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VOL. 16 NO. 5 JUNE 2016

Sleepless in Seattle + Oprah True Love for = Northwest Couple

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ow does an artistic free spirit from California and a logical engineer from the Northwest meet and fall in love? Courtesy of the Oprah Winfrey Show, thank you.

The year was 1993 and Sleepless in Seattle was a blockbuster hit movie.

It starred Tom Hanks as a recently widowed man whose 8-year-old son calls a radio talk show to help find his father a wife. Meg Ryan plays one of thousands of women who were so moved by the grieving man’s story that they write the radio station asking to meet him.

Later that same year, triggered by the movie’s success, the Oprah Winfrey Show asked five men from the Seattle area who had lost their wives to cancer to tell their stories. Oprah invited women viewers to write in asking to meet the men.

It was one of the most popular shows of the season and in a case of life imitating art, the response was overwhelming. Within a week or so, Oprah drove a forklift onto the set carrying thousands upon thousands of letters from women wanting to meet the widowers.

Each of the men chose someone from the mountain of letters to go on a date with, which was filmed for a later Oprah show. None of the dates turned into relationships.

Enter rita ann (small r, small a) of Santa Cruz County, California. She was one of those thousands of women who had written to the men. She noticed Boeing engineer Jim Schwarting right away because he was very tall (6’4”) and his career sounded interesting.

But mostly she was moved by the story he told of his late wife. She was both moved and daunted; Jim’s wife was a doctor (psychiatrist) who played ten musical instruments.

Jim and rita Schwarting of Kent are still in love all these years after meeting courtesy of Oprah Winfrey

“But it isn’t a big risk,” thought rita, “what are the chances he’ll even see my letter?” rita didn’t have many recent photos to include with her letter, heart of a poet,” she declares. rita was enchanted and responded right away. but she did have one where she was “We met in March of 1994 in wearing Groucho Marx glasses. That is the photo the ever-whimsical rita sent. Seattle,” she says. They had spent a lot of time talking on the phone and Jim received an overwhelming exchanging letters, so they felt they 10,000 letters. After his date filmed could be friends before they ever met. for the Oprah show, as well as other “Our first meeting was easy.” dates that people kept setting up for Their whirlwind courtship him, he had stopped reading through the letters. But then, during his annual consisted of rita flying to Seattle for Boeing Christmas hiatus, he decided to long weekends and Jim flying to stay with her in Capitola, California. take another look. He was organizing “When he first came down in them into piles – one stack represented April 2014, we spent the first evening those he would send a postcard to and with 25 the other or more of stack was my friends. for those Everyone he would was respond checking to with a the guy letter. out,” Jim was sorting In a tribute to the Groucho Marx glasses that were a key says rita. to the Schwarting’s first meeting, wedding guests wore “Saturday, through we went to the piles of Groucho glasses after the vows my brother’s house, where my mother mail when he came across rita’s letter; her Groucho glasses caught his eye. He was living. And on Sunday, I had about 30 people at my house to meet placed the letter on top of a tall stack he intended to answer with a postcard. him.”

They’d had a full few days, but on Then he left to walk the dog.

When he returned, rita’s letter had Monday rita wanted to visit her mother again in Oakland, as was her practice. fallen from the stack and landed on his computer keyboard. That really is a Jim agreed. “We were sitting at the dining room table with my 83-year-old cute photo, he thought. He could tell mom, when all of a sudden Jim said she had a sense of humor. He moved her envelope to the top of his tall stack to my mother, ‘Mrs. Landmann, what would you say if I asked your daughter to answer with a letter instead of a to marry me?’ Without skipping a beat, postcard. Then he left for dinner.

Mom’s response was, ‘If she doesn’t say When he came back, rita’s letter yes, I will!’ had fallen to his keyboard again.

“After that, we had our long drive “It’s a sign,” he said to himself. back to Capitola. I put in a cassette Those very words are a recurring tape; it was all about living life to the theme in the movie, Sleepless in Seattle. fullest, taking risks and being in the It seemed that this relationship was moment…wonderful stories about meant to be. Jim sat down then and celebrating life. I’m driving down the there and wrote to rita. back mountain road and Jim said, ‘I “It was kind of a miracle when I guess I need to take a risk. Will you got his letter,” says rita. “So much time marry me?’ had passed that I’d forgotten all about “Wait a minute,” said the plucky it.” But Jim’s letter was wonderful and charming. “Jim is an engineer with the rita, who was still driving on the

mountain road. “You said if you ever proposed, you would get down on one knee. I’ll wait for that.”

When they got to town they went directly to the jewelry store and asked the owner, Harry, if he would be a witness. “Jim got down on his knee and proposed. Then we went around the corner to my best friend’s store and announced that we were engaged!”

The couple was married in Santa Cruz on November 4, 1994 – the oneyear anniversary of the airing of that fateful Oprah show.

The wedding is a story all unto itself. Their children stood for them (rita has a son, Jim a daughter).

Unbeknownst to Jim, rita brought Groucho glasses for the entire wedding party. After the couple said their vows they turned to face the audience to behold a sea of Groucho glasses, which everyone wore during the song The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.

Like any couple, the Schwarting’s have had their shares of adjustments.

“It wasn’t all a walk in the park,” said rita. “But we walked it together.”

When she moved, rita left behind her own business and a community of friends. Luckily, her mother moved in with the couple shortly after they were married, and her son moved to the area six months later. She even has a cousin in Bellevue she never knew existed. Having family nearby is important to rita. “It’s a cool thing because growing up I didn’t have any extended family,” says rita, whose parents were immigrants and who lost family members in the Holocaust.

“Having this sudden family has been just wonderful.” rita and Jim continue to happily share their lives together, engaged in the community, surrounded by children, grandchildren, family and friends. They are surrounded by love.

The story of rita and Jim is the stuff of fairy tales … or at the very least a good romantic comedy! ❖

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June 2016

Don’t Mess with Knut …by Diana Einarsen

101-year old was the youngest Knut Einarsen is an of seven brothers, active member of the all of whom community. His sharp participated in wit and infectious smile the dangerous draw delighted people Resistance efforts. into conversation with His older brother, him wherever he goes.

Marellius, was “Don’t mess with killed while Knut Einarsen” was the assisting British first sentence in Knut’s allies in northern biography published in Norway during 2000. Born in northern the first few Norway at the onset weeks of the of WWI, Knut is the attack. product of a rugged, When land-of-the-midnight- Knut standing on a Norwegian Hitler’s forces sun upbringing. invaded Norway’s destroyer in the late ‘30s In 2015, Knut, main seaports who had been employed for 34 years in 1940, Knut’s family owned a as a commercial halibut fisherman, freighter called the Vandringen (the was presented to Norway’s King Wanderer). In early 1943, Knut Harald V at the Pacific Fishermen’s was informed by Nazi officials that Shipyard in Seattle along with other they would confiscate the well-built, fishermen and women of the Pacific 67-foot Vandringen. Knut, however, Northwest. remembered his brother, Marellius, Wrestling with and cleaning who had died in his arms after being massive halibut during 20-hour work- shot by the Germans – and he lied to days was a fraught-filled occupation, the Nazis about its condition. but it had provided a good living “The bow is full of dry rot,” for the former refugee – someone he said, fearlessly matching their who had escaped on foot to Sweden hardened, hawk-like eyes with his during a blustery winter month. own stony expression. A shipyard Knut was a formidable foe against supervisor in Narvik, a friend of the the German Nazis who attacked and Einarsen family, filed a false report occupied the country of his birth. He stating that the Vandringen was in

need of repair. Just a few days later, however, on a snowy Saturday in March, an officer telephoned Knut and ordered him Knut Einarsen at Seattle’s Leif Erikson Lodge Kaffestua (coffee shop) to report to Nazi were dropped off on the shore of a headquarters. Someone sympathetic steep mountain. to the Germans had betrayed him.

Wearing white sheets for Knut, who was assisting his mother in another town at the time, camouflage over their woolen clothes, they carved icy steps on the called to warn his wife, Haldis. “I’m side of the treacherous mountain, going to pick you up; have your skis carrying skis, clothing, food, rifles with you,” was his terse message. and rounds of ammunition. Four A few hours later, Knut piloted Vandringen to Skarstad where he was hours later they reached the summit.

Two or three times they had to shocked to learn that a man from throw themselves face down on the Norwegian underground who the frozen tundra when German was to guide them into Sweden had surveillance planes flew close by. been arrested. Fortuitously, Knut’s They then skied and walked for cousin, the captain of a freighter, the next 36 hours. Everything but happened to be in Skarstad and their skis and the clothes on their agreed to help them. Twenty-four people, including the Einarsens were backs were discarded as the exhausting journey began to take its toll. Haldis soon hidden on board. During the sat down on the hard snow and refused wee hours of that Sunday morning, to continue, “We have to go over the the brave pilot navigated without next hill, then we are there,” coaxed lights through the long, hazardous Tysfjord, skillfully avoiding the Nazi Knut again and again.

The group knew they were patrols. Six hours later the fugitives in Swedish territory when they discovered an indigenous teepeeshaped grass hut beyond one of the hills; it had a stove and a supply of dry wood. They were able to rest for the first time in two days. The next morning they set off again and eventually found help—and were assured of safety—at a power station outpost.

Knut and Haldis remained in Sweden until the end of WWII. During this time, Knut made numerous clandestine trips back to his homeland to serve as a guide to other Norwegians fleeing the brutal Nazi occupiers. In 1948, Knut and Haldis emigrated to the U.S. with their one-year-old son, Kent.

Knut is a 51-year member of the Leif Erikson Lodge in Seattle. He and his wife Haldis spent countless hours as volunteers working in the bustling kaffestua (coffee house), and Knut donated almost 1,000 hours as a laborer when the charming three-story Scandinavian chaletstyle building was being constructed Music, Americana & Apple Pie in the mid-1980s. In 2011, the couple celebrated their 71st wedding Tuesday, June 21 from 12-2 pm anniversary. Haldis passed away at Delicious BBQ, cold beverages and apple pie, while you the age of 90 in March 2013. enjoy live music on our terrace lawn. Tours included.

On February 10, 2016, Knut RSVP to (206) 281-5744 was awarded the Norwegian Government’s commemorative Defense Medal (Deltagermedaljen), which reads: “The Government of Norway wishes to thank you, Knut Einarsen, for your valuable service in helping to restore freedom to our land.” ❖ RSVP or find out more: (206) 281-5744 | 11 W Aloha St, Seattle, WA 98119 | BayviewCommunity.org

June 2016

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F.Y.I. Vitamin Stops the Aging Process of Organs The journal Science (April 28, 2016) reported that when researchers at Ecole Polytechnique administered Nicotinamide riboside (NR) to elderly mice, the ability of the mice’s organs to regenerate was restored and life was prolonged.

NR, which is close to vitamin B3, has been shown in several studies to be effective in boosting metabolism, and the new research shows the positive effects of NR on the functioning of stem cells. The study described the effects as “restorative.”

“This work could have important implications in the field of regenerative medicine,” said Johan Auwerx, who headed the team of researchers. “We are not talking about introducing foreign substances into the body but rather restoring the body’s ability to repair itself with a product that can be taken with food.” No negative side effects have been observed following the use of NR in the study with mice. However, cautioned the researchers, NR appears to boost the function of ALL cells, which could include pathological ones.

Further in-depth studies are required.

Mature Drivers Favor Checks on Older Drivers The majority of older drivers are in favor of tighter rules on checking the health and suitability of over-70s to drive – even if those checks could take them off the road themselves – according to a report from the University of Warwick

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(Keeping Older Drivers Safe and Mobile). The Institute of Advanced Motorists worked with Dr. Carol Hawley at Warwick Medical School to survey more than 2,600 drivers and former drivers on their opinions, habits and motoring history. The study found that more than half of drivers over age 70 demonstrated that they self-regulate to stay safe by avoiding driving in challenging situations like busy traffic, after dark, in rush hour or bad weather. While mature drivers travel significantly fewer miles than other age groups, 84% of them rated their driving ability as “good to excellent” and only 6% had considered giving up driving. Despite those positive statistics, a high proportion of respondents were in favor of measures to increase safety on the roads for older drivers.

Working Longer May Lead to Longer Life Working past age 65 could lead to longer life, while retiring early may be a risk factor for dying earlier, a new study from Oregon State University (OSU) indicates. The researchers found that healthy adults who retired one year past age 65 had an 11 percent lower risk of death from all causes, even when taking into account demographic, lifestyle and health issues. Adults who described themselves as unhealthy were also likely to live longer if they kept working, the findings showed. “It may not apply to everybody, but we think work brings people a lot of economic and social benefits that could impact the length of their lives,” said Chenkai Wu, the lead author of the study. This report was submitted by Michelle Klampe of OSU; the findings were published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Mark Bryant Certified Senior Fitness Instructor and Powerlifting Hall of Famer

Powerlifting champ Mark Bryant

At the age of 57, Mark Bryant has been involved in the sport of powerlifting for over 20 years. On March 5, 2016, he was inducted into the Washington State Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Strength Sport Hall of Fame and the Washington State USA Powerlifting Hall of Fame. Mark was the state’s Powerlifting Hall of Fame inaugural recipient and is the only amateur athlete in the state of Washington awarded both honors.

What is remarkable about his story is that in 2008 Mark had a

Mark’s 407 lb. championship deadlift continued on page 14

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June 2016

In Honor of Father’s Day

My Dad Raised Sweathogs …by Teresa Ambord

“I was blessed with five daughters,” Dad used to say. But we knew that, like most men, he also wanted a boy. Eventually he got not just one boy, but a bunch of them – a big bunch of Sweathogs.

In the 1970s our family moved to the country and Dad became the transportation director for a neighboring school district. That area was economically depressed and many of the kids had no fathers in the home, and little discipline.

Several boys were on the verge of dropping out or being kicked out of high school. They just didn’t care, and the teachers had run out of options. Then someone got the bright idea of sending the misfits over to the school bus barn to “help” the new guy, my dad. In today’s world, a dozen laws would probably prohibit that, but back then, it was allowed.

Dad’s main job was to keep the big yellow school buses running safely. That meant climbing under the giant hoods and changing heavy tires. But at five-foot-four-inches tall, and with no modern equipment, just changing a bus tire was daunting for Dad. So it came in handy to have

burly country boys to heft those bus tires around. He taught every boy to do basic vehicle maintenance and repair. During lunch he’d let them bring their family cars to the bus barn and he’d teach the kids how to fix and maintain them.

Everyone had chores, and Dad didn’t put up with excuses.

Anyone who wanted to hang out at the bus barn had to help keep the place clean and organized. It was Dad’s way of teaching them to listen, follow directions and to be responsible. These kids had always ignored authority figures. But Dad demanded and eventually got their respect.

Not long after he took over the bus barn, a new sitcom hit the TV airwaves. It was called Welcome Back Kotter, and it could’ve been modeled after Dad’s work life. Kotter was a teacher of kids who were misfits and incorrigibles, known as the Sweathogs. Dad’s boys saw themselves in the Sweathogs and embraced the name. And it fit like a big sweaty glove.

Over time, the Sweathogs gained skills they could take into the work world. But there was one area that

bugged Dad and he couldn’t seem to make much headway. “To be employable,” he said, “you have to clean up your language.” He’d taught his daughters that if you use profanity, people think you’re too stupid to use real words. That’s all it took with us. But it didn’t faze the Sweathogs.

So one fine morning, they entered the bus barn to find a gallon jug on Dad’s desk. He’d cut a slit in the metal lid, and slapped a label on it that said “No Swear Jar.” “If you swear, you owe me a nickel,” he said, and they knew he’d collect. Unfortunately, to them, it was a game and that jar filled up fast, over and over again.

After several school terms of collecting nickels, the money added up. Then one December, the boys came up with a good use for it. Just before Christmas, Dad and the Sweathogs went on a secret shopping spree. Armed with a list of needy local families, they stretched

that money to provide gifts for as many kids as possible. For most of the Sweathogs, that was the first time they’d ever looked beyond themselves to the needs of others, and they loved doing it.

Generally, the work Dad did with the Sweathogs went unnoticed, though not by the Sweathogs themselves. Even after they were grown and Dad retired early due to poor health, they kept in touch with him. In 2014 when Dad passed away, some of them drove a hundred miles to be at his memorial. One Sweathog roared up in a muscle car.

“It’s expensive to drive,” he said, “but I knew your dad would’ve loved this car.” He was right.

“He was the only reason I graduated,” said another guy, and they all agreed. Story after story poured out of how Dad had turned their lives around.

We always knew Dad wished for a son, but I doubt he envisioned leading a big bunch of Sweathogs.

Like his daughters, those boys frustrated him, tested and tried his patience, and in the end, made him proud. He was father to five girls, but he also raised a big bunch of Sweathogs and helped them become fine men. ❖

I was going for 1OO years old!

92-year-old war veteran reflects on cancer diagnosis

Veteran John Hogan didn’t know anything about hospice care when he was diagnosed with cancer and his doctor offered him a range of choices – from aggressive treatment to care focused on comfort and quality of life.

“I want to live normally, live comfortably, have the nurse come in and that’s the way I want to go,” said John.

And that’s how it went. Providence Hospice provided the nurses, walker, wheelchair, social worker, medicine, and other services he needed. John got to enjoy time with his children and grandchildren and all the friends and neighbors who visited him during his final four months of life.

Providence Hospice & Palliative Care proudly supports the We Honor Veterans program, which offers end-of-life care designed specifically for those who have courageously served our country. For more information about our services and locations, visit www.providence.org/pscs.

Seattle/King County: 206.320.4000 Snohomish County: 425.261.4800 Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties: 360.493.5900

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Still Kickin’ It Up at 90 She’s going on 91, but that’s not the reason Eileen Broomell of SeaTac continues to inspire others; it is because of her active lifestyle and positive thinking. Eileen is an educator, motivator and instructor.

Eileen teaches health, wellness and exercise classes at both the SeaTac and Burien Senior Centers, but she says the real recognition should go to the seniors who are motivated to keep moving and to stay fit.

“Breaking it down in numbers makes it all come to life,” says Eileen.

“In the over 90 age group, there are two. In the exercisers ages 85 to 89

90-year-old is out there lifting an eight pound weight up to 40 times, as is the 58-yearthere are 10 old.” and in the 75 Eileen goes to 79 group on to say how there are 10. No proud she is accommodations of her groups. are made in “Observing them expectations and morning after participation for morning, I do not Eileen with her fitness class at SeaTac Senior Center any age group,” see “old people,” she says of her exercise and movement to see how but see those with a spring classes, although much it can do, physically and in their step and a gleam in she will spend mentally? Life is good, keep looking up their eye. The give-back from time working – it’s good for the double chin!” them has kept me anxious to out specific Eileen was the winner of Senior go to class each day.”

Ever the Eileen Broomell during a break moves for aches leading senior fitness classes at Services’ 2015 Inspire Positive Aging motivator, Eileen concludes and pains. “The the Burien Conmmunity Center by saying, “Have you tried Award. ❖

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To Your Health

Medical Minutes ...by John Schieszer

Artificial Vision Device Helping Those with Low Vision A new portable artificial vision device is now helping those who are blind to John Schieszer read a message on an electronic device, a newspaper article or a menu. The promise of new software technology has now gone from the scientists’ bench to helping the blind in a way never before possible.

The new device is called OrCam and it is capable of recognizing text, monetary denominations and faces, and can be programmed to recognize other objects. It includes a miniature camera and earpiece, which can be mounted to the right side of any spectacle frame.

A cord connects the unit to a pack that houses the device’s battery and computer (held in the user’s hand or clipped on a belt or put in a pocket).

The device can be activated by tapping it, pressing the trigger button, or by pointing at a target item. It takes a picture of whatever the user is eyeing.

Using optical character recognition technology, the device then reads aloud any text found in the picture that was taken, which is heard only by the user

via the earpiece and not by others nearby.

The OrCam was recently made commercially available in the United States. It costs $2,500-$3,500.

Researchers at the University of California Davis Eye Center evaluated the usefulness of an OrCam for patients with low vision. The study included 12 legally blind patients, with best-corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in their better eye.

The researchers found that, after an initial training session, patients were able to perform the tasks better (at least 9 of the 10 items on the test) when using the portable artificial vision device. Average scores with the device were also better in 7 patients who used other low-vision aids.

Shrinking Enlarged Prostate Using Steam The US Food and Drug (FDA) has now approved a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks an enlarged prostate gland using steam. Depending on the size of the gland, the procedure consists of two to seven treatments, each nine seconds in duration, received in a single one-to-two hour office visit. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia.

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management, men whose symptoms are progressing and men who don’t want to take medication,” said Dr. Kenneth Goldberg, who is an urologist in North Texas who has performed the procedure more than 60 times.

The Rezûm procedure is FDAapproved to treat enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. Traditionally, BPH is treated through medication or surgery.

According to the National Institutes of Health, BPH is the most common prostate problem for men older than age 50, and more than 70% of men over age 70 have symptoms of BPH. “A normal prostate is 30 grams and may enlarge as a man ages. This procedure is FDA approved up to 80 grams,” he said. “Once a patient’s prostate reaches a size of 100 grams, surgery is the most appropriate option.”

The new procedure works by inserting .5 CC of sterile water vapor (steam) into the prostate gland during the nine-second treatments. The therapy is targeted to a defined area because steam will only travel between cells until it encounters natural collagen barriers or the prostate capsule itself.

Since the treatment does not reach outside the targeted treatment zone, there are no known side effects, no incontinence and no sexual problems as a result of the treatment, according to Dr. Goldberg.

Smartphones Helping Lung Patients in New Ways Researchers here in Seattle have developed SpiroCall, a new healthsensing tool that can accurately measure lung function from anywhere in the world over a simple phone call. It is designed to work with older mobile phones and landlines, not just smartphones.

Many people who have asthma, cystic fibrosis or other chronic lung diseases have no way to measure how well their lungs are functioning outside of a clinic or doctor visit. Now a new health-sensing tool can accurately measure lung function over a simple phone call thanks to some pretty clever scientists at the University of

Washington (UW).

“We wanted to be able to measure lung function on any type of phone you might encounter around the world, smartphones, dumb phones, landlines and pay phones,” said Shwetak Patel, who is a professor of Computer Science & Engineering and Electrical Engineering at the UW. “With SpiroCall, you can call a 1-800 number, blow into the phone and use the telephone network to test your lung function.”

In 2012, researchers from the UW's UbiComp Lab introduced SpiroSmart, which allows individuals to monitor their lung function by blowing into their smartphones. The individual takes a deep breath in and exhales as hard and fast as they can until they can't exhale any more. The phone's microphone senses sound and pressure from that exhalation and sends the data to a central server, which uses machine learning algorithms to convert the data into standard measurements of lung function.

Over the last four years, the team has collected data from more than 4,000 patients who have visited clinics in Seattle and Tacoma, as well as in India and Bangladesh, where clinicians have measured lung function using both SpiroSmart and a commercial spirometer. That comparative data has improved the performance of the machine learning algorithms and laid the groundwork for team’s current FDA clearance process.

The research team also developed a 3-D printed whistle that can be used in conjunction with SpiroCall that changes pitch when the patient exhales.

The whistle is designed to address training challenges by enabling patients to hear what a "good" test sounds like.

The whistle may help improve the test performance for patients who are very ill and whose vocal cords are not able produce enough sound for the phone’s microphone to pick up. ❖ John Schieszer is an award-winning national journalist and radio and podcast broadcaster of The Medical Minute. He can be reached at medicalminutes@gmail.com.

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Naturally Healthy

F.Y.I.

The Best of the Grill: Fruits and Veggies …by Elizabeth Diehl, reviewed by Dr. Cristen Harris

Outdoor cooking is essential to summer celebrations. The flavors and smells of cooking over a barbeque or grill are both sentimental and irresistible. While classically the grill is draped in bratwurst, ribs and chops, this is a short-sighted tradition. Fruits and veggies are tremendous grilled, worth making room for in the name of both flavor and health.

The grill is marvelous to vegetables, as it heightens both sweet and meaty flavors. Since you can hardly go wrong, just let the farmers market be your inspiration.

You might enjoy grilled tomatoes, onions, romaine lettuce, asparagus, green beans, bok choy, mushrooms, zucchini, corn, carrots and on and on. Pre-soaking in a marinade works well for subtly flavored vegetables such as zucchini and eggplant, but most veggies can stand on their own flavors and textures. Slice vegetables ½-inch thick so that they’ll cook quickly and brush with olive oil before placing on the grill.

Afterward dress with a little salt and pepper for simple pleasure.

Grilled fruit is equally rewarding. Pineapple, peaches and plums are commonly put over the fire. But you might also try apple, lemon, mango and watermelon. If you’ve ever bought unripe peaches

(probably in a hopeful fit of summer anticipation), grilling is a great way to unlock their sweetness and juiciness. Again, brush with olive oil, place on the grill and stand by.

Grilling fruits and vegetables is an exercise in observation. Attend your veggies as they cook. Listen to pineapple’s juices simmer, and watch the peppers wiggle and dance in the heat. See how the colors first brighten and then darken with caramelization. Notice which parts of the grill are hotter and cooler, and rotate the cooking foods to match. Unlike meat, there’s no right or wrong amount of doneness to fruits and veggies. Cook them to the texture that suits you.

Fruits and veggies on the grill are a healthy addition, or alternative, to grilled meats. Meats that are charred or cooked at very high temperatures undergo a chemical reaction which produces compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs). Large amounts of HCAs cause cancer in lab animals, and may be related to some cancers in humans: colon, pancreatic and prostate. Smoked meats accumulate a second class of carcinogens, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs, also found in automobile exhaust and cigarette smoke, are known carcinogens.

While researchers are still investigating how these byproducts may contribute to cancer risk, there are a few grilling methods that reduce them. Marinating meats prior to cooking reduces the formation of HCAs. This is especially true of marinades that include rosemary, garlic and onions. Short cooking times and turning meats frequently also help. Avoid excessive flare-ups and smoke to limit PAHs. Fruits and vegetables are always important on the plate. Grilled, they are eye-catching, meaty and satisfying. Fruits and veggies don’t develop carcinogens on the grill, and instead bring valuable nutrients and fiber to a meal. Devote your grill this summer to fruits and vegetables, and see what new flavors and textures you create. ❖ Reviewed by Cristen L. Harris, PhD, RDN. Non-profit, accredited Bastyr University (bastyr.edu) offers multiple degrees in the natural health sciences, and clinical training at Bastyr Center for Natural Health (bastyrcenter.org), the region’s largest natural medicine clinic.

Senior Fitness Proves Youth is a State of Mind Silver Sneakers Fitness, the nation’s leading exercise program designed for older adults, recently announced the results of its 2015 Annual Participation Survey. The survey measured the activity level, fitness attitudes and health outcomes of more than 27,000 participating SilverSneakers members, aged 65 and older, across 50 states. The results reveal an active generation of older adults that are turning to fitness to achieve overall health and well-being – including high levels of energy and mental balance.

94 percent of participants state that their health is good, very good or excellent. Additionally, participants maintain high levels of energy, with 90 percent having “a lot of energy” some to all of the time. These results can be correlated to frequency of exercise, with 84 percent completing aerobic activity three or more times per week, 64 percent completing muscle strengthening exercises three or more times per week, and 49 percent completing flexibility exercises three or more times per week.

The survey also revealed the positive impact of socialization and camaraderie that exercise classes play on fitness results, including the motivation and encouragement received from exercise classmates.

Grilled Pineapple Salad with Jalapeños and Sweet Onion Leave room on the grill for fruits and veggies!

Time: 45 minutes Yield: 1 entrée-size salad

Ingredients

Method

1 round of fresh pineapple, sliced ½-inch thick, husk removed (see note below) 1 round of sweet onion, sliced ½-inch thick, skin removed 2 jalapeño peppers, sliced in half lengthwise, seeds removed Olive oil for brushing ½ cup cooked wheat berries (or substitute brown rice) 2 cups fresh arugula 1 teaspoon olive oil Balsamic vinegar

Preheat the grill or light the coals. Inside the house, prepare the pineapple, onion and jalapeños, brush each with olive oil, and set aside on a plate. Then, in a large bowl, toss the wheat berries and arugula with 1 teaspoon olive oil.

Now head outside with the plate of prepped pineapple, onion and peppers. Once the grill is hot, use tongs to arrange them on the grate. Cook over direct heat 5-10 minutes per side, or until colored to your liking. The peppers will finish first. As foods finish, return them to the plate.

Inside, lay the juicy grilled foods over the arugula mixture.

Season with salt and pepper to taste, and a dash of balsamic vinegar. Serve with knife and fork.

Note: Slice rounds of pineapple and onion from the bottom up before removing skin. Wrap the cut end of the unused portion in plastic wrap, and store in fridge to use within a few days.

Copyright 2016, E. Diehl, Original recipe

We treat the whole you.

July-August Discounts at Bastyr Center for Natural Health

• $15 Mind-Body Medicine and Counseling Appointments • $20 Well-Child Visits for children under 18

Attentive care that considers every aspect of your health – mind, body and spirit. We look to treat the root cause, not just the symptoms.

Naturopathic Medicine • Nutrition Acupuncture & East Asian Medicine Ayurvedic Medicine • Counseling

See for yourself:

BastyrCenter.org/Senior 206.834.4100 | 3670 Stone Way N.

8

Northwest Prime Time www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com

June 2016

Happy 100th Birthday, National Park Service!

Washington State is blessed with three stunning National Parks: Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic.

The National Park Service turns 100 on August 25, 2016, but the celebrations have already started. All three parks will be hosting a series of free music concerts this summer taking place at various locations within the parks. The concert series, Music in the American Wild, features a sevenperson orchestra that will perform original music especially commissioned to celebrate the National Park Service Centennial. Details will be announced later in the season. A few other centennial events are outlined below.

Mount Rainier: Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States and spawns six major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier’s lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park’s ecosystem.

Join authors, scientists and other speakers as they share their passion for Mount Rainier National Park at the Centennial Speaker Series at Rainier’s Paradise Inn. For information on the park, and on these and other free centennial events, call 360-569-2211.

• June 14, 8:30pm – author Terry Tempest Williams discusses the

meanings of America’s National Parks and reads from her upcoming book, The Hour of the Land: A personal Topograph of America’s National Parks.

• July 21, 8:30pm – scientists will share their park research.

• July 28, 8:45pm – authors Ren and Helen Davis show rarely seen historic pictures taken by the National Park Service’s first photographer, George Alexander Grant, and read from their new book, Landscapes for People.

• August 6, 8:30pm – personal stories of Mount Rainier North Cascades National Park – less than three hours from Seattle an alpine landscape beckons. Discover communities of life adapted to moisture in the west and recurring fire in the east. Explore jagged peaks crowned by more than 300 glaciers. Listen to cascading waters in forested valleys and witness a landscape sensitive to earth’s changing climate.

North Cascades National Park has many events throughout the summer.

For information on the park, and on these and other free centennial events, call 360-854-7200.

• Newhalem by Night: Enjoy a stroll along the Skagit River to Ladder Creek Gardens with a National Park Service ranger and learn about the history of City Light in the North Cascades. Then, grab your flashlight and join the ranger on the short trail to Ladder Creek Falls where you’ll

On June 23, 2015, photographer Matt Dieterich took 200 images of Mount Rainier that were merged to create this stunning “star trail” photo. It was selected as one of 16 images for Postal Service stamps celebrating the National Park Service centennial.

view the three sets of rushing falls illuminated by multicolored lights that change by the minute. A dinner at Gorge Inn before the tour is optional.

• July-August: Join a ranger talk at Diablo Lake Overlook to learn more about the North Cascades.

With nearly one million acres, Olympic National Park encompasses several distinctly different ecosystems and protects a rich mosaic of natural and cultural history. Untamed rivers flow from glacier-capped peaks through valleys of old-growth forests, waves crash against a shoreline rich with life and only trails traverse the vast interior

of this internationally recognized wilderness. For information about the park and free centennial events, call 360-565-3130.

A National Park Service report shows that 7,674,513 visitors to Washington State National Parks spent $470 million in the state in 2015. The spending resulted in 6,364 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $631 million. In addition to our three national parks, Washington state boasts an additional 14 national historic sites and recreation areas. Consider visiting our national parks this season. www.nps.gov/state/ wa/index.htm ❖

Only at Mirabella Seattle

55+

Living here means being surrounded by the best the city has to offer. Dine at a nearby restaurant, cruise Pike Place Market, catch a show at one of the city’s many arts venues, or simply take part in Mirabella’s busy activities calendar. No matter what you choose, you’ll experience vibrant urban living at its finest.

Call today for a tour and find out how you can retire in the middle of it all.

206-254-1441 retirement.org/mirabellaseattle

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We would love to give you a tour of our beautiful community. Make sure you ask about our move-in special.

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Great amenities including: • Hot Tub/Sauna • 9-Hole Executive Golf Course • Indoor Pool • Large Club House • Fitness Center Visit BelmorPark.com to learn more about us!

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Mon - Fri: 9am – 4pm • Sat: 10am – 3pm • Sun: by appointment only

June 2016

www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com 9

Road Trip!

Simplify trips with older loved ones …by Lisa M. Petsche

comfortable positioning in the car.

• An extra pair of eyeglasses and spare hearing aid batteries.

• Sunglasses and umbrellas (the latter can be used for instant shade) • A pillow and a nightlight.

• Snacks and a cooler containing sandwiches and beverages.

• Favorite music or audio books for the car ride.

• Emergency roadside and first aid kits.

• Cell phone (Don’t forget to charge it and bring a recharging unit along).

• Disabled parking permit Driving • Top up the gas tank at frequent intervals.

• Stop approximately once per hour for stretch breaks or short walks.

Choose stops that have clean, well-lit restrooms.

• Wear seatbelts and, if your loved one is in the front seat, ensure that the headrest is centered at the back of his/ her head.

• Encourage your loved one to

Escape

shift his/her weight often and to do neck and shoulder stretches and foot flexes.

Lodging • When checking in, ask for a room close to the lobby or elevator. A ground-floor room is ideal in case of an emergency in which elevators become inoperable.

• If your loved one has a back problem, request a room with a recently replaced mattress.

Recreation • Space out activities and allow ample time for each.

• Schedule outings for the time of day when your loved one’s energy level is highest. Stick to regular meal, medication and sleep times.

• Have a flexible itinerary. Take things one day and one activity at a time.

• Ensure plenty of time for rest and relaxation! ❖ 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.

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Seattle’s Anne Frank Tree From her only window to the outside world, Anne Frank could see the sky, birds and a majestic chestnut tree.

“As long as this exists,” Anne wrote in her diary, “how can I be sad?”

During the two years she spent in the Secret Annex, the solace Anne found in her chestnut tree provided a powerful contrast to the Holocaust unfolding beyond her attic window. As the war narrowed in on Anne and her family, her tree became a vivid reminder that a better world was possible.

Anne’s tree would outlive its namesake by more than 50 years before being weakened by disease and succumbing to a windstorm in 2010.

But today, thanks to dozens of saplings propagated in the months before its death, Anne’s tree lives on in cities and towns around the world.

Seattle’s Holocaust Center for Humanity was selected to receive one of only 11 Anne Frank Tree samplings to come to the United States. After years of care from Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Ann Frank Tree was planted in the Seattle Center Peace Garden and dedicated to the city of Seattle on May 1, 2016. -- courtesy of the Holocaust Center for Humanity

• Have your car checked and serviced before departure.

• If you are going to an unfamiliar area, obtain a road map and study it. If you belong to an automobile club, take advantage of its route-planning service.

• Plan to do as much driving as possible during off-peak traffic times. Or choose the scenic route if time and your loved one’s sitting tolerance permit.

Packing Include the following items when drawing up a packing list: • Loose-fitting, breathable clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a wide-brimmed hat, and a cardigan for air-conditioned environments and cool evenings.

• Sufficient prescription and over-the-counter medications to cover the time you plan to be away, plus a few extra days worth in case your return is delayed.

• Sunscreen, insect repellent, antihistamine and motion sickness tablets.

• A list of all health conditions and medications, in case of a medical emergency.

• Any necessary medical equipment and supplies, such as a walking aid, food supplements, incontinence pads or diabetic supplies.

• A cushion or two for

Pacific Hwy E

If you are planning to take a senior relative with healthcare needs on a road trip of several hours or more, thorough preparation is the key to success. Follow these tips for a safe and enjoyable stay.

Planning • Set realistic expectations.

Consider your loved one’s needs and limitations.

• Make plans and start necessary preparations well in advance. Make lists. Include your loved one in the preparations to the best of his or her ability.

• Research the accessibility of accommodations and attractions you wish to visit. If you’re planning to stay at a motel or hotel, make reservations, especially if you’ll need specific features such as a room with handicapped facilities or a ground-floor room.

• Learn the location of the nearest hospital in any areas you plan to visit.

Avoid destinations where a hospital is far away.

• Arrange for your loved one to visit the doctor pre-trip. Share your travel plans and any health-related concerns such as motion sickness or circulation problems.

• If your loved one has trouble walking long distances, rent a wheelchair or ensure that the places you plan to visit have some available.

Luxury Cottages • Independent Living • Assisted Living • Memory Care

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The ongoing life-affirming adventures of Rose and Dawn

The Funny Side of Life

Still Crazy After All These Years …by Sy Rosen

Okay, I am crazy. I admit it I am suspicious, pessimistic and I worry obsessively.

My two mottos could be “Even paranoids have enemies” and “Expect the Sy Rosen worst and you won’t be disappointed.” I don’t know if I developed these personality traits because of all the bad things going on in the world or if I was born with them (maybe I came out of the womb crying because I thought our doctor was overcharging us). At any rate, before you get too judgmental, see how many of my nutty fears and behaviors you can relate to: CAR LIGHT S – The lights on my car go off automatically but when I leave my car I keep turning back, making sure they went off.

YOGURT – When I go to the frozen yogurt store there is a scale by the cashier that weighs the yogurt. I usually think the scale is wrong and I am being overcharged. If there are two scales there I ask for the yogurt to be reweighed on the second scale. Sometimes the second scale charges me more. I guess that’s the price I pay for being crazy.

GAS – I sometimes suspect that the gas station is shortchanging me and the pump is not putting in as many gallons as it says it is. I don’t know how to prove this but I think I’m right.

EYE-DROPS - I am never sure if the eye drop got into my eye. It’s part of my worries that I’m not doing something right so I usually put in extra drops to compensate. And then, of course, I’m worried that I put in too many drops.

NEWSPAPER - When our newspaper is late I suspect that someone stole it. Later, when I find it under my car, I suspect that the paperboy threw it there on purpose.

THE BANK - The cashier at my bank counts out the money that I am withdrawing. She then puts it through a machine that again counts out the money and then she hands it to me.

I take the money and then go off in a

Plan your day, your way.

June 2016

corner and count it again myself because I am… nuts.

TAKE OUT FOOD – I worry that when I take out food I won’t get my full order. Therefore I pull my car off to the side and open all the bags to make sure my order is correct. By doing this, the food, of course, gets colder quicker but that’s another price I pay for my craziness.

GOOD NEWS – Whenever something good happens to me I worry something bad will happen to counterbalance it.

ELECTRICITY and WATER – When my electricity or water bill is high, I think that my neighbor is somehow tapping into my utilities. I go around my house looking for evidence. I know this is paranoid and crazy. I also know I will keep doing it.

WINDOWS – Whenever the cable or telephone company gives me an 8-12 window for a repair they always arrive at 12. Except when I take a chance and run out to do an errand at 8AM. That’s when they come and quickly and happily leave without doing the repair because I’m not there. How do they know my schedule? I’m thinking drones.

If we have seven or more of these worries and suspicions in common then I think I’ve found a kindred paranoid spirit and I would like to take you to lunch. Of course I am worried that you are just making up our similarities to get a free lunch. ❖

An Afternoon in the 1950s …by Diana Couture

Rose sat on her front porch and looked out onto Latona Street. Boy, there’d been a lot of years in this house.

She thought back to when she and her husband John had purchased the house back in the early ‘50s. What pioneers they were moving all the way out here from the Midwest, just a couple of wild kids looking for adventure.

The one sadness about the trip was that when they finally reached Seattle and called home, the family told her that they’d been trying to reach them because her mother had died suddenly.

Rose had been devastated. How was she to know that the sweet kiss her mother had planted on her cheek as she got into the car loaded for the west coast would be the last she would ever receive?

Just the thought of this, a memory of over 60 years, brought tears to Roses’ eyes. “Shake it off, Rose,” she thought to herself. “There’s enough sadness in the world without dragging up some old sad memory. I know just the way to get out of this funk…I’ll call my best friend Dawn.” With that, Rose reached for her cordless phone.

The two ‘eighty-something’ yearold women giggled like girls when they talked on the phone. Rose felt much better and suggested to Dawn that they go to a movie. “Oh Rose. I don’t want to waste my time or money on any of the drivel they produce as movies these days. It’s just sex, drugs and rock and roll. And that’s not my style.”

Rose cleared her throat and proudly announced, “I’m way ahead of you, Dawnie. Do you think I want to see that junk any more than you do? So I checked and there’s a Tyrone Power movie playing at Seven Gables. And they even have a matinee that we can make if we hurry.” Dawn audibly gasped. “Are you kidding, Rose?

Tyrone Power? Which movie is it?

Wait, it doesn’t matter a bit. I would watch any of his movies at anytime.”

“Well, I think its Nightmare Alley.

So get your dancin’ shoes on and “Pssst! Help me play a little prank on come on over and pick me up. I’m my husband. Start walking away with sure there’ll be a line.” these while loudly exclaiming that you can’t believe you got a new set of The girls arrived at the graphite clubs for $10.” classically-designed theater located

in the University District and parked in the tiny, gravel parking lot. Nothing fancy about this place, they thought as they walked in. But the fanciness was saved for the inside of the facility. Neo Classical décor to the nth degree greeted them as they stepped inside. Columns and heavy, velvet draperies flanked the opening to the theater. There was a slight musty smell but that just added to the ambience.

“Wow Rose. This is the real deal. I can’t believe I’ve lived in Seattle for so long and have never been here before.

I feel like I’m at the Roxy Theater in my hometown in New Jersey back in the ‘50s.” “It’s like we’ve stepped back in time, isn’t it, Dawnie? I like the feeling.

Now, I wish my knees would register this 1950s feeling and stop hurting.”

The girls paid for their tickets, with a senior discount of course, and stopped for a soda and popcorn. At this point, the fact that they weren’t in 1950 hit them hard and bought them back to the reality of today. “What? $14 for two sodas and a bucket of popcorn?” Rose cawed. “Do we look like rich women?

Don’t you have something a little less expensive for the…ahem…older generation?”

The server behind the counter suggested they share a soda and order just a small bag of corn. Well, the girls weren’t big on sharing germs so they got two small sodas and skipped the popcorn all together. “We don’t need the extra calories anyway, Rose. And we don’t want to have greasy hands and faces because we want to look good for Tyrone.” Dawn laughed and the two of them pranced into the seating area.

There was hardly anyone there on this Tuesday afternoon so they had their choice of seats. Dead center was Dawn’s choice, but Rose wanted a few rows closer to accommodate her less than perfect eyesight. “Better to see Tyrone,” Rose cooed. And Dawn whole -heartedly agreed.

The movie was delightful. There were ‘suggestions’ of sex and violence, but nothing that made you wince and have to close your eyes. It was an almost perfect afternoon spent in the ‘almost1950s’. ❖ In Loving Memory of Jun H. Kenney, my dear friend and fellow adventurer.

June 2016

www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com 11

Marital Matters ...by Len Elliott

Across 1. Slight of build 5. “___ la Douce” (MacLaine movie) 9. Proton’s place 13. “Othello” villain 14. Alkali neutralizer 15. Novelist Alison 17. Best man?

19. Esteem highly 20. Thespian Richard or Julie 21. Stuck again, as in a scrapbook 23. Behind time 25. “Angela’s ___” (McCourt memoir) 26. The Camellia State 30. GPS recommendation: abbr.

31. Pay attention to the prof 32. Serve at the reception 35. Dawson, Deighton and Cariou 39. Andretti of auto racing 40. UFO pilots?: abbr.

41. New Jersey borough at the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge: 2 wds.

42. Raced 43. St. Louis landmark 44. Famous fabulist 45. Balaam’s beast 47. Contest participant 49. Soda shop orders 51. Home run gait 52. “I do,” e.g.

54. “Unchained ___” (Righteous Brothers hit) 59. “___ Is Born” (1937, 1954, or 1976 film): 2 wds.

60. Vain vicars at wedding venues?

62. One’s strong suit 63. Blood vessel 64. Let loose 65. Slangy turndowns 66. Formerly-married pair 67. Alaska or Hawaii, once: abbr.

Down 1. It’s sometimes heaved in relief 2. Zhivago’s love 3. Dr. Frankenstein’s gofer 4. “The ___” (Othello, familiarly) 5. 2001 Sean Penn film: 3 wds.

6. Nipper was its mascot: abbr.

7. Bishop’s topper 8. “Zip-___-Doo-Dah”: hyph.

9. MLB division for Yankees, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Rays and Orioles: 2 wds.

10. Men’s Wearhouse at wedding time?

11. Speak pompously 12. Jazzman Davis 16. Sea-Tac Airport info: abbr.

18. La Scala locale, to the locals 22. One of Henry VIII’s Catherines 24. Wedding candle or ceremony recorder 26. Pennies for the poor 27. Take the ____ (get hitched) 28. Bern is on its banks 29. Church aisle?

33. Non-prescription: abbr.

34. Wedding attendant or possible R&B ceremony soloist?

36. “Frozen” princess

Fill in the Rainbow Blanks ...by Len Elliott

Enter a word before the color and a word after the color to answer the clues.

Solution on page 14

37. Sign gas 38. Grandparents Day month: abbr.

41. Less lean 43. Part of NCAA: abbr.

46. Mall units 48. ___ land (“safe” zone in war): 2 wds.

49. It’s found in a 9-Across 50. “Ad ___ per aspera” (Kansas motto) -- apt anagram of 59-Across

51. Outmoded form of communication 52. British blitz beaters in WWII: abbr.

53. Goalie’s stat 55. Bride’s side in some ceremonies 56. Fairy tale baddie 57. Active person 58. Belgian river 61. ___ the knot (get married)

Active, Independent Community of Seniors 55+

1. Cinnamon-flavored gum/Football’s “Galloping Ghost” 2. New York state college team/Food court shop, often 3. 1960s hit for Donovan/Uber rival 4. Poisonous powder/It becomes the Duwamish 5. Onetime A’s pitcher/1961 Elvis film 6. Duke Ellington composition/Grammy-winning folk rock duo 7. Shy person/Oldest child of Ben and Jennifer Answer on page 14

1. ____________________ RED ___________________ 2. ___________________ ORANGE _________________ 3. ___________________ YELLOW _________________ 4. ____________________ GREEN __________________ 5. ____________________ BLUE ___________________ 6. ___________________ INDIGO __________________ 7. ___________________ VIOLET __________________

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Now it’s doctor appointments For my husband, the dog and me.

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Scenes from Childhood

June 2016

Writing Corner

Love Letters

Creative Writing Lab

…by Ariele M. Huff

…by Ariele M. Huff

Between 12 “This is and 16, I had Tabac,” she several pen pals. I pointed out. loved the stories I shrugged. and photos from “In German, different places that’s ‘tobacco.’ around the This is a men’s country and the cologne.” world.

“No, Mom. By 15, My pen pal is a I wanted to boy.” exchange letters My mother, with a boy and who spoke began to ask the fluent German, pen pal group picked up the that supplied letter. addresses for one “Ute. That’s of those. I got a a girl’s name…

Ariele Huff as a teenager couple: One in and she thinks England and one you are a boy!” in Wisconsin, but neither was a Yes, my nickname was Willie, good letter writer. and we hadn’t exchanged photos, I’d about given up when I so each of us—two hopeful little received a letter from Germany, women in training—had been and then began a young girl’s practicing our wiles on each other. wildest dream. My pen pal It was a sad loss. Ute had struggled with English and I knew seemed my perfect boyfriend. She no German, but, charmingly, the was equally disappointed. words were all sweet and interested Love letters—we can read so in me. much into them, often without Then we began exchanging knowing the whole truth of the gifts—even rings. I laughed at the sender! ❖ one I got—just like a guy to select a kind of chunky guy-type ring. My Ariele Huff is a columnist, editor, mother walked by as I was going freelance writer and teacher of writing through my box of goodies and classes. She still wishes Ute had been picked up a bottle of cologne, a a boy. She can be reached at ariele@ bemused look on her face. comcast.net.

I’ve taught this class perhaps the most times of all my onsite ones over the 40 years I’ve been doing this marvelous word game I call a career.

In this class, Ariele M. Huff you’ll get to discover several of my favorite exercises: Left Hand Freedom, Lateral Thinking, Re-experiencing and others. I’ll also share with you some of the basics of writing and some things that are my own take on how the creative process and the writing process occur and what sets those engines purring.

First: Feelings about colors—a human experience, a good place to start our creative exploration.

I’m sure we all know that some colors act on people in some universal ways. For example, green is considered calming while red is for fires, blood, danger and speeding sports cars— exciting or scary. Orange is considered the color most likely to irritate people— used in public places where they want you to move along. Yellow is a lovely kitchen color but famed for encouraging humans to consume more.

Cultural differences figure in, too.

Black is for funerals in the Western world—can carry a sad feeling. White is the same in the East, where it is worn for funerals. In many Asian countries, red is more often the wedding color, rather than white and this, too, can cause us to

Please send us your Scene from Childhood. Submit approximately 300 words and include a brief author bio and a childhood photo. Articles and photos can be emailed to editor@northwestprimetime.com or mailed to NWPT, PO Box 13647, Seattle, WA 98198. Since photos will not be returned, mail a photoquality copy or send a high-resolution photo by email. Each Scenes contributor will receive a one-year subscription to Northwest Prime Time.

Come with us!

Poetry Corner

“Trilliums” Lifting white, pristine petals, above woods’ shady moss, announcing themselves bravely, their slim green stems toss.

Earth awakens in deep, secret glens.

Wildflower patches shout, “Spring will begin.”

--Barbara Ruby

have different feelings about a color. But in the exercise that follows, we’ll take our predilections for certain shades and tints to deeper more personal levels.

Exercise: Write about a color you like. I used to ask for a favorite color but then someone always had to become distracted by not having a favorite color.

“I like them ALL.” ;-) Try to select one that carries with it some pleasant body feelings. If being around a color makes your back muscles relax or your stomach feel warm or brings a smile to your face, that’s what we’re looking for. What color do you choose for your bedroom or another space where you spend a lot of time?

Now, let yourself write as lengthily as you want. When I first tried this exercise, I wrote many pages—about black, a favorite color, at that time especially. Let yourself wander around all the meanings that come to mind. Look for incidents in your past that are part of why this is a pleasant color for you. Maybe you had a blanket as a child or this is a color your mother wore frequently or the color of newly mown grass and the smell arises for you along with the color.

Give yourself lots of time to follow any directions this topic wants to take you.

If you have a 250 to 500 word segment of this journey that especially pleases you, send it to me and it may get printed in this column or in Sharing Stories on the Northwest Prime Time website. Send submissions to me at ariele@comcast.net. Also, to get a copy of Ariele’s current class flyer connect at ariele@comcast.net. ❖

“Five Nations on a Great River” Steep Buda, flat Pest, fisherman’s Bastion, the baths – Hungarian gem.

Croatian city, Vukovar, nigh Serbia— unfilled bullet holes.

Belgrade (White City) Nude statue facing away

from the prudish Serbs.

Bulgarian land, Spring growth sprinkling fertile fields at the Balkan foot.

Oh, Romania, Latin isle in Slavic sea, whence came “Dracula.”

--Len Elliott

Poetry may be excerpted, edited, or used in Sharing Stories on “Northwest Prime Time’s” website. Send to Ariele M. Huff at ariele@comcast.net.

Richard Dean 4:30-5:15 pm & 6:15-7 pm

9th ANNUAL KENT 50 PLUS

Seattle Parks and Recreation Lifelong Recreation Programs for active adults ages 50 and better.

Fitness Arts Trips

AND MORE!

Co-sponsored by the City of Kent Arts Commission

Wally and the Beaves 5:15 - 6:15 pm

Thursday June 23, 2016 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Formerly Jazz and Art Showcase

FREE CONCERTS • FREE INFORMATIONAL BOOTHS FREE ART SHOW BY KENT VALLEY ARTISTS FREE DESSERTS BY STAFFORD SUITES DISCOUNTED DINNERS BY MITZEL’S AMERICAN KITCHEN MOBILE UNIT MOCKTAIL GARDEN (DONATIONS ACCEPTED)

Darren Motamedy 7 - 8 pm

KENT SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER • Kent50Plus.com 600 E. Smith St., Kent, WA 98030 • 253-856-5164

Call now to sign up for summer programs!

Call 206-615-0619 www.seattle.gov/parks

pksrW14978_5_16

June 2016

www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com 13

Photo by Gus Powell

LET’S GO!

Senior Events

Seattle Arts & Lectures presents Annie Proulx, Pulitzer and National Book Award-winning author of nine books, including her latest, Barkskins, which has been hailed as her Moby Dick, a novel ten years in the making about centuries of taming the wilderness and destroying the forest. Proulx lives in the Seattle area and is the author of The Shipping News and the short story Brokeback Mountain, both of which were made into films. Proulx will speak on June 23 at Seattle’s Temple de Hirsch.

Landfill Harmonic Orchestra Youth orchestra from Paraguay with instruments made from landfill items and subject of documentary, June 2, 7pm Providence Mount St Vincent, 4831 35th Ave SW, West Seattle; June 3, 3pm The Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave S, Columbia City, Seattle; June 3, 7pm The Hearthstone, 6720 E Green Lake Way N, Seattle.

Seattle Park’s Lifelong Recreation June 3, 8am-4:30pm Wild Cats sanctuary in Shelton $41; June 6, 9:30am-2:30pm hike about 3 miles with senior group, Meadowdale Park $16; June 16, 9-11am enjoy spring migration of birds at Magnuson Park; June 13, 6-9:30pm Paramount’s Silent Movie series “Chicago”; June 15, 10am-3pm walk the wide trail at Soaring Eagle Park, $12; RSVP for all events in advance 206-615-0619.

OWL-voice of older women First Saturdays, 10:30am social hour followed by lecture; June 4 “Resilience in Times of Transition”, free, everyone welcome, University House at Wallingford, 4400 Stone Way N, Seattle, for info call Carol 206-325-6622.

Peter Kirk Community Center June 6, 10-11:30am, “Self Compassion” Kirkland, RSVP, 425-587-3360.

Protecting Yourself in the Digital Age June 8, keynote Attorney General Bob Ferguson; panel discussion, resource fair, 5-8pm, $5, Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave, Seattle Inspire Positive Aging Luncheon June 9, noon, community celebration of positive aging, Bellevue Hilton, $50-$75 supports senior services, 206-448-5757.

Shoreline-LFP Senior Center June 10 Karaoke/Bingo RSVP; June 21, 10:3011:30am “Public Art in the Park” $2-$4; 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline, 206-365-1536 Annual Sound Steps Walk June 11, 7am, Lake Union10k or half marathon walk, water stations & refreshments, live music, prizes, open to all, benefits fitness programs for 50+, Gas Works Park, 2101 N Northlake Way, Seattle, register 206-684-4664.

Free Des Moines Library Events June 13, 6pm Genealogy Research; June 20, 7pm Memorial Concert for Pete Seeger; June 27, 6pm, Conversation about Homelessness.

2160 11th Ave S, 206-824-6066.

Northshore Senior Center June 16, 10am-2:30pm “Hoedown Potluck” $5; June 17, 10am-2pm “Senior Resource Fair” free, breakout sessions, sample vendors, 10201 E Riverside Dr, Bothell, 425-487-2441

Greenwood Senior Center Fundraiser June 18, 2pm “An Afternoon of Gilbert and Sullivan” enjoy a preview of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s summer production, $10-$15; June 25, 7-11am, $5, Car Show Pancake Breakfast, $5, Greenwood Senior Center, 525 N. 85th St, Seattle, 206-297-0875.

Music & Art Showcase June 23, 4:30-8pm, jazz pianist Richard Dean, Rock ‘n Roll Revue by Wally and the Beaves, jazz saxophonist Darren Motamedy, food & desserts available, door prizes, art exhibits & demos, indoor/outdoor venue – bring blankets, lawn chairs and umbrellas, Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E Smith, Kent, 253-856-5150.

Retirement Communities

Bayview Retirement Community June 21, noon-2pm, “Music, Americana and Apple Pie” BBQ, beverages, apple pie & live music on the terrace, tours, free, RSVP required at 206-281-5744, 11 West Aloha St on Seattle’s Queen Anne Hill, www.bayviewmanor.org

Community Festivals

Edmonds Waterfront Festival June 3-5, Friday 3-10, Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-7pm, live music, food, kids’ arcade, yacht display, hydroplane displays, paddle instructions, Port of Edmonds Marina, 358 Admiral Way, Edmonds, $3, benefits Rotary Club Duvall Days June 4-5, 10am-5pm, celebrating small town/ real life, vendors, live music, activities, frog races, 5 & 10k runs, pancake breakfast, duvalldays.org ShellFest June 4, 11am-3pm, Westport Light State Park, exhibits, lunch, beach walks, education, free, donations accepted, no parking passes required Canoe Celebration June 4 & June 11, noon-4pm, June 4 event at Millersylvania State Park and June 11 at Bowman Bay in Deception Pass State Park, both events feature canoe rides, native singers, drummers and storytellers, traditional weaving, cedar work and woodcarving demos, salmon and fry bread, no parking passes required Meeker Days June 17-19, Pierce County’s largest street festival, entertainment, vendors, food, rides, antique tractors and pull races, classic car shows, farmers market, Pioneer Park, 319 S. Meridian, Puyallup.

Secret Garden Tour June 18, 10am-4pm tour of Lake Forest Park Gardens, artists and musicians perform at each

A Calendar of Places to go, do, or see…

garden, plant sale same day 9am-4pm features Ciscoe Morris plants and garden artists, lower level Lake Forest Park Town Center, Bothell Way NE & Ballinger Way, $15 tickets for tour available at plant sale.

Kenmore Art Show June 22-26, preview 5:30pm June 22, show opens at 8am daily thru June 26, free entrance & parking, Bastyr University, 14500 Juanita Dr NE. Shoreline-LFP Arts Festival June 25-26, breakfast, beer garden, arts, music, 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline.

Skandia Midsommarfest June 26, 11am-6pm, traditional Scandinavian celebration features music and dance, activities, flower crowns, pole raising, craft & food booths, costume presentation, free, donations accepted, St Edwards State Park, 14445 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore, 425-954-5262.

Musical Theatre

5th Avenue Theatre June 2-25, reinvention of the classic Paint Your Wagon by Lerner & Loew explores sweeping saga of the American West, 206-625-1900.

An Evening with the Stars June 9, 7pm, favorite Broadway tunes, Icicle Creek Center for the Arts, Leavenworth icicle.org Motown the Musical Thru June 12, Paramount Theatre, Seattle, 877784-4849, www.stgpresents.org Tacoma Little Theatre Thru June 12, “Smokey Joe’s Café” set in ‘50s featuring Leiber & Stoller’s rock n’ roll songs, 210 North I st, Tacoma, 253-272-2281.

Gilbert & Sullivan Society July 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30, 7:30pm. July 17, 23, 24, 30, 2pm, “The Yoeman of the Guard” Bagley Wright Theatre, 800-838-3006, www. yoeman.brownpapertickets.org

Choral Music

Bellevue Chamber Chorus June 4-5, “Bridges of Song” a festival of folk music from around the world, June 4 at 7:30pm at St Luke’s Lutheran Church, 3030 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue; June 5 at 3pm Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, 10005 32nd Ave NE, Seattle, special senior prices, 425-881-0445.

Seattle Girls’ Choir June 4, 1:30pm, $15-$20, Town Hall Seattle, www.seattlegirlschoir.org Northwest Chamber Chorus June 5, 3pm & June 11, 7:30pm Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, 7500 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, $18-$23, 206-523-1196.

Seattle Choral Company June 10-11, 8pm, “American Songbook” Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave E, Seattle, 206-363-1100.

Sno-King Chorale June 11, 3pm & 7pm, Ticket to Broadway: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, a Concert Version plus Cole Porter medley, Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4th Ave N, Edmonds, reserved seating, 425-275-9595, ec4arts.org.

Northwest Chorale July 15, 7pm summer sing-along to “Mamma Mia!”, Lake City Presbyterian Church, 3841 NE 123 St, Seattle, $15, 206-522-9853.

Pop, Jazz, Folk, Country

Seattle Jazz Vespers June 5, 6pm, Jacqueline Tabor Quartet, free, donations accepted, light refreshments & conversation follows, First Baptist, Harvard & Seneca, Seattle, free parking.

America’s Classic Jazz Festival June 23-26, jazz, dance and revelry; great bands, 4 large dance floors, includes set devoted to swing music and dancing, on-site RV parking, hotel shuttle service, parasol parades and a big “After Glow” party, family-friendly, Saint Martin’s University campus in Lacey, for info and schedule visit www.olyjazz.com Music & Art Showcase June 23, 4:30-8pm, jazz pianist Richard Dean, Rock ‘n Roll Revue by Wally and the Beaves, jazz saxophonist Darren Motamedy, food & desserts, door prizes, art exhibits & demos, indoor/outdoor venue – bring blankets, lawn chairs and umbrellas, Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E Smith, Kent, 253-856-5150.

Summer Music Series Thursdays through Aug, 7pm, Atrium at Pacific Place, June features jazz pop & blues; July surf rock & disco; Aug “Summer Lovin’; free, 6th & Pine, Seattle, 206-405-2655.

26th Annual

Classic Jazz Festival June 23-26, 2016 Saint Martin’s University, Marcus Pavillion 5300 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey, Washington

Jazz History on Four Stages

Great Bands • Large Dance Floors Dance Lessons - Hal & Georgia Myers, California Nearby Hotels • Shuttle Service Available Parasol Parades • RV Accommodations 3 day hotel package, 7 day cruise on the Columbia River with festival bands offered by Jazzdagen Tours Tickets and Sponsorships Available Online or at Door

info@olyjazz.com • 360-705-3024 • www.olyjazz.com

14

Northwest Prime Time www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com Mark Bryant

Library Corner

...continued from page 3

Wisdom Cafés …by Wendy Pender, King County Library System

Ahhh … the balmy days of summer are here! Yes, it’s lovely to be outside, but don’t overdo it. As we age, our internal thermometers don’t adjust as effectively, so it’s important to watch the temperature and drink plenty of water. With recordbreaking temperatures predicted, air conditioned libraries are

deliciously comfortable! So sip some water and cool off at the library!

While you’re there, be sure to check out our newest programs designed with grown-ups in mind.

If it seems like good, old-fashioned face-to-face conversation is going out of style, you can change that at the library! Along with our conversation-inspiring program series, Everyone’s Talking About It, KCLS is hosting Wisdom Cafés where grown-ups come to talk and share ideas.

Designed with older adults continued on page 15

Wisdom Cafés at KCLS Shoreline Library, Sundays, 2pm June 19 – Clearing Space – The Liberating Effect of ‘Down-Sizing’ July 24 – Aging Creatively – Living Life with Intention and Discovery August 28 – Talking about What Scares Us North Bend Library Saturday, June 11, 1:30pm – The Surprises of Aging – Who Knew It Would Be Like This?

Saturday, July 9, 10:30am – Make New Friends and Keep the Old Wednesday, August 10, 10:30am – Aging Creatively – Living Life with Intention and Discovery Burien Library, Fridays, 10:30am June 24 – Clearing Space – The Liberating Effect of ‘Down-Sizing’ July 8 – Gratitude – More than Counting Blessings July 22 – Life Purpose – We’re Here for a Reason Skyway Library, Tuesdays, 2pm July 12 – Staying Connected – Strategy for a Full Life July 19 – Gratitude – More than Counting Blessings July 26 – Talking about What Scares Us Woodmont Library, Saturdays, 2pm June 11 – Film Discussion, “Speaking of Dying” June 25 – The Surprises of Aging – Who Knew It Would Be Like This?

July 9 – Aging Creatively – Living Life with Intention and Discovery Redmond Library, Mondays, 2pm June 13 – Gratitude – More than Counting Blessings June 20 – Clearing Space – The Liberating Effect of ‘Down-Sizing’ June 27 - Talking about What Scares Us

total hip replacement. In spite of his doctor advising him to be cautious in powerlifting, his passion drove him to train and complete just five months later.

Then, when the door opened for him to qualify and compete for the 2015 AAU World Powerlifting Championship in Las Vegas, he was ready. Mark competed in the deadlift. His final lift was 407 pounds, which gave him first place and the world championship.

Mark describes his success as one of faith, courage and discipline.

Mark’s dedication and drive sets an example to others to never give up on what you love. For over ten years he has worked as the Enhance Fitness Coordinator at the Southeast Seattle Senior Center, where he teaches a variety of senior fitness classes. The seniors are very inspired by his accomplishments and his passion for fitness. Mark serves as an inspiration for people of all ages. He coaches boxing and teaches strength training to boys, girls and young adults.

He also volunteers at the Union Gospel Mission.

Mark has attracted attention from numerous media outlets, which helps him in his goal of motivating others. “I wish I could reach and inspire more people – the young and the old – on how important it is to be mentally, physically and spiritually balanced,” said Mark.

Bull Stewart, president and founder of the Washington State Hall of Fame and 15 time world powerlifting champion, says, “Mark Bryant is an ambassador for powerlifting in the Pacific Northwest and I am honored to induct him into the AAU Washington State Hall of Fame.”

The AAU Hall of Fame award is only given to those with a highly distinguished career as a drug free competitor on the national and international levels, and to those with “integrity, sportsmanship and character.” ❖

June 2016

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June 2016

Out and About

I Can Fly ...by Roger Urbaniak

Occasionally scanning the internet turns up something interesting.

Last fall, an ad promoting indoor simulated Roger Urbaniak skydiving at special introductory rates caught my eye.

The ad claimed it to be safe, novel, exciting and an affordable price of $49 for two one-minute sessions. I kept on reading, looking for a catch. Once I satisfied myself that this new activity was promising and probably safe, I took the plunge and signed up for a session.

I would have 90 days to schedule my fly time at the “I Fly” facility located in Tukwila near Southcenter in an oddshaped building I had driven past on I-405 several times. Always looking for some new adventure, this seemed to be a good fit.

Once I called to schedule my appointment, I was told to arrive 15 minutes early for paperwork and signin rituals. Linda came with me to take a photo or two and to give me moral support in case I began to get chicken at the last minute. The sign-in went smoothly, as I was less than 250 pounds, less than 6’ 2” and did not have any shoulder, back or heart issues. The lobby was full of people, mostly teenagers, waiting for their turn to fly. The first session was wind tunnel basics, mostly learning how to position my body in the tunnel. The second session would elevate and descend me in the vertical wind tunnel perhaps 20 or 30 feet while an instructor accompanied me to assist with achieving body positions needed to rise and turn.

My first 15 minutes was spent putting on a jump suit over my clothing, plus affixing hard hat, ear plugs and safety glasses. Wearing glasses is okay, but we were advised to remove things like loose ear rings or necklaces. Next I got in line with nine or ten others. A glass enclosure allowed us to watch those ahead of us be guided in the wind tunnel. Turning and spinning in the glass wind tunnel provided excellent photo opportunities.

Each one-minute flight was recorded and we could watch ourselves on a television monitor after we finished or friends could take photos.

The first minute was noisy as we walked into the wind tunnel, and I clasped my arms in front and leaned forward to catch the air coming up from below my feet. Goose bumps formed and my heart rate rose. My instructor grabbed grip bars on my jump suit to help me obtain a position where the air moved me around. Since it was too noisy to hear, signs were posted on the tunnel advising me how to efficiently move feet and arms, allowing the instructor to point out an appropriate sign.

www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com 15 After I completed the initial session, I rejoined my tenperson group and waited my turn to fly the tunnel. My second entry was the same, except this time the instructor became horizontal along with me instead of standing along my side. With the extra surface of a second body, up we went in the tunnel. My instructor held my suit handle and by maneuvering his arms and legs not only elevated and lowered us but spun us around the tunnel with a dizzying effect. After my feet successfully hit the ground, I decided it was fun stuff, better than many circus rides. Despite my initial fears, it actually felt safe.

When our group finished, the instructor entered the tunnel and proceeded to show us how acrobatic one could become in the tunnel just by manipulating arms, legs, fingers…

Summersaults, spins and numerous acrobatic moves awed the crowd and gave us incentive to come back for advanced training. I am not sure that I will ever be part of the advanced corps, but the memory of my initial visit was very positive and will be remembered as a truly unique experience.

Visit the I fly web page for more information: www.iflyworld.com/seattle or call 206-244-4359. ❖

Wisdom Cafés ...continued from page 14

in mind, these Cafés provide opportunities to reflect on the deeper issues of life and engage in rich, facilitated conversations.

Come and share your wisdom, swap stories and make new friends.

Please see page 14 for our summer schedule (We’ll have more sessions at other sites in the fall).

Registration is requested, so please call your local library or register online at www.kcls.org.

While you’re online, check out our new website (kcls.org)!

We have a new look and lots of great new content, especially for our 50+ patrons! Click on “Books & More,” then “audience 50+” to see blog posts, newsletters, book recommendations, videos and more!

Have a cool time in your library this summer! ❖ Wendy Pender is the Older Adults Project Specialist for the King County Library System. After a career as a tax and estates paralegal, she obtained her master’s degree in library science from the University of Pittsburgh and a certificate in gerontology from the University of Washington. Wendy’s mom, Mary Duvel, turns 100 this month and has not 1 but 2 librarian daughters of her 7 children. Wendy can be reached at wgpender@kcls.org or 425-369-3285. Check out www.kcls. org/50plus for more!

26th Annual “America’s Classic Jazz Festival Jazz, dance and revelry are the focus of America’s Classic Jazz Festival taking place June 23-26 on the Saint Martin’s University Campus in Lacey. Plenty of dance lessons, great bands and four large dance floors are sure to provide a wonderful time for all. This year music-lovers can listen and dance to Pacific Northwest favorites such as Uptown Lowdown or take in jazz greats like Grand Dominion, Tom Hook and his Terriers, High Sierra and the St Louis Rivermen. Tom Rigney and flambeau will cover the Cajun and zydeco two steps.

Jazz singer Joep Peeters from Breda Holland is a guest star. This festival band lineup is jazz history on four stages in Lacey.

The Olympia Farmer’s Market will feature two festival bands, Tom Rigney and Flambeau and Grand Dominion. This free event starts at 11am Friday, June 24th.

New this year is a special three band set devoted to swing music and dancing. Other festival features include on-site RV parking, hotel shuttle service, parasol parades, a swing set and a big “After Glow” party. This four-day, family-friendly festival has been running for twenty five years and attracts jazz fans from twenty-two states.

For more information and the schedule of 96 performances of the 13 bands, visit www.olyjazz.com