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"A Love Story.
East Meets West"
By Gloria Hayes

We are asked many times: “Larry & Gloria-- how did you meet?” And our answers have two versions.

Version #2
Since the true version is long and we don't have time to relay the entire true story to everyone who pose this question to us, we just tell people that we met at a social function while in Madras (Chennai), India.

Version #1--The True Story 1967-1968-- I’m working in an office in Madras, a large city in south India. During lunch time glancing through the daily newspaper with a girlfriend, my eye caught an ad running in the Classified section.

Witty, Westernized Girl
For American, 28

This ad was written by Larry Hayes and appeared in our newspaper. Larry, who is working for the American Peace Corps as a teacher, is based about 400 miles south of Madras.

I usually never read the Classified section of the newspaper because of no time or interest but on this particular day, it seemed like the newspaper just opened up to that page, for my eyes to peer down on this ad.

Read The Full Issue

"How I Stay Fit At 55"
--Saili Gosula

Age: 55
Education:
BA in Math and Computer Science, MS in Computer Science
Occupation: Business Owner of Active In-Home Therapy
Residence: Redwood Shores, CA

Q: You have been working hard for some time to get back into shape. What motivates you?

I've always been an exerciser. I love it and rarely go a day without exercising. But as I grew older, my body changed in ways I did not like and my regular routine was not enough.

I wanted more time to exercise and
I wanted to exercise harder. I wanted to see results.

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"Grand Train Tour Of Switzerland"

--Don Mankin, Travel Writer

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said,
“It’s not the destination; it’s the journey.” On the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, it’s both.

This past October my wife and I had the opportunity to enjoy the ride and the country on our train tour through Switzerland.

Our trip started in Lugano where I was attending the Adventure Travel World Summit, the first in-person summit since the pandemic began.

I can’t think of a better place to break out of a pandemic: a beautiful lake, an historic hotel and a lovely lakeside promenade linking our hotel and the modern convention center where the summit was held.

From Montreux we headed to Lucerne on the Golden Pass, a Belle époque-era train with red-velvet seat cushions, wood paneling and bronze fixtures.

It was old-world, regal and elegant,
a leftover from the days when train travel was the thing to do. The Golden Pass was only the first of four trains we had to take that day, illustrating the precise choreography of the Swiss Rail system.

Switching trains was literally like clockwork. I knew exactly where to go, how much time I had between trains, and when the train would pull out of the station.

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"Dump Your Misconceptions
Of Aging"
--Deborah Heiser, Ph.D

Most people think of aging as physical decline, frailty, infirmed states and navigating a slow cognitive failure and death.
How do I know this?

When I introduce myself as an aging specialist, I see their eyes dart around the room, looking for anyone who can help them make the great escape from the most boring person in the world.

At a dinner party about 20 years ago, someone finally decided to chat me up about aging. He asked, "Why do you study aging?"

My answer was just what he expected "to find prevention and cures for depression, to understand better how we can reduce frailty and find new ways to offer end of life care."

He looked back at me, horrified and said, "So we have nothing to look forward to?"

I didn't have an answer and I was really embarrassed at the time because I felt pretty good about my work and what I was giving back to the world.

So, he continued, "You know, I can't imagine why anyone bothers to study aging if we have literally nothing to look forward to." It was like a slap in the face.
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"Discover 100 Ways
To Live To 100"
--Tanner Garrity, Senior Editor, InsideHook

At this point, we’re all familiar with the trope. A local news station visits a retirement home to celebrate Muriel’s 106th birthday.

She’s deaf or blind or both or neither, sitting in a wheelchair in the “good spot” next to the TV set and a reporter asks her her secret.

You’ve lived through both World Wars?! How’d you do it? Then Muriel gets to flash a mischievous grin and tells us she smoked a pack a day for 50 years.

Interacting with centenarians in this way has long made them seem like circus oddities. It trivializes the concept of lifespan and longevity, reducing the science to a throw-your-hands-in-the-hair “Who the hell knows!”

It reinforces the idea that our time on this planet isn’t necessarily under our control. If my dad had a stroke and his dad had a stroke then one’s probably coming for me too, right?

If I make it to 80, or — God forbid — 90, I’ve just beaten the odds. Right? Not exactly.

Since the mid-1990s, in fact, following the infamous Danish twins study, researchers have understood longevity to be “only moderately heritable.” For a while, this spawned estimates that genetics accounted for somewhere between 20 and 30% of one’s longevity.

More recently, scientists have concluded that the true heritability of human longevity at birth is closer to just 7%.

Where does that other 93% come from? Your lifestyle.
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Ask Marilyn
--Marilyn Brown Ross

"Is a Reverse Mortgage Right For You?"

With over 15 years experience
right here in Silicon Valley, I can
help answer your questions about reverse mortgages.

Q: Will the bank own my home?

The bank does not take ownership of your home; they simply extend a loan to you. You continue to own and live in your home and are responsible for payment of property taxes, required insurance and if applicable, HOA fees.

Q: Do my children/family members lose their inheritance?

No, a borrower may designate an heir of their choosing.The heir(s) will inherit the home after the last surviving borrower passes away and may then choose to keep (by paying off the amount of reverse mortgage balance) or sell the home.

Should they choose to sell, any remaining equity after paying off the loan (minus interest and fees) would be theirs.

Q: What is the lending limit of the HECM reverse mortgage?

As of January 1, 2021, it increased to $822,375. Which means it's very likely you can qualify for more money.

To learn if a reverse mortgage is right for you, call 408.722.0010.
Go to:
OpenMortgage.com/Marilyn-Brown Ross

Ask Larry
--Larry Hayes, A050 CEO/ Publisher

"Do I Need An Annual Physical?"

Q: I'm 78, male, healthy and feel pretty good most of the time. I hate getting my annual physical which lasts maybe 15 minutes. Seems like a waste of my time and the doctor's. Unless there is something really bothering me health wise, do I really need an annual physical?
—Jay, Walnut Creek, CA

If you're feeling good, you probably don't need an annual physical. A growing number of doctors believe that a routine, annual physical is often a waste of time and money.

After taking my annual physical last month, I, too, question the need. However, I do believe in taking annual blood tests and eye exams.

Although not part of most annual physicals, it's important to take an annual eye exam, especially for anyone over 70. Ask for one if your doctor doesn't mention it.

My advice? Become your own doctor and take charge of your own health. If healthy, skip the annual physical and colonoscopy. Take the annual flu/Covid shots and monitor your blood pressure at home.

If something is worrying you, by all means see your doctor.

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Protect Your Eyesight

January is Glaucoma
Awareness Month

Did you know that glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in the United States?

January is a great time to schedule your annual exams, including an eye exam. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of your eye – called the optic nerve.

Glaucoma has no early symptoms, so the only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam (which is simple and painless). 

There’s no cure for glaucoma, but early treatment can often stop the damage and protect your vision.

Anyone can get glaucoma, but
those at higher risk include anyone over age 60, especially Hispanics/Latinos, African Americans over age 40 and people with a family history of glaucoma

For more information, visit the doctors of Physicians Medical Group of San Jose, CA. Call 888.988.8682 or visit pmgmd.com.

Ideal Gift!
"Social Insecurity"
--John Donaghue

“Social Insecurity” is a new, funny book for anyone who plans on getting old someday.

Charming, witty, crazy, offbeat, happy comics by John Donaghue, award-winning art director and creator of Under Cardiac Arrest comics that appear regularly in
The Scoop.

Perfect gift for friends and family. Order today.
Click Here

Discover The Benefits Of Home Physical Therapy
--Saili Gosula

When considering in-home physical therapy, an excellent option is a private pay therapist.

Such a therapist is able to offer a client/patient more time, energy and individualized care because he or she is not expected to have a quota of daily visits.

Many patients are seeking private clinicians to come visit them at home or in a private setting and are willing to pay for the security and privacy that comes along with it.

The many benefits include home programs customized to your progress to the kindness and compassion of therapists with a vested interest in you.
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Independent Senior Living
Chateau-Cupertino
Starting $3,400

Senior living doesn’t get any better than Chateau-Cupertino in Cupertino, CA.

Enjoy a home-like environment in your own apartment with three fresh served home-style meals daily starting at $3,000 per month.

Schedule A Tour Today!
408.446.4300
[email protected]u-Cupertino.com

Ask For A Senior Discount!

Taking advantage of senior citizen discounts may reduce your retirement costs and free up funds for other activities.

Here's a partial list.
• Denny’s and IHOP offer a 55-plus menu with discounted prices

• Amazon Prime offers a discounted membership to those with a Medicaid card

• Kohl’s offers a senior discount of 15% every Wednesday

• Marriott offers a 15% discount or more to those 62 and older on stays at participating locations

• Best Western gives older Americans 15% off when booking reservations

• Amtrak offers 10% off on most rail fares for older Americans

For a complete list, go to:
https://www.theseniorlist.com/senior-discounts/

Discover Resort-Style
Living For The 55+ In
San Jose, CA

Luxury properties, professionally landscaped, golf course views, city views, openness of the community, trees and waterfalls.

We have many properties for sale at The Villages Golf & Country Club. Resort-style senior living for the active adult 55+ years. Mid $400,000's to $1,000,000+.

To receive an exclusive tour of the community and preview selected properties, call Carla Griffin today. 408.274.8766.

https://bandarealtors.biz/

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"Don't Let The Old Man In"
--Clint Eastwood & Toby Keith

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