December January ISI 2015/2016

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Diplomatic humor helps Roger Musser divvy up water

Wa t e r m a s t e r R o g e r Musser adjusts a head gate near Malta. Despite conflicts among various water interests, Roger is able to keep most users focused on the importance of the system working smoothly and fairly with as little tension as possible. Diplomacy and technology help. [Photo

by Dianna Troyer]

By Dianna Troyer With another irrigation season over, water master Roger Musser laughs about its usual unpredictability and how his seasonal job is as entertaining as any reality television show.

“This season started off as a disaster,” says Roger, water master of Cassia Creek Irrigation District 43C. “In mid-May, we were in trouble with almost no rainfall. I was afraid I was going to have to shut off people’s water early. A week later, any farmer on Cassia Creek had all the water they could use and then some. By June, some people were dealing with flooding. You never know what will happen around here.”

Driving his red 1989 Ford pickup, a familiar sight to ranchers, Roger navigates the byways and remote dirt roads he has known since childhood, monitoring water levels in ditches, creeks, and springs for the irrigation district.

From April to the end of October, he divvies up 9,000 to 10,000 acre-feet of water for 65 water rights holders. The oldest water rights, having the highest priority, date back to 1872.

“For me, it’s the most enjoyable job I’ve ever had,” says Roger, 72. “I love the solitude, puttering around this beautiful valley, and helping deliver water to people who raised me.

“There’s a saying, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ Well, in my case it took the people of Elba and Malta both to keep me alive. This job is a way to repay them, a second chance to make up for my wild youthful behavior.”

Since 2002, Roger has worked as the water master, an elected position. He replaced his late father-in-law, Gene Ward, the longtime water master, and his cousin, Tommy Hutchison, who did the job for 13 years. “So far, no one has run against me,” says Roger. “I tell people when they get sick of me to put someone else on the ballot.”

When he started as water master, Roger had just retired after working 34 years for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, dealing with drug treatment and foster care programs.

“Compared to that job with all its bureaucracy, this is easy,” says Roger, who works several days a week distributing the water.

Historically, working as a water master was often a thankless job with ranchers venting their anger when their water had to be shut off.

“Two things have made it a little easier,” says Roger. “These days, most people have irrigation wells, so they’re not so dependent on surface water any more. Plus, with cell phones, I can let people know quickly if I have to shut off their water.”

(Continued on page 30)

PAGE 2 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Celebrating Through Volunteerism

By Gini Cunningham Volunteering is an awesomely rewarding avenue for sharing wisdom and building personal strength. Having taught for many years, upon retirement I sought new ways to extend my talents while helping others. Volunteering met my calling and has become a wonderful answer to filling and fulfilling my time. There are so many people in need or projects at hand. There are a few tips, however, to ensure that your volunteer hours are well spent and provide empowerment to you as well as to those you serve.

Consider your priorities. Do you prefer pets to people, the impoverished over those who just need a lift, or children compared to adults?

Teaching literacy is a fantastic opportunity to assist another person, but you have to decide whether kindergarten is the ideal setting where you can work one-on-one supervising a young reader or whether you prefer adults.

Perhaps you want to help those who dropped out of school, entered prison instead of the work force, or are second language learners.

If people drive you to distraction with whines and barks but dogs thrill your inner being as you wash them into glossy coats, walk them through the park, or help with pet adoption, you know which option is best for you.

Next, think about the people with whom you will be working. Does your direct supervisor respect you, your intelligence, and your abilities or does she or he view you as a workhorse for projects that no one else wants to do? Do those with whom you are working share values and conditions in common?

That does not mean 100% lock-step agreement, but rather individuals who will work as a team, share insight and ideas, and value your input as well.

When the team sits together to create a vision with clear goals and objectives with everyone working at personal capacity, the project or program is certain to excel, offering many internal benefits to you and external benefits to others.

Does the volunteer work you are considering offer flexibility? After all, you probably did not retire from your profession to volunteer full-time. There are other luxuries in life to enjoy like your family, children and grandchildren, travel, and adventure. You will want to avoid being so bogged down in someone else’s work that your personal autonomy disappears.

Whip out your calendar, examine days where you are at liberty to offer time to others, sketch out the hours in the day that you can volunteer, and mark down other responsibilities including personal time for yourself. Now you have a better picture of just how much “free” time you have and where you can best serve.

Finally, you are working as a volunteer, which may include paying for your own travel, purchasing supplies from your own pocket, and even donating money to the cause. Can you afford to do this? Do you need to set some parameters? Will your money be well spent in helping others while providing personal satisfaction?

Also, consider that your supervisor may be in a paid position while you toil for nothing but internal rewards. How do you feel about this? Mutual respect is important; your sense of value is of the essence.

Volunteering is a terrific opportunity to meet, greet, travel, explore, and learn. You may be surprised at your capacity to help others, whether animals, people, or distant faces and places. While you did not sign up to volunteer to become richer in the monetary sense, you should gain assets filled through your wisdom, ideas, instincts, and abilities. Above all, at the end of the day, even through worry and frustration, you need to feel accomplishment. You need to be ready to jump up in celebration!

EzineArticles.com/9178016. ISI

Author unknown Submitted by Julie Hollar He was 92 years old, poised, and proud. Each morning he was fully dressed by eight o’clock and shaved – with his hair perfectly combed even though he was legally blind. He arrived at the front lobby of the nursing home where I worked.

His wife of 70 years had just passed away, making the move necessary.

After some time waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when I told him his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

“I love it,” he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

“Mr. Jones, you haven’t been in the room yet. Just wait.” I responded with a smile.

“That doesn’t have anything to do with it.” he replied. “Happiness is something you decide ahead of time. Whether I like or dislike my room doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged; it’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.

“It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work well, or I can get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I’ll focus on

The Bank Account

Idaho Senior Independent A Barrett-Whitman Publication

P.O. Box 3341 • Great Falls, MT 59403-3341 208-318-0310 • Toll Free: 1-866-360-5683 Fax: 406-761-8358 www.idahoseniorindependent.com E-mail: idahoseniorind@bresnan.net The Idaho Senior Independent is published six times each year in February, April, June, August, October, and December by Barrett-Whitman, 415 3rd Avenue North, Great Falls, MT 59401 and is distributed free to readers throughout the state of Idaho.

The mail subscription rate is $10.00 per year (6 issues). The Idaho Senior Independent is written to serve Idaho’s mature population of all ages. Readers are encouraged to contribute interesting material. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles, and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication.

All copy appearing in the Idaho Senior Independent is protected by copyright and may be reprinted only with the written permission of the publisher. Advertising copy should be received or space reserved by the 5th of the month preceding the month of publication.

Jack W. Love, Jr., Publisher/Editor Colleen Paduano Lisa Gebo Jonathan Rimmel Sherrie Smith

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Office Manager Production Supervisor/Sales Graphic Designer Admin/Production Assistant

Contributing Writers Connie Daugherty Cate Huisman Bernice Karnop Liz Larcom Michael McGough Dianna Troyer © 2015

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 3

the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away. Just for this time in my life.

“Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from it what you’ve put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in your bank account of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my memory bank. I am still depositing.”

As I settled Mr. Jones in his room, I pondered his sage advice and the power of his positive outlook. It really hit home when I hung the following

framed words on his wall.

Five simple rules for happiness: 1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less. ISI

America has always been a land of dreamers – people willing to risk it all to come from Europe and later to move from the East to stake out mining claims and homesteads in the West in the early 20th century. Hard work usually determined success or failure, but luck – good or bad – and social and economic conditions could play a part too.

This issue’s Remember When winner is Esther Goffinet of Lewiston, whose story Recalling Idaho Pioneers is about her father’s early days in the Lewiston area and his determination for his fellow workers and him to be paid a decent wage for their hard labor. This brief section is an excerpt from Goffinet’s book, Ripples of a Lie, which tells the story of her father’s imprisonment in conjunction with labor unrest in Centralia, Washington in 1919. Thank you, Esther.

Remember When contains our readers’ personal reflections and contributions describing fictional or non-fictional accounts from the “Good ol’ Days” or reflections on life in general. Contributions may be stories, letters, artwork, poetry, etc. Photos may be included.

Each issue of the Idaho Senior Independent features the contribution deemed best by our staff. The contributor of the winning entry will receive a $25 cash prize.

We look forward to receiving your contributions for our February/March 2016 issue. Mail your correspondence to Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403; email to idahoseniorind@bresnan.net; or call 1-866-360-5683 or 208-318-0310. Visit us online at idahoseniorindependent. com.

It was late September when Gene happily met his family at Whitebird to guide them to his ranch. His mother, Sallie, marveled at the hundreds of wildflowers, fresh clean air, and miles from any coal towns. His father, John, was amazed at the high mountains and huge pine trees.

Brothers Russ and Tom rode horseback to the one room school at Canfield down the mountain. As two of the oldest boys in school, they chopped and carried wood for the teacher to keep the huge old wood stove burning.

The school was the social center of the community, and everything was held there – school programs, community meetings, elections, pie socials, dances, and box suppers to help finance the purchase of school supplies and pay the teacher thirty dollars per month.

Gene joined his brothers on the Canfield team to compete in baseball against the Doumecq team. As a coal miner’s son, he had not played with the “upper class” boys in West Virginia.

(Continued on page 24)

RIPPLES OF A LIE

By Esther Barnett Goffinet

Finally a book that tells the true story and names names.

An innocent man and political prisoner for twelve years.

Recalling Idaho Pioneers

The trial heard around the world.

www.EstherBarnettGoffinet.org • PO Box 414 • Lewiston

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PAGE 4 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Last Bus to Wisdom by Ivan Doig; Riverhead Books, New York, 2015 Reviewed by Connie Daugherty It began with This House of Sky: Landscapes of the Western Mind in 1978 and ended with the Last Bus to Wisdom in 2015. Ivan Doig, who, according to the New York Times, “helped shape our understanding of rural working-class life in the postwar American West,” died in April 2015. But his landscapes of the western mind – memoirs and novels alike have left us with a treasured legacy.

The unique Ivan Doig voice – that rhythm of words strung together in a smooth regular gait – is like a welcome voice on the phone – familiar and friendly with a subtle humor that always surprises. The careful sculpting of each character, the detailed painting of each scene remains true in every story Doig tells. And that is really what Ivan Doig was – a teller of stories rather than simply a writer of books. Sometimes a well-developed story is fiction; sometimes a story is fact or memory, but always a truly exceptional and intricately constructed story is engaging, drawing the reader into its realm.

With his stories, Ivan Doig invited his readers in and shared his life.

“The remembering begins out of that new silence,” Doig writes in This House of Sky. “Through the time since, I reach back… to feel into these oldest shadows for the first sudden edge of it all.”

Out of that silence and the shadows and edges of people and places remembered comes a trove of literary accomplishment – memoirs and novels – that pre-

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serves the historic western landscape and connects the past to the present for all generations. In his memoir, This House of Sky, Doig writes, “I wait for the language of memory to come into the exact tones.” In his final novel those tones have come together to create something both beautiful and memorable.

Last Bus to Wisdom, told as though a memory, is the story of one summer in one boy’s life and explores the landscape of the west in 1951; a landscape familiar to Ivan Doig.

“My big trip was a chance that did not come often in life, really, to get out in the world and see new sights and scenes and meet people and have experiences and all that.” With this admonition from his ailing grandmother meant to soften the unavoidable parting, eleven-year-old Donal Cameron fearfully boards a Greyhound bus with his treasured autograph book in his pocket and his belongings in an old wicker suitcase.

Within the first miles, Donal discovers something about himself – an ability to share, convincingly, with strangers a truth that exists only in his mind.

“What is imagination but mental mischief of a kind,” he wonders. “Out of my mouth something unexpected… harmlessly made up…. Storying, maybe it could be called.”

Thus he passes the long trip from Two Medicine country Montana to an unknown place and never-before encountered relatives in Wisconsin. The place turns out to be nothing he could have imagined and his aunt everything he dreaded. His grandmother’s sister, Kate, is bossy, mean, and resentful of being saddled with an unwanted child. Her hen-pecked husband, Herman the German, is Donal’s only salvation.

“I was finding this big husky open-faced man to be the one thing about Wisconsin that I felt vaguely comfortable with….this odd bespectacled garden puttered…had a king hell bastard of an imagination.” Donal and his newly discovered Uncle Herman also had something else in common, both tended to “let what he had read possess him.”

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that when Aunt Kate determines to send Donal back to a foster home in Montana, Herman has other plans.

He seizes the opportunity to escape to the west about which he has always read.

“No one in the entire world knew that the two of us were free as the breeze… we really were footloose…. There is no other thrill quite like disappearing the way Herman and I were about to… not that erasing ourselves from where we were supposed to be was as easy as a snap of the fingers.”

But the decision, impulsively made and just as impulsively carried out as this unlikely pair board the “dog bus,” is the real beginning of Donal’s great summer adventure. Peopled with nuns and drunken shepherds, a zealous cop and an equally determined escaped con, Indians and a famous bronc rider, a pretty waitress, and a crew of hobos – all of whom sign Donal’s autograph book – Herman and Donal discover the western mind. “State by state, as the bus rolled up the miles then beyond,” to places like Crow Agency and Yellowstone Park, Donal and Herman explore the western landscapes of 1951. Herman discovering the world of his beloved western novels, and Donal, coming to “where I belonged….Around horses and cattle and men of ranches and reservations and the smell of hay in the fields.”

Then when adventure becomes dangerous, their money runs out, and reality threatens fantasy, Herman and Donal desperately board the “3:10 to Wisdom…. There was something about Wisdom, scanty as it looked from a bus window, that immediately appealed to me… a place that did not make too much of itself nor too little, and that felt about right.”

Finally arriving at Wisdom, though it was never their original destination, could be either the beginning or the end for Herman and Donal. Summer was ending as haying season began. It is hard to keep secrets in a small town, and it’s hard to hide in Montana where somebody always knows somebody who knows somebody. Inevitably the weather will change and with it the direction of young Donal’s life.

I will admit I haven’t loved all of Ivan Doig’s books, but when he hits it – when all his talent comes through – there is nothing better. I will also admit that some of my favorites don’t stand out for other fans. But with Last Bus to Wisdom, he pulls together all of the best of his best – characters and places, language and memory, humor and melancholy, and delivers a definite winner.

If you have never read an Ivan Doig book, maybe This House of Sky – his memoir – is a good place to begin. Or maybe begin with his early novels, English Creek and Dancing at the Rascal Fair. The good thing about reading Ivan Doig is that you do not have to start at the beginning (though it’s best with some of the sequel stories). You can start in the middle (Bucking the Sun or Prairie Nocturne) or you can start at the end with Last Bus to Wisdom. Just start somewhere. Do not miss the Ivan Doig experience and legacy! ISI

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

They are close... snowflakes falling, frost on the trees, crunching snow, crackling logs on a cozy fire, and a steaming mug of hot cocoa – yes, the holidays have arrived! Sharing them with someone special could add that extra touch of romance to make them even more memorable this year. Take that first step by sending in your personal ad or replying to one listed below. Just pick up your pen, dust off your keyboard, and start writing.

To respond to any of these personal ads, simply forward your message and address, phone number, or email address to the department number listed in the particular personal ad, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

We will forward your response, including the address, phone number, and/or email address that you provide to the person placing the ad. When you respond to an ad in this section, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. That is up to the person who placed the ad. Please submit your correct address plainly printed, so you can promptly receive replies.

Respond to the ads in this issue, and also sit down now and prepare your own ad to run in our next issue. There is no charge for this service, and your ad may lead you down the path of companionship and true love!

Responses to personal ads appearing in this column may be submitted at any time. However, to place a personal ad in the February/March 2016 issue, the deadline is January 7, 2016.

Divorced male, 70, 5’9”, 160lbs. Retired, nonsmoker, financially stable, degreed education, home-owner, Lewiston area, easygoing and tolerant, humorous outlook, fit and healthy, non-religious, drink in moderation, no allergies or dietary restrictions, computer literate but do not subscribe to any social media web sites, enjoy outdoor activities, ballroom style dancing (waltz, foxtrot), travel.

Would like to meet a compatible, lighthearted lady companion, travel partner, someone not looking solely for financial support. Slender to petit body type preferred, spontaneously adventurous but who also enjoys simple pleasures and quiet times.

Laugh lines would be a plus. Reply ISI, Dept.

11502, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWM, would like to meet active, LDS lady for friendship. Will answer all replies. Reply ISI, Dept.

11501, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

Early 50s widower. It has taken me a while but now I would love to find a pretty lady who desires to start a family of her own with a Christian man.

Full head of hair, clean-shaven, blue-eyed 6’3”

SWF 68. ISO an easygoing single gentleman.

Going out and about, around town, touring back roads, watching wildlife, traveling, maybe have a boat? Someone who really enjoys dancing. Must wear a really big “white hat” – the “best” life is yet to come. Please write. Reply ISI, Dept. 11503, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 5

tall, broad shouldered. I’ve been in all 50 states. I deeply desire to learn and move forward for what I’ve missed. Come make my day. Reply ISI, Dept.

11505, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SDF. 63-year-old Scorpio. I’m still attractive at 5’3” and 104 lbs, with dark blonde hair and green eyes. I like yoga, gardening, cooking, walking my cats, and an old-fashioned way of romance. I am loyal, passionate, caring, honest, outspoken, and have a heart as big as all outdoors. I’d like to meet a similar man. Reply ISI, Dept. 11506, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

Would love to meet a nice country family, gentleman, or sister-type lady friends. I love the outdoors, animals, and cooking. I am clean and have had a good upbringing. If you need a good lady to care for you and you for me, please tell me about yourself. I would love to meet you. I am a widow and willing to relocate for the right situation.

Reply ISI, Dept. 11507, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. ISI

Country Gal, 5’6” blue eyes. In four more days, I will be 54 years old. I love to travel and read books and writing letters. Great sense of humor. Love cowboys. Love real honest people. Love to go camping. Reply ISI, Dept. 11504, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

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PAGE 6 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 7

PAGE 8 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

Think of the arguments that must have occurred when the citizens of each of the United States selected their state’s motto. There must have been as many opinions as there were citizens. Imagine how diverse the choices were and how they reflected folks’ different perspectives.

Depending on whether you were a farmer, a miner, a logger, a banker, a store owner, a doctor, or teacher, it’s easy to see how your work could affect your opinion of what was important about your state. Or did you live in the mountains or on the prairie? Geography could affect your choice.

When you work this month’s State Mottos quiz, imagine what you would have chosen as a state motto if you had the chance. Thank you and congratulations to Patty Friedrich for submitting this quiz. She is the winner of the $25 prize.

Thank you to all who participated in our Movies & Movie Stars quiz in the October/November 2015 issue. The winner of the $25 prize for submitting the correct answers is Joyce Reas of Burley. Congratulations, Joyce!

Two $25 cash prizes are awarded from the “Contest Corner” in each issue of the Idaho Senior Independent. One prize goes to the person who submits the winning answers to the featured quiz

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

from the previous issue. The second $25 prize goes to the person who submits the entry that our staff selects as the featured quiz or puzzle in the “Contest Corner” for this issue. Be creative and send us some good, fun, and interesting puzzles!

Please mail your entries to the Idaho Senior

Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403, or email to idahoseniorind@bresnan.net (include your USPS address) by January 10, 2016 for our February/March 2016 edition. Be sure to work the crossword puzzle on our website www. idahoseniorindependent.com.

Do You Know Your State Mottos?

Submitted by Patty Friedrich Below are the numbered names of twentyfive states and their state mottos designated with letters. Match the letter of the motto to its correct state. All the letters and all of the states are used.

Good luck!

1. Alabama 2. Alaska 3. Arkansas 4. Texas 5. Vermont 6. Utah 7. California 8. Delaware 9. Florida 10. Idaho 11. Indiana 12. Kentucky 13. Louisiana 14. Minnesota 15. Mississippi 16. Montana 17. New Hampshire 18. New Jersey 19. Ohio 20. Oregon 21. Rhode Island 22. Wyoming 23. Tennessee

24. Nevada 25. South Dakota A. Industry B. Gold and Silver C. She Flies with Her Own Wings D. Agriculture and Commerce E. The People Rule F. It Endures Forever G. Eureka (I have found it) H. Live Free or Die I. All for Our Country J. United We Stand, United We Fall K. Star of the North L. With God, All Things Are Possible M. We Dare Defend Our Rights N. The Crossroads of America O. Hope P. In God We Trust Q. Equal Rights R. Liberty and Prosperity S. By Valor Arms T. Friendship U. Liberty and Independence V. Union, Justice and Confidence W. North to the Future X. Under God the People Rule Y. Freedom and Unity ISI

Answers to Movies and Movie Stars Submitted by Patty Friedrich 1. I. Claudette Colbert 2. Q. Vivien Leigh 3. W. Gary Cooper 4. G. Clint Eastwood 5. L. Elizabeth Taylor 6. B. W.C. Fields 7. S. Humphrey Bogart 8. F. Katherine Hepburn 9. A. Burt Lancaster 10. Y. Tyrone Power 11. K. Joan Crawford 12. E. Bette Davis

“I always thought the world was divided into only two kinds of people - those who think the world is divided into only two kinds of people, and those who don’t.”

- Molly Ivins

13. R. Audrey Hepburn 14. N. Marlon Brando 15. D. Clark Gable 16. V. Charlton Heston 17. O. Henry Fonda 18. P. Richard Burton 19. T. Kirk Douglas 20. X. Spencer Tracy 21. H. Paul Newman 22. U. Cary Grant 23. C. Gregory Peck 24. J. Marilyn Monroe 25. M. John Wayne ISI

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

ACROSS

1. Black ____ snake 6. NY Giants HOF outfielder Mel 9. For capturing attention 13. Relating to axis 14. National Institute of Health 15. Aussie bear 16. Rekindled 17. Compass reading 18. Sign of bad news 19. *Hans Anderson’s Emperor lacked these 21. *Reflecting truth-teller 23. 1/60th of min 24. What aides do 25. *Beauty and ____ Beast 28. The Sun ____ Rises 30. Chinese tea 35. Lemongrass, e.g.

37. Wrong 39. Golfer’s accessory 40. Arm part 41. Shipping weights 43. Beige 44. Sprays 46. River in Egypt 47. Innocent 48. Lowest part 50. Use a cat o’ nine tails 52. Brit. fliers 53. Not straight 55. Dot-com’s address 57. *1001 what?

60. *Genie’s master 64. Pope’s court 65. Philosophical system 67. Famous bandmaster 68. Make fit 69. Wow! 70. What a bridge does 71. Affleck and Stiller 72. Indian bread 73. WWII conference site

A Quiz For People Who Know Everything!

Submitted by Julie Hollar Brantley There are only nine questions, but you will probably find out quickly that you do not know everything. These are straightforward questions with straightforward answers - there are no trick questions. Answers follow – but don’t peek!

1. Name the one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends.

2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?

3. Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?

4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?

5. In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine - it has not been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?

6. Only three words in Standard English begin with the letters “dw,” and they are all common words. Name two of them.

7. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them?

8. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.

9. Name six or more things you can wear on your feet that begin with the letter “s.”

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 9

DOWN

1. Painter ____ Chagall 2. Michelle Kwan’s jump 3. Venus de ____ 4. Entices 5. Tennis great Gibson 6. Singles 7. *Steadfast Soldier’s substance 8. Unifying idea 9. For, in French 10. Kind of palm 11. Hurtful remark 12. Toni Morrison’s “____ Baby” 15. Kasparov’s famous opponent 20. “Bravo! Bravo!” e.g.

22. International Labor Organization 24. Tell a scary story?

25. *Tom’s size equivalent 26. Sunny prefix 27. Famous German artist Max 29. *Ugly Duckling, at end 31. Bank holding 32. Grouchy Muppet 33. Waterwheel 34. *”Three Goats ____” 36. Quilt stuffing 38. Raise the roof 42. 1988 Olympics site 45. “____ ____” by Pink 49. Yoga class accessory 51. The infamous ____ knoll 54. “Peace” with fingers 56. Parkinson’s disease drug 57. Artist’s model?

58. Formerly Persia 59. Deprive of by deceit 60. So be it 61. Like Jekyll and Hyde’s personality 62. Antonym of “is” ISI

PAGE 10 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Answers to the quiz for people who know everything!

1. The one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends is boxing.

2. The North American landmark constantly moving backward is Niagara Falls. About 2.5 feet of the rim erodes each year because of the millions of gallons of water that rush over it every minute.

3. The only two vegetables that can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons are asparagus and rhubarb.

4. The fruit with its seeds on the outside is the strawberry.

5. How did the pear get inside the brandy bottle? It grew inside the bottle. Bottles are placed over small pear buds and wired in place on the tree. Then they are left for the entire growing

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season. When the pears are ripe inside the bottle, they are snipped off at the stems and the brandy is added to the bottle, which is then sealed.

6. Three English words that begin with “dw” are dwarf, dwell, and dwindle.

7. The fourteen punctuation marks used in English are the period, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, apostrophe, question mark, exclamation point, quotation mark, brackets, parenthesis, braces, and ellipses.

8. The only vegetable or fruit never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form but fresh is lettuce.

9. Six or more things you can wear on your feet beginning with “s” are shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, skates, snowshoes, stockings, and stilts. ISI

Give Yourself The Gift Of Time

By Lisa M. Petsche People who care for loved ones with frail health typically have a multitude of responsibilities. These include chauffeuring, shopping, running errands, paying bills, coordinating medical and other appointments, yard work, home maintenance and housekeeping, preparing meals, managing medication, and assisting with personal care.

There don’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done, let alone spend time with other important people in their life and tend to their own needs. If you are a caregiver, the best gift you can receive this holiday season – or any season – is the gift of time: time to attend to your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs in order to keep the inherent stress of caregiving manageable.

Consider personal time a need rather than

a luxury and resolve to make it an ongoing gift to yourself. Don’t wait for New Year’s Day to get started; now is the time, before the holiday season ramps up.

Read on for suggestions on how to free up some of your time and energy for self-care.

Holiday Timesaving Tips – Set realistic expectations and be prepared to alter traditions.

Keep it simple and let relatives and friends know your needs and limitations. Decide what is important to you, focus on that, and forget the rest.

Whatever tasks you decide to undertake, ask for help and delegate responsibilities. Make plans and start necessary preparations well in advance. Make lists to stay organized, and keep them handy.

If you plan to have guests and your finances allow, arrange a housecleaning or a catered meal (or both). Some other ideas: make it a potluck event or, better yet, ask someone else to host the big family feast. Invite friends over for dessert instead of a meal, and don’t hesitate to buy from a bakery.

For gift giving, purchase gift cards; many kinds are available online as well as on display at grocery stores and drug stores, among other places. If you buy gifts at the mall, take advantage of the gift-wrapping service, typically operated by a local charity.

Year-Round Tips – Here are some timesaving ideas you can use throughout the year.

• Curb perfectionism. Not everything needs to be done to a high standard – take housework and yard maintenance, for example. Set a time limit for chores if necessary.

• Establish and stick to priorities, so you don’t waste time or energy on unimportant things.

• Accept offers of help and ask other family members to share the load. Be specific about what you need.

• Pay for help if you can afford it – for example, a dog walker, housecleaning service, grounds keeping service, repairperson, or accountant.

• Get a portable phone so you can multi-task while conversing, and an answering machine to screen calls.

• Hire a professional organizer if you’re overwhelmed by paper or clutter.

• Get a computer if you don’t have one.

Internet access can help you stay connected to loved ones. You can also connect with other caregivers through Internet message boards and chat rooms.

Housekeeping And Meal Preparation • Concentrate cleaning and tidying efforts on the rooms that are used the most.

• Collect recipes for one-dish meals, such as casseroles, stews, stir fries, and main course salads.

• Cook double batches of recipes and freeze half for later use.

• Keep a supply of heat-and-serve entrees in the freezer.

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

• Buy convenience foods that reduce preparation time: packaged salads, shredded cheese, frozen mixed vegetables, and boneless chicken breasts, for example.

• Order takeout periodically, but make healthy choices.

Financial Management • Arrange with the bank for direct deposit of pension and other checks and automatic withdrawal of regular bills.

• If you have a computer, sign up for online banking so you can pay bills, transfer money, and check balances from home.

Shopping And Errands • Shop by mail order whenever possible.

• Take advantage of stores and other services that offer home delivery – for example, grocery stores, drug stores, and dry cleaners.

• Research mobile services in your area, such as hairdressing, dog grooming, car washing and detailing, and automobile servicing and repair.

• Consolidate errands and avoid peak times of the day, week, and month when visiting stores, banks, government offices, and other establishments.

Care For Your Relative Investigate available community respite services, such as friendly visiting, adult day care programs and residential facilities that offer short-term care. Also look into volunteer driver

Friendly Furniture Aids for Mobility Challenged Dear Savvy Senior, I am interested in purchasing a recliner that lifts and lowers off the ground, or some other type of furniture that can help my elderly father.

He’s arthritic, overweight, and struggles mightily to get up from most of the cushioned furniture in the house. What can you recommend?

Need a Boost Dear Need, The task of sitting down and/or getting up from soft cushioned furniture is a problem for many people who struggle with excessive weight, arthritis, or other mobility issues. Here are some different product solutions that can help.

Lift Recliners One of the most popular types of cushioned furniture on the market today for mobility challenged people is an electric recliner lift chair.

While they look just like regular recliners, powerlift recliners come with a built-in motor that raises and lowers the entire chair, which makes sitting down and getting up much easier.

With literally dozens of different types and styles of lift recliners to choose from, here are a few key points that can help you select a good fit for your dad.

• Chair size: The recliner needs to fit the person sitting in it, so your dad’s height and weight will determine the size of chair he needs.

• Reclining options: Aside from the lifting system, the degree in which the chair reclines is your choice too. Most lift recliners are sold as two-position, three-position, or infinite-position lift chairs. The two-position chairs recline only to about 45 degrees, which makes them ideal for watching TV or reading. But if your dad wants to nap, he’ll probably want a three-position or infinite-position chair that reclines almost completely horizontally.

• Style and features: You’ll also need to choose the type of fabric, color, and back style you want, or if you want any extra features like built-in heating or massage elements, or a wall-hugging chair that is great if you’re tight on space.

While there are many companies that make lift recliners – such as Med-Lift, NexIdea, Catnapper, Berkline, Franklin, and La-z-boy – Pride Mobility (pridemobility.com) and Golden Technologies (goldentech.com) have been around the longest and have some of the best reputations. With prices typically ranging between $600 and $2,000, you can find lift recliners at many medical supply stores and online.

You will also be happy to know that Medicare can provide some help purchasing a lift chair. It may cover the lift mechanism portion – about $300 towards your purchase.

Risedale Chairs If powerlift recliners don’t appeal to your dad, another option to consider is a Risedale chair.

These are open-legged, wing back chairs that are different from lift recliners because only the seat cushion lifts instead of the whole chair.

Sold by Carex Health Brands (carex.com), the

Risedale costs $725.

Furniture Adapters If you’re looking for something less expensive, or if your dad doesn’t want different furniture, there are also a number of assistive products that can be added to his current furniture that can help too, like the Stander CouchCane or EZ Stand-N-Go (see stander.com).

These products provide support handles that make sitting down and standing up a little easier, and they both work on couches and recliners. Available online at Amazon.com, the CouchCanes sell for around $110, and the EZ Stand-N-Go costs $129.

Another way to make your dad’s furniture more accessible is by increasing its height with furniture risers. These typically range from 2 to 5 inches in height, are made of heavy-duty plastic or wood, and are inserted under the base of the legs or supports of his furniture. Costs typically range from a few dollars up to $50 or more and can be purchased at retail stores like Wal-Mart and Target, or online at Amazon.com.

Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book. ISI

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 11

programs and accessible transportation services that can free you up from chauffeuring duties.

Information on these and other resources can be obtained from the local office on aging.

If finances permit, hire a companion or personal support worker for your relative so you can regularly get out to a club, a class, or some other leisure activity. Let loved ones know that a gift certificate to a home care agency or an IOU for respite care would be welcome for the holidays or other special occasions.

With a little thought and planning, you can take some steps that will reduce your stress and help you enjoy a happy holiday season. ISI

PAGE 12 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Operation Safety: Tips To Make Every Bath A Safe Bath Does your bathroom need a makeover? Go beyond functional and stylish updates and consider upgrades that add an element of safety, too. A few affordable, small updates can dramatically affect your bathroom’s level of safety while still providing a look you will love.

Leave a little light on – Low lighting levels can reduce visibility and be a major contributor to trips, bumps, and bruises. Adding nightlights is a quick and easy way to light bathrooms (and hallways) safely and to increase safety around the house at night – especially for those midnight trips. Another idea is to install illuminated light switches for easy visibility in a dark room. These small steps can make a big impact when it comes to preventing trips and falls during the night.

Have a seat – Navigating around the shower can be a slippery undertaking, especially for women who often perform a balancing act while

shaving. That’s likely why women are 72 percent more likely to be injured in the bath or shower than men, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

One way to add both safety and comfort to the shower space is by incorporating a bath or shower chair. A fold-down shower seat with a wall mount that folds up out of the way is an ideal solution.

Add a handheld shower to increase functionality while seated and help prevent falls in the bath.

Cool it down – Accidental burns from water are more common than you think. When tap water reaches 140 degrees, it can cause a third degree burn in just five seconds, and according to the Burn Foundation, 500,000 scald burns occur in the U.S. annually. Prevent accidental scalding at the source by setting the water heater at a maximum of 120 degrees. After you have set the new temperature, be sure to update your showers with pressurebalancing valves that maintain water temperature

to eliminate “shower shock,” which is the sudden fluctuation in temperature that can cause burns.

Style you can hold on to – Maneuvering in and out of the bathtub safely is one of the most challenging, and potentially dangerous, bathroom activities according to research. And to make matters worse while supporting their movement, many people rely on items not designed to support body weight, such as towel bars, built-in soap dishes and shower doors. Make sure you are using dedicated grab bars or grab bars integrated with three essential bath accessories – paper holders, shelves, and towel bars. This is a great way to add extra stability, and they hold necessary items like shampoo and conditioner, keeping them within easy reach.

Keep these tips top of mind as you update your bath to help ensure everyone has an enjoyable – but more importantly – safe experience in the bathroom. ISI

When Is It Time To Get Assistance For Your Parent Or Love One? It’s a sad reality, but as we age, we become less independent. And for most blessed with longevity, it’s inevitable. Baby boomers caring for elderly parents struggle with determining if their parent(s) is fit to live alone. It’s a difficult, complex decision with much at stake – both the physical and emotional well-being of the parent and of the extended family.

Below is a list of signs to help you and your family decide when it is time to get more assistance to insure your parent(s) health and safety.

Mom or Dad has always been a great housekeeper, but the house just doesn’t look like it used to. You may remember a parent who was constantly on you about tidying your room or putting things away after you were done with them. The house was always proudly kept spotless with everything clean and organized. However, a recent visit reveals that Mom’s or Dad’s home is cluttered and not as clean as normal. Of course, it can mean an active social life with more concern for activities than tidying up. But, it could be a more ominous sign. Does your parent feel overwhelmed or is their physical health in decline? Are they losing the mental skills associated with staying organized?

The mail is piling up. We all are busy – even those who are retired – and basic tasks that were handled quickly when we were younger can become more difficult. Is your parent overwhelmed by the management of their daily

affairs? Is this a sign of forgetfulness and memory issues?

The checking account balance is wrong and the bills are unpaid. If the mail is piling up, there is a good chance that the bills are not being paid.

You may also discover that your parent’s checking account ledger balance is wrong. These are more signs that your parent is having memory issues, difficulty with simple math cognition, or depression and apathy.

Your parent is losing weight: A parent who has lost a partner or who is generally depressed often loses their appetite. Pay close attention to your parent’s weight and check their refrigerator and pantry for the food supply and whether it is fresh and edible. If the cupboard is bare and your parent is losing weight, it’s a problem.

They seem to be ignoring basic hygiene. Is your parent wearing the same clothes every day, is it untidy and dirty, or does their hair and skin appear dirty. Living alone, they may feel like they don’t have to dress up or clean up for anyone. Worse, they may have forgotten – or simply no longer care about the importance of personal hygiene.

They appear in inappropriate clothing. While you may not share your parents’ sense of style, there is cause for concern if your parent dons summer clothing in the dead of winter or leaves the house in a nightgown and slippers for a trip to the store – signs of confusion and loss of discretion in

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social situations.

There are signs of forgetfulness in the home. Confusion or forgetfulness in the kitchen can prove deadly if not dealt with. There are many stories of older people accidentally burning down their houses because they left a pot on the stove for hours or have flooded their home when they forgot to turn off the tap. Or more subtly, is the milk in the pantry and the bread in the refrigerator? These are signs that it may not be wise for your parent to be left home alone for extended periods.

Your parent regularly misses appointments and important dates. Forgetfulness, absentmindedness, and memory issues are also evident when

they fail to keep appointments, recognize key dates, or more importantly, take their medication on schedule. This is a clear sign they need to live with someone who can help assist them.

They are just acting plain weird. No one wants to turn into the “crazy cat lady” or the “man who mutters to himself.” But, unfortunately, among aging, mental decline, and medication side effects, your parent’s personality may change. If you see signs of paranoia, fear, strange phone calls and conversations, and nervousness, living assistance is in order.

They exhibit signs of depression. A loss of interest in caring for one’s self and lack of partici-

American Academy of Nursing Partners with Consumer Reports to Bring Health Care Recommendations Developed by Nurse Leaders to Consumers The American Academy of Nursing has collaborated with Consumer Reports to translate its new Choosing Wisely list of Things Nurses and Patients Should Question, containing health care recommendations developed by nurse leaders, into engaging brochures for consumers to reference for common health practices and treatments.

The Academy and Consumer Reports have released the first two brochures developed from the Academy’s first set of five recommendations, with plans to continue their creation as other recommendations are added to the Academy’s list.

The Choosing Wisely campaign is an initiative of the ABIM Foundation to encourage conversations between patients and their healthcare professionals about what care is genuinely necessary.

The Academy leads the nursing profession’s efforts in the Choosing Wisely campaign through its task force composed of leaders of many national nursing organizations.

“We are proud to partner with the Academy to break out these recommendations into easily understandable information for patients and their families,” said Tara Montgomery, senior director for Health Impact at Consumer Reports. “These brochures will help arm consumers with useful advice in order to have more engaging and impactful conversations with nurses and other health care providers to ensure they are getting the right tests and treatments and avoiding unnecessary care.”

“The Academy is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Consumer Reports to make our rec-

ommendations accessible to a broad audience,” said Academy President, Diana J. Mason, PhD, RN, FAAN. “The information in these brochures will empower patients and their families to approach their providers on these practices that patients and nurses should question, and come to the best health solution.”

The first brochure Hospital Hazards focuses on four practices that can harm older people including bed rest, physical restraints, interrupted sleep, and urinary catheters. The second brochure Monitoring Your Baby’s Heartbeat During Labor offers advice to women on making their labor and birth easier.

The brochures can be found at ConsumerHealthChoices.org/choosing and will be distributed through the Consumer Reports network of partners, which consists of over 50 national, regional, and local organizations, consisting of employer groups, unions, and healthcare collaborative.

The Choosing Wisely initiative has engaged over 70 national specialty societies, and has identified more than 350 tests and procedures that have been described as overused and inappropriate, and should be discussed with patients. Consumer Reports develops plainlanguage translations of these topics, including questions to help patients engage their health care provider in meaningful conversations. ISI

Wisdom From six-year-olds Submitted by Julie Brantley An elementary school teacher with twenty-four students in her class presented each child with the first half of a wellknown proverb and asked them to complete the remainder of the proverb. It’s hard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight will surprise you.

1. Don’t change horses until they stop running.

2. Strike while the bug is close.

3. It is always darkest before Daylight Savings Time.

4. Never underestimate the power of termites.

5. You can lead a horse to water but how?

6. Don’t bite the hand that looks dirty.

7. No news is impossible.

8. A miss is as good as a mister.

9. You can’t teach an old dog new math.

10. If you lie down with dogs, you’ll stink in the morning.

11. Love all; trust me.

12. The pen is mightier than the pigs.

13. An idle mind is the best way to relax.

14. Where there’s smoke, there’s pollution.

15. Happy is the bride who gets all the presents.

16. A penny saved is not much.

17. Two’s company, three’s the Musketeers.

18. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you put on to go to bed.

19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and you have to blow your nose.

20. There are none so blind as Stevie Wonder.

21. Children should be seen and not spanked or grounded.

22. If at first you don’t succeed, get new batteries.

23. You get out of something only what you see in the picture on the box. ISI

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 13

pation in normal socialization and in once-loved hobbies are signs of depression. This could need formal treatment or a change to a living situation where assistance, socialization, and activities are available.

With thoughtful monitoring and consideration, you and your family can help your loved one make the transition from independent living to one with appropriate assistance. ISI

PAGE 14 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Osteoporosis And Senior Shrinkage

By Tait Trussell When you get your annual physical, the nurse will have you step on a scale to find your weight. Then, typically, she will measure your height. You likely will be slightly shorter than the last time you were there.

People do shrink as they age, and it mainly has to do with your bones. They are deceptively hard looking if seen from the outside. But their solid appearance hides an intricate and busy network of blood vessels that carry nutrients to, and transport wastes away from your bone cells, according to Discovery Health, a health and wellness technology information service.

Bones are in a constant process of destruction and renewal until you die. So, as the years go by, bones become weaker. As time passes, you tend to lose more bone than you build. From age 40 to 80, the average person is likely to lose two inches in height, just because of bone loss.

Osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones become thin and weak, is influenced by genetics.

Caucasian and Asian women are more likely to develop osteoporosis. Bone loss also accelerates in the years after menopause.

Bad habits, such as smoking, excessive use of alcohol, and an overly sedentary lifestyle also can contribute to osteoporosis, as can an inadequate intake of calcium and vitamin D. Does everyone get shorter as they age?

Yes. Spongy disks separating the vertebra in your spine deteriorate, so usually your posture also changes with age. You begin to slump. Too

much time spent bending over your computer or trying to read a book with small print will do it.

Joints become resistant to wear over time because of changes in cartilage. That tissue cushions the tips of the bones in your joints. Getting old makes cartilage lose lubricating water, making it more vulnerable to injury from years of repetitive motion.

Osteoarthritis, the most common form, comes about when the cartilage starts to fray.

You can feel it in your hips, knees, spine, and hands.

If you are overweight, this increases your prospects of developing osteoarthritis. You probably notice you can’t lift as heavy weights as you could several years ago. Aging causes less strength, size, endurance, and blood flow in the muscle tissue. Inactivity does more damage than aging does.

The tendency to become shorter occurs among all races and both sexes, declares Medline Plus. People tend to lose close to half an inch every decade after age 40. Height loss is even more rapid after age 70. You could lose one to three inches in height in the years after 70 if you live long enough.

Some people “may sustain small compression fractures in their spine, often without their knowledge,” says Dr. David B. Reuben, chief of geriatrics at the School of Medicine at UCLA. These fractures can lead to excessive curving of the spine. When it is very pronounced, it is known as “dowager’s hump.”

New research by the Gerontological Society of America, working with a team in Japan, found that a sloping spine angle of the elderly, if severe enough, could necessitate admission in a nursing home or the need for care at home for activities of daily living (ADL).

As for shortening your height, even the flattening in the arches of your feet can contribute to a loss of height.

Some people are just naturally short and have been since maturity. My mother always maintained she was “five one.” My brother and I insisted on measuring her height one time.

Instead, she measured just less than five feet.

From then on, we had a nickname we sometimes used: we lovingly called her “Schmaltz.”

The best way to slow your natural shrinkage as you age, doctors recommend, is to get regular exercise, eat a healthy diet that includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and optimal amounts of healthy fats, limit your alcohol use, and avoid smoking. But you knew these facts already. Of course with a diagnosis of osteoporosis, there are treatments that can slow its progression.

There are plenty of short people whose height didn’t hold them back. The famous singer Dolly Parton is barely five feet tall. Harry Houdini, the famed magician, was only five feet four. James M. Barrie, who wrote Peter Pan and was an accomplished cricket player, was only five feet one.

Their size didn’t keep them from success. ISI

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 15

Ignore The Headlines – Calcium Is Very Important – How Probiotics Improve Bone Strength

By Suzy Cohen Did you hear the report recently on Good Morning America or Fox News? The British Medical Journal announced the results of a major study that made headline news.

“Dietary calcium intake is not associated with risk of fracture, and there is no clinical trial evidence that increasing calcium intake from dietary sources prevents fractures.”

Calcium supplementation is a multi-billion dollar industry. Whether or not calcium helps prevent bone fractures and the onset and progression of osteoporosis is a hotly debated topic. So today, I want to defend calcium and tell you about new research that could help you build better bones.

First the facts.

• Ninety-nine percent of the calcium in our body is found in our bones and teeth.

• One percent of calcium is involved in blood vessel and muscle contractions and relaxation, electrolyte function, and other metabolic functions. When we do not have enough calcium, we may experience muscle cramps, hypertension,

insomnia, dental caries, and bone deterioration.

• Women are at high risk for osteopenia (early stages of osteoporosis) and osteoporosis because of our small frame, post-menopausal declines in estrogen and progesterone, and less muscle mass. It is estimated that half of women over the age of 50 experience an osteoporosis- related bone fracture in their lifetime. As for calcium, I don’t love supplementation, so I recommend you eat a calcium-rich diet.

Now the new research. Your intestinal health plays a very large role in your bone health. We already know that if we do not have adequate stomach acid (i.e., we take proton pump inhibitors or Tums,) that calcium suddenly fails to get absorbed well. It requires some acid. Acid blockers are drug muggers of calcium and other minerals.

There is actually a gut flora-bone signaling “pathway” and in animal studies, researchers proved that beneficial probiotic strains (Lactobacillus reuteri and Bifidobacterium longum) actually mitigated menopause-induced bone loss. Gut bacteria “talk” to the bone cells whose task is to

remodel bone tissue. These bacteria dictate the rate of remodeling. The more friendly flora you have, the faster your bone remodels.

That’s not all. Your microbiome and intestinal hormones improve the absorption of calcium and other nutrients you need for a healthy skeleton. It’s about absorbing your calcium, not just dumping a lot into yourself. You have to absorb it or it just goes through you. I take from this that high-quality probiotics are the next frontier to reduce risk for hip fractures and falls. I bet that’s weird to you. After all, we don’t associate the gut with bones, right?

Most people think of probiotics for constipation, so this is new thinking.

I think most of us take intestinal health for granted until reflux or food poisoning hits us! The reality is, routine ingestion of gluten, antibiotics, foods contaminated with glyphosate, GMO foods, and medications increase our risk for osteoporosis by damaging the gut flora. I think that British Medical Journal headline really did people a disservice because calcium is important for bones, and apparently, so are probiotics. ISI

STOP Foodborne Illness Releases Critical Precautions National Food-Safety Advocate Group Offers Safe Food Tips STOP Foodborne Illness (stopfoodborneillness.org), the leading national advocate for safe food, is urging older adults to follow a number of important food-safety practices to avoid getting sick. Older Adults have increased vulnerability to food borne illness for several reasons: they typically have decreased stomach acid (the body’s natural defense from food borne bacteria) or they may have a weakened immune system from an underlying illness such as diabetes, kidney disease or from undergoing cancer treatment. Two food borne pathogens in particular, Listeria and Vibrio, cause more illnesses for seniors than any other age group. Seniors need to be especially careful when consuming foods that are likely to be contaminated with these bacteria.

“Most people don’t realize that their natural defenses to food borne pathogens decrease as they age,” said Darin Detwiler, Senior Policy Coordinator of STOP Foodborne Illness. “If you’re older than 65, taking precautions can

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help save you from suffering from an illness that you might have been able to fight off even a few years ago.”

Darin himself experienced the personal tragedy of food borne illness when he lost his young son to E. coli O157:H7 poisoning from contaminated ground beef in 1993. Since then, Detwiler, an FDA Certified Food Science Educator recognized by four different Secretaries of Agriculture for his efforts in consumer education and who has served two appointments on the USDA’s National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection, has been a tireless advocate for food safety.

STOP Foodborne Illness promotes the following Safe-Food Guidelines for Adults 65+: • Cook eggs to 160F. Salmonella can grow both inside and outside eggs.

The safest practice is to cook all eggs to 160F. To reduce risks further, wash hands thoroughly after handling eggs. For those who like eggs runny or who

PAGE 16 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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eat uncooked eggs in foods like raw dough, eggnog, or homemade Caesar dressing, buy pasteurized shell eggs or liquid pasteurized egg products.

• Heat lunchmeat, cold cuts, and hotdogs to 165F. Listeria is a bacterium that can be found in ready-to-eat foods, such as lunchmeat. Although the majority of the population can resist Listeria, those more vulnerable may become sick and pregnant women can suffer miscarriages because of eating Listeria-contaminated ready-to-eat foods. To reduce the risk of Listeria, order hot sandwiches in restaurants.

• Avoid raw fish. Raw fish and shellfish can be a source of pathogens, including a particularly harmful one, Vibrio that is most often found in raw seafood items, such as oysters and scallops. Some Vibrio illnesses can be fatal, especially in patients with liver disease and the immunocompromised.

Avoid raw finfish, such as raw fish found in sushi.

• Avoid raw or unpasteurized milk and cheeses. Most are pasteurized, but read the labels, particularly on soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, blue-veined cheeses, and Mexican-style soft cheeses.

• Drink pasteurized juices. Most juices are pasteurized, but some may not be. Unpasteurized juices can contain harmful bacteria, but should be easy to steer clear of because they are required by law to carry a warning

label. When buying smoothies, ask the preparer if they use pasteurized juice.

If they aren’t sure or say no, it’s best to skip it.

• Cook to safe temperatures as follows: burgers/ground meat (except poultry) to 160F; grilled chicken & other poultry products (like turkey burgers) to 165F; and whole cuts of meat including pork to 145F and let rest 3 minutes.

• Avoid cross contamination by using separate cutting boards and utensils for raw meats and produce, washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, and sanitizing surfaces, such as countertops, where raw meat and poultry have been.

For National Food Safety Month, STOP Foodborne Illness also is offering food safety tips for school-age children, pregnant women, and mothers with young children. For more food safety tips, please visit stopfoodborneillness. org. If you think you have been sickened from food, please seek medical attention immediately.

STOP Foodborne Illness (STOP) is a national, nonprofit, public health organization dedicated to preventing illness and death from food borne pathogens. STOP achieves its mission by advocating for sound public policies, building public awareness, and assisting those impacted by food borne illness. ISI

Keeping Active Pays Off The Older You Get! Older people who undertake at least 25 minutes of moderate or vigorous exercise everyday need fewer prescriptions and are less likely to be admitted to hospital in an emergency, new research has revealed.

The findings, published in the journal PLoS ONE, reinforce the need for exercise programs to help older people stay active. It could also reduce reliance on healthcare services and potentially lead to cost savings.

In the first study of its kind looking at this age group, researchers from the Universities of Bath, Bristol, and UWE-Bristol looked at data from 213 people whose average age was 78. Of people studied, those who carried out more than 25 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day – such as walking quickly, cycling or swimming – received 50% fewer prescriptions than those who were more active over a four to five year period.

Such physical activity leads to a higher metabolism and better circulation, reducing the risk of conditions and diseases common in older age such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and strokes. The study found that very little exercise carried a higher risk of unplanned hospital admissions. Those who carried out just three minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity were twice as likely to face hospital admissions when compared to those who averaged 39 minutes.

These results remained significant even when other factors affecting health were taken into account, such as socio-economic status, education, weight, existing disease, and level of physical function. Researchers measured physical activity using accelerometers – small gadgets that monitor all movement throughout the day – alongside elements of physical function including balance, leg strength and walking gait.

Medical records were then examined to investigate health service usage over the next four years. This captured visits to GPs and walk-in appointments, hospital visits, unplanned admissions to hospital, and the

number of prescriptions needed.

Professor Ken Fox, from Bristol University’s Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Studies who led the study said, “Until now, very little has been known about the value of physical activity in later life, particularly when people are in their 70s and 80s. This research underlines that keeping older people active brings a whole range of health benefits, as well as reducing healthcare costs.”

Dr Afroditi Stathi, co-author from the University of Bath’s Department for Health added, “We need to identify innovative ways to support older adults to increase their daily activity. This study suggests that the investment in well-designed and delivered community programs now could pay significant dividends in healthcare costs and quality of life of older people in the future.”

The results support the recent recommendations that all GPs should encourage physical activity in their older patients.

Exercise should be targeted and tailored to older people, aiming to increase muscle strength, balance, coordination, and aerobic fitness to prevent falls.

Dr Bethany Simmonds, lead author from Bristol University’s Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Studies said, “We know that leading a physically active life has health benefits for all ages, but this study suggests there may also be economic benefits by reducing reliance on medication and preventing costly emergency hospital admissions.”

To access the latest research papers see plosone. org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal. pone.0097676. ISI

Screening For Cervical Cancer Important – Get Your Pap Test!

Kootenai Outpatient Imaging is one of just 1214 facilities in the nation named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.

When it’s time for your mammogram, give us a call (208) 625-6300

By Melissa Baker A century ago, cervical cancer was the most common cancer among American women. Today, it ranks 14th.

This is largely due to widespread use of the Pap test, which allows doctors to catch and treat abnormal cervical cells early, before they become cancerous.

Having many sex partners and not using condoms can put you at greater risk for developing cervical cancer. Other risk factors include smoking, using oral contraceptives for a long time, and having a medical condition that compromises your immune system.

The recommendation for how often women should be screened for cervical cancer has changed recently. While the Pap smear used to be an annual test, new guidelines recommend that women ages 21-65 who have a history of normal Pap tests should get one every 3 years. If a woman tests negative for human papilloma virus (HPV), she should have the test every 5 years. Women who’ve had one or more abnormal Pap tests should talk to their doctor about how often they need to repeat the test.

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider today. Also, Women’s Health Check is a breast and cervical cancer-screening program that provides free mammogram, clinical breast exam, and/or Pap tests for eligible women. Visit womenshealthcheck.dhw.idaho.gov or call 208-327-8608 for more information. ISI

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 17

Stress, Lack of Energy, Brain Fog, Forgetfulness, Depression? What’s going on?

By Dr. Holly Carling, Vital Health, Coeur d’Alene Are we losing our heads?

More times than not, I hear people complain of these things but they can’t understand the reason. We all have stress, and probably always will, however, when it is coupled with fatigue, lack of mental clarity, or depression, the ability to cope evaporates. We become irritable, are quick to anger, become despondent, or turn to addictive substances in an effort to manage life’s conflicts.

Why do so many people suffer in this way?

The most abused substance is food. We power down coffee, soda pop, energy drinks, and sugar trying desperately to get a lift anywhere we can.

We fill the emptiness with garbage foods, expecting them to miraculously clear our brain, lift our spirits, and dissolve the stress – but the effect is opposite.

To get energy and feel good mentally, you have to feed your body’s systems real food. That means carbohydrates, minerals, fats, protein, and water. And although carbohydrates are needed to fuel the energy machinery of our cells, too many and the wrong kinds of carbohydrates can clog the machinery.

Minerals are needed for proper operation of every organ and glandular function in the body, including energy-producing glands such as the

thyroid, adrenals, and blood sugar handling mechanisms. Without them, it is like trying to run a car on diluted gas. The greatest density of nutrients is found in the vegetable kingdom so the more vegetables eaten – especially green leafy and cruciferous vegetables – the better!

In the fat department, we need essential fatty acids for many functions in the body, including those responsible for good mental health and energy. These come from fish, avocados, raw nuts, eggs, and butter. As their name implies, these are not just optional, but essential!

Quality meats, raw nuts, eggs, raw cheeses, and fish are the best sources of protein. Though protein powders can be helpful, it is important to find one that isn’t processed under high temperatures, which renders many of the amino acids ineffective. And remember, real whole foods are always best.

Much fatigue and fogginess is also associated with dehydration. It may sound simple, but drinking adequate water is essential.

Properly feeding our bodies will go a long way toward our overall health and feeling better. By eliminating junk and providing vital nutrients, we can accomplish more than any artificial substance can ever do for us!

It is also important to consider illnesses by investigating possible physical problems such

Watch Your Spirits This Holiday Season – And Thereafter

By Patrick M. Kennedy There are the good spirits, like guardian angels, Gabriel delivering God’s messages, and the gods of good luck and fortune throughout history.

But there are also bad spirits, like demon rum or a Red Devil drink with a combination of wicked things.

Alcohol abuse by seniors is a growing problem and one that is often undiagnosed. Aging and alcoholism produce similar deficits in intellectual and behavioral functioning. Alcoholism may accelerate normal aging or cause premature aging of the brain. Don’t listen to W. C. Fields: “I never drink water; that is the stuff that rusts pipes.” Water as a drink is good, water as a chaser is not so good.

If you are older than 50 and you have a couple of drinks when you go out to eat, you may want to take some extra time before getting into the car and driving home. Research shows that after 5-7 drinks the brain is numbed to an extent that a person cannot even hold a pen and write properly.

Some seniors can’t do that anyway. But, despite knowing this, many drive under the influence of alcohol.

No one knows exactly why, but moderate amounts of alcohol impair a senior more than a younger drinker. It may be because alcohol is metabolized and removed from the body differently once you are older, but even moderate amounts of alcohol can cause measurable impairment for those over age 50.

According to government studies more than half of adults older than 55 drink socially. Probably one of the reasons for this is that with more time on their hands, they can sit on their bar stools longer and sip a few more. If those social drinkers are more impaired than they think they are, it can cause a significant threat to their health. It must be noted here that there is a difference between a drinker and a drunk. Social drinking in moderation is acceptable. But slugging down one after another is close to being a drunk.

Again, don’t count on W. C. Fields: “Actually, it only takes one drink to get me loaded. Trouble is I can’t remember if it’s the thirteenth or fourteenth.”

Drinking in moderation and socially is not all bad. Social drinking is an accepted part of life, and history, and it is hard to know when the thin line to alcoholism is crossed. There are many factors –

genetic, psychological, social, and environmental – that play a role in alcohol addiction, and any of these can sneak up on a person without alarms going off in the brain. It’s often difficult to tell when they’re crossing the line into dependency. There are small alerts that must be considered, like: using alcohol to get through painful situations, physically or mentally; not remembering what happened last night; hiding your drinking by drinking alone; or resenting people who advise you to drink less.

This is a problem that must be and is being addressed. The American Medical Association says, “The onset or continuation of drinking behavior becomes problematic because of physiological or psychological changes that occur with aging, including increased sensitivity to alcohol effects.”

But there are other checkpoints as described by that famous philosopher, Anonymous, “Drunk is feeling sophisticated when you can’t say it.” Or, ‘Reality is an illusion that occurs due to lack of alcohol.” The point is that alcohol is, or can be, a life-changer for many people. ISI

as subluxations in the spine, visual problems, or the medications used to manage pain. Hormonal imbalances affect brain functions, as well as the ability of our endocrine system to play its role in our overall health. Especially up for consideration are the pancreas (blood sugar imbalances), liver (responsible for thousands of activities in the body), the adrenals (responsible for many hormones, including those that help us manage stress and give us sustained energy throughout the day), and our sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, etc.).

Stress, lack of energy, brain fog, forgetfulness, depression… we are not losing our head! There are reasons for these issues and ways to resolve them. If you want to reclaim your health, emotional stability, brain function, and the vital energy needed to live life the way you have always wanted to live, now is the time to take action.

Dr. Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist, and Master Herbologist with over three decades of experience. Visit vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about Dr. Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes, and read other informative articles. Dr. Carling is happy to answer any questions regarding this topic. She can be reached at 208-765-1994. ISI

Humor is the good natured side of a truth.

- Mark Twain

PAGE 18 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

SAY YOU SAW

IT IN THE IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Fat And Sugar Cause Bacterial Changes That May Relate To Loss Of Cognitive Function A study at Oregon State University indicates that both a high-fat and a high-sugar diet, compared to a normal diet, cause changes in gut bacteria that appear related to a significant loss of “cognitive flexibility,” or the power to adapt and adjust to changing situations.

This effect was most serious on the highsugar diet, which also showed an impairment of early learning for both long-term and short-term memory.

The findings are consistent with some other studies about the impact of fat and sugar on cognitive function and behavior, and suggest that some of these problems may be linked to alteration of the microbiome – a complex mixture in the digestive system of about 100 trillion microorganisms.

The research was done with laboratory mice that consumed different diets and then faced a variety of tests, such as water maze testing, to monitor changes in their mental and physical function, and associated impacts on various types of bacteria. The findings were published in the journal Neuroscience, in work supported by the Microbiology Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

“It’s increasingly clear that our gut bacteria, or microbiota, can communicate with the human brain,” said Kathy Magnusson, a professor in the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine and principal investigator with the Linus Pauling Institute.

“Bacteria can release compounds that act as neurotransmitters, stimulate sensory nerves or the immune system, and affect a wide range of biological functions,” she said.

“We’re not sure just

what messages are being sent, but we are tracking down the pathways and the effects.”

Mice have proven to be a particularly good model for studies relevant to humans, Magnusson said, on such topics as aging, spatial memory, obesity, and other issues.

In this research, after just four weeks on a highfat or a high-sugar diet, the performance of mice on various tests of mental and physical function began to drop, compared to animals on a normal diet. One of the most pronounced changes was in what researchers call cognitive flexibility.

“The impairment of cognitive flexibility in this study was pretty strong,” Magnusson said. “Think about driving home on a route that’s very familiar to you, something you’re used to doing. Then one day that road is closed and you suddenly have to find a new way home.”

A person with high levels of cognitive flexibility would immediately adapt to the change, determine the next best route home, and remember to use the same route the following morning, all with little problem. With impaired flexibility, it might be a long, slow, and stressful way home.

This study was done with young animals, Magnusson said, which ordinarily would have a healthier biological system that’s better able to resist pathological influences from their microbiota.

The findings might be even more pronounced with older animals or humans with compromised intestinal systems, she said.

What’s often referred to as the “Western diet,” or foods that are high in fat, sugars, and simple carbohydrates, has been linked to a range of chronic illnesses in the United States, including the obesity epidemic and an increased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease.

“We’ve known for a while that too much fat and sugar are not good for you,” Magnusson said.

“This work suggests that fat and sugar are altering your healthy bacterial systems, and that’s one of the reasons those foods aren’t good for you. It’s not just the food that could be influencing your brain, but an interaction between food and microbial changes.” ISI

Eating Seasonally: Six Easy Steps To Eat Better & Improve Your Overall Wellness

By Teresa Cutter Our ancestors were in tune with the earth’s seasons and weather cycles.

They ate what they could hunt, grow, and cook during that season. But today is a bit different.

With all of the food preservatives, fillers, and sugar put in foods today, we can eat any type we want any time throughout the year. But eating foods with fillers, preservatives, and other chemicals, is not the most effective way to lose weight and have more energy throughout the day.

Here are six very simple ways you can start eating fresh and healthy foods during each season of the year.

1. Change Your Habits. Eating healthily and seasonally comes down to changing habits. Take small steps and choose one new habit each week to implement into your daily life. Once the new habit is ingrained, the new behavior pattern becomes easy and automatic.

2. Develop an easy plan to follow. Strategic planning is crucial if you want to succeed. Try planning your meals at the beginning of the week. Knowing what you¹ll be eating at least four or five days in the week is a good start.

3. Don’t complicate things. People excuse not cooking because they don¹t have the time, but the best recipes are often the easiest to make. Try out a new ingredient or a recipe each week to add to your repertoire and stay away from prepared food because it is often high in sodium, sugar, and trans fats. Take a few hours on the weekend to plan your meals according to what is in season and create a shopping list around those items.

4. Buy Fresh. Check out your local farmer¹s market or support your local green grocer. Strike up a conversation with the staff and get to know the people behind your food.

5. Shop Smart. Seek out local food co-ops or produce delivery services with an emphasis on local foods. They are out there and growing in popularity. Alternatively, you can grow your own produce. This gives you complete control over your food. Plant some balcony herbs, backyard vegetables, or join your local community garden.

6. Eat Smart. To control what you eat and drink every day and to be able to get out of bed and exercise regularly, as well as getting enough sleep, are the key ingredients if you want to be healthy. Think about what you put into your mouth every time you eat and drink. Is what you¹re consuming making

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

a positive or negative difference to your body?

Cutter is one of Australia¹s leading authorities on healthy cooking and the CEO of The Healthy Chef (thehealthychef.com). A nutritionist and a

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 19

classically French-trained chef her natural talent and passion for food was rewarded early in her career winning Apprentice Of The Year two years running, followed by a Gold Medal at the Salon Cullinare. ISI

Are you a Medicare Beneficiary? We want YOUR ideas!

When you or your family member received care at a doctor’s office, hospital, or nursing home, did you think there were things that could have been done better? Do you have ideas about how to make sure other patients and families get the best care possible?

Medicare has contracted Qualis Health to help transform Idaho’s healthcare. We are a non-profit organization working toward a vision of better healthcare, better community health, and lower costs. We do not provide healthcare to patients.

Get Involved as a Beneficiary and Family Advisor for Qualis Health: • Share your story

• Participate in a discussion group • Review or help create informational materials • Be a part of our 2016 Idaho Conference Patient Panel!

We are currently looking for people who are interested in helping us plan the 2016 Idaho Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Conference. Have you had a healthcare experience that you think could be improved? Come share your thoughts and ideas with people who can make a difference!

For inquiries, please contact Hannah Sharp at 208-383-5945 or hannahs@qualishealth.org. Learn more at Medicare.QualisHealth.org/PatientFamily. ISI

The Smart Dr. Young

An old geezer became very bored in retirement and decided to open a medical clinic. He put a sign outside that read, “Dr. Geezer’s clinic. Get your treatment for $500, if not cured, get back $1,000.”

Doctor Young, who was positive that this old geezer didn’t know beans about medicine, thought this would be a great opportunity to get $1,000. So he went to Dr. Geezer’s clinic.

Dr. Young: “Dr. Geezer, I have lost all taste in my mouth. Can you please help me?”

Dr. Geezer: “Nurse, please bring medicine from box 22 and put 3 drops in Dr. Young’s mouth.”

Here Are Some Chuckles

Submitted by Julie Brantley 1. Money can’t buy happiness but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

2. If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

3. I don’t approve of political jokes. I’ve seen too many of them get elected.

4. The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.

5. If life deals you lemons, make lemonade. If life deals you tomatoes, make Bloody Marys.

6. Shopping tip: You can get shoes for a buck at bowling alleys.

7. Every day I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I’ve stayed alive.

8. No one ever says, “It’s only a game...” when their team is winning.

9. Have you ever noticed that people who spend money on beer, cigarettes, and lottery tickets are always complaining about being broke and not feeling well?

10. How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you are.

11. Isn’t having a smoking section in a restaurant like having a peeing section in a swimming pool?

12. Snowmen fall from Heaven un-assembled.

13. How come we choose from just two people to run for President and over fifty for Miss America?

14. I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose fitting clothing. If I had any loose fitting clothing, I wouldn’t have signed up in the first place.

15. Wouldn’t it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press Ctrl – Alt – Delete and start all over?

16. Wouldn’t you know it!

Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever. ISI

Dr. Young: “Aaagh! This is gasoline!”

Dr. Geezer: “Congratulations! You have your taste back. That will be $500.”

Dr. Young was annoyed, left, but returned a couple of days later figuring to recover his money.

Dr Young: “I have lost my memory. I cannot remember anything.”

Dr. Geezer: “Nurse, please bring medicine from box 22 and put 3 drops in the patient’s mouth.”

Dr. Young: “Oh, no you don’t, that is gasoline!”

Dr. Geezer: “Congratulations! You have your memory back. That will be $500.”

Dr. Young was now very angry at losing $1,000, but was determined to get his money back, so he returned a week later.

Dr. Young: “My eyesight has become weak. I can hardly see anything!”

Dr. Geezer: “Well, I don’t have any medicine for that so, here’s your $1,000 back.” Dr. Geezer

gave him a $10 bill.

Dr. Young: “But this is only $10!”

Dr. Geezer: “Congratulations! You got your vision back! That will be $500.”

And the moral of the story is just because you’re “young” doesn’t mean that you can outsmart an old Geezer. ISI

This material was prepared by Qualis Health, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) for Idaho and Washington, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. ID-A1-QH-1991-11-15

PAGE 20 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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Glaucoma Questions And Answers

By Gretta Gregg, R.N. Dear Gretta: My neighbor had her eyes tested last week. She said something abut the pressure and damage to the nerve. When I expressed concern, she said she’s had glaucoma for years but the numbers were getting higher. I don’t know much about glaucoma. What’s she talking about?

– Concerned Neighbor Dear Neighbor: The chambers of the eye are filled with fluid, somewhat like a self-filling water balloon. And like a water balloon attached to a continuously dripping faucet, the pressure can build up. In the eye, the pressure is regulated by tiny canals that drain away the excess fluid. If the flow through those canals is reduced, increased pressure results.

During an eye examination, the physician routinely checks the pressure in each eye. The

test, called tonometry, is simple and painless.

Normal pressure is 11-22. If the canals become narrowed, however, the pressure increases and the test shows higher numbers. As the disease progresses, the numbers show the severity and rate of increase.

At the back of the eyeball, the optic nerve waits to pick up messages of sight from the eye and carry them to the brain. In a typical case of glaucoma, increasing pressure in the eye damages this nerve. The damaged nerve loses its ability to carry images. We say that the person is losing his/her sight from glaucoma.

In the United States and Canada, glaucoma has long been a leading cause of blindness, second only to cataracts.

Dear Gretta: My eye was giving me trouble a few days ago, and my doctor said it was “a cute [sic] glaucoma,” and that the pressure was really high. He did emergency surgery on it, and now it is much better.

I don’t think there was anything “cute” about it at all. My brother’s glaucoma, if anything, mine was a lot more scary. – Nothing “cute” about it Dear Nothing Cute: In the context of glaucoma and other medical conditions, acute means that the symptoms appear suddenly or sharply, often proceeding rapidly to either a severe outcome or sudden improvement. For example, an acute fever or acute appendicitis usually needs emergency treatment. So too with acute glaucoma.

Dear Gretta: I’ve never been one to run to the doctor about this and that. But at a physical exam, they discovered raised pressure in my

eyes. Now, this time, the pressure is higher, and the doctor said that I have chronic glaucoma. So what is he talking about? – Not a chronic complainer Dear Chronic: Your physician did not mean to imply that you complain chronically, but that your glaucoma is progressing slowly rather than rapidly.

In the chronic form of an illness, the onset is typically gradual, and the condition is long lasting.

In contrast to the acute form described above, chronic glaucoma usually is treated with eye drops and watched closely. If eye pressure continues to increase, even with the medication, the drainage canals must be opened by laser or other surgery.

In the case of glaucoma, your eyesight can be damaged as surely by the chronic form as by the suddenly apparent acute form.

Dear Gretta: My aunt and uncle both have failing eyesight because they went to their doctors too late with their glaucoma. Does it run in families? If so, what can I do to prevent it? – Scared Dear Scared: Everyone should assume they might someday develop eye problems. Therefore, everyone should have regular eye checks. Tell your physician if you have any of the following risk factors for glaucoma: • If you are over age 40 • If close relatives have the problem • If you have diabetes • If you have African heritage.

Glaucoma is more likely to occur in the aging population and in these other groups. Don’t procrastinate. Have your eyes checked!

This article is intended to provide general information. If you have symptoms or are worried about a serious medical problem, contact your health care provider. ISI

Float Alone Submitted by Vance Derricott Mack’s Inn, Idaho Morty and Saul were out one afternoon on a lake when their boat started sinking. Saul the banker said to Morty, “So listen, Morty, you know I don’t swim so well.”

Morty remembered how to carry another swimmer from his lifeguard class when he was just a kid. So Morty began tugging Saul toward the shore. After twenty minutes, he began to tire.

Finally, about fifty feet from shore, Morty asked Saul, “So Saul, do you suppose you could float alone?”

Saul replied, “Morty, this is a hell of a time to be asking for money!” ISI

Vision Loss?

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 21

Required IRA and 401(k) Withdrawal Rules for Retirees

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Can you give me the details on required IRA and 401(k) distributions? I turned 70 this year, and want to be clear on what I’m required to do, and when I’ll have to do it.

Planning Ahead Dear Planning, The old saying “you can’t take it with you” is definitely true when it comes to Uncle Sam and your tax-deferred retirement accounts. Here’s what you should know about required retirement account distributions along with some tips to help you avoid extra taxes and penalties.

Required Minimum Distribution Rules Beginning at age 70½, the IRS requires that all owners of tax-deferred retirement accounts – like traditional IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, SARSEPs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s and 457s – must start taking annual required minimum distributions (RMDs), and pay taxes on those withdrawals. The reason: The IRS doesn’t want you hoarding your money in these accounts forever. They want their cut. Distributions are taxed as income at your ordinary income tax rate.

There are, however, two exceptions. Owners of Roth IRAs are not required to take a distribution, unless the Roth is inherited. And if you continue to work beyond age 70½, and you don’t own 5 percent or more of the company you work for, you can delay withdrawals from your employer’s retirement plan until after you retire. But if you have other nonwork-related accounts, such as a traditional IRA

or a 401(k) from a previous employer, you are still required to take RMDs from them after age 70½, even if you’re still working.

RMD Deadlines Generally, you must take your distribution every year by Dec. 31. First timers, however, can choose to delay taking their distribution until April 1 of the year following the year you turn 70½. So, for example, if your 70th birthday was in March 2015, you would turn 70½ in September and your required beginning date would be April 1, 2016.

But if your 70th birthday occurred later in the year, say in August, you wouldn’t turn 70½ until 2016.

In that case, you would be required to take your first distribution by April 1, 2017.

But be careful about delaying, because if you delay your first distribution, it may push you into a higher tax bracket because you must take your next distribution by December 31 of the same year.

Also note that you can always withdraw more than the required amount, but if you don’t take out the minimum, you’ll be hit with a 50 percent penalty on the amount that you failed to withdraw, along with the income tax you owe on it.

Distribution Amounts Your RMD is calculated by dividing your taxdeferred retirement account balance as of Dec. 31 of the previous year, by an IRS estimate of your life expectancy. A special rule applies if your spouse is the beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger than you are.

IRA withdrawals must be calculated for each IRA you own, but you can withdraw the money from any IRA or combination of IRAs. 403(b) ac-

Be Aware of Tax Identity Theft

Provided by AARP With all the news regarding hacking of corporate and government data, it is understandable to be concerned about tax identity theft – and there are steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim?

Every two seconds, someone’s identity is stolen. And with the end of the year and tax season just around the corner, con artists are stealing Social Security numbers to file for fraudulent tax refunds. It’s a big problem. To date, the IRS has identified around 15 million false tax returns alone.

For more information on the latest trends in tax identify theft, check out AARP’s Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/FraudWatchNetwork.

And you can also view targeted information and a special video devoted to tax identity theft awareness at aarp.org/scamalert.

The Warning Signs How do you know if you’re a victim of tax identity theft? If someone files a fraudulent tax return using your identification, and then you file your return, the IRS will contact you by mail. The letter will state that more than one return was filed using your Social Security number. Note that the IRS will not contact you by phone, email, text, or social media. You can check the legitimacy of any IRS mailing by calling 1-800-829-1040.

You’ll also get an IRS notice if someone uses your Social Security number to get a job and the employer reports that income to the IRS using your number. The letter will indicate that you did not report all of your earnings on your tax return.

Another warning sign could be receiving a W-2 or Form 1099 from an employer for whom you didn’t work.

If You Fall Victim If you become a victim of tax identity theft, here are the steps to take: • Contact the IRS immediately using the contact information on the notice you received. You’ll be asked to fill out an IRS Identity Theft affidavit, Form 14039.

• Contact your bank and credit card companies and inform the credit bureaus of the fraud. Ask one credit bureau – Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax

– to place a free fraud alert on your report, and the others will follow. A fraud alert lasts 90 days, but you can renew it.

• Access your credit report free from all three credit bureaus. Ask the bureau that places your fraud alert how to obtain your reports.

• File an Identity Theft report with the Federal Trade Commission. This will help you get fraudulent information removed from your credit report and stop companies from trying to collect debts related to fraudulent activity.

• File a police report. Bring the form you filed with the FTC to the police.

Tips for Avoiding Tax Identify Theft It’s becoming ever more difficult to protect our identities, but here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your family: • Monitor your credit reports. You can order free reports from all three credit bureaus once a year at annualcreditreport.com.

• Never give your Social Security number or other personal information to phone callers.

• If you file your tax return electronically, be sure to use a private, protected wireless network.

Filing your return from the local coffee shop, library, or other public place is not a good idea.

• Provide information to your tax preparer in person – avoid sending a fax that may easily be seen by someone else.

• Shred papers that contain sensitive personal information.

Hopefully, you will never encounter any form of identity theft. Make sure to protect your personal information to the best of your ability, and know what to do if you’ve been victimized.

Sign up for the Fraud Watch Network at aarp. org/FraudWatchNetwork to get the latest information on ID theft and scams. You can also call

counts also allow you to total the RMDs and take them from any account or combination of accounts.

With 401(k) plans, however, you must calculate the RMD for each plan and withdraw the appropriate amount from each account.

To calculate the size of your RMD, you can use the worksheets on the IRS website – visit irs.gov/ Retirement-Plans and click on Required Minimum Distributions. Or, contact your IRA custodian or retirement-plan administrator who can do the calculations for you.

For more information, call the IRS at 800-8293676 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (publication 590-B), or visit irs.gov/pub/ irs-pdf/p590b.pdf.

Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book. ISI

PAGE 22 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

the Fraud Watch Network Hotline at 877-9083360 to get your questions answered directly from trained volunteers. And for help with filing taxes safely, see information about AARP’s Tax Aide program at aarp.org/TaxAide.

Do you have a question for AARP Montana?

Send your question to “Ask AARP Montana” at MTAARP@aarp.org or 30 W 14th St., Helena, MT 59601 or call toll-free hotline at 866-295-7278. As we receive questions, we will consult with both internal and external experts to provide advice. ISI

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Warren Buffet’s Lesson in Giving

By Denton Harris Last year I wrote an article that listed Sam Walton as one of my heroes. Here was a man who came out of obscurity, gambled all he had and built from scratch the world’s largest retail operation, Wal-Mart, and rode around in a pickup truck with his two dogs.

Now I’m adding Warren Buffet to that list of heroes, another mid-westerner who became a billionaire and the world’s second richest person, yet still exemplifies humility and has lived a simple life in the same average home for the past 40+ years. His annual salary has been $l00,000 for 25 years. I wonder how many highly publicized CEOs would settle for that salary, or even $1 million per year, with bonuses based on profits.

Perhaps many Fortune 500 firms could learn a lesson from Buffet!

But that’s not why Buffet is my hero. He’s on my list of most admired for giving most of his billions to help the less fortunate. And by his doing so, my hope is he has aroused the same feeling among all of us – and this is the perfect season!

Can we do the same?

I know you’re saying, “Hey, how do you think I’m able to give away so much money?”

Sure, I know most of us can’t give away millions. You may put some change in the Salvation Army kettle at Christmas or buy fruit from the high school choir, or put money in the offering plate at church, etc. But that’s not enough. I want you to dig a little deeper, use your imagination and ingenuity in discovering people in your area who REALLY are in need and organizations that can provide meaningful help to important causes.

On a personal level, maybe it’s a poor relative, an old time friend who is down on his or her luck, or somebody you know through mutual friends.

I’m talking about folks who are in need but most of them too proud to admit it.

I know more than one person who gives anonymously. They have an unusual way of finding people in need. They have become friends with their mailman and learned from him or her about families and individuals on their routes who are in trouble financially. Maybe a child needs a bit more money for education, or medical expenses, new clothes, and in the worst case, family groceries.

The list is endless if we keep our ears and eyes open.

Here’s a true example: A father abandoned his wife and family of three children. Her mailman listened carefully as the wife told of his disappearance and the bleak future she faced. Two people I like to call “angels” delivered $2,000 anonymously to the mother. She used that money to support her family for two months. She was able to get a job and some temporary welfare that helped her develop a normal life. Today the three children are two years older and the mother is a solid citizen in her community and her church, and is respected by dozens who admire her for how she handled her problems. Her two “angels” are unknown but they have the great satisfaction of knowing their $2,000 helped solve her problems.

On an organizational level, making a planned gift to a non-profit charity that is working on a cause in which you believe can produce benefits for years to come. With government coffers stretched thin from the recession, it is up to us as individuals to donate in ways that can make up for some of that lost revenue. Whether it is a social, environmental, healthcare, or educational charity, your gift will support important work.

I know many readers will disagree. Some will say they need any excess money for their own special needs. Others may even say I am crazy.

My answer to these objections is simple.

It works; believe me! And we are all better off for it! ISI

Idaho Public Television: Focusing on the Future

Whatever your stage in life, it is wise to plan how you want your financial affairs handled. And remember, your estate plan can also be used to support charitable causes that matter most to you.

For five decades, Idaho Public Television has promoted arts and culture, lifelong learning, and civic engagement by providing noncommercial programming.

As we mark our 50th anniversary, we are focusing efforts to grow the Friends of Idaho Public Television Endowment to safeguard our mission, which will provide communities with intelligent, diverse, and enlightening programming and quality local productions for years to come.

Designating the Friends of Idaho Public Television Endowment in your will is an investment in the minds and hearts of Idahoans, ensuring that the rich local public broadcasting legacy that has been nurtured during the last 50 years will grow and benefit future generations.

Visit our website at idahoptv.org, or call Shane Chariton, major giving director; or Jenifer Johnson, director of development, at Idaho Public Television – 208-373-7220 or 800-543-6868. You may also request our FREE booklet, A Personal and Charitable Financial Record. We would be happy to help you get your ducks in a row. ISI

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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 23

Potpourri: Stuff You Need to Know About Your Social Security, Your Assets, and a Few Freebies

By Teresa Ambord Some Help to Protect Social Security Numbers May be on the Way You may know that theft of Social Security numbers (SSN) often happens because thieves go after Medicare cards. Experts say, never carry your Social Security card with you, to prevent theft of your SSN. But your SSN is printed on your Medicare card, which we are told we should carry.

Thieves know this.

For ages, Americans have been asking our government to remove that critical number from the Medicare card, but to no avail. It looks like someone might finally be listening. With the rise of cyber-attacks involving medical records, federal investigators are beseeching the government to remove the numbers from Medicare cards. It’s not official yet, but it is backed by both sides in Congress and President Obama has requested funding to get it done.

Like everything else in life, it will cost money, but 4,500 people sign up for Medicare every day, and by 2025, Medicare enrollment could reach 74 million. The recent loss of data in the Anthem data breach exposed up to 80 million SSNs. By removing these critical numbers from Medicare cards, maybe we can stem the flow of information to thieves. It’s about time for a change.

In the meantime, while we wait for the wheels of government to make a sensible change like removing the SSNs from our Medicare cards, you should know, you do not have to carry your card with you. And if you do feel you need to carry it, here’s an alternative that will protect your SSN. Make a copy and put the original in a safe place at home. On the copy, black out or better yet, cut out the SSN. You could leave the last four digits visible if it makes you more comfortable to do that. Your regular doctors likely have your numbers on file already, and in an emergency, a hospital can locate your Medicare information.

Avoiding Probate: It’s Important!

If you’ve been included in someone’s will, you probably know how frustrating probate can be. The executor has to find the assets and the liabilities of the deceased, pay the debts and any income or estate tax that may be due, as well as bills for the funeral and the attorneys. If you own a business and your heirs have to wait out probate to pay certain business expenses, the results can be ugly. Plus, probate is a matter of public record, exposing your business to the world.

Clearly, avoiding probate is desirable. Is there a way around it? Actually, there are several alternatives, but you’ll need to do some planning now. And if your assets are substantial, proper planning can help you avoid all or most of the dreaded estate tax, which is 40% for 2015.

• By forming a living trust, you can move some of your assets into the trust, making the trust the owner of those assets. Unlike probate, a trust is private. If your assets exceed $5.43 million and you pass away in 2015, the amount that exceeds that threshold may be subject to estate tax (after allowable deductions). But by establishing the right kind of trust (probably irrevocable), you can shield whatever assets you put into the trust from estate tax. Be sure to get professional help with this, so you don’t make the mistakes that some immensely wealthy celebrities made in recent years.

If estate tax is not an issue, ask your professional adviser if a revocable trust would be better for you.

This type of trust allows you to maintain control of your assets and avoid probate. When you pass away, the trust will distribute your assets according to your stated wishes.

• Check your retirement accounts, IRAs, pensions, 401(k)s, to ensure you have assigned beneficiaries. If the stocks and bonds you own allow you to assign beneficiaries, it’s a good idea to do that so the transfer of ownership is clean and easy. While you are at it, are you still happy with the beneficiaries you chose? People sometimes forget about beneficiary designations and end up accidentally leaving money to someone they are estranged from, like a former spouse.

• If you have designated beneficiaries, consider having your bank accounts established as “payable upon death” to those beneficiaries. Or ask your bank if you can name a beneficiary for the account. As with retirement accounts, check periodically to be sure you’re still happy with your choices.

• You can also make gifts of cash or property while you’re still around. As an individual, in 2015 you can give up to $14,000 to any number of recipients, without incurring a gift tax. If you are married and your spouse agrees, you can double that, and give up to $28,000 to each recipient. That avoids

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PAGE 24 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Just think… if you have a ton of friends or a slew of grandkids, you can treat each one to a freebie on his or her birthday.

Red Lobster heyitsfree.net/red-lobster-birthday-freebie/ Birthday Freebie: $5 off two adult entrees.

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Birthday Freebie: Free dessert.

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Birthday Freebie: Free BOGO entree coupon. ISI

Recalling Idaho Pioneers - continued from page 3 At the completion of seventh grade, there was an exam in physiology, hygiene, and geography.

The eighth grade exam tested the rest of the subjects. For geography, the students were given a blank map of the world and expected to fill in

John and Gene Barnett helping to build Whitebird Grade with horses and skidders. [Photo courtesy of Esther Goffinet]

the countries, capitals, rivers, and mountains. For Idaho history, they were given a blank map of Idaho to fill in all the counties, rivers, and mountains.

Sallie was so proud when Tom aced every exam.

In April of 1917, Gene joined his father building the Whitebird grade. John was a skidder, driving his own team, pulling the skid logs to smooth the road. John could get better pay providing his own team. Gene was doing roadwork, striking drill, and handling the dynamite. He started work for $2/ day, but asked for a raise and got it to $2.25/day.

A sack of flour cost $3.25 made from the same wheat that Gene had worked thirteen-hour days to help harvest while earning only $2.75/day.

Gene asked for more pay, but it was refused.

Gene drafted a document demanding an additional $.40/day, and all the men signed it. He presented it at the next meeting of the road commissioners, but they did not want to raise the wages because the farmers had held a meeting asking them not to pay over $2.50/day so the farmers could get men to work on the farms. It was decided that anyone who would not work for $2.50/day would be put in jail. Gene argued and finally compromised at $3/ day for all the men.

Working outside in the cold and wind, John developed severe mastoiditis. The treatment he underwent had all five of his sons holding him down while the doctor drilled holes through his skull into the mastoid behind his ear to drain the fluid. The treatment seemed worse than the infection so after the second draining John and Sallie moved to Lewiston, seventy miles away, in search

of warmer weather.

John went to work again as a skidder helping to build the Lewiston Hill. They bought a two-story house in the country for $150. With a family of seven, John struggled to pay the house payment

World famous Spiral Highway 95, Lewiston, ID 1920 [Photo courtesy of Esther Goffinet]

of $10 every three months.

From Ripples of a Lie by Esther Barnett Goffinet available at estherbarnettgoffinet.org, local bookstores, and amazon.com. ISI

Carrot, Egg, or Coffee?

Submitted by Julie Hollar A young woman visited her grandmother to tell her about her life and how things were so hard. Her husband had cheated on her and she was devastated. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. The woman was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as soon as one problem was solved; a new one arose.

Her grandmother took her to the kitchen where she filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first pot, she placed carrots, in the second, she placed eggs, and in the last, she placed ground coffee beans. She left them to boil and said not a word.

In about fifteen minutes, she turned off the burners, and fished out the carrots and placed them in a bowl. Then she removed the eggs and placed them in a bowl. Finally, she ladled the coffee into a cup.

Turning to her granddaughter, she asked, “Tell me what you see.”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” the young woman replied.

Her grandmother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.

She did and noted that they were soft. The grandmother then asked the granddaughter to take an egg, break it, and peel it. The young woman noted the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, the grandmother asked the granddaughter to sip the coffee. The granddaughter smiled as she tasted it and smelled its rich aroma.

The granddaughter then asked, “What does it mean, Grandmother?”

Her grandmother explained that each of these items had faced the same adversity – boiling water, yet each had reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, however, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

But, the ground coffee beans were different. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her granddaughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

“Think of it this way,” she continued. “Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?

Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, breakup, financial hardship, or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

“Or am I like the coffee bean? Do I change the hot water – the very circumstance that brings the pain? When faced with a challenge or adversity, the coffee blossoms and releases its fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean – when things are at their worst – you get better in response to the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, you can harness the power to elevate yourself to another level.

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean? ISI

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 25

Mackay Veterans Make Sure Santa Comes To Town On Christmas Morning

By Dianna Troyer Santa does not have to look far for altruistic elves in Idaho’s Lost River Valley. For nearly a century, naughty and nice children have drifted off to sleep on Christmas Eve, resting assured that Santa will not only come to town the next morning but to their doorstep.

On Christmas morning, with snow dusting the picturesque and jagged Lost River Mountain Range to the east, Santa arrives in the town of 500, riding on the back of a fire truck. With the siren blaring to announce his arrival, he and his elves give children a paper lunch sack brimming with peanuts, holiday candy, and an orange.

“The looks on some kids’ faces is unforgettable,” says Rick Hanni, second vice-commander of the Joe Nowacki Post whose members started the tradition in 1925.

“These days, kids get so many presents, but I think they still appreciate what our Santa gives them.”

Rick, 70, recalls the excitement he felt as a child to see Santa on Christmas morning.

“In our neighborhood, there were about 30 kids. We all ran to one street corner to wait. Back then, it was a really big deal to get candy because most families didn’t buy it often.”

It is never difficult to find a volunteer to don the post’s Santa suit, fluffy white beard, and wig.

“I loved doing it for 16 years, but my knees finally didn’t like me jumping on and off the fire truck for three hours,” says Rick. “So now, I drive the truck.”

Like Santa volunteering a few hours on Christ-

Rick Hanni, a member of Mackay’s American Legion post, became Santa for 16 years. [Photo by Judy Malkiewicz]

says Trisha Carlson. “My dad used to help sack up and deliver the candy. As a child, I rode on top of the fire truck to help deliver the candy, and my daughters Colie and Tia have dressed up like elves to help with the deliveries. Tia still loves being an elf. We look forward to it every year.”

The legion’s Christmas candy delivery is one of numerous service projects that members organize year-round. Money raised at the post’s Friday night bingo games provides scholarships for teens to attend Boys and Girls State. The post also offers college scholarships and supports Eagle Scout projects.

At the state and national level, the legion offers a variety of programs for youth, says Rick, a member of the state legion’s finance committee and vice-chairman of the group’s national youth commission.

“Whatever we do, we couldn’t do without the support of our women’s auxiliary and local businesses,” says Rick. “We have a spirit of giving year-round, not just at Christmas.” ISI

Santa and his helpers deliver bags brimming with peanuts, candy, and an orange to 200 children on Christmas morning in Mackay. [Photo by Judy Malkiewicz]

mas morning, about 25 to 30 legion members and their wives donate two to three hours to fill bags with candy.

“I remember my dad and uncle filling the bags in the ’40s,” says Rick, who carried on the family tradition after joining the legion in 1967. “When the project started, it cost about $50. Now we spend $500 to $700 and make about 200 bags. We go through 150 pounds of peanuts, a box of oranges, and about 200 pounds of candy.”

A couple of days before Christmas, volunteers meet at the hall and form an assembly line to fill the sacks. They put about 1 ½ cups of peanuts on the bottom and add a mix of traditional holiday candy like chocolate drops, jellybeans, chocolatecovered orange slices and other hard candy. An orange tops off the bag. A few bags are left without peanuts for children with allergies.

While volunteers work in the warm building, they cannot help but wonder whether the weather on Christmas morning will be nasty or nice. One year, a blizzard dumped about four feet of snow on Christmas Eve. “We couldn’t get around in the fire truck like usual, so Gerald Twitchell let us use his sled and horses,” says Rick. “It’s nice in a small town like this that you can count on people to help out.”

Even on frigid Christmas mornings, Santa has plenty of enthusiastic helpers.

“It’s a three-generation tradition for our family,”

Bits of Wisdom Submitted by Julie Brantley Usually the more a man is wrapped up in himself the colder he is.

Nine times out of ten, when the unexpected happens we bring it on ourselves.

Cold cash melts a lot of hearts that are not affected by warm love.

The wise worm doesn’t crawl out until after the early bird has eaten his breakfast.

If fortune’s wheel doesn’t revolve to suit you, pump up the tire.

Whenever a man makes a mistake, you may expect a tidal wave of explanation.

A man may save money, but he need not hope to be saved by money.

Jealousy is a tree that bears the most bitter of all fruits.

Gossip is a deadly gas that is often fatal to friendship.

It’s very easy to see through people who constantly make spectacles of themselves. ISI

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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Volunteers Like Verlee Frost Have Been Santa’s Helpers For Decades

By Dianna Troyer Long ago, Verlee Frost began buying Christmas gifts for people she would never meet. She and others were helping a friend, Hazeldean Hunter, who felt compelled to provide holiday gift boxes to needy families in the Mini-Cassia area.

“We’d go to garage sales and thrift stores and buy toys and clean them up,” recalls Verlee, 80.

“When we told people what we were doing, they started to donate.”

The friends eventually formalized their charitable acts and established the non-profit Mini-Cassia Christmas Council in 1979.

“That first year, we had 35 families,” says Verlee while sorting toys based on kids’ ages and gender at the council’s historic building in downtown Burley.

The past few years, the council has provided for about 475 to 500 families every year.

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Verlee and 25 to 30 volunteers begin sorting� tribution on Dec. 12. Qualified families will pick up toys and food in late September, organizing items their boxes brimming with toys and holiday food. in boxes that will be distributed in mid-December.

“We also give each family a voucher for a meat The community’s generosity impresses Verlee certificate to be used at the local stores to buy a and other volunteers. Businesses, high school turkey or ham,” says Linda. “We then reimburse clubs, Boy Scouts, churches, civic groups, and the stores for the meat our recipients receive.” anonymous residents provide gifts, cash, or doTo pay the council’s generosity forward, recipinate their time to help sort food and toys. ents often return years later to volunteer.

The council also coordinates its work with While Mary Lou Castaneda and her daughter Toys for Tots.

Crystal Ruiz make “We use their up small gift bags for database to crossgirls, they recall rereference names,” ceiving their boxes says Linda Short, 68, in 1982 and 1983. council president.

“The National This avoids duplicaGuard pulled up in tion and spreads the a big Army truck in generosity further. front of my apartLinda began volunment,” says Mary teering more than Lou. “I thought some two decades ago disaster had hapafter her kids were pened. Then they grown and she had brought the boxes more time. to my door.”

“We used to buy Crystal still retoys at yard sales Verlee Frost decorates a tree at the Mini-Cassia Christmas Coun- calls the gifts. cil’s storefront in downtown Burley. [Photo by Dianna Troyer] and clean them up,” “I played and says Linda. “One played with those year, I sewed so many new doll clothes, I could toys,” says Crystal. hardly see straight any more. About eight years After the National Guard unit was relocated, ago, we started getting enough donations that we the home deliveries were discontinued and clients could buy new toys at wholesale prices.” began picking up their boxes.

One of the council’s biggest supporters is “Members of the guard used to say how imBrother Speed, a motorcycle club whose members pressed they were with how well we were orgarumble up to the council’s storefront in November. nized,” says Linda.

“That’s one of my cry days,” says Linda. “They In the fall, recipients fill out application forms, have trailers filled with about $16,000 worth of toys listing the number of people in their household and that their members have collected.” their kids’ gender and ages, so volunteers can fill Volunteer Carla Blincoe says, “We all shed a boxes with gifts appropriate for that family. few tears around here seeing that kind of generThe logistics of categorizing thousands of toys osity and people’s gratitude on distribution day.” and cans of food does not overwhelm the volunThe waitresses at Wayside Café pick a day teers, who have been doing it for decades. and donate their tips to the council.

“We love what we do or we wouldn’t be here,” Every October, students at Burley and Minico says Linda, who never has a post-holiday letdown. high schools donate 10,000 to 15,000 cans of food. “The day after Christmas when sales start, I’ll shop “We store it here in the basement,” says Linda. for the next year. I’ll keep doing this as long as I “When I was a kid, this was the original King’s can.”

Variety Store, and their Toyland was down here.

Some potential donors have quizzed Verlee I loved sitting on the steps to look at everything. about whether the council is truly non-profit.

I still stand and look at donations and am in awe “One person talked to me on the phone for 20 of the generosity of so many wonderful people.” minutes and couldn’t believe we don’t take salaries About nine years ago, Tom King, owner of or even a little gas money,” says Verlee. “We never King’s Variety Stores, gave the council the com- have and never will.” pany’s original building.

Donations may be dropped off at the council’s “We love it here,” says Linda. “Before that, we building at 1256 Overland Ave. Cash donations were at a bank and the armory. It’s nice to not have may be sent to P.O. Box 332, Heyburn, ID 83336. to move around anymore.”

For more information, call 208-436-0571. ISI At its building in downtown Burley, Linda will oversee the non-profit organization’s annual dis-

Home Sweet Home Is A Grain Bin For Kendell Karlson’s Family

By Dianna Troyer For Kendell Karlson, home sweet home for 28 years has been a grain bin south of Burley.

“People sometimes mistakenly think it’s a silo or a barn,” says Kendell, who worked in his dad’s business assembling grain bins when he got the idea to erect one for the exterior of a home.

Kendell picked a bin that is 36 feet in diameter, “the size that would hold 18,000 bushels of grain. When I told Dad of my plans, he thought I was nuts. But he came to watch me put it up and always gave advice about where to weld.”

The three-story 2,400-square-foot house stands 18 feet tall to the eaves and 31 feet to its peak and is well known in the area.

“Just for fun, my sister-in-law in Salt Lake City mailed us a letter,” says Kendell’s wife, Cindy. “She addressed it to the Grain Bin House in Burley, Idaho, and it got to us. She never wrote our names on the envelope.”

The house has been featured on local home tours. Kendell was even asked if he would show their house on a Home and Garden TV network show.

“They wanted us to do about $5,000 in cosmetic upgrades at our own cost,” says Kendell. “We didn’t see the need for that, so we declined.”

Kendell began building the house in 1986 before he and Cindy were married. (Continued on page 28)

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 27

PAGE 28 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

“We had a farmer who lost his grain crop in a hail storm,” recalls Kendell. “He wasn’t able to pay for the grain bin after we’d erected it, so we had to dismantle it. It couldn’t be resold, so I put it up on this property for a garage. As I was building it, I thought it would be fun to build a house from a grain bin.”

Kendell hoped local bankers would agree with him and applied for a loan. He estimated it would cost less to build a home from a grain bin than it would cost to build a conventional house, about 40 percent less.

“They took a risk and loaned me the money. It was the first time they had approved a loan for this type of house. But they were reassured because they knew we had a reliable track record with construction, and our grain bins didn’t blow over.”

First, Kendell had a cement slab poured for the foundation.

“Some guys from work helped me assemble it during the evenings. After we put it together, we used a crane to lift it into place on the pad.”

Next, he hired a heating company to install the ductwork. Kendell worked about a year to finish the interior and built the house to energy-efficient specifications.

“It qualifies as a super good sense home,”

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

says Kendell. “When it was tested for air flow Kassidy, 15. leakage, it was actually too airtight, so I installed Cindy recalls Kortni drawing a picture of her a humidistat. If moisture builds up, a vent opens house for an assignment in elementary school. to let in some air. It’s really quiet inside, too.”

“She drew a circle,” recalls Cindy. “Her Their home is not only energy efficient; it is teacher corrected her and drew a rectangle for a also low maintenance. With an exterior of galva- traditional house. At parent-teacher conferences, nized steel, it doesn’t rust or need paint. we had to remind the teacher that our house reSometimes Kendell’s customers at his auto ally is circular.” body repair shop and towing business have As their children grew, Kendell added a family asked him what it’s room and bedrooms like to live in a round off the kitchen, buildhouse. ing them in a tradi“It’s about the same tional rectangular as living in a square floor plan. house,” says Kendell.

In hindsight, the Their four children only change Kendell often invited curious would make in the friends to come in and house is not spraysee for themselves ing foam insulation what the house was around the windows. like. It looks conven“The woodpecktional, just with shorter ers have made some wall sections to conholes in that, looking form to the circular for the insects that shape of the round Kendell Karlson built his home from a grain bin more than live there,” says enexterior. A metal spiral two decades ago. [Photo by Dianna Troyer] dell. “We’ll probably staircase in the center put metal flashing of the house leads to the upper levels. The sec- over the insulation to keep the birds out.” ond floor has three bedrooms, a bathroom, and He plans to fix the deck and hot tub off their master bedroom with a bathroom. The third level master bedroom, too. is a loft bedroom that is accessed via a metal “It’s just routine maintenance, like with any firefighter’s ladder secured to a wall. other house,” says Kendell. “We like living here “This top level right under the peak was al- because it’s a little different. It was a challenge ways the favorite room for the exchange students to build, something I wanted to do just for me. I’m we’ve had over the years,” says Kendell. happy to give advice to people who might want Although non-traditional to most people, the to build their home from a grain bin.” ISI circular house seemed perfectly normal to their children Kijsa, 25; Korbyn, 24; Kortni, 21; and

Wally Studer Gives Gift Of Bowling To Foster Kids

By Dianna Troyer Even without a Santa suit, Wally Studer is still the jolly old elf to foster children in the Mini-Cassia area during the holidays.

To help these kids celebrate Christmas, Wally, 53, and his son, Justin, provide free bowling at their Burley business, Snake River Bowl, on the first Saturday of December.

Wally is also a member of the Rupert Kiwanis Club, which co-sponsors the holiday party and buys a pizza dinner for participants.

“All the Kiwanis clubs in Division 5 from Buhl to Rupert have the opportunity to help Wally Studer teaches kids to bowl, with costs,” high-fiving a student who did well in the after-school bowling program. [Photos says Wally. by Dianna Troyer] Besides bowling and pizza, the foster children also receive stockings made by members of community service clubs at local schools. Santa Claus also drops in to mingle and have his picture taken with partygoers.

“We started doing it six years ago,” says Wally, as he takes a break from teaching middle school students how to bowl during an after-school program. “At first we weren’t sure if they’d like it or not, but everyone had such a good time, it’s become a tradition. We have about 100 people who come – 50 to 60 kids plus the foster parents.”

His wife, Jan, suggested the idea.

“She works with kids in foster care, doing evaluations of babies to 3-year-olds when they’re placed in the program,” says Wally.

Besides being a Santa, Wally also coaches the Minico High School Bowling Team.

“Who knows, maybe one of these foster kids will realize how much fun it is to bowl and will join a team in high school,” he says. “I look forward to the party every year.” ISI

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 29

Surprises await appraiser Dana Jo Cameron at estate sales

By Dianna Troyer Dana Jo Cameron cringed as she saw the wrought iron patio furniture protruding from a dumpster. Recognizing its value, she retrieved it while helping a family settle an estate.

“They were surprised and grateful that I sold it for them for $200,” says Dana Jo. “I told them to not tell me about the other things they’d thrown away before I got there.”

A certified appraiser for 18 years, the Rupert resident organizes about 30 estate sales a year throughout southern Idaho. She never knows what she will find when helping to settle an estate.

Once she pulled a heavy crock from behind a furnace. “I couldn’t believe it. Inside, stuffed in panty hose were silver dollars.”

Another time, she found an envelope stuffed with seventeen $100 bills. It had been forgotten in a laundry room cupboard. Emptying a desk drawer at another sale, she found a life insurance policy that surviving family members did not know existed.

“When I find valuable items, the family members are so thankful, especially in cases where one of the parents might have been dealing with dementia,” says Dana Jo. Her goal is to help a family get the most return when selling their household items and antiques.

“Sometimes people have no idea what something is worth,” says Dana Jo. “At sales, I set prices that aren’t too high because I don’t want to discourage buyers, but they can’t be below a certain value either just for the sake of making a sale. That’s the game, getting the most money for your client yet still making sure items will sell.”

Dana Jo jokes with herself that she is reenacting what she did as a child growing up on the family farm north of Rupert.

“I remember playing for hours in our basement, writing out receipts. Here I am 62 and still doing that, but this time to provide a service and to make a living.”

Dana’s appraisals and estate sales blend her natural childhood hobbies of keeping meticulous accounting records and loving antiques.

“In junior high, my mom would pick me up after school and take me with her to sales,” recalls Dana Jo. “My first collection was antique beaded purses. When I was 14, I knew I wanted an oak hall tree for my wedding one day, and my grandmother gave me one when Greg and I got married.

While her husband farmed, Dana Jo worked a variety of jobs that eventually led to her appraisal and estate sales career.

“Times can be tough for farmers due to circumstances beyond your control,” she says.

“All my odd jobs have helped support the farm more than if I’d stayed home and kept on raising

bucket calves.”

She promoted events in the Magic Valley, managed the Twin Falls Flea Market at the county fairgrounds, and organized antique shows in the region.

items to get ready for a sale. It’s hard work, and over the years it made college look better and better to our kids.”

With their kids grown and gone, Dana Jo has hired four full-time employees, plus her parents, Max and Ruth Fife, who are cashiers.

“Customers actually come first to see my parents and then to buy a treasure or a good second-hand item that they need.”

Dana Jo has not only sold household items, she has even sold houses.

“I have an email list of 1,000 buyers who are interested in coming to estate sales. It’s grown beyond what I ever imagined. My goal has always been to help families get a house empty and ready for the market and to do what I can so clients get the most bang for their buck.”

Although her job is unpredictable with detailwork that would overwhelm most people, it suits Dana Jo. “As all self-employed people know, running your own business is definitely not a 40-hour-aweek job,” she says. “Still, I love what I do because I’m a people person. I love the Mini-Cassia area and the people here and providing them with a service.” ISI

Dana Jo Cameron researches the value of household items by referring to one of her many appraisal books.

[Photo by Dianna Troyer]

When she began selling her own antiques at a show, the organizer asked her the name of her business. Blue was her favorite color, and at the time she happened to be collecting cows.

“I flippantly told her Blue Cow,” says Dana, “and the name has stuck.”

Wanting to become more knowledgeable about household items and antiques, she enrolled in an online program at the College of Appraisers in Placentia, Calif.

“It took me 3 ½ years to finish, but it was worth it,” says Dana Jo, who earned her certification as an appraiser of personal property in 1997. “I was the college’s first online student to graduate cum laude.”

Through word of mouth, she landed her first appraisal job. An attorney in Ketchum asked her to appraise an estate. At his request, she sold the items, launching her estate sales career.

“After that, I got busier through word-of-mouth and pretty soon I needed help,” she says.

During the past 18 years, Greg, their four kids, and friends have been Blue Cow employees at some point.

“The estate sales made a living when the farm didn’t and even put our kids through college,” says Dana Jo. “We all put in long hours. A lot of times, I’d be up until 1 or 2 in the morning, pricing

Did I read that sign right?

Submitted by John Early, New York City Toilet out of order. Please use floor below.

In a Laundromat: Automatic washing machines – Please remove all your clothes when the light goes out.

In a London department store: Bargain basement upstairs.

In an office: Would the person who took the step ladder yesterday please bring it back or further steps will be taken.

In an office: After tea break, staff should empty the teapot and stand upside down on the draining board.

Outside a second-hand shop: We exchange anything – bicycles, washing machines, etc. Why not bring your wife along and get a wonderful bargain?

Notice in health food shop window: Closed due to illness.

Spotted in a safari park: Elephants please stay in your car.

Seen during a conference: For anyone who has children and doesn’t know it, there is a day care on the 1st floor.

Notice in a farmer’s field: The farmer allows walkers to cross the field for free, but the bull charges.

Message on a leaflet: If you cannot read, this leaflet will tell you how to get lessons.

On a repair shop door: We can repair anything.

Please knock hard on the door – the bell doesn’t work. ISI

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PAGE 30 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Diplomatic humor helps Roger Musser - continued from page 1 Roger jokes that considering his size, 5 foot 7 inches and 130 pounds, he has to rely on diplomacy and humor to defuse tense situations.

“I can’t overpower anyone,” says Roger. “You can resolve a problem with a win-win attitude instead of win-lose. If you’re angry about something, call and unload on me and don’t simmer. I’ll try to resolve issues.”

Wherever Roger works in the district, memories of growing up in the area flood back. Just east of Malta, as he checks water levels at a weir, he is reminded of local residents’ kindness.

He can see the home of the late Harvey and Sarah Wight, who hired him as a teen.

“Harvey hired me four times, and Sarah fired me three times for things like going to the fair or deer hunting when I should have been working,” he says, laughing.

To the west is Raft River High School, where

he and his wife, Barbara, were married and had their reception.

“When we got married, we were grateful so many people came. I suspect our gifts were given in sympathy for her marrying the likes of me. We’re still using a lot of those gifts.”

Roger was raised in Elba by his maternal grandparents, Lou and Margaret Ottley, because his parents, Don and Naomi, lived in Memphis, Tenn.

“My dad’s career with education and singing took them there,” says Roger. “They thought I’d have a safer childhood growing up in Elba. Someone once asked me if I felt sad that they left me here. They did me a favor. If I had have grown up in a city, I’d have gotten into so much trouble I might not even be alive today. Growing up here, so many people were there for me.”

He says he can never repay a debt of gratitude to his grandparents, Uncle Ewart Ottley, Chris

and Gladys Barker, Alvin “Lindy” and Rosella Neddo, Rex and Faye Edwards, Blaine and Viola Wight, Eddie and Reta Holtman, Wayne and Lois Whitaker and most of all his in-laws, Gene and Peg Ward.

Memories of them often accompany him on his rounds. When he has checked off his to-do list, Roger sometimes fishes for trout in the creeks or picks plums, pears, or apples from century-old trees planted near abandoned homestead cabins.

“I keep a little for myself and drop off the fruit and fish to folks here who appreciate it,” he says.

With the 2015 irrigation season only a memory, Roger looks forward to many more.

“I’d like to think of this job in five-year increments,” he says. “I’ll do it from 75 to 80, then reevaluate. When my time comes, I’d be happy to topple off a head gate into the creek. I was lucky to grow up here. It’s a great place to be from and to come back to.” ISI

Cuban Cigars and Chinese Ducks

By Bill Hall Yes, it’s true. I smoked a Cuban cigar once upon a time.

I was smoking an illegal Cuban cigar back in the 1970s. An American national reporter I knew slipped me the Cuban cigar, but truthfully, I can’t remember his name or for whom he worked in those years. He did know a thing or two about cigars.

He had been to Cuba reporting some cold-war story when Fidel Castro was still fully in charge.

And in truth, the reporter’s cigars may even have been legal, if his traveling was considered useful to government leaders.

Legal or not, that American reporter bought a few cigars for his friends and he kindly included me in that gesture. He told me he had found it hard to believe at first that Cuban cigars actually could be as exceptional as tobacco mythology would cause the world believe. But he and I both were dazzled by the Cuban product.

That reminds me that proud products of most cities and nations aren’t nearly as exceptional as their boasting might indicate. But superior aspects of some food, art, music, and sports actually do outshine much of the world.

On the other hand, what use is it if England’s best shot is steak and kidney pie? Granted, nobody cooks steak and kidney pie as well as the English, but that’s not good enough. Why would any sane person want them to do that?

But there are several places in the world that have mastered a few outrageously delightful products. For instance, that Cuban cigar was the mellowest and flavorful cigar I ever smoked. If Fidel Castro ever tried to explain it in English, he would have called it awesome.

Of course, on rare occasions in my life when I tried ordinary cigars, they almost all smelled like scorched fish manure. They tasted like autumn leaves flavored with petroleum. And those cigars felt in my mouth like the skin of a dead frog.

On the other hand, that Cuban cigar smelled like fresh oregano, it tasted like autumn leaves flavored with bacon and felt like the skin of the woman I love.

Occasionally, a few nations and cities will

create pleasurable achievements that soar above the competition throughout the world. And on rare occasion, a nation will succeed in one product after failing at first in another. For instance, that disaster of England trying to make a food star out of its steak and kidney pie. The same country has the best hot tea you will ever pour down your gullet. A cup of English tea washing over your tonsils is so soothing it has become a liquid tranquilizer.

Another national triumph that fully lives up to its boasting is Peking or Beijing duck. It is a duck that, over two days, is flavored inside and out with a dark brown toasting and is blown up like a balloon at one point in the process of drying out the inflated bird.

China’s duck is an international classic. That tasty bird is loved for turning dried duck skin into a crunchy crackle that is also made into several other dishes.

How good is it?

A few bites and you feel like you shouldn’t be tasting flavors so erotic in front of decent people.

The one time in my life I ever tasted it at its best was while visiting members of our family who were working in China. Peking duck is more than one dish. It is a meal of separate dishes including that flavored skin, plus a soup and a helping of meat. Everybody eagerly ate it all.

Many other countries have their specialties.

They have developed dishes over decades that outshine all others and live up to their well-deserved wows.

In my opinion, as high as the quality of Cuban cigars is, I would rather put a southern fried chicken drumstick in my appreciative lunch hole than a cigar.

But if you’re looking for foods that stand out best of all, it’s simple; just scan almost everything on the menus of Italy.

In addition, I know a towering achievement in food right here in Idaho where I live. I speak, of course, of giant Idaho Russet baking potatoes.

Every time I eat one, I feel sorry for Fidel Castro that all he has is a cigar.

Hall may be contacted at wilberth@cableone. net or at 1012 Prospect Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501.

ISI

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 31

Caring for Your Antique Christmas Decorations

By Teresa Ambord If you own antique Christmas decorations, you are in good company. Whether your collection is limited to items passed down through the generations of your family, or you actively seek out such decorations to purchase, these treasures require special handling if they are to last.

From the experts who know, here are a few tips for maintaining the beauty of your antique ornaments: • If you hang the ornaments on your Christmas tree, be sure to place them on the higher branches where they are less likely to be bumped and broken. If you have cats, you know that felines often like to bat low-hanging ornaments off the tree.

• When it’s time to remove the ornaments from the tree and store them again, you should first dust them with gentle makeup brushes.

Always remove the hooks, which may cause scratches during storage.

• Clean off the glue on ornaments with a product called Goo Gone and a cotton swab. Goo Gone gently removes the glue left by price tags

and other substances, without the need to scrub and possibly damage the surface. You can find Goo Gone in hardware stores and home centers.

• Store antique ornaments in sturdy boxes capable of keeping out moisture. Some pros recommend Rubbermaid or Sterilite. Better still if you can find such storage containers with trays.

Whatever container you choose, avoid storing your treasures in cardboard boxes, including the gift boxes they came in. Cardboard is made from wood pulp and therefore is highly acidic. The chemicals in cardboard will eventually destroy the paint on your ornaments. The worst possible choices are corrugated boxes or recycled products, as they have the most acid.

• Don’t wrap ornaments in tissue unless you are sure it is acid-free. Ask for acid-free tissue at your craft store. If the ornaments are colored, use a non-buffered or pH neutral tissue for the best results. Some people use Bounty microwave paper towels. These towels do the job, but if your ornament is glittered, the fine fibers on the towels might dislodge it.

Some collectors who wish to store their orna-

ments in their original cardboard gift boxes find they can do so safely if they first wrap the ornament in an acid-free tissue.

• It’s a good idea when packing away your antique ornaments to add a package of desiccant to remove moisture. You can buy these desiccants at craft stores.

• Put your storage containers in an area where the temperature will be constant.

If you’re interested in joining with other collectors, visit goldenglow.org, which emphasizes pre-1966 ornaments. You can sign up to receive their newsletter to find out about their annual convention.

You’ll find a list of other clubs, as well as have the opportunity to buy some antique ornaments by visiting directory.google.com/Top/Recreation/ Collecting/Christmas_Ornaments/ Organizations/. You can buy books on Collecting Antique Ornaments and more from the Preferred Consumer Store: store.preferredconsumer.com/ search.php?q=antique+christmas+ornaments& mode=books. ISI

Resize Photos in a Jiffy

By Mr. Modem Q. Is there any way I can reduce the size of a photo that was given to me in .JPG format?

A. There sure is. Irfanview (tucows.com/ preview/194967) is a free graphics viewer/editor.

Once installed, click File > Open to display your photo. With the picture displayed, click Image > Resize/Resample. You will be able to choose from several options in the next window, including setting a new size by typing in the pixel dimensions, making the new picture a percentage of the original, or selecting from standard sizes.

If you click the Half button, you can reduce the size of the photo as much as you wish. When you reach the desired size, click the OK button and you will see the picture in its new size. If the size is acceptable, click File > Save As, and give the file a new name so it doesn’t overwrite your original photo.

Also popular and easy to use is ShrinkPictures.com, which is a Web-based service that enables you to reduce the size of digital photos.

No software is required, the service is free, and no salespersons will call. Resize2Mail.com is a similar service, also free. PIX Resizer (bluefive.pair.com/ pixresizer.htm) is another freebie that will resize one or multiple photos in one swell foop. All you have to do is create a new folder within which you can send the resized pictures.

Q. A friend gave me a CD of a computer program to make cards and posters. It was a brand new CD, still wrapped in plastic. When I put it in my computer, it asked for a product key and displayed a text field to type it into. What is a product key and how do I find it?

A. A product key is a combination of letters and numbers that is used to unlock or open software. Each individual copy has its own unique product key. The product key may be located inside the program’s box or case, or printed or applied as a sticker to the front or back of the envelope the disc came in. For downloaded software, a product key will usually be emailed to you. Do not throw out any of the packaging that comes with a program until you find your product key or try your program out to make sure it doesn’t require one. You might also contact your friend if you cannot locate the product key on the packaging the CD arrived in.

It is possible that the CD was purchased within a box or jewel case that contained the product key.

Q. In the upper right-hand corner of my keyboard is a key marked “PrtSc/SysRq.”

Someone told me if I want to print a map, for example, to get it on the screen, press the F11 key, then hold down this key and the SHIFT key to get a full-sized map printed out. Can you elaborate on this a bit more? I don’t understand it at all.

A. F11 switches into full-screen mode for most browsers, allowing more of a page to appear on screen. Press F11 again to reverse the action.

Pressing the Print Screen (PrtSc) key captures (takes a picture of) the current screen and places it on the Windows Clipboard. You can then go to any graphics editor (Paint is fine, located within Windows, under Accessories) and paste (by pressing CTRL + V) the saved image onto the screen and print it from there.

Historical Footnote: The SysRq or SysReq key, which shares the PrtSc key, is a relic from another era – not unlike Mr. Modem. Short for “System Request,” the SysRq key was the 84th key added when the 83-key PC/XT keyboard became the 84-key AT keyboard eons ago. Unless programmed by a particular application, the SysRq key does nothing in most operating systems today.

The key doesn’t appear on many new keyboards.

Mr. Modem’s DME (Don’t Miss ‘Em) Sites of the Month Answers.com – This self-described “New Standard in Reference” is a free, online reference guide with information about millions of topics. Answers.com differs from search engines in that it provides quick answers to specific questions, as opposed to results that link you to a list of topics. The site’s editors draw their data from hundreds of sources, including dictionaries, encyclopedias,at-lases, and the-sauruseseseses.

Bozo Criminal of the Day – This site features stories from the Associated Press newswire. electricferret.com/ bozo . ISI

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Tips for Job Seekers Over 50; Make your age an asset Q: I am 57 years old and I was laid off from my job several months ago. I have not been able to land a new job yet and it seems that everywhere I go, the applicants around me are much younger. Although my father retired when he was my age, I wasn’t planning to retire for at least another ten years. In fact, I was planning on another ten years of income to put towards retirement. What advice do you have for people in my situation?

A: We all remember that ubiquitous (and awful) car commercial from the 1980s promising “this is not your father’s Oldsmobile.” The tagline has since been applied to just about everything that’s new and different, including the evolving concept of retirement.

In the case of retirement, though, it’s literally true – and becoming more so every day. Your father had a strong pension; you may have peanuts.

Your father had ten or 15 years of retirement to fund; you may have 20 or more.

All of that may help explain why a recent AARP survey of boomer-age voters found that nearly three-fourths of working boomers believe they will probably be forced to delay retirement. Half of them doubt they’ll ever be able to retire.

Because so many of us are (wisely, it seems) seeking to wring every last minute out of our working careers, AARP has made it a priority to help 50+ workers find employment, through initiatives such as lifereimagined.aarp.org/.

As we’ve worked with 50+ job seekers over the years, we’ve found that they have myriad questions about how best to market their skills and experience in today’s competitive job market. We address many employment and business issues online at aarp.org/work/tools-resources/webinars/.

Below is a snapshot of the types of questions we get and the best answers we have.

How does an experienced worker compete for work against a recent college graduate?

It’s often hard for employers to replace the wide skill set of an experienced worker with that of a new college graduate with little to no work experience. In addition, there are several “soft” skills that employers often say they value in experienced workers, such as better communication skills, better work ethic, and lower attrition.

You should highlight the breadth of your experience in your resumes and interviews, but provide specific examples of how you’ve applied those secret weapons to solve a relevant problem for your previous employer.

How do I create different resumes for different positions I’m seeking? Should I post them all online?

An attention-getting resume conveys your personal brand – the unique combination of skills, achievements, and abilities that shows you’re an outstanding candidate for a particular job. Make sure you tailor your resume to the specific jobs you’ve targeted. Don’t send the same one to hundreds of employers.

Here is another helpful tip? Use the exact keywords and language that the employer used in the job posting – especially when submitting your

resume online – or your resume may not make it through the company’s automated filters.

Does it make sense to make a career change later in life?

The process of re-inventing yourself is revitalizing – and it may be the smartest course of action if you’re in a dying field. Start by identifying your skills and passions – we’re talking about the very essence of what makes you, you. At lifereimagined. aarp.org/, you can get a little help with identifying your passion and figuring out which jobs, industries, and environments would harness that fire.

How about starting my own business?

AARP and the Small Business Administration are working together to provide counseling and training to budding entrepreneurs who want to start or grow a small business. Visit aarp.org/work/ small-business/?cmp to learn more.

I’m not getting any responses to my applications, what should I do?

Are you treating your job search as a full-time job? You should be. Develop a search strategy, create a home office for executing your search, and try to spend four to six hours each day on specific tasks related to your search.

Are you tempted to “throw everything at the wall to see what sticks”? It’s important to know your skills and match them to a specific industry and specific types of jobs within that industry. At that point, consider all available options, whether full-time, part-time, contract, work-at-home, or even seasonal employment. Sometimes, just getting in the door will lead to a more permanent opportunity.

Are you pounding the pavement? Attend events and career fairs, and work with your school’s alumni career center.

Do you need to focus on the trees for once, rather than the forest? Make sure your resume translates your years of experience into specific skills and accomplishments that will grab the attention of recruiters.

Do you feel like your “age” is holding you back?

You may want to target your employment search to companies that value mature workers.

Are you feeling a little lonely during your search? Use social media sites to connect with colleagues and prospective employers, and join AARP’s Work Reimagined group on LinkedIn to network with peers and find answers, advice, inspiration, and job opportunities.

If you’re getting interviews but no offers, focus on how you present yourself. In mock interviews with friends, focus on how you’ve applied your relevant skills in the past, and the outcomes of those situations. Practice relaxation, and make sure that your frustration isn’t coming across in your interviews. It might also be the time to update or refresh your look and wardrobe.

If you still find yourself truly “stuck,” consider talking to a career counselor.

Check out AARP’s free webinars online at aarp. org/moneywebinars for more helpful tips & advice.

Do you have a question for AARP Montana?

Send to “Ask AARP Montana” at MTAARP@aarp. org or 30 W 14th St., Helena, MT 59601 or call our toll-free hotline at 866-295-7278. ISI

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 33

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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Fang – The Companion Dog

By Dimitri Gat We met Fang at a puppy store. He wasn’t Fang then, of course. Wife, 14-year-old Daughter, and I saw only a small black and white cocker spaniel with ears the size of small dinner plates.

The shop owner, who had the look of a down-atthe-heels used car salesman, boasted that the dog’s coat – “Parti-colored” was his term – was unusual for the breed. He claimed the same when we noticed one of the dog’s eyes was brown, the other blue. I was quickly moving on to available basenjis – I knew they never bark – and dodging beagles who, solo, bark all the time. There were some intriguing cockapoos and Scotties ahead.

I turned to comment on this. Uh-oh! I was alone.

Wife and, more dangerous by far, Daughter were reaching through the spaniel’s cage to pet those ears.

Sticker shock struck me at the cash register.

I hid my stagger with a firm hand on the greasy counter. I must understand that the dog had papers! Pure breeds were expensive, but you pretty much got what was expected.

Earlier in the marriage, firmly behind what might be called the No-Dog-Left-Behind movement, we “saved” a dog at the local animal shelter.

“Bear” proved to have a tremendous appetite.

Unhappily, it was for car seat belts, headrests, and upholstery, all torn to tatters in seconds. Not to mention custom drapes. Left alone, he went

mad. Caged, he burst heavy welds to go forth to do his devilment – on one occasion to indelibly mark our prized Martha’s Vineyard sheep farm blanket. So this time we dared not take a chance.

Later we were to be reminded that every dog, mixed or pure, has its own ways. “Check or credit card are both okay,” the owner said with a P.T. Barnum-esque smile.

Daughter named him “Fang,” despite our pointing out that his weight would max out at around 22 pounds and that his rampant friendliness suggested another name. Furthermore, the across-the-street-neighbor owned a huge German shepherd big enough to hunt wolves and scare crooks, was also called Fang. But “Fang” had been in a TV show or book to which she was attached. Fang it was.

We made our first visit to the vet. I noticed a shiny BMW 3 Series convertible in the space marked “Doctor – Reserved.” This should have prepared me for his bill to enter Fang into healthy society. The dog had worms, mites in his ears – oh, those ears – and needed shots. Rabies was the only one I recognized. I also recognized that his bill was well into three figures.

Not long afterward, we returned to the vet.

Fang’s ears were bothering him and he gnawed at one paw. The vet nodded knowingly while probing the dog’s aural canal with a giant Q-Tip. “Yep. Characteristic of the breed.” Cockers, it seemed, were often troubled with ear problems and allergies – throughout their lives. I groaned inwardly and wondered about the cost of dog health insurance. He presented us with fish oil pills. We passed on his willingness to do “across the spectrum allergy testing.”

Fang was going to be trained. We swore he would be taught to sit, heel, come, and not get up on the furniture. Forthwith he was enrolled in Canine College Level 1 training. He proved not to be an apt student. The one thing he did do consistently, no matter how much we paraded around outside before class, was relieve himself in the middle of the training area. The college had on hand suitable tools and liquids to deal with this eventuality, so in that sense at least we got our money’s worth. We moved ahead to Level 2. “Come!,” “Sit!” and “Down!” entered meaningfully into his doggie brain – so long as there were no other dogs nearby. We drilled on “Heel!” but it seemed that “Down!” was the apex of his comprehension. Upon graduation, he was

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named class clown.

As to keeping the dog off the furniture, it proved to be tiresome hounding – so to speak – his every transgression. He soon caught on to our laxness, as does any spoiled child. Shortly he was ensconced on the back of the couch near the baseboard heater. The tip of the wedge. Before long, he became our sleeping companion, sneaking upstairs, jumping onto the king size before bedtime, and growling when we tried to wake him. He played the “sleeping dog” act to a T. Possibly, because Bear’s stay was a short one, we had forgotten the responsibilities of dog ownership. Take food for example. Time was when you just fed the dog off the human table or opened a can of dog food. Not now. Pet stores are a cornucopia – food for puppies, adults, and the decrepit. Natural, organic, grain-free, holistic, small breed, large breed…. The mind spins. Add to feeding, the responsibilities of walking Fang whatever the weather, brushing, ear and eye cleaning, and profession washing and grooming, to name only a few.

Months later, I stepped back and took a look at the Big Picture. New to me, but I’m sure not to many other dog owners, came a major understanding: Fang called the shots and we rushed to obey. We were the ones who had been brought to heel, not he. I beheld a four-legged conspiracy, a wink-nudge-nudge dog-to-dog thing. “Look what they are doing now! Woof, woof!” Yet we happily agree to this timeless arrangement. Why? Because we get to see Fang chase the ball and unfailingly return it. Because he chases a whirling leaf. Because he rolls over just so to get his belly scratched. Because he howls with pleasure when we give him an empty Mountain Spring water bottle. He’s always in a good mood, rarely talks back, and listens to me when Wife won’t.

Moreover, he provides something like friendship and solace in our brutal world.

Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning surely knew this when she wrote, referring to her cocker spaniel Flush, “His ears were often the first thing to catch my tears.” ISI

Five Ways to Bring Your Pup on a “Doggone Good’ Road Trip” So how can you pack up the whole family and make sure that Fido has a happy, healthy, and tail-wagging good time?

The in-house canine behavioral experts at Milo’s Kitchen – a popular All-American dog treat brand – are sharing their essential travel tips for the fall travel season.

Doggy-Do #1: Take a Joy Ride – Was your pup’s last road trip a trip to the vet? Before your trip, take him on a short ride to the park to make the car a place where fun things happen, too.

Doggy-Do #2: Make Crate Time Treat Time – Make your dog’s travel crate a happy place by doing a “test crating” and rewarding Fido with lots of his favorite treats. Soon, he’ll be drooling when he crawls inside.

Doggy-Do #3: Pamper your Pup – Just like humans, dogs feel most peaceful in a calming environment, so give your dog a back rub and play soothing music while you’re driving.

Doggy-Do #4: Bring “Home” with You – Because dogs like familiarity, bring along their snuggly blankets and favorite toys. On arrival, set up your dog’s crate and keep your feeding and walking routine.

Doggy-Do #5: Spoil Them Silly – While on a trip, it’s even more important to reward your pup for good behavior. Treats build positive associations with new sights and sounds.

For more details on these tips, please visit mktreattruck.com/2015/08/21/all-american-doggy-road-trip. ISI

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 35

Which Housing Option Is Best For You – Renting or Buying?

Western Montana’s Only 55+ Community

When you are renting, you are paying the landlord a profit, and you may not be able to have a pet. But you won’t have to deal with maintenance and you won’t tie your money up in an asset that can be hard to sell. There are good arguments for both sides, and the decision can be complex.

By Teresa Ambord The traditional wisdom is that everyone should own a home. But when you are in or near retirement, is that the best choice for you? Often retirees face a dilemma. The house they raised the kids in is now too big. The cleaning, the maintenance, the insurance, the utility costs for a big home… who Maintenance Free Living needs that? On the other hand, you generally get more for your money as a homeowner, and have more say over what you do with your property. When Custom Single Family Homes • Gated Entry you are renting, you are paying the landlord a profit, and you may not be able Community Clubhouse to have a pet. But you won’t have to deal with maintenance and you won’t Convenient Location • Parks & Walking Trails tie your money up in an asset that you can’t turn to cash instantly. There are good arguments for both sides, and the decision can be complex.

Energy Star Efficient Homes Before you settle on a plan, take a careful look at some of the pros and 406.546.6930 • KootenaiCreekVillage.com cons of buying and renting.

Homeownership: The Upside • If you still file tax returns and you itemize, your mortgage interest and property tax payments provide a tax break. Ask your tax preparer for a breakdown of what you are actually saving.

• You have an investment and a significant asset Devon Senior Apartments 208-735-2224 that you may wish to pass down to your children, 1338 N College Rd • Twin Falls even if it is not rising in value right now.

• You can have pets if you wish and consistent Eagle Manor with homeowner association fees and local ordi208-939-0409 nances.

276 Cedar Ridge St • Eagle • You are more likely to have garden space, storage space, ample parking, and a garage.

Friendship Manor I & II • If you need special equipment installed, like 208-459-7075 ramps at entrances or safety bars in the bathroom, 324 W Logan • Caldwell you won’t need permission.

And the Downside Gleneagles • You are subject to inflation that can affect your 208-735-0308 homeowner insurance, property taxes, and possibly 1846 Harrison St N • Twin Falls your mortgage if it is variable rate.

• There has been talk in recent years of eliminatLeisure Village I ing the mortgage interest deduction as a tax break.

208-452-7927 If the tax savings is a major factor in your decision 419 S Colorado Ave • Fruitland to purchase, those tax savings could disappear.

• Your home – which may be your major asset Leisure Village III – is not a liquid investment, so if you needed to sell 208-459-6036 it quickly, you may have to sell for less.

210 S 19th Ave • Caldwell • Unexpected repairs are up to you. Can you financially manage major repairs, like the cost of a Leisure Village IV new roof or a water heater? If Mother Nature pulls 208-452-7927 a fast one, like a flood or fire, even if the damage is 155 S 7th St • Payette covered by your homeowner insurance, you’ll still need to cover the deductible and negotiate with Leisure Village V repair personnel.

208-459-6036 • Maintenance is your responsibility. Are you 911 Belmont St • Caldwell able and willing to mow the lawns and rake the leaves? If you live in an area that gets snow, are you Maryland Village up to handling snow removal or paying someone to 208-442-4300 do it?

1737 Sunnyridge Rd. • Nampa Renting: The Upside • Some say renting is like buying an insurance Portstewart policy. If the roof leaks, it’s the landlord that has to 208-455-9888 pay for it, not you. So even if you pay more in rent 4321 S. 10th Ave. • Caldwell than you would for a mortgage, there are no repair and maintenance costs. When disaster strikes, such Sunset Manor I as a tree falling on your home, you will be inconve208-934-8141 nienced, but you will not have to pay repairs.

617 East Main • Buhl • If the housing market sinks farther, that is not your problem.

Sunset Manor VI • If you need special equipment, like ramps or 208-436-1380 510 15th St • Rupert safety bars, rentals may be available that are already outfitted for your needs, without your having to lay out the extra cost.

Sunset Manor V & VII 208-587-7419 • Renting allows flexibility. If you find a different 835 N 3rd E • Mountain Home neighborhood that is more desirable, you can move.

Not that moving is easy at any age, but it can be Valencia better than waiting to sell your home, possibly losing 208-452-7352 money in the process. One retiree who had some 1273 Spring Creek Lane funds to spare wanted to move to a new town, but Fruitland, ID he was hesitant to purchase in an unfamiliar area, so he combined the options of renting and buying.

Van Engelen While he put his home on the market, he rented a 208-465-7832 small affordable duplex in the new town, and lived 1307 1st St S, Ste 104 • Nampa in it for a year to be sure this was a place he wanted to settle.

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omy, there is a shortage of rental units, so rents are high and climbing. If you own your home with an affordable fixed rate mortgage, (although as noted earlier, taxes and insurance can rise).

• Landlords can lose properties to foreclosure, making it necessary for tenants to relocate too.

• Even if you have good neighbors, renters come and go faster than homeowners so today’s good neighbors may be replaced by tomorrow’s bad ones.

• Neighborhoods comprised mostly of renters tend to be less stable and predictable.

If you’ve evaluated your needs and have decided that purchasing a home is right for you, here is one more consideration. Where do you see housing prices headed? In many areas of the

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

United States, the housing market has definitely turned around, while other areas are slower to rebound. If you believe in the improving economy and that prices will continue to climb, it may be smarter to buy now rather than waiting.

Whatever you do, do not make the decision without talking to a trusted advisor who is impartial.

It might be nice to contemplate new digs at this

stage of your life. And if moving and then staying put is the goal, take your time to find the place you want to call home for a long, long time.

Teresa Ambord is a former accountant and Enrolled Agent with the IRS. Now she writes full time from her home, mostly for business, and about family when the inspiration strikes. ISI

How to Inspect the House You Want to Buy – Then Bring in the Professionals

We tell prospective buyers not to be afraid to open cabinets, closets, turn on faucets.

We have compiled a book showing manuals, purchase dates, and costs for their review. This also includes all renovations.

By Patricia M. Johnson Fall is one of the best times to look for houses, and those of us over 55 are looking for new areas, smaller or even larger homes to enjoy throughout our retirement years. Where should we begin?

Perhaps you’ve looked at a house, and you are considering making an offer. Your real estate agent showed you briefly through the house. You are going to make a second look with the realtor.

How much of an inspection should you make before bringing in a certified home inspector?

Many of us feel strange opening cabinets, closets, knocking on walls, and more. Some real estate agents want you just to look through a house without giving you too much information.

Many agents feel they should not speak and let you roam. I’ve seen this far too often. For this reason, my husband and I will stay home when a potential buyer tours the house. We stay out of the way but have given the agent notice that we are available for questions. It works out nicely for all involved. We tell prospective buyers not to be afraid to open cabinets, closets, turn on faucets.

We have compiled a book showing manuals, purchase dates, and costs for their review. This also includes all renovations. They like it and you’ll be happy you did it too!

Most buyers like to start outside, view the lawn, look for rotting of any wood, structural work needed, and driveway and sidewalk repair. It’s very important to notice if there’s a good slant to the lawn to keep rainwater away from the exterior.

Check windows from the outside for any needed repairs.

Grab the front door firmly, checking the handle and locks. Does anything need repairs?

If there’s a second floor, check out the banisters for strength. Are there sufficient closets in the front foyer?

The kitchen is the most expensive room of a house to remodel so check it out thoroughly.

Test the cabinets and drawers; ask what the wood is and/or the man-

ufacturer. Drawers should slide easily; cabinet doors should have no cracks. Knobs and levers can always be replaced to fit your own decor, so don’t worry about those. If this is an older house, ask when the faucets have been replaced. Try out the faucets and notice if there’s any leaking.

Check for water pressure. What appliances are included in the cost? Many times the washer and dryer and/or the refrigerator are not included. Ask about lighting fixtures, and see if they all work.

Check condition of flooring. Any room can be repainted or papered, so this should not be your concern.

The bathroom is also a very expensive room to remodel. Check that out as you would the kitchen.

You can always apply grab bars if needed. Your main concern should be the size, condition of tub, shower, toilet, and basin. Check for mildew on walls and especially, the condition of the water faucets. Don’t be afraid to flush the toilet.

If there’s a basement, smell for mildew. If there’s a dehumidifier, the area should smell fresh. Check for sump pumps if the house is in an area prone to water build-up. Check for signs of water damage and mold.

The other rooms, just like the above, should be checked for window pulls, levers, rotting, and glass damage. Look at walls and ceilings carefully. An older house will have some settling, so a few cracks can be expected. The present owner should have repaired them before showing the house though. Turn lights on and off. By all means, come back two or three times if you are interested.

You’d be foolish not to hire a professional inspector once you are sure that you want this house. An inspector will furnish you with a detailed written report of the conditions. You don’t want to climb to the roof – let them. They have the experience to look at details that you could miss.

Choose one that belongs to a group such as the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).

There are many out there that do not meet their standards, so choose the right one, the qualified one!

Patricia M Johnson is a retired interior designer who helps seniors ease the chore on housing, and real estate. She can be reached at pmjeditor@aol.com while she is in the process of selling her home. ISI

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 37

Getting Set to Sell: Which Home Upgrades Matter Most?

(StatePoint) Whether you’re preparing to sell, or just looking to increase your home’s value, it’s important to think about strategic upgrades – and not just how; but where to remodel.

Here are a few ideas to help you prioritize home remodeling endeavors.

Create Curb Appeal – Imagine walking up your driveway as a potential buyer. Does the exterior leave a lasting impression? Begin the process of preparing your home for sale at the front door by creating an inviting entryway that will entice potential buyers even before they step inside. Adding a pop of color to your front door will make a statement, and changing out the hardware fixtures will update the look instantly.

Cleaning up your lawn, power washing siding, and planting trees, bushes, and flowers are simple ways to invest in your home’s curb appeal. Lining the walkway with solar-powered lights is also a nice touch.

Update the Bath – Bathrooms and kitchens are the most popular renovation projects, with the greatest number of consumers concentrating their attention on the bath, according to a recent Houzz and Home survey of homeowners.

When remodeling, focus on details that can quickly update the space, such as installing quality fixtures. As you begin the selection process for new bath fixtures, consider those with a timeless style that will be appreciated by you and a wide variety of homebuyers. For versatility, check out the Wynford collection from Moen, which offers a wide range of faucet options and finish choices.

Increasing storage, along with a few other fixes, can add thousands of dollars to your home’s value, according to a Bankrate.com report. Key updates improve both the look and functionality of the bathroom. Try adding storage or installing a new shower curtain rod. A curved shower rod, such as those from Moen, can add up to an additional seven inches of space in the shower.

A Little Clean Up – More than two out of five real estate professionals rank dirt, smells, and clutter high on their list of costliest home-selling mistakes, according to a recent survey by Consumer Reports. Smells could indicate a serious problem in the home, such as mold or mildew.

Use a dehumidifier to dry out damp areas.

Also, have your carpets and drapery professionally cleaned on a regular basis, especially if you have

The Art of Downsizing

A professional organizer and author, Marcia Ramsland of San Diego, recommends taking pictures of different parts of your home before dismantling it for a move.

That’s one way to keep memories alive.

By Tait Trussell For many people, move is a four-letter word.

It has so many complications.

Some people not only lack the strength and energy to move heavy boxes and furniture, they have to figure what to do about a half-century of memorabilia. What do we keep? What goes?

But a move to downsize your shelter doesn’t have to carry a full load of maddening frustrations, although problems do exist with some families who are empty nesters and want smaller quarters.

Some 43 percent of people 50 to 64 say they plan to move within the next few years. Half of them say they plan to move into a smaller house, according to The Wall Street Journal.

If you are in the downsizing mode, you probably have been looking around at all your unused space since the kids are gone, and wondering why you need to keep heating and electrifying what has become a relatively empty mansion.

With the real estate market improving, this is a good time to reap the equity you have accumulated over the years and convert part of it into a smaller space, whether you decide to buy or rent.

Retirement real estate experts advise selling your present home before buying the new house, even if you have to move twice. There are plenty of affordable storage options, and you should probably avoid carrying two mortgages at once.

A professional organizer and author, Marcia Ramsland of San Diego, recommends taking pictures of different parts of your home before dismantling it for a move. That’s one way to keep memories alive.

Others in the ranks of professional moving advisors advise you to keep only what will fit your future lifestyle. For example, if you don’t plan to entertain much, there’s little use in taking multiple sets of dishes and serving ware to your new residence.

Laura Feauto, a move manager for seniors, takes on an array of responsibilities, from finding a charity for unwanted clothes, dishes, and tools

to deciding what furniture is truly necessary. But it’s not easy. Sometimes a chair is just a chair.

Sometimes it’s a symbol of where grandmother used to sit doing her knitting.

Major downsizing is necessary when you are moving from a large house to an apartment in an assisted-living facility. Feauto uses scale models of furniture and a floor plan of the new residence to see what can fit where.

Estate auctions, charitable organizations, and consignment shops are useful in disposing of excess possessions. But clothing is one of the most difficult problems, says Feauto. When was the last time you wore that suit? Do you think you’ll really need that tuxedo again? These are typical questions to answer.

What about all those books? Your children may want some inscribed by the author. But scores have been sitting on their shelves for decades, never to be read again by you.

I have gradually been taking bags of books to our local library. They give me a receipt so I can deduct their value for tax purposes. We aren’t downsizing. But I won’t live forever, and my wife will have enough to get rid of without dealing with hundreds of books.

Feauto helps pack boxes, arranges for the moving van, and even supervises unloading in the new home. Professional moving managers have multiplied because frequently children who might ordinarily help with moves now live and work across the country and aren’t readily available.

These days, when people are living longer but often aren’t able to do heavy yard work or throw big parties, buying a smaller home is the natural and practical decision to make. ISI

When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.

- The Dali Lama

pets. If your home could use a deep clean, it might be worth investing in a professional service.

Concentrating on essential repairs and easy updates can instantly change the perception of your home and help you make the most from your sale. ISI

PAGE 38 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 39

Nature Lovers Find A Paradise On Sanibel Island helping to establish the national wildlife refuge

By Dianna Troyer For six days on Sanibel Island in southwestern system. He founded the Federal Duck Stamp Florida, alligators had eluded us. We knew they program.

Without Darling’s foresight along with modern must be nearby because we were commanded continued conservato not feed them or else. tion programs, Sanibel “DO NOT FEED THE Island’s skyline would ALLIGATORS, per Florlikely look like Miami ida state law,” warned a Beach with towering sign near a pedestrian hotels. Instead, the bridge accessing Bowisland is fringed with man’s Beach. palms, pines, and other We didn’t want to trees that are home to feed them, just to see more than 200 species them at a safe distance of birds. as they cruised in the A drive through bayou where we’d been the refuge leads to kayaking and canoethe Calusa Indian ing. While paddling past Shell Mound, giving a the mangroves, we had glimpse into the lifeseen manatees, herons, style of the island’s first egrets, ospreys, and othsettlers. er birds along with plenty The island is not of mullet that randomly only famed for its natuleapt from the water. But ral habitat but for also alas, alligators failed to being the setting of appear.

Randy Wayne White’s Twenty miles west of Fort Myers, Sanibel is a An osprey watches for food near a bayou. [Photo by popular crime novels featuring the heroic sickle shaped 33-square- Dianna Troyer] Doc Ford. White, who mile barrier-island with lives in the area, often writes at a local rum bar about 6,500 residents. Two-thirds of the area’s natural habitat has been preserved, making it a and grill. Many of his books are found at Gene’s nature lover’s paradise and home to countless Books, an eclectic and entertaining store offering feathered and finned creatures. It’s renowned not discounted prices and a doorway that is disguised only for wildlife, but also for seashells, seafood as a bookshelf.

With few roads, it’s easy to find your way restaurants, museums, and welcoming unpretenaround Sanibel. Wanting tious locals.

During a weeklong stay in late May, while to minimize motorized wandering the beach, we met people of all ages traffic and to encourfrom newlyweds to young families. Some grand- age a laid-back pedesparents told us they had been bringing their fami- trian lifestyle, local leadlies here for years. They find oodles of options for ers have banned traffic recreation: birding, shelling, swimming, fishing, lights and built a network boating, paddle boarding, biking, and museums. of bike paths. Many bike The popular Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum shops will bring a rental offers an entertaining and informative tank talk to your lodging.

To avoid crowds and every 30 minutes and an interactive touch tank.

Exhibits highlight shells from around the world. fall hurricanes and to Seeing the countless colors and shapes of take advantage of offshells there compelled us to search Sanibel’s season lodging rates, white sandy beaches to see what the Gulf of we explored Sanibel in the spring. There are Mexico’s warm waters had tumbled to shore.

After shelling, a welcome break from after- hundreds of hotel and noon sun is the museum at the J.N. “Ding” Dar- housing accommodaling National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Darling, tions to pick from, with a prolific political cartoonist who won the Pulitzer many listed on www.

Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1924 and again vrbo.com.

From all the choices, in 1943, was also a conservationist credited with

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we settled on Blind Pass Condos beside Bowman’s Beach and were pleased. The weekly rental included kayaks, canoes, grills, a pool, tennis courts, and a clubhouse with board games and books.

As our weeklong vacation drew to a close, we headed to the beach one last time at dusk.

While standing on the bridge over the bayou, a zigzagging wake sliced the water in the distance.

Could it be? Yes, finally an alligator, and not one but two.

We were thrilled and pointed them out to others on the bridge. The movement and perhaps our silhouette caught the gators’ attention. The zigzagging stopped, and they swam directly toward us. Lingering near the bridge, the 5-foot-long creatures looked up at us expectantly. Although we didn’t feed them, we suspected someone surely had from their eager behavior.

Seeing them along with other wildlife, wandering the beach, and meeting welcoming residents culminated a wonderful and refreshing week, making us want to return to Sanibel in the future.

For information visit sanibelisland.com. ISI

PAGE 40 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Gary Bond Has Gone From The Forest Industry To Writing Article By Jack McNeel Photo By Jackie McNeel Gary Bond never took any writing classes in school but he gives credit to two “really good English teachers, Nellie Woods in Lapwai and Eva Peterson in Lewiston. They were always encouraging me to write. I guess they thought I had a little talent and both encouraged me to follow it.”

This talent did not show up until he retired

from a career in the forestry industry and had the time and inclination to give writing a try. He has produced three books in the past four years and has another in the works.

Gary was raised on a farm near the small town of Lenore, east of Lewiston on the Nez Perce Reservation and upstream from Lapwai. He attended school in Lapwai until his senior year when he transferred to Lewiston. Those many years on the t’s about helping the whole person live Reservation gave him knowledge and background the whole of life. about the Nez Perce that have been the inspira(208) 882-6560 | Moscow tion for his books.

Did he see any problems being white and in the minority on the Nez Perce Reservation? “No, M V there really wasn’t. There was very little racism F V E going on at that time among the kids. I don’t reAll faiths or beliefs are welcome. member any of that. It was just a great little place to go to school.

HOME CARE “As a high school kid we’d stop and have a cold Pepsi at Ingram’s Store. In front of the store was a wooden bench they called the Fix a meal, do the laundry, ‘Long Braid Bench.’ Inhelp you bathe, sweep the floor. dian elders would sit We do this and a whole lot more... there and most of them had long braids. They’d talk to each other in their Our goal is to help you keep your quality independent lifestyle. language and I’d sit on Visit Us at Our NEW location!! the end and try to pick 108 S. Mill St. 208-983-1237 Grangeville, ID up as many words as I AIRVIEW

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could without interrupting.” He likely had no idea that this would help his writing fifty or sixty years later.

“Most of them didn’t drive and one old fellow kind of took me under his wing and asked if I had a car. I had a 1940 Pontiac. He wanted me to take him out in the spring to dig some cous (cous biscuitroot of the parsley family). We drove around on Craig Mountain, and he knew where to dig and what different plants were there. He taught me a whole lot. I learned about native herbs and foods from this wise elder Indian man. I probably know more than most of the young tribal members do now. I weave that knowledge into my books. That makes it more real, more authentic.”

Shortly out of high school, Gary got married, and needing to earn a living couldn’t continue his formal education. He was fortunate with employment opportunities and received forestry education through industry training. In subsequent years, he worked for Columbia Vista and ended up managing its operations at the Port of Wilma in Washington.

He then headed up its forestry department, ran its log yard, made sure the barges were loaded, and finished as a general manager. He then opened his own company as a consulting forester and did a lot of helicopter logging while working throughout the northwest.

Retirement came when he was 63 but that merely meant a change in focus.

“I think it’s important for people my age to keep their minds active, not just their body. Most of it starts with the mind,” he says.

So, with no formal training, he began to write.

“I probably should have got some,” he says with a laugh. “My books all have a Native theme woven in. They’re all fiction but historically based around actual events and actual people – historical fiction.”

Gary’s first book was Mountain Mayhem.

“It was based on a friendship which was fairly unknown and not very popular during the Nez Perce War about a white man and a Nez Perce Indian.

They were very close friends.”

Gary has received lots of feedback from readers. He listens to them and understands what they want to read. One comment he often hears about this first book was that readers wanted to know how these two met and became acquainted. That suggestion led to a prequel.

Mountain Mayhem was set in 1877 during the Nez Perce War. The prequel, Two Bears’ Mountain is set in 1863, right after Idaho became a territory and after the Treaty of 1855, when the Nez Perce lost most of their treaty lands.

“A lot of the action in the prequel takes place in the Lapwai and Winchester areas and Craig Mountain. The friends take a trip on a sternwheeler down to the ocean and the book tells of their adventures,”

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Gary explains.

His third book, The Time Before Time takes place about 14,000 years ago. He used the Bonneville flood as the basis for his research along with the evidence found by anthropologists and archeologists.

“I did a lot of research to make sure I would have my animals and geology correct for the time period,” he says.

Gary gave a copy of this third book to a Nez Perce tribal elder and a leader of the Nez Perce Tribe.

“He encouraged me to write more about the prehistoric time of the tribe and said he was going

to pass his copy of the book on to his grandchildren.

“My books aren’t great novels, they’re novellas of about 100-150 pages. I’m not trying to write the great American novel. I’m writing what I know and what interests me. I try to write a chapter a day whether it’s short or long. Most chapters are short.

I try to leave a hook on the end of most of them to encourage the reader to see what happens next.”

Gary self publishes his books with the printing done by Steely Print and Binding in Lewiston. The books are available locally but Gary says the best way for people from other areas to purchase a book is via email to 1gary007@lewiston.com and

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 41

he will mail directly. He adds that his books have done well on Amazon and on Kindle.

“Believe it or not, a lot of my readership, in fact the majority, is in the U.K. I guess they really like things from the west.” ISI

Draft Horses Are More Than a Hobby Article By Jack McNeel Photo By Jackie McNeel Mike Nagle’s name on many trophies is testimony to his knowledge and use of draft horses.

But that is only natural since he comes from a family of horse people.

A native of Potlatch, Mike was raised about ten miles out of town on a small 10-acre ranch.

“There were seven of us kids,” he says. “We had horses from the time we were old enough to get out of bed.”

Mike and his wife, Roxanna, grew up going to school together.

“M y s is t e r s g ot us hooked up,” he says with a laugh. “She started riding horses a little bit with me.

She still rides occasionally but now she drives draft horses more. I usually keep two or three saddle horses around and still ride two or three days a week – chasing cows or whatever. I raised the two saddle horses I have now, and like the work horses, I break them myself because then I know their habits and they have my habits, not someone else’s. They work the way I want them to.”

Mike spent 37 years scaling logs with Potlatch Forest Industries, and he still does the same kind of work with Stimson Lumber Company. The horses were more of a hobby although he has done some light farming with them.

When Mike and Roxanna were first married, he started working with Shetland ponies.

“I had eight of them at one time. I used to work them all by myself and then we started with big horses.”

It was actually Mike’s uncle Don who got him started working with draft horses.

“He sent me home with two colts that he wanted help in breaking and I ended up with them and I started buying more from there, breaking them myself. Right now I have six and have more than I know what to do with.”

Don, now in his 80s, was logging with horses near Potlatch, and Mike helped him for a few years.

“I’d take one horse and drag the logs out to the skid trail and he’d take them on out. He would bring two in to drag the logs. Sometimes we’d trade off and I’d use two and he would use one.”

Mike began taking the horses to farm meetings and other small shows where there was draft horse competition.

“I did a pretty good job with the driving part,” Mike adds. “It’s like a car driving course with cones set up. You have to drive a pattern and back in to a dock and do a figure eight. It’s how smooth your horses work.”

Sandpoint hosts a major show called Idaho State Draft Horse and Mule International Show.

September 2016 will mark the 40th Anniversary of this multi-event, 4-day exhibition. Mike and other

members of his family have done exceedingly well here.

Mike is modest but proud that his son, Darin, has won the “6” (six-horse event) in Sandpoint the last four years and between Mike and his cousin they’ve won the “4” (four-horse event) the last few years.

It is obvious that the Nagle clan is a major player in this draft horse competition.

“On the trophy that started back in 1976, my uncle’s name is on it four years, my name is on it for four years, and my nephew has his name on it twice,” Mike explains.

Mike has Belgian draft horses, but will break horses for other people regardless of breed.

“There’s a lady in Pomeroy who started raising her own Shire draft horses. She has seven of them now and I’ve broken them all for her.”

Mike presently has six workhorses and three saddle horses.

“That’s where I’ll likely stay – buy one, sell one, and try to get younger ones. My son has ten or twelve saddle horses and a stud horse.

My daughter has three saddle horses of her own. Then we have a nephew who has two work horses, and my brother has two work horses I use once in a while when we need an extra.”

Mike’s son, Darin, is into mountain shooting, which involves racing his saddle horse along a line and shooting balloons as he passes. At the end of the first pass, he switches guns and races back in the opposite direction.

“Darin and his wife are either shooting, running barrels, or something else. My daughter lives across the road from us, and she does mountain shooting and runs barrels all the time.

When I do a show, two or three of my brothers and sisters go with me. When it comes to horses, It’s pretty much the whole family.”

Mike also uses his draft horses for wed-

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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

dings, funerals, and parades – doing whatever the group wants by adjusting the number of horses and the type of wagon. “We have kind of a surrey we use for weddings, and then there’s a wagon that has seats

in it to carry the wedding party if they want.

There’s another wagon with a wide bed that easily handles caskets for funerals. And it’s fancier,� he explains. “It looks a lot better.�

Before tractors were widely available, farming

with draft horses was the norm, and many folks have childhood memories of following a team of horses plowing fields or cutting hay – hard work but good memories! ISI

Bessie Scott Is Keeping The Nez Perce Language Alive

Assisted Living Come see why we’re unique.

1639 Birth Avenue in Lewiston (208) 746-1077

Introducing our

Childhood Development from Lewis Clark State College (LCSC).

In the years between high school and returning to college, Bessie married Wilfred Scott and they moved to Rhode Island. “We were two young people who went clear across the country – no other Indians around that I know of did that,� she declares with a laugh.

Bessie returned to the reservation when her husband joined the army and went to Viet Nam during 1967-68. That was also when she started teaching the Nez Perce language as an aide with the Head Start Program. She also applied through a self-help program to build a house for herself. “I was working on the house while also helping teach,� she explains.

Wilfred, better known as Scotty, finished his tour in Viet Nam but extended his military service. First though, he came back to Lapwai to help finish the house. Then the two of them headed for his next assignment in Tennessee and later to Mississippi where he retired from military service in January of 1972. “I came home and have been here ever since,�

Scotty says, laughing.

Bessie returned to the Head Start Program in Lapwai. Her love of Nez Perce culture and keeping it alive through speaking and teaching continue to this day in her elder years.

Bessie says that even though she heard and understood the language spoken every day when she was a youngster, she did not become fluent in conversational Nez Perce. To improve her fluency, Bessie took language classes from older tribal members, ON-SITE and she is a strong adPHYSICAL vocate for requiring that

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Nez Perce be taught in the whole Lapwai school system.

Bessie says quite a few tribal members can speak conversationally but not many can do it easily the way the older people do.�

People at the language center in Lapwai gather around tables to converse, but the problem is most do not have anyone to speak and practice with at home.

Bessie continues to work at the language center in Lapwai two days a week but she has also been teaching at LCSC for a number of years. She was recognized and awarded for her teaching a few years ago by students at LCSC. She and Florene Davis work together at LCSC and elsewhere. They have served as moderators at college productions concerning native history. A statement in a college release states, “Each one is a walking encyclopedia of linguistic and cultural knowledge.�

In 2007, the Idaho State Historical Society presented Bessie a prestigious Esto Perpetua award, made annually to recognize individuals or organizations that have preserved and promoted Idaho’s history. “That was for what I do – the language and the help. I think Florene and I do more conversation than anybody else. We get calls every day of the week for help. A couple of years ago we were helping the Catholic women do their prayers with their words and we translated. There are always calls coming from all over wanting translation or a particular word or sentence.�

Reflecting on her life, Bessie says that helping was the way she was raised and life was different during her early years. “Everybody took care of each other. Older people could tell us if we were doing something wrong, and when they told us, we had to listen. We could not answer back as kids do now. As I said, we helped the Catholic Church. I have helped with the Methodist Church. It does not matter. To me we are all the same.

As my grandmother used to tell us, ‘You’re no better than anybody else, but also, no one is better than you. We’re all the same.’� ISI

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Article By Jack McNeel Photo By Jackie McNeel Bessie Scott was raised in a traditional Nez Perce (Niimiipuu) family south of Lapwai near Coyote Grade, what they called Ciwilkte. Her parents were Maggie and James Green and Bessie grew up hearing both English and the native Nez Perce language spoken every day. Her grandparents also spoke both languages although her grandmother spoke somewhat broken English. It was a large family with eight brothers and sisters.

Thinking back on those childhood years Bessie explains, “I knew we never had any money, but that never bothered me, and we never starved. We had enough clothing and we never were without.�

That little farm was along the creek right off the Spalding Bridge. All of her deceased relatives are among the 63 people buried in the Coyote Grade Cemetery, about nine miles east of Lewiston.

Bessie started school at the old Clearwater grade school on Coyote Grade but it closed after her second grade year, so she went to Spalding through 8th grade. She graduated from Lapwai high school, and in 1994, Bessie received an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Early

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 43

Mountain Climbing Neurosurgeon

By Jack McNeel The term neurosurgeon and mountain climber are seldom used in the same sentence but that’s not the case with Dr. T. William Hill who has scaled the highest peak in all fifty of the United States.

And yes, he is a neurosurgeon living in Lewiston.

The challenge began shortly after his finishing medical school at Loma Linda in California. He had done a little hiking during his undergraduate years in Massachusetts including Mt. Washington, New Hampshire and a couple other places in Massachusetts and Maine where he was raised.

“We were visiting friends in Park City. Our families would get together and ski a few days each winter.

My friend’s wife was reading a book called Seven Summits telling of two men who started a project of climbing the highest point in each of the seven continents. I said to my friend, a classmate from college and medical schools, ‘We ought to do the hike in each of the 50 states.’ At that point, we didn’t know anybody was doing it, and that’s how it all began.

“We got started a year or so later,” Dr. Hill says. Following a medical meeting in New Orleans, he and his wife drove to the Florida panhandle to do the highest point in Florida.

“There was this little knoll they called Britton Hill,” he explains. “It’s actually just a group of mounds. There’s a plaque on the top that says, ‘Somewhere in this vicinity is the high point of Florida at 345 feet above sea level.’”

That was the lowest of the high points, although some of the highest points are accessible by car – called “drive-ups” by Dr. Hill.

Then there are mountainous states like Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, California, and others including Alaska and Mount Denali – the toughest of them all.

Dr. Hill climbed the highest peaks in every state during his thirties and forties. Sometimes he and his friend hiked and climbed together and in other instances they went independently.

“We’d go on a vacation and do two or three high points or I’d go to a medical meeting and when the meeting was finished I’d knock off a couple high points near where the meeting was located,” Dr. Hill explains.

In the early years, they didn’t know that others had the same goal. They got maps from AAA and figured out for themselves where and how to reach these peaks. Then an article in Outside Magazine told of the High Pointers Club whose members all had that same goal. He says at that time only about 50 people had climbed all 50 peaks. They joined the club and received the quarterly newspaper that described the peaks, how to get to them, and phone numbers of private landowners that controlled access to a few of the peaks.

Meanwhile the number of states they could cross off the list continued to lengthen.

Granite Peak in Montana was the only one Dr. Hill had to try twice. At 12,807 feet, it’s the 10th highest peak in the country.

“The first time we got there it was raining.

We climbed all day long in the rain. That night weren’t roped on the glacier was after we estabit snowed, froze, and then snowed on top of the lished camp and probed it to make sure there were ice. We got to a place called The Chimney. It was no crevasses. We then set up lines and knew if almost dark and not safe so we bagged it and we stayed in those areas we would not fall into a headed out. We came back the next year and crevasse.” finished it.”

Denali wasn’t the last of the 50 peaks but was Mount Borah is Idaho’s highest peak at 12,662 near the end. He later did Kings Peak in Utah, feet and a “good climb.”

Gannett Peak in Wyoming, the Granite climb in “Almost every step is uphill. When you get Montana, plus one in Oklahoma. out of your car, it’s tilted at an angle and you start Dr. Hill’s climbing has tapered off as he has climbing. It’s a good climb for somebody inexpe- aged. rienced. There’s a little bit of glacier occasionally “As you get older and the kids get older it’s hard across a snow bridge area so it has many different to coordinate,” he explains. “Our schedules just things that make it a very inter- don’t match. We do some easier hikes in the local esting hike. It has nice trees in area, not anything where we have to do any serithe lower part but you do get ous technical things. We do some hiking together, above tree line. It requires an just a few miles, and nothing too rugged. We try to early start to complete it before include our grandkids in some of that.” dark.”

Dr. Hill’s oldest son is a Ph.D. neuropsycholoDenali, at 20,310 feet, was gist, his daughter is a neurologist, and his youngest the most technically difficult, son is a computer web designer. The grandkids are so he contacted a former a big part of life now and the Hills are particularly college classmate who was interested in encouraging them in education and teaching a climbing class at always attend their school activities. Dr. Hill enjoys Walla Walla University and reading, especially biographies and history, and asked if he would lead a group playing a little golf. ISI to Denali.

“We thought it would be more fun if a group of friends did it. In preparation he had us climb Mount Hood and Mount Rainier ahead of time, so we’d have some idea what we were getting into – and he would have some idea whether he thought we could make it,” Dr. Hill says with a laugh.

“It took us about 23 days in all. We went up the old Muldrow Glacier Route, which was the original route of the 1910 Sourdough Expedition out of Fairbanks. You cannot drive inside Denali beyond a certain point, beyond which they use Park Service busses. Several of us who weren’t real climbers spent time practicing belaying, crevasse rescue, and other climbing techniques.”

Dr. Hill laughs as he describes learning about bears.

“Grizzlies are a significant issue. We were hiking across tundra 20 miles before we got to the glacier and going through caribou, moose, wolf, and bear country.

From that point there’s not too much to give you trouble. But bears we are devoted to enriching the lives of those entrusted to us. are a concern so we spent time with the Park Service learning to place food a quarter mile away from our tents so we wouldn’t wake up with a grizzly going through our tent, making noise as we walked, and so on.”

As it turned out, the only bear they saw was on their return trip while riding in a Park bus.

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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016