Page 18 - March 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Join Me at a Bridal Fair By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. First, a warm congratulations to the two fabulous women on my all-women staff who just got engaged. As I watch these young brides plan their weddings, I find myself reflecting on what we all do to prepare for weddings, and how much has changed. In 1946 my father, a fighter pilot just back from World War II, saw my mother walking across the quad at Auburn University. “She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen,” he said to me, even now smiling at the memory, “and I knew right then I would marry her.” Less than a year later, in a simple ceremony, my father in his a light tan suit and my mother in a modest Sunday dress, they were married. On Valentine’s Day this year, I brought my father home from the hospital to celebrate with my mother; they enjoyed dinner at my new home along with the rest of the family. Romance, I thought, has so many different faces. It is thus that I think of weddings as more than a day to look beautiful, for over the years the wedding has become an event, even an entire weekend, unto its own. Vows taken are shared by families and loved ones, and promises are made not only between the betrothed but between friends and relatives. They wish to see each other more, to stay in touch, to remain inspired and hopeful. And, no matter what the age of the couple, there is a particular youthfulness about a husband and wife to-be that cannot be replicated elsewhere. The actual day is one of spontaneity (from spur-of-the-moment toasts to unconstrained laughter), happiness (the joy of the present to the promise of forever), and celebration (Music! Dancing! Love!). Whether we are the mother of the bride, the maid of honor, or the flower girl, this
Ask Dr. Happy By Bob Nozik, MD Dear Dr. Happy, I don’t get what’s going on with young people today (my husband and I are retired). They all seem to wear ear-buds on the street, in stores, at dinner, or wherever. And not just that, but they spend every minute staring at their phones, and sending and receiving text-messages. I see couples in restaurants ignoring each other while texting or playing games on their phones. What kind of world is this? I think what these people are doing is nuts. All my friends agree with me; all, that is, but my “Everything is okay” husband. He just sits there smiling like it’s all just ducky. What’s wrong with him? ~ Really Annoyed
www.yourmonthlypaper.com is a day we all cherish—not just because of the way we looked, but because the way we felt-- just joyous! My mother, I am sure, prepared far less for her entire wedding than my two nurses have done in the past week, but her marriage was no less inspired for it. Still, all that we do as we look towards the weddings to come this season is nothing short of fun. From tanning beds to flower arrangements, from public gift registries to hush-hush beauty tweaks, there is much to plan. One place to begin the merriment is a bridal fair. There are some upcoming events in our area. I will be at a few of them, and I hope you will be there too! • Saturday, March 9th, 11am-3pm - Bridal Open House, Tiburon • Sunday, March 10th, 11am-4pm - The Romancer Wedding Show, Alameda • Sunday, March 17th, 11am-4pm - Happily Ever After Starts Here Bridal Faire, El Cerrito • Sunday, April 7th, 11am-4pm - The Bay Area Wedding Fair, San Ramon • Sunday, April 21st, 11am-4pm - San Francisco’s Bay Area Wedding Fair & Gown Sale, San Francisco • Saturday, April 27th, 1pm-4pm - Bridal Faire, San Ramon Dr. Barbara Persons is a Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or drbarb@ personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
Lindsay continued from front page for those in need). About 95% of animals treated are admitted due to adverse contact with human activity. While the hospital provides treatment, the Museum provides educational programs to help prevent the problems that have brought the animals to their care. Daily Museum programs open to the public include the Petting Circle where one can learn about and touch a rabbit, guinea pig, or hamster. The new Wildlife Hospital Behind the Scenes presentation allows for a real-time peek at animal exams and treatment. The new Raptors! exhibit allows for a true bird’s eye view of flight, as participants lie horizontally in front of a simulation screen, a la Disney’s Soarin’ Over California. Meet one of the ambassadors at close range, and then watch him take his afternoon meal, or sit for a while, and lose
Dear Really Annoyed, The past decade or so has seen unprecedented advances in consumer technology. So, we now have telecommunication hardware unlike anything we’ve had before. As a member of the older generation, you and your friends are, understandably, more observers than participants in all this new stuff. In addition, there is a phenomenon called Cultural Lag. Culture needs time to catch up with the best way for using the new technological innovations and this causes social problems and conflicts. So, we shouldn’t be surprised or dismayed when we see the effects of this cultural lag going on. Your husband has the right idea: amused tolerance and curiosity are much better ways to view what’s happening rather than your more judgmental dismay. It is also more realistic and much better for your happiness.
Happiness Tip Because it is so seductive, many people tend to grow more and more judgmental as they grow older. This is a big mistake, and here’s why. When we are judging we are comparing what’s going on in life with our standard of what we have arbitrarily decided is ‘right.’ Because life presents in so many ways but only one way will match our standard, we will make many more negative judgments than positive ones. The problem is that making negative judgments all day long pulls negative emotions in with them. This is why highly judgmental people tend to be pretty unhappy much of the time. So, for the sake of your happiness, learn to judge less. Please send questions/comments for Dr. Happy to Pollyannan@aol.com.
yourself in the beehive activity of up to 10,000 honeybees obeying their queen (who is identified with a large white dot). More than 50 species of live, non-releasable, native California animals are on display at Lindsay, such ground squirrels, Virginia opossums and a gray fox named Kin-tah who was found in a barn near Humboldt, California. Other creatures, such as Mexican free-tailed bats and tarantulas, dwell behind the scenes and make appearances for special presentations and school programs. Officially founded in 1955 by Alexander Lindsay, a local businessman who taught neighborhood children about nature, the Museum has experienced a number of name and location changes over the years. Originally housed in an elementary school, the Lindsay Junior Museum moved in 1965 to a 5,000 square foot water pump house in Larkey Park where it housed non-releasable native wildlife and natural history objects. In 1987, The “Junior” was dropped from the name in order to reflect its appeal to all age groups. Another move to its current 28,000 square foot location
See Lindsay continued on page 19