Mature Focus August 2024

AUGUST 2024

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309-292-3681 2 August 2024 • Mature Focus

August • 2024

features 6 10 26 38 42

8

Pillow talk Downsized Sweat and the city Her name was ‘Grandpa’ Our collective fear of aging

favorites 4 12 16 20 24 28 32

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

6

health 18 30 36

Most Googled questions Blepharitis Mayo Clinic: Skin cancer

finance 14 34

Beneficiary designations Income sources

recipes 8 40

Summer meals made simple Philly cheesesteak

16 24

games 22 23

Mind Gym Super Crossword

extras 25 29 31 37 41

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

Our Cover: “A Sympathetic Friend” © Jim Daly by arrangement with Ansada Group, LLC. For more information visit ansadagroup.com.

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Mature Focus • August 2024

3

From the Desk of the Publisher ByKevin Ferris

After almost 24 years, I’m finally returing to Wrigley Field. Home of the 2016 World Champion Chicago Cubs.

Not just once, but twice in the next six months. Just not to see the Cubs.

They currently reside in last place in their division and despite preseason optimism, they are going nowhere in 2024.

Don’t sweat it. It’s only been eight years since they won the World Series. That’s like yesterday for Cubs fans. They have 100 years to go to match their previous 108-year championship drought. I’m sure they will be loaded for bear in 2124.

I’m not going to see the Cubs. Why would I? If you’re not sure why, reread the last sentence of my second paragraph. I haven’t even watched a full baseball game on television in four years. And I don’t miss it a bit.

My two trips to Wrigley Field have nothing to do with baseball, which means I’m almost done talking about the Cubs.

My first trip is on August 13 to see the rock band Green Day. It should be a tremendous show at least according to AI. I asked what the show will be like and this is what I was told: I had the incredible opportunity to see the iconic rock band Green Day

CELEBRATING

33 YEARS

August 2024 • Vol. 33 • Issue Number 4

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

4 August 2024 • Mature Focus

perform at Wrigley Field, and it was an experience I will never forget.

The energy and excitement in the stadium were palpable as the band took the stage, and from the moment they started playing, the crowd was on their feet, singing along to every song. Green Day's performance was nothing short of electrifying, with their high-energy music and charismatic stage presence captivating the audience from start to finish. The atmosphere at Wrigley Field that

night was absolutely electric, and being able to witness such a legendary band perform in such a historic venue was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Sounds like a great time.

Apparently, AI can foretell the future.

The Cubs meanwhile play in Cleveland that night. That will most likely not be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

My second trip isn’t until December 31. To watch the 2025 Winter Classic, which is being played on the last day of 2024. Not to be confused with the 2024 Winter Classic which was already played on January 1, 2024.

For those that don’t know, the Winter Classic is an outdoor hockey game that the Chicago Blackhawks are Publisher Kevin Ferris

Associate Publisher Schary SantAmour

hosting against the St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field.

I checked with Siri about what the weather will be like on that day but she or maybe he (I’m not sure) was not able to check the weather that far out. I’m not surprised. When was the last time a seven day forecast was accurate? I guess asking for a 159 day forecast is just a little too much.

I did check with weather.gov to get an idea of what I’m in for. You don’t think sitting on a cold stadium seat for two and a half hours will be a problem do you?

The normal high in Chicago on that day is 32 degrees. I can hang with that.

The most frequent amount of snowfall recorded on that day is 0.0”. The next most frequent range is a trace. As long as it’s not windy, I should be in the clear.

The wind never blows in the Windy City does it?

Since AI did tell me that I will have a great time at the concert I wondered what it would say about the Winter Classic.

Unfortunately it does not have the ability to predict sport outcomes but it did say that in Chicago on December 31, it’s likely to be cold so dressing warmly and being prepared for cold weather would be advisable. Good idea.

And, just maybe, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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.

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Mature Focus • August 2024

5

Pillow talk

By Dick Wolfsie About this time last year, Mary Ellen and I spent our anniversary downtown at a charming little bed and breakfast. It was our way of celebrating 43 years since we fell in love. To commemorate this, I fell out of bed.

I did not expect it to happen again, but it has occurred several times in the last year or so - once with me almost ending up in the ER after hitting my noggin. This confirmed Mary Ellen's longtime assertion that

I should have my head examined. After my most recent crash landing, we knew something had to be done.

Mary Ellen purchased an inflatable bed bumper rail from a company called hiccapop. When the box arrived, I thought hiccapop was one of those fancy energy drinks my wife buys. By the way, I know the “h” in hiccapop should be upper case, but no words in their

Classic Travels October 3, “Rocky, the Musical” at The Fireside Dinner Theatre, Ft. Atkinson, WI. Rocky Balboa is a small-time Philadelphia boxer who is chosen to take on the reigning heavyweight champion when the undefeated fighter’s opponent is injured. Rocky begins a relationship with Adrian, a wallflower who is tired of being pushed around by her brother. Lunch is stuffed supreme cut chicken breast, with scalloped potatoes, roasted carrots, and dessert is homemade apple pie. Leave at 7:00 a.m. and return at 8:00 p.m.

Price is $154. Payment due Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

October 10, Apples and More. Over thirteen varieties of apples, baked goods, a store full of candles, gifts, décor, pumpkins, and gourds. Bring a cooler for all your goodies! Leave at 8:00 a.m. and return at 5:30 p.m. Price is $99. Includes bus, lunch, and snacks. Payment due Monday, October 7, 2024.

October 18, One-Day Mystery. You can have either a ham and Swiss cheese, a turkey and Cheddar cheese, or a garden salad of Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers & Cheddar cheese. Leave at 6:00 a.m., return at 6:30 p.m. Price is $115. and includes bus, lunch, and afternoon sweets.

Payment due Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

December 2-6, Branson. The shows are Doug Gabriel, #1 Hits of the 60’s, Yakov Smirnoff, Hot Rods & High Heels, Clay Cooper’s Country Express, Cassandre - The Voice of an Angel and the Hughes Brothers Christmas Show. Meals include Uptown Café, SS Dockside Café, Mel’s Hard Luck Diner, McFarland’s Restaurant, Lambert’s Café, home of the “throwed rolls,” lunch and time on your own in historic Branson. We’ll even stop at Buc-ee’s.

A deposit of $50 holds your space. A brochure is now available. Price is $1,079. dbl. and $1,299 sgl. Payment due Thursday, October 31, 2024.

January 9, 2025, Ultimate Elvis' Tribute, at The Fireside Dinner Theatre, Ft. Atkinson, WI. In honor of Elvis’ 90th birthday, honoring his legacy and bringing joy to those who adore the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Lunch will be Beef Tenderloin. Leave at 7:00 a.m. return at 8:00 p.m. Price is $156. Payment is due Friday, November 29, 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

6 August 2024 • Mature Focus

instructions are capitalized. not one. they think that is clever. i don't. i think it's pretentious.

The hiccapop bed rail is a fivefoot-long cylindrical pillow. When you blow it up, it looks like a long white log. You stick it under your fitted sheet on the side of the bed to prevent your potential plummet to the floor. The accompanying instructions make it clear that this is actually intended for toddlers who have made the transition from a crib to a real bed, a transition I made during the Truman administration.

One woman writes on Amazon: The hiccapop keeps my son safe. I no longer have to worry about the little guy falling out of bed. It's a relief to know my six-year-old is protected.

(Note to readers: Reread that review and substitute the word husband for son, then substitute old man for little guy. Then, replace the number six with the number 77. See how humiliating this whole predicament is for me?)

Nettie, our housekeeper, came this week. She told Mary Ellen she

they said it “I want my children to have all the things I couldn't afford. Then I want to move in with them.”

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wasn't going to clean in the bedroom because it looked like I was napping.

“Oh, that's not my husband.

That's his hiccapop.”

“Well, whoever he is, I can't vacuum until he gets out of bed.”

The hiccapop business is very consumer oriented. “If you ever need parts, we will send them to you free of charge,” the company declares in its instructions.

Question: Have you ever needed to replace parts in a pillow?

They provide a warranty for the pillow “...even if your dog chews it accidentally.” I have no clue what that means. Barney, our old Beagle, once chewed up Mary Ellen's brand-new shoes. “Why don't you scold him?” Mary Ellen asked me.

“Because it wasn't his fault.

He ate them accidentally.”

Finally, concerned about having their other baby hicca-

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pop product ideas ripped off, the company issued this warning in their accompanying brochure: “To you beefwitted design pirates, do NOT copy our stuff, or we will sue you.” I have never heard that expression, but there's nothing more threatening than a well-placed meat metaphor.

By the way, the product does work. I have not rolled off the side of the bed since we installed the bumper, but I may have to return it and get a new one. I'm still a restless sleeper with a lot of nervous energy. Because of that, I chewed into my hiccapop one night while sleeping and it deflated.

Mary Ellen forgave me. I told her it was an accident.

Dick Wolfsie was a reporter for WISH-TV in Indianapolis for more than 30 years. You can email him at wolfsie@ aol.com.

Mature Focus • August 2024

7

day ingredients you may already have in your pantry, fridge or freezer.

Shrimp, Broccoli and Potato Skewers with Lemon and Thyme Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 4 1 pound bagged Little Potatoes 1 bunch broccoli 12 large shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 1/2 lemons, juice only 3 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil salt, to taste pepper, to taste In large, microwave-safe bowl, microwave potatoes on high 5 minutes.

Chop broccoli into large pieces.

Add broccoli and shrimp to bowl once potatoes are steamed.

Add lemon juice, thyme and olive oil; evenly coat potatoes, shrimp and broccoli. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

From everyday weeknight dinners to picnics in the park, warmer weather and longer days mean families want to spend more time together and less time in the kitchen. This summer, look for kitchen hacks that can make fresh and healthy weeknight seasonal recipes a cinch.

Skipping complicated prep work is the first step toward simplifying summer meals. Rather than recipes that call for a lot of prep or cooking time, consider easy dishes that require only a handful of steps and use every-

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Easy as 1-2-3 Potato Salad Prep time: 2 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Servings: 4 1 package A Little Savory Herb Microwave Ready Little Potatoes, with included seasoning pack 2-3 tablespoons green onions, chopped 1/2 cup mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt

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In microwave, cook potatoes 5 minutes according to package directions.

Combine seasoning pack, chopped green onions and mayonnaise or Greek yogurt.

Pour dressing over cooled potatoes.

Stir gently and serve.

Grilled Pineapple with Lime Dip 1 pineapple 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons lime juice 3 tablespoons honey Lime Dip: 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup plain yogurt 3 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons lime juice 2 teaspoons lime zest Peel pineapple; cut into wedges.

In resealable plastic bag, combine brown sugar, lime juice and honey.

Add pineapple wedges, seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate 1 hour.

To make Lime Dip: In small bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in yogurt, honey, brown sugar, lime juice and lime zest. Cover and refrigerate. Heat grill to medium heat.

Remove pineapple wedges from plastic bag; discard marinade. Grill pineapple wedges, covered, 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.

Serve with Lime Dip.

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Mature Focus • August 2024

9

Downsized

By Taprina Milburn I’ve done a lot of downsizing over the last few years. As the organizational guru Marie Kondo directs, I’ve given away furniture and knickknacks that didn’t spark joy, moved to a smaller space to do solo living in square footage that makes sense for my life, and let’s talk about the drawers and closets. Out went the underwire bras, impractical shoes, pants that didn’t fit, and things I bought just because they were on sale.

Can I get an amen?

This process has felt like an archeological dig of layers of my life, especially when I found a box from my years as a mom with kids still in the home - my God box.

Named such because the contents included prayers I’d written on small pieces of paper about things I needed to give to God - mostly worries young moms and wives have (kids’ hurt feelings, their upcoming tests, family illnesses, my husband’s job,

10 August 2024 • Mature Focus

and the general state of the world). resemble that young mom and wife As the years passed, some prayers who was so faith-filled. required full sheets of notebook Thank God. paper rather than scraps.

By the time we’ve made it out of Along with the God box was the our 20s, 30s, and 40s, despite prayer Bible I used during that life season. and deep faith, we’ve all experienced In what some may find sacrilegious, some kind of loss - health, loved I had affectionately nicknamed that ones, jobs, resources, certainty. The particular Bible “Old Girl” because loss brought faith front and center she was a little worn from my ear(and dragged my black-and-white nest highlighting and scribbled notes thinking along with it), and I didn’t in the page margins from church ser- like what I discovered. A middlemons over the years. This discovery aged woman scratching her head, gave me clues about a young mom wondering if all those prayers had and wife who was thoughtful about been in vain. Why had God not her faith and serious about tucking away Scriptures, prayers, and ah-ha moments from sermons into mind and heart.

After reviewing these things from my past, I concluded that in paring Family Owned & Operated down my life possessions 1406 W. Locust, Davenport • (563) 323-8807 over the years, I may also 1800 11th Street, Rock Island • (309) 786-8134 have downsized my faithrelated beliefs. I barely Serving the Quad Cities Community Since 1904

ART MONUMENTS IN STONE MONUMENTS ONUM MEN MARKERSS

listened to me while I prayed for my loved ones and situations? Was my faith genuine, or had I been treating it as an insurance policy to avoid pain and discomfort?

get to the deeper levels. Of stripping away the early experiences of faith to find if there was anything true in the first place.” I first picked up this book in the 1990s, and although I enjoyed Fischer’s chronicles of examining his own faith versus what he had inherited from his parents, culture, and church, it was a book that wouldn’t make complete sense to me until now because it seems that Had I confused God with Jake the second half of life is a time for from State Farm? re-examining beliefs. According to a Maybe.

2018 Pew Research Center, The Age In John Fischer’s book “Making Gap in Religion Around the World, Real What I Already Believe,” he “Research has shown that religious talks about leaving “the first faiths to attachments tend to peak during adolescence, decline through young and middle adulthood, and then HG Y U H increase through W V V U ˋ most late adult H P R hood.”

W F V U L If this is true, )

many of us are

right on time.

It’s not just time for paring back but also for new growth. Today, I understand more

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that prayer doesn’t have to include so much begging or mental gymnastics.

Writer Anne Lamott says it’s as basic as “Help me” and “Thank you.”

Looking back on my first faiths, I see some of my beliefs were magical thinking. I may not recognize that prayerful, young mom and wife any longer, but I sure would like to sit down with her and have a long visit.

As an older woman, I’d like to thank her for her magical thinking, for her dumb, blind faith, for being so diligent with the “insurance-like” prayers for her family, her tears, and the joy her faith gave her. She was doing the best she knew with the information she had during those years.

I’d like to hug her and tell her that because of her, this now grandmother of four remembers the innocence of her faith and that it helps to remind me that I’m not alone in this new season of my life. Her child-like faith reminds me that even when up against a mountain, believing in the power of something greater than myself can give me strength.

Strength to ask for help but a real faith that understands that not all discomfort and pain can be removed.

However, I can ask for company in the middle of it all, for God to join me in everything - fear, pain, and joy.

That young mom and wife’s faith is still here, just reconfigured and downsized to a more realistic fit for this old girl.

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

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Mature Focus • August 2024

11

Her film and television career only lasted a decade, but Evelyn Rudie’s memories from the 1950s and 60s as a child actor remain vivid beginning with a small role in the Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron 1955 musical, “Daddy Long Legs.” After meeting director Henry Koster through a family connection when she was just three years old, young Evelyn was offered an audition at Twentieth Century Fox. “They thought I looked exactly like Leslie Caron would have looked like as a child,” recalled Rudie, who ended up playing one of the orphan children in a scene with the French actress.

Throughout the 50s she appeared in several movies but received special acclaim for roles in live television plays on shows such as “Playhouse

Photo: CBS

Evelyn Rudie’s Hollywood memories

Actress and author Kay Thompson, who appeared in the TV production, with young Evelyn Rudie as Eloise.

90” and “General Electric Theater.”

For her performance as Eloise in the 1956 CBS “Playhouse 90” episode of the same name, Rudie became the first child nominated for an Emmy.

The TV play was based on the Eloise children’s book series from the 50s written by actress Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight. The

books portray the fictitious antics of young Eloise who lives in the New York City Plaza Hotel. With plenty of dialogue, Rudie’s character was central to the story and her performance on live TV was flawless (the 90minute show can be seen on YouTube), but the original plan was for Thompson to overdub Rudie’s voice.

“They wanted to know if I could say my lines if I was coached all day before the broadcast,” explained Rudie. “Well, I’d heard those lines every day for three weeks during rehearsals, so it really wasn’t any big deal for me.”

Rudie’s role in the 1959 “General Electric Theater” episode Nobody’s Child was also memorable, mainly due to her co-star.

“I worked with Ronald Reagan who was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” she said. “He had a way of

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looking at you that made you feel like you were the most important person in his life. He did that with the director, the gaffer, the lady in the commissary – everyone. Whether or not it was genuine who knows, but it probably served him well when he went into politics.”

And speaking of presidents, when bantering with Groucho Marx in 1959 on “You Bet Your Life,” she informed the comedian if she didn’t remain in acting, she wanted to become president of the United States stating, “a woman has just as much right to be president as a man does.” Not surprisingly for the time, the line drew only modest applause from the audience mixed with a sprinkling of what sounded like disapproving ‘oohs’ as well.

“At school, in first grade, we talked about career choices, so I only wanted to be president if my acting career didn’t work out. Fortunately, it did,” she said.

Rudie’s true acting passion turned out to be theater where she still works today. Along with husband Chris DeCarlo, the couple have been artistic directors since 1973 at the Santa Monica Playhouse where they also act in productions. This coming fall, the Playhouse will be premiering “My Father’s Trunk,” the story of her father’s years as an underground antiNazi cabaret creator. After he died in 1996, Rudie discovered an old trunk in the basement containing costumes, set designs, show programs, and most of the songs and sketches he wrote for the Secret Cabaret at the Tuschinski Theatre in Amsterdam.

“I’ve been translating the songs ever since and finally we’re ready to start putting the show together,” she says.

“In a way, I’m grateful I didn’t do more films or a TV series because a lot of kids who did became messed up.

I got to be a normal kid and enjoy an acting career at the same time.”

Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, in Alabama, and has written features, columns, and interviews for numerous magazines and newspapers. See getnickt.org.

Mature Focus • August 2024

13

Elder Law

By Ben Bekel, Quad City Life Planning

The benefits and pitfalls of beneficiary designations

states (including Illinois). As long as you have an individual listed as beneficiary who is alive when you pass, they will receive that asset automatically.

A properly established beneficiary designation has the added benefit of causing the asset to avoid probate, of course – if the asset passes automatically to a beneficiary, there is no need to invoke the power of the court to transfer it. Beneficiary designations are thus a powerful tool – and they also have the advantage of being far less costly in terms of money than having life and estate planning documents drawn up by an attorney.

When done correctly, beneficiary designations can be highly effective tools, and I occasionally recommend them to clients as well!

But the pitfalls of beneficiary designations can be deep and harsh. Let’s start with one obvious problem – the more accounts or assets you have, the more beneficiary designations you will need to set up. In other words, there is no way to switch beneficiary designations on all your accounts or assets all at once.

Instead, you will need to go to each financial

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“Oh, I have beneficiaries listed on all my bank accounts – why do I need a will?” This is another one of those questions I get frequently in my practice, usually asked by clients who have given a lot of thought to their life and estate planning and are also cost- and effort-conscious. After all, they have a point: if their assets are already set up to transfer automatically upon death, why on earth would you need anything more than that?

Before I get too far here, let’s define what we’re talking about. A beneficiary designation, a.k.a. a transfer on death designation or TOD, is a way in which we can cause specific accounts and assets to be contractually transferred to named beneficiaries upon our death. These are most often used for life insurance policies, but can be used for investment accounts, bank accounts, and even real estate in some

14 August 2024 • Mature Focus

both now and in the future.

For example, let’s say you have three children and three savings accounts of equal value, and let’s say you list one child on each account.

But then you have sudden expenses like medical bills and you have to deplete one of the accounts. If you don’t adjust your beneficiary designations in time, you’ve effectively disinherited the child who was supposed to receive that account – even if you had a will that said everything should be split evenly!

Another problem comes into play if one of our beneficiaries predeceases us. If we don’t have a contingent or backup beneficiary listed, that asset becomes part of our estate when we pass away and any benefit we realize from the beneficiary designation in terms of probate avoidance passes along with us.

The point is, the beneficiary designation is a fine tool for many clients, but like with any tool it’s important to get the right guidance before using it.

After all, you may not know how to best use it, and perhaps there might be another tool your life and estate planner can suggest that would help you achieve your goals. Always ask – like I tell my clients, the only dumb question is the one you don’t ask.

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.

they said it “My doctor recently told me that jogging could add years to my life.

I think he was right. I feel ten years older already.”

- Milton Berle

ˇ˔˜˟ˢ˥˘˗ ʶ˔˥˘˚˜˩˘˥ ʴ˦˦˘˦˦ˠ˘ˡ˧ ˔ˡ˗ ˅˘˙˘˥˥˔˟ ʴ˥˘ ˬˢ˨ ˛˘˟ˣ˜ˡ˚ ˦ˢˠ˘ˢˡ˘ ˪˜˧˛ ˕˔˧˛˜ˡ˚ʟ ˗˥˘˦˦˜ˡ˚ʟ ˘˥˥˔ˡ˗˦ʟ ˠ˘˗˜˖˔˧˜ˢˡʟ ˚ˢ˜ˡ˚ ˧ˢ ˔ˣˣˢ˜ˡ˧ˠ˘ˡ˧˦ʟ ˢ˥ ˔ˡˬ ˞˜ˡ˗ ˢ˙ ˛˘˟ˣ ˔˧ ˔˟˟ʲ

ˌˢ˨ ʴ˅ʸ ˔ ˖˔˥˘˚˜˩˘˥ʡ ˌˢ˨ ˔˥˘ ˡˢ˧ ˔˟ˢˡ˘ʔ ʵ˘˜ˡ˚ ˔ ˙˔ˠ˜˟ˬ ˖˔˥˘˚˜˩˘˥ ˖˔ˡ ˕˘ ˦˧˥˘˦˦˙˨˟ʡ ˊ˘ ˔˥˘ ˛˘˥˘ ˧ˢ ˛˘˟ˣʡ ˇʶʴ˅ʸ ˜˦ ˔ˡ ˔˦˦˘˦˦ˠ˘ˡ˧ ˧ˢˢ˟ ˧˛˔˧ ˙ˢ˖˨˦˘˦ ˢˡ ˬˢ˨˥ ˡ˘˘˗˦ʡ ˇ˛˥ˢ˨˚˛ ˔ ˦˘˥˜˘˦ ˢ˙ ˤ˨˘˦˧˜ˢˡ˦ʟ ˔ˡ ˜ˡ˗˜˩˜˗˨˔˟˜˭˘˗ ˖˔˥˘ ˣ˟˔ˡ ˪˜˟˟ ˕˘ ˖˥˘˔˧˘˗ ˧ˢ ˛˘˟ˣ ˬˢ˨ ˠ˔ˡ˔˚˘ ˬˢ˨˥ ˥ˢ˟˘ ˔ˡ˗ ˖ˢˡˡ˘˖˧ ˬˢ˨ ˧ˢ ˦˘˥˩˜˖˘˦ ˢ˙ ˦˨ˣˣˢ˥˧ʟ ˘˗˨˖˔˧˜ˢˡʟ ˔ˡ˗ ˔˦˦˜˦˧˔ˡ˖˘ʡ

ʶˢˡ˧˔˖˧ ˧˛˘ ˅ˢ˖˞ ʼ˦˟˔ˡ˗ ʶˢ˨ˡ˧ˬ ˆ˘ˡ˜ˢ˥ ʶ˘ˡ˧˘˥ ˧ˢ ˚˘˧ ˖ˢˡˡ˘˖˧˘˗ ˪˜˧˛ ˔ ˖˔˥˘˚˜˩˘˥ ˦ˣ˘˖˜˔˟˜˦˧ʭ

ʦʣʬʠʪʫʫʠʩʦʦʨ Mature Focus • August 2024

15

Pass your phone to the ballpark vendor on the aisle

By Greg Schwem I celebrated our nation’s birthday by taking in a ballgame at Wrigley Field, a park known for its rich history, neighborhood location and, with the exception of 2016, long-suffering

Chicago Cubs fans.

Also, its silence.

Oh, sure, Ian Happ brought the Cubs faithful to their feet on July 4 by going four for four and driving in six runs thanks to a pair of three-run dingers.

The Cubs even managed to hang on for a victory, eliciting a “Go, Cubs, Go” chorus from the faithful who stayed for the post-game player fist bumps.

No, I’m talking about the lost arts of

ordering and paying for ballpark food.

I didn’t see, or hear, one vendor slamming the lid of the metal crate worn around his neck, signaling not only late-in-life chronic back issues but also that hot dogs were nearby.

Instead, those same vendors gazed, with uncertainty, at the patrons, searching for hungry fans who hadn’t already pre-ordered their concessions.

Pre-ordered? As in order ahead of time? I didn’t even decide to attend the game until that morning. OK, it helps to live within walking distance from Wrigley, enabling me to stroll to the ticket window while most fans are packing their cars and fretting about what it will cost to park in an alley underneath public transit “L” tracks, which is where most Cubs fans park.

Now we use our phones to order our dogs, nachos and beer and head to the pre-order line to retrieve them or, in some cases, wait for the food to be

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begrudgingly passed my concession line.

Visa card down the row.

Unless of course I can use it to Four days later, I’m still request some more runs. Does anychecking my credit card body have Ian Happ’s cell number? statement hourly, conGreg Schwem is a corporate standvinced somebody, probup comedian and author of two books: ably the toddler, handled it “Text Me If You’re Breathing: long enough to memorize Observations, Frustrations and Life my card number, expiraLessons From a Low-Tech Dad” and tion date and security code. the recently released “The Road To Cybersecurity firms should Success Goes Through the Salad Bar: The purchase “upgrade” to the hot dog eating add the following excepA Pile of BS From a Corporate experience at Wrigley Field isn’t one Greg Schwem tion to their standard warn- Comedian,” available at Amazon.com. enjoys. ings of never sharing your personal information with DELIVERED to our seats. anyone: I refuse to take part in the food If you are hungry, or thirsty, at a delivery option. What happens if my ballpark, then it’s OK. order is incorrect? Do I pass my The Cubs’ season has passed the iPhone down the row, until it evenhalfway point. Hopefully they right tually reaches the hands of my their teetering ship, get hot and make “server” so he can see I ordered two the playoffs. I plan to attend several Bud Lights as opposed to one? I will more games, because I still believe, as gladly pass currency to strangers but broadcasting legend Harry Caray often not my phone. said, “You can’t beat fun at the old On that note, the “money passing” ballpark.” However, I will use my ritual has also disappeared, now that Gordy and Debbies phone as little as possible, even if it most ballparks have gone cashless. In Country Legends Show means standing in a lengthy a country where we’ve grown accusSaturday August 17, 2024 tomed to lying and at 7:00 p.m. cheating, mostly courtesy of our politicians, it was This Country Legends show is pure the most direct display of country music and storytelling at its honesty one could witfinest injecting humor and great audiness. It went like this: ence participation. You will hear Gordy Pass a $20 bill to the & Debbie perform the hits of Hank stranger on your left, Williams, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, who repeated the motion Lynn Anderson, Conway Twitty, with his neighbor and so Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rogers, Dolly on. Eventually the bill Parton, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, reached the vendor.

Johnny Cash, Tanya Tucker, Glenn During its journey that Campbell, Anne Murray, Willie Nelson, $20 was handled by Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, plus moms, toddlers, grandmany more. This show will be an mas and possibly guys experience you won't soon forget! with burglary convictions on their records.

But if the total was Tickets: $25 (advance), $28 (door) $16.71, I knew the entire Students (18 & under) Tickets: row would ensure I $15 (advance) $18 (door) received my $3.29 in Get Tickets Now! change. Along with my All Seating is General Admission food. Not one fan, even 1305 Fifth Avenue Office Hours: one wearing the rival 9 a.m.

1 p.m. Monday - Friday team’s jersey, would Moline, IL 1215 E Platt St., Maquoketa, IA 52060 even consider pocketing 563-652-9815 a quarter, a dollar bill or 309-762-9423 a french fry.

Tickets available online at www.griffinsfloorcrafters.com ohnwardfineartscenter.com In the fifth inning, I Mature Focus • August 2024

17

Top ten most Googled health questions answered

By Suzy Cohen, R.Ph. Navigating health information online can be overwhelming. This article explores the answers to the top ten most Googled health questions. Are you curious to know what everyone is asking “Dr. Google”? In no particular order, let’s find out.

1. How can I lower blood pressure? Lowering blood pressure involves dietary changes, regular exercise, stress management, and possibly medication. Adopting a balanced diet rich in leafy vegetables, berries, and healthy fats while reducing sugar intake is essential. Exercise regularly and manage stress through activities like yoga or meditation.

Consult a doctor if lifestyle changes are insufficient.

2. What is keto? The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carb diet that shifts the body from burning glucose to burning fat. It aids in rapid weight

loss and stabilizing blood sugar levels but may raise cholesterol levels in some individuals.

Additionally, many proponents of keto report increased energy levels and improved mental clarity. With proper planning and monitoring, the keto diet can be a sustainable and effective approach to long-term health and wellness.

3. How to get rid of hiccups?

Methods to stop hiccups include breath holding, drinking cold water quickly, and gargling. Persistent hiccups lasting over 48 hours may indicate an underlying health issue or medication reaction.

4. How long does the flu last? Flu symptoms typically last 3-7 days, with cough and fatigue potentially lingering for two weeks. Annual vaccinations and good hygiene are key preventative measures.

5. How to lower cholesterol?

Reducing cholesterol involves minimizing saturated and trans fats in your diet, consuming soluble fiber, and regular exercise. Avoid smoking and limit alcohol intake. Statins are usually prescribed when diet isn’t enough.

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6. How to relieve bloating? To alleviate bloating, avoid gas-producing foods, eat slowly, and skip gum and smoking. Over-the-counter medications can help. Causes include hormonal changes, gluten sensitivity and overeating.

7. What causes low blood pressure? Hypotension can result from dehydration, prolonged bed rest, pregnancy, side effects of medications, and medical conditions.

Symptoms include dizziness and fainting, necessitating a medical evaluation.

8. What causes warts? Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and spread by touching someone else’s wart and then your own skin, especially if you have low immunity or an open wound yourself. Preventative measures include avoiding touching warts and sharing personal items.

9. How to prevent a stroke?

Prevention involves managing health conditions like blood pressure and cholesterol, making healthy lifestyle choices, and regular medical checkups. Avoiding smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and treating sleep apnea are crucial. Be aware that some medications, such as certain hormone replacement therapies, can increase stroke risk.

10. How long is strep throat contagious? Strep throat is contagious for 2-3 weeks without treatment and 24-48 hours with antibiotics. Typical symptoms include a sore throat and fever. If not treated properly an earache may result, as well as more serious complications like mastoiditis, rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, hematuria and kidney inflammation.

For more detailed insights into the top ten most Googled health questions or to explore my previous articles, please visit my website suzycohen.com.

For more information, visit SuzyCohen.com.

Mature Focus • August 2024

19

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

By Jim Miller Q: How can I tell if the health info on a website is trustworthy? I usually do a Google search on a symptom, drug or health condition when I want to research something, but with so much information out there I’m not sure what I can trust.

A: You’re wise to be skeptical!

There’s an overwhelming amount of health advice on the internet today and it can be hard to tell what’s credible. To help you sort through the online clutter and locate reliable, trustworthy health information, here are a few tips to follow, along with some top-rated sites you can turn to with confidence.

Savvy Searching First, know that Google or Bing is not always the best place to start a search. You’ll increase your odds of finding reliable health information if you begin with websites run by government agencies (identified by URLs ending in .gov), medical associations (often .org) or academic institutions (.edu).

Commercial websites (usually ending in .com), such as drug or insurance companies who may be trying to sell you their products, are usually not the most trustworthy options. To find out who’s sponsoring a site and where the information came from, click on the “About Us” tab on the site’s home page.

Also note that good health and medical information changes all the time

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How to find reliable health information online so check the date that information was published to make sure it’s current.

Some other areas you need be wary of include online symptom checkers and artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

While symptom checkers do offer potential diagnoses that could fit your set of symptoms, they are often inaccurate, and tend to err on the side of caution says Ateev Mehrotra, MD, professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. AI tools, like ChatGPT, can also be wrong or generate false but scientific sounding information.

You also need to be cautious about using medical information from social media, online forums or YouTube.

Comments in these places may sound authoritative even if the authors have

no medical training or expertise.

Top Health Sites While there are many excellent websites that provide reliable health and medical information, one of the best all-purpose sites that’s recommended by Consumer Reports for researching symptoms and conditions is MedlinePlus (medlineplus.gov).

A service of the National Library of Medicine, the world’s largest medical library, and part of the National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus provides high-quality, trustworthy health and wellness information that’s easy to understand and free of advertising.

Here are a few additional websites, recommended by the Medical Library Association and others, to help you find reliable information on specific diseases, conditions and treatments.

Cancer: National Cancer Institute (cancer.gov), American Cancer Society (cancer.org) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (nccn.org).

Heart disease: American Heart Association (americanheart.org), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (nhlbi.nih.gov).

Diabetes: American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org).

Alzheimer’s disease: Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) and Alzheimers.gov.

Public health and vaccines: Center for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov).

Alternative medicine: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (nccih.nih.gov) and the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements (ods.od.nih.gov).

Any research you do online before seeing a doctor, be sure to save or print your findings out on paper, including the site you got your information from, so you can review it together.

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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21

Answers on Page 43.

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22 August 2024 • Mature Focus

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: 

Answers on page 43 ACROSS 1 Pairs 5 Actress Thurman 8 “Well done!” for a diva 13 “Shame on you!”

19 Bows’ shapes 20 Is able to 21 Fundamental 22 Not planted 23 Coach inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 25 Make dim, as by tears 26 Meal with a pastry crust 27 Spanish for 70-Down 28 “Star Trek” lieutenant Yar 30 Fashion designer once known for his metal couture 32 Equal to the face value 34 Shul text 36 Cartel formed in ‘60 37 Dress up, with “out” 38 “The Human Stain” novelist 40 Hazy stuff 41 Heads, to Fifi 43 Sleek, in brief 44 Foot cover 46 Fido’s pests 48 -- -Magnon 49 Soccer’s Chastain 52 Player of Clair Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” 55 Drink like Fido 56 Greek coin 58 Baseballer Slaughter 59 Jurists’ gp.

60 Speck in the ocean 63 High choir voice 65 Ivory tickler 69 Star of 2015’s “Ant-Man” 71 Prior to 72 She played Lulu Hogg on “The Dukes of Hazzard” 73 Six-stanza poem 74 Siberian husky, e.g.

76 Skyrockets 77 Tolkien fiend 78 Moisturizer brand 79 Rim 81 Tiny peeve 82 Star of “Trapper John, M.D.” 87 Apprise 90 Bullfight cry 91 Really unkind 92 German river 93 Golf champ McIlroy 94 Gettysburg victor George 96 Bucket 98 “Kindergarten Cop” co-star 103 Obsolescent TV hookup 104 Mia of soccer 105 Chichi tie 106 Give birth, as a cow 107 1960-89 NFL commissioner 110 Ordeal 112 Kuwait export

113 Reply 114 Cacophony 116 What nine featured celebrities in this puzzle are?

118 Puerto Ricans, e.g.

119 Certain opening for a bolt 120 Bray syllable 121 Sensed 122 Bitcoins, e.g.

123 Ends 124 Census stat 125 Punky Brewster player Soleil Moon -DOWN 1 Mic-testing sound 2 Ghost 3 Ink-squirting mollusks 4 Lithuania, once: Abbr.

5 West Coast sch. with the Bruins 6 Eminent conductor 7 Slangy “Well, then ...”

8 Fraud-finding org.

9 Polo designer Lauren 10 Sailing 11 It bought MTV in 1985 12 Old Athenian citadel 13 Rap’s Shakur 14 Snooty sort 15 Univ. in the Midwest’s

Manhattan 16 First-rate 17 Heyday of Glenn Miller 18 Leg part 24 “That was my best shot” 29 Place to buy sketchpads 31 Aqua -- (corrosive liquid) 33 Actor Ladd 35 Matey’s cry 39 -- -dieu (prayer bench) 40 Scraped, as an 18-Down 41 Pouches for infusion 42 Turf for lawns 45 Having bright peepers 47 James Bond player Daniel 49 Radar signals 50 Tabulae -- (blank slates) 51 High grade 52 Spur on 53 Dove sound 54 Panasonic bought it in 2009 57 Beef quality rater, in brief 61 “Candle in the Wind” singer John 62 Old Greek warship 64 Change the tag on 65 Actor Simon of “Mission: Impossible” films 66 Tehran native 67 Sans -- (font style) 68 Delicious

70 72 74 75 78 80 82 83 84 85 86 88 89 93 95 97

Dad’s brother Peas’ places -- -mo Take away (from) Holiday tree danglers Organic compound Petite pooch, for short An hour before noon Laughs at, say Bolivian capital 435 in Cong.

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Mature Focus • August 2024

23

By Doris Montag Lightning strikes are dangerous when they hit a structure resulting in a fire, or electrocution if they hit a person. Lightning is caused when an excess negative electrical charge builds up in the clouds. It's discharged when a lightning bolt jumps from the clouds to the positive charge on the ground. Lightning can strike at one third the speed of light and at temperatures exceeding 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It can damage structures made of masonry, wood, concrete and even steel. The strong electrical current can heat materials, especially water, to high temperatures which can cause fire, loss of material strength and explosions from super-heated steam and air.

One day, Benjamin Franklin was flying a kite when it was struck by lightning that burned up the kite. He

24 August 2024 • Mature Focus

wondered if it was possible to attract lightning bolts. He tied a metal key to his kites and continued flying them on stormy days until he was able to capture another bolt.

Electricity traveled down the string of the kite until reaching the key. His kite experiments proved that thunderclouds are electrified, and that lightning is an electrical discharge.

Franklin proposed that a building could be protected from lightning by placing a pointed iron rod at the peak of the building with a wire, often copper, running down the building to another rod buried into the earth. Once on the ground, the electricity of the lightning bolt would be diluted and absorbed. In 1752 he finalized his design of the first lightning rod and the following year the first rods were installed.

In the ensuing years, major buildings added lightning rods with great success. The use of lightning rods on roofs in the United States (and later in the rest of the world) has saved countless lives and has prevented unknown numbers of fires.

Solid glass balls were incorporated into the design of some lightning rods just below the highest point. Glass is an insulator and does not conduct electricity. If struck by lightning, the glass

Photo: Raul Heinrich

Lightning rods

Lightning striking the lightning rod of the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada.

will shatter. This served to confirm an electrical strike and suggest the lightning protection system should be inspected for damage.

The Eiffel Tower was designed as a giant lightning rod. At over 325 meters tall, the Tower receives an average of five lightning strikes per year. Another example of a modern lightning collector is a construction crane. Most residential homes do not have lightning rods due to the rare occurrence of strikes on small structures. Long-time firefighters might disagree.

Today, lightning rods are required on structures over 200 feet tall (60 meters). Most are of the traditional Franklin design. A system of lightning protection conductors and Bring the forfo for Bring theWhole WholeFamily F Faamily lightning rods are installed on the building to intercept Old Ti Time Fu F un at Pioneer Vill lage!

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here’s a tip

By JoAnn Derson ☞ Glassware will sparkle if you add a capful of bleach to the rinse water when hand-washing dishes. ☞ Berries are in season, and I use berry baskets for lots of little storage uses. The best one is to use one to hold my sponges at the sink area. It keeps small brushes corralled as well. ☞ To keep salt from coming out of a saltshaker too quickly, add some plain, uncooked white rice to the salt. The large grains of rice will block some of the holes, causing less salt to come out with each shake. ☞ When I take my dog to “Grandma” for dog sitting, I measure out each meal into a plastic zipper-top bag. This way, Mom doesn’t have to remember how much to feed at each mealtime, and it makes it easy to serve. ☞ I use the large pails of kitty litter. They have a lid that can be removed completely but also has a pour spout. I save my empties to collect rainwater. I remove the lid and set them out to catch water when it rains, then put the lid on so that the water does not attract mosquitoes. I use it to water my flowers between storms. ☞ Create your own charging station: Find a wooden box large enough to hold a multistrip power connection and pretty enough to sit on the counter. Drill one hole in the side to fit the plug. In the top of the box, create holes through which you can fit your electronics connectors (cellphones, iPad, camera, etc.). All the cords will be stored in the box, out of sight. ☞ If you pull all the way into your garage, tack some carpet scraps to the wall that you pull in toward. It will protect the wall's paint, and it will protect your car's bumper if you accidentally rub the wall.

Mature Focus • August 2024

25

Sweat and the city

By Susan Goldfein It’s summer 2024 and this genetically predisposed city kid is once again happily roaming Manhattan’s upper west side, walking Sam the dog, and gawking. As a confessed non-reader of fashion magazines or the New York Times Styles section, there is still no place like a big city to discover the current trends in female apparel. The sidewalks are a veritable

runway, with scores of young women reflecting what’s hip this season.

This energetic neighborhood is home to gaggles of young Xs, Ys, and Zs, but with an adequate number of those of us who look like their chaperones to assure me that I still belong on this planet. I’m stumped, however, by how all these 20-somethings can afford the rent. Perhaps that is a clue to their outfits. I will explain.

Two years ago, in my first urban outfitter report, I noted that the fashion statement of the day was the bellybutton. The hot look was crop tops accompanied by bottoms that rested just below the navel. Whether the bottoms were short skirts or baggy

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26 August 2024 • Mature Focus

cargo pants, exposed navels were in (or out).

In 2023 it was all about the breast.

Bras, bikini tops and backless blouses were all the rage. Wear a blouse or a jacket, but don’t button it. And make sure the blouse was sheer.

Now, in 2024, as I stroll the city streets, I have drawn these conclusions. The gym business must be

flourishing. Peloton sales are through the roof. And exercise videos are on back order. Workout wear is the order of the day.

Gym clothes are no longer reserved for the gym. If you want to look hot (no pun intended) this summer, simply step out of the dressing room at Lulu Lemon and onto the sidewalk. Oh, and don’t forget to remove the tags.

Tight-fitting bottoms, exercise bras, mostly black, and bare midriffs are this summer’s urban chic. The bottoms can be long or short, but they must be clingy. And once again, as in the two years prior, this look is not limited to the thinnest among us.

Fuller-figured women would also have us believe they are either coming from or going to Zumba class.

Am I to take away from all of this

spandex that these young women have found religion in their dedication to physical fitness, or is this look merely feigning a righteous life?

I’m reminded of a time when we owned a house near a beach. That beach suddenly became a very popular surfing destination. The entire town became filled with cars with surf boards attached to the roofs. All the cool people it seemed rode around with surf boards. I started to feel like an outsider. Being somewhat fearful of the ocean waters I never considered learning to surf.

But should that stop me from driving around town

with a board atop my SUV? Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not judging the wardrobe choices, merely observing. And poking a little fun. I’m sure if I wrote a note to my younger self I would tell her to go for the look.

Gym wear as street wear that is, not surfboards on cars.

I think I understand how the rent is paid. When your wardrobe needs are limited to tights and workout bras there’s likely room in the budget for groceries as well. At least until winter arrives!

Visit Susan’s blog, susansunfilteredwit.com.

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More details visit moline1962.com or call Terry Kramer at 309 373 7239 Mature Focus • August 2024

27

Midsummer annuals

Midnight Gardener

By Lori Rose Do your container plantings need a facelift? Try these pot and basket rejuvenating tips, along with heat and drought tolerant plants, to give your containers a fresh look for the long hot season.

The dirt in your garden beds may be great for growing plants in the ground, but plants in pots are a different matter.

When used in a container, even the best garden soil has a tendency to settle and harden. Garden soil can also contain insect larvae, weed seeds, and harmful spores. Potting soil that is specially formulated for potted plants provides the correct levels of aeration and water retention.

Planting in large containers results in healthier root systems, less watering, and more flowers. Fill the bottom of extra-large containers with gravel or sand before adding the potting soil to prevent them from toppling. As the summer wears on, plants will mature, and their roots can become so exten-

28 August 2024 • Mature Focus

sive that the soil in the pot virtually disappears. When your container annuals pass their prime, you can trim the roots of plants that will remain in the container, or replace them with new ones. Replant them after adding more soil mix, some time released plant food such as Osmocote, and a moisture retainer such as Soil Moist.

Water potted plants when the soil just below the surface feels dry. In hotter weather, this could mean watering every day. Plants in a sunny location may need water several times a day. Shallow window boxes and hanging baskets dry out faster than deep containers. Try not to let containers dry out completely.

A layer of mulch on top of the potting soil helps protect the planting from the sun and from moisture loss.

Try decorative mulches such as pebbles, packaged moss, or cocoa bean hulls that smell like chocolate. Be creative!

Pretty Plants that Beat the Heat Osteospermum is a tongue twister that means Cape Daisy or African Daisy. The plant covers itself in pretty flowers with unique purple eyes, and it loves the sun. It comes in pink, purple, cream, white, yellow and orange.

Choose your favorite to compliment any color combination.

Verbena officinalis (also known as vervain) is a lovely hanging plant

whose purple, hot pink or red flowers beautify baskets, window boxes, and container edges. They laugh at heat and drought, and revive quickly if they wilt.

The common marigold (Tagetes) comes in some very uncommon color combinations and sizes from mini to pompom. Use them for a splash of red, orange, yellow or cream. As with the South African Daisy and the verbena, marigolds love being deadheaded and will respond well to being cut back if they start getting tired.

To add a soft touch to any container, try silvery dusty miller (Centaurea cineraria or Senecio), or wormwood (Artemisia). They both have finely cut gray-green leaves that are especially striking with pinks and purples.

Or, for something completely

By Lucie Winborne

different, plant an herb container, or add an herb or two to existing containers. The different colors, shapes and sizes of the leaves of rosemary, sage, chives, thyme and oregano give distinct scents and texture to container plantings.

Here are some other drought and heat beating annuals for containers.

For sun: Nasturtium has loads of yellow, orange or red flowers over edible heart-shaped leaves. Portulaca (Portulaca Grandiflora) shows off a rainbow of rose-like flowers over a low mat of pointy succulent leaves. These are both low growing, trailing plants. The Zinnia Elegans Profusion Series sports hundreds of daisy shaped flowers on a medium sized plant with tiny leaves. Lobelia is a small plant with beautiful flowers that range from light blue to deep purple.

For shade: Impatiens are one of the best flowering shade plants, and they come in a variety of pretty colors. Wax begonia (Semperflorens Cultorum) is another great flowering shade plant, with unique flowers and shiny leaves in shades of green or maroon. Coleus (Plectranthus scutellar-

✐ Guglielmo Marconi, whose invention of wireless telegraphy was credited for saving the lives of over 700 Titanic passengers after it sank in 1912, had turned down a free passage on the ship, choosing instead to go to America via the Lusitania three days earlier. He narrowly missed death at sea a second time in 1915, when he was again a passenger on the Lusitania, about a month before it was sunk by a German U-boat. ✐ The story of Cinderella first ioides) is a foliage plant that comes in appears in a Chinese book written in striking dark, light or mixed colors the 850s. and can have scalloped or frilly leaves. ✐ Margaret Dixon, a Scottish crimDon’t despair over summer-weary inal, was hanged at Musselburgh in containers. Try these easy tricks to 1728. However, just a few hours later, revive them, and yourself. she climbed out of her coffin, and was Lori Rose, the Midnight Gardener, is reprieved and pardoned. Still, as her a Temple University Certified Master husband was considered a widower Home Gardener and member of the because she was “officially” deceased, GWA: The Association for Garden Scottish law dictated that they had to Communicators. She has been writing remarry. about gardening for over twenty years. ✐ On April Fools’ Day 1957, the Email Lori at midnightgardener@ BBC television documentary hotmail.com.

“Panorama” broadcast a documentary about the so-called spaghetti orchards of Switzerland, with discussions of spaghetti plantations in Switzerland and Italy, the spaghetti weevil, and the reason for the pasta’s being of such uniform lengths held against a background of Swiss “spaghetti trees.”

Many viewers, forgetting or failing to notice the date, believed the orchards were real! ✐ Groups of geese on the ground are called a gaggle, but in the air they’re referred to as a skein. ✐ Honey has been used as a center for golf balls and in antifreeze mixtures. ✐ The Romans used poisonous lead as a sweetening agent. ✐ In 1974, the U.S. Army Materiel Command ran a contest to name its new headquarters building and received around 500 entries. The winner? “The AMC Building.”

Mature Focus • August 2024

29

Healthy Eyes: Blepharitis

By William J. Benevento, M.D. On my very first day as a resident in ophthalmology, I took care of a patient with blepharitis. One month later, I had lost count of how many people I had seen with the very same disease. Blepharitis is a very common and treatable disease of the eye.

The surface of the eye is the most sensitive part of the body; nowhere is there a denser packing of nerve endings. This is protective, causing reflex tearing whenever a foreign substance is on the eye, flushing it out. It also makes the eye much more susceptible to chronic irritation, such as that encountered with blepharitis.

Blepharitis is, by definition, an inflammation of the eyelids. People with it complain of itching, burning, tearing, crusting around the eyes (especially upon awakening), and a mild pain or a gritty feeling to the eyes. The hallmark of the disease is

red eyelid margins with debris on the eyelashes. The debris can be caused by bacteria or seborrhea (like dandruff). As they accumulate on the lashes, some of the crusty flakes fall into the eyes (or are rubbed into them) and set up the irritation and tearing.

They may also inflame the meibomian (oil producing) glands on the eyelid, further disrupting the tear film. To relieve the symptoms, the debris must be eliminated.

The good news about blepharitis is that frequently it is fairly easy to control; the bad news is that it’s nearly impossible to totally eradicate. The mainstay of therapy is warm compresses and eyelid scrubs. Initially, the compresses are used once or twice a day for a minute or two at a time to loosen up the debris on the lashes and open up the glands on the edge of the eyelid. The gentle eyelid scrubs are usually done with the same washcloth to remove the loosened debris and

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massage the lids. If the blepharitis is associated with a dry eye (as it commonly is), artificial tears are used to help with the symptoms. In severe cases, an antibiotic ointment, drop, or pill is added to the regimen.

Though most people with blepharitis do not suffer any significant long-term damage to their eyes, it is important to be examined and treated by an eye care specialist if you have the disease.

Blepharitis can be associated with other disorders such as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (severe dry eye), acne rosacea, and seborrheic dermatitis, which may require additional (and more aggressive) treatment. Untreated, blepharitis can lead to recurrent styes, scarring of the eyelid margin, painful inflammatory reactions on the surface of the eye, and poor vision. Other ocular problems may look like blepharitis, including allergies, viral and bacterial infections, blockages of the tear ducts, and eyelid malpositions. Very rarely, even some forms of cancer may mimic a chronic blepharitis.

Most people with untreated blepharitis are miserable. Their eyes are red, itch, burn, and tear. If you have the symptoms of this controllable disease, please call your eye doctor. After all, that little itch may be telling you something.

Dr. Benevento is a board certified ophthalmologist. He practices in Bettendorf, Iowa. For more information, visit esaeyecare.com.

The material contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider.

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Never date a tennis player.

Love means nothing to them.

All the news that’s fit

By Scott LaFee Observation “Psychiatry enables us to correct our faults by confessing our parents’ shortcomings.” - Canadian educator and “Peter principle” inventor Laurence J. Peter (1919-1990) Body of Knowledge The average duration of a single blink of the human eye is 0.3 seconds.

A normal breath takes five seconds: two to inhale, three to exhale. A normal swallow takes eight to 12 seconds, from mouth to stomach. The average yawn lasts six seconds.

Service Dogs for PTSD Veterans In the largest study of its type, funded by the National Institutes of Health, researchers found that veterans who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder endure less severe symptoms and experience significantly less depression and anxiety when they have a psychiatric service dog.

It was also the first study on this topic to use blind ratings, meaning that clinicians who assessed patients’ outcomes didn’t know whether they had a dog or not. All participants had full access to other types of mental health care during the study, which suggests service dogs should be given in combination with standard care, the authors wrote.

deemed modest - and some safety concerns persist. Nonetheless, Leqembi is the first and only approved, disease-modifying therapy for early-onset Alzheimer’s. Nearly seven million Americans, most aged 65 and older, have the neurologic condition.

Never Say ‘Diet’ The Major League Eating speedeating record for sweet corn is 61.75 ears in 12 minutes, held by Carmen Cincotti, who could do no butter.

made by a metal instrument, around the lesions, suggesting the sufferers were undergoing surgical treatment related to their cancers.

Medical Myths Sinking into an icy tub after a hard workout seems like a good, albeit chilly, way to reduce inflammation.

But not all inflammation is bad inflammation, and if you routinely resort to icy baths, you slow or stop the inflammation’s repair process, which recruits various types of immune cells that regulate the activation, expansion and differentiation of muscle stem cells that lead to muscle regeneration.

So chill out sparingly. The same advice applies to anti-inflammatory medications like NSAIDs. Take them only when treating an injury.

Stories for the Waiting Room New archeological findings underscore the fact that ancient Egyptians possessed advanced medical skills beyond treating infections, bone breaks and tooth cavities. Two skulls unearthed - one from a man in his thirties who could have died as early as 2687 B.C., the other a female over age 50 from at least 343 B.C. - conTile tained lesions consistent with cancer- Wood ous tumors.

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In 2025, Medicare estimates it will spend $3.5 billion on Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi, which received formal Food and Drug Administration approval last year. That’s a huge jump from the $550 million Medicare expects to cover in 2024.

Clinical trials have found Leqembi slows cognitive decline caused by Alzheimer’s, but the benefits are Mature Focus • August 2024

31

Talking Digital: How emojis improve clarity and connection

By Adam Cochran

texting is a great way to communicate: Texting can often feel like the “I had to stop for gas. Be there in worst way to communicate. Although 10 minutes.” that might sound extreme, it’s a sen“I’m heading to the store. Are we timent many can relate to, especially out of milk?” when text messages seem to be the “Have you heard this new song by culprit behind a significant portion of Judah & the Lion?” arguments and misunderstandings.

These messages are concise and However, texting isn’t always bad. require no immediate, detailed It can be the most efficient method response. Therefore, a phone call is for straightforward updates or queslikely unnecessary. tions where a phone call isn’t necesOn the other hand, texting falls sary. Here are a few instances where short for more sensitive conversations. Here are Independent Senior Living 55+ • 1&2 BRs some examples where texts can do more harm than g n good: i a ko n s !

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Ap “Here’s evidence that your perspec3425 60th St. Moline, IL 61265 65 tive is dumb…”

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It’s unfortunate that texting has become our primary form of communication because it prevents progress in relationships that happen naturally through direct in-person conversation

or even via a traditional phone call.

Have you ever had an argument or big misunderstanding via text? If so, how often? How do your answers to those questions compare to how often you have resolved concerns, compromised or made up via text?

A texting feud that lasts days can often be resolved in a matter of minutes if the parties agree to a phone call or a face-to-face

conversation. That’s also why texting is the preferred method of conversation for manipulative people (i.e. scammers) because they don’t have to look the other person in the eyes.

The biggest problem with texting is that it lacks all forms of non-verbal communication, including tone, body language and facial expressions.

When we rely solely on text, we miss out on these elements that help convey emotions and intentions more clearly.

That’s why emojis were invented.

Emojis can serve as a form of condensed language or versatile punctuation, adding emotional nuance to otherwise flat text messages. They can act as stand-ins for the non-verbal cues missing in digital communication, helping to clarify the sentiment behind the words and reduce misunderstandings.

For some people, emojis might seem out of place or overly casual, but considering the informal nature of texting, incorporating emojis can enhance understanding and convey feelings that plain text might not.

Using emojis more often can result in more effective and expressive conversations.

Navigating the nuances of texting can be tricky, especially when it comes to conveying tone. No matter how well you know a person, sarcasm rarely transfers in a text message. A simple “OK” can be a casual affirmative answer or it can be a passive aggressive response when a more complete answer is expected.

When texting, especially if it’s a long text with emotional context, include as many emojis as necessary to ensure it’s interpreted correctly. It may seem juvenile or silly, but emojis are there to save friendships and resolve concerns.

Lastly, if you ever do have a misunderstanding, there is a special feature on your smartphone that allows you to clear things up almost instantly - voice calls.

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

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33

FINANCIAL FOCUS ®

By Edward Jones During your working years, you know where your income is coming from because you’re working. But once you retire, you’ll have to identify your income sources, know how much you can expect from them and know how to manage them to help support a retirement that could last two or three decades.

Where will your retirement income come from? And what decisions will you need to make about these income sources?

Consider the following: • Retirement accounts. If you’ve regularly contributed to an IRA and a 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan, you likely have accumulated substantial

Retirees must identify and manage income sources amounts of money in these accounts - but during your retirement, you’ll need to start tapping into them. In fact, once you turn 73, you’re required to start taking withdrawals from some of your retirement accounts, with the amount determined by your age and account balance. You could take out more than these amounts (technically called required minimum distributions, or RMDs) but you can’t take less without incurring penalties. Many people take out four percent of their balance each year, and this guideline may be reasonable, but everyone’s situation is different. You’ll need to weigh various factors including your age, health and other sources of income before deciding on an appropriate withdrawal rate.

• Social Security. You can start collecting Social Security at age 62, but your payments

will be much higher if you wait until your full retirement age, which will be between 66 and 67. And your benefits will reach the maximum amount if you wait until 70 before collecting. Your decision on when to take your benefits will depend on whether you can afford to wait, and for how long. In making this choice, you’ll also need to consider your health and your family history of longevity. And if you’re married, you may want to factor in spousal benefits when deciding when you should collect Social Security. A spouse can receive either their own benefit, based on their work record, or up to 50% of their spouse’s benefit, whichever is greater. If one spouse has a much higher benefit, it may make sense for that spouse to delay taking Social Security as long as possible so both spouses can

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34 August 2024 • Mature Focus

receive bigger payments.

• Earned income. Even if you have retired from one career, it doesn’t mean you can never receive any earned income again. If you have specific skills that can translate to part-time work or a consulting arrangement, you might want to consider reentering the work force in this way. With the added income, you might be able to afford delaying Social Security, and you would still be eligible to contribute to an IRA. • Supplemental lifetime income.

There aren’t many guarantees in the financial and investment worlds - but

one of them is the income from a fixed annuity, which can be structured to provide you with a lifetime income stream. Annuities aren’t for everyone, however, and they do involve penalties for early withdrawals and lack of protection from inflation.

By learning all you can about your potential retirement income sources, and by understanding how to manage this income to your best advan-

tage, you can help yourself achieve a comfortable - and more rewarding retirement.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

Edward Jones, Member SIPC.

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Mature Focus • August 2024

35

Mayo Clinic Q & A: Screening for skin cancer - who’s at risk?

By Collin Costello, M.D., Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona

annual skin exam. For some, screening should take place more frequently. People without any of those risk factors Q: My husband noticed a dark may not need a screening mole on my back when we were exam on an annual basis, but swimming. Should I be worried it is important to check your about skin cancer? I do my best to skin regularly and contact apply sunscreen. What other preyour healthcare team with any ventive measures can I take? changes to existing moles.

A: If you have a concerning spot Keep in mind that not all on your skin, you should have it evalchanges are caused by skin A concerning spot on the skin should be uated by your primary care team or cancer. evaluated by a dermatologist. dermatologist. There are three major During screening, the kinds of skin cancer — squamous patient will undress and be cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma covered in a robe to examine of the day as well as tanning and tanand melanoma. Melanoma is the ning beds. People who sunburn easily their skin entirely. We use a dermatomost dangerous. The first sign of scope, a light magnifier that helps to are especially at risk. melanoma is a change in an existing look into the first layer of the skin There’s a big misconception that mole or a new, unusual-looking the only place you should be looking surface. This gives us a good idea of growth on the skin. Characteristics of for melanoma is in sun-exposed areas whether a spot is concerning or not. a mole that may indicate melanoma If a skin cancer is identified, the such as the arms, legs, back and face. are: patient will often have either an exciThat is certainly the case for the * Asymmetrical shape. sion or Mohs surgery. An excision majority of melanoma, but a small * Unusual border. has predefined safety edges (margins) number of melanomas can occur * Changes in color and size. to ensure the entire skin cancer is without sun exposure at all. These * New symptoms such as itchiness appear underneath the toenails, finremoved. During Mohs surgery, a or bleeding. very small amount of skin around the gernails, feet, toes and palms.

There are several different types of edge of the spot will be removed. The In general, people with a personal melanoma. The most common type is history of melanoma, family history patient is checked under a microcaused by sun exposure, so be sure to of melanoma and individuals over the scope during the procedure to ensure wear protective clothing and sunage of 60 to 65 — particularly people it is all taken. This procedure allows screen of at least 30 SPF year-round. with light-colored hair and light-eye for the smallest scar and smallest area Avoid intense sun during the middle color — are likely to benefit from an to be removed while ensuring the entire area of concern is eliminated.

Mohs surgery is often used on the face, scalp and neck.

Nowadays, there are multiple skincare screening apps out there. These Decorate your home with apps either help you track your moles RED, WHITE and BLUE over time to identify if they’re changing or photograph an individual spot bunting/fan drapes and on your skin you’re worried about. seasonal banners! Ask about Apps that use artificial intelligence Ask about the TELESCOPING Flag pole are still in their infancy. In the future, our solar this technology will likely be benefi✮ rope and pulley free ✮ noise free flag pole light cial to help us but for now, contact your healthcare team with concerns. ✮ maintenance free ✮ durable ✮ optional RV wheel stand available

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Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care.

E-mail a question to MayoClinic Q&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayo clinic.org.

❖ On Aug. 12, 30 B.C., Cleopatra, queen of Egypt and lover of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, takes her life following the defeat of her forces against Octavian, the future first emperor of Rome. ❖ On Aug. 13, 1878, a restaurant owner dies of yellow fever in Memphis, Tennessee, after a man who had escaped a quarantined steamboat visited her restaurant. In the 19th century, it was not known that mosquitoes carried yellow fever, and victims were quarantined in an attempt to prevent its spread. ❖ On Aug. 7, 1912, former president Theodore Roosevelt is nominated for the presidency by the Progressive Party. Also known as the Bull Moose Party, its platform called for the direct election of U.S. senators, women’s suffrage and reduction of tariffs. ❖ On Aug. 6, 1930, New York Supreme Court Judge Joseph Force Crater vanished on the streets of Manhattan, setting off a massive investigation that captured the nation's attention and earned him the notable title of “the missingest man in New York.” Crater was declared legally dead nine years later. But although evidence surfaced in 2005 that he may have been murdered, the case was never officially solved. ❖ On Aug. 8, 1963, the 15 men involved in the Britain’s Great Train Robbery use an ex-British Army truck and two stolen Land Rover allterrain vehicles to escape with some $7 million in stolen loot. ❖ On Aug. 8, 1975, the term “global warming” appeared in print for the first time in Wallace Smith Broecker's paper “Climatic Change: Are We on the Brink of a Pronounced Global Warming?” ❖ On Aug. 11, 1984, President Ronald Reagan, while testing a microphone before a radio address, jokingly announces, “My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”

❖ On Aug. 11, 1984, South African runner Zola Budd collided with American favorite Mary Decker at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, causing Decker to fall and

drop out of the race. The crowd began booing, and Budd, who many believed would be a medal winner with Decker, ended up in seventh place.

Join us forr upcoming Club acctivities!

An active ve lifestyle fe ty ffo or 55+

Like us on Facebook Facebook.com/Plus60

August 22 – Celebration Belle Dinner Cruise Come aboard in Moline with us at 5:15pm on Thu ursday, y,, August 22, ffo or a Celebration Belle dinner cruise. This event ffe eatures the Captain’s delicious Prime Rib and a bountiful bufffe et, plenty of room ffo orr dining,, dancing, socializing, viewing the mighty Mississippi,, and enjoying the sunset beffo ore returning to the Moline dock. The dining decks are climate controlled and handicapped accessible via ramp and elevator.

This is a Plus 60 members event and each attending Club member pays only $56 (including meal gratuity).. Not a member? Anyone aged 55 or older is eligible to join our non-profit social club fo forr a 3-year term by separately paying dues of $10. $10. Obtain this event’’ss R Registration Form by visiting the Club’’ss EVENTS Monthly Calendar at qctplus60.com/events/ month/2024-08/.. Or,r,, call or text Board member John at 309-738-6826 ffo or assistance on registering by August 15 ffo or the dinner cruise and/or applying ffo or membership.

August 26 – Concert in the Park Welcome musician Angela Meyer to the band shell stage from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.. at V Ve eterans Memorial Park,, 1645 23rd St., Bettendorff.. This is a free 2 hour concert.. Seating is in the picnic pavilion shelter or ffe eel free to bring your own lawn chair,r,, lunch and non-alcoholic beverage to the park to enjoy. Financial Logic of Bettendorff,, owned by Kevin Klute, and United Healthcare are our sponsors fo for the 2024 Concerts in the Park series.

September 19 – Day trip to Oktoberfest Luncheon We will travel from the Quad Cities on a chartered Tri-State Travel deluxe motorcoach to Joliet, Illinois with free parking and motorcoach boarding locations in Davenport and Moline. Upon arriving at about 10:30 am,, we will disembark ffo or a self-guided tour of the Jacob Henry Mansion,, built in 1873 and known fo for its Victorian charm as a National Landmark.

After touring the Mansion,, we will be welcomed into the Gathering Hall for lunch, featuring German-style cuisine of pork roast, sauerkraut, potatoes, fo tossed garden salad, pretzel rolls with course brown mustard, warm apple strudel ffo or dessert, cofffe ee and tea.. After lunch, Jimmy’’ss Bavarians will be on the stage to entertain us with the music of a good Polka Band! We will bid “Auf Wiedersehen!”” to our gracious hosts and leave around 2:45 pm ffo or our return journey to the Quad Cities.

The cost of the trip is $135 per person and includes all gratuities. Obtain this event’s Registration Form by visiting the Club’s EVENTS Monthly Calendar at qctplus60.com/events/month/2024-09/.. Call or text Board member John at 309-738-6826 ffo or assistance on registering by August 16 for this day trip and/or applying ffo fo or Club membership.

Mature Focus • August 2024

37

Her name was ‘Grandpa’

By Lynn Walker Gendusa How do you love a child? How do you become the memory which evokes timeless smiles? Does your life exemplify your ethical beliefs and encourage children to follow you?

The greatest gift we have as adults are children in our lives. It doesn’t matter if we are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or friends of a child.

Loving a little one and having the love returned is a more magnificent blessing than all the riches in the world.

Period.

My brother, John, was three and watching his favorite Grandmother prepare biscuits. He watched as the flour hit the dough board and dusted the air. She was talking to him the entire time and laughed as the white powder settled on his eyelashes.

John was having a lot of trouble with her name, “Grandma.” Since he was born with six grandmothers, he would easily get them confused. Two great, great grandmothers, two great grandmothers, and two grandmothers

all residing in the same town! Plus, they all wanted to be called Grandma!

Even though John had six grandmothers, he had only one living grandfather.

Suddenly, while standing beside this Grandma in her kitchen, he thought the solution would be to rename his favorite, making her special.

His coal brown eyes opened wide as he tugged his Grandmother’s apron, “You gonna be Grandpa!”

“John, I am Grandma, and he is your Granddaddy,” she replied as she pointed to her husband.

“You Grandpa, and he Granddaddy!” he emphatically stated again before stomping away.

From that moment on, nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren would forever call her Grandpa.

The name would also be representative of unconditional love. A love that allowed her name to be whatever these children wanted to call her.

Many people have crossed my path in life, but, without question, I have never known anyone quite like Grandpa.

She didn’t just say, “I love you,” she bestowed love in countless ways.

There was nothing she adored more than children. For those nine grandchildren who were in her life, we all knew that to be fact. When she played or talked with us, she became our age.

She even let us play with the wrinkles on her hand and make fun of her false teeth until she got new ones. She laughed at herself and was never embarrassed by any of us.

I can recall being in her small home with many of my cousins. Grandpa

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would play board games and tell us stories all day. Going fishing and enjoying picnics were a Grandpa staple.

In the evenings, right before she went to her room to join my sleeping grandfather, she sat at the end of the hall and read her Bible. Her faith taught us the meaning of priorities.

When she played games, she never let any of us win. By honestly playing as hard as she could, she demonstrated for us how to have the grace to lose and how to be fair.

Her garden bloomed in July with white gladiolas that reached up to the sun. In her garden she taught us that out of dirt, toil, and care comes

beauty.

When we stayed with Grandpa, she made sure she had everyone’s favorite food in the house. She would cook until her old apron was soiled and dark. By her example, we learned how to show love.

It’s hard for me to write all that she was and did in her 97 years on earth. I could fill a book with stories about this remarkable, kind human being.

Grandpa’s laughter fills my heart today. Her hands calm my soul, and her spirit still wraps me in unconditional love.

Over the years, I have written many stories about Grandpa.

They have traveled across

the country in publications large and small.

Her lessons, her love, and her beautiful soul still resonate and influence lives today. The name my brother gave her all those years ago is now a bold headline, and that is as it should be.

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.

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39

Philly Cheesesteak: A quick and delicious summer dinner When the summer heat has you avoiding the oven, the Philly Cheesesteak steps up as the perfect quick dinner solution. This iconic sandwich cooks up fast in a skillet, keeping your kitchen cool while delivering a hot, satisfying meal.

Now, let’s dive into the delicious world of the Philly Cheesesteak.

Picture this: thinly sliced rib-eye steak cooked to perfection on a hot griddle, paired with caramelized peppers and onions, and smothered in your gooey melted cheese of choice, all happily nestled within a soft, pillowy roll. It’s a sandwich so beloved, it’s practically synonymous with the city of Philadelphia itself - it’s the Philly Cheesesteak.

Let’s go back in time to the origins of this iconic sandwich. The Philly Cheesesteak made its debut in the early 20th century, courtesy of a visionary duo: Pat Olivieri and his brother Harry. As the story goes, Pat, a hot dog vendor, decided to grill some beef one day and slap it on a roll. Little did he know he was about to spark a culinary revolution. The sandwich gained popularity among taxi drivers and soon became a staple of Philadelphia street-food culture.

Ah, but here’s where things get interesting - the age-old debate over what makes a Philly Cheesesteak truly authentic. Is it all about the type of cheese? Should the onions be

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chopped or sliced? Sauteed peppers?

Yes, or no? And what about the roll should it be soft and fluffy or crusty and chewy?

These questions have sparked fierce debates among cheesesteak aficionados for decades, with no clear consensus in sight. One thing’s for sure: Everyone has their own take on the perfect Philly Cheesesteak, and defending your favorite variation is practically a sport in Philadelphia.

So, whether you’re a purist who swears by the classic combination of rib-eye and Cheez Whiz, or a maverick who likes to mix things up with peppers and mushrooms, one thing’s for certain: The Philly Cheesesteak is a culinary delight.

Here are some tips to make this delicious meal even faster. Check for pre-sliced, thinly shaved beef steak in the butcher case of your favorite grocery store. You can also use frozen sliced bell pepper and onion blend in place of the fresh onion and pepper in this recipe.

PHILLY CHEESESTEAK Yield: 4 servings Total Time: 30 minutes What You’ll Need: 3 onions, very thinly sliced 2 bell peppers, any color, very thinly sliced 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 8 slices cheese, mozzarella, provolone or Cheez Whiz 4 Italian style bread rolls, split

lengthwise 1 1/2 pounds beef rib-eye or tenderloin, very thinly sliced Here’s How: Slice the onions and peppers. Heat half of the oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add onions and peppers, season with garlic salt and black pepper. Saute until soft and set aside.

Add remaining oil to the skillet and quickly fry the steak until it’s just beginning to brown. Do not overcook this. Return the onions and peppers to the pan, on top of the steak, and top with cheese slices. Cook until the cheese melts.

Divide the steak, veggie and cheese mixture between each of four rolls and serve.

As you enjoy your Philly Cheesesteak, remember its rich history and the passionate debates it inspires. It’s more than just a sandwich; it’s a piece of our culinary heritage. And in the spirit of brotherly love, let’s celebrate our own delicious variations of this classic, while keeping our kitchens cool and our taste buds happy.

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

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Mature Focus Volunteer Spotlight

By Ken Ferris

the gift of ‘helps’ as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:28,” Tammy The remarkable volunteer this expressed adding, “I have always had month is 65 year old Tammy Trice. a passion to help people in any way Tammy grew up in East Moline in possible.” an area called “Water Town.” She When people were dislocated due remembers “Water Town” as a close to uninhabitable living conditions at knit community where everyone Crestwood Apartments she rented helped care for each other.

U-HAULS and helped people move “I instilled the values and work to hotels. When the same conditions ethics of my single parent mother,” occurred at the Heatherton Tammy said proudly acknowledging Apartments she called a meeting she raised two daughters of her own. with city officials enabling the residents to voice their concerns. As a result, a plan was developed to help “Evangelist Tammy Trice is an relocate families. incredible gift of God who has When the building collapsed at made an indelible difference 324 Main Street in Davenport, she remembers watching the 5:00 a.m. in the lives of countless news and noticing a young man individuals as we all have been sleeping on the street waiting to hear phenomenally blessed by her about his father. Tammy drove to unselfish gifts and talents to our the site with a comforter for the man society, community, and world.” to stay warm while he waited. She also assisted the Red Cross with helping the residents.

- Bishop Dr. Jimmie R. Horton When COVID hit she was working from home and noticed the neighOne of the many areas Tammy borhood was full of children with enjoys serving the Lord is at the nothing to do. Tammy became the Gospel Mission Temple in leader of the Good Neighborhood Davenport. She serves as an evangel- Project. She collaborated with the ist, usher, Sunday school teacher, as Davenport Library, Gospel Mission a member of the Praise Team, Choir, Temple and St. Albans Church to and as Director of the Shining Light host neighborhood events such as Early Learning Center.

Movies on The Lawn, Trunk or “I believe the Lord has given me Treats, Back to School Bash, and a block party.

An area of concern for Tammy was food insecurity for children and families in her Davenport neighborhood. The closest food pantry was located at North Park Mall. “I took a trip with UNIQUE GOLD JEWELRY one of my neighbors and AT AFFORDABLE PRICES! her kids to get food. It Rings, Watches, Chains, was one of the most tryJewelry Repair, Religious Medals ing experiences I had ever been involved in,” Hours: Thursday, Friday & Saturday 11-6 she emphasized.

925 4th Avenue, Moline Soliciting volunteers, funds, and food she 309-762-2999 Lay-a-way opened Fairmount Food Available

Tammy Trice, center, accepting a proclamation from the City of Davenport for the Good Neighborhood Project.

Pantry at Scott Community College’s West Campus. “We struggled to keep the pantry stocked as the demand was greater than our anticipation. However, the Lord sustained us and in February we celebrated our one year anniversary,” she stated.

Tammy continued, “I remember how things were back in the good old days and what unity in our community really looked like. I asked myself, why would I want to be the leader and agent of change and then answered my own question, ‘why not me?’ One day I hope to hear the Lord tell me: ‘Well done thy good and faithful servant.’”

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 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 • August 2024

41

Is our collective fear of aging driving preteens to purchase skincare treatments?

By Ana Veciana-Suarez My definition of “old age” has turned out to be a moving target. In other words, the more years I accumulate, the longer it takes me to accept that I’m…well, that I’ve reached a certain age. Seems like my mind clings to 42, or maybe 52, while my body continues merrily on its downward roll.

I manage to fool myself every once in a while, though. I’m in excellent health! I crow. Physically fit and cognitively thriving! Then, reality slaps me hard. My back mutinies shortly after I take up a rigorous regiment of jumping rope, and my primary doctor suggested I try something more appropriate.

Quite simply, the calendar doesn’t lie. We may lose track of time, but time doesn’t lose track of us. It’s a tough taskmaster, time. Nevertheless, we go above and beyond to keep it at

bay. granddaughters, newly minted teenWhich is why I’m so interested in agers, have separately requested the the trend of young girls buying antisame gift for their birthdays: a wrinkle products. Some of them aren’t even teenagers, but they’re nevertheless obsessed with serums and potions and creams that promise to delay the inevitable. I can’t figure that out. At 12 years of age, the thought of aging didn’t cross my mind. In fact, my 21st birthday felt like a lifetime away, and my biggest skin worry was not wrinkles but unsightly pimples. Nary a thought about fine lines and under-eye bags, More and more young girls are that’s for sure.

I don’t want, in any way, to roman- buying anti-wrinkle products. ticize the past. After all, those were the days when we applied baby oil Sephora or Ulta gift card. For the and worshiped the sun for hours. uninitiated, these are retailers of Sunblock, SPF 50, what’s that? Now, makeup and beauty products that I, some friends are paying the price for who often go out into the world barethat terrible, no-good, unhealthy faced, never knew existed. Visiting blunder. At least the tweens of today are forward thinking, focusing on prevention and the future.

But are they, really? Or are they being manipulated by social media and the beauty industry to buy what they don’t need?

In the past few months, two of my

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one of these stores with my girls is a lesson in all the ways I need to up my nighttime skincare routine.

But I digress.

My first clue about the skincare evolution among the very young came last year, during a trip to a Sephora store with my daughter’s daughter. I was overwhelmed by the choices, but impressed by how she knew her way around the shelves. She explained that she had learned makeup application techniques by watching YouTube videos. She had also discovered products, be they

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facial serums or illuminating (whattever that is) moisturizers, on the same site.

I was equally surprised by her purchases. The child - and in my eyes, she will remain forever thus - has the enviably unlined skin of the young, but there she was buying some antiaging cream touted on social media. I told her to forget the cream and lectured her on eating right and staying out of the sun. In other words, I delivered unsolicited advice, which means it pretty much fell on deaf ears.

My granddaughter is not an outlier.

The news media have reported how skincare experts are warning parents that preteens are buying anti-aging treatments they don’t need and that may actually be harmful. They often blame social media for this disturbing trend. This might be true, but only partially so.

Seems to me we’re pointing a collective finger in the wrong place.

Videos of 11-year-olds using undereye serums go viral for a reason.

We’re a society that fears aging in the same way our ancestors feared the plague. We go to great lengths to remain forever young, applying lotions, drinking potions, succumbing to the knife. Maybe our kids have picked up those vibes and they simply have access to what we, in another era, did not. So, isn’t it time we celebrated the natural progression of a well-lived existence rather than yearning for the unattainable?

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

Mature Focus • August 2024

43

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Jon Crockett, AAMS ™ 1629 5th Ave 309-797-3339

Mark E Mayeski, CRPC ™ 2524 18th Avenue Suite 2 309-788-0399

*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 7/24/24. CDs offered by Edward Jones are bank-issued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. Please visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC).