With more than 350 attendees, 68 vendors, live music and cocktails, our spring Boomer Bash at LaCentre in Westlake was not only a rousing success, it was a lot of fun, too.
Turns out Westsiders know how to party. We combined entertainment with education and ended up with a terrific Boomer Bash West that was tailor-made for our enthusiastic readers. If you missed it, we’ve got you covered; we’re returning to the Eastside this fall for another Bash. Check out our website, newsletter and Facebook page for details later this summer.
We want to give a special shout-out to our Bash sponsors: The Normandy Senior Living, Greater Cleveland Volunteers, MaxStrength Fitness, LaCentre Conference and Banquet Facility and The WAVE Cleveland’s Smooth FM.
In the meantime, here’s a video and photo wrap up.
By the way, raffle ticket proceeds benefitted Greater Cleveland Fisher House, and we presented a check to the group shortly after the Bash. The foundation recently broke ground for the first of two Cleveland houses that will serve family members of veterans who are receiving treatment at the Louis Stokes VA Center.
See you in the fall.
Mind Health
By Judith Macek
Although stress is typically associated with negative terms like pain, pressure, trouble and worry, realistically it’s not always negative or unhealthy. Everybody has an optimal positive stress level, which is called eustress. This motivates us to get out of bed and keep up with our responsibilities, while the unhealthy one, christened distress, may shift us into overdrive.
Imagine waiting in the doctor’s office with nothing to do. Yawning follows because the mind is bored, and hypostress (not enough demands) sets in. Conversely, if you’re running late, can’t find your keys and traffic is heavy, then you experience hyperstress. Stressors result from demands we place on ourselves (internal) or demands from surroundings (external). Whatever the source, the body’s first response is short shallow breaths.
We can either learn to control the breath or the breath controls us. One healthy effective way to cope with stress is with a breathing technique. Before beginning to practice this skill, pay attention to your breathing patterns.
A healthy breath fills the lungs and distends the diaphragm. It can be helpful to place a hand on your belly to feel if it rise and fall with the breath. One breathing technique to try is to draw a slow breath in through the nose while counting to three, fill the lungs and diaphragm, and then slowly exhale through the mouth counting to four. Repeat this three times. If three rounds don’t suffice, repeat the process. If counting to three isn’t comfortable, try four- or five-second inhalations.
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Our theme for this May/June issue is “Inside the Great Outdoors.” Summer is my favorite time of year, and I spend a lot of time outside enjoying the sun, the heat and yes, even the humidity.
The best part about being outside are the plants and trees that change daily — sometimes hourly if you’re watching closely. I start most mornings in my flower beds with a walking tour in my pajamas, drinking coffee and pulling an occasional weed. I go back in the evenings, usually spending an hour or two tinkering.
The worst part about being outside is the animals — snakes, specifically; horses more broadly.
Animals fall into three categories: Animals I Love, Animals I Don’t Like, and Animals That Terrify Me. Dogs, birds, cats, turtles and bees are in the Love It category. I’ll toss in amphibians and most farm animals, reptiles, insects and mammals.
Fleas, lice and yellow jackets are in the Don’t Like category. I haven’t experienced bed bugs, but I’ll go ahead and throw those in there, too. I’m guessing I wouldn’t like them very much.
During my first trip to the Spicy Lamb Farm (our cover story), the dynamic owner Laura Minnig introduced me to her horses, casually warning that one “tends to eat clothes.” That’s just one of my issues with horses.
I’ve given horses a chance — lots of them. It’s never worked out. They’ve kicked me and thrown me. One gave me a concussion. I don’t trust animals that are so intuitive that they sense my fear — at least that’s what their owners always tell me. I’ve been married to a dear man for 32 years who isn’t half that intuitive.
Because it was chilly when I visited the Spicy Lamb, I didn’t see a snake. I know they’re there.
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