Northwest Prime Time November 2019 by Northwest Prime Time

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CELEBRATING LIFE AFTER 50 IN THE PUGET SOUND REGION SINCE 1986

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VOL. 19 NO. 9 NOVEMBER 2019

Dick Stein and Nancy Leson

re you a fan of KNKX's radio program Food for Thought? The weekly show features Dick Stein, host of the station’s Midday Jazz show, and Nancy Leson, well-known food writer and cooking instructor. Every week, Dick and Nancy share their views on cooking and eating as they joke, bicker and laugh. They have fun together while discussing anything and everything related to food. Think Car Talk, NPR’s long-running radio program, except Dick and Nancy discuss edibles instead of automobiles. As Dick explains, “We’re a couple of friends talking about cooking and eating. Of course, the show is about

Photo courtesy Justin Steyer, KNKX

Hosts of the local radio program about food—Food for Thought

food, but mostly we want to entertain each other and hopefully the people listening will have fun, too.” They both love to cook, and discuss recipes and their latest cooking adventures, but, as Dick says, “We’re not chefs, we’re just a couple of everyday people who like to talk about it. I think we have the most fun when we disagree. We’re good enough friends that we can tell each other ‘you’re full of it.’ ”

“Yes,” says Nancy. “We’re like an old married couple giving each other the business. Our banter works because we have the same sensibilities and grew up in similar households. In the end, we truly love and respect one another. We are the yin to each other’s yang.” A Food for Thought retrospective earlier this year had the two looking back on some of their favorite shows – these exchanges illustrate the

couple’s dynamic: Nancy exclaims, laughing, “Our Great Bagel Bake-Off! My one-hour bagels versus your three-day bagels! Dick: “And guess which won? Mine.” “No!” responds Nancy emphatically. Dick: “That’s right, it came out a push (a tie) ...at least that’s what you claimed, and I let it go.” Later online he continued on page 18

Nancy Leson

Dick Stein

Dick Stein started his radio career back Nancy Leson is an award-winning food when he was in the Air Force stationed writer, radio personality, cooking instructor, in Alaska. In addition to co-hosting and public speaker and she leads international producing Food for Thought, he’s hosted jazz food tours with Earthbound Expeditions. She and other shows with KNKX since 1992. was restaurant critic and food writer for The “I’ve been a jazz fan since I was a kid,” Seattle Times for nearly two decades. says Dick, who grew up in New Rochelle, Nancy started cooking when she was NY. “I used to go to Birdland as an underage still a child but feels that she learned much kid. I got to see Stan Getz, John Coltrane of what she knows about food during her first and the Maynard Ferguson Big Band. I career: waiting tables. She started in her teens can’t tell you how many different acts we and continued for 17 years. “I could always saw. Me and my friend, Frank, would go move around and get a job anywhere,” says Dick Stein and Nancy Leson in their younger days. The two have so much down a little set of stairs where you could in common but never met until they started Food for Thought 13 years ago. the adventurous Nancy. buy a ticket, just like at a movie theater. We And move around she did. Between were 15 or 16 and really felt like a couple Philadelphia and her current home in of sophisticates.” They would also stand outside of the Metropole listening to jazz, Edmonds, she lived in South Jersey, California, Puerto Rico and Anchorage, freezing but taking in the fog of warm air that wafted out whenever anyone came among other places. or went, smelling of cigarette smoke, perfume and liquor. “To our 15-year-old “When you live in Anchorage, you always have to stop in Seattle when noses, it smelled like heaven,” he recalls fondly. going anywhere. I had a close friend in Seattle I often stayed with. I fell in love When he joined the Air Force, Dick started out in teletype maintenance with the place as we walked around Pike Place Market and ate at wonderful and cross-trained into radio. Soon enough he had a part-time radio job off-base, restaurants. I finally moved here in 1988.” and stayed with radio after leaving the Air Force. Long before joining KNKX, he A native of Philadelphia, Nancy is the oldest of four children. “I pretty hosted country, classical, top-40 and, for five years, had a call-in talk radio show. much left home as soon as I possibly could,” she says. “In fact, even before that, “After five years of the call-in show, I thought I was done with radio,” says I went to a small Quaker school on scholarship that I got on my own. It was an Dick. “It was very stressful.” extraordinary experience. The school had a strong arts bent in addition to the In 1976, he and his then-girlfriend decided to move to Washington. They academics. We were free to pursue our own interests.” Pursuing her own interests lived in a ’59 VW bus for six months, seeing the country and visiting friends along has been a good choice for Nancy. the way before settling in the Tacoma area. They weren’t hippies, he claims, “but At age 32, she got a degree in Journalism from the University of we sure looked like it.” Washington. “Going to school while working was exhausting,” she recalls. Dick still lives in Tacoma, although now with his two cats and wife of 30 years, After graduation, she “was broke” and continued waiting tables for a year Cheryl De Groot. “She would say 30 long years,” quips Dick. Cheryl is a nationally at Saleh al Lago, then a high-end Italian restaurant in Green Lake. “Then noted metalsmith and jewelry designer who once worked as a shipyard welder. I saw a job offer for an unpaid internship in the food section at the Seattle In between moving to Tacoma and starting with KNKX, Dick began Weekly.” She sent a funny cover letter...My mother always wanted me to be a chimney sweep business (named Pickwick), freelanced as an advertising a doctor. Maybe now, at least, I can tell her I’m an intern? Call me, I’m your copywriter, and dabbled in voice-over, character modeling and corporate films. girl. “That was the last job I ever looked for. Every other job came over the “I never thought I would be in radio again.” But, as fate would have it, his transom.” The Weekly immediately gave her a restaurant column. That column neighbor across the street, Nick Morrison, was the morning jazz host at KNKX enabled Nancy to transition out of restaurants and into a job editing Sasquatch (then KPLU). “He talked me into filling in at the station,” says Dick. “One thing Publishing’s Best Places series. She later worked as the back-up restaurant continued on page 18

continued on page 18

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Artful Aging

0 to 100 Project photograph four different people of each age and ask them 10 general questions about their life and their opinions. In the end, Ahamed hopes to show how time changes people’s faces and thoughts, and to write a book about it.

Seattle photographer Ahamed Iqbal is looking to work with seniors over the age of 50 as part of a longterm photography project about how people age. So far, he’s photographed over 280 people ranging in age from newborns to 95. His goal is to

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“I’ve always been fascinated by aging and how each person’s journey through life can be so dramatically different,” said Ahamed about how he came up with the project. “I also wondered why aging is often viewed as a negative thing when we all must go through it. I knew that people’s views on aging often change as they themselves age, so I wanted to cover the full range of ages from 0 to 100+.” He adds, “As a photographer I’m used to capturing images of people at different ages, but I wanted to also discover and record how their thoughts about life differed at different life stages. My project is the combination of my curiosity about how others age and a way to discover and reinforce what is meaningful and special in my own life.” To volunteer to have your photo taken and answer the questions, email project@zincphoto or call Ahamed at all 610-986-1173 to set up a convenient location and time to meet. Be sure to include your current age. For more information about the project, visit www.zincphoto.com/0to100.

November 2019

INDEX ARTFUL AGING

Dick Stein and Nancy Leson Hosts of Food for Thought............. 1 0 to 100 Project............................. 2 Light Verse....................................15 Writing & Poetry Corners.............. 16

COMMUNITY

Volunteer Spotlight.......................... 4 Columnist John Schieszer................ 8 Thank the Vet................................13 Library Corner.............................. 19

HEALTH MATTERS

Naturally Healthy Nourishing Mushrooms................ 6 Garlicky Mushrooms Recipe............ 6 Medicare Update........................... 6 Medical Minutes............................. 8 Senior Fitness Tip............................ 9 Dementia Care............................... 9 Alzheimer’s & Dementia Early Detection & Diagnosis........10 Momentia Living with Memory Loss............. 10 National Hospice Month...............11

HUMOR & PUZZLES

The Funny Side of Life...................14 Rose and Dawn............................14 Comics and Puzzles......................15

LIFE PERSPECTIVES

The Way to a Man’s Heart.............. 4 Widowhood: Before & After..........11 Scenes from Childhood.................16

OUT & ABOUT

LET’S GO! Calendar.....................17 The Great Outdoors......................19

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Life Perspectives

The Way to a Man’s Heart ...by June Stinson

“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” was a common adage in the 1930s and 40s. My mother’s goal for me was to become a “housewife” like her. My interest in playing hopscotch and jump rope declined, along with my afterschool radio programs for kids. I overheard girls on the school bus whispering and giggling about playing games of “spin the bottle,” and “post office,” which apparently involved boys and kissing. I was never invited, and I wondered what it would feel like to be kissed. I began turning the radio dial in search of popular music. Romantic songs performed by “dreamy crooners” encouraged me to buy sheet music so I could learn the words and sing along as I picked out the tunes on the piano. The old upright piano was draped with a decorative velveteen piano scarf, with studio photos of my older brother and sister atop. “Your Hit Parade” was my favorite Saturday night radio program,

with live singers performing the most popular songs of the week, as determined from wax record sales. My mother noticed my changing interests—I was changing from childhood to adolescence. My chores on our small ranch included feeding the chickens and gathering eggs. As I performed those chores, my mind drifted to what I’d heard on the radio, which hinted that I might have a problem becoming a “housewife” based on songs like “The girl that I marry/ will have to be/ as soft and as pink/ as a nursery;/the girl I call my own/will wear satins and laces/ and smell of cologne.” (Words from memory 70 years ago.) We didn’t dress that way on the ranch. My mother wore print house dresses from the Sears catalog, always covered by an apron that tied in back. However, when she went out she always wore an attractive flowered dress, hat and

gloves; she considered herself more of a Mrs. than just a housewife. Mother’s little girl needed coaching in her future role as a housewife. The hope chest was an essential replacement for the old-fashioned dowry. I learned to embroider a few pillowcases, and the popular “day of the week” flour-sack dishtowels with designations declaring each day’s duties: Monday Wash; Tuesday Iron; Wednesday Bake; Thursday Shop; Friday Sew; Saturday Clean; Sunday Rest. Apparently, each of those tasks was an all-day event. If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, then I needed to expand my cooking-repertoire beyond frying ground beef patties on the wood stove, peeling and boiling potatoes, and opening a can of peas. Pies were said to be men’s favorite dessert. Fine, we had an apple tree and wild blackberries waiting to be picked. Mother’s pastry cloth was laid out on the oilclothcovered kitchen table, the flour and water and rolling pin at hand. Pie dough was quite easy to master and was fun. The next project was learning to clean a chicken. Mother instructed me to “watch closely, for you’ll have to do this when you get married.” This was beyond my prissy daydreams of romance, like “Tea for two/and two for tea/ and me for you/ and you for me.” Did I ever have to clean a chicken myself? Nope. When I grew up and moved to the city, I discovered that markets sold ready-to-cook chickens. v

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Volunteer Spotlight

AARP Names New State President AARP

has announced the appointment of Jim Ko as the new AARP Washington State President. In Jim Ko his volunteer role, Ko will direct the organization’s activities on behalf of nearly 940,000 Washington State members and provide leadership in long-range planning to help meet the needs of the state’s older adults and their families. “I welcome the opportunity to work with Washington’s AARP volunteers and staff,” said Ko. “I plan to continue our efforts around consumer protection, health and long-term care issues, and the fight to preserve the social safety net for our most vulnerable citizens. These issues not only affect today’s older adults, but also their families and friends for generations to come. “Of particular concern right now is the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs,” said Ko. “Here in Washington State, the average annual cost of brand name prescription drug treatment increased 58 percent between 2012 and 2017, while the annual income for Washingtonians increased only 9.9 percent. Prescription drugs don’t work if patients can’t afford them, and no American should be forced to choose between paying for the medicines they need and paying for food, rent or other necessities,” he said. Ko has been an active AARP volunteer since 2017, helping older adults complete their tax returns with the AARP Foundation Tax Aide program and as a member of AARP’s Volunteer Executive Council. He is a retired consumer goods industry executive with experience in general management, operations, project management, business and new venture development, and international trade. As Vice President of Channel Business Development for Starbucks from 2011-2015, he led the successful negotiation of new business partnerships and product launches in Asia and Europe. He’s also held positions with Pepperidge Farm, DuPont and Kraft Foods. Ko holds an M.S. in Management and Operations Research and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering/Operations Research. He lives in Seattle with his wife, Catherine, and has two grown children. Ko succeeds Mike Tucker of Lacey, who served as State President for AARP Washington from 2014 to 2019.

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Naturally Healthy

Nourishing Mushrooms ...by Wendell Fowler

With some notable “toadstool” exceptions, mushrooms are edible fungi that typically grow in grassy or wooded areas, and flourish by feasting and extracting nutrients from decaying matter. For millennia, Chinese medicine has used over 100 species to treat a wide range of illnesses. Japanese studies discovered those who eat certain mushrooms have a lower cancer risk. Ancient Egyptians believed eating mushrooms brought long life. Bioactive compounds in some exotic mushrooms, like cremini, oyster, portabella, maitake and turkey tail, helps the immune system to defend against chronic disease. For eons, shiitake has symbolized longevity in Asia. Shiitake fortifies the immune system, fights gingivitis and inflammation, and its fiber keep things flowing. Shiitake is known to reduce blood cholesterol levels, hardening of the arteries, diabetes risk, eczema, can treat prostate or breast cancer, and is a longevity agent. Large, white, shaggy lion’s mane mushrooms benefit aging seniors’ brain, heart and gut. A National Institute of Health (NIH) study discovered that lion’s mane contains two special compounds that can stimulate the growth of brain cells and may protect against damage from Alzheimer’s. The study showed that older adults with mild cognitive impairment

who consumed three grams of powdered lion’s mane daily for four months significantly improved mental functioning, but these benefits disappeared when supplementation stopped. The mushroom may also help speed recovery from brain or nervous system injuries, including damage following a stroke, by stimulating the growth and repair of nerve cells. The family of edible fungus holds vitamins A, C, B-complex, D, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, protein and copper. The potassium in shiitake and maitake mushrooms relaxes blood vessels, hence, reducing blood pressure. Packed with fiber, mushrooms improve digestion, lower blood sugars and fill you up quicker. Mushrooms are effective at helping to prevent breast and prostate cancer due

Garlicky Mushrooms 4 tbsp. unsalted grassfed butter 1 tbsp. olive or avocado oil ½ onion chopped 1-pound cremini, button and shiitake mushrooms 2 tbsp. dry white wine (optional) 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves 4 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley 4 cloves garlic minced Salt and pepper to taste

November 2019

to the significant presence of beta-glucans and conjugated linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is also particularly helpful in suppressing harmful effects of excess estrogen. The antioxidant ergothioneine in mushrooms provides protection from free radicals, boosts immune response and helps purge abnormal, man-made compounds in our food and air that cause significant damage and disease. Seven studies in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention showed that the higher the level of selenium in large quantities in mushrooms, the lower the bladder cancer risk. Mushrooms are an outstanding means of obtaining selenium that benefits seniors’ bone health by adding to bone strength and increased durability. The trace mineral also strengthens teeth, hair and nails. Antioxidant selenium helps to rid the body of free radicals and strengthens immune response. The FDA recently approved the

Medicare Update REMINDER: Medicare open enrollment runs through December 7. This is the time when people on Medicare have a chance to change their plan and prescription drug coverage for 2019.

Your Annual Check-Up, Medicare Style ...by Karen Telleen-Lawton

continued on page 12

Instructions: • Heat butter and oil in a large pan or skillet over medium-high and sauté onion until softened (about 3 minutes). Add mushrooms and cook (about 4-5 minutes). • Add wine and cook 2 minutes, then reduce slightly. Add thyme, parsley and garlic. Cook 30 seconds. Reserve a little parsley for garnish. • Season with salt and pepper and parsley and serve.

Welcome to age 65, and the Medicare system! Now you can sit back, relax, and know that you’ll be taken care of no matter what happens, right? You can dream, but if you’ve already crossed this important threshold, you know that’s not the reality. When you’re tapping into Medicare benefits, it pays to know the terms. In particular, before you schedule your first visit, know the difference between the Welcome to Medicare visit, an annual Wellness visit and a physical exam. Under original Medicare, the “Welcome to Medicare” visit is a one-time visit covered by Medicare Part B whose main goal is to promote general health and help prevent diseases. It is not necessarily a physical examination at all, but instead focuses on creating a baseline health assessment by checking vital stats and health history. As AARP notes, “Medicare does not pay for the type of comprehensive exam that most people think of as a ‘physical.’ But it does cover a one-time “Welcome to Medicare” checkup during your first year after enrolling in Part B and, later on, an annual wellness visit that is intended to keep track of your health.” Here’s what to expect from the Welcome to Medicare visit: • Intake: height, weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, vision. • Review: health history including medical, social and emotional. • Education: discuss navigating safely as you age, counseling and referrals as necessary. • Plan: goals and plans for the future, including information on other preventative services. The “Welcome to Medicare” visit has no copay or deductible continued on page 12

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John Schieszer Medical Minutes Columnist ...by Nicole Martinson

Health Matters

Medical Minutes ...by John Schieszer

John Schieszer has seen a revolution in medicine over the last 20 years. He finds it immensely rewarding when things he wrote about years ago as future options become a reality. John keeps up with medical advancements, which he says are becoming increasingly more digital. He enjoys sharing this information and has always wanted to be a journalist as his curiosity drives him to learn. John comes from a large family of seven siblings and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He is now living in Burien and has resided in the West Seattle area for the past 22 years. John uses his experience working at seven radio stations when creating podcasts that focus on more technical information. When he’s not writing or podcasting, he enjoys hiking in the Olympic Peninsula and growing dahlias in his garden. “I grow many different varieties. I like them the most because they come in all shapes and sizes and the more you pick, the more you get. When cut, the flowers produce new ones immediately. It is like magic.”

Do Stem Cell Treatments for Joint Injuries Work? There is significant interest in biologic treatment options to improve John Schieszer healing and reduce symptoms more rapidly in joints, such as osteoarthritis (OA), tendinopathy, ligament injuries and other inflammatory conditions. However, there is uncertainty among physicians and patients about what works and what does not since many of these treatments are still unproven. While the authors caution that the outlook is positive, the clinical data for their use are currently limited. For now, don’t believe all the hype you read about stem cell treatments. The utilization of stem cell therapies for augmentation of tissue healing has far outpaced the supporting scientific and clinical data, largely due to aggressive marketing that has led to widespread and often inappropriate use of cell therapy approaches in the United States, according to researchers. Two critical reviews in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery examine the current status of biologic approaches for common shoulder and elbow problems. The authors discuss areas where the current evidence base is weak or controversial and recommend where further studies are required. A large number of patient-specific factors affect outcomes, including age, sex, medical comorbidities, medications, and genetic and epigenetic factors. These variables, as well as unpredictability of the biologic product from stem cell treatments are then added to the variability of the underlying

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pathology being treated. The authors reviewed several biologic agents, including plateletrich plasma (PRP), bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in order to provide medical specialists and their patients with up-to-date clinical data and to stimulate further research in this important and growing area of musculoskeletal medicine. They conclude that these treatments have great potential based on laboratory studies that demonstrate a positive effect on tissue healing. However, the clinical data for their use in both shoulder and elbow pathologies are very limited. “There is a critical need for strategies to improve rotator cuff tendon healing following surgical repair and for methods to reverse the progressive muscle atrophy that occurs in patients with rotator cuff tears,” said the authors of the study. “The shoulder is therefore an area in which biologic agents are especially appealing.” More Tailored Cancer Screening May Be Warranted for Native Americans Greater efforts are needed to improve cancer screenings for Native Americans, especially those age 50 and older, according to federal health officials. The nation’s American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population faces higher risk of many cancers than white Americans, with considerable variation among regional groups, according to a new study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. “Our data show that the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population has substantially higher rates for some cancers than white Americans, including lung, liver, kidney, colorectal and stomach cancers. Cancer incidence rates for many cancers also differ by geographic area,” said the study lead author, Stephanie C. Melkonian, PhD, who is an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia. Melkonian said that geographic differences in cancer rates may be

November 2019 due to environmental, behavioral or socioeconomic factors that differ for each group by area. However, most U.S. cancer statistics present American Indians and Alaska Natives as one large group. “Nationally aggregated data presents an incomplete picture because it obscures geographic differences in cancer incidence rates,” said Melkonian. Melkonian and colleagues assessed data from CDC for the years 2010-2015. The researchers linked data from these cancer registries to Indian Health Services patient registration databases to identify cancer cases in the AI/AN population in six geographic areas: Northern Plains, Alaska, Southern Plains, Pacific Coast, East and Southwest regions. Among men, the study showed that liver cancer was more than twice as common in the AI/AN population than in whites. Kidney and stomach cancer incidences were significantly higher for AI/AN men than white men in four out of six AI/AN regions. Among women, liver cancer incidence was more than three times higher for the AI/AN population than for whites. AI/AN women also had higher rates of lung, colorectal, kidney, cervical and stomach cancer. Despite decreasing trends in colorectal cancer incidence, rates of colorectal cancer were higher in the AI/ AN population in most regions, with the highest being in the Northern Plains, Southern Plains and Alaska. Overall, breast cancer rates were lower for AI/ AN women than for white women; however, significant variation occurred across the country. The East, Southwest and Pacific Coast had much lower breast cancer rates for AI/AN women, while Alaska and the Southern Plains had considerably higher rates than white women. Melkonian said the study indicates the importance of reviewing regional variations in cancer incidence in the AI/AN population in order to ensure a complete understanding of these groups’ cancer burden and identify where to implement targeted public health action. “These data can guide us on how to design tailored interventions to screen for and prevent many of these common cancers,” she said. v 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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November 2019

Senior Fitness Tip

Circuit Training for Seniors ...by Mark Bryant, Functional Aging Exercise Specialist

If you’re just starting out on an exercise regime, consider circuit training. Circuit training is when you exercise the whole Mark Bryant body from top to bottom. For example, you may start out doing bicep curls, tricep push-downs, bench press, seated rows or lat pull-down (for the back), shoulder presses, squats, leg press, leg extensions, leg curls and calf raises. You can do these exercises in any order you want, but most people would start with the upper body first, followed by legs. The circuit consists of going through each exercise one after the other. You may need a thirty second break before moving to the next exercise. Do the circuit one time, with ten repetitions per exercise. If you want to go through the circuit a second time, do it all over again the same way. For beginners, one circuit round is enough. Start out doing your circuit training on machines before moving to free weights. Give yourself about two or three months before doing a circuit training with free weights. Having a fitness trainer will be helpful for this type of training. v

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Healthy Aging

Bridging the GAPS in Dementia Care ...by Franklin X. Faust, Research Scientist, UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center

A set of photographs depicts the memories of Anna Dang, an older woman of Asian American heritage. One by one, the photographs fade to black, and Trang Tu, the woman’s Anna Dang, courtesy of Trang Tru daughter and full-time caregiver, opens up about her mother’s Trinh’s goals are in line with the dementia. This is a scene from GAPS, Healthy Brain Research Network’s a documentary by Seattle filmmaker Coordinating Center (UW HBRN) Peter Trinh. GAPS tells the story at the University of Washington. of one family’s experience with Under the leadership of Basia Belza, Alzheimer’s disease and sheds light on the director of de Tornyay Center the unique challenges facing Asian for Healthy Aging, the UW HBRN American communities in accessing recently produced the Asian American dementia care. and Pacific Islander Dementia Action “My goal was to create a Guide for Service Providers. The documentary that highlights guide explains how cultural factors the stigmas, lack of awareness, pose unique problems that influence imbalance of the medical system and dementia outcomes in Asian American the heavy burden that comes with communities, presents research findings medical issues that are seen with on effective, culturally appropriate Asians,” says Trinh. messaging, and offers outreach

recommendations and resources for Asian Americans in dementia care services. Nikki Eller, Research Investigator at the Washington State Department of Health, worked on the action guide and has researched dementia’s stigma in Asian American communities. Most cultures have some level of stigma associated with dementia, but Eller has found that it is particularly pronounced in Asian American communities. It can make it more difficult to bring up concerns about a family member’s mental health, she says. According to Edie Yau, the director of Diversity & Inclusion at the Alzheimer’s Association, ‘Alzheimer’s disease’ translates into colloquial Chinese as ‘crazycatatonic disease.’ While each individual’s personal experiences factor into how they react to a diagnosis, the translation’s association with mental illness can make someone less likely to seek out care. “When your mother’s given a diagnosis of ‘crazy’ or ‘catatonic,’ it doesn’t really encourage you to reach out for help,” says Eller. “Many people don’t want to admit that to their communities.” Asian Americans are also much more likely to take on caregiving responsibilities for elderly relatives than any other ethnic group. Trang Tu’s story in GAPS is representative of many cases today where a child acts as the sole caregiver of a parent with dementia. While a strong tradition of responsibility and duty for the young to take care of the old can be beneficial, according to Eller, when it translates to a lower willingness to accept outside help, it often amounts to worse results for both the patient and caregiver. “A common trend is for people to try and do everything on their own to take care of their parents, until they burn out,” says Eller. “But if they could be encouraged to reach out earlier, it might not have to come to that.” Belza’s team identified that the best possible outcomes for people living with Alzheimer’s hinge on early detection and intervention, and management of the disease by a healthcare professional. “As health care and service providers become more aware of the varied cultural experiences of dementia, more people will receive the kind of dementia care they desire and deserve,” says Marigrace Becker, Program Manager at the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center. The GAPS documentary (https:// vimeo. com/272863037) and the action guide (https://depts.washington.edu/ hprc/resources/products-tools/aapidementia-action-guide) are available online. For more information about the UW de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging, call 206-616-4276 or visit www. agingcenter.org. For information about the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center, call 206-520-5000 or visit https:// depts.washington.edu/mbwc. v This piece is excerpted from the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center’s newsletter, Dimensions.

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Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Early Detection & Diagnosis ...by Carrie McBride, Director, Marketing & Communications, Alzheimer’s Association, Washington State Chapter

possible. Such interventions include controlling blood pressure, smoking cessation and exercise. While current medications do not prevent, stop or reverse Alzheimer’s, they can help lessen the symptoms, such as memory loss and confusion, for a limited time. An early Alzheimer’s diagnosis provides you with a better chance of benefiting from treatment. • Participation in clinical trials – Early diagnosis allows individuals to enroll in clinical trials that advance research and may also provide other benefits such as: expert medical care at leading healthcare facilities (often free of cost) and access to potential treatments before they’re widely available to the public. Participating in clinical trials also allows people to play a more active role in their healthcare and help future generations by contributing to Alzheimer’s research. photo courtesy Kelly01

Studies have shown that fewer than half of people living with dementia have actually received a diagnosis. The fact that these diseases are going unrecognized and undiagnosed is a significant issue. Why? Because early detection and diagnosis offers many benefits to the person living with the disease and their loved ones. It also allows the person to play an active role in planning for their future and making the most of life. Here are a few key benefits of early detection and diagnosis: • Accurate diagnosis – Seeking an early diagnosis can help determine if someone’s cognitive changes are truly due to Alzheimer’s or dementia. The person may have another, possibly treatable, condition that’s affecting their memory or cognition. • Medical benefits – Early diagnosis allows individuals to adopt lifestyle changes that may help preserve their existing cognitive function for as long as

• Emotional and social benefits – Early diagnosis provides individuals with the best opportunity to spend time doing meaningful activities and interacting with the most important people in their lives. It also gives individuals living with the disease and their loved ones time to take advantage of educational opportunities, connect with others in a similar situation and build a community network of support that will sustain them throughout the dementia journey. • Planning for the future – Early diagnosis allows individuals more time to plan for the future while they are still able to make their own legal, financial and end-of-life decisions. It allows families to address potential safety issues, such as driving and wandering, before a crisis occurs. Making these plans can give individuals peace of mind, while reducing the burden on family members and preventing disagreements about future care decisions. Close family members are typically the first to notice memory issues or cognitive problems, but they are often hesitant to say something – even when they know something is wrong. The Alzheimer’s Association encourages families to trust their instincts and address cognitive concerns early and

November 2019

proactively before a “crisis situation” arises. If you notice changes in friends, family or others close to you and are concerned for their health —particularly when it involves changes in memory, thinking or behavior — it can be difficult to know what say or do. The “ABC” steps below can help: A. Assess changes – What changes in memory, thinking or behavior do you see? Has anyone else noticed changes? Learn the warning signs of Alzheimer’s and keep track of what you’re noticing. B. Begin a Conversation – Plan ahead and decide on the best approach for discussing your concerns. Where and when should you have the conversation? Who should be involved? When it’s time to talk, try starting with something simple, such as: “How have you been feeling lately? You haven’t seemed like yourself.” C. Contact a doctor and the Alzheimer’s Association for help – If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the warning signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible. You may also call the Alzheimer’s Association at any time, day or night, for information or guidance at 1-800-272-3900. v

een a Senior The Ultimate The Ultimate Senior rDiscount Discount won’t nth option Discount won’ t ast forever — contact nce fee or SAVOR last forever — contact usTHEtoday to schedule a variety of SAVINGS us today to schedule a priat vourateOPEN showinHOUSE g. to best fit private showing. F.Y.I.

Momentia The Momentia Movement champions a new way to support people and their caregivers living with memory loss. The movement, which was born in Seattle in 2013, works with local organizations to provide free and low-cost dementia-friendly programs in their own communities. Momentia has now garnered national attention, as well as working regionally with cities from Edmonds to Olympia. At present, dozens of free or low-cost artistic and social activities are planned in the Puget Sound region each month.

The Momentia Movement programs address issues of isolation while empowering individuals with memory loss to remain active and connected to their community. The programs support relationships and experiences to be enjoyed in the present moment without relying on memory. The Momentia Movement founders and participants understand, first-hand, the life-altering benefits that artistic and social activities bring to people with memory loss. Momentia Movement Facts & Figures • The program created the first continued on page 12

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November 2019

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Widowhood

F.Y.I.

What to Do Both Before and After

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Awareness Month

...by Karen Telleen-Lawton

A friend of mine became a widow last night. It was a peaceful end to a long and difficult journey. Cindy’s husband was diagnosed with a rare Parkinson’s-like disease in his early 50s, and the couple suffered through more than a decade of slow debilitation. Yet even with the sure knowledge of his prognosis, his death brings a mountain of tasks. The only advantage of her interminable to-do list is that she has little time for grieving. When I returned home from delivering hugs, tears and a meal, I sent my friend a couple of checklists I’ve compiled. They are for anyone who wants to ease the way for survivors to manage the first difficult months of losing you. The first checklist summarizes actions you can do while you (and your spouse) are still healthy. The other checklist is for the newly widowed. Working through these now will help smooth the way when the inevitable happens. Top 10 Tasks While Your Spouse Is Alive 1. Compile a short list of close friends and family you can turn to for help. Compile a longer list of friends, family, business associates, etc. who should be notified after death.

2. Locate and familiarize yourselves with these documents: Social Security cards; birth, marriage and children’s birth certificates, insurance policies, property title; automobile title and registrations; investment and bank accounts; military documents; income tax and W-2 forms; and debt details. 3. Share each other’s user names and passwords so email and accounts can be easily accessed. 4. Discuss organ donation. 5. Discuss funeral wishes. 6. Draft your obituary. 7. Research options regarding funeral homes or other options. 8. Update your will and estate plan. 9. Fill out an Advanced Directive, stating your last wishes for medical and emotional care. 10. If you have an ex-spouse, review decree details. If your marriage lasted 10 years, you may be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits. Top 10 Tasks When You Are Widowed 1. Meet with organ procurement organizations for your area (ask the hospital). 2. Check the “before” list. 3. Deploy the close friends-andfamily list (6-12 people) for help.

4. Obtain a dozen death certificates. (Some will need to be notarized.) 5. Contact funeral home; begin preparations. 6. Notify broad friends and family group including your attorney, accountant and financial advisor. 7. Secure property. 8. Contact family attorney and executor (if that is not you.) 9. Other important items in the first days and weeks: fill out a “mail forwarding” at the post office, finalize the obituary, organize a post-funeral gathering, publicize the service, keep a journal of well-wishers (gifts, cards and donations). 10. Other important items in the coming weeks and months: write thank you notes, contact other organizations: Social Security, Medicare, insurance policies (medical, life, etc.), employment benefits, election board and IRS. If at all possible, DON’T make any big decisions in the first year. You may feel differently when you have settled into your new life. v Karen Telleen-Lawton is a Certified Financial Planner professional. Reach her with your questions or comments at ktl@ DecisivePath.com.

Few of us are comfortable talking about death, whether our own or a loved one’s. It is a scary, even taboo, subject for many. The end of a life, no matter how long and well-lived, can bring with it a sense of loss and sadness. It can also be a reminder of our own mortality, so we may avoid even thinking about death. This is normal – but death is normal, too. All of us will face it at some point. End-of-life care is the broad term used to describe the special support and attention given during the period leading up to death, when the goals of care focus on comfort and quality of life. Hospice & Palliative Care. One of the ways end-of-life care is provided is through hospice. Hospice, as defined by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is a program of care and support for a dying person and their loved ones. Hospice patients are those whose doctor and a hospice medical director certify have less than six months to continued on page 12

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November 2019

Your Annual Check-Up, Medicare Style

extra charges. Just as before your Medicare days, these are subject to various deductibles and copays. If ...continued from page 6 you have a Medigap (supplemental Medicare) or Medicare Advantage as long as you see a participating plan, some or all of these costs provider who will charge no more may be covered. It is generally a than the Medicare-approved good idea to buy the best Medicare amount. That means you supplemental plan that you can should verify with your doctor’s afford from the beginning because, office at the time you make the if your health fails later (as it likely appointment to be sure she or he will sometime, unless you exit by is a participating provider. If not, accidental death), you may not be you will have to decide whether to able to qualify for the plans with change doctors or pay out of pocket. the best coverage. To make sure you are not The most important issue charged for the appointment, about which to be informed and request the “Welcome to Medicare” discerning is your own health. visit or the Annual Wellness Visit While it’s important to have and not a “physical.” Conversely, professionals monitoring our state if you want a full physical of health to nip big problems in the examination, request that and be bud, remember that your own selfready to pay for it. care will be the most important in After the Welcome to Medicare bringing you healthy longevity. is your Annual Wellness Visit. If Research increasingly shows you have no intervening issues, you daily exercise to be the most would schedule this appointment important element of self-care. If for a year after and then each year scheduling exercise is difficult for after your Welcome visit. The you, at least make a practice of content is similar, where intake taking the furthest space in the stats are measured and compared parking lot for your doctor’s office. to the values at your Welcome to Do this with every parking lot you Medicare visit. Your health history visit! is reviewed, looking especially for changes in health or cognitive 3 Helpful Tips impairment. Some screenings may 1. You can always move from be ordered periodically, such as Medigap to Medicare Advantage, but lipid blood panel for cholesterol there are strong restrictions on moving (five years), colorectal cancer the other way. Closely check the screenings (12-120 months), Medicare supplement options in your mammogram (annual). It can also area when you first join Medicare. include discussion of advanced 2. Whatever your plan and care planning to encourage you to your current state of health, prepare for the possibility of not medical costs will be an important being able to care for yourself. part of your budget after you’re 65. The Annual Wellness Visit is 3. You’ll get a lot more out covered under Part B of Medicare with of your appointment if you bring no deductible, unless your Medicarea list of issues to discuss and take approved provider orders a test or notes during the exam. Better to screening that is not part of the Annual ask a bunch of “stupid questions” benefit. In that case, you may be subject than be surprised by a large bill. to whatever copays and deductibles Don’t be afraid to ask about costs come with the plan you purchased. and coverage. You’ll improve your If, in the course of your exam, health and the Medicare system by an issue arises that needs diagnosis being an informed and discerning or treatment, these may involve consumer. v Karen Telleen-Lawton helps seniors help themselves by providing bias-free financial advice. You can reach her with your questions or comments at ktl@ DecisivePath.com.

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Linotype operator, Peter J. Adamson in the Swedish Tribune newspaper office, Seattle, Washington, February 1904 Peter J. Adamson, operating the first double decker No. 2 Mergenthaler Linotype in Seattle for the Swedish Tribune, February, 1904. The Swedish Tribune offices and composing rooms were located on the second floor of the Times Building, corner of 2nd and Union. John Erikson was the publisher of the Swedish Pacific Tribune and Col. Alden J. Blethen published the Times. Courtesy of the University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, submitted by Nicolette Bromberg, Special Collections Visual Materials Curator Lakewood Senior Pickleball Players Continue Winning Ways (Left to right: BJ Morlan, Tyson McGuffin, Bev Utt.) Three pickleball players from the Lakewood Community Center came away with medals at the October 12-13 Richland, Wash. tournament that drew players from across the country - as far as the Atlantic coast.Top national players were drawn to Richland by prize money and the tournament’s host, Tyson McGuffin, the nation’s best men’s single player. Two of the players' experience prevailed against a younger team for a happy end to their day. Bev Utt's gold medal equaled her gold medal performance at the Washington State Senior Games in August, and B.J. Morlan's bronze medal play complemented her two bronze medals, also won at August's Senior Games.

Nourishing Mushrooms ...continued from page 6

use of psychedelic psilocybin in “magic ‘shrooms” for a drug trial for treatmentresistant depression. A Scientific Reports study showed chronically depressed patients who took psilocybin in a

November is National Hospice Month ...continued from page 11

live. The focus of hospice is on comfort, not cure. Palliative treatment is therapy that focuses on relieving pain and other symptoms but does not alter the course of the disease. The hospice team works with your primary care doctor to coordinate care; they focus on meeting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their families. Hospice patients can receive care in their own home, wherever they call home. Hospice is a covered benefit for Medicare and Medicaid patients and most other insurance, with care related to your terminal illness covered by your hospice benefit (although 24-hour caregiving, funeral and burial cost, and medicine and equipment unrelated to the terminal illness are not covered by hospice benefits). If a hospice patient has medical problems unrelated to

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hospice care, their medical insurance will cover those issues as it normally would, even while on hospice. Many hospice patients’ conditions may improve while receiving care and, for some, there may come a time you no longer need hospice. If that is the case, hospice care is available again should you need it down the road. v This information was provided by the National Institute of Health and Franciscan Hospice

Momentia ...continued from page 10

Alzheimer’s Café on the West Coast, which offers monthly social gatherings for those with memory loss and their caregivers. There are now over 20 Alzheimer’s Cafes and counting. • Momentia works with Parks & Recreation departments to create dedicated dementiafriendly recreation programs, including weekly dances, zoo walks, musical and cultural activities. • Momentia offers the first ongoing dementia-friendly museum and theatre programs in the state, currently run at Seattle’s Frye Museum and Taproot Theatre. • There are dozens of dementia-friendly arts programs with groups like Elderwise and Silver Kite Community Arts. • Momentia events are free or low-cost and supported by Neighborhoods Matching Fund. v For a full calendar of events in the region and more information about the Momentia Movement, visit www.MomentiaSeattle.org.

November 2019

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The Funny Side of Life

The Game of Life …by Sy Rosen

My threeworking out anymore and I’m going year-old to have to let you go.” At this point, I granddaughter, suggest you look him or her in the face Sienna, loves to and pronounce very emphatically, “You make everything didn’t say “Simon says.” And then you a game: who can should return to your desk. Okay, it eat slower, who sounds kind of ridiculous and it’s not can eat faster, going to stop the forced retirement. who can chew However, think how much fun it would with their mouth be to somehow force your pompous, Sy Rosen open (not a great arrogant boss into saying, “Simon says.” game). And there are staring contests As we get older, many of us and tickling contests and burping occasionally have trouble remembering contests, etc., etc., etc. And just when certain words. The perfect solution is to I think we are finally done with one play “I Spy” with your grandchild. For game she quickly says, “Again.” It feels example, I could say, “I spy something like Sienna says “again” 10,000 times. tall and rectangle... in the kitchen… However, instead of complaining, that is cold inside… and makes ice I’m thinking that maybe I can take this cubes.” Your grandchild will eventually game concept and apply it to life and yell out, “Refrigerator.” She’s delighted getting older. For example: she guessed the word and you’re When I look in the mirror, I keep delighted that you now know the seeing more and more wrinkles. Instead word. It’s a win-win. of being upset about this, maybe I Okay, sometimes we may get can make it a game – “Find the New unsteady on our feet and we have Wrinkle.” It’s kind of a Where’s Waldo to rush to sit down, maybe gently for seniors. And of course, the person bumping someone out of the way. To who finds the most new wrinkles on remove the stigma that comes with their face wins. I think I am a shoe-in. unsteadiness, I prefer to call this event As I am getting older, I sometimes “Musical Chairs Without the Music.” forget where I put things. Common Therefore, when you get to a seat cries around the house are: “Have you you are no longer considered old and seen my glasses?” “Where are my car doddering but a winner, a champion. keys?” “Have you seen my wallet?” And even though I don’t like to Well, instead of this panicked wailing, admit it, as I am getting older, I am I could change it into a game of getting a little afraid of death. I suggest “hide and seek.” This way I am kind we change our thinking about death of misplacing the missing object on from something to be terrified of into purpose and when I find it, which I a game of “Tag, You’re It.” Therefore, almost always do, I am the winner. when I think of the day that it’s finally This next my time to go, I game could won’t think of it as be a lot of death, but I’ll just silly fun. As be “it.” And it will we are getting be time to play older, we are another game. unfortunately Anyway, sometimes faced these are my with forced thoughts about retirement. games and how Your young boss they can change may call you the image of into his office ourselves and I grew a beard thinking it and coldly say, what awaits us. “You’ve been a Now I am going would say 'distinguished good employee gentleman.' Instead, it says, to take a nap, or for a long time, as I like to call it, 'Senior Discount, please.' but it’s just not “recess.” v

Plan your day, your way.

November 2019

The ongoing life-affirming adventures of Rose and Dawn

The Noisy Next-Door Neighbors Part 1 …by Diana Couture

Dawn filled the tea kettle with water from the tap. Rose sounded distressed on the phone and needed to come over to discuss something. Tea, in this case, was a necessity. Rose arrived and descended the stairs to Dawn’s mother-in law’s apartment. Dawn’s daughter had greeted Rose at the door and welcomed her with a daughterly hug. “Hi girlfriend,” Dawn cried cheerfully. “I’ve got the kettle on the boil and the scones on a plate. What? No smile? What’s wrong, Rose?” Rose slumped into one of the kitchen chairs and began to take off her coat. “Dawnie, I just don’t know where to start. You know, I’m new to this communal living of sorts, in a condominium. And I guess I never thought I’d have a problem with the nice neighbors who share the condo. But I’ve got a big problem with some new neighbors and I don’t know what to do about it! “Oh dear. Let’s talk,” Dawn countered. She served the tea and took a seat. “Well, I believe it’s two elderly sisters who are living in the unit next to me,” Rose offered while taking her first sip of tea. “They seemed very civilized and nice when I met them on moving day, but since then…oh my goodness, it’s been anything but civilized. They quarrel at all hours of the day and night and seem to get louder as the sun goes down. I’ve seen them having a perfectly normal dinner on their patio at 5 or 6pm and then screaming about a curse at 7 or 8pm. Really, a curse on each other’s houses or something like that. It’s quite unnerving.” Dawn listened intently and asked in her most sincere voice, “Are these women from another country where yelling might be more acceptable?” Rose choked on her bite of scone and snarled, “I have no idea. And, you are Italian, but don’t try to make this an Italian thing… These women hate each other, and they have drawn me into their net of hatred.” Rose sighed as she made this announcement. “What? Are you crazy, Rose? How could you be a part of their fights? Are they manipulating you in any way?”

Rose found a modicum of humor in Dawn’s concern. “Good heavens, dear friend. It’s just a couple of dames who like to hear themselves talk and are driving me crazy. Can you help me to stop these women from disturbing my daily calm and my nightly rest? Or can you help me hide the bodies?” A gasp escaped from Dawn. She didn’t know what to say to Rose’s joke. “Uhh... Uhm. Rose, we aren’t going to pull off a murder,” she said as Rose sighed and put her head on the table. The girls had to work out a plan to handle these noisy women. They discussed real options, which included talking to them instead of murdering them. It was agreed that Rose would extend an invitation for tea to her new neighbors at their earliest convenience. The days passed after Rose left the invite under their door. No reply. But no noisy shouting or angry taunts either. Maybe the invitation had done the trick in reminding them that they had living, breathing people within earshot. Rose had almost forgot about the problem when she was suddenly reminded by a loud crash followed by a howl of disgust. She jumped out of her chair and called Dawn. “Come over, honey. They’re at it again and I need your support. I’m going to confront the two noisy buggers.”. More clashing and crashing accompanied by sobs, interims of silence and then a high-pitched yowl. “What in the world is going on over there,” thought Rose. “Should I call the police? Is someone getting hurt?” Rose decided she couldn’t wait for Dawn and walked through her front door like a woman on a mission… which is what she was. She knocked loudly on the neighbor’s door and waited. She noted the ‘Welcome’ mat with a snide smile. Just then the door opened a crack and there appeared two 90-something sweet, cherubic faces with red rimmed, crying eyes. Rose was shocked at their appearance compared to the way she had pictured them. “Uhm…Hello. I’m your neighbor.” v To be continued...

November 2019

www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com 15

Same Word, Different Meanings ...by Len Elliott

Across 1. Brazilian dance 6. ____ Stoker (he wrote “Dracula”) 10. ____, present, future 14. Not fancy 15. Ireland, to the Irish 16. Butter substitute, in short 17. SPUR 20. DDE’s opponent, twice: abbr. 21. Pie à la ____ 22. Takes a break 23. Wray of “King Kong” 24. ____-Ball (arcade game) 25. SPUR 30. Mas’ mates 33. On the squalid side 34. The “E” in QED 35. “What ____ God wrought?” 36. Half of Mork’s signoff 37. ____ in crossword: 2 wds. 38. Not tricked by 39. Baltic Sea feeder 40. Actor Brad 41. Part of A/V 42. Business card abbreviation 43. SPUR 45. Foal’s mother 46. “____ a girl!” 47. New Zealand native 49. Couch 51. Pre-Trebek “Jeopardy!” host Fleming

54. SPUR 57. Aperture for a coin 58. Wickedness 59. Oahu neighbor 60. Hamiltons, money-wise 61. Tree oozings 62. One of the Stooges Down 1. Pet-friendly organization: abbr. 2. Soothing substance 3. Gaping mouths 4. Chest protector? 5. A deviation from the normal 6. Rosary element 7. Houston university 8. Part of a circle 9. Mongoose often pictured standing 10. Horse opera pursuers 11. Much: 2 wds. 12. Minister’s messages: abbr. 13. 18-Down, e.g. 18. You can walk the dog with it 19. Burpee product 23. Longest bone in the body 24. In order that: 3 wds. 25. “All that glitters ____ gold.”: 2 wds. 26. Victorious general at Gettysburg 27. Kind of group discussion 28. Cooking instructions 29. Shred cheese

30. Bamboo eater 31. “Toys in the ____” (Hellman play) 32. Trembled 35. Times of operation 40. Iron ____ (minerals called fool’s gold) 41. Begins hostilities against 43. Mountain lake 44. Inventory system: abbr. 45. Castle protectors 47. Like bulls and bucks

solution on page 18

48. Soon, to a sonneteer 49. Quick cut 50. Lubricates 51. Shivering condition 52. 500 sheets of paper 53. Stumble 54. Grounded airplane: abbr. 55. Eggs, to Augustus 56. Sound of satisfaction

Triples ...by Len Elliott

Example: The butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker – three men in a tub.

Family-owned & Affordable Experience the Difference

1. The Chipmunks. 2. Part of the highest possible full house. 3. Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras. 4. Rice Krispies spokescharacters. 5. Two of this group’s hits were “M.T.A” and “Tom Dooley.” 6. Early 1900s Chicago Cubs’ storied double-play combination. answers on page 18

ADMONITION When I was a kid, at a certain stage, My mother would always say, “Act your age!” Now that I’m old, I can still hear her voice As lately I often don’t have a choice. -- Pat D’Amico

2 Bed/2 Bath With a View! Available 11/1

206-243-0300

2805 S. 125th Street, Burien, WA 98168 www.boulevardparkplace.com

Northwest Prime Time www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com

Scenes from Childhood

November 2019

Writing Corner

Special Delivery

Short and Sweet

...by Janet Hall Rich

…by Ariele M. Huff

failed to shock and Growing amuse us. up on a farm When Dad was in Eastern ready to hit the Washington, road, he loaded my little 17 bundles of mail sister and and an assortment I loved to of packages into spend time the station wagon. with Dad. Karen eagerly He was up perched herself on at 3:30am top of the mail and every day to I jumped into the milk cows passenger seat. and feed the Keenly familiar livestock with every curve before and twist of the leaving to Janet (right) and her little sister Karen mountain roads, deliver the enjoyed helping their father with his rural mail delivery route in Eastern Washington Dad sat in the mail. His center of the mail route, car’s front seat, steering with his from Naches to White Pass and left hand and popping mail into Chinook Pass (250 miles round the boxes with his right. As a trip), was one of the state’s longest contract carrier, Dad delivered routes through the most rugged express packages, sacks of feed, and popular vacation areas in prescriptions and a few groceries for Washington. families who lived far from town. In 1954, my sister Karen was With a supply of Fig Newton’s six years old and I ten. Sometimes stashed on the dash, the station on a Saturday we would scramble wagon was loaded down like a into Dad’s Chevy station wagon and help him deliver the mail. The tramp steamer. As Dad drove along the curving Naches Post Office was a dour, mountain highway, he handed me sensible building in the middle of town. The quaint building smelled a stack of mail for the next stop. like dusty dry vanilla with a hint of Once we finished a bundle, Karen gleefully pitched the next bundle Old Spice. Dressed in green overalls, a dark into the front seat. I never knew what I would find inside a mailbox. quilted vest, baseball cap and his Some folks kept a jar lid filled magnetic smile, Dad greeted the postmaster and joked with the other with coins to cover postage for carrier before taking his position in unstamped letters; others contained money with a note requesting front of a large wooden rack filled money orders, but my favorites with holes. Each slot represented revealed homemade baked goodies one of the 125 mailboxes on his for us to munch on. route. Dad went to work sorting Dad knew everyone on his hundreds of pieces of mail: letters, route and went out of his way to postcards, advertisements and help people. He truly loved his job magazines along with the daily and once told a reporter, “I don’t newspaper. know how I’d get along without my Meanwhile, my sister and I people.” It made me happy to hear prowled the interior of the post Dad talking and joking with the office seeking adventure. One of people on the route. His broad grin our favorite pastimes was crawling and hearty laughter brought joy to into a large canvas bin filled with everyone. His customers knew and excess junk mail. We eagerly trusted him. It wasn’t unusual to see plowed through piles of colorful someone waiting at a mailbox to advertisements looking for free visit with Dad or ask him for a ride samples. Giggling, we opened envelope after envelope containing into town. One of the highlights of the day a variety of pills, hand lotion, was stopping at Trout Lake Lodge. soap, various gadgets and, at times, The owners, Bess and John, were even razors. We could hear people always pleased to see us. Karen and entering the post office, picking up I enjoyed the rare treat of eating out their mail and purchasing stamps and couldn’t wait to order a juicy from the postmaster. (A first class hamburger with fries. Over the stamp cost three cents.) years, Karen and I rode along with Karen and I looked forward Dad hundreds of times, each trip a to visiting the restroom where unique, scenic adventure. In the 36 we shared muffled giggles at years Dad delivered mail, he drove the naughty pictures. All of the over two million miles, roughly 80 employees were men, which trips around the world. For Dad, could explain the colorful pin-up calendars of scantily clad, semi-nude every piece of mail was Special Delivery. v women. The revealing art never

My publishing brands are Candy Bar Books and BandAid Books. For Candy Bar, I say, “These books are Ariele M. Huff short, sweet and inexpensive.” For BandAid, I say, “These books are short, helpful and inexpensive.” Over the years, I’ve discovered that readers, including me, respond best to small bites of stories. By “short,” I mean around 250 words per segment, maybe as high as 500 to 1000 for a chapter in a fiction book, and around 20 pages for memorial books (which I call Portrait Books as they are portraits of a person and of that person’s relationship to the writer). My nonfiction funny, helpful and/or sweet books are around 27 to 35 pages, generally. Several of these are anthologies of many people’s take on a subject—usually 250 words each. Examples: The Friendship Book, Housekeeping, A Holiday Sampler, Processing Loss Workbook and others. Gratitude is a book that uses several of my published articles. A few have information I’ve gathered like Get Rich, $tay Rich and Pain: Therapies & Treatments. The rest are either nonfiction with short segments or fiction with short chapters like The Kissing Club (suspense novel) or The Successful Risk Taker (childhood adventures). Kitten Love: The Trilogy and the Sacrifice series both started as series segments released one at a time. The three kitten stories were then pulled together into a trilogy which

was long enough (27 pages) to be a paperback. The first four Sacrifice episodes are now being consolidated into a paperback length book, while the fifth segment, Sacrifice: Revenge, has just come out in eBook form. The reason I’ve taken those two series to especially point out is that I’ve really found this a successful way to present a story. Note that Kitten Love is entirely true, basically the journal of saving and raising a litter of three abandoned baby cats. On the other hand, Sacrifice is a Historical Young Adult novel, fictional except for researched aspects of ancient Egyptian life. An epiphany occurred for me through an avid reader of my work. She loved the short books, my writing style, and my choice of topics and genres. However, when I brought her a copy of my first longer work, she expressed being daunted by the length—which is normal short novel length—about 250 pages. She urged me to do novels the same way I had with the kitten series. This reminded me that Charles Dickens used to present his works in the newspaper in weekly chunks with eager readers awaiting the next twist—therefore, the Sacrifice series was born. A plus to breaking work into segments is that readers will begin to “follow” the story and look forward to more. They are also likely to go back and order the ones they haven’t yet read. Whether writing for family or for the public: Short bites are sweeter to the majority of readers. v Meet Ariele at the Hoquiam Library 11/23, 10:30-12:30 pm, for Sharing Stories, a workshop: ariele@comcast.net.

Poetry Corner “Thanksgiving Haikus”

Thanksgiving a cue Stories shared at life’s table Ghosts rest in my heart

“Autumn Haikus” Season of spot light: glowing leaf, shimmering tree, frolicking sunshine.

Naked branches wait Spring color fashion wardrobe Pumpkins turn to pie

Sun’s dance in autumn: capricious, intense, fleeting. Turn away; it’s gone.

One day a year feast Breathe gratitude together All are equal now --April Ryan

--Nancy Weinstein The October issue of Northwest Prime Time attributed the poem “Times Change” – a delightful reflection on replacing a trusty vacuum of thirty years – to Barb Ruby, but it was written by April Ryan. Our apologies!

Haiku Challenge: Winter months, including January and February... may include New Years, Valentine’s Day, snow or whatever the season brings and means to you. The three lines are 5-7-5 syllables. Special consideration to humorous haikus! Send poems for Poetry Corner to ariele@comcast.net or to Northwest Prime Time. Pieces may be excerpted or edited.

November 2019

www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com 17

LET’S GO! Senior Events

Alzheimer’s Film Nov 4-13, film screening and discussion: “Too Soon to Forget: The Journey of Younger Onset Alzheimer’s Disease” various Pierce County libraries: 253-548-3300, https://calendar. piercecountylibrary.org/events. Des Moines Activity Center Nov: Sign up for Adult Adventures! Canadian Rockies & Glacier National Park (June 14-20 – sign up now for discount!); Nov 5, 10am “Handi-Person Skills-Painting!” Thursdays Nov 14-December 26 Yoga-All Levels; November 26, 10am-2pm DSHS Mobil Truck to apply for cash assistance, food assistance, medical assistance, Medicare Savings Program, or drop off paperwork for eligibility review or make changes to existing case. Des Moines Activity Center, 2045 S. 216th St. For more details call 206878-1642. www.desmoineswa.gov/seniors. Wisdom Cafes Free discussions for seniors: Nov 5, 11am, “How Does Ageism Impact Us?” Skyway Library, Seattle 206-772-5541; Nov 12, 2-3:30 “Invisibility of Aging” Richmond Beach Library 206-546-3522; Nov 13, 11am “Developing Resilience” Renton Library, 425-226-6043; Nov 15, 1pm “Thankfulness” Issaquah Library 425392-5430; Nov 18, 10:30am-noon “How to be remembered?” Shoreline Library 206-362-7550. Making Art Together Nov 6, 13, 18, 25, 11:30am-1pm, Edmonds Center for the Arts, free dementia-friendly activities for people living with memory loss and their caregivers, call Katie 425-275-9485 African American Caregivers Forum Nov 9, 9:30am-3:30pm, culturally focused event, keynote “Lessons Learned from Caregiving for My Mother”; panel presentation on caregiving, screening of Speaking of Dying, free and open to the public, Embassy Suites, Tukwila, 206-706-7084. Guided Cannabis Shopping for Seniors Nov 13, Dec 11, Jan 8, 10am, Curious about cannabis, marijuana and CBD? Join the team for free Wednesday events, 9am-10am coffee & conversation followed by in-store shopping at the Fremont store in Seattle, must RSVP (206-9468157 or Service@SeattleHashtag.com). 3534 Stone Way N, Seattle, www.seattlehashtag. com/seniors Crone of Puget Sound Nov 16, 1pm, guests welcome to free program on “An Asian American’s Artwork” refreshments follow, Foundation House, 11301 3rd Ave NE, for info Sonja 425-420-5261. Aging Well Learning Community Nov 16, 10:15am, conversation on aging with consciousness and courage, Snoqualmie Library, 425-888-1223. Seniors Creating Art Nov 20, 6-8pm, learn beginning pottery techniques, supplies provided – dress for mess, Kent Panther Lake Library, RSVP 253-854-0211. Grief & Loss at the Holidays Nov 21, 2-3pm, discussion with interfaith chaplain on understanding the grief process and healing, part of speaker series presented by Foundation House at Northgate, the event takes place at “With a Little Help Home Care” 2021 Minor Ave East, Ste A, Seattle, free but RSVP by calling Lynn at 206-361-2758, ext 103. Dockside Cannabis Call for free Cannabis 101 workshops at your senior center or community, group tours of stores, 1-844-dock-420, www.docksidecannabis.com.

A Calendar of Places to Go, Do or See…

See our full calendar at northwestprimetime.com/calendar

Alzheimer’s Town Hall Nov 8, 10:30am-noon, learn about federal and state legislation and public policy related to dementia, First United Methodist Church, 621 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, 206-363-5500. Dementia Family Caregiver Conference Nov 9, 9am-2:45pm, free, speakers, includes snacks, lunch, tools, resources, Northwest Church, 19820 Scriber Lake Rd, Lynnwood, 206-363-5500, ext 8169, journeyfamilycaregiverconf@alz.org 5 Pillars of Brain Health Nov 16, 11am; hour-long interactive session about active lifestyles to maintain brain health; presented by AARP held at Aegis Gardens, 13056 SE 76th Street, Newcastle, 425-9033530. Durable Power of Attorney Nov 21, 6:30pm, workshop on creating this legal document for finances and health care, discussion of law and practical issues to be aware of, Auburn Library, 253-931-3018.

Community Events

Lucky Eagle Casino “We Drive, You Play” call to find pick-up locations near you – enjoy round-trip service on a luxury motorcoach, $10 gets you $15 free play and free lunch buffet (or $15 for any Lucky Eagle restaurant), 1-800-254-3423, www. LuckyEagleExpress.com. Holiday Market Nov 1-2, 9am-3pm, Holiday Market Place, Northshore Senior Center, 10201 East Riverside Dr., Bothell www.northshoresenior.org. A Celebration of Voting Nov 2, 1-3pm, League of Women’s Voters host presentation and tips for making informed choices, completing your ballot, bring your ballot, Lynnwood Library, 19200 44th Ave. Skandia Ball Nov 2, 6pm, bring finger food to share, live music and dancing, Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, www.skandia-folkdance.org Disaster Skills Training Nov 7, 6:30-8pm free class to learn how to prepare for emergencies like storms, earthquake and others, Shoreline Library, free but rsvp 206362-7550.

AARP Intro to Smartphones Nov 8, 10am-noon & 2:30-4pm free hands-on tech workshop for Android phones, friendly guides to answer your questions, Auburn Library, free but rsvp 1-866-591-8105. Tips for Cooking with Grandkids Nov 8, 1pm, Kenmore Senior Center, 6910 NE 170th St; Nov 8, 7pm Third Place Books Ravenna, 6504 20th Ave NE Seattle. Finnish Community Bazaar Nov 9, 10am-3pm, free admission, parking & coffee, Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, 206-362-1869. Veterans Day Parade Nov 9, begins 11am, all day events celebrating veterans following parade, largest Veterans Day Parade west of Mississippi, Main Street Auburn. Veterans Day at Museum of Flight Nov 11, free admission for veterans and active duty military, concert & ceremony 11am, Vietnam Air Rescue Lecture at 2:30pm, 206-7645720, www.museumofflight.org. Library Book Sale Nov 16, 10am-4pm Richmond Beach Library, 206-546-3522. LeMay Annual Benefit Nov 16, 6-10pm, fabulous 50s, dinner & dance, live music, entertainment, silent auction, Vintage 50s attire welcome, $35-$40, 253-2722336, www.lemaymarymount.org. 29th Annual Christmas Bazaar Nov 16, 10am-4pm, festive crafts & gifts with refreshments & raffle, free, Collins Grange, 3404 E. 120th, Tacoma. Undiscovered Feminists Nov 16, 10-11am, community conversation about some WA state notable women, free but rsvp, Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N, http://seattle-wa.aauw.net/special-program. Drop-In Genealogy Help Nov 20, 2-4pm, free, Shoreline Library, 206362-7550. Community Holiday Folk Dance Nov 23, 7-10pm, dancing, live music, potluck snacks, costumes encouraged, $8, Cedar Valley Grange, 20526 52nd Ave W, Lynnwood, www. sno-king.org, 425-610-9393. See our full calendar at northwestprimetime.com/calendar

Healthy Eating/Be Well Pierce County Libraries offer a variety of health and wellness events “Conversations on selfcare” including laughter yoga, managing stress, fermentation recipes, canning, frugal grocery shopping and more conversations.pcls.us Learn & Play Music All abilities welcome to visit the Music Center to learn and play – featuring chorale and vocal jazz, string orchestra, rock, winds, jazz, 901 N. 96th St, Seattle, 206-526-8443

Theater & Musical Theater

Village Theatre Nov 7-Dec 29 in Issaquah; Jan 3-Feb 2 in Everett, “Guys & Dolls” Enter by Nov 30 to win free tickets! (see ad on page 17 for entry form) Issaquah 425-392-2202; Everett 425-2578600. www.VillageTheatre.org. Black Box Theatre Thru Nov 9, 7pm Slam-Dunk Improv, and Fiasco at 8:30pm. Edmonds Community College. Senior and group discounts available. Concerts, lectures, performances and more. blackboxedcc.org or 425-640-1448. Appalachian Tellabration Nov 16, 7-9pm, storytellers, traditional songs and fiddle tunes, Haller Lake Methodist Church, 13055 1st Ave NE, Seattle, $10-$15, refreshments provided, www.storytellers.org 5th Avenue Theatre Thru Dec 29, new musical “Mrs. Doubtfire” 20662-1900, www.5thavenue.org

Choral & Classical

Bellevue Chamber Chorus 2019-2020 Season includes Dec 21, 7:30pm & December 22, 3pm, Hope in a Pan American Christmas: North Meets South. Special Senior Prices Available. 425-522-3436. www. bellevuechamberchorus.org. Youth Orchestra Nov 17, 3pm, “Russian Masters” Seattle’s Benaroya Hall, SYSO.org, 206-362-2300. Seattle Men’s Chorus Nov 30-Dec 22, holiday concert, several venues including Seattle’s Benaroya Hall, Tacoma’s Rialto, Everett Civic Auditorium, 206-388-1400.

SSAQUAH I 9 1 0 2 , 9 2 C E D EVERETT – 0 7 2 0 NOV – FEB 2 , 2 JAN 3

Health Education

Free Medicare Seminars Several November events at 6 King, Pierce & Snohomish County locations. Kaiser Permanente, RSVP today 1-866-716-3153 (TTY 711) or visit www.kp.org/wa/primetime. Medicare Enrollment Seminars Nov 4 at 10am, Lake Wilderness Lodge, 22500 SE 248th, Maple Valley & Nov 5 at 10am Secoma Lanes, 35400 Pacific Hwy S, Federal Way, join me for Medicare Education and Enrollment Seminars “Helping you make informed decisions and providing year-round local support you deserve” for information call Gail Blankenship:253-259-4472. Early Stage Memory Loss Seminar Nov 5, 9am-noon, concerned about memory loss? Alz Assn offering free seminar to learn the basics, strategies for coping, planning next steps, Stroum Jewish Comm Center, 3801 E. Mercer Way, Mercer Island, free but RSVP 206-5293868. CPR/Stroke Workshops for Seniors Nov 6, 2-3pm come dressed to move, Richmond Beach Library rsvp 206-546-3522; Nov 25, 2-3pm Shoreline Library rsvp 206-362-7550.

ENTER TO WIN TWO TICKETS TO GUYS & DOLLS! To enter, cut along the dotted line and mail your completed entry form to:

VillageTheatre.org (425) 392-2202 Issaquah SPONSORED IN PART BY

(425) 257-8600 Everett

Village Theatre ATTN: Marketing 303 Front Street North Issaquah, WA 98027

entries must be received by nov 30, 2019. name________________________________________ phone_______________________________________ email____________________________________________

TICKET GIVEAWAY COURTESY OF VILLAGE THEATRE & NORTHWEST PRIME TIME. WINNERS WILL BE CONTACTED BY DEC 10, 2019.

Northwest Prime Time www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com

November 2019

Dick Stein and Nancy Leson

Nancy Leson

Books for Conversation

...continued from page 1

...continued from page 19

added, “I have chosen to let her believe that.” During the same show, Dick asked Nancy if she had any regrets about Food for Thought. “You bet I do,” she retorts. “I still can’t believe you lost our outtake tape!” “Count your blessings, Leson,” was Dick’s rejoinder. “Those outtakes were my retirement plan. I was going to blackmail you with them. Now I just gotta hope I croak before I run out of money.” Between all the banter are some great cooking tips, recipes, favorite restaurant dishes, food blogs and other resources. Over the 13 years of the show, the two have become close friends. Before that, even though they had much in common, they had never met. Now they talk and text almost every day and look forward to some good laughs during their weekly shows. “We don’t have specifically defined roles,” says Dick. “We both cook, but I would defer to Nancy on anything to do with restaurants.” Nancy adds, “In a lot of ways, we’re like a couple of neighbors leaning over the fence talking about food.” She hears from people all the time who don’t cook but love the show because it’s so much fun. “Whether you cook or not, we all eat, everyone has that in common.” That, and the laughter ain’t bad, either.

critic for the Seattle P.I. and began freelancing with other publications, including Bon Appetit and Gourmet. Nancy has a great story about one of her big breaks: writing a fourpage spread about the Herb Farm, a very exclusive restaurant which was normally booked six months in advance. This break came about because, as Nancy puts it, “I’ve never met a stranger.” When the writer assigned to cover the Herb Farm couldn’t accept the assignment, she recommended Nancy, who had driven her around one time as a favor. “Be nice and mean it,” advises Nancy. “I was and I did.” This assignment cemented Nancy’s growing reputation. In 1998, she was hired fulltime by The Seattle Times to write two columns a week. She replaced the retiring John Hinterberger, the Times’ longtime restaurant critic. Now Nancy claims she has “pretired” from The Seattle Times...retired from her fulltime job, but busier than ever. “I do keep busy. I love reading and cooking and hanging out with my friends. But I don’t have much spare time. I would love to travel more.” Last year, Nancy started volunteering for an elementary school in the Edmonds School District helping kids with reading and writing. “I really encourage anyone with the time to do what they can to help in their local school. Every school needs help and it’s so rewarding.” Nancy now lives “15 miles north of the Space Needle with her husband and a couple of (absurdly) well-fed dogs.” Her husband, Mac, a marine environmental consultant, often travels for his work. “I’m out a lot, he’s often gone, but when we’re both home we always sit down and gab while we have a nice dinner together with a bottle of wine. It’s special for us.” Their son, Nate, is in college at Quest University in British Columbia. “He is a brilliant kid,” says the proud mother, and not only because her son turned out to be a great cook. “Nate is applying to grad school at the London School of Economics. If that doesn’t work, he’ll stay in B.C and continue school there. He loves B.C. so it’s a winwin situation.” Visiting him in person in Canada is easy, she says. “We just get in the car and drive straight up there.” If he moves to London, staying in touch will still be easy, according to Nancy. “Thank God for FaceTime,” she says. “FaceTime Cocktail Hour is a thing in my family. No matter where we are, we talk, we share photos and texts.” When asked if she has any advice about growing older, Nancy says, “Older people’s stories are fascinating to me. The longer you live, the more stories you have. I really love older women who’ve lived it, seen it, done it all and love a good laugh.” v

cover, which one would you select?” · “As a surprise for your birthday, we’ve arranged for a famous person of your choice to attend. Who will you choose?” Dinner Talk: 365 Engaging Conversation Starters to Help You and your Family Connect by Emily Hall. Sample questions: · “If you could invite any character from a book or movie to do something with you, who would you invite and what would you do?” · “What would your life be like if you could be invisible?” How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends by Don Gabor. This experienced small talk expert shares tips and strategies as well as helps you identify your own conversational style. He also covers how to turn online relationships into face-to-face ones. Are you wanting to start your own group or are already participating in one and need some guidance? Check out Running Book Discussion Groups: A How-to-do-it Manual for best practices and guidelines to help keep your group on track. For more ideas or to find discussion groups near you, check with your local library or call Ask KCLS at 1-800-4629600. We’re here for you! v

Dick’s and Nancy’s tips for hosting holiday gatherings: NANCY: I make the main dish and the rolls (because I make great rolls!). Ask your guests to bring the rest. Sub things out... it makes things easier. Don’t be shy.” DICK: When we host any big family meals, I always put a sign on the front door: “No Politics.” Links to recipes can be found at www.knkx.org/term/food or www. nancyleson.com, including one of Nancy’s favorites—cranberry sauce with sour dried cherries and rum: www.knkx. org/post/save-time-stress-and-sanitythanksgiving-make-aheads. “It’s famous, it’s really easy and you can make it in advance. It lasts forever.” v Dick Stein ...continued from page 1

led to another, and I went fulltime 28 years ago.” Dick is a serious poker player who also enjoys reading and movies. But what he really likes to do is cook. He does all the cooking at home and when he retires someday, he looks forward to “more cooking!” Does Dick have any advice about growing older? “If you can avoid it... No, wait a minute, I just realized what that would mean. I wonder how it all happened so fast.” v

ROOFING DISCOUNTS

Dick Stein and Nancy Leson are interested in your topic suggestions for the show. They can be reached at dstein@knkx.org or nancy@nancyleson.com. You can catch their delightful chatter, recipes, cooking tips and more on Food for Thought, 88.5FM Wed: 5:45am, 7:45am, 4:44pm, Sat: 8:35am or listen anytime at KNKX.org. KNKX is ranked as one of the most popular public radio stations in the nation and is an ambassador for jazz and blues, NPR news and local programming.

classifieds... classifieds... classifieds... estate planning LAST WILL, POWER OF ATTORNEY, AND LIVING WILL. $375/person or $575/couple for complete services. Mar tin Sjolie, Attorney at Law (Northgate office), (206)-841-1373.

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Crossword Answers Solution for the puzzle on page 15

Wendy Pender is the Older Adults Program Coordinator for the King County Library System. She can be reached at 425-369-3285 or wgpender@kcls.org.

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November 2019

www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com 19

The Great Outdoors

Collecting Pretty Rocks …by Roger Urbaniak

I have a lifelong fascination with rocks of unusual colors or shapes. While others go to the beach and nap on blankets to tan, I enjoy walking the beach to see what new treasures might have washed up with the incoming waves. Driftwood with unique shapes and bits of colored glass rounded smooth are sought because they might fit nicely with sand dollars, bits of coral and small seashells. Together they could make an attractive corkboard collage. But it is the intricately colored rocks, polished by interaction with the sand and waves, that are my most sought after treasures. Each colored stone I find tells its own little story. My stones need not be valuable agates or mineral rock to catch my eye, they just need to be interesting. Some rocks have holes in them that appear to have been drilled by a powerful boring insect, others have edges that might have separated the stone from a vein of mineral or chipped off from an ancient deposit formed above or below them. Were the stones part of a volcano? How old might they be? How far have the

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waves and currents carried them from their original formation? Perhaps, on my travels, my mission is to collect rocks from each of the great lakes and make them into a steppingstone to prove that we were there. They may line flower beds or edge the driveway gravel to give it some variety. Some rock collectors fastidiously research and identify the many specimens they collect, and may have jars of material. I enjoy running into estate sales that display a true rockhound’s life work. The beach is not the only place that I go to collect my pretty rocks. Eastern Washington has places to pan for gold, look for petrified wood, silver, copper and many types of agates. Several years ago, Linda and I watched programming on the Discovery Channel that identified places where you could go to discover and collect your own mineral

wealth, usually with the help of an Library Corner entrepreneur. We have traveled to Murfreesboro, Arkansas to dig for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park, to California to pan gold and to northern Nevada to search out opal. We came back with valuable treasures from each outing. We keep ...by Wendy Pender flakes of real gold and pieces of opal on display in little jars in our kitchen window. Each was collected with our It’s Fall! Such a own toil and effort. Our diamond, the wonderful time for size of a baseball, is, unfortunately, cozying up with a good made of glass and collected from book or gathering around the gift shop. It is a souvenir all the the fireplace. Having same, bringing back fun memories of grown up in a less digital Wendy Pender era, one tried and true the trip. Our twenty-dollar souvenir was taken by a young burglar, later delight we “elders” can caught, lending credibility to its model for our younger counterparts is authentic appearance. We intend to the joy of conversation (as well as the replace it someday because the sight joy of reading!). of it brought back pleasant memories. This season brings numerous We were grateful that the original occasions to create meaningful giant glass diamond distracted the connections and interact with all ages thief from other more valuable items as we celebrate holidays, perhaps enjoy that would have been much harder to sports events or share our favorite replace. recipes. The key to continuing to collect Stumped for conversational topics and gather great rocks is to have a or looking for more people to converse use for our finds. Petrified wood lines with? Try a local book group, a Wisdom flower beds along with less valuable Café, author event or one of these titles iron pyrite and quartz. We decorate for conversation starters: our fish pond with shells and rocks Conversation Starters for Families such as Petoskey stone and sprinkle by Gary D. Chapman. in a few arrow heads just for interest. Sample questions: Sometimes, while we are out in · “If you had a magic wand and the garden pulling weeds, we may could change anything in your life right glance off to our side and spot one now, what would it be?” of our prized collection. Now, there · “If you could be on any magazine is a pretty rock, we might say...I continued on page 18 remember the day we found it. v

Books for Conversation

9/12/19 10:18 AM

Care for you. Lions for the little ones. Visit a participating CareClinic by Kaiser Permanente at Bartell Drugs location for a free Loveable Lion stuffed animal. Offer good while supplies last. CareClinic locations in Puget Sound (CMYK)

Walk in • Open every day, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.1 • No appointment required Get treatment • Care for minor illness or injuries • Minor procedures such as earwax, wart, and suture removal • General tests for glucose, urinalysis, strep, and more • Flu shots and other vaccines Pay easily • Most insurance accepted — or self-pay for $89 per visit without insurance2 • Vaccines and lab tests priced separately Walk in today or call 1-800-722-3009. Visit careclinic.org for the full list of services, an interactive map with addresses, wait times, and online check-in ahead of time.

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