Essential Sun Safety Tips for Older Adults
Sunshine can brighten your mood and boost vitamin D, but it also carries risks—especially for older adults. As we age, our skin becomes more vulnerable, and certain health conditions can increase our sensitivity to heat and UV rays. Staying sun-safe is crucial for enjoying the outdoors while protecting your health.
Time It Right
Avoid peak sun hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Opt for morning or late afternoon outings when the sun is less intense. If you must be outside, seek shade regularly.
Dress Smart
Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that covers your arms and legs. Darker fabrics offer better UV protection, but can cause you to feel warmer. A wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses can protect your face and eyes.
Use Sunscreen Generously
Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher at least 30 minutes before going outside. Cover often-missed areas like the ears, neck, and tops of feet. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Dehydration can sneak up quickly in the heat and lead to serious health issues.
Check Your Medications
Some medications, like antibiotics, antihistamines, and diuretics, can increase your sensitivity to the sun. Talk to your healthcare provider about any potential risks.
Know the Warning Signs
Watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion—dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat, or confusion. Act quickly by moving to shade, hydrating, and seeking medical help if needed.
Stay Safe and Enjoy the Sunshine
Take control of your health this summer. Schedule an appointment with a VIPcare provider by calling 352-706-8913 to review medications, discuss sun safety, and create a wellness plan tailored to your needs.
Jubilant July Is Full of Celebrations
Can you believe it’s already July?
(I could swear that it was just Christmas last week.) July 1 marks the midway point of the year and it’s considered a month of fun thanks to the biggest fireworks party of the year. If you’re looking for a reason to celebrate anything related to chocolate and ice cream, you’ve also landed in the right month!
July is crammed full of holidays and observances according to Spruce.com, such as Clean Beaches Week (July 1-7), Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day (July 1), Independence Day (July 4), International Kissing Day (July 6), National Strawberry Sundae Day and World Chocolate Day (July 7), National Pick Blueberries Day (July 10), National Give Something Away Day (July 15), National Daiquiri Day (July 19), National BLT Day (July 22), Gorgeous Grandma Day AND National Hot Dog Day (July
23), National Hot Fudge Sundae Day, National Wine and Cheese Day (both on July 25) and finally, National Spam Day (July 31).
July is also the perfect time to celebrate these “all-July” holidays: Family Fun Month, Family Reunion Month, National Grilling Month (perhaps in conjunction with National Hot Dog Month and National Picnic Month, also in July), National Ice Cream Month, and National Peach Month.
Finally, the summer berries are ripe for the picking and the other fruits and vegetables are begging to be turned into garden-fresh salads and smoothies.
No matter how you choose to spend your gorgeous July –picnicking, grilling, walking on a beautiful Florida beach, playing games with the grandkids, or just lounging by the pool – I wish you fair skies, hot sunshine, and a frosty beverage with a paper umbrella.
Lifestyles After 50
Volume 36, Issue 7
Published by Connected Community Media Group Publisher@lifestylesafter50.com
Editor
Michele Baker
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Photo by James Patterson
Give me a 1-2-3-4! What are we cheering for?
The Right to Bare Arms
By Patricia Finn
The Fourth. The Fourth. The Fourth. It’s July and nobody celebrates like Americans on the 4th of July. The Fourth of July is our red, white and blue holiday so bring out the lawn chairs and start up the grill. We want hot dogs, hamburgers, sparklers and fireworks. This is more than summer fun, it’s a chance to remember that we are One Nation. We the People. Not the King. Not the political party. Not the military dictatorship. A Democratic Republic. A radical experiment in governing.
Let’s peek at some facts that add to our patriotic enthusiasm. There is nothing Americans enjoy more than a “we’re all in” celebration. There have been no shared holidays since Valentine’s Day. Although we celebrated St Patrick’s Day, it lacks the magnitude that we give to “The Fourth.” It is summer. It is hot. By July we are ready to party and most Fourth of July parties are outside. Unlike Christmas and Valentine’s Day, the Fourth of July has the advantage of not needing to buy anyone gifts. This one is easy. You grill and everyone is happy. Add to that the excitement of being outside at night and top it off with free entertainment by the city.
Now that we are happy, fed and entertained, let’s consider the important question: “Are we better off than if we had remained a British colony?” If the Patriots hadn’t rebelled, we would be British not American. I like tea - but Spam? Years ago, I was standing on a line in a retail shop and noticed that the woman next to me had a heavy British
accent. I asked her if she was visiting because I noticed her accent. Her reply was “Aren’t you the ones with the accent? After all, it is English that we are speaking.”
Celebrating The Fourth gives us a chance to reflect on our freedoms.
In America for the most part, what we wear is a choice. America is “The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.”
We are free to brave short sleeves, sleeveless, and halter tops. We have the right to bare arms. You may be frowned at, but you will not be arrested. The basic rule is to wear something in the basic places most of the time.
Let me see, what other personal freedoms do we have? I can eat what I want, but that is pretty standard world-wide, except for the forbidden pig, or cow depending on how far east you travel. In countries that reject certain foods, I don’t think it is an issue that results in arrest, except for the consumption of alcohol. Remember prohibition? I hope you can’t remember prohibition, no one that old should be alive and reading this. My parents were part of the “speakeasy” generation.
Did my title make you think that this was going to be about gun control? It is my team that argues for the “right to bear arms” but I hesitate to go there. In America we are free to defend ourselves and own a gun. I thought that was what the police (and God) were for. Now let me see, I have covered dress, food, guns – Oh! How could I forget? The freedom to print your opinion.
Social Security Q&A
Information from Social Security Administration
Question: I just got married and wanted to know what are the requirements to receive Social Security spouse’s benefits?
Answer: Generally, you must be married for one year before you can get the spouse’s benefits. However, if you are the parent of your spouse’s child, the one-year rule does not apply. The same is true if you were entitled (or potentially entitled) to certain benefits under Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Act in the month before the month you got married. A divorced spouse must have been married 10 years to get the spouse’s benefits.
Question: Can a former spouse get benefits on my Social Security record?
Answer: If you are divorced and your marriage lasted at least 10 years, your former spouse may be able to get benefits based on your record.
Question: If I marry, will it affect my benefits?
Answer: If you get Social Security disability or retirement benefits and you marry, your benefit will stay the same. Here’s how marriage may affect other benefits:
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• If you marry, your spouse's income and resources may change your SSI benefit; or
• If you and your spouse both get SSI, your benefit amount will change from an individual rate to a couple’s rate.
Benefits for a widow, divorced widow, widower or divorced widower
• You cannot get benefits if you remarry before age 60; and
• You cannot get benefits if you are disabled and remarry before age 50.
Divorced spouse’s benefits
Generally, your benefits end if you remarry.
Benefits for a child under age 18 or student ages 18 or 19
Benefits end if you marry.
5 Fun Ways to Celebrate Independence Day with Your Grandkids
If you’re celebrating Independence Day with your grandkids along Florida’s Gulf Coast, there are plenty of exciting ways to make it special! Here are some festive activities:
Watch Fireworks Over the Water
Cities like Sarasota, Venice, and Fort Myers host stunning waterfront fireworks displays, often accompanied by local parades and concerts. Head to Siesta Key Beach or Bradenton Riverwalk for prime viewing spots and a patriotic evening.
Have a Festive Beach Picnic
Enjoy a day at popular Gulf Coast beaches like Anna Maria Island, Lido Beach, or Venice Beach. Pack a cooler with red, white, and blue snacks, and let the grandkids build sandcastles or play beach games before watching fireworks over the ocean at night.
Visit Historical Sites
Explore Florida’s rich history at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, where kids can learn about American innovation. In Sarasota, the Sarasota Classic Car Museum is a fun way to appreciate vintage American automobiles and spark conversations about past generations.
Take a Dolphin-Watching Cruise
Celebrate with a scenic boat tour in Sarasota or Fort Myers. Many cruises feature dolphin sightings and picturesque sunset views, making for a relaxing yet exciting way to enjoy the holiday with family. (PRO TIP: Hubbard’s Marina and Sunshine Scenic Tours offer senior discounts.)
Make Patriotic Crafts & Treats
Host an afternoon of creativity with DIY crafts, like seashell painting or making flags from beach-themed materials. Bake festive cupcakes or create a fruit salad using strawberries, blueberries, and bananas for a red, white, and blue twist.
With Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast as your backdrop, these activities will help you create treasured memories with your grandkids while celebrating Independence Day in style!
Simple Steps for Organizing Your Family’s Photo Legacy
Photos are the reminders of places, spaces, and faces we’ve held near and dear, and most people have thousands on phones, computers, albums, and in boxes. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and put off sorting them, waiting for the “someday” that never arrives. But with a few simple steps, you can easily take control of the chaos.
Give yourself some grace and space. Spend just 10 minutes a day organizing your photos. Focus on one small batch, like yesterday’s photos, a folder from your desktop, or a handful of prints. Set a timer, start sorting, and once the time’s up, put everything aside until the next session.
The 10-Minute Rule has been proven to increase productivity by breaking complex tasks into manageable micro-tasks, rather than delaying the entire process due to overwhelm. Before you know it, the seemingly impossible job of sorting through decades of family photos will be done.
Stay focused. Don't just clean at random, but rather, have a goal: “collect 500 great family photos by Labor Day,” or “organize 2024 Christmas photos by next weekend.”
Having a clear objective and an end date will prevent you from getting sidetracked by other tasks.
Decide how to sort your photos. If you’re using folders, sort by year or event. For digital or digitized photos, use a tool like Mylio (mylio.com), a free media library, to tag people and places for faster searching later. PRO TIP: use simple, consistent names like “Italy 2019” or “Mom’s 80th birthday” rather than “IMG_3948."
Safely store hard copies. Keep your physical photos in a cool, dry, dark place away from heat and moisture, stored in air-tight plastic bags or boxes. Back up digital photos on an external hard drive as well as in the Cloud.
Protect Your Home and Yard this Hurricane Season
Courtesy of LawnStarter
Which U.S. counties are most in harm’s way this hurricane season?
With NOAA predicting an “above-normal” storm season, LawnStarter ranked 2025’s Most (& Least) Affected Counties by Hurricanes using 10 metrics across 4 categories. LawnStarter ranked 318 U.S. counties. Here are the top 12 counties most likely to be affected by hurricanes in 2025:
• Bay County, FL
• Lee County, FL
• Terrebonne Parish, LA
• Polk County, FL
• Charlotte County, FL
• Osceola County, FL
Top 10 Counties with the Highest Anticipated (Annual) Financial Loss Due to Hurricane Damage
1. Harris County, TX (Houston, Pasadena, Atascocita): $1.15 billion
2. Broward County, FL (Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood): $894.8 million
3. Palm Beach County, FL (West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach): $863.8 million
4. Miami-Dade County, FL (Miami, Hialeah, Miami Gardens): $831.7 million
5. Hillsborough County, FL (Tampa, Brandon, Riverview): $441.6 million
6. Lee County, FL (Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers): $387.9 million
7. Brevard County, FL (Orlando, Palm Bay, Melbourne): $365.9 million
8. Charleston County, SC (Charleston, Mount Pleasant, James Island): $358.2 million
9. Pinellas County, FL (St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo): $286.7 million
10. Collier County, FL (Golden Gate, Immokalee, Naples): $281.1 million
• Collier County, FL
• Hillsborough County, FL
• Lafourche Parish, LA
• Sarasota County, FL
• Taylor County, FL
• Manatee County, FL
Some more findings?
A staggering $5.8 billion in expected annual hurricane damages is concentrated in just 10 counties, nearly onethird of the projected nationwide loss.
Other stormy stats:
Over the past 10 years, 215 of the 318 ranked counties saw at least 50% or more of their hurricanes reach Category 3 or stronger.
43 counties have weathered 10 or more hurricanes in the past decade.
Nearly 50 counties have endured 4 Category 5 storms since 2015.
In 2024, hurricanes were among the most damaging disasters in the U.S., with billions in property losses and widespread power outages. As storms grow more intense, your yard can be both a hazard zone and a first line of defense.
“Have a hurricane plan in place now,” advises Gregory S. Jenkins, Professor of Meteorology at Penn State.
“Know where your valuables are kept and keep phone contacts and important documents in a Ziplock bag in case of flooding.”
From fencing to fallen trees, hurricane winds can tear through outdoor spaces in minutes. With a few smart moves, you can reduce risks and protect your home’s exterior.
Walk your yard early in hurricane season to identify hazards and create a prep checklist.
• Secure or store patio items like furniture, grills, and décor before a storm.
• Remove dead branches and trim trees regularly to minimize the risk of downed limbs and roof damage.
• Use wind-resistant landscaping with deep-rooted native plants and ground covers.
• Replace gravel mulch with bark or rubber mulch that won’t become flying debris.
• Reinforce fencing or replace old posts to reduce collapse risk.
• Clean gutters and keep drains clear to prevent yard flooding.
• Clean up yard debris after a storm to prevent injuries and restore order.
With the 2025 hurricane season predicted to be especially active, prepping your yard now can limit damage to your home and help mitigate cleanup when the next storm hits. Read the full article at https://www. lawnstarter.com/blog/studies/most-hurricane-vulnerable-counties/.
Mental Health Study Finds Nearly 1 in 3 Seniors Have Anxiety or Depression
Caring surveyed thousands of American seniors to better understand their mental health challenges and how they’re managing symptoms and finding ways to cope against the unknowns of aging.
Caring.com, a leading senior living referral service and the nation’s top site for care reviews, published the results of its 2025 Senior Mental Health Study. Based on a survey in April of more than 4,000 Americans aged 65 or older, the study found that 1 in 3 seniors have a clinical diagnosis of anxiety or depression.
Surprisingly, caregiving stress ranked lower among causes of anxiety and depression. For many seniors, personal health concerns and global events were more significant sources of stress.
While some respondents have lived with symptoms for over six years, others have only recently developed them. Women were more likely than men to report a diagnosis.
The study also highlights a reliance on medication over therapy to manage their symptoms, despite expert insights emphasizing the benefits of talk therapy. Dr. Ken Robbins, board-certified in both internal medicine and psychiatry, states, “People are often skeptical that talk therapy is going to be helpful to them when they can talk to friends or relatives, and they don’t feel the need to talk to a therapist. They don’t understand how different it is when you speak to a professional who can help change the way you think.”
Overall, the survey shows that even though seniors may be struggling with their mental health, they’ve found several positive ways to cope with their stressors, such as prayer, meditation, spending time with a pet, or staying active.
Read our full report for more findings from this survey at https://www.caring.com/about/news-room/2025-mentalhealth-study-finds-nearly-1-in-3-seniors-diagnosed-withanxiety-or-depression/
Caring provides relevant senior care information and support, comprehensive senior living and senior care directories for the United States, including nearly 400,000 consumer reviews. Call (800) 558-0653 or visit www.caring.com
Ingredients for the cake:
Dad's Delight Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake
The perfect ending to any meal.
• 1 package Duncan Hines® Signature Lemon Supreme Cake Mix (reserve 1 Tablespoon of dry mix)
• 1 (3.4 oz.) package instant lemon pudding and pie filling
Ingredients for the frosting:
• 4-oz. cream cheese, softened
• 2-3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 10-inch Bundt or tube pan.
Combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil in large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes.
Lightly toss the blueberries in the reserved 1 Tablespoon of dry cake mix. Fold gently into batter and pour into prepared pan.
Bake 45-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 tsp. firmly packed lemon zest
• 2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
Cool cake on wire rack for 25 minutes. Remove cake from pan and cool completely.
For the frosting:
In the bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and beat at low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and beat until smooth, about 1 minute, stopping to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
To assemble:
Spread cream cheese frosting on top of cake and garnish with additional blueberries and lemon zest.
THE HEALTHY GEEZER
Marijuana and Glaucoma
Q. I heard that marijuana helps glaucoma. I’d like to try it, but won’t I get in trouble?
Marijuana can help your glaucoma, and it could get you in trouble because there are legal restrictions upon its use. If you are interested in trying medical marijuana for your glaucoma, discuss this treatment with your doctor. (I could write an entire column on the marijuana laws, but I’ll stick to the health issues.)
Marijuana refers to the parts of the Cannabis sativa plant, which has been used for medicinal purposes for more than 4,800 years. Doctors in ancient China, Greece and Persia used it as a pain reliever and for gastrointestinal disorders and insomnia. Cannabis as a medicine was common throughout most of the world in the 1800s. It was used as the primary pain reliever until the invention of aspirin.
Marijuana contains at least 60 chemicals called cannabinoids. THC is the main component responsible for marijuana’s mind-altering effect. Marinol (dronabinol), a prescription drug taken by oral capsule, is a man-made version of THC.
One of THC’s medical uses is for the treatment of nausea. It can improve mild to moderate nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy and help reduce nausea and weight loss in people with AIDS.
Older people, especially those with no marijuana experience, may not tolerate THC’s mind-altering side effects as well as young people. Doctors generally prescribe several kinds of newer anti-nausea drugs with fewer side effects before resorting to Marinol.
Glaucoma increases pressure in the eyeball, which can lead to vision loss. Smoking
marijuana reduces pressure in the eyes. Your doctor can prescribe other medications to treat glaucoma, but these can lose their effectiveness over time.
Researchers are trying to develop new medications based on cannabis to treat pain; THC may work as well as codeine in treating cancer pain. A recent study found that cannabinoids significantly reduced pain in people with multiple sclerosis, a disease of the nervous system.
Along with the legal implications of smoking marijuana are the health problems such as memory impairment, loss of coordination and the potential for withdrawal symptoms and hallucinations. And inhaling marijuana smoke exposes you to substances that may cause cancer.
One study has indicated that the risk of heart attack more than quadruples in the first hour after smoking marijuana. The researchers suggest that a heart attack might be caused by marijuana’s effects on blood pressure, heart rate and the capacity of blood to carry oxygen.
All Rights Reserved © 2025 by Fred Cicetti
Send your general health questions to Healthy Geezer with Lifestyles After 50 in the subject line to fred@healthygeezer.com.
FLORIDA “LADY BIRD” DEED
Avoid Probate Over your House, Condo or Rental Property the Easy Way
• Florida “Lady Bird” deed
HOMESTEAD AND YOUR TRUST
by William R. Mumbauer - Attorney - www.flwillstrustsprobate.com
A reader asks: I am considering having a revocable “Living” Trust prepared. Could there be any negative consequences to transferring title to my homestead real property to this kind of Trust?
Response: In most cases there are no negative consequences to transferring title to homestead real property to a revocable “Living” Trust. And in those rare situations where there could be negative consequences, any problems are usually solved by simply transferring the homestead real property back into the individual name of the original owner.
The following are examples of situations in which having title to homestead real property in a revocable “Living” Trust could be problematic:
• The original owner is trying to qualify for MEDICAID. If the homestead real property remains in the individual name of the person seeking MEDICAID, the first $500,000 of equity in the homestead real property is not taken into consideration for determining MEDICAID eligibility. However, if title to the same homestead real property is in a revocable “Living” Trust, the entire amount of equity in the homestead real property is counted as an asset for MEDICAID eligibility purposes;
• Some lending institutions will not allow homestead real property to be used as collateral for a new mortgage if title to homestead real property is in a revocable “Living” Trust;
• Some Florida counties refuse to issue a building permit to an original owner for construction work on homestead real property when the original owner is acting as his own general contractor if title to homestead real property is in a revocable “Living” Trust; and
• $500.00 plus costs, if any.
• Fee consultation 813-685-3133
45
Years
• An original owner with a permanent military disability will lose the military disability ad valorem tax exemption if title to the homestead real property is in a revocable “Living” Trust.
Aside from the above situations which will never apply to most folks, I am not aware of any negative consequences of transferring title to homestead real property to a revocable “Living” Trust.
Mr. Mumbauer, a 5th generation Floridian, has maintained a law practice in Brandon, Florida since 1980 with emphasis on estate planning. Mr. Mumbauer takes special pride in representing the senior community by maintaining a sensitive and practical approach to problem solving. Mr. Mumbauer is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar. Mr. Mumbauer is also a Mentor in probate law and has been qualified by the Second District Court of Appeal in Florida as an expert witness in matters involving the drafting of Wills. Mr. Mumbauer’s Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating among judges and lawyers for Legal Ability is High to Very High and his General Recommendation Rating is Very High. His articles are based on general principles of law and are not intended to apply to individual circumstances.
Hanna Patel-Mills, PA Adriana M. Herron, PA Ronald J. Patrick, MD Michelle L. Troyer, APRN Holly K. Bartley, APRN
Music Flashback: Blast to the Past!
“Jive Talkin’”
BY: RANDAL C. HILL
During the first half of the 1970s, the Bee Gees (“Brothers Gibb”) were floundering. “We didn’t know where we were going,” admits leader Barry. “We ended up doing dreary ballads. That was totally wrong, but we seemed to be stuck in that mode.”
Good friend Eric Clapton urged the Gibbs brothers to move from Los Angeles to Miami, where exotic music and a thriving club scene were at hand. When the lads relocated, Atlantic Records’ producer Arif Mardin scheduled the trio to record at Miami’s Criteria Studios.
On their daily drive from Miami Beach to downtown, the brothers would cross the 4.4-mile Julia Tuttle Causeway. As they passed over the regularly spaced road seams, the tires of the Gibbs’ car throbbed with a steady “chunka chunka” noise. One day, Linda, Barry’s wife, said to her husband, “Hey, listen to that noise… it’s our ‘drive talking’.” Barry chuckled and, to mimic the rhythmic sound, began to sing “D-D-Drive talkin’…”
Mardin loved the idea as a song title and wanted the Gibbs to use it in a dance tune, but with a change from “Drive Talkin’” to “Jive Talkin’.” Maurice Gibb later recalled, “Arif went, ‘Do you know what jive talking means?’ And we said, ‘Well, yeah, it’s, you know, you’re dancing.’ And he says, ‘No, it’s a black expression for [deceitful talk].”
In creating “Jive Talkin’,” the Gibbs discarded the delicate singer/ songwriter language of their lengthy catalog and replaced it with the kind of hip lingo heard in many soul hits of the day. In this case, we listen in on a man grown tired of his girlfriend’s deceptive ways:
J-J-Jive talkin’, you’re telling me lies
Jive talkin’, you wear a disguise
Jive talkin’, so misunderstood
Jive talkin’, you’re really no good
On Atlantic’s RSO label, the single caught fire and shot to the peak of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it reigned for two weeks. The success of the disc allowed the brothers to get a jump on the nascent genre of disco music.
“Jive Talkin’” has undoubtedly gone down in history as the only million-selling disc to be inspired by a drive across a bridge.
Movie Preview: “Jurassic World Rebirth”
BY RANDAL C. HILL
Do we really need yet another Jurassic Park film? In this case, the answer is an emphatic “yes”!
“Jurassic World Rebirth” is the sixth sequel to Michael Crichton’s original “Jurassic Park,” a movie franchise begun in 1993 that has appeared to be wearing thin—until now.
In the story, the few surviving Jurassic Park dinosaurs now live in a remote island jungle. Covert operations expert Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) is recruited by a pharmaceutical company to collaborate with paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) and team leader Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali) to undertake a top-secret mission to infiltrate the island, the site of the now-closed Jurassic Park research facility.
The crew’s goal is to locate the three largest remaining species of these treacherous beasts from land, sea and air and obtain DNA samples from them, as their DNA holds the key to a revolutionary drug capable of saving millions of lives—and making big pharma wealthy beyond imagination.
shipwreck after an attack by marauding aquatic beasts. Both groups find themselves stranded on the tropical island that is home to the mutated dinosaurs that have thrived in isolation for decades. As the teams draw closer to danger, they come faceto-face with a shocking discovery that has been hidden from the world for decades.
There are deeper issues at play here. The group’s members are forced to examine their own values, and ethical and moral questions arise as well and concern everything from genetic manipulation to scientific overreach.
“Rebirth” breathes new life into something that, as with the dinosaurs, appeared to be headed for extinction. It pays homage to its predecessors but also enters new thematic territory, including humanity’s place in nature.
Director Edwards Gareth has labeled “Rebirth” an “action/horror” feature. “There’s something very primal about dinosaurs,” he says about the fear element that thrums throughout the tale. “We’re mammals with millions of years of embedded instinct that tells us that some giant creature at some point is going to chase us and try to kill us.”
Along the way, the band encounters a civilian family who have survived a
The Universal Pictures offering opens July 2.
Armchair Adventures: Nepal: Close Encounters of a Mountain Kind
The crowded marketplace in Kathmandu, pulses with life—aromas swirl from pungent spices, sweet incense, and the ever-present haze of vehicle exhaust. Around us, locals push massive bells in rhythmic prayer, their hands reverent and practiced. We are in the heart of Nepal’s capital—mysterious, ancient, and deeply spiritual.
Watching the Healer
Our guide, Kumar, announces that we’re in luck: the healer is here today. We follow the crowd to an open area where people wait patiently beside concrete bed-like slabs. Each carries the weight of a different ailment.
By Evelyn Kelly, PhD
The healer—Dhami Jhankri—is clad in a long, tattered coat with bulging pockets. Before us, a young man reclines on one of the slabs, suffering from severe headaches, Kumar explains. The healer moves methodically, passing an object over the man’s head. He murmurs prayers and calls out to unseen spirits. A sharp snap of his fingers breaks the air. The young man jolts upright, eyes wide, claiming he’s seen a great light. He pays quietly as the healer turns his attention to the next patient—a man leaning on a wooden stick.
Over the Himalayas
The next morning begins before dawn. At 6:00 am, we head to the airport for a rare kind of adventure—a flight above the Himalayas.
Our small aircraft, proudly marked “Buddha Air,” waits on the tarmac. Inside, there is only one seat on each side of the aisle—everyone is promised a window view. As we take off from Kathmandu’s tightly guarded airport, the plane’s engine roars to life and we lift into the thin morning sky.
If there was ever a true “close encounter of a mountain kind,” this is it.
Nepal is home to most of the world’s highest peaks—eight out of the ten tallest. Our flight weaves through glittering summits, tracing ridgelines and soaring above jagged spines of ice. At times, the mountains seem just an arm’s length away. We feel a sudden jolt— turbulent winds at this altitude are no joke—and grip our seats a little tighter. Still, the views are unlike anything we’ve ever seen: crystalline lakes, ancient glaciers, and finally, the unmistakable silhouette of
Mount Everest. Towering. Majestic. Breathtaking.
We are above the clouds, face to face with the roof of the world. It’s a powerful and humbling perspective—small humans adrift in the presence of giants.
The hour passes quickly—but not without tension. The engine sputters briefly, and I’m pretty sure my daughter Natalie is praying. Whatever she said, it worked. We land safely, hearts full and grateful. To commemorate the experience, we’re handed t-shirts that read: “I flew over the Himalayas on Buddha Air.”
Indeed, we did. And what a flight it was.
An Unforgettable Adventure
Not everyone dreams of climbing mountains—but soaring above them? That’s an unforgettable adventure. A scenic flight over the Himalayas offers a thrilling alternative to trekking and provides a frontrow seat to some of Earth’s most awe-inspiring beauty.
Evelyn Kelly and Natalie Kelly are co-authors of the best-selling book, “Have a Love Affair with Travel: Your Ticket to an Exhilarating Life,” available on Amazon.
41. Encourage 42.
44. Of the back
46. Assortment
48. Wind direction: abbr.
49. Uno y uno
51. Australian bird
30. Verve
31. Baptisms & weddings 33.
JUly
52. Of the WashingtonIdaho-Oregon area
39. Plum or orange 43. 78 and 45
45. Decorates
47. In a humble way
cROSSWORD puzzle
58. Kitchen appliance
50. Sandal part
52. tide
Fill in the answers and win great prizes!
61. Stink
62. Tribe member
53. Main character
The first correct answers selected from the drawing on the 20th will win.
63. Sri Lankan, for one
64. Sea in the former USSR
65. Mauna Loa emission
66. Trickles
67. Animal with a mane
68. River in Europe
54. Withdraw by degrees
55. Times
Send your answers along with your name, address, telephone number and email to: Lifestyles After 50 P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583
56. Tear
57. Close
58. Loony
59.
60.
LAST MONTH'S WINNER:
Lynda Clark, Sun City
TICK-le Me Elmo
There are some people who like to pick off scabs. They pick not only their own, but also those of their friends and relatives. I know some of these people intimately.
PUZZLE
I, however, come from the “don’t pick it, or it’ll never heal” school of thought. Several days ago I noticed a scab on the front of my shoulder. It didn’t hurt and it didn’t itch. It was smooth and bore a slight resemblance to a ruby. My surrounding skin was red, so the word “infection” came to mind. I showed it to my “daughter/landlady,” who was visiting (perfect timing) and asked if I should be concerned. As a pre-op nurse, she would know.
Recognizing my malady, she immediately raised her voice slightly and using medical jargon straight out of Gray’s Anatomy, she blurted, “That’s a tick!” Then she said, “Come with me.” I trotted confidently behind her; I was in no mood for Lyme disease.
I waited in her kitchen while she disappeared briefly before returning with a specific medical instrument.
“I call this my tick twister,” she said.
“Every home should have one,” I responded. It’s a small plastic tool with tines which you carefully slide under the offending beast, then you give it a slight twist as you lift up. The whole wriggling body emerged without leaving the head or other body parts behind as souvenirs.
My skin tone is almost back to my normal shade of pastiness, and I’m ready to take on the next creature, as long as it’s not a Tarantula Wasp or a Red Velvet Cow Killer. For once, my getting “ticked off” turned out to be a good thing.
This was Mike’s first tick since he was a child. If you have any tick adventures you’d like to share, please contact him at micwrighthamo@gmail.com.
BOOK REVIEW by
Kathy A. Megyeri
American Fashion Gains Its Independence
Book: “Empresses of Seventh Avenue, World War II, New York City and the Birth of American Fashion,” by
Nancy MacDonell,
St. Martin’s Press, 2024, 368 pp.
Ever since France’s Louis XIV ruled the fashion world, the most Seventh Avenue could do was copy, counterfeit and create cheap knockoffs of Paris’ elite fashions. All styles came from there so the most designers here could do is simply look to Paris for inspiration.
But when the Nazis invaded France in 1940, the fashion capital was cut off from the rest of the world and the biggest names in American fashion – who had been working anonymously – rose to the forefront: Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Halston, Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors.
The story of how this Nazi invasion of France affected American fashion revealed the rise of the American fashion industry. Starting in September 1940, these American designers began to shine on their own, and by 1945, they rivaled France. Then New York truly challenged Paris!
The democratic principles of American designers created couture for all types of women. It included sportswear, ready-to-wear, and mix-and-match outfits so the first American designers became the “empresses” of Seventh Avenue. No more were the French legends the only source of haute couture. Claire McCardell gave us unstructured bathing suits, wool leggings, separates, denim and ballet flats. Diana Vreeland and Lois Long gave us fashion criticism. Fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert founded the Met Gala in 1948. Model Lauren Bacall who was the “French Girl” in America in her day.
These New York-based designers, retailers, editors, and photographers gave us clothes suited to our American way of life—modern, comfortable, affordable, practical, and sophisticated. By the war’s end, “The American Look” was firmly established. It was fresh, less fussy, more useful, stylish, chic, functional and it included sportswear, denim and sneakers, all thanks to a small group of women who put American fashion on the world stage and helped a $500 billion industry that employed millions become the largest in the world.
Author MacDonell, fashion historian and journalist, is the former archivist of the Fashion Institute of Technology, and columnist for the Wall Street Journal where she explained the genesis of the polka dot and the history of the “It Bag.” She incorporates details with insider gossip, facts, and colorful characters. This historical account explains the people, stores, magazines, and companies that launched American fashion and resulted in fashion design’s relocation to New York.
MacDonell’s colorful quotes, scandalous tidbits of gossip and hilarious accounts of the personalities of those who made Seventh Avenue the center of fashion make for a fun read. One reviewer said, “This narrative reads like a marvelous novel. Her engaging writing doesn’t need any enhancement because her sentences are as fetching as a haute couture ensemble.”
