Growing Bolder Digital Digest | GB Insiders February 2022: Passion

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Passion

Betty White's Greatest Legacy

5 Best Breweries in Florida

Important Things You've Learned About Love

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GROWING BOLDER AND NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES ASSOCIATION PRESENT

Fountain of Youth will change everything you thought you knew about aging. It’s the jolt of inspiration you need to make the rest of your life the best of your life.

WITH

MARC MIDDLETON

We’re all told the same debilitating lie that aging is an inevitable decline into disease and disability.

Fountain of Youth®, a new podcast from Growing Bolder in partnership with the National Senior Games Association, smashes the negative stereotypes of aging and delivers life-transforming lessons for us all.

Hosted by masters athlete, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, and Growing Bolder CEO Marc Middleton, Fountain of Youth shares the inspiring stories of men and women of all ages, sizes, and abilities who are redefining what’s possible and living active, engaged lives into their 80s 90s, and 100s.

SUBSCRIBE NOW and learn the secrets to active aging! podcasts.apple.com/us open.spotify.com/show audible.com/pd

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DA I LY S TO R I E S O N L I N E Visit GrowingBolder.com daily for inspiring stories to help you start Growing Bolder CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ashley Heafy SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Katie Styles PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Jill Middleton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

T H E B O L D S TA R T Get a daily dose of inspiration curated from our most popular social media posts.

Amy O'Rourke, Amy Sweezey, Bill Shafer, Hari Pulapaka, PhD, WCMC, CEC, Ray Glier, Tim Killian GROWING BOLDER PRESS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Marc Middleton GENERAL COUNSEL Michael Okaty, Foley & Lardner LLP

COMMENTS

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contents.

February 2022

I N E V E RY I S S U E 6

YOUR TAKE

7

NOTE FROM THE CEO

9

GROWING BOLDER WITH

11

ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVING EXTRAORDINARY LIVES

12 LIFELONG LEARNING

Get Crafty — And Social 14 RECIPE

The Highest Peak of Soups 26 THE TAKEAWAY

Betty White’s Greatest Legacy THE ART OF CAREGIVING 30 THE ART OF CAREGIVING WITH AMY O'ROURKE

Keeping Peace in the Family F LO R I DA 20 NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT

Explore New Smyrna Beach 40 5 BEST BREWERIES

Serving Floridians MASTERS SPORTS 16 GEEZER JOCK FEATURE

The Competitive Zeal Pushing Kathy Bergen to 23 World Records 24 NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES

Close to the Heart: 74-Year-Old Swimmer Takes Gold Just 6 Months After Quadruple Bypass LIFEST YLE 29 HONORED BOUND

Airman’s Remains Come Home 65 Years After His Plane Vanished 42 TAKE IT TO HEART

Go Red for Women KEEPING THE SPARK IN THEIR ART

Head to page 34 to read their story

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5

YOURTAKE

"Love is action.

Words of love without actions are nothing."

"It's worth it every time, no matter how many times you get your heart broken. Every. Time."

—Aynsley P.

—Lara B. R.

"It's not everything. Love yourself first. And it's a beautiful thing if you can get it both ways equally."

"Love is unpredictable, imperfect, blissful, dreamy, risky and so worth it all."

—Molly H.

—Debbie K.

"Your Mother, Father, and your pets love you unconditionally."

"It's the most simple thing in the world — and also the most complicated."

—Joanne N.

—Dianne S.

"Love is a verb."

"Each of us express it differently."

—Jill K. S. P.

—Laura M.

"Other people's understanding or definition doesn't always match mine."

—Dora L.

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"Just because you love someone, doesn’t mean you’re meant to be together."

—Holly B. P.

Illustration by cienpies via Getty Images

What's the most important thing you've learned about love?

From the CEO This month’s digital digest celebrates the power of passion. Passion is what gets us out of bed in the morning. It’s what keeps us going through tough times and adds quality of life to our later years.

We’re often asked, “How can I find my passion?” For some it comes easily and early in life. These are the fortunate few. For the rest of us, it’s about resisting the urge to regress into that which is comfortable and familiar. We need to continue saying “Yes!” to life. We have to be willing to take chances and risk embarrassment and failure. To be afraid to fail is to be afraid to live.

The key is to forget perfection and develop a beginner’s mindset.

Beginners are curious and don’t have any expectations, preconceived notions, or past experiences that limit their view of a situation. Beginners are open and eager to learn. Beginners embrace the notion that failure is nothing more than feedback.

The challenge is that as we age, a beginner’s mindset is more difficult to achieve. Over the years, we’ve developed expectations and are quick to make assumptions. We look at every possibility with preconceived notions based upon experience. We pre-judge.

But as we age, we change. What didn’t appeal to us decades ago might become a true passion now if given the chance. We need a little less “Why?” and a little more “Why not!”

How do you find your passion? Develop a beginner’s mindset. And that starts with a passion for being curious.

We have to be willing to take chances and risk embarrassment and failure.

To be afraid to fail is to be afraid to live.

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“People assume I’ve always led a charmed life... But it has mostly been in my 50s and 60s. Even if I could, I would not turn back the clock. With each day on this planet, I have more experience, I’m a little wiser — I hope — and I feel more confident in navigating the world.”

– Tim Gunn

READ/WATCH TIM'S STORY

FOR M ORE DAILY M EME S :

@GrowingBolder

Amy Sussman / Staff via Getty Images

O N G R OW I N G B O L D ER

GROWING BOLDER WITH

Susan Silver

Eugene Gologursky / Stringer via Getty Images Entertainment

One passion many of us share is for the television shows we grew up with. Few programs are loved quite as much as the Mary Tyler Moore Show which aired from 1970-1977. 2021 was a tough year for its beloved cast with the deaths of Cloris Leachman, Gavin McLeod, Ed Asner, and Betty White.

Susan Silver wrote five episodes in its first few seasons. She also wrote for the Bob Newhart Show, Partridge Family, Movie of the Week, and was casting director for Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In. Her new memoir, “Hot Pants in Hollywood: Sex, Secrets and Sitcoms,” explores her experiences as one of the few female comedy writers in television.

Silver loved her time at the Mary Tyler Moore Show, something the recent death of Betty White has brought to mind.

“Betty came along later in the series, so I didn’t know her,” Silver explained. “But she was the last living regular cast member. It’s so hard to believe they’re not here anymore.”

At events and book signings Silver says she is often asked about the cast. “As one of the first shows to explore feminism and the cultural change of the era, the characters were so identifiable,” she said. "And I can tell you the actors who portrayed them were every bit as wonderful.”

Silver perks up at the opportunity to share her insights, especially of the actors who died most recently.

“Ed Asner was flirtatious, fun and sexy, and I loved him,” she said. “And I’m so proud that he won an Emmy for an episode I wrote. He was philanthropic, political and very bold for all of his 91 years.

“And I was so proud of Valerie Harper who gave cancer one heck of a battle. She was the bravest, most extraordinary person. She was only 80 when she died, the same age as Mary.

Mary may have been the star, but she never acted like one. In fact, it was because of her that everyone on that show felt like part of a family.

“Cloris Leachman was fearless, funny and totally unpredictable. A real character! She died exactly one year ago at 94, a truly dynamic and unforgettable human being.

“Gavin McLeod just died nine months ago. He was 90.

He was a sweet spirit. He overcame some tough times in his life. He was very grateful for his journey.

“It’s difficult thinking back,” she explained. “In some ways it seems like another life; in other ways it seems like yesterday.”

After 20 years as a writer Silver moved on to other pursuits. “I believe you have to continue to reinvent yourself,” she said. "I moved to New York and got involved in Holocaust organizations, became head of the speaker’s bureau for the Anti-Defamation League, and I became the United Nations observer for the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

You need to find new passions all the time. It’s not always easy, but it’s so worth the effort.”

Silver says because of the pandemic she rarely travels anymore. She’s used the time to reflect and think about life. "I do not think about my age,” she said. “I simply admit to being somewhere between 50 and death. That way, I stay as young as I feel, but there is no question that it is our passions that keep us vibrant, connected and alive.”

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”It means get out of your head...

Shut up your brain and do it. You’ll be fine.”

– Shantell Williams

WATCH/READ SHANTELL'S STORY

FOR MORE DAILY MEME S :

@GrowingBolder

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Photography by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

ON SHUT UP AND RIDE

ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVING E XTR AORDINARY LIVES®

Norman Bungard

84

Photo Courtesy of Norman Bungard

Of all those featured in this column as Ordinary People Living Extraordinary Lives one of the best examples may be Norman Bungard. We met with the 84-year-old at Skydive City in Zephyrhills, FL. where he was about to make his third tandem parachute jump. “It’s a real thrill to leap from an airplane,” he said. “But that’s not why I’m doing it.”

Bungard was doing it to raise funds. He does volunteer work for the Florida Council on Aging, Guardian Ad Leitem, Habitat for Humanity, the University of South Florida, military veteran organizations and others and has since he retired nearly 20 years ago.

“As a career I worked for the Social Security Administration helping retirees,” he said. “That job helped me see that I didn’t want to sit in a rocker, that I wanted to use my life to make a difference.” He just wasn’t sure how. A spiritual person, Bungard says he prayed for an answer which came to him as five exercises for a meaningful life.

5 Exercises → →

Exercise Spirituality: Do this by expressing gratitude and appreciation Express Altruism: Do this by helping others; individuals or organizations

Bungard uses his exercises as a guide for his life and he says it has served him well. Where most people his age are receiving benefits, he is tirelessly working to help organizations offer them.

He hopes he can be a positive example of how valuable people of all ages can be, and perhaps dispel some of the stereotypes of aging. "I’ve experienced ageism myself and have come to several realizations,” he said. "I think many ageist people have the best of intentions but don't realize how condescending they really are. So, they end up walking kind of a thin line between helping an aging person, or treating them like, ‘Oh you poor soul, you don't have much to offer.’"

Bungard plans to keep on proving that he has very much to offer. "I want senior citizens to know that they can do, accomplish and participate in much more than they think,” he said. "I'm not suggesting they need to jump out of an airplane, but we all can follow our passion, stay engaged, and make a difference in the lives of others.

→ → →

Exercise Creativity: Write poetry, be artistic, expressive and think deeply about things Read: Broaden your interests, take different perspectives, expand your curiosity Exercise Your Body: Join a gym, go for a walk, be active

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vitapix via Getty Images

Get Crafty – And Social Lifelong Learning

Hearing the word “crafts” may conjure up grade-school memories of glue, scissors and colored paper — but there’s so much more to them! Crafts today span everything from textiles, painting, quilting, weaving, cooking, baking, cake decorating, home decorating, to sewing, drawing and more.

And nowadays, adults are embracing crafts as a pastime and as a great way to meet new people.

Dedicated crafts lovers like Fredi Brown, 67, of Teaneck, NJ, (pictured at top) who took up weaving and knitting about 10 years ago, get enthused when they talk about their pastime. She participates in a couple of Guilds of Weavers and Spinners. Twice a year, she goes to a quilting retreat, where “we eat, drink and weave.” She’s developed close friendships with other weavers. When she talks about what she’s made, her enthusiasm is evident. “My favorite is knitting,” she says. “I did socks for my mom.” But weaving is her love, too.

Growing Bolder has teamed up with Senior Planet to bring you more technology content to keep you on the cutting edge of the latest in devices, platforms and tools.

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Beyond the Fun

Quilting and Embroidery

If the relaxation and socialization opportunities don’t entice you, some solid research finds crafting activities can improve health and wellbeing.

Sara Jo Brudevold, 74, of Addy, WA., does quilting and embroiders. “I make baby quilts,” she says. “It’s a tradition in our family.” She took over the tradition, which began a half century ago, when her mom, now in her 90’s, felt she couldn’t do it anymore. Family members donate a quilt square, putting their name on it. The baby’s name, date of birth, weight, length and birthplace are displayed and it becomes a keepsake.

More than relaxing, Brudevold says of quilting, “it’s fulfilling. I create something.” She also makes a quilt for each month, displaying it on a quilt hanger in her living room.

→

Among a group of more than 1300 people ages 70 to 89, those who reported knitting, quilting and other crafting activities within the year before the interview reduced their odds of having the memory issue known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by 32%.

→

Researchers analyzing 20 published reviews about arts interventions in health settings found they can reduce physical symptoms and improve mental health.

What Participants Say

Where To Find Crafts Opportunities

The love of crafting can start innocently enough, as Fredi Brown knows. “A friend of my sister-in-law’s came to my house, from Germany, in 2011, and she knit a sweater [in about a week].” This impressed her. Soon after, someone told her about a group of knitters, weavers and spinners (making yarn from fleece shorn from sheep) and she checked it out. “I was not that into weaving initially,” she says.

More community senior centers are offering a range of crafts. Another avenue is Meetup. There, specific queries about the craft you want to do seem to produce more targeting results—”water color classes,” not just “art,” and “quilting” rather than “homemade décor.”

If you’re into famous crafters, there are listings of crafts “influencers,” such as those in this list.

Looming Large “Then I bought a loom.” And another, and another. So now, 10 looms later, she is not, you understand, addicted. “I’m a collector,” she says, adding that she also has 30 books on the topic. She looks forward to the monthly meeting, a chance to socialize, to hear a speaker and to learn (and also teach) new things. She recently led a class on bobbin lace, a textile made by braiding and twisting lengths of thread (wound on bobbins to achieve the result).

How To Find Your “Fit” Before you dump a ton of cash, do some homework.

→

Think of what you’ve done in the past and liked. Think of what sounds interesting.

→

Ask people who are into it what the approximate expenses are, and how much practice it may take to become good, if you’re focused mainly on results.

“Sit and talk with people” who are doing the same craft you are researching, Brown suggests.

→

Do you want a lot of company or a little?

A paper arts workshop on Meetup lists more than 1,400 members, while Queer Quilters Los Angeles lists 10 members.

Stymied? Take this quiz to figure out what might be a good start for you.

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The Highest Peak of Soups Hari Pulapaka, PhD, WCMC, CEC

Soybeans are an incredible source of plant-based protein yet get a bad rap with environmentalists because they are used to feed livestock, and by many non-vegetarians because its most common processed form, tofu, apparently it tastes like nothing. The trick is to puncture the tofu with a fork and then rubbing on a wet marinade before marinating for an hour or two, preferably overnight.

This recipe I created utilizes edamame and reminds me of the time my wife, Jenneffer, and I arrived at 4 am on Tiger Hill near Darjeeling to await the sunrise and unobstructed views of Mt. Kanchenjunga and Mt. Everest — the world’s 3rd highest peak and highest peak, respectively. After drinking Darjeeling tea accompanied by Parle biscuits, we visited a tiny shack on the way back to the hotel where we were served warm momos and clear thukpa.

Photo Courtesy of Hari Pulapaka, PhD, WCMC, CEC

Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Hari Pulapaka came to the United States to pursue a graduate degree in mathematics. A professional midlife crisis led him to enroll fulltime in culinary school while continuing his academic career, adding professional chef and restauranteur to his resume.

Today Hari continues his dual professional life, as a Worldchefs Certified Master Chef, a 4-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef in the South, and an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Stetson University. The founder and CEO of the the Global Cooking School, Pulapaka is the author of Dreaming in Spice, A Sinfully Vegetarian Odyssey.

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Himalayan Dumpling and Noodle Soup Makes approximately 4 tasting servings INGREDIENTS

2 cups shelled edamame (soybeans), cooked in lightly salted water 2 medium onions, slice one thinly, mince the remaining onion 2 tablespoons garlic, minced 2 tablespoons ginger, grated 1 teaspoon serrano or jalapeno, sliced thinly 1/2 cup carrot, sliced thinly 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce few drops of honey 1 teaspoon Szechuan peppercorns, coarsely crushed 1 teaspoon turmeric powder

1/2 teaspoon red chile powder (like cayenne) 2 tablespoons olive oil, more or less 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 1/3 cup warm water, more or less 1 quart vegetable stock 1 medium length daikon radish, peeled and spiralized (or use a mandolin and shave into long strips) 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar 2 cups assorted mushrooms, lightly salted, and roasted salt & pepper, in stages and per taste

DIREC TIONS

Edamame Momo

Szechuan Thukpa

Filling & Make-Up: Sauté the minced onion, half the ginger, half the garlic, and half the green chilies over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Cool it down in a bowl and add the turmeric, red chile powder, and one cup cooked edamame. Either by hand or in a food processor, pulse the mixture a few times to both mix and break down the mixture to a uniform consistency. Taste and re-season as desired.

Heat half the olive oil and add the Szechuan peppercorns.

Cook for about a minute to infuse the oil with the peppercorn flavor. Next add the sliced onions, remaining ginger and garlic and sauté for 2 minutes. Next add the green chiles. Cook for 30 seconds and add the vegetable stock. Simmer for 5 minutes before adding the soy sauce and honey. Taste and adjust the seasonings as desired.

The Dough: In a bowl, add some salt to the flour and mix well. Make a well in the flour and add half of the water and bring the dough together gently, without kneading too much. Add more water if it is too dry. Once the flour and water come together, knead the dough for a couple of minutes to a smooth texture. Place the dough in an airtight container (or a plastic bag, making sure to press out any air).

Let the dough rest at room temperature for about an hour.

Form 1 inch balls of the dough and roll out to a 4 inch diameter disks, using just enough water to prevent sticking. Place a tablespoon of filling in the center of the disk, moisten the edges of the disk with water and either bring them in to a point or crimp them to a decorative, fanned look not unlike pie dough. Bring water to a boil and using either a traditional bamboo steamer or a perforated pan, steam the momos for 30 minutes or until the dough is completely opaque and glistens. Make 12 momos for four servings. Hold warm.

Doodle (Daikon Noodle) Soak the spiralized daikon and hold in lukewarm water for 15 minutes. The doodles are ready to be used. When ready to use, drain well and mix in a tablespoon of rice wine vinegar.

To serve each portion, in a bowl, place a portion of zoodles, three steamed momos, steamed edamame, some extra roasted and sauteed mushrooms, fresh cilantro, and pour over warm thukpa.

Drizzle with a chili oil of your choice. Enjoy!

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The Competitive Zeal Pushing Kathy Bergen to 23 World Records Ray Glier

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Ray Glier has written for various media for over 40 years, as a contributor to national publications including The New York Times, Vice Sports, USA TODAY, The Miami Herald, The Boston Globe, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Washington Post. The author of five books, Glier has a passion for master sports and seniors athletes, and shares their stories of triumph and joy in his unique, inspiring, and always moving weekly newsletter, Geezer Jock.

For more great masters sports content, subscribe to Ray’s FREE weekly email at geezerjocknewsletter.com.

Kathy Bergen would rather kiss a hot iron, or stare at the sun, than lose in track & field. Her nemesis could be a 10-hour plane ride away, not 20 feet away celebrating a win, and Bergen wouldn’t feel any better about second place.

Rietje Dijkman of the Netherlands went 1.16 meters outdoors in the High Jump on September 18, which bested Bergen’s world record of 1.15 for the 80-84 year old division.

Ask Bergen how that made her feel and you get this: “Crappy,” she said.

Bergen is 81 and she is ready to throw down against you right now, this instant, if you walk out on the track with her with laced up shoes.

“I’m here to set world records,” she has said.

That competitiveness is one of the reasons why Bergen, who lives in La Canada, Calif., was named the USA Masters Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Accomplishments in 2020 and 2021 were combined to select the 2021 winner because most of the 2020 season was wiped out by Covid, but not before Bergen had her say in a couple of meets.

The hyper-competitive Bergen went head-to-head with Covid and won. Of course, she did.

She was 80 years old for the 2020 season and the youngest in a cohort is usually the one who gobbles up records for the age group. Bergen didn’t want to let that window close. So she and her husband, Bert, looked far and wide for races in the 80-84 division before Covid could take a grip on the country and interrupt things.

Not surprisingly, they found opportunity in Texas in early 2020. They flew to Houston and she set three indoor world records (60m,10.02, 200m 35.66, and high jump 1.20m).

They went to another meet, this time outdoors in Texas, and she set world records in the 100m (16.62) and high jump (1.15m). It was the high jump record that was eclipsed in September by Dijkman, by a scant centimeter.

That was 2020.

In 2021, Bergen was 81, a year older for the 80-84 cohort, at the USA Track & Field Masters National Championships in Ames, Iowa. Still, she took home medals with wins in the 100m (16.54), 200m (37.20), high jump (1.11m), and discus throw (17.89m).

Not only that, but Bergen ran the lead-off leg in the 4X100 relay in the 65-69 division and her team from the Southern California Striders Track Club set an American record.

The Bergens have been competing for 27 years. She has,

at one time or another, set 23 world records, indoors and outdoors, and 33 American records. She has five world records still on the books. Bert is an accomplished high jumper in Masters Track with some national wins of his own.

You might be tempted to make the case that Kathy Bergen is setting world records because the competition is thinning out with age. That might be true, except, she was vanquishing opponents and getting her name in the record books two decades ago starting with the women’s 55-59 division.

It is a remarkable stretch of resiliency for a woman who showed up for her first Masters meet in 1994 in the byzantine footwear of “sneakers.”

Ask her if she saw any of this coming 27 years ago and Bergen says, “I had no idea.”

There is a takeaway here, a significant one, that helps explain her near-three decades run of medal taking.

Rest.

Bergen said she owes some of her durability to Eric Dixon, her track coach from 2010-2020. They mostly worked together remotely and Dixon preached rest over and over to Bergen. She was too enthusiastic about athletics and didn’t know how to switch off.

“I started with him when I was 70,” Bergen said. “I was trying to run every day, play tennis, go to the gym, and high jump. He said I was doing too much; I wasn’t allowing my body to rest.

“So now I do a track workout on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and then go to the gym in the afternoon to do mostly weights and stretching, and the rest of the time I do less. But I do throw in some high jump workouts. I don’t wear myself out anymore like I used to.”

Here is another takeaway and this should stick with you.

Bergen, like many young girls in the 1950s, did not have an opportunity for track & field, not like the boys.

There is no question Kathy could have been a high school competitor, perhaps even a college athlete, if she had come along 25 years later.

The upside of the discrimination is that Bergen does not have 65 years of beat-down on her bones and muscles or psyche. Imagine if, through 6 ½ decades, she had fed the track rage. High school meets, college meets, professional meets, Masters meets.

Women shunned because of their gender are smacking back in later years, catching up so to speak, and it is keeping them healthy and vibrant.

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We understand the challenges for us and our age and what we have to do to maintain a certain level of excellence. My friends know the kind of work I put into track and field and they’re not interested. I play tennis with them.

“

K AT H Y B E R G E N

Kathy was built for the track. Damn straight she could have been a high school, or college star. She was a racehorse, even in grammar school in Brooklyn. She said she could beat all the boys in sprints and it infuriated them. The “Tomboy” taunts came at her, but did no good because, she said, after all, “I was a Tomboy.”

The grammar school and sandlot races against the boys was as far as she got in track. She went to college and studied Economics and had a career and five children.

Two things add up for Bergen and explain her success.

She had the genetics and the love of track to become a successful senior athlete.

Bergen’s father, Jim McCaffrey, was a Geezer Jock in his time. He played on the company softball team for Bendix Corporation, a large American manufacturing and engineering company. He was in his 60s and mashing that potato with men 20-30 years younger.

It was Bergen’s mother, Marian, who got her enthralled with track & field.

Kathy was a school girl in the 1950s and her mom would take her to all the big meets in New York; The Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden, Knights of Columbus meets, and New York Athletic Club events.

Track was a spectacle in those days, not just in an Olympic year, as it is now.

Track interested her, but Bergen’s family interested her more, so she never pursued the competition. She and Bert moved around the country before settling in southern California. It wasn’t until her youngest was a teen that they entered their first Masters competition at Occidental College in 1994 and were hooked.

Bergen has had her share of injuries, of course. “I’ve 18

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pulled everything from the neck down,” she says. But she keeps coming back, undaunted by soreness, or a few more wrinkles. And, she says, “I’ve had a great physical therapist I’ve been working with for 23 years.”

She is going into the offseason, but Bergen is not completely relaxing. Dixon had her varying the workouts so she wasn’t doing the same things over and over. Over the winter, she will run a 200, a 250, and three 200s. Bergen will come back with a 150 meter run, followed by three 300s.

This desire and consistency is how you set 22 world records. Over the next few months, she will work out three days a week around her volunteering in the area, which includes work in a hospital.

With her success, Bergen has a platform to try and convince other seniors to take up track & field. So far, her friends haven’t followed her and Bert out on to the track, Bergen said.

“We understand the challenges for us and our age and what we have to do to maintain a certain level of excellence,” she said. “My friends know the kind of work I put into track and field and they’re not interested. I play tennis with them.”

Their friends may not be converts, but the Bergens manage to spread the word to younger athletes. They help coach a track team at a local Catholic high school and they talk to Girl Scouts and local grammar schools, too.

“You show them that track is truly a lifetime sport,” Bergen said.

Older athletes can be stigmatized by the blather, “It’s just a game” as if their dutiful training is over-wrought. But why shouldn’t seniors, like Bergen, be as competitive as the younger generations? Who says the yearn to win has to switch off at a certain age?

“This is what 52 looks like... I don’t see aging as this thing that doesn’t make you stronger and better. Having years behind you gives you that wisdom to go, ‘It’ll be all right.

Tomorrow’s another day. Yay!’” – Trina Gregory-Propst

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Photography by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

CHEF AND RESTAURATEUR

New Smyrna Beach New Smyrna Beach is one of Florida’s treasured coastal communities. It’s big enough to keep beach-goers busy and host visitors from all over the country, yet small enough to retain a charming, local vibe. When you’re not sinking your feet in the sand or swimming in the ocean, take the time to check out our favorite spots in town:

S M Y R N A D U N E S PA R K Take in the stunning natural views along the boardwalk at Smyrna Dunes Park. Over two miles of walkways stretch across sand dunes full of Florida flora and fauna, with staircases to climb and view the Atlantic Ocean. For those with furry friends, the boardwalk also neighbors a beautiful dog-friendly beach.

J B ’ S FI S H C A M P

T H E GA R L I C Be sure to bring a big appetite when you come, so you don’t fill up on The Garlic’s homemade bread and famous roasted garlic dip! This New Smyrna Beach mainstay has established a reputation for incredible Italian food they call “an authentic taste of the Tuscan countryside.” It features a unique garden-style setting, where you’ll dine alongside live trees and flowering greenery, dazzling with a collection of vintage knick-knacks and Florida relics.

FL AG L E R AV E N U E This seaside beach street is full of local eateries, bars, shops and even shuffleboard courts! Visitors to New Smyrna Beach will instantly feel charmed walking these five blocks towards the ocean. Enjoy the vibrant nightlife scene at local gems like Flagler Tavern, Traders Bar, and the rooftop views of Ocean Breeze.

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CANAL STREET This historic district offers a blend of parks, specialty shops, art galleries, dining and bed and breakfast options.

Be sure to try the pizza at Prima, a cold beer at New Smyrna Brewing Company, visit the East Coast Surfing display at the Museum of History, and stroll through Riverside Park. Visit canalstreetnsb.com for 1st Saturday and Third Thursday event schedules.

N E W S M Y R N A S P E E DWAY Racing fans can get an authentic motorsport experience when visiting the beach. Located about 20 minutes inland from the coast, the action makes the New Smyrna Speedway well worth the trek. A host track for professional stock car races, drivers like Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and more have also used the speedway as a testing ground for NASCAR races.

Photo by Christopher Lumbert / EyeEm via Getty Images

Located on riverfront property along the inlet waters, JB’s has been serving up southern seafood since the 1970’s. It’s one of the best spots in the state to listen to live music while you eat, drink and soak in the sunset.

Their menu boasts favorites like the fried grouper sandwich, coconut shrimp, and JB’s famous crab cakes.

Since 1987, the first Wednesday in February has been designated as National Girls and Women in Sports Day, recognizing student-athletes, champion athletes, coaches, administrators and lawmakers committed to providing equitable access to sports for all girls and women.

The passage of Title IX enabled girls to play sports in school by stating:

This year’s festivities on Feb. 2 also kicked off a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of the legislation that provided that access: Title IX. At the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, more American women stood atop the medal podium than ever before. Sixty-six of Team USA’s 113 total medals were won by women. Gold medalists April Ross (beach volleyball) and Katie Ledecky (swimming) were among the many who credit Title IX for creating the opportunities they had to train, compete and succeed.

Growing Bolder celebrates the ‘lost generation’ of women, those in school before the 1972 passage of Title IX, whose only option for sports was cheerleading. Denied then, today they are excelling in masters sports and realizing the many physical, mental, emotional and social benefits of participation. Growing Bolder is proud to honor their accomplishments and share their inspiration as part of our on-going coverage of the National Senior Games May 10-23, 2022 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Photo Courtesy of The National Senior Games Association

“No person in the United States shall, based on sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

“I have learned that life is about cherishing every single moment and understanding that there's an assignment that you have while you’re here, and that’s making a difference in the lives of others.”

– Thomas McClary M USICIAN

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READ/WATCH THOMAS'S STORY

Watch inspirational stories any time of day or night.

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Search for Growing Bolder in the app store and download today.

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Photo Courtesy National Senior Games Association

Close to the Heart:

74-Year-Old Swimmer Takes Gold Just 6 Months After Quadruple Bypass Tim Killian

Dave Jarvis is a man who knows how to follow his heart.

Jarvis arrived at the Florida Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale in December of 2021 eager to compete among the friends he made through years of masters sporting events. At 74-yearsold he continues to do what he loves most: swim. But it was a long road to this point – one in which Jarvis had to overcome both physical and mental hurdles. He is so passionate about swimming that even major heart surgery couldn’t keep him away from the pool. Jarvis had quadruple bypass surgery a remarkable six months prior to the competition.

“That was tough because for three months after the surgery, you don’t do anything at all. You don’t lift anything and your body kind of goes to pot,” Jarvis said. “In August I started swimming again. My family, neighbors, church folks all encouraged me. My teammates all encouraged me all along the way, and I think that helps a lot.”

While the mental and social support from his peers was crucial to his recovery, Jarvis also had to get his body back in competition shape. He rehabbed with doctors and leaned on his coaches. Jarvis credits his years of staying physically active as the key to being able to push the limits on his rehabilitation time.

“I am sure that the workouts and conditioning from before the surgery helped in recovery. The doctors all seem to say the same thing,” Jarvis said. “I’ve known a number of folks that have had bypass surgery and they took a lot longer to get back. They’re all amazed and say ‘Hey, how come you’re walking? How come you’re doing this? Should you be doing that?’ So, I think the workouts and the swimming helped a great deal.”

I think you need to have a positive attitude. You don't want to listen to people telling you what you can't do. I listen to the doctors, and they tell me how fast or slow to take it; but I think the positive is better than the negative.

“

DAV E J A R V I S

As if his story wasn’t inspirational enough, Jarvis told Growing Bolder he created a different tale to tell his grandchildren about the marks on his chest.

“These three holes were where the drainage tubes came out and, of course, the scars were where they cut,” Jarvis explained while pointing to his chest. “When my grandkids first saw them, I told them that they were bullet holes. I said I was leaping in front of my wife as a burglar came through. But they didn’t buy it,” he laughed.

Jarvis lives in The Villages, FL, where he has found a community of like-minded swimmers and active adults. A member of The Villages swim team since 2011, like many of his teammates Jarvis has found great success in the water in his later years. At the 2017 National Senior Games, Jarvis set two national records for his age group on his way to collecting five gold medals. This time at the 2021 Florida Senior Games, despite being only six months removed from heart surgery, Jarvis took home another three gold medals.

When asked what the biggest lesson of his story is, the senior swimming star pointed to having a strong faith and the power of positivity.

“I credit all the people around me. I thank God for the blessings that He's given me and the abilities He's given me,” Jarvis said. “I think you need to have a positive attitude.

You don't want to listen to people telling you what you can't do. I listen to the doctors, and they tell me how fast or slow to take it; but I think the positive is better than the negative.”

Jarvis and his positive attitude will return to Fort Lauderdale to compete in the National Senior Games in May.

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THE TAKEAWAY

Betty White’s Greatest Legacy Want to Live Longer?

Take a Double Dose of Betty White Marc Middleton

The longevity supplement market is booming. Resveratrol, selenium, curcumin, lithium CoQ10, lipoic acid, and many more all claim to support healthy longevity. While many do have proven benefits, all pale in comparison to the benefits of a positive mindset. What we all really need is a double dose of Betty White.

White passed away on New Year’s Eve just a couple weeks shy of her 100th birthday. The beloved actress comedian, writer, and producer won five Primetime Emmys and 16 Primetime Emmy nominations but if you ask me, reruns of “Golden Girls” are not her most important legacy. Her greatest contribution is the example she provided for joyous longevity. White was an exemplar of the personality traits and lifestyle choices that are key to healthy and happy aging.

1. The Ability to Adapt White’s career spanned eight decades because she was able to constantly adapt. She started on stage, moved into radio, and first appeared on television in 1939 on an experimental Los Angeles station. She evolved with the medium, appearing on sitcoms, game shows, talk shows, commercials and, of course, iconic comedy hits.

At 88 years old, she hosted “Saturday Night Live.” No matter the genre, she always found a way to not only fit in but also stand out. Her ability to adapt helped her remain relevant in a constantly changing industry known for relegating older people to the sidelines.

2. A Passion for Making a Difference On the 1954 Betty White Show, she made Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer, the first African American regular on a variety television program. The show was based in Los Angeles and when it expanded nationwide the network received immediate backlash from stations and viewers in the South. White’s response to the threat of a boycott was, “He stays… Live with it!” She then insisted that Duncan perform as frequently as possible. In retaliation, her show was canceled later that year.

In the 60s and beyond she championed countless diversity and inclusion issues and became a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, speaking out in favor of marriage equality. "I don’t care who anybody sleeps with," she said. “I don’t know how people can get so anti-something. Mind your own business, take care of your affairs, and don’t worry about other people so much."

Her greatest passion was her life-long love for animals. White was a pioneering animal rights activist supporting and advocating for many animal charity organizations. Her death sparked the viral nationwide #BettyWhiteChallenge, a virtual event in which fans are asked to donate $5 on January 17th to animal rescues or shelters in her name.

3. An Optimistic Spirit with a Sense of Humor White described herself as a “cockeyed optimist” and studies on healthy longevity have proven that a positive attitude and a sense of humor lead to a longer, healthier, happier life. “Enjoy life. Accentuate the positive, not the negative,” she said. “It sounds so trite, but a lot of people will pick out something to complain about, rather than say, ‘Hey, that was great!’ It’s not hard to find great stuff if you look.” White’s sense of humor permeated everything she did.

When asked about her exercise routine she responded,” I have a two-story house and a very bad memory.” And her longevity diet? “Vodka and hot dogs are my favorites. Probably in that order.”

4. A Desire to Keep Working Employment and census data reveal that only 3.5% of centenarians retire at 65.

They continue to work because they find their work meaningful and fulfilling.

These days, careers are rarely just one occupation that lasts for decades. The new retirement model is a series of passion driven jobs that keep you engaged in life.

That’s how White lived –from one project to the next. She was looking forward to the next project, her 100th birthday party, when she passed away. "Retirement is not in my vocabulary,” she said. “They aren’t going to get rid of me that way.”

5. A Fearless Curiosity White’s biggest key to success might have been her up-for-anything charm. She made a habit of stretching herself and saying “Yes!” to new challenges. “Just open your mind,” she said. “Stay interested in stuff. There are so many things I won’t live long enough to find out about, but I’m still curious about them. Ask and I will say yes unless it is something I really don’t like.”

Betty White made us laugh but more importantly she showed us how to live.

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Never let anyone dull your sparkle.

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Photography by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

MELANIE, 67

Airman’s Remains Come Home 65 Years After His Plane Vanished Amy Sweezey

“You always hear, ‘We never leave our fallen behind,’” Dell explained. “But I felt that was not true about my grandfather. They left 52 servicemen out there on that glacier.”

Within the Department of Defense is the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). Their job is to recover service members from designated conflicts around the world. There is no agency that recovers “operational losses,” such as the remains from a plane crash transporting troops from one duty station to another.

Dell refused to let that stop her. She continued to write letters, send emails, and get in front of military groups, senators and other government officials. Her initial goal was to return her grandfather to his family, but soon her goal became returning all 52 military personnel aboard his C-124 Globemaster flight.

Dell’s efforts finally paid off, 60 years after the initial crash. On June 10, 2012, the C-124 Globemaster was found. Six years after that, Anderson’s remains were located, along with his dog tags. And in 2019 — more than 65 years after his plane vanished — Isaac Anderson Sr. finally came home.

As of May, 2021, only nine of the 52 servicemembers remained unfound.

Dell is committed not only to returning all 52 home to their families but also to finding the servicemembers lost on two military transport flights that went down the same month in 1952.

Dell created the nonprofit organization, Honored Bound, to help other families look for servicemembers lost in operational or non-war situations. To find out more, go to Honored Bound on Facebook or visit honoredbound.org.

Dell’s book, “Gifts from a Glacier: The Quest for an American Flag and 52 Souls,” is available on Amazon.

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Photography by Jacob Langston

On Nov. 22, 1952, three military transport planes disappeared in snowstorms near Anchorage, Alaska.

Airman Isaac William Anderson Sr. was a 21-year-old serviceman on board one of those flights. When the Air Force returned and flew over the crash site, inclement weather kept them from finding any of the vanished planes, leaving behind the 52 people on Anderson’s flight.

Almost 50 years later, Airman Anderson’s granddaughter, Tonja Anderson-Dell, began a letter-writing campaign to recover her grandfather’s remains from the glacier.

“The Air Force said contact the Navy; the Navy said the Marines, and it was full circle,” Dell said. “But I wouldn’t take, ‘No,’ for an answer.”

Dell was told her grandfather’s death was considered an “operational loss.” That means he was not killed in action, and there was no government agency assigned to recover the remains from his flight.

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with Amy O'Rourke

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America’s Advocate for Caregivers and Families Keeping Peace in the Family

153 million Americans provide unpaid care to a loved one every year. With 10,000 of us turning 65 every day, millions more will face the challenge every year. Most are unprepared and overwhelmed. Amy O’Rourke is the friend we all need to help navigate the caregiving journey.

An eldercare veteran and industry leader for 40 years, Amy has helped tens of thousands through the confusing maze of home care, assisted living, nursing homes, Medicaid, Medicare, hospital administrators, pharmacists, hospice, and the Veterans Administration. As Growing Bolder’s aging and care management expert Amy shares some advice from her new book, The Fragile Years, Proven Strategies for the Care of Aging Loved Ones for her advice on beginning the conversation.

I’ve seen siblings and entire families torn apart because of their conflicting views on what an aging loved one wants or needs after a life-changing event that makes the older person dependent on them. If there is already disharmony and dysfunction in a family, a loved one’s sudden decline will put even more strain on the relationships.

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Photos: PIKSEL and undefined undefined via Getty Images

The Art of Caregiving

The most common issues I’ve seen cause family tension when a parent turns fragile are: → → → → → →

Conflicting views over a course of action How much care will cost, and either the parent or one of the siblings can’t agree about the costs Understanding the loved one’s medical, mental, and emotional challenges Determining the level and type of care needed and where it should be provided Finding a comfortable and safe place for the loved one to live The daunting task of collecting, organizing, and updating the paperwork on health insurance, prescriptions, Social Security, veteran’s benefits, pensions, financial records, mortgages, utilities, and other bills

There are a few practical and proactive things you and your family members can do in planning for your loved one’s fragile years. Hopefully your parents have communicated who they want to be their power of attorney. If they haven’t chosen someone, I suggest that a family member gently bring up the topic by saying something like this: “In case there is a crisis, we want to know who is assigned to legally represent you and follow your wishes.”

If the individual can’t leave home, many attorneys will make house calls. If this seems impossible to broach with them, hire a care manager or another trusted advisor to have this discussion. It’s amazing how much work can get done when the person managing the work is not a relative!

You certainly should talk through possible scenarios as a family to make sure you are all on the same page, and then give the appointed decision maker your support. This trusted family member can take the point in dealing with doctors, nursing home administrators, lawyers, financial advisors, and all other critical contacts when fast action is required.

Takeaway Tips For more Caregiving Tips from Amy O’Rourke read The Fragile Years, Proven Strategies for the Care of Aging Loved Ones

→ → →

→ → →

Begin preparing yourself and your parent for the fragile years as they enter their 70s.

Gather critical information on wills, preferred funeral and burial arrangements, bank and investment accounts, health and life insurance, medical records, loan and mortgage accounts.

While your parent is still mentally fit, discuss their preferences for the late stages of life, especially their feelings and preferences regarding life-sustaining procedures and where they prefer to spend their final days.

Use examples of other people and what they did if loved ones won’t open up about themselves.

As your parent approaches the fragile years, contact several local nursing homes and get to know the staff members on a personal level.

If your parent is resistant to any help, search for a trusted advisor: care managers are trained to provide help in these types of scenarios. It is money well spent.

Make the most of the time you have remaining with your loved one. This is your opportunity to create even more meaningful memories and to let them know once again that they are loved and will be remembered.

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“Cars and music are everywhere... They touch everyone.

They bring people together and make room for everyone.

I’m just trying to do my part.”

– Nadeem Khan CLASSIC CAR RESTORER

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Photography by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

WATCH/READ NADEEM'S STORY

Catch new episodes now airing across Florida!

Hosted by award-winning broadcaster Marc Middleton, What’s Next! features a team of well-known Florida broadcasters and personalities, including Secily Wilson, Amy Sweezey, and Bill Shafer, all shining the spotlight on ordinary people living extraordinary lives.

What’s Next! is a jolt of inspiration that helps audiences of all ages believe that it’s never too late to pursue their passions and make a difference in their communities.

New episodes are now airing across Florida!

Check local listings and watch a full episode at

GrowingBolder.com/Whats-Next

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Keeping The Spark in Their Art For John Whipple, art is a puzzle, and one the award-winning painter and sculptor is good at solving. “I loved puzzles and games and play, and art is all that,” John said. “It takes you as deep down that rabbit hole of thinking as you want to go. And it's just fascinating.”

When he met Lynn Byrne, now Whipple, in a film production class at Valencia College in 1988 John met someone who shared that fascination — not just with art, but with life.

“She has an amazing eye,” John said. “That's how I knew she was an artist. She just looks at the world like an artist. She's fascinated by everything she looks at.”

That artistic eye is a part of Lynn Whipple’s DNA. Art was what her family did. Her grandfather and mother painted, her grandmother played piano, and Lynn and her sister drew.

“I always remember coming home from school because of the smell of turpentine,” she said. “It still makes me think of my granddad, and my mom…in the living room, painting.

I remember I made this drawing of a golfer one time and they all raved about it. That was a moment where I'm thinking, "Oh, this is good. This is positive for people.’”

While Lynn is self-taught, John graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in graphic arts and studied illustration.

“I always wanted to do art,” John said. “I didn't question it. I didn't know in what capacity; I didn't know how to do it, but it was where I was drawn. My parents were very supportive of it. And I think that's lucky because a lot of people, they're not.”

The film production class led John and Lynn to each other, and to work at Nickelodeon Studios where John was a scenic painter and Lynn worked finding props and set decorating, eventually becoming an art director. The work was good and fun, but working one show led to working another, leaving little time for their own artwork. After several years, they had a choice to make.

“After a while we said, just don't say yes (to another show) — say yes to your artwork,” Lynn said. “Say no to the show because you work a billion hours in production. And it's all consuming. And if we put that much energy into our artwork, we're going to do fine. So, that's what we did.”

The Whipples followed their passions and took the leap into art fulltime, going out on what Lynn calls “the skinny branches.” There were lean times: a rusty black truck that racked up mileage traveling from art show to art show, and an ugly booth with a blue tarp they lugged along, casting a garish hue on all their artwork.

But slowly, they found their tribe.

They entered art shows in the Midwest and earned sales enough to keep going. Soon the Whipples had collectors ready and waiting to see what they brought out next. The skinny branches were filling in, and ironically, it was a stick at an art show in Atlanta that assuaged John’s fathers concerns about the couple’s

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Follow Lynn's selfie series and meet her trusted assistant, Daisy. lynnwhipple

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Follow John Whipple's art.

jwhippleart

ability to survive as fulltime artists.

Lynn installed her work on a large board at the back of their booth. She hung two little paintings and then looked around, found a stick, and mounted it below the paintings.

“Someone came up and wanted to buy the paintings, and the stick,” said John. “And Lynn charged her like $65 for the stick. She bought it and we laughed. And my dad, later on said, ‘When I saw that Lynn sold a stick for $65, I stopped worrying.’"

“A stick that I literally had just picked up off the ground,” said Lynn. “For the record it was a very nice stick,” John noted.

Unlike some of their peers who stayed in one discipline or genre, John and Lynn kept reaching, kept evolving. Lynn started with mosaics, collage, altered photographs and mixed media with found objects. Eventually she tried the one discipline she’d avoided: painting. She learned to mix paint and use oils. It was a long learning process. She cut the many rejects into pieces and used them in collages. She kept going and kept learning, figuring out light and dark, form and shadow.

“It was so challenging, and still is, and that's what I liked about it,” Lynn said. “I think my superpower was, I just didn't really care what people thought. I knew it was sucking, so….it couldn't hurt my feelings if they said, ‘Oh my God, this sucks.’

“And I'm still sucking, but you got to just keep at it. I think if you're committed and genuinely interested in something, you just do it and it doesn't matter what the outcome is. You're just doing it because you have to do it, and that's it.”

“Once she learned that drawing didn't have to be draftsmanship then she started to really blossom; because now she's using the drawing as an element with the rest of her stuff and it's exquisite,” John said. “And I think that gave her all the confidence in the world to sort of just move on, and now she's bold and fearless about everything. She's just constantly G R O W I N G B O L D E R / F E B R UA R Y 2 0 2 2 D I G I TA L D I G E S T

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“...That was never where our passion was. It was to try to be an artist and grow and keep that initial childhood spark about making art alive.”

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John Whipple turned a 1977 Cadillac Coup deVille into a 'Circus of the Absurd' and add sculpture to his art mediums.

coming up with ideas…and that kind of energy is contagious.”

John’s art evolved as well. Paintings layered with collage, oil paintings, charcoal drawings, using the face not as portrait but as a motif. Along the way came sculpture.

Fellow artists and friends introduced the Whipples to folk art and the concept of art cars. Soon John took a motorized carving tool he’d received as a gift and made a crude figure that he drilled into the hood of a 1977 gold Cadillac Coupe deVille. The ringmaster of the Circus of the Absurd was born, and so was John’s entry into sculpture and a connection with an unconventional, lighter side of art.

“It got me into sculpture,” John said. “And it got me into this other kind of humor and into being more carefree.

When you have ambition you want to be taken seriously, and this was a counterpoint to that. It was almost like, okay, in this world I'll just do whatever. This is just fun.”

The art car went out with a blaze of glory after a demolition derby, but the humor remains in John’s sculptures, with odd heads tied to disproportionate bodies, figures not tied to reality. And as the Whipples’ art continues to evolve, it continues to garner recognition and sales.

“It works for us to keep experimenting,” Lynn said.

“Now the people that collect our work, they can't wait to see what the heck weird thing John or I come up with, because they're bought into our brains as always going for the experiment.

“You lose collectors when you change,” she added.

“But then you get new ones. And then there's those really great people who just ride the wave with us our whole lives, that's kind of amazing.”

Replicating work in one genre might have been more financially beneficial, but in their minds the work would have suffered.

“It doesn't really work for my brain to be redundant very much,” John said. “And it doesn't really work for hers either. That was never where our passion was. It was to try to be an artist and grow and keep that initial childhood spark about making art alive.”

Today the Whipples exhibit in shows across the country, Lynn teaches online classes, and they are both a vital part of McRae Art Studios, an artist collective founded by John’s parents, George and Marty Whipple, in 1987. Married 30 years in 2022, the support and perspective John and Lynn offer each other enriches their work and their lives.

“I helped her sort of be more analytical and learn to draw,” John said. “And she really helped me learn how to design, more about color and more about putting things together. And you need that — you need both sides. She can look at my stuff and go, ‘Hmm. You know…’ And I'm like, ‘Yeah, you're right.’ And vice versa.”

“I don't know how I could have done it without you,” agreed Lynn. “I mean, I wouldn't have wanted to, because art is all we talk about. This film, that color, that palette, and that thing. So, that's kind of our language with each other.”

“I would say looking at our life, I don't think we ever lost the passion,” Lynn added. “If we won the lottery tomorrow, we're just going to get a bigger art studio, an assistant or something awesome. I cannot imagine we would ever stop making art. I mean, I always think we might be getting good. Maybe when we’re 90 or 95 we’ll get good.”

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Best Breweries

It’s tough to find a better combination than warm Florida weather and a cold beer. Across The Sunshine State, breweries of all kinds are serving up their own unique beers that have residents raising a glass all year round. Here’s a look at five of our favorite spots to grab a cold one:

Serving Floridians

1. Wicked Barley | Jacksonville This national award-winning brewery always features 20 taps of incredible house-brewed beers, ciders and meads. Thanks to its stunning waterfront location making it accessible by boat, Wicked Barley stands out as a must-visit hangout in Jacksonville.

2. Crooked Can | Winter Garden Located just 20 minutes west of Orlando, Crooked Can has a reputation for high quality craft beers, like their “Up Yonder New England IPA.” It’s located inside Plant Street Market, a charming hall full of local food vendors and craft makers that make this spot a mainstay in Central Florida.

3. Cigar City | Tampa Cigar City is recognized across the country for their famous “Jai Alai IPA.” This brewery blends the flavors of Florida’s citrus and sun, while paying homage to the cigar industry that Tampa was built upon.

4. Funky Buddha | Oakland Park This South Florida brewery opened in 2010 with a mission to push the boundaries of standard beer offerings. Funky Buddha boasts unconventional beers like “Maple Bacon Coffee Porter,” “Cookies & Cream Stout” and “Sweet Potato Casserole Ale.”

5. Proof | Tallahassee Founded in 2012, Proof stakes its claim as Tallahassee’s first craft production brewery. It features a 20-barrel brew house, refined tasting room and an outdoor beer garden to enjoy their award-winning brews.

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Take it to Heart Go Red for Women

Did you know heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States? Yet the risks and symptoms can be very different between men and women.

Launched in 2004, the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign seeks to raise awareness and end heart disease and strokes in women.

One in three women die of heart disease, but post-menopausal women are more at risk for cardiovascular disease because of the reduced level of estrogen in the body. Premature birth and autoimmune conditions like lupus are also unique factors for women.

Smaller arteries in women are prone to conditions that may not show plaque buildup, and certain heart medications may affect women differently than men.

What to Watch for: For women symptoms of a heart attack may include: > Chest pain, but not always > Pain or pressure in the lower chest or upper abdomen > Jaw, neck or upper back pain > Nausea or vomiting > Shortness of breath > Fainting > Indigestion > Extreme fatigue More than just a campaign, the Go Red for Women initiative invites women to make a commitment to their heart health through diet, exercise and increased mental well-being.

HealthyBlue Rewards amounts vary by plan. Florida Blue is a PPO and RPPO plan with a Medicare contract. Florida Blue Medicare is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Florida Blue or Florida Blue Medicare depends on contract renewal. Health coverage is offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc., DBA Florida Blue. HMO coverage is offered by Florida Blue Medicare, Inc., DBA Florida Blue Medicare. These companies are affiliates of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc., and Independent Licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. We comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. For more information visit floridablue.com/ndnotice.© 2022 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc., DBA Florida Blue. All rights reserved.

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What’s on Your Plate?

Good nutrition is a great defense against heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends > Fruits and vegetables: At least 4.5 cups a day > Fish (preferably oily, like salmon): At least two 3.5-ounce servings a week > Fiber-rich whole grains: three 1-ounce servings a day

Walk On! The American Heart Association recommends exercising for just 30 minutes a day, which can even be split into three 10-minute sessions.

The benefits are numerous: > Reduces coronary heart disease in women by 30-40 percent > Delays chronic illness and disease associated with aging > Helps manage weight & increases energy

> Nuts, legumes and seeds: 4 servings a week, ideally unsalted

> Improves cholesterol levels and blood circulation

> Processed meats: No more than two servings a week

> Prevents and manages high blood pressure & prevents bone loss

> Saturated fat: keep it 7 % or less of your total calorie intake

> Aids stress management, falling asleep faster and sleeping more soundly

How to get that exercise? What about a walking program? Walking has the lowest dropout rate of any exercise. It’s free and something you can do with friends. According to the AHA, studies show that for every hour of walking, life expectancy may increase by two hours.

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Let Go Good heart health involves your overall quality of life. Mental wellness support is as important as your diet and exercise habits. According to research from the AHA, depression is linked to almost a doubled risk of stroke in middle-aged women. Consider incorporating these daily practices: Meditation – when we get stressed, our bodies release the cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine hormones, elevating our heart rates and blood pressure. Meditation helps regulate our inner states and reduce those hormone levels. If you’re looking for a way to begin, there’s an app for that! Ten Percent Happier Meditation app was voted the best one for beginners. You can find multiple ways to begin a mindfulness practice on GrowingBolder.com.

Community – Community = immunity.

Exercise and share heart healthy recipes with friends. You can also find support to make more heart healthy choices online by joining the AMA’s GoRedGetFit Facebook group.

Gratitude – A study by the American Psychological Association showed that “recognizing and giving thanks for the positive aspects of life can result in improved mental, and ultimately physical, health in patients with asymptomatic heart failure.

Higher gratitude scores were associated with better mood, higher quality sleep, more self-efficacy and less inflammation.

Get Screened Remember to schedule your Annual Wellness Visit with your primary care doctor! The American Heart Association recommends getting your : > Cholesterol checked every 5 years > Blood pressure checked at least every 2 years > Blood glucose levels checked every 3 years > Body Mass Index checked during every regular health care visit You can find general information about the Annual Wellness Visit at medicare.gov.

For Florida Blue Medicare Advantage members, this visit is covered at $0 copay when members see an in-network doctor.

If your doctor orders any labs or follow-up tests, you may have a copay for those services. And our Medicare Advantage members can earn HealthyBlue Rewards for completing their Annual Wellness Visit.

To learn more log in to your My Health LinkTM account at floridablue.com/medicare or call the phone number on the back of your Florida Blue member ID card.

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Make Medicare an opportunity to live BOLDER.

SO MUCH MORE! Go to growingbolder.com/Medicare to download your free, easy to understand guide to Medicare.

To speak to a representative call 1-844-396-2579.

Florida Blue and Florida Blue Medicare are Independent Licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ©️2021 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. DBA Florida Blue. All rights reserved.

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