FEBRUARY 2018

Lifelong Journey a senior-oriented publication for the north olympic peninsula

PILOT turned

AUTHOR

Sequim writer to debut first in trilogy of novels

+ health

Stay sharp with consistent mental agility exercises

safety

Our tips can help seniors prevent falls in the home

finances

Refinancing plan could be a beneficial safety net

An advertising supplement produced by Peninsula Daily News and Sequim Gazette

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CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2018 | VOLUME 4 | NUMBER 1

06 FALL PREVENTION

Take these steps to ensure safety in your home

09 MENTAL AGILITY

Brain functionality can be helped with frequent exercise

10 EASE ACHES & PAINS

These tips can help ease issues you might be experiencing

11 HOSPICE CARE

One woman shares her experience; the benefits of hospice

14 EDIBLE LAWNS

Take a look in your yard to find a plethora of yummy dishes

17 UP IN THE CLOUDS

Wayne Pinger uses his Alaskan experiences to write his first book

20 STAYING FLEXIBLE

We have some helpful ideas for you to stay bendy in your senior years

22 MORE OXYGEN?

22 FEBRUARY 2018

Lifelong Journey a senior-oriented publication for the north olympic peninsula

PILOT turned

AUTHOR

Sequim writer to debut first in trilogy of novels

+ health

Stay sharp with consistent mental agility exercises

ON THE COVER Pilot-turned author sets his sights on his first of three books. Get the full story on page 17.

safety

Our tips can help seniors prevent falls in the home

finances

Refinancing plan could be a beneficial safety net

An advertising supplement produced by Peninsula Daily News and Sequim Gazette

PHOTO COURTESY OF Wayne Pinger

LIFELONG JOURNEY • FEBRUARY 2018

Do you have a story idea for the next edition of Lifelong Journey? Email Laura Lofgren at llofgren@ peninsuladailynews.com!

Naturopath Dr. Crystal Tack shares the benefits of mild hyperbaric therapy

26 HOUSE RICH, CASH POOR A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage might be a good option for seniors

27 CARPAL TUNNEL

What is it, what causes it and how can we treat it?

28 MARK HARVEY

Age can define you — or it can be just another number 5

Fall prevention:

Take these steps to ensure safety in your home by TRISH TISDALE, CLALLAM 2 FIRE-RESCUE A common wish for seniors as they age is to stay in their own home. This makes sense; who would want to move from the place they’ve called home for years? According to the AARP, nearly 90 percent of seniors want to stay in their own homes as they age, even as they begin to need assistance or start to experience more health issues. However, aging in home can bring potential safety issues as seniors begin to experience poor eyesight, slower reflexes, balance issues and reduced flexibility. The National Council on Aging reports that one in four older Americans fall every year. In fact, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for people 65 and older. In 2017, Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue paramedics and EMTs responded to 1,398 medical calls generated from people calling 9-1-1. Of those calls, 271 — nearly 20 percent — were related to falls. Falls can result in serious injury, such as broken bones or head injury. “Our EMTs and medics are seeing injuries like fractured wrists, elbows and hands,” said Sam Phillips, fire chief for Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue. “They are also seeing traumatic head injuries from fall victims.” Many falls can be prevented by staying aware of your health and making your home safer.

BALANCE AND STRENGTH

Low-intensity exercises can help improve balance and strength, which can reduce chances of falling.

While we do lose muscle as we age, exercise can still improve strength and flexibility. Exercise doesn’t have to be vigorous. “Regular, low-intensity core body exercises, such as yoga, stretching and dance, will improve balance and strength, all of which will reduce the severity if one does fall,” Phillips said.

HAVE YOUR VISION CHECKED

As we age, we experience slower reflexes, lose flexibility and coordination, and start to have balance issues. Regular exercise will help improve balance and strength. Some people believe limiting activity will prevent falls, but this inactivity actually increases your chances of falling.

Your eyes change as you get older. Reduced vision impacts your ability to see tripping hazards and obstacles and to gauge distance, which can increase your chances of falling. FALL PREVENTION CONTINUED on page 8 >>

Lifelong Journey FEBRUARY 2018 Published by PENINSULA DAILY NEWS and SEQUIM GAZETTE peninsuladailynews.com | sequimgazette.com

Peninsula Daily News: 305 W. First St., Port Angeles, WA 98362 | 360-452-2345 Sequim Gazette: 147 W. Washington St., Sequim, WA 98382 | 360-683-3311 Terry R. Ward • regional publisher Steve Perry • general manager Brenda Hanrahan and Laura Lofgren • special sections editors

6 LIFELONG JOURNEY • FEBRUARY 2018

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<< FALL PREVENTION from page 6

If you wear glasses, make sure your prescription is current.

REVIEW YOUR MEDICINES

Medicines can cause dizziness, drowsiness and confusion and can slow your reaction time. If you are on multiple medicines, they can sometimes interact with each other and cause these problems, as well. Have your health care provider review all your medications, including prescription, over-the-counter medicines and supplements.

VISIT THE DOCTOR

A regular health check-up could identify a health condition that might be causing dizziness or reduced function. When you walk, do you have to hold onto walls or furniture? Do you have trouble standing up from a chair? These could be signs that you need a cane or walker.

MAKE YOUR HOME SAFER

Sixty percent of falls occur inside the home. A few basic adjustments can reduce your changes of falling. Simple changes include removing things you can trip over, such as throw rugs and electrical cords, and keeping frequently used items in reachable areas. Wear shoes inside and outside, and avoid walking around in only slippers or socks. Installing handrails in staircases, grab bars in toilet shower areas and using nonslip bath mats also will help reduce the chances of falling. Increase the lighting in your house to improve visibility. Trouble spots are at the top and bottom of stairs, so be sure there is adequate lighting in those areas. “These preventive measures in your home and lifestyle can help reduce the frequency and severity of a fall and resultant injury,” Phillips said. Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue speakers are available to present a short fall injury prevention presentation to organizations and groups within its jurisdictional boundaries. If you are interested, contact the fire district’s administrative offices

PREVENT STAIRWAY INJURIES Stairs can be dangerous unless preventative measures are taken to increase safety. Stairs are a necessity in many homes. While stairs serve a practical purpose, they also have the potential to be dangerous. According to the National Safety Council, more than one million injuries result each year from stairway falls. Staircase and stairway accidents constitute the second leading cause of accidental injury, second only to motor vehicle accidents. Many stairway falls can be prevented with some simple planning. • Install sturdy handrails. A common contributor to stairway falls is a failure to use handrails. Sturdy handrails can decrease fall rates. Even if a person slips, he or she might be able to prevent the fall by grabbing on to the handrails and regaining some of his or her balance. • Rely on highlighters or friction strips. According to a study titled "Safety on stairs: Influence of a tread edge highlighter and its position" by Richard J. Foster, fall risk might be reduced by using a highlighter positioned flush with the tread edge. This helps make stairs more visible, particularly for those with impaired vision. • Improve lighting on staircases. Failure to see steps might contribute to falls as well. Staircases should be well lit so that residents and guests know where to step. Subtle foot-level lighting can be installed to make it easier for people who frequently use steps at night. • Use slip-resistant materials. Slip-resistant surface material acceptable for normal floors should work on stair treads. Loose rugs should not be placed at the top or bottom of the landing. Outdoors, rough finishes are recommended, particularly on stairs that are subject to getting wet. • Improve step geometry. If slips and falls frequently occur on a particular staircase, consider the relationship between the rise and the run, advises the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Steep steps with high risers and/or short treads can increase the risk of falls. • Clear away clutter. One easy way to prevent falls is to keep stairs free of clutter. This means removing shoes, toys and other belongings that might be left on stairs or landings. — Metrocreative at 360-457-2550. Trish Tisdale is a volunteer EMT with Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue in Port

Angeles. She has been an EMT since 2003 and has also served as a firefighter, rescue diver, fire investigator and wildland firefighter.

8 LIFELONG JOURNEY • FEBRUARY 2018

Mental agility:

Brain functionality can be helped with exercise by

AMY YALEY, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS OF JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE

Our knowledge of the aging brain has significantly changed generation after generation. It was once a common belief that the aging brain was destined to become slower and more feeble with increasing senility the older we became. The truth is, recent studies have demonstrated that the aging brain can continue to function actively and effectively when properly exercised and nourished — just like our bodies. Gone are the days of grandma sitting on the porch in a rocker. Today’s grandma will more likely be found climbing over the logs at Dungeness Spit or sailing the seas from Port Townsend to Seattle. Mental fitness is a significant factor in one’s overall health and should not be overlooked. How do we care for our aging brains and our aging bodies effectively and efficiently? It is easy to focus on physical fitness as we get older. Eating light and frequent exercise are the messages we receive daily. Group exercise classes are easily identified and available to our growing senior populations through fitness and community centers. The aging brain, however, needs the same kind of workout. Mental agility exercises can consist of, but are not limited to, physical activity, where a quick controlled reaction is required. Mental agility helps to train and strengthen muscles in the brain; it’s the old use it or lose it adage. Evidence demonstrates that the brain is able to adapt to new challenges and tasks as people age. The neurons in your brain live a long time — more than 100 years in humans. As a result, they must constantly keep firing to maintain and repair themselves. Continued learning is essential to keep your memory sharp and your brain in the best shape possible. It is vital to find activities to promote a daily mental workout, such as: • Reading • Crossword puzzles • Memory or strategy games • Brain teasers • Crafting • Jigsaw puzzles In fact, puzzles of all kinds are great at helping to keep those neurons firing. AARP has a daily online jigsaw puzzle for anyone to tackle. Visit http://games.aarp.org/games/daily-jigsaw to check out today’s puzzle. LIFELONG JOURNEY • FEBRUARY 2018

Taking on a fun mental activity, such as a jigsaw puzzle with a friend can help maintain your mental agility.

MIX IT UP

Variety and vigor is important as well. Just as the body uses a variety of muscles, mixing up your workout strengthens and protects the body from injuries, and mixing up your mental game creates new pathways for those neurons. Intentionally make your brain work in ways it isn’t necessarily used to. Go outside your comfort zone and learn a new activity: • Take a square dancing class with some friends • Sign up for a jewelry-making class • Learn a new language. (Smart phone apps are a great and effective resource.) Games and activities that involve multiple tasks or require interaction with others appear to give the brain the biggest workouts. Find a friend to do these activities with, and you have upped the workout even more. Simple variety to your daily chores can work as well — use a different trail when you are walking your dog, or go shopping at the grocery store on the other side of town. Changing daily habits creates new brain pathways and strengthens existing connections in the brain. This information can seem overwhelming given all the other “shoulds” we have in our busy lives. Take it slow, find an activity to do with a friend you don’t regularly see. Replace 30 minutes of television with 30 minutes of Suduko. Before you know it, you will have incorporated in a new “strength-training” routine. Amy M. Yaley is the director of marketing and communications of Jefferson Healthcare. She is a graduate of the University of California San Diego. Yaley has spent 25 years working in sales and marketing, with the last 10 years working with business owners to maximize their marketing efforts and generating sales leads.

Ease aches and pains with these tips by NEWSUSA Knees start to hurt. Hips start to ache. Maybe your lower back too. And you finally understand what “tennis elbow” means. Welcome to getting older. For years, your bones, muscles and joints have held up with nothing more than a minor twinge here or a bruise there. Now, however, it takes longer to get out of bed and daily aches and pains seem to be the norm. While it might sound counterproductive, studies have shown that engaging in a moderate strengthtraining program not only helps in toning up, but strengthening muscles that can ache for days. This is especially true as you get older. Experts say that while some pain is expected as you age, it also is the body’s way of telling you something. The following tips can help tired, sore muscles and joints feel better:

• Soothe with heat. A warm shower or bath, hot water bottle or warm cloth can help relax tired muscles and ease muscle spasms. • Invite in the cold ... therapy, that is. Ice packs can soothe pain, especially if a joint is inflamed or swelling (think joints, ankles, elbows

and shoulders). Try a cool cloth, cold pack, cold compress wrap or ice massage. Typically the time is 15-20 minutes on, and the same amount of time off the joint or muscle. • Practice deep breathing. The benefits of using the breath to soothe yourself cannot be underscored enough. Slow, quiet breathing helps relax the body and mind and ease the pain. Aim for about six long, deep breaths per minute. • Get a massage. A foot, back or hand rub also can alleviate pain. Warm oil or lotion might also help you relax. One note: massage in one area for 10 seconds first to see if it feels good. • Invest in a stairlift. If you have stairs in your home, and there are days that you just can’t seem to make it up due to tired, aching muscles, a stairlift can help.

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When we think of hospice, the automatic response tends toward something like, “That’s not for me, I’m not lying in bed dying.” Unfortunately — and all too often — the conversation about hospice comes too late. Peni Cenedella was a devoted spouse, caregiver and advocate for her husband, Harold Burchards. When Harold was diagnosed with brain and lung cancer in July 2016, Peni became his sole caregiver for the majority of the time up until his death on Oct. 28, 2016. He was 65. “I was responsible for emotional support, medication and pill schedule, scheduling doctor appointments and transportation to Seattle, cooking, cleaning and general maintenance of the house, tracking medical bills and paying all bills,” Peni said. Her days started with making breakfast, rubbing Harold’s feet and giving and tracking his medication. “We planned each day by ear depending on (his) health and terrible progression of his disease,” Peni said. “Each day brought new challenges.” Harold suffered from mood swings, an inability to walk and maintain balance at times and some blindness. “Harold was an avid photographer, reader and loved being a cowboy. His sight was severely impacted, and his hearing was going next.” “I had great support from my Sequim friends, including taking me and Harold to Seattle and helping me monitor Harold’s medicine,” Peni added. “In addition I add an acronym that helped me through the process and gave me the ability to focus on Harold and give him love and support.” That acronym was CEPF: compassion, empathy, patience and forgiveness. “Compassion, to be more compassionate to Harold and myself; empathy, from Harold’s view point; patience, when things were not going well; and forgiveness, for not being more kind. When all else fails, be kind!”

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LIFELONG JOURNEY • FEBRUARY 2018

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During her months of caregiving, Peni was never presented with the option of hospice by a physician. “Not one of any of the doctors that attended to Harold’s health here in Sequim or Seattle talked about hospice,”Peni said. After six months, Harold’s physician referred him to a pain-management clinic. After an interview there, Harold was told he did not have long to live and was referred to hospice care. “Assured Hospice came the next day” Peni said. Unfortunately, Harold was enrolled in hospice for only the last five days of his life.

“They were a tremendous help, offering medical guidance, emotional support, medicine and supplies, including incontinent supplies, (and a) phone.” Knowing Harold did not have much time, Assured Hospice gave Peni some instructions on what to do when he passed. “They told me when Harold died to call them first. I missed that instruction and called 9-1-1. I did not understand the importance of calling them first. Once they knew Harold died, they came to help me with the details and to check on how I was doing,” Peni said. “Harold was ready to go to heaven, especially the last two weeks of his life. Giving him permission to die was a gift I wanted to give him to make it easier for both of us.” In the last five days of his life, Assured Hospice helped Peni and Harold with the death process, for which, Peni said, she is grateful for. What is upsetting to her, though, is that Harold was not recommended hospice care up front. “Having talked to many physicians, this is a hard conversation for them to have with their patients and families, yet it is the best gift they can give to their patients and families,” she said.

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<< HOSPICE from page 11

It took Peni six months before she could go back and speak with their primary care physician. “I asked him point blank why he did not refer Harold to hospice. The physician said, ‘I did not know how to have the crucial conversation,’ and apologized for not doing so. “I said I could only forgive if they would start referring to hospice. “You have to look at (this) from the patient’s and family’s viewpoint. We were put through hell with no emotional and medical support,” Peni said. “I know that outcome would be same; Harold still would have died in October.” She said the major thing that would have changed was Harold’s level of suffering, emotionally and physically. “It would have given both of us a break and peace of mine and the ability to laugh, love and live the last three months of his life.” After four months, Peni saw the physician again and asked if they had kept their promise to encourage patients to seek hospice care when appropriate. They said they had.

OTHERSʼ EXPERIENCES

For those going through a similar situation as Peni and Harold, Peni has some advice: • Pray, pray and pray again. • Be kind to yourself. • Ask your family and friends for help. • Make of list of things others can do for you and let them help. • Share your story and what you are going through. • Since you know the day is coming sooner than you want, you need to plan on how you can protect yourself and face the future. In addition, if you have a friend who is going through a terminal disease, you can help them enroll in hospice by giving them the phone number for an organization. “They are going through enough changes in their life and cannot think straight,” Peni said. “Although some folks mention hospice, in my opinion they were not specific. ‘Peni, you need to enroll Harold in hospice,’ then sit

Hospice services are provided in a patient’s home, whether their home be in a skilled nursing facility, assisted living or an independent home.

by my side or call hospice for me.” Peni had some good friends help her after Harold passed. “I was blessed to have two friends that spent the week with me after Harold died. I knew I could not stay in our home for awhile. I took care of Harold and watch him die in our living room. “I rented a cabin for a week that had a water view. My friends helped me through the grieving process. They were patient, kind. We laughed and cried and visited my home only a couple of times. It was what I needed to start finding myself again. Thank you, God for friends, water and the time to start healing.”

WHAT DOES HOSPICE DO?

Hospice gives various needs for

families that are going through a dying process. Hospice provides all medications and medical equipment related to the patient’s hospice diagnosis are supplied at no charge under the Hospice Medicare Benefit. The Medicare Hospice Benefit was established in 1983 to provide Medicare beneficiaries with access to high-quality end-of-life care. You’ve already paid for this care; there are no additional fees. Patients receiving hospice services under the Hospice Medicare Benefit can elect to have their attending physician oversee their care, or they can designate care oversight to the hospice medical director. HOSPICE CONTINUED on page 13 >>

12 LIFELONG JOURNEY • FEBRUARY 2018

<< HOSPICE from page 12

Attending physicians can work in conjunction with the hospice clinical team, directing their patient’s care. The hospice interdisciplinary team (IDT) comprises the patient’s physician; hospice physician or medical director; nurses; certified nursing assistant/hospice aides; social workers; bereavement counselors; clergy or other spiritual counselors; trained volunteers; and speech, physical and occupational therapists, as desired.

WHEN TO SEEK HOSPICE

Hospice services should be sought after when a patient has exhausted all options for their terminal illness. Hospice services are provided in a patient’s home, whether their home be in a skilled nursing facility, assisted living or an independent home.

HOSPICE FACTS

Choosing hospice doesn’t mean giving up on all medical treatment. Families and patients are placed at the center of the care-planning process and provides high-quality pain management and symptom control. Receiving hospice care does not mean giving up a home or that death is imminent. The earlier an individual receives hospice care, the more opportunity there is to stabilize one’s medical condition and address other needs. Some patients actually improve and might be discharged from hospice care. Assured Hospice is at 1102 E. First St., Port Angeles. Phone 360-582-3796 or visit www.assuredhospice olympicpeninsula.com. The Peninsula also touts the care

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Look at that lawn. Just look at it! What in the world are you going to do to manage that thing? You could mow it. Yes, you could do that. Or cover it with gravel and a herd of camels. That might be nice. Or, you could just eat it. Wha? That’s right. Get out there with a trowel and a basket and dig up some lunch! You might be surprised to learn that many of the plants that grow around your property are edible and medicinal. With reliable identification skills and a little butter, you can have yourself a feast. Or a little salad. Whatever floats your boat. You might have heard that people

sometimes eat dandelions, and that is true. The common dandelion plant is easily identified and certainly ubiquitous. The leaves are smooth and toothy (dent, or tooth, of the lion), and the hollow latex-filled stem hosts one flower. Dandelion look-alikes, which, if your lawn is anything like mine, stubbornly carpet the stretch from the front door to the chicken coop, also are edible but a bit less palatable. That group — the hawksbeards, catsears and a few others — tend to have a bit of fuzz on the leaves, and the stems are tough and sport multiple smaller flowers. Once you have identified your dandelions, you can collect the leaves, which are tasty in the early spring. By late summer, they have gone bitter, though they may still be eaten.

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The leaves are high in vitamins A and C and are a good wild source of calcium, iron and magnesium. They can be added raw to a salad or sauteed up with a bit of butter and salt to make tasty greens. Use honey to correct for bitterness. The dandelion root has been used across the globe to treat multiple health issues due to its many pharmacological compounds. Its primary use is as a diuretic, so when you use it, drink plenty of water and make sure you have a place to relieve yourself. Bastyr University reports that it is detoxifying and it stimulates the liver, where it binds toxins for excretion. A look at a “detox tea” in the grocery store will typically reveal dandelion as the primary ingredient. PLANTS CONTINUED on page 15 >>

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Dandelion

<< PLANTS from page 14

To make a cleansing tincture, wash, dry and chop the root. Put the pieces in a jar, cover with a potable alcohol (vodka is an inexpensive choice) and set in a dark place for a few weeks, giv-

ing it a good shake from time to time. Add a few drops of the tincture to your favorite beverage and watch your liver get to work! According to the National Institutes of Health, dandelion both protects the liver from damage and helps it clear

ingested toxins from the digestive tract. Another common plant that is both edible and medicinal is plantain (unrelated to the South American banana like fruit), sometimes known as ribwort. PLANTS CONTINUED on page 16 >>

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While there are many different species of plantain, two are locally abundant. Plantago major has spoon-shaped leaves while Plantago lanceolata has lance-like leaves. You might have both in your yard, local park or poking up from the cracks in your driveway. You might also have consumed its cousin, Plantago ovata, whose psyllium seed hulls are used to add fibre to the gastrointestinal tract. Like many plants, the leaves can become bitter later in the summer months but are tasty and tender early in the year. Collect the young leaves for salads, as the stringy ribs in the mature leaves can be tough. Add the older leaves to dandelions for nutritious cooked greens, as plantain is a good source of vitamin A and calcium. For medicinal use, plantain is used as a poultice to soothe and heal skin ailments. The National Library of Medicine has many references describing the dermatologic uses of plantain. To apply it to the skin, chop the leaf finely, add a small dribble of water and pack it in place. Cover with gauze and tape in place or, like me, you will have little bits of leaf creating a trail around the house marking where you’ve been. Its mucilage will ameliorate dry or inflamed skin. Dandelion and plantain are two of the easiest plants to learn in your yard, and when you walk out there to study them, you will have trampled across many other forgiving, beneficent specimens. English lawn daisy (wound repair), oxeye daisy (candied flowers), wild lettuce (pain relief), pineapple weed (pineapple-scented tea) and smallflowered willowherb (prostate support) are all commonly found in our Pacific Northwest environment. Salal (tasty fruits), western red cedar (antimicrobial), common mallow (edible flowers) and Oregon grape (wine from berries) are useful as well. You can find miner’s lettuce (vitamin C) in some of the planting containments in the parking lot at Sunny Farms in Sequim.

Plantain, also known as ribwort; inset: pineapple weed

You can find rock rose (edible flowers) in the parking lot over at The Home Depot. The heart-helping hawthorn grows alongside Costco. And wild rose bushes with their vitamin C-packed hips abound on our country roads! To identify plants commonly found in the Pacific Northwest, the “go-to” plant identification guide is “Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast,” written by several contributors who are specialists in the field (and meadow and mountain and ravine). I strongly urge anyone wishing to learn about harvesting wild edibles in our area to invest in this crucial resource. Some plants do have poisonous look-alikes, and while one camas plant will make a tasty treat, another one will kill you. So do heed the encouragement. Even if you aren’t ready to wander out into the yard with a fork, go

ahead and kneel down and take a look at all the wild plants that surround you. Learning about them can be a lifesaver in a survival situation, but they also are fun to explore and discover. Adding them to your diet and medicine cabinet all by yourself is a great adventure in bringing nature indoors! ... Trail of plantain bits scattered throughout the living room notwithstanding. Nancy Slick is an estate planning attorney and writer in the Sequim area. She has taught classes in wild edible and medicinal plant foraging in King, Pierce, Jefferson, Clallam and Kitsap counties, including for Peninsula College, Kitsap County Park Department, the Kitsap County fifth-graders environmental education program, restaurants and as a consultant for the National Geographic television network. She can be contacted at 360-626-3996 or at NancySlickLaw@gmail.com.

16 LIFELONG JOURNEY • FEBRUARY 2018

Up in the clouds

Local pilot-turned-author takes readers on an Alaskan journey filled with mystery and memories by LAURA LOFGREN, SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR Wayne Pinger of Sequim never expected to become a published author after being a 24-year veteran of what he calls the “Alaskan Experience.” But thanks to his daughter-in-law, Carrie Ferguson, and with the support of his wife, Jeanette, he explored the possibilities of story-telling, just like he explored Alaska: with his family.

IN ALASKA

In 1972, Pinger, his wife and their two kids, Kevin and Page, decided to move from California to Fairbanks, Alaska. Pinger worked for the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks as an Federal Communications Commission licensed electrical engineer in the field. “I worked mainly with a group of scientists studying the ionosphere (the layer of the earth’s atmosphere that contains a high concentration of ions and free electrons and is able to reflect radio waves),” Pinger said. In Alaska, Pinger and his wife operated a nonlicensed aerial photography and taxi service, Fly By Knight, Mining and Exploitation. “ I had a friend ... who was a semi-famous photographer, and he asked me if I would take him flying,” Pinger said. This photographer needed to shoot aerial photos of a Safeway store. “So I took him flying, and he insisted on paying.” Pinger could not accept payment, as he was not a commercial pilot. But the photographer said his employer wanted to pay someone, so Pinger told him to make a check out to “Fly By Knight.” Pinger came up with goofy business cards to promote his faux aerial photography business and ended up taking a few people up to shoot photos. In 1978, Pinger and his family moved briefly to Chicago for his work, but they returned to Fairbanks in 1982. Once settled, they owned and operated Goldstream General Store for a year, where they met several folks who ended up lending their personalities to Pinger’s book. After leaving the store, Pinger worked for the Alaska Department of Transportation in highway and airport design as a lab technician, then a drafting supervisor and finally the manager of computer systems and networks for the northern region (Fairbanks, Nome and Valdez). Pinger retired in 1996 and moved to the Olympic Peninsula. He stopped flying but has recently begun again. “... Up in the air, it’s free and for just a few gallons of very expensive fuel I do as I did 40 years ago, and I love it!” LIFELONG JOURNEY • FEBRUARY 2018

Author Wayne Pinger sits in his Sequim home with his first published book,“Angel’s Diamonds.”

ABOUT THE BOOK

Pinger’s book, “Angel’s Diamonds,” is the first in a trilogy he’s working on that dives into the Alaskan wilderness with a confident bush pilot as the protagonist, a rumor involving diamonds and the struggle to survive and thrive in the midst of a mystery and adventure. All of Pinger’s characters, he said, are somewhat based off his own personal experiences and the people he knows or knew while living in Alaska. “As in the book, the store sells groceries, liquor, native crafts, gas, propane, and it has an eight-station laundromat,” Pinger said. “The main characters in the manuscript are mostly real people and most of the places identified in the script I have personally visited and had a few adventures.” AUTHOR CONTINUED on page 18 >>

<< AUTHOR from page 17

Earl Pilgrim is one man who influenced a book character. “He built the Stampede Antimony Mine that was going strong in the mid-’40s,” Pinger said. “I talked to Earl and even stayed in his cabin one night. He’s an older guy, must have been in his 80s when I knew him in the mid-1970s. Interesting guy. And there’s a little bit about Earl Pilgrim and the antimony mine in the book. “Now Josh (Browning, the protagonist) is talking to Earl’s character and he's asking Earl what could possibly be of interest on the North Slope on the Colville River because we know there’s no gold up there. What are they mining for? And it’s Earl who says, ‘Well, the only possible thing there could be ... it might be diamonds.’ “And I need these different characters to get to the plot of the book. When a person has a nice easy-going personality, I attach that personality to a particular character in the book.” Another character is Skip Davis in the book, who was based on Jack O’Brien, aka Ivory Jack.

Ivory Jack built the Goldstream General Store and the restaurant next to it. “He was a pretty big guy, had a deep voice, very profane. But it was a protective device for him. He just used profane language as a (shield).” “When we bought the Goldstream store, Jack O’Brien was afraid of one person in the valley and that was my wife. He would not curse when she was around,” Pinger said with a laugh. “He is one of the main characters in the book, and I try to put this personality into the character.” Angel the guard dog — one of the most important characters in Pinger’s book — was a real German shepherd. “She adopted us for too short a period of time, but we really enjoyed her company and personality for as long as it lasted,” Pinger said. As for the protagonist, Browning, Pinger said he has some of his “Bogart attitude and also my naivete, but he isn’t me.” Using his flying expertise and

resourcefulness, Pinger embraced the use of his iPad to help him in writing some of the more detailed flight situations in the book. AUTHOR CONTINUED on page 19 >>

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<< AUTHOR from page 18

He used Foreflight, an app that gives navigation for flight paths you enter. With the app, Pinger is able to get accurate information for his character’s journeys. “One of the towns we go to in the book is Bettles Airport in Evansville. So when Josh would fly from Fairbanks to Bettles in a Cessna 172, it should take about an hour and a half. ”

THE WRITING PROCESS

Pinger never had the intention of writing a book, let alone a trilogy. But while his daughter-in-law was visiting one afternoon, she noticed he had written the beginnings of story called, “Bruno the Roadside Bear.” The story was based on an experience Pinger’s son, Kevin, had at age 11 that involved a dead black bear on the side of the road, a Mountie and a good joke. As Pinger’s family was driving in British Columbia, they came upon the roadkill and stopped, as they needed a break anyway, Pinger said.

Despite the smell of the bear, Kevin got out his pellet gun from the pickup truck for a photoshoot with the bear. They named the bear Bruno. Before too long, a Mountie showed up and accused Kevin of killing the bear. He took out his pen and notepad and started writing a ticket as he questioned Kevin. After a bit of time, it became apparent that the Mountie was pulling Kevin’s leg, and everyone eventually had a good laugh. After reading the short story, Carrie couldn’t stop laughing, Pinger said, and she encouraged him to keep writing. Gleaning from his personal experiences, Pinger set off to write his first book with the help of Jeanette, who would help him with edit after edit. Sitting in his comfy chair in the living room, glasses on, Pinger worked on his character development as the TV was on in the background at a low volume. “I started writing in a way that people would want to read,” he said. At age 35, Pinger was diagnosed

with dyslexia after years of struggling with the written language and number order. With the help of Jeanette, he was able to organize his thoughts on his laptop and create a well-developed story that harkens back to his personal experiences. After a rough first draft, Pinger submitted his story to Firefall Media, which, Pinger said, wanted to pick up the book immediately. He worked with a publisher to get the editing right, and began making plans for the next two books: “Angel’s Treasure” and “Angel’s Odyssey,“ the first of which is almost complete. “The books are connected by the general storyline, the settings and the continued personal growth of the main characters.” As for a moral to Angel’s Diamonds, Pinger said he hopes there isn’t one. “... It is meant to be for you personal entertainment and, I hope, enjoyment.” “Angel’s Diamonds,” published by Firefall Media, is available for presale online at www.firefallmedia.com/ angels-diamonds.html.

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How to stay flexible as you age by METROCREATIVE Men and women might begin to feel less flexible as they get older. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, that loss of flexibility is because muscles lose both strength and elasticity as the body ages. A lack of flexibility can make men and women more vulnerable to certain types of injuries, including muscle strains and tears. While people might not be able to maintain the flexibility they enjoyed in their 20s, there are ways for them to combat age-related loss of flexibility. • Stretch frequently. Stretching is a great way to combat age-related loss of flexibility. Stretch major muscle groups, such as hamstrings and shoulder muscles, several times per week. When practicing static stretching, the goal is to gradually elongate the muscle being stretched before holding the elongated position, and ultimately allowing the muscle to return to resting position. As flexibility improves, elongated stretches can be held for 30 seconds. Avoid stretching muscles that are sore or injured, and discontinue a stretch if you feel pain or discomfort. • Include yoga in your exercise regimen. Practitioners of yoga typically love how this discipline that exercises the body while relaxing the mind improves their flexibility.

Many yoga poses are designed to improve the strength and flexibility of muscles, and some physicians may even recommend yoga to aging patients. Yoga DVDs or streaming sessions can be great, but beginners might want to visit yoga studios or sign up for classes at their gyms so instructors can personally ensure they are doing each pose correctly. As their flexibility improves, men and women can try more difficult poses and classes if they so desire. • Get in the pool. Swimming is another activity that can help aging men and women improve their flexibility. Strength-training exercises are

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an important component of a wellbalanced exercise regimen, but such workouts tend to focus on one or two muscle groups at a time. That means other muscle groups might be inactive and tighten up as a result. Swimming works the entire body, which helps all muscle groups stay loose and flexible. One or two swimming sessions per week can contribute to great gains in overall flexibility, especially for men and women who remember to stretch when they get out of the pool. Flexibility might decrease as men and women age, but there are various ways to combat the natural loss of flexibility.

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Is oxygen therapy right for you? Hyperbaric treatments help with healing processes by

CRYSTAL TACK, NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR & LICENSED ACUPUNCTURIST, SEQUIM CLINIC FOR ACUPUNCTURE AND NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE

What’s new in medicine and yet over 60 years old? It’s “medicine’s best kept secret!” Are you intrigued? You shouldn’t be; it’s only oxygen, approximately 64 percent of what we are made of, so why would we need more of it? My name is Dr. Crystal Tack, and I have been serving the Olympic Peninsula for 28 years as a naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist. For a brief glimpse at my “long journey” on a professional note, I studied Eastern medicine and became an acupuncturist in 1983, when many Americans had never even heard word. The most common question was “Does it work?” Folks often hid the fact they were getting acupuncture for fear of being ostracized, and popular opinion of the great results we were getting was simply “psychosomatic.” In more recent years, a new phrase — “functional medicine” — has been touted as the “new approach to medicine.” The core philosophy is that we are individuals with individual health requirements and individual causes for the development of disease. It addresses the cause of disease and supports lifestyle changes. This includes determining which foods an individual thrives on and which ones cause inflammation, resulting in arthritis or other inflammatory disease; what toxins are disrupting the body functions and how to eliminate them; what nutrients are they missing; sufficient movement and what form of exercise works for that individual; and more. I started studying naturopathic medicine more than 40 years ago, and this is exactly the approach to medicine we have always stood for. We were the few who were brave enough

Dr. Crystal Tack, naturopath and licensed acupuncturist, poses with her OxyHealth Vitaeris 320 soft-shell hyperbaric chamber in her office in Sequim.

to hold to this approach to medicine when popular opinion was that food had no affect on health, vitamins barely existed and were of no value, disease was the luck of the draw, and there was nothing to do about it except take medication to ameliorate the symptoms. Thanks in part to the pressures of public opinion, most health insurances in Washington now cover these once undervalued health modalities. According to Gallup polls, more than 70 percent of Americans now take vitamins, over half of Americans take vitamins regularly, and 45 percent of Americans seek out organic foods. On the internet, free health summits are going viral.

BACK TO OXYGEN

Are you still with me? Great! Let’s get back to the oxygen. Last time I checked, oxygen is still good for everybody no matter what their age. In fact, without it, we don’t do well (how’s that for an understatement). We all get oxygen when we breathe, so what’s the big deal? The fact is that a lot of folks just don’t get optimal levels of oxygen in their daily life.

This might be due to lifestyle choices, poor air quality, compromised circulation or an increased requirement for healing. How can we increase the effects of oxygen? Add pressure! Combine oxygen with a pressurized chamber, and we have hyperbaric therapy. I am addressing what is called mild hyperbaric therapy (mHBOT), also known as soft shell, which is rapidly growing in popularity due to the results people are experiencing. It’s common knowledge now that we oxygenate better with exercise, yet a growing number of the world’s greatest athletes also are using mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Why would they need more oxygen? It is their experience that it helps them recover more rapidly after a workout and from injury, as well as enhances their game. Why add the pressure? How does it work? Great questions! When under pressure, the molecules of oxygen compress and actually enters into the plasma, penetrating into those hard to reach or damaged areas of our body that need the most support. OXYGEN CONTINUED on page 24 >>

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by a number of clinics as part of their program to support healing of myriad The term “mild” means the pressure conditions, including diabetic-related does not exceed 1.3 atmospheres of issues; brain damage from stroke or pressure (1.3 ATA or 4 PSI). traumatic injury; and wound healing This is the equivalent of 11 feet after surgery, to mention only a few. below sea level, yet enough pressure Burn units often incorporate hyperbarto create an oxygen-enriched environic oxygen in their recovery programs. ment to support marginal cells, giving It is good for any healing process, them the boost they need to recuperbecause oxygen heals! ate, thus accelerating healing. My chamber, a Vitaeris 320 by OxyHealth, is rated the best mHBOT BOOSTING ONES SELF chamber made and is the most comSo how could mHBOT help you? monly used among professional athletes. Let’s talk about a few more situaZamir Patell, the man who founded tions that could benefit from hyperOxyHealth, stated to me that since the baric therapy. movie “Concussion,” some pro-football Lifestyle choices can put us into a teams have begun to provide a fleet downward spiral. The more tired we of the OxyHealth mHBOT chambers are, the less active we are. The less making them immediately available to active we are, the more we look like the players as they come off the field. that thing called a “couch potato,” and Almost all pro-sports teams now sometimes, no matter how much we have individual players who use might “know” what to do, we just can’t OxyHealth chambers, and the numfind motivation. So we continue to sit bers are rapidly increasing. there and become a larger “potato,” The increase in popularity has feeling ever more hopeless. changed dramatically in the five years When we oxygenate, it tends to get since I added one to our clinic. us out of our doldrums. The brain and Entertainers have recognized muscles work better, and we feel more hyperbaric benefits, too. invigorated, which just might lead to Michael Jackson was using hyperbetter mood, better choices, increased baric therapy way ahead of the times. activity and generally feeling more Now entertainers are trending toward motivated and often in less pain. using chambers to help them thrive in Who doesn’t want that? their over-taxing lifestyles and to supCardiovascular disease is the No. 1 port that young, vibrant look. killer in the United States. One might ask, “Why would Poor circulation, often hidden, can extremely busy people whose perforcreate lack of motivation to move or mance has to be optimal be spending the inability to think clearly because their time in mHBOT chambers if the body is starving for that thing we they don’t work?” still know is vital for us: oxygen. Dr. William Maxfield, one of the When oxygen is under pressure, it world’s foremost Thinking of authorities on hyperincreases the bloods capacity to carry baric medicine, author of the book, investing more oxygen deeper into the body. “The Oxygen Cure: A Complete Guide in atorental? Oxygen under pressure is being used Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy” and << OXYGEN from page 22

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my personal adviser, is one of the original pioneers in hyperbaric medicine. Maxfield, while serving on active duty in the Medical Corps of the United States Navy, noted that hyperbaric treatment seemed be affective for more than the bends (at that time, hyperbaric therapy was used in America only for decompression sickness in divers). Among other noted accomplishments, Maxfield proceeded to make huge breakthroughs in the use of hyperbaric for a number of illnesses. For instance, he claims multiple sclerosis patients are very responsive to the therapy.

FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE

I have seen first-hand the benefits of mHBOT in my clinic for the past five years, and I am excited for this to be a more familiar modality for seniors. On a personal level, while I spent over 100 hours researching mHBOT to determine whether or not I wanted to add a hyperbaric chamber to my clinic, I happen to have torn my rotator cuff and was seeing a physical therapist at the time because I could barely lift my arm. As part of making my final decision, I scheduled a hyperbaric session to experience it. When I came out of the chamber, to my total amazement, I had full range of motion in my affected arm. Of course, such results are not a given; this is my personal experience, and, of course, it was not a permanent result with just one treatment; however, you can bet that though this was not even on my mind going into the chamber, it sure did have an influence on my final decision to move ahead and add one to my clinic! OXYGEN CONTINUED on page 25 >>

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<< OXYGEN from page 24

Also, my personal experience is that after a mHBOT session, I often have a significant download of new ideas and new solutions.

BENEFITS/SIDE EFFECTS

WARNING: There are side effects to hyperbaric therapy! Hyperbaric participants often report increased mobility, more vitality, mental clarity, revitalized tissue (including skin; mHBOT is very popular in anti-aging clinics) and more enthusiasm for life. On a more serious note, long-term hyperbaric can cause mild myopic changes, which are temporary, and there are a few contra indications that are always addressed before your first hyperbaric session. Oxygen requires a prescription. In your first session with me as a naturopathic doctor, I will determine if this is applicable for you unless it has been previously prescribed for you.

HEALING IS A PROCESS

Thousands of physicians now use hyperbaric therapy.

Why? Because oxygen heals. Does it “cure”? We don’t go there ... Each of us is unique and require a unique combination for healing, ergo “functional medicine.” Healing is a process; just follow it. The more you incorporate a variety of positive actions toward health, the more positive your healing process will be. So, seniors? What do you think? Oxygen can enhance muscles strength and balance. Oxygen can enhance clarity of thought. Oxygen can be used for anti-aging. All our tissues love oxygen! I personally believe it helps us get our mojo back. As someone moseying into “seniorhood” myself, I’m glad for the opportunity both to have it and to share it. It’s not surgery. It’s not rocket science. It’s only oxygen, and last time I checked, we still need it! Crystal Tack, a naturopathic doctor and licenses acupuncturist, has been serving the Olympic Peninsula for 28 years. For more information, visit www.drcrystaltack.com, or contact Tack at 360-683-2937 or crystal@ olypen.com.

Sequim Clinic for Acupuncture and Naturopathic Medicine is not claiming to prevent, treat or cure any condition or disease with mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Talk with your doctor to see if this treatment is right for you. Hyperbaric therapy has been used for decades and is well studied and documented in the scientific literature. In 2000, mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy gained FDA approval for the treatment of high-altitude sickness. There is research supporting the “off label” use of mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of the underlying cellular pathology of many other illnesses; however, there have not been sufficient, rigorously applied human studies to support FDA approval for its use to treat illnesses other than altitude sickness. The mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy used at Sequim Clinic for Acupuncture and Naturopathic Medicine is not intended to treat any specific disease, but rather to hasten healing at the cellular level in the belief that it can improve your health. Certain medical conditions and medications are not compatible with hyperbaric therapy. These conditions are: Minkowski–Chauffard syndrome, hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia, aneurysm and COPD. The medications are: Disulfiram (Antabuse), Doxorubicin (Adriamycin), Cisplatinum and Mafenide. Mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy might enhance healing and is reported to be beneficial for a wide range of conditions. Results cannot be guaranteed, and use of mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy does not replace a health professional’s prescribed medications or recommended treatments.

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CRAIG STEVENSON, MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR, PENINSULA MORTAGE

Have you heard the one about the retiree that realizes that their fixed retirement income is not going as far as it used to? In my office, I hear this troubling tale from Olympic Peninsula retirees all too often. While Social Security and pension payments remain basically unchanged, costs for everyday items continue to rise. The solution to supplementing retirement income is often found in the equity that many seniors have in their house. Studies show that seniors are sitting on billions of dollars of home equity. Most of this equity goes untouched despite pressing cash flow needs facing senior homeowners. Options for accessing home equity include a refinance or second mortgage that provides cash. Seniors will need to qualify to repay the new loan they receive. Or the home could be sold and a less-expensive home could be purchased instead, leaving the remaining equity for the retiree’s use. Not only is selling (and moving) scary, it exposes a senior’s equity to expensive transfer taxes and real estate fees that take a significant bite out of their wealth that they can ill afford. A good option for homeowners at least 62 years old is the government sponsored Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM). The great feature of the HECM is that it requires no monthly loan repayment. A senior can pay off their existing mortgage balance with a HECM and also get some cash for supplementing their income while not having a new loan payment. For example: A senior facing a $900 a month mortgage payment and pending home repairs that would overwhelm their fixed income could

A good option for homeowners at least 62 years old is the government sponsored Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM).

A senior can pay off their existing mortgage balance with a HECM and also get some cash for supplementing their income while not having a new loan payment. refinance with a HECM. The refinance would pay off the existing mortgage and replace it with a government insured HECM. They would never have a mortgage payment again as long they live in their home while also receiving cash for their home improvement. After the HECM refinance, they can re-direct the $900 per month of their fixed income that was previously tied up paying their mortgage. Seniors retain the title to their home after a HECM refinance — just like with any refinance — and can sell their home at any time. The most significant benefit is that they are empowered to access their equity without having to uproot their lives and sell their home first. The HECM is intended to provide a “safety net” for homeowners age 62 and older.

For many of my clients, it has been the key that “unlocked” the cash that they had “under their own roof” but were unable to access. In the time it takes to have a cup of coffee at my office down the street from the Shipley Center in Sequim, I am able to determine how much cash the HECM will make available to you. Craig Stevenson has been a mortgage loan originator for more than eight years and has been co-owner of Peninsula Mortgage Inc. for five years with Al Kruebbe. He is a certified military home specialist who has extensive experience in VA Financing, as well as the USDA zero-down purchase program. Peninsula Mortgage is at 720 E. Washington St., Suite 106, Sequim. Phone 360-683-2429 or visit www. penmortgage.com for more information.

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How common is carpal tunnel? by METROCREATIVE Increased hours spent on computer keyboards and digital devices can put people at risk for a relatively common and oftentimes painful condition that affects mobility in the wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome, or CTS, can cause numbness, pain and tingling in the hand or arm as a result of one of the major nerves of the hand — the median nerve — being compressed in the wrist. The American College of Rheumatology says that CTS might be the most common nerve disorder experienced today, affecting between 4 and 10 million people in the United States alone. Middle-aged to older individuals are more likely to develop CTS than younger persons, and females are diagnosed three times more frequently than males.

WHAT IS THE CARPAL TUNNEL? The carpal tunnel is a passage that forms in the wrist on the palm side of the hand. It is located just beneath the skin surface. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says the carpal tunnel is a narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones. Eight small wrist bones form three sides of the tunnel. The width of the tunnel is only

fingers (although not the little finger). It also controls some small muscles at the base of the thumb.

SYMPTOMS OF CARPAL TUNNEL

Middle-aged to older individuals are more likely to develop CTS than younger persons.

about an inch. Injury or inflammation to the tissues inside of the carpal tunnel can shrink the space of the tunnel, eventually pressing on the tendons and the median nerve that runs through this narrow area.

THE ROLE OF THE MEDIAN NERVE

When compression occurs in this area of the wrist, a key nerve, is affected. The median nerve originates in the neck and runs through the arm. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist and goes into the hand, providing feeling to the palm side of the thumb and to the index, middle and part of the ring

LIFELONG JOURNEY • FEBRUARY 2018

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

If pain and tingling are affecting activities and sleeping patterns, individuals should see their doctors. Various nonsurgical remedies and therapies might help. If left untreated, any condition that affects nerve function might lead to permanent nerve and muscle damage.

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Weakness of the hand as well as tingling and numbness are the two most common symptoms of CTS. The numbness particularly affects four fingers. It can occur when holding a phone, book, newspaper or steering wheel, or engaging in just about any activity that involves the hands. CTS might also wake up a person from sleep. There are a number of other compression issues that can occur in the hand and arms, causing similar pain and tingling in other areas. Ulnar nerve compression in the elbow can cause part of the ring finger and pinky finger to tingle and may be indicative of a different ailment. That’s why a professional diagnosis must be sought when experiencing symptoms related to CTS.

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Another year older ...

Age can define you — or it can be just a number by MARK HARVEY

80s? 85ish?: Now we’ve learned that we’re in the fast growing segment of the population! Aren’t we ... proud? s it too late to say, “Happy New Except when we aren’t. Year?” But ... we are! “I’m not dead!” you That’s probably a little ridicumight think. lous. What’s wrong with wishing a (Well, there are a lot of happy year to anyone, anythings that I’m probably “not” time? or, at least, not anymore, but Well, OK, maybe it’s not I’m not dead!) as “new” as it was a little Now we just sort of stop while ago, but it’s still a bit counting; well, we don’t premature to call it “used,” so really, because every year, Happy Year! on some certain day, we celIt’s 2018! Who would’ve ebrate. Another year older thought? 2-0-1-8. and still not dead. Wow! And I’ll be how old this Congratulations! And we just year? Hmm. Which means ... Mark Harvey keep counting ... Maybe it’s all a “numbers …and wishing we were game,” huh? behind the statistical norm. Well, we attach a lot of significance The numbers told the tale from Day to six years old. Actually, if you’re a new parent, you 1. The number set the expectation: You will be this or you will do that or you attach a lot of significance to every will act a certain way or not — the staage. Every month, every year! tistical norm; the pursuit of average. “Is my little one in the statistical And who, again, aspires to be “avernorm?” age?” Almost none of us. We hope so. Actually, we hope she But here we are, counting, keeping or he is ahead of said norm, exceeding track, amassing milestones — or millthe “average,” right? stones. Because what if we broke the Who aspires to “average?” Law of Averages? What if we became We want to be ahead of it! Beyond “outlaws” — or outliers? it! Above it! We want to exceed the I’ve known a number of folks statistical norm. Mostly. Except when we don’t. But we sure pay attention to through the years who were so riveted to a number that it dictated how those numbers: they acted — how they dressed and Age 6: We know what that means. how they talked and what they did Age 14: Can be significant, dependand how they did it. ing upon what state you reside in. “Old before their time,” because Sweet 16: We get that! they decided to “act their age” — at Age 18 can mean a lot. And some least as they understood it. responsibilities are beginning to Act your age…hmm… increase. I’ve also known a number of folks Age 21: That’s a biggie! who never got that memo. Never trust anyone over 30. They just keep being who they 40s: Wow, been around for a while, are and doing what they do because huh? the number doesn’t define them; life 50s: Hmm. Rarely said out loud, defines them. but we all know what we’re running They’re not stupid. up to. They know you have to mess with Age 60: 60 years of age! A “senior,” Medicare and Social Security when depending upon who you talk to. you’re 65, so they mess with it; then, Age 65: You’re in it now! Medicare, they go back to doing what they were Social Security ... retirement? No getdoing. ting away from it now.

And they’re not invincible. There are aches and pains and conditions and diagnoses and parts that don’t do all the things that they used to do — or as often or as long as — but, that’s just how it goes, so on they go. “60 is the new 40,” we hear. So, what does that mean, exactly? At age 60, are we supposed to revert to our 40-esque behavior patterns, having learned absolutely nothing in the intervening years? Having gained absolutely no maturity and no wisdom and no experience? No. It just means that most of us aren’t going to die on yesterday’s actuarial schedule. That’s encouraging, right? Sure! Unless you’re running on that schedule, living on that schedule. Then, are you behind The Curve or beyond The Curve? This is getting confusing. I think I’m losing track of where I am. No, you’re not, because, yes you are: You’re losing track of where other people were, some other time. The trick is to be here now, doing what you’re doing, the way you’re doing it. Now, to figure out that very same thing tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that. Because what if it’s not about how old you are? What if it’s about purpose? Whatever you define that purpose to be, that reason to do tomorrow — however great, however small, however magnificent or however personal: there’s a reason to do tomorrow. And that has nothing to do with “acting your age” or the Law of Averages. That has to do with grasping life (instead of being gripped by it), and saying, “This is my reason. This is my purpose. This is me being a whole, entire human being.” In 2018. Against all odds. Mark Harvey has been the director of information and assistance for the Olympia Area Agency on Aging for 30 years.

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Sound Publishing

Published on Mar 2, 2018

Special Sections - Lifelong Journey February 2018

i20180220101713581.pdf

Special Sections - Lifelong Journey February 2018

Published on Mar 2, 2018

i20180220101713581.pdf

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