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March 2019RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Senior Services Alabama Department of
Older Americans Month 2020: Make Your Mark
Our vision is to help society and state government prepare for the changing aging demographics through effective leadership, advocacy, and stewardship.
Taking part is your civic duty.
Completing the census is mandatory: it’s a way to participate in our democracy and say
“I COUNT!”
Your privacy is protected.
It's against the law for the Census Bureau to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you or your household. By law, your responses cannot be used against you and can only be used to produce statistics.
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In 1963, a meeting their numbers reach between President about 50 million. As John F. Kennedy and the aging population the National Council has increased, of Senior Citizens Older Americans resulted in designating Month has grown May as Senior Citizens with it. An inclusive Month—the prelude celebration that to Older Americans spans socioeconomic, Month. At the time, racial, and cultural many older Americans boundaries, lived in poverty, and the celebratory programs to meet month recognizes their needs were the outstanding lacking. The national contributions older Commissioner - Jean W. Brown observance was adults make in their established to bring awareness to the families and communities across the contributions of older Americans and country. Through partnerships with an generate interest and support for their ever-expanding Aging Services Network, well-being. Two years later, in 1965, Older Americans Month generates President Lyndon B. Johnson passed the awareness about the many programs that Older Americans Act of 1965 and formally are available today. It also helps share declared May as Older Americans information about activities, programs, Month. But the act did and services much more than raise with rural, awareness or encourage urban, and community involvement. suburban Johnson took Kennedy’s communities proclamation and across the intentions a step further nation. by taking action that resulted in positive By 2040 change, financial assistance, and federal in the United States, the 65 and older support for older Americans. population is expected to grow to about 82.3 million, which will represent nearly The Older Americans Act: 22% of the population. We need to plan · established the Administration on for this demographic change, because its Ageing, the first federal agency designed sizeable increase will affect us all. Older to address the struggles of older Americans month promotes activities Americans and programs that are important to the · introduced nutrition programs, health, enrichment, and independence transportation assistance, federally of older Americans. It also encourages funded adult day care, legal assistance, older adults to advocate for themselves. and other services for seniors Everyone should be invested in the · paved the way to passing the Medicare support of older adults. program to offer health care to seniors Every May, the Administration for In 1963, only 17 million living Americans Community Living leads our nation’s had reached their 65th birthday. Today observance of Older Americans
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Month. This year’s theme is Make Your Mark. This theme was selected to encourage and celebrate countless contributions that older adults make to our communities. Their time, experience, and talents benefit family, peers, and neighbors every day. Communities, organizations, and individuals of all ages are also making their marks to improve the lives of senior adults. This year’s theme highlights the difference everyone can make in the lives of older adults, in the support of caregivers, and to strengthen communities. 10 Facts of Older Americans Making Their Marks: I There are more people over age 60 than under age 15. I The elderly are the fastest growing age group: The US Census Bureau indicates that individuals 85 and up are the fastest growing age group by percentage. I The number of 65+ veterans is estimated to be about 9 million. I 15 million older persons volunteer: Nearly half of all adults 65 and older volunteer in some form. I A quarter of households are involved in caregiving: One in four households will care for a loved one aged 50 and older. I As you get older studies show, you get happier. Many people report that they feel more content as they age. I Life expectancy is increasing at a faster rate: Between 1900 and 1960, life expectancy increased by 2.4 years; since 1960, it has increased by 3.5 years. I Physical activity is important to seniors: Despite the common misconception that aging means physical inactivity, seniors are capable of exercising, and it’s great for both physical and mental health. I Working past retirement can keep you alive and healthier: Many seniors keep working after retirement age, even if it’s just part time. I 66% of individuals age 75 or older are in good health: Only 34% report fair or poor health at 75 or older. For more information about the Alabama Department of Senior Services, contact your local AAA and ADRC at 1-800-AGELINE (1-800-243-5463). You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We want to help in any way we can.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Census 101: What You Need to Know
It’s about fair representation. Every 10 years, the results of the census are used to reapportion the US House of Representatives, determining how many seats Alabama gets. We stand to lose one representative or even two without an accurate count. It's in the Constitution. The U.S. Constitution mandates that everyone in the country be counted every 10 years. The first census was in 1790. It’s about $13 billion. The distribution of $13 billion in federal funds, grants, and support to our state’s counties and communities is based on the census data. That money is spent on schools, healthcare, hospitals, roads, and other vital programs. Taking part is your civic duty. Completing the census is mandatory: it’s a way to participate in our democracy and say “I COUNT!”
Your privacy is protected. It's against the law for the Census Bureau to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you or your household. By law, your responses cannot be used against you and can only be usedto produce statistics.
www.alabama2020census.com R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
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BOOM!, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Contents
May 2020 Volume 10 Issue 9
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
Facebook.com/RiverRegionBoom C.S. Lewis
Thought Relationships Taste Inspiration
Humor Advice Health Community
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
Carl Bard
6 Alabama Department of Senior Services-Older Americans 10 Publisher's Column 12 Is It Time to Rethink the 60/40 Portfolio? Susan Moore 14 Getting to Know You Water Worx LLC
page 18
16 AUM OLLI Adapts to Trying Times
Features 18 Can I Reduce My Risk of Alzheimer’s?
40 What it will take to live in your home for the rest of your life.
20 To The Ole Folk MG-Dean Fowler
42 COVID-19 vs. CHEAHA STATE PARK-Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier
22 Staying Fit During Quarantine Leigh Anne Richards
Departments 26 This and That Interesting Stuff
24 3 Common Estate Planning Mistakes Ask an Elder Law Attorney
44 Greg Budell "A Hallmark Moment .. 30 Years in the Making"
27 Jim Peppler Southern Courier Photographs
page 11
29 Lighten Up, We're All Going Outside Soon...Right? 30 Pick your own fruits and veggies, support Alabama Farmers page 40
page 34
page 42
page 12
page 44
32 16th Annual Drive-Thru Autism Crawfish Boil 34 BOOM! Cover Profile 46 Waste less, Eat well Eating Smart with Tracy Bhalla
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page 32
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Free Subscriptions @ w w w. r i ve rre gio n b o o m.co m
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47 Route 66 & Grand Canyon
BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine is published monthly by River Region Publications, P.O. Box 6203, Montgomery, AL 36106. The phone number is 334.324.3472. Copyright 2020 by River Region Publications. No part of this publication can be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.
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Publisher’s Letter
WELCOME BACK! Are you moving around in the River Region yet? Let me be one of the first to say Welcome Back! Welcome back to reality. I’m an optimist and I believe the more we reengage the more we’ll realize the fear we’ve been prescribed by leaders and news media during the past 60 days was unnecessary and unfortunate for the harm it has caused to many lives and livelihoods.
The mission of BOOM! is to serve the folks of the River Region age 50 plus with information and ideas to inspire new experiences, better quality of life and new beginnings.
Publisher/Editor Jim Watson, 334.324.3472 jim@riverregionboom.com
Contributing Writers Jeff Barganier
Jim Watson, Publisher jim@riverregionboom.com
Tracy Bhalla Greg Budell
The quicker we can find what’s been lost during this bizarre turn of events, the healthier we will become again. The momentum for opening our communities back up is growing daily, you can feel it. The desire to go and do is becoming contagious, mask or not.
If you’re still feeling the fear of COVID-19, be safe and smart about your behavior. But if you can, get outside and breathe. Go to your favorite retailer and shop. Grab a cup of coffee with friends. Find someone to laugh with and to share your story, your faith. The antidote for COVID-19 is people. Find them and engage, simply love your neighbor the best way you can, and we’ll all get well soon.
Dean Fowler Lee Henderson Caitlin Kelly Susie Mattox Susan Moore Cheryl Popp Leigh Anne Richards Raley L. Wiggins
Cover Photography Total Image Portraits www.totalimage.com
Advertising
Jim Watson, 334.324.3472 jim@riverregionboom.com Please Recycle This Magazine, Share with a Friend!
We have a great cover profile this month who published her first novel last fall, her name is Susie Mattox. Susie has been writing since the fifth grade but only in the last few years has she developed the courage and fortitude to finally publish her first novel called Fairly Strange, which you can purchase on www.amazon.com. Susie shares some of her story with us in this month’s Q & A, including her writing journey, family and inspiration. I’m always inspired by people who accomplish things as they age because there’s not a better time to start a new dream then now, Susie is that person. I hope you enjoy getting to know her, I sure did. Also, this month we have Jeff Barganier fighting off the COVID-19 by heading up to Cheaha State Park with his bike, Special. As always, Jeff will make you laugh because his travel experiences are like no other, enjoy his journey! My friend Greg Budell shares a “Hallmark Moment” about his late mom and a TV celebrity and a doctor who shared the memory years later, Greg knows how to touch our hearts. Leigh Anne Richards shares how to stay fit if quarantined and she has learned a few things about exercising during this shutdown. I love her attitude! I hope you’ll read Susan Moore’s new column and get to know her; she is helping us all learn about our money and what to do with it. If you want to get smarter with your investments, Susan will guide you. If you’ve ever thought about cleaning concrete, brick etc. we have a special discount for our readers from Water Worx LLC. Perfect time of year for power washing, especially with a discount!
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There are plenty more good reads this month and if you haven’t started receiving the digital version this is a great month to begin. Please subscribe yourself or others at www.riverregionboom.com , IT’s FREE! Please consider all of our advertisers when you have needs, they’re all on the right side of positive aging and would love to do business with each of you. Please share your thoughts on this issue or any other ideas regarding BOOM! I love to listen. Welcome Back!
Jim 334.324.3472 cell/text jim@riverregionboom.com
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Is It Time to Rethink the 60/40 Portfolio? The Classic Equity and Bond 60/40 portfolio has provided significant returns since the early 1980’s. However, if one examines the economic and market cycles of the last 100 years, there were substantial periods when such a portfolio would have not delivered the returns that today’s investors expect and may need. Is it possible that the coronavirus will prove to be the shock to the system that prompts a return to the long-term cycles? Two important investment white papers were published this year that explore the risks to the conventional Equity and Bond 60/40 portfolio going forward. One is The Allegory of the Hawk and the Serpent¹ by Chris Cole of Artemis Capital. Cole explores the cycles of long-term or secular growth and secular change that the United States markets have experienced in the last 100 years. He points out that in the periods of secular growth of 1947-1963 and 19842007, the conventional 60/40 portfolio performed very well. However, in the periods of secular change of 1929-1946 and 1964-1983, the conventional portfolio would have experienced significant periods of loss and underperformance. The white paper was published in January before the coronavirus was apparent. In April, Cole did a podcast with Erik Townsend of macrovoices.com, commenting on how the virus impacted his thesis.² He said, “We have certainly come a long way in the longest bull market in American history. And that had been driven on cheap money and leverage. And now we face this catalyst that is likely to challenge our ability to continue that level of prosperity without some sort of severe recession or depression.” There is a reasonable probability that the coronavirus speeds up transitions that could transform the U.S. economy while providing significant dislocations. The Great Depression saw a huge shift from the American labor force working in agriculture to working in factories, resulting in a painful transition that took years. Today, many jobs in retail and restaurants could be permanently eliminated as consumers shift more buying to online and take-out. Factories may shift their operations to
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Financial Thoughts with Susan Moore
By Susan Clayton Moore, J.D.
Principal of Moore Wealth Management, Inc.
using more robots; drones may deliver more packages. College students may shift to an on-line experience that is less expensive with the same university. As in the Great Depression, America may emerge from this looking different but stronger. However, transitional periods like this have happened before and often proved difficult for the conventional 60/40 portfolio. James Montier of GMO in March, Dare to be Different published the other white paper referenced above.³ He states his opinions bluntly, saying in the executive summary, “The conventional 60/40 portfolio of today is not going to generate the kind of returns that investors say they need. Investors must seek to embrace the terrifying concept of being different. As the ghosts of many great investors past have amply demonstrated, being different is the path to investment success. However, such advice falls into the simple but not easy category to borrow Warren Buffett’s expression.” It’s possible that the U.S. will no longer experience the cycles of growth and secular change that it has experienced in the past and that starting in the 1980’s, things changed forever. However, it is also possible that we are at a critical turning point as has happened in the past that would have rewarded investors who reconsidered their asset allocation strategies in light of seminal events at the time.
Is now such a time to step back and reassess your risk tolerance and the current risk level of your portfolio and its ability going forward to achieve your objectives in the time frame that you need? Is now a time to dare to be different? Perhaps it is worth considering. Susan Clayton Moore, J.D., is a financial advisor and wealth manager with Moore Wealth Management, Inc., which has offices in Montgomery, Alexander City and Auburn. Susan has over $150 million assets under advisement through Kestra Financial and has been a financial planner for over 37 years. She has been quoted in Kiplinger’s Magazine and Investment News. Susan earned her law degree from Tulane University in 1981. Contact Susan at 334.270.1672 or by email, susan@moorewealthmanagement.com. We offer confidential consultations and second opinions about portfolios without cost or obligation. In this time of coronavirus, Susan is conducting daily market updates by webinar. During the daily market updates, Susan will discuss events that are impacting the markets, sharing her opinion and those of strategists she respects. There will be no specific investment recommendations as to any security or predictions of specific performance. She believes that we are in unprecedented times and that sharing information is a valuable resource to make it through the month ahead. If you would like to be included in the webinar, please contact Sarah at 256.234.2761 or sarah@ moorewealthmanagement.com. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Kestra IS or Kestra AS are not affiliated with Moore Wealth Management, Inc. ¹ www.artemiscm.com/ ² www.macrovoices.com/ ³ www.gmo.com/americas/research-library/ memo-to-the-investment-committee-dareto-be-different/?utm_medium=email&utm_ source=episerver-campaign&utm_ campaign=article-subscription-push&utm_ content=White-Paper&email=susan%40moorewe althmanagement.com&first_name=Susan&last_ name=Moore
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Getting To Know You
A BOOM! ADVERTORIAL FEATURE
Water Worx LLC
Leaving the world a little cleaner than we found it SPRING CLEANING A HOMES EXTERIOR There is always something to clean each spring. Many people start indoors while the other starts on their home's exterior. The exterior is important because first impressions are everything! Many people look forward to this time of year to beautify their home's exterior to enjoy during summer and fall. A good cleaning is also helpful to the environment and keeping unwanted animals away. The most popual spring-cleaning jobs are: power washing, window washing, patio furniture cleaning, gutter and roof cleaning. Power Washing Power washing can improve the look of the home almost instantly. Using a high-powered jet of spray, it eliminates buildup left on homes year after year. The solution that many contractors use is environmentally friendly and will not harm children, pets, or yards. Power washing services are geared towards all types of building materials as it can strip away paint in order to have the exterior repainted, bricked, and or siding added. It is used to remove the following buildups from homes: grime, mold, dirt, dust. Pressure washers are powerful tools which should be used wisely. A professional should always be called into supply this type of service. Power Washers vs Pressure Washers. Ask
been told not to use power washing for certain materials on the exterior of your home. Otherwise, either one is a great way to clean up a surface that would be impossible to do any other way.
anyone off the street if power washing and pressure washing are the same thing and they will likely shrug and answer, "yes." Ask any professional in the industry if these two are the same and you will hear a much different answer. One reason the average person assumes that pressure and power washing are one in the same is that they both essentially use water in order to achieve the same final result. A power washer, as the name implies, is known for supplying a powerful stream of hot water at a steady flow. The higher velocity makes it great for cleaning, especially for more complex situations such as removing gum or killing moss. On the other hand, the high velocity may be too much for cleaning roofing so many professionals instead offer a Soft Washing for that job. The main difference with pressure washing is that the velocity is less, and the temperature is cold. This makes pressure washing good for cleaning surfaces such as walkways, patios and materials like concrete or brick. It's important to know which you are getting, especially if you have
Other Things to Know - Keep in mind there is also a difference between the system you rent from your local home improvement store and what a professional may use who comes out to clean your home. A pressure washer is the equivalent of a stronger garden hose so if you have a lot of mildew to remove for your siding, this may not get the job done. There is also a difference in performance based on the way the washer is fueled. Machines range from electric or diesel to gas or hydraulic. Of course, using a soapy additive is another way to have better results, just make sure you rinse with pure, clean water following the wash. About Water Worx LLC - Water Worx LLC is located here in the River Region of Central Alabama and services a radius of 125 miles from the Montgomery Area. Founded in 2012, their primary function is as a mobile contract cleaning service. They provide outdoor cleaning for Hospitals, Restaurants, large shopping centers as well as private homeowners and multi-family dwellings. They are experienced and fully insured. If you would like a free estimate or just have some general questions, please feel free to contact Lee Henderson @ 334-322-8186
Call Today! 334-322-8186
Spring Cleaning Special For BOOM! Readers
10% Discount from Water Worx on your next Spring Cleaning job
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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AUM OLLI Adapts to Trying Times Our world has changed to meet the demands of the coronavirus – AND AUM OLLI is committed to offer some classes and bonus opportunities on-line via ZOOM for this term: Classes include: Jim Barber’s “What Happened to $ports and Why III?" and Cheri Hayes and Inez Sehgal’s “Clouds and Google and Apps, Oh My!” There are also several bonus opportunities: Al and Sue Medina’s 2018 trip to China (beginning in Wuhan, which is very much in the news today), an introduction to ZOOM (scheduled for Thursday, April 30, at 10:00 a.m.), the Selma book discussion group, and the AUM OLLI Tuesday book discussion group. OLLI participants seem to enjoy the online opportunities through ZOOM and are generally positive in their responses about the sessions: “interesting,” “important,” and “a fairly easy thing to do.” Other responses are:
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“great chance to learn….I highly recommend it.” “I did enjoy everything that was taught, and it was a lot. Good teaching! Thanks!”
“hearing and seeing fellow readers" “discussion focused and fun and moving forward”
“I have been praying for a class like this.” “The Zoom…format has become an essential means for connecting intellectually as we all continue to cope with the frustration of social distancing.” “I really want people to know that utilizing the ZOOM format is another way to deal with the isolation that many of us are feeling.”
A highlight of one ZOOM session for the Tuesday book discussion group was having author Cassandra King Conroy join us for the discussion of her memoir, Tell Me a Story, about her life with her husband, writer Pat Conroy. After the session, she emailed: “that was a wonderful discussion which I thoroughly enjoyed— thanks so much!” We are now beginning to plan for the 2020 fall and 2021 winter terms. Become a member of AUM OLLI, and help us develop the best schedules we have ever offered. Visit our website at www.aum.edu/OLLI for all updated information and to join our interest list. For the time being, remember what the OLLI members are saying:
“See you on ZOOM soon!” Call A Friend
JOIN TODAY!
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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By Cheryl Popp
Can I Reduce My Risk of
Alzheimer’s? Understanding Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias can be complex, especially when it comes to prevention.
However, progress is being made. Thanks to genetic research, clinical trials, observational studies and other medical research, scientists are learning more about what causes Alzheimer’s. They have also identified the risk factors associated with it and other forms of dementia. Research also shows that while Alzheimer’s can’t necessarily be prevented, there are ways to minimize your risk. Let’s begin by understanding what appears to cause these cognitive disorders and the risk factors associated with them. What is Alzheimer’s? Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is a deterioration in cognitive function beyond what might be expected from normal aging. It affects memory, clear thinking, language skills and orientation. It reduces comprehension, learning capacity and judgment. We know that the disease is characterized by two types of proteins in the brain: tangles (tau) and plaques (beta amyloid). As these proteins accumulate, they kill brain cells and block neural pathways. These beta-amyloid protein deposits are believed to be one of the main causes of Alzheimer’s. Scientists are also learning what seems to trigger these toxic proteins. Sometimes it’s a genetic proclivity but often it is lifestylerelated. Early-onset Alzheimer’s usually occurs in younger people between the ages of 30 and 60. It is often (but not always) a result of a genetic mutation. Late-onset Alzheimer’s may be genetic and has been clinically linked to a gene called ApoE (apolipoprotein E). However, it is more likely a result of brain
changes caused by lifestyle and environmental impacts. In other words, inherited genes aren’t the only cause of Alzheimer’s. While we can’t change our genetic profile and there is no known way to prevent Alzheimer’s, we can change our lifestyle to reduce our risk. According to a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) earlier this year, people can reduce the risk of cognitive decline, dementia and Alzheimer’s. While genetics play a part in Alzheimer’s, let’s look at the non-genetic risk factors that can contribute to the ailment. older man and women smiling How to Prevent Alzheimer’s 9 Strategies to Reduce Your Risk Strategies for preventing the onset of cognitive disease will vary with every individual but clinical research continues to indicate that healthy lifestyles can make our brains more resilient. 1. Physical exercise. “The most convincing evidence is that physical exercise helps prevent the development of Alzheimer’s and can slow the progression in people who have symptoms,” says Dr. Gad Marshall, associate medical director of clinical trials at the Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment. Thirty minutes of moderately vigorous aerobic exercise, three to four days per week is recommended. This doesn’t have to involve jumping through hoops. Stick with the exercises that you enjoy, but build physical activity into your daily routine. I Take a brisk walk with a friend I Consider a low-impact physical activity like swimming or riding a stationary bicycle. I A dance class is an especially good form of brain-healthy exercise. It is aerobic and also provides the mental challenge of remembering dance steps, hand-eye coordination and balance. I If you ride a bus, get off a couple of bus
stops ahead of your usual stop and walk the distance. 2. Diet. Many diets have been shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. The Mediterranean Diet has proven to protect against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Science now suggests it can also promote cognitive health. It includes fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, olive oil, beans, fish, some poultry and dairy. By reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, this diet can mitigate the risks of Alzheimer’s disease. The DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) encourages high consumption of fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains, lean meats, nuts, and beans. It has proven to significantly reduce blood pressure in those with moderate hypertension. Hypertension damages blood vessels in the brain and is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s.woman picking strawberries The MIND diet, includes the best foods for brain health from the DASH and Mediterranean diets. It emphasizes green leafy vegetables which is supported by a recent study reported in Neurology, which found that seniors who had daily helpings of leafy green vegetables — such as spinach, kale and collard greens — had a slower rate of cognitive decline. The MIND diet is also rich in berries, nuts, beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, and olive oil. It even allows a moderate amount of alcohol (preferably red wine). Common sense dietary guidelines include staying away from processed meats, butter and heavy cream as all are laden with saturated fat. Too much sugar is also dangerous. Sugar is inflammatory and can also lead to unhealthy weight gain. 3. Sleep. Do not underestimate the value
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of sleep! Experts claim we need seven to eight hours a night. According to Dr. Marshall, “Growing evidence suggests that improved sleep can help prevent Alzheimer’s and is linked to greater amyloid clearance from the brain.” Sleeplessness and sleep quality have been associated with altered levels of markers for beta-amyloid, tau, and inflammation in the spinal fluid, all of which are associated with Alzheimer’s. Protect your brain and lower your risk for Alzheimer’s disease by establishing a bedtime routine. I Maintain a regular sleep schedule I Don’t eat or exercise within two to three hours of bedtime I Avoid overuse of sleeping pills and excessive alcohol consumption
blood pressure and high cholesterol can take a toll on the brain as well as the body. Maintain healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. 9. Maintain a healthy weight. Specialists at the Stanford Health Care Neuroscience Health Center in Palo Alto, California say that maintaining a healthy weight with exercise and proper diet can help prevent dementia. A poor diet with too much red meat, saturated fat and sugar and a sedentary lifestyle void of any exercise are Alzheimer’s risk factors.
According to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, “In the next 30 years, the number of people with dementia is expected to triple. We need to do everything we can to reduce our risk of dementia.” Improve your long-term brain health and do what you can now to protect yourself and your loved ones from developing Alzheimer’s. Even if you are not genetically at risk, healthy lifestyle choices will promote healthy longevity.
4. Managing stress. Studies also suggest that stress and hypertension increase the risk of both vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Do what you can to keep hypertension and stress under control to protect against cognitive decline. I Try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises I Spend some quiet time in a garden or park or along a peaceful waterfront I Listen to soothing, relaxing music 5. Mental stimulation. Reduce Alzheimer’s risk by stimulating your brain. Read books, do crossword puzzles, or play card games. Keep your brain active so it doesn’t atrophy. You need an active mind as well as an active body to keep your brain healthy. 6. Social interaction. Alzheimer’s experts believe that social engagement promotes healthy aging and can help prevent the disease. Engage with family and friends, participate in community activities, take a class. Social interaction keeps the mind engaged and can be nurturing on many fronts. Being alone and reclusive can cause depression and lead to cognitive decline. 7. Quit Smoking. Smoking is harmful to your body and your brain. 8. Medical conditions. Certain medical conditions can also contribute to the disease. Cognitive decline has been clinically linked to vascular issues like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and obesity. Problems like diabetes, high
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Master Gardener's Perspective
By Dean Fowler
To The Ole Folk
I have a little veggie patch in my backyard because I like to eat fresh food. But in all honesty, it’s really there as a tribute to the “Ole Folk” of my youth. I grew up on the South side of Spartanburg, SC in an extended family that include my maternal grandparents, great grandparents and some of their siblings. There were four houses, with the siblings living next to each other and everyone within a stone’s throw. My people were “country folk” who knew how to work the land and they all had gardens. They grew everything that you might want to eat and a few you might not. Corn, okra, squash, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, all manner of greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, pumpkins, beans, peas, onions, garlic, melons, strawberries and grapes. There were trees too…apple, peach, red plum, cherry, mulberry, damson, fig, black walnut and pecan. On the wild side, there were blackberries, dew berries, muscadines and poke salad. There was always some tasty morsels around to eat throughout the growing season and
beyond. Tommy toes (cherry tomatoes), grapes right off the vine and mulberries were favorite go-to snacks. Wilted loose leaf lettuce and spring onions, cornbread, blackberry pie and sun made iced tea was the best midday meal.
It’s amazing how productive these family gardens were given the technology and techniques used to farm them. There was no internet to search, but there was the Old Farmer’s Almanac and knowledge passed down through the generations. These governed growing practices. Most things went in the ground after Good Friday, and were phased in by plant based on the Almanac recommendations. Everything was usually harvested by Halloween. My great-grandpa’s largest plot was about
40x60 yards. At least once or twice, early on, I remember him using a mule-drawn, single blade plow turn it over. Later on, he used a single wheeled, single blade push plow and even later, a walk behind two–blade tractor. Labor intensive to say the least. The Ole Folk had a great grasp of the gardening principles we’re learning in this course. They knew how to select the right plants for a given location over all of the plots, they rotated crops every couple of years to fight depletion and they had techniques to amend soil. My greatgrandpa had a cool process for amending his plots. He had a deal with the city to dump leaves they collected in a pit on his property. He’d mix the older leaves from the bottom of the pit with ashes from the fireplaces and stoves in the house and chicken litter from the chicken coop. After the last harvest, he’d spread this on the garden and turn it into the soil for the next growing season. My childhood exposure to gardening and the numerous fund memories associated with it, fuel my passion for growing things. I’m passing it on. My grandkids look forward to eating tommy toes, strawberries and blackberries right off the vine! Hopefully I’ve planted a seed that will sprout in them later. To The Ole Folk! Dean Fowler, a 2020 Master Gardener Intern in Montgomery. For more information on becoming a master gardener, visit www. capcitymga.org or email capcitymga@gmail.com.
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Staying Fit During Quarantine It has been over a month since MetroFitness was open for workouts. I have always been a “gym goer” and have never enjoyed working out at home by myself. Part of my love for fitness is the social interaction and the accountability I have with my tribe. Since the mid 80’s, I have done group fitness and it truly is my passion and what makes me happy. I love the people, I love how they inspire me, motivate me, and make me push myself. I truly was devastated by the news that we were being closed by the state. I thought what am I going to do? How am I going to stay fit? Will I gain weight? Will I lose my strength? No strength training equipment, no cardio equipment- what am I going to do?? I will say I have learned so much through this whole quarantine and social distancing. I have a greater appreciation of what all you CAN do outside of a gym. As a great surprise, I have learned a more fun and forgiving approach to exercise in general and what really constitutes exercise. Here are 5 things I have learned to help me and hopefully help others with their fitness during these times of quarantine.
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1. Move!!! Get up and start moving. No sitting around watching TV and eating. Stick to a structure. I kept with my same routine of exercising at 7:00 in the morning. I was fortunate enough to meet a few people outside and have an organized plan. I have to have a plan because it makes my life easier. I still am
ago, I have not been much of an outdoor exerciser. I don’t like the extreme heat and I don’t like the extreme cold. I’m one of those it has to be “just right.” But, I discovered what the outdoors can do for us. You have wonderful places to walk, a constant change of scenery, you have changes in terrain, and you appreciate the beauty of nature during this time of year. If we had to be quarantined, this time of the year is the most perfect. I discovered a park that had a children’s by Leigh Anne Richards playground- How long has it been since you did monkey bars?? Yes, I did and I was pretty proud of my strength. I used those monkey bars to do pullups, used the benches at in control- NOT the virus. We would stay the park to do step ups, dips, burpees 6 feet apart and walk. Then we would and all kinds of pushups. Yes- I had to come back from the walk and do some get creative. I loved it and it gave me a body weight exercises. I continued to euphoric feeling of getting outside my move during the day every chance I got box. if that meant cleaning my house, walking up and down the stairs in my house, and 3. Dumbbells and barbells are not the chasing my granddaughter, Stella. Heck, only way to resistance train. Wow- I’ve I even worked in the yard- now that is discovered all kinds of new way to truly functional fitness!! Side note- I hate strength train using house hold itemsyard work but learned to enjoy it and the hold jugs of laundry detergent, bleach, satisfaction it brings. water jugs, cans of food, and on and on. I even did a workout with wine 2. The outdoors is a great gym. I have bottles, towels, and with toilet paper. not really exercised outdoors in years. If you are interested in that, I actually When my running career ended 15 years did videos using those things that we all
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have at home. Just check out the online videos at MetroFitness facebook. Believe you me, I was sore- I was using different tools than what my body was used too and I had FUN doing it 4. There are talented and creative people in our city - I had a new opportunity to participate in other instructor’s classes via the online tool. Thank God for technology. When I am working as the General Manager at MetroFitness and teaching my own classes, I rarely have time to venture out in the city to check different classes out. Heck, I don’t even get to do many of my own instructor’s classes at Metro. What a treat it has been for me during this time. I got to take online yoga classes from Hannah at Bandaloop Yoga. I got to experience Keon Addison with Unleashed Potential and his creative workouts. Travis Hill gave me a wealth of information with his technique talks. I learned new information. I learned new ways to teach exercise, I did exercises I had not done. I would have never experienced this had it not been for this time of Social Distancing. We have some talented trainers and group fitness instructors in Montgomery. Use this time of social distancing to check all this out. 5. Getting out of your comfort zone is necessary - It has been very ironic that one of my goals for 2020 was to get out of my comfort zone. I like to stick with what I know and what makes me feel comfortable- that is the way most of us are. God has taken me to a whole new level because I had to get uncomfortable to find all this out. It would not have happened without this month of social distancing and what I thought was the worst thing possible. I’ve had to think outside my little “Metro box” and explore other way to keep my fitness. It has made me a better manager to my staff and made me realize we all have to adapt and find ways to continue to grow and succeed. No, not the norm but we’ve had to reach outside our way of doing things. I could continue on with my list. Fitness is international and brings people together. During this whole pandemic, because of social media, I have been in touch with friends all over the world- Israel, South Korea, Japan, Scotland, Belgium and numerous ones across the United States. For that I am so grateful and this would have never happened had we not been in this situation. Worldwide we are looking for ways to stay fit and keep our socialization as we get through this. As bad as this pandemic has been, we’ve grown closer as a fitness community not only locally, but globally and we appreciate more than ever what we have and what we have with each other. Let’s always remember this! Leigh Anne Richards, MEd, Certified Personal Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, General Manager- MetroFitness. For any questions or comments, contact Leigh Anne at LAMetrofit@aol.com
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Ask an Elder Law Attorney By: Raley L. Wiggins | Attorney at Law | Red Oak Legal, PC
3 Common Estate Planning Mistakes In our practice, we commonly see the same mistakes being made time and again. Sometimes we see the client early enough to correct the mistake before any harm is done, but not always. Read on to learn about three of the most common mistakes, and how to avoid them.
“everything” they may need to address. Instead, you have to specifically state that your agent has the power to handle certain kinds of transactions. That’s why it is important to include expanded powers in your power of attorney, particularly for clients over age 65.
MISTAKE ONE NOT PLANNING FOR DISABILITY
MISTAKE TWO NOT KNOWING HOW YOU OWN YOUR ASSETS
People are living longer than ever before. If you need proof, just look around at the number of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health agencies, and similar organizations that care for the ever-growing senior population. The longer we live, the more likely it is that we will deal with a period of disability late in life during which we will need others to help care for us.
I regularly teach an educational workshop on estate planning to members of the public, and one of the topics that tends to get people’s attention is the discussion of how you own your assets. You see, the way your assets are held or titled can have a significant effect upon whether your estate plan “works” the way that you hope it does.
The starting point in disability planning is to be sure that you have, at a minimum, a durable power of attorney and an advance directive in place. Note that not all of these documents are created equal. For example, most advance directives focus on end-of-life scenarios in the event that we are in a coma, or require machines to keep us alive. They often fail to adequately address a more common scenario—one in which we require nursing home or other long-term care for an extended period of time.
Attend Free Workshop
at the Senior Center (MACOA) in Montgomery. This 322 Archibald Catoma Street downtown Montgomery. This educational educational workshopbypresented by local attorney Raleycovers L. Wiggins workshop presented local attorney Raley L. Wiggins wills, covers wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, living trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, living wills, probate wills, probate administration, protecting assets from creditors,divorce administration, protecting assets from creditors, bankruptcy, bankruptcy, divorce and remarriage, nursing homes, long-term care and remarriage, nursing homes, long-term care and Medicaid and Medicaid qualification. Registration is required. qualification. Registration is required. Call 334-625-6774 today to Call 334-625-6774 today to reserve your seat or register online at reserve your seat or register online at www.redoaklegalpc.com. www.redoaklegalpc.com.
Under the new Alabama Uniform Power of Attorney Act (effective January 1, 2012), granting your agent the power to do “everything” you could do yourself, doesn’t actually mean that the agent can handle May 2015 May 2020
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MISTAKE THREE LEAVING ASSETS OUTRIGHT TO THE SPOUSE
This mistake is not true in all cases, but consider the increasingly common second marriage. When each spouse has their own children, this can be a source of hurt feelings when one spouse dies before the other. The children of the deceased spouse often resent step-parent Estate Planning and Asset Protection Workshop their for spending “their” Wednesday, May 20: Hosted by Red Oak Legal, PC: 1:30-3:30 pm inheritance.
While the advance directive deals with health care issues, a durable power of attorney grants a person of your choosing (your agent) the authority to handle your business and financial affairs. Importantly, however, the law is clear that your agent only has the powers which are granted to her in the power of attorney. The problem is that just reading the terms of the POA won’t necessarily give you the complete picture of what powers your agent does or doesn’t have.
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Assume John jointly owns a house with his wife, Jane. He has a 401(k) that names Jane as the death beneficiary, and a life insurance policy that names his son, Billy as the beneficiary. At John’s death, his wife Jane will own the house and get the money in the 401(k), while Billy gets the life insurance money. Even though the will leaves “everything” to Sally, she won’t actually inherit anything at all.
For example, many kinds of jointly owned property will automatically become the sole property of the surviving joint owner upon the death of the other owner, regardless of what the deceased person’s will says about who gets the property. Similarly, beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and other accounts will determine who actually gets the money in those accounts after the owner’s death. For an average middle class family, the bulk of their estate’s value will consist of three types of assets—the home, retirement accounts, and life insurance proceeds. Consider John Doe, whose will leaves his entire estate to his favorite niece, Sally.
The better choice is to leave those assets in trust. For example, John and Jane get married. They are both in their 50’s, and each have their own children from prior marriages. John dies first. His will leaves the bulk of his estate to Jane, in trust, to make sure her basic needs are provided for. The terms of the trust, however, prevent Jane from leaving John’s money to her new spouse (if she remarries) or to her own children. Instead, whatever is left will pass to John’s children after her death. In conclusion, I’ll leave you with a question: Do any of these examples sound familiar to you? Raley Raley L.L. Wiggins Wiggins Attorney at at Law, Law, Red Red Oak Oak Legal, Legal, PC PC Attorney 334-239-3625 || info@redoaklegalpc.com info@redoaklegalpc.com 334-239-3625 322 Catoma Street, Montgomery, AL 36104, 445 Dexter Avenue, ste 9000, Mont, AL 36104 www.redoaklegalpc.com www.redoaklegalpc.com The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
ARE YOU MAKING A COMMON ESTATE PLANNING MISTAKE? Not planning for disability Not knowing how you own your assets Leaving assets outright to your spouse
Sound Familiar?
We can help.
FREE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP
Estate Planning, Asset Protection & Medicaid Eligibility
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Join local attorney Raley L. Wiggins to discuss wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, living wills, probate administration, protecting your assets, bankruptcy, divorce & remarriage, nursing homes, long term care and medicaid qualification.
Seats fill up quickly! Reserve your seat today:
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Lower Dexter-Virtual Cruise-In Virtual Cruise-In Despite having to cancel the May cruise-In due to Covid-19, it's not going to stop us from showing off all the amazing cars that Montgomery has to offer! We will be featuring a different car and owner every day of the month of May on our Facebook and Instagram pages. If you're interested in being featured, please send a picture(s) of your car and the specs (year, model, etc.) to info@lowerdexter.org. Bonus points if your picture includes the car and YOU. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram as we celebrate a month-long virtual Cruise-In! Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to gathering again soon! www.facebook.com/LowerDexter/
Find Hope.
Worship with us by TV and streaming. WATCH ON YOUR TV • WFRZ-TV: Channel 13 (cable) or Channel 33 (antenna) • Download the Frazer Channel for Roku, AppleTV or FireTV WATCH ON YOUR COMPUTER OR MOBILE DEVICE • frazer.church/live • facebook.com/frazerchurch • youtube.com/frazermethodist CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP • Saturdays 7:00pm • Sundays 11:00am & 7:00pm SANCTUARY WORSHIP • Sundays 9:30am & 8:00pm
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A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE: The Jim Peppler Southern Courier Photograph Collection
In its first issue, the Southern Courier declared itself to be “a paper for the people.” From July 1965 to December 1968 the weekly publication covered topics important to Alabama’s African American residents, who were often ignored by the mainstream media. A young, biracial staff ran the paper from Montgomery, sometimes recruiting reporters from nearby communities. The Courier published hard news, but it also gave readers a platform for sharing their views and experiences. Key to this representation were the images in each issue, and no one contributed more to that visual record than James H. (Jim) Peppler, who served as principal photographer and photo editor for three years. Peppler, a native of Philadelphia, arrived in Montgomery just after graduating from college in 1965. His work at the Courier ran the full journalistic spectrum: from individuals and events of national renown, to grassroots civil rights efforts, to local domestic and social life. He handled assignments fairly and objectively, but always with compassion and a genuine interest in the people he met. By the time he left Montgomery for a position at Newsday in 1968, he had honed the style that would characterize his entire career. Over the four decades he spent as a photojournalist, Peppler developed an uncommon perspective regarding his work. He came to believe that images belong not only to their creators, but also to the subjects represented in them. With this philosophy, he approached the Alabama Department of Archives and History about a large collection of his Courier negatives. He wanted to place the images at a repository that would both protect the material and make it easily available to those he photographed. The Archives accepted the negatives in 2009 and digitized all 11,000 of them over the next three years. The collection has proven to be a valuable resource for researchers, but perhaps the most significant responses have come from the people who knew the faces and places firsthand—the very people Peppler had hoped to reach, the same people the Courier was established to serve. A Virtual Exhibit Presented by the Alabama Department of Archives & History, www.alabamahistoryhome.org/a-paper-for-the-people-gallery
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Make a no-sew face mask in five minutes with UAB Arts in Medicine In just 5 minutes, you can make a face mask using a T-shirt and sharp scissors. A T-shirt mask tutorial from Lillis Taylor, artistin-residence with the Institute for Arts in Medicine at UAB, shows how to make a mask without sewing that properly covers the nose and mouth, including the chin. The tutorial includes a demonstration of best practices for removing the mask after use and for washing and drying it. The video is posted on the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center’s YouTube page, www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhbjXBSuEbk along with other activities and lessons. To make your own, start with a T-shirt at least 18 inches long folded in half, or 36 inches long unfolded. Tools needed are sharp scissors, pen or marker, and a ruler. Hand-wash your T-shirt mask in hot, soapy water and line-dry it completely before using. Alternating between two masks is encouraged.
Free Subscriptions @ w w w.rive r re gio n b o o m.co m HCA Caregiver of the Month April 2020
Alecia Robinson
In a very short time, Alecia has proven to be a dependable caregiver who is eager to work and truly enjoys what she does. She consistently steps in to help when she is needed and is a loyal team member. Alecia’s positive outlook and kind spirit is displayed in the level of care that she provides to her clients, and we appreciate her dedication!
We are proud to have Alecia on our team!
Keep up the good work!! For more information visit www.homecareassistancemontgomery.com
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Lighten Up, We're All Going Outside Soon...Right?
Master Gardener Associations Presents Free Lunch & Learn Programs Capital City Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn 2020 the 1st Wednesday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They meet at the Armory Learning Arts Center, 1018 Madison Avenue, Downtown Montgomery. Autauga County Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn 2020 the 1st Thursday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They meet at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 610 Fairview Avenue, Prattville 36066. Elmore County Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn 2020 the 2nd Tuesday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They meet at the First Presbyterian Church, 100 West Bridge Street, Wetumpka 36092. For information, please contact the Montgomery County Extension Office 334.270.4133. Also visit www.capcitymga.org.
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Pick your own fruits and veggies, support Alabama farmers while social distancing Visiting a “you-pick-them” farm or a country farm stand for fresh fruit and vegetables – away from crowds – can help your health and your wallet. Hop on over to one of Alabama’s you-pick farms to find the freshest produce. Now is the perfect time to find delicious, ripe strawberries and garden-fresh produce. It’s fun to pick and choose your fruits and vegetables – and it’s sure to be a memorable experience for you and the grandkids. Spending time outdoors, the most natural form of social distancing, beats waiting in line at the grocery. Alabama shoppers wanting to connect with and learn more about farmers in their area can check out a new website offered by the nonprofit Sweet Grown Alabama, www.fma.alabama.gov/. Formed in 2019 through the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and the Alabama Farmers Federation, the nonprofit will spotlight Alabama’s farm products for sale to the public. The organization enhances marketing opportunities for Alabama farmers by connecting retailers and consumers to Alabamagrown foods and other agricultural products. Some farmers are helping distribute the products of rural farms by sharing connections, allowing consumers who need food products – restaurants and other businesses – to buy produce that might not otherwise be sold.
The Shoppes at EastChase Farmers Market will return for the 16th year on Saturday, May 9 The Shoppes at EastChase Farmers Market will return for the 16th year on Saturday, May 9 featuring all of your favorite local farmers! Since opening in 2004, The Shoppes at EastChase Farmers Market has grown every year, and is now one of the top five largest markets in Alabama. This year, our vendors have taken extra precautions by following guidelines set by the State Farmers Market Authority to ensure the safety of our customers and our farmers. Please note, there will be no socializing allowed for now, and we have reorganized the market to help ensure we keep social distancing guidelines in place. For the time being, no dogs will be allowed to the market. 2020 V E N D O R S: Aplin Farms, Penton Farms, Fennel & Figs, M&M Farms, Bad Goat Greens, Bern Farms, Dixon Family Farms, Evans Farms, Four R Farms, Gigi's Fabulous Foods, Henry Tucker Boiled Peanuts, Heady Boutique, Leatherwood Nursery, Leo's Produce, Mills Produce, Mayim Farm, Shana's Place, Southern Smokeshack BBQ & Catering, Tiny Dreams Farm, Wagyu of Alabama, LLC, Wells Produce, Wise Family Farms, Yarbrough Homestead and more. For more information about The Shoppes at EastChase Farmers Market, contact Suzanna Wasserman: suzanna@crawfordsq.com.
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Someone’s Grandchild Needs Your Support
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16th Annual Drive-Thru Autism Crawfish Boil Benefiting Easterseals Central Alabama, May 30, 2020 Easterseals Central Alabama, a collection of programs designed to help individuals with disabilities, in conjunction with the Mudbug Ball Committee, a group of local community volunteers, is announcing the rescheduled date and new format for the 16th Annual Autism Crawfish Boil to be held on May 30th at the Montgomery Biscuits Stadium. The Mudbug Ball Committee hosts the event annually to benefit Easterseals Central Alabama's autism therapy services. The event is a major fundraiser for the non-profit organization, who now faces new challenges raising revenue due to COVID-19. The 16th Annual Autism Crawfish Boil was estimated to attract over 1,000 people on April 4th and the all-volunteer committee wanted to ensure the important fundraiser continued. Committee Chair and Easterseals Central Alabama Board Member, Stefania Jones said in a facebook post, " We have been putting our socially-distanced heads together to try and come up with a safe alternative so we can honor Easterseals and the services they provide and to honor our ticket holders who have already purchased tickets this year." On May 30th, people who have already purchased an early bug or general admission ticket will get a large bag that contains 4-5 lbs of fresh, cooked, and seasoned crawfish as well as separate large bag of "fixin's" (corn, potatoes, sausage, etc.). Early bug ticket holders will also get a cup and VIP ticket holders get two bags of crawfish and "fixin's" along with a reusable swag bag containing a cup and event t-shirt. Previously purchased ticket holders will also gain early entry to the drive-thru one hour earlier at 11:00 a.m. Those who did not previously purchase a ticket can still participate by driving up between the hours of 12-3:00 p.m. and for a $20 donation will get the 4-5lb bag of freshly cooked and seasoned crawfish and a bag of "fixin's" to go with. Event shirts will be available for a $10 donation. To learn more about the 16th Annual Autism Crawfish Boil, please contact Stefania Jones at 335-467-2035 or Varina Mead at 334.380-8153 or email vmead@eastersealsca.org.
Leanne Morgan-The Big Panty Tour at the MPAC Leanne’s style of comedy combines her southern charm and hilarious story telling about her own life into an act that keeps them coming back for more. As a stay-at-home, mother of three with a husband, people are always accusing her of spying on them because she seems to be living the same life that they do. The fact that everyone can relate to her comedy has made her a hit even among the strangest of audiences. Friday, July 24, 2020 7 pm. Tickets: $32. For more info visit www.mpaconline.org
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BOOM! COVER PROFILE
Susie Mattox.."I'm Just Getting Started" This month’s cover profile is one of the River Region’s newly published authors, Susie Mattox. Although it took four decades to finally achieve her goal of publishing her first novel, Susie has been honing her writing skills since fifth grade. With her journalism degree she pursued writing jobs that led her through advertising and a dental journal but after about twenty years she began to realize what a gift she’d been given, the gift of writing fairly simple stories. Her stories are about heartbreak and redemption and freedom. After getting up the courage to let others read what she was writing, Susie finally published her first novel last year, it’s called Fairly Strange. Susie’s writing skills began years ago but as she says in this month’s cover profile her writing journey is “just getting started”. Finally, Susie offers this advice for dreaming your dreams, "If you have a dream, pursue it. No matter how old you are or how long you’ve waited or how terrified you might be or what others might say. Surround yourself with people who will push and encourage you, because, truly, none of us do this alone". If you’re interested in checking out Fairly Strange and supporting Susie’s dream check out this link www.amazon.com/Fairly-Strange-Susie-Mattox/dp/1697166865.
BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e. where you’re from, education, what brought you to the Montgomery area, did you raise your family here, schools, married, family, etc.? Susie: I was born in north Alabama and grew up in a small town, Hamilton. I graduated from Auburn University in Fashion Merchandising and worked in Birmingham as a copywriter at Parisian, and later, The Birmingham News. I met Tucker Mattox at the War Eagle Supper Club in Auburn during our time there. When he graduated from UAB Medical School, we married and moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, so he could complete his residency in orthopedic surgery. In Chattanooga, I worked as an editor for a dental journal, CRANIO: The Journal of Craniomandibular Practice. I also worked as a freelance editor for a forensics journal. During our last year in Chattanooga, our first child, Ty, was born. After Tucker’s residency was completed, we moved to Montgomery, Tucker’s hometown, to start his practice. Two years later, our second child, Carly, was born. Ty graduated from Trinity Presbyterian School and Carly graduated from St. James. In 2018, Ty graduated from Auburn University, magna cum laude, in building science and is now working for Brasfield and Gorrie in Charlotte, North Carolina. Carly will graduate this month from New York University, earning a Founder’s Day Award, in journalism and French.
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copy? How many books or ideas for books do you have waiting in the wings? Susie: I’ve been writing almost as long as I can remember, attempting my first ghost story in about the fourth or fifth grade. Within a few years, I decided I wasn’t imaginative enough for fiction and focused on essays and other nonfiction. During my junior year at Auburn, I was required to take a technical journalism class. After my final exam, my professor encouraged
Susie signing copies of Fairly Strange at her favorite bookstore, Sundog Books in Seaside, FL
BOOM!: You are a writer, a novelist, who recently published your first book, Fairly Strange, in October 2019. Would you please share your journey with becoming a writer and publishing your first novel? Why now? Favorite authors? What is Fairly Strange about and where can readers buy a
My amazing family at my Fairly Strange book launch at Wynlakes Country Club
me to change my major to journalism. I felt like I was too far along in my curriculum, but started taking creative writing classes and journalism classes, with plans of one day living in New York City and writing for Women’s Wear Daily. My senior year I completed an internship
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with Parisian, a for me to screw up editor’s help. I hosted a book launch retail corporation, enough courage to party just before Halloween, the perfect in advertising. They let anyone outside time to launch a southern gothic ghost hired me out of my family read any story. My book launch was an incredibly college and I moved of my work. Boo humbling experience, an overwhelming to Birmingham suggested using outpouring of love and support. I am and worked as a beta readers, people so appreciative of every person who copywriter. Little did who give feedback attended and purchased Fairly Strange. they know, all of my from the point of Sales continued through Christmas, and ads would become view of an average in February, I experienced my first book stories in one way reader, she helped signing at one of my very favorite book or another. I began me engage with stores, Sundog Books in Seaside, Florida. dabbling in fiction many of them and A few weeks later, the coronavirus again on the side, they were extremely pandemic shut everything down. And and was then hired encouraging, soon here we are. The entire process of as a copywriter for after I began sending sending my manuscript to beta readers, The Birmingham Fairly Strange to agents, an editor, and publisher took at News writing agents. Hiring a least two to three years, and was filled promotional articles with many ups for their in-house and downs and Tucker and me at the Big Head Todd concert in the famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado advertising agency. a lot of polite When Tucker and rejection. But I moved to Chattanooga, I was hired as professional editor, I’ve talked to an editor for a dental journal, CRANIO. Teresa Kennedy, enough writers But the more technical my writing and was another huge to know that’s editing became, the more I wanted turning point, as fairly common. to return to fiction. So, I began taking she was extremely Some of creative writing classes at UTC. By the knowledgeable, tough, my favorite time we moved to Montgomery, I was a meticulous, and authors are mom to Ty, then two years later, Carly, encouraging all at the Flannery and I again put my writing aside. When same time. Writers O’Connor, Carly started kindergarten, I seriously often struggle with Ray Bradbury, returned to fiction writing. But every imposter syndrome, and Cormac book I the idea McCarthy, finished, that we and they’ve I stuck in aren’t real all inspired a drawer writers my interest and started until in southern another one. we’ve gothic Carly, Tucker, and me visiting Ty in his new home, By the time been literature. Charlotte, NC Carly was a published. Fairly Strange senior in high As awesome as my beta is a ghost story about a bullied young school, I’d readers were, having woman who’s trying to save her written four a professional in the mom’s new job at a grand hotel from complete business critique and a desperate ghost while trying to put novels and approve my work gave her own demons to rest. My interest in started about me the confidence I ghosts probably stems from spending eight more. needed to continue to summers in my grandmother’s home in Tucker had move forward. Teresa north Alabama, which was reportedly encouraged helped me submit Fairly haunted. Fairly Strange can be purchased me all along Strange to a publisher as a paperback or an eBook from to send my who made an offer on it. Amazon or you can purchase a signed Carly and me in Times Square, NYC books out The publisher and I were copy from me. It’s also available at the to agents, unable to work things out Scarlet and Grey Shop at Huntingdon Carly and me in Times Square, NYC but it finally and I finally decided to College, and at Sundog Books in Seaside, took working with life coach Boo Archer, self-publish through Amazon, with my FL. I’m currently working on a sequel The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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BOOM!: Many people as they age think about writing a book. Would you share some of the challenges to writing and publishing a book? What is a literary agent and how do you find one?
to Fairly Strange, as well as an adult ghost story, and an adult novel involving time travel in the old south. BOOM!: Looking back, who have been some of the most influential people to help you with launching your writing career and why?
Susie: Personally, my two biggest challenges in writing and publishing a book have been (1) believing that writing is something I actually deserve to do, or am called to do, that Susie: Of course, I it’s not just some frivolous wouldn’t be here notion, and (2) fear. Fear today without of failure. Fear of looking the continuous Dance competition in Charlotte, NC, stupid. Fear of what people encouragement with partner Jim Williams might think. Fear of success. and support of my It’s really taken a lot of coaching to get family, Tucker, Ty, and Carly. When Carly me to realize that I’ve been writing was a senior in high school and I was almost my entire life and when struggling to advance my writing, I had I’m not physically putting pen to my first panic attack, which I thought paper, I’m still writing in my head. was a heart attack. I reached out to Boo I’ve written an entire young adult Archer, a life coach who specializes in series during boat rides on Lake helping people with many issues, but Martin. I’ve solved many problems especially in getting unstuck. Not only and filled in plot holes on hikes in has she hugely influenced my success by Maine. Equally challenging, has been forcing me to submit my writing to the trying to get people, agents, readers, public, which I was apparently terrified and publishers to take a chance on to do, she’s also become an invaluable an unknown author. I think there’s friend. My beta readers for Fairly a bit of a stigma for writers who Strange, Dr. Bonner Engelhardt, Millie don’t have an agent or a publisher Thomas Gardner, Kaylen Hamilton, and backing them. I mean, if you can’t Melissa Gambill were get an agent or amazingly instrumental a publisher, you and encouraging in must not be very critiquing my manuscript good, right? That’s and helping make a fair assumption, Fairly Strange the best I think. But it’s not it could be. My editor, always the truth. Teresa Kennedy, and A literary agent is her company, have someone paid to helped me in so many represent authors ways, from copy editing to publishers and to book design. And film producers my marketing expert, and studios, many Elizabeth Bethune of who won’t accept Elizabeth Ellen Digital, an unsolicited has truly bumped up manuscript from a my marketing game writer. They help (before Elizabeth, I had Tucker and me visiting Carly in Paris, France negotiate advances no marketing game). I and publishing rights for the author. You would not be where I am without these can find agents and their agencies on incredibly talented, creative people.
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the internet, as well as the genres they represent. By now, I’ve shopped three of my manuscripts around to agents, choosing those who represent the genre of whichever manuscript I’m sending at the time. You have to do your homework. It’s a waste of time to send your young adult book about vampires if that agent only represents nonfiction. It’s an equal waste of time to send your ghost story to an agent who hates ghosts, which I’ve actually done. Once you query an agent, often they’re so busy they don’t even have time to respond to the query you’ve sent. In my experience, about half of the agents I submitted to never responded. But the ones who did respond, and rejected my work, were always kind and professional in their rejection. Eventually I got up the nerve to attend writing conferences and pitch to agents in person. A pitch is about a one- to two-
Carly and partner winning awards at her dance competition at Harvard University
minute description of what your book is about. It’s one of the most challenging (think terrifying) things I’ve forced myself to do in attempting to sell my work. The first few pitches I made at the NYC Writer’s Digest Conference a few years ago were disastrous. I forgot my pitch. I forgot the name of my book. I forgot major characters. Once, I forgot my entire plot. It’s been another humbling experience. But I’ve pitched to about 25 agents and/or publishers at four different conferences by now, so I’m definitely improving. BOOM!: A few months back you wrote an article for the website, WTF – Waltz Tango Foxtrot, can you tell us how you got involved with them and what the article was about? The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Susie: We used to take the kids snow Susie: My extremely talented daughter, fun and exciting places, even dropping skiing at least once a year or so. Sun Carly, who created the video for Fairly everything to attend a concert halfway Valley, Idaho, and Telluride, Colorado, are Strange and across the country. two of my favorite spots, especially since helped with the I’m passionate about they both have great little book stores. book cover, is a getting to know my A few years ago, Tucker and I started senior at NYU. soon-to-be daughterattending the Singer/Songwriter Festival Her freshman in-law, Mori Wallace, in Key West, Florida, for our anniversary, year, she and helping her feel which is this month. We love to hear joined NYU’s a warm and welcome new songwriters just starting out. And competitive part of our family. the venues there are so small and cozy, ballroom dance Ty and Mori are you feel like you get to know the singers team. As her planning to marry in a bit. As a family, we’ve enjoyed London passion for May 2021, and I’m so a few times, but we don’t tend to travel dance bloomed, excited about their much outside the States. However, she created bright future. I’m also Carly’s sophomore year, she completed an online passionate about a semester and internship in Paris, and magazine helping others who we traveled to see her for two weeks. I for other have always dreamed could absolutely rent an apartment or competitive of writing a book, or house there for a month and really knock collegiate pursuing a writing out some books. It was an amazing trip, dancers, Waltz career, whatever particularly seeing Carly embrace and Tango Foxtrot. stage of life they’re in. excel in such a rich, cultural environment. Having taken Ty spent a few weeks in Ireland his last up ballroom BOOM!: How do you Ty’s graduation at Auburn University year at Auburn and we were planning dancing, myself, like to relax and wind a trip there for and still a newbie, I was privileged to down from a full day’s Carly’s graduation be asked to contribute an article on activities? when the pandemic ways to improve your ballroom dancing struck. I still hope to outside the dance studio. I interviewed Susie: I tend to write in visit there one day. dance, Pilates, and yoga instructors on the late afternoon, as But my absolute ways to strengthen your body for dance, that’s when my muse favorite vacation especially your core, as well as improve apparently decides spot is Seaside, balance, and flexibility. But you don’t to appear. And that’s Florida. We’ve have to be a dancer to want to improve pretty relaxing for me. gone at least once, those areas, and my article can be found In fact, rarely can I truly sometimes several in her magazine online. relax without getting at times, a year since least something down the kids were BOOM!: What are you most passionate on paper each day. But little. It’s just a big about? after that, a nice glass summer camp for of prosecco on the back adults, as well as Susie: I porch kids, and truly, one am most with Mori Wallace, my future daughter-in-law, of the most relaxing passionate Tucker, and me at Grayton Beach, FL places I know. about continuing to listening to music, BOOM!: We understand you have an connect with with our two bird dogs interest in ballroom dancing, what has my kids in new lying at our feet, is that experience been like? How did your and exciting about as relaxing as it daughter influence your interest? How ways since gets. can our readers find out more about they’re adults, ballroom dancing in the River Region? now, and BOOM!: What are don’t seem some of your favorite Susie: It has been so much harder to need me travel experiences? Ty wishing me a Happy Mother’s Day than I thought it would be – mentally, in the same Favorite vacation all the way from Ireland physically, emotionally. But so much ways they spot? Any travel more rewarding, too. I grew up twirling, used to. I’m passionate about spending dreams planned? with a lot of dancing involved, but more time with my husband, traveling to The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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ballroom is totally different. Rumba, Cha Cha, Swing, Waltz, Tango, Quickstep, Foxtrot. Every dance has a completely different feel to it. When Carly started ballroom dancing, we were a bit shocked. She’d played soccer since she was four years old; dancing, not so much. A few years ago, we attended one of her competitions at Rutgers University. As I spent an entire day watching beautiful young couples in brilliant colors swirling around the floor, I thought, wow, I’ve always wanted to do that. But growing up in a small town, we had no dance instructors of any kind. And then, as I sat there, I thought, why can’t I do that? We were willing to invest all that money for Carly to dance. Why couldn’t I invest in myself, too? So, when I returned to Montgomery, I showed up at the dance studio Carly had taken lessons from the summer before, River Region Ballroom, and said, “Hi, I’m Carly Mattox’s mom. I’d like to take lessons.” And within three months, I was competing in my first competition. It has been amazing. Many say addictive. The owner, Jim Williams, and his staff are incredible instructors and the studio atmosphere is much like a big family. Many of the dancers don’t compete, but I enjoy the challenge, and the costumes. I’d be glad to answer any questions BOOM! readers might have about ballroom dancing, or River Region Ballroom. You can also find them at www.dancemontgomery.com, on Facebook, or call (334) 279-1000. BOOM!: As a professional writer, please describe your writing process, where you write, when, how long, how you organize your thinking, etc.? Susie: Oh, I’d love to say I have a fancy writing process, or I’m well-organized, but I’m not. I tend to write about the same time every day, although I’m not sure why except that I’ve heard other writers talk about “their muse” showing up at the same time every day. I edit and try to take care of other tasks throughout the day, like marketing on Facebook and Instagram. I have a study downstairs that I used to work in, but with the pandemic going on, Carly has turned it into a dance studio. So, these days I write mostly in my bedroom so I
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can multitask, letting the cats out onto the balcony we turned into a catio. We have one dog who hates the cats, and the two cats hate each other, so we have to keep them all separate, which is quite a trick. I almost always write a complete chapter at a time, a chapter being about six to seven handwritten pages. Yes, I do all of my writing by hand and then enter it into my laptop. I used to try to type directly into my computer,
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to make one of my characters do something to follow my idea of what should happen in a story. But often, they simply refuse to cooperate. Especially, in Fairly Strange. The ghost, Culver Washington, is desperate. But I kept trying to make him be this incredibly angry, vengeful spirit out to destroy everything and everybody, including Cat Turner’s mother. But he just wouldn’t be that angry. The more I tried to force him, the more he refused to behave. But what we discovered in the struggle between him and me, was that it was actually Cat Turner who was powerfully angry and maybe she had as much to do with the destruction of the hotel as he did. BOOM!: What is it about living in the Montgomery/River Region area that you like? What do we need more of?
Tucker and Carly climbing The Beehive in Acadia National Park, Maine
as we tend to type so much faster than we write. But what I found was, quite often, I’d be typing into my computer so fast, and be so into my story, that I’d inadvertently hit the delete key or backspace, which would erase huge chunks of what I’d written. And once it was gone, I couldn’t recreate it. It was so incredibly frustrating that I resorted to writing it all down by hand. As you can imagine, I go through a lot of notebooks and legal pads. A lot. Sometimes I begin writing where I left off the day before. Or I write a particular scene that’s been on my mind. I virtually never have writer’s block. If I’m struggling with a place to start, or not feeling particularly excited about the place I am in the story, I ask a character, any character, “Who wants to speak? Who’s got something to say?” And amazingly, somebody always has something to say. It’s true for me that characters take on a life of their own.
Susie: I love that Montgomery has the perks of a big city, like museums, shopping, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, but it has the feel of a small town. I do wish more areas were more accessible by foot like Cloverdale and The Waters. I’d love to be able to walk to neighborhood shops and restaurants and parks. And I think we need safer neighborhoods in all areas of the city. BOOM!: As you’ve aged, how have your priorities changed? Susie: Obviously, until recently, my priorities have revolved around my family, taking care of them and sometimes just holding down the fort. And I have loved that, and am so blessed to have been able to stay at home and be there to meet their needs. But the kids are pretty much on their own now, or will be soon, and they don’t need me in the same ways they did as children and teenagers. So, my priorities are definitely shifting more toward my writing, and the promotion of it, and being more independent, and accomplishing things on my own that my family can be proud of. I’m incredibly technologically challenged, so I’m definitely trying to become more knowledgeable and independent in that regard.
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BOOM!: Give us three words that describe you. Susie: Thoughtful. Persistent. Sincere. BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or other activities that grab your attention? Susie: When the kids were young, I learned to smock and created some really beautiful designs. I don’t have an occasion to do it as much now, except for baby gifts. But I’d love to get back to it just for the fun of it. I also used to watercolor before I got serious about my writing. My mother was an incredible artist and I feel like in some ways I’ve let her down. So, I’d like to return to that eventually. But my writing and ballroom dancing are truly my main creative outlets right now. I also have a strong desire to take up crocheting, eventually. Maybe when I’m too old to dance. I think I’ll always continue to search for new ways to create. BOOM!: Do you have time to be involved in community, civic, or church activities? Susie: If I were better organized, I would probably have a lot more time for those things. Throughout Ty and Carly’s school years, I was quite involved in their activities and fundraisers. Currently, I’m on the Board of Trustees at First United Methodist Church. Eventually, I’d like to reach out to middle schools and high schools across the state to make presentations or hold workshops for any students interested in pursuing writing. BOOM!: How do you and your husband like to spend time with family? Describe your experience as a mom, can you share any motherly advice? Susie: My husband, Tucker, is incredibly creative, as are Ty and Carly. We’ve spent many vacations painting pottery in Seaside, Florida. And we love music. My family is quite progressive and eclectic in their interests. Some of my favorite times are attending concerts like Widespread Panic, music festivals like The Hangout in Gulf Shores, and singer/songwriter festivals throughout the south. We also have a small cabin on Lake Martin The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
where we enjoy boat rides at sunset and roasting s’mores over bonfires. Our family builder, Ty, even created a version of The Red Bar in our basement there, where we enjoy late night games of pool and music. I think my family would have a good laugh at the idea of me sharing any motherly advice. As I mentioned before, I was incredibly fortunate to be able to stay home with my kids, and I don’t regret postponing any career I might’ve had for that. I know this is probably cliché, but I would encourage young mothers to soak in every minute they can spend
Eliza, our vizsla, and me relaxing at Lake Martin
with their young children. Really be present with them. At the time, it seems Bruno at Lake Martin like it will never end, but it goes so fast. Even as much as I hated carpool, I now see the value in spending that precious time with my kids. And I wish I had listened to them more, and tried to give advice less. Not that they didn’t need guidance, but mostly, I think they just needed someone to listen. BOOM!: Many people as they age seek new experiences, a renewed sense of purpose, new goals, even new careers. How would you describe this sense of renewal? What’s the future look like for Susie Mattox? How do you view the idea of retirement? Susie: I can’t deny that I’m experiencing some regret that I’m starting to seriously pursue my dreams so late in life. There’s
a sense of time wasted, even though I wouldn’t trade a single minute with my kids and my husband for any published book or career. There’s a sense that if I’d been more organized, more driven, I could’ve done both. But I have to fight those feelings. I’ve always considered myself a late bloomer and I can’t go back and change things, even if I wanted to. I simply have to keep pressing forward, do what I can each day, and take nothing for granted. Not a breath. Not a moment. Not an experience. I have no idea what the future holds for me. I simply have to trust that God is working everything for my good. And he has led me to this particular place at this particular time. And his timing is perfect. My only advice is, don’t put off your dreams another day. If you can’t think of what to do to progress, just do the next small thing. If you don’t know what the next small thing is, do one thing that scares you every day. It’s never too late. There are plenty of writers and artists and entrepreneurs who didn’t find success until later in life. Grandma Moses. Morgan Freeman. Julia Child. Laura Ingalls Wilder. With all that said, I’m looking forward to Tucker Mattox retiring and traveling the country with me meeting people and selling books. He’s truly my best advocate. But I’m afraid there’ll be no retirement for Susie Mattox. I’m just getting started.
We want to thank Susie for sharing her story with us in this month's cover profile. If you want to connect with Susie, check out her Fairly Strange Facebook Page, www. facebook.com/FairlyStrangeNovel A special thanks to Shellee Roberts at Total Image Portraits for making this month and other cover shots the best they can be, you can check them out at www.totalimage.com. If you have questions, comments or suggestions about our cover profiles, including nominating someone, please send them to Jim Watson at jim@riverregionboom.com.
Read all of the BOOM! Cover Profiles at www.riverregionboom.com/archive/
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By Caitlin Kelly
What it will take to live in your home for the rest of your life Aging in place is about more than just putting in a grab bar.
her daughter who has Down Syndrome and who lives at home.
The word is so taboo many interior designers avoid even using it when working with clients.
“I knew what I wanted because my daughter has low tone [diminished physical strength] and difficulties with vision and hearing,’’ she says. “You need grab bars everywhere. Living with her has taught me a lot.”
“I don’t ever use the word ‘aging’,” says Clevelandbased designer Laura Minieff. “I don’t have it in my vocabulary.” Yet, as baby boomers edge into older age, and many are already helping their parents stay in their homes as long as possible, the popularity of this phrase is growing: “aging in place.’’ A design solution formerly more focused on in-home design changes — like adding grab bars in the bathroom or lowering kitchen counters — is now expanding. These days, “aging in place” also incorporates new technology, rebooted urban design and a strong focus on staying connected to family, friends and caregivers. According to a survey by AARP, threequarters of Americans over 50 want to remain in their homes rather than move into an institutional setting like a nursing home or other facility. That “aha” moment when we realize we need help can hit much sooner than expected. Realizing it’s time “I get calls every day” from potential clients who need to reconfigure their current home to accommodate changing needs, whether those are temporary or permanent, says Minieff. Typically, it’s spurred by what she calls “a catalytic event,” perhaps a stroke or a car accident with its accompanying
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rehabilitation, or the sudden departure of a spouse or children leaving the nest. Even retirement, as residents spend a lot more time in their homes, can bring fresh eyes and insights to a familiar space, she says. Once clients realize changes are needed, “it is a very, very honest conversation,” she adds. “You do have to do it with compassion.” What changes Some standard adaptive changes include entryways to the home with no stairs or steps, showers without a curb or no door, widened doorways to accommodate a wheelchair or walker and floors free of rugs that can invite a slip and dangerous fall. The conversation, like that with any designer or architect, begins with a frank discussion about daily life in the home — Does it include adult children, possibly with their own special needs? Grandchildren? Pets? A work area? For Katrina VanHuss, a fundraising consultant in Mechanicsville, Va., the conversation about making her home as safe and comfortable for aging in place was already familiar — thanks to caring for
Her mother is also likely to move into their house, so VanHuss and her husband have invested significantly to be ready for her as well as housing a caregiver when she and her husband need one. To improve their vision, they added lots of light: can lights in the ceilings in the kitchen and spotlights in the kitchen. They also use at least three lamps controlled by a smart speaker in every room. The decision to stay in their 2,200-square foot house, built in 1972, was easy, she says, thanks to its two-acre lot, a neighborhood they love and a lake. “We use Echo and Alexa everywhere and they’re really helpful to turn lights on before you enter a room,” she says “I can watch eagles hunting,” she says. “When we were deciding what do to, I asked ‘ What’s going to make us happy?’” It has come, she admits, at a very high cost — almost the current value of their home — with a $270,000 addition. “I plan to die there,” she says. More than a grab bar Staying safely and comfortably in one’s home, whether an apartment or house, isn’t just a matter of adding new features The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
or subtracting others, argues John Wetmore, an activist for pedestrian safety. “It’s not just the building itself,” he says. “Is it accessible? Are there sidewalks?”
design changes, predicts Drew Miller, executive director of design at frogHealth, a division of frog, a global design and strategy consultancy working in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
The streets we rely on daily can ease our odds of aging in place or present a dangerous, slippery set of obstacles, he says.
“We’re seeing a massive generational shift,” he says. “Our generation has gone through a significant caregiving experience with their own parents.”
In his suburban county outside D.C., a nearby muddy path led to the nearest bus stop, imperiling anyone with mobility challenges. It took years of complaining to local authorities, but the path is now paved, Wetmore said.
Previous generations didn’t live as long, with many now surviving into their mid to late 90s, spurring those now in their 50s and 60s to be “pro-active and planning.”
When many suburbs were built in the 1960s and 1970s, “sidewalks were considered old-fashioned, but all of a sudden these suburbs are a tough place to retire in,” he says. “We’re just now the generation getting to the point where we don’t drive any more and it will become more and more of a problem,” says Wetmore. “What happens if I’m frail with a walker or a cane or a wheelchair?’’ he asks. “You need to take a good look at these neighborhoods.” The generational shift Aging in place will soon mean much more than making architectural and urban
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“They want to get out ahead of these issues because when you’ve seen it happen to your parents you see your future and that’s an impetus to action,” Miller says. So staffers in Miller’s Austin, TX office collaborated with their peers in San Francisco, New York and Shanghai, realizing that “aging in place” happens in three distinct stages as people move from being “independents” to “transitioners” to “strugglers.” “There’s a progression,” says Miller. “Think of this as a journey you go through many times. You may notice something is physically different or an event triggers that recognition. That, in turn, produces negative feelings as you adjust to the ‘new normal.’”
Those aging in place need additional levels of support: financially, cognitively, physically and emotionally, Miller adds. “We talked to seniors, adult caregivers, spouse caregivers and senior living specialists,” he says. “This allowed us to see the different approaches people took.” Facing the future Key to success will be new uses of current technology, he says. While Alexa and Echo and their cohort are familiar, there is also a need for tech that initiates contact,to help potentially isolated seniors stay safe and in touch with their families, friends and healthcare providers. LifePod, a virtual caregiver or companion, is completely voice-controlled and can ask a senior living alone if she’s taken her medication or spoken to a friend that day. The real challenge, experts agree, is facing the future and getting our homes, hearts and heads ready for it. “It’s huge!” says Miller. “This ability to engage directly and to send notifications and regular reports is probably the most exciting solution I’ve seen for home healthcare.” “These are the seasons of life,” says VanHuss. “Fighting them is counterproductive.” Source: www.considerable.com
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Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier
COVID-19 vs. CHEAHA STATE PARK
Cheaha - High Falls
April 4, 2020 – The Communist Chinese Party Virus (CCP Virus) has invaded our land, killing our people and disrupting our economy. The Surgeon General is requesting Americans stay home. Enough is enough! It’s time to fight back. My manhood demands satisfaction. Thus, I spring into action and march to the sound of the guns. Against the onslaught, wife Cindy is frantically sewing “front-liner” face masks for local medical centers. So, amidst the incessant whine of her Kenmore, I gather my camping gear and announce my departure for the front… at the state’s highest point, Cheaha State Park. There, I’ll vanquish the enemy and its Lilliputian minions of fear, despair, boredom, uncertainty and microbes! The challenge is on. As they say in the infantry, follow me! Some of Alabama’s stunning state parks have fallen in battle and closed their gates. But not Cheaha! It remains a shining city on a hill, a refuge, a fortress in time of trouble. I make contact with the officer-in-charge and convey that help is on the way. To avoid hostile forces, I take an obscure route through scenic woods up Alabama 49, passing Horseshoe Bend where Jackson defeated the Red Sticks; thence
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Cheaha - Express Trail Iris
Cheaha - Sunset
to Lineville where I stop at Jack’s and make note of several suitable sites ask the maiden at the window if I may then return to Cheaha’s HQ to stake be allowed to use the restroom. She my claim. They’re allowing only staff to turns away, conversing with someone enter and, for the most part, everyone in the shadows, then turns back to is practicing proper distancing. me and says: “Naw, only truckers can come inside.” I take up my position "Well, I think to myself, I at P125 in the Upperused to drive a truck and, Primitive sector, prepare besides, my bladder and and consume my evening I are “seniors” and I’m a rations—three firepitveteran, too! Surely an roasted, all-beef-wieners exception can be made for in buns with all the me.” But senior veterans trimmings—then walk don’t complain! We must down to the closed Vista all sacrifice, if only in small Cliffside Restaurant where ways. So, only a few miles I behold a glorious sunset. from Cheaha’s perimeter, A few others are doing the Cheaha - CCC Cabin I pull off the curvaceous same. Carefully keeping mountain backroad for emergency my distance, I strike up a conversation relief, utilizing my deluxe Mobile with a student from New Orleans. She Urination Device (MUD). (It resembles a expresses concern for her people there Tropicana orange juice bottle.) but seems at peace on this beautiful mountain and hopeful of the future. She Fully recovered, I approach Cheaha’s wants to be a nurse. sentry, sound the password, and proceed up the mountain in search of I sleep fitfully in my van on an air my assigned unit already entrenched mattress. A man appears in a dream and in the Upper-Primitive Camping area. says, “pray for COVID-19 to go away and I pass a big-buff-dude and his woman. it will!” I jerk awake with sun-splashed She’s doing pushups on a picnic table. face, eager to strike out, to reconnoiter He glares at me. But I return his scowl the mountain on my bike named with a friendly, reassuring nod as I Special. Special has transported me over The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
mountains from Alabama to Georgia, over the thick sand of Cumberland Island on the Atlantic coast, and on less formidable campaigns. He’s a strong, dependable mount. But, today, Cheaha’s 2-plus-mile Express Bike Trail will test the limits of his endurance. And mine. Special and I explore the re-opened (2019) Upper-Improved Camp Ground where we find excellent facilities: private showers; large, clean bathrooms; spacious camp sites with water and electricity. Then we ride along the bluff where we discover quaint, 1930’s Conservative Conservation Corps (CCC) cabins with full amenities and amazing views of the glorious countryside stretching for as far as the eye can see. I take in the view and pray: This land is my land, CCP Virus! You can’t have it. Go away!
mountain biker—suggests I walk the trail before attempting to bike it. I thank her for the prescient advice but decide to give it a go anyway. Thirty yards in, I realize this is no “bunny” trail. It’s more like a “black widow” trail for naïve-biking-geezers…like me. I quickly develop a profound appreciation for bull riders as I engage stump after root after tree after rock after bigger, sharper rock. These obstacles conspire to defeat us. Special strains under this ordeal as I
Cheaha - Jeff Enjoying Breakfast
A refreshing downhill coast back to site P125, and I enjoy a hearty breakfast of Bear Naked Fruit & Nutty Cereal with blueberries, banana slices and OJ. Rested and energized, I re-mount Special and cruise to the starting point of the Cheaha Express near the park entrance gate. A nice young attendant there—an expert
We’re at about the halfway point now, exhausted but undefeated. I rest and photograph the splendid, sundrenched panorama and a stunning purple iris poking up from beneath the forest floor. Birds sing their melodious songs all over the mountain. A slight breeze caresses my face. I monitor several observant buzzards up in the blue, pondering my sudden inactivity. It’s all so exhilarating! We finish the course and enjoy another exciting downhill ride, then enter a period of rest and reflection on life. Afterward, I leave Special tethered to a tree and drive about ten miles to visit scenic High Falls hidden deep in a rugged canyon where signs warn of bears and other wild critters.
Cheaha - Jeff's Bike, Special Posing at Summit
tax every spoke in him. Jerking, lunging, dipping, plunging and bucking forward, I mistakenly apply my front brake as I anticipate a large root across a downhill stretch. Special responds by inviting me to fly over his handlebars. I decline the invitation but learn from experience; and resolve to henceforth walk Special over difficult sections.
Heading home now, descending Highway 281, I pass the buff-dude’s woman. She’s effortlessly pulling the hill on her bike. Quarter mile farther, I approach the dude himself struggling against the mountain. I nod and wave. But in his struggle, he scarcely acknowledges me. I don’t blame him.
Nor do I acknowledge or accept the CCP’s malevolent gift. COVID-19, kiss my grits! It’s Cheaha 10. CCP Virus 0. For more info: www.alapark.com/cheaha-state-park
Jeff S. Barganier is a freelance writer and manages Cindy Barganier Interiors LLC in Pike Road, Alabama. (www.cindybarganier.com) He travels far and wide upon the slightest excuse for something interesting to write about. Contact him at Jeffbarganier@knology.net. Follow him on Instagram #jeffbarganier.
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By Greg Budell
The Mayor of BOOMTOWN
"A Hallmark Moment .. 30 Years in the Making" "A true story from the Greg files"
AMAZING how fast life can change. Just two months ago we were enjoying an economic BOOM. Hopefully, you’re reading this in a place that has recently re-openedthat has survived panic and shutdown- and is hoping to prosper again. I was a newsman and morning sidekick in Miami on 9/11. My voice was one that told thousands America was experiencing a “second day of infamy”. That event was a national gut punch, but with time we got our wind back. I still work in the news business. For several months I’ve been trying to keep my head above the rising tide of information, misinformation, politics and flat-out BS of the Corona virus. It has been every bit as surreal as 9/11 but far more complicated. If I see one more “celebrity” telling me to stay home and wash my hands every 2 minutes my head will explode. Stay home and come back to what, exactly? So, forgive me if I share a story that has nothing to do with the bleeping Corona virus.
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A few weeks back, Rosie Brock, my afternoon show producer (NewsTalk 93.1FM, 3-6PM) said “someone from Chicago who I knew in the 90s, was trying to reach me”. The caller didn’t leave a name, and only a couple of vague hints as to what he wanted. Even with my savant memory for people, places and things from 30 years ago (as opposed to 30 minutes ago), I had no idea what he wanted to discuss.
In the process, I received a Mother’s Day moment THIRTY years in the making. This past February 11 was the 30th anniversary of my Mom’s passing from brain cancer. A few weeks prior to that day in 1990, I’d had the honor of having comedian David Brenner on my Miami morning show. He was due to perform in town, so he was “working the circuit”. Brenner was no small-time comic. He was Johnny Carson’s all-time favorite guest comedian and hosted The Tonight Show for Johnny 75 times. He was Seinfeld before Seinfeld, credited with developing “observational humor”. David was great at holding a mirror up to everyday life and pointing out the absurdities we experience.
Comedian, David Brenner, 1976
Eventually, the man called during a show, so I put him on the air to solve the mystery.
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On my show, he was a phenomenal guest, bringing high energy and sharp humor to the early hours of the morning. What struck me most though, is that he’d done his homework on Greg Budell, making it seem like being on my show was just as big a deal as sitting with Carson on national TV!
“Did you arrange that?”.
My mother was America’s biggest David Brenner fan, something I mentioned in the interview because it was she who got me to watch him. As we wrapped up, I did something I never do with a famous guest.
The next day I met David after his Miami show, my eyes clouding with tears of appreciation for his extraordinarily caring gesture. “Don’t mention it”, he said. With that enormous smile of his, he said “If my mother was a big fan of yours, you’d call, right”.
“David, would you mind speaking to me off the air for a second?”. He enthusiastically agreed. I plopped a Phil Collins song on the air and picked up the phone. “David”, I asked, “I know you get requests like this all the time and I will totally understand if you can’t- but my Mom is your #1 fan. She’s in a Chicago hospital with cancer, and a call from you would lift her spirits”. Without a second’s hesitation he said, “Greg, give me the number and I’ll call her this afternoon. It will be my honor to say hello”. Mom was at a point where there wasn’t much that could be done, excepting keeping her comfortable. That evening, I phoned her room hoping a promise had been kept. “David Brenner called me today!”, she said.
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I explained how it came about, that he wanted to call her when I told him what a big fan she was. She exclaimed, “he talked to me for twenty-five minutes! He called me ‘Carol’ like he knew me my whole life!”. I smiled, big-time.
“Give me her number and I’ll call her now!”. He burst out laughing, claiming I needed a psychology degree to figure out his mother. I thanked him again, just to be sure. Back to my “mystery caller”. His name was Jack Diamond. He worked in the Oncology Department at Christ Hospital where my Mom was treated. His reason for tracking me down? “I took care of your mother during her final days in the hospital. One day I stopped by in the evening to lift her spirits and walked in on a woman who was giddy! Carol was so sick at that point I was unprepared to see her in such high spirits. She went on to say how David Brenner had called and chatted
with her for almost half an hour. When I asked how she knew David Brenner, she mentioned you. ‘I’ve got one amazing son, don’t I?’. Mr. Diamond said it was one of the last times she smiled and wanted me to know how much that David Brenner phone call meant. Jack had checked in on her shortly after their chat concluded. That this soft-spoken man tried to find me for 30 years to share that story moved me to choke up on the air. I think about Mom daily, but Jack Diamond’s call was a Hallmark moment 3 decades in the making. For a moment, the Corona Chaos was gone. Like I said, AMAZING how fast life- one moment in one day in a life- can change. If you have a comment on this column, email me at gregbudell@aol.com. It's still fun to hear from new people!
Greg Budell lives in Montgomery with his wife, Roz, and dogs Hershey and Briscoe. He’s been in radio since 1970, and has marked 15 years in the River Region. He hosts the Newstalk 93.1FM Morning Show with Rich Thomas & Jay Scott, 6-9 AM Monday-Friday. He returns weekday afternoons from 3-6 PM for Happy Hour with sidekick Rosie Brock. Greg can be reached at gregbudell@aol.com
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Eating Smart with Tracy Bhalla
Waste less, Eat well
In these strange times we find ourselves in, not only should we be limiting exposure outside – i.e. less frequent trips to the grocery store, but we should also be getting more imaginative with the ingredients we have at home. Use those recipe books to find new ways of using what is already in your pantry. If you don’t have books, use Google! Do not let a single item go to waste. Plan your meals around what needs using up first. Now really all this just sounds like common sense and it is certainly the way that my grandmother used to live her whole life, but we (as a nation) have, no - HAD, become spoiled and too much food was ending up in the trash can just because we did not get around to using it in time. Well if this pandemic makes us all think differently about how we eat and how we plan our meals, then amen to that. As a family we were always pretty good at not allowing food to go bad, but there was always something that got thrown out in the monthly fridge cleanout, whether it be cheese going moldy or cucumber going soft. Well, no more! We plan our meals around what needs using first and we try to vary our recipes as much as possible, trying at least one new one a week, or at least variations on the old favorites. All fresh produce gets checked at least every other day to determine what needs using next. Over a week ago I had bought some
plums that were hard when I bought them, but the weather was warm so I figured they would ripen in the kitchen. Then the weather turned cold – really cold! As in we have had more snow in April than over the whole winter – crazy, so they have not ripened one bit. I put them in the fridge while I pondered what to do with them. The obvious answer would have been to make a plum pie or cobbler, but my husband wouldn’t
eat either of those, so I went to flipping through my many recipe books – actually quite a joy to do, you come across many a thing that gives you an idea about this or that, but I had to concentrate and focus on just the one thing, something with plums in that my husband would eat. I found it in “Baking recipe collection volume 2” by Sainsbury’s (a grocery store in the UK). A version of an upside-down cake, but with plums and ginger – Yum! Even better you could adapt this to any fruit you have that needs using up, and if you don’t like ginger you could substitute cinnamon or cocoa, whatever takes your fancy. So, here you go – one for you to try (or
adapt) at home:
Ingredients 150g unsalted butter, softened 160g light brown soft sugar 3 – 4 plums, halved and de-stoned 2 pieces stem ginger in syrup 125g self-rising flour 2 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp baking powder 2 large eggs Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 325F. Grease a 20cm springform pan and line the base with parchment. Heat 35g of the sugar and 25g of the butter in a small pan over medium heat until combined. Pour over base of tin. 2. Scatter half the ginger pieces (I actually used crystallized ginger) over sugar butter mixture. Arrange the plums, cut side down in the tin. 3. Sift together the flour, ginger powder, cinnamon and baking powder in a large bowl. Add remaining butter, sugar and the eggs; beat together until smooth. Fold in remaining ginger pieces. 4. Carefully spoon cake mixture over the plums, spread it level. It will only just cover the fruit. 5. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until top springs back when lightly pressed. 6. Remove from oven and cool in tin for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack. If not eaten at once, store in an airtight container in the fridge. Super easy – you don’t need a mixer or anything fancy. It can all be done with a spoon and a bowl. And gosh did it taste good! Fabulous with either cream, custard or vanilla ice cream. Only problem is, I still have 5 plums left!
Tracy Bhalla, Independent Consultant with NYR Organics, website: us.nyrorganic.com/shop/tracybhalla email: nyrbhalla@gmail.com You can also visit Tracy’s blog at Tracybhalla.com, Continuing my obsession with all things organic, I have been working with NYR for two years now, using their skincare products myself for over RiverRegionBoom.com May 2020 25 years! Your skin is the body’s largest organ, it deserves to be well looked after. I am here to answer any questions you may BOOM! Thehave. River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine 46
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