Mature Focus May 2024

MAY 2024

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309-292-3681 2 May 2024 • Mature Focus

May • 2024

features 6 10 24 26 42 46

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We didn’t know O.J. Simpson Happy Mother’s Day, mothers-in-law Thank you, Caitlin Clark What’s in a word?

Through a mother’s heart Chocolate industry’s global crisis

favorites 4 12 16 19 20 32 36

From The Desk Tinseltown Talks Humor Hotel The History of Ordinary Things Savvy Senior Midnight Gardener Talking Digital

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health 18 34 40

Strategies for thyroid wellness Hearing aids Mayo Clinic: Enlarged prostate

finance 14 38

Piecemeal planning Be careful naming beneficiaries

recipes 8 44

Meals in 30 minutes or less Artful focaccia

19 42

games 22 23 31

Mind Gym Super Crossword Trivia Test

32

extras 28 31 33 35 45

Moments in Time Now Here’s a Tip Strange But True All the News That’s Fit Mature Focus Volunteer Spotlight

Our Cover: “Out?” by Gordon Johnson first appeared on the cover of American Weekly Magazine on August 31, 1958.

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36 Mature Focus • May 2024

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From the Desk of the Publisher ByKevin Ferris

“One day, you’re 17 and you’re planning for someday. And then quietly, without you ever really noticing, someday is today. And then someday is yesterday. And this is your life.” - John Green In the July 2007 issue of Mature Focus, I wrote about the final episode of “The Sopranos.” Almost 17 years ago. Exactly 203 columns ago. And yes, pundits are still debating the ending. Did Tony Soprano live or die?

Series creator David Chase intentionally left the ending open to interpretation, allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions about Tony Soprano’s ultimate fate. I loved the ambiguity of the ending, but can’t believe it was 17 years ago. I remember watching the final scene like it was yesterday.

It’s amazing how fast time flies. I’m not breaking any new ground here.

The passing of time is a concept that has fascinated humanity since the dawn of civilization. Time is a constant force that shapes our lives, influences our decisions, and ultimately defines our existence. From the ticking of the clock to the changing of the seasons, the passing of time is an ever-present reminder of the fleeting nature of life.

We all look back at events and

CELEBRATING

33 YEARS

May 2024 • Vol. 33 • Issue Number 1

P.O. Box 1031 Moline, IL 61266-1031 (309) 277-2000 email: kevin@maturefocus92.com Facebook.com/MatureFocusQC

4 May 2024 • Mature Focus

wonder how we’ve reached this point in time so quickly. The column I referenced was written before we changed the format of Mature Focus. Most of you probably don’t remember what it used to look like. It was a quarter-fold and my picture didn’t look anything like the picture at the top of this page.

Stress and time will do that. Quoting Alice Walker, “Time moves slowly but passes quickly.”

To me, it seems like movies highlight the passage of time more than anything else.

“The Godfather, Part II,” a movie that sits either first or second on my list of favorite movies, depending on what day it is, with the original “The Godfather,” came out 50 years ago. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long.

What I find even more amazing is that “Alien,” Ridley Scott’s modern science fiction and horror classic premiered in 1979, 45 years ago. That’s crazy! I remember my parents going to see this movie before I was allowed to see it. Alien’s return to the big screen (not to be confused with “Aliens,” no apostrophe and only 38 years young) coincides with the new movie “Alien Romulus,” set to hit theaters on August 16. Get your tickets now to see that movie again in 2069.

And yes, that will be here before you know it and your grandchildren will hopefully love it.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Publisher Kevin Ferris

Associate Publisher Schary SantAmour

“Alien Romulus” is good. At least the teaser trailer looks awesome.

Another event that happened 50 years ago was the discovery on November 24, 1974 by paleontologist Donald Johanson of a 3.2 million-year-old hominid skeleton in Ethiopia that scientists named “Lucy.”

Based off the skeletons evidence, Lucy was a female, walked up-right, was about three-and-a-half feet tall, and had ape-like facial features.

How things have changed.

Just 50 years after that huge scientific discovery, we have the movie “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” in which apes are the dominant species and humans are hunted and reduced to living in the shadows.

Imagine what Lucy would say.

This will be the tenth apes movie since 1968’s “Planet of the Apes,” a movie the blew my young mind. Not to mention the twist at the end.

The fact that “Alien” still resonates with audiences and remains a cultural touchstone after 45 years is a testament to its enduring quality. It serves as a reminder of how certain films can transcend time and continue to captivate and terrify audiences for generations to come.

To borrow from its famous tagline...In space no one can hear you scream.

Layout Design Tonya Ranum

Mature Focus, Inc. is a monthly newspaper, distributed to the greater Quad-City area, Geneseo, Muscatine, Aledo, DeWitt, Iowa City, Coralville, Cedar Rapids, North Liberty, Solon, and Tipton. It is designed to inform, serve, and entertain mature readers.

Publication of columnists’ views, as well as advertising herein, does not constitute endorsement. Mature Focus reserves the right to reject or edit any advertising.

Letters to the editor must be signed and include the writer’s address and phone number for verification. All letters must be received no later than the 15th of the month preceding publication.

Annual subscription - $25. See page 27 for more information.

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© 2024 Mature Focus, Inc.

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5

Tuesdays With Mitch: O.J.’s death teaches us the same old lesson - we didn't know him

By Mitch Albom At the moment of truth, he ran away, avoided the tackle, as if there were some goal line he could cross and be safe - safe from the charges, the handcuffs, the police, the cameras, the courts, the blood of the victims they say he killed, maybe even the death penalty. This is what the man who dashed through airports had

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become. nation’s history.

O.J. Simpson was just another LA From what they’ve seen and heard police file number now, a murder sus- last week, they might think they pect on the loose. missed Michael Jordan, Steve Jobs, Nobody knows nobody.

Al Capone and Phil Spector all rolled I wrote those sentences 30 years ago in the Detroit Free Press. It was the day O.J. Simpson fled his pursuers - a chase that continued in many ways until his death April 10, like an endless kick return that bobs and weaves and ducks and stumbles but never reaches the end zone. He died a free man, without paying what he owed grieving families, without a deathbed confession many foolishly hoped The infamous moment when O.J. Simpson tried on the glove in front of the jury, June 15, 1995 in Los might come.

Now that he’s gone, dead Angeles, California. at 76 from prostate cancer, pundits everywhere are reflecting on into one.

O.J. Simpson’s legacy, and the effect So let me try to share, especially his trial had on America’s race relawith our younger readers, who this tions, sports and media. famous figure was, by starting with But there are many people out there, what he was not. especially those under 40, who have no idea who Simpson was, or what A man of (not many) firsts the murder of his wife, Nicole, and O.J. was not the first great running her friend Ron Goldman that June back in the NFL. He was a terrific night in Brentwood meant to this college player at USC who won the

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Heisman Trophy and was drafted No. 1 to a lousy Buffalo Bills franchise.

He had a few decent seasons, then five amazing statistical years - one in which he averaged 143 rushing yards per game, another where he scored 16 touchdowns in 14 games - followed by injuries, a trade, and an ignoble finish in San Francisco. He never won a championship. His only playoff game was a loss.

O.J. was not, as some seem to be suggesting, the first Black entertainer to appeal to white audiences. Nat King Cole, Sidney Poitier, Sammy Davis Jr., Bill Cosby and others were embraced before O.J. ever did a Hertz commercial. But as an athlete, O.J. reached new crossover ground, starring in movies like “The Naked Gun” and joking in a broadcasting booth.

His sturdy good looks held up well over the years, and, it’s true, he was hail fellow well met in many elite white circles - right up to the moment he wasn’t, the day he was charged with murder.

O.J. was not even the first great running back accused of violence towards women. Jim Brown beat him to that.

Brown had numerous accusations of abuse, assault and rape. O.J., similarly, was no stranger to police calls. His wife made them numerous times, including the infamous 1989 incident in which she reportedly yelled to officers, “He’s going to kill me!” or the 911 call four years later after Simpson had reportedly broken down the door to her home and was ranting and threatening her.

So O.J. was not unique in regards to football, career, perception, or violence.

But he was singular in another way..

A manifestation of the racial divide He was singular as a symbol. First, he was a symbol of racial unfairness in the justice system. Although much of the Black community had no great love for Simpson by the mid-1990s (many saw him as disinterested in their issues and too anxious to be accepted by white audiences) he nevertheless became a litmus test for police prejudice, once detective Mark Fuhrman was portrayed by O.J.’s lawyers as a racist cop who would plant evidence.

From that point, it became vital to many Black observers that he be acquitted, if only because so many innocent Black defendants before him had not been. Meanwhile, white audiences viewed the evidence bloodstains, gloves, Nicole’s hairs - as slam dunk guilt.

When the verdict came in within hours of the case closing - not guilty it brought cheers from certain Black audiences and stunned disbelief from certain white ones. That moment certainly wasn’t the first sign of a racial divide in America. But it was the loudest proclamation to date that “BLACKS AND WHITES DO NOT SEE THINGS THE SAME WAY IN THIS COUNTRY.” That sentence has only grown louder and uglier in the decades since.

Young people, you saw what George Floyd’s death wrought? The O.J. case did that decades earlier.

You could argue his case set the stage.

‘Trial of the century’ resonates decades later That’s because of the second way in which Simpson was unique. He showed American media moguls what an appetite this country has for the salacious, the divisive, and the racially tinged. Audiences for O.J.’s red letter dates were mind-boggling. Ninetyfive million people watched his white Bronco chase. Over 150 million watched his verdict.

O.J. the football player was used to crowds. But the crowds he drew as an accused murderer dwarfed anything witnessed in the sports universe.

And ever since then, TV networks, cable news, newspapers and talk radio shows have been clamping tight on anything that feels remotely like the Simpson case, and has the legs to keep drawing people into the tent.

This is perhaps the second worst legacy of O.J.’s case - after the death of two innocent people. He showed the world that the things that most divide us attract the biggest audiences.

Social media has taken this idea and run it straight to hell.

Once he was free, O.J. grew strange, - Albom, turn to page 30 Mature Focus • May 2024

7

Flavorful meals in 30 minutes or less Bake until veggies are tender and shrimp are cooked through, 5-7 minutes. Remove from oven.

Cut lime into wedges.

In small bowl, stir ranch dressing and remaining Cajun seasoning.

Warm tortillas in skillet, oven or microwave, if desired.

Divide tortillas between plates and fill with shrimp and veggies; drizzle with spicy ranch and serve with squeeze of lime.

Sheet Pan Cajun Shrimp Fajitas with Bell Pepper, Onion and Spicy Ranch Recipes courtesy of Albertsons Total time: 30 minutes Servings: 4 2 green bell peppers 2 yellow bell peppers 1 lime 1 medium red onion 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 1/2 pounds raw, peeled shrimp, fresh or frozen 5 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, divided 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup ranch dressing 12 small flour tortillas Preheat oven to 450 F. Wash and dry green bell peppers, yellow bell peppers and lime.

Trim, seed and slice bell peppers lengthwise into thin strips; transfer to large baking sheet.

Peel, halve and slice onion lengthwise into thin pieces; add to baking sheet with bell peppers.

Drizzle veggies with oil, toss to combine and spread in even layer.

Bake until veggies have softened slightly, about 5 minutes.

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If using frozen shrimp, place them in colander and run under cold water to thaw slightly. Place shrimp on clean towel or paper towels and pat dry.

Remove baking sheet from oven.

Arrange shrimp over veggies then sprinkle with 4 teaspoons Cajun seasoning and salt; toss to combine and spread in even layer.

Cheese Tortellini and Cauliflower with Creamy Spinach Marinara Total time: 20 minutes Servings: 4 2 bags (10 ounces each) cauliflower florets 18 ounces cheese tortellini, fresh or frozen 1/2 tablespoon salt 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce 8 fluid ounces heavy whipping cream 1/2 teaspoon basil, dried 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 2 packages (5 ounces each) baby spinach Fill large pot halfway with hot water, cover and bring to boil.

Uncover then add cauliflower, tortellini and salt; stir for a few seconds.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 5 minutes, or cook according to package instructions.

In separate large pot over medium heat, stir marinara sauce, cream, basil and black pepper to combine and bring sauce to simmer. Once simmering, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until slightly thickened, 3-4 minutes.

Wash and dry spinach.

When sauce has thickened, add spinach to pot in handfuls, waiting for spinach to wilt slightly before adding next handful. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.

When cauliflower and tortellini are done, drain and add to pot with creamy marinara sauce; stir to

combine.

To serve, divide pasta between plates or bowls.

KEEPING KEEP PING G IT HOT! HO

PHOTO CREDIT: JEREMY DANIEL

Garlic-Parmesan Chicken Tenders with Green Beans and Honey Mustard Dip Total time: 30 minutes Servings: 4 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon salt, divided 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 1/2 pounds green beans 1/2 cup honey mustard dressing Preheat oven to 450 F. Coat baking sheet with 2 teaspoons oil.

In medium bowl, stir mayo, garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt to combine.

In separate medium bowl, stir Parmesan, breadcrumbs and paprika to combine.

Pat chicken dry with paper towels and slice into 3/4-inch tenders. Add to bowl with mayo mixture and toss to coat.

Working in batches, dredge tenders in breadcrumb coating, pressing to adhere. Transfer to baking sheet.

Bake until tenders start to turn golden, about 10 minutes.

On clean cutting board, wash, dry and trim green beans. Set aside.

When chicken is golden, flip and bake until cooked through, 6-8 minutes. Remove from oven.

Preheat large skillet over mediumhigh heat.

Add remaining oil and swirl to coat bottom. Add green beans and remaining salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender-crisp, 4-5 minutes.

Remove from heat.

Divide chicken tenders and green beans between plates. Serve with dressing for dipping.

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Find more information and additional recipes at Albertsons.com.

Mature Focus • May 2024

9

Happy Mother’s Day mothers-in-law

By Taprina Milburn Say “mother-in-law” in a group and don’t be surprised if you get mixed reactions. For some people, it’s a dirty word. I’ve heard true MIL stories that sounded like exaggerated characters in sitcoms (think Marie Barone in Everybody Loves Raymond or Endora of Bewitched)

others tell of a cool, apathetic relationship, with both parties keeping each other at arm’s length.

A good relationship is a rare gem of a mother-in-law story.

I received a call from my best friend, Sylvia, last year to tell me her 98-year-old mother-in-law, B, had died. It had been a great relationship, and I could hear the pain in her voice. Living in another town many miles away, her mother-in-law, until her health declined, regularly spent extended time with my friend’s family to visit and be an extra set “I’m glad you are mine.” I feel it to of hands with the kids when they my bones. She guarantees that we were small. Sylvia always looked are still family and always will be, forward to B’s visits. One of her and for that, I am thankful. favorite memories is mornings at the She turned 90 last year, and like kitchen table with B, having coffee anyone who’s made it through nine and conversation. B had been widdecades, she’s had her fair share of owed at a young age, with one of her ups and downs, including one child three children, a teen at the time, still who had a serious injury and long at home. When Sylvia asked how she made it through that difficult time while still raising a child, B said frankly, “I just did what I had to do and kept going,” she said.

That kind of grit is worth passing on to the next gener- %MBRACEÒAÒMOREÒVIBRANTÒCOMMUNITYÒLIFEÒATÒ $PMPOB )PVTF ÒNOWÒUNDERÒNEWÒ ation and has helped my M ANAGEMENTÒWITHÒAÒ ÒMILLIONÒRENOVATION Ò friend as she and her hus*OINÒAÒCOMMUNITYÒTAILORÒMADEÒFORÒSENIORSÒ band have navigated curve ÒANDÒOLDER Ò balls that life sometimes )NCOME "ASEDÒ2ENT throws. [ &ITNESSÒ#ENTER Thirty-five years ago, Ƙƕƞ [ d ƼƜƛ l· "EAUTYÒ3ALON when I married my late husƬ ½ ƗƼƖƙ ƜƖƖ Ɩƙ #OMMUNITYÒ,OUNGE band, I also received a gift of /N 3ITEÒ,AUNDRY a good mother-in-law story.

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10 May 2024 • Mature Focus

recovery as a little girl, and then, more recently, losing her adult son two heart-wrenching events that no parent should ever have to face. By example, she’s taught me how to navigate life with faith and to put love into action by showing up for my family. Anyone who knows her knows that her family is a priority. I see the results in her grandchildren of how she’s lived out her life and how they love their families, their grandmother, and how they value the grandparent/grandchild relationship.

Starting when the kids were small, she’s been intentional about having a personal relationship with each of them (and has convinced each one that they are her favorite). When my kids and their cousins were growing up, she regularly crisscrossed the United States to spend time with each family and even moved to different states to live near each of us for a period before all the kids graduated from high school.

Her legacy is tangible in our family.

The word “mother-in-law” is not a dirty word to me, and when the trend came around to call in-laws “inloves” as in “daughter-in-love” or “mother-in-love,” it felt disingenuous. It seemed like a PR campaign’s effort to rebrand the negative connotations some people associate with the word. If anything, the title “inlaw,” in my experience, has meant that two strangers with different life experiences and interests at one time decided to invest the time and effort into getting to know each other, warts and all, and decided to love, honor, and respect each other. Just like in marriage vows. That’s an act of love and commitment that doesn’t need to have a new title in my opinion.

So Happy Mother’s Day mothersin-law. If yours is a good story, you are a rare gem.

THE DAKO D OTAS NORTH & SOUTH

AUGU UST 15-23, 2024

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Taprina Milburn is an essayist who lives in the Pacific Northwest with her golden retriever, Scout. Contact her at writeyourstoriesworkshop@ gmail.com.

Mature Focus • May 2024

11

David Selby’s mom was a big fan Born and raised in West Virginia, David Selby’s extensive film, television, and stage career included prominent roles in two very different TV shows in different generations: ABC’s gothic soap opera “Dark Shadows” in the 60s and the prime-time soap “Falcon Crest” on CBS in the 80s.

“My mother (Sarah) loved that I was an actor,” said Selby from Los Angeles, but she had no background in the entertainment world. Her upbringing in a coal mining town was a tough one, being responsible for raising her brothers and sisters.

“She managed to graduate from high school and met my father who was raised on a farm,” recalled Selby.

“Mom continued to work hard at various jobs including the local Montgomery Wards, in a bakeshop, and her last job was as a bookkeeper in an office supply place. But she

never liked to talk about herself – at all. Her focus was always on the family. She was also a meticulous housekeeper and did not like messes.”

Tidying, says Selby, is a trait he inherited and for which his family has always ribbed him for his constant dusting, washing, and sweeping.

“Sarah is among us!” he says his wife, Chip, will lovingly announce.

To honor his late mother and her influence on his life, Selby wrote “They Don’t Call Me Sarah for Nothing,” a short but compelling monologue he composed for Smartphone Theatre, a live stream digital performance platform presented via Zoom and created during the early pandemic months to showcase

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original productions. Selby’s reading streamed live in March 2022 and can be viewed on YouTube (youtu.be/cm7mFA_VF6c).

“I would act like my mother unconsciously,” he said. “The kids would say ‘grandma says that’ or my wife would say ‘you sound like your mother.’ So, I wrote ‘They Don’t Call Me Sarah for Nothing’ because it was cathartic for me to talk about her and realize, my God, how much she meant to me.”

Despite their loving relationship, young David found her constant working difficult to understand.

Nevertheless, he recalled, “she always somehow managed to look like a million dollars! Even taking out the trash or going to the grocery store in our little community, she was always cautious about looking her best.”

As he grew older and with no initial interest in acting, Selby planned to enroll in West Virginia University but needed tuition funds. “So, I went to Atlantic City in the summer and worked at a restaurant, then returned with a pocket full of money to pay for my first half-year’s tuition. I lived at home so I could walk to class as a freshman, but didn't really know what I was going to do.”

That’s when an adviser for students whose names started with an ‘S’ spotted Selby standing in the enrollment line for classes. “He said, ‘you look like you could be in theater’ and it turned out he was a theater instructor,” Selby remembered. “He talked me into it and, lo and behold, I began doing plays at the university right away.”

After completing his degree, Selby moved to Illinois where he completed a Ph.D. in the arts, but not before moving to the East Coast and accepting his first TV role.

“I didn't finish my Ph.D. until after I was in New York doing ‘Dark Shadows’ – in fact, I copied my dissertation at the office where we shot the show,” he recalled. His wife even took a job as an editor and then as a college English teacher so David could pursue his acting career (see davidselby.com).

But what did his mom really think

about his acting career? written features, columns, and inter“She watched every show I did, views for numerous magazines and from the plays at university and newspapers. See getnickt.org. summer stock to ‘Dark Shadows,’ Independent Senior Living 55+ • 1&2 BRs ‘Falcon Crest’ and everything else,” he says. “Aside from i n g! k a my wife, my mother T tions w was my biggest fan.

No lica I loved her dearly.” p Ap Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn 3425 60th St. University at 65 Moline, IL 61265 Montgomery, in 309-764-7767 67 homewoodmanorqc.com Alabama, and has

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Mature Focus • May 2024

13

Elder Law

Piecemeal planning

By Ben Bekel, Quad City Life Planning The vast majority of the clients I meet with simply don’t have any kind of life or estate plan in place and are looking to establish one. In those cases, I’ll give my spiel about the various tools that you can use in life and estate planning, such as powers of attorney, wills, advance directives and trusts and then propose a plan that includes a number of different tools.

Most of these clients will go ahead and give me the green light for a “complete” plan to be set up, but others are more hesitant. “Can I just do a medical power of attorney?” “All I was looking for was a simple will – let’s just do that.” In those situations, what the client wants is what I will do, of course – but there are risks to that course of action too.

When making a life and estate plan,

each piece functions as a part of a whole, unified plan, which is to say that having only one piece of the whole means your plan is incomplete.

Consider, for example, the last will and testament. We draft wills to ensure our estates are handled the way we wish after we pass away. But instructions on how to distribute property do not help us if we are unconscious in a hospital and have major medical decisions to make, to say nothing of continuing to pay bills.

Similarly, powers of attorney set up agents to manage property or medical treatment if we cannot do it ourselves, but they do not speak as to who should be in charge of our affairs after our passing. I may have a trust in place, but if it's funded incorrectly and I have no will, it’s possible some of my estate could pass to individuals I did not want inheriting anything.

I won’t pretend that there’s some

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14 May 2024 • Mature Focus

self-interest at play in recommending that clients sign more documents – the more work I do, the more money I can earn, after all. But, this sort of piecemeal plan runs the risk of generating more work for lawyers down the line. Without powers of attorney, your loved ones may have to pursue a guardianship in order to secure care and aid for you. Without a will, your family has no idea how you want your estate to be handled. Without a trust, your belongings may need to go through court proceedings in order to be legally transferred. All of these things are immense burdens, both in time and money. And while they may earn me more fees, I generally prefer for things to be easier for both myself and my clients.

Think of it this way, you may be spending some money now to memorialize your life and estate plan. But by setting it up fully now, you’re ensuring your loved ones will actually save more time down the line. In some ways you’re giving them a gift – by making sure they have the tools and authority to help you, you’re making their lives easier and their burdens lighter. If you have to choose between having only part of a plan and all of it, then, the choice seems clear. I suspect your life and estate planning attorney would agree with you – especially if that attorney happens to be me.

Ben Bekel is the attorney at Quad City Life Planning in Moline, Illinois.

He handles elder law and life planning including probate/trust administration, guardianships and disability/ Medicaid planning. Learn more at quadcitylifeplanning.com.

Mature Focus • May 2024

15

Don’t expect anyone to pick up your dinner check in Foley, Alabama If you're “runnin’ on empty,” mugs are thought bubbles with ques“chasing chips,” “rummaging for tions like, “I’m 60 with $1.2 million rubles” or “trawling for treasure,” or in an IRA. Should I convert have “less dough than a Pizza Hut,” $120,000 per year to a Roth to avoid head to Foley. required minimum distributions?”

I may soon be joining you.

By Greg Schwem Mind you, I do have a nest egg, Nestled at the southern tip of the but one that has state served by Senators Tommy “I shrunk signifihaven’t actually read the Constitution” Tuberville and the now cantly due to a, um, how do I say infamous Katie “My kitchen has no appliances” Britt, the city of 22,000- this politely, “life plus was recently named by Travel + change.”

Instagram hasn’t Leisure magazine as “Best Place to gotten that mesRetire with No Savings.” sage, as my feed is Welcome to Alabama.

That's right, zero, zip, nada. If you don’t have an IRA, still don’t under- still dotted with I want to smack these guys so hard stand cryptocurrency, had the misfor- ads from investment firms featuring distinguished-looking, gray-haired they’ll need to make hefty withdratune of knowing Bernie Madoff, or wals to cover their dental bills. thought the Mega Millions jackpot in gentlemen standing outside horse stables (because rich guys own horsFoley, I learned from its website, that Vegas casino was “bound to hit es, apparently). Accompanying their was incorporated in 1915, some 13 eventually,” come to Foley. years after John Foley, a Chicago boy like me, began buying land to expand railroad service in the area.

Today, Foley contains a “historic downtown business district” and “world class attractions,” the website boasts.

All of which certainly require money to enjoy. I mean, how can one shop downtown with a savings account ledger that says zero? Is there a side door in the Foley October 4-12, 2024 Railroad Museum, allowing one to sneak in and avoid the $4 entrance Join us for an unforgetttable journey to the fee? That money could easily go to mesmerizing Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta this rent!

October! Immerse yourse elff in a kaleidoscope of colors as hundreds off hot air balloons paint Luckily, Foley housing seems the sk ky y with their vibrant hues. Experience the fairly affordable, with rents averagmagic as these graceul giants take flight, filling ing $840 per month between 2017 the air with a sense of wo onder and awe. From and 2021 and the median value of dawn to dusk, indulge in n the festivities, from homes around $205,000, according dazzling g balloon g glows to thrilling g competitions. p to the website.

Don’t miss out on the buck ket-list adventure with Also, there are plenty of free activTrailways Travel. Reserve your y spot now and let ities. Just ask Guy Busby, the city’s Onlyy $2975 the enchantment of the Albuquerque A Balloon per person Double D bl marketing and communication man$3600 Single Fiesta lifftt your spirits! ager, and a Foley-area resident for Non-Members add $25 more than 30 years.

Visit Us Online at Tr T TrailwaysT Trravel.com to find a “We’re only about 11 miles from full list of tours & to o sign-up for our newsletter!

Gulf Shores,” he said, referring to the 319.753.2864 ext. 16 62 | 3211 Division St., Suite 1 | Burlington, B IA 52601

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16 May 2024 • Mature Focus

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Alabama resort town where, I assume, it’s free to throw a towel on the sand and spend all day staring at the Gulf of Mexico, while contemplating your bad financial decisions.

If I packed my own lunch and commandeered an abandoned beach chair, I could probably return to my Foley domicile even, or just slightly in the red.

Busby also recommended the 500acre Graham Creek Nature Reserve, Foley’s springtime concert and movie series, and the recently renovated, $1.2 million Sara Thompson Kids Park, True, nearly half the park’s cost was offset by grants but the price tag shows that somebody in Foley has bucks.

He also mentioned the Tropic Falls at OWA water park, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I took my kids to loads of water parks in their youth and, at day’s end, the only thing dry was my wallet’s interior.

Corn dogs, greasy pizza, and beer (Dad’s treat for suffering through a day at a water park) aren’t getting

any cheaper.

Maybe I’ll move to Foley and take on a side hustle for extra income.

There’s something enticing about driving for Uber, as I doubt I would encounter the traffic congestion in Foley that one finds in Chicago.

Plenty of snowbirds and tourists visit the city, Busby said, and they’ll certainly need transportation, as well as recommendations from a “local” like me. I will welcome them into my (hopefully) paid-off vehicle, introduce myself, and tell them there is only one rule they must abide by.

Cash up front.

Greg Schwem is a corporate standup comedian and author of two books: “Text Me If You’re Breathing: Observations, Frustrations and Life Lessons From a Low-Tech Dad” and the recently released “The Road To Success Goes Through the Salad Bar: A Pile of BS From a Corporate Comedian,” available at Amazon.com.

Visit Greg at gregschwem.com.

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309.277.2000 Mature Focus • May 2024

17

Five simple strategies for thyroid wellness

By Suzy Cohen, R.Ph. Today I’m bringing light to a topic close to my heart and vital for our well-being: Thyroid health. With a staggering number of us tangled in the web of thyroid disorders, and Levothyroxine in the top five medications annually prescribed, it’s time we take charge of this small butterflyshaped gland.

Many unknowingly are hypothyroid. The thyroid gland keeps us warm, makes us think clearly, and helps burn fat. If you are fatigued, or losing your hair or eyebrows, it might

not be working well.

Given that up to 20 million Americans are on this roller coaster, most without awareness, we need a game plan. Here are some tips to help you feel better: 1. Embrace Minerals: Our thyroid thrives on minerals. Selenium? Two Brazil nuts a day keep the deficiency away. Magnesium and iodine are two of your thyroid’s best friends, so eat seafood and leafy greens. Consider high-quality supplements of those for optimal effects.

2. Stress Less: Our modern nemesis, stress, can throw a wrench in the works. Be sure to breathe, stretch, go to yoga or practice relaxation techniques that you like.

3. Cook Your Greens: Yes, broccoli and its cruciferous cousins are fabulous, but they’re also goitrogenic if eaten raw. A quick steam can disarm them, making them thyroidfriendly.

4. Avoid Gluten: It’s inflammatory.

Keto diets aren’t universal fixes but could be golden for Hashimoto’s patients. Listen to your body and avoid common allergenic foods, artificial ingredients and anything that makes you feel worse after eating it.

5. Moderate Soy Intake: Isoflavones in soy can be party poopers for your

thyroid. Balance is key so moderate your intake.

Navigating thyroid health is akin to art which requires patience, precision, and a dash of intuition. For those of you on thyroid meds, it’s not just about popping pills but understanding the symphony between T4 and T3 hormones. Sometimes, a medication tweak or a shift to Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT) formulations could work better than either T4 or T3 alone.

I have articles at my website to help you that explain all of this and what to do, so please use my search box to read all the articles I’ve archived online.

Your journey to thyroid wellness is unique. Whether you’re battling fatigue, brain fog, or hair thinning, you can still fine-tune things. If you want to start a family soon, or are in the recovery phase from a recent surgery, prioritizing thyroid equilibrium can enhance your healing process.

In the quest for optimal health, whatever your condition is, understanding and nurturing our thyroid is paramount. It’s a master gland because it controls so many major aspects of your life. And the lab tests that some physicians use don’t tell the whole story. Your symptoms do.

Embrace the tips I’ve shared here and consult with your healthcare guardian angels. To receive the longer version of this article, sign up for my free weekly newsletter at suzycohen.com.

For more information, visit SuzyCohen.com.

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The brown paper bag

By Doris Montag The brown paper bag is often taken for granted. Before the invention of the sewing machine (1850s), goods were transported in baskets, barrels, or clay vessels. Often grocers wrapped items in flat brown paper which they tied with string. The sewing machine created new options.

People used feed sacks, canvas bags, burlap bags, or woven bags for everything from flour, salt and beans to animal feed and seed corn.

Machine production of paper bags revolutionized the packaging industry. In 1852, a machine to mass-produce flat bags was invented by Francis Wolle, a schoolteacher. His machine cut and folded paper into envelope-bottom bags. These flat bags could not hold items that were bulky or heavy. In 1853, a machine for making square-bottomed paper bags was patented by James Baldwin.

Margaret E. Knight worked for a bag company making bags by hand.

She had grown up following the Industrial Revolution and was adept at mechanical thinking. In 1870, she created an upgraded paper bag machine. She was the first American woman to receive a patent, but it was not without a patent lawsuit. A com-

petitor who had stolen and patented her idea, rested his case on the fact that no woman could engineer such a machine. Margaret brought her work papers and won the case by explaining the machinations of her design.

Knight's bags were strong enough to carry groceries and with mass production, inexpensive enough for the grocer to give out for free. During this same time, a Swedish chemist, Carl Dahl, discovered the process of converting wood chips into pulped cellulose fibers which could be pressed into sheets of paper. The new strength of paper added to the bag's success.

In 1883, Charles Stilwell added pleated sides to Knight's bag design.

It allowed the bags to fold flat.

Known as a “Self-Opening Sack” (S.O.S.), the bags could stand open making them easy to load.

In 1912, a grocer from Minnesota, Walter Deubener, punched holes in the bag sides and added cords to create handles. This improvement transformed the brown paper bag.

Thirty-seven years later, in 1949, the Interstate Bag Company made a machine to attach paper handles to shopping bags.

In the 1950s, paper bags were embraced for their promotional value.

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Logos and retail branding were printed on bags to use shoppers as mobile marketing agents.

Plastic bags were introduced in the early 2000s essentially replacing the paper bag. The plastic bag is durable and costs about one quarter of a paper bag. Today, due to environmental concerns, paper bags are increasingly favored over plastic. They are biodegradable and can be recycled. In addition, grocery shoppers are encouraged to bring their own canvas or woven bag. It has come full circle for groceries, but paper bags are here to stay.

Creating a bag seems simple, but creating a machine to make it is engineering!

Follow Doris Montag on Facebook at HistoryofOrdinaryThings.

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19

SAV VY SENIOR You ask the SENIOR question - We find the SAVVY answer

By Jim Miller Q: My husband and I recently turned 65 and would like to find out which vaccines are recommended and covered by Medicare?

A: All recommended vaccines for adults, age 65 and older, should be covered by either Medicare Part B or Part D, but there are some coverage challenges you should be aware of.

Here’s a rundown of which vaccines are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and how Medicare covers them.

Covid-19: Even though Covid-19 is no longer a public health emergency, it can still cause severe illness, particularly in older adults.

Because the Covid virus continues to mutate, new vaccines are being

Recommended vaccines for Medicare recipients

developed to keep pace, so the CDC recommends all seniors stay up to date with the latest Covid vaccines, including booster shots.

All Covid-19 shots are covered 100 percent by Medicare Part B. Flu: Considered an annual vaccination, most people of all ages receive flu shots in the fall when flu season begins. The CDC recommends seniors, 65 and older get a high-dose flu shot for extra protection beyond what a standard flu shot offers. The Fluzone High Dose Quadrivalent, FLUAD Quadrivalent and FluBlok Quadrivalent are your three options.

Annual flu shots are covered under Medicare Part B. Pneumonia: These vaccines help protect against pneumococcal disease, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis and other infections. The

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CDC recommends everyone 65 and older get a pneumococcal vaccine.

There are several different vaccine options available, so talk to your doctor or pharmacist to find out which is best for you or visit the CDC’s Pneumococcal Vaccination webpage at CDC.gov/vaccines/ vpd/pneumo/public/index.html.

Medicare Part B covers both single dose and two-dose pneumococcal shots once in your lifetime.

Shingles: Caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash that affects more than one million Americans every year. All people over age 50 are recommended to get the two-dose Shingrix vaccine, which is given two to six months apart, even if you previously received Zostavax. In 2020, Shingrix replaced Zostavax, which is no longer available in the U.S. All Medicare Part D prescription drug plans cover shingles vaccinations, but coverage amounts, and reimbursement rules vary depending on where the shot is given. Check your plan.

Tdap: Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) are diseases caused by bacteria that can lead to serious illness and death.

Therefore, a one-time dose of the Tdap vaccine is recommended to all adults. If you’ve already had a Tdap shot, you should get a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster shot every ten years.

All Medicare Part D plans cover these vaccinations.

RSV: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis and can worsen other chronic conditions common among older adults, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The CDC recommends all adults, age 60 and older, talk to their doctor about getting one of the RSV vaccines (either Arexvy or Abrysvo), usually in the fall and

winter months when the virus is most prevalent.

Most Medicare Part D plans cover the RSV vaccine, but not all. If your plan doesn’t cover it, you can ask for a coverage exception. You can also pay for the shot out of pocket and then follow-up with your plan to get reimbursed. If you pay for the shot upfront, your plan must pay you back.

Other Vaccinations There are other vaccines you may need depending on your health, lifestyle or travel plans. To help you get a handle on which ones are appropriate for you, take the CDC’s What Vaccines Do You Need? quiz at www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultimmsched.

Also, talk to your doctor during your next visit about what vaccinations you should schedule.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is the author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

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Mature Focus • May 2024

21

Answers on Page 47.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: 

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: 

22 May 2024 • Mature Focus

Answers on page 47 ACROSS 1 Big trucks 5 “Serial” podcast host Koenig 10 Brothers Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan 15 Like GI garb, often 19 Woeful things 20 Bingham of “Baywatch” 21 Slobber 22 Nivea rival 23 Outfit 26 Lasses 27 All upset, with “up” 28 “... flaw -- feature?”

29 Actor Knotts 30 Wrung (out) 32 Deli classic 33 Bother a lot 35 Frank of rock 38 Outward display of courage 40 Attachable with a click 42 Hits, as a fly 44 Fill with love 45 “The X Factor,” e.g.

47 Congeal 49 Short sleeps 50 Diane once of NPR 51 Gentlemen 53 Breather 56 Apple option 59 Cow sound 62 Primer for a wall, e.g.

67 Names anew 70 Outdoor enclosure for a tabby 72 Abundant 73 Cow sound 74 Despot Amin 75 It's often played during a massage 78 “Let us spray,” e.g.

79 Recognize 80 Central Asia's -- Sea 81 Honking birds 82 Old Jewish ascetic 84 Snootiness 87 Cur's warning 89 Snake's warning 90 Not bogus 91 Small plateau 93 Give relief to 96 Choir female 99 Responses to massages 101 Something revealed by a scale 107 Fly without a co-pilot, e.g.

110 Like a famed Vatican chapel 112 Roll around in mud or dust 113 Mascara, e.g.

115 Writer Calvino 117 Ethiopia's -- Selassie 118 Ovid's lang.

119 Tubers often candied 120 Engine speed meas.

121 By way of 123 Tattooist's supply 124 Otherwise

126 What eight answers in this puzzle might say if they could talk?

131 Increase, with “up” 132 Internet sales 133 Increase, with “up” 134 Villain in “The Avengers” 135 609-homer Sammy 136 AC-- (big name in auto parts) 137 Promotes heavily 138 Leg joint DOWN 1 Most wealthy 2 Actress Douglas who starred in “Grace of My Heart” 3 Pertaining to an opening of the larynx 4 Former jet to JFK 5 Mix, as batter 6 Desi of Desilu Studios 7 Sleazy paper 8 King topper 9 Furry feet in back 10 Biblical utopia 11 Shirt part 12 Clemente of baseball 13 Oompah band genre 14 Shirt part 15 Tooth on a gearwheel

16 A Gulf state 17 Patroller around a food court 18 Bivalve mollusks 24 Sweltering summer day 25 Ivory, e.g.

31 Lion's hideout 34 Fast glance 36 Burnt residue 37 Gp. once led by Arafat 38 Raft wood 39 Soda brand 41 Utmost 43 Dickens' miser 46 Opposite of lge.

48 Three, to Fifi 52 Slippery road condition 54 “The Hunger Games” escort 55 Blueprint data, in brief 56 From Dublin or Cork 57 Jason's wife, in myth 58 “Ta-ta!,” in Tours 60 Central Florida city 61 Crayon stuff 63 Less of a lie 64 Louvre Pyramid architect 65 Adjectives modify them 66 Message-leavers' cues 68 Astronomer Tycho -69 Mattress brand 71 Fierce female feline

76 1972 Eric Clapton hit 77 Chinese menu letters 83 Aussie girl 85 Newlywed man 86 “Got it, man” 88 San Luis -92 Slightly excessive 94 “How cute!”

95 Ugly foe of Popeye 96 Never-ending 97 Not deserting 98 Frightful flies 100 Like always 102 “Ode -- Grecian Urn” 103 Costa -- Sol 104 Use as a skating surface 105 Mount -- College (Elaine Chao's alma mater) 106 12-year-old kid, say 108 Set in place 109 Gave the nod 111 -- City (Ohio town named for William Henry Harrison's moniker) 114 Theatricalize 116 Like sheep 120 Move, to a Realtor 122 Tattooist's supplies 125 Green org.

127 Ocasek of The Cars 128 Endeavor 129 Spying setup

Mature Focus • May 2024

23

Dear Caitlin Clark: Thank you for saving me from pillow fighting

By Tonya Ranum It’s that time of year again.

I’m not talking about warmer weather, buds on the trees, green grass, or even the blooming daffodils. No, I’m talking about the end of the college basketball season.

When the thrills and chills of logo threes, buzzer beaters, and passes that defy physics give way to me, mindlessly scrolling through the Hulu TV guide searching for something, anything to watch besides baseball or collegiate softball. If you’re a regular reader of my column, you know that I loathe baseball. It’s slow and boring. Seriously, no sport should ever be associated with hot dogs. It’s like someone asked, “How can I take the feeling of filling out FAFSA forms and parlay that into a sport?” That’s baseball for me.

To be fair, what I’m truly lamenting isn’t just the end of my sportswatching season until Iowa football

kicks off this fall, it’s that my favorite player of all time is leaving my favorite team. But here’s the good news: she’ll be taking her skills to the WNBA. Yes, I’m talking about the one and only Caitlin Clark.

If you don’t know who she is, there’s an article on page 45 you should read about the volunteers for Honor Flight of the Quad Cities (you should read it either way). I hear the writer of that column started some magazine once.

If, however, you do know about Caitlin Clark, then you don’t need me to list all of the records she’s broken or the awards she’s won. Or tell you how she has forever raised the basketball bar, inspired millions of kids, and brought more eyes to women’s college basketball than ever before. Countless articles and social media posts have been written about her with every conceivable angle taken – so I won’t rehash what we already know: she’s the GOAT. Period.

What I also appreciate about #22 is that she will allow me to continue to watch my favorite sport this

The 2023 John Deere Classic, when we followed Caitlin Clark as she competed in the pro-am tournament. This is a screenshot from Caitlin’s (caitlinclark22) Instagram page. Left arrow points to me (gray hat), right arrow points to my daughter, Reese (white hat). To say we were thrilled when we saw this post would be an understatement and involved more squealing than I’d care to admit.

summer (the WNBA season runs from May to September) and NOT have to resort to ESPN8 better known as The Ocho to avoid all sports involving a ball, bat, and a very slow pitcher. Thank you, Caitlin Clark.

I’ll be the first to admit that I know next to nothing about the WNBA. I’ve never watched a single game. I’ve heard of a few players but I had to Google “Top 25 WNBA players” to learn more names beyond Diana Taurasi and Elena Delle Donne (no clue which team either of them plays for). Ever heard of Sabrina Ionescu? How about A’ja Wilson? Jonquel Jones? Nneka Ogwumike? Nope, me neither. Now

24 May 2024 • Mature Focus

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563.322.4438 www.hmdfuneralhome.com I’ve heard of Brittney Griner, also on this list, but not because of her basketball prowess but that’s another story. These women are some of the top players with impressive stats.

How about this question: How many teams are in the WNBA? My first guess was 10. It’s 12. Without looking it up, right now I can name three teams one of which is where Caitlin is going – the Indiana Fever. The other two are the Las Vegas Sparks and the Chicago Sky. Wrong. I just checked and it’s the Las Vegas Aces. The Sparks are out of Los Angeles. Now I know four.

If you are reading this and are a WNBA fan, I sincerely apologize for my ignorance. It’s just that I had no reason to watch professional women’s basketball until now.

Honestly, I’ve considered it a token organization, established to appease those crying foul that a women’s pro league didn’t exist and thereby the NBA stepped up and subsidized the operation. In my opinion, the WNBA isn’t the same as the NBA; it’s an entirely different game in speed and physicality. Nothing wrong with that, it just is and why we have have men’s sports and women’s sports.

But hey, I’m willing to forgo my past assumptions, right or wrong, about the WNBA and check it out.

Maybe I’m late to the party and jumping on the Caitlin Clark bandIt took me 17 years to get threewagon like millions of others (18.7 thousand hits in baseball. I did it in million tuned in to the championship one afternoon on the golf course. game versus South Carolina). So be it. I’m just thrilled to scroll on by The Ocho because I simply can’t -Hank Aaron endure the Masskrugstemmen Stein Holding Competition (again), the Microsoft Excel World Champion-

they said it

ship (NOT a sport!), professional pillow fighting, Slippery Stairs, river stone skipping, or Corgi racing. Wait a second…I’d watch Corgi racing.

Anyway, the point is, I can now watch Caitlin do all she did as a Hawkeye only now she’ll be playing for a different team with other talented professional players. This should make for exciting basketball and fill my time between rounds of golf, my other summertime activity.

Only what I do on the course isn’t what golf should be and may be the next “sport” you’ll find on The Ocho this summer. It’s called, “World Cup Championship Little White Ball Losing,” and for those watching, it’s very entertaining. For the players, not so much. But in my defense, I’m a pro at it.

Go Fever!

Tonya Ranum is a graphic designer and writer. Read her story, “Greatest Mistake Ever” in “Chicken Soup for The Soul: My Hilarious, Heroic, Human Dog” available at Amazon.com. She welcomes your emails at tonyaranum@gmail.com.

Mature Focus • May 2024

25

What’s in a word?

By Susan Goldfein Would cheugy by any other name be as drip?

Now that I’ve completely confused my spell-check as well as anyone reading this, let me remind you that it’s once again time for my ESL quiz.

That is, English as a second language as spoken by our high school and college-age grandkids.

Spring break comes with the children of our children seeking warmer climes and perhaps a beach. They bring with them not only their dirty laundry but a vocabulary of the latest slang words that have you wondering if your hearing aids are working properly.

Fear not. Communication is still possible. Below I present to you ten of 2024’s latest introductions into the English language. It may take a while before the Oxford English Dictionary catches up, but in the meantime, you won’t have to stare at the eighteenyear-old across the breakfast table and plead “I’m baby. ELI 5.”

So, live and learn, folks!

Cheugy A. A new candy bar that’s guaranteed to remove your fillings.

B. When repeated, some weird train sounds.

C. Someone reminding Gy to eat more slowly.

D. A, definitely A. Cozzielius A. A long-lost brother of Marcus Aurelius B. Something that’s super comfy!

C. A cover made exclusively for an Elius teapot.

D. B, maybe C. ELI 5 A. A five-piece musical group all with the same first name.

B. The ELI that falls between 4 and 6.

C. A cockney version of someone who failed to tell the truth five times.

D. All of the above.

Delulu A. The forgotten lyric to the Cole Porter song It’s De Lovely.

B. Two British bathrooms as described by someone from Brooklyn.

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C. Cousin of the woman who trimmed Samson’s hair.

D. None of the above.

Side Eye A. An image from a Picasso painting.

B. A nickname for someone with exceptional peripheral vision.

C. A cut of meat similar to a ribeye.

D. Some of the above.

Moots A. The bodies of water surrounding a castle.

B. Stoom looking in a mirror.

C. A pair of boots that can also double as mittens.

D. Are we there yet?

OOMF A. A sound made by a dyslexic cow.

B. A more concise alternative to oomph.

C. A noise that follows a punch in

the gut.

D. I’m getting a headache.

Rizz A. Nickname for a former Yankee shortstop.

B. What you do when you get out of bed each morning.

C. A short name for a mutant berry.

D. Where’s the Advil?

Touch Grass A. What you do when you roll a joint.

B. What happens when you trip on someone’s lawn.

C. A sign that is the direct opposite of “Keep Off the Lawn!”

D. Help!

Fax. No printer A. An order for office equipment.

B. Sending a communication while issuing a command to a dog named Printer.

C. A punchline to an insider joke.

(Similar to No soap. Radio.)

D. I don’t really care.

How did you do? Here’s how to interpret your score: 7–10, Excellent. You’re gassing.

4–6, Pretty good – you are almost mother. 0–3, communication is your Roman Empire!

Want the real intended usage?

Cheugy: something that was once fashionable; Cozzielius: pressure and challenge related to the cost of living; ELI 5: I don’t understand, explain like I’m 5; Delulu: delusional, unrealistic; Side Eye: someone regarding you with suspicion; Moots: from mutual-folks who interact with each other on social media; OOMF: short for One of My Followers; Rizz: short for charisma; Touch Grass: disconnect from the digital world and go outside; Fax. No printer: Undeniable truth of something.

Others: Gassing: hype someone up; Mother: how to describe someone you admire; Roman Empire: your personal downfall.

Born and raised in New York City, Susan currently splits her time between Florida and Connecticut.

Be Mom’s favorite

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Mature Focus • May 2024

27

❖ On May 30, 1431, in Normandy, Joan of Arc, the peasant girl who became the savior of France, is burned at the stake for heresy. Her most serious crime, according to the tribunal, was her rejection of church authority in favor of direct inspiration from God. She was 19 years old. ❖ On May 24, 1844, in a demonstration witnessed by members of Congress, American inventor Samuel F.B. Morse dispatches a telegraph message from the U.S. Capitol to a railroad station in Baltimore. The message - “What Hath God Wrought?” was telegraphed back to the Capitol a moment later. ❖ On May 22, 1859, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of master sleuth Sherlock Holmes, is born in Scotland. His first Sherlock Holmes story, “A Study in Scarlet,” was published in Beeton's Christmas Annual in 1887. ❖ On May 31, 1889, the South Fork Dam in Johnstown, Pa., collapses, causing a flood that kills more than

2,200 people. It was the largest earthen dam (made of dirt and rock, rather than steel and concrete) in the United States. Reportedly, a baby survived on the floor of a house as it floated 75 miles from Johnstown. ❖ On May 29, 1914, heavy fog on the St. Lawrence River in Canada causes a collision of boats - the Empress of Ireland and the Storstad that kills 1,073 people. Caused by a horrible series of blunders, it was one of the worst maritime disasters in history. ❖ On May 25, 1927, Robert Ludlum, author of 25 thrillers, is born in New York City. Although he never earned a reputation as a masterful prose stylist, his suspenseful stories such as “The Bourne Identity” gripped a wide readership. As a critic for The Washington Post noted about one Ludlum novel: “It's a lousy book. So I stayed up until 3 a.m. to finish it.” ❖ On May 23, 1934, notorious criminals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are shot to death by Texas and

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28 May 2024 • Mature Focus

Louisiana state police while driving a stolen car near Sailes, La. All told, the Barrow Gang was believed responsible for the deaths of 13 people, including nine police officers. ❖ On May 27, 1937, San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge opens to the public after five years of construction. On opening day “Pedestrian Day” - some 200,000 walkers crossed the bridge, which spans the Golden Gate Strait at the entrance to San Francisco Bay and connects San Francisco and Marin County. ❖ On May 26, 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt makes a radio appeal for the support of the Red Cross. Belgian and French civilians were “running from their homes to escape bombs and shells and machine gunning, without shelter, and almost wholly without food,” broadcast FDR. ❖ On May 20, 1956, the United States conducts the first airborne test of an improved hydrogen bomb, dropping it from a plane over the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Observers said that the fireball caused by the explosion measured at least four miles in diameter and was brighter than the light from 500 suns. ❖ On May 28, 1957, National League owners vote unanimously to allow the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers to move to San Francisco and Los Angeles, respectively, at the mid-season owner's meeting in Chicago. ❖ On May 21, 1978, 21-year-old rookie golfer Nancy Lopez defeats her childhood hero, JoAnne Carner, on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the Coca-Cola-Classic in Jamesburg, N.J. The next year Lopez beat out 44-year-old Mickey Wright, to repeat as Coca-Cola champion. ❖ On April 29, 2004, the World War II Memorial opened in Washington, D.C. The granite and bronze monument stands on 7.4 acres on the former site of the Rainbow Pool at the National Mall, between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

Classic Travels June 18, Wonders of Alaska at 3:00 pm at the Holiday Inn, 2nd Floor located at 4215 Elmore Ave. in Davenport for the trip February 27-March 6, 2025. We start in Anchorage with the Rendezvous Festival, the Iditarod start, visit with mushers and pet the dogs. Next, we visit the Ulu Factory, and Talkeetna used as a model for the TV show Northern Exposure, as we watch for the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). We will take a flight up to Fairbanks, before our second opportunity to view the Aurora. After on a sled powered by a team of dogs, we check into the Chena Hot Springs Resort for our third night of Aurora hunting. We will also visit the TransAlaska Pipeline and the Anchorage Museum. Call for a brochure or reservations for the preview. Pricing is $4,999 dbl. and $5,599 sgl. Final payment due Friday, November 8, 2024.

August 8, “Matilda, The Musical” at The Fireside Dinner Theatre in Ft. Atkinson, WI this Tony Award-winning musical is packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs. Matilda tells the story of an extraordinary girl who armed with a sharp mind. a vivid imagination. and psychokinetic powers dares to take a stand to change her story. Unloved by her cruel parents and evil headmistress, she impresses her teacher with courage and cleverness, one girl’s triumph over what's “not right!” The entree is roast pork tenderloin. and for dessert a Pecan Turtle Ball Sundae. Leave at 7:00 a.m. and return at 8:00 p.m. Price is $154. Payment due Monday, July 1, 2024.

August 20-23, Shipshewana, Northern Indiana. Either spend time at the flea market or the popcorn shop, Front Porch, and Yoder's Department Store. There's time at the Davis Mercantile, Katie's Noodles, the famous Haystack dinner in an Amish Home, E & S Foods, Eash Sales Variety Store, Yoder's Meat and Cheese, and lunch at the Elegant Tea House. You will be given a $20 gift card to spend at Essenhaus Inn any way you want, food or merchandise. We'll visit Teaberry's Wood Products, Rise N' Roll Bakery, and Ben's Pretzels where you can make your own pretzel. Call for a brochure. Leave at 6:00 a.m., return at around 8:00 p.m. Price is $739 dbl., $999 sgl. A $25. down payment is due upon receipt. Final payment due Thursday, July 18, 2024.

Check out our website or call (563) 332-0014 Jill Kirkpatrick • 3371 Eastridge Drive • Bettendorf, IA 52722 email: jill@classictravelsllc.com • www.classictravelsllc.com

Apologies, but not even a good run through the washer will get your underwear totally clean.

Laundered undies are still home to as many as ten thousand living bacteria.

In 1997, viewers of “The Simpsons” had an opportunity to win a replica of the family's Springfield home that had been built with accurate colors and Duff beer in the fridge in Henderson, Nevada. The winner declined the house and took a $75,000 payout instead. It was later repainted in neutral colors and sold, with the current owner reporting that fans still trespass and even peer into her windows.

Technically, a banana is a berry; however, a strawberry is not (it's what is known as a "false fruit").

The “Reese” in Reese's Peanut Butter Cups is Harry Burnett Reese - the genius who created the famous candy in the 1920s.

The Titanic was never explicitly advertised as being flat-out “unsinkable.” That claim was only made after the fact, when an executive with the ship's parent company expressed doubt it could sink. (It had already sunk some hours before; the news had yet to reach him.)

In a Peanuts comic strip from 1972, Peppermint Patty revealed that her real name is Patricia Reichardt.

The unreachable spot between your shoulder blades is your acnestis.

Mature Focus • May 2024

29

We can stop HIV, Iowa— by finding the best way to prevent HIV for us!

Find a health care provider you can talk to openly about your sexual health.

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J ưʼnū ͗ưĠ ưĠ ͗ĺŶ ͗QV ͗ʼnƤ͗ ŃĠ͗ ūŠ ͗Ǒò ͗ư ͗Ŝū Ǒ͗ ŶƸ ͗Ƥư ƸƤ͗͝ ūĘ͗ ū Ǒʼnū ͗Ǘ Ɯ͗ VÙ͗ ưò Ƥ͗ ĠŠ ͗Ǘ ͗đ ŶŶ Ġ͗Ŷ ưʼn Ƥ͗ ͗Ƥ Ǘ͗

òŠ ŃǗ͢

Prac tice safer sex.

Vūư Ɯū Š͗ò Ę͗Ġ ưĠ òŠ͗ Ŷū Ŷ Ƥ͗đ ū͗ƙƜĠǐ ūư͗ VÙ͗òū ͗Ŷư ĠƜ͗ »VƤ͗ǑŃ ū͗ ƤĠ ͗ ƜŶ ƜŠ ͗òū ͗Ƹ ʼnūĻ͗ ū͗ ƙƙ ŶƙƜ òưĠ͗ŠƸď ʼnđò ư͗ʼn ͗ŃĠ ĺƸ ͗òƤ͗ Ġ ͗͢à Ƹ͗đ ū͗ ŠƤŶ͗ đŃ ŶƤ ͗ƤĠ Ƹò ͗òđ ǐʼnưʼn Ƥ͗ ʼnưŃ͗ò͗Š Ġ ͗ŠʼnŜ ŠʼnŃ ŶĘ͗ ĺ͗ ƤƤ ūĻ͗ ū͗ò ͗ʼnū Ġđ Ŷū͗͝ Get in care. Stay in care.

Vĺ͗ǗŶƸ΀ƜĠ͗ŠʼnǐʼnūĻ͗Ǒʼn ͗Q Ù͗͞ĻĠư ư ūĻ͗òūĘ͗ ĠĠƙʼnūĻ͗òū͗Ƹū ĠưĠđ ưò ŠĠ͗ǐʼnƜò ͗ŠŶò ͗ ĠŠƙƤ͗ǗŶƸ͗Ƥ òǗ͗ ĠòŠ ŃǗ͗òūĘ͗ƙƜĠǐĠū Ƥ͗ưƜòūƤũʼnƤƤʼnŶū͗ưŶ͗ǗŶƸƜ͗ƤĠǖ͗ƙòƜ ưūĠƜƤ͝

jĠòƜū͗ũŶƜĠ͗òư͗ s tophiviowa.org

Albom -From Page 7 hermitized, prone to weird dalliances with his potential guilt (remember the book project “If I Did It”? ) and temperamental, ill-advised behavior that eventually landed him in jail for nine years. His time upon release was lowkey and reclusive. His last seen video was a few months ago, where he smiled and insisted his health was fine, even when, apparently, it was anything but. A final deception, some might conclude.

More than this, no one can really say about O.J. Simpson, no matter how much we might want to. I ended my column 30 years ago this way: It’s a weird tale, and it’s not over.

But it proves one thing, beyond any doubt. Commercials, football games, smiles, interviews and lots of photos don’t bring anyone closer to the secrets inside the human mind. Nobody knows nobody. Maybe nobody ever will.

So much has changed in 30 years.

That has not.

Email Mitch Albom at malbom@ freepress.com.

30 May 2024 • Mature Focus

Difficulty with stairs?

Level the playing field with a stair lift

✔

✔

✔

✔

here’s a tip

By JoAnn Derson

Trivia Test

By Fifi Rodriguez

1. Which dramatic film features the character “V”?

2. Luzon belongs to which island nation?

3. What is the Latin phrase for “before the war”?

4. Which state has the most national parks?

5. Which 1950s novel includes the line, “Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.”

6. What kind of gas makes a drink bubbly?

7. Which sitcom features a mom named Debra Barone?

8. What was the former name of the English band Muse?

9. What are the gaps between nerve cells called?

10. Who wrote the play “The Crucible”?

☞ For even distribution in sowing seeds for your garden, use a saltshaker for tiny seeds. You can get a cheese shaker for larger seeds, if necessary. ☞ To keep your brick walkway clear of grass and weeds, sprinkle salt in the cracks. ☞ If you have to cut a nylon cord or shoelace, you can use a flame to melt the end into a nub that won't run or fray. Use a little heat and press it together on a hard surface very briefly. It works fast! ☞ Cars are getting so big these days. I use a string mop to wash the top and back of my van. I can reach everything better, and it does a great job. ☞ To get shower doors squeaky clean, use a paste of baking soda and water to scrub stubborn water stains, then rinse the whole thing with straight white vinegar. Put the vinegar in a spray bottle and spray well, then rub off with a sponge.

Rinse with plain water. ☞ The hardware on my favorite purse started to look very banged up and flaking. I found a silver leaf pen at the craft store, and it was very easy to spruce my bag up again. ☞ To keep spring boots looking tall and smelling pretty good, loosely roll a thin stack of newspaper, stick it down the leg portion of your boot, then fill it with a stack of balled-up newspapers. It will support the leg, which will not flop over, causing cracks. And the newspaper absorbs any smells. ☞ Bar soap is much more concentrated and eco-friendly than liquid body washes. These days, they are just as moisturizing as any liquid soap. Look for ingredients like shea butter or the words “ultramoisturizing” and “added emollients.”

Mature Focus • May 2024

31

1. “V for Vendetta” (2005); 2. The Philippines; 3. Antebellum; 4. California, with nine; 5. “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac; 6.

Carbon dioxide; 7. “Everybody Loves Raymond.”; 8. Rocket Baby Dolls; 9. Synapses; 10. Arthur Miller.

All about tomatoes

Midnight Gardener

By Lori Rose Tomatoes come in yellow, white, green, striped, purple, pink, orange or red; they can be tiny or melon sized; round, oval, oblong, winged, accordion shaped or heart shaped. They can look like bananas, lemons, sausages, footballs, ping pong balls or grapes.

Use them for slicing, stewing, making paste, drying or eating straight from the vine.

The variety of tomatoes available is almost innumerable. Growing them from seed lets us choose the ordinary or the unusual. Start tomato seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the

last frost. A south facing window or grow lights are perfect for starting tomato seeds. Outdoor soil is not appropriate for starting seeds indoors; instead, use a seed starting mix. Fill small pots with seed starting mix, make a hole a quarter inch deep in the middle of the pot, drop the seed into the hole, and cover the seed gently with the mix. Put the pots on a shallow tray, then cover the pots with clear plastic until the seeds germinate. Keep the seeds moist, but not wet. Water from the bottom of the tray to encourage the roots to grow downward. Give your seedlings lots of light. If you are using lights, place them so the bulbs are a few inches above the tops of the plants. Move the lights up every few days as the seedlings grow.

Seedlings grown indoors need to be “hardened off” before planting them out into the garden. When all danger of frost is past, set the plants outdoors in a sheltered location for a few hours

a day. Increase the time spent outdoors each day, and gradually move them from full shade to partial sunlight. Be

sure to water them daily. Before being transplanted, they should be spending all day and night outdoors. Transplant the seedlings on an overcast day, or

May 18, 2024 • 9am - 2pm This is a sale with lots of great deals that the Scott County Master Gardeners dig from their own gardens. The plants are high-quality, low-cost annuals, perennials, and vegetables.

...where we sell almost everything but clothes All proceeds are donated to local organizations to help them improve the lives of those in need.

Believers Together Center Gym 3209 60th Street, Moline, Illinois

Saturday, June 1 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

Sponsored by Christ The King Social Concerns Committee.

32 May 2024 • Mature Focus

Scott County Extension Office 875 Tanglefoot Lane, Bettendorf

late in the afternoon, so they aren't immediately faced with hours of direct sun. Tomato plants can grow roots on their stems. Transplant tomatoes deeply, up to the first or even second set of true leaves. Mulch around the base of each plant, water them faithfully, and enjoy.

Indeterminate tomato plants will continue to grow until they are killed by frost. They need to be supported by stakes, netting or caging to keep the fruit off the ground. Determinate tomato plants will grow to a certain height then stop. Bush varieties are determinate. Although cages or stakes are not necessary, determinate varieties will still benefit from a little support to keep them upright.

Open-pollinated vegetables self-pollinate or are pollinated by wind, insects and birds. Open-pollinated varieties are fairly consistent, producing seed that will grow into plants that are like their parent plant. Heirlooms are simply open-pollinated varieties with a history of being passed down within a family or community. They are old, open-pollinated cultivars with the reputation of being high quality and easy to grow. But most heirlooms have been passed down simply because they taste great.

How old must a variety be to be considered an heirloom? Some say the cultivar must be over one hundred years old, others say fifty years, and others prefer the date of 1951 to be the latest year a plant could have originated and still be called an heirloom, since that was when the first hybrid varieties became popular for home gardens. Some favorite open-pollinated heirloom tomatoes include “Brandywine” and “Amish Paste.”

A hybrid is the result of pollination of one specific variety with pollen from another specific variety. Hybrids are

deliberately bred for desired traits. A seed company chooses parent varieties that will produce first generation offspring (F1 hybrids) with the special characteristics they desire. Hybrid varieties are developed from many generations of breeding by humans, so that all the plants grown will be the result of the desired cross and will be genetically identical. It's easy to know if your plant is a hybrid: it will have an F1(or sometimes F2) after its name on the seed packet or plant label. Popular hybrid tomatoes include “Big Boy” and “Celebrity.”

Whether you choose to purchase tomato plants or start your own from seed, try a few different varieties this growing season. It’s fun, delicious, and rewarding.

Lori Rose, the Midnight Gardener, is a Temple University Certified Master Home Gardener and member of the GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators. She has been writing about gardening for over twenty years.

Email Lori at midnightgardener@ hotmail.com.

By Lucie Winborne ✐ It is impossible for a human to sneeze during sleep due to a bodily state called REM atonia. ✐ For 200 years tomatoes were considered poisonous in Europe. In reality, their acidity was dissolving poisonous metals like lead from plates. ✐ Scientists investigating the occasional appearance of thousands of dead fish on the banks of an African river eventually discovered that the cause was huge numbers of hippos pooping in the water. ✐ Actor Danny DeVito used to be a beautician. ✐ Ten thousand years ago, everyone's eyes were brown until someone living by the Black Sea developed a genetic mutation that turned brown eyes blue. ✐ In 2007, a gorilla escaped from his exhibit, grabbed and mauled a nearby woman, and then attacked a restaurant. Later it was revealed that the woman had been making eye contact and smiling at the primate several times a week, something zookeepers had warned her not to do. ✐ Freelance diamond setter Raffi Stepanian found he could collect enough bits of carelessly dropped diamonds, rubies, platinum and gold on the sidewalks of New York City's Midtown Diamond District to earn a living. ✐ In April of 2018, scientists at the Gladstone Institutes in California completely erased Alzheimer's disease damage in human cells by altering the structure of a single protein. ✐ The most expensive photograph ever sold, “Rhein II,” a basic picture of the lower Rhine river under an overcast sky that had been digitally altered to remove dog walkers and a factory building, was purchased in 2011 for a cool $4.3 million. ✐ Research has shown that taller people are happier but shorter people live longer.

Mature Focus • May 2024

33

Hearing Aids: Why sooner than later? process, no studying or needles Hmmm, how do they know, if they needed. Should it be determined that aren’t hearing everything? What are hearing aids are the best option, it is the consequences of neglecting to When someone is sick or has a always better to receive that help treat hearing loss and what are the health issue they go to the doctor. sooner than later. advantages of treating hearing loss What is it about our hearing that Kyle Kuhlman is a board certified, sooner rather than later? makes a person put it on the back First, we need to remember that the licensed Hearing Instrument burner before resolving or addressing Specialist with Eye Surgeons brain is interpreting the sounds or the issue? signals that make up speech. When a Associates. His expertise is specifiPeople tell me from time to time, cally in late onset nerve deafness in person has a hearing loss there are “I hear what I want to hear.” ranges from very mild to severe. signals that are not being relayed to the brain. Our brain is like any other Hearing and vision problems muscle in our body, it needs a work- frequently occur together as we age, out. Without it, it tends to deteriorate. at ESA you can conveniently take That old saying, “If you don’t use it, care of both. *betterhearing.org/HIA/assets/File/ you may lose it,” definitely applies to public/marketrak/MarkeTrakyour hearing. Researchers from VIII_The-Efficacy-of-Hearing-AidsJohns Hopkins and the National in-Achieving-Compensation-EquityInstitute on Aging have also linked hearing loss with an increased risk in in-the-Workplace.pdf developing dementia and losing cogThe material contained in this nitive skills faster. The findings add Heartache Tonight article is for informational purposes to a growing list of health conThe Music of the Eagles only and is not intended to be a subsequences associated with hearing Saturday May 18, 2024 loss, including increased risk of falls, stitute for professional medical at 7:00 p.m. advice, diagnosis, or treatment. hospitalizations, and diminished Always seek the advice of your physical and mental health overall.

From the powerful guitar duel in Hearing loss can lead to social iso- physician.

“Hotel California” to the shimmering lation, depression harmonies of “Peaceful Easy Feeling.” and anxiety. It can Heartache Tonight delivers a true Eaaffect work as well. gles concert experience, with meticuOne study found lous attention to every detail. Heartache that improving Tonight brings together music from all hearing using heareras and incarnations of this huge rock ing aids reduced powerhouse that produced hits over the risk of income many decades. loss by 90 to 100 There are no pre-recorded backing percent for those tracks in the Heartache Tonight with milder hearing show; all vocal harmonies and guitar loss, and from 65 parts are faithful to the originals and to 77 percent for performed live. This concert is filled those with severe with moments designed to thrill classic to moderate hearrock fans. Close your eyes and you'll Cooperative, Senior Living 55+ ing loss.* swear you're hearing the real thing.

2592 Middle Rd, Unit 319 Don’t wait.

Addressing hearing Behind NW Bank, Bettendorf, IA Tickets: $35 (advance), $38 (door) loss can improve Get Tickets Now! your quality of life, 1612 sq ft • 3 Bed • 2 Bath • Maintenance Free All Seating is General Admission your health and Heated Underground Parking • Never Occupied your activity level.

Office Hours: If you have a hear$210,000 - Reduced from $250,430 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday - Friday your in is it loss ing 1215 E Platt St., Maquoketa, IA 52060 best interest to be Glen Hotchkiss 563-652-9815 tested by a hearing Ph 563-355-0037 • Text 563-209-7428 Tickets available online at healthcare profesohnwardfineartscenter.com View more pictures at QCFSBO.com sional. It’s an easy

By Kyle Kuhlman, BCHIS

34 May 2024 • Mature Focus

All the news that’s fit

By Scott LaFee Observation “Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful.

It's the transition that's troublesome.” American writer Isaac Asimov (19201992) Unvested Interest Since the 1920s, a visit to the dentist involving X-rays has meant both patients and staff being draped with a lead vest or apron to shield against the harmful effects of radiation.

New safety guidelines from the American Dental Association say the practice can stop because X-ray technologies has evolved significantly and there are better ways to reduce patients' exposure to radiation, such as using digital rather than conventional X-ray film.

Lead aprons and other lead shields provide “no additional benefit to the patient except for some psychological comfort,” said the ADA scientists, though they acknowledged many

patients will still seek their comforting weight.

Body of Knowledge An aspirin is reportedly 40% more effective if taken with a cup of hot chocolate rather than a glass of water.

Anecdotally, some patients effectively relieve a migraine by soaking their feet in hot water. It is not known if this works using hot chocolate.

Med School Q: Why do veins look blue?

A: If you said it's because the blood within them is unoxygenated, take a breath. You're incorrect. The blue hue is a result of how skin scatters and absorbs light. Skin, especially in lighter-toned individuals, can absorb red and reflect blue and green wavelengths, giving veins the appearance of being blue.

Food for Thought Slim Jims are a ubiquitous packaged meat product found wherever, uh, people stand in line at cashier counters. They are comprised of 17 ingredients, which are listed on every plastic tube but are hard to read.

As a public service, the ingredients are beef, pork, mechanically separated chicken, water, textured soy flour, corn syrup, salt and less than 2% of the following: natural flavors, dextrose, paprika and extractives of paprika, hydrolyzed soy protein, maltodextrin, lactic acid starter culture, barley malt extract, citric acid, soy lecithin and sodium nitrite.

Beef and pork are selfexplanatory, but “mechanically separated chicken” sounds ominous - and it is, especially for the chicken (even dead).

Mechanical separation is

a process in which the chicken's soft tissues are separated from hard, inedible bones by passing it through a sieve under high pressure. The result is a batter-like paste that can still sometimes contain undesirable bits such as nerves, skin and organs. Besides gas station meat sticks, notes the website Mental Floss, the process is also used to make hot dogs and bologna.

Best Medicine Q: What do you call a doctor who graduated at the bottom of his class?

A: Doctor.

Self-Exam Q: Why is that particular piece of gym equipment called a “dumbbell”?

A: The word was coined by Joseph Addison, an 18th century poet and politician who once scribed the line: “But chains or conquest, liberty or death.” That prose likely inspired Patrick Henry's later famous quote: “Give me liberty or give me death.”

Back in Addison's day, gym weights did not exist. Instead, Addison used a rope-and-pulley system to lift and lower attached lead weights. It was similar to the mechanism used to ring church bells, but without producing any sound. Thus, they became known as “dumb bells.”

Curtain Calls In March 2017, palm oil farmer Akbar Salubiro, 25, became the first confirmed case of a snake swallowing an adult human when he was killed and consumed by a 23-foot-long reticulated python in West Sulawesi, Indonesia. The killing was confirmed when other farmers opened the snake, revealing Salubiro's body.

Coincidentally, a second case happened in the same region the following year when another 23-foot-long reticulated python killed and swallowed a 54-year-old woman working in her vegetable garden.

Mature Focus • May 2024

35

Talking Digital: Texting isn’t always best

By Adam Cochran

a two-way conversation between two people face-to-face in real-time. In Amber Case, the world’s first addition to words, communication cyborg anthropologist, has proposed takes place through voice intonation, that the average smartphone is actually body language, facial expressions, a portal that allows us to bend space and time.

A soldier stationed overseas can talk in real-time with his or her loved ones on the other side of the world. Even generations who grew up with color TV, telephone, and dial-up internet should find that astonishing.

A leaky faucet can be fixed by typing a search into YouTube and following step-by-step video instructions for the exact make and model. Some- interruption, and mutual intuition. The thing that used to take hours and mul- least perfect communication is discontiple attempts by following written nected, one-way, delayed, and truninstructions and crude generalized cated phrases that are open to interpreillustrations can be completed in a tation without any sensory context - in couple of hours by a novice on a other words, texting.

Saturday.

Texting is a phenomenal way to Although the internet, texting, email, quickly check on someone or ask a and web conferencing have opened simple question, but it's a horrible way new doors for efficient communicato communicate larger ideas, resolve tion, they have some important limita- concerns or form relationships. tions and social consequences that Read the following text message to many people experience. yourself several times as though it The most perfect communication is came from different people in your life, “I thought I was going to see you today.”

Does that message sound different if you think of your spouse saying it vs. when you think of your best friend saying it? Does it have a frustrated tone or a simple inquisitive tone?

Does it sound accusatory, lonely, or just a factual statement?

One of the first things I will ask St.

36 May 2024 • Mature Focus

Peter for after I die is a spreadsheet or pie chart illustrating how many of the world's arguments were based on misinterpretations of text messages.In order to avoid misunderstandings, here are some texting tips and insights to help improve your communication and, ultimately, your relationships.

Get used to using emojis. Don’t be intimidated by the little faces and symbols that people add to their text messages or social media posts. They aren’t just to add flair, they can also indicate whether a message should be read with sarcasm, whimsy, anger, excitement, etc.

Some people read too much into emojis, but most of them have flexible usage and meaning. The only one you should be careful with is the eggplant (phallic). The others that have a sexual context can also be used for their literal interpretation.

Use the voice message feature. In addition to written messages, most messaging apps allow you to send voice messages, stickers, and gifs. The voice messaging feature is underused, in my opinion. Usually indicated with a microphone icon, the voice message feature allows you to record a short message and send it. The recipient may not be able to listen to it right away, but when they do, they will hear your intonations and emphasis better.

Gifs and stickers can help add emotion and whimsy. It’s difficult to convey a lot of emotion in a written text.

Compiling the right words can lead to a lengthy message or it may require more thought and effort than you feel it’s worth. But, sending an animated gif often conveys emotion and attitude better than words alone.

A message explaining that you are running late because of last-minute chaos may make you even later if you try to explain. But sending an animated gif that shows a person running down the street while being chased by dinosaurs will convey everything you need the recipient to know.

Don’t text when a phone call is most efficient. Picture this, you are at

Subway and you ask your acquaintance if they want anything. They respond, “Get me a ham and cheese, please.” As you walk down the line, you keep getting asked questions by the sandwich artist. What kind of bread? What kind of cheese? Footlong or six-inch? Toasted? Toppings?

Dressing or sauce? Do you want that in a meal? What size drink? What to drink?

Inevitably, the person becomes distracted and stops paying attention to their phone, leaving you hanging on whether they meant hot peppers when they said they want everything on the sandwich.

As a general rule, if you feel like the conversation needs an immediate response or will be faster with a voice call, make the call and don’t hold up the sandwich line.

Drunk texting can happen even if you don’t drink. I prefer to call it impaired texting. There are many ways our judgment can be impaired that can lead to drama and misunderstanding. If you are angry or frustrated, open up the notes app on your phone and write everything you want to say.

Don’t compile the emotional response in the text app because you might accidentally hit send. Use the cool-down time to edit your message. Sometimes, it’s appropriate to wait hours or days to send the message. Your mind can also be impaired when you are tired or you are emotionally stirred by unrelated events. Almost always, you will discover that time will resolve the situation more efficiently than if you had sent the text. Just as often, you will find that texting makes the problem worse.

Don’t text and drive. Just don’t do it. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, texting while driving is six times more dangerous than intoxicated driving. The buzzword for the danger is referred to as intoxicated. 3,500 people died in 2020 as a result of texting and driving.

That number increases substantially each year. Every person who died or killed someone while texting and driving felt they were driving safely and had their eyes on the road.

Texting while driving is worse than closing your eyes while moving at the

same speed and conditions. If you close your eyes, you naturally slow down and focus on keeping the car straight. Drivers who text rarely slow down and they devote attention to their device rather than the physics of the vehicle. There are two ways to prevent accidents and deaths from distracted driving. Choose to do it, or choose to don’t do it.

Send your technology questions to Adam in care of Mature Focus, or email him at AdamC@Talking Digital.org.

Is Important.

Pre-planning your arrangements alleviates questions for family members while pre-paying protects you from rising costs and relieves the financial burden on loved ones.

Arrangements can be made in the comfort of your own home. Complete as much or as little as desired online at: www.wheelanpressly.com/ pre-arrangements

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MAY ChucklE I did some financial planning and it looks like I can retire at 97 and live comfortably for eleven minutes.

Mature Focus • May 2024

37

FINANCIAL FOCUS ®

By Edward Jones

Be careful when naming beneficiaries

after a divorce. And some financial assets are treated differently than You might not have thought much others. about beneficiary designations - but Here’s the big picture: If you’ve they can play a big role in your estate named your spouse as a beneficiary planning. of an IRA, bank or brokerage When you purchase insurance pol- account, insurance policy, icies and open investment accounts, will or trust, this beneficisuch as your IRA, you’ll be asked to ary designation will autoname a beneficiary, and, in some matically be revoked upon cases, more than one. This might divorce in about half the seem easy, especially if you have a states. So, if you still want spouse and children, but if you your ex-spouse to get these experience a major life event, such as assets, you will need to a divorce or a death in the family, name them as a nonyou may need to make some changes spouse beneficiary after - because beneficiary designations the divorce. But if you’ve carry a lot of weight under the law. named your spouse as benIn fact, these designations can eficiary for a 401(k) plan supersede the instructions you may or pension, the designation have written in your will or living will remain intact until and trust, so everyone in your family unless you change it, regardless of should know who is expected to get where you live. which assets. One significant benefit However, in community property of having proper beneficiary designa- states, couples are generally required tions in place is that they may enable to split equally all assets they beneficiaries to avoid the time-conacquired during their marriage. When suming - and possibly expensive couples divorce, the community probate process. property laws require they split their The beneficiary issue can become assets 50/50, but only those assets complex because not everyone reacts they obtained while they lived in that the same way to events such as state. If you were to stay in the same divorce - some people want their ex- community property state throughout spouses to still receive assets while your marriage and divorce, the ownothers don’t. Furthermore, not all the ership issue is generally straightforstates have the same rules about how ward, but if you were to move to or beneficiary designations are treated from one of these states, it might change the joint ownership picture.

Thus far, we’ve only talked about beneficiary designation issues surrounding divorce. But if an ex-spouse - or any beneficiary passes away, the Call us with any questions regarding notices received from Medicare assets will generally in regards to LIS (Extra Help) assistance on drug coverage. pass to a contingent beneficiary - which

38 May 2024 • Mature Focus

is why it’s important that you name one at the same time you designate the primary beneficiary. Also, it may be appropriate to name a special needs trust as beneficiary for a family member who has special needs or

becomes disabled. If this individual were to be the direct beneficiary, any assets passing directly into their hands could affect their eligibility for certain programs.

You may need to work with a legal professional to sort out beneficiary designation issues and the rules that apply in your state. But you may also want to do a beneficiary review with your financial advisor whenever you experience a major life event, such as a marriage, divorce or the addition of a new child. Your investments, retirement accounts and life insurance proceeds are valuable assets and you want them to go where you intended.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones is a leading financial services firm in the U.S. with nearly 19,000 financial advisors serving more than eight million clients. Edward Jones, Member SIPC.

2024 Calendar at-a-glance An active lifestyle for 55+

Like us on Facebook Facebook.com/Plus60

Local Events: May 8 – NW Bank Presentation (What Documents Will the Kids Need When I’m Gone?)

BHC PaCE Luncheon Programs at QC Botanical Center • May 16 - German Roots in the US • June 13 – Edgar Allen Poe • July 11 – History of Moline LeClaire Hotel Concerts in the Park - Veterans Memorial Park, Bettendorf, IA 5/20 - Jim Ryan; 6/24 – Lucas Senor; 7/29 – Jordan Danielsen; 8/26 - Angela Meyer May 18 - Hike at Hauberg Memorial, Loud Thunder Forest Preserve May 21 – Introduction to Pickleball (Huckleberry Park-LeClaire) May 23 - Playcrafters Barn Theater – House of Blue Leaves Bowling (Big River Bowling): May 29/Sept 25/Oct 30/Nov 27/Dec 18 Putt-Putt Golf at The Forge: May 29/June 26/July 31/August 31 June 9 – Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse Musical-Jersey Boys June 18 – Plus 60 Picnic (Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds) July 14 – Quad City Music Guild (Newsies) August 9 – Annual Golf Outing (Emeis Golf Course, Davenport) August 22 – Celebration Belle Dinner Cruise December 8 – Circa ’21 Miracle on 34th Street Single day trips: May 2 – Pella Tulip Festival May 21 – Branson on the Road (Starved Rock Lodge) June 29 – Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park August 14 – Iowa State Fair Senior Day August 29 – Chicago Architecture River Cruise with Lunch, Shopping and Dinner at Macy’s September 19 – Jacob Henry Estate Oktober Fest Luncheon Trip September 27 – Warren’s Cranberry Festival Multi-day tours: June 3-6: Spring Mystery Destination Tour June 16-21: Apostle Islands of Lake Superior June 23-30: Pacific NW and California July 8-15: Water, Wine, and Wonders of Upstate New York August 12-17: Wonders of Michigan August 17-25: Railroads of Colorado September 1-5: Ballard’s Resort Fishing Trip (Baudette, Minnesota) September 6-15: WW II Memorials September 12-20: Western Canada Rockies, Lakes, and Wine Country October 6-7: Riverboat Twilight Cruise For Club membership, local events, or travel information: Read the Sunday Quad-City Plus 60 page in the Quad-City Times and Dispatch/Argus Visit the Club’s calendar at qctplus60.com/events/ Email an inquiry to the Club at qctimesplus60@gmail.com Text or call the Club at (563) 370-4566

When tick removal goes wrong

By Sam Mazotta

Q: After taking my Terrier “Hank” for a walk around my subdivision yesterday, I noticed when taking off his leash that a tick had attached itself to the back of his neck! I don't even know where it came from; we stayed on the sidewalk. I quickly tried to remove it with tweezers, but Hank is kind of a wiggly guy, and just as I tugged on the tick, he moved and the body of the tick broke off! It looks like the tick's head is still embedded in his skin. What can I do? Will this hurt Hank?

A: Since the tick's body was removed, and you noticed it pretty quickly, Hank's risk of contracting a tick-borne illness is low. However, an infection might develop where the tick's head is still embedded.

Treat the bite spot with an overthe-counter antibiotic ointment.

Monitor the spot for a few days.

There may be a little redness around the bite area as the skin reacts to the foreign object, and with luck, the head may be pushed out enough for you to grab it with the tweezers and remove.

When should you contact Hank's veterinarian? If you aren't able to remove the tick head after a few days, it's time to make an appointment with the vet. Or, if the redness spreads or if Hank seems distressed, lethargic or otherwise out of sorts, get him to the vet right away.

Removing a tick as soon as it's found is important, because even though dogs can be vaccinated against Lyme Disease, other tickborne diseases can be transmitted to your pet. Ticks are becoming active earlier in the year, so consider starting flea and tick prevention earlier, too.

Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.

Mature Focus • May 2024

39

Mayo Clinic: Treatment options for enlarged prostate

By Daniel Heslop, M.D., Urology, Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse, Wisconsin Q: I’m a 64-year-old man who was recently diagnosed with an enlarged prostate after experiencing issues with frequent urination, especially during the night. What are the treatment options and potential side effects?

A: An enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is a common condition as men get older. By age 60, about 30% of men show moderate to severe symptoms of BPH; by age 80, it’s 50%. An enlarged prostate gland can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms, such as a weak urine stream, a stream that starts and stops, frequently getting up at night to urinate, or nocturia, and inability to empty the bladder.

There are multiple treatment options for BPH, ranging from behavior modifications to medications and surgery.

One minimally invasive option that patients may be considering is bipolar enucleation of the prostate, or BipolEP. The prostate is a small organ that sits beneath the bladder. The urethra, the tube that drains the bladder, runs through the middle of the prostate.

Early in a man’s life, the prostate is roughly the size of a walnut or a small tangerine. Often, around age 50, the prostate increases in size. For some men, this change closes off the urethra and makes it more difficult for them to empty their bladder.

The prostate has two parts: the adenoma and capsule. The adenoma is the inner part that surrounds the urethra.

It’s the part of the prostate that grows as men get older. The capsule is the outer part of the prostate and doesn’t change in size over the course of life.

A good analogy is to think of an orange. The peel represents the capsule, and the fruit represents the adenoma.

Using the orange analogy, enucleation aims to remove the fruit, or adenoma, from the inside while leaving

40 May 2024 • Mature Focus

gation. For most patients, the catheter is removed the morning after surgery when their ability to urinate is tested.

Because BipolEP doesn’t require an incision, patients recover faster and have a lower risk of infections and bleeding. In most cases, the catheter can be removed the day after the There are multiple treatment options, ranging from operation. In contrast, behavior modifications to medications and surgery. open or robotic surgeries require patients to use a the peel (the capsule) behind. This catheter for several days. technique results in a wide-open chanPatients need to limit strenuous nel for the urine to pass out of the physical activity for two weeks and bladder. drink plenty of fluids. Most people can Transurethral enucleation can be resume normal activities after two performed with different energy weeks but may still see occasional bits sources: of tissue or bleeding in their urine after * HoLEP: A commonly used energy heavy activity. source is the holmium laser. This is Most instances of urinary inconticalled a holmium laser enucleation of nence improve in the first three the prostate, or HoLEP. months after the procedure. Patients * BipolEP: Another option is with receive education on Kegel exercises, bipolar energy, called BipolEP. It can and physical therapy focuses on be performed on any size prostate. strengthening the pelvic floor.

This is the best procedure for patients Some urinary symptoms such as uriwho have larger prostates, usually over nary urgency, urinary frequency or 80 milliliters, or who are unable to nocturia may worsen for a few weeks void their bladders without a catheter. after surgery as the bladder and prosAlso, patients who have been offered tate heal. These symptoms improve an open surgery because their prostate with time. is too large may benefit from BipolEP. Other side effects are generally mild BipolEP is performed in an operatand comparable to other BPH treating room under either general or spinal ments. The risk of bleeding and infecanesthesia. During the procedure, a tion is low. However, patients with urologist inserts a specialized scope smaller prostates have a higher rate of into the urethra. Using bipolar energy, scar tissue formation after this procethe urologist enucleates all adenoma dure. tissue, then cuts it into smaller pieces Talk with your primary care cliniusing the morcellator before easily cian and make an appointment if removing it through the urethra. This you’re having trouble urinating and procedure leaves the capsule intact and are looking for treatment strategies. restores the urinary flow through the urethra. The length of the procedure depends on the prostate size but typiMayo Clinic Q & A is an educacally ranges from 45 minutes to two tional resource and doesn’t replace hours. regular medical care.

At the end of the operation, the E-mail a question to MayoClinic patient receives a catheter and stays at Q&A@mayo.edu. For more informathe hospital overnight for bladder irrition, visit mayo clinic.org.

Mature Focus • May 2024

41

Through a mother’s heart

By Lynn Walker Gendusa Many of us work a myriad of jobs throughout our lives. We build careers, climb up and down ladders, and hopefully accomplish our goals.

If we are fortunate enough to reach retirement age, we reflect upon our lives and understand the most significant and impactful work was not achieved by our paying jobs.

Oh, there is nothing quite as insightful as hindsight!

Most people labor to provide for their families, including me. I toiled many hours daily to put food on the table for my three children. Today, I wonder how I made it through those years.

I rose at 5:30 each morning to prepare breakfast and lunches before traveling miles to my job. Once I returned home, there was dinner to prep, chores to be addressed, homework, play, and comforting little souls. Just before midnight, I finally rested, only to begin again the next

day.

How many mothers perform the same routine until their little ones welcome adulthood? The funny thing is that even though we are exhausted,

daughter.

She will learn, as I did, about those moments we wish we could take back. Those times when we were too busy to listen, too tired and cranky to It's not a job for the faint of heart or those afraid of loss, and it's not to be done well without God's strength and our faith. It pays nothing but supplies gifts money can never buy. The worry never ceases, the love never wanes, and prayers for our children never end.

ada

most mothers weep when the last child leaves home.

Today, one of my three will send her only child to college in August, and I will be there to comfort her when she bids farewell. I, however, will not explain that because she is a mother, she will always miss her

cope with a child’s problem. The hours when motherhood seemed impossible and lonely. Days when our personal quest rose above the needs of our children or the million minutes we failed. I doubt a mom anywhere doesn't carry a dose of guilt in her purse.

However, remember, motherhood is not what we miss or mess up doing; it is about how much love is shown in what we do.

My Grandmother stood in her bedroom staring at a picture of her oldest child, Donald. She didn't notice me when I entered the room and saw tears in her eyes.

“Are you okay?” I questioned.

from

42 May 2024 • Mature Focus

She replied without taking her eyes away from Donald's photograph.

“It is so difficult to outlive your children. Even though years have passed, I grieve each day and know I should have done a better job.”

“What?! You are a fantastic mother! How could you be any better when you are the best.” I said, trying to comfort her.

“I shouldn't have argued so much over our Scrabble contests.” She solemnly answered.

I would have laughed, but I knew she was dead serious.

She couldn't take those feisty moments back, and as benign as they were, she believed she had failed.

Even if a mother is near perfection,

we always feel we could have done better, and that's only one emotional element of motherhood.

It's not a job for the faint of heart or those afraid of loss, and it's not to be done well without God's strength and our faith. It pays nothing but supplies gifts money can never buy.

The worry never ceases, the love never wanes, and prayers for our children never end.

Motherhood is a lifetime commitment without retirement options. It's the most essential job in the world, and it reaps happiness, heartache, regret, and rewards.

Amy, my oldest, was in her dorm during her first year at Clemson University, studying with a large

group of girls for midterms. In the wee hours of the morning, one of the young women shouted, “Sure wish I had a pizza!”

Another replied, “Sure wish I had a hamburger!”

Amy yelled, “Sure wish I had Mom’s breakfast!”

“What!? Your Mom cooked breakfast?!” They all asked, stunned.

“Every morning before she left for work, she prepared our breakfast,” Amy responded, thinking it odd that they thought it was unusual.

She told me later that it wasn’t until then that she appreciated my alarm ringing in the early morning hours every weekday for eighteen years.

My mother made most of my clothes throughout my young life.

But it wasn't until I began to sew that I comprehended how much effort and talent she put into every dress. Each dress often had a creative ornament or a different patterned collar or pocket to make them extra special.

A mother’s love is not expressed only in words; it's found in the early morning when bacon is frying, in a hand-sewn dress, or in the sorrow over a contentious Scrabble match.

It's located in hard work without pay, love without limits, and tears when we wave goodbye.

The power of God's love shines through a mother's heart and lights our souls forever.

Lynn Walker Gendusa is a newspaper columnist in Georgia and a contributor to the USA Today Network. She is the author of “It’s all WRITE with Me: Essay’s from My Heart” and her newest, “Southern Comfort.” She can be reached at lynngendusa.com.

they said it “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.”

- Rudyard Kipling Mature Focus • May 2024

43

Artful focaccia: A burst of color and flavor in your kitchen Bake Time: 25 minutes 4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon white sugar 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast (1 packet) 2 cups warm tap water

Photo: JasonCoblentz.com

We're diving into the world of focaccia bread, a beloved staple in Italian cuisine. Its simplicity in ingredients and preparation make it a favorite for home cooks. From its pillowy texture to its golden crust, every bite of focaccia is divine.

Is working with yeast dough new to you? If so, this recipe is an excellent starting point. It's amazingly easy and makes you look like a culinary maestro!

Topping focaccia with garlic, flaky sea salt and lots of olive oil is classic, Vibrant bell peppers and fresh herbs but why stop there when we can decorate this flavorful focaccia. transform focaccia into a work of edible art? It's just fun to create beau4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, tiful designs that are both appetizing plus more for hands and beautiful.

Butter, for the pan You'll want to mix this dough the To make the dough: night before you want to bake it. It First, make sure your large bowl takes literally five minutes. An overcan fit in your fridge. night proof in the fridge gives it flaIn the bowl of your stand mixer, or vor and a lovely airy interior with a a mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, chewy crust. sugar and instant yeast. Add the warm water (it should be around 110 PERFECTLY F). Using your stand mixer with the EASY FOCACCIA dough hook, or a sturdy wooden Yield: 22 (2-x-2-inch) servings spoon and your stalwart arms, mix Prep Time: 5 minutes until all the flour is totally incorpoRising Time: 8 to 24 hours rated. There shouldn't be any pockets of dry flour.

First rise: Pour 4 tablespoons olive oil into a big bowl (that will fit in your refrigerator). Transfer the dough to the bowl, turning to coat all sides with olive oil. Tuck UNIQUE GOLD JEWELRY edges of dough underAT AFFORDABLE PRICES! neath to form a round.

Rings, Watches, Chains, Cover the bowl with Jewelry Repair, Religious Medals plastic wrap or a damp towel and place it in the Hours: Thursday, Friday & Saturday 11-6 fridge. Refrigerate until 925 4th Avenue, Moline dough is doubled in size for at least 8 hours and 309-762-2999 Lay-a-way up to 24 hours. The Available

44 May 2024 • Mature Focus

longer it rests, the better the flavor.

If you're in a hurry, this can rise at room temperature until it doubles in size, 3 to 4 hours.

Second rise: Generously butter a 9-by-13-by-2inch baking pan for thicker focaccia, or an 18-by-13-by-1-inch rimmed half sheet pan for thinner focaccia.

Gently transfer the dough to the pan, adding any oil left in the bowl.

The dough should be cold.

Let the dough rise, uncovered, in a warm spot (like on top of the fridge) until doubled in size, at least 2 hours and up to 4 hours.

To bake: Preheat oven to 450 F (232 C) with a rack positioned in the center of the oven.

With oiled fingers, using both hands, press down to make deep dimples that go all the way through the dough, (like you're angry at a piano).

Gently stretch out dough to fill the pan if necessary.

To decorate: You can use a variety of toppings, including green onion, red onions, asparagus, peppers, tomatoes, herbs, edible flowers, greens, etc. Create flowers, holiday designs or abstract patterns, the possibilities are endless.

Lightly coat the toppings with olive oil, pressing into the dough and sprinkle with kosher salt.

Bake for 22 to 28 minutes, until the top is golden and the undersides are crisp. Allow it to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!

Whether you're hosting a gathering or indulging in culinary creativity, scrumptious focaccia is sure to impress.

Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com

Mature Focus Volunteer Spotlight

By Ken Ferris

“Guardians.” These volunteers pay $400 for the privilege of accompaAn outstanding Quad City volun- nying a veteran for the day. It’s teer is usually highlighted in this more work than most realize. They space, but with Memorial Day push a wheelchair, make sure the veteran takes his or her medication, take photos, listen to stories and often stays in contact with the veteran long after the flight. There are a few brief moments of recognition when the guardian pushes a wheelchair or walks with the Honor Flight number 53 – May 25, 2022. veteran through the cheering crowd in the approaching, an exception, a salute airport at the end of the day. At to ALL our military veterans and this moment the Guardian can ALL the volunteers making the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities possible.

Volunteer/board member Lieutenant Colonel Steve Garrington US Army (R) wished to emphasize that every person involved with the Honor Flight is a volunteer. There are no paid positions. No salaries. The planning and implementation of each flight is performed by a volunteer.

Supporting each board member is a team of volunteers. One team is in charge of parking at the orientasense the appreciation for their contion. Another makes sure the shirts tribution. As the volunteers turn and jackets are matched in size to the veteran over to the family, they each veteran. Still another team manages the photography. Books need to be distributed, donuts to be purchased. There is a large team directing the veterans to where they need to be at any given time. Other volunteers are planning the seating on the plane, while others are arranging for buses and food in Washington, D.C. “To make the Honor Flight we need veterans. In every town, city and village for miles in every direction there are volunteers searching for veterans who have not gone on a flight,” Mr Garrington said.

Perhaps the most observed volunteers are what are called

can walk away with stories, memories and pride in themselves.

There are many volunteers behind

“Without these volunteers we would not be planning our 60th flight.”

- LTC Stephen Garrington US Army (R)

the scenes making the Honor Flights a memorable experience for our veterans.

If interested in being a part of the Honor Flight as a volunteer, email honorflight@ridgecrestvillage.com.

Do you know a volunteer who deserves to be recognized? In the coming months, Mature Focus will be highlighting Quad City volunteers who go above and beyond for their community, making a positive difference in the lives of others. Email your volunteer nominees to Kevin Ferris at kevin@ maturefocus92.com and tell us why your nominee deserves special recognition for his or her exceptional service.

Ken Ferris is the founder and former publisher of Mature Focus.

Mature Focus • May 2024

45

Chocolate lovers, like me, are preparing for the chocolate industry’s global crisis

By Ana Veciana-Suarez I’m neither blind nor deaf, so I know there are more serious problems than my worry over a food item that is more splurge than essential. There are wars raging halfway across the world, famine in Africa, a housing shortage pretty much everywhere, and a U.S. presidential candidate facing criminal charges and hundreds of millions of dollars in legal fines.

So, yes, a shortage of chocolate cocoa beans, actually - should not push me into such a funk, but apparently I’m that shallow and selfish.

The one thing I eat every morning (sometimes afternoon and night too) is chocolate. I travel with foil pieces in a small tin box tucked in my purse. And before a hurricane, I make sure the chocolate drawer in the pantry is well stocked. I don’t want to run out of the edible that helps stabilize my mental health.

But the chocolate industry is facing a global crisis and recently cocoa futures spiked to a record $8,018 per metric ton, a 25% increase in just one week and a whopping 215% jump from last year. I guess this is what happens when high demand crashes into low supply.

Our consumption of chocolate has doubled in the last three decades,

which goes to show that I’m not chocolate shortage alarm has started alone in my cravings. Out of curios- me thinking about how easily we ity, I even looked up how much we grow accustomed to the finer things in consume and it knocked life. How adapting is always my socks off: 7.5 million easier when the end tons worldwide in 2022. promises enjoyment But enough with the rather than sacrifice. numbers. Figures only Human nature, I supdevalue the pleasure I pose, prefers to err on get when a wedge of the side of the sweet chocolate slowly melts and the pleasant. in my mouth.

Back when I was a kid, Anyone who chocolate in candy form indulges in any form any form, really - was of cocoa-based proreserved for holidays. duct knows that the Valentine’s Day. Easter. price for chocolate, Halloween. Maybe whether the pedestrian Christmas. It was cerHershey Kisses or the tainly not something my exquisite Godiva “G” parents bought us while Cocoa prices hit allCollection box, has been time highs amid global waiting in line at the inching up for several checkout counter. supply shortages. years. It hasn’t stopped One of the rare thrills most of us from buying it, though I was hot chocolate with churros on a admit I’ve cut back on how much I cold winter night, an unusual occureat. You can only shop so many rence in Miami even before global sales, you can only stretch the food warming. My mother made this drink budget so far. the way she had learned during her Anyway, there are many reasons childhood in Spain, mixing the cocoa for higher prices. Adverse weather and sugar, dissolving cornstarch in has translated into severe drought water, and then stirring this combined and disease, and the crop is hard to mixture until it was a smooth paste. cultivate even in the best conditions. The key was in the stirring and simAs a result, farmers are abandoning mering as you added the milk. the industry, which doesn’t bode well for chocolate consumption during my nursing home years.

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My mouth waters just writing about those isolated moments, but I’m also reminded that it is precisely this infrequency that made eating chocolate so memorable. I hate that weather and crop disease may eventually determine how much chocolate I consume, but maybe scarcity will relegate it to where it probably belongs: a special treat to mark a special occasion.

Ana Veciana-Suarez writes about family and social issues. Email her at avecianasuarez@gmail.com or visit anavecianasuarez.com.

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