"Senior Times" April 2025

GOLDEN NUGGETS

We all know that April showers bring May flowers.  But have you thought about Springtime rain?  Even though April is not the wettest month of the calendar year, it does have the most showers.  This is due to the strong band of wind known as the Jetstream, which moves northward changing the air pressure that leads to an explosion of cumulus clouds.   Rain showers are produced by cumulus or cumulonimbus that look large, but do not have much rain in them.  Thus, we get showers not heavy downpours of rain.  Why is this important?  Think about all the young tender plants that are just struggling to come up out of the ground.  If there were oodles of heavy rain at this time of their growth, most plants would not survive.  In the Bible it states, “Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.” Zacharah 10:1. Isn’t it amazing that God knows the type of water we need to fall from heaven, so our plants grow strong?

Remember When

Yo-yos may have had great success in the 1960s, but the toy can be traced back to a Greek painting from 440 BC that features a kid playing with one. Flash forward to 1928, and a Filipino immigrant named Pedro Flores came to the United States and launched the Yo-yo Manufacturing Co in Florida. His products were an immediate hit with 300,000 units being produced every day. Then, in 1932, Donald F. Duncan took ownership of Flores’ company and he enjoyed great success, until after World War II when sales declined. A series of TV commercials in 1962 kicked things off again in a big way, but eventually — due to financial and legal issues — he sold his rights to Falmbeau, Inc., which is still producing them.

Brain Teaser (Answer at the end)

Find a number less than 100 that is increased by one-fifth of its value when its digits are reversed.

SENIOR-FRIENDLY HALL OF FAME

If you know an individual, a business, a group, an organization, or a municipality that  is “senior-friendly”, you may nominate them for the “Senior-Friendly”  Hall of Fame.  Submit their name, contact information and why you think they should be considered.

Grandma’s Cooking Corner:

Angela Lansbury - Walnut Date Bread

Ingredients:

·        2 tablespoons unsalted butter

·        1 teaspoon baking soda

·        1 cup chopped pitted dates

·        ⅔ cup walnut pieces

·        1 cup granulated sugar

·        1 egg yolk

·        1¾ cups all-purpose flour

·        2 teaspoons vanilla extract

·        strawberry cream cheese, optional*

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325℉

Generously oil a 9×5-inch loaf pan and dust it with flour.

Place the butter, baking soda, dates and 1 cup of boiling water into a heatproof mixing bowl. Let this cool. Mix in the walnuts, sugar, egg yolk, flour and vanilla extract. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour.  Cool for 10 minutes and remove from the pan onto a rack to cool. Slice and serve with strawberry cream cheese and freshly brewed tea.

* If you can’t buy strawberry cream cheese where you are, it’s simple to rustle some up. Add 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar/icing sugar and 1 cup fresh strawberries to 8 oz cream cheese and whizz up in a food processor.

 Who’d A Thunk

Ted Spence, an engineer at the Los Angeles Brush Manufacturing Corp, invented a hairline brush. This brush is constructed to fit a bald head's contour, with bristles for brushing hair and a felt pad to gently massage the scalp.

  HUMOR ME

Joe grew up in a small town, then moved away to attend college and law school. He decided to come back to the small town because he could be a big man in this small town.He really wanted to impress everyone. He opened his new law office, but business was very slow at first.

 One day, he saw a man coming up the sidewalk to his office

 He decided to make a big impression on this new client when he arrived. As the man came to the door, Joe picked up the phone. He motioned the man in, all the while saying, “No

 Absolutely not. You tell those clowns in New York that I won't settle this case for less than $1 million. Yes. The appeals court has agreed to hear that case next week. I'll be handling the primary argument, and the other members of my team will provide support. Okay. Tell the DA that I'll meet with him next week to discuss the details.”

 This sort of thing went on for almost five minute. All the while, the man sat patiently as Joe rattled instructions

 Finally, Joe put down the phone and turned to the man. 

“I'm sorry for the delay,” he said, “but as you can see, I'm very busy. What can I do for you?”

 The man replied, “I'm from the phone company

 I came to hook up your phone.”

Grandpa’s Sports Stories

In 1966, Jack Nicklaus proved himself to be one of the greatest golfers of all time. Though he skipped some tournaments, Nicklaus participated in the four largest of them, winning two. By winning the Masters and the British Open, Nicklaus increased his yearly earnings to $111,419, which was second in golf.

MILITARY SALUTE

Roy Benavidez, a Green Beret, exemplified exceptional bravery and heroism during the Vietnam War. In 1968, Benavidez risked his life to rescue fellow soldiers during a harrowing six-hour firefight in Cambodia. Despite being severely wounded, he single-handedly fought off enemy forces, provided medical aid, and coordinated the evacuation of the injured. His fearless actions saved the lives of at least eight men and earned the Medal of Honor.  Benavidez’s unwavering commitment to his fellow soldiers and his extraordinary courage in the face of grave danger serve as a testament to his character. His selfless actions and determination make him an enduring symbol of bravery and sacrifice, reminding us of the extraordinary valor displayed by individuals in the most challenging circumstances.

Non-profit of the Month

The Arc of the United States is the largest national community-based organization advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Founded in the 1950s by parents of individuals with developmental disabilities, it has established state chapters in 39 states and over 730 local chapters nationwide. The organization promotes and protects the human rights of people with I/DD, ensuring their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.

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Although based in northern Wake County, North Carolina, we are receiving numerous requests from around the country and are now partnering with churches and other organizations in many states to fulfill needs of seniors.  If you need a ride to the doctor, or dentist, or grocery store, contact us.  If you need a meal brought to you after surgery, contact us.  If you are lonely and need ro talk to someone, contact us.  We do not charge for our services. If we cannot fulfill your need or wish, we will refer you to someone who can help.

WORDS OF WISDOM

“They say with age comes wisdom.  Therefore, I do not have wrinkles.  I have wise cracks.”  Jack Benny

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SENIOR OF THE MONTH  - April 2025

LARRY BARNHILL

Larry Barnhill’s father was a tobacco farmer and ran a country store.  Unfortunately, he was killed by lightning when Larry was only three.  Larry’s mother then returned to teaching to support the family.

Larry worked a number of odd jobs such as gathering wood to sell to barbeque restaurants. When he was in college, he worked some for the family tobacco farm which had been

leased out after his Dad died. Summers he worked for federal government doing land surveying.

Larry received an associate degree from Chowan Junior College and then went to North Carolina State University where he received a BS degree in electrical and electronics engineering. He had never even heard of an “engineering” degree until he went to school then  realizing he fit right in.

Since his youth, Larry has had an interest in clocks. Always thinking, he discovered other ways of displaying time without just circles or dots.

Larry never slows down and sometimes can’t tell the difference between working and having fun! Many of his projects are born when he sees a need of one of his friends and creates a solution. An example of this is when his friend, o World War II veteran, was confined to bed. Larry made a contraption so his friend could turn on tv by blowing through a tube and changing channels by sucking on it.

Sometimes Larry has an idea which then becomes a project; then he finds a home for it. He has donated to Wake Tech and many charities. He once made a train set for the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities. The train revolved around a terrarium with live plants and a waterfall. Once he built a playhouse, shaped and painted like a soccer ball.

For most of his inventions, Larry doesn’t use high tech materials but rather a screwdriver, a hammer and wood – nothing fancy!

Larry is a man of faith who loves people.He enjoys packaging and delivering

meals to shut-ins 3 times a week, teaching Bible class at First Baptist Church of Cary, woodworking projects,  designing and building gadgets, device repair (especially clocks), mission trips, and family activities with the three grandkids.

            Larry is actively involved in a prison ministry, the Gideons International Ministry, and the Swift Creek Exchange Club. He leads a worship service at Jordan Oaks Retirement Center and writes a weekly email article (“Weekly Wisdom and Wit”) He enjoys performing (senior adult stand-up comedy.)

            Larry has always had a strong desire to serve his community. If he hears of a need and thinks he can fulfill it, he is going to. “God has gifted me to do a lot of different things! Trying to focus on any one thing is difficult.”

            We are happy that Larry will be contributing to the Senior Times.

Easy tips to rejuvenate and nourish your brain:

1.     Include in your diet loads of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans, olive oil, and wild caught fish. Drink plenty of water. Your brain cannot function properly if it becomes even slightly dehydrated.

2.     Maintain your optimal weight. Being overweight can multiply your risk for cognitive decline as you age. Abdominal obesity (belly fat) can lead to a variety of health concerns that compromise brain health and function.

3.     Always be on the move. You should get at least 45 minutes of moderate – but not intense – physical exercise 4 or 5 days a week. This could be brisk walking, riding a bike, swimming, or anything that gets your heart beating faster.From a brain standpoint, this is important because moderate exercise reduces inflammation in the brain (as well as the rest of your body).

4.     Challenge your brain. You are never too old to learn something new – take a course, solve a puzzle, master chess, join an art class, learn a new language, write a book. You want to stimulate your brain which will help strengthen your memory.

5.     Invest in social relationships. People with the most active social lives have the slowest rate of age-related memory decline.Make new friends and renew old friendships. Join social clubs. Get involved in senior centers.

TIDBITS FROM OUR PARTNERS, MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

I read if you eat citrus fruit everyday, you have a decreased risk of depression. I read that researchers found this one daily practice lowered the risk of depression by 20%. I don’t

know if it is true; but it has worked for me. Since childhood, I have eaten an orange every day and sometimes a tangerine or half a grapefruit as well. I have never felt depressed.

Carol , Richmond. VA

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In 2025, we peeled another milestone off the calendar and realize that those born in 1960 are

turning 65 and becoming eligible for Medicare. Let’s stop for a minute and think about that.

Those born in the ‘60s are going to start registering for Medicare and circling dates on their

calendars to retire. Teenagers in the era of disco. College students in the idyllic ‘80s. Those who were too young to remember where they were when Kennedy was shot but do remember where they were when Reagan met the same fate. They’ve never known

anything other than color television. Feeling just a wee bit older?

The decision on when and how to retire, sign up for Social Security and when to take Medicare has gotten a bit more complicated with this new generation of 60-

somethings. Changes made to Social Security in the 1980s have pushed back the “full retirement age” to the age of 67 for those born after 1960. Deciding to retire at the age of 62 - like a mother/father or grandparent- will bring about a reduced benefit amount in those monthly Social Security checks. Remaining on the job until the age of 70 entices them with an even larger amount in their monthly check.

Lora Felger from FIRST CAROLINA CARE

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Rust – When iron and oxygen meet, rust is sure to follow, in most cases that

is, but there are exceptions. Our blood also contains iron and oxygen but

without rust formations.

The hemoglobin protein in the blood is responsible for carrying oxygen from

the lungs to all the cells and it also returns the waste gas, carbon dioxide,

back to the lungs which we in turn breathe out. The hemoglobin also has a

special ability to prevent rust formation. As millions of red blood cells die

each day, the iron that is in them is no longer protected from rusting. This

unused iron is collected and stored by the protein Ferritin. This protein also

monitors the amount of iron in the blood and adds some of the collected iron

back into the blood when needed.

The body cannot excrete excess iron, which can accumulate in the organs. A

treatment for excess iron may consist of simply drawing blood and allowing

the body to produce new blood cells. There is a genetic defect called Bronze

Anemia or Iron Overload, in which rust formation is not prevented and the

skin develops a bronze-like appearance. Arthritis formation can be another

problem associated with excess iron in the blood.

Submitted by Larry Barnhill

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"Spring is upon us, and we’re springing forward—stay ahead by filing your taxes, saving for the future, and ensuring your Wills and insurance have the right beneficiaries.”

From your good friends at F&M bank.

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Everyone probably has started a garden. Some gardens seem to do well while others struggle. One thing that helps plants grow well is long periods of sunshine. Pay close attention to how much light different plants need. Grow vegetables in a location that gets at least 8 hours of direct sunlight every day. Most vegetables need full sun to produce the best harvest. Try growing cool season crops such as lettuce, spinach, radishes, and cabbage if

you have some shade.

Charles Atkins, Farmington, GA

I burned the palm of my hand last year on the handle of a pan, and my mom told me to

submerge the burn in a bowl of soy sauce. It could have just been that the temperature was cool enough to give me some relief, but now it’s my go-to for oven-related accidents!—

Naomi P

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“Red Skies at Night, Sailor's Delight” might be the oldest tale in the books. It is referenced in the Bible, after all. This adage has been used for centuries to alert sailors of incoming weather conditions, though it's only practical in areas where weather systems travel from west to east. However, this is a true statement and here's how it works: when dust particles get captured in the atmosphere by high pressure, the blue light dissipates, leaving the

red light to paint the sky. If those particles cause a red sky in the morning, the sailors know that a low-pressure system, or storm, is likely to follow. A red sky at night indicates that the sinking air and potentially dangerous weather has passed. So look to the skies to predict your weather!

Johnny Knight

Hampton, MT

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 Answer to Brain Teaser:

45 (1/5 of 45 = 9, 9 + 45 = 54)

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