June 2015

JUNE 2015

+

D JAM-PACKE JUNE CALENe D34AR Pag

Milwaukee’s best sights

Page 20

Remodeling for one-level living Page 24

LET THE SENIOR GAMES BEGIN! Page 28

Embrace the Future

Owned and Operated by Southview Senior Communities: Southview Senior Living

Inver Glen Senior Living

Arbor Lakes Senior Living 12001 80th Avenue North Maple Grove, MN 55369

13936 Lower 59th Street North Oak Park Heights, MN 55082

651.554.4838

651.450.0707

763.478.2141

651.439.9995

Lilydale Senior Living

Shoreview Senior Living

Opening Spring 2015

Opening May 1, 2015

The Willows of Ramsey Hill

Eagan Pointe Senior Living

1984 Oakdale Avenue

West St. Paul, MN 55118

949 Sibley Memorial Highway Lilydale, MN 55118

651.454.6853

7260 South Robert Trail Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077

4710 Cumberland Street Shoreview, MN 55126

651.484.9822

80 North Mackubin Street St Paul, MN 55102

651.262.8531

Oak Park Senior Living

4232 Black Hawk Road Eagan, MN 55122

651.724.2312

www.southviewcommunities.com

Cremation Society of Minnesota

ABOUT CREMATION Q. How does the Cremation Society of Minnesota work?

A. The Cremation Society is notified immediately

at the time of death. The member’s body is taken to the Society’s crematory. It is held until proper medical authorization and a cremation permit is secured. It is then cremated.

Q. What happens to the ashes after cremation?

A. The member’s remains are handled according to their written instructions. They may be picked up by survivors or delivered for a fee.

Q. What is the cost for cremation?

A. “Our current cost for our basic direct cremation service is $1,595.00.” It includes removal of the body from the place of death, cremation, filing of necessary papers, and a cardboard container suitable for burial. The charge for non-members, who we also serve, is more.

Q. How do I become a member?

A. Fill out the registration form and mail it to our

near-est location. Enclose a one-time membership fee of $15.00 per person. The fee covers setting up and maintaining records. It is not refundable nor an offset to final service costs. We will register you and send you a wallet-sized membership card, and a certificate of registration.

Q. What are the benefits of prepaying for services?

A. Prepayment provides two benefits – it removes a

stress from survivors and guarantees that services will be performed at today’s cost.

Q. Where can I learn more?

A. You may call or visit any one of our locations, or

visit us at cremationsocietyofmn.com or email us at csminnesota@aol.com

REGISTRATION FORM

Name Address Telephone (

)

INFORMATION REQUIRED ON THE DEATH CERTIFICATE (will remain confidential) Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Sex ❏ M ❏ F

Race

Hispanic ❏ Yes ❏ No

Father’s Name

Social Security #

Mother’s Name

Marital Status ❏ Married ❏ Never Married ❏ Widowed ❏ Divorced If married, spouse’s full legal name, including maiden Are you a Veteran? ❏ Yes ❏ No

If Yes, enclose a copy of your discharge paper.

AUTHORIZATION FOR CREMATION I, the undersigned, authorize and request the Cremation Society of Minnesota or its assigns to cremate the remains of , and further authorize and request that the following disposition of the cremated remains be made: .

I will indemnify and hold harmless the Cremation Society of Minnesota and the crematory from any claims to the contrary including all liability and claims related to the shipment and storage of the cremated remains.

Signature

Date

Witness Signature

Date

Address Telephone (

)

Email address

NEXT OF KIN – Please list at least one.

Name

Relationship

Address Telephone (

)

PAYMENT PLAN – You are not a member until this form is on file and your registration fee is received.

“Our current cost for our basic direct cremation service is $1,595.00.” ❏ I wish to preregister with the Cremation Society of Minnesota

Registration Fee:

❏ I wish to prepay for my Basic Cremation, I understand my pre-payment will be placed in an insurance policy to be used at time of death ❏ I wish to register at this time but not prepay

$15.00 $

Total Paid: $ GA 06/15

PLEASE MAIL FORM TO THE NEAREST CHAPEL LISTED BELOW

Complete Cremation Services PROFESSIONAL · DIGNIFIED · ECONOMICAL

CremationSocietyOfMN.com

Building Stable Homes, Strong Futures and Vibrant Communities Since 1971.

NORTHWEST SUBURBS

GREATER MINNESOTA

NORTHERN SUBURBS

ARBOR LAKES COMMONS Maple Grove • (763) 416-0369

DELANO COMMONS Delano • (763) 972-2930

CENTURY TRAILS Maplewood • (651) 288-9162

BASSETT CREEK COMMONS Plymouth • (763) 543-2457

GOLDENDALE HOMES Annandale • (320) 274-5871

CONCORDIA ARMS Maplewood • (651) 280-4680

BOULEVARD GARDENS Minnetonka • (952) 542-9338

ST. MICHAEL’S HOUSING New Ulm • (507) 794-9631

EAST SHORE PLACE Mahtomedi • (651) 770-7964

MAPLE TERRACE Maple Plain • (763) 479-1131

TOWNE CLUB SENIOR HOUSING Rochester • (507) 424-1671

GARDEN TERRACE Little Canada • (651) 481-9028

MILL POND GABLES Champlin • (763) 576-8696

WELLSTONE COMMONS Northfield • (507) 645-4146

GARDEN TERRACE COMMONS Little Canada • (651) 481-9028

NORTH GABLES Blaine • (763) 786-0232

MINNEAPOLIS

SILVER LAKE POINTE Mounds View • (763) 785-4771

NORWOOD SQUARE Fridley • (763) 574-2187

BII DI GAIN DASH ANWEBI (612) 843-5391

SOUTHERN SUBURBS

PLEASANT PLACE Rogers • (763) 428-4494

THE COOPERAGE SENIOR HOUSING (651) 290-6228

FAIRFIELD TERRACE Lakeville • (952) 469-1414

ROBBINS WAY Robbinsdale • (763) 537-6868

RIVERVIEW APARTMENTS (612) 843-5885

MOUNT CARMEL MANOR West St. Paul • (651) 451-0030

WESTERN SUBURBS

ST. ANNE’S (612) 588-4663

OAK RIDGE MANOR Hastings • (651) 437-1367

SOUTH HAVEN Edina • (952) 831-3372

SEWARD TOWER EAST (612) 339-1711

OAK TERRACE Oakdale • (651) 730-6440

SOUTH SHORE PARK Excelsior • (952) 474-9036

SEWARD TOWER WEST (612) 333-7472

RED ROCK MANOR Newport • (651) 459-2786

SUMMIT POINT Edina • (952) 920-6113

SHINGLE CREEK COMMONS (612) 588-2303

SPRUCE PLACE Farmington • (651) 463-2511

WESTONKA ESTATES Mound • (952) 472-4952

AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING IN NORTHFIELD NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS WELLSTONE COMMONS • (507) 645-4146 408 Spring Street N, Northfield, MN 55057

• Affordable Rent for Income Qualified Seniors (62+) • Controlled Access Entry • On-Site Laundry • Community Room w/Kitchen • Beautiful Grounds w/Gazebo

MAPLE TERRACE APARTMENTS • (763) 479-1131 1560 Howard Avenue, Maple Plain, MN 55359 • Affordable Rent for Income Qualified Seniors (62+) or Disabled • Controlled Access Entry • On-Site Laundry • Community Room w/Kitchen • Computer Lab

CALL US AT: (651) 291-1750 OR VISIT US AT: WWW.COMMONBOND.ORG/FINDHOUSING

Contents 28

Super sprinter Meet Susan Adams Loyd, an Edina-based sprinter who’ll be competing in her fourth National Senior Games.

Good Start My Turn 10 Now’s the time to tell the truth.

And be honest with yourself, too.

Memories 12 Tradition seems to have gone out the window with weddings today.

This Month in MN History 14 One of our state’s fur-trading posts was once British controlled.

Good Health House Call 16 Thyroid problems are easy to miss.

But the good news is: They’re also easy to fix with the right diagnosis.

Caregiving 18 Self-care starts with acknowleding how hard caregiving is and also honoring your limitations.

Good Living Housing 24 Smart, safe remodeling moves allow seniors to live at home longer.

20 + T CHECK OU H, OUR FRES !

NEW LOOK

Beyond beer Milwaukee’s become a haven for foodies, art fans and architecture aficionados.

On the cover

Hammer throw was one of many events featured at the 2011 National Senior Games held in Houston. This summer, the Twin Cities will host the biennial event from July 3–16.

Photo by Audra Arbas

6 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

Finance 26 You can fight financial anxiety by taking these simple steps.

In the Kitchen 27 Cherries are in season now and we know just what to do with them.

34

Can’t-Miss Calendar

Travel With Us On Your Next Vacation!

June 2015 Volume 34 / Issue 6 Publishers Janis Hall jhall@mngoodage.com Terry Gahan tgahan@mngoodage.com EdItor Sarah Dorison 612-436-4385 editor@mngoodage.com Contributors Rachel Allyn Suzy Cohen Jessica Kohen Carol Hall Skip Johnson Cali Owings Dave Nimmer Jen Larson Roesler Michael Spilane Carla Waldemar

Black Hills & Medora ......................... June 20–23 2015 Baseball Tour ....................................Aug. 6–11 Alaska Fly-back ............................................. July 9–25 Mississippi River Cruise .....................Aug. 11–14 Winnipeg’s Folklorama ............................Aug. 2–5 Mackinac Island...................................... Aug. 16–20 Yellowstone Nat’l Park Tour .......... Aug. 19–24 Call for your catalog today! Pacific Northwest .....................................Sept. 5–21

1-800-525-0730

National Parks Tour ................................ Sept. 6–18

Rustad Tours | Kerkhoven, MN | RustadTours.com Rustad Tours GA 0615 H6.indd 2

5/14/15 10:50 AM

Creative Director Dana Croatt Graphic Designers Valerie Moe Amanda Wadeson Client Services Zoe Gahan 612-436-4375 zgahan@mngoodage.com Mattie Eslinger 612-436-4386 meslinger@mngoodage.com Lauren Walker 612-436-4383 lwalker@mnpubs.com Circulation Marlo Johnson distribution@mngoodage.com

Family owned and operated since 1857 FUNERAL CHAPELS, CEMETERIES & CREMATION SERVICES

17 convenient locations: BLOOMINGTON 952-884-8145

50,000 copies of Minnesota Good Age are distributed to homes and businesses metro-wide.

Minnesota Good Age (ISSN 2333-3197) is published monthly by Minnesota Premier Publications.

Minnesota Good Age, 1115 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 © 2015 Minnesota Premier Publications, Inc. Subscriptions are $12 per year.

CRYSTAL

763-533-8643

WEST BLOOMINGTON COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

612-521-3677

NORTH MPLS.

952-941-7686

763-789-4436

EDEN PRAIRIE

COON RAPIDS 763-767-1000

612-781-1999

EDINA

NOKOMIS PARK

NORTHEAST MPLS.

HOPKINS

SOUTH MPLS.

BLAINE PRE-ARRANGEMENT CENTER

952-975-0400 952-920-3996

The McReavy Family

CRYSTAL LAKE

612-721-1651

952-938-9020

612-377-2203

ROBBINSDALE

SOUTHEAST MPLS.

763-537-2333

612-379-2368

612-529-9691

HILLSIDE

612-781-6828

763-231-0506

www.washburn-mcreavy.com Washburn McReavy GA 0513 H4.indd 2

4/10/13 1:42 PM

Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 7

Good Start / From the Editor / Sarah Dorison

You’re never too old Pop quiz!

You’re never too old to … (a) Win the 100-meter dash? (b) Set a world pole-vault record? (c) Complete a triathlon?

Answer: Of course, it’s all of the above — and then some. That’s what I’ve learned while editing this issue, covering the topic of Wellness.

Rather than walk you through the heavily mined topics of eating, drinking, exercising and even thinking “right,” we’re taking a different slant: Wellness isn’t just day-to-day living. It’s the big stuff, like proving you can achieve longheld dreams you’ve put on the back burner for too long.

Meet our cover star — 57-year-old Susan Adams Loyd of Edina. This truly inspiring mother and longtime executive — at Clear Channel Outdoor (and formerly WCCO TV) — has followed her long-neglected dream of becoming a sprinter.

This July the champion masters sprinter will compete in her fourth National Senior Games, being held for the first time in the Twin Cities.

Athletes, more than 10,000 of them, will compete in nearly two dozen sports.

Often called the Senior Olympics — because of its ties to the U.S. Olympic Committee — the events (free to spectators) will showcase some incredibly strong folks age 50 and older.

And we’re not talking, as Loyd put it, “silly old people sports.”

“It will shock you how good these people are at all ages,” she said. “It’s really competitive at every level.”

Looking at the stunning pictures of strength, speed and grace captured at previous games, I can easily believe it.

But the Senior Games isn’t just about the seemingly super-human superstars among the over-50 set, it’s about finding fitness your way — no matter what your age — and doing your personal best.

Who knows where it might take you!

Sarah Dorison, Editor

8 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

Good Start / My Turn / Dave Nimmer found my sound bites and roughed out my ad-lib story. When I got on the air, I dropped my notes, got flustered, stuttered and stammered my way through two minutes of live TV. That part was true.

What wasn’t was the end to my story on Shelby’s show. I said the photographer shooting the live shot was so embarrassed by my performance that he packed up his gear and headed back to the station, leaving me to take a cab.

That wasn’t the way it happened, as I recall. I just said that to make the story funnier. No harm. No foul.

Why stretch the facts?

At this stage of my life, that’s not good enough. (I’m having enough trouble recalling what really did happen without embellishing the facts I do have.) But I’m kind of surprised at how tempting it is.

Fishing for the truth

Yep, I’d say to a friend, we were out on the little lake and must have caught at least 60 crappies over a couple of hours.

What I actually knew was that we caught a bunch of fish and they could number 40

It’s been four months since I’ve seen Brian Williams on NBC’s

or 50 or 60, give or take a few.

Fudging the figure on a few fish isn’t

Nightly News, but the lesson I learned from his fall from grace seems as contempo-

a top-10 sin, but this part of life, this

rary as today’s newspaper: Watch what you say. Tell the truth. Resist the temptation

senior-citizen hood, is about learning

to embellish — just to make yourself look a little better, your story sound funnier.

humility, living each day without

Stumbling, sound bites I was a reporter. I wrote a book of short stories. I’d like to think I’m a storyteller. The

pretense. The men and women I drink coffee with weekly are no longer concerned with titles or tasks.

truth is sometimes when speaking off the cuff, in the moment, in the spotlight, I’ve

The hard charge these days is what

fudged on the facts. Not badly, mind you, but enough to know I went beyond where

kind of human being you turned out to

my memory could serve. That’s a slippery slope.

be, how big your heart is and whether

I was filling in several years ago for Don Shelby on his afternoon radio show on WCCO and was telling the story about my first live shot from the State Capitol as a fledgling TV reporter. I was covering a ban-the-can bill and I gathered my facts,

10 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

your word’s good. The bedrock is being honest — with yourself and others.

It allows me to deal with, and work

on, my defects of character.

One of my heroes in a 12-step group is an elder with 46 years of sobriety.

What I love about the man is that he’s always working to improve himself, quick to admit his foibles and slow to judge others. He’s one of those whose word I can take to the bank.

Digging deep, discovery David Carr, another friend of mine who died in February, wrote a book in 2008, Night of the Gun, which chronicled his journey from a crack house in Minneapolis to the newsroom at The New York Times, as its respected and renowned media columnist.

He conducted 60 interviews, examined dozens of legal and medical records and did his best to fact check his own past. His book reveals “that his odyssey through addiction, recovery, cancer and life as a single parent was far more harrowing than he allowed himself to remember.”

And this is a guy who wanted the truth. It’s important as I grow older — and the memories get dimmer — that I celebrate the life I’ve lived, not the one I would’ve liked to have lived.

Mind you, however, I’m not going to weigh the fish I catch.

I’ll feel perfectly free to give anyone who asks a generous estimate of how big they were.

Dave Nimmer has had a long career as a reporter, editor and professor. Send comments or questions to dnimmer@ mngoodage.com.

HealthPartners GA 0315 2-3page.indd 1

4/23/15 3:19 PM

Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 11

Good Start / Memories / By Carol Hall be ferried to Thompson Island, their wedding site, a 200-acre preserve in Boston Harbor with skyline views.

At the outset, it all sounded idyllic, glamorous. I envisioned the woodsy setting, soft breezes blowing the bride’s veil. Perhaps a lovely catered picnic reception under the trees.

But then the bride, a modern liberated young woman, instructed women guests to wear flat shoes. Heels would sink into the grassy turf on the island. There went any notion of shopping for a fancy new dress for the occasion.

What’s happened to weddings?

Tradition’s given way to Frisbees, flats, potlucks and 747s

When the invitation arrived, it stated: “Guests from Boston are asked to bring a dish for the buffet dinner.”

A potluck provided by guests? For a wedding reception?

On the big day, as I arrived at the ferry landing in Boston — sans heels — I discovered another reason not to wear them. One had to climb down a boat ladder to get onto the ferry, an impossibility in heels — and not easy for the elderly guests who’d come for the wedding, either.

My husband, always the gentleman, hopped up to help one, then another, then another.

Events thus far portended things to come. Confusion reigned on the island; wedding guests were

Getting married used to be solemn, dignified and dictated by tradi-

wandering about, no one ushered them to their seats. And as for the rest

tion. The ceremony took place In Church. At night. With “Reception to follow in

of the proceedings, the less said the

Church Parlors.” But today, anything goes.

better, except that the bride and the

I flew to Las Vegas for a “destination wedding” in a chapel on the Strip. Guests playfully tossed Frisbees across pews after vows were exchanged at another nuptial.

Outdoor weddings have become all the rage. The most memorable one I attended took place on an island.

The engaged couple were young professionals who lived in Boston. Guests would

12 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

groom each had a clergyman father, yet a judge performed the ceremony.

There was some food, but not quite enough to go around. Oh, and the bride wore a flowered print skirt and

blouse, suitable for the office. Uff da!

Well, at least it didn’t rain.

Another vastly different outdoor wedding produced shock and awe.

The bride and groom were two mature conservative people undertaking a second marriage at the Fort Snelling Officers’ Club in Bloomington.

Booth Manor Residence For Seniors 62+

612-338-6313

However, the Officers’ Club is located across the freeway from MinneapolisSt. Paul International Airport. And

JAMES G. ROBAN

• 1 Bedrooms • Based on Income • Utilities Included • Service Coordinator • Resident Activities & Programs • Community Room • Smoke-Free Building

1421 Yale Place, Mpls

Booth Manor GA 0114 12.indd 1

WILLS, ESTATE PLANNING Attorney at Law

261 Ruth Street (651) 738-2102 Will: $40 PoWer of Attorney: $20 HeAltH CAre DireCtive: $70

12/6/13 10:14 Roban, AM James GA 0513 12.indd 1

3/28/13 3:23 PM

just as the ceremony got underway, Airport Runway No. 27-Left became active.

The words “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…” were drowned out as a Northwest Airlines 747 shrieked in for a landing, directly overhead.

The plane was so low the guests could read the aircraft number printed on the bottom side of the wings!

Now, I should mention that the Boston wedding was for my husband’s son, Jack, and the Fort Snelling wedding for my sister, Betty.

I just learned that a favorite niece, Elsbeth, will be married next June in a

Don’t renew that CD!

very unusual location: The Chippewa County Fairgrounds in Chippewa Falls, Wis. — outdoors, of course.

Stay tuned.

Carol Hall lives in Woodbury. She’s a longtime freelance writer, a University of Minnesota graduate and a former Northwest Airlines stewardess. Send comments and questions to chall@ mngoodage.com.

Earn 3.50% apy with a GBU* Preferred 8 tax-deferred annuity.

2% Minimum Guarantee. $10,000 minimum deposit.

Current Renewal Rate in years 2– 8 is 3.65% • 3% in years 9+

Call Bob today as rates may change at any time.

RJF Brokerage Services • 651-407-6039 *GBU Financial Life is a 122-year old fraternal benefit society domiciled in PA. Frello, Bob GA 0315 H4.indd 1

2/9/15 9:59 AM

Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 13

Good Start / This Month in Minnesota History / By Jessica Kohen

Minnesota and the War of 1812 →→Pine City fur post was once controlled by the British

On June 18, 1812, the U.S. declared war on Great Britain. The War of

Looking to expand its territory, America

1812 lasted two and a half years and ended in a stalemate. And while no battles were

responded by attacking Upper Canada, a

fought in Minnesota, the war did resolve a number of territorial disputes, including

British colony. They hoped to gain land

determining the international boundary with Canada and securing Minnesota’s

and to cut off British supply lines to the

claim to the Iron Range and the Red River Valley.

confederation of Indian tribes led by

“The upper parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan were decidedly British

Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief.

in their leanings at the beginning of the war,” said Patrick Schifferdecker, manager

On the mid-Atlantic Coast, British

of the North West Company Fur Post in Pine City. “In fact, the area was held by the

naval troops landed in the Chesapeake

British throughout the hostilities and to this day is regarded as the lost province of

Bay in 1814 and marched toward Wash-

Canada by some historians.”

ington, where they burned the Capitol

Disrupting trade Just 20 years had passed since the American Revolution, and the U.S. was still economically dependent on Europe. Great Britain was engaged in the Napoleonic Wars, and trade between England and France was suspended.

As a neutral country, America could supply both sides. Britain sought to disrupt America’s trade routes by implementing restrictions. The French did the same.

14 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

and the White House.

→→Learn more Each June, visitors to the North West Company Fur Post can learn about the War of 1812 with a family-day program. Find out more at mnhs.org/nwcfurpost.

⊳⊳ Until the close of the War of 1812, the North West Company Fur Post in Pine City, Minn., was controlled by British forces. Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

You're invited to cool it in Duluth, MN!

The troops pressed on toward Baltimore, but failed at taking Fort McHenry, which guarded Baltimore’s harbor. The bombing attack inspired Francis Scott Key to write The StarSpangled Banner.

Unsuccessful at Baltimore, the British withdrew and repositioned, focusing on taking New Orleans and cutting off American use of the Mississippi River.

Treaty, retreat Meanwhile, the Napoleonic Wars had grown very costly for the British, and

We offer summer housing for active retirees on the campus of the University of Minnesota Duluth.

ENJOY AREA ACTIVITIES LIKE:

Fishing • Golfing • Sightseeing • Day Trips Two bedroom campus apartments are available to rent for 5, 8 and 10 weeks each summer.

To learn more contact the UMD Summer Housing Office: 218-726-7390 or sumhsg@d.umn.edu www.d.umn.edu/housing/summer/senior

by mid-1814, they wanted to cut their losses in America. American negotia-

U of M - Duluth GA 0215 V6.indd 1

1/19/15 9:29 AM

tors including John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay met with British leaders.

The two sides signed the Treaty of Ghent on Dec. 24, 1814, officially ending the war, but not before British troops landed at New Orleans and were beaten back by Andrew Jackson’s army. Though an unnecessary battle, Americans celebrated wildly.

The end to the war didn’t result in any change in territory. But it did result in the removal of military presence in the Great Lakes, and the withdrawal of British control over trading posts in Minnesota, including the North West Company Fur Post.

Jessica Kohen is the media relations manager for the Minnesota Historical Society.

Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 15

Good Health / House Call / By Michael Spilane thyroid hormone and then stimulates the thyroid gland by releasing a chemical named thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH. As you might guess, disease of the pituitary can affect function of the thyroid gland.

Thyroid hormone is the body’s “governor.” It controls the rate of metabolism — the speed of physiologic processes and functions.

Disguised by old age But a host of environmental and genetic factors can foul the system.

The most common disease of the

Thyroid problems are easy to miss →→But they’re also simple to fix (usually)

Medical science shines when it comes to diagnosis and treatment

thyroid gland is under-function, known as hypothyroidism. With too little thyroid hormone, the body’s machinery slows. Fatigue, somnolence, mental sluggishness and a desire for high room temperatures are common symptoms.

In advanced states, the victim has thickened and boggy facial skin, a slow raspy voice, baggy eyes and a dull appearance. Thinking is slowed, and

of thyroid gland disorders. Because disease of this gland is common — and untreated

the person may appear depressed or

illness so often severe — the availability of accurate diagnostic tests and successful

even confused.

therapy is highly beneficial to public health.

Older adults receive more than their share of the benefit, since most diseases of the thyroid are more common in this age group.

The thyroid gland is shaped like the letter U. It’s like two walnuts connected at the bottom by an almond. The larger side parts are tucked-in behind neck muscles adjacent to the trachea (windpipe) while the middle connecting part is closer to the skin, just below the larynx (Adam’s apple).

A normal thyroid gland is barely palpable by a physician’s hand, and even then only the connecting part can be felt. Enlargement of the gland occurs with most thyroid ailments and is either generalized (a goiter), nodular (bumpy) or both.

Because an underactive thyroid gland develops slowly, the problem often goes unrecognized by the patient, the family and even the physician. Too often the trouble is attributed to old age.

Diagnosis is easy if a blood test is obtained. And treatment with a daily thyroid hormone tablet is also easy.

Hyperthyroidism

The sole function of the thyroid gland is to make thyroid hormone. The produc-

Less common is over function of the

tion process involves uptake of iodine from the bloodstream and attachment of this

thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), but

mineral to a protein produced within the gland. Production and release of hormone

it isn’t uncommon in the elderly. The

by the thyroid gland are controlled by another gland — the pituitary.

metabolic speed-up associated with

Living at the base of the brain, the pituitary gland senses the body’s need for

16 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

hyperthyroidism is easily diagnosed in

I BUY HOUSES younger patients who present with symptoms of weight loss, excess appetite, sweating, rapid pulse and tremor.

• Cash Paid For Your Home

South St. Paul HRA • 50+ Community

• Any Condition — I Love Repairs

• Income Based Rent

• “As-Is” Sale • My Best Price 1st

• All Utilities Paid

In older adults these characteristic

• Local Buyer

• Newly Remodeled

symptoms may not exist. The elderly

• Fast, Friendly Service

• Elevators

often present with depressed mood, confusion, heart failure, irregular pulse rate and a myriad of symptoms

• 15 Years Buying Experience

Once diagnosed, treatment of

• On Site Caretaker

For more information

call Eric at 612-801-3202 Broker

that don’t readily suggest an acceleration of metabolism.

• Controlled Entries

• References Available

Sensible Investments GA 0115 12.indd 1

Call for an appointment 651-554-3270

11/26/14 South 3:36 PM St Paul HRA GA 0515 12.indd 3

4/22/15 8:53 AM

hyperthyroidism in an older person is safely accomplished by use of oral medication or by administration of radioactive iodine.

Nodules or lumps Another common disorder of the thyroid gland is a nodule, or lump. A physician’s main concern is whether the growth is caused by cancer. Fortunately, the vast majority of nodules discovered in the elderly are harmless.

“Wait and watch” is usually the best advice. If cancer of the gland is discovered, the prognosis with surgical treatment is usually favorable.

Believing it’s best to diagnose and

SURREYS, CRUISERS, KAYAKS, CANOES & MORE!

treat thyroid hormone production problems before serious symptoms arise, most primary-care physicians routinely order thyroid hormone blood tests on older patients every three to five years.

Dr. Michael Spilane spent more than four decades practicing and teaching geriatric medicine in St. Paul.

Send comments to drspilane@ mngoodage.com.

WheelFunRentalsmn.com

Bike Rentals

| Como Lake: 651-487-8046 Minnehaha Falls: 612-729-2660 | Lake Nokomis: 612-729-1127 Duluth – Canal Park: 218-722-1180 | Lake Phalen: 651-776-0005

Water Rentals

| Como Lake: 651-487-8046 Lake Calhoun: 612-823-5765 | Lake Nokomis: 612-729-1127 Lake Harriet: 612-922-9226 | Lake Phalen: 651-776-0005 Wheel Fun Rentals GA 0615 H4.indd 1

5/20/15 3:56 PM

Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 17

Good Health / Caregiving / By Rachel Allyn Honor your limitations. You’ve heard this before, but it bears repeating: You’re human and can’t be expected to do it all.

Seek resources from professionals in the community. Have quarterly family meetings to delegate tasks.

Remember you’ll never be able to control every aspect of your parent’s or your child’s life, but there’s power in being a compassionate witness to their experiences.

Recognize your efforts without being overly attached to the outcome. Stop and take a few breaths throughout the day and repeat this mantra: May I simply offer my love, whether it’s accepted, rejected or met with indifference.

Self-care for caregivers

Self-care is essential. If you’re

→→Stop trying for control and embrace the chaos

said to me, “I never know when I’ll be

How can caregivers stay healthy and grounded while caring for aging parents and young children at home?

This is no doubt a question applicable to an increasing number of us.

According to a 2013 Pew Research Center study, nearly half of adults in their 40s

waiting for everything on your to-do list to get checked-off before you rejuvenate yourself, know that it’ll never happen. A wise friend of mine, who’s part of the sandwich generation, called to serve. So I adopted the idea of self-care because, like a professional athlete, I never know when I’m going to be called into the game, and I want to be prepared when I do.”

In addition to the hugely important

and 50s have a parent age 65 or older and are either raising a young child or finan-

triad of rest, clean eating and daily

cially supporting a grown child.

movement, let self-care come in the

These individuals are considered part of the “sandwich generation.”

form of social connection, creative

The dynamics of aging and its impact on family roles can be confusing and chal-

outlets and remembering your sense of

lenging. Here are ideas to prevent burnout and keep you centered.

Acknowledge how difficult this is. Caring for family members, particularly during the bookends of life, is going to be unpredictable at best. Being responsible for three generations including your own can prove logistically and financially challenging.

When caring for aging parents in particular you may find yourself in a role reversal — the people you relied upon are now needing your guidance.

This is an adjustment that will take time.

18 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

humor. You’ll undoubtedly return to your caregiving duties more refreshed — not to mention ready to model healthy behavior for your children.

Look inward. It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of competing commitments and neglect important

undercurrents within you. Find a place to soften somewhere in the middle of the madness. Notice if you feel emotions such as grief, anger or

GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF HEARING — RESOLVE TO HEAR THIS SUMMER —

your own vulnerability.

There comes a point when we stop running and find that turning toward our own genuine feelings becomes the most valuable way to be real and let go.

Observe what this teaches you

952-767-0672 | chearsaudiology.com 5808 West 36th Street, St. Louis Park MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED

Chears Audiology GA 0615 12.indd 2

5/22/15 10:08 AM

about yourself. There’s no better time than when we’re stretched to our edge to reflect on what the experience is teaching us about ourselves.

Frank Ostaseski, the founder of Zen Hospice said, “The eyes of a dying person, they’re the clearest mirrors I’ve ever looked into. In their gaze, there’s no place to hide. Being with the dying has shown me myself in ways I couldn’t have imagined before.”

Notice what’s elicited inside your own heart as you watch your child or parent’s experience unfold.

Ultimately, let this be a reminder to stay awake and savor your life and your relationships as they are right now, complications and all, rather than shutting down.

Affordable Living

Daily Wellness Checks

with Individualized Services Including:

YOU

Don’t wait for your child to be Individualized Service Coordination

completely self-sufficient or your elderly parent to pass away in order to

Daily Meal Service

FIT IN

be fully present with them. Don’t wait to tell them how much you care about them. And don’t postpone giving

Housekeeping Service

Secure Buildings

yourself compassion throughout this nuanced time.

Dr. Rachel Allyn is a licensed psychologist in private practice. Learn more about her style of therapy at drrachelallyn.com. Send questions to rachel@drrachelallyn.com.

Social Activities

St. Paul Public Housing Agency’s Congregate Housing Services Program (CHSP) CHSP Manager

Affordable Rents — Based on Income

Private One Bedroom Apartments

WHERE

651-292-6035 www.stpha.org

Laundry Service

St. Paul Public Housing Agency GA 1214 H4.indd 3

11/12/14 2:17 PM

Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 19

y l d rF ien

e c t i t h u c re, foodie r a , t r a f o l l finds u f s i e — e k u a M il w

BEYOND 20 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

Good Living / Travel

— a nd s ummer festivals, too r ema d l a W

By Carla

B

ack in the day, Milwaukee was famed for its three Bs — beer, baseball and bowling.

Today, it’s morphed into the city of three Gs — glamour, gastronomy and gatherings,

as in its summer-long lakeside festivals.

Thankfully, beer and baseball still underscore that jubilant summer scene.

Fortunately, too, Milwaukee hasn’t lost the G of its German heritage: Gemutlichkeit — friendliness — still rules. And that translates into intriguing neighborhoods to explore.

Art, architecture, eats Let’s start with the lure of the waterfront of this Lake Michigan city (just five hours from the Twin Cities by car): Walking and biking trails line the

BEER

park-like shore, anchored by the city’s most-beloved icon, the Milwaukee Art Museum (pictured at left).

Designed by Spanish “star”-chitect Calatrava, its postmodern-style birdwing arms spread open twice daily, ready for camera-clickers.

The art they enfold is nothing less than admirable, too, from masters old and upcoming.

Those wings point to two neighborhoods that showcase different points in time.

To relive the city’s immigrant-rich past, head to Old World Third Street, whose 1800s brick buildings harbor classic Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 21

BEYOND BEER food finds such as the Wisconsin Cheese Mart, boasting 200 curated variations; Usinger’s Famous Sausage, unspooling 125 kinds of links; the Spice House, offering four types of hand-ground cinnamon alone; and Mader’s Restaurant, since 1902 a cavern of armor and dirndls, covered with autographed photos of satiated celebs like Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn and Bill Clinton.

To make your stroll “a meal with a side of history,” follow Robert, a guide on a gustatory walking tour (milwaukeefoodtours.com), as he explains neighboring Brady Street’s evolution from Polish to Irish to Little Italy, punctuated by tasty bites.

There’s Zaffiro’s, purveyors of Milwaukee-style pizza (a twice-baked cracker crust hewn into squares) since 1957; Cempazuchi’s authentic Mexican menu, featuring tinga tacos; Sciortino Bakery’s exquisite cannoli; and treats ranging from prosciutto to gelato at Glorioso’s deli.

Don’t miss Art Smart’s Dart Mart & Juggling Emporium across the street, just one of many indie businesses vibrating along Brady.

Boutiques, lobster, BLTs The city’s River Walk traces a path from Third Street to the Third Ward, an uber-cool makeover of behemoth brick warehouses that today host scads of galleries (24 in the Marshall Building alone). You’ll also find indie boutiques that rival Soho’s, such as Shoo, with elegant-to-outrageous footwear.

You’ll also find 3rd Ward Jewelry, favoring regional artisans; NL Suits, a bespoke tailor; and Retique, an upscale second-hand shop, offering castoffs from high society.

Coffeehouses, wine bars and cafes abound and come to a climax in the Milwaukee Public Market, a year-round, indooroutdoor mecca of two dozen local vendors, highlighted by the St. Paul Fish Co., and its charitable $14 lobster menu.

You can also snag a lobster at Harbor House with its primo

22 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

position aside Lake Michigan for a fricassee, Louis salad, sandwich or bisque while your companions enjoy trout or salmon. (Happy hour oysters are only 89 cents.)

Ensconced in the fast-trending Walker’s Point neighborhood, is Story Hill BKC (Bottle, Kitchen, Cup), where you can enjoy a breakfast of local Clock Shadow Creamery cheese on toast with

▲▲The Milwaukee Public Market houses year-round indoor specialty food vendors as well as outdoor seasonal stalls, featuring produce, meats, cheeses and spices a wide variety of restaurants, food stands and cafes.

house-made jam and local honey (or a dinner of hog trotters atop kale, mushrooms and cracklings).

Snap up a second breakfast at Engine Company No. 3, a stronghold of local producers who star in omelets, quiches and BLTs.

Hotels, Harleys Farm to table? At the venerable Pfister Hotel, it’s roof-to-table for the honey sweetening the eats at its Mason Street Grill.

The Pfister comes with a spicy history, which concierge Peter,

in cutaway and silk tie, will explain on his complimentary tour of the city’s grande-dame, opened in 1893 to showcase that new fad, electricity!

Here in Milwaukee, “high on the hog” takes on a meaning beyond the kitchen at the don’t-miss Harley-Davidson Museum.

Join worshipers of the Iron Horse who bow heads in devotion at the lineup of each model produced yearly since the firm’s inception with Serial No. 1 in 1903.

Bed down nearby in The Iron Horse Hotel, a forward and fanciful boutique hotel showcasing faux-zebra carpets and walls in chocolate and aqua hues that gentrify a 1907 factory.

Beer — and beyond Oh, wait. I promised you beer. You can overnight in the newly opened Brewhouse Inn & Suites, a cosmo redefinition of the former Pabst plant. Then tour the adjacent Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery (a PBR’s included).

In addition to the macro breweries — Miller, Pabst and Schlitz

office and homes of immigrants.

The Jewish Museum traces the business, cultural and religious roots of the city’s immigrant residents, with

▲▲At the HarleyDavidson Museum in Milwaukee, you can view motorcyles dating back to 1903.

— this city’s spawned countless microbreweries, open to taste

a surprise bonus — a marvelous 1972

and tour, like Lakefront, which offers what its guide calls the

tapestry created by Marc Chagall to

best-rated brewery experience “because you don’t have to wait

honor Israel’s onetime prime minister,

till the end of the tour to start drinking.”

Golda Meir, who grew up in Milwaukee (both were born

Miller Park — famous for its MLB Brewers and its sausage-

in Kiev).

themed mascot race before the bottom of the sixth — shares its

Dr. Eckhart Grohmann grew up here, too, and became a

namesake with Miller Brewery (now MillerCoors), which is

passionate collector of artworks celebrating Man at Work, the

free to tour.

theme of the 1,000-piece Grohmann Museum collection dating

Hard core, are you?

from the 1600s to the present, covering everything from the

Then Great Lakes Distillery is your equal, with tours and

building of the Tower of Babel to the construction of the auto-

tasting of its new plant producing vodka, absinthe and Roamin’

bahn.

Dave’s Rum. Likewise, Central Standard Craft Distillery, in

Finally, they don’t call this “the city of festivals” for nothing.

Walker’s Point, produces gin and whiskey, both available to

Festival season kicks off in June with weekly changing celebra-

sample in its tasting room.

tions — Brewfest to Irish Fest, Summerfest to film fest to

To peer into the speakeasy days of the city (and earlier), head to the Milwaukee Public Museum’s exhibit saluting The Streets of Old Milwaukee — a look into saloons, a barbershop, a doctor’s

holiday lights.

Carla Waldemar is an award-winning food/travel/arts writer.

She lives in Uptown.

Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 23

Good Living / Housing / By Jen Larson Roesler

LIVING INDEPENDENTLY FOR LONGER →→Smart updates allow aging homeowners to stay put

It’s not something anyone likes to think about, yet it’s something that

own home, to my contemporaries who

will eventually happen to all of us: We age.

are getting ready to retire and want their

Along the way, things that once seemed simple require a bit more effort. Things

home set up so when they’re retired they

like climbing the stairs to the bedroom, getting into and out of the tub, or carrying a

won’t have to spend money on a remod-

basket of laundry up from the basement.

eling project.”

Many homeowners would like to stay in their homes and live independently for as long as possible.

Fortunately, forward-thinking firms like Sylvestre Construction of Richfield

One-level living The goal they all share is to make

(sylvestreconstruction.com) have found ways to make home modifications that

modifications that make their homes

allow people to manage the challenges of aging and live safely and happily in the

more livable.

homes they love.

Renovating to make homes easier to live in isn’t something just for people with aging on their minds, said John Sylvestre, owner and chief architect of Sylvestre Construction.

Think about the everyday tasks that require you to make a few trips up and down the stairs on any given day.

“We work with a wide range of people. From a woman whose daughter lives with

Now imagine how you’d accomplish

a range of physical disabilities, to a client who is 85 years old and wants to stay in her

the same tasks with limited mobility.

24 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

Bathroom accessibility is important, but there are other factors, too, Sylvestre said.

exchange for an accessible shower,” he

“One of the goals is often to bring the laundry up from the basement,” he said.

said.“That’s something to consider in

Simply eliminating the need for homeowners to climb up and down stairs — carrying

terms of resale value; it’s best to keep

heavy baskets of clothes — can mean the difference between remaining independent

one bathtub in the home and convert

or needing outside help.

another space to an accessible shower if

While elevators and other devices are an option, usually a creative re-purposing of space is enough to make an upstairs laundry center a reality.

“In general, we try to make homes more user-friendly and get most necessary functions onto the first level,” Sylvestre said.

In addition, retirement living usually means an empty nest, so the large-capacity washers and dryers once needed — for a growing family — simply aren’t necessary anymore. Stacked space-saving machines make more sense.

In general, the more essential spaces that can be accommodated on the first level,

possible, so that both options are there for future residents.

“In other cases, where there’s a halfbath existing, we can add a shower to create that one-level living that’s so important.”

An eye on the future

the better. Bringing a bedroom onto the first floor by reconfiguring spaces can be a

Even if homeowners aren’t thinking

major upgrade in terms of livability.

about remodeling for aging at the “Then if you’ve had a knee or hip replace-

Simply eliminating the need for homeowners to climb up and down stairs can mean the difference between remaining independent or needing outside help.

moment, current projects can include

ment or something similar, people can still

components that will make future

work from home if needed, and manage by

accessibility modifications easier down

themselves on one level,” Sylvestre said.

the road.

In the course of a kitchen renovation

All-around accessibility

for one client, Sylvestre was able to put in

Most Minneapolis homes of a certain age

plumbing and electricity in a corner of a

have steps not only from the basement to

client’s kitchen, so that if she wanted to

the main level or from the first floor to

move the laundry upstairs in the future,

second-floor bedrooms, but there are also

the space would be ready for it.

additional stairs tucked in here and there.

“We’ve worked with people who

“The few steps up from the garage or

have lived in their home for 50 years

from the yard to the back door can present

who want to make modifications

big challenges,” Sylvestre said. Remodeling

as well as people who are looking at

tweaks can remove these types of obstacles

purchasing a new house and want to

that might otherwise go unconsidered.

make sure they can make renovations

Of course, one of the trickiest areas of accessibility in the home is the bathroom, with its traditional narrow doorway, small footprint and a bathtub that can be difficult to get into and out of.

“When space is tight, we look to other spaces around the bathroom to see what

so it will work for them, before they even buy it,” Sylvestre said.

No matter where you are on your aging — or remodeling — journey, it’s

we might be able to gain. In some cases, a small adjacent bedroom can be used,”

nice to know options exist to make our

Sylvestre said.

homes work better for us, no matter

Above all, access is key.

Doorways can be widened, and a variety of tub and shower options make it easier and safer for people to roll or walk into a shower.

“Many homeowners choose to take out existing bathtub/shower combinations in

what stage of life we’re in.

Jen Larson Roesler is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer.

Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 25

Good Living / Finance / By Skip Johnson

STRESSED ABOUT MONEY? →→Fight financial anxiety with these tricks

It may not come as a surprise, but now there’s proof: The No. 1 stressor for

Deal with debt

Americans isn’t family obligations or health concerns; it’s money.

The average American household has

Nearly three-quarters of the people in the American Psychological Association’s recent Stress in America survey (tinyurl.com/money-stress-study) said they

more than $7,000 in credit-card debt (tinyurl.com/debt-may-2015).

felt stressed about money during the previous month, and nearly a quarter said

It’s easy to feel stressed and over-

they felt extreme stress about money. Certain groups are shouldering more of the

whelmed when you look at such a large

burden — women, parents, millennials and Gen-Xers.

figure.

One in five people either skipped going to the doctor or considered skipping going

You want to organize your debt by

to the doctor when they needed health care because of financial concerns. People

account, total amount due, interest

with more financial stress reported turning to unhealthy stress-relief methods like

rate and monthly payments. Start by

hours of TV watching, overeating, smoking or drinking.

attacking the lowest balance first. Pay

Here are some financial steps we can take to reduce money stress:

Make a budget

the largest amount you can toward that bill, while making minimum payments on all the rest. Once you’ve

A budget is the cornerstone of a solid financial plan, but only about one-third of

paid off that card, put the funds toward

American households have a written budget. In one column, list your income. In

the next smallest payment. You’ll gain

the other column, keep track of all your expenses. That includes fixed expenses like

momentum by paying off each card.

your mortgage or rent, car payments and cable; and your variable expenses like gas, groceries and entertainment.

After putting pen to paper, commit to sticking to your budget. It’s essential that

Find support Having someone to lean on can make a

you check every month to make sure you’re on track. Hoping you have enough

big difference. Americans who say they

money is stressful; knowing you have enough is comforting.

have emotional support reported lower

Automatically save I recommend my clients set aside at least three to six months’ worth of savings in

stress levels and better outcomes than those without support.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t

a dedicated emergency fund. It acts like a safety net for any unexpected expenses,

be afraid to ask friends and family to

like a home or car repair, a medical bill or a loss of income. A recent survey showed

lend an ear. On the flip side, you can

that one-third of Americans have no savings at all, and nearly half said their

pay it forward and be a support system

savings could cover their living expenses for only 90 days or fewer.

for others who are feeling finan-

These families live in a constant state of financial insecurity; they aren’t able

cial stress.

to look beyond their immediate needs and save for the future or retirement. You can build an emergency fund by setting up an automatic transfer into a dedicated account each pay period.

If you don’t think you have the money to spare, start small. Then make sure to leave the fund alone — except for emergencies.

26 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

Skip Johnson is a partner at Great Waters Financial in New Hope. Learn more at mygreatwaters.com.

Good Living / In the Kitchen

CHERRY CLAFOUTIS 1 tablespoon butter 2 eggs 2 egg yolks 1/2 cup flour 4 tablespoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 8 ounces pitted cherries (fresh or frozen) Preheat the oven to 375.

Coat a 9-inch glass pie dish with the butter.

Beat together the eggs and egg yolks as you would for an omelet.

Combine the flour, sugar and salt in a medium mixing bowl.

Add about half the cream to the dry mixture and whisk until smooth.

Add the remaining cream and mix.

Stir in the eggs, yolks and vanilla. Whisk until smooth.

Pour the batter into the buttered pie dish and arrange the cherries evenly in the batter.

Place the pie dish on an ovenproof tray and bake for about 40 minutes or until puffy and golden brown on the edges.

Source: Kids Cook French by Claudine Pepin (Quarry Books, 2015) Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 27

Competive sprinter Susan Adams Loyd runs in the World Masters Outdoor Championships in October 2013 in Porte Alegra, Brazil.

The 57-year-old Edina woman will compete in her fourth National Senior Games, which will be held for the first time in the Twin Cities July 3‑16.

Photo by Doug ‘Shaggy’ Smith

28 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

A 57-year-old Edina woman who started racing only eight years ago will complete in her fourth National Senior Games in July

By Cali Owings

SILVER SPRINTER T

he first time Susan Adams Loyd tried to run track, she was one of three girls trying out for a spot on the boys’ squad.

She wanted to be a sprinter.

As the track season went on, however, Loyd was surprised to find

there wasn’t going to be much running training for her. The coach

made it clear: Girls weren’t welcome on his team. He made them do burpees and other drills instead of fostering them as track athletes.

Rather than go where she wasn’t wanted, Loyd decided at age 13 to focus on figure skating and leave her track dreams behind.

That dream came back to life at a friend’s retirement party more than a decade ago when Loyd was asked whether she had any past regrets.

An untouched box deep in her soul burst open and she passionately blurted out, “I always wanted to be a sprinter!”

Her friend was puzzled, but encouraged her to go for it, if she felt so strongly. He told her that there’s “track and field for old people.” Everyone laughed.

But Loyd was immediately hooked by the idea.

“I remember thinking, I have to leave. I have to go find these people who are doing this,” she said. “If they are doing this, then I want to do it, too.”

Now 57, Loyd is a national champion masters sprinter who’s represented the U.S. Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 29

SILVER SPRINTER at the World Masters Athletics championships. This July, she’ll compete in her fourth National Senior Games — a biennial competition for athletes 50 and older, sanctioned by the U.S. Olympic Committee — hosted for the first time this summer in the Twin Cities.

Pushing the limit In the early days of her late-start running career, Loyd wasn’t sure where to begin, so she bought a pair of road shoes and gave it shot — running roughly the length of a football field.

She’d always been active and fit, but it frightened her how hard it was.

“To sprint, you have to run fast … as fast as you can,” she said.

“When you haven’t done it for a long time, you’d be shocked at how hard it is: How can my brain say, ‘Yes!’ and my body say, ‘Nope, not gonna do it?’”

With time and training, it got easier.

When she began competing, Loyd’s goals were admittedly modest: To beat her own times To not injure herself badly To not embarrass her children.

In her first few years of competing, she

→→Watch the games What: More than 10,000

athletes ages 50 and older from across the nation will gather in the Twin Cities for an Olympicstyle competition. Athletes will compete in 20 sports, including traditional track-and-field events, swimming, horseshoes, pickleball, golf, tennis and shuffleboard, among others.

When: July 3–16 Where: 18 venues in the Twin Cities Cost: FREE Info: Check out the full schedule of events at nsga.com.

wouldn’t do more than the 100-meter dash.

For her first try at the National Senior Games in 2009, Loyd took four days off work and flew to Palo Alto, Calif. Her goal was to make it past the preliminary round to the semifinals.

“When you think about it, I took off four days of work, bought an airline ticket and hotel and

30 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

▲▲Susan Adams Lloyd started training for competitive sprint racing about 10 years ago. This July, she’ll compete in her fourth National Senior Games in the Twin Cities. Photo by Doug ‘Shaggy’ Smith

rental car to run 15 seconds,” she said.

She made it to the finals of her first national event, held at the Stanford University campus, and placed fifth.

Of all the titles she’s accrued since then, that one stands out because it symbolized a shift in how she viewed herself as a competitive runner.

“That’s when I felt like the door opened for me,” she said.

Another proud moment?

When her daughter, now 22, posted a photo of her on Facebook wall to show she was proud of her mother, rather than embarrassed or worried her mom was having “some kind of midlife crisis.”

Loyd’s first goal, to improve over her own times, is the epitome of what the National Senior Games seeks to encourage

— a philosophy of achieving a “personal

available & for event e c n a perform rentals

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre

best” — an attitude of: “It’s never too late

Offering performances, residencies and touring shows.

to get in the game.”

since 1973

Mental stamina 612.721.2535 · hobt.org

As her sprinting career has progressed,

PLEASE DONATE To be an active supporter

Loyd, who lives in Edina, hired a coach

of In the Heart of the Beast, you can make a gift online or mail a check to 1500 E. Lake St., Mpls, MN 55407

and trainer and joined a team of sprinters based out of Boston called Mass Velocity.

Her Tempe, Ariz.-based coach, Dean

In the Heart of the Beast MNP 2014 H6 filler.indd 1

8/27/14 11:58 AM

Hebert, thought she had more potential as a 400-meter sprinter.

Loyd said learning the 400-meter was one of the biggest challenges she’s ever faced.

Hebert, who specializes in mental preparation techniques for all kinds of athletes, helped her overcome mental roadblocks.

“Susan is about as strong as an athlete as you can imagine,” Hebert said.

The issue wasn’t her strength or ability — it was about making the event less intimidating.

Loyd would hit a wall, mentally, at 300 meters, he said.

Hebert helped demystify the flow of the race.

“As you feel these feelings, work through them,” he told her.

“You get to the point where you can say, ‘Been there, done that. I can handle it and

Historic Cave Tours

As seen on the History Channel “Secret Passages” Hear, see, and explore stories of the sandstone caves. Hear the legends of mining, mobster massacres, and ghostly lore in a truly unique setting.

race to the finish,’” Hebert said.

45 Minute Walking Tour • No Reservations Needed

Now, she’s learned to cope and the race

Tour Times Year ‘Round:

is one of her best events.

Thursdays 5 pm • Saturdays 11 am • Sundays 11 am

In 2013, Loyd won the indoor national championships for the 400-meter.

“You can’t love it because it’s so hard,” she said of the notoriously difficult race.

$6.00 Per Person

Home of the St. Paul Gangster Tour

“But what I love is that it’s daunting and I stand up to it and I face it.”

Loyd — currently president

Wabasha Street Caves • 651-292-1220

215 Wabasha St. S., St. Paul, MN • WabashaStreetCaves.com Wabasha Street Caves GA 0615 H4.indd 1

5/8/15 11:22 AM

Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 31

SILVER SPRINTER of the Twin Cities division of Clear Channel Outdoor

“She’s really become

and formerly the general manager and vice president of

a student of the sport,”

WCCO TV — has also held numerous high-profile volunteer board positions.

But the confidence she gained from that 400-meter victory has spilled over into all aspects of her life.

Training with a coach Loyd trains year-round at the University of Minnesota.

Her routine typically involves one to two hours of exercise each day.

The majority of her workouts don’t even include sprints — it’s too hard on a sprinter’s knees to constantly run that hard and

You can’t love it because it’s so hard. But what I love is that it’s daunting and I stand up to it and I face it.

Schoffman said.

— Susan Adams Loyd, 57, of Edina

athletes who have

fast. Instead, she focuses on weight training to build muscle,

mind. her, usually on Saturday mornings. from the 100-meter to the 800-meter.

their sport.

Many are lifelong continued training time for their sports

While Loyd exercised regularly while raising her two up, Loyd said she yearned for something more to do and that Other women like Loyd in the “pre-Title IX” crowd, never had the opportunity play the sport they wanted in school and have

Though the two met in Minnesota doing local charity events, their team is based out of Boston because there aren’t

now found it as adults.

Some friends were never athletic until later in life.

many sprinters at

Schoffman was a sprinter in college at Saint Johns Univer-

the masters level in

sity in Collegeville, Minn. After he graduated in 1975, it fell

the Midwest.

to the wayside. Schoffman, now 61, picked it back up again

While they have

about 10 years ago.

different times and

The camaraderie he’s found in senior athletics is what makes

paces, Schoffman said

it special, he said, adding that he hopes to coach after he retires

it’s good to train with

in a few years.

someone for motiva-

Most of the runners Hebert works with are competitive at the

tion and to keep each

masters level, which is for athletes 35 and older. About two-

other accountable.

thirds of those runners are 40 and older.

Since Schoffman was a high school and college runner, he said Loyd often picks his brain for tips — and chirps them back at him when he complains.

32 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

of life dedicated to

training gave her a strong sense of purpose.

Schoffman, of Fridley, is also a sprinter. He runs everything

Training, snacks, beverages and games-branded apparel will be provided to volunteers.

See TeamMNVolunteer.com or email seniorgames@ 2015GoldenGamesMN.org for more information.

tors from all walks

children, her life was filled with kid activities. As they grew

Her Mass Velocity teammate, Jim Schoffman, trains with

The organizers of the 2015 National Senior Games are seeking 2,500 volunteers to work two four-hour shifts each during the games, July 3–16 in at 18 venues in Bloomington, Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Loyd meets competi-

anymore because life got in the way.

But she “eats, sleeps and exercises” with track and field in

→→Volunteer at the games

In senior athletics,

or who didn’t have

yoga for flexibility, swimming for light-impact cardio and some biking.

Never too late

His advice for anyone looking to discover or get back in touch with their athletic side?

“It’s never too late. It’s only in your mind,” he said. “You’ll never know if you’re telling yourself you can’t.”

Cali Owings is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer and a frequent contributor to Minnesota Good Age.

A Home for every Aging HeArt

TWIN CITIES TO HOST THE 2015 NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES The Twin Cities will host the 2015 National Senior Games this summer from July 3–16.

The National Senior Games Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting active lifestyles for athletes age 50 and older, is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Spectators can attend the events, sponsored by Humana, for free.

Athletes qualify for the games by competing first at the local and state level.

Minnesota’s state senior games are held every May. Learn more at mnseniorgames.com.

The National Senior Games are held every other year. The last event was in Cleveland in 2013.

For the individual sports, there are five-year age divisions starting at age 50 all the way up to 100-plus.

Just like in the Olympics, a torch marks this official start of competition. It will arrive July 4 to signal the start of the games at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park in Minneapolis.

Susan Adams Loyd and Dave Mona, a founder and retired chairman of public relations firm Weber Shandwick, are cochairs of the national games this year.

The games, Loyd said, are like “recess, for adults.”

Loyd said it will really be a treat for spectators and guests. More than 30,000 are expected to attend at venues in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bloomington.

Spectators can cheer for Loyd — who’ll be wearing a University of Minnesota singlet — in the 50-, 100-, 200- and 400-meter races in the women’s 55-59 division at the University of St. Thomas.

Mission: To provide a loving and permanent home for dogs that are deemed “un-adoptable” because of age and health, and would otherwise be unnecessarily euthanized www.topdogfoundation.org • 952‑353‑2122 Top Dog Foundation GA 2013 Filler H6.indd 1

Ou

o rg

ay lf m

6/28/13 9:02 AM

be mini, but the fu

n is

18

BI

G

holes

Mini Golf

Malt Shop

Malts • Floats • Cones Frozen Yogurt

for the whole family

Includes waterfall, lavish gardens & beautiful landscape

New !

Item

Grilled Cheese Build your own sandwich

Call 612-861-9348 for more information 6335 Portland Ave S, Richfield, MN Wheel Fun Rentals - Malt-T-Melt GA 0515 H4.indd 2

4/22/15 10:16 AM

Where adults 50+ can interact, relax and be inspired.

Skyway Senior Center 950 Nicollet Mall Suite 290 (Target/Retek Building) Come and check out the contemporary center in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.

Call 612.370.3869 to get the free newsletter

Monday-Friday 9am-3pm

UCare Skyway Senior Center GA 2013 Filler H4.indd 1

7/22/13 9:40 AM

Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 33

June Can’t-Miss Calendar

Ongoing

Black Tie →→This warm and witty comedy follows a father as he prepares to make a memorable toast at his only son’s wedding rehearsal dinner. But generations clash when his family doesn’t share his belief in tradition and time-honored ways.

When: Through June 21 Where: Theatre in the Round, Minneapolis Cost: $22 Info: theatreintheround.org or 612-333-3010

June 5–7

Edina Art Fair →→More than 300 fine artists and crafters from around Minnesota, the U.S. and Canada will sell their work alongside local and regional musicians, fashion shows, cooking and lifestyle demonstrations, food and a kids-art zone.

When: June 5–7 Where: 50th & France neighborhood, Edina Cost: FREE Info: edinaartfair.com

June 5–14

No Expiration Date: Sexuality & Aging Opening June 18

The Church Basement Ladies

→→Troupe America celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the original musical comedy that follows four distinct characters around a Minnesota church-basement kitchen as they manage the food — and the problems — that arise.

When: June 18–Nov. 15 Cost: $28–39 Where: Plymouth Playhouse Info: plymouthplayhouse.com or 763-553-1600

→→This new, groundbreaking play — written by internationally acclaimed playwright Meena Natarajan — is based on human sexuality research at the University of Minnesota.

When: June 5–14 Where: Pangea World Theater, Minneapolis and Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis Cost: $10–$15 Info: pangeaworldtheater.org

June 7

Grand Old Day Ongoing

Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair →→View 40 garments from world-renowned fashion designers — and learn how a traveling fashion show became a vehicle for African-American empowerment.

When: Through Aug. 16. Half-hour guided tours will be available at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. June 6, July 11 and Aug. 1.

Where: Minnesota History Center, St. Paul Cost: $11 for adults, $9 for seniors and college students, $6 for ages 6–17; free for ages 5 and younger Info: mnhs.org 34 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

→→This one-day block party — one of the largest of its kind in the Midwest — features a parade, live music, a beer bash and a Minnesota-artists’ showcase, all in addition to bustle of the 350 businesses that line Grand Avenue.

When: 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. June 7 Where: Grand Avenue between Wheeler Avenue and Dale Street, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: grandave.com

June 12–21

Skylark Opera Summer Festival →→Two operas will make their Twin Cities premieres — along with numerous new voices — as part of this 10-day, twoproduction festival. Stephen Sondheim’s Putting It Together will feature songs from many of his familiar musicals, including Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods and Merrily We Roll Along. Giacomo Puccini’s La Rondine — a passionate love story with a fascinating heroine — will showcase some of the most sumptuous music Puccini ever wrote.

When: June 12–21 Where: E.M. Pearson Theatre, Concordia University, St. Paul Cost: $22–$45. Festival packages are $40 to $78.

Info: ticketworks.com, skylarkopera.org or 612-343-3390

Photo by Curtis Johnson

Opening June 5

Covers: A Pop Concert

→→In collaboration with some of the Twin Cities’ most talented musicians, Cantus arranges and performs the everyday classics of our time, including music from the ‘60s, the ’80s and more.

When: 7:30 p.m. June 5–13 Where: The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts, Minneapolis Cost: $35 Info: cantussings.org or 612-435-0055

Opening June 13

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas →→See the Tony-nominated musical comedy, focused on the town of Gilbert, Texas, where Sheriff Ed Earl has a longstanding relationship with the madam of the Chicken Ranch brothel, Miss Mona.

When: June 13–Aug. 29 Where: Old Log Theatre, Excelsior Cost: $24–$35 Info: oldlog.com or 866-653-5641

June 13–14 June 7

Art on the Lake

10,000 Lakes Concours d’Elegnace

→→This juried show of locally and nationally renowned artists will feature contemporary and traditional works in jewelry, wood, painting, ceramics, glass, sculpture, fiber arts and mixed media. Other attractions include strolling musicians and food vendors on the shores of Lake Minnetonka.

→→The third-annual Competition of Excellence, presented by Jaguar and Land Rover, will feature more than 150 cars and boats on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, along with live music, a retail village and food and beverage vendors. Proceeds will benefit the ICA Food Shelf.

When: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. June 7 Where: Excelsior Commons, Excelsior Cost: $35; ages 12 and younger can attend for free.

Info: 10000lakesconcours.com

June 11–14

ReelAbilities Film Festival →→The ReelAbilities Minneapolis-St. Paul Disabilities Film Festival (RFF) aims to change perspectives about people with disabilities with more than 20 thoughtprovoking films, many produced by local cinematographers. Minneapolis filmmaker Kevin May will kick off the festival with his uplifting and engaging documentary, It’s Raining, So What: The Story of Joe Stone.

When: June 11–14 Where: Union Depot, St. Paul, MacPhail, Minneapolis, Doubletree Hotel, St. Louis Park and Cinema Grill, New Hope Cost: Some screenings are free. Tickets to most films are $10.

Info: minneapolis.reelabilities.org

When: June 13–14 Where: Excelsior Commons, Excelsior Cost: FREE Info: excelsiorartonthelake.com

June 14

The New Orleans Swamp Donkeys →→One of the most foot-tapping ensembles around will bring its old-style jazz from the 1900-1930s era to the Twin Cities. The group recently gained international fame when an online video their stepped-up version of the Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 35

Can’t-Miss Calendar Photo by Sherri Mueller

June 20–21

Stone Arch Bridge Festival →→This popular Father’s Day-weekend event features art and music from 250 artists on three performance stages, plus family art activities, a car show and a motorcycle gallery, all on the Mississippi riverfront.

When: Free riverfront concerts June 17–20 overlap with the festival, held June 20–21.

Where: Northeast Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: stonearchbridgefestival.com

Game of Thrones theme song garnered nearly a million views.

When: 7 p.m. June 14 Where: New Century Theatre, Minneapolis Cost: $15–$25 Info: hennepintheatretrust.org or 612-455-9501

June 18

Parktacular Senior Dinner →→Kick off summer — and the three-day St. Louis Park Parktacular festivities June 18–20 — with a Tex-Mex-inspired meal to honor seniors, hosted by emcee Bob Ramsey. There will also be a cash bar and live music from the Latin music trio, Salsabrosa, plus talented dancers to delight the crowd and offer salsa lessons.

When: 4:30–8 p.m. June 18 Where: Minneapolis Marriott West, St. Louis Park Cost: $15 Info: parktacular.org/scheduleofevents or 952-232-6597

Food for Your Soul →→Ten Twin Cities homeowners will host dinners featuring local chefs, food critics, food writers and restaurant entrepreneurs with about 30 dinner guests in each home, including local celebrities such as Jason DeRusha, Stephanie March and Marshall Paulsen. Proceeds will benefit the wellness, entertainment, holiday and beauty-shop programs of Sholom Auxiliary, which serves more than 2,500 local seniors.

When: 6:30 p.m. June 18 Where: Twin Cities Cost: $150 per person Info: foodforyoursoul.org

Opening June 19

You Can’t Take It With You →→One of America’s most beloved comedy classics, this hilarious and heartwarming production focuses on the path to happiness: Tune out the world, find your own personal freedom and live life to the fullest.

36 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

When: June 19–Aug. 9 Where: The Jungle Theater, Minneapolis Cost: $28–$48 Info: jungletheater.com

Opening June 19

Our Mighty Mississippi →→Local baritone and storyteller Steven Marking presents a sensory feast of song, stories, film and photos capturing life on the Mississippi River, all on the Minnesota Centennial Showboat.

When: 7 p.m. June 19, 26, 27, and 2 p.m. June 20, 21, 24 Where: Boarding is at Harriet Island Road, St. Paul.

Cost: $18 Info: stevenmarking.com or 651-227-1100

June 19

Midwest Arts & Aging Conference →→Experts in arts and aging, seniorserving organizations and the media will gather for this second-annual daylong conference, featuring numerous seminars, an artists’ showcase and an exhibitor fair, plus keynote speaker Stuart Kandell, founder of Stagebridge Senior Theatre of Oakland, Calif., the nation’s oldest and most renowned theatre company of older adults.

When: June 19 Where: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska Cost: $104 Info: artsagemn.org

June 19–20

Rockin’ Ribs on the River →→This family-friendly, all-day festival — with the St. Croix River serving as its backdrop — features live music, barbecue, beer and wine. New this year is a Kids BBQool area. Pups on leashes are welcome. Bring chairs and spend the day.

When: June 19–20 Where: Lakeside Park, Bayport Cost: $5; ages 15 and younger can attend for free.

Info: rockinribsontheriver.com

June 19–21

GermanFest →→Celebrate German culture through food, music, dance, art, education

OLDER ADULTS WITH

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE NEEDED FOR AN EXERCISE STUDY

Photo courtesy of Cloudmakers Trio

June 25–27

Twin Cities Jazz Festival →→One of the largest civic jazz festivals in the Midwest, this popular event brings more than 30,000 people out to hear the vibrant, joyful sounds of jazz.

When: June 25–27 Where: Mears Park, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: hotsummerjazz.com

and other traditional activities at this second-annual family-friendly event — not a stereotypical Oktoberfest event.

Highlights include bingo, a strongman competition, human foosball with St. Paul Firefighters, German lessons, brewery tours, German star making, wiener-dog races and more.

When: June 19–21 Where: Historic Schmidt Brewery, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: germanfestmn.org

June 19–21

Back to the Fifties Weekend →→More than 12,000 custom, classic and restored cars — all dated 1964 and earlier — will cover the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, along with entertainment, live music, games, food, crafts and more as part of the Minnesota Street Rod Association’s 42nd-annual event.

When: June 19–21. Kids’ World will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 20 in the

If you have Alzheimer’s disease and are 66 years of age or older, you might be able to take part in a 1-year exercise study. An exercise specialist will work with you to exercise 3 times a week for 6 months, and monitor your response to exercise to ensure your safety. You will be followed for another 6 months for additional assessments. You will receive compensation and some participants will receive a free gym membership.

For more information, please call (612) 626-9490

Dr. Fang Yu GA 0615 V6.indd 1

5/20/15 4:03 PM

grandstand infield.

Where: Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St. Paul Cost: $10; one child (age 12 and younger) can attend for free with each paid adult.

Info: msra.com

June 20

Gordon Lightfoot →→The Grammy-nominated singersongwriter and musician, stops in Minneapolis with his 50 Years on the Carefree Highway Tour.

When: 8 p.m. June 20 Where: State Theatre, Minneapolis Cost: $48.50–$58.50 Info: hennepintheatretrust.org or 800-982-2787

Opening June 23

Once →→Winner of eight 2012 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Once tells the enchanting tale of a Dublin street

We buy gold, silver, coins, & currency Mill City Numismatics Honest, Knowledgable & Experienced

Please call Andrew at

(612) 770-6578 Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 37

Mill City Numismatics GA 0513 V6.indd 1

3/28/13 4:02 PM

Can’t-Miss Calendar musician who’s about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs.

When: June 23–28 Where: State Theatre, Minneapolis Cost: $49–$94 Info: hennepintheatretrust.org or 800-859-7469

June 23

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue →→Joined by Willie Murphy & the Angel Headed Hipsters and Jack Brass Band, Troy Andrews tours in support of his new album, Say That To Say This.

When: 6:30 p.m. June 23 Where: Cabooze Plaza, Minneapolis Cost: $32.50–$35 Info: axs.com or 888-929-9849

June 28

Trevor Hall with Mike Love →→Made famous by his original song, Other Ways, featured on the Shrek the Third soundtrack, this singer-songwriter’s captivating live performances and growing popularity have led to sold-out tours across the country.

When: 8 p.m. June 28 Where: Cabooze Plaza, Minneapolis Cost: $20–$22 Info: ticketfly.com or 877-435-9849

July 3–4

Red, White and Boom →→Celebrate Independence Day at a two-day celebration hosted by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

More than 60,000 people come to the downtown Minneapolis riverfront for a kids’ run, 5K, half marathon, a movie, live music, food, family-friendly activities and — the grand finale — fireworks on July 4.

When: July 3–4 Where: Downtown and Northeast Minneapolis Cost: FREE. Fees apply for some events.

Info: mplsredwhiteboom.com

July 3–16

National Senior Games →→What: More than 10,000 athletes ages 50 and older from across the nation will gather in the Twin Cities for an Olympicstyle competition. Athletes will compete in 20 sports, including traditional trackand-field events, swimming, horseshoes, pickleball, golf and tennis.

When: July 3–16 Where: Venues in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bloomington Cost: FREE Info: nsga.com

July 17–19

Highland Fest →→Explore a wide variety family-friendly activities, including live music and art, a petting zoo, wiener-dog races, inflatable rides, games, a 5K, a beer tent and food and beverage vendors, plus a pancake breakfast, a community picnic, Zumba in the park, wine tasting, a movie in the park, a Cross Fit competition, a book mobile, a yoga class and the inaugural All Ford Car and Truck Show, honoring 86 years of the Twin Cities Ford Assembly Plant in cooperation with Ford Motor Company.

When: July 17–19 Where: Highland Park neighborhood, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: highlandfest.com

July 22–25

Minneapolis Aquatennial →→Entering its 76th year, this multi-day festival — the official civic celebration of the City of Minneapolis — features a wide variety of events, including a torchlight parade and fireworks on July 25. This year’s festival will be downsized from 10 days to four, and the annual sandcastle competition and milk-carton boat races won’t be happening.

When: July 22–25 Where: Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: aquatennial.com

→→Contact us!

Do you have an event to share? Send calendar items (six weeks before your event) to calendar@mngoodage.com. Share your story ideas with us by writing editor@ mngoodage.com.

38 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

presents the summer 2015

Writing Contest WINNING ENTRY The challenge: write a poem (45 lines or less) or story (fewer than 800 words) that includes someone or something taking a risk.

Judged by author and teacher Allison Wyss.

Billings Bridge

By Tamar M. Brendzel

S

parse clumps of grass dotted the ground between Susanna and Zo, the midafternoon sun bathing their bodies into sticky submission. Summer thoughts made them drowsy, unable to flick off the ants climbing them as though they were jungle gyms. Susanna’s limbs and face were long and bony, while Zo had cylindrical legs and a round body.

Together they had perfected the art of being sixteen during August.

“You know what I’ve always wanted to do?”

Susanna’s voice rose into the thick air.

“Huh?” Zo could barely wiggle her toes, let alone move her jaw.

“Look under the Billings Bridge.”

“Hmm,” Zo resettled herself into the hard dirt that she and Susanna had chosen as their tanning bed.

“Johnny’s cousin Robert said he saw a face on the underside of the bridge once. He got so scared he wet himself.” Susanna’s voice cracked as she imagined the moment — the tickly fear of darkness, the mysterious face with a gaping mouth looming out of the rust, Robert’s barely pubescent scream as he ran away. “I want to see it.”

Zo opened her eyes. The sun shone so brightly that she scrunched her eyelids and the world kaleidoscoped. “That’s a terrible idea.”

Susanna sat up, sweat rivulets puddling above her upper lip and dampening the creases of her elbows. She grabbed Zo’s hand and pulled until Zo relented and sat up as well.

on her bare shoulders.

“I’m here.”

“Fine.” Susanna squelched into the water and ducked down under the bridge.

Zo reached out her hands and found something wet, slime with a hint of softness. Then she heard Susanna scream.

“Do we have to?” Zo asked.

“No,” Susanna’s voice held a sour flavor.

“Nothing.”

“Yes,” Susanna said. “Now.” The pond sat in the middle of a larger marsh. In mid-summer it smelled of rotten sewage, equal parts water and green algae.

Susanna and Zo stood at the edge, looking into the Billings property. The bridge could barely be seen over the bulrush. Susanna went first, plunging her blue canvas shoes into the slightly damp ground. With a gentle sucking sound she began to walk towards the bridge.

“We’re lucky we’re in a drought. Otherwise this would be disgusting,” Susanna said.

“It’s still disgusting,” Zo said. She followed, stepping hesitantly around half dying frogs.

A hundred feet in they finally reached the Billings Bridge. In the pond below, Susanna could see small fish darting between carpets of algae. Zo shuddered as a dragonfly flew past her face.

“I dare you to look underneath the bridge,” Susanna said.

“You do it. Your idea, your mission.” Zo’s dark hair was sticking to her red face, and she could feel phantom spiders crawling

“Anything?” Zo looked around nervously.

Zo could hear Susanna sloshing in the water. Then, for a moment, silence.

“Zo, I’m stuck,” Susanna called.

“No you’re not.”

“I’m really, really stuck on something.”

“I hate you,” Zo said. She began to wade in. The water stuck to her ankles, then her calves, then her knees. She prayed there wasn’t something dangerous in the water that ate sixteen-year-olds rescuing their friends. “I don’t know why you always have to pretend you’re in a horror movie,” Zo said, wincing as her feet slid around on the bottom of the pond, her shoes heavy with mud. Billings Bridge leaned over her, enveloping her in its shadow. She hunched her back, her head almost scraping the bridge’s curved metal edge. In the cave of the bridge, the temperature dropped.

It suddenly became very hard to see, the bulrushes around the bridge acting like curtains. Zo looked up at the bridge’s underbelly for a face looming out from the metal. She couldn’t see a thing. “Susanna, where are you?”

“An arm’s got me — I swear,” Susanna’s voice echoed.

“No way,” said Zo, as she turned on her phone’s flashlight to find Susanna.

There, in front of her, was Old Man Billings. His face was bloated, his body hanging from a string tied around his neck.

The water lapped at his waist.

“Zo, help,” whispered Susanna.

“It’s probably just a branch,” Zo said, staring at the body in front of her. She wiped her hands on her shirt and felt her dry mouth fill with vomit.

“Zo,” Susanna called. Zo swung the phone around. Susanna faced away from Old Man Billings, her nose inches from the left side of the bridge. She hadn’t seen the body. Zo pointed her light at the water near Susanna’s feet, where a branch sat, submerged.

“It’s just a branch,” Zo said. She grabbed Susanna’s hand and Susanna untangled herself. Zo squeezed Susanna’s thin fingers as she turned off her phone’s flashlight.

Slowly, trying not to look back, Zo led them out from under the bridge.

This literary story is independent from the editorial content of Minnesota Good Age magazine.

Judge Allison Wyss: Winner Tamar M. Brendzel: Allison Wyss’s stories have appeared in [PANK] Magazine, the Southeast Review, the Doctor T. Tamar M. Brendzel usually lives in Minnesota, but has recently been seen traveling the world.

J. Eckleburg Review, Juked and elsewhere. She also teaches at the Loft and writes a column on Her passion for writing started in childhood and seems to have followed her into adulthood. craft for the Writers’ Block.

Honorable Mentions: “Tubers and Grass” by Ann Brigl | “Moondance in the Foyer” by Katerina Papanikolopoulos

Brain teasers Sudoku

Word Search WHILE LIVIN’ I WANT TO LIVE WELL Advantage Benefit Comfort Contentment Ease Fortune Happiness

Cryptogram Break the code to reveal a quote from a famous person.

Each letter represents another letter.

Source: Anne Frank Clue: U = E

N P O

O P C J U D Y K V

F N B F

C P S P J H

M F

M R

Interest Joy Laughter Peace Progress Prosperity Rest

Safety Satisfaction Security Success Thriving Weal Welfare

S

P

T

E

X

U

Z

Y

M

J

N

S

S

L

T

O

R

K

Q

Y

I

Y

T

Q

G

W

S

A

R

I

Y

O

J

S

J

H

B

I

M

X

E

E

O

N

D

L

G

O

D

W

T

R

R

N

N

W

F

U

K

O

E

R

X

O

W

O

S

E

I

T

M

C

J

C

S

R

E

T

V

Q

A

H

P

T

O

S

H

S

E

S

A

S

W

N

F

F

P

S

C

H

I

E

C

S

U

F

S

I

E

E

A

O

O

K

E

G

U

R

A

C

L

K

T

N

H

M

Y

R

Y

K

R

U

M

E

C

E

Y

U

F

T

H

T

P

T

I

S

L

A

N

E

W

V

E

C

A

E

P

N

T

U

J

O

Y

L

S

Y

P

V

A

N

N

R

Y

E

J

N

R

T

O

S

B

E

N

E

F

I

T

E

D

T

Y

E

Q

F

U

G

N

I

V

I

R

H

T

S

N

N

Q

C

L

U

A

D

V

A

N

T

A

G

E

T

F

O

L

N

L

N

O

I

T

C

A

F

S

I

T

A

S

C

Y

S

C U U J

Word Scramble O B M F

B

S U Y P D U

R M C E V U

Q P Q U C F

R F B D F M C E

F P .

M Q G D P Z U

F N U

40 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

O P D V J

.

Complete the following three six-letter words using each given letter once.

G ___ ___ ___ T H

___ A ___ ___TH

W

W

R

O

L

M

___ ___ A ___ T H E

H

R

What will be your legacy?

SPONSORED BY MINNESOTA COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN

Trivia HEALTH & WELLNESS 1. A high percentage of your brain is made up of water. Can you guess what that percentage is?

2. Gardening is said to be one of the best exercises for maintaining what in your body?

3. Happiness and a strong sense of emotional vitality help lower your risk of what disease?

1. 70% 2. Healthy bone 3. Heart disease TRIVIA

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

CRYTPOGRAM Growth, Warmth, Health

WORD SCRAMBLE

You can get there. We can help.

Visit www.MN529today.com or call Chris McLeod 952-830-3127 Minnesota Good Age / June 2015 / 41

CROSSWORD

Answers

SUDOKU

Brain teasers SPONSORED BY MINNESOTA COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN

Crossword

ACROSS 1 Swerves 5 Decorated one 9 Selects, with “for” 13 Hockey violation 15 1998 Sarah McLachlan hit 16 Pebble Beach cry 17 Complete set of recollections 19 Elite Eight letters 20 Nile snake 21 “__ to please” 22 Check 24 Written words 25 Price-regulating blocs 26 Den fixture 30 Screenplay units 31 Extinct flightless bird 32 Pledge 35 Start to fall?

36 Olive __ 37 Spot to grab a bite 38 South, in Soissons 42 / June 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

39 Sweater material 41 Fries in a little butter 43 Climber’s aid 46 Vacation options 48 Rover exploration site 49 Bit of fruit in a box 50 Rubberneck 51 Consumes 54 Pay for a hand 55 Thrill-seeker’s leap 58 Headliner 59 In unison, on a score 60 Steadfast belief 61 __ d’oeuvres 62 Revolutionary sewer 63 NBA scoring attempt, which can be preceded by the ends of 17-, 26-, 43and 55-Across DOWN 1 MillerCoors malt beverage 2 High-paid pitchers

3 Hitch in one’s step 4 Winter product prefix 5 They can be hard to kick 6 Red-wrapped cheese 7 __ Tin Tin 8 One end of California’s Bay Bridge 9 Buzzworthy 10 Rarely used Oval Office strategy 11 Way to ski 12 Connery and Penn 14 Feel the pain of a loss 18 Graph line 23 Thereabout 24 Camping shelter 25 “Sweet!”

26 Recipe amts.

27 Color similar to sand 28 Rock band soloist 29 Rustic writing 33 Faux butter 34 Tide rival 36 “Careless me!”

37 “Stupid me!” syllables 39 “What __ thinking?”

40 Holiday party perk 41 Hogwarts potions master 42 Settled 44 Steplike platforms 45 Computer desktop array 46 Computer headache 47 Totaled 50 Bearded antelopes 51 Romcom actor Grant 52 BBs, e.g.

53 Trivial tiff 56 Japanese salad veggie 57 “__ Boys”: “Little Men” sequel

Start with as little as $25.

952-830-3127 MN College Savings Plan GA NR2 12.indd 1

10/20/14 4:22 PM

Talk to a pharmacist today and find out more about the immunizations you might need.

Depending on your age and where your destination is when traveling, you could need certain types of immunizations. Walgreens pharmacists can help find out which ones you need and administer the immunization.

June 2nd

Senior y Savings Da

ems

dvertised it

ll non-a 20% OFF a

1-800-WALGREENS (1-800-925-4733) • WALGREENS.COM

n F online o ly. 15% OF In store on rs at checkout with e eligible ord ode SENIOR 15 coupon c

Eligible participants must be: • 18+ years of age • in general good health and have between 5–20 Actinic Keratoses on the scalp, face or chest • willing to come to Research Centre for 11 study visits over a 14 month period There is no cost to participate in this clinical research and reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

To find out more about this study and how to get involved please contact: The Minnesota Clinical Study Center at 763-502-2941.

Steven Kempers, M.D.

DO YOU HAVE ACTINIC KERATOSES (SUN SPOTS)?

A clinical study to evaluate a topical treatment for Actinic Keratoses (sun spots) on the scalp is currently being conducted.

Actinic Keratoses are a common skin problem caused by sun exposure. People with sun damaged skin may have Actinic Keratoses and therefore could be eligible for entry into this clinical study.