boom! august 2013

Center for Robotic & Minimally Invasive Surgery

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3BOOM!August 2013The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine r iverregionboom.com

HealthNEWSfor Boomers and BeyondAugust 2013

Get Up, Move On: Replacing a Hip, Knee or Other Joint Can End Years of Pain

Dave Guffey’s pain started a decade ago. It began in one knee but soon involved both. He’d always been active—football in college, racquetball and basketball for recreation—and he had a job that required hiking across university stadiums and climbing arena stairs to see athletes and coaches. He knew his knees were wearing out. Cortisone shots, braces and pain pills no longer helped ease the pain. “Both knees were bone-to-bone,” he recalls. “I couldn’t walk 10 minutes without feeling pain.” At 59, Guffey decided to trade in his old knees for new ones. Knees are the most commonly replaced joints in the United States. Doctors do more than 600,000 of the surgeries a year, reports the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In the No. 2 spot: hips, with nearly 300,000 replaced every year. Replacement surgery can be done on other joints too, including those in the ankle, foot, shoulder, elbow and fingers.

Why joints fail Healthy joints are cushioned by a smooth layer of cartilage that allows the joint bones to move without much pain or friction. Bones themselves are living tissue and need a constant supply of blood to grow, remain healthy and make repairs. When joints are damaged—by injury, arthritis, or simple wear and tear, for example—cartilage can disappear. Bones can lose some of their blood supply, and inflammation can trigger fluid that overfills the joint. The result? Pain, stiffness and swelling that can affect walking, standing, sitting or sleeping. Muscles around the joint start to decline as using the joint becomes increasingly painful.

What’s involved? Replacement joints are designed to mimic how a normal joint moves. They generally have two or more parts that fit together, and the parts are made of various materials—including stainless steel,

chrome, titanium, ceramic and wear-resistant plastics. Surgery to replace a hip or knee usually takes two hours or less. The surgery team removes the damaged joint and replaces it with an artificial one, called a prosthesis. Artificial joints come in many forms and sizes. Surgeons decide which one to use based on a number of factors, including a patient’s size, health and lifestyle, and the amount of damage to the joint.

Is it time? Most people who get new hips, knees or other joints are older than 65. But a trend over the past decade is for people in their 40s and 50s to have joint replacement surgery. Joint replacements usually last 10 to 15 years. People who have the surgery at a young age may face needing a second one later on. If you’re considering joint replacement surgery, check with your primary care doctor to make sure you’re healthy enough to undergo anesthesia and the operation, advises the American College of Rheumatology. An orthopedic surgeon can then help you sort through the maze of options available for replacing your joint.

To learn more about joint replacement surgery, visit www.orthoinfo.org.

Trust the Orthopedic and Joint Center at Jackson Hospital with your joint replacement. Call 334-293-8805 for more information.

r iverregionboom.com4 BOOM! August 2013 The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine


page 10

“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”

Carl BardContents August 2013

BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine is published monthly by River Region Publications, 6398 Eastwood Glen Pl., Montgomery, AL 36117. The phone number for voice and fax is 334.523.9510. Copyright 2013 by River Region Publications. No part of this publication can be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine are those of the authors and do

not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.

Volume 4 Issue 1

Features

Departments

Humor AdviceHealth

Community

BOOM! COVER PROFILE

page12

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis

BOOM!, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

9 91 is the new 60?Suggestions for longevity

16 Aging Parents Worry about adult children with disabilities

24 Rules of InheritanceNot as clear as you thought

10 This and That Have you heard...?

28 {12} Things Solutions for bored Boomers

30 Greg BudellMY TOP 10 GRISWOLDIAN ADVENTURES!

ThoughtRelationships

TasteInspiration

Jackson Hospital’s Health News

Publisher’s Letter

MATCH MADEAdventures in Online Dating

BOOM! Cover Profile

The Maine Event!MOCOA

The Eyes Have It,Dr. Bowman Knows

Fitness Over Fifty, Can Yoga Keep You Young?

Healthy Hearing, How Important Is Your Hearing???

Art & Soul

3

6

8

12

15

18

20

22

27

page 30

page 8

page 12


Are you hip enough? That seems to be the question for us aging Boomers. If we’re not, won’t we lose pace with the newest generation? What happens when we don’t understand the latest text abbreviation, WTF? Or maybe we don’t even know how to Google! OMG!

Today being hip is really about being relevant. That is connected. Connected to technology. The more you are connected the more relevant you are to those who are, our grandkids. Here are a few tips on how to become more relevant and stop embarrassing yourself.

According to a recent article there are a few things you can begin doing now that will keep your mind from drifting into thinking “old.”

First get your social media mojo working by participating with Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. You could ask one of the youngsters to help but you’re better off just googling the names and learning how to navigate these social media sites. Second, Google It, you started already by searching the how to

get started with social media. Remember, when you Google It, you’re discovering things you want to learn about. Be careful, sometimes you’ll find yourself deep down in a virtual “rabbit hole” surrounded by useless information. Stop and refocus on the real purpose of your search and you’ll be just fine.

Next, get a smart phone. Yes, you’re plenty smart enough to have one. It’s just like the TV remote control you got used too, only smarter. When you get an iphone or android smart phone you begin to realize how smart you are and how much smarter you’ve become since using it. You’ll now be able to keep up with thje social media mentioned above. You can answer most any question your brain can think off because you will also be googling from your smart phone. And finally, you’ll be communicating much more often because it becomes fun to use that new language called “texting” and if you don’t know what OMG or WTF is you simply Google It!

Go ahead, embrace some technology and grow some new experiences, you’ll surprise some of the youngsters when you text them IMHO (In My Humble Opinion).

The August issue of BOOM! is chocked full of interesting articles and columns but one of the best is this month’s Cover Profile. Her name is Leah Leal and she owns a couple of businesses in town, has an active lifestyle and a youthful mindset. She’s a transplanted New Yorker and we’re pretty sure she’ll never leave. Please take time to learn more about Leah and her husband Dani, you’ll be glad you did.

We also have a feature on what it’s like to be an aging parent with a disabled adult child and worry about their future. Also, did you ever think about the rules of inheritance? There aren’t any, but we offer some guidelines to consider. And then there’s a 91 year old woman who feels like 60 with ten rules of longevity that seem to work for her.

We have plenty of other good reads like Greg Budell, Mia Hunter, our online dating guru, Sandi Aplin shares some wisdom from Martha Stewart and Dr. Michael Bowman is back with an article on solutions for some of your cosmetic eye problems. There’s much more and I hope you’ll sit back and spend a little time in this month’s BOOM!, one of the River Region’s best reading experiences.

Thanks to all of our readers for sharing BOOM! and letting them know they can read the digital version at RiverRegionBoom.com. Finally, thanks for spending your hard earned money with our advertisers, they appreciate your business and so do I. Now go and embrace some technology, TTYL.

6 BOOM! The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

The mission of BOOM! is to serve the folks of the River Region age 50 plus with information and ideas to inspire new experiences, better quality of life

and new beginnings.

Please Recycle This Magazine, Share with a Friend!

Are You Hip Enough?publisher’s letter

Jim Watson, Publisher

Publisher/EditorJim Watson, 334.523.9510

[email protected]

Associate EditorKelly Watson

[email protected]

Contributing WritersSandi Aplin

Dr. Bettie Borton

Greg Budell

Dr. Michael Bowman

Anita Creamer

Mia Hunter

Leah Leal

Austin O’Connor

Leigh Anne Richards

Cover PhotographyLola Fine Art Photography

[email protected]

www.lolafineartphotography.com

334.551.2700

Advertising Jim Watson, 334.523.9510

[email protected]

Design & LayoutLake House Graphics

DistributionNetwork Delivery

PrintingPublications Press, Montgomery, AL

334.244.0436

Jim

[email protected] 334.324.3472 cell/text

334.523.9510 office

7BOOM!August 2013The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine r iverregionboom.com BOOM!The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine


Age is just a number. Right? So let’s talk about age and online dating. Specifically, the difference between your age and the age of the person you’d like to date.

Wen we were in high school. it would have been totally inappropriate to date someone 10 years older or younger - in fact it would have been creepy, weird, socially unacceptable. Maybe even worthy of jail time. So here is the question: at what age did the playing field become level? And what age difference is simply too much?

At 54, I have - thanks to online dating - met and gone out with men ten years older and ten years younger than I. And I have found that ten years difference is a real difference. Some 44 year old men - like my snow-globe date Prince of Tides, who canoed me around Lake Lanier at sunset and is one of the tallest, sexiest men I’ve ever met - have small children and all that goes along with raising them. That is and should be their priority. But I’ve raised mine, thank you, and can’t see myself starting over again. At the other end of the ten year spectrum was the oh-so-elegant Tin Cup, a fabulous golfer and gentleman who, as lovely as he was, needed to end his nights around 8. I’m not ready for Piccadilly at 5:30. Heck, sometimes the late movie at Rave doesn’t even start ‘til 9!

My energy level, lifestyle and particular kind of crazy needs someone closer to my mental and physical -if not chronological- age.

So think about this when shopping for that Ken doll: how old is too old, and how young is too young? It’s one thing to be a cougar and another thing altogether to be Mrs. Robinson - especially if your young turk has no clue who Mrs. Robinson is. And if you still like the option of a late movie, and Daddy Warbucks has taken his medicine and is ready to retire at 8, well, you’re not going to last long there. Pick an age range that has possibility!

Plus, stepping outside your age range a little bit might open up doors you thought were walls. A younger man might take you to a concert where you might discover new music. And older man might take you to a vineyard three hours from your home - one you never even knew existed - and introduce you to a wine you would never otherwise taste. It’s all about finding the perfect fit. If you like children and maybe feel yours grew up too fast, pick a man with children at home. You get the fun but not the responsibility. You like cerebral types? Bald men? Men who love cats? Men who collect old cars? Travelers? Opera lovers? Open that box of candy. All the flavors are there.

Very important: Pay attention to profiles. Man who use a cartoon as their photo need discarding immediately, as do those with no photo. Those men are usually either married or very weird. Why would you NOT show your photo when you are advertising yourself as a mate? That being said, if every photo they have shows them in front of a bathroom mirror - even different bathrooms - pointing their phone camera at their reflection, hit the gong. If they never get out and have fun and have someone take a photo of them, bad sign. Look for men who leave the house and enjoy life - have a hobby, a passion, friends, family. Unless you want the Hermit, which to me would be a dreadful choice. We don’t have that many shopping days ‘til Christmas. Let’s spend them wisely while making good Ken doll choices.

I have an upcoming date with a 61 year old who I call Point Break. He seems (as much as I can tell from talking and sharing photos) to be very active mentally and physically, have a wicked sense of humor, a fabulous smile and a big heart, and doesn’t live too terribly far away. Maybe 7 years is my magic number. The fun is in figuring that number out. Go for it. Enjoy what you learn. Keep whittling it down or inching it up until you find something worth investing some time in. Or not! Play ‘em, trade ‘em, or fold. Just be in the game.

Mia Hunter is a mother, grandmother and equestrienne. Born and raised in the River Region, she stays busy writing, riding her horses and feeding her creativity. She is still looking for Mr. Right. Send all comments to [email protected]

MATCH MADEadventures in online dating with Mia Hunter


Meet Deborah Szekely (pronounced SAY-Kay), the co-founder of the Rancho La Puerta (recently named 2013′s #1 World’s Best Destination Spa by Travel + Leisure Magazine) and the Golden Door spas. She’s 91 years young, and when she appears at a talk, she’s sprightlier than many women half her age.

The only pills she takes are vitamins, a little something for her thyroid and a B12 shot every month. She is living evidence that 91 is the new 60?

Those who know her well say that on the occasion of her 85th birthday, she announced that she intended to only age one year in the next five, and listening to her speak recently it seems she’s accomplished it.

She eats no red meat or chicken and follows a diet “as close to nature as possible.” She does pilates at 8am every morning, and walks on her treadmill every afternoon. Her weight has stayed steady at 118 to 122 pounds for decades.

Szekely ran an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 1982 but found a new chapter in her life in public service in Washington

D.C. In 1984, President Reagan appointed her president of the Inter-American Founda-tion (IAF), an independent foreign assistance agency of the U.S. government which sup-ports grassroots development by awarding grants directly to the organized poor in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Today her daughter runs Rancho La Puerta, and Szekely spends her days traveling and giving speeches to promote her Wellness Warrior initiative, a plan that aims to raise $10 million dollars by collecting $10 each from one million people. The money will be used to fund lobbying efforts to raise aware-ness and fight companies aiming to “poison people” which includes Pharma, fast-food, farming and agricultural companies that use pesticides and antibiotics.

91 is the new 60?What does Deborah Szekely Szekely attribute her longevity?

1. Follow a Mediterranean diet: Lot’s of olive oil and fresh organic veggies.

2. Cognitive decline is linked with hearing loss: So, wear a hearing aid if you need one. When you’re busy try-ing to hear, you’re not busy thinking.

3. Eat protein at every meal.

4. Leave the office at work. Take time to al-low your mind to wander.

5. Take a moment to feel blessed

6. Take periods of silence throughout the day

7. Put ideas on a suspension line, take some down, look at them, and put them back up—if they’re good, they’ll come back around.

8. Take ownership of your time.

9. Have a conversation with your body. Learn how to listen. You can heal yourself of many ailments if you listen. Pain is a message. We’re over-medicated as a country.

10. Take care of your body or you will be-come its slave.

Read more like this at Knoworthy.com


This & tHAT i

The Florida Boys in Concertat the Millbrook Theatre

To further cultivate wellness in the community, The Shoppes at EastChase Farmers Market

will now include yoga classes to round out its healthy options for shoppers. The addition of

yoga classes will make The Shoppes at EastChase Farmers Market experience unique to the River

Region, as shoppers can plan to work out and do their grocery shopping all in one place.

The classes will be held every Saturday from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. until the end of the season, and the

cost is $8 per class. Sarah Brown, a certified yoga instructor, will conduct the Hatha Vinyasa yoga class outside, adjacent to The Market. Partici-pants can register at 8 a.m. and are asked to

bring their own mats.

“We wanted to bring another element into The Market that would make it truly unique to the

River Region,” explains Vickie Lawrence, Market-ing Manager at The Shoppes at EastChase. “Now shoppers can plan to get their exercise in and do their shopping all at the same place on Saturday mornings. Our goal for The Market is to provide healthy options and convenience for shoppers,

and the addition of the yoga classes will complete that goal.”

For more information about The Market or yoga classes, call 334.279.6046.

Farmers Market Now Offering Yoga Classes

The Florida Boys in Concert

MMFA Exhibit Winfred Rembert: Amazing Grace

Winfred Rembert, Egg: Jazz Dancing, 2008, Courtesy of the Adelson Galleries, NY

The Millbrook Community Players are proud to present, in concert for one night only, the Florida Boys, Southern Gospel Quartet, at the Millbrook Community Theatre on Saturday, August 24 at 7:30 pm. Purchase tickets online at millbrooktheatre.com. Price, $15. Millbrook Theatre is located at the former Robinson Springs Elementary School, 5720 Main Street, Millbrook, AL 36054. Phone 334.782.7317 or [email protected]

Irresistible Injectable Days!We’re offering day long specials and reduced pricing on injectables*

Friday, August 16 - Dr. Cawthon and Thursday, August 22 - Dr. Bowman - Botox $9.50/unit - Juvederm $450/syringe

- Buy 1 syringe of Juvederm, get 10 units of Botox FREE ($110 value)- 20% off all SkinMedica

- Your choice with purchase of Botox or Juvederm: Latisse 5ml $129 (savings of $50)

1/2 off TNS Eye Repair or TNS Illuminating Cream or Lip Plump System *Valid for Botox Cosmetic & Juvederm. Offers good on event dates only during

normal business hours. Appointment is necessary. Please call 270.2003.

A remarkable self-taught artist originally from Georgia. The exhibit begins August 31st and will emphasize the dramatic, overtly biographical nature of Rembert’s stretched, etched, and stained leather panels, combining artistic inspiration with documentation of some of the most tumultuous moments of Civil Rights-era history. MMFA.org


The Till Fountain and Garden on the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts TerraceIn 1994, Montgomery physician Dr. Harry Jackson Till approached the Museum to commission artist Frank Flemming to design a special space for the lakeside terrace. It was his intention that the space be a romantic and intimate natural environment, “where a young man might bring his sweetheart to propose.” He intended that it be dedicated to his wife Helen. Unfortunately, Dr. Till passed away before his vision could be realized, but his family, including Helen Till, quickly adopted his vision as their own and arranged for it to be constructed in his memory.The fountain incorporates four benches and cast bronze sculptural animals. At times, it provides a quiet, peaceful outdoor space for our visitors; at other times happy, active youngsters enjoy the whimsical creatures that line the fountain’s edge. As we celebrate our 25th year in the Blount Cultural Park, we are looking at the many ways the Museum has played a part in the life of our community. Many Museum visitors have spent special times with family and friends beside the Till Fountain, and we are looking for great pictures or stories that illustrate these special events. If you, or someone you know has a story to tell or photographs to share, we would love to hear from you. Please contact our Deputy Director Jill Barry at 334.240.4344 or [email protected].

Looking for a Great Warm Weather Hike?

BOOMERS, share your stuff with BOOM! We Love to Bring BOOMERS Together, send info and pics to [email protected]

Sky High Hot Air Balloon FestivalFriday-Sunday, August 30 to September 1Soar into September at the 15th annual Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival. The weekend kicks off with the extraordinary Friday Night Balloon Glow and continues all weekend long. Watch beautiful balloons in flight or hop in a basket for your own tethered balloon ride. Saturday is filled with family-friendly events, including live music, beach activities, a Kids Zone and much more. There’s something for everyone with a classic car show, disc dog demonstrations, a pyrotechnic skydiving demonstration, as well as a 5K race and Triathlon event. Plus, you’ll find drink specials and sports on the televisions at the Beach Bar throughout the festival. Cap off the weekend with a final balloon glow Sunday night on Robin Lake Beach. With this exciting line-up of events, surrounded by the

natural beauty of Callaway Gardens, there’s no better way to say “farewell” to Summer 2013. Callawaygardens.com

Saturday August 10, 10 am. Cascade Falls and the Wolfden area: Don’t want to hike the whole 6.7 mile loop? Just do what we call an “out and back” hike from the WJSP-TV Tower Parking Lot. It is about 2 miles or just over an hours hike to Cascade Falls. You’ll cross over water 13 times on the way (using stepping stones at most crossings along with three bridges.) Take a break at Cascade Falls, hike up to the top of the Wolfden cave cliff (carefully). Lots of native plants and trees along the way to Cascade Falls. This is a great hike year round.

Since 1975, volunteers of all ages have labored to build and maintain the Pine Mountain Trail, a 23-mile footpath. This main trail and connecting loops, that crosses and follows the beautiful

Pine Mountain ridge in west central Georgia, is inside the Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park and near Callaway Gardens. Quiet woods, sparkling streams, misty waterfalls, rock outcroppings, varied forest, scenic overlooks, deer and turkey await your discovery. pinemountaintrail.org

Tell Us Your Story?

Q: Where can men over the age of 60 find younger women who are interested in them? A: Try a bookstore under fiction.Q: How can you avoid that terrible curse of the elderly wrinkles? A: Take off your glasses.

Q: Why should 60-plus year old people use valet parking? A: Valets don ‘t forget where they park your car.Q: As people age, do they sleep more soundly? A: Yes, but usually in the afternoon.

Q: Where should 60-plus year olds look for eye glasses? A: On their foreheads.Q: Leading cause of diminished sex drive among senior citizens ? A: Nudity

Q: What is the most common remark made by 60-plus year olds when they enter antique stores? A: “Gosh, I remember these!”

Senior Q & A


BOOM! COVER PROFILE

This month’s BOOM! profile is Leah Leal. Leah is the co-owner (with her husband Dani) of the Wynlakes Tennis Shop. She also owns a specialty catering business called, To Serve, With Love. There’s one thing about Leah that’s easy to see and appreciate and that’s her youthful exuberance! In fact, I felt 10 years younger just getting to know her. When you belong to the 50+ community, it helps to have some youthful exuberance and Leah’s got plenty! She recently shared some of her life’s journey with us in our monthly Q & A and I think you’ll enjoy getting to know her as much as I did. If you want to experience that youthful exuberance, drop by the Wynlakes Tennis Shop, it’s open to the public.

BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e. where you’re from, education, what brought you to the Montgomery area, did you raise your family here, schools, married, family, etc?

Leah: I was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. I am the middle of 4 kids. I have one brother and 2 sisters. I left Buffalo after attending Bryant and Stratton Business Institute in pursuit of warmer weather. I moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida after visiting a friend and falling totally in love with the panhandle. I worked as a financial advisor for

Prudential Securities from 1983 to 1994. I met my now husband, Dani, in July 1992 while he was vacationing at the beach. We married in April 1994, and that is when I moved to Montgomery. We currently live in Pike Road with our furry family.

BOOM!: You’re the owner of the Wynlakes Tennis Shop and Your husband Dani is the Director of Tennis at Wynlakes, please share some of the benefits of working so closely as husband and wife? What’s the secret to your success?

Leah: Dani has been the Director of Tennis and owner of the Wynlakes Tennis Shop since 1987. Upon my arrival in Montgomery, Dani immediately appointed me manager of the Tennis Shop, which I have been doing the last 19 years. Working together has truly been a gift. In the beginning we had to figure out how to work together. There is a fine line because you are married, yet you are co-workers. It took a short time to figure it out, and ever since it has been a blessing. There is a confidence

that comes with having your spouse taking care of the details of your business. We are both vested in the business the same. We play off each other’s strengths and weaknesses, which make us a complete team. The success of our business is a combination of things. First we genuinely

love what we do, therefore it is not work, it is simply a way of life. Secondly, we are passionate about encouraging everyone to play tennis, regardless of their level of play or their age. Lastly, we are dedicated to a high level of customer service. In this day and age of big box discount stores and shopping on the internet, we believe customer service is more important than anything.

BOOM!: Many Boomers are experiencing a renewed sense of purpose, new goals, new careers, especially if they’ve experienced the empty nest syndrome of their kids moving on. How would you describe this sense of renewal in your life? Any advice for the rest of us seeking renewal?

Leah: I grew up experiencing all 4 seasons. I love what each one brings. As I have aged, I recognize that our lives have seasons too and each one brings different challenges. For me, turning 50 was a new beginning for a new season of my life. To live the quality of life I wanted I made a new commitment to get in the best shape of my life. Waking up everyday feeling physically strong

Leah Leal, To Serve, With Love!


to come to this prestigious invitational tennis tournament that has been coming to Montgomery for over 60 years. I am also involved with American Cancer Society’s Vintage Affair. I donate my time cooking for the Auctioned Wine Dinners that raise money for ACS.

BOOM!: If you weren’t outfitting tennis enthusiasts, what kind of work would you be doing?

Leah: If I was not in the tennis business, I would have a restaurant. I can close my eyes and see it clearly!

BOOM!: What is it about living in the Montgomery/River Region area that you like?

Leah: I love living in the Montgomery area for various reasons. I love southern hospitality. I love the easy lifestyle. I love the beauty of the terrain. I love the lack of traffic. I love the close proximity to the beaches and big cities.BOOM!: As you’ve aged, how have your ambitions changed?

Leah: As I have aged, my ambitions have changed. In earlier years my goals were about accumulating wealth in a

monetary and materialistic form. Today my focus is on helping people. I realize how little I really need. I also realize that true happiness is about giving.

BOOM!: Favorite vacation spot? Any travel dreams planned for the future?

Leah: I have been very fortunate to have travelled to many places, here in the United States and abroad. My absolute favorite spot of all is the Florida Panhandle. The white sand beaches, the emerald green waters, the ocean breeze, the great restaurants, the small town

feel and last but not least, it is just a 3 hour car ride from here.

My dream of travelling to Italy is finally coming true this fall. I will join my sister and brother in law on a 5 day bicycle tour in the south of Italy, then travel

to Florence, Tuscany, Sienna, Bologna and Venice. Excited is an understatement. I can hardly wait to eat the food!!!!

BOOM!: As a busy

entrepreneur, do you have time to be involved in community, civic or other activities?

Leah: Outside of tennis, I am involved with the Blue Gray National Collegiate Tennis Tournament. For the last 8 years, I have been the Director of Housing, which puts me in charge of providing housing for 140 players who travel from all over the country

was very important to living life well as I age. So now, no matter how busy I get, daily exercise is my priority. I have not wavered from this commitment and I actually feel 10 years younger! I have also made new friends along the way who have joined me in this commitment and we all feel a sense of renewal. BOOM!: What are you most passionate about?

Leah: My passion is food. I love eating it, I love cooking it, and I love serving it to friends and family. I love growing it; I love travelling and experiencing foods of all regions. I love finding local, organic foods. I love learning new cooking techniques. I love it so much I started a business 8 years ago! It is a specialty catering business called To Serve, With Love. I cater all types of events, from cocktail parties, graduation teas, dinner parties, and wedding parties. It is so much fun to be a part of people’s special occasions and of course, providing my food.

BOOM!: How do you like to relax and wind down from a hard day’s work?

Leah: After a hard day of work, I love spending time at home. Our home is our sanctuary. Cooking a great meal, reading a book or watching a movie with Dani is a great way to wind down.

Niece Emma and Leah

Sister Sherry and Leah

Leah and husband Dani enjoying Halloween

Leah with Dani, hiking Colorado


There is no greater joy than giving of your time and helping people in need.

BOOM!: Give us three words that describe you?

Leah: Three words that describe me ….Honest, loving, giving

BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or other activities that grab your attention?

Leah: I am an avid tennis player. I love the never ending process of learning the game and perfecting my technique. Tennis also allows me to get exercise while spending time with friends. I love spending time in my vegetable and herb garden. Putting a plant in the ground, caring for it and watching it grow is so rewarding. Also, cooking the fruits of your labor is even more rewarding.

BOOM!: What future challenges do you have? Would you like to expand your business? Start new ones?

Leah: My future challenge is competing with the new way people make purchases for their tennis needs. Today people shop online, where a storefront is not necessarily needed. I still believe in the mom and pop businesses, because of the personal attention and service they provide.

BOOM!: Are you active or interested in other sports?

Leah: Other sports I am interested in is bicycling and hiking. Dani and I love riding our bikes in the country, or we put

them on the back of our car and take them to the beach. We especially like riding and hiking when in Colorado. It’s a bit more challenging but we welcome it!

BOOM!: Auburn or Alabama?

Leah: BOTH…depending on who I am watching the game with!!! LOL!!!

If you have any questions for Leah you can reach her at 334.273.8425 or drop by the Wynlakes Tennis Shop, which is open to the public. Don’t forget, Leah does catering too! We want to thank Leah, Helen and Dani for helping us put this month’s BOOM! Cover Profile together. A very special thanks for our photographers, Maria and Raquel at Lola Portrait Studio. If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please send them to [email protected]

We Love Women Over 50!

Reasonable Ad Rates, Complimentary Ad Creation, 12,500 Readers, Locally Focused Content, 300+ Locations, Complimentary Digital Editions

Let us know if we can help you find better customers, call 523.9510 or email [email protected]

The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

r WOMEN r MONEY r DESIRE

If your Target Audience are Women with Money and Desire, then BOOM! readers are your customers; because 70% of our readers are Mature Women, 75% of US wealth is owned by Mature Women age 50+, and Mature Women spend 2.5 times what the average person spends and they spend it on Beauty, Grand Kids, Pets, Fitness, Gifts, Restaurants, Healthcare, Financial Services,

Caregiving, Classes/Lessons, Home/Garden, Concerts, Entertaining, Travel & More!

Leah with friends, Anuk, Holle, Candi, Connie, & Clint

Leah’s specialty catering treats


The Dr. Dave Welch Foundation is anxiously anticipating its 13th Annual Charity Gala Scheduled for August 24th at Wynlakes Country Club. With support from friends and members of the local business community, we have been able to raise close to $500,000 over the last 12 years! We were proud to contribute those proceeds to both the Montgomery Cancer Wellness Foundation and to other Foundations serving local critically ill patients. We also earmark a portion of the proceeds for the ministry of Common Ground Montgomery and the John Thayer Voltz Foundation. Please join us in this exciting time and help us continue our financial support to these wonderful Montgomery based organizations. 100% of your contribution goes to fund these needs. You can help by:

Donating an item or service for the Silent Auction. Each item will be labeled with the name of the business or person donating the item. The foundation will send you a letter with the value of your tax deductable donation. Thank you in advance for your contribution! Contact Jamie Welch (334) 220-3861 or Jeff Welch (205) 563-5082

Dr. Dave Welch Foundation 13th Annual Charity Gala

The next CALL (Central Alabama Laubach Literacy Council) tutor training session will be held at the Church of the Holy Comforter at 2911 Woodley Rd. It will be held on Saturday August 17 and Saturday August 24, from 9 am.until 3 pm. We welcome any one who is willing to volunteer some of their time to help another adult to read. Your help is needed the free service we offer is of valuable service to our community. If you would like further information or have any question please call 264 1239.

Volunteer Now!

Back by popular demand - Live Maine Lobsters - will be delivered directly to the Montgomery Area Council On Aging in downtown Montgomery on Friday, Aug. 16. The lobsters weigh approximately 1-½ lbs. and must be ordered in advance through MACOA and prepaid. The cost is $25 per lobster, $15 of which is tax deductible. Call 263-0532 by Aug. 9 to place an order.

The lobsters can be picked up live or they can be steamed onsite. Drive through service is available at the Archibald Center parking lot at the corner of East Jefferson and North Lawrence steets. Choose a pick up time between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Or lobsters can be prepared and served at these participating restaurants at an additional cost: Garrett’s at 396-9950 or the Capital City Club at 834-8920. Please call to make arrangements.

The Maine Event is sponsored in part by Wells Printing Co. All proceeds will benefit MACOA’s Meals On Wheels program. Five days a week MACOA volunteers deliver hot lunches to more than 400 homebound seniors who are unable to prepare their own meals. This vital program is a source of much needed nutrition, provides a welcome, daily contact with senior clients, and serves as a means to regularly check recipients’ welfare.

The Maine Event! Lobsters Appearing Live Straight from the Shores of Maine!

J o i n t h e B O O M ! S a l e s Te a m , C o nta c t J i m Wat s o n , j i m @ r i ve r re g i o n b o o m . co m


Jessica Funkhouser’s specialty is putting together small clamps that attach conduits to the wall, but she has big dreams. At 28, she likes

dragons and dinosaurs, heavy metal music and history. She wants to be a writer.At Pride Industries’ Auburn workshop in California _ where her father, 61-year-old Tom Funkhouser, a Navy veteran and Hewlett Packard retiree, works as a production trainer across the floor from Jessica’s work table _ she puts on her turquoise earphones and deals with the clamps.

“I usually just do clamp, clamp, clamp,” she said.

But she’s working, and she likes that.When she was born with a rare genetic disorder causing developmental disabilities and physical challenges,

doctors told Tom and Patti Funkhouser that their tiny, dark-haired daughter would never walk or talk. She probably wouldn’t even survive childhood, doctors said.

“They said Jessica would be a vegetable,” her father said. “They said we should institutionalize her. But Patti and I are not that way. We were terrified, but we brought her home, and we loved her very much.”

Four years later, the couple’s younger daughter, Lori, now 24, was born with the same disorder. The daughters have autosomal recessive microcephaly with agenesis of the corpus callosum, a heavy-duty term that means, among other things, that the two hemispheres of the brain can’t communicate normally.

Now Tom and Patti, who have no other

children, are facing the issue that haunts parents of adult children with special needs: What happens to their daughters after they’re gone?

“We just hope it doesn’t come to that point, but I know it will,” said Patti, 55. “I worry about it. We’re getting older. What do we do? Right now, we’re taking it day to day.”

Across the country, according to U.S. Census figures, 20 percent of adults below age 65 have developmental or physical disabilities _ and almost 70 percent of the families of special-needs adults in a recent MetLife survey said they worried about their offspring’s future.

The Alta California Regional Center, which serves 18,250 people with developmental disabilities in 10 counties

Tom Funkhouser visits his daughter Jessica in her apartment in the back of her parents’ home. Doctors told Tom and his wife, Patti, that Jessica would never walk or talk. “I’ve thought about living independently many times,” Jessica said, “but I go right back to the fact that I want to live with Mom and Dad.” (Lezlie Sterling/The Sacramento Bee/MCT)

Aging Parents Worry about adult children with disabilities

By Anita Creamer


in California, has about 5,000 adult clients who still live at home with their parents, just as Jessica and Lori do.“And every one of those clients will age,” said Phil Bonnet, the regional center’s executive director. “People who grew up in our system are now middle-aged, and their parents are older.”

As a result, said the Executive Director of Sacramento’s Resources for Independent Living, Frances Gracechild: “We have this phenomenon of aging parents with increasing need for support themselves, and they’re still taking care of their grown developmentally disabled children.

“It’s quite a burden to meet when you’re facing your 70s.”

As they age, the parents of the adult developmentally disabled may need legal counseling to put together a special-needs trust to care for their offspring, and they may need advice on residential options, said Fran Smith, a Yolo County, Calif., advocate for the developmentally disabled. Two of her children had cerebral palsy.

“I was always worried about what my kids would do when I die, but they both predeceased me,” she said. “Parents need a coach. They need somebody to help them. Thinking about what will happen to your grown child after you’re gone is painful.

“I’ve heard people say, ‘I’ll think about it when I’m older,’ and they’re in their 70s.”The Funkhousers are diligently putting together employment and independent

living skills for Jessica. She has worked for Pride for six years, a little longer than her father has coached other employees, but not his own daughter, on their product assembly skills.

Her parents say that Jessica’s patience and social proficiency have improved

over that time. Now, with the help of her Pride counselor, she’s working on becoming more punctual.

But she’s in no rush to live on her own.“I’ve thought about living

independently many times,” she said, “but I go right back to the fact that I want to live with Mom and Dad. I depend greatly on my mom. When I’m away from home, I feel lonely. I want my mom. I’m just not comfortable.”

On the other hand, her younger sister, whom the Funkhousers describe as having the communication level of a 3-year-old as well as severe physical problems, requires 24-hour care.“I worry about my sister a lot,” Jessica said.

The Funkhousers are still considering the plans they need to put in place to care for their daughters in the future. They have concerns and questions, but as of yet, no answers.

“You take every day as it comes,” Patti said. “You deal with what comes, and you thank God they’re still here. And then you start over the next day.”

(c)2013 The Sacramento Bee Distributed by MCT Information Services

Jessica Funkhouser works at Pride Industries in Auburn, Calif., putting clamps together. Her 61-year-old father, Tom, works across the warehouse floor from her as a trainer. He worries about her future. (Lezlie Sterling/The Sacramento Bee/MCT)


swelling and bruising afterwards. In the tear trough area, Restylane® will often last for 12-18 months, depending on your metabolism.

There are two other main complaints that come up over and over again around the eye: droopy upper lids and bags under the lower eyelids. These can occur separately or together. Eyes like these tend to make you look tired and worn out regardless of how well you slept the night before. To get rid of that tired look, we may recommend you consider blepharoplasty (eyelid rejuvenation surgery). This relatively simple surgical procedure can be safely and painlessly performed in the office, with or without relaxation medicine. While we do expect some swelling and bruising, most patients are back at work in about a week (if not less).

Just like fingerprints, no two eyes are the same, so there is not a single recommendation that will work on every face. Please call us for your free

consultation, and come “see” for yourself.

Yours in good health, Dr. Michael [email protected]

N.B. I must note that treatment of the crow’s feet with neuromodulators and the tear trough area with HA fillers are “off-label” treatments and not approved by the FDA, although many of these treatments have been performed all over the world with great results. We will discuss all of your personalized recommendations in detail

at your free consultation and of course make sure we answer all of your questions.

“The soul, fortunately, has an interpreter - often an unconscious but still a faithful interpreter - in the eye.” ― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre Hello, This is Dr. Michael Bowman with River Region Facial Plastics. This month I would like to discuss rejuvenation of the eyes.

There is undeniable emotion and beauty present in our faces and our eyes. Whenever we communicate with someone else, our eyes are almost always connecting. Because of this constant eye to eye contact, the eyes are a great place to help make a noticeable improvement in your appearance. Let’s discuss some options to help your eyes shine, sparkle and look their best.Starting with the easiest treatment option, we’ll look at the skin. The skin around the eyes is the thinnest of any area on the body. Although this means we often see the aging changes earlier around the eyes, that thin skin also means that the right skin care regimen can really make an impact quickly. All of our consultations include skin care recommendations, but if your eyes are of specific concern, there are two products to consider from SkinMedica®: TNS Eye repair™ and the Tri-Retinol Complex™. These two products work beautifully together to help to build up new collagen under the skin, camouflage dark circles and erase fine lines and wrinkles. Another very popular topical treatment for women is Latisse®. A drop of Latisse® along each eyelid in the evening helps you naturally grow longer, thicker eye lashes. These topical treatments are safe and can help give your eyes more sparkle with just a few seconds every day.

Next, I’ll discuss neuromodulators. That big mouthful of a medical term refers to the medicines which are used to relax the muscles which cause wrinkles. Many of you will be more familiar with the trade names like Botox®, Dysport® and

Xeomin®. These medicines can be safely used all over the face, but they are often used to rejuvenate the eyes by treating the crow’s feet wrinkles around the eyes, as well as the vertical “angry 11’s” between the eyebrows. These injectable treatments take only a few minutes to perform and will last about 4 months or more for most patients.

Moving on, many of our patients note that their eyes may look a little hollow underneath their lower lid. That dark crease between the lower lid and cheek is called the tear trough. For some people, that hollowness starts to creep in at an early age, but unfortunately it tends to get worse with time for most of us. The volume loss that occurs in that area tends to make the eye look tired or sad. This area is easily treated with a product called Restylane. Restylane® is a filler made of a compound called hyaluronic acid (HA). HA fillers come in different forms and brand names, but they are all used to plump up areas of volume loss. HA is a substance naturally found the body, but these fillers are made such that the HA molecules are linked together in a special fashion. This allows the HA fillers to last for much longer that the normally single HA molecules found in our bodies. It takes about 20 minutes to perform the Restylane® treatment in the tear trough area. I prefer to use a specialized tiny cannula to place the product which helps minimize discomfort during the injection as well as

The Eyes Have ItPresented by River Region Facial Plastics


Yoga is simply a generic term for the physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India. Hindu monks brought yoga to the West in the late 19th century

but it only became popular as physical exercise in the U.S. in the late 1980’s. Many studies have been done to determine the effectiveness of yoga for interventions in cancer, heard disease, schizophrenia, and asthma. In a national survey, long –term yoga practitioners in the U.S. reported musculo-skeletal and mental health improvements. Yoga has become very mainstream and very popular among all age groups. Some people practice yoga for strictly for the stretching and relaxation while some believe it is a true healer for the body.The following are some people who believe strongly in what Yoga does and has done for them:

Dee Morris- age 83Dee’s motto is “If you don’t want to change or your bodies to change- don’t do Yoga!” The following is Dee’s story on her years of practicing yoga before it became the “cool” thing to do

My students always want to know how long I have been doing yoga and how I got started. I was always active in sports. In high school, I played volleyball, basketball and was on the archery team . I was also what my friends called a “health nut.” One day in the 1960’s, I was in a book store in Houston and noticed a book by Indiva Devi on Yoga. She was one of the first to introduce yoga in The U.S. and was an instructor to the movie stars. She died at 105 and taught a yoga class the day she died. I bought the book, started doing the poses and was soon standing on my head. At that time I had a two year old son and was also running a flight school and airport. I would do the poses on a regular basis but as life goes would stop for awhile and I could always tell a difference in how my body felt. I was totally convinced that there really was something to this yoga. We never lived where I could take a yoga class, so I was self taught by reading

yoga books. I was fascinated by the effects the practice had on the body.

We moved to Montgomery and I went into the real estate business. One of my fellow realtors asked me one day what I did to maintain the same look that I had 20 years ago. My answer was I do yoga. She encouraged me to teach it so I went to Houston for two weeks of intensive teacher training course. I went on to Yoga therapy in La Jolla, California, and in Lenox, Massachusetts. Along the way I discovered Svaroopa Yoga and that is now the style of yoga I teach. Svaroopa is sa Sanskrit word that means know yourself at the deepest level of your being. This yoga helps banish fatigue so you can have more energy and enjoy a resiliency that supports you when facing life’s challenges. While you become progressively more calm, peaceful and happy, you know it is coming from a deeper inner knowing.

What changes will I expect when I “do yoga?” Your body is a road map of your life. Everything that happened to you during your life time both bad and good, are stored somewhere in your body in the form of stress, pain or other issues. Svaroopa yoga is a less active style of yoga that meets your body where it is at the present time. Using the concept of Core Release, or spinal decompression, the process is easy and natural due to precise angles and alignments of every pose. Supported in all the poses using blankets and other props you can fully rest in each angle and benefit from the release of the deep muscles that attach to your spine in the core of your body.

Ending pain is easy with spinal decompression that we call Core Release. Sometimes students end their back pain and dissolve neck and shoulder tensions in their first class. Freedom for headaches, few colds and flu, better breathing and improved digestion/elimination follow because Core Release lifts pressure off your internal organs and glands, allowing everything to function better. Stress relief and deep relaxation are intrinsic to the relaxation of your core tensions.

So….. if you are ready for a change and would like to change your body- “Do yoga and then do more yoga.”

Dee’s students swear by the yoga class and how it makes their bodies feel. Both Margie Warden and Kent Rose are avid exercisers and they incorporate yoga into their exercise regimen. Both swear by how the class helps their bodies.

Margie Warden- age 70Exercise has always been a part of my life from ballet and tennis growing up to teaching aerobic classes in the 80’s. After back surgery in 1999 my Dr. recommended I do some yoga to strengthen and stretch my back. I had never tried yoga before and soon learned there were several different types of yoga. I tried them all, but after doing Dee’s ( Morris) class for several sessions I realized my back was no longer aching and that after her class I could move more easily. I still workout on a regular basis to include cardio, weight training, Pilates and long fast walks, but I always include Dee’s yoga classes at least twice a week. After her class I always feel refreshed and energetic.

Kent Rose- age 72I played sports all my life and have always been an active person that jogged, lifted weights and have done all kinds of aerobic classes. I am now a recreational athlete playing golf several days of the week including Pro Am tournaments. In 2008 I realized my sculpt classes, and my cycle were great for strength and cardio but I needed more flexibility at my age. I took the advice of the MetroFitness staff and other “yogis” and decided to start taking Dee’s yoga class. I am a regular every Friday at 8:00am and I swear by the class to help stretch my aching body after my week of traditional exercise and my golf.

Yoga comes in many different “flavors”. One must find the class that is right for them with the proper instruction. The physical postures of yoga are used to alleviate health problems, reduce stress, and make the spine supple. As any form of exercise, start slowly and seek out certified and credentialed instructors.

Leigh Anne Richards, MEd, Certified Personal Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, General Manager- MetroFitness. For any questions or comments, contact Leigh Anne at [email protected]

Can Yoga Keep You Young?By Leigh Anne RichardsFitness over Fifty

Leigh Anne Richards


Although hearing loss is an inevitable part of the aging process, make sure you maintain your quality of life by caring for your hearing health. One way to do this is to have your hearing checked annually by a Board Certified Audiologist. The health of your ears

may hold clues to your overall health, too.

Not all hearing loss is created equal. Sensorineural hearing loss, which commonly occurs as part of the aging process and accounts for more than 90% of all hearing loss, is caused by loss of hair cells in the inner ear and is permanent. Conductive hearing loss, however, can often be treated and all or part of the hearing restored. By examining the ear canal, your audiologist can detect potential causes of conductive hearing loss – such as excessive ear wax, fluid accumulation, a perforated eardrum or other conditions – and refer you for the appropriate medical intervention to correct the problem.

Problems with your hearing may also signal other serious medical conditions. If you’ve recently begun hearing ringing in your ears, also known as tinnitus, it may be indicative of high blood pressure. Tinnitus typically accompanies damage in the inner ear; however, it is sometimes caused by elevated blood pressure or other potentially serious health conditions.

Having an annual hearing evaluation is especially important if you have health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or obesity, as these can contribute to hearing loss. Heart disease and obesity affect your circulation, while diabetes affects the nerves and blood vessels in your body. Your ears, especially the tiny structures in your inner ear, rely on good circulation and blood flow. By managing these diseases, you protect your hearing health.

Healthy Hearing

Dr. Bettie Borton Au. D.

A recent study led by a Johns Hopkins researcher suggests that hearing loss is also be a risk factor for another huge public health problem for those over 65: falls.

To determine whether hearing loss and falling are connected, Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D., at Johns Hopkins, and his colleague Luigi Ferrucci, M.D., Ph.D., of the National Institute on Aging, used data on 2,017 participants ages 40 to 69. These individuals had their hearing tested and answered questions about whether they had fallen over the past year. Lin and Ferrucci found that people with a 25-decibel hearing loss, classified as mild, were nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling. Every additional 10-decibels of hearing loss increased the chances of falling by 1.4 fold. This finding still held true, even when researchers accounted for other factors linked with falling, including age, sex, race, cardiovascular disease and vestibular function.

Lin says among the possible explanations for the link is that people who can’t hear well might not have good awareness of their overall environment, making tripping and falling more likely. Another reason hearing loss might increase the risk of falls, Lin adds, is cognitive load, in which the brain is overwhelmed with demands on its limited resources.

A 2011 study by John Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging indicates that individuals with hearing loss were also more likely to develop dementia. At the conclusion of the study, both diseases were more prevalent in the participants with the most severe hearing loss.

Health professionals estimate dementia will affect 100 million people worldwide by 2050. Alzheimer’s is a disease of the brain tissue and accounts for more than 70 percent of all dementia cases. Researchers believe auditory deprivation and social isolation prevalent in individuals with untreated hearing loss put them more at risk for developing dementia and

How Important Is Your Hearing???Alzheimer’s, two diseases known for the deterioration of brain function.

Researchers believe untreated hearing loss complicates dementia and Alzheimer’s because it’s associated with a wide range of emotional and psychological issues, including depression, anxiety, social isolation

and fatigue. Studies indicate hearing devices can improve communication and reduce confusion among Alzheimer’s patients and may improve memory and social interaction among individuals diagnosed with dementia.

If your physician or audiologist detects a hearing problem during your annual exam, be sure to address it as soon as possible. Wearing hearing aids has proven to be effective in helping regain speech understanding, delay further hearing loss and reduce feelings of anxiety, depression and isolation. While research shows individuals wait an average of seven years before seeking treatment for their hearing loss, untreated hearing loss can damage the brain’s ability to interpret sound, decreasing the amount of success you’ll have with hearing aids once you decide to purchase them.

“So, although your eyes are the windows to your soul, your ears and their health can be a gateway to your overall health and well being. The healthier they are, the better you’ll feel.”

.For more information please contact Doctors Hearing Clinic at (334) 396–1635. Content adapted from Content adapted from Healthy Hearing.

Dr. Bettie B. Borton is a licensed audiologist in Alabama, was the first board certified audiologist in Montgomery, served as National Chair of the American Board of Audiology, and was recently elected as President Elect of the American Academy of Audiology. Co-authored by Dr.Brittany Spahr and Casey Gonzalez, Doctoral Extern, LSUHSC.

By Dr. Bettie Borton Au.D.

“Blindness separates us from things, but deafness separates us from people.”

Quote by Helen Keller


Rules of etiquette govern life events from the monumental to the mundane. But when it comes to inheritance, whether you’re passing items down to family members and loved ones or you’re on the receiving end, the guidelines of propriety are far from clear. How do you divvy up prized possessions between children? How do you tactfully tell a parent that you’d like to inherit some cherished piece, or that you’re not interested in a certain item that may be headed your way? Is it even possible?

“It’s about being respectful,” said Peggy Post, director of the Emily Post Institute, the Vermont-based business now diversified from books and columns to outreach and online. “The underpinnings of etiquette are respect, consideration and honesty, and those benchmarks all apply.”

Post, 67, is great-granddaughter-in-law of etiquette queen Emily Post and the author of more than a dozen books on the topic. She talked to us about navigating the tricky waters of inheritance appropriately.

Q. There are generally accepted rules of etiquette around weddings, workplaces, even dinner parties. Why are we mostly flying blind when it comes to inheritance?

A. People are hesitant to talk about death and dying, about how to handle condolences and all the different happenings around those end-of-life rituals. Inheritance probably gets lumped into that. But there’s more and more

interest in elder etiquette now.

Q. The latest version of Emily Post’s “Etiquette” includes a brand new chapter on elder etiquette. What does that entail?

A. Things like how to talk to parents about handling money, driving, living on their own as they get older. These are delicate issues. And things parents can do to prepare others, talking to children about how siblings should handle their caregiving. How do

you do that to make it fair among family members? These are all really awkward topics.

Q. And inheritance falls into that category?

A. There’s not a good blueprint for handling inheritance. Talking to people who deal in estate planning can give you pointers, professional and legal advice. But it does get tricky because family

Rules of Inheritance

By Austin O’Connor


A. If the person has already died, you can certainly tell the others in the family that it’s not something you would use and you’re not interested. It’s tricky when the person is still alive and wants to give you something. Much of that answer depends upon the relationship and whether it would hurt the person’s feelings.

Q. Should siblings who have shouldered more of the caregiving load expect a healthier inheritance?

A. It can be a factor, as long as everyone agrees. The scale might be tipped toward one person. That works as long as the others aren’t resentful.

Q. What if you’ve been given something you won’t use? Can you give it to someone else? Sell it?

A. If it’s a really special family heirloom and other family members would be crushed to have that sold, then I wouldn’t do that. If it’s just something that you know you can’t use but someone else would really like to have it, if you’re not going to upset everyone else, then you can give it to that person. Some people do sell items, and that’s fine if it’s not going to be upsetting to the family.

Q. If you have your eye on a certain item, is it rude to ask for it?

A. Generally, you don’t ask. If you’re

members forget to communicate. I think that’s the big problem.

Q. You’ve said how awkward this issue can be. What’s the best way to start the conversation?

A. Every situation is different. Do some one-on-one talks first, perhaps among siblings or the parents with each child. But it’s also good to get everyone together whenever possible, to make sure everything’s out on the table and everyone is on the same wavelength. Even if families don’t live close to each other, you can do a video call on FaceTime or Skype, or at the very least do a conference phone call. It’s really good to talk individually and as a group.

Q. For people who are starting to think about handing things down, is age or birth order important? Should the oldest child or grandchild have first choice, or be given the most valuable items?

A. No. That wouldn’t be fair to everyone else. Now if everyone agrees to let the oldest one go first, then that’s fine. But most professionals will advise to do some type of a draw. Let’s say there are four siblings, they could draw names or numbers out of a hat. So the oldest might very well choose fourth.

Q. Is it OK to decline an item you’ve received if you know you won’t use it?

really close you may say to your parent, for example. “If nobody else wants it, or you really don’t know what you want to do with that great desk, then I’d love to have it.” But again, only if it’s not going to seem that you’re being thoughtless and inconsiderate of the other family members.

Q. When dividing up items, how do you balance monetary versus sentimental value?

A. It is really important to try to balance out the monetary value. You want to make it fair. Get a professional appraisal of jewelry, rare books, paintings or other valuable items before you decide how to divide them. Sentimental value is a little bit harder to gauge, but I think you can even it out. Everybody has their favorite sentimental things. Maybe there’s enough to go around for every person, or maybe you have a drawing for them.

Q. So for the giver, being specific about your wishes can help avoid discord among family members.

A. Leaving specific directions is a really forward-thinking thing to do, and it’s great when it works out like that. Not everybody plans ahead or wants to think about that. But the fewer question marks at the end, the better for everybody.

(c) 2013, AARP.Distributed by MCT Information Services


“In the late 1950’s,” writes Historian Mary Ann Neeley, “the Montgomery Little Theatre acquired the

historic Carpenter Gothic Church on Goldthwaite Street and created a much-loved playhouse. Productions involved scores of volunteers and routinely drew packed houses.” This is where I first met then, Maureene Dees, in the mid 1970’s. I was a wife, mother and volunteer. Maureene was the wife of Morris Dees. Not long after Maureene and Morris went their separate ways. Maureene had discovered the New Thought Religious Movement and left for seminary in Kansas City. After completing her studies, she was offered a position with a church in the Napa Valley in California.

Rev. Maureene Bass served as a Minister with the Unity Church in California. She published a book titled Soul Food and after 20 years has now retired and moved back to Montgomery to be near her family. She recently conducted a service at the Unitarian Church on Atlanta Highway here in Montgomery.

Maureene has had a long association with the arts, performing, creating and supporting. President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the National Council for the Arts and she had a radio program in California for 14 years.

While living in San Francisco she designed beautiful jewelry for her company, Fabulous Rocks. Her designs were marketed in The Hamptons and Carmel, California. Like many people,

Maureene believes stones have healing powers. In the book, The Crystal Bible written by Judy Hall, Judy addresses how to use precious stones for healing as well as decoration. Maureene names her pieces after famous female actresses. When I think of Maureene in the mid 1970’s and early 1980’s she made such a fashion statement. Listed in the Montgomery Advertiser’s Best Dressed Hall of Fame, she has always had a gift for fashion, but with her own style.

Elizabeth is made with Turquoise and Amethyst. Hill writes, “Turquoise reduces excess acidity and benefits gout, rheumatism and the stomach. An anti-inflammatory and detoxifying, it alleviates cramps and pain. Amethyst is believed to boost production of hormones and tunes the endocrine system and metabolism.”

Julia is the name of this lovely necklace with two strands of Fresh Water Pearls. Southern girls love pearls.

Ester is four strands of shimmering Abalone appropriately named as it is taken from an ear-shaped shell in the sea.

Deborah is five strands of sparkling blue Apatite and smoky grey Topaz. “Apatite is believed to heal bones and encourages formation of new cells and Topaz is sometimes used to manifest health, to aid digestion, fortifies the nerves and stimulates the metabolism.” Writes Judy Hill.

Audrey is composed of eight strands, one strand of carved Green Jade and seven strands of Green crystals. Hill continues in her book, “Green Jade can be used to calm the nervous system and channels passion in constructive ways.”

Maureene says, “I have found a way to express beauty through my spiritual practice and with the Fabulous Rocks of the Earth. My designs can be seen at Gallery One Fine Art.”

Featured Art ist This Month, Maureene Bass

Visit Gallery One Fine Art423 Cloverdale Road, Montgomery, AL Gallery Director Sandi [email protected]


experiences or ways of thinking, which is great for our intellectual engagement.” #9 Stop Complaining-Change What You

Can, and Accept What You Cannot. Start an affirmation file. #10. Stay Curious.

This is a wonderful how to book and in the reading, I was reminded of being told things as a child.

Some of my favorite are Only boring people get bored, To be interesting one has to be interested and probably my favorite is Don’t do anything for

fun, if you are not enjoying it. Winston Churchill said, “You create your own universe as you go along.”

Art & Soul By Sandi Aplin

Reading Martha Stewart’s latest book Living the Good Long Life: A Practical Guide to Caring for Yourself and Others, She says, “It’s been called the silver tsunami, and it’s headed this way: by 2047, there will be more Americans over 60 than under 15. The numbers of the oldest-old, those over 85, proportionately will grow the most of any demographic. Our increasingly aged population will affect the allocations of physical, emotional, medical and mental care in our society. And that means we, as the pioneers of this generational landscape, must do our part to redefine the implications of aging and what it means to be, act and feel old.”

Stewart the offers her Ten Golden Rules for successful aging. They are #1 Eat Well. Stewart eats real, fresh food and most she grows in her own garden. She includes great, easy, low calorie recipes that are nutritious, tasty and fun easy to make. #2 Maintain a Healthy Weight. To do this she will focus on the great eight. They are fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans and legumes, nuts and seeds, seafood, lean animal protein, calcium-rich foods and good fats. #3 Stay Physically Active. Healthy fitness is some form of exercise every day, something you really enjoy. I can’t run, so I walk or swim. My family of animals and I love to play in my garden, too. The exercise and expanded endurance feels good. #4 Get Quality Sleep. This is one of the most important as sleep deprivation takes its toll such as fatigue, irritability, reduced creativity, stress, reduced immunity, lack of concentration, weight gain, increased inflammation, impaired motor skills, Increased risk for cardiovascular disease,

arthritis and diabetes mellitus. #5 Wear Sunscreen. This is very important with regard to health and aging. #6 Collaborate with a Good Primary-Care Doctor, Regularly. #7 Find Your Passion. It is never too late to start something new. Make a Bucket List.

#8 Connect with Others. Conversation requires skills such as cue recognition, memory, attention and these control-all processes that are also involved in many cognitive functions. “Research has shown that those who report higher levels of social engagement have an associated reduced risk for memory loss and dementia,” says Dr. Cynthia Green. “You really can’t be social without staying focused, thinking quickly and keeping your mind nimble. Staying social also exposes us to different

Sandi Aplin, Director of Gallery One Fine ArtA free lance writer living in Montgomery, Alabamawww.galleryonefineart.com

Living The Good Life ala Martha Stewart


Come to Riverfront Park for a free family-friendly event from 5 pm to 8 pm. The fun includes live entertainment, games for all ages (bocce ball and more!), food vendors and adult libations at the

SandBAR at the Silos. Special Event for August: Riverfront Wake Battle. Don’t miss it when the top wake skaters and wakeboarders battle it out on the Montgomery Riverfront beginning at 9:30 am. Trotline will take the stage at 6 pm. Visit: funon-theriver.net

MONTGOMERY DOWNTOWNMontgomery Recreators Jazz BandFeaturing Susan WoodyThe Hanger at The Aviator BarTuesday, August 13th, 7 pmPerforming the second Tuesday of each month in the Hanger behing The Aviator bar Downtown Montgomery. The plays dance band music from the 40’s through the modern sounds of today. for more information visit montgomeryrecreators.com

BLOUNT CULTURAL PARKMilitary Open HouseMontgomery Museum of Fine ArtsThursday, August 15th, 5:30-7:30pmThe Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts invites all active, reserve, and retired military personnel and their families to Military Open House on Thursday, August 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, for an evening of family fun dedicated to the Maxwell and Gunter communities. Guests can enjoy art-making activi-ties, a buffet dinner presented by Wintzell’s Oyster House, and live entertainment. This event is free of charge and open to all military personnel and their families. For more information, call the Museum at 334.240.4333 or visit the MMFA web site at mmfa.org.

MONTGOMERYPauseFrazer UMC-Fellowship HallSaturday, August 17th, 8:30 -3 pm

{12 Things} for active boomers and beyond

August 2013

UNION SPRINGSSee Rock Cityat the Red Door TheatreThursday-Sunday, August 1-4

This wartime romance tells the story of May and Raleigh who plan to honeymoon at Rock City, Tennes-see in 1943. When victory overseas brings unexpected consequences at

home, the young Kentucky couple is forced to face hidden truths and find common solutions to the challenges of a new post-war America. (Bill Blake)This production will be presented in the historic Red Door Theatre. Evening performances on August 1, 2, and 3, are preceded by a seated dinner (reserva-tions required). The Sunday, August 4, performance is a 2:30 p.m. matinee. Contact (334) 738-8687 or [email protected] for info. Visit reddoortheatre.org to learn more about the event and the theatre.

HAMPSTEADHampstead’s 1st Annual Bocce Tournament!Saturday, August 3rd, 11am

Meet us on The Tipping Point lawn for Bocce, Beer & Prizes. $30 for Team of Two Players includes: Registration Fee + 2 Drink Tickets + 2 Keepsake Bocce Cups. No previous Bocce experience necessary to play. Follow the Hampstead Facebook page

for registration details - spots are limited and will fill up fast. There’s no charge for spectators, so come cheer on your favorite team and enjoy a Saturday afternoon at The Tipping Point! hampsteadliving.com

SHOPPES at EASTCHASEStuff the Bus School Supply DriveThe Shoppes at EastchaseSaturday, August 3rd, Noon-5 pm

The Shoppes at EastChase will join with EMERGE Montgomery, Capital City Club, Jackson Thornton YPs, S.H.E. Agency, KUMON and

Touch of Class Limousine to host the third annual Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive on Saturday, August 3 from noon - 5 p.m. During the tax-free weekend, school supplies will be collected in a school bus next to Earth Fare Organic Grocer and Dillard’s. Just look for the bus. The Montgomery County School Board will distribute the supplies to needy schools and children in Montgomery County.

MONTGOMERY DOWNTOWNThe Alabama Dance Theatre 10th annual “Stars on the Riverfront” Riverwalk AmphitheatreSunday/Monday August 4 & 5, 7:30pm

The Alabama Dance Theatre will present two free perfor-mances during the 10th annual “Stars on the Riverfront”.

The event, which will take place at the Riverwalk Amphitheatre, will feature a culmination of the theatre’s summer dance seminar performances. The performances will include the second act of La Bayadere also known as “Kingdom of the Shades” as well as contemporary works by resident choreographers Sara Sanford, Janie Alford and Foye DuBose. Performances will take place at 7:30 pm on Aug. 4 and Aug. 5. Gates open at 6 p.m. Attend-ees are invited to bring chairs, blankets and picnic baskets. alabamadancetheatre.com

MONTGOMERY DOWNTOWNSecond SaturdaysRiverfront FestivalsRiverfront AmphitheaterSaturday, August 10th, 5-8 pm


2013 at 7:30 pm Hearts will flutter and hips will shake when Elvis Presley returns to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival on Monday, August 19th, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. for a one-night-only concert. Tickets for Elvis-The Early Years may be obtained by calling 800.841.4273, on line at asf.net

BIRMINGHAMSidewalk Film FestivalDowntown BirminghamFriday-Sunday, August 23-25

The 15th annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, a celebration of new inde-pendent cinema in down-

town Birmingham, is set to take place August 23-25. Since its debut in 1999, filmmakers from across the country and around the world have come to Birmingham to screen their work at Sidewalk and have been thrilled to discover fresh, enthusiastic crowds eager to devour new independent cinema. sidewalkfest.com

MONTGOMERY DOWNTOWNDragon Boat Race & FestivalMontgomery RiverfrontSaturday, August 24th, 8:30 am untilCome out to one of the most successful dragon boat festivals in the Southeast. This wonderful

community event is free, and everyone is invited to see fellow Montgomery residents compete on the Alabama River. Proceeds will

benefit two local charities: Bridge Builders Alabama and Rebuilding Together Central Alabama. To see a full schedule of events, activities and entertainment, visit www.montgomerydragonboat.org.

LAKE MARTINLabor Day Weekend ConcertLake Martin AmphitheaterSunday, September 1st, 5:30-10 pm

The Summer Concert Series climaxes with another jammin’ Labor Day Weekend concert. Join us Sunday September 1st featuring Vegabonds, Corey Smith, and Sister

Hazel. Gates open at 5:30 with the show starting at 6:30. Tickets are currently on sale online only but will be available soon at The Company Store at Russell Crossroads. The Return of Sister Hazel and Corey Smith Sunday September 1st! See you on the grassy lawn at The AMP.lmat.org

Press “pause” from the chaos of life and spend a day away with God this summer.

As our church continues through the PrayList sermon series on the Psalms, we will draw themes from the book of Psalms to direct our hearts to the Lord. Guided and group prayer experiences will be interspersed with extended time to meet with God on your own across the Frazer campus. If you’ve never dedicated a whole day to prayer, give Pause a try; you will be amazed how quickly the time will fly by as you break away from your everyday activities and enjoy focused time with Christ. Cost is $5 per person to cover materials that will be provided. Fasting is encouraged but you may feel free to bring a lunch and drinks/snacks will be provided. Free childcare available with registration for infants through 5th grade. Contact Information:334.495.6350, [email protected]

MONTGOMERYElvis - The Early Years ASF August 19th, 7:30 pm

Elvis - The Early Years 2013-08-19 2013-08-19 Buy Tickets Performance on Monday, August 19,

barbarabondsrealestate.com


#10- Scenic Brainerd Minnesota! A gigantic statue of a man in a flannel shirt and jeans greets visitors as they enter the town. Is Brawny Paper Towels headquartered here? No, it‘s the legendary ax-man, who has likely fallen out of favor since he cleared forests and today would be labeled a threat by the EPA. Families posing in front of Paul’s statue is as Griswoldian as it gets.

#9- Four Corners USA! Like the Griswolds, we skipped the Gateway Arch but did make it to this location- the one spot in America where you can stand in 4 states at one time. If placing your toes in Arizona and Colorado, with your heels in New Mexico and Utah in one swell foop is your idea of fun, check it out. They may have finally paved the roads to this location.

#8- World’s Smallest City Block, Dothan, Alabama. Once you’ve stood in 4 states at once, you must see the Guiness Book of Records-recognized World Smallest City Block, a tiny triangle of grass with a tombstone proclaiming its proud status. #7- Corn Palace, Mitchell, SD. Before we saw the breathtaking Mt. Rushmore, we stopped here- a building made from 275,000 ears of corn (redecorated annually).

#6- The SPAM Museum, Austin, Minnesota. Our stop here was brief. “SPAM won the war”, Dad said. I’m not sure if it’s because it fed the troops or we dropped it on Japan. #5- World’s Largest Basket, Newark, Ohio. I found this building accidentally while driving through Ohio. It is startling, and the people who work in it make- BASKETS! I’d be

embarrassed to work in this building, but it is quite the sight in person. #4- Jimmy Carter Peanut, Plains, Georgia. It may be the most appropriate Presidential tribute, ever.

#3- Museum of Hoaxes, San Diego, CA. I checked this place out when I was the PR guy for Styx. They actually offer a test on your personal gullibility! No, the “jack-a-lope” is not a real creature. Americans love hoaxes and a tour through this building will tell you how much crap you actually believed! #2- Abe Lincoln’s Home, Springfield, IL. When you walk through Abe’s home, you notice something in the back yard- an outhouse! And it’s just weird to think of someone as revered as Lincoln to have to do his businesses in a splintery old thing like that!

#1- World’s Largest Ball of Twine, Cawker City, KS. You thought Clark Griswold was kidding? Here’s 9 tons of twine, baby! Anyone can tour the White House. Wait. No, you can’t-but the real road warriors know how to find the goober stops. Perhaps you can squeeze one in before school starts!

MY TOP 10 GRISWOLDIAN ADVENTURES!

Greg Budell lives in Montgomery with his dog Hershey. He’s a 25 year veteran of radio who hosts the Greg & Susan morning show 6-9 am and Happy Hour 3-6 pm on NEWSTALK 93.1, Greg can be reached at [email protected]

By Greg BudellMALE CALL

The first time I watched National Lampoon’s Vacation I laughed ‘til it hurt. It was like watching my family vacations, and Clark Griswold was my Dad. Any man that would bypass the Gateway Arch in St. Louis to see the World’s Largest Ball of Twine as Clark did in the movie, is worthy of that status. CLARK KNOWS KITSCHY. Pops took the gang camping out west. I remember the magnificence of the Grand Tetons and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I remember several days at Yellowstone Park, where I learned how to chop wood for a campfire, albeit after my first Bunyanesque swipe ended embedded in my shin- followed by a short trip to the Park Hospital. Since I just mentioned big Paul, let me initiate my Top 10 list of Griswoldian Tourist Stops with him as he welcomes visitors to...

boom! august 2013

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