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Page 1: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

b o o m e r b u z z

boomerbuzz… living life to the fullest MAY / JUNE 2013 | boomerbuzzmagazine.com

m a g a z i n e

P$YCHO SUCCESS: Highly Effective Business Strategies and Techniques

WHERE WOULD YOU GO ON VACATION?

Texas

Green Source DFW Forging a Green

Community

Page 2: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

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Page 3: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

MISSING THE MUSIC YOU GREW UP WITH?Classic R&B, Pop, and Rock Hits from 70ʼs, 80ʼs, 90ʼs

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Host Michael Gray of Cover to Cover: All Things Bookish with Horror Novelist and

Publishing Coach Brian Moreland

CATCH OUR TALK SHOWSSports Thread

Mondays and Fridays 12-1:30 pm

Cover to Cover“All Things Bookish”

Mondays 2 pm

Breakthroughs with Don Purdum“Where Marriage & Business Meet”

Tuesdays 1 pm

BoomerBuzz Radio with Robin Roberson

Tuesdays 1:30 p.m.

Bee More“Mind, Body, Spirit”Thursdays 1 p.m.

Show Sponsorships available contact [email protected] or Leann at 214-289-3563

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For info [email protected] or call 214-628-1656

Page 4: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

04 | CONTENTS

MAY | JUNE: IN THIS ISSUE

     

PUBLISHER’S LETTER 07 Splashing into Spring Texas Style! FEATURE 08 Go Green and Blossom Fashionably into Spring

Forging a Green Community in North Texas IN THE NEWS 14 Financial Spring Cleaning | What Happens When It Rains? HEALTHY LIFE 18 A Palette of Food | What Does Addiction Mean to You?

The Diet Is Dead | What Did You Say? THE ARTS 26 iZoom Blasts Onto the Airwaves for Boomers | Dinosaur Rock TEXAS STYLE 32 Remix Your Style | Spring Feast | She Made a Believer Out of Me BOOM VOYAGE 44 Cross-Culture Volunteering Changes Lives

Where Would You Go, What Would You Do? BOOMER BUZZ 51 i'm gonna go fishing | Become the Predator, Not the Prey!

Heal the Heart to Heal the Body | For the Love of Bluebonnets SENIOR SENSE 58 The Accidental Caregiver

ON THE COVER House of Blues, Dallas, Texas. Photo Credit: Raul Enriquez, Photography

b o o m e r b u z z t x . c o m 469.237.7084 | [email protected]

Page 5: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

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Page 6: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

06 | MASTHEAD

boomerbuzz tx . c o m

PUBLISHER Robin Roberson

ADVERTISING & MARKETING Linda Moncrief

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Jonathan R. Moseley

WEBSITE DESIGN Houston Brown/Split Light Designs

SEO & SOCIAL MEDIA Marketing Works

PUBLIC RELATIONS Isabell Rossignol

CREATIVE CONTRIBUTORS Raul Enriquez, Photography

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Eric Alexander Tara Anderson Naikai Butler, Au.D Christina Castle Ed Collie Angela S. Deppe Peggy Emerson-Schilling Leah Frazier

Suzanna Garrett Valerie Grimes Becca Menig Torrey Moseley Robin Roberson Marjorie Salada Kara Times Nick Trout Cindy Ward

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REGISTRATION ON OR USE OF THE MAGAZINE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF BOOMERBUZZ MAGAZINE’S USER AGREEMENT AND PRIVACY POLICY. THE MATERIALS ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM BOOMERBUZZ MAGAZINE.

Page 7: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

PUBLISHER’S LETTER | 07

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

Happy  Spring  Texas  Boomers!  We  are  excited  at 

BoomerBuzz  to  present  this  spring  issue  and  hope 

you enjoy all the colorful exciting  features we share 

and learn something new in the process. 

In  this  issue  you  can  blossom  into  fabulous  spring 

fashions,  some  eco‐friendly,  as  well  as  be 

encouraged to forge a new “green” initiative in your 

community.    We  have  advice  on  “greening”  your 

finances and tell you how to come in out of the rain 

financially.   Our Healthy Life section  is  like a garden 

of bright colorful flowers and ranges from diets and a 

palette of food, to addiction and hearing. 

Boomers  spend  more  on  travel  than  any  other 

segment of  the population and you will  learn about 

inspiring  volunteer  vacation  options  that  reward  in 

more  ways  than  just  scenery  and make  you  think 

about what and where to go on your next trip. 

And  we  are  delighted  to  announce  we  will  have  a  BoomerBuzz  internet  radio  show  on 

izoominternetradio.com where we will  introduce you  to boomers who are  living  life  to  the  fullest, re‐

inventing  themselves at a  time when  they once  thought  they would be  relaxing but  finding  they are 

rejuvenated and enjoying life even more! We will profile boomers making a difference in our world and 

hope to have  lots of fun, engaging banter and still offer exceptional content. And you can  listen to the 

fabulous music you grew up with  from the prolific producer and partner of  iZoom, Raul Enriquez, and 

hear other exceptional shows on interesting topics. 

In Texas Style I talk about being made into a “believer” and you will have to read the article to find out 

what I now believe in! We also have a Spring Feast to share and tell you how you can Remix Your Style. 

You will enjoy a pictorial of the Texas Bluebonnet season, as well as several book reviews. And for those 

with  an  aging  parent  there  is  an  informative  story  from  an  accidental  caregiver  that  has  some  very 

salient points for those caring for another. 

With  spring  “greening”  our  world,  we  hope  you  enjoy  the  May/June  issue  of  BoomerBuzz  Texas 

Magazine, read BoomerBuzz Magazine and listen to iZoom Internet Radio, as well. 

Thanks for reading, 

 

Page 8: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

08 | FEATURE

Go Green and Blossom Fashionably into Spring at Piermarini Boutique 

By Leah Frazier 

Going green  is more than  just a fad;  it  is the  invitation for a new  lifestyle that challenges people to be 

environmentally‐conscious and to embrace nature in its purest form.  From organic foods to eco‐friendly 

skincare products, the wave of environmentally‐friendly products is taking the world by storm. 

A widely developing trend across the states is the expansion of eco‐friendly and organic clothing items. 

This expansion brings a marriage between both designer  labels and retailers garnering more attention 

towards the introduction of clothing and accessory items that utilize organic fibers or resources in their 

more natural form. 

Local favorite boutique and noted pinpoint for Dallas fashion, Piermarini, is notorious for its support of 

both  independent  and  local  fashion  designers.    The  fashionable  and  sophisticated  boutique  offers  a 

limited selection of exclusive pieces  that are hand‐selected by  its owner,  John Piermarini. Piermarini’s 

purposeful  offering  of  only  a  select  number  of  garments  in  each  size  appeals  to  the  customer who 

desires individuality, distinctiveness and a look that will be difficult to replicate. 

Page 9: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

FEATURE | 09

Located within walking distance  to  Southern Methodist University  and  just moments  away  from  the 

renowned and upscale Highland Park Village,  this stylish and  refined boutique appeals  to women and 

men of all ages, styles, and experiences.  A shopper’s haven to many of Dallas’ elite, Piermarini’s small, 

intimate  atmosphere  is  inviting  and  surprisingly  unlocks  the mystery  as  to why  owning  pieces  from 

privately‐selected fashion labels, is a step above the rest. 

In  the  flourishing boutique’s  recent spring  fashion preview, owner  John Piermarini excitedly displayed 

his interpretation of this spring’s most popular trends and also showcased the best styles to compliment 

the Texas weather.  Trends for spring can be summed up in three words: light, fun and flirty. 

Piermarini, who frequently travels to New York City and other fashion meccas of the world, continuously 

immerses himself in the current trends and styles that flounce the runway.  Always keeping in mind the 

lifestyle  and  flair of  the  sophisticated Dallas  shopper,  Piermarini  cautiously makes his  selections  and 

brings them home ‐‐ to one of the top cities for retail shopping: Dallas, Texas. 

Piermarini reveals that color schemes for spring and summer are fairly neutral with the occasional pop 

of  color  in  shades  of  orange,  coral  or mint  green.    Donning  neutral  shades  gives  way  to  a  cooler 

appearance  for  the  Texas  spring  season  and 

opens the door for more individuality in terms of 

self‐expression when selecting an accent color. 

Trend reports have shown more bold statements 

with  stripes  and  polka‐dot  prints,  floral 

combinations,  and  mod  designs.  Other  popular 

style  and  fashion  trends  for  spring  include  the 

evolution of  gray  color  tones,  lace detailing  and 

most  importantly,  tailored  shorts  and  trousers.  

All  of  these  widespread  trends  and  styles  are 

currently  displayed  at  Piermarini Boutique. And, 

with the help of John Piermarini and his staff, you 

will be on your way to blossoming to fashionable 

heights in no time. 

While  Piermarini  Boutique  offers  some  of  Dallas’  popular  fashion  designers,  Abi  Ferrin  and  Ashlee 

Brooks, this fashionably‐conscious boutique also offers globally‐recognized designers who are unique in 

style, vision, and purpose.  The boutique’s mission in educating the Dallas consumer to eclectic fashion 

creations and high‐quality designer clothing, ties closely to the boutique’s affinity in its inclusion of eco‐

friendly spring and summer styles by designer label, Osklen. 

International luxury brand Osklen has shown at New York Fashion Week, highly‐acclaimed Latin fashion 

presentations and in 2011 claimed the title of “Emergent Luxury Brand of the Year.”  This travel‐inspired 

Brazilian brand  is one of Piermarini’s exclusive  labels  for  the eco‐conscious shopper.   The  texture and 

fabrics for Osklen clothing essentials are light, with flowing silhouettes that can complement most body 

types and frames.  Most importantly, the neutral palette of the Osklen spring and summer collection is 

largely versatile and the quality of the workmanship is rich. 

Page 10: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

10 | FEATURE

By using a large majority of natural and organic fibers, the stand‐out piece from the Osklen eco‐friendly 

woman’s  collection was  the  shimmer  and  gray‐toned  sheath  dress.    This  style  of  dress  is  known  to 

transcend any age or body type and is complimented best either by the simple addition of a waist‐fitting 

belt or by the effortless adornment of colorful and chunky accessories. 

Piermarini is also known for its vigorous contribution to the casual and flawless style of the Dallas male. 

From tailored linen shorts to handcrafted leather shoes, Piermarini Boutique has contributed greatly to 

the  upkeep  of  the  timeless  and  sophisticated  fashions  of  the  well‐traveled 

gentleman.    Just as Osklen provides women with eco‐friendly apparel, Osklen 

also  has  eco‐conscious,  loose‐fitting  v‐necked  tees,  natural  linen  shirts,  and 

casual  jersey buttoned shirts  for men.   Mixing these casual tops with a pair of 

Osklen  trousers, made wholly  from organic  fibers  and blends,  gives way  to  a 

light and cool spring style. 

While  many  Dallas‐area  boutiques  are  multi‐faceted  in  offering  the  best  in 

spring fashions, Piermarini boutique is one of the elite few that offers not only a 

variety of eco‐conscious styles and trends but also designer collections that can connect with men and 

women of all ages and preferences.    If anything, Piermarini’s stylish collection of eco‐friendly clothing 

proves  that “going green”  for your wardrobe should not equate  to boring, dull or  lackluster qualities. 

This  lifestyle  challenge will  be  an  addition  to  the  evolution  of  a  brand  new  you  and  a  brand  new 

wardrobe. 

Leah  Frazier  is  an  image  consultant,  fashion blogger and 

fashion and style writer in Dallas, Texas. More of her work 

can  be  found  on  Examiner.com,  CBS  Local  and  her  blog, 

Beautyforeashes.blogspot.com. 

Page 11: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

12 | FEATURE

Forging a Green Community in 

North Texas 

By Nick Trout 

Bringing  all  aspects of  “green  living”  to  the 

people of  the Dallas  / Fort Worth area was 

the  goal  of  Dallas’  Memnosyne  Institute 

three  years  ago.  Today,  according  to  its 

Founder  and  President,  Mary  Ann 

Thompson‐Frenk,  “GreenSourceDFW.org 

was  created  to  advance  the  Green 

Movement  in Dallas  /  Fort Worth; and was 

built  to  be  a  central  communication  point 

for  people  committed  to  changing  the 

world.” 

Green  Source  DFW  is  a  comprehensive  resource  of  news,  profiles,  a  directory  of  environmental 

organizations and green businesses, as well as  the go‐to place  to  find green events happening across 

North Texas. Publisher, Phillip E. Collins (who serves as executive director of the Memnosyne Institute), 

forges  the goal of  illuminating and educating  the community on subjects 

about  the environment. This educational project hopes  to bring  together 

environmental  groups,  green  businesses  and  the  Dallas  /  Fort  Worth 

community  in  order  to  provide  them with  a  tool  to  communicate with 

each other. 

The driving  force and  creator behind Green Source DFW  is Editor, Phillip 

Shinoda.  His  mission  for  Green  Source  DFW  is  to  advance  the 

environmental  movement  in  the  Dallas  /  Fort  Worth  area  by  promoting:  green  living,  sustainable 

practices,  nonprofit  environmental  organizations,  eco‐friendly  green  businesses,  environmental 

education, scientific information, public‐policy discussions, and socially‐responsible investing. According 

to  Shinoda,  the  opportunity  to meet  people  from  all  facets  of  the  environmental movement  (both 

nonprofit and business) has been the greatest reward of serving at Green Source DFW. 

Page 12: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

FEATURE | 13

Are  you  interested  in  knowing  more 

about  “green”  everything?  Green 

Source  DFW  is  the  place  to  find 

information,  happenings  and 

resources.  It  offers  articles  on  local 

topics  like: Trinity Haymarket  (a  store 

for urban farmers stocking hard‐to‐find 

tools and specialty supplies), Earth Day 

Dallas which was a huge  success with 

large  crowds  interested  in  sustaining 

the  planet,  and  information  about 

making a home that serves as a model 

for green living. Green Source DFW offers up informative videos, green blogs, activities and happenings 

related to green living. You can stay on top of issues like the drilling for natural gas in the Barnett Shale, 

water  conservation,  environmental  preservation,  and  coal  plants.  These  plants  use  huge  amounts  of 

resources ‐‐ even though Texas leads the country in wind power and has 

the capacity for solar and other renewable energy sources. The question 

arises, “Do we really need more coal plants?” 

Green  Source  DFW  gives  residents  in  the  North  Texas  arena  a 

collaborative  venture  that  is designed  to promote,  inform and educate 

the public about green  living. The  foundation’s goal  is  to  create a  safe 

and  friendly  environment where  the  green  community  can  share  ideas 

and  voice  their  opinions  about  the  environment.  Green  Source  DFW 

encourages every  individual  in  this  community  to  feel  free  to  speak up 

and get involved. 

Shinoda says, “There are so many fascinating people involved in the environmental movement; meeting 

them  and  learning  about what  they  are  involved  in  is  a wonder.  But, watching  Green  Source  DFW 

moving  the  local  “green” movement  forward  is  the  greatest  compensation  of  all.”  And,  he  hopes 

everyone will visit  the website and become  involved  in  their own way  ‐‐ www.GreenSourceDFW.org.  

The Memnosyne  Institute  is concerned about, and  focused on,  the  sustainability of  the world  ‐‐ both 

physically and spiritually. Shinoda feels honored to be a part of the work. 

 

Nick Trout touts news from the financial industry and subjects that interest men and women! 

Page 13: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

14 | IN THE NEWS

Financial Spring Cleaning 

By Angela S. Deppe 

For  most  Americans,  Social  Security  accounts 

for  20‐40%  of  their  total  retirement  income.  

For  this  new  crop  of  pension‐less  retirees,  it 

may  also  represent  their  only  source  of 

guaranteed  inflation‐adjusted  income  for  life.  

However, the vast majority of Americans do not 

fully  understand  how  the  system  works,  the 

role  it  plays  in  their  retirement,  and  how  to 

properly collect their benefits to maximize their 

monthly  income.   Given  this,  it's necessary  for 

those  at  or  near  retirement  to  include  Social 

Security  in  their  financial  spring  cleaning  and 

planning process. 

Social  Security  Central  has  created  these  3 

essential  tools  to  help  in  this  financial  spring 

cleaning  and  planning  process  for  Social 

Security: 

1.  an  intuitive  and  user  friendly  website 

www.socialsecuritycentral.com  as  a  central 

resource for Americans at or near retirement to 

find quick  answers, examples  and  case  studies 

on  how  to  properly  collect  Social  Security 

benefits 

2.  a  quick  and  easy‐to‐use  Social  Security 

Benefit Maximization Calculator to calculate the 

Social Security claiming strategy that maximizes 

your income and lays out easy to follow steps to 

make  sure  you're  getting  the most when  you 

apply  for  your  benefit...the  Calculator  is  being 

offered FREE for a limited time at: 

http://socialsecuritycentral.com/get‐the‐

answers/ 

3.  an  easy  to  understand  book  answering  the 

important  questions  like  when  and  how  to 

maximize Social Security called It's Your Money! 

Simple  Strategies  to  Maximize  Your  Social 

Security Income found on Amazon or at: 

http://socialsecuritycentral.com/its‐your‐

money‐book‐deppe/ 

Here's  an  example  of  how  Social  Security 

Central's  Benefit  Maximization  Calculator 

helped  one  retiree  during  his  spring  cleaning 

and  planning  process  develop  his  claiming 

strategy: 

John, a contractor on  the Southside of Chicago 

was  planning  to  collect  his  Social  Security 

benefits at 62.  He had paid in more than his fair 

share into the system and wanted to make sure 

he  got  as  much  back  out  of  Social  Security 

Page 14: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

IN THE NEWS | 15

before they went broke.  Remember, a business 

owner like John not only pays in his share of the 

Social Security payroll deduction tax but also his 

employees.    John's  wife  Sherry  (same  age  as 

John)  had  stayed  home  for  the  last  28  years 

raising their 4 children and as a result, had not 

earned enough credits to be eligible for her own 

individual benefits. 

Fortunately, Social Security Central's Calculator 

showed  John  that  his  decision  to  collect  his 

individual  benefits  early  would  not  only 

permanently  reduce  his  monthly  benefits  by 

25%,  but  more  importantly  would  reduce  his 

wife Sherry's survivor benefit  if he predeceases 

her. This  is an  important point because Sherry 

has  longevity  in  her  family  and  still  has  two 

parents  alive  in  their  mid‐90s.    What  most 

couples  don't  realize  is  the  decision  to  collect 

their  individual  benefits  should  be  a  joint 

decision, not an individual decision.  It has more 

to do with the lower earning spouse's longevity 

than  it  does  the  higher  earning  spouse's  in 

order  to  maximize  the  potential  survivor 

benefit. 

In the case of John and Sherry, John should wait 

to collect his individual benefit until age 70.  For 

every  year  that  John  waits  past  age  62,  his 

individual  and  potential  survivor  benefit  for 

Sherry will increase by 8% up until age 70.  John 

should file for his benefits at his Full Retirement 

Age of 66, but suspend collection of his income 

until  age  70  in  order  to maximize  his  benefit.  

When  John  uses  this  'Files  and  Suspend 

Strategy' as proposed by Social Security Central, 

Sherry  is eligible to collect a spousal benefit off 

of John's individual benefit and will receive 50% 

of his benefit at her Full Retirement Age of 66.  

So even  though  John  is waiting until age 70  to 

collect  his  benefit,  the  couple  will  have  a 

monthly  income  from Social Security coming  in 

at  Sherry's  Full Retirement Age of 66 with  the 

spousal  benefit.   When  John  turns  70,  he will 

begin  collecting  his  individual  benefit  and 

Sherry  will  continue  to  receive  her  spousal 

benefit.  If John predeceases Sherry, her spousal 

benefit will terminate once she starts to receive 

John's survivor benefit which has now increased 

by  32%  (8%/yr  *  4  years).   However,  because 

John  delayed  the  collection  of  his  individual 

benefit, he not only maximized his own benefit, 

but  also  the  survivor  benefit  paid  to  Sherry.  

This  type  of  strategy  typically  produces 

$150,000  to  $200,000  of  additional  Social 

Security  income  for  a  couple  that would  have 

been lost had John collected at early at age 62! 

So this spring when you clean out your financial 

records and prepare for your future retirement, 

please  take  the  time  to  create  a  customized 

Social  Security  claiming  strategy  (prior  to 

applying  for  benefits  with  the  Social  Security 

Administration).  

Social  Security 

Central  has  made 

your  financial 

spring  cleaning 

and  planning 

process  easy  this 

year  by  offering  their  Benefit  Maximization 

Calculator  FREE  for  a  limited  time  at 

http://socialsecuritycentral.com/get‐the‐

answers/.    You've  paid  into  Social  Security  for 

years. Don't you owe it to yourself to maximize 

your  benefits when  the  time  comes?  It's  Your 

Money! 

Angela  S.  Deppe  is  a  CPA  and  owner  of  Social  Security 

Central,  an  online  consulting  business  on  Social  Security 

benefits. She lives with her family in Chicago. 

Page 15: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

16 | IN THE NEWS

What Happens When It Rains???? By Eric Alexander

When it comes to finances, I have three core beliefs. One, hope is not a strategy. Some things in life will take care of themselves; your finances will not. Two, an increase in efficiency is a good thing! Too many of us have our hard earned dollars out there performing only one task. Three, demand flexibility. The ability to easily shift money from one need to another is priceless.

Over the past few years, much has been said about long term care and aging in America. There are reams of stats. Stories of people who never saw the inside of a nursing home. Even more stories of families financially wiped out by the process. At the end of the day, preparing for the possibility of extended care comes down to two factors: the likelihood and the costs.

Today I would like to take a few minutes to address likelihood and cost. In the next installment we will look at why traditional long term care planning violates my three beliefs and a new available option.

The Likelihood

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, “70% of people over the age of 65 will require some long-term care services at some point in their lives.” When I see a 70% chance of needing care and then a report in 2009 from the Assisted Living Federation of America that only 6% of residents have long term care insurance, I see a huge disconnect.

Long term care insurance has been around for years. Why don’t more people have coverage? The answer; a 70% chance doesn’t tell the whole story.

To use a better analogy, if I told you there was a 70% chance of rain today, most of us would at least think about an umbrella. But a 70% chance of rain says nothing about duration. If it is going to rain for 30 minutes, we may decide to tough it out. If it is going to rain for 2 hours, we may pack an umbrella. However, if it is going to rain all day, we might completely change our outfit and start looking for rubber boots.

So the question is not; ‘Will I end up in a nursing home’. The real question is ‘how long will I be there’. More importantly . . . am I willing to pay thousands a year in insurance on the chance I might be there for a long time?

Here are some of the statistics on duration. According to a 2009 study by the National Center for Assisted Living; “the average length of stay in an assisted living residence is about 28.3 months. Fifty-nine percent of the residents will move into a nursing facility. Thirty-three percent will pass away. The remaining will

Page 16: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

IN THE NEWS | 17

move home or to another location.” This means after a little more than two years, 41% will either move away or pass away and 59% will be there for longer than 2 years.

Now you know the stats; the question is whether the risks outweigh the costs.

The Costs:

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, the average costs in 2009 for care in Dallas, TX are:

Category

Avg. Daily Nursing

Home Rate: Private

Avg. Daily Nursing

Home Rate: Semi-

Private

Avg. Monthly Cost in Assisted Living Facility

Home Health Aide

Average Hourly Rate *

Homemaker Services Average Hourly Rate*

Adult Day Services

Daily Rate

Dallas $166 $118 $2,763 $34 $17 $43

Per year $60,590 $43,070 $33,156 $65,280 $32,640 $15,695

Per month $5,049 $3,589 $2,763 $5,440 $2,720 $1,308

Per day $166 $118 $90.84 $272 $136 $43

* Yearly and monthly costs assume an 8-hour day and 20 days per month.

To give you a better idea of the costs, let’s look at the duration study. If the average length of stay is 28.3 months, in Dallas this would add up to over $78,000 in expenses. Furthermore, if you have a 59% chance of moving from assisted living into a nursing home then the costs go up. One year at a semi-private facility would be an additional $43,070 and brings the total cost to over $121,000. To further compound the issue, if only one spouse needs care? This means $121,000 in new costs plus a primary residence. You now have two homes and two lifestyles to maintain.

If long term care is expensive and the duration can be long; why don’t more people have coverage?

Tune in the July/August issue and find out why . . . and more importantly . . . what you can do about it.

Registered Representative of and securities offered through OneAmerica Securities, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC a Registered Investment Advisor, Insurance Representative of American United Life Insurance Company® (AUL) and other insurance companies. Personal Economics Group is not an affiliate of OneAmerica Securities or AUL and is not a broker dealer or a registered investment advisor.

Page 17: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

18 | HEALTHY LIFE

A Palette of Food 

By Tara Anderson 

I grew up in Kentucky on a farm in the mid ’80s and ‘90s before “going green” meant what it does today. 

We ate what we grew. We canned  from our garden. We slaughtered our animals and  froze the meat. 

Mom  and Dad  didn’t  consider  our  carbon  footprint  because  they were mostly  sustaining  our  family 

through the farm output.  We would have made Dr. Oz proud with our paint‐palette of a kitchen table ‐‐ 

home‐grown  tomatoes  and  spring  onions,  radishes,  perfect  sweet  corn, wild  black  berries we  hated 

picking, and heady  smells of  roasting meat billowing out of  the windows. Picking green beans was a 

chore and we could not wait for Mom to declare it was time to pull up the plants and not have to pick 

them every day! Growing up, I hated picking the garden but loved what came from it. 

I  learned  about  a  different world  of  vegetables 

when  I  arrived  at  The  Culinary  Institute  of 

America.  Patti  pan  squash,  “heirloom”  varieties 

of  everything,  petit  lettuces  and  beautiful  little 

amethyst  gems  …  Peruvian  purple  potatoes. 

They  are  as  delicate  in  taste  as  they  are 

beautiful. They are both waxy and starchy.  I love 

using them  in everyday meals because they add 

such  a  splash  of  color  to  the  plate.  Imagine  a 

plate of roasted yellow and red peppers, sautéed 

spinach  and  beautiful  purple  potatoes…you 

could literally be “eating the rainbow” 

Purple Potato Goat Cheese Mash 

Yield: 2 cups 

1 pound Peruvian purple potatoes, all the same size, skin on ½ cup milk ½ cup goat cheese ½ teaspoon salt/pepper 1 teaspoon fresh dill (optional) 

1. Cover potatoes with cold water and bring to a slow boil 2. Cook until fork‐tender 3. In separate pan, melt goat cheese into milk  4. When potatoes are finished cooking, mash and add cheese‐milk mixture to them 5. Season with salt, pepper and dill to taste 

My mom planted the seed of  love  for  flavor  in me that  is unmatched  in mass‐produced vegetables.    I 

have never tasted a commercial tomato, cucumber or strawberry that compared to a ‘homegrown’ one. 

We have a garden in our back yard and I am hoping to pass on this knowledge and passion for flavor to 

my  daughter.  I  am  also  teaching  her,  like  I was  taught,  to  be  a  steward  of  the  land  and  to  be  self‐

sustaining. I encourage you to seek out small markets with locals selling their garden gems … or, better 

yet, grow your own rainbow. 

Tara Anderson, Mother, Chef, Owner of www.halfpintpalates.com A lifetime of flavor exploration 

Page 18: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

HEALTHY LIFE | 19

What Does Addiction Mean to You?

By Marjorie Salada

Addiction is something that you hear a lot about these days. When you hear the word addiction, usually what comes to mind is a picture of a person that uses drugs to excess or drinks alcohol to excess. But in recent years, we have come to realize that this disorder can encompass much more than drugs and alcohol. It can be anything that consumes your life and affects it negatively. It is something that a person cannot easily give up. With the exception of eating and breathing, you should be able to give almost anything up for 30 days. If you can’t, you are probably addicted.

Shopping, eating and internet use are probably 3 of the most prevalent types of addiction at the current time. The internet and television have made it much easier to be a shopaholic. You can sit in the comfort of your home and surf the web or watch the home-shopping networks and your merchandise is only a mouse click or a phone call away. And the television shows, especially, know how to appeal to the impulse buyer. Having worked for a credit card company, it was very easy to pick out the online and shopping-network buyers. The major consequences of this type addiction are overwhelming debt and clutter.

Internet addiction is one of the fastest growing types of addiction. If you find yourself hiding what you are looking at when people enter the room or your web use is causing problems in your family life, you may want to take a good, hard look at your computer use. Porn and interactive video games seem to be the two that cause a lot of the problems. And then there are the dating sites and chat rooms. These seem to have made people want to redefine what constitutes cheating in a relationship.

Eating is a big addiction in our country today and this one is very hard to treat. Abstinence is a big part of treatment when it comes to addiction. But how do you abstain from something that is life-sustaining? There are certain foods that cause cravings in some people and these cravings will often lead to binge eating. The foods that are most often the biggest culprits are sugar and highly-processed carbs. The best way to avoid this is to abstain from eating these foods. The problem comes from identifying the specific foods that cause the cravings.

Dealing with addiction is difficult but, fortunately, we do live in a time where help is available. It is no longer something that is not talked about and is denied for years. If you feel you have a problem, there are lots of resources available for helping you learn about your addiction and how to manage it. You no longer have to live in misery another day. You can get started today!

Marjorie Salada is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about wellness and finance.

Page 19: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

20 | HEALTHY LIFE

The Diet Is Dead 

Valerie Grimes, CCHt 

Diets  don’t  teach  us  much  except  that  we 

don’t like to be deprived and feel hungry – and 

that they don’t work. 

A diet is perceived to be a chore we must do to 

lose  weight.  Unfortunately,  many  of  us  have 

experienced  that  after  dieting,  the  lost weight 

often  comes  back.  Normally,  this  return  of 

unwanted  pounds  is  due  to  a  return  to  old 

eating  patterns  that  are  not  addressed  in  the 

course of a new diet. 

This  discouraging  pattern  of  weight  loss  and 

weight  re‐gain has negative consequences. We 

already suffer  from poor body  image and  from 

the experience of another failure, both of which 

compound the original problem.  

Also, diets don’t address our triggers that cause 

us to get up  in the middle of the night and eat, 

or to eat too much, or to eat the wrong things. 

Have you tried to lose weight and failed? 

You are not alone.  Most people try dieting and 

exercise programs each year but  then quit and 

go back to their old patterns. Why is that? 

Behavior  change  is  a  complex  undertaking.    It 

happens  in the mind, not  in the diet guidelines 

or mobile  app  for  calorie  counting.    There  are 

six  elements  to  assess  when  embarking  on 

PERMANENT personal  change  that  ‘being on  a 

diet’ just doesn’t address: 

Six Elements for Permanent Personal Change 

1. Your  belief  about  your  ability  to make a change, permanently. 

2. Your  desire  and motivation  to  get there and stay there. 

3. Removing  self‐sabotage  so  you  get there. 

4. Focus on  your  future  vision  so  you can see where you are going. 

5. Monitor  and  correct  negative  self‐talk so your talk matches your walk. 

6. Remove  associations  and identifications  so  it  is  just  a  lot easier to get there. 

1. Belief  about  ability  to  reach  your weight goal, permanently. 

Your  deep,  inner  belief  about  your  ability  to 

reach  your  weight  goal  must  match  your 

conscious  intention  to  do  so.  So,  if  you  don’t 

really  believe  it  will  work  based  on  the  past, 

then it won’t. BELIEVE it and RECEIVE it. 

Page 20: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

HEALTHY LIFE | 21

2. Have  a  strong  desire.  What  is  your motivation? 

Consider the outcome of getting to your goal.  If 

it’s  just  to  lose  weight  then  once  you  have 

achieved  your  goal,  the  “I’ve  arrived” mindset 

leads you back to where you started. However, 

if your goal  is  to  feel  terrific, have  loose‐fitting 

pants, and be able to  jog around the park then 

that is something you can sink your teeth into. 

3. Eliminate self‐sabotage. 

Do you use food to comfort yourself? 

Do you use food to reward yourself? 

Do you use food to punish yourself? 

If so, you may have a ‘part’ of you that is trying 

to  get  a  need met  by  engaging  in  a  behavior 

with  potentially  negative  consequences.  So, 

when  you  try  to  diet,  that  part  will  not 

cooperate.  It  isn’t  your  lack of will power, but 

rather  the  inability  to get a need met  in a way 

that is supportive and healthy. 

This part of you feels like self‐sabotage and it is. 

It is really about finding new ways to get a need 

met  ‐‐  like perhaps  to  feel  safe  ‐‐ but now  the 

mind/body thinks being overweight solves that. 

4. Create a future vision of yourself. 

In  order  to  reach  your  goal,  TO  BE  TRIMMER, 

you must  first SEE  IT/FEEL  IT as already having 

happened.  Using  your  imagination;  seeing, 

feeling,  and  experiencing  the  life  you  want, 

makes the mind believe it is already happening. 

5. Monitor  self‐talk  and  change  to  match future vision. 

Here are some examples of negative SELF TALK 

(these are expressions of your belief system): 

My mother never kept it off. She would lose and gain 15 pounds all her life. 

My metabolism is low—I don’t burn the foods I eat. 

Exercise is boring. 

I’m over 50, so I’ll just accept that I can be overweight. 

Now here  are  some  examples of positive  SELF 

TALK: 

I have decided  to be  in control,  to  feel powerful. 

I’m fit and healthy at any age. 

When  I decide  to be my  ideal  size and shape, it is my decision and nobody else (or  their  history)  affects  my  ability  to reach my goal. 

I am discovering new, creative ways  to exercise that feel good and are fun. 

Page 21: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

22 | HEALTHY LIFE

6. Identification and association 

We  all want  to be  accepted,  funny, well‐liked, 

clever, etc.  So,  if  in  grade  school we were  the 

class clown and also a little overweight we may 

feel  our weight makes  us  funny,  or we might 

identify the weight with being funny. 

Or,  in  junior  high  or  high  school we were  the 

larger,  more  muscular  kid  who  was  always 

picked for the football team because of our size, 

we may identify our popularity with being larger 

than the other kids. 

Disconnect  any  identification/association  with 

past patterns of weight gain or other ideas that 

may not be true ‐‐ such as thinking it is okay to 

gain  weight  due  to  your  age  or  other  family 

member’s status, etc. 

So,  perhaps  now  you  can  see  that  the  Diet  is 

Dead.  When  all  of  these  6  elements  for 

permanent  behavior  change  are  implemented, 

the  result  is  that  you  naturally  return  to  your 

inborn  instincts  to  eat  the  right  foods  in  the 

right amount and at the right time. 

For people who weigh every day. 

When you  step on  the  scale and  see  the  same 

number or reading each day you are registering 

that number  in your mind, your mind and body 

agree, “Yes, that is what I weigh.” 

I  recommend weighing  only  every  30  days  or, 

better  yet,  gauging  your  success  by  the  new 

hole you made in your belt or the fact that you 

can  pull  your  pants  down  without  undoing 

them! 

Valerie Grimes is a hypnotist with 2 locations in Dallas. 

Page 22: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

73rd

Annual

MEMORIAL DAY DALLAS Sponsored Annually by

The Greater Dallas Veterans Council

Restland Funeral Home & Memorial Park

Memorial Day Service Monday, May 27, 2013

1:00 p.m.

Field of Honor

Restland Memorial Park

John Franklin Bagwell, U.S. Army Army Specialist Bagwell will share his heroic story where he faced

treacherous combat in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive.

He is the recipient of the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with “V” Device,

Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal,

Sharpshooter Badge and Congressional Veteran Commendation.

Master of Ceremonies: Scott Murray, television/radio host

Placement of wreath at the Victory Memorial by Gold Star Mothers

This patriotic and festive event promises spectacular

entertainment for the whole family

Starting at 10:00 a.m.

Vintage helicopter, vehicle and equipment displays from World Wars I and II,

Korean War, Vietnam War and Desert Storm

12:15 p.m.

Memorial Day Children’s Parade

Beginning at Abbey Mausoleum walking to Field of Honor

All children invited to participate. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m.

For more information contact Sandra at 972-470-5732 or [email protected]

In addition, Restland will also display more than 6,640 flags in memory of

the brave lives given in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi

Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.

NW corner Greenville Avenue & Restland Road • Dallas, Texas 75243 • (972) 238-7111

RestlandFuneralHome.com

©STEI2013

Page 23: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

24 | HEALTHY LIFE

What Did You Say?

By Naikai Butler, Au.D., FAAA

Most cases of hearing  loss develop gradually so the 

symptoms  are  often  difficult  to  recognize.  If  you 

want to get an impression of how good your hearing 

is, you can evaluate it easily and then determine if a 

visit  to  a  doctor  is  warranted.  There  are  many 

different causes of hearing  loss. It can be caused by 

home or work‐related  factors,  it  can be hereditary, 

or it can just be a part of the aging process. 

The number  one  cause of hearing  loss  is  excessive 

noise  and  hearing  loss  associated  with  aging  is  a 

close  second.  Decreased  hearing  gradually  begins 

around  age  20,  and  continues  to  decline  to  a 

significant  loss  around  40  years  of  age. At  age  65  and  older,  one  in  three  people  has  some  type  of 

hearing loss. 

The type of hearing  loss depends upon where  in the ear the problem occurs and there are three main 

types of loss: conducive, sensorineural, and mixed losses. 

Conductive: A problem  in  the outer or middle ear causes conducive hearing  loss  that prevents sound 

from reaching the nerves in the inner ear. Common causes include: 

Fluid  in the middle ear from colds, allergies, poor eustachian tube function, ear  infection, perforated eardrum, benign tumors 

Impacted earwax 

Infection in the ear canal 

Presence of a foreign body 

Absence or malformation of the outer ear, ear canal, or middle ear 

Page 24: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

HEALTHY LIFE | 25

Sensorineural:  Damaged  nerves  in  the  inner  ear  cause  sensorineural  hearing  loss  which  cannot  be 

reduced or eliminated by surgery. There are many causes, differing by age of onset. 

Before or During Birth: 

Perinatal infections such as rubella, herpes, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, cytomegalovirus (CMV) 

Heredity 

Asphyxia or lack of oxygen at birth. 

Possible association with birth weight of less than 1500 grams. 

Possible association with defects of the head and neck 

Later Onset: 

Bacterial meningitis  

Ototoxicity (drug induced)  

Intense or excessive noise  

Physical damage to head or ear  

Mixed: Sometimes, people will have problems both 

in the inner ear and in the outer or middle ear. This 

type of hearing loss is known as a mixed loss. 

Signs of Hearing Loss 

If  you  experience  some  of  the  following  signs  of 

hearing impairment, you should contact your family 

doctor or hearing health care professional and have 

your hearing tested: 

Muffling of speech and other sounds 

Difficulty understanding words, especially in the  presence  of  background  noise  or  in  a crowd of people 

Frequently asking others to speak slowly or clearly 

Difficulty understanding children’s voices 

Frequently asking others to repeat themselves 

Needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio 

Difficulties in hearing the doorbell or the telephone  

You no longer hear your watch ticking, water running or birds singing 

Withdrawal from conversations 

Avoidance of some social settings 

Family, colleagues and friends say that you might be suffering from hearing loss 

Dr. Naikai Butler brings her  technical expertise and her passion  for 

helping people hear better  to  the Dallas Ft. Worth community.  It  is 

important  to  her  to  educate  people  on  protecting  their  hearing. 

www.dallasearcare.com. 

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26 | THE ARTS

iZoom Blasts Onto the Airwaves for Boomers 

By Christina Castle 

Click &  Listen. That  is what Raul  Enriquez,  the prolific producer  at  iZoom  Internet Radio wants baby 

boomers to do!  “Enjoy the music you grew up with, as well as intelligent talk on ‘Bizdom’ as we call it, 

talk radio programs of significance on relevant topics  for today’s zooming baby boomers ranging  from 

sports to relationships to reinventing yourself at retirement age,” says Enriquez. 

What you will hear musically is a vast array of tunes from artists you will remember, but not always the 

cuts which are played over and over on pop oldies stations. You will find yourself reminiscing about ‘this 

time in your life’ or ‘when you did that with so‐n‐so’ while your feet tap to the melody. Some are even 

known to dance around the room! Classic R & B, Pop, and Rock Hits of the 60s, 70s and even 80s are 

showcased. 

According  to  Enriquez,  native Dallasite  and music  industry  professional  for  over  30  years,  “we want 

iZoom  Internet  Radio  to  delve  deeper  into  the  creative 

realm  of  each  artist  so we  give  our  listeners  a  chance  to 

participate in the talents of the single performer, songwriter 

and composer by being more invested in their music.” 

iZoom’s  mission  is  to  be  the  voice  of  the  boomer 

generation;  giving  them what  they want  to  listen  to with 

engaging  show  hosts  and  radio  without  all  the  fluff  that 

listeners  have  to  hear with  other  radio  stations.  This  new 

internet  station prides  itself on quality  radio with  real people,  real  talk  that engages  listeners  to  the 

fullest. 

Enriquez’s  passion  for  quality  radio  creates  an  eccentric  and  interesting musical  platform  that  first 

entertains,  then  spread news and  information about  topics we boomers  care about. He  says,  “We're 

delighted about the  increasing trend  toward  internet radio. Boomers are turning off their TV sets and 

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THE ARTS | 27

turning on their radios all day long. And why not? It is totally refreshing to turn on a superior alternative 

in a creative and fulfilling world of iZoom Internet Radio.” 

The music ranges from beach sounds of the 60s to dance of the early 90s with a smattering of blues. “All 

Jazz Wednesday” does not follow conventional format, but  is rather a mix of styles with a playlist that 

includes some smooth jazz, but is not overwhelmed with it. You will hear big bands, cool jazz, bebop and 

70s funk fusion. Everything from Gene Krupa to the Crusaders and all in between. 

Catch their talk shows; Sports Thread on Mondays 

and Fridays  from 12‐1:30 pm, Cover to Cover, “All 

Things  Bookish”  on  Mondays  at  2  pm, 

Breakthroughs  with  Don  Purdum,  “Where 

Marriage &  Business Meet”  at  1pm  on  Tuesdays, 

BoomerBuzz  Radio  with  Robin  Roberson  on 

Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. and Bee More, “Mind, Body, 

Spirit” on Thursdays 1 p.m. 

Part of Build. Buzz. Launch Media,  iZoom seeks  to 

be  an outstanding  vehicle  to  accelerate,  and promote, entrepreneurs with outstanding products  and 

services, authors and speakers of specific interest for baby boomers. “Have your own show on iZoom,” 

says Raul! 

Working together, this team has assembled an internet radio station for the modern listener and I hope 

you will give them a shot and see for yourself why boomers love the iZoom experience! 

Christina Castle is a freelance writer who lives in Dallas, TX 

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28 | THE ARTS

Dinosaur Rock

By Ed Collie

As a child of ‘60s and ‘70s, I am convinced that music of that era mattered. I’m not talking about The Archies or Monkees, but about Dylan, Clapton, The Beatles, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell,

The Grateful Dead, CSNY, and Led Zeppelin. Timothy Leary encouraged us as we “turned on, tuned in, and dropped out” with great music as the soundtrack to our rebellion.

I still believe music matters, and, as a boomer with a newly reinvented life, I decided that I would take every opportunity possible to experience some of those amazing acts as they roll through the Metroplex. But, as

a thinking person fascinated with the effects of art on culture, I wanted to stay abreast of contemporary music. So, for the last two years I have seen performances spanning the spectrum of styles and genres. My tastes are as diverse as Tori Amos and Dweezil Zappa -- both were amazing.

Some of the contemporary acts have taken my breath away. And, I’m encouraged to know that music still matters to artists like Colin Melloy of The Decemberists, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, and Adam Lambert. And, for Graham Nash and David Crosby, music and politics will always be relevant. By the way, if you want to hear new local acts and boomer favorites, a great place to start is 91.7 KXT, the music-only station from our friends at KERA and the new iZoom internet radio, (www.izoominternetradio.com) which caters to the Boomer Generation.

Though, as a new tour year starts, I’ve decided, for at least this year, to be more discerning regarding the acts I go see -- especially those acts

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THE ARTS | 29

from our past that I have deemed “Dinosaur Rock.”

I was ecstatic to finally see the Moody Blues at Verizon. It’s my favorite large venue, with great amenities and acoustics. And, the Moody Blues repertoire of music includes some of the best of progressive rock. But, their performance constituted a huge let-down for me. Hayward and Lodge can still sing the songs like I remembered them, but their performances (workman-like) were uninspired. I love these guys, but they “mailed it in”, as they say. And, they haven’t recorded any albums of original music since Strange Times in 1999.

Contrast that with the performance by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at Superpages Center May of 2010. Petty and the band were touring in support of their album Mojo, which received a Grammy nomination for “Best Rock Album”. That album was performed, along with the well-known catalog of Petty music from the ‘70s forward. The performances were inspired and enthusiastic.

One final performance bears mentioning.

Some of you may remember an artist who appeared as a solo act at Poor David’s Pub in Dallas. His name is Shawn Phillips. Shawn is a brilliant lyricist and guitarist whose star shone brightest in the early to mid-‘70s.

Three of his albums charted in Billboard’s Top 100, as did two of his singles. Rock impresario Bill Graham said he was, “the best kept secret in the music business.” Three friends and I had the pleasure of seeing him at this fabulous little venue in downtown Dallas, and we were transported back to 1973. The performance brought tears to my eyes. Fabulous, bare-bones, no-budget, and utterly inspired.

Music matters.

The Arts matter. Do you hear me, Congress?

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30 | THE ARTS

All of these acts, and everyone else I’ve seen, have contributed to the soundtracks of our lives, and to those that have followed us. But, art that has lost its relevancy and edge often deteriorates into caricature. Truly great art, whether from the brush of Picasso, or the genius of Stevie Wonder or Lady Gaga, makes us think, and often challenges us.

I still think that Isn’t Life Strange released by the Moody Blues in 1972 is one of the most beautifully-philosophic love songs ever written. And American Girl from 1977 is an iconic rock song. We by Shawn Phillips will always elicit tears. But, when I think about tours that will be rolling through the U.S. this year like, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Madonna, I’ll be asking myself, “Should I ask one of my 20-something daughters to join me?” Or am I better off listening to the original recordings, and sending the money for tickets to KXT instead?

And, if I want to see dinosaurs, I think I’ll go to the Smithsonian.

Edgar Collie is a freelance writer and well known expert (among his friends) in things political, pop culture, and arts and entertainment. He also has a broad knowledge of those things that are hip and trendy, and his tastes are broadly eclectic.

Page 30: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

 

 

                  

The “It’s Not Like I’m Drunk” Cocktail 

 2 oz. tequila 1 oz. triple sec 1/2 ounce  lime  juice Salt 1 too many 1 automobile 1 missed  red light 1 false sense  of security 1 lowered reaction  time 

  

Combine  ingredients. Shake. 

Have another. And another.  

         

Never underestimate ‘just a few.’ 

Buzzed driving is drunk driving. 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 31: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

32 | TEXAS STYLE

Remix Your Style 

By Kara Times 

Most consumers are fashion‐forward when it comes to their style selection. But for some, remixing your 

style  and wearing  eco‐friendly  clothing  to  focus  on  sustainable  fabrics  and  durability  is  becoming  a 

popular trend. 

Here are some tips to Remix Your Style: 

1. Organize Your Closet 

Look at clothing that you can restyle by adding new jewelry or shoes to enhance. Repair any jackets or 

dresses if you have to. Also, altering a long satin skirt into a short pencil skirt gives a garment a new life. 

2. Go Thrift Shopping 

This  is  a  good  excuse  to  shop  and  find  some 

deals. Go  on  the weekend with  a  friend  and 

have  fun!  Make  sure  you  set  a  budget  and 

stick  to  it.  Check  out  consignment  or  resale 

shops for newest trends. 

3. The  difference  between  eco‐friendly, 

organic, and wearing sustainable designs. 

Eco‐friendly  can  be  organic  cottons,  linens, 

hand‐dyed fabrics and recycled materials. But, 

wearing  organic  could mean  a  designer  that 

has  an  interest  in  designing  with  organic 

materials.  However,  sustainable  designs  can 

mean  a  few  things.  Recycling  materials  to 

make  new  product  or  preserving  the 

environment  with  a  high  standard  of  ethics 

regarding the manufacturing process. 

4. Caring for your clothes 

You  can  save  the  environment with  simple  steps.  Try washing  in  cold  rather  than  hot water.  Some 

detergents and washing machines do a great  job even with cold 

water. Skip the dryer and hang‐dry when possible. 

5. Top fashion brands that are eco‐friendly. 

While shopping at your favorite department store, here are some 

brands to look for: 

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TEXAS STYLE | 33

Eileen Fisher is known for hemp and cotton fibers. www.eileenfisher.com 

H&M  launches  new  ‘Conscious’  collection.  This  line  is  geared  toward  party  dresses  made  from 

sustainable materials. www.hm.com/us 

Levi’s jeans are encouraging their customers 

to treat their clothes  in an environmentally‐

responsible  manner.  The  company  has 

developed a  line called Waste<Less™, which 

are jeans that are made from garbage. 

 

And Water<Less™, which are  jeans  that are 

made through a manufacturing process that 

uses less water. Levi’s is taking responsibility 

for  creating  sustainable  products  to  reduce 

chemicals, energy, and water. www.levi.com 

Keep  in mind,  the best way  to preserve  the 

earth  is  to  buy  second‐hand  not  new.  Get 

familiar  with  the  terminology.  Sometimes, 

“going green” only  refers  to how goods are 

transported.  Read  the  care  label  to 

understand  the  fabrics  that are being used. The best way  to  remix  your  style  is  caring and  repairing 

clothing you already have in your closet, and mixing them with pieces you already own. 

Kara Times is a freelance writer of fashion and styling trends.

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34 | TEXAS STYLE

Spring Feast 

By Karol Wilson 

Spring means  time  to eat  fresh and dine 

al  fresco  with  friends.  The  following 

recipes  are  perfect  for  a  spring 

celebration.  Start  off  your  meal  with  a 

small  salad  from  a  farmer’s  market.  

Perhaps  Bibb  lettuce  with  fresh  goat 

cheese  crumbles,  pecans,  and  a  citrus 

vinaigrette.  It’s a simple, yet showy, start 

to  the  feast. For dessert, with either  the 

salmon or tenderloin, a bowl of berries with either cream or honey on the side is the perfect, light finish.  

But then, who can pass up some fresh peaches with vanilla ice cream? 

The wines paired with  these dishes  come  from  Junction Rivers Winery.    This  is  an eco‐friendly  small 

winery that includes a delightful bistro and is located in Junction, Texas – west of San Antonio in Texas’ 

beautiful Hill Country. Award‐winning winemaker Don Pullem blends red and white wines that are full of 

flavor  and  are  priced  appropriately.    Please  visit www.junctionriverswinery.com  to  order  these  fine 

wines. 

The following recipe for Salmon  in Puff Pastry  is not quite exact, as  it depends on the size of your de‐

boned and skinned side of salmon. And, it is much easier to prepare than it reads.  I’d recommend just 

one  bunch  of  spinach  (or  perhaps  one  bag  of  spinach)  from  the  grocery  store.  Be  sure  to  rinse 

thoroughly and trim off as many of the stems as you can. As far as the butter is concerned, I’d start with 

about 2  ‐ 3  tablespoons of butter,  and  about  the  same  amount of  lemon  juice. What  you want  is  a 

relatively dry, wilted spinach sauté.  Enjoy!  If you don’t like the idea of the wine paired with the salmon, 

champagne is always the correct accompaniment. Steamed asparagus is an easy side with a little grated 

Parmigiano‐Reggiano, or some fresh, sautéed carrots.  

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TEXAS STYLE | 35

SalmoninPuffPastryServes 6 – 8 

Ingredients: 

One package of frozen puff pastry sheets 

One  bunch  of  spinach  or  a  prepared 

bagful 

Butter  (about  2‐3  Tbsp.  and  “light” 

butter or margarine can be used) 

Lemon juice (about 2‐3 Tbsp.) 

Salt  &  Pepper  to  taste  (consider white 

pepper) 

One  side  of  salmon,  de‐boned  and 

skinned 

Beaten egg 

Preparation: 

1. Defrost  the pasty and  roll  it out  into a  rectangle  large enough  to encase  the  salmon, about ¼” thick. Refrigerate for the time being. 

2. Chop up the spinach.  Melt butter in a sauté pan. Add spinach and sauté. Add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.  Sauté until spinach is dry and then refrigerate until chilled. 

3. To assemble your dish, place the spinach mixture down the center of the pastry.  Place the salmon on  top  of  the  spinach  and  enclose  the  fish  completely.  Place  seam‐side  down  on  parchment paper‐lined  baking  sheet  and  brush  with  beaten  egg.    Puncture  3‐4  holes  to  allow  steam  to escape.  Refrigerate at least 30 minutes prior to baking. 

4. When ready  to bake, preheat oven to 425° F.   Brush again with beaten egg. Bake until pastry  is golden, about 15‐20 minutes.  Cool for 10 minutes. Cut into 2” slices and serve. 

5. Wine: Yes,  red wine pairs well with  fish such as salmon and swordfish. My selection  is  Junction Rivers Winery Cabernet Franc, which has top notes of black cherry, currant and blackberry.   The middle flavor is again black cherry and has a creamy, smoky finish. 

Pepper‐CrustedTenderloinwithRoquefortandGreenOnionSauceThis is a fabulous and very easy recipe for beef lovers. If tenderloin is out of the budget, just make the 

sauce to go with a juicy, grilled steak. I’ve also served the sauce with pork tenderloin, and it was just as 

yummy.  I’m  also  including  a  healthy  spinach  sauté 

that is a perfect side dish with just about anything. 

Serves  8 

Ingredients: 

4 lbs. beef tenderloin 

2‐4 cloves garlic, minced 

4‐6 TBSP. black pepper, coarsely ground 

¾ cup Worcestershire sauce 

1 ½ cups soy sauce 

1 1/3 cups beef bouillon 

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36 | TEXAS STYLE

Sauce: 

4 oz. Roquefort cheese 

1 stick butter 

2‐4 cloves garlic, minced 

1 TBSP. Worcestershire sauce 

¼ tsp. caraway seeds 

½ tsp. chopped green onions 

8 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced 

 

 

Preparation: 

1. Wash  tenderloin and pat dry. Rub with garlic and  roll on all sides  in pepper  to coat.    In a  large baking dish, combine Worcestershire and soy sauces; marinate beef in the mixture for 2 –3 hours at room temperature, turning occasionally. 

2. Preheat oven to 500° F.   Drain tenderloin. Put  into oven and  immediately reduce heat to 350° F.  Cook  18  minutes  per  pound  for  rare,  20  minutes  per  pound  for  medium  or  until  internal temperature reaches 135 to 140° F. 

3. To  prepare  sauce:    In  medium  saucepan  over  low  heat,  combine  cheese,  butter,  garlic, Worcestershire sauce and caraway seeds.   Stir until melted.   Add green onions and mushrooms.  Cook for 3 minutes. Serve over warm slices of tenderloin. 

4. Wine:  The wine  selected  for  the  tenderloin  is  Junction  Rivers Winery  Ruby  Cabernet.  It  has  a dusty, cherry nose with rich earthy and herbal tones in the middle.  The finish has a lovely vanilla cherry cream flavor. 

SauteedSpinachwithApples&OnionsServes 4 – 6 

Ingredients: 

½ oz.  Raspberry  Balsamic vinegar 

½ oz. (1 TBSP.)  balsamic vinegar 

½ oz. (1 TBSP.) clover honey 

salt and pepper  

2 TBSP. olive oil  

½ cup red onion, sliced  

½ cup green apples, sliced  

8 cups baby spinach  

Preparation: 

1. Heat olive oil  in a sauté pan then add onions and apples. Once apples and onions begin to turn translucent, add the spinach.  When all the spinach is added to the pan, deglaze the pan with both of the vinegars.  Then add the honey.  Let reduce for about 2 minutes. 

Karol Wilson  is a Dallas‐based publicist and food‐writer. Currently working on her first cookbook, Karol  is a  longtime 

member  of  the  prestigious  and  worldwide  organization,  Les  Dames  d’Escoffier. Members  are  voted  in  for  their 

experience in the food, wine, and hospitality industries. The Dallas Chapter raises funds for women interested in these 

fields and supports numerous nutrition‐related programs throughout North Texas. 

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TEXAS STYLE | 37

 

Page 37: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

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Page 38: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

40 | TEXAS STYLE

She Made a Believer Out of Me! 

By Robin Roberson 

Do  you  ever  wonder  if  all  the  beauty 

procedures  you  hear  about  really  work?  Can 

brown  spots  disappear,  fine  lines  be  reduced 

and your cheeks be as smooth a baby’s bottom? 

I  for  one,  wondered,  but  was  not  convinced 

enough  to  try  anything.  So when  talking  to  a 

friend at a well‐known local spa and voicing my 

doubt she said let us prove it to you. And we set 

off down  the yellow brick road! Or  in my case, 

path to nirvana. 

The first step was a 3D photo of my face, which 

in itself only further supported my belief that no 

Photofacial  would  ever  eliminate  those  under 

the  skin  layers  of  sun  damage.  These  pictures 

show  where  the  most  damage  is,  and  where 

your treatment should be concentrated. 

One of  the  reasons  IPL™  (intense pulsed  light) 

Photofacial procedures have become so popular 

is  that  their  benefits  heavily  outweigh  their 

risks.  The  potential  side  effects  of  Photofacial 

(sometimes  referred  to  as  FotoFacial™) 

treatment,  such  as  swelling,  redness,  and 

tightness,  are  minor  and  usually  disappear 

within a few hours or days of the procedure. 

My face was red and felt lightly sunburned after 

my  first  treatment  but  nothing  extremely 

painful.  The  procedure  was  slightly 

uncomfortable,  but  your  face  is  chilled with  a 

cream so the  laser zapping does not hurt more 

than  say  a  rubber  band  popping  all  over  your 

face. Babette Curtis, my aesthetician at The Spa 

at  Willow  Bend  in  Plano,  Texas,  explained 

everything  in  advance  so  I  experienced  no 

surprises. That was very  important to me since 

it was my  first  time  delving  into  the world  of 

skin  rejuvenation.  She  was  very  informative, 

gentle  and  continuously  inquired  as  to  my 

comfort  level.  And  I  tolerated  it  all  very  well 

because  I  think  I  was  mentally  prepared  and 

knew  what  to  do  during  and  after  my 

treatment. In all honesty, she made me excited 

about the potential outcome! 

I kept moisturizing throughout the first day and 

night  and  wore  extra  sunscreen  when  going 

outside  the  next  day.  Babette  assured  me  I 

would  like  the  results  but  they  would  take 

about  a  month.  Most  Photofacial  treatments 

are done  in a  series depending on  the desired 

results  and  skin 

condition  of  the 

client.  In  my  case 

we did three. 

The  treatment  can 

help  eradicate  sun 

spots,  which  was 

my  main  interest, 

other pigmentation 

irregularities  and 

small blood vessels. 

It can combat acne, 

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TEXAS STYLE | 41

eliminate  large  pores  and  treat  rosacea  and 

other types of diffuse redness. By spreading out 

and  treating  a  deeper  layer  of  the  skin, 

Photofacials  stimulate  collagen  growth  by 

simulating minor  dermal  injuries,  thus  helping 

improve  skin  texture.  It  is  important  that  you 

always  protect  your  skin when  in  the  sun  and 

especially after Photofacials. 

My results after one treatment were significant 

to  me.    Some  brown  sun  spots  were  totally 

gone while others were lessened. The texture of 

my  skin  was  much  smoother  and  a  slight 

redness  on  my  cheeks  virtually  disappeared. 

After about three weeks I noticed  in the mirror 

that my skin had really changed. 

It  seemed  brighter  and  firmer with  less  spots. 

Babette was making a believer out of me! She 

had  scheduled  my  second  procedure  one 

month after the first and by then I was so happy 

with  the  results  that  I  was  eagerly  looking 

forward to how good the second results would 

make me look. 

She gave me a deeper treatment this round, but 

it  really  felt  no  different,  just  a  little  more 

intense in heat afterwards, but that was gone in 

a  few  hours.  Again,  brown  spots  rose  to  the 

surface and sloughed off  like the  first time and 

it  is amazing  to watch  the  changes  take place. 

At  two weeks  I was noticing significant  texture 

change. My  cheeks  felt  smoother and  the  tell‐

tale  signs  of  years  of  sun  damage  (I  was  a 

Myrtle  Beach  sun  worshipper  when  young) 

were  being  gently  erased.  At  the  end  of  that 

month, I was definitely becoming a believer and 

knew  this  was  a  beauty  regimen  I  would 

maintain.  Babette  says  once  a  year  is  a  good 

follow‐up, maybe  twice  if  you wanted  to  stay 

ahead. But wait…we were not finished yet! 

Then about six weeks later the final Photofacial 

with  the  same  intended  results.  By  this  time 

virtually all skin sun spots were gone. I still have 

many  more  in  the  deeper  layers  of  my  skin, 

which  will  further  diminish  with  future 

treatment. 

 

Pleased  with  my  progress,  Babette  explained 

that  she wanted me  to  have  two  Pixel Micro‐

Fractionated  Skin  Treatments  which  further 

softens  texture  and  wrinkles.  My  initial  3D 

photo  report  showed  I  had  significantly  less 

wrinkles  than  my  age  counterparts,  even 

though I was a sun‐baby, and even though I was 

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42 | TEXAS STYLE

delighted with my care so far, I said sure. Bring 

it on! 

Laser  skin  resurfacing,  restores  the  youthful 

appearance  to wrinkles and sun‐damaged skin. 

Generally,  treatment  involves  two  to  four 

sessions,  at  four  week  intervals.  Right  after 

treatment  you  may  feel  a  slight  tingling 

sensation or experience slight swelling for a day 

or  two.  As  new  skin  replaces  dead  skin,  your 

skin will  flake, a  sign  that healing  is underway. 

Your skin will  look better  immediately, and will 

steadily improve over the next few months. 

This  procedure  hurt  less  than  the  Photofacial 

and in fact I did not really feel any discomfort at 

all,  just a slight warm sensation when the  laser 

zapped. 

For  this  treatment your  face  is numbed with a 

cream which also assists  in protecting  the skin. 

Babette educated me as  to how  it works and  I 

was prepared: it is much like drilling small holes 

deep into the layers of skin so that new collagen 

seeks  these  areas,  thus  plumping,  improving 

and  resurfacing  your  skin.  This  laser  went 

straight and deep compared to the other which 

spread  out.  It  feels  like  a  bad  sunburn 

afterwards  and  that  lasts  for  hours,  but  you 

place  iced  cold  cloths  on  your  face  and  neck 

every two hours to protect the skin and keep it 

heavily moisturized.  I must  admit  I  was  VERY 

red, but  that  eased  in  a  few hours  and  then  I 

was just red, tight and started drying out some. 

I never peeled much to my dismay as I felt that 

was  needed  if  I  was  to  have  rejuvenated 

smooth  skin.  Wrong!  After  about  a  week,  I 

maybe  saw  a  slight  difference  in  texture  but 

that was about all. At  two weeks,  I was  in  the 

shower and  touched my  face. Yikes! What was 

that  gritty  feeling?  Then  reality  struck  me!  I 

realized  the dead cells were all  sloughing off.  I 

washed my face three times before it felt clean 

and  smooth.  My  cheeks  squeaked  like  clean 

washed hair.  I kept  running my  face under  the 

water  and  just  feeling  my  cheeks.  Then  I 

jumped  out  quickly  to  see  the  results  in  the 

mirror.  And  there  it  was…  a  definite  change. 

Smooth  resurfaced cheeks,  fine  lines gone and 

no  sun  spots.  In  that  moment  I  was  a  real 

believer!! 

The benefits of Pixel  treatments are  long‐term 

improvement  in  skin  firmness  and  texture  on 

face, neck,  chest arms and hands with  little or 

no  discomfort.  I  have  just  passed  the  one 

month mark and want a second treatment that 

Babette said  I would need for exquisite results. 

Better than this will  just be  icing on the cake.  I 

cannot wait  to  see  Babette  this week,  as  she 

has not seen the final results. I know she will be 

as  pleased  as  I  am.  And  it will  be my  distinct 

pleasure  to  say  I  am  a  believer!  As  if  being 

treated  to  an  “I  told  you  so” was not enough, 

once the treatments were complete at the Spa 

at Willow Bend,  the  fabulous  staff  at  the  Jose 

Eber Salon next door gave me a new  look and 

makeover. What  fun! Kim Knall, a  colorist  said 

never  color  my  silver!  However,  she 

recommended a Phyto  treatment which began 

with  a  nectar  oil  and  joba  masque  for 

conditioning  which  was  followed  by  an 

energizing serum concentrate for shine and curl 

control. This was a leave‐in treatment that lasts 

up  to  four  weeks  and  those  little  curls  that 

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TEXAS STYLE | 43

usually  drive me  crazy  are  under  control  still. 

Kim  then  washed  my  hair  with  Phytolactum 

daily  use  shampoo  and  completed  by  a  Phyto 

Sesame 30 second express masque conditioner. 

Now  that  is  a  mouthful!  Again,  that  non‐

believer  in  me  sat  there  thinking  this  is  not 

going  to  do  anything  different  than  my 

shampoo  at  home.  And  once  again, WRONG! 

My hair was controlled, sparkling and silky and I 

am  a  believer!  Kim  explained  that  she  loves 

color and assisting women  in maintaining  their 

natural  tones  as  they  gracefully  move  into  a 

new  stage  in  life.  She  is  all  about  natural, 

complimentary  tones  that  enhance  skin  tone 

and which are low maintenance. 

Next, came a cosmetic makeover by Teresa Lon, 

who  has  been  an  artist  to  stars  like  Kelly 

Clarkson,  Miss  Texas  and  the  Dallas  Cowboy 

Cheerleaders.  She  told  me  she  studies  a 

person’s  bone  structure,  then  de‐emphasizes 

flaws while emphasizing assets. I could not wait 

to  see what  she was  going  to  do with me,  as 

other  makeovers  at  stores  have  all  been  the 

same.  Teresa  said  most  women  make  the 

mistake  of  not  properly  preparing  the  skin 

before  placing  makeup  on  their  faces.  It  is 

critical  to  cleanse  with  no  soap,  freshen  and 

tone  and moisturize  based  on  your  particular 

type  skin.  Then  to  have  a  smooth  look  for 

makeup,  you  should  apply  a  once  a  week 

masque  for  exfoliation.  Now  the  face  is  a 

palette  to be painted. Because  I had  “peachy” 

skin  with  yellow  undertones  she  chose  colors 

that  complimented  and  balanced  my  look.  A 

mineral photo touch foundation in tender beige 

over a under eye concealer, as most of us have 

some circles around the eye. To open my eyes, 

she  used  a  vanilla  cream  over  the  whole  lid 

area,  taupe  in  the  crease  and  black  smudged 

eyeliner  pencil  after  she  added  a  rust  to  the 

crease  as  well.  Rust  sounds  odd  but  looked 

lovely and brought out  the golden  tones  in my 

brown  eyes. And  she hand plucked my brows, 

which  have  a  natural  arch,  using  taupe  to 

contour  since  they have  thinned on  the  edges 

with natural aging. “Love Struck”  lip color and I 

looked  ten  years  younger!  Once  again,  a 

believer!! As women  it  is easy to get  in a rut  in 

our  maintenance  routine.  But  we  deserve  to 

treat ourselves and have a fresh new look. I can 

honestly admit,  I LOVE  it and will continue  the 

tips  they  taught  me.  Thanks  to  each  of  you, 

Babette Curtis, Kim Knapp and Teresa Lon…you 

gave  me  a  new  lease  on  “boomer”  life  and 

made  a  true 

believer out of me! 

As Publisher of BoomerBuzz Magazines many 

opportunities fall into my lap and most I do not take 

advantage of. However, this challenge to prove me 

wrong was one I could not, and am now thankful I did 

not pass on. Thanks Babette, Kim & Teresa! 

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44 | BOOM VOYAGE

Cross‐Cultural Volunteering Changes Lives 

Instead  of  sticking  to  the  same,  tired  tourist 

traps  and  boring  tours,  many  travelers  are 

grabbing  paintbrushes,  shovels,  and  chalk  and 

taking  a  volunteer  vacation  abroad.  It  could 

change you  forever … and change the way you 

live your  life! And, you do not even have to go 

abroad.  You  can  visit  another  city  in  America 

and reap the benefits. 

Cross‐cultural volunteering is giving people, like 

you,  the  ability  to  go  to work  in  areas  of  our 

country  (and  the  world)  where  their  help  is 

desperately  needed.  What  you’ll  find  is  that 

these trips may have a lot more impact in YOUR 

life than the impact you could ever have on the 

lives  of  the  people  you’ve  come  to  help. 

Ultimately,  we’re  changing  the  way 

volunteering  is  done,  making  it  a  safe  and 

exciting adventure of a lifetime. 

The most  impactful  approach  to  cross‐culture 

volunteering is the only approach; one designed 

by  the  community  for  meaningful  work  that 

addresses  a  specific  community  need.  As  you 

immerse yourself  in  the  community  (your new 

neighborhood) and work alongside local people 

to  make  a  real  impact,  you’ll  find  beauty  in 

every  connection  and  commonality  discovered 

– large or small. 

A  successful  volunteer  abroad  brings  not  only 

his/her technical skills but also social and cross‐

cultural  skills,  curiosity,  self‐confidence  and 

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BOOM VOYAGE | 45

patience.  According  to  Open  Mind  Projects, 

having  a  "global mindset"  and maintaining  an 

open mind is what you need to be successful in 

a  global  world.  It  means  being  capable  of 

adjusting to different environments and to have 

the ability to work effectively with international 

colleagues.  This  "global  mindset"  depends  on 

intellectual and psychological as well as  social‐

skills  factors. Without  a  “global mindset”,  it  is 

very  difficult  to  deal  with  cultural  difference, 

international and unexpected situations. Having 

a “global mindset” and an open mind is vital for 

anyone interested in an international job! 

Ensure  that  your  volunteer  experience  is 

impactful,  sustainable,  and  immersive.  Take  a 

look at volunteer opportunities here or abroad 

in a city or country you might  like to explore; a 

culture  you want  to  learn  about; or  a  job  you 

excel  at  and  can  share with  those who  could 

benefit  from  your experience. There  are many 

organizations  for  cross‐cultural  volunteering 

that can  suggest a destination  for your perfect 

match. 

Discover what you can do! 

IMPROVE EDUCATION 

A  powerful  way  to  influence  a  whole 

community  is  to  apply  a  passion  for  youth  by 

volunteering  to  teach  children. Many  families 

cannot afford  to  send  their  children  to  school. 

You  can  make  a  difference  by  offering  your 

attention  and  support  to  students  who  have 

few, if any, opportunities for special one‐on‐one 

connections. 

ASSIST WITH CHILDCARE 

Work  to  strengthen  a  community's hope  for  a 

better future ‐‐ their children ‐‐ by volunteering 

with  orphanages,  daycare  centers,  community 

centers,  and  other  organizations  that  are 

preparing  kids  for  great  things.  Nurturing 

generations  begins  with  a  single  lesson,  a 

simple smile, or just a bit of extra attention. By 

playing  games,  reading,  serving  meals,  and 

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46 | BOOM VOYAGE

giving much needed one‐on‐one attention and 

love,  you  can  be  an  invaluable  role model  for 

local  children  who  may  have  been  abused, 

abandoned, or otherwise left on their own. 

IMPROVE HEALTH AND SENSE OF DIGNITY 

The  foundation  of  most  communities  is  their 

elders.  They  are  the  connection  to  every 

generation  and  by  giving  them  your  attention 

and  love, you can assist  in building a bridge for 

all generations. 

Your service will connect you to the community 

you  volunteer  in  whether  you  are  trading 

stories  with  an  older  person,  serving  meals, 

assisting with errands or personal needs, or just 

lightening  the  load  of  a  senior  caregiver  or 

administrator. 

IMPROVE QUALITY OF CARE 

In many cities and communities across America 

and  around  the  world,  individuals  with 

disabilities face harsh social stigmas and are left 

with  few  resources.  Unfortunately,  many  go 

without vital care and services and your efforts 

can  strengthen  the visibility of  the  services  for 

those with disabilities, while breaking down the 

stereotypes  and  stigmas  faced  by  disabled 

individuals. 

Bring  joy to the  lives of people with disabilities 

as  they  strive  to  live  each day  to  its  fullest by 

leading a music lesson, sharing a meal, assisting 

with  exercises  and  physical  therapy,  or  simply 

holding a hand. Your service will enrich the lives 

of those who are disabled and yours as well. 

Discover what it will do for you! 

OPEN YOUR MIND 

After  volunteering  most  people  say  they  feel 

less  ethnocentric  and  their  minds  are  more 

open  to  the  importance  of  other  cultures.  It 

encourages  acceptance  of  their  values  and 

beliefs because you understand them better. 

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BOOM VOYAGE | 47

BROADENING AWARENESS 

Take  a moment  to  read  today's headlines  and 

you  will  find  story  after  story  of  wars  and 

skirmishes around the globe, and even at home. 

Often  these stem  from one group stereotyping 

another.  After  your  culture  exchange  travel 

experience,  you  start  breaking  down  those 

stereotypes in your own mind and can use your 

experiences to help others to change their own 

views. 

IMPROVE CHARACTER 

When  your  travel  experience  is  complete,  you 

may  find  yourself  more  compassionate, 

courageous, and patient  than you were before 

you  left.  You will most  likely have  faced  some 

fears, dealt with  language barriers and  learned 

how  to  creatively  think on your  feet.   You will 

have  grown  and  stretched  as  a  person  and 

these character traits will stay with you forever. 

INCREASE JOB OPPORTUNITIES 

Traveling  abroad  changes  your  attitude  and 

focus.  It  also  changes  your  job  opportunities. 

Studies show foreign travel as being a key factor 

for people’s choice in placements abroad within 

their  companies.  Cultural  awareness  and 

international  perspective  are  vital  in  today's 

international  business market. Having  cultural‐

exchange travel on your resume shows that you 

can  think  outside‐the‐box  and  are  willing  to 

work  with  people  who  view  the  world 

differently than you do. 

The benefits of cross‐cultural volunteering don't 

go  away  in  the  weeks  and  months  after  you 

return home. They have the potential to change 

your  life  for  the  long  term.  After  this 

experience,  you  will  probably  never  view  the 

world  the  same  again.  There  are  many 

companies  you  can  choose  to  work  with  and 

much to be researched online before delving in. 

But,  that  is  only  part  of  the  excitement  of  a 

volunteer  vacation.    So  get  the map  out  and 

decide where you want  to go. You will be glad 

you did! 

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48 | BOOM VOYAGE

Where Would You Go ‐ What Would You Do? 

By Peggy Schilling 

If  you’re  anything  like my  husband  Scott  and 

me,  you  LOVE  vacations!    We  love  to  be 

together to truly enjoy ourselves away from the 

routines of everyday  life.   Being able  to dream 

about exotic places and living what we’re going 

to  experience, before we  experience  it,  is half 

the fun! 

Our favorite destination in the world is the BVIs 

(British  Virgin  Islands).    It’s  a  simple  hop,  skip 

and a jump from DFW through San Juan to Beef 

Island,  Tortola  to  start  our  adventures  of  a 

lifetime.   The BVIs are known worldwide as the 

undisputed  Sailing  Capital  of  the  world.    If 

you’ve  never  been  on  a  charter  yacht 

experiencing  the  perfect  weather  and 

consistent trade winds, it’s a must‐do. 

 

The BVIs consist of more than 60 islands where 

you  can  throw  anchor,  frolic  on  the  beaches, 

and  melt  into  the  culture.    The  islands  are 

basically within line of sight of each other which 

makes for some quick sails followed by walking 

the shores, having a bonfire, snorkeling, chilling 

and just pain having fun.  I can’t help but relive 

some of our  trips as  I  type  this … ahhh!   Okay 

focus! 

Another favorite spot is Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 

(can you tell I’m a warm‐weather gal?)  In Cabo, 

you'll  find  an  interesting  combination  of  surf‐

size  waves  off  Cabo's  Pacific  coast  and  more 

reserved  and  sheltered  calm  (and  warmer) 

water in the Sea of Cortez.  Cabo has built itself 

a unique reputation.    It’s known worldwide  for 

being  an  excellent  outdoor  sports  destination 

(with some to the worlds’ best big‐game fishing, 

diving  and  kayaking)  and  beautiful  beaches  to 

relax and sun yourself to golden perfection. 

 

Cabo  is also known  for  its’ great nightlife …  in 

fact,  it’s a party waiting  to happen.   The main 

drag has club after club like the Giggling Marlin, 

El  Squid  Roe,  Cabo Wabo  and many more.    If 

you’re  looking  for  fun,  you don’t have  to  look 

far.   Cabo’s resorts, hotels and condos cater to 

everyone  from  honeymooners  or  families  to 

Hollywood stars seeking a weekend getaway.  It 

is definitely an experience worth having! 

In  fairness,  and  a  desire  to  stay  fair  and 

balanced, let me defer to my sister Janet.  She’s 

the ski bunny in our family.  In fact, she was just 

in Aspen this week … one of her favorite places 

to ski and people‐watch. 

 

With more  than  300  days  of  sunshine  a  year, 

Aspen  is  truly  a  year‐round  destination  for 

Outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers! Whether 

it's  downhill  skiing  in  freshly  fallen  snow  or 

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BOOM VOYAGE | 49

hiking  through  dense  trees  and  forests, 

Colorado  (in  general)  and  Aspen  (specifically) 

has  all  the  adventure  your  heart  desires.  The 

winter  snowfalls  turn  to  great water  flows  for 

amazing  rafting  come  spring  and  summer.  As 

the weather warms up,  recreation  2.0  kicks  in 

with the adventurous exploring endless trails to 

climb,  hike  or  bike,  outdoor  concerts,  water 

sports and cultural pursuits. 

 

No matter what you like and how you choose to 

spend  your  days,  there  are  plenty  of  activities 

and sights to plan your vacation around. 

So … where would  you  go?   And, what would 

you do?  There are so many wonderful places to 

see  and  explore.    The  world  is  truly  your 

playground.    While  our  favorite  vacations  all 

seem  to  go  back  to  being  on  charter  yachts, 

we’ve had many others trips and cruises we’ve 

enjoyed.  In fact, we joined a vacation club that 

gives  us  even  more  choices  of  places  and 

options … at huge discounts! 

There are  literally as many places and  types of 

vacations  as  you  can  imagine  and desire.    The 

reason  I  love  writing  for  magazines  like 

BoomerBuzz  and working with  people  like  the 

readers here is because as we review locations, 

yachts,  and  various  vacation  options,  I  get  to 

vicariously  live  each  vacation with  you  a  little 

bit.  Being able to help you refine your choices, 

share  some  “local”  knowledge  and  give  you 

encouragement  to  go  experience  something 

you’ve  never  experienced  before  is 

tremendously rewarding for me. 

When  it  comes  picking  a  type  of  vacation  or 

location,  the  old  standbys  are  great  …  but  a 

little  adventure  and  something  new  go  a  long 

way  to  truly  relaxing  and  refreshing  the  spirit 

and soul.   Sit back, dream a  little bit, and enjoy 

a  quick  vacation  for  a  few minutes  by  simply 

thinking about where you would go … and what 

you would do. 

Thinking about vacation not only puts you in the 

mood, but many times provides the  inspiration 

necessary  to  start  planning,  start  saving,  and 

start getting excited to see parts of the world or 

experience  something  altogether  new  and 

exciting.   Where  would  you  go?    How  about 

somewhere you can escape the same‐ole‐same‐

ole?  What  would  you  do?  Everything? 

Anything? Or even nothing? After all … it is your 

time to get away. 

 

If I can help you in any way … please feel free to 

give me a call! 

Peggy  Schilling  is  the  Co‐Founder  and  Charter  Broker  for 

Select  Charters.    She  specializes  in  understanding  her 

clients’  dreams  and  desires  regarding  the  vacation  of  a 

lifetime.    To  learn  more  please  visit: 

www.SelectCharters.com  or  email  Peggy  at 

[email protected] 

Page 48: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

If you're thinking of taking

a yacht vacation, no need

to look any further than

SELECT CHARTERS!

– Carlene Robinson Dailey

www.SelectCharters.comwww.SelectCharters.com

[email protected]

4020 N. MacArthur Boulevard

Suite 122-183 • Irving, TX 75038

(972) 659-8941

Page 49: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

BOOMER BUZZ | 51

FROM 3906

B E C C A M E N I G

i'm gonna go fishing

I'm gonna go fishing, that's what I'll do, think about nothing, not even you.

Catch a real big one, a big speckled trout, snapping in the water, I'll pull him on out.

A recent conversation with a dear, old friend brought this song to mind.

We stay in touch, usually by email but occasionally by delivered mail; tangible surprises sent

to each other. Envelopes I receive might be addressed to me, with 'writer' scrawled following

a comma after my name. I just love that.

I love this guy too. His name is Pat. He lives on a lake not so far from where we grew up

together during those crucial, formative years. He's someone, as the saying goes, I know I

could call on anytime, no matter what.

In our recent exchange, my friend was casually contemplating what to do this weekend; golf

or fish. He loves golf but the bass in the lake, he said, "are starting to come off the bottom

and move around looking for food and a nest site".

Here in the water, look at him shine.

There goes a big one, that one is mine. Cast off the reel now, I've got the feel now,

snap goes my fly rod, I've got me a trout!

This song, I'm Gonna Go Fishin' is of course, not really about fishing.

We've all had our heart broken. Pat broke mine once and I broke his a few years later. We

grew up, so many years passing so quickly, and here we are, still sweet friends for over four

decades now. That's as brag worthy as the big bass Pat may have caught this weekend.

Becca Menig is a freelance writer, blogger who lives with her husband, Kevin (Spoke) in Dallas, TX. from3906.blogspot.com

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52 | BOOMER BUZZ

Become the Predator, Not the Prey! P$ycho Success Reveals Bold Perspective on Psycho Success

By Nick Trout

P$ycho Success is at its core, a motivational book in your face, laser-focused on highly effective business strategies and techniques that have worked for the author and his mentors throughout their professional lives. It offers a radical new approach to these strategies: being bold, being disruptive, the psychology of success, extreme marketing strategies, networking on the fringe, profound negotiation tactics and achieving financial success.

The author known only as Mattox, has released one of the more edgy business strategy books on the market today. P$ycho Success drives the reader hard to alter their circumstance and maneuver out of the mundane ‘cube farm’ that plagues so many individuals – and into an influential position that could ultimately lead you to owning and running a successful company.

Mattox, a 20-year veteran of business and start-ups, lays out radical new perspectives on key business issues for historical business models and more creative Internet models. Whether the readers are still employees looking for more success or already business owners, they’ll find practical techniques, strategies and advice that impact marketing, negotiation, and networking that ultimately lead to increased profits, all bound by Mattox’s “Bold Is” psychology.

P$ycho Success is already garnering high praise from business leaders.

“The business techniques and strategies laid out in this book are timely and relevant for today’s future entrepreneurs and deal makers. You can be the Honey Badger or you can be its dinner”, says Bryan Barretto, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Fortune 25 Telecom Solutions Company.

Most of the strategies in the book push the limits of conventional business concepts and nudge the reader to operate in the grey for more abrupt career advancement and improved bottom lines.

Nick Trout touts news from the financial industry and subjects that interest men…and women.

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BOOMER BUZZ | 53

Heal the Heart to Heal the Body 

By Suzanna Garrett 

Healing  Heart  to  Soul  is  very  appropriate  for 

Boomers dealing with parent's health  issues or 

their own.  It helps answer the question of why 

some  people  heal  and  others  don't.  Emotions 

are energy that can make you sick or heal you. 

You must heal the heart to heal the body. 

Experiencing and  refusing  to  let go of negative 

emotions, whether caused by us or  inflicted by 

others,  can  weigh  heavy  on  our  shoulders. 

Oftentimes,  this  disease  of  the  human  spirit 

causes disease in the human body. 

Peter  J.  Rappa,  MD  explores  the  intricate 

connection  between  the  soul  and  the  body  in 

his  new  book  Healing  Heart  to  Soul:  One 

Doctor’s  Journey  of  Health,  Healing  and  Life 

(Brown Books 2009). In this unique collection of 

medical  narratives,  Dr.  Rappa  reaches  beyond 

antibiotics and physical therapy, recognizing the 

need for medicine to dig deeper for answers. By 

watching  and  learning  from  his  rehabilitation 

patients,  Dr.  Rappa  discovered  the  power 

gained from cleansing in order to heal the body. 

He calls the process healing from the inside out. 

“I spend most of my day assisting people  from 

the  outside  in—this  is  comfortable  in  the 

“traditional  doctor/patient  relationship.  But  to 

really  heal  requires  a  change  in  context;  to 

change  context  requires  expansion  of 

awareness, which  is  not  easy  but  essential  to 

embark  on  a  journey  of  change,”  says  Dr. 

Rappa. 

Healing Heart to Soul gives readers insight into 

the  very  personal  stories  of  individuals 

struggling to overcome disease and injury. Their 

journeys  are  heroic,  uplifting  and  tru 

testaments to the role spiritual growth and self‐

reliance  can  play  in  healing.  Dr.  Rappa 

introduces power principles as practical steps to 

jump  starting  the  process  of  becoming 

emotionally aware and ultimately  transforming 

physical  health.    As  a  rehabilitation  physician 

with a special interest in brain injury, Dr. Rappa 

began  to  see  the  connections and  implications 

of  mind,  body,  spirit  and  health  in  1988. 

Healing Heart  to Soul  recounts experiences he 

has  had  with  these  entities  as  a  healthcare 

professional.  Dr.  Rappa  lives  in  Dallas,  Texas 

with his family. Healing Heart to Soul is his first 

book. 

Healing  Heart  to  Soul  is  available  at 

www.peterrappa.com      Hardbook  $22.95, 

Paperback $16.95 and eBook $9.95 

Suzanna Garrett is a health writer from Tallahassee, Fl. 

Page 52: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

54 | BOOMER BUZZ

For the Love of Bluebonnets 

By Torrey Moseley 

Spring, most  certainly, has  sprung here  in  Texas. 

It’s  heralded  in  by  a  trumpeting  of  sneezes  and 

sniffling noses. And, it is evidenced not only by the 

budding trees and short‐sleeve temperatures, but 

also by the flowers. 

Ah, the flowers. 

Now,  I’m not  ‘dissing’ on the cultivated  flowers – 

daffodils,  tulips,  irises, and azaleas all add  to  the 

wonderful palette of spring. But, the REAL beauty 

lies in the wildflowers that blanket Texas this time 

of  year.  Indian  Blankets,  Prairie  Paintbrushes, 

Coreopsis,  Wine  Cups,  Primroses,  Buttercups, 

Blue‐eyed  Grass,  Texas  Lantana,  and  about  a 

hundred  more  varieties.  Then,  there  are  the 

Bluebonnets. 

Texas  is  blessed with  the most  glorious  array  of 

wildflowers I’ve ever seen. I grew up in Colorado where dandelions, sweet clover and henbit were what 

graced the verdant countryside. Those are not exactly considered flowers. They’re actually classified as 

“noxious weeds”. But, to me, they are still lovely. 

Now  Texas,  is  a whole  other  can  of  black‐eyed  peas. 

There  are  ‘real’  wildflowers  here.  BOATLOADS  of 

wildflowers. The first spring I was here, my mom and I 

took a drive to Nowhere‐in‐Particular, TX along single‐

lane  roads  that  wandered  lazily  through  the 

countryside. It was … magical. We ended up in a sleepy 

little town called Ennis.  I  learned that Ennis  is the self‐

proclaimed  Blue  Bonnet  capital  of  Texas.  It  hosts  a 

yearly  Bluebonnet  festival  in  April  to  celebrate  the 

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BOOMER BUZZ | 55

glorious Texas state flower. But, you can 

view  the  flowers  well  into  May.  Ennis 

sits about 25 miles south of Dallas off  I‐

45. Their visitor’s center  is housed  in an 

old  train  depot  on  their  main  street. 

When  you walk  in,  you’re greeted with 

warm,  Texas  hospitality  –  usually 

followed  by  someone  thrusting  an 

oversized map  of  the  area  at  you.  The 

map  has  been  lovingly marked  in  day‐

glow  highlighter  to  mark  out  the 

‘optimal’  viewing  route  for  seeing  the 

Bluebonnets.  The  host/hostess  then 

adds  new  pen  marks,  circling  specific 

areas  en  route  that  are  particularly 

spectacular  for  that  day.  With  map  in 

hand  you’re  good  to  go,  at  your  own 

pace, to drink in the Bluebonnets. 

The viewing trip takes about an hour or so depending on how often 

you stop for pictures and how much meandering you choose to do. 

For me  and my mom,  it  took  well  over  2  hours.  But,  we  were 

constantly stopping  to  take pictures. How could we not? At every 

turn,  over  every  hill,  gloriously 

sweeping  landscapes  (worthy  of 

Monet) would  unfold.  It’s  a  budding 

nature‐photographer’s dream. 

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56 | BOOMER BUZZ

Texas roadside wildflowers are not a “naturally‐occurring” phenomenon. They didn’t just spontaneously 

spring  up  (though  they  have  spread  to  adjacent  fields  on  their  own).  They  are  the  result  of  years 

(decades actually) of careful planning and planting 

by the Texas Department of Transportation.   Yep, 

the DoT … no joke. Lady Bird Johnson, herself, had 

a  very  ‘large’  hand  in  this  beautification  project. 

Dubbed the “Grand Dame” of wildflowers, she was 

very  instrumental  in  making  certain  that  Texas 

roadsides  are  as  beautiful  as  they  can  be.  And, 

thanks to her vision and efforts, they have been a 

perennial  mainstay  of  seasonal  beauty  here  in 

Texas  for over 40 years. You can visit  the Lady Bird  Johnson Wildflower Center  in Austin.  If you  love 

nature‐y things, it’s worth the trip. (www.wildflower.org) 

 

Page 55: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

BOOMER BUZZ | 57

Torrey  Moseley  is  an  avid  blogger,  artist,  writer,  and  photographer.  Visit  her  at  www.left‐field‐

studio.blogspot.com 

Page 56: 2013 May | June / BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine

58 | SENIOR SENSE

The Accidental Caregiver By Cindy Ward

What IS an accidental caregiver anyway? And what does ‘accidental’ have to do with caregiving? The purpose of these suggestions is to provide a few pointers to help caregivers who find themselves taking care of a loved one almost by accident.

Allow me to be clear. I am not a doctor. I am not a nurse. I am not a social worker. I have never played any of those on TV. The advice you will receive comes from my experiences in that oldest of learning institutions, the School of Hard Knocks. I am the surviving child of two parents who both died of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) after 10 years of my caring for them. You may be surprised that both of them had AD at the same time. It is possible. It is just unusual, at least for the time being. I firmly believe I am just ahead of the curve. During those 10 years, I made every mistake in the book. This is my attempt to help others avoid those errors and the heart aches that they bring. Caregiving is hard enough when

it all goes well. My hope is to help others do more than just survive the experience.

This is where the ‘accidental’ part comes into play. No one PLANS to be a caregiver for loved one(s) with AD, or any other reason for that matter. The hugely prevalent belief is that: “It will never happen to me or my mother or father or husband or wife – and if it should by some amazing quirk of fate – well, my family is known for our wonderful behavior and manners. Mom will simply never behave like ‘that’. I can handle it. And I’ll do so, gladly.”

The vast majority of Americans will do just that! They will become caregivers for their loved ones. Most daughters will step up to

the plate willingly and lovingly. The catch, of course, is that they have absolutely no idea what lurks in their future as a caregiver.

So, when that phone call comes in the middle of the night from your local hospital, it may go something like this: “Hello. This is your local hospital. Your mother is here in our emergency room. She has fallen and

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SENIOR SENSE | 59

broken her hip. She needs surgery right away. You will need to come down here now to sign our paperwork. She indicated you were her family member who would be able to help. You will need to bring all her pertinent information. How long will it take for you to get here?” And so your caregiving journey will begin.

Many times it starts from injuries sustained in an accident of some kind. You will jump in your car and somewhere on that race between the driveway and the ER Entrance, you may realize you don’t know your mother’s social security number, her Medicare number, her Medicare supplement policy number, her list of current medications, why she is taking those medications, or her primary care physician’s name or phone number. You will wonder if she has signed a Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions.

If you are reading this article and wondering what some of those terms mean, and

whether or not your parents even have them, you are letting yourselves in for your first super stressor. So, here is my first strong recommendation for all adult children whose parents are alive. If that kind of accident happens, it will be plenty stressful all by itself. If you have to go to their home in the middle of the night and conduct a panicky search for the required information, your stress level will go up exponentially.

Find out the information listed below. Keep the originals in a safe place at your home. It is best to photocopy all of it and keep those copies in a red plastic folder in the seat pocket behind the driver’s seat of every automobile in your family.

That way, no matter where you are, if you have to drive to the hospital in an emergency, the information you will need is with you. If you are technically advanced, scan these documents and keep them on a thumb drive with you at all times.

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60 | SENIOR SENSE

However, understand that hospital ER employees usually like paper copies. Doctor’s appointments with new physicians will be much easier because you will have the necessary details, especially as you add to them with each new physician and/or diagnosis. Here are the essentials:

Social Security Card Medicare Card Medicare Supplement Insurance Policy

Card OR Medicare Advantage Insurance Policy

Card If one is a veteran, their VA physician

and detailed medication information Primary Care Physician’s name,

address and phone number If they have it, their long-term care

insurance policy number and company CURRENT list of medications,

including o Medication name, spelled correctly o Dosage

o Frequency o Why it is being taken (many

medications have multiple uses) o How long has it been taken o Doctor who prescribed it o When this condition was first

diagnosed Power of Attorney Power of Attorney for Health Care

Decisions Out of Hospital DNR Advanced Directives If there is anything special about your

parents, have that information. For instance, if your dad has been in a wheelchair for 25 years, have a clear statement of the circumstances surrounding that condition.

While this sounds like a lot, keep in mind that the information on the first 5 bullets will easily fit on one piece of paper.

Here is my second strong recommendation. It stems from something that happened in my family. The first time I realized my parents were missing on a road trip, I wanted desperately to call the police and report them missing. They were actually completely lost for 48 hours. I realized there were some specifics I did not know, and so I could not make that call. You will want to add these items to your red folder:

Both of their Driver’s License Numbers Automobile Insurance Policy Number

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SENIOR SENSE | 61

Automobile Insurance Agent’s name, address and phone number

Automobile License Tag Numbers Make and year model of all vehicles

they drive, and the color Height and weight of both parents Current photograph – which is not

necessarily the one on their driver’s license.

This third recommendation is the one you may find the hardest to accomplish, particularly if obtaining the above information either proves to be difficult because one or the other of your parents refuses to have you “snooping around in their business” or because you can’t bring yourself to talk to them about this subject. It is also the most important. This discussion needs to begin.

The US Department of Health and Human Services reports that 3 out of 4 Americans will need more than traditional health care. That means that 75% of us will need more than just a brief stay in a hospital because of a case of the flu or pneumonia. As we all age – and baby, we are all aging – it is hard to face the fact that if you live long enough, stuff will start to go wrong with your health AND with the health of your

parents. And it may not be the kind of stuff going wrong that kills a person immediately. This caregiving is toughest when it lasts for many years and it is done for people who have always been strong, vibrant and active but are now becoming frail, more belligerent than vibrant, and pretty inactive. There may actually come a time when they can’t be left alone. (How would your life change if you were told by expert physicians that your mom could not be left alone ever again?) If you were surprised to learn that there is such a thing as Medicare Supplement Insurance, you will be shocked to learn that Medicare does NOT pay for long-term care. Understand – 6 weeks of recovery from a hip replacement is NOT long-term care.

Long-term care happens when Mom is just never quite right again after that hip surgery. Her balance is off and she starts falling. She somehow gets lost going to the grocery store, church and the hairdresser – all places she has gone for years. These are all very serious indicators that something is wrong!

If this sort of thing happens to your father first, it will be your mother who becomes his caregiver. Your job will be to watch your mother’s health carefully. If your

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62 | SENIOR SENSE

mother is the first to be affected, your dad will do his best to become the caregiver. However, he will need your help more than he will admit readily. In many instances, the caregiver becomes so stressed during this process that the caregiver dies long before the patient. Or worse, he or she has a heart attack, doesn’t die but is seriously disabled, and now you get to care for both of them at the same time. If one of your parents is already deceased, you are elected by default!

I realize that this may sound like an outlook that says doom and gloom surround us all! That is not my intent. Remember, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources’ prediction is that 75% of us will need more than traditional health care. Then, add in these facts: We are all aging, including our parents! As we age, our health typically deteriorates rather than improves. If one lives long enough, eventually one will need help. Accidents happen to people in all walks of life, and usually when they are least expected to

happen, as is the very definition of an accident. If it does happen to you and your family, would you rather be prepared or would you rather have no idea what to do next?

Have this conversation with your parents! Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Easter, and other holidays are a great time to begin. If you have trouble bringing up the subject, couch it as family planning for emergencies. Tell the story of someone you know at work or at church who had this kind of thing happen. Most of us are in good cheer and everyone is together. It can be a safe time to start the discussion.

One final point:

Prepare the exact same kinds of information on yourselves and initiate the conversation with your own children! We all think that accidents never happen to us. You don’t want to be an Accidental Caregiver. I know you don’t want to make Accidental Caregivers out of your kids. Do you?

Cindy Ward was a caregiver who shares her experience with others who may face an unfortunate experience with aging parents. She writes and shares life in Texas with her husband Forrest.

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