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Four Decades of Stump Fuzzing – Pat Hart and the Explosive Arts By Cate Huisman Pat Hart is the recreation program manager on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District at the far northern tip of the panhandle. She works with volunteers from around the country and the world to build and maintain trails, restore historic lookouts and cabins, build fences, plant trees, even write grants, and record GPS coordinates of dispersed campsites. She has received the USDA Award for Superior Service, the Forest Service Chiefs Award, and a few years ago, she was the National Volunteer Program Employee of the Year. It’s an impressive list of accomplishments. But that’s not what I first heard about her. What I first heard about was her expertise with explosives. An acquaintance told me admiringly that Pat could vaporize a horse. It turns out this is true, although the story is simultaneously more impressive and less sensational than I first thought. The use of explosives is a high art with an ever-increasing range of practical applications. Removing expired pack animals from inconvenient places is just one of them. Pat came to north Idaho almost by accident after the 1960s wound down but while their long-term effects were still being felt. “We were classic hippies,” she remembers. “A whole group of us were finishing up school at SMU [Southern Methodist University, in Texas]. We were very close friends. We were sad about the possibly of all going in different directions.” The sympathetic father of someone in the group owned land in north Idaho, and he agreed to let them live and build on the land and pay for it over time. They arrived in the spring of 1972 and focused on framing a house that first summer. Then the reality of making ends (Continued on page 36)
Photo by Tim Cady
Gather the Hidden Eggs Just for fun, we have hidden a baker’s dozen of Easter eggs throughout this issue of the Idaho Senior Independent. Search for them and mail us a list of the page numbers on which you find them? We will award
a $25 prize to the person who finds all of the eggs. If there are multiple correct entries, the winner will be determined by a drawing. None of the hidden eggs is located within an advertisement. Have fun! ISI
PAGE 2 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
Kudos
Long and loud kudos to Dianna Troyer for the beautiful front-page story and photo in the December 2015/January 2016 issue of the Idaho Senior Independent about Cassia Creek water master Roger Musser. I love the photo (and how perfectly it fit in the fold on the cover); Roger Musser’s s-o-o interesting life story; and perhaps especially, the many touching and charming quotes. What a cool man, cool attitude and philosophy, cool job, and cool
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
story – beautifully and flawlessly written. Great job, Dianna. Take a bow! I also so enjoyed Jack and Jackie McNeel’s stories and photos of Bessie Scott (Keeping the Nez Perce Language Alive) and neurosurgeon/ climber T. William Hill, and so many other articles and columns by your competent staff of writers and contributors. I love the Idaho Senior Independent! It delivers hope, humor, and help – not to mention positive news and stories – in contrast to the doom and
gloom of so many other local and national publications. Thanks for making my day – and my early winter. Best to all in the New Year, and beyond. Patricia Chizum Bellevue
Popular Culture
I truly enjoy reading the Idaho Senior Independent newspaper. You do an excellent job. In your April/May 2015 paper, you published Phrases of Popular Culture, submitted by Jim Meade. It included jingles, song lyrics, etc. from the 40s, 50s, and later. I am sorry I failed to see the answers in your next publications. Would it be possible to obtain a copy of them? Thank you. Karen Siepert Rexburg
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
Natalie Bartley Holly Endersby Gail Jokerst Craig Larcom Jack McNeel
Office Manager Production Supervisor/Sales Graphic Designer Admin/Production Assistant
Contributing Writers Connie Daugherty Cate Huisman Bernice Karnop Liz Larcom Dianna Troyer © 2016
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
All that Matters by Stef Ann Holm; HQN Books, 2008 Reviewed by Connie Daugherty “Chloe Lawson…loved being in the kitchen. Not Just Cakes…had taken off in ways she’d only dreamed of.” After a traumatic childhood, an abusive marriage, and a messy divorce, Chloe finally has a happy present and a promising future; she is even thinking of expanding her shop. At least until the letter arrives. John Moretti had “always considered himself a good provider and an ethical man because he practiced law and knew the system… John had drifted away from the family nucleus.” He realized just how far away when his wife was killed in a car accident. Now, three years later, his personal life is a mess. Set in Boise, Stef Ann Holm’s book, All that Matters, is a sweet romance that brings not only this unlikely pair together, but also an elderly, sworn-off-marriage dress shop owner and a former astronaut turned cigar shop owner. More than a simple love story, All that Matters deals with family dynamics in some unexpected ways, with the constant struggle between Main Street small business and big corporations and with forgiveness and self-understanding. Underlying it all is a bit of tension from an unexpected direction. Chloe “grabbed the phone and, in an almost accusatory voice, she answered…as had been the case from previous calls, nobody spoke into the receiver…this was the sixth time in five days.” While surviving a series of struggles during her young life has made Chloe strong and determined it has also left her vulnerable. The phone calls – at her bakery and at her home – have her frightened enough. Then the letter arrives telling her that her lease on the shop will not be renewed.
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 3
She has seven months to vacate. Suddenly everything seems to be falling apart again. Is her life always destined to be one step forward and ten back? Each glimmer of hope of happiness seems drowned in frustration and sorrow. John doesn’t like to give free legal advice knowing that it, “could come back to bite him in the backside…words could be twisted.” So when his brother, Robert, calls on behalf of a friend, John listens reluctantly. As expected, there is nothing illegal going on, not even anything immoral. It’s just business and he tells Robert as much. Just before he slams down the phone, Robert accuses John of becoming callous and uncaring, of forgetting where he came from. The accusation hurts especially following the arguments he had with his teenage son and daughter that morning. Has he really lost touch with the things that matter? On a whim, he calls the firm’s client, CEO of Idaho’s largest family-owned grocery chain. He really has no plan; actually, he has no idea why he is calling. And as he expected it all backfires. He finds himself in middle of the battle between Chloe’s bakery – which he didn’t even know existed an hour earlier – and the corporation his firm often represents. Chloe doesn’t like lawyers; her experiences have not been good. But she needs some expert advice and she is reluctantly willing to pay for it. She finds herself sitting across the desk from John Moretti. By the time she leaves his office, she decides he’s okay... for a lawyer. He has already decided she is more than okay. Since she isn’t a client, maybe she can be a friend, eventually. Then the grocery chain CEO calls. He is willing to offer Chloe an incentive – a very generous incentive – to buy out her lease. More than enough
money for her to begin in a new location. It’s an offer John is sure she will eagerly accept. She not only rejects the offer, she rejects the messenger. Meanwhile Chloe is still getting mysterious phone calls, a strange man starts showing up in the bakery. Someone breaks into her house; another time a plant is left on her doorstep. She is scared, then angry, and then scared again. Somebody is out there watching her. “Tears filled the viewer’s eyes…if there was any doubt about going through with things…after seeing Chloe on the TV, it had been squashed.” John’s relationship with his teenage children is getting worse; he has begun to understand how much of it is his fault. He just doesn’t know how to fix it. And, for the first time since his wife died, he
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finds himself drawn to another woman. Though she continues to reject his legal advice, Chloe has accepted his friendship. But will his kids accept another woman in his life? Though not her most recent book, All That
Matters, is definitely one of Stef Ann Holm’s memorable books. Her most recent series is available in Kindle format. She is a two-time RITA finalist, and a USA Today best-selling author of twenty-three novels. She received the Reviewer’s
International Organization Award of Excellence for Best Contemporary Romance as well as several other awards. She lives in Boise with her husband. ISI
If you have ever tuned into Public Television’s Genealogy Roadshow or Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. as he explores the heritage of famous people, it is easy to be surprised by our human interconnectedness. From our unexpected relation to kings, queens, murderers, and thieves or billionaires, movie stars, presidents, or paupers there are many secrets hidden in our genealogy. This month’s quiz was created by our staff to see what you know or to make you do a little research about the relatives of some famous people and in the process perhaps encourage you to do a little digging into your own background and dis-
cover... well, surprises! Thank you to all who participated in our State Mottos quiz in the December 2015/January 2016 issue. The winner of the $25 prize for submitting the correct answers is Gary Bores of Boise. Congratulations, Gary! 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 from the previous issue. The second 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. Since this issue’s featured quiz was created by our staff, the prize for the winning quiz chosen for the April/May issue will be $50. Be creative and send us some good, fun, and interesting puzzles! Please mail your entries to the Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3343, Great Falls, MT 59403, or email to idahoseniorind@bresnan.net by March 7, 2016 for our April/May 2016 edition. Be sure to work the crossword puzzle on our website at idahoseniorindependent.com.
Created by ISI Staff Below are 25 numbered descriptions of famous relatives of famous people, along with 25 answers. On a numbered sheet of paper, match the letter of each correct answer with the corresponding description and email or post it to us. The winner will receive a $50 cash prize. Good luck! 1. Barak Obama’s tenth cousin. 2. Daughter of Janet Leigh, the woman from the “Psycho” stabbing scene. 3. A distance cousin of Bill Gates. 4. Royalty who is George Washington’s eighth cousin, eight times removed. 5. Kate Hudson’s mother. 6. Daughter of sitarist Ravi Shankar. 7. Daughter of actress Debbie Reynolds. 8. Mother of Isabella Rossellini. 9. Father of Emilio Estevez. 10. Actor John Voigt’s daughter. 11. Political figure who is Marilyn Monroe’s ninth cousin, three times removed. 12. Television host related to Kevin Bacon. 13. A head Secretary related to the musical artist Madonna. 14. Actress who played her own ancestor, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the estranged wife of King Henry II. 15. The son of Grace Kelly. 16. The daughter of Tippi Hedron. 17. Political figure who is seventh cousin, once removed, to Winston Churchill. 18. A President who is third cousin, four generations removed, to actor Tom Hanks. 19. The husband of President Nixon’s daughter, Julie.
20. Actor Warren Beatty’s sibling. 21. Liza Minnelli’s mother. 22. Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart’s musical cousin. 23. Not Loretta Lynn, but the other coal miner’s daughter. 24. Nobel Peace Prize winner who is a cousin to philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre. 25. Renowned bad guy who is a cousin of actor George Clooney.
At A Distance: Famous Relatives of Famous People
A. Carrie Fisher B. Norah Jones C. Angelina Jolie D. Katharine Hepburn E. Franklin D. Roosevelt F. Goldie Hawn G. Judy Garland
Answers to Do You Know Your State Mottos? Submitted by Patty Friedrich 1. M – We Dare Defend Our Rights 2. W – North to the Future 3. E – The People Rule 4. T – Friendship 5. Y – Freedom and Unity 6. A – Industry 7. G – Eureka (I have found it) 8. U – Liberty and Independence 9. P – In God We Trust 10. F – It Endures Forever 11. N – The Crossroads of America 12. J – United We Stand, United We Fall
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13. V – Union, Justice, and Confidence 14. K – Star of the North 15. S – By Valor Arms 16. B – Gold and Silver 17. H – Live Free or Die 18. R – Liberty and Prosperity 19. L – With God, All Things are Possible 20. C – She Flies with Her Own Wings 21. O – Hope 22. Q – Equal Rights 23. D – Agriculture and Commerce 24. I – All for Our Country 25. X – Under God the People Rule ISI
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
15. Strong and sharp 16. Relating to Eastern Catholic churches 17. Group of whales 18. Innocent 19. *____ line between atmosphere and outer space 21. *Houston’s infamous ____ 23. “Mele Kalikimaka” wreath 24. *Galilean moons, the ____ largest moons of Jupiter 25. Fertility clinic stock 28. Something inadmissible, to a baby 30. Less taxing 35. Fabled fliers 37. Praise 39. Buddy 40. Angler’s hope 41. Muhammad’s teaching 43. Capital on the Dnieper 44. Hipbone-related 46. Aries or Taurus, e.g. 47. *E.T. “phoned” it 48. One in ten, pl. 50. Iran Nuclear Deal, e.g. 52. Spanish “sea” 53. “Moonlight Sonata,” e.g. 55. Embrace 57. *Matt Damon in 2015 film 61. *Outer space, mostly 64. *____ Asimov 65. Bird word 67. Flew a kite 69. Île de la Cité river 70. Hole punching tool 71. Fill with optimism 72. What choir did 73. Brian Griffin on “Family Guy,” e.g. 74. User’s treatment
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4. Black ____ in “Pirates of the Caribbean” 5. Paid killers 6. Sagittarius, e.g. 7. Time period 8. Dancer’s beat 9. Union foe 10. Seed cover 11. Gauche or Droite, in Paris 12. Something previously mentioned 15. Arctic-wear 20. Garlic mayo 22. French street 24. Snafus 25. *Space path 26. Bridal veil fabric 27. ____ ____ a play 29. *Famous space acronym 31. Punjabi believer 32. “Kick the bucket,” e.g. 33. Organ swelling 34. *Mars exploration vehicle 36. *Only one was in John Glenn’s Friendship 7 38. *Brent Spiner in “Star Trek” 42. Coffee shop order 45. USDA designation 49. Hot springs resort 51. Country singer Tanya 54. Open a beer bottle 56. Cunning 57. Piggy’s title 58. On a cruise 59. Cats and dogs? 60. *Beverage associated with early astronauts 61. Measure of electric potential 62. Beehive State 63. Online ____ tag 66. Be in the red 68. Cotillion ball’s main attraction ISI
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The Old Cowboy By Bryce Angell The young men laughed when he entered the room. The years have passed him all too soon. Not many remembered his cowboy way. Those times are gone. He’d seen his day. His response to them was answered fast. Each day goes by and doesn’t last. Your time’s a comin’ – now don’t you fret, from here to there, that year is set. The good you’ve done, well don’t forget that time erases that aspect of life’s hard work for everyone.
Your young eyes see us obsolete. From that regard, I’ll accept that seat. My years of toil have earned this place. Being put to pasture is no disgrace. You see, when it is ten below, your rope won’t toss and it sure won’t close. Your fingers will think they’re under ice. My toasty fire will sure feel nice. You young ones want a love affair, she’ll break your heart, now don’t despair. Hard work will get her off your mind. You’ve got years of that, there is no bind. While you’re on the trail and asleep at night, the cold hard ground will seek your plight.
Ah my soft, warm bunk right by the flame with an extra blanket, now what a shame. What you will do I’ve done before so many times, I can’t be sure. You’re all driven in my direction. If it’s not for you then make that election. I’ve earned this place that you call Old. My fingers sore from all the cold. So after breakfast while you’re in the saddle, the cold north wind for you to cuddle, and your pants are frozen to your legs, I’m here in the bunkhouse nice and warm and by the way can you pass those eggs? ISI
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 7
Finally Buying a Home – At Our Age? By Karen Telleen Lawton Dear Karen: Just when our friends are considering downsizing or moving into retirement complexes, we may buy our first house, or maybe a condo. With both of us on teacher salaries all these years, we weren’t able to afford buying in our high-priced city previously. Recently, my wife’s mother passed away. She left us a small inheritance that makes home ownership possible. We both have mixed emotions about this decision. We’ve lived in the same rental house for years and have few problems with it. Of course we’ve sometimes resented not being able to do what we want or get things fixed when we want. Thinking of our own little home puts smiles on our faces. And yet we’re fine where we are. — Home Sweet Rental Dear Sweet: It does seem ironic to be considering this biggest of moves when your friends are moving the opposite way. Perhaps you’ve held up this dream for so long that you’re unsure what to do with it now that it’s attainable. You’re right that there’s no obvious answer. What I can offer you are the advantages and disadvantages of home ownership, information about a special deal for first-time homebuyers, and perhaps some insight into how to evaluate these factors. The main advantages touted for home ownership are privacy, investment potential, stability, more control in housing costs, community pride, and tax incentives. Privacy: Owning a home allows you more privacy because there’s no landlord. If you end up buying a condominium, however, you could have less privacy from neighbors than your current rental house. Investment: Over the long haul, a house is often a good investment, but only if you’re there long enough to weather economic cycles and average out major repairs. For better and worse, you would be in charge of all maintenance. Some people enjoy tinkering and fixing things, as well as the money they can save doing repairs themselves. If you haven’t been doing fix-it jobs all along, there is
always time to learn and benefit from being able to do it yourself. If you own a home long enough, appreciation may provide a larger estate for your inheritors, or more money towards your next housing if you move again. The cost is the flexibility that you’ve had up until now to leave at will. Community pride: Neighborhoods with homes that are owner-occupied are generally thought of as more stable and higher in community pride. As a long-time resident, though, you likely have developed pride in your community. It would be your call whether you could improve on what you
have. Tax advantages: The tax advantages are real. Believing owned homes to be better for society, the federal government is fond of rewarding homeowners. Here are the main tax breaks: • FHA low-interest mortgages. • Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, repurchases and guarantees mortgages, helping hold down interest rates. • Mortgage-interest deduction. • Property-tax write-off. A recent addition to this suite of goodies by the federal government is to allow first-time homebuy-
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ers to put down just 3% instead of the normal 10% or 20%. But the Center for Economic and Policy Research says the default rate for mortgagees who pay 3-10% down is almost 50% higher than for downs above 10%. All of which points to the need to buy a house consistent with your available resources. I would also encourage you to consider your last living situation. Where would you like to be living when you hit your 90th birthdays? If it’s a retirement home, then you might be well served by renting until you’re ready for that. Check out your local ones to see how they’ve changed from what you might imagine. On the other hand, if you see yourselves in rocking chairs on the front porch of a little cottage together, with maybe kids or a visiting nurse stopping in to check on you, then it’s probably time to make that dream a reality. Bottom line: go with your heart, but bring your brain along too! Karen Telleen-Lawton is principal of Decisive Path Fee-Only Financial Advisory in Santa Barbara, California (DecisivePath.com). Reach her with your financial planning questions at ktl@DecisivePath.com. ISI
Sell and Relocate While You Rest!
By Patricia Johnson Yes, TLC – tender loving care – actually exists! I’ve houses for sale everywhere and I know first-hand the difficulty in selling and relocating. Leaving memories of your life history has put off many moving processes far too long. You may have thought this was your last move until a health problem arose. Your children, perhaps, want you closer, or you need another climate suited to your health problem. There are many movers across the nation getting hugs from their clients. Their clients are seniors, those with special needs, and those who are just plain moving. I’ve talked with several firms who do outstanding things as part of a package and some just know that individual touches calm those with mover’s anxiety! Mover’s Anxiety! It can be stressful as we usually have a lifetime of personal belongings that need to be sorted through. If you are downsizing, you’re bound to experience the loss of what gives you the security you’ve had for many years. So many challenges: Packing, tossing, and sorting items are both physical and emotional. Finding a space to put things can be frustrating. Space must work for you more than ever because smaller homes have less storage space. You really don’t want to store too many items any longer. Life is to be lived – the less clutter and storage, the better organized you’ll feel. Putting off until Tomorrow Don’t put off relocating too long. The longer you wait, the older you get. And when you move to a new home, it will be more accessible, less cluttered, and easier to clean. When a spouse passes, you realize you have waited too long and you now have a grieving process to go through as well. Moving Assistance from Start to Finish There are many relocation services today. Many real estate firms offer a senior service just for this purpose – you’ll be amazed what so many have to offer. I’ve surveyed over 50 relocation businesses – they make your life easier in your move and how to go about it. Some relocation experts will work hand in hand with sorting and clearing out household clutter. Each day they’ll keep any anxious feelings at bay by removing items to donate, tossing out the old, and packing the boxes with items to keep. If a real estate firm is working with you that has a relocation service, they can help spruce up the home after clearing out the clutter. Minor paint touchups and general cleaning can be all that’s required. Most relocation services coordinate moving day. They make all the arrangements with a mover, whether it’s a block away or across the country. Some will arrange for another service to take over at your new home, even thousands of miles away. They’ll unpack moving boxes and help you get settled into the new home. For those that do not have family or do not wish to be involved with having them come in from out of state, firms such as these are the right decision. Sometimes children have different ideas of what will give their parents comfort; a trained expert understands that photos and memoirs are very important. A good moving service will even help you shop for new furniture and can even arrange the decorations to match the rooms of your former home if you like. Many unpack, hang pictures, and arrange accessories, including placing books onto bookshelves. Often these moving specialists are middle-aged women and men themselves, who are on their second or third careers. Their backgrounds range from interior designer, to real estate, to nursing, to gerontology, to psychology and social work. And I’ve been told that many even give you a hug. After all, you get to know each other pretty well after this new experience. You’re sharing a lifetime of memories, not just moving “stuff.” Lucky you if your specialist has interior design capabilities. They can develop a floor plan of your new home and have it all ready for the movers to place your furniture in each room. You’re ready to move in the same day! Some will grocery-shop, put
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away your products, transfer phone service, cable TV, and other utilities. How about Rover? They will arrange for pets, plants, and other special needs. Their goal is to give you peace of mind, comfort, and trust in this very personal event. How Much? Where Do I Find Help? The fees and contracts vary with senior relocation/moving managers. The more you need assistance, the more it is going to cost you. But, consider what the cost would be to try to do it all
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 9
yourself, especially if you have a health problem – and what peace of mind it will give you. Call local moving companies and ask if they have a “senior” relocation division. Call local realtors and ask if they have or know of a reliable group. Also contact the National Association of Senior Move Managers who can offer assistance with locating a company in your area. Visit nasmm.com or call 877.606.2766 for more information. ISI
Are You Your Dog?
We’ve all heard the old cliché that people look like their dogs, but would you be surprised to find out that people and their dogs tend to socialize, eat, and learn new skills in very similar ways, too? According to the “Natural Balance Canine Personality Study” survey of 1,015 U.S. dog parents, Americans love dogs who are often just like them. • People choose dogs who act just like them. Sixty-six percent of extroverted people have extroverted dogs – and there’s a 65% chance that an introverted dog will have an introverted human parent. If you’re a choosy eater, your dog is 3 times more likely to be one as well. If you identify as a lifelong learner, then there’s a 72% chance your dog will be good at learning new tricks.
• Dogs display complex emotions, just as we do. Dogs’ personalities are highly nuanced and they experience many emotions that are all too familiar to us humans. If you’re hurt or late coming home, 90% of dog parents believe your dog is worried about you. Seventy-nine percent say dogs can feel embarrassment, while 93% are certain they’ve seen their dog smile. • Dogs strongly influence the emotions of their human parents. According to 79% of dog parents, their dogs consciously and actively attempt to comfort them. Fifty-five percent report that their dog looks at them with loving eyes that communicate deep emotion, and 52% say their dog is able to sense accurately when they are sad. Visit bit.ly/NaturalBalance-NaturalCharactersInfographic to see a fun infographic that presents these “doggone fascinating” findings. ISI
Breaking Glass; Playing in Mud; Beating up Metal – Turn Loose Your Artisan Self
community college. And then there is wood – wood to be whittled, carved, chiseled, sawed, planed, turned on a lathe, routed, sand blasted, drilled, ground, and even chainsawed. What fun! Then it can be sanded, burned, stained, painted, sealed, puttied, polished, waxed, and accessorized with metal, glass, clay, and finished to the artisan’s whim. And finally, it can be glued, nailed, screwed, clamped, assembled, mounted, framed, or positioned to create the masterpiece. What about clay – wet dirt or special mud? This earth material is plastic when moist, fun to run your fingers through, but hard when fired. It is used to create bricks, tiles, and pottery in a wide selection of colors. And you the artisan will throw clay on a wheel, spin and mold it by hand, trim it, and then form it into your inspired vision. You can cast it into a bowl, pot, wall hanging, or dish, or form it into tiles to produce ceramics for
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By Patrick M. Kennedy The methods and processes to create pieces of hard art are as varied and ingenious as the people exploring them are. Breaking glass, playing with mud, and beating up metal objects represent some of the fun activities to enjoy and scratch a creative itch. We’re talking BIG here and not needlepoint or jewelry making, though they are highly regarded crafts. We’re talking about the ability to alter and reshape the earth’s natural elements! The choices of styles and final products are as varied as the elements themselves. Each element possesses picky-finicky properties that require specific treatment to bend, carve, mold, or position it. Take glass for instance. Artisan wannabes produce their imaginative pieces using several techniques. Glass tubing can be heated, bent, and filled with a gas such as neon. Glass can be heated until molten and then twisted, shaped, and blown into various shapes, such as vases or chandeliers. Sand and glass can be arranged in designs and melted together in a kiln. Pieces of cut or broken colored glass can be assembled with solder to create designs and illustrations for windows and walls (stained glass) or placed in mortar to form mosaic designs for tables and other decorative items. Everyone can learn the required techniques by attending classes at your local craft store, or adult education program at a local high school or
PAGE 10 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
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that new shower wall or coffee table top. Then add color, stains, chemicals, glaze, patterns, handles, metals, etc., and finally fire it in the maw of a scorching kiln – yes a masterpiece. Don’t forget metal – steel, tin, copper, bronze, aluminum, lead, and pewter – to be pounded, ground, bent, twisted, trimmed, filed, hacksawed, welded, molded, cast, glued, buffed, polished, painted, rusted, flushed in acid, or oxidized. Gosh, more fun! You the artisan can use these techniques (some delicate some blacksmithian) to create the art in your head, including, jewelry, framed
art, wall sculptures, gates, furniture (indoor and lawn), figurines, door knobs, mosaics, wind chimes, mobiles, and the list goes on. Other pliable elements the aspiring artisan can play with include fiber for baskets, tapestry and wall hangings, embroidery, quilts, clothing, and accessories created by weaving, looming, spinning, knitting, crocheting, dying, hand painting, and tie dying. And everything out of cotton, silk, wool, linen, rayon, yarn, and maybe grass or reeds. So many materials and methods... and so many results.
Yes, earth, wind, and fire are part of the mix! We’ve used fire in our glass, metal, and pottery, but the other two? Sand can be blasted to clean and shape metal, glass, or wood. Air mixed with any color of paint or dye can be shot from a gun in your steady, visionary hands and aimed at a canvass, wall, T-shirt, vehicle, window, or any flat or round surface to create more art. And these are just for starters. So turn on your creative juices, take a class, buy some materials, and move into the great unknown of your artistic frontier. ISI
Five Ways To Stay Safe Behind the Wheel Aging causes changes in physical, emotional, and cognitive health that can affect the ability to drive safely. As baby boomers enter the 65+ age bracket at the rate of 10,000/day, the concern for older drivers’ safety and independence is greater now than at any time in our history. Adults 65+ make up more than 16% of all licensed drivers, nationwide. And the numbers are growing – it is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans will be 70 or older by 2040. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) offers these tips for keeping older loved ones safe behind the wheel: • Recognize and plan for medical changes that can present challenges. “Just as we plan for our financial futures, we need to plan for our transportation futures as we age,” says Elin Schold Davis, OTR/L, CDRS, project coordinator of AOTA’s Older Driver Safety Initiative. “Respecting the physical, cognitive, and sensory changes that come with age may require adjustments in driving patterns, different vehicle equipment, a skills refresher, or exploring the range of alternative forms of transportation. The focus on mobility rather than driving offers a solution to prevent living in isolation without access to transportation.” • Have a conversation with a loved one BEFORE an incident occurs. The holidays are a great time to bring up a loved one’s driving safety. Waiting until an accident happens can leave drivers feeling as if they need to defend themselves. Planning and beginning the conversation early with a focus on the driver’s priorities is the most successful way safely to maintain older drivers’ independence. For some older adults, specifying your concerns about their driving can help them understand the need for changes. “There are several lists of red flag
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behaviors that exist out there,” says Wendy Stav, PhD, OTR/L, SCDCM, FAOTA. “These include things like a lot of people are beeping at you, or you find that you are driving below the speed limit. One of the biggest red flags is getting lost.” Other red flags include bumping off of curbs, having fender benders, difficulty seeing over the wheel, difficulty getting in and out of the vehicle, and more. • Get an individualized plan by seeking evaluation with an occupational therapist. Occupational therapists certified in driver rehabilitation offer drivers an individualized evaluation to explore the range of solutions to stay on the road safely and confidently. Driving services range from self-assessments, which can be useful educational tools to help identify potential challenges, to a comprehensive driving evaluation. • Utilize equipment that is designed to prolong driving safety. Vehicle technologies are changing rapidly but some benefit seniors more than others do. Suggestions made following a driver evaluation begin with the features of the car, such as using navigation devices, or minor mirror or seat adjustments to make the just right changes to accommodate the driver’s needs. More extensive changes may involve adaptive equipment or even vehicle modification. • Adjust driving routines to improve safety. Older drivers should plan trips to avoid peak driving times such as rush hour or holidays. If weak vision is an issue, they can schedule trips and appointments to avoid driving at dusk or in the dark. If available, they can use a bus or a cab for some errands and drive for others. “Transitioning is a strategy that informs and empowers,” says Schold Davis. “Confidence with alternatives ensures continued mobility as a driver or a passenger. To listen to a 4-minute podcast interview with an occupational therapist and certified driving rehabilitation specialist with more information on how to keep older drivers safe and independent, visit aota.org/Practice/Researchers/EvidencePodcast/safe-driving-any-age-older-driver-safety. aspx. For more information, go to aota.org. ISI
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 11
Maintaining A Loved One’s Unoccupied Home By Lisa M. Petsche It may happen unexpectedly: your parent or other senior relative who lives alone must spend a considerable period of time in hospital or a rehabilitation center, or convalescing in a care facility. If they are a house dweller, looking after their home and its contents can be a complex task. Read on for valuable tips on how to keep your relative’s property safe and sound, indoors and out, during their absence. Indoor Security Measures Remove any keys – to the house, cars, gates, and sheds – hanging by the door or stashed in a drawer. Ensure all points of entry – windows, doors (including the one connecting the garage to the house), mail chutes, and pet entrances – are secured. Place a snug-fitting piece of wood in the bottom of sliding window and glass door tracks to increase security. Disconnect the automatic garage door opener and manually lock garage doors. Arrange for mail to be redirected, and suspend or cancel newspaper delivery. Notify a trusted neighbor that your relative is away and ask him or her to watch for suspicious activity and call police if necessary. Ensure this person knows how to reach you should any problems arise. Also ask him or her to do one or more of the following to make the house appear occupied: remove flyers from the mailbox and porch; park a vehicle in the driveway, or brush off your relative’s car and make footprints to the door after a snowfall; place a bag of garbage at the curb on waste pickup day. Keep some blinds open, and put indoor lights on timers Disconnect the answering machine. Unplug electrical items that are susceptible to power surges. Catalog, photograph, or videotape room contents. Record the serial numbers of valuable items such as televisions, stereos, DVD players, and computer equipment. Remove smaller valuables – such as cash, jewelry, family heirlooms, identification, credit cards, and important documents – and store them in a bank safety deposit box. Read your relative’s homeowner’s insurance policy or check with their agent to determine if their policy provides coverage while the home is unoccupied for an extended time, and if so, under what conditions. Ensure any conditions are met. Perform regular checks for pests, ruptured pipes, water leakage, and other problems. Checks are especially important after storms and during extreme weather. Consider a house sitting service if neither you nor anyone else your relative trusts is available to do this. Outdoors Remove spare keys hidden under mats or elsewhere outside. Lock tools and ladders in the garage or a shed so they are not accessible to thieves. Install timers or put photosensitive bulbs in outdoor lights. Perform regular perimeter checks for signs of
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forced entry. If you find any, remain outside and call the police from your cell phone or a neighbor’s Spokane (509) 535-1546 • Treasure Valley (208) 327-1011 home If neither you nor other relatives is able to perform outdoor maintenance tasks such as mowing and watering the lawn and tending the garden – or clearing snow, as the case may be – enlist the help of a reliable neighbor (consider hiring a teenager from the block) or contract with a reputable yard maintenance service. Another option is to hire a property manager to regularly inspect the place inside and out and arrange grounds keeping. Vehicle Security Ensure windows are closed tight and doors are locked. Remove registration and insurance information, as well as hidden keys. Also, remove anything of value. Record the license number as well as the color, year, make, and model of the vehicle, and any visible damage. Lock the vehicle in the garage. If that is not an option and it must remain in the driveway or on the street, get a security device such as an electronic alarm, kill switch, or steering wheel lock. Further Considerations Remove refrigerator contents that can spoil, and any other perishable foods in the kitchen. ome places have a policy of Store opened dry goods such as sugar and providing excellence in retirement living, flour in sealed containers, or place them in the others have a history of it. fridge. Ensure kitchen and dining areas are free (208) 882-6560 | Moscow of food residue. If your relative has a pet and you are not able to care for it, try to find a friend or neighbor who M V F V E will take it in. If you’re unsuccessful, consider the All faiths or beliefs are welcome. following alternatives: ask the local humane society if there’s a volunteer pet fostering program in the area; arrange for a boarding facility; or hire a pet sitter to either make daily visits or stay in the house. The latter option has the added benefit of increasing home security. Take home plants or distribute them among family and friends. Turn off the water supply to the house if regular lawn and garden watering is not part of the maintenance plan. Close chimney flues, which can be a point of entry for birds and small animals. Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters. She has personal and professional experience with elder LOCATED IN LEWISTON IDAHO care. ISI AIRVIEW
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Keeping Tabs On an Elderly Parent with Video Monitoring
By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some good home video monitoring devices that can help my sister and me keep an eye on our elderly mother? Over the holidays, we noticed that her health has slipped a bit, and would like to keep a closer eye on her. Worried Daughters Dear Worried, There are many great video monitoring cameras that can help families keep a watchful eye on an elderly parent from afar, but make sure it’s okay with your parent first. Many seniors find this type of “I’m watching you” technology to be an invasion of privacy, while others don’t mind and even welcome the idea. With that said, here are some top monitoring devices for keeping tabs on a parent. Video Monitoring – As the technology has improved and the costs have come down, video monitoring/surveillance cameras have become very popular for keeping an eye on your home, business, child or pet (via smartphone, tablet or computer), but they also work well for monitoring an elder loved one who lives alone. Most home video monitoring cameras today
are sleek, small, and easy to set up, but do require home Wi-Fi. Although camera capabilities will vary, the best devices all provide wide-angle viewing, HD quality video, night vision, built-in motion and sound detection that can notify you when something is happening, and two-way audio that lets you talk and listen. They also offer a video recording option (for an extra fee) that saves past video to a cloud, so you can rewind and review what you missed. One of the best products available today that does all this and more is the Nest Cam (nest.com) for $199. If you want their video recording option, it’s an extra $100 per year for a 10-day video history, or $300/year for a 30-day history. Also check out the Piper NV (getpiper.com), which – at $279 – is more expensive than the Nest Cam but allows free Internet cloud storage. And the Simplicam (simplicam.com), which is the cheapest of the three but the video quality isn’t quite as good. They charge $150 for the camera or $200 for the camera plus 24-hour video storage for one year. Sensor Monitoring – If your mom is uncomfortable with video monitoring, and doesn’t want you to be able to peek in on her whenever you
want, another less invasive option to consider is a “sensor” monitoring system. These systems use small wireless sensors (not cameras) placed in key areas of your mom’s home that can detect changes in her activity patterns, and will notify you via text message, email, or phone call if something out of the ordinary is happening. A great company that offers this technology is Silver Mother (sen.se/silvermother), which provides small sensors that you attach to commonly used household objects like her pillbox, refrigerator door, TV remote, front door, etc. So, for example, if your mom didn’t pick up her pillbox to get her medicine or didn’t open the refrigerator door to make breakfast like she usually does, or if she left the house at a peculiar time you would be notified and could check on her. You can also check up on her anytime you want online or through their mobile app. Silver Mother costs $299 for four sensors, with no ongoing monthly service fees. 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
Caregiving Mistakes to Avoid By Lisa M. Petsche Caring for a chronically ill or frail older relative is not easy. As with some other key roles in life, such as parenting, there is no training course adequately to prepare for the challenges. It’s inevitable that caregivers will make mistakes along the way, especially when they are new to the role. But they can avoid some of them by heeding advice from involved healthcare professionals and learning from the experiences of seasoned caregivers. What kinds of mistakes do caregivers tend to make? Read on to learn about some of the most common ones. Not accepting help and taking breaks. This stoic reluctance can be motivated by guilt or pride. In the latter case, the caregiver believes no one can look after their relative as well as they can; thus, they are not prepared to relinquish control even temporarily. This is most likely to happen when the caregiver is a perfectionist by nature or has invested all of their energy in the caregiving role and derives their identity from it. Withholding information from other family members about the loved one’s diagno• Independent & Assisted Living • Three meals served daily • Scheduled senior group trips • Respite program • Creative social learning, • Weekly house keeping sis, prognosis or care spiritual activities & programs • Trained staff on-site • Prompt referral placement needs. This is usually program • Daily physical fitness done protectively, in order to shield others from 1285 SW Center St. • Pullman • (509) 332-2629 • Fax: (509) 332-2749 For more information and photos, visit us at www.whitmanslc.com realities that may cause distress (for example, that the loved one is not simply forgetful but, rather, has a dementia diagnosis). Unfortunately, it leaves the caregiver shouldering decision making alone and often providing care alone as well. When others involved in the care receiver’s life learn the truth, as they eventually do, they may be resentful, feeling that the caregiver shut them out during an important time and denied them the opportunity to participate in caregiving. Micromanaging care, whether it’s pro-
vided by a home care worker or a hospital staff member. Exerting tight control is often accompanied by holding other caregivers to impossibly high standards. This results in scrutiny and criticism, leading to frustration on the part of healthcare professionals and perhaps eventually alienation. Another down side to micromanaging care is that it can lead to burnout of the caregiver, owing to the mental and emotional toll exacted by hypervigilance. Not showing appreciation to other involved caregivers, whether they are family members or formal caregivers at home or in a hospital or long-term care facility. It should never be overlooked that positive reinforcement and gratitude, when warranted, go a long way in forging constructive relationships. Making assumptions regarding care by others, without first asking questions to get a complete picture. For example: a caregiver visits at the hospital, finds their relative’s meal tray untouched and automatically gets angry, assuming no one provided their relative with needed assistance, when in fact the patient may have felt too nauseous to eat or a friend visited and fed them homemade treats. “Nitpicking” about others’ care of their relative and perhaps also “flying off the handle” on a regular basis. Such faultfinding can make healthcare professionals resentful, always feeling on the defensive even though they may not have done anything inappropriate. This pattern is counterproductive to good communication and to a partnership approach to care. Some caregivers misdirect their general frustration and guilt into anger towards staff when they can no longer manage their relative’s primary care or their relative’s condition is declining. Although the caregiver may be burnt out or experiencing other stresses in their personal life, it’s important that they behave respectfully in their interactions with others and get help if they feel angry all the time. Trying to be a medical expert. Without a doubt, the Internet has fueled the inclination towards instant expertise. Caregivers can research symptoms, conditions, and treatments online – not always from credible sources – and may subsequently challenge a healthcare professional working with their loved one, either suggesting or directly stating that the professional is misguided in their assessment or treatment. Although it’s important to have one’s questions and concerns addressed, it’s never a good idea to use an approach that may come across as insulting or dismissive of a professional’s expertise. Believing healthcare professionals are the only experts. Caregivers are experts on their
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
loved ones, too – not only regarding health history but also the unique constellation of characteristics and life experiences that have made their relative who they are today. It’s important to share such personhood information to help healthcare professionals better understand and treat their loved one. Promising they will never place their loved
one in a nursing home, or that a terminally ill loved one can die at home versus in a hospital or hospice. The truth is, no one knows what the future holds. Although made in good faith, the “care promise” can lead to guilt and resentment down the line, should the care receiver’s needs or the caregiver’s circumstances change unexpect-
Have A Nice Visit In Long Term Care By Lisa M. Petsche Many people find visiting a relative or friend in a long-term care residence an uncomfortable experience, at least initially. They don’t know what to expect or what to say and do. The following guide can help to ensure a positive visit. Visiting Tips Call ahead to the unit where the person resides, to find out the best time of day to visit. Plan to visit when you are not rushed for time. Bring something with you: flowers from your garden, a photo album, a magazine or newspaper, a guest book for visitors to sign, a favorite music CD, a special food treat. Check first with staff whether the person has any diet restrictions. Position yourself at eye level, face to face. Ensure you are close enough and speaking loudly enough that the person can adequately see and hear you. Actively listen to what the person has to tell you. Express interest in their daily activities, and allow them to vent their feelings about their situation. Encourage reminiscing (“Remember when...?”) This stimulates the mind and evokes pleasant feelings. Tell some jokes or a funny true story, or bring in a humorous movie to watch together, since it’s true that laughter is good medicine. If conversation is difficult or impossible, share news about family, friends and current events, read aloud or listen to music together. Sit in the lobby and people-watch. Learn to become comfortable with silence. Check the recreational activities schedule for regular and special events, and accompany the person to one of them. Telephone between visits if you can’t get in as often as you would like. Visiting the Person With Dementia Visiting a person who is mentally impaired can be challenging. You may not be able to relate with them in the usual ways because of impaired communication, memory deficits or altered personality. Visits can still be meaningful, however, once you adjust your expectations and learn new ways of interacting. Read on for some guidelines. Visit alone if possible. It is much easier for the person to deal with one visitor at a time. If you find visits awkward, though, bring along a friend for support. Come prepared for any possible mood. Or, call ahead and ask what kind of day the person is having. If it’s a bad one, postpone your visit. Approach the person slowly and from the front, giving them time to see you coming. Make eye contact and use touch as appropriate. Address the person by name and identify yourself. Be prepared that they may not recognize you or may not recall previous visits. (Do not quiz them, as this can cause frustration.) Rest assured that this does not make your presence any less valuable. Your visits not only provide mental stimulation, they validate the person as a unique and worthwhile individual. Find a quiet place to visit in order to avoid distractions, since over-stimulation leads to agitation.
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Speak slowly and clearly. Use familiar words and simple sentences. Avoid clichés. Talk in a calm voice, using a low-pitched tone. Ask simple questions that require a short answer – preferably yes or no. Avoid posing questions that challenge their memory, such as “What did you do today?” Use body language – gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, touch – to help get your message across. Don’t argue when the person has their facts confused. If a conversation appears to be causing frustration, change the subject. If they become restless during an activity, try something else. Don’t take verbal outbursts or other uncharacteristic behavior personally. Shorten the visit if it’s going poorly – if the person is irritable or fatigued, for example. Following a difficult visit, do something for yourself – such as going for a walk or soaking in a hot bath – to help relieve tension. If visiting is stressful, consult with a nurse, recreation therapist, or social worker regarding visiting tips and coping strategies. Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters. She has personal and professional experience with elder care. ISI
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 13
edly and plans need to be altered. Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters. She has personal and professional experience with elder care. ISI
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Paying Income Tax on Social Security Benefits By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Will I have to pay federal income taxes on my Social Security benefits when I retire? Approaching Retirement Dear Approaching, Whether or not you’ll be required to pay federal income tax on your Social Security benefits will depend on your income and filing status. About 35 percent of Social Security recipients have total incomes high enough to trigger federal income tax on their benefits. To figure out if your benefits will be taxable, you’ll need to add up all of your “provisional income,” which includes wages, taxable and nontaxable interest, dividends, pensions and taxable retirement-plan distributions, self-employment, and other taxable income, plus half your annual Social Security benefits, minus certain deductions used in figuring your adjusted gross income. How To Calculate – To help you with the calculations, get a copy of IRS Publication 915 Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits, which provides detailed instructions and worksheets. You can download it at irs.gov/pub/ irs-pdf/p915.pdf or call the IRS at 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you a free copy. After you do the calculations, the IRS says that if you’re single and your total income from all of the listed sources is: • Less than $25,000: your Social Security will not be subject to federal income tax. • Between $25,000 and $34,000: up to 50 percent of your Social Security benefits will be taxed at your regular income-tax rate. • More than $34,000: up to 85 percent of your benefits will be taxed. If you’re married Highest Over 35 and filing jointly and the s ce ri P Turn Your Years S erving Paid In Old Forgotten total from all sources is: th e Treasu Decades Treasures re Into Cash!!! Valley • Less than $32,000: your Social Estate Jewelry We Pay Top Prices For Gold, Silver & Security won’t be taxed. Platinum Items. 9k, 10k, 14k, Dental 18k, 22k, 24k All Gold, Silver & Platinum Jewelry • Between $32,000 Any Condition New, Used, Or Damaged We Buy From All Time Periods. and $44,000: up to 50 Diamonds 1/2 Carat & Larger Loose Or Mounted All Shapes & Quality percent of your Social
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Security benefits will be taxed. • More than $44,000: up to 85 percent of your benefits will be taxed. If you’re married and file a separate return, you probably will pay taxes on your benefits. To limit potential taxes on your benefits, you’ll need to be cautious when taking distributions from retirement accounts or other sources. In addition to triggering ordinary income tax, a distribution that significantly raises your gross income can bump the proportion of your Social Security benefits subject to taxes. How to File – If you find that part of your Social Security benefits will be taxable, you’ll need to file using Form 1040 or Form 1040A. You cannot use Form 1040EZ. You also need to know that if you do owe taxes, you’ll need to make quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS or you can choose to have it automatically withheld from your benefits. To have it withheld, you’ll need to complete IRS Form W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request (irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4v.pdf), and file it with your local Social Security office. You can choose to have 7 percent, 10 percent, 15 percent, or 25 percent of your total benefit payment withheld. If you subsequently decide you don’t want the taxes withheld, you can file another W-4V to stop the withholding. State Taxation – In addition to the federal government, 13 states – Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia – tax Social Security benefits to some extent too. If you live in one of these states, check with your state tax agency for details. For questions on taxable Social Security benefits, call the IRS help line at 800-829-1040, or visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (see irs.gov/localcontacts) where you can get face-toface help. 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
Begin The New Year With a Fresh, Financial Start By Jennifer Landon The beginning of a new year is the time to start fresh and to start right. Whether you are still working towards your retirement goal or already retired, it is extremely important to look at your current financial situation to find areas for improvement. This can be a daunting task for many, but rather than ignoring this necessary process, embrace the fact that you are trying to prepare yourself to enjoy your golden years. Don’t know where to begin? Below are a few tips that can help you get started. • Make a budget Establishing a financial budget is extremely important to setting you on the right path. Look closely at the money coming in and analyze the money being spent. This becomes even more important as you transition to retirement and go from receiving a steady paycheck to living on a fixed income. To determine your current spending, review your costs over a twelve-month period and include annual taxes, unexpected repairs, and holiday expenses. This can help you identify where expenses can be cut without any real sacrifice in your quality of life. • Scrutinize what you have Now is a great time to review your investments – 401(k), IRA, or brokerage accounts – to keep your portfolio on track to meet your goals. Are you taking a comfortable amount of risk? Are fees taking a big bite out of your account? Any of these factors can have a significant impact on your bottom line. If you are unsure where to start, consider a professional review or second opinion from a financial advisor. • Start or review your estate plan Estate plans are not just for the rich and famous. In fact, a few funda-
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
mental legal documents could be all you need. Don’t wait any longer to create a will and power of attorney, as these documents are essential to easing your family’s challenge in dealing with your unexpected illness, injury, or death. Depending on your estate planning needs, you may want to discuss trust options with an estate-planning attorney. Don’t forget to review your designated beneficiary forms or transfer on death forms (TODs) as these will override your will or trust. IRAs, life insurance policies, and certain joint bank and brokerage accounts require you to name the beneficiaries who will receive account proceeds after your death. • Ensure you have the right insurance With disability, long-term care, health, property, casualty, and life, there are many insurance options to consider. We all know that healthcare expenses will likely increase as you get older. Ac-
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 15
cording to a 2015 study by Fidelity Investments, a couple aged 65 and retiring this year can now expect to spend an estimated $245,000 on health care throughout their retirement – above what Medicare will cover and not including nursing home expenses. Obviously, healthcare costs can have a dramatic impact on your financial situation even with careful planning. • Save, Save, Save If you have not retired, put money into a retirement plan each month. Although you will have other expenses, follow the adage pay yourself first! And, automate your savings! Whether it’s a payroll deduction at work into a 401(k) or an automatic deposit to a savings, brokerage, or IRA account, you’re more likely to meet your savings goals by automating the process. • Create an emergency fund Without a savings cushion, you may be forced to use your credit cards or retirement savings
to cover ordinary living expenses – thus paying expensive interest, penalties, and fees in the process. Your emergency fund should be in a low risk, easily accessible account and cover at least 6-12 months of living expenses – so if something does go wrong, you can be confident in your ability to manage the situation. Now is the time to take advantage of a fresh start in the New Year. Make a commitment to yourself, your family, and your future to secure your financial success. Jennifer Landon is an Idaho Falls based Investment Advisor Representative with Allegis Investment Advisors LLC, a SEC Registered Investment Advisor, and founder and president of Journey Financial Services. For more information about Jennifer Landon and Journey Financial Services, please visit JourneyRetirement.com. ISI
How Much Are You Paying For Medicare in 2016? By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior, I know there wasn’t a cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits for 2016, but what about Medicare? I’ve heard some beneficiaries are being hit with a big Part B monthly premium increase. What can you tell me, and who is this affecting? Planning Ahead Dear Planning, All things considered, the news regarding your Medicare costs is pretty good. For about 70 percent of the nation’s 52 million Medicare beneficiaries, there has been no Part B premium increase in 2016. And thanks to the 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act that was signed into law on Nov. 2, the other 30 percent are paying much less than previously projected. Here’s the situation. Part B Premiums Because the Social Security Administration did not provide a cost of living increase (COLA) in 2016, the Medicare Part B premiums for most current beneficiaries did not go up either. Thanks to the “hold harmless” provision in the Medicare law, which prohibits Part B premiums from rising in any year that there’s no COLA, the 2016 monthly premium stays at $104.90 for most current Medicare participants. However, this provision does not protect new Medicare enrollees (those enrolling in 2016), beneficiaries who are directly billed for their Part B premium, or current beneficiaries who have deferred claiming their Social Security. This includes people 65 or older who are still working but have signed up for Medicare because their employer doesn’t offer health insurance. It also hits people who have filed and suspended Social Security benefits to allow a spouse to claim. If you fit into any of these categories, your Medicare Part B premium is $121.80 a month in 2016 – which is much lower than the $159.30 that it would have been, had the budget deal failed. The hold-harmless rule also does not protect high-income Medicare beneficiaries who already pay higher Part B premiums because their annual incomes are above $85,000 for an individual or $170,000 for a couple. If you fit into this category, here’s what you are paying for your Part B premium, based on your 2014 tax returns. • Individuals with incomes of $85,000 to $107,000, or married couples filing joint tax returns with incomes of $170,000 to $214,000, are paying
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PAGE 16 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
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$170.50 per month. • Individuals earning $107,000 to $160,000 (couples $214,000 to $320,000) are paying $243.60. • Individuals with incomes of $160,000 to $214,000 (couples $320,000 to $428,000) are paying $316.70. • Individuals over $214,000 or couples above $428,000 are paying $389.80. Part D Premiums Another increase high-income beneficiaries (those with incomes over $85,000, or $170,000 for
joint filers) need to be aware of is the surcharge on Part D premiums. Affluent seniors that have a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan pay an additional $12.70 to $72.90 per month, depending on their income, on top of their regular Part D premiums. Deductibles and Co-Pays Other changes that have affected all Medicare beneficiaries include the Part B deductible, which increased to $166 for 2016 from $147); and the Part A (hospital insurance) annual deductible which rose to $1,288 from $1,260 for hospital stays up
to 60 days. That has increased to $322 per day for days 61-90, and to $644 a day for days 91 and beyond. The skilled nursing facility coinsurance for days 21-100 rose to $161 per day from $157.50. For information on all 2016 Medicare costs visit Medicare.gov and click on “Your Medicare Costs” tab at the top of the page, or call 800-633-4227. 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
Charity Donations Basics By Mansi Gupta Charity is perhaps the best feature of humanity. It is a perfect way to support the downtrodden. There are many types of natural and manmade evils in our society. So, there are variable causes for which the blessed ones can and should donate. Unlike before, nowadays there are numerous charitable institutions across the globe that are working in different areas. The main aim of a charitable organization is to help the people in need and work for their development. For instance helping in the rehabilitation of victims of natural disasters like famines, tsunami, earthquakes, etc., working for prisoners of war or any oppressed community, child education, women’s rights, and so forth are some different tasks taken up by these organizations. So, charitable organizations can variously be literary, religious, scientific, and many other types. These organizations largely rely on government grants, member dues, and the donations of people who share the goals of the charity to function and continue with their respective social
service. However, people may have different motives behind donating money in these charitable foundations. While there are those who contribute for the sake of the goal of the organization, others do it to earn recognition and save taxes. Tax avoidance possibly is one of the foremost reasons now that many affluent people and national and multinational corporations give money to charitable organizations. However, those who donate for saving taxes should keep in mind that not every charitable donation is tax deductible. What you are looking for is an organization that has been classified as 501(c) (3) entities by the Internal Revenue Service. Once you donate to such an organization, you receive a receipt to assist you in claiming your tax deduction. But besides being a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, several other things about an organization should be considered before making a donation. • Check the annual report of the organization that will brief you on the financial details such as current work, situation, finances etc. of the organization. • Also take into consideration the institution’s aims and means proposed to achieve them. • What percentage of your donated dollar actually is available to do the work of the charity. In other words, is their overhead too high? • Notice the amount of donations the charity receives annually and its sources.
• In case of door-to-door solicitations, prior to parting with your money, be certain of important details (the name, full address, phone number, goals, licensing, tax deduction, etc. If you are not provided with the details, do not make the donation. Another factor to consider is what type of donation to make. Certainly, cash but other types can be useful to the charity and to the donor. For example if the charity is working for rehabilitation of tsunami victims then donating tents, food stuffs, clothing etc. will be an appropriate rather than simply cash. Consider planned gifts whereby you might donate a sum of money or an asset such as stocks, bonds, or real estate, which you might continue to use during your lifetime and which would pass to the charity when you die. Or you might donate the asset and the charity would pay you income on the amount during your lifetime. There are many variations on the theme, with the important thing being to get sound professional advice before making your planned gift. Generally, people are under the illusion that only large sums of money can be given as charity, but this is not the case like. Donations can be as small as $10 or $20 dollars and the amount does not matter. What actually matters are your philanthropic feelings and desire to contribute. ISI
National Crime Prevention Center Offers Personal Safety Tips The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), home to McGruff the Crime Dog®, and AlertID are teaming up to improve the safety of older Americans by offering important tips and tools to protect seniors and remind us that the key for staying safe is to Be Alert and Aware. Be Aware Recognize the signs of elder abuse: neglect, financial abuse, physical abuse, emotional/psychological abuse, and sexual abuse can happen to anyone. A study done by NCEA found that nearly 1 in 10 elders experienced abuse or neglect in the previous year. Learn about all the warning signs at alertid.com/search/recognizing-the-elder.asp. Spot the Red Flags of Fraud The growing senior population is being targeted for financial crimes at an alarming rate. Some of the more common methods are disguised as telemarketing calls or emails for sweepstakes, investments, charity contributions, home & health insurance opportunities, and more. View fraud prevention videos at multivu.com/players/ English/7195831-ncpc-finra-prevent-investment-
fraud. Become a member of AlertID Seniors, families, and caregivers can enroll free in the nationwide program and app that offers crime and sex offender alerts, a virtual neighborhood watch, and other important alerts for any neighborhood (home, parent’s home, caregiver) to keep you informed and aware of dangers in the area. With this up-to-date information, informed decisions can be made about safety and staying connected with neighbors. Be Alert: Stay safe when out and about with these tips: 1. Go with friends or family, not alone. 2. Ladies: Carry your purse close to your body. 3. Gentlemen: Put your wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket. 4. Don’t carry credit cards you don’t need or large amounts of cash. 5. Use direct deposit for Social Security and other regular checks. 6. Keep car doors locked, whether you’re a passenger or driver. 7. Be particularly alert in parking lots and garages. Always park in well-lighted areas, preferably near an entrance. 8. Sit close to the driver or near the exit while riding the bus, train, or subway. 9. If someone or something makes you uneasy, trust your instincts and leave. About the NCPC – The NCPC is the nonprofit leader in crime prevention. For more than 30 years, the symbol of safety, McGruff the Crime Dog®, has delivered easy-to-use crime prevention tips to millions of adults, teens, and children. Law enforcement agencies nationwide rely on its expertise to make an impact on personal safety and crime every day. For more information on how NCPC can be a public safety expert for you or how to “Take A Bite Out Of Crime®,” visit ncpc.org. ISI
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 17
A Doctor With Two Patients By Bill Hall My wife and I don’t normally shower together, but we do go to the doctor together, even though only one of us has to strip off some clothing. We go to the doctor together but not because the doctor wants to examine and treat us both simultaneously. Most doctors don’t care to do that. But my wife and I do care to tag along when either one of us is seeing a doctor. We do that now because our aging memories tend to slacken right along with much of the rest of our bodies. We first began following each other into the examination room about 20 years ago because of an experience that concerned us. That was the day I walked into the hospital to get a colonoscopy. Suffice it to say, if you’ve not yet had the pleasure of a colonoscopy, pay attention. When you’re about 50 or so and don’t know what a colonoscopy is, it’s time you learn. A colonoscopy is a rude but life-saving procedure. It involves peering into where the sun don’t shine, letting the doctor and his trusty little camera locate any early signs of possible trouble. And if nothing else, that disrespectful procedure can reassure you with good news on that subject. However, I’ll admit that on the day I went in for my first colonoscopy, I was disconcerted by what a kind woman on the hospital staff said to me. “May I help you?” she asked. “Yes, thank you,” I said. “I’m here for my colonoscopy.”
“Do you have an appointment?” she asked. I was tempted to answer, “No. I just thought I‘d walk in off the street and climb onto the operating table. Or maybe I should use the drive-up window.” But she was such a helpful lady that I decided to behave like an adult for a change. That was a delightful experience but it wasn’t the reason Sharon and I started trailing each other into our doctor appointments. The real reason was when it was Sharon’s turn at a colonoscopy. As they finished with her exam and wheeled her into a recovery room, the doctor came in and gave her a verbal report on how the procedure had gone and how she should deal with the aftermath. At least, that’s what I heard as I entered the room. Sharon was still too groggy to glean much from what was said. She had been given some version of an amnesia medication used, I assume, to wipe away any unpleasant memories. Suffice it to say, she could remember hardly anything the doctor was saying as she came through most of the fog she was still experiencing. Fortunately, I am a writer. I whipped out my trusty pen and note pad. We did better the next time she went to a doctor. Not only did I sit in on her conversation with the doctor, but also she did the same for me in my subsequent visits. That has become standard procedure for us. And it’s not because the
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doctors were inept. Quite the contrary. But there’s always a certain amount of twitchy concern when a person goes to a doctor. Most of all, Sharon and I accompany each other into the examination room, not because we don’t trust the doctors, but because we are not quite so quick any more at grasping what the doctor is saying. We both understand only some of what we are being told. So we take notes for each other as the doctor explains what he has done for our personal parts. And it doesn’t hurt a thing that Sharon is a linguist with a grasp on all those big medical words borrowed from Latin and Greek. When we both come marching in, the occasional doctor grimaces visibly. But more often than not, the doctors we visit seem to appreciate our help in fostering maximum understanding. After all, when somebody is doing something like peering inside the person you married and tries to explain what is happening in there, more often than not, that can be useful – and comforting. For better or for worse, we two and the doctor are a team. Our role in the healing doesn’t pay anything at all, except a continuation of life. But we try not to get too much in the way of the medics for our own good. And I think most of those doctors admire our bedside manner. Hall may be contacted at wilberth@cableone.net or at 1012 Prospect Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501. ISI
Prostate Cancer Treatment with Fewer Side Effects HDR Brachytherapy High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is an extremely accurate and very effective radiation treatment that uses a higher strength radioactive source to treat cancer. It provides precise delivery of radiation to the tumor and spares healthy tissue from radiation. As a result, HDR results in fewer side effects and improved quality of life. • Retain healthy sexual functioning • Less risk of urinary incontinence
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Orofino Health Center: 208-476-5777 Cottonwood Clinic: 208-962-3267 Both locations still provide Endoscopic procedures Make sure you are ‘up-to-date’ with your colonoscopy. Colon cancer is one of the only preventable cancers. Talk to your doctor. MRI & CT scans available at our hospital where you can avoid a commute and remain close to home and family.
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PAGE 18 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
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Shrinking Leg Syndrome Explained Millions of Americans suffer from “shrinking leg syndrome” and its most common symptom, shopping for pants with a shorter inseam. Shrinking leg syndrome is easily explained. Sixty-nine percent of Americans are overweight or obese. For a fit person, the natural waist is around the level of the belly button. However, most Americans are not fit. They compensate for their expanding bellies by wearing their pants under their gut. The average American man compensates for his bloated belly by wearing his pants lower on the hips leading to a shorter inseam as his belly grows. The phenomenon is widespread. Although the average American man has a 40” waist and the average American woman has a 37.5” waist, the most common size pants sold have a 34” waist. A lot of pants are being worn below the belly. Although “shrinking leg syndrome” sounds cute, it is a major health issue. Scientists say
the most dangerous fat is belly fat. Abdominal obesity increases your chances of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, osteoporosis, stroke, and dementia. However, shrinking leg syndrome can be reversed. Tim Covell, author of The Simply Fit Diet acknowledges that he suffered from shrinking leg syndrome. “I don’t know if I was in denial or just not very bright,” Covell says, “but I could not figure out why pants that formerly fit began dragging the ground and I was shopping for a 29” inseam.” But Covell figured it out and by losing weight returned to the pants size he wore in college. He explains how in his book, The Simply Fit Diet, which is available free at thesimplyfitdiet.com. Diet and exercise can reverse shrinking leg syndrome and lower the risk of major health issues. More at thesimplyfitdiet.com. ISI
Be Smart About Your Risk And Treatment Of Chronic Kidney Disease
Provided by DaVita Dialysis Are you 1 in 10 of adults over age 20 in the U.S. that has kidney disease? Most people are unaware of their condition, as kidney disease is often symptomless until its late stages. A diagnosis may feel overwhelming, but early diagnosis and education can help patients overcome those fears and feel more prepared. There are several causes of kidney disease. Diabetes and high blood pressure are sometimes called silent killers, because many people don’t know they have these diseases and are therefore not getting treatment. Uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD) as follows: • Six percent of the U.S. population has diabetes, the number one cause of kidney disease
and responsible for approximately 44 percent of all kidney failure. • One in four Americans has high blood pressure, the second leading cause of kidney disease. • African Americans, Latinos, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and those 65 and over are at increased risk of developing kidney disease During March, National Kidney Month, many national sources will be providing information about kidney disease and how to discuss your risk with your health care provider. The national kidney fund has a fact sheet at kidneyfund.org that will help you assess your risk and provide some tips for talking to your doctor. Your healthcare provider is your best resource for information and all information should be discussed with them
The government awarded DAVITA TWIN FALLS DIALYSIS CENTER top marks in its Five-Star Quality Rating System for providing quality dialysis care to patients.* DAVITA TWIN FALLS DIALYSIS CENTER 582 POLE LINE ROAD • TWIN FALLS Call 208-733-2006 to schedule a tour and see why our DaVita Center exceeds quality standards. Learn more at DaVita.com/Five Star. © 2014 DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. *According to 2014 data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Five-Star Quality Rating System.
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
prior to any treatment decisions. If you have recently received a diagnosis of CKD you will have many questions. In a no-cost Kidney Smart® class, patients get information to help them create a plan to fit their lifestyle and better manage their kidney health. These 90-minute classes are led by certified instructors, such as nurses and dietitians. Educators guide patients through their personalized action plans and share: • the causes of kidney disease and how to slow its progression • diet resources available to help patients manage their diet and cook a variety of flavorful, kidney-friendly meals • how continuing to work may keep patients happier and healthier • how counselors can help patients navigate insurance and financial questions. “Kidney Smart educates over 35,000 patients
every year through our national network of over 2,000 educators,” said Veronica Garza, Kidney Smart educator. “Knowledge is power and this program empowers patients with tools and resources that help them live a better quality of life while managing kidney disease.” Kidney Smart education helps patients in choosing the best treatment for their lifestyle. By educating patients on all treatment options, including vascular access options, it gives patients the knowledge to choose the treatment that is right for them. Treatment choices can have an impact on a patient’s risk of hospitalization and complications. Kidney Smart classes are currently available at various locations. Call 888-695-4363 for more information. Online classes are also available throughout for those who prefer learning from home at KidneySmart.org. ISI
There Is A Solution To The Effects Of Age Related Macular Degeneration Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss, affecting more than 10 million Americans – more than cataracts and glaucoma combined. At present, AMD is considered an incurable eye disease caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina, known as the macula, which is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye. It controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects in fine detail. Cause The specific cause of AMD is unknown, but it is believed that the causes are complex and factors include both heredity and environment. Cure There is currently no known cure for Macular Degeneration, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk and possibly slow the progression once you’ve been diagnosed. For example, one can pursue lifestyle changes like dietary improvement, exercise, avoiding smoking, and protecting your eyes from ultraviolet light. Researchers at the National Eye Institute have tested whether taking nutritional supplements could protect against AMD in the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS and AREDS2). They found that daily intake of certain high-dose vitamins and minerals can slow progression of the disease in people who have intermediate AMD, and those who have late AMD in one eye. The clinically effective doses tested in AREDS and AREDS2 were: • 500 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C • 400 international units of vitamin E • 80 mg zinc as zinc oxide (25 mg in AREDS2) • 2 mg copper as cupric oxide • 15 mg beta-carotene, or 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin. A number of manufacturers offer nutritional supplements that were formulated based on these studies. The label may refer to “AREDS” or “AREDS2.” Loss of Vision Coping with AMD and vision loss can be a traumatic experience. This is especially true if you have just begun to lose your vision or have low vision. Having low vision means that even with regular glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery, you find everyday tasks difficult to do. Reading the mail, shopping, cooking, writing, or even viewing a sunset can all seem challenging. However, help is available. You may not be able to restore your vision, but low vision services can help you make the most of what is remaining. You can continue enjoying friends, family, hobbies, and other interests just as you always have. The key is not to delay use of these services. Low vision services can be provided in different locations, including: • Ophthalmology or optometry offices that specialize in low vision
• Hospital clinics • State, nonprofit, or for-profit vision rehabilitation organizations • Independent-living centers Low vision optometrists use telescopic glasses to help improve vision loss and the lives of those affected. There is a wonderful article in Guidepost magazine about how these glasses worked for a set of twins who suffered from Stargardt’s disease, a form of macular degeneration. “Double Vision” by Karen Young shared the journey that she and her twin sister, Sharon, experienced with Stargardt’s disease that they had had since they were teenagers. Their progressive vision loss caused them to change their college and career plans, but they remained positive and were determined to live very full lives despite being declared legally blind. Both married and had children. When a friend told them of a low vision optometrist who prescribed specialized telescopic prescription lenses, they jumped at the opportunity to regain their independence in daily living. “For the first time in thirty years we could read,” says Karen, as these sisters are experiencing a better quality of life and have new goals in mind because of their low vision glasses. Being a Low Vision Optometrist, is a most rewarding experience – to watch someone regain the ability to read a book, watch TV, or walk safely down a sidewalk without fear of injury. If you know of someone who suffers from vision loss that is not correctable with typical eyeglasses, please encourage them to seek out care from a doctor who is a Low Vision provider. To learn more about Low Vision, visit DumontLowVision.com or call 208-667-1802. ISI
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 19
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PAGE 20 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
Are Artificial Sweeteners Good for You?
By Dr. Holly Carling The answer to that question is a resounding NO! Whether it’s aspartame (NutraSweet™, Equal™, Spoonfuls) or sucralose (Splenda™), you are poisoning your body with these chemicals. Yes, they came from “natural sources” such as sugar, however, once chemically changed, they are not good for your body. Let’s discuss aspartame first. The FDA has cataloged over 79 different side effects of aspartame. Symptoms include memory loss (the single greatest complaint), migraines (2nd greatest complaint), other headaches, blurred vision, blindness, dizziness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hearing loss, muscle spasms, numbness, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, insomnia, fatigue, nausea, loss of taste, pituitary tumors, severe rashes, and seizures, to name only some. In fact, seizures are so common that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a memorandum telling pilots not to consume aspartame prior to a flight! Forty percent of aspartame is aspartic acid. Aspartic acid kills cells in the brain and nervous system (neural cells) – as an excitotoxin, it over stimulates the cells to death. It takes the loss of 75% of neural cells in a particular area of the brain before clinical symptoms are noticeable. Ten percent of aspartame is methanol (a.k.a. wood alcohol, a deadly poison). In the body, methanol breaks down into formaldehyde, a deadly neurotoxin. The recommended consumption limit is 7.8mg/day. A one-liter beverage contains an average of 56 mg of methanol. Heavy consumers consume as much as 250 mg/day or 32 times the recommended limit. The last 50% of aspartame is phenylalanine, which causes phenylketonuria (PKU). The high levels of phenylalanine depress serotonin levels in the brain causing severe depression, mood swings, violent rages, and schizophrenia. Now for sucralose – the supposedly “natural” artificial sweetener. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sucralose is produced by chlorinating sugar (sucrose). This involves chemically changing the structure of the sugar molecules by sub-
stituting three chlorine atoms for three hydroxyl groups. Some chlorinated molecules serve as the basis for pesticides such as DDT and accumulate in body fat. Signs and symptoms associated with sucralose use include shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage to a vital immune system gland), enlarged liver and kidneys, atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus, increased cecal weight (part of lower bowel), reduced growth rate, decreased red blood cell count, hyperplasia of pelvis, extension of the pregnancy period, aborted pregnancy, decreased fetal body weights and placental weights, and diarrhea. A compound chemically related to sucrose, 6-chloro-deoxyglucose, is known to have anti-fertility and neurotoxic effects. Sucralose contributes to lessened control of diabetes and it contributes to weight gain by increasing the appetite and cravings for sugar. Sucralose contributes to serious chronic immunological or neurological disorders. For more information, visit the Sucralose Toxicity Information Center at holisticmed.com/splenda/. The bottom line is that artificial sweeteners are not good substitutes for sugar. Saccharin, acesulfame, aspartame, and sucralose have all demonstrated carcinogenic (cancer-causing) effects. Your body doesn’t know how to process these chemicals and the destructive effects on the body can be profound. It would be better to use processed sugar (with all of its problems) than an artificial sweetener. At least your body knows what to do with it! Better alternatives are raw honey, molasses, pure maple syrup, or green leaf stevia. 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. Dr. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d’ Alene clinic. Visit vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about upcoming health classes, and read other informative articles. Contact Dr. Carling at 208-765-1994 and she will be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic. ISI
By David Stauth A few years from now millions of people around the world might be walking around with an unusual kind of glass in their mouth, and using it every time they eat. Engineers at Oregon State University have made some promising findings about the ability of “bioactive” glass to help reduce the ability of bacteria to attack composite tooth fillings – and perhaps even provide some of the minerals needed to replace those lost to tooth decay. Prolonging the life of composite tooth fillings could be an important step forward for
dental treatment, the researchers say, since more than 122 million composite tooth restorations are made in the United States every year. An average person uses their teeth for more than 600,000 “chews” a year, and some studies suggest the average lifetime of a posterior dental composite is only six years. The new research was just published in the journal Dental Materials, in work supported by the National Institutes of Health. “Bioactive glass, which is a type of crushed glass that is able to interact with the body, has been used in some types of bone healing for decades,” said Jamie Kruzic, a professor and expert in advanced structural and biomaterials in the OSU College of Engineering.
Not Your Grandfather’s Tooth Filling!
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
“This type of glass is only beginning to see use in dentistry, and our research shows it may be very promising for tooth fillings,” he said. “The bacteria in the mouth that help cause cavities don’t seem to like this type of glass and are less likely to colonize on fillings that incorporate it. This could have a significant impact on the future of dentistry.” Bioactive glass is made with compounds such as silicon oxide, calcium oxide, and phosphorus oxide, and looks like powdered glass. It’s called “bioactive” because the body notices it is there and can react to it, as opposed to other biomedical products that are inert. Bioactive glass is very hard and stiff, and it can replace some of the inert glass fillers that are currently mixed with polymers to make modern composite tooth fillings. “Almost all fillings will eventually fail,” Kruzic said. “New tooth decay often begins at the interface of a filling and the tooth, and is called secondary tooth decay. The tooth is literally being eroded and demineralized at that interface.” Bioactive glass may help prolong the life of fillings, researchers say, because the new study showed that the depth of bacterial penetration into the interface with bioactive glass-containing fillings was significantly smaller than for composites lack-
Tooth fillings of the future may incorporate bioactive glass, seen here under an electron microscope. [Photo provided by OSU College of Engineering]
ing the glass. Fillings made with bioactive glass should slow secondary tooth decay and provide some minerals that could help replace those being lost, researchers say. The combination of these two forces should result in a tooth filling that works
Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Depriving Seniors Of Healthy Sleep By Clete A. Kushida, M.D., Ph.D., RPSGT It is estimated that over 70 million older adults are plagued with sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a debilitating and potentially life-threatening condition. It is estimated that as many as 90 percent of cases of OSA remain undiagnosed since patients are often unaware of the condition and its complications. Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized as a cessation in breathing during sleep that may last for 10 seconds or even longer, the result of a collapsed airway that prevents air from getting to the lungs. These “apneic events,” which can occur as frequently as one to three times per minute, prevent sufferers from obtaining the sleep needed to rest and rejuvenate. Most sufferers do not fully awaken during these episodes; however, they can cause a short-term and long-lasting effects. The most common is excessive daytime sleepiness. Many sleep apnea sufferers awaken feeling exhausted, which often translates to a lack of concentration, exacerbating existing conditions such as dementia, and poor daytime performance, compromising quality of life. For example, you may feel too tired to play with your grandchildren or have trouble staying awake while driving. Clinical research has also linked sleep apnea to several conditions that are prevalent in the senior population, including significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, type II diabetes, sexual dysfunction, and Alzheimer’s. In fact, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that Alzheimer patients who suffer from OSA might experience improvement in some cognitive functioning by treating their OSA. Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea If you or your bed partner snore loudly or gasp for air while sleeping, it may be a sign of this serious sleep disorder. If you think you may have OSA, you should speak with your doctor, who may recommend spending the night in a sleep lab to be tested. Alternatively, thanks to a long-awaited decision by the government, testing can now take place in the comfort of your own home Obstructive sleep apnea can usually be treated successfully. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the most effective and common treatment method. Treatment with CPAP involves the use of a light, mask-like device that blows pressurized air through the nasal passages, keeping the airway open and allowing the patient to breathe normally during sleep. Other treatment options include surgery for enlargement of the upper airway space or a dental appliance. Like many other disorders, knowledge is
the best tool with which to manage or prevent obstructive sleep apnea. Knowing the correct precautions, behavioral changes, or treatments is the key to managing this condition, ensuring the healthy sleep needed for a productive life. For more information about sleep apnea, start the conversation at your next doctors’ visit. ISI
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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 21
just as well, but lasts longer. Recently extracted human molars were used in this research to produce simulated tooth restoration samples for laboratory experiments. OSU has developed a laboratory that’s one of the first in the world to test simulated tooth fillings in conditions that mimic the mouth. If this laboratory result is confirmed by clinical research, it should be very easy to incorporate bioactive glass into existing formulations for composite tooth fillings, Kruzic said. The antimicrobial effect of bioactive glass is attributed, in part, to the release of ions such as those from calcium and phosphate that have a toxic effect on oral bacteria and tend to neutralize the local acidic environment. “My collaborators and I have already shown in previous studies that composites containing up to 15 percent bioactive glass, by weight, can have mechanical properties comparable, or superior to commercial composites now being used,” Kruzic said. This work was done in collaboration with researchers from the School of Dentistry at the Oregon Health & Science University and the College of Dental Medicine at Midwestern University. ISI
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Amtrak Accommodates Travelers with Medical Needs
soap, and towels completed the room. For comparison, airline tickets on the trip east cost us $551. Considering the width of a train, a roomette is obviously not a hotel suite, but we found the experience enjoyable. Unlike a car or plane, there is room to stretch, stand, and plenty of light from large windows that provide a good view of the passing countryside. And, the observation cars have even better visibility assuming the traveler has sufficient mobility to reach them. Written documentation from a doctor is one of several possible forms of verification required to show that the traveler qualifies for these special medical services. Ramps are available should a person need to board in a wheelchair. An attendant is available to assist and help get you settled. The trains carry a defibrillator for heart related emergencies. A button to signal the attendant is available in these sleeper rooms in case you need assistance or simply to arrange your bunks for the night. The lower bunk bed folds up to seat two people facing each other at window level. Depending on physical condition, getting in and out of the upper bunk bed may present challenges, but again, assistance is available. The dining car is up a flight of stairs, but if lack of mobility is an issue, room service will deliver meals to your roomette. We found dinners to be very good with a good selection of entrees available including salmon, steak, chicken, pasta, and burgers – all of which are a dramatic improvement over airline food. Meals are included in the ticket price for all sleeping rooms. Amtrak’s Empire Builder runs from Chicago through Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana. It then drops down through Glacier Park into Spokane and travels on to Portland and Seattle. This provides reasonable access to many residents of northern Idaho and Montana wanting or needing to travel either east or west. The clickety-clack of the cars on the track and the soothing sound of the train whistle (barely audible in the sleeper units) are mesmerizing as one watches the scenery or dozes off. Legroom and the opportunity to wander around the train are stark contrasts to the cramped confinement of an airplane or a car. Seating for meals is at tables for four where space is available, thus providing an opportunity to engage other travelers. We met an airplane pilot and his wife, another man who had lived in various places around the globe, and an apple grower from Washington. It was interesting meeting these different folks and a delightful way to share a meal. In addition to delicious and various entrees, salads, and desserts, cocktails, beer, and wine are available to round out your dining experience. It is easy to appreciate the breadth and diversity of our country from the train without the concentration required for driving. For example, passing through the agricultural lands and small towns of Wisconsin illustrates how this is truly the heartland of America. Cornfields can stretch to the horizon We celebrate the individual, build while deciduous trees crowd every moist area and hills in the distance are painted yellow, orange, and relationships, lend a helping hand red as leaves turn in the fall. through every step of the process. North Dakota has less agricultural land than Wisconsin but many tree-covered hills and draws, Let us care for you like family! mostly colorful in the fall. Cattle are more abundant and rolled bales of hay cover many farmlands. It’s Drop by and experience the primarily flat country with some huge fields of sunflowers. Toward the western border, the number LaCrosse difference. of small ponds is amazing – pond after pond with abundant waterfowl line the track. Northeastern Montana is open and undeveloped natural country, but soon you pass through southern portions of Glacier National Park with its A ROSSE high peaks before dropping down to West Glacier and across to Libby where the tracks turn southHEALTH & REHABILITATION CENTER ward through Sandpoint to Spokane. Here the train splits – one branch going to Portland and the other to Seattle. Although our trip on the Empire Builder was not 210 West LaCrosse Avenue • Coeur d’Alene, ID • 208-664-2185 for vacation purposes, it gave us a new window LacrosseSkilledNursing.com on the world and will undoubtedly be our choice for future trips. ISI
By Jack McNeel Traveling can be difficult for persons with medical issues, whether by plane, train, or automobile. We recently experienced that situation when a medical problem required treatment in Wisconsin. Air travel was not possible due to air pressure changes, and auto travel was precluded by excessive driving time. Although many travelers are not aware of the fact, we were pleased to find that Amtrak has considered passengers’ medical needs and provides services to accommodate them while making the trip as comfortable as possible. Amtrak advertises, “Our goal is to provide safe, efficient and comfortable service to all of our passengers. We are pleased to provide additional services to passengers with disabilities....” and indeed they do. First, passengers with disabilities (including deafness and blindness) are eligible for reduced fares, which also extend to one adult traveling companion. For us, the fare for the 36-hour trip for two in a roomette with two bunks, toilet, and an adjoining shower was $481. A sink and mirror plus tissues,
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Phil And Pat Burkhart Are Still Sweethearts After 65 Years By Dianna Troyer Phil Burkhart needed a date for a fraternity beach party at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, six decades ago. “Our frat president was scolding four of us for not having lined up any dates for our party, so someone suggested taking Pat Davis. Well, no one mustered up the courage to call her, so I said I’d do it, even though I didn’t really know her,” says Phil. Although Pat didn’t know Phil well, she accepted his invitation. “His twin sister lived in my dorm. Phil never
knew it at the time, but a few of us girls used to watch out the window of our fourth floor dorm to see when the guys were going to the cafeteria for dinner. Then we’d coincidentally run into them. He had never really noticed me until that date. After the beach date, we walked to town for a burger, and that was it. We just knew we were the ones for each other and never dated anyone else.” The Pocatello couple, both 87 years young, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on December 17 with dinner out. “We’re spontaneous with how we celebrate
our anniversary or Valentine’s Day,” says Pat. “Our three daughters are scattered. One lives in Flagstaff, one in Germany, and another in Island Park with our only grandchild, so it’s too hard for all of us to get together for big celebrations.” Phil says, “We’re not ones to get in a rut or routine. Sometimes we’ve gone out, other times we’re happy to stay home. We like variety and have always relied on our faith and prayer to guide us through all kinds of adventures.” The Burkharts’ adventurous marriage started with a creative wedding proposal under a majestic oak tree on campus in December 1949. “The tree is where students met for ceremonies or special occasions,” says Phil. “Well, I invited her there to talk. Back then, you could go out and cut down a tree for Christmas. I asked her if she’d like to get a Christmas tree with me for the rest of our lives.” Pat says, “Of course I did. He was a bit of a jokester. I liked his sense of humor. He was a good listener, too. He had red hair like my dad and a lot of my relatives, so I thought he was handsome. Plus, he kept his fingernails clean. I noticed that, too.” Phil was smitten with Pat’s personality and appearance. “She’s still as attractive on the inside and outside as she was back then. She still has a radiant smile, is fun to be with, and is kind and easygoing. Besides that, she laughs at my jokes,” Phil adds. After she accepted his proposal, Phil later gave Pat his fraternity pin and presented her engagement ring under the tree. In 1950, the Burkharts were married in Gresham, Oregon, where Pat’s family lived. During the following decades, they agree their faith guided them as they worked in Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nebraska at a variety of jobs in education, journalism, and recreation. Pat has been a newspaper reporter, taught home economics, worked as a school librarian, and done public relations for schools. Phil has coached, been a counselor, taught government classes, and worked in municipal parks and recreation programs. “We took a big leap of faith in 1981,” says Phil. “We were both burned out with our jobs here in Pocatello. I was working at Pocatello High School, and Pat was doing public relations for the school district. We had saved up money to live for a year. We quit our jobs and prayed about what to do next.” For several years, they lived in Arizona during winter, directing the social programs at an RV park. During summer, they operated an art gallery and gift shop at Obsidian near Stanley, Idaho. “We had been in the area and noticed a motel had an unused gift shop, so we leased it during summer,” says Phil. “It really helps in life to share a faith and pray for guidance.” Pat says, “We always had clothes and food.” They say they had a few disagreements over the years but never had a major argument. “I hate arguing,” says Pat. “We both listen to each other’s points of view and respect each other.” Phil says, “We’ve always been committed to our relationship for the long-term. We’ve never tried to dominate each other either and have always given each other space. I love to hunt and fish, and Pat has no interest in that. She’s a talented seamstress and has always done arts and crafts. She’s been a silversmith, worked with ceramics, and even made customized stationery.”
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Phil and Pat Burkhart have been happily married for 65 years. [Photo by Dianna Troyer]
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 25
Pat says she loves cattails for decorating and for making flower arrangements. “To me, they’re so beautiful,” says Pat. “Many times he brought some home for me when he went fishing or hunting. He still brings them to me. There’s another thing he does for me. He makes sure we have a fresh bouquet of flowers on the table year-round.” While the Burkharts have different hobbies, they share a love for music and often go to local concerts. They are also active members of the Pocatello First United Methodist Church. As for this Valentine’s Day, “we haven’t thought that far ahead, says Pat. “We’ll decide that day,” says Phil. “Whatever we plan will be special because we’re together.” ISI
Musher Susan Wilson Is Smitten With The Sled Dog Lifestyle By Dianna Troyer Dog mushing friends had warned Susan Wilson that one day she would lose her team, but she had hoped the prediction would never come true. “Everyone who mushes loses their team at some point,” says Susan, 57, a pharmacist at
never know what’s going to happen. Sometimes you have to repair a line or your sled, they veer off, or the sled tips and they drag you. You have to be creative, imaginative, brave, and persistent.” Until about seven years ago, Susan never envisioned herself as a musher. “I was fascinated with the Iditarod and read about it but had no idea there were competitions in the Lower 48,” she says. “Then someone at work told me about the sled-dog races in Ashton, so in 2009 I went to watch. It looked so easy to me. It’s a good thing I was so ignorant because I naively thought it would be simple to learn.” Susan Wilson trains her sled dogs in the Caribou National Forest near Pocatello and She gleaned adcompetes in races throughout the region. [Photo by Dianna Troyer] vice from sleddogPortneuf Medical Center in Pocatello and a musher central.com and soon found out mushing is a since 2010. “Rule number one with mushing is lifestyle, not a wintertime hobby. don’t let go of the sled and stay with your team.” “You have to care for your dogs every day, not One memorable winter day, that cardinal rule just during races in winter. I love everything about was broken. it – the relationship with your team, the solitude “I set my hook at the turnaround and double- and beauty of the trail, the sense of accomplishchecked it, but still they popped it and away they ment, and the self-confidence you can’t help but ran.” develop,” she says. Her two-hour run turned into a 24-hour adventure. “I watched the sun set, the moon rise and set, and the sun rise,” she says. “I walked 16.5 miles looking for them.” She found four of the 10 dogs tangled and happy to see her. “Then I went out with a friend on a snowmobile and found the sled and the other six dogs.” The hook had finally set and stopped the sled. Healthcare Services The dogs had chewed out of their lines and curled Available for up under a tree to wait. Travelers Whenever Susan is invited to local schools to talk about the sport, she often tells that story. “I tell students dog sledding is all about problem-solving and suspense,” she says. “When you start a run, whether at a race or in training, you
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A mentor initially advised her about what dogs to buy. Her lead dog was Raoul, an Alaskan huskie, and three-time Iditarod competitor. “He was wise and taught me and the other dogs,” she says. “If the dogs didn’t do something right, he’d correct them. They tend to learn better from a dog than a person.” In 2010, with Raoul at the helm, Susan ran her first race at Ashton. Her six-dog team ran two days, 12 miles each day. “I’ve been hooked ever since,” says Susan, who competes in the six-dog, 12-mile races throughout the region. Unfortunately, seizures claimed Raoul’s life in the summer of 2014 when he was 10. “He’s not physically with us, but he’s always there in spirit,” says Susan. “I still have the other members of my original team and have 10 dogs now. Having a bigger team allows me the option of training for longer distances and running in more races.”
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She runs her dogs nine months of the year, generally racing monthly from December to March, depending on snowpack. In spring and fall, she uses a four-wheeler instead of a sled to keep them in shape. “They get a three-month vacation in summer because it just gets too hot for them to run.” Susan’s Alaskan huskies are her pack of mutts. “They’re dogs of mixed lineage that have been bred for their desire to pull, speed, hardiness, sociable attitude with other dogs and people, and hair coat.” Her blue 1988 Ford F250 truck is a familiar sight at the South Fork of Mink Creek in the Caribou National Forest where she trains. As she harnesses them for a run, they lunge and bark. “They’re so excited, but once we’re off, they’re silent. All you hear are the runners skimming
across the snow. Many times, we are the only ones out here. It’s soul-soothing and magical to be out with them.” Well most of the time it is, Susan concedes, but there have been some frustrations. A few times a lead dog in training has veered off to chase a rabbit or decided he knows more than Susan does and ignores her gee and haw commands to turn right or left. Once they were even charged by a bull. She texted her mentor about that adventure, and he texted back one word: experience. “Still, it’s been great with the good times outweighing the frustrations. There are mushers on the circuit in their 70s,” says Susan. “I’ll be doing this as long as the enthusiasm keeps flowing. That could be a long, long time.” ISI
After Living At The Top And Bottom Of The World, Allan Priddy Teaches Survival Skills
“to help keep the lights on at a research center at By Dianna Troyer McMurdo Station in Antarctica. I was a mechanic For Allan Priddy, enlisting in the U.S. Coast and maintained the diesel generators.” Guard after high school provided a welcome esWhen Allan mustered out of the Coast Guard cape from the humidity of Jacksonville, Florida, after four-and-a-half years, he decided he wanted where he had grown up. to live in the NorthHis assignments took him near the west. He enrolled Earth’s frigid extremes, the North and in Idaho State South Poles where he felt more at home University’s diesel with an ice-encrusted beard than strolling mechanics proalong sun-drenched beaches. gram and became “I left Florida for good and have never involved with the regretted it,” says the 69-year-old Pocateluniversity’s outlo resident. “I don’t have an explanation door program, for why I’ve always been drawn to cold teaching outdoor climates. My favorite season is winter. I’d survival and Dutch rather go ice fishing than fishing any other oven cooking. time of year.” He not only obWhile working at the opposite ends of tained a college the Earth, he learned survival skills from degree in Pocatelthe Coast Guard. lo, he also met his “We had to take survival training bewife, Kathy. cause it’s easy to get in life-or-death situ“Friends inations,” says troduced us on a Allan, who has taught wilder- Allan Priddy has been teaching survival blind date,” says ness survival classes for decades in Pocatello. For a Kathy, who retired joke, he carved a knot into the handle of his from teaching ofclasses locally hatchet. [Photo by Dianna Troyer] fice technology at for decades. ISU’s College of Technology. “We both share an “Before the Coast interest in the outdoors, although I’m not quite as Guard, I didn’t know a intense as Allan is.” lot about survival other About a week after they were married in 1983, than what I’d learned Allan went to Antarctica. in Boy Scouts during “It’s an amazing place that kept drawing me campouts.” back,” says Allan. “McMurdo Station has about His survival training 1,200 seasonal jobs with the contracts ranging was essential when from three to 18 months. I’ve been fortunate to go he worked for a year 11 times as a mechanic, heavy equipment operaabout 800 miles from tor, or a builder. Once, there was a new record the North Pole at the for warmth with the average temperature at about U.S. Coast Guard LOseven below zero. Usually, it was about minus 60.” RAN (long-range aid In 1990, both he and Kathy were hired. to navigation) Station, “There were three of us who took turns working Cape Atholl, Greeneight-hour shifts to run the 24-hour trouble desk for land. An 18-man crew the 600 civilians who worked there,” says Kathy. provided radio services “We handled all kinds of emergencies. If people to help guide airplane got locked out of their dorm, had an accident, pipes and ship pilots. froze, or they were stranded they called our office. “One day, I was Then we contacted people who could take care making a mail run of the problem.” when the fan belt on Along with his outdoor interests, Allan has althe Snowcat broke,” he ways believed in paying it forward. He has taken recalls of his sub-zero teens hiking in the wilderness for two weeks and ordeal in 1968. “I was volunteers with Boy Scouts and Habitat for Hustuck out there four manity. days until they could Thirteen years ago, he became an assistant get a replacement part leader for a troop based at Holy Spirit Catholic to send out once the School. weather cleared. It was “It was my way of saying thanks to my leader more inconvenient than and Boy Scouts of America for getting me in the life threatening. I had outdoors as a kid,” he says. “Our troop here has packed plenty of food, seven assistant leaders, which is phenomenal. sleeping bags, and Parents support it whole-heartedly.” candles for an emerIn January, he and the scouts spent the night gency.” in snow mounds they had built to shelter themAfter a year near selves from the minus 14-degree weather in the the North Pole, he went mountains near Pocatello. to the extreme south
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“It was about 30 degrees inside the shelters,” says Allan. “They said they were comfortable sleeping in there.” Allan, a skilled carpenter and self-employed remodeling contractor, is a crew foreman for Habitat for Humanity. “We meet every week to work on some project for four hours,” he says. He also teaches classes at New Knowledge Adventures, a non-profit volunteer organization offering inexpensive classes for those 50 and older.
Besides survival, he has taught classes about Antarctica and traveling Route 66. One of his favorite programs to teach is a threepart class, “Cutting Edge, Cordage, and Fire.” “Those three things – knives, rope, and fire – helped early man progress.” With primitive tools, Allan has made sturdy rope from dental floss, surveyor’s tape, and even toilet paper. He also teaches at an annual primitive skills workshop in Rexburg.
Linda Lindley Comes Down With The Pickleball Bug
Gold’s Gym opened up two courts. The Pocatello By Dianna Troyer Since Linda Lindley came down with the pick- Community Recreation Center offers paddles and leball bug a year ago, it has become contagious playing time on the racquetball courts. Managers of the Portneuf Wellness Center are considering and is spreading in Pocatello. “I hoped I’d have six or eight people sign up adding a few courts, too, in the future. “It’s been popular for decades in retirement for my class,” says Linda, who offered instruction last fall through New Knowledge Adventures, a vol- communities with big tournaments being played in St. George, Utah, Arizona, unteer, non-profit organization and Florida,” says Linda. that offers inexpensive classes People who take Linda’s to those 50 and older. class learn the brief history “I had 65 sign up,” she of the sport. Pickleball origisays. “I couldn’t believe it. It’s nated in 1965 on Bainbridge crazy how enthusiastic people Island. Washington’s Conget about it after they start gressman at the time, Joel playing.” Pritchard, and a friend, Bill The racquet sport comBell, came home from playbines tennis, ping-pong, bading golf to find their families minton, and volleyball. Players sitting around doing nothing. use a hard paddle and a wiffle Using an old badminton ball on a shortened tennis court, ping-pong paddles, court. and a perforated plastic ball, “It’s new for our commuthey invented a new game. nity and is becoming popular The next weekend, they because people of all ages introduced the new sport to and athletic abilities can play,” another friend, Barney Mcsays Linda, 70, a retired teacher. “Tennis is more of a hard- Linda Lindley teaches pickleball through New Callum. The trio made rules running game that can be Knowledge Adventures. She demonstrates with the goal that the game challenging to play if you have the stance for receiving the ball. (Photo by Dianna Troyer) shoulder or knee injuries. I loved tennis, but a lot of my friends who played should be enjoyed by all ages. couldn’t do it anymore due to injuries.” Linda will offer pickLast year, pickleball intrigued Linda when she read an article about it and learned it would be leball classes again this winter and spring at New offered at the Idaho Senior Games in Pocatello. “I did a lot of research, and the more I learned, Knowledge Adventures. “Who knows, we the more fun it sounded,” she says. “I was awful the first few times I played, but I didn’t care because m i g h t h a v e e n o u g h people to start having I was having such a good time.” To help her teach classes last fall, Linda tournaments in the sumenlisted the help of Idaho Falls resident Wendy mer,” says Linda. “I’m Cavan, who is designated as an eastern Idaho keeping an email list ambassador of the sport by the USA Pickleball to help players stay in touch with each other. It Association (usapa.org). During autumn, they played outside at Ray- keeps growing and growmond Park on several courts. So many people ing. Everyone keeps tellwere interested that Linda and other enthusiasts ing their friends who tell persuaded local gyms and the parks and rec center more friends. It’s been to provide pickleball courts, allowing players to a fun project for me.” ISI continue in winter. Fitness Inc. provides equipment and courts.
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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 27
“A lot of people who take those courses are more interested in replicable anthropology than surviving in a wilderness situation. They want to learn about early man’s tools.” Allan has countless hobbies. An expert at tying ornamental and practical knots, he has taught classes and was a member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers. He and Kathy also carve wood. “I’ve learned so much in life, I’m glad to share it with others,” says Allan. “For me, I feel most at home in the outdoors.” ISI
Learn what is to be taken seriously and laugh at the rest. - Hermann Hesse
PAGE 28 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
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Dorothy Hatch Is Still Going Strong
Article & Photo By Alice H. Dunn Seeing the vibrant woman energetically rehearsing the Pocatello Senior Center chorus, Silver Chords, no one would believe that she is pushing ninety. She would probably still be making rounds of “the elderly” helping make their homes safe were it not for budget cuts. This indomitable woman does not let hard work, problems, or misfortune slow her down. In 1960, Dorothy Hatch was married to the man of her dreams, Tom Reese, but the family picture was shattered when an automobile accident took his life while Dorothy escaped with moderate injuries. But, she picked up the pieces and moved on. With three young children to support, Dorothy began by cleaning houses and quickly built a loyal clientele. Later, she added party jewelry sales, and the enthusiasm for products she loves to wear helped make her a top salesperson. Soon, she became district manager, a position she held until she left the business in 1982. By then she had won many prizes for top sales including trips to Hawaii and Puerto Vallarta. Being able to add lovely pieces to her collection at employee discounts was a bonus. Now, Dorothy enjoys being able to choose just the right piece for any occasion from her collection. Her children were still young when R. B. Martin, a professional guitarist, came courting. Dorothy, who also plays guitar, loves to sing and is good at it. R. B. invited her into both his life and his band, True Country. However, it was his willingness to be a loving stepfather to Dorothy’s children that cinched the marriage. That they consider him “Dad” speaks volumes about A Better Choice for Former INL Workers how he fulfilled that promise. She returned the favor by working alongside him in his daytime occupation, managing apartment houses and mobile home parks. After the band retired, Dorothy worked for Field Operations, a government agency for which she trained veterans to interview for jobs. Her success in helping them secure permanent employment was recognized with several trips to award ceremonies. Dorothy and R. B. volunteered as entertainers at the Pocatello Senior Center and were soon participating in the center’s many functions. Dorothy soon joined the Silver Chords and is now its enthusiastic conductor. Besides performances at the center, the Silver Chords performs at assisted living centers and community events presenting one of three different programs that Dorothy has ready at all times. She prepares a new one every three months. Recently, the choir has performed its Happy Days Are Here Again program of old standards and its Tribute to the Armed Forces program, especially enjoyable to veterans at the Idaho Veteran’s Home. On its schedule annually are a Christmas show and a big spring show that are hugely successful fundraisers for the center. A few years ago, Dorothy was nominated by the senior center to run for Ms. Senior Pocatello. She won and competed in Idaho’s state competition. “I had a wonderful time,” she says. After R.B. passed away, it was not easy to go on, but Dorothy could not desert her Silver Chords. The single women at the senior center offered supSpecialized emergency room care, port and Dorothy took advantage of the center’s close to home. well-balanced menu as she dealt with her loss. Once again, Dorothy forged ahead. After awhile Hugh Hatch appeared at the senior center. He came for good meals and soon stayed for the center’s afternoon dances. Dorothy was among the ladies he invited to take a spin around the floor. Both good dancers, they quickly realized they were well-matched dance partners. For months, they assured each other that at their ages and both twice widowed, neither intended to marry again. That assertion became history when Hugh popped the question. Dorothy’s protective family said, “Not so fast!” U N I V E R S I T Y O F U TA H Dorothy’s son-in-law interviewed Hugh asking 208-359-6900 | 450 E Main, Rexburg | www.madisonhospital.org HEA LTH C ARE tough questions before they gave their approval. Although Dorothy and Hugh telephoned only
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a few wedding invitations to family and close friends, after an announcement appeared in the newspaper, they worried that quite a few would show up. With refreshments prepared for 200 just in case, about 400 attended. Although a bit short of food, the reception turned into a wonderful party with guitar playing, singing, and, of course, dancing. Although too busy for a honeymoon at the time, they have since traveled to Branson and
taken a cruise to Alaska. Dorothy has helped Hugh weather a heart attack and she monitors their diabetic diets. One recent Saturday, she heard a loud pop after which she could not move her right arm. Did that keep her from directing the music at church? No way! She simply led with her left arm. Afterward, when she explained her situation to a doctor, he gave her arm a hard jerk and then told her to try moving it. She could, and it hardly
Browse Idaho Falls For Odd Facts and Unusual Ice Cream
By Bernice Karnop It may seem odd, but there was not a falls in Idaho Falls when the town was renamed in 1891. The best they could claim were rapids in the Snake River. But in 1911 with the power plant construction, came a 20-foot wall across the river, validating the name. Today the “falls” are a truly lovely spot on the Greenbelt, where waterfowl preen, and visitors pause to snap photos. The Snake River Plateau around Idaho Falls was not naturally inviting to the hundreds of thousands of Oregon Trail pilgrims who plodded across it assuming there had to be better land further west. Fort Hall was established in 1834, but real settlement of the area did not happen until the gold rush era later. The first settlers at the current location of Idaho Falls started a ferry crossing near a solitary basalt island, which served as an eagle-nesting place. This first settlement was called Eagle Rock, a name that stood for nearly three decades, but reportedly, eagles no longer nest at Eagle Rock. Ben Holladay’s Overland Stage used the Eagle Rock Ferry for its freight wagons from Salt Lake City to supply the mining boomtowns of Virginia City and Bannock in Montana. In 1865, an enterprising freighter, James “Matt” Taylor built a toll bridge on a narrow place up river from the ferry. An estimated 19 million tons of freight crossed the bridge in 1867, making it a booming business at $4/wagon. That changed when the railroad came in 1879. Eagle Rock prospered as long as the railroad headquartered there, but just five years later, the railroad moved its hub 50 miles south to Pocatello and converted from narrow to standard gage track, effectively making the stops at Idaho Falls obsolete. In 1895, then the largest irrigation canal in the world, siphoned water from the Snake River, and the desert land around Idaho Falls blossomed with such crops as potatoes, peas, grains, and alfalfa – agriculture became king. In 1949, the Atomic Energy Commission opened the National Reactor Testing Station on 890 square miles of desert west of the city creating a boom of a different sort. Of the fifty different types of nuclear reactors built here for testing, only three are left. In 1951, the lab produced the first useful electricity from nuclear fission, one of the most significant accomplishments in the century. On the other
hand, this is the site of the only fatal nuclear reactor incident in United States history and the first in the world. On January 3, 1961, three young men were killed in a reactor room explosion. They were so heavily contaminated with radiation that “their hands were buried with other radioactive waste, and their bodies were interred in lead coffins.” The Idaho National Laboratories, as it is now called, remains a major economic piece in Idaho Falls, and is a prominent research center. Idaho Falls is an economic and cultural hub for a large area of eastern Idaho, having capitalized on its premiere river by creating an inviting Greenbelt trail stretching for two and a half miles through town – appreciated by locals and visitors alike. It provides access to such things as the Idaho State Vietnam War Memorial, the Friendship Garden, and world-class fishing in the Snake River. At the Idaho Falls visitor center, maps are available for the historic walking tour describing 67 notable buildings including early day millionaires’ mansions, the First Presbyterian Church, and the lovely wedding confection-style Mormon temple. The neoclassic architecture of the First Presbyterian Church, built in 1918, is notable for its Roman dome and iconic porticos. With all this walking, it’s nice to know Idaho Falls takes sitting seriously as well. Art You Can Sit On benches were created by various artists using designs inspired by the area, such as animals and birds, or by pure whimsy. They are made of wood, concrete, bronze, copper, marble, and river rock. In fact, one may do a walking tour specifically to see all 20 of the benches. Not far from the river is the Tautphaus Park Zoo, which is divided into areas including Asia, Africa, Australia Outback, North, and South America. They boast such critters as lions, tigers, and crocodiles, as well as penguins, red pandas, and sloth bears. Adults enjoy it and enjoy it even more with grandchildren.
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 29
hurt at all. He told her she would be just fine. Two days later, she hosted a potluck dinner on her beautifully set table with tasty orange chicken as her contribution. Yes, Dorothy Hatch just keeps on doing. ISI
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The Collectors Corner Museum is neatly packed with many things that readers played with or used. The variety is nearly endless, including Barbie dolls, antique trains, Smurfs, seashells, baseball cards, and coins. Not everything is decades old. Star Wars, Harry Potter, and more grab the attention of younger generations and perhaps inspire them to collect before it’s too late. The Colonial Theater, Willard Arts Center, and the Art Museum on Broadway are some of Idaho Falls’ cultural hot spots. The Museum of Idaho is always a good choice with its changing displays
and outstanding permanent collection. Reed’s Dairy in Idaho Falls is home to “the world’s best tasting ice cream.” About 40 mouthwatering temptations lure visitors off the Interstate highway, including Cookie Berry, Moose Tracks, Mud Pie, Turtle Cheesecake, and Southern Black Cherry. They offer plenty for the adventuresome such as Gavin’s Mess, Mom’s Recipe, and Jamoca Fudge. And, what better way to top off a visit to Idaho Falls? ISI
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Where Whales Dance
Article By Holly Endersby Photo by Don Gile The early morning mist cleared the calm waters when the first one showed itself. Rising from the depths in a lazy, fluid motion the giant body seemed suspended then slowly sank with one flipper raised as if in farewell. Soon, graceful bodies were emerging from the water in every direction we turned, circling our boat like so many synchronized swimmers. At times, it seemed we were watching a water ballet, with first one, then another, prima ballerina or her male cohort, exhibiting complicated choreography. After an hour, the humpback whales called November 4–12, 2016 for an intermission and began to move slowly out of the cove into deeper water just south of Admiralty Island, Alaska. This was the start of day one of our trip to • Round Trip Air Transport from Seattle Whaler’s Cove Lodge • First-Class Hotel Accomodations for 7 nights on Killisnoo Island and • Superb Cuisine—10 meals of 7 buffet breakfasts & 3 dinners we were to be treated • Sightseeing Tour Program—including local guide and all entrance fees as follows: to similar whale dances city tour of Dubrovnik, including the old walled town, a city tour of Split, including the every day we were near Diocletian’s Palace, & tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park, further optional tours available. • Deluxe Motor Coaches • Professional Tour Director • Baggage Handling & Transfers (for one piece) • Local Taxes & Service Charges
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Danger Point to jig for bait herring. In addition to lots of herring to lure whales in, great swaths of krill could be seen in the water as well. One day we were treated to the sight of whales “bubble-netting” herring. To accomplish that, a small group of whales will swim quickly and tightly in a circle, rounding up the herring in the bubbles they release from their blowholes, and then the group erupts straight out of the water with their mouths open, gobbling hundreds of fish at a time. It’s an awesome sight. But the same thing that draws whales consistently to these waters drew us as well: a bonanza of fish moving silently below those deep green waters. On this, our second trip to Whaler’s Cove Lodge, we had high expectations for bringing home plenty of salmon, halibut, cod, and rockfish fillets after our three day fishing frenzy. While many anglers come to Alaska for king (Chinook) salmon in June and early July, we head to those misty lands in mid to late August when plentiful silver salmon are running for home waters. A salmon’s life begins in a freshwater stream, migrates to salt water as a juvenile, then returns to its natal stream to spawn and die, ensuing the next generation and providing abundant food, for bears in particular. While not the prime halibut season, we’ve filled our limit each day and have added yummy cod and snapper to the catch as well. During the season, only one king salmon can be taken a day
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
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as long as it meets the size criteria set by state fish regulations. An angler can keep six silver salmon a day and while they typically don’t fight like a Chinook, they are plenty heavy and prone to spitting out hooks just when you think you have them where you want them. Halibut are strictly regulated as well, with a minimum and maximum slot length until you get to the really jumbo size. Pulling in a hundred or two hundred pound halibut is like hauling a Volkswagen aboard the boat, but even “small” ones take a lot of strength to land. Our journey to Whaler’s Cove Lodge began with a 2.5-hour catamaran ride, leaving Juneau around 6:00 a.m. to ensure a full day’s fishing once at the lodge. The boat ride itself is worth the price of admission as it wends its way out of busy Juneau and enters the island-filled waters of southeast Alaska. A temperate rainforest, this area of the state grows big trees, big bears, and lots of room to roam, either by boat, floatplane, or on foot.
humpback whales we so enjoyed watching. Whaler’s Cove is separated from the only hamlet on Admiralty Island by just a finger of water. Angoon, with a population of around 500 on Admiralty, is predominantly a Tlingit village with a long history – over 800 years – of residency. Some of the boat captains come from Angoon, are lifelong residents, and have fishing in their blood. But any of the captains employed by Whaler’s Cove are dyed-in-the-wool anglers who know their way around these waters blindfolded. Whaler’s Cove was originally a fish oil and guano trading port of call owned by the Alaska Northwest Trading Company. Whalers from the Bering Sea put in here during the hay-day of whaling. The site was a fish rendering plant, using herring and salmon, until the 1930s. Carl and Peg Jacobson bought the site in 1952 and began slowly clearing land to build the lodge and three cabins. Partners Dick and Stella Powers joined them in 1977. Dick Powers knew the area well from his
able for guest use. Killisnoo, which means, shelter from the wind in Tinglit, boasts calm waters and, for southeast Alaska, exceptionally good weather. That doesn’t mean sunny days all summer long but it does mean that the majority of your days will not be spent in high winds and pouring rain. However, just in case the rain arrives, the lodge provides rain gear in the form of bib overalls, rain jackets, and high rubber boots. For those who want to try their hand at freshwater fishing, the lodge is within an hour by boat of 30 plus streams and rivers holding Chinook salmon, Coho (silver) salmon, sockeye salmon, chum (dog) salmon, and humpy(pink) salmon as well as steelhead (sea run rainbows), rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden. The lodge provides both spinning and fly-fishing gear, but anglers can certainly bring their own. Anglers who want to fish fresh waters would be well advised to bring their own waders, as the rubberized gear the lodge provides will prove to be cumbersome to
Separated by a tiny channel of water, Killisnoo Island is just south of Admiralty Island, of which 90% is protected as a national monument surrounding federally designated wilderness. Admiralty Island was called Kootznoowoo or Fortress of the Bear by the Tinglet, the indigenous people of southeast Alaska. The name is apt: the island has the densest population of brown bears of anywhere in the world. Approximately 1,600 bears roam the island’s wild landscape. In addition, Admiralty also boasts the highest concentration of nesting bald eagles with around 5,000 returning yearly. The rich runs of salmon, a primary food source for both species draw both bears and eagles. In fact, the main reasons these brown bears grow so large is the protein-rich bonanza of salmon. The waters surrounding Admiralty also host harbor seals, porpoises, sea lions, and the
time with the US Forest Service and felt the island should be protected from intensive development. Upon Dick’s retirement from the USFS in 1975, the Powers moved to Angoon and bought the Angoon Trading Company, a general store, from the Jacobsons. Once on-site, the work on Whaler’s Cove moved along quickly and the first guests arrived in 1983. The Powers became sole owners of the lodge and today, the second generation proudly continues the tradition of welcoming guests and providing outstanding fishing opportunities. Cabins and rooms are comfortable but not luxurious and meals are hearty and delicious. Today, the lodge offers fully guided fishing trips with 10 USCG rated captains on boats capable of handling between four and six anglers at a time in salt water. There are also five boats available for self-guided fishing as well and kayaks are avail-
most fly anglers used to wading in particular. After years of fishing in this area, your guide provides all the flies or lures that work best. But whether you fish salt or fresh water, this part of Alaska is special. Last summer we brought friends with us who have traveled the world, but had never visited Alaska. Despite years of deepsea fishing in tropical waters, the fast-paced fishing required of anglers when all four lines have feisty salmon on them, or halibut plunging hundreds of feet down, was a totally new and exciting experience for them. In fact, despite their global wanderings, they pronounced Alaska a trip of a lifetime. The immensity of the land and water, the heartstopping scenery, and the abundance of wildlife highlighted by dancing whales cast a spell that will pull them back, like my husband and me, again and again to this magical place. ISI
They Speak For Themselves Submitted by Jim Meade Mark Twain: “I have never killed a man, but I’ve read many an obituary with a great deal of satisfaction.” Abraham Lincoln after being called two-faced replied, “If I had two faces, do you think I’d be wearing this one?” Replying to the question “How many people work at the Vatican,” Pope John XXIII replied, “About half.” When asked at the opera, “What do you think of the singer’s execution?” Calvin Coolidge replied, “I’m all for it.” Bessie Braddock said to Winston Churchill. “Winston, you are a drunk, and what’s more you are disgustingly drunk.” To which Churchill replied, “Bessie, my dear, you are ugly, and what’s more you are disgustingly ugly. But tomorrow I shall be sober and you will still be disgustingly ugly.” After rubbing Speaker of the House Nicholas Longworth’s bald head, a house member said, “Nice and smooth, feels just like my wife’s bottom.” To which Longworth replied running his hand over his own head, “Indeed it does.” Dorothy Parker to Calvin Coolidge said, “I’ve made a bet against a fellow who said it was impossible to get more than two words out of you.” To which Coolidge replied, “You lose.”
In a telegram, George Bernard Shaw wrote to Winston Churchill, “Have reserved two tickets for opening night. Come and bring a friend – if you have one.” Churchill’s reply, “Impossible to come to first night. Will come to second night – if you have one.” A man who was drunk said to Dorothy Parker, “I can’t bear fools.” To which she replied, “Apparently your mother could.” Groucho Marx: “I never forget a face, but in your case, I’ll be glad to make an exception.” Lady Nancy Astor to Winston Churchill, “Winston, if you were my husband, I’d put poison in your coffee.” To which Churchill replied, “Nancy, if you were my Destinations • Rome wife, I’d drink it.” • Maiori Reporter to Mahat• Amalfi Coast Tour ma Gandhi, “What do • Naples you think of western • Maiori civilization?” Gandhi re• Paestum & Solerno • Pompeii plied, “I think it would be • Ravello a good idea.” MSN
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Marian Crumb, a Lifetime with Horses Article By Jack McNeel/Photo By Jackie McNeel Marian Crumb’s life began near Roseburg, Ore. on a 1,100-acre cattle and sheep ranch. “I was with horses early in my life,” she notes. Horses have remained part of Marian’s daily life ever since. Now, in her early 80s, she still spends most days from daylight until dark working with horses. Much of this time involves teaching others how to ride and care for horses. After high school, Marian attended the University of Portland with plans to be a veterinarian. Today that’s a common occupation for women – who actually outnumber men in veterinary schools – but in those earlier years, it wasn’t common. In fact, she was told it was no place for a girl so she transferred to Oregon State and earned a Masters degree in Science Education. That led to teaching in Sweet Home, Ore. for ten years and then on to Kettle Falls. She met John, her husband, at Sweet Home and they married in 1964. John’s job with the Department of Lands brought them to Coeur d’Alene 41 years ago. John passed away in 2003. Marian is not resting on her laurels. She has
a four-acre piece of land near the Coeur d’Alene airport at Hayden with an arena on the property. “I’m up early every morning to go out and feed the horses – take care of them. Then I go exercise and go to bible study. I put in long days. In the summertime my days go until 9 or 10 o’clock at night.” Two days per week during the school year, Marian teaches a three-hour horseback riding class at North Idaho College. “What they learn strictly from the beginning,” she explains. “How to go out and approach the horse, catch, halter, lead, tie up, and thoroughly groom the horse, including cleaning the feet. Then how to saddle, bridle, mount correctly and how to guide at a walk or trot.” Marian also teaches high school students as part of their life sports program. “Basically they learn how to brush, saddle, bridle, mount and dismount, ride through the cones and obstacles in the arena, and trot. That’s as far as they go,” she explains. Summers find her teaching “open” lessons to anyone who wants to learn how to ride and care for horses. Last summer the youngest she had was two-years-old, although typically the ages range from about 4 to 70. “Sometimes the kids come for lessons and want to look at getting a horse or maybe just to go riding. Families take lessons so they can ride together. I tell them if you’re going to get a horse everybody should learn how to do the same things the same way so they don’t confuse the horse. “Until recently, in the summer I was teaching anyone who wanted to take lessons up to seven days a week. I was pretty full this past summer with lessons.” Perhaps most remarkably, Marian is just starting her 51st year as a 4H leader – all of them working with horses. “We also have jumping, dressage, trail, and gymkhana (games on horseback) if they want. We also do some packing. Nobody else around here has 51 years in 4-H,” she says with a laugh. Marian obviously knows how to teach horses. She and John used to pack up and go hunting for a couple of weeks each fall. “It was always neat to be out in nature with no telephone, no radio, and no kids. Most of the time we went into the Coeur d’Alene Mountains. That was always a pleasure.” “I’m usually at St. Pius Catholic Church to usher in people. Then every couple of months, I’m what is called a Communion Minister or Eucharistic Minister.” she explains. “I’ve been doing that for 40 or so years.” Asked if she minds mentioning her age she replies, “I’ll be 83 soon. I love mentioning my age because I love giving people a bad time and saying, ‘What are you going to do when you’re half my age?’ A lot of these people are nowhere near that nor do they exercise as I do or still ride horses.” Marian doesn’t do as much riding for pleasure as she used to, in part because she is so busy with people and students coming for lessons but tells of one trip two years ago. “We went six days in the Bob Marshall Wilderness of Montana and rode eight to ten hours a day. My horses were packing and we rode in and had a great time. “I’m very active with horses and was just lucky to be raised on a ranch with a great family, great family values, and a good outlook on life. I lead a busy and full life. I absolutely love it!” ISI
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 33
Sally Caruso – Traveling with Servas
Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in. - Mark Twain
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Article By Jack McNeel Photo By Jackie McNeel “On my first trip to Europe I was all by myself but the great thing was I had spent some time signing up with Servas,” Sally Caruso explains. “It’s a nonprofit network of host families from around the world. There is a small fee to join and for updated information about host families. But staying with families is totally free.” That alone is enough to catch the attention of many travelers but Servas presents cultural opportunities as well. According to its website, usservas.org, “Servas is a worldwide cooperative cultural exchange network established in 1948 and composed of member hosts and travelers working together to foster peace, goodwill, and mutual respect through person to person contact.” There are now over 15,000 homes on 6 continents and upwards of 125 countries involved. “It’s a neat concept,” Sally explains. “When you apply you’re interviewed with background checks from their headquarters in Arcata, Calif. They send out evaluations after you have stayed with somebody or somebody has stayed with you to make sure everybody is having a good experience – a code of ethics so everybody is safe.” For Sally, an Iowa farm girl, travel began when she decided to “try life in California” eventually earning a BA in psychology from Sonoma State and later a Masters degree in Social Work from Cal State Fresno. She spent her working years wearing many hats with a school district, a hospital, in private practice counseling, case management in people’s homes, adoptions, and eventually working in hospice. Sally and her electrician husband at the time moved to Coeur d’Alene from Moscow in 2002 to accommodate her caseload and her husband’s job opportunities in the Coeur d’Alene/Spokane areas. Sally retired in the spring of 2012. After learning about Servas, Sally joined to travel and to host visitors in her home. “I’ve only been on a couple of different tours and really haven’t traveled that much,” she says, but included in those trips are visits to France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and the U.S. Sally found her first trip abroad interesting in that most of her hosts were renters rather than owners, probably a reflection of the different home ownership traditions in countries other than the U.S. “They were people mostly near my own age and definitely in a group that traveled.” She was also impressed with the impact of the war when she visited a French village.
“It was like a national monument where they had preserved World War II bomb damage. They do not want people to forget.” Before traveling herself, Sally hosted people from around the globe. She didn’t host last year, perhaps because of the number of forest fires in the region. Sally has recently purchased a larger house and will be able to accommodate even family groups in the future. The catalogue of hosts is coded to reflect what a traveler might expect at any particular home. “It would list what pets a host might have; I have an outdoor cat, for example. It would list how many travelers could be accommodated, whether couples, male or female only, etc. It would also indicate whether the host is available to show travelers the area and the availability of airport transportation by the host. Hosts are expected to provide dinner and breakfast – to make it as easy as possible for the traveler.” Servas participants include seniors, young families, young adults, and college students. “All ages,” Sally explains. “Your host profile in the catalog also says whether you can accommodate wheelchairs, blindness, or other disabilities.” Sally hasn’t kept track of all those who have stayed with her but one she does remember is her current “significant other” who came through four years ago from his home in Tucson. “We’ve struck up a relationship of sorts,” she says with a laugh. “He could tell a lot more stories IdahoSeniorIndependent.com about Servas travel than I can.” Her future with Servas will probably include hosting family groups in her new home. It is a larger house, and she is having the basement remodeled. “We started from scratch last fall. The whole basement has been gutted and is being completely rewired and re-plumbed.” Her new house is near downtown Coeur d’Alene and close to the beach and Tubbs Hill with its walking trails. It’s When you or your loved one When it comes to quality care, popular with residents needs quality short-term or there’s no place like my home community. long-term care, consider the and visitors alike and Sally frequently walks center close to home. Kindred the trails with friends. Nursing and Rehabilitation “We don’t let the Mountain Valley. weather stop us,” she adds with a laugh. “I We offer care in a comfortable love retirement, and I’m setting, close to home, where in heaven. I was more than ready to retire; I’m your loved one will feel right We invite you to call a happy camper!” ISI at home.
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Family History Documents Murray’s Bedroom Gold Mine Article By Jack McNeel Photos By Jackie McNeel Although Wallace, Kellogg, and the Silver Valley’s world-renowned silver deposit have garnered most of the mining attention in the area, gold was being mined in Shoshone County even before silver was discovered. Eagle City was kingpin – a tent city that grew from nothing to about 5,000 people in one year. In one of the tents, Wyatt Earp and one of his brothers ran a bar. But Eagle City did not last long. Just upstream the area was more suitable for a permanent town and Murray, a boisterous mining camp sprang up almost overnight during the last great mining stampede in the lower 48. Travis Prewitt, a Spokane Valley financial advisor, relates his family’s story regarding his greatgrandfather Ed Burton’s arrival in Murray during the late summer of 1884 and construction of the building that now hosts the Bedroom Goldmine Bar. Burton was born on a ship bound from England sailing around the horn to San Francisco in 1851. His father was a silversmith and his mother an Irish Catholic who wanted him to grow up and become a priest. At some point, Burton’s home life was not to his liking so he ran away and ended up living with a Chinese family where he learned to bake. According to family legend, Burton was living in Truckee, Calif. when he heard of the gold strike in the Murray area. Carrying pens, ink, and large drawing paper, Burton rode horseback to Murray during the summer of 1884 – drawing along the way. As Travis Prewitt says, “His drawings were excellent, including a particular one he did of his horse, which I still have.” At Murray, Burton set up a stone oven in the
woods, baked every morning, and with baskets strapped on either side of a horse, delivered fresh bread to the various mining camps. Gold dust was payment, and having wisely saved his earnings, Burton constructed a building in 1885 to house his bakery. The town grew, Burton was successful, and he was the Charter Secretary of the
still active Masonic Lodge located next door to his bakery. He died in 1915. Around 1906, Walter Keister, an Illinois farm boy, came to the area and worked at the Paragon and Monarch mines near the bottom of Thompson Pass. By the time of Burton’s death, Keister had saved enough money to buy half interest in the store from Burton’s widow, Ida. Keister changed the bakery into a general store and married Vina, Burton’s daughter. Walter and Vina Keister ran the store until he passed away in the late 1940s. The Keister’s daughter, Doris, married John Prewitt and were the parents of Travis Prewitt. “My mother and dad ran the store for awhile until the family sold it,” Travis explains. “Then my mother took over the one room schoolhouse at Eagle. They would skid the school to the lumber camps that had the most kids to teach. “Mother was actually born in Wallace but the Murray building was the family home,” Travis ex-
plains. “My mom’s father and grandfather had both lived there in the back part, where later the mine shaft was dug. My mother lived upstairs along with stored items like blasting caps. The kids would race up the stairs to get the blasting caps, but they only took one step at a time coming down. The family kept vegetables and dynamite in an old empty mineshaft across the creek in the hill. “When I was a boy in the ‘50’s the store was still selling groceries and gasoline from gas pumps that had a glass cylinder that filled with gas before you drained it into your tank.” At some point, miners brought a dredge from Alaska to dredge Prichard Creek in both directions from Murray. “The dredge master was Ike Hinkle,” Travis explains, “and Hinkle married Ed Burton’s widow, Ida. Hinkle told Walter Keister that the richest gold in the valley was right behind his store and probably a lot of gold was underneath the store. It didn’t mean anything to Walter because he was a storekeeper and not a miner.” Convinced that Hinkle’s comments were right, miner Chris Christopherson purchased the building and in 1967, dug a 30-foot shaft below a hole cut through the floor of what had been the Prewitt family’s living quarters. Christopherson found gold – notably a 6-ounce nugget – and continued to work the mine until 1991. The “Bedroom Gold Mine” was established and became a tourist attraction where visitors could pan for gold. Kim and Joannie Gittel bought what is now the Bedroom Goldmine Bar about three years ago and have made many improvements including a large paved parking lot. The establishment is now popular for lunch – especially pizza, sandwiches, and other light fare. Plus you can walk to the back room and look into the mineshaft that Chris Christopherson built nearly 40 years ago. Despite the modern improvements, the building retains its 1800s ambiance and is well worth a visit the next time you are in the Murray area. ISI
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Biologist with a Love of Writing Article By Jack McNeel Photo By Jackie McNeel “When I was in undergraduate school I found I enjoyed writing,” says Vaughn Paragamian. That continued through a long career as a fisheries biologist and has blossomed in retirement with his first book They Sleep with the Fishes. But, it’s not about biology – rather about the mob and is based in part on Vaughn’s family history. He was born in Kenosha, Wis. to an Italian mother and Armenian father. Vaughn lived with Italian grandparents for a few years and his first language was Italian. Many of the memories from those early Italian years are reflected in Vaughn’s new book. At Iowa State University, Vaughn earned a bachelor’s degree in Fish and Wildlife Science and learned he liked to write. During his later working years as a fisheries scientist, he published nearly sixty papers in scientific journals, an exceptional number. After graduation in 1969 and a brief stint in Alaska, Vaughn was drafted and spent two years as an MP in the army. During that time, he met Beth, who became his wife in 1972. He began his fisheries career in Iowa and nearly two decades later transferred to Coeur d’Alene with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. He worked as a research biologist first on Pend Oreille Lake for several years and then 18 years working on the Kootenai River. He retired in 2011. “I am really enjoying retirement – doing some things I didn’t expect I’d ever do and some things I expected to do.” Writing a book was one of them. “They Sleep with the Fishes is something I’ve wanted to write for many years,” Vaughn declares. “It’s an account of my family’s involvement with the mob in the 30s and 40s. It’s true but I embellished the stories and had fictitious characters. You have to be very careful of copyright and using people’s names.” The story is essentially about two ex-cons who tried to extort his grandfather, Antonio Albano. “They didn’t know my grandfather was very good friends with a mob boss.”
The full story includes an attempted kidnapping of Vaughn’s mother and uncle when they were of school age, the use of the family barn by the mob boss, and concrete boots in Lake Michigan. The book was expected to be finished and on the market by early January. Vaughn hopes to have a book signing at Barnes and Noble in Spokane in the near future. The book will be available through Amazon and also Barnes and Noble. “It’s been a blast doing this so I’m writing a sequel to it right now. There will be more fabrication but some will be true and will keep in the Italian theme,” Vaughn adds, “about two boys whose father was murdered, but there was no investigation. They want to find out who killed their pa.” Vaughn explained that Italians were persecuted for many years in the U.S. and authorities didn’t respond to needs of Italian citizens. “There was tremendous distrust,” he says. “I remember growing up you learned you can’t trust anybody except people in your own family. Nobody else is going to look out for you.” Since retiring, Vaughn has also rekindled his collegedays interest in motorcycles when he owned an English BSA motorcycle. “I ran out of money and my mother said, ‘Sell the BSA and we’ll help you with school.’” Vaughn sold the BSA thinking he would return to motorcycles when he finished college. “Of course that didn’t happen,” he adds with a laugh. “I kept having this reoccurring dream of rebuilding a Triumph motorcycle. About two years after I retired I was thinking of what I wanted to do that I hadn’t had time for before. Then it hit me – I would love to get old vintage motorcycles and restore them.” Vaughn, without any mechanic experience, faced a major learning curve. “It was so much fun! And it still is to take a motorcycle totally apart, restore it, and put it back together. I’m talking about the brakes, hydraulics, engine, gears, clutch – the whole nine yards. I didn’t have a clue what I was getting into.” Online he found repair manuals, parts books, and sources for replacement parts. Vaughn’s first
Now What Was I Doing?
Submitted by Julie Brantley Three sisters ages 92, 94, and 96 lived in a house together. One night the 96-year-old drew her bath, put her foot in, and paused. She yelled down the stairs, “Was I getting in or out of the bath?” Her 94-year-old sister yelled back, “I don’t know, I’ll come up and see.” And then she started up the stairs but paused, and then yelled, “Was I going up the stairs or coming down?” The 92-year-old who was sitting at the kitchen table having tea listening to her sisters, shook her head, and said, “I sure hope I never get that forgetful.” She knocked on the table for good measure, paused, and then yelled, “I’ll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who’s at the door.” ISI
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 35
restoration was a 1965 Triumph Tiger Cub, which he entered in a Spokane show for British cars and motorcycles. He took third place! Vaughn then restored a 1972 Triumph Dayton 500 and took first place in the Spokane show. “They’re just gorgeous looking motorcycles!” he notes. Now he is restoring a 1960 Tiger Cub. To stay involved and connected since retirement, Vaughn has volunteered at a homeless shelter and is also active in his church, which he describes as like “a big family that’s having a family reunion once a week. You see people who are loving and caring, thoughtful, and concerned about your welfare. “And, with motorcycles and book writing, my mind is always busy and that’s what I like. I’m always thinking and working things out. I think that’s critical to maintaining some kind of longevity after you retire,” he explains. Retirement for Vaughn Paragamian has been good. ISI
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Pat Hart and the Explosive Arts - (continued from front cover) meet set in. After short-term stints at doing what she calls “a myriad of horrible jobs,” Pat was directed to a particular guy in the local ranger district who “might hire a woman.” Thus began a 42-year (so far) career with the US Forest Service. Pat landed on a road and trail crew whose leader was a mule packer named Rocky Cartwright. “He grumbled because by god he was going to have to work with a hippie girl, and that just didn’t sit right,” Pat recalls with a chuckle. But Pat was capable of doing the work, and “When Rocky realized I was going to do this, he went out of his way to teach me.” Pat learned how to use a chainsaw and keep it sharp. And she learned how to blow things up. “Blasting was one of the skills you needed when you were on a trail crew,” Pat recalls. Cartwright was the “powder monkey” for the district, and under his tutelage Pat became adept at designing shots. In the intervening years, as the job, its tools, and materials have become ever more sophisticated, she has developed blasting into an art. “I really love designing a blast that will blow exactly what we need for a trail,” she says. “You can blow really beautiful ledges in slickrock.” Pat can set charges to fall 100 trees all in the same direction safely away from a road, or blow lines around a wildland fire. “It takes fewer people and causes less damage than using a cat,” she explains. She has some specific skills for use in wilderness areas, where power tools aren’t allowed, but explosives are. They’re great for removing avalanche debris from trails. “It would take forever with a crosscut saw,” she says. She’s also an artist at “stump fuzzing,” essentially, cosmetic blasting. “If a huge wildfire has potential to adversely affect wilderness, sometimes chainsaws will be used in a wilderness.” Then the blaster’s job is to make it look like chainsaws weren’t used. “We wrap logs and stumps so it looks like they broke. It’s labor intensive, but it looks a lot more natural.” And yes, she has had occasion to use explosives to “remove” a dead animal. But Pat, who clearly is fond of her job, doesn’t relish this aspect of it. “It’s absolutely not the most fun blasting that you’ll ever do.” Often the animal is one she has worked with, and the job is “difficult, sad, and gross.” But it’s sometimes necessary in areas with heavy recreational use, where the animal has expired while working in the field. The carcass is likely to attract bears, and there aren’t many other options.
“By the time your manager decides it’s okay to do, often the animal’s been there a while.” It’s difficult to get a helicopter to remove a 9001200-pound animal, and “to get to it soon enough that it doesn’t fall apart.” Carrying it out in pieces is equally unappealing. “Who wants to cut up a two-week dead horse and carry it out, especially in bear country?” Instead, Pat uses the expertise she has developed over 40 years since Rocky first showed her how. “You set it up so you do vaporize the animal and you’re not leaving parts, and you’re not leaving a big hole in the ground. We’re actually paying attention to the results so that we don’t have any kind of excessive blast. The largest piece we ever found was less than 2 inches.” That expertise doesn’t come informally any more, as it did for Pat. “It’s impossible nowadays to just learn the ropes and go blast,” she says. Instead, explosives handlers for the USFS and other federal agencies throughout the West receive extensive training, and it is Pat who provides it as the Region 1 Blaster Examiner. New blasters train full time for a week and then are considered trainees for a year. “It’s a very professional position right now. Designing shots, calculating both air and ground vibrations, is very much more elaborate than it used to be.” Pat enjoys watching incoming blasters continue to develop the art. “It’s exciting to watch younger people take ideas and run with them,” she says, especially for the restoration work that is an increasing part of their job descriptions. “We’re fixing a lot of stuff that we did in the past where we didn’t understand the long term effects.” The blasters Pat trains might take out old culverts and put streams back where they used to be, drop an old bridge stringer into a creek so it creates riffles for spawning fish, or even make jumps and pools of just the right size for returning salmon. Pat spends more time in the office now than she once did. As a member of the National Explosives Blasting Technical Advisory Group, she works with other USFS regions as well as the BLM and NPS, so that all federal land agency explosives handlers have consistent training and the opportunity to benefit from each other’s experience. Still, she gets out on the trail as much as she can, and has no intention of stopping that. And Pat still lives in the house she and her friends framed when they first came to Idaho in 1972. The rest of the adventurous pioneers from SMU have drifted off to other opportunities in distant places, but Pat clearly has found her calling near where the panhandle ends. ISI
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
Most of us have had a special friend – kind, generous, compassionate – but like all of us to varying degrees, a bit idiosyncratic. And, despite a long and enduring friendship, there can be surprises – things we didn’t know about the person that give us insight into the peculiarities of their personality. This issue’s Remember When winner is Milt Turley of Avery, whose story A Jokster With A Secret is about Dimmer, Milt’s loyal friend for many years who would do anything to help a friend or wild animal in need, but who held a secret that lay unrevealed and would have explained his somewhat odd behavior. Thank you, Milt, for your entertaining and thoughtful contribution. Remember When contains our readers’ personal reflections and contributions describing fictional or non-fictional accounts from the “Good ol’
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 37
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 April/May 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.
A Jokester With A Secret By Milt Turley, Avery I considered Dimmer a good friend, but would always wonder if his stories were true, a joke, or a flat out lie. Not that Dimmer would intentionally lie – but his tales might not be the exact truth. Dimmer never told a story with evil intent. Rather, he liked to get a reaction out of people to see how gullible they were. He considered most people gullible. For example, one afternoon Dimmer and I were having a drink at the Avery Trading Post when two out-of-state hunters looking a bit frazzled and completely worn out came in and sat down next to us. “You guys get an elk yet?” Dimmer asked. “No. Too much brush,” they replied. “How do you people hunt this country with all this brush? We can’t see 10 feet in any direction most of the time.” “Well,” Dimmer said, “you have to use sound shots.” “What do you mean by sound shots?” one hunter asked. Dimmer didn’t miss a beat. He told the tenderfeet that he would walk along a trail until he heard what he thought was an elk in the brush. Based on where the sound was coming from, he would raise his rifle and fire at the center of the sound. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” one hunter replied. “Isn’t that a bit dangerous?” “No,” Dimmer said, “I do it all the time.” “Did you ever get an elk that way?” the other hunter inquired. “No, but I did get a good sack lunch and a great pair of binoculars once.” The two hunters looked at each other and then started to laugh. They called BS on Dimmer right away, and we all had a good chuckle over a couple of free drinks they bought us. Sometimes a good story pays off. Another “enhanced” story came a few years later during a hard winter when game animals were in dire straits finding enough forage in the deep snow. As we all do, Dimmer hated to see animals starve, but game regulations prohibited feeding game animals. Dimmer didn’t give a damn, ignored the regulation, and bought alfalfa in St. Maries 10-12 bales at a time. He fed the animals every couple of days; to him, it was the right thing to do. As I often did in winter, I would drive to Avery on a Saturday or Sunday to see the game animals, spend some time with Dimmer, and have lunch at the Trading Post. On this occasion, Dimmer was at his usual table in his usual chair marked “Dimmer.” I asked him how the feeding was going and he reported that it was going well, but he said, “I lost my good rope.” “What rope?” I asked. “The one I lassoed the bull elk with,” he reported. “You lassoed an elk?” I asked. “Sure did,” replied Dimmer. “The damn thing ran off dragging my rope.” “What prompted you to do that?” I asked. He told me the bull had fallen through the ice, was stuck, nearly exhausted, and ready to drown. “I got out my rope,” he continued, “made a lasso, Caregiving and threw it over the bull’s head and antlers.” Dimmer said he hooked the other end to the back of his truck and pulled the elk out of the hole onto solid ground. Now that was quite a story, even for Dimmer, so I suspected some sort of joke or Finance Gold & Silver alternative motive. I laughed and asked, “What’s the catch? Who Health
leading up to the road. The third picture was the elk lying on the ground on the bank of the river. The last picture showed the bull elk running down the road with the rope still around his head and antlers and trailing behind. “You said you didn’t have proof of this roping,” I declared to Dimmer. “No,” Dimmer replied. “You asked me if anyone saw it and I told you no! Now, you owe me drinks for not believing me. (Anything for a free drink.) After all, you have known me for 30 years!” It was true, I had known Dimmer for many years, but as many people in Avery do, Dimmer also kept to himself and didn’t give out a lot of personal information. It wasn’t until several years later that I learned Dimmer’s secret. It was Thanksgiving Day, and Dimmer had been seriously ill having lost about 30 pounds over several months. We went down to his house with a plate of Thanksgiving fare only to find him in dire pain with lots of blood in his bed and bathroom. At that point my wife and I insisted Dimmer go to the hospital. He had packed a small bag next to his bed, which we grabbed on our way out the door, thinking it was toiletries. We got him into the pickup, and on the way to St. Maries, he told me if he didn’t make it (he knew he was dying), that I had to be sure the bag made it to the funeral home. Within eight hours, Dimmer had passed away. When I dug into the bag looking for some legal identification, I found an envelope containing his military discharge papers. Attached to his DD 214 were two citations for bravery – one with a V for Valor and a Purple Heart. I knew Dimmer had been in the service for some time, but I never knew that he had been in combat and was a hero! Suddenly, much about Dimmer made sense. It seemed his military service had resulted in PTSD – probably the root of his reclusiveness, antisocial behavior, excessive drinking, and other oddball behavior. Post-traumatic stress disorder affects many soldiers. In Dimmer’s day, it was called shellshock or combat fatigue, and in the 60s and 70s, it often was ignored or undiagnosed without treatment. Today we see it in our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, this great country of ours put a man on the moon in the late 60s, and we just scouted Pluto at the edge of our solar system with a space probe launched years ago. So, why can’t we diagnose and treat PTSD effectively? Could it be that our priorities are off track? When we ask our veterans to make the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom, is there anything more important than doing the research and providing the care and treating the wounds of war successfully? After all, what could be more important than our returning veterans? ISI
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are you trying to BS? I’ve been your friend for almost 30 years and you ain’t fooling me!” “No, it’s true!” he said earnestly. I said, “Come on, Dim! Who else saw it?” “No one,” he replied. “Just me.” Well, I just let it go at that point; figuring he would smack me with it later on and we’d have a good laugh. One afternoon about a week later, I walked into the Trading Post and there sat Dimmer in his special chair at his special table with a bunch of pictures spread out in front of him. The first picture was an elk that had fallen through the ice and was trapped in the ice hole. The next one showed the elk with a rope around his head and antlers with the rope
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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
Your Generosity Can Ease The Pain Of Hunger It may be difficult to understand that even in America in 2016 there are people who do not have enough to eat. Whatever the emergency that causes hunger – natural disaster, employment challenges, or health challenges – the gnawing pain of hunger is a reality that the Bonner Community Food Bank has been addressing for the past 35 years. As an emergency food resource for lowincome families, disabled individuals, children,
and seniors, the Food Bank is here to provide a helping hand. All resources are free with the hope that when an individual has the opportunity, he or she will help someone in return for the help they received. The Food Bank also provides additional services to those in need, depending on the circumstances and the Food Bank’s resources. Due to the number of years the Food Bank has been serving the community, it has a proven track record
for delivery of many services to seniors, disabled persons, and the working underprivileged in the Sandpoint area, helping our approximately 4,200 clients stretch their budgets each month. We are located at 1707 Culvers Drive in Sandpoint and for information, to make a donation, or provide other assistance, please call us at 208263-3663 or visit foodbank83864.com. Your support is needed and greatly appreciated! ISI
Yes, it’s February, the Valentine month, and time for romance. It is still cold so you may not be ready to give up your coat and hot cocoa – but spring is just around the corner. Now is a perfect time to plant and nurture a romance or friendship and watch it blossom as the season changes. And sharing the magic of summer – long drives, picnics, ballgames, fireworks, camping, fishing, travel, fairs, rodeos – with a new friend will add a bounce to your stride. So take that first step by sending in your own personal ad and replying to one listed below. Just pick up your pen or 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! You may submit your responses to personal ads appearing in the Idaho Senior Independent at any time. However, to place a personal ad in the April/May 2016 issue, the deadline is March 7, 2016.
c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.
Seeking friendship and companionship. Attractive 60-year-old white female. Financially secure, intelligent, honest, down to earth, affectionate, and healthy. I enjoy retro camping, casinos, classic car shows, and country fairs, yard sales, and antiques, patio gardening, Mexican and diner food. A good horror movie or anything Tyler Perry or Dick Wolf, reading. Seeking a tall gentleman non-smoking, no chew, drugs, or boozers, must be financially secure, honest, healthy, and considerate. No narcissists, hotheads, whiners, jailbirds, or bible thumpers. I do not do social media. Reply ISI, Dept. 11601, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. SM, 71, 6’1” 165lbs. Retired, non-smoker, Twin Falls area, outgoing, fit, social drinker, all outdoor activities, travel, romantic at heart. Like candle lit dinners, very adventurous. Would like to meet similar woman. Reply ISI, Dept. 11602,
Seeking friendship and companionship. Attractive white female, Panhandle area. Non-smoker, once-in-a-blue-moon drinker, no drugs. Honest, financially secure, down to earth, independent, affectionate, sense of humor, positive. I enjoy camping, vintage RV shows, fairs, yard sales, antiques, gardening, cooking, and reading (fiction or crime). Seeking non-smoker or other tobacco, no heavy drinkers or drug users. Must be financially secure, honest, and considerate of a person’s space. And have sense of humor and your own teeth. Facial hair a plus. Rational people only – no wackos! Reply ISI, Dept. 11603, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF 70, 5’8”, full figured, blonde hair, grey eyes, born again Christian women. Love to ride motorcycles and horses. I enjoy children and am still young enough to help raise them. Love camping, dancing, and so much more. All replies will be answered. Take a chance. Reply ISI, Dept. 11604, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF, described by others as fun, funny, adventurous, hard working, and dedicated. I invite you to discover my other positive traits! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain! I love walking and the outdoors. Reply ISI, Dept. 11605, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. ISI
A Real Slip Up
Submitted by Julie Hollar An Idaho police officer called the station on his radio. “I have an interesting case here. An old lady shot her husband for stepping on the floor she just mopped.” “Have you arrested the woman?” asked the dispatcher. Replied the officer, “No, not yet. The floor’s still wet.”
Office Lunch
Submitted by Jim Meade People in my office were forgetting about food they’d left in the employee refrigerator. A new policy asked that the containers be marked. As a reminder, a sign was posted reading, “Please date your food.” Below, someone had scribbled, “What? And give up men?” ISI
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Fat Bikes Fit On Nordic Trails
Article by Natalie Bartley Jug Mountain Ranch – south of McCall – offers pation according to the 2013 Outdoor Recreation With the ever-increasing popularity of bicycling, winter bikers use of most of its Nordic trail system Participation Report by the Outdoor Foundation. combining fat bikes with snow results in a natural with the purchase of a day pass or season pass With lots of late winter and spring skiing ahead, extension of winter activities. For those are you in the bike saddle? Check looking for enjoyable ways to bicycle in with your trail managers and shops winter, fat bikes fit the bill. regarding emerging fat bike riding Also known as snow bikes, these opportunities. Clydesdales of the bicycle world sport For further information, visit the large volume, low pressure tires that following resources: provide riders with floatation and • Fat Bike Best Practices – imba. traction. Fat bikes glide on groomed com/resources/land-protection/fatNordic trails, packed winter bike trails, bikes established snowmobile trails, or • McCall, Id. –- Jug Mountain snow-packed roads. Year-round these Ranch – www.jugmountainranch.com adaptable bicycles serve as transpor• McCall, Id. – McCall Activity Barn tation on a variety of terrain including – www.activitybarn.com sand dunes, hiking trails, and sandy • Donnelly, Id. – Tamarack Resort beaches. – www.tamarackidaho.com More than a dozen companies • Sun Valley, Id. – Sun Valley Ski produce this Mack truck of the bicycle and Snowshoe Center –- www.sunworld. Tires range from 3.7 to 5.0 valley.com inches wide and carry less than 10 psi • Sandpoint, Id. – Schweitzer of air pressure. A fat bike’s extra-wide Mountain Resort –t- www.schweitzer. tires absorb shocks while the low inflacom. tion of the tires allows traction without Many ski areas and bike shops offer fat bike rentals for use on Nordic trail systems Natalie Bartley is a Boise-based bogging down. or forest roads. [Photo by Natalie Bartley] author of the mobile app travel guide In northwest Wyoming, fat bikes Boise’s Best Outdoor Adventures and are welcomed on the Nordic trail system at Grand and offers fat bike rentals. Bicyclists share the the trail guidebooks Best Easy Day Hikes Boise Targhee Resort. This is its fifth season of providing groomed trails with skiers and snowshoers. The and Best Rail Trails Pacific Northwest. She is a fat biking. You can rent fat bikes at the resort at McCall Activity Barn allows fat bikes on its small PSIA certified Nordic instructor ready to ditch her Teton Mountain Outfitters and in Driggs, Idaho at Nordic trail system. They don’t offer bike rentals, skis and buy a fat bike. ISI the Habitat outdoor store. To use the resort’s trails, but you can rent from Gravity Sports in McCall. both bikers and cross-country skiers buy a Nordic Tamarack Resort, in the Payette National Forday-use pass or a season pass. est between McCall and Donnelly, permits fat bikes Andy Williams, the special events and summer on their trails. Expect a good challenge on the hilly trails manager was integral in starting the fat bike terrain. Dustin Simons, the activity manager at movement. the resort, says it can be warm at the base of the “We were the first ski area in the country to al- mountain. He requests fat bike riders to not ride low bikes on cross-country ski trails,” says Andy. the trails when the snow is soft. Since their inaugural Grand Targhee Fat Bike Race Other etiquette for using groomed Nordic trails in 2011, they have continued to provide races, in- includes yielding to other users and keeping off the cluding two this winter. They offer groomed single- groomed classic ski tracks. Always check in at the track trails specifically for fat bikes and Nordic ski Nordic Center for local trail rules and to purchase trails fat bikes can use. Andy says fat bike usage your trail pass. and popularity are still expanding. In the central mountains of Idaho, rent a fat I tried a fat bike at Grand Targhee Resort’s bike from the Elephants Perch or at Sturtevant’s “Best of the West” Nordic trails. When riding down hills through si- in Sun Valley. Share a trail with snowshoers and 6 Years in a Row! lent, snow-covered glades and forests, I felt safe Nordic skiers on portions of the extensive Sun Valand in control since the giant-sized tires provided ley Nordic and Snowshoe Center’s trail system or a soft and stable ride. As I rigorously pedaled up join skiers and their dogs on the Durrance Demo hills until I had to stop to catch my breath, I was Loop by the Sawtooth National Recreation Area’s SALES • PARTS pleasantly surprised how well the bike floated on visitor center north of Ketchum off Highway 75. SERVICE the trail surface. Fortunately, I dressed in layers New this winter, the Big Wood Golf Course as if I were cross-country skiing or snowshoeing north of Ketchum is launching a fat bike rental • Huge Discounts and could remove clothing as I worked up a sweat. program along with groomed bike-specific trails, Grand Targhee requires fat bike tires to be 3.7 ahead of starting a Nordic ski trail program. • True 4 season off-road trailers inches or wider to ride the resort’s Nordic trails. At Schweitzer Mountain Resort in north Idaho, • RV Show Trade-Ins have arrived Tire inflation can be adjusted between 3-10 psi to visitors can rent fat bikes and access the large • 150+ RVs in Stock and Onsite compensate for harder or softer trail conditions. Nordic trail system. Kirk Johnson, the rental and re• Onsite Financing In line with other Nordic trail systems allowing fat pair manager at the resort, says, “I have definitely bikes, if the bike tire leaves a visible rut over 1-inch seen an up rise increase in rentals and people’s 208-746-8632 • 1-800-876-3426 deep in the track, the groomed Nordic trail is too personal ownership.” 3306 Hatwai Rd, Lewiston www.lewistonrvcenter.com soft and bikers should wait for the trails to harden Nationally, bicycling ranks second behind run100% Locally Owned & Operated enough to support a fat bike. Since fat bikes roll ning as a outdoor activity by frequency of particieasily over packed snow, in addition to Nordic trails, riders can pedal on a variety of national forest trails, snowmobile trails, and snow-packed roads. Andy says the Grand Targhee Resort has worked with the local Teton Valley Trails and Pathways to address the sport’s growth. This collaboration resulted in the Fat Bike Best Practices for Nordic trails, snowmobile trails, natural terrain, and backcountry adopted by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). Residents in southwest Idaho have many options for fat bike Nordic trail destinations. Riders can pick up a fat bike rental at Idaho Mountain Touring in downtown Boise before heading out to the many Nordic trails throughout the state or rent a fat bike to pick up a rental upon arrival at the trail system.
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Baby Dinosaur Exhibit Hatches at the Museum of Idaho By Laura Cooley If the movie Jurassic Park taught us anything, it is that messing around with dinosaur eggs is not a good idea. However, in Museum of Idaho’s newest exhibition, Hatching the Past: The Search for Dinosaur Eggs and Babies, it’s not only a good idea, it’s encouraged. Visitors get a rare and exciting look at the life of dinosaurs through their eggs, nests, and embryos. As visitors wander through this exhibit, they will find themselves envisioning these fearsome creatures as vulnerable little baby animals raised, in some cases, by caring moms or in dinosaur
communities. Hatching the Past offers an array of authentic dinosaur eggs and nests collected from all over the world. Although dinosaur eggs were first identified in the 1920s, their scientific significance was not fully understood and recognized until the end of the 20th century. Dinosaur eggs provide fascinating details and insights into the behavior and evolution of dinosaurs. This interactive exhibition invites visitors to touch a real dinosaur bone, dig for eggs, dress like dinosaurs, tend their own dinosaur egg nests, and even wander through a “petting zoo” with models
of tiny dinosaurs. One of the highlights of the exhibit is a presentation about the exceptional and rare discovery of Baby Louie – the most intact known specimen of a baby dinosaur. Charlie Magovern, one of the curators of the exhibit, discovered Baby Louie in China in 1993. Baby Louie was featured on the cover of National Geographic Magazine in May of 1996. So visit Hatching the Past at the Museum of Idaho thru May 7 and see what all the “eggcitement” is about! ISI
The Invincible Judge Judy: A Favorite Among Baby Boomers And Their Parents By Teresa Ambord “You’re a liar and I’m a human lie detector!” If you tune in to watch Judge Judy’s show, you’ll hear that often. I used to call her Judge Crabby based on what sounds like harsh responses to some litigants. I saw it as just another “who’s the baby daddy?” show, as one blogger put it. Then I learned that Judge Judith Sheindlin is the highest paid TV personality in any genre, making $47 million a year, and a favorite among us older folks. I decided to find out what I was missing. Crabby, yes. Judgmental, by definition. But she is also quite funny. Woe to the litigant who irritates her when she’s hungry. “Don’t waste my time!” she might yell. “I saw the menu, there’s turkey for lunch today!” Often she bounces her jokes off her bailiff (whom she refers to as Byrd), when the two of them exchange “oh brother!” looks. Byrd’s full name is Petri Hawkins Byrd. They’re on different professional planes, but there’s an obvious friendship there, and mutual respect. It’s the two of them against the world, at times. On one case when all the litigants admitted to drug use, Sheindlin threw up her hands and said, “The only ones not smoking dope here are me and Byrd!” The Money, The Fame Broken down into days of work (she works 52 days a year), Judge Judy makes $900,000 a day. Not bad pay if you can get it. And because of the ratings she brings in – the highest Nielsen ratings in 12 years – she can get it. At age 71, she‘s now in her 18th season, has won countless awards, and
has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. The list of honors goes on, but chances are Judge Judy would trade all those awards if she could get litigants to take some personal responsibility. It’s probably that dearth of common sense that makes her so darn cranky. A Little Background Judge Judy didn’t come out of nowhere. She spent years presiding over family court in Manhattan. Her husband, Judge Jerry Sheindlin is now retired from his position in the Bronx Supreme Court. According to DuJour magazine the first time she laid eyes on him, she was evidently smitten. She pointed at him and said, “And who is this?” His answer, “Lady, get your finger out of my face.” After they formed a successful relationship, she whipped out a calendar and said it was time to set the date. “I did propose to him,” she told DuJour. “He tried to weasel out of it… whatever. He finally capitulated.” They were married in 1978 and had five children. Later they divorced, but the divorce was not made in heaven, and they ended up remarrying. Now, she says, “He’s the wind beneath my wings.” Her Courtroom The show Judge Judy involves small claims disputes, and as the lead-in to the show says, the “cases are real.” But the spectators in the audience are actors. Parade.com reports that the actors are instructed to talk to each other before and after each case. Why? So the bailiff has a reason to say, “Order! All rise.” You may wonder, as I do, why litigants agree to go on the show. I suppose for some, it’s because the show pays the awards that are made when Judge Judy issues a verdict. It’s still hard to believe it is worth the humiliation of airing your dirty laundry on national TV. The list of cases Judge Judy hears is long, but they seem to fall mostly into a few major categories. • Money borrowed and not repaid, usually among family members. • Cohabiting couples who split up and expect the court to divide their assets. Judge Judy is quick to tell them, that kind of asset protection is for married people and the law does not extend the same rights to unmarrieds. • Then there are cases involving landlord/tenant disputes, fender benders, property damage, dog bites, and a whole lot of “he done me wrong, cheated on me with my mama so I set his clothes on fire” cases. Her Book The title of her first book Don’t Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It’s Raining, echoes the kinds of thing she says all the time. In it, she tells of cases from her family court days. As I read, I could sense her growing frustration with the people she saw in court every day. In case after case, single parents treated the birth of a new baby more as a raise in the welfare check than a joyous addition to the family. Drug-addicted parents, alcohol-addicted grandparents, neglected children. When the law permitted a real solution, Judge Judy dropped the hammer on flaky parents but often, her hands were tied. Reading about it, I started to feel crabby myself. Now on her court TV show she hears small claims cases, but most still include litigants who show little common sense or personal responsibility, and somehow don’t’ mind flaunting it on national TV. I get it now. I understand the crabby demeanor though it still rankles at times. Now my question is how does she maintain her sanity, let alone a beautiful smile, a happy marriage, and a quick wit in the courtroom? Yeah, she’s cranky, for sure. But now that I’ve looked a little deeper, I admit… I kind of like this crab. And the Verdict Is Egg McMuffin Judge Judy is a very rich woman, but she’s still down-to-earth. She told DuJour magazine her breakfast of choice is a simple fast food item. “I still think Egg McMuffin is the best breakfast,” and that’s been her habit going all the way back to the early 1990s. She relaxes in her dressing room by playing gin rummy, which she learned from her maternal grandmother. “She didn’t let me win. And I don’t let my grandchildren win!” ISI
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Why Rituals Help Us Mourn… And Heal Part One By Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. I often say that when words are inadequate, we should turn to ritual. Nowhere is this more true or important than after someone we love has died. In this two-part article I will explain why rituals are essential and how you can continue to use the power of ritual to help yourself and your family heal, even long after the death and funeral. What is a ritual? Rituals are symbolic activities that help us, together with our families and friends, express our deepest thoughts and feelings about life’s most important events. Baptism celebrates the birth of a child and that child’s acceptance into the church community. Birthday parties honor the passing of another year in the life of someone we love. Weddings publicly affirm the private love shared by two people. What do such rituals have in common? First, they are typically public events. Families, friends, church members, villages, even nations – any group with strong emotional or philosophical ties – may create and enact a ritual, providing a support system for common beliefs and values. Rituals unite us. Second, most rituals follow an established, cultural-specific procedure. American high school graduations, for example, begin with a procession of students in cap and gown, include one or more speeches, and culminate when the graduates march across a platform to accept their diplomas.
As with all rituals, the details will change somewhat from graduation to graduation, but the general pattern always remains recognizable. The predictability of ritual helps participants feel at ease. It also lends a sense of continuity, of the distillation of generations past, to those events we find most meaningful. Finally, and perhaps most important, rituals are symbolic. Wedding rings, christening gowns, mortarboards, and gold watches all symbolize important life transitions and commitments. Not just the objects but also the very acts of ritual are symbolic, as well. We blow out candles at birthday parties, for example, to symbolize the completion of another year. At a graduation ceremony’s end, the graduates toss their caps into the air to symbolize their newfound freedom. What words could we possibly utter that would capture so well our feelings at these moments? The symbol of ritual provides us a means to express our beliefs and feelings when words alone will not do those beliefs and feelings justice. Funerals & other rituals after a death. Like the other types of ritual I have mentioned, the funeral is a public, traditional, and symbolic means of expressing our beliefs, thoughts and feelings about the death of someone loved. Rich in history and full of symbolism, the funeral ceremony helps us begin to meet a number of our fundamental needs as mourners. Funerals help us: • acknowledge the reality of the death
Simple Rituals To Use In Your Ongoing Journey Through Grief Part Two By Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. In the first part of this article, we discussed why human beings turn to ritual in cases when words alone are inadequate to express our most profound thoughts and feelings. After someone we love dies, the funeral ritual helps us and everyone in the community of mourners. But the importance of rituals for mourners doesn’t end with the funeral. Even long after the funeral, you and your family and friends can plan and carry out simple rituals that will help you continue to meet these essential needs of mourning. Below are several ideas. Hold a tree planting Trees represent the beauty, vibrancy, and continuity of life. A specially planted and located tree can honor the person who died and serve as a perennial memorial. This can be particularly helpful if there is no gravesite or cremation niche to visit. The tree is a symbolic, physical presence that helps represent the person who died. When you visit the tree, it helps you remember the person who died and convert your grief (what you think and feel on the inside) into mourning (the outward expression of your grief). Invite friends and family to attend. If the hole is dug and the tree is already placed inside it before the gathering begins, participants can help shovel loose dirt around the root ball and finish the planting. You might write a short ceremony for the tree planting. (Or ask a friend to help write one.) A gathering prayer or message, a short reading, an informal sharing of memories, and perhaps a song are all you need. Consider a personalized metal marker or sign, too. Have a candle-lighting ceremony Invite a small group of friends. Place a lit candle in the center of a table, and form a circle around the table, with each person holding his or her own small candle. Have each person in turn light his or her candle by holding it to the center candle’s flame. As they light their candles, they are invited to share a
memory of the person who died. At the end, play a song or read a poem or prayer in memory of the person who died. Set aside the anniversary of the death as a holiday As mourners, we usually don’t look forward to the anniversary of the death. We often feel particularly sad and helpless on this day. But if we turn the anniversary day into a ritual, we give ourselves something meaningful and healing to do when ordinary words and going about our day-today routines are inadequate. Consider setting aside the anniversary as an annual holiday. Each year, visit the grave or scattering site. Or plan a ritual activity, such as going on a hike, hosting a family dinner, volunteering at the homeless shelter, or whatever seems most fitting. Consider commemorating the life that was lived by doing something that the person who died would have appreciated. What were his hobbies and passions? Is there something you turn into a ritual activity either on the anniversary of the death or on his birthday that honors what he cared about? This special day can include a simple ceremony. Gather at a certain time and place and say a few words. Invite others to do the same. After the cer-
• give testimony to the unique life of the person who died • encourage the expression of grief • provide support to mourners • embrace our faith, beliefs, and questions about life and death • find hope for our continued living I hope you were privileged to experience personalized, meaningful funeral ceremonies for the people in your life who have died. But whether you did or did not, here is the wonderful news: You can still marshal the healing power of ritual as you continue to mourn and heal. In Part Two of this article I will offer ritual ideas that you can use anytime in your ongoing journey through grief.
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emony and activity, if there is one, share a meal. Spending this day in this way in the company of others who love you and who also loved the person who died will help all of you on your journey through grief toward healing. Now that I’ve given you a few ideas about how to use rituals in your ongoing journey through grief, I bet you can think of others. In fact, I’d love to hear from you about your experiences with rituals in grief. I invite you to email me at drwolfelt@
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centerforloss.com. Remember – when words and interior thoughts and individual efforts alone are inadequate, we create rituals. Rituals in grief are especially powerful. I wish you good grief and Godspeed. About the Author: Dr. Alan Wolfelt is a respected author and educator on the topic of healing in grief. He serves as Director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition and is on the faculty at the University of Colorado Medical School’s Depart-
ment of Family Medicine. Dr. Wolfelt has written many compassionate, bestselling books designed to help people mourn well so they can continue to love and live well, including Understanding Your Grief, The Mourner’s Book of Hope, and Healing Your Grieving Soul. Visit centerforloss. com to learn more about the natural and necessary process of grief and mourning and to order Dr. Wolfelt’s books. ISI
Preplanning Can Bring Comfort And Security Thinking about your own funeral leaves most people feeling a little uneasy, but more adults are finding that preplanning a funeral offers great emotional and even financial security for them and their families. With preplanning, families find comfort in knowing that the funeral reflects what their loved one wanted. It also gives them peace of mind not to have to make important decisions at a stressful time. If you are considering prearranging a funeral, you should contact funeral homes in your com-
munity. A funeral director can walk you through the prearrangement process and answer your questions. Once you’ve made those prearrangements, keep a copy of the plan and any pertinent paperwork in a safe place. Also, inform a close friend or relative what arrangements have been made and where the information may be found. If you choose, there are several ways to prepay for your funeral, offering you financial benefits. For an individual who may be applying for Medicaid
benefits, establishing an irrevocable pre-need funeral plan can significantly impact and benefit your heirs. If you need a referral to an Idaho Funeral Service Association member in your community, please call us at (208) 888-2730. Our members also belong to the National Funeral Directors Association and adhere to the highest ethical standards in Funeral Service. All our members abide by the Code of Professional Ethics as adopted by the National Funeral Directors Association. ISI
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Well, Well, Well… My Mother Knew By Judith Duryea Recently, my mother Alice Duryea Kinney passed from this earthly plane at 103. Considering her age, to say her passing wasn’t expected eventually would be unrealistic, but in fact, it was a big surprise. My mother hadn’t been truly sick nor in a hospital since she had a kidney removed 15 years ago. Even that was a surprise; Mom had complained of pain for two years, and when a doctor in Boston finally recommended she get an ultrasound, a tumor the size of a grapefruit was discovered. Many thought that at the age of 88, what were her chances of recovery? Well, she sure showed us! And continued to do so the rest of her life. Not only was she a stranger to the hospital, Mom only visited doctors for routine checkups. She managed to avoid the flu, colds, shingles, breathing issues, diabetes, and heart problems. She took no drugs for cholesterol, stress, sleeping, pain, or dementia. She did take thyroid medication because her thyroid had been removed in 1966, and she was on a pill for blood pressure. That was it except for eye drops for glaucoma. Over the years, I became Mom’s chauffeur to her eye doctor for routine check ups, her ear doctor to remove excess skin buildup in one ear, and rarely to her primary physician, who would simply marvel at her even being there – upright and talking intelligently. She didn’t have an ailment; Mom just checked in. When people would inquire about her wellbe-
ing, I would usually say, she’s old, frail, slowing down, but she’s still bossing me around! Mom never lost her smarts; her favorite show was Jeopardy, and even though she would be very proud if she got one answer, she always enjoyed the challenge. She had been a very sharp bridge player, but her macular degeneration made it hard to see to play cards or read – things she truly missed. Even without her close-up vision, Mom navigated her small apartment on her own every day, getting up, getting dressed, making her bed, and getting her morning coffee. Although her world got smaller as her mobility declined, Mom never complained about her life. Even with nothing worthwhile on TV or on a day spent mostly alone, she never whined about her situation. Mom never did not want to be alive – although even she marveled that she had lived so long! Like most long-lived parents, Mom did not want to be a burden. At times I felt overwhelmed by the stress of making sure she was okay, but in my heart I know that caring for her was a gift to me. Every day I would be at her place – yes, she still lived alone in her small apartment – preparing food, visiting, taking care of bills, or sending birthday cards. Whatever Mom needed or wanted, I was responsible for getting it done. Mom was hospitalized with a stomach ailment on a Monday, and she was gone the following Sunday. She never wanted to go to a nursing home, and she made sure that never happened. During that week, I wondered about Mom’s
long life. What kept her looking forward to each day? Even as a child, she chose life, fighting to stay alive as an orphan on the streets of Istanbul. What motivated that tenacity? I believe Mom stayed alive for love, for the chance to feel and give affection, caring, compassion, tenderness, and kindness. She loved my sister, my daughter, and me with an undying devotion. Yes, she got old in her body, but she never really got old in her living! To what did she owe her longevity? How do people live so long? I think it’s quite simple. Don’t smoke. Don’t drink. Don’t take a lot of prescription drugs. Take your vitamins. Avoid doctors for small ailments if you can. Stay physically active as long as you can; Mom and I walked together around her neighborhood until she was well into her 90s. Don’t eat junk food; don’t overeat; and drink lots of water. Equally important is attitude! Be happy to see people; don’t be mean; appreciate the small treasures of life; be grateful; love deeply; and be kind. Why do we humans want to stay on a planet filled with daily stories of unthinkable cruelty and pain, except for the chance to give and receive love? It’s a corny cliché, but I think it’s the truth. Without love, our lives are sick, we falter, and fade. I was one lucky daughter to have my Mom teach me such great lessons of a healthy, long, and well-lived life. ISI
Fun, as in Funeral By Laverne Bardy Friends are keeling over like dominoes. Every time one dies, I run to my mirror, hoping to find something that will confirm I’m still too vibrant to go into the fertilizer business. The first time a friend died was a rude awakening. I was inconsolable. She had been a lifetime friend. My sorrow intensified as I pondered the fact that she was my peer, and I was way too young to be the same age as someone who died of old age. Wasn’t I? Every time I’m faced with another funeral, I get the same argument from my husband. “I don’t want to go,” he says. “I didn’t even know the guy who died. He was your friend.” “We don’t go to funerals for the deceased,” I say. “We go for the living.” “Well, I don’t like funerals.” “Really? Most people love them.” I usually end up going alone. I was in the funeral parlor seated alongside my newly widowed friend, Sheila. She and Stewart had what she described as a fairy-tale marriage. They never spent a night apart. That wheezing you hear is I, suffocating. Their 54-year marriage yielded eight children – which are bound to happen if you never spend a night apart. We were about six feet from the open casket. Guests walked up and offered condolences. People are often uncomfortable doing this, as one woman proved. “I was so sorry to learn about Stewart’s passing,” she said. “I just looked at him and I have to say I’ve never seen him look so bad.” Seriously? The man was room temperature and she was surprised he did not look good? After funeral services we were invited back to Sheila’s home to sit Shiva. During this time, people drop by to pay respect, share warm stories about the deceased, and eat. Show me a Jewish event of any kind, and I’ll show you the perfect venue and excuse to eat. One young woman suffered from foot-in-mouth disease as she babbled on about the previous night’s episode of The Simpsons. At the end of a lengthy spiel that had her laughing hysterically as she related details of the show, she turned to my grieving friend and asked, “Did you see The Simpsons last night?” Loud silence. I was relieved to learn that laughing at a funeral is not something only the mentally ill do. I was at my brother’s gravesite. Wayne and I had been
close. As part of the traditional Jewish service, I was handed a shovel, dug into the fresh mound of earth along side his resting place, and spilled the soil over his lowered casket. This represents the final act one can do for a loved one to see him off safely. It was the saddest moment of my life, but instead of crying, I heard myself laugh. I was horrified. I was thinking about something that occurred at our mother’s funeral four years earlier. I’d worn a colorful, handcrafted silk shawl. Have the of a Wayne sported an expensive designer tie. The rabbi approached us, recited a prayer, and with about many things with your loved the speed and skill of Edward Scissorhands, he ones: from day-to-day details to cut a small gash into my shawl and Wayne’s tie. To big events. Sharing stories with those who assure that they couldn’t possibly be repaired, he matter most isn’t just important today; it will then tugged at each cut, which produced ragged, be especially significant when it’s time to frayed edges. This act is called Kriah, and rephonor and commemorate your lives. resents grief and anger over the loss of a loved one. Some rabbis choose to give mourners a torn Meaningful memorialization starts when loved black ribbon to pin over their hearts, but our rabbi ones talk about what matters most: memories favored destroying our garments beyond repair. made, lessons learned and how they hope to In the presence of countless puzzled mournbe remembered. ers, Wayne and I looked blankly at each other and Download a free brochure and Have the Talk giggled. We later decided it was a kind of coping of a Lifetime today. It can make the difference mechanism – the result of a buildup of our grief. of a lifetime. www.englishfuneralchapel.com My husband is 80 years old, looks 60, and feels 50. He’s physically and mentally active. While he makes long-term plans as though he’s going to live forever, I keep checking my watch to see Coeur d’ Alene 208.664.3143 | Post Falls 208.773.3425 how many minutes I have left. And, while he plays golf, chops down trees, and adds a porch onto our house, I’m in doctor’s offices, operating rooms, and physical therapy, which leaves little time or energy for the jitterbugIf you’ve recently lost a loved one, you may have questions ging and skydiving I’d about handling their assets and the probate process. We planned to do at this age. offer a FREE one-hour consultation to explain your options The next time someone glibly says, “You’re and answer all of your questions. only as old as you feel,” Mark Perison is an accomplished and approachable I can’t promise I won’t attorney with 20 years’ experience in wills, estates smack him over the head and guiding clients through the probate process. with my cane. But, first I’ll ask if he’s talking about We also offer a FREE half-hour wills and mentally or physically; estate planning consultation. because mentally, I’m in my 30s, but physically, Phone: (208) 331-1200 | Boise, Idaho I’m circling the drain. ISI info@markperison.com | markperison.com
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