This past November was the snowiest on record for the Twin Cities. Some who aren't fans of bad winter weather transport themselves to warmer climes each year. Florida, Arizona and the Caribbean seem to top the list of more desirable places for them to spend the winter months. Those of us who either don't mind our winters, or have resigned ourselves to endure them, regardless of the severity, are what used to be called "hardy folk". Fine, but (smiling here), the heck with hardy! Get me (or you) to Florida, Arizona or the Caribbean as soon as possible. This is going to be one of those cold “normal” winters here.
 
But, knowing I WON'T be in Florida, Arizona or on a Caribbean island, this or ANY winter, I offer some meteorological thoughts about the cold and how you can best prepare for it (if you haven't already), I'll share some personal cold weather history with you, to wit:
- The coldest air temperature I ever experienced (actual temperature, not wind chill) was 54 degrees below zero Fahrenheit in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, at 8 in the morning. It was in February, 1960. I was working at a television station there as their weatherman. I knew the night before, because of the extreme cold, I would have to plug in my car's headbolt heater to keep the engine warm and able to start in the garage. The next morning, knowing it was 54 degrees below zero, thanks to the radio weather report I heard that morning, I got into my car, turned the key and nothing happened except a grunting sound. I lifted the hood and found my engine covered in ice. The headbolt heater worked for part of the night, but the power went out during the night and froze the moisture on the engine. Long story shortened: A fellow broadcaster who lived a block away had no problems starting his little car and drove me to the TV station to start my shift. (For those who might not remember or know about headbolt heaters, they're a rod that fits into a spot normally reserved for one of the bolts that helps hold the car's engine together and actually reaches into a safe part of the engine itself, attached to an electric plug that, when plugged in, heats the rod that warms the engine, enabling a fast engine start-up on the coldest mornings, if the electric power doesn't shut down!)

Most important to know, in my opinion: That 54 degrees below zero morning was typical for sky conditions and atmospheric pressure. The sky was clear (with small ice crystals dancing in the air at the surface) and the barometric pressure very high. High pressure in winter ALWAYS means it's accompanied by colder air. High pressure, because of the heaviness of the colder air, moves away much slower than low pressure, thus, when we have high pressure dominating our part of the country during the winter, we can expect the cold air to remain for longer periods of time.
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- The coldest wind chill I ever experienced was 66 below zero while walking two blocks to the campus of The University of Minnesota in the early 1970s. I was the weatherman on KSTP-TV, on my way to give a class a "weather talk". I was walking to the class building from a parking garage, but forgot to bring or wear a hat and coat. I had forgotten my own forecast from the night before and had to keep my eyes open while the wind was coming straight at me. When I got to the classroom, it took the full hour of that weather talk to thaw myself out, then walked back to the parking garage, but with the wind at my back. Truthfully, what I did was potentially life-threatening, thus I never again forgot one of my forecasts.
 
For YOU: Common sense should prevail when dealing with winter weather conditions. One can actually freeze to death or experience hypothermia (reduced body temperature) if skin is exposed even five minutes in temperatures below 32 degrees above zero. IF you have to be outside in winter weather, please remember the following common sense:
- When driving, in your car's trunk should be at least one blanket, a flashlight, a box of matches, a shovel (preferably one that folds in half), rubber high-boots and a tightly-sealed one gallon can of gasoline. Obviously, you should be wearing the most protective winter clothing, too and have a fully-charged cell phone to make possible emergency calls.
- When not driving and you find it necessary to be outside, try to wear the warmest clothing possible, in layers. Outer coats should preferably be down-filled. Thermal underwear is also strongly recommended. Again, these are all common sense suggestions, but we can never be reminded too often about their importance.
 
In regard to this coming winter, late autumn has already provided a preview of what we can expect in Minnesota and Iowa this coming season. Best advice for this winter, in my opinion: Don't leave the comfort of your living quarters if you don’t have to. Keep safe and warm.
 
Thanks for reading, as always.

Sharing special memories of Thanksgiving: The smell of food, football games, laughing and so much more, but also remembering not everyone has these times. For those who don't, Ebenezer will invite you to our table and ask that you call Ebenezer to learn about a caring Ebenezer community near you.
 
For me, and possibly you, there's something very hopeful, hope-filled, exciting and energizing about this time of year. The anticipation of the pending traditional major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day) is electrifying and energizing, knowing, for many of us, annual gatherings with people we don't see very much during the preceding months, are the proverbial frosting on the calendar's "cake." As is frequently the content in these blogs, I'll share a personal memory or two about Thanksgivings, past and present, as follows:
 
I mostly remember how special Thanksgiving was in the early to mid-1940s in Pittsburgh (my birthplace), when I was very much a pre-teenager. During those years of wonderment, observation and learning, my mother, grandfather and I were invited, for at least seven years, to shamelessly devour every Thanksgiving dinner with a huge and happy Italian family whose last name was Armocida. The number of dishes prepared, mostly by the female Armocidas, numbered at least 15, to serve at least 20 guests. The mouth-watering smells wafting from the kitchen into the adjacent huge dining room made the anticipation grow to maximum levels for at least an hour and then it was time to begin the annual attack on the fantastic food choices. The choices included the traditional fare such as roast turkey, sage stuffing and so forth. The non-traditional dishes included Italian favorites such as spaghetti, lasagna and Italian desserts. All of it was devoured over the period of at least a half-hour, with the senior Armocidas using whiskey and other liquors as "chasers". Those of us too young or not into alcoholic beverages were very happy to "chase" the solid food with hot chocolate, milk or carbonated soft drinks. Even though it's obviously best to pay attention to healthier eating, the Thanksgiving dinners at the Armocidas in those days paid no attention to healthy eating, but rather paid all the attention to being able to enjoy such happy gluttony and warm togetherness, even if only once a year. (Those visits also included playing board games and LISTENING to football games on the radio, until 1948, when televised games allowed us to listen and WATCH, which we did.) 
 
In subsequent years, Thanksgiving for my family and me has been less raucous, but always observed gratefully for the blessings we have and share with one another. The cuisine consists of traditional turkey, stuffing, vegetables and pumpkin pie. Those of us blessed enough to enjoy the tradition that began in the 1620s are VERY blessed indeed
 
We are truly so blessed for all we have and should never take our happiness for granted, but especially so on the one day set aside to remember how fortunate we are in this country. As was noted in the headline, if you don’t have a Thanksgiving to attend, Ebenezer invites you to the table at one of our communities. Please call Ebenezer to learn more (612) 874-3422. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
 
Thank you for reading, as always.

There should always be times for family, friends and loved ones to gather. Unfortunately, those times aren't always made available, even for those of us who have more additional time than those who are still working full time. We need to set aside (frequently, in my opinion) times to reflect on our health, happiness and being grateful for what we have in life.
 
This is the time of the year when our natural instincts direct us to want to be with family and friends. It's not only comforting to have the warmth of those relationships combat the cold of winter, but also a reflection that most of us need each other. Family and friends truly are major contributors to having and maintaining our good health. 
 
Partially following through on that part of the subject described in the headline, I'm reminded of the lyrics to a popular song that debuted in the 1960s addressing gratitude for what we have, or even don't have. You may remember the artist who made it popular and is still alive, thank goodness. He was and still is my friend, singer and actor, Ed Ames. The lyrics to The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener, are as follows and very thoughtfully composed, in my opinion:
“Life is never what it seems; we're always searching in our dreams, trying to build some castles in the air. When worry starts to cloud the mind, never mind, you haven't got a care. There's someone else in your imagination. You wish that you were standing in their shoes. You know you would without much hesitation, but would you if you really had to choose? So don't look around, plant your feet on the ground. It's much better by far, to be just who you are. The other man's grass is always greener; the sun shines brighter on the other side. The other man's grass is always greener. Some are lucky, some are not. I'm so thankful for what I've got”.
 
Gratitude for what we have, regardless of how much or how little, pales when lifelong friendships and solid family relationships are compared to material possessions. Again, especially at this time of the year when inclement weather literally clouds our happier thoughts, knowing we have family and friends who really care how we're feeling, healthfully and emotionally, and also knowing WE care about THEM, makes a life much richer with happiness and gratitude. 
 
Sadly, of course, there are too many people in the world who don't know or have the luxury of caring family or friends. In my opinion, it's precisely why those of us who DO have caring family and friends, should count our blessings every minute. Please forgive me for referencing another song lyric, but I think it also addresses the blessings we are fortunate enough to have or should have. Eddie Fisher, who I was also fortunate to know, made these words popular in the mid-1950s. Perhaps you remember them and the song, entitled Count Your Blessings: 
“When I'm worried and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep and I fall asleep counting my blessings. When my bankroll is gettin' small, I think of when I had non e at all, and I go to sleep counting my blessings. I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads and one-by-one I count them as they slumber in their beds. So if you're worried and you can't sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep and you'll fall asleep, counting your blessings.” 
 
I sincerely hope you are blessed during this approaching holiday season and always appreciative for what you have, especially in regard to friends and family who gather together more to extol the joy of this approaching festive season

November is National Family Caregivers Month, There are great challenges to being a caregiver for a loved-one. It can sometimes (and sometimes often) be a thankless and difficult job. We, at Ebenezer, celebrate those of you at home and in our communities and thank YOU for what you do.
 
First, more about Ebenezer's role, followed by some personal caregiving notes involving yours truly: Indeed, thank YOU for caring enough to GIVE care to loved-ones who need it and who definitely appreciate what you do. A major part of Ebenezer's mission and goal is to help caregivers achieve optimum results in their caring journey. In that regard, Ebenezer has resources that might be helpful to you in your journey. With over 100 years experience in helping people who need physical, as well as sometimes emotional and psychological, care, Ebenezer's suggestions and resources can certainly be trusted and welcomed.
 
Also, for caregivers, later this month, Thursday, November 14th from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., you're invited to visit Stonehaven of Eagan to pick up your complimentary pie as a token of Ebenezer's appreciation for the love and care you give. Ebenezer recognizes the challenges family caregivers face and how you manage them, day and night, sometimes with little or no support. A goodie-bag of caregiver resources will also be available as you leave. Again, that's at Stonehaven of Eagan, 1000 Station Trail, Eagan, Minnesota.
 
My personal connection with caregiving, as both a caregiver and recipient, began in my pre-teens, when my maternal grandfather needed a lot of care and understanding for his increased alcoholism. My mother and I lived with him for seven years and dealing with his sometimes violent moods drove my mother to book her and me into a hotel for a weekend (many weekends throughout those years), just to get away from my grandfather, who both of us loved dearly and that made his after-drinking behavior so heart-wrenching. Then, at least four years into these less-than-pleasant living conditions, my mother decided to contact a professional caregiver who dealt with alcoholics. That was in the 1940s, when the availability of specialists was nowhere near the number available these days. The professional caregiver, along with my mother and me, eventually convinced my grandfather to not need the alcohol and life became much happier for all of us. Bottom line, in my opinion: Unless one has professional training as a caregiver, one should consult professional caregivers to know exactly what to do for any ailment that needs care. Sadly, my grandfather had consumed too much alcohol through the years and even though weaned completely away from alcohol and the errant behavior it caused, he died at age 70 from a liver disease connected to alcoholism.
 
My own personal health issues have been resolved throughout the years via the blessing of professional medicine, knowledgeable doctors who really cared, hospitalization, rehabilitation and love from so many family members and non-professional friends who cared enough to bolster my spirits via their expressions of encouragement and understanding. None of us should feel alone during times when caregiving is needed, but as recipients, we should always, in my opinion, realize caregiving, professional or not, is truly a full-time job for the caregiver, regardless of the degree of need. If you're a recipient of 24/7/365 success-oriented caregiving, please feel blessed and also know the care is being given because the persons giving the care TRULY care enough to want to make life as positive and stress-free as possible for you.
 
Again, Bravo and Brava to the caregivers not only during this annual National Family Caregivers month, but in perpetuity.
 
Thank you for reading, as always.

Happy week of Halloween, 2019! First, some history, followed by some personal memories:
 
Celebrated each year on October 31st, the tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve,and later Halloween, thus our annual celebration October 31st. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.

Borrowing from European traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today’s “trick-or-treat” tradition. Young women believed that on Halloween they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings or mirrors.
 
Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was revived after a few years when vandalism ruined the day and evening. Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats. Thus, a new American tradition was born, and it has continued to grow. Today, Americans spend an estimated $6 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country’s second largest commercial holiday after Christmas.

For me, my earliest Halloween (originally spelled Hallowe'en) celebratory memory was when I was eight years old. Having been raised as an only child and only by my mother after my father left the household when I was 16 months old, my mother, for whatever reason, thought I was old enough to go trick-or-treating and it would be fun to dress me as a girl (including wearing lipstick!) for my first trick-or-treating foray with her accompanying me in our Pittsburgh neighborhood. That "costume" was to be my fate for the next three years. I liked the candy treats and even apples and oranges garnered during that annual adventure, but I definitely didn't like the "costume". I announced that to my mother and she immediately chose to have me dress as a pirate, eye-patch and all. She told me that was a tribute to our major league baseball team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Trick-or-treating was then much more fun for yours truly! (Although I loved her dearly, I made the candy-gathering rounds to the various neighborhood houses and apartments every October 31st thereafter without her accompaniment, from age 11 to 13, the last years I engaged in that annual ritual).

In later years, from my teens through even advanced years, I've enjoyed going to Halloween parties and dressing as much a pirate as I could or can! THAT memory and action remains!

My happiest Halloween memory was when I( was chosen in 1972 to be Grand Marshal of the Anoka, Minnesota Halloween Parade, as Anoka is known as the Halloween Capital of the World. It was an honor and indeed, my happiest Halloween memory.
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Thanks for reading and have a Happy Halloween from all of your friends at Ebenezer.

In this blog, I'll express my 82-year-old opinions about what healthy aging means and looks like:

Physically, spiritually, socially, emotionally and mentally. In addition, I'll also alert you to where you can learn about how you can be helped to age healthier!
 
In my opinion, aging and how we handle it, is a combination of common sense and knowing how to cope with what the body and mind realistically encounter as we "all of a sudden" realize we're not in our teens or 20s. Most important, is knowing having good health is the most important thing we have. Following are some personal thoughts about good health and maintaining it at an advanced age:
 
PHYSICAL HEALTH - Again in my opinion, there's nothing more important than having good physical health. Even the slightest physical ailment can impede our daily lives. This, of course, is not news to you, but I think we can't be reminded enough how important it is to take care of ourselves as best we can. That means eating the most healthful foods.
EXERCISING daily (or when possible) and, when something as pedestrian as a cold strikes, we immediately take the correct medicines to end the problem as fast as possible. Having had numerous health issues in my life, several requiring hospitalization for near-death illnesses, I can identify with how important good health is and maintaining it by, as I mentioned, eating properly, exercising daily and taking whatever medications have been prescribed.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH - Regardless if times are good or bad for us, the power of prayer, for me, at least, has always provided peace of mind and, truthfully, it "works." I believe that daily prayer, even if only to thank the highest power for all the blessings one has, let alone to ask for solutions when needed, does provide a more healthful life.

SOCIAL HEALTH - We are social creatures and in later years we find ourselves more grateful for friends, be they new or longtime. Aside from just visits with friends, social activities such as playing cards and board games, bowling, going to live performances or movies and just talking, can enrich our lives and provide a healthier outlook on each day. Being and staying alone is not only sad, it's depressing and certainly doesn't fall under the "healthy aging" umbrella.

EMOTIONAL HEALTH - Learning to cope with or accept what life deals us, especially at advanced ages, isn't always easy, but for better emotional health, one thing I've learned is, with enough practice, one can look at whatever's been dealt with the attitude that "this is just another day" and tomorrow will be better. Learning to smile at anything adverse makes one stronger, even in the most unpleasant times.

MENTAL HEALTH - In my opinion, mental health is married to emotional health. Our emotions stem from mental acceptance or non-acceptance of what life provides, or doesn't, each day. To have better mental health, again in my opinion, one must eventually train oneself daily to not allow unpleasantness to ruin our thinking or our days. It isn't easy, but the more one does it the better one's mental health. In addition, the older we get the easier it is to do, speaking from experience here.
 
Thanks for reading, as always.

Both children and seniors learn from each other!
Intergenerational Programming is  an Ebenezer cornerstone--bringing together two generations who gather daily to visit, explore activities and develop a special kind of friendship. There is nothing quite like watching a child’s eye fill with wonder or a  senior’s face light up with joy.  In our Ebenezer Intergen communities we are lucky to experience both each day. Our whole child approach includes a unique program that brings young and old together in a stimulating co learning environment. Seniors and children share an unmistakable bond that transcends generations.
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Ebenezer intergenerational programs invite children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old to enjoy the company of our loving Grandfriends.  The Intergen communities provides opportunities for the Seniors to bond with our youngest little ones, in our infant classrooms, with Rock a bye Baby time.  Seniors help our dedicated Teachers in providing 1:1 rocking time with our infants during the week. Grandfriends can enjoy special educational activities in Arts and Crafts, Science or Outside gardening with our fun toddlers or enjoy partnering up with a Preschooler in the Life Long Learning MacPhail Music program.

Our intergenerational space includes:

• A computer center
• Games, toys and puzzles
• A plentiful supply of books to read by the fireplace
• An area for arts and crafts
• Kitchen area for baking cookies
• Outdoor playground and patio​

 
Why It Works
​Building on Ebenezer’s faith-based heritage, our intergenerational program helps bridge the generation gap. Children learn respect for older adults and compassion for their physical limitations. Older adults maintain self-worth by sharing their lives and experiences. Children bring life, spirit and joy to seniors on the campus, keeping them young at heart. The attention and encouragement of seniors helps children flourish.
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Our children are often fascinated as they learn about how the world was different, and what it was like to be a child in an earlier time. In turn, the children breathe happiness and life into our grandfriend communities--sharing their lives and experiences with their special friends. It is a mutually beneficial relationship, as the seniors are reinvigorated by the innocence and joy of the children, while the children learn respect, patience and helpfulness. Perhaps most importantly, our intergenerational programs teach children compassion and kindness. Students who grow up with grandfriends are not self-conscious around seniors in wheelchairs or walkers and are more comfortable when they encounter a senior who may act differently due to their advancing physical conditions. They view their grandfriends with reverence, and value their contributions to the past, present and future.
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There is no question our Intergenerational communities provide a powerful impact to both the seniors and children each and every day.
Thanks for reading, as always.

It's good to be back doing my blog.  This week's blog is about how to navigate senior living options. 
 
First, a personal story about a life-changing event and one with which perhaps you can identify in regard to advanced-years decision-making:
 
Mother Nature sometimes throws us life-changing curve balls we never expected in regard to how we live our daily lives. It happened recently to yours truly. This past July 2nd, I was as healthy as anyone can be. The next day, I was admitted to the VA Hospital having contracted a mostly life-ending illness called CDIFF. None of us has any idea how I contracted that ugly illness, but we have some suspicions it may have been due to an antibiotic I received for a minor skin injury a week earlier. Regardless, following four weeks in the hospital and three weeks in a rehab facility, a doctor knew one of the three ways to rid me of the disease and I'm now strongly recovering at home.

Indeed, life sometimes has unpleasant surprises.

As someone who's just been through it, I can tell you that navigating senior care options can be confusing and at times overwhelming, especially if, like me, you are not feeling your best when you have to make those decisions. 

​I was happy to be released from the rehab facility to go back home for the rest of my recovery. Many people do not have that option. For those of us who may be needing or thinking of changing where we live our latter years, I can tell you  those surprises can be addressed with knowledge and caring by those with Ebenezer who specialize in helping solve any surprises life may throw at us.

Ebenezer understands the many challenges you face and they are happy to help you get through them, including the right time to make a plan for senior living. They can also discuss things that may happen in life that may let you know it's time to think about another living arrangement, or the need for additional help at home.
 
At any of our Ebenezer Communities, we have specialists who can help provide you with resources in our community as well as answer the following questions:

• When is the right time to plan for a move?
• What type of senior care is available to me?
• What should I be looking for in a new community?
• Are there funding options available to me?
• What to do if I am a Veteran or Spouse of Veteran?
• Can you help me understand Elderly Waiver and Government Assistance Programs?
• What State resources and senior care/housing resources can I count on?

But I want to live at home!
No worries. We want you to make decisions that best fit YOUR lifestyle. There are care options for those who want to remain at home.
 
With all the support that Ebenezer Communities can provide, it’s also important to know there are so many state and senior care/housing resources to which you have access. Here are a few:
 
Local Senior Living Communities (research first)

• County Aging Service Office
• Senior Commission/ACT on Alzheimer’s
• City Officials and Departments
• Senior Linkage Line – State run program that helps inform people about local resources and senior care options. Completely FREE and non-biased.
• Move Management Specialists - They will help create a plan with you prior to moving, pack up all belongings and move you to new location in the way that YOU want.
• Senior Real Estate Specialists – Aid in selling your home and specialize in working with older adults.
• Estate Sales – Help sort out the “stuff” that you do not want to bring with and sell it for you.
• Veterans Assistance – Aid in helping vets understand what benefits and programs they may be eligible to receive and walk through the process with them.

Find an Ebenezer Community near you today to help answer any questions you may have in navigating senior care options or resources. Please contact the community nearest you for help!
 
Thanks, as always, for reading.

As "sharp" as many of our minds are, especially those of us in our 70s, 80s and 90s...and possibly 100s...we realize the "sharpness" is sometimes dulled by occurrences we find it frustrating to experience or explain. The simplest explanation for some is "It's part of the aging process." For others, including yours truly, sometimes we stubbornly don't like that explanation and are determined to not admit to any mental performance inadequacies. The latter scenario is easier said than done, more of the time than we'd wish.
 
In regard to misplacing things, those who are experts in dealing with forgetfulness say it's "normal" at almost any age. Having been fortunate enough to have been exposed the past couple years to some studies about dementia (and Alzheimer’s), I learned if one forgets, for instance, where one has placed one's keys, it's not even close to being dementia. What IS close to identifying dementia is forgetting one even HAS keys. That, indeed, would be a red flag, to say the least and definitely worthy of expert professional help.
 
In regard to paranoia, it's a very disheartening, sad and very debilitating part of the human condition. It's also a close cousin to dementia's progression. When one becomes paranoid, the fears are almost always unfounded in reality, but our minds sometimes play very bad tricks with otherwise rational thinking. Many of us have had "mind games" develop. Those "games" may have sometimes led to suspicions about the actions of others, be they friends, acquaintances or just people in general. Those perceptions have most often no basis in reality and could, of course, lead to irrational and possibly dangerous reactive behavior. Once again, when one feels paranoia has overtaken rational thinking and behavior, it's common sense to want to seek professional help. 
 
Regarding dementia, we hear about it almost daily, but sometimes confuse it with Alzheimer’s disease. Two of my family members passed away from Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of dementia (60 to 80 percent of cases, according to AARP’s Kathleen Fifield). In simplest terms, dementia is a non-reversible decline in mental function. Areas included in dementia are disorientation, disorganization, language impairment and memory loss, while Alzheimer’s (again, a form of dementia) slowly and irreversibly destroys memory and thinking skills.

or much more information about this subject, I respectfully defer to Ebenezer's Marysue Moses, MA, an expert specialist regarding the subject of dementia, its identification and treatment. Ms. Moses is Ebenezer's Dimensions Program Coordinator. You can read her helpful memory care blogs right here, or email her at mmoses1@fairview.org. Contacting and possibly visiting with Marysue would be, in my opinion, one of the most important contacts and visits one could ever make in regard to learning more about dementia and using that education to help better deal with the lives of those affected.
 
Thank you for reading, as always.

How to enjoy the company of friends, keep active and socialize with those around you. 
 I hope you're having a happy summer. I hope every season is happy for you, but summer, of course, is the time we're most prone to be connected with others because the warmer weather makes our sojourns and visits more comfortably "do-able." Even those of us lucky enough to be in "the public eye" are sometimes hopeful we'll be able to just visit and chat about anything as pedestrian as the weather. Wait a minute! What am I writing here? Just teasing, of course, about the weather, one of my favorite subjects that's propelled me to the honor and privilege of communicating weekly via these blogs. But, seriously, we know human beings are all social creatures. In my opinion, we truly need to communicate with others, having even a modicum of interaction in order to feel relevant individually and collectively.
 
Regardless of one's "position" on the social or status "ladder", even those on the highest rungs have the need to need and interact with one another. One of the most powerful examples of that need, in my opinion, focuses on the late President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Raised in Patrician privilege and wealth, President Roosevelt nonetheless also had special needs after he contracted polio. Regardless of one's politics, seeing him in newsreels and photos bound to a wheelchair during this country's (and world's) most crucial times, he nonetheless showed us inner strength that catapulted him to being elected four times. During his final days, housed at the "winter White House" in Warm Springs, Georgia, again regardless of his power and independent wealth, it's been chronicled (more than once) he would often literally cry and cry-out, because of his loneliness. Indeed, even though incapacitated, he did have the requested company of his most sought-after friend, Lucy Mercer, during his final days, including the day he passed away, April 12, 1945. 
 
Did President Roosevelt's omnipotent stature, in every realm, replace his need for interaction and companionship? No, of course not, as illustrated during his final days of life. It, to me, illustrates no matter how "important" or "powerful" we are, we still all need each other and unless one has been so turned off by society and become a hermit, interacting socially with others is among the most important parts of being a human being. In my opinion, we should treasure all the times we're blessed with the opportunity to share stories, play games, take walks, watch favorite television shows and movies, with at least one other person. I've had many "alone times" in my life and they definitely were not the best times.
 
In my opinion, we should cherish the socialization available to us in our later years. Ebenezer's communities, now approaching 100 in number, provide that ongoing socialization opportunity and everyday catalyst for social interaction. Enjoy the summer. Enjoy the company of others. That company will definitely enrich your later years with more happiness and even, possibly, keep your mind in the learning lane. We should never stop learning and socializing with others will keep us in that "lane". 
 
Thanks for reading, as always.