The Brick Magazine - February 2022

BRICK

THE

FEBRUARY 2022

MAGAZINE

BEING INVENTIVE CARDIO SELF-LOVE CBD UPDATE

PLUS! WOMEN IN SPORTS COACHING

Bev

Plocki

INSPIRING SISTER ATHLETES

ANN ARBOR

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THE

BRICK MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2022

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Tanja MacKenzie

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Jennifer Knutson

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Angelina Bielby

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Steve DeBruler

Cover Photographer

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Bob Foran

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Contributors >> Adrianne Madrias Marilyn Pellini Lisa Profera, MD

Crystal Abitz Juna Guetter Dr. Alon Kahana

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Mikki Sharp Maria Sylvester, MSW, CPC Marji Wisniewski

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CONTENTS

The Brick Magazine >>

THE BRICK MAGAZINE makes every effort to provide accurate information in advertising, editorial content and placement; however, we cannot make any claims as to the accuracy of information provided by advertisers or editorial contributors and will accept no responsibility or liability for inaccurate information or placement. No content can be duplicated without the permission of The Brick Magazine, LLC

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Photo by Kimmi Batchelor

8

The Worst Gift I Ever Received

10

Inspiring Sister Athletes with Coach Bev Plocki

18

Intimate Relationships: 3 Keys to a Pleasure-Infused Reboot

22

Being Inventive

26

Cardio Self-Love

30

CBD Update

32

Women in Sports Coaching

36

Surrounded by Angels

38

Covid Is Here to Stay

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The Worst Gift I Ever Received Juna Guetter

Photo by Tim Douglas

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T

he worst gift I ever received was a blue velour top.

It wasn't because it was the wrong shade of blue or that it was velour. In fact, I loved the soft, plush feel of 1970s velour on my body. Even though this sweater wasn't royal or navy, I could live with it. Very simply, the reason it was the worst gift I ever received was because of the box it came in.

This Christmas gift didn't come in our family's usual recycled gift-giving box, oftentimes an old shoe box with “women's size 9” scratched out with black marker, housing some neatly stacked homemade fudge and cookies, wrapped in wax paper and gift-wrapped according to the occasion. No, this was a brand new gift box bearing the label Catherine's Stout Shop.

My newly 18-year-old hormonal, second-trimester self burst out in an uncharacteristic display of tearful, mortified outrage. "How could you, Dad? I'm fat. Just say it! Not pregnant, but stout. You bought me a shirt from a fat lady's store? How could you?! You could have bought me a maternity sweater, like normal people, and acknowledged that I'm growing a baby, not getting fat!"

Whether it's control from outside circumstances, even in the benign act of receiving a gift, or whether it's inside chemistry creating changes you have no control over, emotions can give us a rough go.

But there's a fiery rebel in all of us. You can bring yourself back from the whirlwind. Try these things: •

Pause and breathe. Emotions have a funny way of kicking us out of our body. Take three deep breaths to jumpstart the process of bringing yourself back home.

•

Find 3 points of connection with your body. For example, you could feel your feet on the floor, your butt in the seat, and your clothes touching your skin.

Now that your body is back with your being, let yourself feel whatever is present — yep, that's right, just feel the feelings, sans story.

•

Feel the feelings without running the internal monologue. Feel the feelings without gaining confirmation for the rightness of your point of view.

Feel the feelings without looking for a solution to your problem.

•

Move the feelings through your body. Shake them loose, stamp your feet, express them through every body part — feet, legs, hips, belly, torso, head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, fingers, and even your voice!

Remember that emotions are energy in motion. They get stuck in the body when we bring thinking into the mix. So get out of your head and dance!

The room was quiet.

Filling the space and pulling myself together like a good Dutch Calvinist, I sniffed back my anger and scrambled to appreciate the color, the velour-ness of it all. You can always find something good in everything...It's the thought that counts. But the size and where it came from? I just couldn't stomach this gift. I wanted to run out of the room, but I stayed there like something the cat dragged in, torn up, half-dead, unable to move and holding my stout top with its new box smell in a pile of teary tissue paper.

Even with all my striving to be gracious, the bottom line was I couldn't accept this large, sky-blue top from my insensitive, yet well-meaning, dad. Only years later did I get why my reaction was so intense. It was another reality check about my pregnancy. I couldn't accept this new life growing inside of me either. But I would have to — soon.

It's in moments like these when I realize the power of emotions and how, back then, I had limited skills to process the intensity. Now I know, four decades later — having rolled through hundreds of emotional waves — how to ride them better, rather than constantly being thrown off by their magnitude and leaving behind a wake of destruction for myself and others.

I mean, no one likes to be controlled, right? And emotions tend to do that. They throw you around from time to time.

Do any one or all of these to break the pattern of your addiction to drama, increase your emotional intelligence, and love and embrace all of you.

If you do, you might find that the worst, most impossible situation could be the greatest gift you ever received.

Juna Guetter is a Michigander at heart, born in Grand Rapids and living there until her early twenties. Raising her family and living and working in Canada for the last 35 years, she’s the proud owner of Synergy In Motion, a coaching business that helps people bring their sparkle back. Right about now, she’s eager to get on the road and travel North America in her 25’ Airstream with her partner, two dogs, and gypsy cat, Nikita. What does she want more than diamonds? For you to know that you are a gift and an untapped resource for the changes you’ve been seeking. www.SynergyInMotion.info

February 2022 | 7

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Inspiring Sister Athletes with Coach Bev Plocki

by Marji Wisniewski

I

f you Google Coach Bev Plocki, the search results will show scores of winning statistics and accolades that she has earned in her 32 years as head coach of Michigan’s Women’s Gymnastics. She is ranked one of the nation's top gymnastics coaches. Coach Plocki has led the University of Michigan to 12 NCAA Regional titles and has guided the Wolverines to 24 top-ten finishes at the NCAA Championships. She captured a Big Ten record seven conference titles in a row from 1999-2005. An impressive 52 of her student athletes have secured 198 NCAA AllAmerican honors and nine NCAA individual national titles.

And last, but certainly not least, her team won the welldeserved title of 2021 National Champions.

But when I spoke with her for this interview, what rose to the top was her pure love of the sport, her respect and admiration for her team, and her goal that above all else, her gymnasts are having fun.

February 2022 | 9

Gymnastics Is Life Gymnastics has not just been a sport for me; it's been my entire way of life. As early as six years old, I was learning to do flips in the backyard of my home in Butler, Pennsylvania. My neighbor friend would teach me what she had learned in her gymnastics class. By age eight I joined my first gymnastics team, and my passion for the sport consumed my entire life from that point forward.

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My mother tried so hard to mold me into a wellrounded person. She forced me to take violin and piano lessons, join the Girl Scouts, and try numerous other things along the way. But somehow, I always found my way back into the gym. I latched on to gymnastics and I didn't have an interest in anything else. There was a period of time where my parents were driving an hour and a half

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University of Alabama and was an All-American gymnast on the balance beam my freshman year. However, I realized that I wasn’t the typical “Southern belle;” after freshman year, I transferred to West Virginia University. I stayed there for two additional years, earning a master’s degree in sports management and administration. I thought I might want to pursue a career in marketing for a pro team or something along those lines. But while studying for my master’s, I began my coaching career as a graduate assistant collaborating with WVU’s women’s gymnastics coach, Linda Burdette. It was through her inspiration that I decided to follow a career in coaching.

to the gym where I would train for six hours, six days a week, and then they’d drive an hour and a half back home again. I’m forever grateful that I had parents and siblings that were willing to support my goals and dreams at that level — their sacrifice for me was pretty amazing.

After high school, I earned a scholarship to compete at the

In 1990, at just 23 years old, I applied for five collegelevel coaching positions. One was at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the other three were assistant coaching positions, and of course, the fifth was for head coach at the University of Michigan. I ended up getting turned down from all of the programs that were looking for assistant coaches because they wanted male spotters.

Michigan was actually the first school that reached out to me and offered me an interview. I remember not really knowing what to expect as I traveled to the university feeling scared, overwhelmed, and excited.

I met with former University of Michigan teacher, athletics administrator, and field hockey coach Phyllis Ocker and February 2022 | 11

2022 University of Michigan Women’s Gymnastics Schedule Learn more at https://mgoblue.com/sports/ womens-gymnastics December 9, 2021 (Thursday) 7:00 PM, Home, Central Michigan (EX) — Ann Arbor, MI January 6, 2022 (Thursday) 7:00 PM, Home, Georgia — Ann Arbor, MI January 15, 2022 (Saturday) 4:00 PM, Home, Arizona State — Ann Arbor, MI January 24, 2022 (Monday) 7:00 PM CT, Away, Minnesota — Minneapolis, MN (Big Ten Network) January 30, 2022 (Sunday) TBA, Home, Michigan State — Ann Arbor, MI (ESPN/2/U) February 4, 2022 (Friday) 7:00 PM, Away, Rutgers — Piscataway, NJ February 13, 2022 (Sunday) 6:00 PM, Home, Penn State — Ann Arbor, MI (ESPN/2/U) February 18, 2022 (Friday) 7:00 PM, Neutral, Big Five Meet — Toledo, OH February 26, 2022 (Saturday) 3:30 PM CT, Away, Nebraska — Lincoln, NE March 4, 2022 (Friday) 8:00 PM CT, Away, Oklahoma — Norman, OK March 12, 2022 (Saturday) 4:00 PM, Home, Auburn, West Virginia — Ann Arbor, MI March 19, 2022 (Saturday) TBA, Away, Big Ten Championships — Iowa City, IA (Big Ten Network) March 30, 2022 (Wednesday) TBA, Away, NCAA Regional First Round — TBA (NCAA Regional) March 31, 2022 (Thursday) TBA, Away, NCAA Regional Second Round — TBA (NCAA Regional) April 2, 2022 (Saturday) TBA, Away, NCAA Regional Final — TBA (NCAA Regional) April 14, 2022 (Thursday) TBA, Neutral, NCAA Semifinal — Fort Worth, TX (NCAA Championships) April 16, 2022 (Saturday) TBA, Neutral, NCAA Team Finals — Fort Worth, TX (NCAA Championships)

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Athletic Director Jack Weidenbach. I had a wonderful day visiting the campus. I shared with them what I could bring to the program, which was a fresh look at everything and a new attitude. Interestingly enough, I was offered the head coaching position and it has been my first and only job for the last 32 years.

I was also one of the first full-time female coaches hired at Michigan. The leadership at Michigan had started looking at what needed to happen to support their women’s programs and enable them to be successful. That desire for building the women’s programs started when Bo Schembechler was the previous Athletic Director. Bo loved football and Bo wanted football to be successful, but Bo really wanted Michigan overall to be successful. I tell people that I was definitely in the right place at the right time, but I like to think that Michigan also saw something special in me. It’s been working out great for both of us.

Growing up as an athlete myself, I had an idea of what kind of coach I wanted to become. There were things I learned that I wanted to replicate, like what it takes to win championships, and things I did not. I knew that I wanted to try to integrate that winning drive and instil a sense of family and unity, the way that Coach Burdette had done in her program. I loved her approach to coaching and knew I wanted to be more like her.

The Bonds of Sisterhood Many coaches will talk about their team having good chemistry or being close. As nice as that sounds, my goal is that our team feels more like sisters. You can have disagreements and you can challenge your sister.

If your sister is about to make an unwise decision, you can speak up without fear of losing them as your friend, because ultimately they will realize you said what you said in their best interest. And in time, they will appreciate what you did even though it might have been hard. Being sisters means you love each other beyond just being friends; you genuinely care about the other person.

When we went into Nationals last year, there was a real bond and trust between each other. The team knew that when they were in competition, they would have each other's backs and there wasn't going to be any judgment when someone made a mistake. And when a mistake was made, someone else was going to step up and say, “Don't worry about it — I got you.” That's what really makes a team strong.

Another thing that strengthens a team is diversity. If everyone were the same, life would be pretty boring. A

fundamental bedrock of our program is that we want to learn to appreciate one another for our differences and seek to find things that we have in common. We bond initially over commonalities, but we aim to celebrate the things that are unique about each and every one of us — whether that be a personality trait, a different background, or a language they speak. It’s those differences that make us special. This intentional focus on listening, learning, and understanding has helped us grow stronger in our bonds together.

importance of focusing on the mental health of all athletes.

I believe that in order to be a good coach, you have to be able to look past the surface. To go past that superficial level requires a trusting bond between coach and athlete.

Regardless of where one’s mental health issues stem from, there are walls that will take time and care to break down. It also takes the right resources. I'm proud of the resources and tools that we have available to us here at the University of Michigan. With their help, we as coaches can coach the whole person, not just the athlete.

Coaching the Whole Person

Reflecting on a Championship

The last five or so years have been a very turbulent time in sports and most definitely in our sport. I don't have any magic answers in terms of how the many terrible things that have come to light could have been prevented.

What I do know is that this has magnified the critical

In 2021, we won our first National Championship.

Everything that we had worked toward as a team culminated in this win. I told my athletes that I want them to feel this high for as long as they can, because it was well deserved. As a team, we’re really excited about this

February 2022 | 13

season and are looking forward to showing that we’re able carry over a lot of what we learned from last year.

My goals for the team this year are to work hard together and have the same unity, trust, and faith in each other as we did last year. I also want to focus again on having a lot of fun. I told our athletes early on in the season, before we had an exhibition or were judged for a routine of any kind, “I’m already incredibly proud of you. As long as we work hard and have fun together as a team this year, I will never be disappointed in you.” I don't want them to feel that if we don't achieve another National Championship, I will be disappointed. Thinking that way is a surefire way to set yourself up for failure.

At our pre-season retreat, one of the things that we talked about at length were the key takeaways from the 2020/2021 season — arguably one of the most unique seasons I’ve seen as a coach with everything regarding the pandemic. Certainly, we weren’t going to say that not being able to socialize with others was a great thing, so let’s do that again this season!

However, there was a realization for the athletes that their focus was definitely more acute during the pandemic because there were fewer outside distractions available. In turn, we talked about the student-athlete balancing act. I believe wholeheartedly in my student athletes being able to have the full college experience, but they have to learn how to find balance in that. Everyone on the team agreed that they had better quantity and quality of sleep because they weren’t burning the candle at both ends. These are the things we want to carry with us as we compete in 2022.

Reflecting on a Career Somebody asked me once to name an interesting fact about myself; I struggled to think of something because I felt there was really nothing that interesting about me. But then I realized that I’m still working at the only job I've ever had. I came from graduate school, I got this amazing job as the Head Women Gymnastics Coach at the University of Michigan, and I never left. I've had opportunities to go other places, but I just could never see myself leaving. I love everything that my job has provided me — the location, the community, and the University — and it's been an amazing ride.

When I reflect back on my time as a young coach, I realize that I didn't know what I didn't know back then.

There are days when I wish I could go back to the beginning and do things differently. But I find peace in knowing that everything in life has continued to advance and evolve, and I’m a much better coach today than I was 15 years ago. I'm focusing on appreciating this stage of

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my career and plan to enjoy it for as long as I can.

I still find joy in the little things, like when my alumni come back to visit and bring their kids to meet me or to watch a practice. I love that so many alumni want to continue to share their lives with me and the program. Seeing them and learning what they’re doing now makes me feel that hopefully, along the way, I had some tiny positive impact that helped them get to where they are now.

I humbly acknowledge that I have not been a perfect coach to every athlete. I don't know if there's any coach at any level who would say they’ve had a connection with 100% of their athletes. But I have learned that everyone needs something a little bit different, and the best job that you can do is try to figure out what each individual person needs. Experience has taught me that there needs to be a crossroads between what the program needs and the athlete needs in order for the team to be successful.

Gymnast, Coach, Mentor My goal as coach now is to inspire athletes to become strong, independent women who can do anything that they set their minds to. I have tried to be a role model and a mentor, to show them that they can achieve their dreams. I hope they look at me and see that yes, you can take on a job at 23 years old and you can fight through whatever inequities that you face and come out stronger than you ever imagined. I believe that good things come to people who have enough confidence in themselves to be able to fight the battles they feel are worth fighting.

On a final note, I encourage parents to continue to try to raise well-rounded children with piano lessons or Scouts or whatever activities their kids will try. But in the end, we as adults need to listen to our children and let them follow where their hearts led. Remember that ultimately, sports at their core are supposed to be fun. So thanks, Mom, for letting me stay in the gym. I think it all worked out okay.

With a passion for marketing that started as a young girl, Marji Wisniewski created her own marketing and communications organization in 2017. As owner of Blue Zebra Marketing Solutions, she helps local and regional businesses and non-profits tell their story through branding, graphic design, content creation, and PR, focusing on customized solutions for each client that are more unique than a zebra’s stripes.

A Michigan native, Marji received her bachelor's from Western Michigan University and master’s from Wayne State University. When not working you can find her gardening, doing Pilates, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her family and two dogs.

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February 2022 | 15

Intimate Relationships: 3 Keys to a Pleasure-Infused Reboot

by Maria Sylvester, MSW, CPC

Photo by Fadi Xd

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L

et’s talk about love! Even the best intimate relationships can benefit from a reboot every now and again. Within my marriage, comfort, confidence, and joy happen most easily when I visualize my husband and myself from an “ever-evolving” perspective. Together, I frequently remind myself, we are in the process of cultivating an even more delicious, heart-expansive, empowered partnership.

The key here is the concept of in the process, for when we are in the process of something we are always growing. There’s plenty of room for imperfections because it’s a process. Being in a process is about being in the state of possibility — keeping infinite possibilities open!

Seeing our relationship as an ongoing work-in-progress serves to keep us pleasurably in the game. We’re more able to stay dedicated to our growth as a couple. We consistently and deliberately put forth effort for the good of the relationship. A marriage — or any relationship, actually — is built and maintained simply by stringing moment after moment together. How’s that for keeping it simple?

My husband and I are a perfectly imperfect duo, enjoying a great (although sometimes bumpy) ride through our days together. Below, I’ll share a few ingredients that compose our secret success sauce. Perhaps you can add our recipe to what you and your favorite person are already doing.

When those embers cool, fresh air, new ideas, and creative juices help make sparks of passion and pleasure fly again.

Of course, do remember that the tools and strategies I’m about to outline can be beautifully applied to all relationships — your relationship with yourself, a friend, a child, or other family members. Reboots are valuable across the spectrum and can powerfully enhance any and all connections.

Trust Fuels the Treasures For me, the number one ingredient for a rich, intimate connection is trust. Cultivating trust is key; it’s a conduit through which love can flourish and flow. First and foremost is the healthy development of one’s personal trust muscle. It’s an inside job. This trust is fueled by respect — self-respect, and then respect of the other.

Do you, for instance, respect yourself enough to keep your word with yourself? Do you do what you tell yourself you’re going to do? Are you a safe haven for yourself?

In times of distress, can you gently soothe yourself by thinking, “Sweetheart, you’ve got this!” Only after you’re

able to consistently honor and trust yourself will you be able to show up in a similar fashion for a beloved.

Trustworthiness grows from sustained self-mastery.

Just as it’s been said that we can only love another to the degree we love ourselves, so I believe we can only trust another to the degree we can trust ourselves. Next comes a sort of tranquility. Both parties can trust that the other is tuned in and consciously motivated in the direction of what’s best for the relationship. Deep trust in each other is, to me, at the heart of what we so crave in partnership (and in all our relationships, really). Experiencing trust allows us to feel like we’ve come safely home.

Consider Core Needs Many factors bring people together — physical proximity, chemistry, a desire for comfort, or a wish for deep commitment. Connection is also fostered by the desire to have basic human needs met. We have a need to feel safe or certain, a need for variety, a need to feel significant, and a need for love. Additionally, we have needs around developing our spirit, namely the need for growth and the need to feel we can contribute to the world at large.

A quick way to reboot or super-charge any intimate relationship is to contemplate what need your beloved is expressing. The expression of needs, however, often happens undercover. Mindful, compassionate detective work is frequently necessary to bring your partner’s longings into the light of day.

Sadly, people more often than not hide (even from themselves) the expression of a basic need under layers of disguised conversational or behavioral wrappings. For instance, one might long to be recognized as significant in having the ability to masterfully juggle multiple household tasks. Yet what this individual might actually communicate to their partner is a long list of complaints about all they had to do on a given day. A compassionate partner, listening for the hidden need in the conversation, will lovingly “unwrap” the confusing packaging, recognizing and celebrating their beloved’s significance. Rather than being put off by the complaints, strengths are seen and appreciated. Conflicts, compassionately handled, can actually deepen intimacy.

And voila! Relationship tensions melt away when the focus is on listening for the need behind what’s being expressed. My husband and I have spared ourselves countless arguments and misunderstandings by zeroing in on the longings hidden behind the gobbledegook! Magic happens when you can experience yourself as a partner

February 2022 | 17

Photo by Elahe Motamedi

18 | The Brick Magazine

(or friend or colleague) capable of drawing deeper desires or unexpressed needs into the light.

Create Space for Love It seems like the act of creating time and space for love should go without saying. Not true! As a life and relationship coach, I witness numerous examples of individuals and couples running themselves into the ground with busyness and non-gratifying preoccupations. Little space is left for what they deem most important in their lives.

Creating time and space for love takes committed, deliberate intention and action. It’s about being deeply appreciative of each other’s presence, and verbally communicating such. It’s about watching, mindfully, for opportunities to meaningfully honor and celebrate the other’s existence!

This kind of care-infused noticing happens, and can feel extremely nourishing to both parties, when one can really slow down. The pressures of life and scheduling crunches that naturally occur in any given day can rob you of time with each other. Yet never forget, dear friends, how love’s passion can also transform time. When we can slow down and create an opening for love, for being with our “person,” we free ourselves from the tyranny of time. Simply being present heightens the present of presence!

So gift yourself the pleasure of meaningfully attending to your beloved, and request the same from them in return.

Waste not another second. Experience them with all your senses; look lovingly, listen carefully, touch gently, savor scents, and taste the deliciousness of their true presence before you. Feel the compassion rise in your heart.

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Experience the joy of sacred communion and connection.

Keep showing up. Show up with courage, care, humility, energy, compassion, playfulness, and pleasure-filled time.

Experience the freedom and pleasure of loving without restraints. Now that’s quite a reboot, hm?

Maria Sylvester, MSW, CPC is a certified Life Coach in Ann Arbor, MI who loves empowering adolescents, adults, and couples to live from the HEART of what really matters to them so that they can bring their fully expressed, vibrant selves into the world.

She has a special gift for helping women reclaim their feminine power, and embrace their radiant, sensual, sexy spirits. Their lives transform. They soar into their mid-life magnificence! www.lifeempowermentcoaching.com Instagram: @life_coach_maria Facebook: www.facebook.com/LifeEmpowermentCoaching/

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February 2022 | 19

Being Inventive

by Marilyn A. Pellini

Photo by Ivan Samkov

20 | The Brick Magazine

M

y first house was in a very small town in the state of New York. It seemed as if we had searched forever to find a place we could afford. After living strictly in apartments for the six years we had been married, we were eager for a house and plot of land to call our own. The kids were young and needed a yard to play in, we reasoned. When my husband, Al, started to work for one of the largest can companies in the US, we became victims of the “I’ve been moved” syndrome of corporate America at that time. We had already lived in four different states.

After months of searching, we finally found (what was to us) a dream cottage. It was your very basic two-story colonial home with three bedrooms and a living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and even a tiny lavette. It was on a third of an acre of land, with the added bonus of a completely glass-enclosed sunporch. We could even pay the mortgage and manage to eat as well. Who could ask for anything more? We were ecstatic!

A few weeks after moving in, some of the bloom was off the rose, as the saying goes. The woman who had the place before us was very elderly and did not do anything where maintenance or upkeep was concerned. There was so much cleaning, scouring, and painting to be done. This is how we spent much of our free time. The living room was knotty pine and the property was covered in big trees, which made it look like nighttime even during the day. One of the first projects was to paint over the knotty pine wood. First, of course, all the knots had to be sealed so they would not bleed through. Now when people come into my house they talk about my unusual paneling, not realizing that beneath the coat of paint are knotty pine boards.

The kitchen was outfitted with metal kitchen cabinets.

They were white with black handles — all very drab and scratched. I bought an antiquing kit and made them bright red, which added much warmth and color to the little kitchen. There was one problem, however, as one of the cabinet doors kept falling off. I reminded my husband of this many times, but he was definitely no handyman. He put a little piece of wood between the two loops that originally had a hinge attached, but that did not work. I took it upon myself to get a bobby pin, put it through the two holes, and spread it inside. It worked like a charm,

even though it was not very attractive. Eventually we did do the kitchen over, and I was ever so delighted with the outcome.

There is a saying that necessity is the mother of invention.

That may be very true, but I think sometimes the biggest motivator is the fact that one doesn’t always have a bottomless pocketbook. Often money is the motivator to do and attack projects oneself. One of my friends was so down on her luck that she taught herself to sew, and made all of her little children’s clothes by hand. She had such an artistic flair that the kids could have posed in a baby magazine with what she made. Another gal who worked part-time, but whose husband was a full-time college student, had so many recipes for hotdogs as they could not afford much more in the way of meat. She stuffed them with bread stuffing and baked them, broiled them with cheese oozing in the center, and cut them up, combining them with baked beans that she seasoned with ketchup, mustard, onion, and maple syrup. The concoction was just delicious.

My father-in-law was a product of the Depression Era, and he loved to have a big vegetable garden to help save money on food during the summer months when they had many visiting family members. He could not bring himself to spend all that money on baby plants, so he built himself a cold-frame, and during the winter months he would start his plants from seed. Those were the baby seedlings that would later be his major garden. He was such a fanatic about gardening that he actually measured between the little tiny plants to make sure that the rows were absolutely straight. People would stop their cars and talk to him about his fabulous garden. He would always offer them a ripe tomato or two if it was that time of summer.

My dad was a lover of wine and quite a connoisseur. He wanted to blend and invent something a bit different, so he used our basement as his wine cellar. He made quite a good red, a white, and even champagne. He had all of his friends save their empty champagne bottles for him so he could reuse them and not have to buy them new. I think this wine venture created a great space for him to show his inventive ingenuity.

Women seem to be especially inventive when it comes to home decorating and cooking. I know I have February 2022 | 21

22 | The Brick Magazine

invented a couple of dishes myself because my children were such picky eaters. I would try anything so that they would enjoy what I cooked, and get the necessary vitamins they needed. One of their favorites I created was a dish with boneless pork chops. After trimming the fat from the edges, I would place them in a Pyrex dish that had been greased with a little olive oil. On the chops I would sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder, and flavored breadcrumbs. Next I would drizzle the top of each chop with some jarred spaghetti sauce. After baking at 350 degrees, they were done when tender and the sauce on the top had turned a golden brown. It was one dish they would always devour.

I still live in that first house we purchased. It is a modest one, as I have said, but the front door was taken out of an old estate that was being demolished.

It is very thick and wide with a half-moon shape of

glass on the top. When we first moved in many years ago, we removed the storm door and painted the front door a gold/brownish tone (very unusual for the time!).

Because the door was just so beautiful, I handmade a decoration for each season of the year. In all my many years here, I have never duplicated one I had used before. The supervisor in my town told me that she often drove by my house just to see what I had created for the front door. That only meant I really had to keep this project up!

Marilyn Pellini published her first book, Dear Al, A Widow’s Struggles and Remembrances, in 2018. That same year, she won the first place prize in the New York State Federation of Women’s Club writing contest. In the past, she’s had poetry and articles published in magazines such as On the Water, Westchester Parent, Balanced Rock, and others.

Photo by Greta Hoffman

February 2022 | 23

24 | The Brick Magazine

Cardio Self-Love F

by Adrianne Madias

Here’s a Valentine's Day gift for you: Three free classes at The Barre Code Ann Arbor Valid throughout the month of February!

Go here to register: https://bit. ly/3r8K5C0

ebruary is American Heart Month! Let's celebrate self-love by trying out a few new cardio exercises to help strengthen ourselves from the inside out.

By getting your heart rate up and your blood pumping more oxygen through your body, you can help reduce your risk of many health-related issues such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, certain types of cancer, and so much more.

The benefits of incorporating just 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise every day are endless!

These include: stronger muscles, better mood and sleep, higher metabolism, increased endorphins, improved memory and mental focus, a boost to your immune system, and better arthritis management.

Try these exercises out to give your heart the self-love that it craves and give yourself the gift of health for Valentines Day! Cycle through these moves for a total of 15 minutes with a 30-second break in between each exercise. Repeat two or three times through or add a brisk walk or jog for 15 minutes (or any other type of cardiovascular activity) and you've met your 30-minute goal! You're now on your way to a healthier, happier you!

February 2022 | 25

Plié Zips

26 | The Brick Magazine

•

Start with legs in a straddle position with toes turned to a 45-degree angle.

•

Bend your knees to bring your glutes closer to your heels, with arms pointed down or holding a weight.

•

Jump up, bringing your legs together by squeezing through the quads, glutes and inner thighs while lifting elbows to shoulder height.

•

Then jump back out to your plié, bringing your glutes back down as low as you can. Make sure to keep your shoulders over your hips, like your back is up against a wall.

•

Do 15-20 reps as fast as you can.

•

For added resistance, add hand weights, a kettlebell, or any household item around 5-10 pounds like a laundry detergent bottle, a gallon of milk, or anything you can hold onto with two hands.

•

For those with knee concerns: eliminate the jump and just lift and lower by lengthening your legs and coming back to your lowest point.

Up-Down Plank with Jacks

•

While in full plank and keeping your core engaged, jump your feet in and out three times (like jumping jacks).

•

Then repeat your up-downs starting with the opposite hand.

•

Do 10-15 reps with a 30-second break halfway through.

•

If your wrists bother you, try this move on your forearms.

•

Begin in a full plank position on your hands.

Lower your right elbow to the mat and then your left, coming into an elbow plank.

•

Put your right hand on the mat and straighten your right elbow. Do the same on the left to return to a full plank.

Cross Punch Jacks •

Bring fists to a guard position just below your cheekbones or chin — turn your fists to face inward and squeeze your elbows down toward your ribcage.

•

Punch your right fist towards the left corner of the room, crossing your midline while lifting your left knee, then come back to guard, then punch your left fist towards the right while lifting your right knee. Add a hop while you twist to get the heart rate up higher!

•

Do 15-20 reps, alternating right and left at your fastest pace.

Ann Arbor native Adrianne Madias is the owner of The Barre Code Ann Arbor. After graduating from Arizona State University with a BS in Supply Chain Management, she moved back to the area and worked in the corporate world for nearly a decade. She decided to change her career path because her true passion is fitness; she enjoys contributing to other women’s lives by helping them gain confidence in their health and strength from the inside out. She began training in Chicago the summer of 2011 and opened in August of that year near central campus. The studio is now located on the North Side of town at 2793 Plymouth Road.

February 2022 | 27

CBD Update

by Lisa Profera, MD

Photo by Kindel Media

I

t’s been a while since I’ve written about CBD (cannabidiol), so I feel it’s time for an update. For a great review, please look at the series of three articles I wrote for BRICK back in the fall of 2019.

CBD products have flooded the market. You can find them online, at the gas station, and even at the Hallmark store.

It’s very confusing for the consumer to determine what is safe and effective. CBD is everywhere, but is all of it good?

28 | The Brick Magazine

The short answer is no.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2017, approximately 70% of CBD products sold online were inaccurately labeled.

Some contained more CBD, others less, and some none at all! This market is still unregulated. To date, manufacturing and testing standards in the CBD world have not been

by Alexi Romano established. Even more alarming wasPhoto this study’s finding of

higher-than-legal limits of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the substance that gets you high) in 20% of samples. I have had patients tell me that they inadvertently experienced psychoactive effects from the CBD products they purchased outside of a licensed dispensary. That’s quite concerning, especially if the product is given to a child. Even as an adult, unwanted psychoactive effects can lead to serious health and safety problems, including impaired driving ability.

In a recent survey of over 1,000 CBD customers, 71% did not get any guidance on types of products or dosages for their particular health concerns. About a quarter of these customers did not check the concentration or portion of the CBD product they purchased, essentially treating themselves blindly. It’s no wonder that I often hear from patients that CBD didn’t work for them or that they had a bad experience taking CBD. Many also don’t understand the difference between edibles, tinctures, capsules, and topicals. As a consequence, some people are just wasting their money.

About 22% of people in the aforementioned survey reported that they don’t know how much CBD they’re taking. For those who did, the dosage range was huge — from less than 5mg to over 100mg per dose. This is concerning to me as a physician who understands cannabis medicine. There’s a therapeutic "sweet spot" for CBD dosing, and it’s different for everyone. Lower doses can be stimulating for some while higher doses can be sedating. If too little doesn't work, then often too much doesn't work either — it’s a bell-shaped curve.

In light of all of this, it’s best to purchase CBD products from a reputable dispensary that vets their inventory. A good dispensary provides better, safer products, and offers education on their use.

The most common uses for CBD are for the reduction of pain and inflammation, the management of stress and anxiety, and to help with rest and sleep. I like to think of CBD as a combination of Motrin® and Prozac®, its main effects being anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety.

CBD not only binds to CB1 and CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system, but it also slows the breakdown of our own endogenous form of THC known as anandamide.

Additionally, CBD binds to other receptors in our body to help suppress the inflammatory response and dampen signals of neuropathic pain. It also has anti-cancer and

anti-diabetic effects. It serves as a neuroprotective agent, helping with memory issues and degenerative neurologic diseases. By binding to GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) receptors, it reduces anxiety and has an anticonvulsant effect. (Here’s something important to know: Epidiolex® is an FDA-approved synthetic form of CBD available as a prescription for children with intractable seizures.)

Finding the correct dose takes a bit of investigation on the patient's part. Take notes on products and dosing and how symptoms improve or not. Find the happy medium and stick with it. CBD also helps dampen the “high” of THC and can be used as an “antidote” for THC overconsumption.

In general, a high-quality full spectrum CBD oil derived from medicinal-grade marijuana is better than a CBD isolate derived from industrial hemp. I often advise patients to avoid high-dose CBD isolates/distillates — they’re less effective than full spectrum, plus there's a real risk of drug interactions and toxicity. When using a full spectrum product, you benefit from the “Entourage Effect,” where the naturally-occurring minor cannabinoids and terpenes work synergistically in your body. CBD isolates are basically “monocannabinoids” and tend not to work as well; you may need 10-20 times the amount compared to CBD derived from a whole plant.

In my cannabis consultation practice, I help educate patients on the safe and effective use of CBD (and other marijuana products). Let me know if you have any questions. Some of my other related BRICK articles, besides the series of three that I mentioned at the beginning of this article, include Can a Little THC Help Me? (November 2020) and Cannabis, Covid, and Cytokine Storm (April 2021).

Owner and Founder of PROJUVU MD; Aesthetics and Lifestyle Medicine in Ann Arbor, MI; Expert Injector, Medical Director; Facial Innovations Medi-spa, Ann Arbor; Medical Director, Northville Beauty Spa; Certified Medical Marijuana Doctor; Certified doTERRA Essential Oils Expert; BEMER Independent Distributor; CrossFit® Level 1 Trainer www.projuvu.com • 1-844-PROJUVU • drprofera@gmail.com www.facebook.com/projuvu/ Request to join my closed FaceBook group, www.instagram.com/youressentialoilsdoctor/

Disclaimer: Please note that the information in this article has been designed to help educate the reader regarding the subject matter covered. This information is provided with the understanding that the author and any other entity referenced here are not liable for the misconception or misuse of the information provided. It is not provided to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body. The provider of this information shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity concerning any loss, damage, or injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this information. The information presented is in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling or care. Anyone suffering from any disease, illness, or injury should consult a qualified healthcare professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

February 2022 | 29

Women in Sports Coaching

by Crystal Abitz

O

ur stories are collections of our experiences and opportunities. We interpret and give meaning to our experiences based on our perception — a unique perspective based on our personal biographies and ways of knowing, understanding, and feeling. As a woman, I take pride in knowing my personal stories have a place, a purpose. “Become the person you needed when you were younger.” This quote by an unknown source has

30 | The Brick Magazine

informed many of my decisions and has shaped much of my narrative — my contribution to women’s history.

Nearly a decade ago, I thought I was ready to live my dream. I had dreamt for years of being a strength and conditioning coach (SCC) with a NCAA D1 football team.

I studied. I lifted. I watched coaching videos. I went to national conferences and networked with Photo by veteran Alexi Romano

Early morning workouts and a handful of interpersonal problems with my athletes evoked feelings of despair and vulnerability. The interactions I experienced with one athlete in particular left me feeling confused and hopeless.

I invested many sleepless nights reflecting and trying to solve our problems. I wanted something to change, but I wasn’t sure what could be changed or how to make changes substantial enough resolve the interpersonal problems and boost my confidence. The only thing I knew at that time was that I wasn’t alone. I was, and still am, certain other women SCCs have had similar experiences.

Some days I was confident and knew I belonged in the weight room coaching those NCAA D1 football players; I rightfully earned my title and had the knowledge and skills necessary to be a successful coach. Other days, I questioned everything. Did the athletes and other coaches respect me because I’m knowledgeable and deserved to be in that role as coach, or were they being respectful because someone threatened them to be nice to me?

Maybe I should have worn my hair differently. Were my shorts long enough? Maybe I should have worn my workout pants, but what if they’re too tight?

The weight room was not always warm and inviting, and the tension among the coaches and athletes made me nauseous. I rarely fare well when I sense tension or anticipate confrontation. “Keep it together,” I told myself.

“This is everything I ever thought I wanted. Now is the time to pretend I have all the confidence in the world.”

Even after my silent pep talk, something didn’t feel right. I wanted to go home and try again the next day.

Photo by Sven Mieke

coaches. I thought I was prepared for just about anything in terms of coaching athletes in the weight room. And it finally happened! I was granted the opportunity to fulfill my dream. Without hesitation, I accepted the offer and became the first woman at that university to coach the football team in the weight room. I was elated.

After only a few weeks, however, my spark diminished.

The emotional experiences and interactions of SCCs are shaped by our personal biographies and perspectives, as well as by the norms and purposes of our social groups (Potrac et al., 2017). Beyond the emotional aspect of coaching lies a performance aspect, where coaches work to manage our athletes’ impressions of them. Specifically, SCCs present a coaching front that aligns with the social norms of being an SCC (e.g., confident, enthusiastic, motivated; Szedlak et al., 2015). This is not always easy or natural. This is especially challenging as a woman coaching men’s teams.

Coaching athletes in the weight room comes naturally to me, and at that time, coaching fulfilled my desire to continue a lifestyle immersed in athletics. The biggest challenge in my development as a SCC lies primarily in relation to knowing and understanding what is expected of me when interpersonal problems with my athletes

February 2022 | 31

Photo by Alora Griffiths

arise. This is tricky as a woman coaching men’s teams, as I wonder how others perceive my attentiveness and empathy during a problematic interaction with an athlete.

My worry of others’ perceptions of me in this context overshadows my achievements and positive experiences.

While coaching, I never want to be perceived as anything other than professional, yet I sometimes find myself questioning appropriateness, boundaries, and the social norms of my identity as a woman coaching men.

In a positive light, coaching has strengthened my confidence and helps me cope with social anxiety in daily interactions outside the weight room and sporting arenas. Coaching a high-level men’s team also gave me the confidence needed to pursue a PhD in Human and Sports Performance.

My reasons for sharing this story are multidimensional, but primarily I want to inspire readers to emotionally engage with the different sociological issues. The history 32 | The Brick Magazine

of women in coaching, especially women coaching men’s teams, parallels the challenges women face in other leadership roles. Historically, women have had to prove themselves at a higher level to be hired into leadership positions. Many factors for this exist, including the raw truth that many women serve dual or multiple roles as career professional, homemaker, and mother. Women are often the default parent when a child becomes ill or needs to be taken to an appointment. Hiring women into leadership positions can be risky as women’s physical, mental, and emotional capacities are often stretched beyond reasonable measure. Fortunately, society has evolved to accept and invite women to be in positions of power and authority, yet this comes with great challenge and sacrifice. In the world of sports coaching, it is not uncommon for women coaches to sacrifice having a traditional family. Early mornings, late nights, long workdays, travel, and insurmountable pressure to perform the job well take precedent over marriage and child-rearing.

For some women, this is the dream — not to become a successful woman in sports coaching, but to become a successful coach. The current list of women who are breaking barriers and living their dreams as successful coaches of high-level sports teams is impressive, to say the least. A few powerful names who come to mind are Emily Zaler (NFL), Jennifer Welter (NFL), Katie Sowers (NFL), Becky Hammon (NBA), Andrea Hudy (NCAA), and Rachel Balkovec (MLB). These women, and others, have made it to the big leagues. Who else will join them? How long will they stay? These answers are unknown. Like anyone in leadership positions, these women work daily to continue impressing their athletes, other coaches, and the hiring authorities. For women in coaching, every day is a performance — and every performance is critically evaluated.

Now, I challenge you to reflect on my story as if it’s your own. Use the pieces that resonate with you and evoke intense emotions. Feel the fear and vulnerability. Feel the insecurities and confusion. And now, take a breath and reset yourself. Feel the pride and joy. Feel the confidence I now have when sharing my coaching experiences. Feel the energy. We reflect, not with feelings of anger, resentment,

or shame, but with open minds and critical inquiry for how we can be advocates for others. We need women and men in leadership roles to hire qualified women, to give more women opportunities to become successful in sports coaching and other male-centric fields.

My story is now your story. We are women’s history.

Crystal is a devoted wife and mommy to a couple of fun, nature-loving kiddos. She has a master’s degree in kinesiology and sport and exercise psychology and a bachelor’s in elementary education, as well as a massage therapy license and strength and conditioning certification through the NSCA. She veered away from the strenuous competitive sport scene and now focuses her attention on experiences, interactions, and more natural movements that bring alignment and joy to her body and her life. Crystal’s main services include massage therapy, mindfulness training, and movement.

Instagram: @legacywellnessmi Instagram: @abitz_crystal Facebook: @legacywellnessmi www.legacywellnessmi.com

Photo by Graham Mansfield

February 2022 | 33

Surrounded by Angels

by Mikki Sharp

Photo by Darrell Fraser

A

s we grow older, our bodies grow weaker. Our souls, however, seem to grow stronger, more enriched by the knowledge and guidance we receive from others. Because of that gift, we are more capable of sharing our wisdom with others and spreading that strength. Just as a flower in the forest dies, its pollen drifts in the wind throughout its lifespan, supplying the growing forest with more vibrant life. Even in death, the lives around us keep growing and our impact never dies.

I think calling this impact an “angel” is fitting.

34 | The Brick Magazine

We experience these beings every day in the form of other lives that affect our own, just like the flourishing forest grows because of the trees and flowers. Those impacts range from minimal to immense, direct to indirect, and influence us throughout our lives and sometimes beyond.

Over the past couple years, as I near 40, I've become overwhelmingly grateful for all of the people who have helped shape my life. My parents, mentors, friends, teachers, lovers, co-workers, and even strangers have all led me to the comforts I am blessed with today.

My gratitude is immeasurable. I’ve made it to another wonderful year with more experience, resources, acumen, and perspective I wouldn’t have had without the time and direction shared by other people. The efforts put forth are angels — invisible guidance in the right direction, along with protection from harm and less desirable outcomes.

It’s not just what we are taught by people, but also their actions — the chances they give us, the love they provide us, their time, and even forms of charity.

If you go back to your very first memories, it’s impossible to fully encapsulate and properly relay gratitude for all those who helped you along the way. We can show gratitude at the time, but sometimes it takes years to realize the gravity of a single moment that led you to where you are today. It’s like a single tile of a mosaic forming a boat that leads you to safety in a grand work of art, a piece that comprises the scenery that later becomes your safe haven. The tile can be placed at any moment in time, when you don’t have the entire picture.

One particular instance in my life where I experienced two angels was when I received my first “grown-up” job.

It not only helped launch my career, but it eventually and indirectly led me to my husband.

When I was hired to work for a newspaper many years ago, I had some experience and formal education in journalism, but I wasn't interviewed for an editorial position; I was instead interviewed for an advertising sales position. I was a relatively shy single mother with customer service experience and minimal sales experience. The only advertising experience I had at the time was as a pro-bono photographer and promoter for a local MMA fighting circuit. My previous job was ATF compliance for a firearms dealer — so nothing even close to related to what I was applying for! I was good with people, savvy in design software, decent at photography, and had a few years of bookkeeping experience, but none of it came with formal training. I did, however, have a passion for print media, and I didn’t care where I started; I just knew I wanted to work for the local newspaper.

I interviewed with the advertising sales director and a member of the team. The team member, an advertising sales executive, was on the verge of retiring. She was going to take the new hire under her wing and teach them about advertising sales, and introduce them to her contacts at local business. I’ll never forget her. It was because of this wonderful and kind-hearted person that I was given my big shot and hired at the local newspaper I had dreamt of working at since I was a child. She was roughly in her 60s and very kind, witty, intelligent — special in an angelic kind of way. So many people knew her, and so many people

loved her. She received gifts, cards, calls just for chatting, and even visitors to the office. It was impossible not to like her. I had the honor of working with her for several months before I was moved up to another position in the company.

During my tenure, I made friends, earned an award, and learned a lot from the Downtown Business Association. I attended numerous networking events and received my first box of professional business cards. As the next year came, I was presented with another opportunity within the same company by an attractive middle-aged woman. She was the director of the newspaper’s advertising agency. I remember her being as professional and classy as Anna Wintour. She was stern, smart, well-spoken, and very well-dressed. It was because of her that I was offered the digital consultant position, which would put me in charge of educating small businesses on the benefits and importance of online advertising. I had taken all of my Google Partners certifications at that time, and learned a lot more about marketing as a whole.

If it weren’t for these two women giving a single mother with no savings account a shot, I wouldn’t have gained the experience, business aptitude, background, and skillset necessary to proudly work for one of the greatest advertising agencies in southeast Michigan. I wouldn’t have met my husband while working at the Google office in Ann Arbor. I wouldn’t have been able to afford to live in Ann Arbor. My family’s lives are forever changed because of those chances they gave me, because both of those women believed in me.

That’s only one of many stories that have blessed my life, two women of several hundreds of people for whom I’m forever grateful. I think about them and many others often.

I never forgot any of the opportunities, gifts, love, and time that has been given to me.

As you look back on your life, can you think about all of the opportunities you’ve been given because someone believed in you? Those are our angels.

Mikki Sharp is a writer and advertising specialist with a degree in journalism from EMU. She has been a contributing writer and editor for Eastern Echo, Gothic Beauty Magazine, and Monroe News. She is currently a Sr. Trader at DP+.

She lives with her family in the King neighborhood of Ann Arbor.

In addition to being involved in local women’s initiatives, Mikki and her family also frequently attend Ann Arbor charitable events.

Instagram: @mikkimariesharp Twitter: @mikkimariesharp

February 2022 | 35

Covid Is Here to Stay

by Alon Kahana, MD, PhD

Photo by Anna Tarazevich

36 | The Brick Magazine

I

f there’s one topic on which much has been written in the past two years, it’s SARS-CoV-2 and the disease that it causes, COVID-19. (For the sake of brevity, I will mostly use the word “Covid” to refer to both the virus and the disease.) As a physician-scientist with both an MD and a PhD in molecular genetics and cell biology, I cringe at much of what is said and written about Covid.

infection, assuming a normal and healthy immune system.

This is the same for any common viral infection, be it Covid, the flu, a common cold, a gastrointestinal virus, etc. There is some evidence that the combination of vaccination and infection confers a stronger immunity, so a vaccinated person who gets a breakthrough infection (typically mild) may have the best immunity.

That the media has been fast and loose with the facts is now well known. However, what has been most harmful is the arrogance of so-called “experts” who make recommendations without foundation, declarations without substance, and claim to represent “Science” with a capital “S” — as if that’s possible for any one person, be they the head of the CDC, NIH, NIAID, FDA, or some academic laboratory. As a result of these misstatements, the longterm damage to public confidence in our government and academic institutions is, in my opinion, incalculable.

The third thing we know is that the virus can mutate to create new versions — the variants. We’ve been naming them after the Greek alphabet — Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and now Omicron. We also name them based on presumed origin, e.g. Wuhan or South Africa. The Greek letter method is much better because it doesn’t assume knowledge of an origin (the Omicron variant was first detected in South Africa, but likely arrived there from somewhere else), and it reduces unnecessary and unhelpful xenophobia. Still, our politicians reacted to the Omicron variant by shutting down travel between the US and several African nations, effectively penalizing the African nations for studying the virus and communicating scientific results. These travel bans are usually unhelpful — by the time of the ban, the variant had already spread beyond the borders — and even counterproductive if they interfere with collaborative research. Importantly, immunity — whether by vaccination or infection — provides some measure of protection against all the variants so far.

And each time we get exposed — whether via vaccination booster or infection — we develop a stronger immunity. At this point, with vaccines available, we should not ban travel, but rather increase vaccination drives (and recommend that people avoid large gatherings in small, closed spaces).

While I have the scientific and medical background to comment on this disease, I am by no means an “expert.” There are very few true “experts” on Covid because it’s a new disease, and what we don’t know is much more than what we do. But I can try to shed light on what we do and don’t know.

The first and most important thing we know is that the vaccines work. The vaccines, which target a key protein on the surface of the viral envelope, reduce infectivity.

This means that an infection with the Covid virus is less likely to cause severe disease and less likely to transmit to other people. However, this doesn’t mean that the vaccine will completely prevent infection. Breakthrough infections — an infection in a person who has immunity — are to be expected. We have all been exposed to influenza (“the flu”) and the common cold (caused by coronaviruses), yet we still get the flu and colds. But in most of us, these viral infections are self-limited, meaning that we take acetaminophen (Tylenol) and guaifenesin (Robitussin, Mucinex) and other “cold remedies,” get rest, and recover in a few days. This is what the vaccines accomplish for the novel Covid virus — a virus that our bodies had never encountered before and hence have no natural immunity against. The vaccines work!

The second thing we know is that immunity can be conferred by both infection and vaccination. Such immunity is long-lasting, with memory B cells targeting the viral proteins and memory T cells targeting cells that harbor the virus. Again, this doesn’t mean that immunized people cannot get sick, and the further out you are from immunization, the weaker the immunity. It just means that when immunized, we have the capacity to fight the

The fourth thing we know is that there is a post-Covid condition, often termed “long-Covid,” that can be quite debilitating. We don’t yet understand it. But it’s real and potentially very damaging. Long-Covid is less likely in vaccinated people, but vaccination is not a magic wand against infection or long-Covid. Covid is a scary disease, and ongoing research is essential to improving treatments.

The fifth thing we know is that N95 and surgical masks reduce aerosolization of viral particles and hence reduce transmissibility. This means that you are less likely to get infected when you are wearing a surgical mask around someone with Covid (who is hopefully also wearing a mask and keeping their distance), and even if you get infected, the viral load is lower so the disease is often less severe. But we also know that make-shift masks made of thin cloth and other materials, and masks that contain vents, do not provide adequate protection. In fact, cloth masks may increase aerosolization of the virus particles. Vented masks protect

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, illness, or medical condition. The author is not responsible for misuse of this information. The information presented is in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling or care. Anyone suffering from illness should consult a qualified health care professional.

February 2022 | 37

pandemic world in which we have immunity, maybe get boosters on a regular basis, but otherwise go back to our normal lives. To that end, for all the damage it’s currently causing, the Omicron variant may be a long-term public health blessing. It’s less virulent (less severe disease) yet much more infectious than the Delta variant. It’s infecting many more people, but causing a milder disease and less death. The media, of course, raises all the panic alarms. But this is how we defeat the pandemic — by converting it into a less virulent endemic virus. By some measures, the death rates from Omicron are on par with those from the flu.

The key problem is that our healthcare system gets overwhelmed by the high numbers of unvaccinated/ unimmunized individuals who contract the disease, which prevents people with normal healthcare issues — heart conditions, diabetes, asthma, trauma, etc. — from getting proper care. The solution is more vaccination.

Photo by Yaroslav Danylchenko

the wearer but not the people around the wearer, providing a minimal public health benefit. So wear a mask, but purchase a surgical mask. The best masks are N95 masks, but they need to be fitted and are more expensive and less accessible.

Surgical masks are probably good enough. Stay away from thin single-layer cloth masks. Branded athletic masks that are multilayered and washable are probably good as well.

We also know that masks interfere with human interaction.

We are genetically programmed to read each other’s faces.

With masks, we can’t do that so well. Sometimes it even interferes with our jobs. For example, as an oculofacial plastic surgeon, I cannot evaluate a face (for trauma, cancer, etc.) that is covered with a mask. Face covering is particularly problematic for younger children, who are still learning the nuances of human interactions. I have no specific recommendation for this; it’s just something to keep in mind.

Lastly, we now know that Covid is here to stay. We will not “stop” or “eliminate” Covid. It’s slowly becoming endemic, meaning that it’s entering the circulation of seasonal viruses that will continue to infect our bodies and which our immune systems will continue to fight. There will be no “post-Covid” as our politicians had promised us. But there will be a post38 | The Brick Magazine

However, in my experience, government mandates don’t work. On the contrary, given our government’s poor track record of communicating about the pandemic, mandates generate hostility among those most at risk for avoiding vaccination. If you are prone to trusting our public institutions, you’re probably already vaccinated (I am, and boosted as well, as are my wife and children and my entire extended family). But if you’re prone to be suspicious and inclined to conspiracy theories, the worst way to induce confidence is through government mandates. There are risks to vaccination — ignoring them worsens the confidence gap.

There are risks to everything in life, be it eating food, driving a car, exercising, attending an event, or any other activity that humans do all the time. Life is full of risks. But there are major risks to not vaccinating, and on the whole, the risks of not vaccinating are much higher than the risks of vaccinating.

In summary, you should get vaccinated and boosted because it’s good for you, it’s good for the people you love, it’s good for society, and it’s the patriotic thing to do.

Dr. Alon Kahana is a professor of oculoplastic surgery at Oakland University’s William Beaumont School of Medicine. He was born in Ramat Gan, Israel, and grew up in Connecticut. He completed his undergraduate studies in biochemistry at Brandeis University and received his MD and PhD in molecular genetics and cell biology from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.

In 2007, Dr. Kahana was recruited to the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, where he rose up the ranks to become tenured faculty with an international reputation in orbital surgery.

He has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications, multiple book chapters and reviews, and has given 100+ lectures throughout the United States and internationally.

Dr. Kahana sees patients in Ann Arbor, Livonia, and Flint, and operates at multiple locations throughout Southeast Michigan.

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