DeLand Senior Stuff
Vol. III, Issue 6 August, 2010
Seniors Need to Start Texting,
Using Facebook
If there is one clear need of seniors it is to be
able to connect with their families. This is
true for not just those in nursing homes, but
for those in condos hundreds of miles from
their closest relatives and former friends. But
look…
Among those who go online, around 37
percent of adults above 50 say they use
social networking sites like Facebook,
according to a survey by AARP.
“It connects you with your past. I’m on
Facebook,” said Jim Spencer, of
Northampton, Mass.
Seniors are also connecting with their
families via texting on their smartphones.
Soon, you might start seeing text messages
from grandma: “LOL did u see Jay Leno last
night?”
AT&T workers held free 20-minute sessions
in West Los Angeles to demonstrate basic
cellphone features to the elderly. Those who
signed up in advance got schooled on how to
send SMS messages, make phone calls, add
and edit contacts and manipulate settings.
Verizon Wireless has held similar training
sessions at senior centers. The telecom
company also boasts four-dozen hearingaid-
compatible cellphones and a line of
simple devices with giant buttons.
Last month we discussed communication
via videoconferencing and promised to
look into that issue come this fall. We also
need to address this issue as well.
__________________
Time Check
How could time have forsaken me?
I thought it was on my side
An hour seemed like eternity,
Now the years go flashing by.
My vision is much broader now;
Though my steel is not as strong.
Faces I’ve known don’t look the same.
I wonder why they went wrong.
Where are those dreams of long ago?
The ones I’ve held so dear.
Like brown leaves floating down a stream
They’re lost to another year.
Time ages exponentially,
But I want to slow it down.
I must stop and smell the roses,
Before I become the ground
The answer to the dire question,
Still remains for me to find.
Hence, how much longer do I have
Before I am out of time?
W.S. Saul www.poetrywssaul.com
(via Linda, a Facebook friend)
July Stuff
Group Formed to Help Veterans
Veterans, military personnel and their
families are invited to receive free relaxation
acupuncture treatments every Monday
evening from 6 - 9 p.m., at the DeLand Lions
Club, 400 North Garfield Ave. from the
Volusia Military Acupuncture Project. Please
arrive before 8 p.m. as treatments take about
45 minutes. No appointments are necessary.
The Volusia Military Acupuncture Project is
a nonprofit organization consisting of
volunteer acupuncturists who have come
together to provide free relaxation
acupuncture treatments to local veterans,
military personnel and their families.
The acupuncture treatment has shown great
results in treating post-combat fatigue and its
associated symptoms such as depression,
anxiety, anger, insomnia, nightmares and
hyper-vigilance. There are approximately
70,000 veterans living in the county.
According to the Iraq and Afghanistan
Veterans of America, 1 in 3 soldiers
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan will
suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
estimates that 13% of America’s veterans
suffer from PTSD and that, every day, 18
American veterans commit suicide.
The Volusia Military Acupuncture Project
was founded with the sole purpose of helping
our service men and women heal from the
trauma they have suffered while protecting
us.
For more information on this organization,
email VolusiaMAP@gmail.com or contact
MacKenzie Muir at (386) 848-0035.
News from the Senior Journal
Some articles in http://seniorjournal.com of
significance to seniors are highlighted below.
You are urged to check these out:
• Medicare turns 45 (7/30)
• Most seniors are unaware of the key
provisions of Affordable Health Care
Act (7/27)
• Social Security is 75, August 14 (7/27)
• Early treatment of Prostate cancer
extremely effective (7/27)
• Seniors more likely to be working
than teens (7/18)
• Seniors helped to get more pension
money (7/13)
• New program to aid seniors in “end
of life” issues (7/12)
• Seniors most likely group to support
Arizona immigration law. (7/6)
• Medicare free preventive services go
into effect January 1
Volusia County Primary Elections
August 24
Viet Nam Virtual Wall Revisited
I have been asked twice now (with this
publication that constitutes a multitude) to
reprint the www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm
website. I just did.
First click on a state, when it opens click a
name, then it should show you a picture or at
least a bio and medals earned. Beautiful site.
A Beautiful Message About Growing Old
I forgot what it was.
More July Stuff
Are You Living a Champion Life?
Did you awaken this morning as a champion excited
about this new day bouncing out of bed with arms
lifted high singing a joyous tune? Or did you follow
an old pattern of “oh no what now uugggghhhh….”
The way you start the day set’s the tone and energy
for living the champion life or not.
Now here’s the secret; even if you didn’t get started
as a champion, even if you have rarely lived as a
champion, you CAN change! Awesome!
Living a champion life requires living consciously,
choosing to live the champion life no matter what.
Living consciously in each moment allows you to
make decisions and take action based on what IS, and
not what you wish, or hope. Living consciously gives
you the added plus because your awareness enables
you to make the best choice in any situation.
At anytime during the day you can decide to change
your attitude from non-champion to champion. It is
not easy; it will take effort, especially if you’ve
developed a laissez faire attitude. Here are three tips
to changing your attitude to support a champion life.
First, acknowledge your feelings. Feelings are very
important; they are usually a way of checking in to
see what is out of balance. Being out of balance when
you start this process is really okay and lets you know
you’re on the path to champion living.
Second, make an agreement with yourself to change
the feeling to a champion one. Ask “what can I do
differently to support my new way of being?”
Third, honor your agreement; it might take longer
than you think, stick with it, even if something comes
along to validate the non-champion feeling.
Champions take responsibility for their life, they look
for and expect the positive and create joy from the
inside out. Living the champion life requires that you
become aware and that you live in the moment.
Inez Bracy, BS, MS, CNLP, CGC
Lifestyles Transitions Coach
Connect with her: www.facebook.com/inez.bracy
or www.InezBracy.com
Volunteering is the surest thing in
this issue to help you cool off.
Call: 736-5016. Or e-mail at: volunteers@deland.org
Say What?
“It’s a very encouraging fact that we can
expect to be happier in our early 80’s than we
were in our 20s.” –Andrew Oswald,
Professor of Psychology, Warwick Business
School, England.
Alzheimer’s Support Group
Alzheimer Support Group meets August
2nd at 2 pm and August 24th at 6:30 pm at
Woodland Towers, 738-2700.
Book Sale
The super monthly book sale at the Library
will be held August 13 and 14, 9:30-4. 50
cents is the top price. 2 dollars a bag on
Saturday afternoon!
Dog Days of Summer Pet Festival
Bring your canine friends downtown for a
festival in their honor. The event will
feature vendors and displays catered to
them and their other furry friends. FREE
admission. 9 am – 1 pm, August 21. A
MainStreet DeLand production.
Cruisin’ Classic Car Show
Classic cars and rods, plus a DJ, Indiana Ave.
August 21, 4-8 pm. Call Bob for showing: 386-
624-5027. A MainStreet DeLand production.
Last Page of Stuff
Opera
1 & 15 —Norma (Bellini)
18 & 29—Eugene Onegine (Tchaikovsky
opera based on Pushkin’s novel)
Call the box office at 736-1500, W-F
noon-4, or night of performance, or go online
at: www.athenstheatre.org
__________________________________
Events at The Sanborn
M- Shuffleboard-1:30, Monday Dance 2-4,
Square Dance-6:00
T- Chorus Practice-2:30, Pinochle-
6:30, Ballroom Dance Lessons-6:30
W-Tai-Chi-8:30, It’s All About Art-9:45,
Charley Baker Bridge-12, Chess Club-12
Scrabble-12. Mexican Train-12:45,
T-Quilters-8:30, Canasta-11, Ballroom
Dance Lessons-2:30
F-West Volusia Artists-9, Shuffleboard
Open Play-1:30
The Monday Dance on August 23rd has a
“Luau” theme. Dress Hawaiian!
_____________________________________
The City of DeLand Senior Council is responsible for
generating this thing on a monthly basis. Council members
include:
Deborah Tolan, Chair Virginia Comella
Vivien Powis, Vice Chair George Sherman
Jack Allen Nan Smith
Ron Burgher ex officio members:
Kathy Knapp
Michael Pleus
August Calendar
At The Athens
Live entertainment:
1—Mark Hodgson-Chris Lee Blues Band
13-15, 19-22, & 27-29—Sands Theatre
Production of:
“The Unexpected Guest”
Film
6-7—Ondine (she came from the sea and
he caught her in his nets)
7& 19—The Secret in Their Eyes (How
about a beautiful rape/murder movie?)
20 & 27—Vincere (Mussolini’s secret lover
doesn’t fare too well after he takes over)
26—Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (kind
of says it all, doesn’t it?) Documentary
26 & 28—Yoo Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg (the
story of the first Emmy “Best Actress”
Award winner) Documentary
(For more information about the content of
each of these movies, as well as reviews, go to
www.imdb.com)
For information regarding times,
reservations, prices, etc. please call the
Box Office: 736-1500, or better yet, go to:
www.athenstheatre.org
