Draft Rules Would Help Protect Seniors When Medicare Advantage Plans Drop Doctors By Susan Jaffe, KHN Produced in collaboration with the Washington Post
Federal officials are considering new Medicare Advantage rules to help protect seniors when insurers make significant reductions to their networks of doctors and other health care providers. The proposals follow UnitedHealthcare's decision to drop thousands of doctors from its Medicare Advantage plans in at least 10 states last fall. The government's response is part of the 148-page announcement of proposed rules and payment rates for next year’s Medicare Advantage plans released last month by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Officials say that the terminations only a few weeks before Medicare's Dec. 7 enrollment deadline may not have given seniors enough time to find new doctors, choose a different plan or rejoin traditional Medicare, which does not restrict beneficiaries to a limited network of providers. The proposals would give beneficiaries more than 30 days' advance notice of network changes and providers at least 60 days' advance notice of a contract termination. Even Medicare officials need more advance notice – "no less than 90 days" – so they can ensure that the remaining providers "will continue to meet required network standards." Officials are soliciting suggestions on how plans should prove that their reconfigured networks are adequate. The physician terminations sparked protests to Medicare and UnitedHealthcare from patients, as well as physician groups across the country, state officials and members of
Congress. Nearly 16 million people, about a third of Medicare beneficiaries, are enrolled in private Medicare Advantage plans, which are an alternative to traditional Medicare. The government reimburses insurers to care for these seniors. Although the announcement does not name any insurance companies, officials prefaced the proposals by writing, "Recent significant mid-year changes to MAOs' [Medicare Advantage organizations’] provider networks have prompted CMS to reexamine its current guidance on these requirements and to consider augmenting such guidance in response to such changes." Medicare Advantage rules allow beneficiaries to change plans if they move out of the coverage area or for other special reasons, but not if they lose their doctors or hospitals. Otherwise, they can switch plans only once a year, during the annual seven-week, fall enrollment period. Since most beneficiaries are locked into their plans, CMS is considering whether to restrict insurers' ability to drop doctors during the plan year. If insurers expect to drop providers in the coming year, they should say so in the letter highlighting changes that they are required to send to plan members every year before the open enrollment season. CMS would also add "required language" to the letter explaining patients' rights in the event that network providers leave the plan during the plan year. Final rules are expected as early as April 7, 2014.
32 2014 Contents
page 3 - Medicare Advantage Rules to Protect Seniors page 4 - Opinion: Making Sure Medicare Advantage is Around for Generations page 5 -Opinion: Getting Veterans Their Benefits page 17-Are You a Caregiver? page 22 - Final Farewell page 24 -Laxalt/Lerude page 38 - Friendship Force
Every Issue page page page page page page page
18 28 29 31 32 34 36
& 20 - Calendar - Biggest Little City - Crossword - Resources - Eydie’s Excerpts - this ‘n that - Seniors4Travel
Health
page 6 - Caregiving Made Easier: Making Food Fun page 10 - CMS: How to Protect Yourself Against Medicare Gaps David Sayen, Region 9 page 12 - Center for Healthy Aging Adult Development and Social Isolation in Later Life Dr. Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D., page 14 - Ophthalmology: Dr. Michael Fischer, M.D. page 16 - AARP: Caregiver Connections
Financial
page 7 - Peace of Mind for Parents, Grandparents -Bradley B. Anderson, Ltd.
Senior Spectrum Newspaper P.O. Box 7124 • Reno, NV 89510
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Publishers: Chris & Connie McMullen Senior Spectrum is a monthly publication dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain. Publication of advertising contained does not constitute endorsement. Signed columns are the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publishers. Copyrighted publication. All rights reserved. April • 2014 • 3
Opinion U.S. Senator Dean Heller Over the past few years, I have heard from many Nevada senSen. Dean Heller iors who are deeply concerned about Medicare Advantage and the proposed cuts that may affect thousands of people enrolled in this successful program. I remain concerned about these potential reductions, which is why I have been proactive when it comes to making sure Medicare Advantage is around for generations to come. Unfortunately, President Obama's signature health care law included major changes to Medicare Advantage that threaten the future of this suc-
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Making Sure Medicare Advantage is Around for Generations cessful program. Nearly 110,000 of Nevada’s seniors are enrolled in this program and without efforts to protect it, access to Medicare Advantage plans will either be severely limited or may disappear altogether, reducing millions of seniors’ ability to choose the care they need and deserve. As concerned as seniors are about their health care, they are equally concerned about their personal financial futures. Fiscal irresponsibility, like cutting a half-trillion dollars from the entire Medicare program, is unacceptable and has landed America’s seniors in dire straits. Additionally, burdensome federal regulations and increasing financial strains on Medicare have already limited the care
available to many Nevadans. For these reasons, I have consistently opposed changes to Medicare that would affect current and near-retirees. In fact, earlier this year I joined 39 of my Senate colleagues to send a letter to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator urging the agency to protect seniors by maintaining current Medicare Advantage payment levels and to ensure continued access and high quality care for America’s seniors. Medicare is a program that was promised to American citizens. No question, this promise must be kept. As a member on the Senate Special Committee on Aging, I will be sure to monitor these proposed changes
and continue supporting Medicare and Medicare Advantage. I am optimistic that this Congress can bring greater certainty to Nevada seniors, but first, Washington must commit to prioritizing policy over politics. I look forward to working with my Democrat and Republican colleagues in 2014 to make the changes necessary to ensure security and health care access for Nevadans of all generations. For more on this topic, do not hesitate to contact any of my offices. Elko: (775) 738-2001 Reno: (775) 686-5770 Las Vegas: (702) 388-6605 Washington: (202) 224-6244
Getting Veterans the Benefits and Services U.S. Sen. Harry Reid They Have Earned and Deserve Opinion
Too many veterans have to wait too long to get the benefits they have Sen. Harry Reid earned and deserve. For too long, thousands of veterans in Nevada waited over one year to receive their benefits and many had to wait more than two years. It was an unfair and dreadful situation and that I took much time to address. I supported legislation that provided desperately needed funding to hire temporary and permanent claims-processing personnel. I helped Reno secure a $350,000 grant to provide
permanent housing for homeless veterans. I wrote to leaders in the Veterans Administration offering help in addressing Nevada’s backlog of VA claims and I signed on to a letter to President Obama asking that he take direct action to end the current claims backlog. Following up on these letters, I set up a meeting between the staff of the Nevada delegation and the VA Deputy Under-Secretary of Field Operations to see what we can do to help end the claims backlog at the Reno VA Regional Office. I also helped ensure an increase of more than $294 million--a 12 percent increase over the previ-
ous year--to allay the backlog. Through these efforts and the support of my colleagues, the claims backlog is beginning to decrease. At the Reno Regional Office, the inventory of waiting claims has been reduced from a peak of 10,490 in April to 5,813 as of October of 2013, which is a reduction of 45 percent. During that time, they completed 100 percent of claims that were pending over 2 years and 95.6 percent of all claims pending over 1 year. Improvements have been made but there’s still much work to be done to demonstrate the depth and breadth
of our appreciation to the men and women who have kept this country safe. The Pentagon projects that war spending will decrease as we continue to reduce the number of American troops in Afghanistan. It is only fair that we use a small portion of those savings to invest in our returning veterans, who have given so much over the last 13 years to ensure our safety. That is why I have lent my support to legislation introduced by Senator Sanders, which would open new clinics and medical facilities, expand education opportunities for veterans, spur hiring of service mem(Veterans Bill page 6 )
April • 2014 • 5
Caregiving Made Easier
Making Food Fun Dr. Marion Sommers
My 82 year-old mother was always a great cook, but she isn't able to make most of her own meals anymore. How can I still make food fun for her? Kristine, 55, in North Carolina Food is one of the few remaining varieties in your elder’s life. It might be more important to them now than ever before, so fill the house with food they like, as long as it’s approved by their doctor. Consider your elder’s likes and dislikes and shape their diet accordingly. It sounds obvious, but many elderly are forced to gulp down pre-fab liquid drinks and hard-tohandle food, and many do
6 • 2014 • April
not get anything resembling balanced meals. Find out if Meals-OnWheels is available in your town, and ask if your elder would like to receive it. Remember that they might not want to consume it if they’ve enjoyed a lifetime of home-cooked foods. Find their favorite cookbook and go to the dirtiest pages - that’s where their favorite recipes are. Prepare it for them. Plan a diet and
eating routine that allows your elder to feed themselves as often as possible. You also have to make eating elderfriendly. If they’ve lost some manual dexterity, encourage finger foods, smaller portions, and use non-breakable plates. Be sure your elder gets the right amount of calories for their age, height, and weight. Keep food fresh and interesting for them, and make sure they’re eating regularly. Many elderly lose interest in food and just don’t eat enough. Always be sure to check with your elder’s doctor for proper nutritional details. Also, investigate if there
are local restaurants and/or grocery stores that will deliver to your elder’s residence. You can set up a tab ahead of time. Your elder might really enjoy a knock at the door and a different hot lunch and dinner delivered every day.
Veterans Services / page 5
seems Republicans are trying to erase a long history of bipartisanship in serving our veterans by insisting that irrelevant amendments be inserted into the veterans’ assistance bill. Democrats in the Senate, leaders, and veterans agree: there is too much at stake to play politics with our nation’s heroes. I commend my Republican colleagues who have broken rank with their Party in support of veterans and this common-sense legislation. I remain committed to working with the VA to get these issues sorted out so that our veterans can get the benefits and services they have earned and deserve.
bers, give over 70,000 veterans access to job training, help former service members get the skills they need to compete in a civilian workforce, improve the quality of care and reduce travel time for our retired heroes. This legislation would also help the VA further its work to end the backlog of claims for benefits. This bill is the next crucial step toward ensuring our veterans can access the services they have earned and Congress should do everything within its power to protect those who risked their lives to protect this country. Unfortunately, it
Dr. Marion (Marion Somers, Ph.D.) is the author of "Elder Care Made Easier" and has over 40 years of experience as a geriatric care manager, caregiver, speaker, and expert in all things elder care. She offers practical tools, solutions, and advice to help caregivers everywhere. Visit www.DrMarion.com for more information.
Peace of Mind for Parents, Grandparents
Brought to you by Bradley B. Anderson Anderson, Dorn, & Rader, Ltd.
H
ere is some outstanding advice from the AAEPA to pass along to the parents of your granchildren. A brand new baby brings a special kind of chaos to your home. In the midst of sleep deprivation, midnight feedings, and seemingly endless diaper changes, estate planning is likely the last thing on your mind. And yet, making an estate plan is a relatively simple task that can bring an immense sense of security to your growing family. Here are the basics:
The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys www.probatebusters.com • blog.wealth-counselors.com
Guardianship Your first order of business is to choose a guardian for your baby. For most parents, this is the toughest step in the entire process; however, it may also be the most important. A guardian is the adult you name in your Will to take responsibility for your child in the event your child is orphaned before he or she reaches adulthood. You name your child’s guardian in your Will. If you do not have a Will when you die, a judge
will appoint a guardian for your child. The person appointed might not be the person you would have chosen. Without your input, the judge would be forced to make the decision without your guidance. So, how do you choose a guardian? It can be helpful to sit down and make a list of your most trusted family members and friends, then narrow your choices based on factors such as: • Parenting Style • Religious Beliefs
• • • •
Lifestyle Educational Philosophy Location Current Family Size
For many parents, it is helpful to remember that the decision you make does not have to be permanent because, let’s face it, circumstances change. For example, the guardian you choose when your child is an infant might move away by the time your child is in elementary school, or you might rethink (Peace of Mind page 8)
April • 2014 • 7
Peace of Mind / page 7 your choice and settle on someone more suited to your child’s emerging personality. You can always update your estate plan to designate a new guardian. After you’ve settled on a guardian, you’ll want to take two additional steps. First, discuss your thoughts with the potential guardian before you make your Will. You’ll want the person you choose to be prepared, willing, and able to take on this important task if the need arises. Second, make sure the potential guardian has enough funds to care for and educate your child. Many young families find that the best way to accomplish this is with life insurance. And lastly, one of the most important ways you can plan for your baby’s future is to plan for your own and keep the following in mind when creating your complete plan. Revocable Living Trust A Revocable Living Trust is the cornerstone of many people’s estate plans. This flexible planning tool covers a number of scenarios. For example, a Revocable Living Trust lets you maintain maximum control over your assets while ensuring your finances are protected in case you become disabled. It also allows you to provide security and support for your loved ones after your death. One benefit of a Revocable Living Trust is that it allows your loved ones to inherit from you without the need for probate, its expense, delays, and publicity.
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Financial Power of Attorney A Financial Power of Attorney is a disability planning tool that lets you choose a responsible person – known as an agent – to man
age any assets not included in your Revocable Living Trust. Healthcare Power of Attorney With a Healthcare Power of Attorney, you can choose an agent to make medical decisions on your behalf. This planning tool ensures that a trusted friend or family member has the authority to direct your medical care if you are too sick or too severely injured to make decisions on your own. HIPAA Release The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of your medical information. The law prevents unauthorized people from accessing and viewing your medical information. A HIPAA Release lets you name the individuals who should have access to your medical information. As soon as you emerge from the baby fog, get in touch with an experienced estate planning attorney. He or she will tailor a plan just for your family so that you can relax and enjoy your journey as a new parent with peace of mind. The Law Firm of Anderson, Dorn & Rader is devoted exclusively to estate planning. We are members of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and offer guidance and advice to our clients in every area of estate planning. We offer comprehensive and personalized estate planning consultations. For more information or to attend an upcoming seminar, please contact us at (775) 823-9455 or visit us online at www.wealth-counselors.com.
April • 2014 • 9
How to Protect Yourself Against Medicare “Gaps” David Sayen
Y
our Original Medicare insurance covers a wide variety of health services, from flu shots to hospital stays to hospice care. But it doesn’t cover everything, and it doesn’t cover all your out-of-pocket costs. Many services covered by Original Medicare require co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles. You can purchase extra insurance to cover these “gaps” in Medicare. Such insurance is called Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medigap. Some Medigap policies also pro-
10 • 2014 • April
David Sayen Regional Administrator, Medicare Region 9 vide coverage that Original Medicare doesn’t, like emergency care in a foreign country. You have to pay for Medigap yourself, and it’s sold through private insurance companies. You can buy it only if you have Original Medicare, not Medicare Advantage, which is managed care provided by private insurers. Every Medigap policy has to follow federal and state laws designed to protect you. Insurance companies can sell you only a “stan-
dardized” Medigap policy identified in most states by the letters A through N. Each standardized policy must
offer the same basic benefits, no matter which company sells it. So beware when you’re
Medicare / page 10
shopping for a Medigap policy: Cost is usually the only difference between Medigap policies with the same letter sold by different companies. And there can be big differences in how much various insurers charge for the same coverage. Here are some of the costs that Medigap policies often cover: • Medicare Part A (hospital) coinsurance and hospital costs for up to 365 days after Medicare benefits run out; • Medicare Part B (medical) coinsurance or co-pays; • Part A hospice care coinsurance or co-pays; • Skilled nursing facility coinsurance; • Part A and Part B deductibles. Medigap policies generally don’t cover long-term care (like care in a nursing home), vision or dental, hearing aids, eyeglasses, and private duty nursing. The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during your Medigap open enrollment period. This period lasts for six months and begins on the first day of the month in which you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. Why is this important? Because during open enrollment, an insurance company can’t refuse to sell you any Medigap policy it offers due to any health problems you may have. Nor can you be charged more based on your health status. In some cases, however,
an insurer can refuse to cover your out-of-pocket costs for pre-existing health conditions for up to six months. After six months, the Medigap policy will cover the pre-existing condition. And remember, for Medicare covered services, Original Medicare will still cover the condition even if the Medigap policy won’t cover your out-of-pocket costs. But you’re responsible for the coinsurance or copayments. A few other points to keep in mind: • You must have Medicare Part A and Part B to buy a Medigap policy.
regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Territories.
You can get answers to all of your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
• Plans E, H, I, and J are no longer for sale, but you can keep these plans if you already have one. • A Medigap policy only covers one person. If you and your spouse both want Medigap coverage, you must each buy a separate policy. • Any standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed renewable, even if you have health problems. This means the insurance company can’t cancel your policy as long as you pay the premium. Although some Medigap policies sold in the past cover prescription drugs, Medigap policies sold after January 1, 2006, aren’t allowed to include prescription drug coverage. (If you want such coverage, you can join a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, offered by private companies approved by Medicare.) David Sayen is Medicare’s
April • 2014 • 11
Adding Life to Years
Adult Development and Social Isolation in Later Life Dr. Larry Weiss • Center for Healthy Aging
B
ecoming an adult is quite a process. As I have observed Larry Weiss over the years, many of us do not do it very well. What do I mean? Well I am going to start from the beginning. In my education at University of California Berkeley and UC San Francisco, I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Erik Erikson, a world renowned developmental psychologist. In fact, he founded life stage developmental theory. Erikson explained the challenges throughout the life course by breaking down our development into eight stages. The first stage of the Erikson life course is in infancy, where babies learn basic trust and mistrust. This stage is dependent upon the mother’s quality of the maternal relationship, reflecting inner perceptions of trust and meaning. Failure to develop this trust will result in fear in the baby and a
12 • 2014 • April
belief that the world is inconsistent and unpredictable. The second stage is autonomy vs. shame and doubt. This early childhood of 1-3 year olds where toilet training is the dominate focus. In stage three, preschool children struggle to understand the difference between initiative and guilt. Here the child develops the ability to do things on their own, such as dress him or herself. If not functioning well, guilt about making his/her own choices will develop. However, most guilt is quickly compensated by a sense of accomplishment. Stage four, pre-adolescence children learn about industry vs. inferiority. The child compares self-worth to others and develops a sense of competence. The child can recognize major differences in personal abilities as compared to other children. Erikson places some emphasis on the
teacher, who should ensure that children do not feel inferior. In the fifth stage called adolescence, teenagers experience the challenge of gaining identity vs. role confusion. This is a time when 12-18 year olds question the self. Who am I? How do I fit in? Where am I going in life? Erikson believes that if the parents allow the child to explore they will find their own identity. However, if the parents continually push him/her to conform to their views, the teen will face identity confusion. The sixth stage, young adulthood, is when young people gain insight to life when dealing with the challenge of intimacy vs. isolation. Between the ages of 18-35, dating, marriage, family and friendships are developed. By successfully forming loving relationships with other people, individuals are able to experience love and intimacy. Those who fail to form lasting relationships
Adult Development / page 12
may feel isolated and alone. In stage seven, or middle adulthood, people experience the challenge of trying to make a difference – generativity vs. stagnation and self-absorption. This second stage of adulthood, between the ages of 35-64, a person is either making progress in their career or unsure of what they want. It is during this time that a person is enjoying raising their children that gives them a sense of purpose. If a person is not comfortable with the way their life is progressing, they're usually regretful about the decisions and feel a sense of uselessness. In the final stage is old age, which people are learning about the challenge of ego integrity vs. despair. This stage generally incorporates the 65+. Retirement, transitioning or encore period has been achieved or in process. Many people look back on their lives and feel great accomplishment and a sense of integrity. Conversely, those who had a difficult time during middle adulthood may look back and feel a sense of despair.
As we advance into old-old age and try to maintain our independence in our own homes, many of us become isolated and alone. Family move across country, spouses and friends die, and we become less mobile. All these elements lead to social isolation and premature death. In order to combat any social isolation or deterioration as we advance into old age, the following actions are recommended: Participate in social senior groups. Contact your local information center, senior services, or sports club for ideas of groups that meet in your community. Senior centers have been established to help ease the transition of aging. They plan activities such as exercise, meals, games, and trips. Educate yourself, learn new skills. It’s important to realize that as you age, you need to be involved in learning new abilities and seeking brain stimulation. Universities, community colleges, and elder learning centers (e.g., Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) provide great opportunities for brain stimulation.
Volunteer or find a part-time job. Studies have shown that people who have had a variety of jobs are more apt to be interested in continuing socially as they age. Those who volunteer live happier and healthier lives. Finally, church or religious groups are a great place to find support or social groups for elders, as well as a variety of giving mechanisms that contribute to self development, and preventing isolation. In short, being healthy and happy, as well as living longer and stronger lives is a lifelong developmental lifestyle that is available to all. It is advantageous to start early, but it is almost never too late to take action and change your lifestyle to live longer, healthier lives that “add life to years.” Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. is CEO of the Center for Healthy Aging. Dr. Weiss welcomes your comments on this column. Write to him at larry@addinglifetoyears.com or c/o Center for Healthy Aging, 11 Fillmore Way, Reno, NV 89519.
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Ophthalmology
3-D Imaging, Lasers Break Up Cataracts Michael J. Fischer, M.D. Eye Physician & Surgeon
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is 3-D imaging that enables ophthalmoloMichael Fischer gists to see and measure the eye’s tiniest inner structures. While OCT is not new, it has recently been combined with lasers to more precisely conduct cataract surgery. This new procedure begins with the ophthalmologist placing a special device on the eye that sends a 3-D image to a
14 • 2014 • April
screen. This image is used to instruct a computer where to make incisions in the eye and to break up the cataract, after which the fractured cataract is removed and a manmade replacement lens is set in place. While this procedure is essentially the same as current cataract surgery, it is more precise in making incisions and placement of the new lens. It should be noted whether or not performed with laser, cataract surgery
essentially involves making an incision in the eye through which the cataract is broken up and removed, and replacing the clouded lens with a clear one. If you would like further information on today’s topic or an appointment, please call my office at (775) 882-2988. We are located at 3839 N. Carson Street, in Carson City. Hours: 8-5 p.m., Mon. - Fri. by appointment. M/C, Visa and Medicare Assignment accepted.
April • 2014 • 15
Caregiver Connections: Learn from the experts, connect with resources By Maria Dent, Community Outreach Director, AARP Nevada
B
etween work and family responsibilities, caregivers lead Maria Dent extremely busy and stressful lives. The number of issues they may face in a caregiving role can be daunting – from sorting through a web of insurance and financial issues, to arranging transportation and helping ensure health care needs are met and instructions followed. At any time during the year, more than 530,000 Nevadans are serving as caregivers – including more than a
third of residents over the age of 50. Recognizing the critical and complex roles that caregivers play – whether caring for an aging parent, a spouse or even a disabled child - AARP Nevada is hosting a series of Caregiver Connections events, designed to help those caring for family members connect with resources and experts to help navigate the difficult issues they face every day. Caregiver Connections events will be held in northern and southern Nevada, focusing on different topics throughout the year – from health care
fraud and senior driving issues to prescription management and advocating for a loved one in the hospital. These interactive sessions will include presentations by experts providing practical advice, valuable information and answers to your caregiving questions. A current schedule of Caregiver Connections topics and event dates is below. All events are free and open to the community. For updates, and to register for any session, please visit www.aarp.org/nv. Navigating Caregiving Resources • Wednesday, April 30 at 6 p.m. – Edward Pine Middle School, 4800 Neil Road, Reno • Thursday, May 1 at 10:30 a.m. – Neil Road Recreation Center, 3925 Neil Road, Reno Don’t Be a Victim: Health Care Fraud and You • Thursday, May 15 at 6 p.m. – South Valleys Library, 15650 Wedge Parkway, Reno We Need to Talk: Conversations About Older Drivers • Thursday, August 21 at 6 p.m. – South Valleys Library, 15650 Wedge Parkway, Reno You Are Their Voice: Be a Champion for Your Loved One • Saturday, October 4 at 9:30 a.m. – Tamarack Junction Casino, 13101 S. Virginia St., Reno • Wednesday, October 29 at 6 p.m. – Carson-Tahoe Regional Medical Center, Carson City Medication Madness • Wednesday, November 5 at 6 p.m. – South Valleys Library, 15650 Wedge Parkway, Reno
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Are You a Caregiver?
(NU) - It is estimated that the care of sick, elderly and disabled family members and friends generally falls on the shoulders of more than 42 million Americans, and yet most people don’t think of themselves as caregivers. What begins as an act of love, can quickly turn into a mountain of stress and exhaustion as the needs of the infirm become more demanding. This, in turn, can prompt feelings of guilt and depression, yet still be very rewarding for the caregiver. To find out if you’re a caregiver, take the simple quiz below: • Do you currently help a loved one with tasks such as cleaning, or keeping up with the yard or laundry? • Do you help pick up medication or remind a friend or family member to take their medication? • Do you regularly cook or provide food for a loved one? • Do you drive a friend or family member to doctor’s appointments, shopping trips or on other errands? • Do you provide personal care to a loved one, such as bathing, dressing or helping them to the bathroom? • Do you help take care of their finances or pay their bills? • Are you stressed by the addi-
tional responsibilities you’ve had to take on to help a loved one? • Do you spend so much time and energy taking care of your loved one that you sometimes neglect yourself or your immediate family? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you are a caregiver. This means that you could find yourself juggling new roles such as nurse, housekeeper, accountant, driver and chef. So that you don’t feel completely overwhelmed and alone, AARP (www.aarp.org/caregiving) has resources that can help you manage all of your caregiving responsibilities, as well as ways to take care of yourself in the process. If you answered no, then you are not (yet) a caregiver, but chances are you know someone who is, or you will become a caregiver one day. Adding extra responsibilities to an already full life, can be tough, stressful and isolating, which is why AARP created the Thanks Project. Take a moment to honor those people who selflessly provide care and comfort to loved ones at ThanksProject.org. The first step to gaining balance with providing care to a loved one and juggling all of life’s responsibilities, is identifying yourself as a caregiver.
April • 2014 • 17
APRIL Calendar April 3 - Bring Beneficial Insects into Your Garden with Native Plants, Washoe County Cooperative Extension Office, register www.growyourownnevada.com, (775) 784-4848. April 3 - Robert Ballard, discoverer of Titanic wreckage, University of Nevada Reno lecture, 7 p.m., Redfield Aud.,
Davidson Mathematics and Science Center, UNR, (775) 784-4591. April 5 - Guided Tours, Nevada Museum of Art, 1 - 2 p.m., (775) 329-3333, Reno. April 8 - Bodymaps: Erika Harrsch, Jeffrey Zeigler and Paola Prestini, 7:30 p.m., Photo: University of Nevada Cooperative Extension class, “Bring beneficial insects into your garden with native plants,” 6 to 8 p.m., April 3.
Nightingale Concert Hall, Church Fine Arts, (775) 7844278, www.unr.edu/arts. April 10 - Soil Basics and the Best Amendments, Washoe County Cooperative Extension Office, register www.grow yourownnevada.com, (775) 784-4848. April 10 - 12 - Reno Jazz Festival, University of Nevada Reno. April 10: Avishai Cohen
with The Collective; April 11: Kneebody. Festival and ticket information: (775) 784-4278 or www.unr.edu/rjf. April 12 - General Clinic, Student Outreach, School of Medicine, University of Nevada Reno, (775) 682-9254. April 17 - Tomato Basics, Washoe County Cooperative Extension Office, register at www.growyourownnevada.com, (775) 784-4848. April 19 - Tahoe Truckee Earth Day, 11 - 5 p.m., the Village at Squaw Valley, (775) 771-1828, www.renoearthday.com. April 23 - Beginning Mediation and Conflict Resolution Certificate, 40-hour, five-session, Extended Studies, University of Nevada, Reno. Call (775) 784-4062 or 1-800233-8928 or visit www.extendedstudies.unr.edu. April 26 - Historic Touring, Historic Society, 8 - 6 p.m., $100, guide: Ron James, (775) 688-1190, ext. 231. April 27 - Earth Day, Idlewild Park, 10 - 5 p.m., (775) 7711828, www.renoearthday.com.
18 • 2014 • April
May 10 - Letter Carriers’ Food Drive.
April • 2014 • 19
Senior
April 5 - Zumba, 10:10 a.m., Incline Village Park & Recreation; also April 12, 19, 26, and May 3rd. Call (775) 8321300.
April 1 - Adult Basketball, 12 noon, Incline Village Park & Recreation Center Gym, call (775) 832-1300; also April 8, 15, 22, and 29th.
April 6 - Memory Motel, Sunday Music Brunch, 10 - 2 p.m., Chez Louie, Nevada Museum of Art, (775) 2842921.
April 2 - Legislative Committee on Senior Citizens, Veterans and Adults with Special Needs, Nevada Legislative Bldg., room 3138, 9 a.m., Carson City.
April 8 - Elder Abuse and Mental Health: Can elder abuse be prevented? 10 - 11 a.m., Dr. John Yacenda, Ph.D., Laxalt Aud., Nelson Bldg., Senior Outreach Services Education Talk, (775) 784-7506, RSVP to Sina by April 4, sinaw@unr.edu.
April 4 - Brunch and a Movie, City of Reno, $20, Eldorado Buffet and movie at the Riverside Theater, (775) 6898484, downtown Reno.
April 4 - Capitol Cutups Square Dance, 7 - 9:30 p.m., Carson City Senior Center; also Friday, April 12, 19, and 26th.
April 8 - Dr. Jennifer Sasser, Gerontologist, author of “Aging Concepts and Controversies,” Distinguished Speaker Series, Sanford Center for Aging, 4:30 p.m.: reception, Theatre Lounge, 5:30 p.m.: presentation. RSVP to Collette Witt at collettew@unr.edu by April 1, 2014, (775) 784-8072.
April 4 - Senior Dance Club, Reno Senior Center, 8 - 10:30 p.m.; also April 11, 18, and 25th, (775) 328-2575.
April 10 - Department of Health and Human Services, Health Care Financing and Policy State Plan Amendment, 9
April 4 - Senior Coalition, Renown Mack Aud., 8 a.m.
20 • 2014 • April
a.m., room 2134, Legislative Bldg., Carson City. April 11 - 13 - Free Medical Event, Hug High School, all ages, first come first serve, large gym, 6 - 4 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 6 - 1 p.m., Sunday, call (775) 350-4597 or info@healthycomm.org. April 13 - Sunday Music Brunch, Chez Louie presents Songstress, Jill Cohn, 10 - 2 p.m., Nevada Museum of Art, Reno. April 14 and 28 - Senior Dance Club, City of Reno, 2 - 5 p.m., 2nd and 4th Sunday, Neil Rd. Recreation Center, (775) 689-8484. April 23 - Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., Legislative Bldg., Carson City. May 1 - Opening Day Older American’s Month, Reno Senior Center, Information Fair, entertainment, lunch. Call (775) 328-2575 for details. May 31 - Closing Ceremonies Older American’s Month, Neil Rd. Recreation Center, Colin Ross entertainment. Call (775) 334-2262 for information.
April • 2014 • 21
A Final Farewell Constructing an Obituary More than merely a "goodbye" to your loved one, this is a farewell which can, in chronological order, celebrate their life. We’re offering general guidelines, but feel free to be as creative as you, and your family members, feel is appropriate. Officially, an obituary serves as notification that an individual has passed away and details of the services that are to take place. An obituary's length may be somewhat dictated by the space available in the newspaper. Therefore it's best to check how much room you have before you begin your composition. Remember that the obituary should appear a few days prior to the memorial service, so people
22 • 2014 • April
can make plans to attend. What to include? Naturally, it’s vital that the full name, along with the location and date of passing is included. You may wish to consider placing a photograph with the text, though there may be extra charges from the publication. If you wish, mention where your loved one resided. This will normally only include the city, state and county. In a concise manner, write about the significant events in the life of your loved one. This may include the schools they attended; degrees attained; military service; career information; and also any special interests enjoyed. It’s common to include a list of those who have survived your loved one. The list should include (where applicable): • Parents
• Spouse and children • Siblings • Grandparents The surviving relatives listed above may be listed by name. Other relatives are usually not mentioned by name, but may be included in terms of their relationship to the deceased. At the end of the obituary, be sure to list the details of the time and location of services and reception. Do's & Don'ts • If you don't know where to start, read other obituaries to gain an idea of how personal and touching an obituary might be. • Use such terms as "visitation will be from" or "friends may call from." • Rather than using the phrase "in lieu of flowers," merely start the final paragraph of the obituary with the words "memorial donations may be
made to." Final considerations All information to be included in the obituary should be verified with another family member, to make sure you remember everything correctly. If appropriate, you might consider interviewing your family member ahead of time, to make sure you capture everything they wish to be in there. Since most newspapers charge by the word when placing an obituary, it might not always be feasible to mention everything we’ve stated here. Planning a funeral service is intensely personal. Whether simple or elaborate, private or public, the Walton’s Funeral Homes staff will help you to craft a service befitting the legacy your loved one leaves behind. For more information, visit www.waltonsfuneralhomes.com.
April • 2014 • 23
Laxalt/Lerude By Janet Ross
T
he synchronicity began with the January 2014 meeting of the Sierra Sundays Book Club. Our bimonthly discussion was to feature Robert Laxalt’s The Basque Hotel. As a transplanted Nevadan, I was familiar with the Laxalt name, specifically that of Paul Laxalt, a former Governor and United States Warren Lerude Senator. Wrongheaded, I made the assumption that Robert’s slender, slice-of-life novella found a publisher on the coat-tails of his politically prominent, older brother. In fact, a special edition of Robert’s Sweet Promised Land was used as a”vote-getting instrument” for Paul Laxalt’s Senate campaign several years after the book was originally published.
24 • 2014 • April
As I read Robert Laxalt’s coming-of-age novel, I felt it could have been written about an even earlier time in Carson City; the 1930s setting could just as easily have been fifty years prior. Having worked in Carson City in the 1980s, the small town feel was still evident despite the rapid changes. Laxalt had written an interesting account of his barely disguised childhood with his unique Basque heritage, strong family values, and the rough-and-ready Western life in Northern Nevada. It was February when I received an email from my Editor Connie McMullen, at Senior Spectrum and Generation Boomer. Warren Lerude was the author of a recent biog-
raphy about Robert Laxalt. Mr. Lerude had enjoyed my recent column of book reviews; would I be interested in doing an article about his book? How flattering. I’d be delighted. With Robert Laxalt - The Story of a Storyteller in hand, the synchronicity continued. Laxalt was born in Alturas, California; I’d had a college room-mate from Alturas. Laxalt married a Joyce Nielsen; my maiden name was also Nielsen (no relation). Jack and Silas Ross figured in Laxalt’s life story; I had been married to a Ross (again, no relation). Laxalt had spent time and written about Chimayo, New Mexico; I had been there in the summer of 2012. And, finally, author Lerude’s wife is named Janet. However, what follows is not a book review, but a tale of two prestigious Nevadans.
Both share acclaim as authors and journalists. Both can attach the prestige of the Pulitzer Prize to their resumes. Most importantly, both have served the State of Nevada as promoters of this unique region with their writing, contributions to the community, and mentorship through education. In Lerude’s Preface to Robert Laxalt - The Story of a Storyteller he states, “I tell this story as one of the many writers Bob Laxalt influenced. But even more so, it is told by Laxalt himself through processes and experiences that took him to write seventeen acclaimed books, scores of nationally and internationally published magazine articles, and hundreds of daily newspaper and wire service stories. His own words, through careful attri-
bution, frequently come to life in this story.” Lerude’s book is as much of a tribute to a mentor and friend as it is an account of an exceptional life. Robert Laxalt was born in Alturas, California, in 1923, to Theresa and Dominique Laxalt, the second of five children. Both parents had come to the United States as French Basque immigrants seeking a better life. Dominique spent most of his adult years as a solitary sheepherder in the Sierra of California and Nevada, while Theresa ran the French Hotel, a Basque boarding house in Carson City, and kept the growing family intact. Robert’s childhood was heavily influenced by a case of rheumatic fever. The lengthy confinement led him
to a life-long love of reading. In World War II he was frustrated when denied regular military service due to a heart murmur. Strings were pulled by US Senator Patrick McCarran after a plea from Robert and he was given a position with the State Department. Laxalt found himself shipped off to the Belgian Congo where a recurring case of Malaria ended his African service within a year. On his return to Carson City, Laxalt made the decision to attend the University of Nevada, Reno, as an English major. Not only did he meet the love of his life and future wife, Joyce Nielsen, while a student, but his career as a writer began as a reporter for local newspapers. He eventually founded his own press service, the
Capital News Bureau, before securing an affiliation with the United Press (UP). Feature articles for national magazines followed. Laxalt’s first book, a collection of Old West stories was published in 1953, but it was Sweet Promised Land published by Harper & Brothers, New York, in 1957, that brought Robert Laxalt attention on a national scale. The tender story of accompanying his father to his French Basque homeland touched readers and provided a glimpse into the lives and emotions of our country’s Basque (and other) immigrants. Laxalt went on to write more books, many of them about his family and Nevada life. He was a contributor to National Geographic with articles (Laxalt page 26)
April • 2014 • 25
Laxalt / page 25
about the West, and Basques here and in the Pyrenees. It was inevitable that Robert Laxalt would return to his alma mater, the University of Nevada, Reno, and he did. To the benefit of all Nevadans (and especially its Basque citizens), Laxalt was a co-founder of the Center for Basque Studies. He also served as a consultant to the Library of Congress on Basque Culture, founded the University of Nevada Press, was a writer-in-residence at the University of Nevada, Reno, and became the first occupant of the Distinguished Author Chair. In 1983 Laxalt retired from the University of Nevada Press and assumed the role of a master teacher for the Donald J. Reynolds School of Journalism at the University. He remained an active educator and mentor until the end of his life in 2001. My brief synopsis of Robert Laxalt’s life has several omissions, most more interesting than the bare facts presented here. For a complete picture of Robert Laxalt’s life one needs to consult Warren Lerude’s loving tribute to a friend who is still considered by many to be Nevada’s premier author. Lerude’s own story is one-hundred percent Nevadan. Born in Reno in 1937, Warren attended Mt. Rose elementary school, Billinghurst Junior High and Reno High School before exploring a major in Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno beginning in 1955. His college studies were interrupted by a two-year military obligation in the US Navy. As he resumed his college studies, Lerude served as editor of the campus newspaper, The Sagebrush in 1960. After graduation, Lerude’s first posteducation job was as a reporter for the Associated Press (AP) in Reno. This was followed with assignments to other cities before an opportunity with the Reno Newspapers brought Warren back home with his wife and young family in 1963. In the space of twenty years Lerude climbed the career ladder at Reno Newspapers, serving as reporter, editor, publisher and president. 26 • 2014 • April
During this time he led a team of journalists to a Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing in 1977. In thirty editorials his team took local governments to task for accepting the tainted philanthropy of notorious brothel owner Joe Conforte. (Robert Laxalt was twice nominated for a Pulitzer Prize but did not win the award.) Of his newspaper years, Lerude is most proud of editorials that forced local authorities to fund a swimming pool for the residents of the area near Trainer Junior High. He commented, “Newspapers can make a difference” and “We rattled lots of cages.” Warren Lerude at his Reno home with collected books & memorabilia. After his time with Merriman, was American Commander Reno Newspapers, Lerude returned to in Spain: Robert Hale Merriman and the University of Nevada, Reno, as a the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.) professor of journalism and helped In 1988, amid growing interest about found the Donald J. Reynolds School of Basque culture, Lerude joined Laxalt on Journalism. (He ended his teaching a fund-raising trip for a memorial statue career after 28 years to become a prodedicated to Northern Nevada’s sheepfessor emeritus.) herders. They visited four Basque Lerude also served on the launch committee for USA Today and has been provinces in Spain and three in France. The result is a monument in Reno’s a consultant and lecturer on writing, Rancho San Rafael Park (north side of ethics and editing. McCarran) by sculptor Nestor Warren and Janet Lerude have been Basterretxea in 1989. married for 52 years and have two sons With their dedication to the writer’s and a daughter. They currently divide their time between a home in Reno and life, both Robert Laxalt and Warren Lerude have enriched the lives of all a get-away condo in San Francisco. who read their words. Whether you are Lerude’s connection and eventual a native Nevadan, or a newcomer to friendship with Robert Laxalt began this State, you can appreciate the dediwhile he was a reporter for Reno cation to making a difference from Newspapers and continued through these exceptional individuals. brother Paul Laxalt’s political camNote: You can find books by Robert paigns in the 1960s. In the 1980s Laxalt and Warren Lerude at most Robert Laxalt approached his friend, Washoe County Libraries. Lerude’s Warren, to suggest he write a book biography, Robert Laxalt - The Story of about a University of Nevada, Reno, a Storyteller, is available for purchase at graduate who served in the Spanish Sundance Books, Reno, or online at Civil War. (The result, published in www.basquebooks.myshopify.com. 1986, with co-author Marion
April • 2014 • 27
BIGGEST little City
Tennis Anyone?
by Harry Spencer
I
t was a brisk spring day in 1965 when I received a call from my friend, Rod Campbell, at Incline Village inviting me up to the Lake to meet someone he figured I would enjoy. “Who would that be?” I asked. “He’s a fellow from LA who is intending to build a racquet club up here,” Campbell
replied. “Doesn’t he know how tough the winters are up at the Lake?” I asked. “Doesn’t seem to bother him,” was Rod’s response. He then asked if I could meet them up at The Chateaux for lunch that day. The fellow from LA turned out to be Peter Paxton, who had been in the insurance business in Southern California. He was a superb golfer and had recently taken up the sport of tennis. Full of energy and enthusiasm, he had purchased enough land at Tahoe to build a 6-court facility complete with clubhouse amenities. Since Campbell had been the real estate agent on the deal, he had suggested to Paxton that I would be a good PR man for the club. We negotiated over lunch and came to an agreement. Paxton noted that he planned to open the club around the middle of June and was proposing a Pro Tournament to mark the event. It was up to me to publicize the opening. True to his word, he got such stellar players as Pancho Gonzales, Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall, plus several other well-known Pros. I managed to entice Governor Grant Sawyer to be on hand to throw out the first tennis ball.
28 • 2014 • April
Driving over the Mount Rose summit that opening day, I was surprised to find light snow falling. However, the mini-storm did not reach Lake
level and the tournament went on as scheduled. Laver beat Gonzales in the finals and the Tahoe Racquet Club was open for business. The enterprising Paxton then managed to get entertainer Dinah Shore as his first member and the membership soon soared to almost 300. I didn’t think that I would see such high-caliber tennis ever again. However, last month I was a guest at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. This magnificent tennis facility is second only to the US Open Complex in Flushing Meadows in the East. Actually, the ‘Tennis Garden’ as it is known, has a significantly larger footprint than its eastern cohort. Covering more than 121 acres, the facility includes a Main Stadium of 16,100 seats, a Stadium 2 that includes 8,000 seats, with the Main Stadium having 12 broadcast booths, 44 stadium suites, and an 8,000 square foot food commissary. In Stadium 2, there are 6 broadcast booths and 3 fine-dining restaurants. Additionally, the site includes two 19,000 square foot Shade Structures, 29 world-class courts, 4 acres of outdoor exposition space, a full-service, yearround tennis club and 4 Box Offices. However, the magnitude of this magnificent facility is almost overshadowed by the star power of the top names in Men’s and Women’s Tennis who were on hand for this year’s Tournament. The defending champions were Rafael Nadal on the Men’s side and Maria (Tennis page 30)
April • 2014 • 29
RESOURCES • NEVADA INFORMATION.....................211 • Aging and Disability Services ........................................................688-2964 • ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION 1301 Cordone Ave, Suite 180, Reno........786-8061 • CARE CHEST 7910 N. Virginia Street, Reno.....................829-2273 • COMMUNITY SERVICES AGENCY, 1090 East 8th, Reno.........................................786-6023 • ELDER PROTECTIVE SERVICES ADSD.…................................................................688-2964 • FOOD BANK (TRUCK)....................331-3663 • FOSTER GRANDPARENt........358-2768 • HAWC CLINIC, 1055 S. Wells, Reno........................................................................329-6300 • MEDICATION MANAGEMENt, Sanford Center for Aging.............................784-1612 • NV STATE WELFARE.....................684-7200 • CENTER FOR INDEPendent LIVING, 999 Pyramid Way, Sparks......353-3599 • RTC ACCESS TRANSPORTATION Information.........................................................348-0477 • RENOWN MED. LOW INCOME CLINIC, 21 Locust, Reno..........................982-5270 • RSVP, Reno...................................................784-1807 • RSVP, Rural Counties Carson City..........................................................687-4680 • SANFORD CENTER FOR AGING, UNR........................................................................784-4774 • SENIOR COMPANION.................358-2322 • SENIOR Community Services Employment, AARP, 1135 Terminal Way, Reno........................................................................323-2243 Job Connect, Reno...........................................284-9600 Sparks....................................................................284-9520
• SENIOR LAW PROJECT....334-3050 • SENIOR OUTREACH SERVICES .........................................................................784-7506 • SENIOR SAMPLER (Assist. League) 1701 Vassar St., Reno...........................324-2003 • SHIP (State Health Ins. Adv. PGM) ...............................................................800-307-4444 • SilVER COLLEGE, 5270 Neil Rd., Reno…….....................................................829-9010 • Social Security 1170 Harvard Way, Reno..........888-808-5481 • Veteran’s REsource Center, 419 Plumb, Reno...........284-8387 • Veteran’s Benefits 5460 Corporate Drive, Reno....688-1653, X1
April • 2014 • 31
Tennis / page 28
Sharapova on the Women’s side. Other top names included Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Stanislas Wawrinka. Men’s Doubles favorites, the Bryan brother twins were also in attendance and early in the first week they performed a mini-outdoor musical concert. Unfortunately, many of the top seeds were eliminated in the early rounds of play, leaving only Federer and Djokovic on the Men’s side and Li Na on the Women’s. In addition to the acres of Retail on the expansive grounds, there was a display of high-end automobiles including Rolls Royce, Bentley, Maserati, Range Rover, Jaguar and Audi. The doors to these sparkling beauties were left open so fans could enjoy the ergonomics of the interiors. Back to Stadium 1 itself, we
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witnessed many hours of top-flight competition between both men and women in Singles and Doubles. Also, we saw an exhibition put on by four of the top Wheelchair Tennis players in the country. The mini-set ended in an 11-10 score. Another feature of the stadium was the use of the ‘Kisscam’. This was a roving shot on the large TV screen that caught couples unawares and was focused on them until they osculated. By now, the results of the Paribas Tournament are in the record books and the top players are moving on to Miami for the Sony Open. With state-of-theart, more powerful racquets and better conditioned bodies, the current crop of tennis greats may far-eclipse those of the last century. However, I still relate to Gonzales and Laver with their wooden racquets and white tennis balls of yesteryear.
Eydie’s Excerpts by Eydie & David Scher PLAY BALL! The sun beats down. The odor of hot dogs mingles with beer and permeates the nostrils. The crack of the bat and that ball is well hit. Going, going and it’s gone. Feet pound the bases. Thunderous cheers ring out. The stands rock with stamping clapping and
32 • 2014 • April
Play Ball
whistling. He doffs his hat to acknowledge the unstoppable ovation. Jeter has hit his first home run of his last season. Baseball is BACK! This is the “it” season. It’s Derek Jeter’s last as a Yankee. The Yankees need to win the World Series with him and for him. In an era of bad sports role models, everyone agrees that Jeter sets an example that
the other athletes should follow. I know most of you are NOT Yankee fans but I do hope you like baseball. Take Me Out to the Ballgame regularly plays on my piano and on those when I teach Music at schools. No, we won’t be going back to New York this year since we
were recently there and we did see our idols play. We will try and catch most of the Yankee games on TV but we’re thinking about our recent trip back to the Bronx and what baseball has meant to David to me. Yes, he actually wrote his part of the story along with some creative editing on my part. David: Growing up in the Bronx I had a great childhood even though my dad died when I was 6 in 1947. I would walk out of my apartment on the corner of Walton and Elliot Place, near 170th Street and have 40 kids to play with. We had punch ball, and basketball, (we used the fire escape ladder for the hoop.) Of course we had the schoolyard at PS 64 as a last resort when the cops got our last stickball bat and we couldn’t swipe one of our parents broom handles for a new one. But it was baseball and the New York Yankees that stick in my mind. At 9 or 10 years of age, I would hang out on the corner by Jerome Ave and 170th Street where the Police Athletic League commonly known as the PAL would pick up disadvantaged kids, take us to Yankee Stadium, put us in the bleachers, buy us a hot dog and soda, and then return us back to our corner. Yeah, I was really disadvantaged. My Mom had to take a border in to pay the rent. She slept on the couch while my brother and I shared a bedroom.
For 25 games a year the PAL was my mother’s babysitter even though at this age we traveled every place by ourselves on the subway. Yankee Stadium had the clubhouse for the teams out by the bullpens in the outfield. We would hang over the bleacher walls to get signatures when the players came on or off the field. I had them all, Mantle, Marris, Berra, Martin, Ford and others famous Yankees. Unfortunately we had a fire in my apartment and I lost all my Yankee signatures. That was sad. Though I have some extraordinary memories. The new Yankee Stadium is built where Macomb’s Dam Park was located including Babe Ruth fields. This was the nearest park to where my friends and I lived. We played on those fields all the time and in the summer there was a pond with sprinklers to run under. It was another way to cool off in the summer besides opening the fire hydrants. Everyone rushed out in bathing suits, or jumped right in clothes and all. Hey, the
Jeter at Bat
water was cold. Either the fire department or the police specifically traipsed the city looking for those gushing waters and shut them down. Years later, when I told my children
about the fantastic childhood I had, they had difficulty understanding it since I was without a dad. There was never a lack of kids to play with and the games only ended when our mothers screamed for us to come in for dinner. My kids had maybe 2 good friends, and had to be driven to and
from everywhere. My wonderful childhood began every time I walked out of my apartment building.
to $250 depending on whose number you want. I borrowed one. Naturally it is number 2, Derek Jeter. That summer was a perfect time to visit the new Stadium with Jeter. A-Rod and Rivera still playing. The tributes will be lavish for the Yankee captain. His announced retirement before the season is indicative of the private person he is. He wants to exit the game in his own way, without fanfare but of course, that will not happen. This Hall of Famer in waiting meets all the right criteria. It will be hard for die hard Yankee like us to cheer for a team with lackluster names, at least to us. Perhaps others will replicate the stature Derek Jeter brought to the game but not likely. I don’t know when we’ll be going back to the Bronx. Hey, we can still see the Yankees when they play in Oakland. Yes, it is already in the planning stages with our family. Go Yankees and good luck Jeter for one heck of a season. You can count on us to cheer you on.
Parking near the stadium is $30 plus; David gives the attendant an extra $5 to get us out early. Now let’s do some math. Thirtyfive dollars for parking, plus $180 for two tickets to the game, plus $6.50 for a Nathan’s hot dog, $7 for fries, and $3 for a drink plus the price of the car rental. Do you have your calculator out? Is it worth it? Absolutely. Yankee attire adorns everyone, including us. If you want to buy a Yankee jersey at the stadium, I suggest you think again. They vary from $95 April • 2014 • 33
this ‘n that
by Anne Vargas annevargas3@gmail.com
Never say never again, again
W
e traveled to Asia in February last year for two-backto back cruises. It was a good trip, one I Anne Vargas had wanted to make. I saw and did everything I wanted to see and do so when I said there would be no more trips to Asia, I meant it; I didn’t need to return. We traveled to Asia In February this year for two-backto back cruises. Such is my life; what can I say? We do this traveling because my husband has enjoyed the opportunity to be a guest lecturer on luxury cruise ships for a lot of years, something I frequently write about. Although I always have a wonderful time once I am on board, I often lack the appropriate
34 • 2014 • April
enthusiasm ahead of time. We have been home for 24-hours and my deadline for this article is tomorrow. The good news: It’s an excuse to ignore the luggage, the laundry and the stack of mail. The bad news: I am jet lagged and my mind is blank. Since I have no clear idea what to write I offer a kaleidoscope snippet of the past five weeks. We flew over on Singapore Airlines, an experience someone I met has on his Bucket List. Understandably; who knew flying in this day and age can be that pleasant, even in economy class. A bevy of lovely young women, clad in Sarong Kebaya, graciously attended to our needs. They seamlessly lowered themselves to the floor when speaking pleasantly to the passengers, smiling always. They served wonderful food and there were no plastic forks! The first cruise took us from Singapore to Hong Kong in warm (aka hot & humid) weather and placid waters, revisiting much of what we had seen last year. A other chance to see everything we loved about Viet Nam, the highlight being another boat tour around the magnificent, mys-
tical Monoliths. (If you are unfamiliar with these, Google it; you may decide to go see them yourself.) We visited a Cambodian School in the equivalent of a commune where homes are huts and there is no running water, but there were a lot of smiling faces. The children greeted us with excitement, eager to sing the song they had practiced. A family traveling with us had planned ahead and distributed lollypops. The children’s delight was touching for everyone. Cruise two took us from Hong Kong to Beijing. Instead of dripping with perspiration, we were layering our clothing and coping with stormy seas. After two days of 12-16 foot waves (and a lot of empty seats in the dining room) we arrived in Shanghai for (1) A visit to an enchanting (even in the rain) ancient Chinese village known as The Venice of the East and (2) An incredible Chinese Acrobat performance by children ages 10-14 who have trained six-hours a day since the age four. It more than equaled Cirque de Soleil. We were scheduled to depart from Shanghai at noon on day two but due to heavy fog the local authorities closed the port and we ended up staying there for another 36-hours, much to everyone’s delight because it’s a great city. We were also delighted to learn we had avoided another, even more serious storm. We visited the island of Okinawa
where we had lived for three years. The changes in the past 44 years were astonishing. Benjo Ditches (open sewage) were something we learned to live with; now there are monorails and high-rise buildings. The best part about this life is the interesting people we have been able to meet; everyone has a story. Understandably many of those encounters are shortterm “shipboard” relationships but others have continued due to the ease of email and we hear from new friends all over the world. There were 220 passengers staying on the ship for three months. Their perspective of the cruise is vastly different from that of the passenger who comes on for a holiday; every two weeks they see 500 new faces.
Fred and Susie were among the three-month group, noticeable because of their ready smiles and enthusiasm about everything. They took the rather strenuous 3-day excursion to visit Angkor Wat while the ship was in Cambodia and Fred more than managed the extensive climbing of all the steps in intense heat. Why do I mention this? Fred is going to celebrate his 91st birthday soon, something he hadn’t expected to do after being diagnosed with cancer and suffering several TIAs. The prognosis was grim so Susie decided an adjustment in life-style might be worth a try. They are now strictly vegan, eating only plant-based food, which the chef prepares for him for every meal, another incentive to stay on board for a long
while. Their new regime wasn’t easy for Susie, a selfdescribed foodie who studied at the Cordon Bleu and the Escoffier School in Paris. The original intent was to try it for 3 months while waiting for the next round of tests on Fred’s cancer. Those test results were so astonishing, the doctors presented his case to an international congress and articles have been written about his extraordinary, almost miraculous improvement. They are a delightful couple, joyfully seizing every moment of life. Time to get off the water and onto a plane. Departing from Beijing was an endless security nightmare so we were grateful to finally be on board and anxious to take off. As we were taxing down the runway
one of the passengers hysterically decided she didn’t want to fly, insisting she had to get off so we had to return to the terminal. This interesting situation delayed us for an hour. However, we are safely back in Reno so I can say it was a “good flight” although flying on that airline probably wouldn’t be on anyone’s Bucket List. I’m home and I’m happy and I don’t plan to fly to Asia again. Unless I were guaranteed Singapore Airlines. Now I’d better get to that laundry.
April • 2014 • 35
Seniors4Travel
Robert Boyd & Carolyn Prusa
A Week of Sun and Fun at the Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos
I
t had been almost seven years since we last visited Los Cabos. The opportunity to return came this past month, thanks to an invitation from daughter Ann and her husband Michael. For a bit of history, Los Cabos means “the cape” and refers to an area extending eastward from Baja California’s southernmost tip. We stayed at Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos, located along the area known as The Corridor, consisting of nearly twenty miles of pristine beaches, ritzy resorts, and expensive golf courses stretching along the Sea of
36 • 2014 • April
Cortez between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Isn’t it ironic that the breathtaking Sea of Cortez separating the Baja peninsula from the mainland was named for the Spanish explorer, Hernando Cortez, by all accounts a ruthless fellow who conquered Mexico and enslaved many Mexican natives. It was his followers who endowed the country with the Spanish language. The four of us occupied a spacious two-bedroom condo with a patio directly facing the sea. Most early mornings we could be found on the patio, steaming mugs of rich coffee in
hand, watching the sun come up and whales off in the distant waters. While we can’t think of a better way to begin the day, we do love the drama of going out to sea for a close-up view of the magnificent giant sea animals. Which we did. We opted for a private whale watching excursion on a pontoon boat navigated by a happy-go-lucky captain who assured us he was the best when it comes to finding the ideal whale catching locations in the Sea of Cortez. After showing us the cooler filled with beer and inviting us to help ourselves, he headed straight out of the harbor and, like a homing pigeon, took us to an area where the whales – females and their offspring, primarily – swam around and around our boat, surfacing and diving as if on command. Meanwhile, the porpoises were putting on their own show. What can we say? It was thrilling. The weather was perfect – warm and sunny with highs in the mid-80s. In Los Cabos it only rains six or seven days a year so there’s very little humidity (just like home). The waters of Cabo are known for some of the world’s best deep-sea fishing, surfing and scuba diving, but not really for swimming — it’s rougher than it looks — but gorgeous just the same. Luckily, the Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos makes up for it by offering several stunning pools with incredible views.
Cabo is easy to get around by car. There’s basically one main road, and it’s nearly impossible to get lost. Taxi and shuttle services are available at Los Cabos International Airport and at the resorts. Because we spent much of our time at our resort where no cars are needed, we took a taxi to and from the airport, and went by shuttle to Cabo San Lucas for the whale-watching expedition. Because several flights landed at the airport within minutes of ours, wait time to get through customs was an hour and a half. On the return, we entered the US in San Francisco. Getting through US customs took nearly as long. Uppermost on our minds whenever we travel out of the country, don’t forget the passports. We’ve made a habit of carrying several photocopies of our passports, one for each suitcase, one for the wallets, etc., in the event the original is lost or stolen. We also lock passports, wallets and other valuables in the safe provided in each rental, as recommended. We did not bother exchanging US dollars for Mexican currency. Everywhere we went, American money and/or credit cards were gladly accepted. Fiesta Americana Grand Cabo Resort has a hotel as well as time-share units. Visit for more information at: www.fiestaamericanagrand.com Mexican tourist office: www.mexsense.net.
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Explore Different Cultures, Travel the World, Make New Friendships
T
he Friendship Force of Reno-Tahoe is celebrating 25 years of providing opportunity for people to explore new countries and cultures, and change the way they see the world.
38 • 2014 • April
The Friendship Force of Reno-Tahoe is the local chapter of the Friendship Force International (FFI), a non-profit program that enables visitors to stay as guest with locals in their home while traveling. FFI prepares an itinerary of cultural activities, inviting members from clubs or other countries to come and stay with local members for up to a week. Mi Casa Es Su Casa (My house is your house) is a great way to explain the Friendship Force and the experience it offers people while promoting peace and global understanding across boarders. Ruth and Loren Hart, who have been members for 21 years, say the local chap-
ter was founded in April 1989, and is always looking for new members to host other clubs from around the world to form new meaningful friendships and promote universal understanding. Members have hosted both Incoming and Outgoing Exchanges, sharing experiences from the farthest reaches of the world. Outbound Exchanges The Friendship Force of Reno-Tahoe is one of more than 360 FFI chapters in 60 counties. There are over 20,000 members worldwide. The FFI offers members a chance to see the world through the eyes of its citizens, enjoy travel opportunities and serve as ambassadors to other clubs. Inbound Exchanges As a members of the Reno-Tahoe Friendship Force, people host FFI club members who are visiting from other countries or from other states in the US. It offers a host of new experiences and new friendships while sharing what the Northern Nevada community has to offer. People interested in becoming members of the Friendship Force of RenoTahoe can find out more about the chapter by calling (775) 425-0533 or visiting www.ffreno-tahoe.org.