May 2023

Spotlighting North Central Texas Seniors

May 2023

Hoopla Do the hustle

Our ultimate senior activity guide will keep you movin’ and groovin’

P. 18-20

ALSO INSIDE:

Weatherford man rekindles his love of bees

Granbury readers recall Colonial tournaments from the past

Azle’s Chris Journeay lands his dream job

Widowed persons organization stretches across entire area

In 1973, George Lucas began developing a screenplay for what would be the first film in the original trilogy of Star Wars films.

Word Find

Darth Vader

Light Saber

Luke Skywalker

Millennium Falcon

Hans Solo

Wookie

Death Star

Droid

Princess Leia

Dark Side

Tatooine

Mos Eisley Cantina

Rebellion

Obiwan Kenobi

The Force

Galaxy

Yoda

Old Republic Jabba

Stormtroopers

Boba Fett

Ewok

Nerf Herder

Trilogy

Xwing Fighter Blaster

Empire

Salacious Crumb

Bowcaster

Hyperdrive

Stardestroyer

Mandalorian

E R D M H B O U A Y G D K U Z

L H H T N M T U W E R V I F S E P Z

A T T A H A T C I E L O B A W N E E

W N M R E G A R B N S L L A E O R R

Y A F D R S I A O D N A I O X B D Y

K J T N T E S F P O C E B O R I L X

S B Z E X T D H G I P Z L E N E O A

E L R W H L A A O N Y E T L R X P L

K U P G O N Y U V Z I S R I I W H A

U G I M S O S H J H A W P S U M J G

L L J S D C K A R L T M X D Q A P O

H H O E R N B I B B E R V B X F M T

H L W U Y B R I E H O K A L K D L U

O I M A A C X K Y T F B F D Y Z W X

B B P U S M E V U T T E F A B O B P

As a REALTOR®, Cynthia understands the decision to move can be difficult, especially for seniors. She can help you navigate your choices and wants to serve as a resource and guide.

Cynthia can guide you through the process of selling or buying your home, making the transaction less stressful. And, as a senior or a veteran, you may qualify for special financing options.

As a business owner that serves Parker, Hood and Tarrant counties, she has vast knowledge of these communities and neighborhoods. Together, we can find the home of your dreams.

Cynthia Henry | CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company

Phone: 817-894-1822

Email: cynthiahenry@judgefite.com

Web: http://cynthiahenry.sites.c21.homes

Busy as a bee

Phillip Booker stays busy since rekindling interest in beekeeping

by John English Hoopla Correspondent

Phillip Booker first became interested in beekeeping as a young teenager when it was assigned to him as a chore by his grandparents in Arizona.

Following a four decade-long hiatus from what is referred to as apiculture, the Weatherford man resumed it as a hobby eight years ago.

“My wife bought me a little starter hive,” Booker said. “So I just kind of ran with it. It’s a knowledge-based hobby, which means you have to think a lot. That’s probably what I enjoy about it the most.”

Booker, 60, will soon be helping others to better understand the insect that is critical to the survival of life on earth and stressed that their preservation is of the utmost importance.

“It really comes down to pollination,” Booker said. “There are different estimates, but between 75 and 95 percent of our food comes from bees. Take almonds for instance. In an almond field, you get 215 pounds of almonds per acre without bees, but if you have bees, you get more than 2,000 pounds. It is phenomenally higher with bees.”

Booker’s wife, Julie, is president of the 20th Century Club of Weatherford, which will be hosting a workshop this month themed “Protect the Pollinators.”

Booker, 60, who is a licensed master electrician and currently works for Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, will make a presen-

tation to the group at 10 a.m. on May 20 at 321 South Main Street in Weatherford. At the honeybee workshop, Booker will have a bee hat, jacket and gloves, all of which kids will be allowed to try on.

“My wife asked me to talk a little bit about bees and how honey gets made,” Booker said. “And also how I extract it from the comb. I’m also going to have an observation hive that I picked up specifically for this event, where there is a frame that is laminated plexiglass, and you can see the bees move around on one of the frames inside the hive. We’re also going to set up an extractor so that the kids can play with that when they come in. We’re going to try to make it as interactive as possible. We are going to have some honey there that they can taste, and we will cut open a honey comb so they can see the inside. We’ll also extract some honey.”

The group will give out small jars of honey and have some coloring pages for kids as well.

Booker will also discuss some of the problems that the bee population is currently facing.

“Bees are threatened because there’s a mite that has been attacking them,” Booker said. “And then there is a pesticide issue. But the pesticide issue is mainly that people are not following instructions. When you follow the instructions on the label and use your pesticides in the evening after the bees have already gone to their hives, we won’t have as big a die off as we have been having.

“This time of year, people are applying it in the middle of the afternoon when the bees are out foraging. If you wait until the evening when the bees are in for the night, the next morning, the pesticides will not affect the bees as much.”

Booker said there are some misconceptions about honeybees as well.

“In general, bees are very docile insects,”

on P. 6)

Phillip Booker will explain how he extracts honey from combs at upcoming workshop.

(Continued from P. 4)

Booker said. “Each bee has a role in its life, and the very last role they have before their lives are worn out is guard bee. The last thing it wants to do is sting somebody, because if it stings somebody it dies. Now if it feels threatened it will sting, but that’s only if someone swats at them. Otherwise, they will usually leave you alone if you leave them alone.”

So what should a person do if they encounter a hive or swarm?

“If it’s not bothering anybody, just let it be,” Booker said. “Or call a beekeeper, and we’ll come over and collect it and put it into a hive. If we do that, they have about a 95 percent chance of survival. If the bees stay in the wild, they probably have about a 10 percent chance of making it, because they it might go to someone’s house and get sprayed with Raid. Or, they might get into a piece of

farm equipment, and once it starts up, it will tear it apart, so you just don’t know.”

Booker, who served in the U.S. Air Force and has traveled all over the world, said he hopes people take away a few things from the workshop.

“I want for people to learn about bees and their process and life cycle, and how the bees’ culture is collective and not independent,” Booker said. “You can’t make a bee do anything you want it to do, but you can coax it and with a little trial and error, you can work with them.”

The hobby does have its own perils, and Booker said he has received his share of stings.

“At least two or three,” Booker laughed. “No, I’ve had a wardrobe malfunction where I got probably 60 stings. Everything that could go wrong went wrong, but you know, you learn from it. I sealed off my suit and got to a safe distance away, and

then what I found works best is Benadryl and Pepcid.”

Booker no longer swells up when he is stung as he has built up a resistance, and in spite of the problems confronting the world’s bee population, the Weatherford man said there is hope.

“We’ve learned a lot about this mite and different ways to treat it,” Booker said.

“Bees are also starting to build a resistance to them and learning how to self-clean their hives to get rid of them. But we’re not quite there yet. There’s still work to do.”

Learn about bees at the upcoming demonstration by senior beekeeper Phillip Booker.

Journeay to happiness

Chris Journeay turned bad luck into an opportunity to pursue his lifelong dream

By John English Hoopla Correspondent

A moped accident 10 years ago proved to be one of the worst things – and also one of the best – that’s ever happened to Chris Journeay.

The Azle man sustained multiple injuries in the accident that rendered him convalescent for quite some time, when all he really wanted to do was go back to work. Journeay had experience in different professions from server to construction worker, but was unable to work eight straight hours due to his injuries. It was then, at one of the most difficult times of his life, that opportunity knocked.

“Some people told me about a guy playing music at a restaurant in Azle where I live,” Journeay said. “He would go in there and play for tips. A friend of mine told me about it and said, ‘You know, you’re healthy enough to sit on a bar stool and play a guitar.’ And I thought, ‘Okay, I’ll give it a shot.’”

Journeay, 54, started by performing at two restaurants in Azle, strictly for tips. One evening, the bartender at one of the restaurants told Journeay that a lady sitting at one of the tables wanted to talk to him when he took a break.

“I went over to the lady’s table, and it turned out that she was the activities director at the Richland Hills Rehabilitation Center,” Journeay said. “She said that they had entertainers that played at nursing centers, but that there were not enough of them. She asked me if I would come play for her people and I did.”

After he performed, the activities director had more good news.

“She told me they paid people to do this and gave me a check,” Journeay said. “She asked if I would play for them once a month, and I said sure. I never thought much about it. I played a few months there and was still playing my restaurants for tips.”

Then one day she called him into her office with an idea.

“She said, ‘You’re trying to heal from this wreck and go back to work, and your whole life you’ve wanted to play music,’” Journeay said. “She said, ‘How about if I schedule you at different places and you do this for a living?’ And I said I had never thought about that.”

Journeay had to play for free at multiple venues when he first started out to demonstrate his ability. The Azle man went and performed 40 times in the first month of his new venture completely gratis.

“And about 34 of them hired me to come back the next month,” Journeay said. “So as it turns out, it is what I get to do for a living. I’m not famous and it is not particularly glamorous, but I love music, and I present a true show to them. And I still play bars and restaurants at night, but this is how I make my living.”

Journeay grew up in Mississippi and moved to Texas in 2009. The Azle man

said he thoroughly enjoys performing for seniors and actually played at the Senior Synergy Expo in May of 2022.

“That was wonderful,” Journeay said. “I always try to put myself in their shoes, and I remember that one day, God willing, I’m going to get older and I am going to want someone to come and play for me and care about me.”

Journeay has been performing now since 2017, but has been playing music for 43 years. He mainly plays classic country, as well as gospel and patriotic music, which are mostly covers, though he does have a few originals.

“I played at a place recently where a lady motioned to me with her finger to come over,” he said. “She whispered, ‘I like your music.’ That’s all she said. A few other people raised their eyebrows and looked astonished and told me that she has never said a word. That makes you feel good.”

Journeay said he will continue to perform until “I go to heaven,” and said he finds his life very fulfilling.

“I get to do what I love to do for a living, and it makes them happy,” Journeay said. “And that’s a different kind of a payoff. When you go to a place and there is a person who is excited to see you and you find out that they never really get excited about anything, that’s a payoff you can’t really describe.”

Chris Journeay loves playing music at senior living communities.

Quilter of the Month

Patti’s Last Resort has nominated Bonny Arlington of Granbury for the Quilter of the Month. Bonny’s favorite quilt is one she started back in the 1990s when manufacturers were heavily promoting Civil War reproduction fabrics and patterns. She says the original quilt used to create this pattern was made in 1863. It has 5,000 pieces of fabric and took her 11 years to finish. To nominate a friend or customer for Quilter of the Month, email Hoopla at seniors@ hooplamagazine.com.

Happy Happens Here!

Somebody Lean On

Widowed Persons Service offers grief sessions and fellowship at regular activities throughout area

by John English Hoopla Correspondent

Alfred Lord Tennyson once wrote, “If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever.”

For many widows and widowers, this sentiment reflects a bitter personal reality that can be difficult to overcome without the support of others who understand their circumstances because they have experienced them first hand.

That is where the Widowed Persons Service of Tarrant County steps in.

Formed in 1973 in association with AARP, the Widowed Persons Service of Tarrant County’s primary objective is to reach the widowed to more effectively adjust to the loss of a spouse.

WPS member Ann Barnes said that the organization strives to provide recently-widowed men and women with an opportunity for fellowship and understanding.

“I’ve been a widow for seven years, and I’m deeply involved in it,” Barnes said. “We try to do all that we can to help other people, and I think it would be a great idea if we could all help each other.”

Barnes, 79, who lost her beloved husband Dan after 53 years of marriage in 2016, said that the organization has been a huge help to her in navigating her own per-

sonal loss.

“This has been such a great help to me, because you don’t really lose your grief,” Anne said. “You still have grief in your heart. But you see that other people are going through this same thing, and once you get on board, you realize how much it helps.”

Originally from Clarksville, Texas, Barnes has lived in Burleson for the last 40 years where she said that many of the activities the organization hosts are based.

Such activities include weekly breakfasts, games, cruises, bowling, and dances among others.

“We don’t want to make any money,” Barnes said. “We just want to pay our bills and be there for everyone.”

The WPS of Tarrant County is a 501(c) and depends entirely on community and volunteer support.

According to its web site, www.wpstc. org, the organization conducts grief support sessions throughout the area. The meetings are led by trained facilitators, and break-out sessions are led by volun-

teers who listen and visit with individuals. The group also meets regularly for breakfast, lunch and dinner gatherings throughout the area.

Widowed Persons Service of Tarrant County was hit hard by the pandemic, losing a sizeable portion of its membership, and the organization welcomes anyone of any age or background who has suffered the loss of a spouse to join.

Barnes said that she was initially reluctant to join the WPS because she was not sure she would fit in.

Now she believes it is one of the best decisions of her life.

“I had a friend, Betty, that just kept after me,” Barnes said. “I didn’t want to do it for the longest time and then finally I went to my first meeting, which was at Our Place restaurant in Burleson. I didn’t enjoy it at all...but the next time I went, I ate in a different area with very nice people and then I just kept coming back. I believe in this. I believe in what we do. I really do.”

People can join by simply attending one of the weekly breakfasts and the group will help them from there.

Barnes said she understands that people can be reticent to join at such a difficult time in their lives and added that members understand.

“I’ve had a lady at the gym that I’ve told

‘You see other people are going through this same thing, and once you get on board, you realize how much it helps.’

– WPS member Ann Barnes

about it, and she has said she is thinking about joining,” Barnes said. “And that’s all you can do. Some people are not at that point yet. All you can do is be sympathetic and let them know that if they change their mind and decide to join, there is a

Members of Widowed Persons Services of Tarrant County meet for meals and dances all over the area, even outside of Tarrant County.

place here for them.”

Visit the organization’s web site, www. wpstc.org, for more information. You can

also reach them at 817-551-2922. They’re open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

COURTESY

WPS board members Carol Stacy, left, and Ann Barnes.

COURTESY

Do you miss receiving letters and cards in the mail? Make new friends by joining a Hoopla Pen Pal Circle! Circles are limited to 10 people so communicating with your circle only costs you the price of 9 first-class stamps. We ask that you strive to mail your new friends at least once per month. To join, send a card or letter to Hoopla, P.O. Box 305, Weatherford, TX 76086. Please note: no business solicitations are allowed in these circles.

Ace in the Hole

Historic Colonial golf tournament forged lasting memories

by Roger Enlow Hoopla Correspondent

Randy Frederick is the Forrest Gump of Granbury, so says his longtime buddy Steve Powell.

Just like Forrest, it seems that Frederick is always in the right place at the right time.

* He was among the frantic fans when legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix lit up Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth.

tee box at the 1975 Tournament Players Championship, which was played at Colonial that sweltering August weekend. My wife Karan was sitting on a camp stool when Nicklaus and his fellow players arrived at the tee. When he bent down to fill a cup of water, his derriere and sweat-soaked light-blue checkered polyester pants were only inches away from Karan’s face. A moment frozen in time.

May 25-28

Colonial Country Club

* He’s been in restaurants when he spotted Paul Newman and G. Gordon Liddy at nearby tables.

Fort Worth

Purse: $8.7 million

* He was standing in line for the Johnny Carson Show in Burbank when up walked Bob Hope to chat with the patrons.

* He was with the gallery on No. 2 tee box at Colonial Country Club when Jack Nicklaus was preparing to hit and accidentally tapped Frederick’s leg with his club. Nicklaus apologized before resetting and launching one of his towering drives.

Nicklaus’ golf club never touched me, but we had an up close and personal experience with the superstar on the 18th

The sweet Colonial golf tournament memories flow this time every year, on the eve of the longestrunning stop on the PGA Tour at the same venue. I grew up in Granbury, near the banks of the Brazos River where I’m sure I tramped through wagonloads of poison ivy. But it wasn’t until walking the Trinity River overgrowth at Colonial that I broke out in dozens of itchy blisters that warranted a run on calamine lotion at Ron’s Pharmacy.

My good friend Gary Marks was lucky. He never complained about the poison ivy or oak or whatever it was at Colonial because he was usually walking the pristine fairways. His dad, Glen Rose physician Dr. Roger

Marks, was a Colonial member and golfer. The two played together many Friday afternoons after Gary finished his last class at nearby Texas Wesleyan College.

Gary shivers when thinking back to one Friday afternoon when the temperature fell to 35 degrees with the north wind howling. “Willie,” a longtime caddy, carried both bags. Willie had his own way of staying warm that frigid day. When he thought no one was looking, he’d reach in his pocket for a shot of whisky.

Dr. Marks joined Colonial in 1967 when Gary was a senior at Glen Rose High School. For

graduation his dad bought him a shiny new set of Ben Hogan woods. That same year the two began attending the Colonial tournament. “Big Daddy” Julius Boros became their favorite golfer.

“He was a big, tall guy,” Gary recalls. “He always had a cigarette in his hand.”

Boros didn’t waste any time playing. “When it was time for him to hit a golf ball, he pulled a club out of the bag, stepped to the ball and hit it,” Gary said.

Boros was one of the top golfers of the mid-century. He won 18 times on the PGA Tour, including three majors -- the ‘52 and ‘63 U.S. Open and ‘68 PGA.

Dr. Roger Marks tees off in the Colonial pro-am.

2023 Charles Schwab Challenge

Gary remembers seeing Nicklaus for the first time. The Golden Bear was standing on No. 15 fairway “a little overweight and smoking a big ol’ cigar. He obviously changed his ways.”

On late Saturday afternoon in the ‘71 tournament Gary and his dad were on 18 fairway when Gene Littler pushed his drive to the right in a draw under a tree. Littler had to hit under a long, low limb to reach the green.

Gary vividly remembers Littler contemplating the shot before hitting a perfect low iron that rolled up to the green and into the hole for a spectacular eagle 2. Littler went on to win the tournament.

Who can say they saw the immortal Ben Hogan compete on tour? Gary can. “It was probably his last year he played at Colonial. I remember I saw him on No. 11. He had a cigarette in

his hand, a blue shirt and his white cap. He was so small. It was surreal to see him walking down the fairway. It’s something I’ll always remember.”

The two were more than tournament witnesses. Dr. Marks had the pleasure of playing in several Colonial pro-ams. Gary was his caddy.

“Dad was a pretty good amateur golfer for his age,” Gary said. “He played Colonial a lot.”

During the tournament the driving range wasn’t accessible to the amateurs, so on the way to the pro-am Dr. Marks liked to stop at a park in Benbrook to warm up and hit short irons. Gary shagged the balls.

Amateur golfers playing with a touring pro and in front of large galleries can be a daunting task. Gary remembers his father’s opening tee shot on No. 1. “He was as nervous as could be, but he stepped up and put it right down the middle of the fairway,” Gary said. “On No. 1 those fans are right there. You hook it and you’re going to nail somebody.”

The par 4 ninth hole at Colonial requires a precision second shot over water. One of Gary’s favorite memories is seeing his dad hitting his shot over the water and on the green and sinking the putt for birdie, giving his team a net eagle.

Colonial members lend their lockers to the pros during the week of the tournament. One of the game’s stars, Tom Watson, was assigned Dr. Marks’ locker. After a tournament Dr. Marks found a note in the locker. It said, “Tempo, dammit, tempo.”

Gary, now a Pecan Plantation resident, plays Squaw Valley Golf Course near Glen Rose these days, but he’ll always remember the glorious days of Colonial.

“I got to walk along with the pros -- Hal Sutton, Hubert Green, Bruce Devlin. I remember seeing Lee Trevino in the locker room sitting on the couch and reading a newspaper. They were all nice guys. I remember when dad was on No. 7 and hit a beautiful drive down the fairway. The pro said something to the effect, ‘I wish I had a follow-through like that.’

“I couldn’t have had a better father-son experience.”

From left: Dr. Roger Marks, PGA tour player Hubert Green, Gary Marks.

Get Up & Go

A full month of events curated especially for North Central Texas seniors

Knitty Gritty Knitting and Crochet Group for all ages, no experience necessary, May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, White Settlement Road Public Library, 8215 White Settlement, 3 to 4 p.m. Bring your own yarn and knitting needles or crochet hook.

Chicken Poop Bingo, bring $1 and $5 bills, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, Warren’s Backyard, 2901 Weatherford Hwy, Granbury, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Music Bingo at Panther Island, includes music, beer and bingo, Panther Island Brewing, 501 N. Main Street, Fort Worth, May 3, 7 p.m.,

Dueling Pianos , benefitting United Way of Hood County, Warren’s Backyard, 2901 Weatherford Highway, Granbury, May 4, 6 p.m. For tickets, call 817-579-5100 or email crystalmoore@unitedwayhoodcounty.com

May the Fourth Be With You, Granbury celebration of Star Wars includes food and drinks and an out-of-this-world DJ. Prizes awarded for best costume, Granbury Square Plaza, 201 E. Pearl Street, Granbury, May 4, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. come and go.

May the Fourth Be With You, Weatherford celebration of Star Wars includes food and drinks, commemorative pint glasses, and costume contest, Shep’s, 202 Fort Worth Highway, Weatherford, May 4, 7 to 10 p.m.

Springtown Senior Center Dances: country/ western bands every Thursday and Saturday night, May 4, 6,11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27, Springtown Senior Activity Center, 1070 N. Main Street, Springtown, 7 to 10 p.m. Bands and unanticipated closures on center’s Facebook. $5 admission.

Walking Club meets May 4, 11, 18, 25, Weatherford Senior Center, 1220 Holland Lake Drive, Weatherford, 8:30 a.m.

Gardening Club meets May 4, 11, 18, 25, Weatherford Senior Center, 1220 Holland Lake Drive, Weatherford, 9 a.m.

Happy Hour at the Kimbell Art Museum includes live entertainment, snacks and beverages available for purchase, May 5, 12, 19, 26, Kimbell Art Museum, Kahn Building (Cafe), 3333 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, 5 to 7 p.m. Free admission.

Mayfest, fun for the whole family, Trinity Park, Fort Worth, May 4-7.

Diamond Rio in concert, Arlington Music Hall, 224 N. Center Street, Arlington, May 4, 8 p.m. Call 817-226-4400 for ticket information.

Dog Days in the Gardens, a chance to play with your dog at Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, plus a dog-themed artisan market (from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday), Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth, May 6-7, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free to members ($5 per dog). Others pay regular admission plus $5 per dog. Complimentary bandanas. Hydration stations available throughout gardens.

First Friday at the Modern, features live music, special menu and specialty drinks. Admission is free all day, Modern Museum of Art, 3200 Darnell Street, Fort Worth, May 5. Special festivities begin at 5 p.m. and include a 20-minute tour at 6:30 p.m.

Friends of the Weatherford Library Spring Luncheon includes lunch and motivational speaker Vicki Hitzges, Doss Heritage and Culture Center, 1400 Texas Drive, Weatherford, May 5, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tickets $25 each. Call 817994-7360.

Talking Tombstone Tour - A Grave Affair, hosted by the Parker County Historical Society, features volunteers dressed as local historical figures, including Oliver Loving and Mary Martin, Old City Greenwood Cemetery, 400 E. Water Street, Weatherford, May 6, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tours start every 30 minutes with each tour taking roughly 75 minutes. $15 for adults (10 years or older) and $10 for children. Cash or check only.

Girls’ Night Out: Derby Day Party and Wine

Tasting: Support senior horses at Golden Reward Sanctuary by sipping wine in the pasture, plus there will be games and a complimentary wine glass, Golden Reward Sanctuary, 1201 Friendship Road, Weatherford, May 6, 5 to 7 p.m., Purchase tickets by calling 817-319-7967.

Free Community Yoga Class, bring your mat and water, May 6, 13, 20, 27, The Trailhead at Clearfork, 4801 Edwards Ranch Road, Fort Worth, 9 to 10 a.m.

Bird Walk, wear appropriate clothing and shoes, May 6, Acton Nature Center, 6500 Smoky Hill Court, Granbury, 7 a.m. Free to public.

Sunset on the Square, al fresco dining served beginning at 7 p.m., northeast quadrant of Weatherford square, May 7, starts at 6 p.m. and ends shortly after sunset. For tickets call 817-6144239.

Gospel Sunday Brunch, al fresco and indoor dining, bocco ball courts, May 7, 14, 21, 28, Gardens of Gemelle, 4400 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sip & Shop at Fort Worth Botanic Garden, includes 30 artisan vendors, food trucks, live music and more, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth, May 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission.

Lake Granbury Art Association meeting, May 8, Shanley House Gallery, 224 N. Travis St., Granbury, 6 p.m.

Craft Night (for adults), May 9 , Hood County Library, 222 N. Travis St., Granbury, 6-7 p.m. Reservations online.

Granbury Knitting Guild meeting includes knitting classes for beginners each month, May 9, First Presbyterian Church, 303 Bridge Street, Granbury, 9:30 a.m.

Second Thursdays at Amon Carter Museum, featuring cocktails, creativity and conversation, May 11, Amon Carter Museum, 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., 5 to 8 p.m. Free event with reservations required. Call (817) 989-5013.

Tracy Lawrence in concert, Billy Bob’s, 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, May 12, 10 p.m. Call 817624-7117 for tickets information.

After Hours in the Garden includes delicious bites, adult beverages and live music, Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort

Worth, May 12, 6:30 p.m., $18 members, $25 non-members. Tickets include one wine, beer or non-alcoholic beverage and light bites. Drinks available for purchase. No coolers. Blankets are allowed.

Mineral Wells Senior Center Dance featuring the music of The Lonesome Fugitive, May 12, 102 N.W. 6th Ave., Mineral Wells, 7 p.m., $5 admission includes snacks and drinks.

Spring Creek Musical features live music in an outdoor venue, May 12, Spring Creek Tabernacle, 104 Spring Creek Road, Weatherford, 6 p.m. Free admission.

Girls Night Out on Granbury Square includes live entertainment, dining, shopping and door prizes, May 13, Granbury Square, 3 to 7 p.m. Ask for punch card for a chance to win a $500 shopping spree.

Jurassic Quest includes life-size, sky scraping dinosaurs, walking dinosaur rides, fossils, life-size T-rex skull and kids activities, Fort Worth Convention Center, 1201 Houston Street, Fort Worth, May 12-14. For tickets, go to www.jurassicquest. com.

Experimental Aircraft Association meeting starts with pancake breakfast at 8:30 a.m., May 13, Pecan Plantation Airport, 9600 Airpark Dr., Granbury,10 a.m.

Pups, Pickles, Pops, a pet adoption event that includes free pickle tastings, plus Frios Gourmet Pops from 1 to 3 p.m. and Allie’s Animal Rescue

will be on hand from 1 to 3 p.m. Come find your new best friend! Best Maid Pickle Emporium, 829 W. Vickery Blvd., Fort Worth, May 13, noon to 4 p.m. Free admission.

Sip and Shop includes vendors and brunch specials, Bourbon-n-Branch Brewing, 900 Cinema Drive, Hudson Oaks, May 13, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free admission. Receive 25% off bottles of wine, $15 bottles of champagne, $4 mimosas, $6 bloody marys.

Cars For A Cause Car Show includes food trucks, vendors, Springtown Square, May 13, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lola’s Local Farmers Market, featuring 30+ locally-grown and produced vendors, live music, bar bites and food trucks, May 14, 2000 W. Berry Street, Fort Worth, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission. Pets welcome.

Granbury Quilting Guild meeting, May 15, United Cooperative Services Community Room, 320 Fall Creek Hwy., Granbury, 6 p.m.

Book Club discusses “The Words Between Us,” by Erin Bartels, May 16, Azle Memorial Library, 333 W. Main Street, Azle, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Request this month’s title at the reference desk (while supplies last).

Weatherford Library Book Club discusses “Second Life of Mirielle West,” by Amdan Skenandore, May 16, 6 to 7 p.m., 1014 Charles Street, Weatherford.

North Fort Worth Book Club discusses “The Dragon Queen by William Andrews,” May 18, World Blend, 5410 Basswood Blvd., Fort Worth, 6 to 8 p.m.

Artful Moments for Dementia Patients and Caregivers,exploration of Amon Carter museum exhibits, hands-on activities, May 18, Amon Carter Museum, 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., 1:30 to 3 p.m. Register online at cartermuseum.org or call 817-989-5013.

Give My Regards To Broadway, a spring concert by Granbury Civic Chorus, May 18, 7 p.m., Acton Methodist Church, 3433 Fall Creek Highway, Granbury. Free admission.

Cowtown Coin Show will include approximately 35 exhibitors, White Settlement Events Center, 405 N. Las Vegas Trail, May 19-20, Friday noon to 5, Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., $3 admission (good for both days).

Light Up the Blues benefit concert, featuring Slade Coulter with Parker Ryan, Warren’s Backyard, 2901 Weatherford Highway, Granbury, May 20, 7 p.m. Benefits Lake Pointe Academy for children and families with autism and learning disabilities.

Honeybee Workshop hosted by the Twentieth Century Club, includes a demonstration by beekeeper Phillip Booker, 321 S. Main Street, Weatherford, May 20, 10 a.m.

Lola’s Rock ’n’ Roll Rummage Sale, Fort Worth’s largest running outdoor monthly market featuring artists, creators and collectors, plus music and food, May 21, 2000 W. Berry Street, Fort Worth, noon to 5 p.m. Free admission.

Granbury Writers’ Bloc for writers, authors and those who love the craft of writing, May 22, Waterview, The Cove, 101 Watermark Blvd., Granbury, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Midcities Stamp Club meet includes buy/trade time before and after, May 23, Bentwater Activity Center, 1800 W Emerald Ct., Granbury, 7 p.m.

Novel Idea Book Club discusses “The Paris Apartment,” by Lucy Foley, May 23, Hood County Library, 222 N. Travis St., Granbury, 6 to 7 p.m.

Charles Schwab Challenge, one of professional golf’s most prestigious tournaments, Colonial

Country Club, Fort Worth, May 25-28. Tickets: www.charlesschwabchallenge.com/tickets

38 Special in concert, Billy Bob’s, 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, May 26, 10 p.m. Call 817-6247117 for tickets information.

John Wayne Day celebration at the John Wayne: An American Experience museum, 2501 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, May 26, 2-4 p.m. (exhibit open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.), free admission.

Memorial Day Ceremony, Veteran’s Memorial Park, Springtown, May 27, 10 a.m.

Stockyards Championship Rodeo, Cowtown Coliseum, 121 E. Exchange, Fort Worth, May 28

Memorial Day Ceremony at Memorial Lane, 561 N. Travis Street, Granbury, May 29, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Other Memorial Day ceremonies were not scheduled at press time, but there’s likely one in your area. The easiest way to find out is to call your local chamber of commerce.

Hillbilly Throwdown, a family-friendly float festival that includes fishing, tubing, kayaking, vendors and live music, 7026 River Trail, Weatherford, May 27-28. BYOB (no glass) Tickets $15$50 through www.eventbrite.com. Camping arrangements must be made in advance through Sandy Bottoms River Company online.

Submit your event for consideration by calling 817-894-1822 or emailing seniors@ hooplamagazine.com.

Legacy Oaks of Azle on April 27

Marguerite Hudson to be honored at

By Cynthia Henry Hoopla Publisher

Surviving in today’s world is not easy, and nobody knows that better than 97-year-old Marguerite Hudson, who has weathered storms on the Gulf Coast much of her life.

She was born in Mississippi, but as a young mother, she and her first husband moved to New Orleans, where they were completing their education after the second world war.

“We never missed a Mardi Gras parade,” she said. “We would dress in costume and go to St. Charles Avenue, which is a more family-oriented parade.”

On the day of Mardi Gras, Marguerite and her husband would go to the big parade without the daughters.

“We were happy there, but as they got older, we thought it’s probably not a good place to bring them up.”

Marguerite’s husband was offered a position as a clinical psychologist in California; so they relocated to Malibu, where she taught elementary students. It was nice, but the family was thrilled to come back home six years later when her husband was named the director at Gulf Coast Mental Health Center in Gulfport.

In 1969, Hurricane Camille ripped through the area, destroying the family’s home. The bottom floor was completely gutted by high water. The top floor received damage from falling rain. The couple rebuilt but only to sell it and build another home 20 miles inland. The couple built a French Colonial house because it reminded them of New Orleans. They salvaged bricks from their old home and created a wall in the family room, or the Camille Room as they called it.

Unfortunately, Marguerite’s bad luck with storms did not end there. She was unable to evacuate during Katrina in 2005.

After the death of her first husband in 1994, Marguerite met an old classmate at a reunion. The two communicated for a year before marrying. He suffered a heart attack and became an invalid two years later. He required regular diaylsis and had to be on oxygen at all times.

Marguerite says she never minded being

a caregiver, but a lack of portable oxygen kept the pair from leaving Gulfport before Katrina hit. The portable tanks they had would only provide oxygen 10-12 hours, which she knew that was not enough to get through traffic in an evacuation. By the time they got a tank big enough to hold a full day’s worth of oxygen, it was too late to leave. Katrina was approaching.

Gulfport received 125 mph winds during the storm. Marguerite, who was 80 at the time, said she watched out the windows as two pecan trees were uprooted. Water started to seep in through their door. Because she could not move her husband’s hospital bed, it sat in front of the chimney in the living room.

“It was terrifying,” she said. “I just stayed there, facing the hospital bed, and we just prayed. It was horrible. When a big gust of wind would come down the chimney, I was afraid it would cave in on him.”

When the storm was over, the couple left the area, but even that was a challenge. Pine trees littered the highway. Some areas of the road were closed, but because her husband was on oxygen, they were allowed through. At times she had to drive on the grass to avoid debris.

Of course, once they reached an unaffected area, no hotel rooms were available. Exhausted and somewhat defeated, Marguerite’s husband collapsed. He was admitted into the hospital where, thankfully, Marguerite was offered a bed in his room. Upon his release, the couple found a place to rent.

“I think when you go through troubles it makes you stronger,” she said. “I’ve realized that I never once felt really depressed. We just somehow got the strength, and that’s the spirit of the coast. Many lost everything, but they didn’t give up.”

Three weeks later, when electricity was restored, Marguerite put her husband in a skilled nursing facility and travelled back to assess the damage in Gulfport. There she fought with insurance companies and hired someone to tarp the house for a second time and clean up the fallen trees. Luckily, the house was liveable. She brought her husband back to Gulfport when dialysis centers reopened a couple of months later. He died that same year.

An exhausted Marguerite realized she needed to be closer to family, so she built a home in Azle near one of her daughters. She lived there until she relocated to Legacy Oaks four years ago.

The senior living community is honoring Marguerite with a celebration on Thursday, April 27. The fun includes a Mardi Gras parade, jazz music, shrimp cocktail, games, and a chance to meet Marguerite herself. The fun starts at 2 p.m.

“I have a good life,” she said. “I try to take care of myself and I follow the doctor’s orders,” which include a restricted diet and plenty of exercise in Legacy Oaks’ fitness room.

She enjoys doing puzzles and hosting family members at her one-bedroom suite. There’s a full kitchen where she can cook for guests, but she generally eats in the dining room.

“They (Legacy Oaks) always have fresh fruits and vegetables. They have a good selection at meal time, too. You can always choose between three or four things,” she said.

Although she turned in her car keys at age 95, she still gets to travel on ocassion.

“This year we’re planning to have a family reunion in Mississippi,” she said. “We always go to New Orleans whenever we go back.”

As for advice, Marguerite says, “Try not to worry and put your trust in God -- but do your part . You have to have a positive attitude and wake up every morning and thank God for what you have.”

Marguerite Hudson to be honored.

Vanice Wells, retired teacher, still at the head of the class

By Cynthia Henry Hoopla Publisher

Vanice Wells is a resident at Grandview of Chisholm Trail, but she works as hard as any staff member.

“I do a little bit of everything,” she said, which includes bingo calling, leading arts and crafts, assisting on group outings, and more.

“They depend on me a lot, and I don’t mind that because I like to stay busy.”

Vanice has lived at the southern Fort Worth senior community for over a year. She moved in shortly after losing her husband to cancer.

“It was really overwhelming to live in such a large home, so that’s when I decided to come here.”

She likes the apartment, but mostly, Vanice likes the staff and the residents at the Grandview.

“I like the people. The nurses aides are very kind. They would do anything for me. I love them very much,” she said. “I don’t have any enemies here. They’re all friends.”

Vanice retired from Lewisville ISD as chief financial officer but she started her career as an elementary school teacher.

The day we met her, she was on her way to call bingo.

“If I can’t call bingo, then there is no bingo,” she said, “because they don’t like doing it if I don’t call it.”

Her biggest challenge is working with those with severe dementia.

“I try to tell them, don’t worry about getting it perfect. Just place it someplace (on the board). It may not be right, but at least you’re playing.”

She said playing bingo reguarly has helped one dementia patient improve her cognitive abilities.

“The cells are there, and sometimes they can be refurbished,” she explained.

Some residents who show up in the ac-

tivities room struggle with other issues.

“They can be a little angry about where they are in life. And just because they’re here doesn’t mean they don’t have lives,” she said. “They know when someone in their family has died or that someone doesn’t come to see them anymore.They will adjust, but some do it with a little bit of anger.”

She has struggled with that herself and offers insight.

“You can’t change some things in life, but you can change yourself to fit into that life, and that’s what I’ve done,” she said.

You may think that Vanice’s ability to lead comes naturally, but she’s not so sure. She said her life could have turned out much differently had her father not given her up for adoption when she was 1 year old.

Vanice was born in Arlington. Her parents split when she was very young.

“My dad said my mom wasn’t good for me,” she said. “He took me to Kermit, where the oil field was booming.”

Shortly thereafter, he interviewed for a job in the oil fields. The business owner said he could teach him everything he needed to know about the job, “But what are you gonna do with that baby?” he asked.

Her father said he wasn’t sure -- that he couldn’t put her back in her mother’s care.

The businessman said he and his wife weren’t able to have children and they’d be happy to adopt her.

“You want to take my baby?” her father asked, taken aback.

“No, we want to adopt her,” said the businessman.

As per the law at that time, Vanice’s father was not allowed to see her for two years as she was adjusting to her new family. So, Vanice had little to no recollection of her father when he was finally able to visit, but she did recall a nice man who

dropped by the house once or twice when she was very young.

She recalled him placing a piece of Juicy Fruit gum in his front shirt pocket and signaling for her to come to him. She would run over to grab the gum and run back to her adopted parents.

When Vanice had a grown daughter of her own, she tracked her dad down and wrote him a letter.

“I want to meet you, Dad,” the letter read. “I want to thank you for what you did for me. I will be at the Barnes and Noble book store in Arlington, Texas on Labor Day.“

She didn’t think he’d show. She waited a long time and was ready to leave when she got a tap on the shoulder. She jumped up in excitement.

“Are you my dad?”

“I sure am!”

He said when he read about the Juicy Fruit gum, he knew she had remembered him.

“He said, ‘You’re never leaving me again. I may leave you, but you’ll never leave me.’”

“He was so proud of me,” Vanice said. “He said, ‘Had I not done what I did, you wouldn’t be the person you are today. They did a beautiful job raising you and I could not have done that.’”

One year later, she buried him with her letter in his suit pocket.

“I just love him so much,” she said.

Vanice with an award presented to her after 36 years in education.

COURTESY

Vanice’s biological father.

COURTESY

Spotlight on Senior Artists

Skeeter Murley, “The Lady and Sons,” March Artist of the Month (1st), Society of Watercolor Artists.

Veronica Ritchey, “Watching Over Me,” March Artist of the Month (2nd), Society of Watercolor Artists.

Linda Parks, “Bluems,” patina copper on hand rusted steel, April Artist of the Month, Pecan Plantation Art Guild.

The Weatherford Art Association chose the top three artists for March 2023. They are, from left, Debra Strandberg (3rd), “Tulips,” acrylics; Dale Smith (2nd), “Steamboat Fall,” oil; and Karen Walkup (1st), “Piano,” watercolor.

Old World Italian

Are your goals ‘must have’ or ‘nice to have’?

Like everyone, you may have a lot of financial goals. But are they all of equal importance? Probably not. And do they share a similar timeline? Again, it’s unlikely. So, your first step may be to prioritize your goals — and then follow a process that can help you achieve them.

This process should include the following steps:

Identify your goals as “must have” or “nice to have.” Making sure you can retire comfortably and won’t outlive your resources is a “must have” goal. For this goal, you can’t compromise — you need to be certain of achieving it, or at least as certain as possible. But if you want to someday own a vacation home by the beach, and you can’t ever quite afford it, you might find an acceptable substitute, such as renting. So, it seems fair to say that achieving this goal would be “nice to have.”

Prioritize your investment dollars. Unless you have unlimited sums to invest — and very few of us have that luxury — you’ll probably need to prioritize where your investment dollars are going. For your main “must have” goal — retirement — you’ll be helped by the ability to automatically invest through your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan. If you’re on track toward this goal, and you budget carefully and potentially receive salary increases over the years, you may also find space to keep contributing toward the “nice to have” goals.

downsizing your living arrangements? For other goals, though, such as purchasing a vacation home, you could get more specific on how much money you’ll need.

Money Matters

by

Put “price tags” on your goals. You need to know what your goals will cost. Of course, you may need to estimate the costs for some goals based on different factors. For example, when you think about your goal of retiring comfortably without outliving your money, you’ll need to consider some key questions, including these: When do you want to retire? What sort of retirement lifestyle do you envision? Do you see yourself

H.

Follow an appropriate strategy. The nature of your goals, and their estimated cost, along with your appetite for risk, should drive your investment strategy — but another key factor is time. So, for a long-term goal like retirement, you’ll likely need a reasonable amount of quality growth-oriented investments in your portfolio. While these investments — such as stocks and stock-based mutual funds — will fluctuate in value over shorter periods of time, your hope is that, over several decades, they will ultimately provide the growth you need to meet your retirement goal. However, to achieve a goal you want to meet in a year or so — perhaps you’re paying for a wedding or planning a long vacation — you may want to consider more stable investments, such as certificates of deposit (CDs), shortterm bonds or even cash or cash equivalents. They may not provide much in the way of growth, but you can essentially count on them to provide the amount you need when you need it. You’ll need to regularly review the performance of your investment strategy for each goal to assess your progress.

Achieving any goals — whether they’re “must have” or “nice to have” — can be challenging. But by identifying and prioritizing these goals, following an appropriate strategy to meet them, and consistently reviewing your approach, you can help yourself get to where you want to go.

Mary

McDow, Edward Jones Adviser

Pageant winners crowning princesses

Certified dementia trainer Janet Standifer and Baker’s Ribs owner DeeAnna Krier, both recent pageant winners, teamed up to host Gods Princess Bible Give a Way & Tea. Participants all received a God’s Princess Bible, enjoyed goodies and received a crown.

Bob

Volunteering to serve other volunteers

Members of the Salvation Army Extension Unit and Women’s Auxiliary of Hood County served Habitat for Humanity volunteers working in Rancho Brazos community.

family

White (seated), Daughter Anita White & Grandson Zack Bellenger

n Find the Frog

Amy Wollin of North Richland Hills won last month’s frog contest. Enter this month’s by emailing to tell us where you found a hidden frog. Email entry to seniors@hooplamagazine.com. Pick up next month’s issue to see if you’ve won! Winners must contact Hoopla within 30 days.

n Solutions

n Live Theatre Picks

THE BOOK OF DOG

Theatre Off the Square

Ticket Info: 817-341-8687

Tentative Dates: April 28 - May 14

Synopsis: The story of how a stray dog, Marvin, changes the lives of one family.

MISS SAIGON

Casa Manana

3101 W Lancaster Ave, Fort Worth

Ticket Info: 817-332-2272

Tentative Dates: June 3 - 11

Synopsis: In the turmoil of the Vietnam War, Chris, an American soldier, and Kim, a Vietnamese girl, fall in love and marry but are distressingly separated when Saigon falls. As years pass, Chris, remarries and attempts to move on with his life. When circumstances bring Chris back to Vietnam, he learns the truth.

LEND ME A TENOR

Popcorn Players

114 Porter Drive, Azle

Ticket Info: 817-238-7529

Tentative Dates: June 2 - 4, 9 - 11

Synopsis: World-famous singer Tito Merelli, known as Il Stupendo, the greatest tenor of his generation, to appear for one night only as the star of the opera. Tito arrives late, and through a hilarious series of mishaps, he is given a double dose of tranquilizers and passes out. This madcap, screwball comedy is guaranteed to leave audiences tearyeyed with laughter

TREASURE ISLAND

Granbury Opera House

133 E. Pearl Street, Granbury

Ticket Info: 817-579-0952

Tentative Dates: May 12 - 29

Synopsis: The story begins at an inn on the Devon coast of England in 1775 and quickly becomes an unforgettable tale of treachery and mayhem featuring a host of legendary swashbucklers. At the center of it all are Jim Hawkins, a 14-year-old boy who longs for adventure, and the infamous Long John Silver. Silver is an unscrupulous buccaneer-rogue whose greedy quest for gold, coupled with his affection for Jim, cannot help but win the heart of every soul who has ever longed for romance, treasure and adventure.

Life in Grace

by Lara Cook, North Side Baptist Church

Adapt or die

The word change can provoke many feelings, especially when it is in regard to our lives. We sometimes do not like the idea of change, particularly when it means we have to leave our comfort zones, but then change usually always requires us to leave our comfort zones.

We have been going through a book together as a staff called “Canoeing the Mountains,” by Tod Bolsinger, a great book about adaptive leadership. It is applicable in both work and personal life because change is inevitable in life. Two things happen when change is coming – you either adapt, or you die, meaning that if you want your life, organization, or business to progress, then you adapt with whatever comes. Change comes whether we welcome it or not. If we fight it and choose to not adapt, we will die in our comfort zones, or at the very least stagnate there. Some people are okay with that – they are happy to stagnate forever rather than be uncomfortable in growth.

Every season of change brings the unexpected, which can be terrifying. It is all uncharted territory as we have not been there before. We do our best to foresee what may be coming but we cannot know everything. The book talks about how when Lewis and Clark were exploring, they were prepared to find a waterway to the Pacific Ocean, but instead they found the Rocky Mountains. They were prepared for a waterway. They had the proper tools and supplies for a waterway. They had experience with waterways. But they found themselves facing mountains instead, as far as the eye could see. They had to adapt, quickly. The canoes and supplies

they thought they needed were of no use in the mountains.

Our lives are essentially uncharted territory with one unexpected terrain after another. We do everything we can to be prepared and often believe that we have it all under control. We actually believe that we can determine in our own power whether we will take the water route or scale the mountains. We have no control over what comes around the bend, but there is a great mapmaker who

does know and is in full control. He has gone ahead and not only scouted it all out for us, but He has carved the paths for us and scooped out the waterways. God knows everything we need to traverse this life and He will provide it for us at just the right time. We don’t have to worry about what is coming – He created the path!

That does not mean we don’t need to be smart about preparing for the future. It means that we need to live our lives with

open hearts and minds because we really don’t know all we think we know. He will regularly move us along, out of our comfort zones to build our faith muscle. There are plenty of mountain peaks to scale and a few green valleys along the way too.

God wants us to trust Him with all the uncharted territory and unexpected twists and turns. The world we are living in today is changing quickly but He walks with us every step of the way if we invite Him.