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE AT MU WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION PHYSICIAN

MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital has the only emergency room in midMissouri with physicians and nurses who have specialized training in pediatric emergency care. The staff includes the area’s only board-certified and fellowship-trained pediatric emergency medicine physicians, as well as nurses with advanced pediatric emergency medicine certification.

Pelvic pain is a common problem that often is ignored due to embarrassment or a belief that it is untreatable.

Both men and women can experience pelvic floor issues.

Pelvic floor dysfunction may occur as a result of direct trauma, such as a sports injury or childbirth. It also may be caused by chronic disease or surgery.

Pelvic pain can occur anywhere from the belly button to the bottom of the buttock, or even cause pain in the lower back. Typical symptoms that are often seen in patients with pelvic disorders include incontinence, difficulty urinating or moving bowels, overactive bladder, painful sexual function and general pelvic pain.

Having an emergency room in a dedicated children’s hospital allows our patients access to a comprehensive network of pediatric specialists. We recognize that children aren’t just small adults when it comes to their health care needs.

Another outstanding feature of the care we provide our patients includes our Child Life program. A hospital can be a stressful place, and coping with a procedure or diagnosis can be difficult. Child Life specialists support children and teens during scary, and sometimes painful, procedures by teaching coping strategies. Child Life specialists are able to be with children in the emergency department and focus on their emotional needs, allowing clinicians to focus on their medical needs.

MU Health Care’s pelvic pain clinic uses physical therapy, medication management and lifestyle changes to treat pelvic floor pain. Additionally, MU Health Care physicians and physical therapists also work with patients at MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital to assist women with pre- and post-partum pelvic pain related to their pregnancies.

To learn more about pelvic floor pain and disorders, as well as non-invasive treatment options, please call MU Health Care’s pelvic pain clinic at (573) 884-1587.

Should an emergency arise, the experts at Women’s and Children’s Hospital are ready to provide care for you and your family.

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C A L E N DA R // FEBRUARY/MARC H 2 0 1 7 FEBRUARY 2 St. Louis Symphony, Jesse Auditorium, $32.50 to $42.50, 7 p.m., 573-882-3781

open at 2:30 p.m. for the 3 p.m. show and at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show, wealwaysswing.org

FEBRUARY 3 “Raisin’ Cain: A Harlem Renaissance Odyssey,” Missouri Theatre, $17.50 to $27.50, 7 p.m., 573-882-3781

Wild and Scenic Film Festival, The Blue Note, $10 to $12, doors open at 1 p.m., riverrelief.org

First Fridays, North Village Arts District, 6 to 9 p.m., northvillageartsdistrict.org Florida Georgia Line, Mizzou Arena, 7 p.m., ticketmaster.com

2/25 3/2-5

FEBRUARY 25 Fitness for a Cure 2017, The Crossing, suggested donation of $10, 7:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., for more info contact Catina at ctopash@wilsonsfitness.com

FEBRUARY 3-5 “Emma,” Macklanburg Playhouse, Willis Ave., 7:30 p.m. on February 3 and 4; 2 p.m. matinee on February 5, stephens.edu FEBRUARY 4 Runnin’ Against MS 5K, Stephens Lake Park, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., $30, runsignup.com/Race/MO/Columbia/ RunninAgainstMS5k FEBRUARY 5 Frank Almond: A Violin’s Life, Missouri Theater, $22.50 to $32.50, 7 p.m., 573-882-3781

Fitness for a Cure 2017, The Crossing, suggested donation of $10, 7:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., for more info contact Catina at ctopash@wilsonsfitness.com

MARCH 11 Free Breakfast at Mid-America HarleyDavidson, breakfast prepared by the Black Sheep, 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., midamericahd.com

FEBRUARY 11 Jenny Scheimnan’s “Kannapolis,” Missouri Theater, $17.50 to $27.50, 7 p.m., 573-882-3781 Work Baskets and Tourism, a “ShowMe Folk School” Lecture, Mizzou North Room 707, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

M ARC H 2-5

True/False Film Festival, check web for show times, 573-442-8783, truefalse.org

FEBRUARY 12 Bruce Barth Trio, We Always Swing Jazz Series, Murry’s, $20 to $45, doors COMO L I V I N G

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FEBRUARY 28 Pancake Breakfast by Coyote Hill, Memorial Baptist Church, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., $5 for adults, $3 for kids 12 and under, free for kids under 3

MARCH 3 First Fridays, North Village Arts District, 6 to 9 p.m., northvillageartsdistrict.org

FEBRUARY 10 Life Stories in Words and Art with Elaine J. Lawless and Jon Kay, Orr Street Studios, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., mofolkarts.missouri.edu

F EBRUARY 2 5

FEBRUARY 26 Columbia Civic Orchestra: American Concert, 7:30 p.m., Missouri Theatre, 573-882-3781

MARCH 2-5 True/False Film Festival, check web for show times, 573-442-8783, truefalse.org

FEBRUARY 9 Atmosphere with Brother Ali, The Blue Note, $25 in advance or $27 day of the show, thebluenote.com

MU ST SEE IN FE B R UA R Y /M A R C H

FEBRUARY 21 Ben Folds and a Piano, Blue Note, $35, 8:30 p.m., thebluenote.com/event/ ben-folds-and-a-piano

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MARCH 12 National Symphony Orchestra of the Ukraine, Jesse Auditorium, $27.50 to $37.50, 7 p.m., concertseries.org/ shows/nsou Etienne Charles Creole Soul, We Always Swing Jazz Series, Murry’s, $20 to $45, doors open at 2:30 p.m. for the 3 p.m. show and at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show, wealwaysswing.org F E B RUA RY/ MA R CH - 2017

C A L E N DA R Sham Rox 15K and 5K, Les Bourgeois Vineyards, $15 to $55, 6 to 10 a.m. ultramaxsports.com/races/shamroxruncomo MARCH 13 Mid-Missouri Restaurant Association’s Taste of Mid-Missouri, University Club of MU, $25 in advance or $30 at the door, doors open at 5:30 p.m., tasteofmidmissouri.com/tickets MARCH 14 Rain — A Tribute to The Beatles, Jesse Auditorium, 7 p.m., raintribute.com MARCH 15 “Shaolin Warriors: The Legend Continues,” Missouri Theatre, $30 to $40, 7 p.m., 573-822-3781 MARCH 17 Art in Bloom, Museum of Art and Archaeology, MA members and florist opening reception 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

MARCH 18 MU Women’s Leadership Conference, Stotler Lounge in Memorial Union, 518 Hitt St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., leadership.missouri.edu

Join the network..

Learn about localempower businesses connect engage Monthly programs with captivating speakers Endless networking opportunities Develop leadership skills Build relationships Mentor, education and professional growth opportunities Get involved with your community... and more!

connect

empower

engage

womensnetworkcomo.com/join

2017 Missouri Beer Festival, Holiday Inn Executive Center, $25 to $40, 1 to 4 p.m., missouribeerfestival.com/tickets MARCH 25 Keystone Chiropractic and Sensory Development Center present Columbia’s Natural Health Expo, Holiday Inn Executive Center, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., facebook.com/ events/1691927171134597

If you know of an event that should be featured in an upcoming issue of

COMO LIVING, please send all available info, including date, time, and location, to beth@ businesstimescompany.com.

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F O R W H AT I T ' S W O R T H

AN OCEAN-SPANNING HEIRLOOM The war story behind a unique antique.

by D O U G S O L L I DAY, D O U G L A S L . S O L L I DAY A N T I Q U E S

M

y gallery partner, Melissa Williams, and I have been in the art and antique business for 40 years. That’s 40 years’ worth of stories, interesting characters, and tidbits to share with COMO Living readers in this column. My passion is antiques, and Melissa’s is art — you’ll hear from Melissa in the next issue. I get to tell the first story.

One warm day last spring, a man came up the stairs to our gallery at 11 S. Ninth St. Identifying himself as Walter, he asked if I would look at some things he wanted to sell.

I said yes, and we went down to his station wagon to take a look. He pulled out part of a train set (not interested), a beautiful set of wine glasses (sold immediately), and some other small and uninteresting things. After we dug through all those, I could see part of a low, blond piece of furniture partially covered with a blanket.

We wrestled it out of his car and put it on its feet on the sidewalk on Ninth Street. It was an unusual form that looked a little like a mid-century modern coffee table, but with drawers. He then unwrapped a mirror that he said attached to the base. He held it up to the back and I saw, for the first time, the piece you see here.

I had never seen anything quite like it before, which is saying something after my 40 years of looking at interesting and unusual objects. I told him that I thought we could sell it, so we carried it up the steps. After we filled out the paperwork, he told me the piece’s history.

His mother had immigrated to the U.S. from Germany just before WWII. In 1948, she accompanied her fiancé when he was stationed in Germany. He fought for the Allies at the Battle of the Bulge near the end of the war.

It was then that she was reunited with her family, including her two younger brothers, who had fought on the German side in the same battle. The brothers, Hertl and Adi, started a small furniture-making business, and they made the piece as a wedding gift for Walter’s mother and father. The brothers later became boat builders who made racing boats that won many medals, including a sweep of the podium at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

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Walter was born in Germany, and he came back to the U.S. in 1959 with his parents. The piece of furniture was brought home on a troop ship that had been converted to transport military families and their belongings. Walter Bargen now resides outside of Ashland. He was the first Poet Laureate of Missouri.

The piece is for sale in our gallery, and when people ask me the story that goes with it, I’m always eager to share.

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Calena’s Fashions The Specialty Store with a Personal Touch • SPORTSWEAR • JACKETS • JEANS • JEWELRY ...and much more!

SPRING FASHION SHOW - APRIL 6TH - RSVP CalenasFashions.com • 573-896-5091 • 275 Karen Dr. • Holts Summit, MO

Live Theatre in the Heart of Downtown Columbia 210 St James St, Columbia, MO 65201 Rasheeda Speaking February 10-12,16-19 Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 pm Sundays at 2 pm

This tense workplace thriller examines the realities of so-called “post-racial” when two co-workers—one black, the other white—are driven apart by the machinations of their boss. A chilling power struggle ensues that spins wildly out of control. “Rasheeda Speaking is an exquisitely tense and often cringingly funny portrait of racial paranoia…

Chilling. An incendiary play by Joel Drake Johnson.” – The New York Times

The Red Box

March 10-12, 16-19 Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 pm Sundays at 2 pm

Nero Wolfe will do anything to acquire rare orchids, even agreeing to put his eccentric genius to work solving a murder that baffles police.

The first Rex Stout novel adapted for theatre gets its Columbia debut in a joint Talking Horse/Maplewood Barn production featuring the corpulent detective and all the usual suspects.

Can America’s Sherlock Holmes solve two murders without leaving his office? Of course he can!

BUY TICKETS: Online at TalkingHorseProductions.com Call 573-268-1381 COMO L I V I N G

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STRONG WOMAN

CATHY SALTER Author Cathy S alter talks about loving adventure abroad and at home. ph oto by K E I T H B O R G M E Y E R

WHAT’S YOUR BACKGROUND? Travel, teaching, and a love of the arts and other cultures have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in an Air Force family that moved often, and I was a Peace Corps volunteer for three years in Thailand in the late 1960s. Both experiences opened my eyes to other worlds and unbound possibilities.

After returning from Southeast Asia in 1970, I began teaching geography and history, and I eventually moved to Los Angeles, where I taught in an inner city junior high

school for 13 years. L.A. is also where I met my husband, Dr. Christopher Salter (Kit, for short), who was a geography professor at UCLA. Together, we worked for over a decade in both California and Washington D.C., heading the National Geographic Society’s Geography Education Program.

In 1988, we moved to Missouri when Kit was hired as chair of the MU Geography Department, and we bought a 7-acre farmlet in southern Boone County that we named Breakfast Creek. For the next 16 years, I

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experienced country living, and I began writing a newspaper column in 1994 about the world as I observed it both near and far.

I called it “Notes From Breakfast Creek.”

After moving to Albuquerque in 2005 and returning seven months later, we moved to a 5-acre parcel of meadow, woods, creek, and glade that we call Boomerang Creek.

My newspaper column, now called “Notes from Boomerang Creek,” appears weekly in the Columbia Daily Tribune and the Boone County Journal.

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STRONG WOMAN

From left to right: An ID card from Cathy’s travels; Cathy taking in some art; Cathy and her husband, Kit, in northern Spain.

I have published two books of collected essays: “Notes From Breakfast Creek: A Look at the World,” in 2008, and “Notes From Boomerang Creek,” in 2015. I am also a board member of Columbia’s Unbound Book Festival.

ON A TYPICAL WEEKNIGHT, WE COULD FIND YOU: Sharing a meal and a glass of wine with Kit, talking over the news of the day, and reading one of the books written by the 30 national authors invited to the 2017 Unbound Book Festival, which will be at Stephens College April 21 and 22.

WHO OR WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION? Burmese political activist, diplomat, author, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi. We are the same age, and I am continuously inspired by her courage, grace, inner faith, and strength as a political activist for the rights of the Burmese people.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN ART AND WRITING? I have loved art and reading for as long as I can remember. But I did not fully appreciate art until I first attempted to paint during a trip to Italy in 2010. I have been a letter writer and journal keeper since childhood, but I began writing seriously after witnessing and being deeply affected by the Great Midwest Flood of 1993.

HOW DO YOU CHANNEL YOUR CREATIVITY? Cooking and gardening provide a quiet window of time alone where I am constantly gathering threads that are later woven into stories when I am writing. Painting and writing both begin with a blank canvas, and it is on a blank canvas or page that these threads — images, conversations, landscapes, places visited — are woven together.

WHAT GETS YOU OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING? Life. The smell of coffee Kit has begun brewing in the kitchen. Our two senior cats, Fanny and Pooh, who awaken ready to be fed each morning at precisely 6 a.m.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED? There is no shortage of interesting people, places, ideas, and landscapes. Stay interested and engaged with people, the arts, and what is going on around the world. How you see the world matters.

FROM WHAT DO YOU DRAW STRENGTH? I draw strength from having grown up in a loving family and having had the wonderful good fortune of marrying Kit, who is my rock and partner in life and writing.

WHAT IS YOUR PASSION? Writing is a passion that enables me to

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explore, see, and be engaged in the world — both up close and at a distance.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A STRONG WOMAN? When I think of strong women, I think of women who believe in something powerfully and have the initiative and courage not only to speak out about their passions and beliefs, but also to play an active role in realizing these passions. I love and admire women who are engaged in the world, speak their minds, and record their stories as painters, poets, journalists, authors, and activists.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A YOUNGER VERSION OF YOU? Age is not a number. It is an attitude. You are as young as you think. See the world.

Learn from your experiences. Stay engaged all of your life. And treasure friendships and family always.

WHAT WOULD WE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU? At the age of 71, I decided to get back into my old Speedo bathing suit and start swimming again after more than half a century. I’m now swimming three to four days a week in a wonderful saltwater swimming pool in Columbia and feel great as a result.

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ADVERTISER INDEX AnnaBelle Events & Rentals

100

Edible Arrangements

84

Anne Tuckley Interiors

37

Edward Jones

12

Betz Jewelers

88

European Wax Center

Blanc Studio

10

Focus on Health

86

Boone Hospital

18

Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland

84

Heart, Body & Soul

55

Busenbark Flooring and Granite Calena's Fashions

7

8

102

Joe Machens Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM

6

Central Dairy and Ice Cream Company

105

Joe Machens.Com

15

Christian Chapel Academy

102

Kliethermes Homes and Remodeling 34 & 36

Columbia Art League

99

Landmark Bank

107

Columbia Surgical Associates

2

Lifestyles Furniture

Commerce Bank

3

Makes Scents

CoMo Wellness Conference

77

38 71

Manor Roofing & Restoration

100

Culligan 4

Martellaro Marble and Granite

30

Dave Griggs Flooring America

Mid-City Lumber Co

69

9

Downtown Appliance

108

Midwest Block & Brick

82

Dr. Letrisha Thomas

81

Missouri Dept. of Conservation

14

Dr. Shelley Lyle

55

My Sister's Circus

71

Ecowater Systems

81

Organize That Space

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Personal Touch Cleaning Service 44 Regeneration Salon & Spa 79 Room 38 71 Shelter Insurance Agents 82 Stange Law Firm 77 State Farm Insurance - Stephanie Wilmsmeyer 100 Studio Home 13 Superior Garden Center/Rost Landscape 30 Talking Horse Productions Theater 102 The Broadway Hotel 33 The District 70 The Pet Fair 86 The Village of Bedford Walk 5 Unbound Book Festival 88 University of Missouri Health Care 11, 91 & 94-97 We Always Swing Jazz Series 71 Willett and Patton Dentistry 69 Wilson's Fitness 24 Winter-Dent & Company 22

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CYSK

COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW Tom O’Connor and Diana Moxon HOW DID YOU MEET?

Tom: Long story, but it boils down to meeting through a mutual friend who is a travel writer. Diana left her life in Thailand, toured America in a rented convertible, and got stuck here in mid-Missouri.

Diana: I was fulfilling an ambition to drive across America in a convertible, except I really wanted to explore the Midwest, so I never got further east than Chicago. At the end of my trip, I came to visit a journalist I knew in Columbia — and she introduced me to Tom, so I never left.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DATE?

Tom: It was a blind date at Flat Branch Pub with our travel writer friend and her husband. Shortly thereafter, they got divorced; we got married.

Diana: A booth for four at Flat Branch. My friend brought along her single friend, and he seemed amusing, so I kept him around.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?

Tom: Build things, take things apart, fix things, improve things, autopsy broken things, hoard the bits and pieces, build more things. Preferably electrical, solarpowered things.

Diana: Cook, read, tidy up the mess of broken things that Tom likes to strew willy-nilly around the house, and plan our next vacation.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ART/ CULTURE ACTIVITY IN COLUMBIA?

ways, but that’s what has worked for us.

Diana: Laugh a lot, know which battles to fight, and marry someone who has an inordinate amount of patience — or, if you’re Tom, marry someone who has no patience!

WHAT IS THE BEST QUALITY OF YOUR PARTNER?

Tom: Her astounding ability to get things done quickly and with graceful elegance.

Diana: He’s very, very funny, endlessly generous, and incredibly loving. I guess that’s three things.

WHAT MAKES YOU MOST PROUD OF YOUR PARTNER?

Tom: Art in the Park.

Diana: True/False weekend is always a blast — especially when I’m not organizing it. I’d love Art in the Park if I wasn’t at the center of the organizational whirlwind.

Tom: How she has done so much for the Columbia Art League and the arts community in Columbia.

Diana: How passionate he is about caring for the environment and living sustainably, and that he is truly a really good person.

WHAT IS THE KEY TO A LASTING AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP?

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

Tom: Wait until you’re 40, marry a foreigner, and don’t have kids. I’m sure there are other

Tom: We document it in newspaper columns.

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Diana: I don’t know, but whatever mix we have works — most of the time!

WHAT IS ONE THING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOUR SPOUSE?

Tom: Due to extreme ABBA fandom, Diana majored in Swedish and speaks it fluently.

Diana: Tom is determined to learn Spanish, so every time we go on holiday, he takes along his Spanish phrase book. Even if we’re going to Vietnam.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP IN ONE WORD?

Tom: Uxorious.

Diana: Loving.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE TWO OF YOU?

Tom: Living happily ever after, as corny as that sounds.

Diana: Ditto. Although if his sustainable living experiments get any more extreme, I might have to live in a neighboring house and just visit on weekends.

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