York County 50plus Senior News Dec. 2011

York County Edition December 2011 Vol. 12 No. 12

By Katie Weeber

At Christmastime, George McMurty is always confronted with achallenge: finding the perfect gift for his wife. The challenge is furthercomplicated by the couple’s wedding anniversary, which falls on Dec. 26,turning every holiday season into the search for two special gifts.

One year, McMurty’s gift selection inadvertently sparked a tradition that isnow a favorite element of the Christmas scenery at their retirementcommunity.

That Christmas, McMurty asked his daughter to help him with his giftsearch. While shopping, both were attracted to a collection of lightedDickens’ Village houses, and McMurty purchased two of the buildings for hiswife.

The Dickens’ Village Series was developed and produced in 1984 byDepartment 56 as part of the company’s Heritage Village Collection.Inspired by Victorian England, the series contained seven shops and achurch. Since that time, the Heritage Village Collection has been expandedtremendously to include many new village series, including The NewEngland Village Series and The Alpine Village Series.

The result is a line of countless Christmastime houses, figures, andaccessories, many inspired by Victorian England or the works of CharlesDickens. After his first purchase, McMurty quickly came to realize just howextensive the village collections were.

Dickens-InspiredVillage Ushers in

the Holidays

PRSRTSTANDARDU.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Landisville, PAPermit No. 3

It takes about two weeks for George McMurty to set upand add his own special touches to his 135-piece Dickens’ Village.

please see DICKENS page 12

Guard AgainstIdentity Theftpage 8

Traveltizers:Christmas Travelpage 10

Inside:

2 December 2011 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Leader Heights Eye Center

309 Leader Heights Road, York, PA 17402

717-747-5430www.lheyecenter.com

Jeffrey R. Lander, MD

Board certified with 27 yearsof experience

Completed more than 5,400cataract surgeries

No shot, no stitch cataractsurgery with all post-surgicalcare by the surgeon

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Trust your most

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The holiday season is a hectic timefor many people, due to thepreparations and festivities that

typically take place. Staying sane, not tomention enjoying this time of the year, iseven more of a challenge for those whodon’t get along well with their extendedfamily.

Every family has dysfunction, ofcourse, because no member is perfect.But some families are prone to moreinterpersonal tension than others, due todiverse personalities, circumstances,values, and lifestyles among members.

Read on for some tips on how to copewith the almost inevitable stress inherentwhen relatives get together for theholidays.

Preparation

Make it a point to practice self-care atthis time of the year. Eat healthy foods,

make time for exercise, and get adequatesleep.

Allow plenty of time to get ready for afamily event, so you’re relaxed and feelyour best.

Give yourself a pep talk. Reassureyourself that you are up to the challengeof gracefully handling a few hours withanyone.

Conjure up compassion for family

members who emanate negativity, bearingin mind that they are unhappyindividuals. Try to feel pity rather thananger toward them.

Set realistic expectations about familymembers’ behavior. The narcissistic, non-stop talker or chronic complainer is notgoing to change. Plan to steer clear ofthem if possible; otherwise, try to limitthe amount of time you spend with them.

If you are particularly anxious about agathering, invite a good friend along forsupport.

Aim to cut your visit short as a lastresort. Plan something to look forward toafterward—for example, visiting yourfavorite café or watching a holidaymovie.

During a Gathering: Dos and Don’ts

Avoid consuming alcohol; otherwise,limit yourself to one or two drinks.Disinhibition can cause you to say thingsyou may regret.

Practice good listening skills: payattention, don’t interrupt, and ask open-ended questions. Be conscious of yournon-verbal language, keeping yourposture open (avoid crossing your arms),making eye contact, and noddingperiodically in acknowledgement. Thiswill help you project a positive vibe.

Handling Family Tension During the Holidays

Health Matters

Lisa M. Petsche

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t December 2011 3

Community Animal Hospital

Donald A. Sloat, D.V.M.

(717) 845-5669

Steinmetz Coins & Currency

(717) 757-6980

(866) 967-2646

Gordon’s Body Shop, Inc.

(717) 993-2263

Stetler Dodge

(717) 764-8888

Dri-Masters Carpet Dry Cleaning

(717) 757-7065/(717) 524-4424

Hanna Cleaners

(717) 741-3817

Low-Income Energy Assistance

(717) 787-8750

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre

(717) 898-1900

Leader Heights Eye Center

(717) 747-5430

USA Optical

(717) 764-8788

YMCA of Hanover

(717) 632-8211

Alzheimer’s Association

(717) 651-5020

Alzheimer’s Information Clearinghouse

(800) 367-5115

American Diabetes Association

(800) 342-2383

CONTACT Helpline

(717) 652-4400

Elmwood Endoscopy Center PC

(717) 718-7220

The National Kidney Foundation

(800) 697-7007 or (717) 757-0604

Social Security Information

(800) 772-1213

PA HealthCare Cost Containment

(717) 232-6787

Visiting Angels

(717) 751-2488

Elm Spring Residence

(717) 840-7676

Westminster Place at Stewartstown

(717) 825-3310

Housing Authority of York

(717) 845-2601

Property Tax/Rent Rebate

(888) 728-2937

York Area Housing Group

(717) 846-5139

Apprise Insurance Counseling

(717) 771-9610 or (800) 632-9073

Baughman Memorial Works, Inc.

(717) 292-2621

Misericordia Nursing &

Rehabilitation Center

(717) 755-1964

Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc

(717) 851-0156

The Center for Advanced Orthotics &

Prosthetics

(717) 764-8737

CVS/pharmacy

www.cvs.com

West York Pharmacy

(717) 792-9312

Old Country Buffet

(717) 846-6330

Country Meadows of Leader Heights

(717) 741-5118

Country Meadows of York

(717) 764-1190

York County Area Agency on Aging

(800) 632-9073

Services

Retirement Communities

Restaurants

Pharmacies

Orthotics & Prosthetics

Nursing Homes/Rehab

Monuments

Insurance – Long-Term Care

Housing Assistance

Housing/Apartments

Home Care Services

Healthcare Information

Health & Medical Services

Fitness

Eye Care Services

Entertainment

Energy Assistance

Dry Cleaners

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

Automobile Sales/Service

Appraisals

Animal Hospitals

Resource Directory

Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.

This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made

an extended commitment to your health and well-being.

Show common courtesy towardeveryone. When you can’t manage anymore politeness toward a particularindividual, find a reason to excuseyourself and move on.

Give people the benefit of the doubtwhen you wonder if they are beingsarcastic or condescending. Use humorto defuse tension.

Count to 10 before responding whensomeone says or does something thatirritates you. The holidays are not thetime for confrontation. Refuse to takethe bait when someone tries to one-upyou or goad you into an argument.Instead, adopt a “stupid and cheerful”demeanor—signature advice fromsyndicated radio host and licensedclinical psychologist Dr. Joy Browne.

Stay away from contentious topicsand change the subject if others raisethem. Do be sensitive to relatives’circumstances. For example, don’t gush

about expensive gifts you’ve receivedaround someone who is experiencingfinancial difficulties.

Don’t participate in gossip or put-downs of others or bring up unpleasantpast events.

Engage relatives positively byreminiscing about pleasant times orinquiring about something meaningfulto them, such as their children orgrandchildren, work, a hobby, or a recentvacation.

Breathe deeply if you find yourselfgetting stressed. If that doesn’t help, headto the bathroom or step outside tocompose yourself.

Parting Thoughts

If you keep in mind that you can’tchange anyone’s behavior except yourown, and that it’s always within yourpower to be civil and, yes, even kind to a

certain degree, you will make it throughfamily events, perhaps even better thanyou anticipated.

If things don’t go well in spite of yourbest efforts to be congenial, plan avacation over the holidays next year soyou can have a guilt-free break from

family functions—and other sources ofseasonal stress—and thoroughly enjoyyourself.

Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and afreelance writer specializing in boomer andsenior issues.

“Jump on the bandwagon”Old-time political campaigns wouldattempt to gain supporters with whatamounted to a small parade, whichincluded a band when a candidate hadsufficient support. Jumping on thebandwagon was akin to providingsupport for this already-popularcandidate.

Sometimes I think we have allbecome unwitting victims ofboth Charles Dickens and

Norman Rockwell or, at least, ourvision of their creations.

We became hopelessly self-convinced that the roaring fireplaceand jolly Mr. Fezziwig might be realand that there will surely still be ajob there when we go back to workon Dec. 26. And, certainly, thesmiling turkey carver at the head ofthe table will still have room on theVisa card for his spouse to hit thepost-holiday sales.

However, we who have survivedto retirement know how wishfulthese little dreams really were in ourown times of job holding and childraising. Nevertheless, we treasuredthe cozy fiction then and I, for one,still do now.

The whole family knows that theson-in-law’s employer is downsizingits middle management—again. Andthe oldest son’s business, once sopromising, is stuck in the doldrums,even though the bank was willing toextend the loans one more time.

I think I’ve heard this before: thatwas in the ’70s when, besides afrozen economy, we had theadditional specter of nuclearincineration threatened by amadman tyrant sworn to destroy us.We wondered then if NormanRockwell’s beaming holiday familywould live long enough for Easter.And we suspected Mr. Fezziwig’sbusiness would be in bankruptcy byNew Year’s.

But Santa came anyway inthose years. He brought morewardrobe pieces for Barbie andextra straight track for theelectric train. Internationalcrises, vicious politicalconfrontations, and domesticfinancial problems ragedunabated.

But somehow there weretennis rackets and firstbaseman’s mitts—and skisfollowed by several weeks in acast, being chauffeured toschool, and going on crutchesto the junior prom. This last

was first viewed as the depth ofembarrassment to the would-befemme fatale. But the next day wenoticed that her cast had been signedby more than a dozen new names,and all of them were male.

At Christmas there may be bombthreats in Bethlehem and terror inWall Street—each with the familiarring of years-ago disasters. However,for a single day at least, we can leavehysteria outside. And we will do soagain this year.

Now the once-children havechildren of their own. The electrictrain has been divided up betweentwo of the boys and, to no one’ssurprise, one daughter. And it hasbeen hugely expanded since. Thegrandchildren aren’t terriblyinterested in the tin crossing gatethat actually goes down when thetrain approaches, not nearly as muchas their fathers and their uncles are.These folks join Grandfather onhands and knees to watch the traingo through the tunnel and insist onturning off all the lights so thesweep of the train’s locomotive lightscan be seen more clearly—and fullyappreciated.

A few years ago, Barbie’s originalwardrobe and personal propertywere heartlessly sold on eBay by acollege senior facing eviction. Hersisters say they have forgiven her. Ithink her mother has, too. But I’mnot so sure the once-impecuniousstudent has forgiven herself. Not ifwe judge by what she gave her nieces

for Christmas: Paris Hilton doesn’thave this kind of wardrobe.

The dinner table this year willonce more make room for ahighchair and a chubby, tow-headedoccupant. Highchairs now, I find,have seatbelts.

But I’m proud to say that thisgrandchild has found a way tosquirm out of the chair, despite thebelts, and end up in Grandmother’slap, where the sippy cup is waved injuice-strewing triumph and it’s mucheasier to pull at the tablecloth andtip over the wine glasses. That’s whythere are mothers and aunts: to dothe mopping up. Grandmother hasthe baby in her lap and Grandpa isbusy fixing the crossing gate.

Dessert will be the traditionalchoice of pies. Then there is asecond crisis—a decision involvingwhipped cream or ice cream on top.A half-whispered estimate of “at least500 calories” will be made, withappropriate scorn, by the high-school freshman granddaughter whois getting a “B” in home ec.

She is convinced that her parentshave managed to make it this far inlife only via miraculous divineintervention—or hers. Then,somewhere around her sophomoreyear in college after two years ofdorm food, she will become a familydinner enthusiast and we won’t hearany more about calories.

Mr. Fezziwig didn’t countcalories. Not at Christmas. Whyshould we?

SeniorNews is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and isdistributed monthly among senior centers, retirementcommunities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets

serving the senior community.On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish

advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters

are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance ofadvertisements for products or services does not constitute anendorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will notbe responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within fivedays of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to reviseor reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may bereproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc.

We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information notin compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State lawsor other local laws.

Corporate Office:3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512

Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360

Chester County:610.675.6240

Cumberland County/Dauphin County:717.770.0140

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717.285.1350

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PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHERDonna K. Anderson

EDITORIALMANAGING EDITOR

Christianne RuppEDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS

Megan JoyceEDITORIAL INTERN

Laura Farnish

ART DEPARTMENTPROJECT COORDINATOR

Renee GellerPRODUCTION ARTIST

Janys Cuffe

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

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ADMINISTRATIONBUSINESS MANAGER

Elizabeth Duvall

Winner

Member of

Awards

Christmas by the Book

The Squint-Eyed Senior

Theodore Rickard

In honor of World War II vets ...and in memory of theattack on Pearl Harbor


FREE

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Community Animal Hospital

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Our caring, well-trained staff will

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As On-Line Publishers, Inc. sees the conclusion of yet another year,we are grateful to our dedicated staff, loyal readers, and supportiveadvertisers who have all enabled us to continue to grow in our missionto serve the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50+ community.

We wish to thank each of you for helping to make 50plus Senior News

a fun, interesting, and unique source of information and entertainmentfor our readers in Central Pennsylvania.

At this special time of giving thanks and reminiscing, the staff of On-Line Publishers wishes you, our friends, warmest holiday wishes.

LIHEAP Now OpenPennsylvanians who

may have trouble payingtheir home-heating bill thiswinter can now apply forthe Low Income HomeEnergy Assistance Program(LIHEAP).

The federally fundedLIHEAP program offersboth cash and crisis grantsto those who meet incomeguidelines.

Cash grants help to payfor heating bills and aresent directly to therecipient’s utility company to offset theirbill. Crisis grants help households ifthere is an emergency and they are indanger of being without heat. Crisisgrants may be used to purchaseadditional fuel or fix broken heatingequipment.

Apply for a LIHEAP grant online atwww.compass.state.pa.us or downloadan application form from theDepartment of Public Welfare website atwww.dpw.state.pa.us and return theapplication to their county assistance

office. Residents can also apply inperson at county assistance offices.

This year, changes to income limitsand grant amounts have been made inanticipation of federal fundingreductions. The minimum cash benefitrecipients may receive is now $100 andthe maximum crisis grant amount $300.

Pennsylvanians in need are also urgedto stretch their home-heating budget byproperly insulating their home andkeeping thermostats at a reasonabletemperature.

(For each additional person, add $5,730)

Household sizes and maximum incomelimits for LIHEAP’s 2011-12 season

1 person – $16,335 2 people – $22,065 3 people – $27,795 4 people – $33,525 5 people – $39,255

6 people – $44,985 7 people – $50,715 8 people – $56,445 9 people – $62,175 10 people – $67,905


50plus Senior News continues to bring important information as well as entertainingarticles to the 50+ community. We at On-Line Publishers would like to express our

sincere gratitude and appreciation to the editorial contributors of 50plus Senior News:

It is through the varied interests and considerable talents of our contributors andfreelance writers that such a range of informative and entertaining content is available toread each month. The pages of 50plus Senior News are enriched by your contributions.

Than

k Yo

u!

Chaz Allen (Little-Known Facts)Angelo Coniglio (The Search for Our Ancestry)Wendell Fowler (Preventive Measures) Al Goodman (Beyond the Battlefield )Andrea Gross (Traveltizers)Dr. Lori (Art and Antiques)Gloria May (NurseNews)Clyde McMillan-Gamber (The Beauty in Nature)Myles Mellor (crossword puzzles)Jim Miller (The Savvy Senior)Candace O’Donnell (Balancing Act)Victor Parachin (Fragments of History)Saralee Perel (Such is Life)Dr. Leonard Perry (The Green Mountain Gardener)W.E. Reinka (Silver Threads)Ted Rickard (The Squint-Eyed Senior)Sy Rosen (Older But Not Wiser)Pat Sinclair (Recipes for Two)Walt Sonneville (My 22 Cents’ Worth)Robert Wilcox (Salute to a Veteran)Judith Zausner (Creativity Matters)Sherra Zavitsanos (Social Security News)

Thank You, Columnists!

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When John (Jack) Herr wasborn in 1925, he was a directdescendant of Hans Herr,

who was a Mennonite bishop who cameto this country during the early 1700sand became, with his shipmates, the firstsettlers in Lancaster County.

That gentle man had had the courageto cross an enormous ocean in theflimsiest of ships to live among nativeswho might have thought nothing ofkilling him at any time. But it would beinteresting to speculate on what hewould have thought about the gravedangers faced by his descendant of some18 generations who, with millions ofother young people, fought World WarII.

Jack Herr knew from the beginningthat he wanted to be a pilot. So, upongraduating from high school in 1943, heenlisted in the Army and requestedassignment to the Aviation Cadet

program. Thanksin part to a strongletter ofrecommendationfrom his highschool principal,D.L. Biemesderfer,he was acceptedinto the program.

After basictraining, he wassent to a CollegeTrainingDetachment atDrake University inDes Moines, Iowa.Then he was sentto theClassificationCenter at SantaAna, Calif. Duringthe war years, that was one of the centerswhere it was determined whether a cadet

was to become apilot, navigator, orbombardier.

When Herr gotthere, however, hegot the bad newsthat the Air Corpshad all the men inthose specialtiesthat they could use.So, he was given anumber ofassignments fromwhich he couldchoose. One ofthem was gunnery,so that’s what hepicked.

Off he went toLowery Field inDenver, Colo.,

where he learned how to maintain andclean .50-caliber machine guns, how to

tear down and reassemble them, and howto load drums and ammunition belts.

Herr remembers well that he had tobe able to strip his gun and reassemble itwhile blindfolded and wearing gloves …and with the gunnery instructorobserving with a stopwatch. Blindfoldedbecause it was tough to look straightdown when you were zipped up to theneck in a bulky flight suit. In glovesbecause it was often 60 degrees belowzero at altitude. If he were to touch hisgun with bare skin, it would freeze to themetal.

For a few weeks, they fired daily onthe range. And then they flew in aircraftand fired at tow targets, learning how tolead the target so the fired bullets wouldhit it.

From there it was to Kingman ArmyAir Field, in Kingman, Ariz., for threemonths where Herr flew in B-17s,honing his skills by firing at tow targets.

The Me-109’s Cannon Blasteda 4-Foot Hole in His B-17’s Wing

Robert D. Wilcox

Salute to a Veteran

John H. (Jack) Herr as an aviation cadet in 1944.


Then, finally, it was to Lincoln, Neb.,where he was assigned to a B-17 crew.

The crew went by ship from NewportNews to Marseilles, France. Then it wasto Algiers and back to Naples, Italy, andthen going from there by rail to theirbase in Foggia, Italy, where they becamepart of the 416th Squadron of the 99th

Bomb Group.Once there, Herr was to quickly learn

that combatcould killyou. He flew11 missionsbefore war’send, and oneach one hehad not justflak, not justenemyfighters, butboth. On allof them, hesaw other B-17s goingdown inflames, but somehow his crew lucked outand always got back to base.

Was any mission especially hairy?“Oh, yeah,” he says, with his eyes closingat the memory. “Our second mission wasBerlin. That was an especially heavilyprotected target. And it was anexceptionally long-range target for us.We were on oxygen for most of themission, since we turned it on at 10,000feet. You had to remember to squeezethe oxygen tube every few minutes, or itwould freeze up on you, and youwouldn’t get any oxygen at all.

“When we got to the target, the skywas just black with all the bursts of flak.Then, after we had dropped our bombsand turned to head home, there camethe fighters. One Me-109 flew rightthrough our formation and blew a hugehole in our right wing with his cannon.With it went our aileron control, and we

had yet to fly over the Alps to get home.One of our guys on the right side in thewaist yelled, ‘Hey, look at our wing’ ashe saw the big hole and the fuelstreaming out of it.

“We had lost one of our engines inthe attack, too. So we were sweating outgetting past the Alps. Fortunately,however, our pilot was able to thread hisway through the peaks and get us back.

At our base, wehad tomanually crankdown thewheels, and wemade apicture-perfectlanding on ourfirst (andwhich wouldprobably havebeen our only)pass at thefield. I trulydon’t knowhow much

flying time we had left, but it was nextto nothing.”

The rest of Herr’s missions weretough, and when he had finished hiscombat, he had earned the EuropeanAfrican Middle Eastern Campaign medalwith three Bronze Stars. Herr came backto the U.S. from Naples on an oceanliner and was separated from the serviceas a staff sergeant in January 1946.

He returned to the family business,John Herr’s Village Market, where hehad worked since age 16.

In 1974, he presided, as president, atthe opening of the new and much largerstore and finally retired in 2001. Inretirement, he says with a chuckle, “I stillgo in once a week just to make sureeverything is OK.”

Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber inEurope in WWII.

Four of Herr’s buddies (at right) standing in the holethat had been blasted in the wing of his B-17.

“The Swiss have an interesting army. Fivehundred years without a war. Prettyimpressive. Also pretty lucky for them. Eversee that little Swiss Army knife they have tofight with? Not much of a weapon there.Corkscrews. Bottle openers. ‘Come on,buddy, let’s go. You get past me, the guy inback of me, he’s got a spoon. Back off. I’vegot the toe clippers right here.’”– Jerry Seinfeld

1. What holiday celebrates the end of slavery in the UnitedStates?

A. Sweetest DayB. Freedom DayC. KwanzaaD. Juneteenth Day

2. Celebration of the Jewish New Year is known as what?A. Yom KippurB. Rosh HashanahC. RamadanD. Purim

3. During what ancient festival did masters temporarily servetheir slaves?

A. LupercaliaB. SaturnaliaC. FloraliaD. Agonia

4. What holiday was established in California in 1966 byscholar/activist Dr. Maulana Karenga?

A. Earth DayB. Flag DayC. KwanzaaD. National S’mores Day

5. In the Netherlands, what is the name of Santa Claus’s helperwho judges which children were bad during the year?

A. Green EricB. Eli the ElfC. Black PeterD. Mrs. Claus

Braintwisters

This month’s answers on page 8

Source: UsefulTrivia.com

Thank You, Volunteers!On-Line Publishers, Inc. and 50plus

Senior News would like to extend a

heartfelt thank-you to all of the

individual and senior group

volunteers who donated their time

and efforts at our 2011 50plus EXPOs.

Because of your assistance, we

were able to bring the contents and

the mission of 50plus Senior News to

life for the residents of Central

Pennsylvania!

ThankYou!


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Dear Savvy Senior,What tips and resources can you

recommend to help seniors guard againstidentity theft? My next-door neighbor, who’s79, recently had her identity stolen and Iwant to make sure it doesn’t happen to me.

– Cautious Connie

Dear Connie,Identity theft continues to be a big

problem in the U.S., affecting around 9million people every year—many ofwhom are seniors.

Identity theft occurs when someonegets access to your Social Securitynumber (SSN), bank or credit cardaccount number, or other identifyinginformation and uses it to steal fromyou.

While there’s no ironclad protectionagainst ID theft, here are some thingsyou can do to minimize your risks.

Guard your SSN: Treat your SSN likeyour most prized possession. Never carryyour Social Security card around in yourwallet or purse, don’t write your SSN onchecks (exceptthose yousend to theIRS), andnever giveyour SSN,credit cardnumber,checking orsavingsaccountnumbers tostrangers who call, visit, text, or sendemail messages to you, even if they seemlegitimate.

And, don’t carry around yourMedicare card either, unless you’re goingto the doctor. Your Medicare cardcontains your SSN.

Be wary of emails: If you use theInternet, don’t trust emails that claim tobe from the Social SecurityAdministration, the IRS, or other

governmentagencies. Alsobe leery ofemails thatlook like they’refrom yourbank,telephonecompany, orcredit cardcompany.

Rememberthat only phony emails will ask for yourcredit card number or SSN. For moreInternet fraud tips, including a list ofcommon online scams, seeonguardonline.gov.

Secure your mail: Empty your mailbox

quickly, or consider getting a P.O. box orbuy a locked mailbox to deter thieves.Also, don’t leave outgoing mail in yourmailbox.

To put a stop to prescreened credit-card offers that thieves look to intercept,use the consumer credit reportingindustry opt-out service atoptoutprescreen.com or call (888) 567-8688—they will ask for your SSN anddate of birth.

Destroy your trash: Buy a cross-cutpaper shredder and shred all records,receipts, statements, preapproved creditoffers, mail solicitations, or other papersyou throw out that have your financial orpersonal information.

Monitor your accounts: Review yourmonthly bank and credit card statementscarefully, and see if your bank or credit-card issuer offers free alerts that will warn

How Seniors Can Guard Against Identity Theft

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

Braintwisters1. D. Juneteenth Day2. B. Rosh Hashanah3. B. Saturnalia4. C. Kwanzaa5. C. Black Peter

Questions shown on page 7

Untwist Your Brain!


Time is running out to make your

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you of suspicious activity as soon as it’sdetected. If they do, sign up for them.

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Set up security freezes: You can helpprotect yourself by setting up a securityfreeze on your credit reports at all threecredit bureaus: Equifax (equifax.com,(800) 685-1111), Experian(experian.com, (888) 397-3742), andTransUnion (transunion.com, (877)322-8228).

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each time you freeze or thaw your creditreport. Some states offer free freezes forID-theft victims.

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Jim Miller is a regular contributor to theNBC Today show and author of The SavvySenior Book. www.savvysenior.org.

Know Your MistletoeKissing under the mistletoe is a

custom that has spawned any number ofpopular songs, love affairs, and slapsacross the faces of unwanted suitors.The origins ofthe traditionalare unknown.

Here’s onestory: InVikingmythology, thegod Baldr waskilled throughthe trickery ofLoki, whocaused Baldr’s blind brother to shoothim with a poisoned dart made ofmistletoe.

Baldr’s mother, Frigga, the goddess oflove, was stricken with grief. When her

tears fell on a mistletoe plant, the berriesturned from red to white (mistletoe hasboth red and white berries), and thisbrought her son back from the dead.

BecauseFrigga was sograteful to haveher sonrestored, shekissed everyonewho walkedbeneath themistletoe.

The berriesare important to

the tradition: According to etiquette, aman who kisses a woman under themistletoe is supposed to remove oneberry for each kiss. When the berries aregone, no more kisses are allowed.


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Traveltizers Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel

By Andrea Gross

Martha Washington tops MarthaStewart on my list of hostessesextraordinaire. In order to

prepare for her Christmas guests, the firstMartha whipped 40 eggs, 4 pounds ofbutter, 4 pounds of sugar, and 5 poundsof flour into a massive cake.

Meanwhile, almost 2,000 miles away,in a part of the country that was mostlikely beyond the imagination of the firstfamily, Native Americans joined Spanishsettlers in serving posole and enchiladas.

Today, modern renditions of theseholiday festivities take place at Georgeand Martha’s Mount Vernon home inVirginia and around an adobe plaza inNew Mexico.

A Mount Vernon Christmas

I don’t expect to see a camel at MountVernon. Christmas trees, poinsettias,even a gingerbread house … sure. But acamel? Then I learn that when

Washington wasn’t off winning wars orfathering a country, he enjoyed playingwith exotic animals and often rented acamel to entertain his Christmas guests.

In 1789, George Washington spenthis first Christmas as president attendingSt. Paul’s Church in New York City. The

following week he returned to Mt.Vernon where he and Martha relaxedwith family and friends.

Camels aside, the president’sChristmas, as most 18th-centuryChristmases, was low keyed compared totoday. There would have been few gifts

and certainly no Santas or reindeer,neither of which became popularChristmas symbols until the 19th century.

Today, Christmas at Mount Vernon isstill mostly about welcoming guests. Inaddition to the regular attractions, whichinclude tours of the mansion as well asthe slave quarters, stables, gardens, andfarm, the holiday season brings a host ofspecial delights.

I go into the mansion, past 12decorated trees, through the dining roomwhere a table is set to accommodateguests, and up to the garret chamber,which is only open during the holidays.

“This is where Martha lived the lastyears of her life,” says a cheery womanwho’s dressed in Colonial garb. “AfterGeorge died, she never returned to theirshared quarters.”

The thought of a lonely womanhuddled in an attic room saddens me, soto lift my spirits, I follow the smell ofchocolate and cinnamon. In the kitchena woman is stirring chocolate by an openfire, just as it was done in Colonial days.

Christmas Travel: Colonial Cakes and Spanish Stew

MOUNT VERNON LADIES’ ASSOCIATION

Washington rented a camel to entertain guestsduring the Christmas holidays. Today, Mount Vernon

does the same.

MOUNT VERNON LADIES’ ASSOCIATION

A gingerbread version of Mount Vernon is on displaythroughout the holidays.


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Nearby there’s a large gingerbreadhouse designed to look like MountVernon as well as Martha’s grand cake,which was modeled after thosetraditionally served on the 12th day ofChristmas (Jan. 6). A guide offers me therecipe, but the mention of 40 eggs and 4pounds of butter leads to thoughts ofcalories and cholesterol, and I politelydecline.

That night a costumed actor cajolesme into dancing the Virginia reel, and acostumed Martha leads a candlelight tourof the mansion. I sing carols by thefireplace, sip cider, and reluctantly bidgoodbye to Mount Vernon and George’sChristmas camel.www.mountvernon.org

A New Mexican Holiday

Santa has an easy time in Taos, N.M.,where the town’s flat, adobe rooftopsprovide sure footing for his team ofreindeer. But while the town welcomes St.Nick, its holiday charm is rooted in itsblend of Native American, Hispanic, andAnglo traditions.

The Hispanic culture is represented bythe farolitos (small bonfires) andluminarias (paper bags lit with votivecandles) that shine from streets torooftops, bathing the town in a soft glow.Las Posadas, a candlelight procession thatreenacts Mary and Joseph’s search forshelter, takes place from Dec. 16–24.

As for Hispanic holiday food, I become

addicted to biscochitos, the melt-in-your-mouth Christmas cookies that are flavoredwith anise and cinnamon. The originalrecipe dates back to the Spanish colonists.For heartier fare, I try posole, a spicy stewof meat and corn that’s served in mostTaos restaurants throughout the holidayseason.

After the 16th century whenmissionaries converted many of theNatives to Catholicism, Spanish andNative American customs blended andeventually created traditions that aredistinctly New Mexican.

In this spirit, the 1,200-year-old TaosPueblo has a Christmas Eve vespersservice as well as Christmas and NewYear’s Day celebrations that feature the

Deer or Matachines (animal) dances.Anglo customs are highlighted (pun

intended) with a gloriously tall Christmastree that dominates the town plaza. Inaddition, the Taos Chamber Music Grouppresents “A Classical Holiday Encore.”

But my favorite holiday activity is theannual Lighting of Ledoux, a tradition ofmixed origins during which luminariasguide people up the winding road that’shome to Taos’ famed art galleries andstudios. All the while, the piney aroma ofpiñón smoke wafts through the chillydesert air. For me as for many people, thatsignals that Christmas has come to Taos.www.taos.org

Story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com)

GAK STONN

Ledoux Street is filled with merrymakers and art lovers during the holidays.TINA LARKIN OF THE TAOS NEWS

Christmas trees and luminarias decoratethe plaza during the holidays.

GRAHAM’S GRILLE

Posole is a traditional dish during the holidays.


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“I realized how many buildings therewere and I just started buying them eachyear,” he said.

From that year on, McMurtypurchased four to eight buildingsannually, and his original gift set to hiswife soon grew into a sizeable collection.He now has around 135 pieces.

Beside buildings, McMurty’s collectionincludes figures of people, manycharacters from Dickens’ novels. Hiscollection also features several large,special pieces. Some of these are fictionalpalaces and churches mentioned inDickens’ works, while some, like thereplicas of Big Ben, the Tower of London,and KensingtonPalace, are wonderfulrenditions of real-world locations.

Every Christmas,McMurty wouldtake the time to setup his collection in awinter display for hishouse. As thenumber of pieces inhis collection greweach year, the taskbecame more andmore monumental.McMurty recalls atime when the collection became apermanent fixture in the house.

“I was able to have a room in thebasement that we dedicated to theDickens’ Village. For four or five years, Inever took it down. I would change it abit each year, of course,” he said.

When the McMurtys moved to WillowValley Retirement Community, theDickens’ Village was put in storage, butnot for long. One year, residents beganlooking for extra Christmas decorations touse to decorate some of the building’scommon spaces. One such common spaceis not far from McMurty’s apartment.

“It’s usually used as a place where ajigsaw puzzle is set up that the residentswork on. At Christmastime they went todecorate it a little differently. One womanasked my wife if there was anything sheknew they could use to decorate it with,”McMurty said.

McMurty’s wife immediately suggestedthe use of the Dickens’ Village houses,and, with her help, McMurty went towork on a display.

McMurty spends a great deal of timeplanning the community’s display. He hasdeveloped a system of organization, witheach house and character holding aspecific place. The display contains threetables, each representing three sections ofa Victorian town.

The first area is the residential section,

which contains houses, like Tiny Tim’s,and some other related buildings, likechurches and the police department.

The second area, located next to theresidential section, contains whatMcMurty calls the “clean” businesses.These buildings in this section arebusiness oriented and include the jewelrystore, clothing store, candy store, andleather shop.

The third area contains the “unclean”businesses, like the blacksmith shop,warehouses, and the brewery.

“I lay it out as much as I can as youwould expect a regular town to look,”McMurty said.

The display,which containsaround 60 houses intotal, also receives anumber of specialtouches fromMcMurty. He setsup the lighting foreach building andthen cuts pieces ofcotton, which he laysout between and onthe houses as ablanket of snow. Theresult is a beautifulwinter scene,

complete with children sledding in thestreets and workers coming and goingfrom their places of employment. Theentire process takes about two weeks.

The Dickens’ Village has been a hugesuccess and has become one of theretirement community’s most favoredholiday displays. It is not advertised andsits in what might be considered an out-of-the-way location, but its popularitycontinues to grow as residents spread itsstory by word of mouth.

“Each year there have been more andmore people. I’ve had a lot of nicecompliments about it,” McMurty said.

McMurty has enjoyed the Dickens’Village for years and takes pleasure insharing it with others.

“I just really enjoy putting it togetherand looking at it afterwards. I neverstarted it as something to put on displayor show. It’s been a personal pleasure forme to do. I get a big kick out of it,” hesaid.

McMurty’s wife has occasionallymentioned that the Dickens’ Village grewout of hand over the years, taking overentire rooms and storage cages. AsMcMurty explains, however, the villagenever would have come into beingwithout his need to purchase a gift for her.

“I think she secretly enjoys it,” he said.The residents of Willow Valley and

their holiday visitors certainly do.

DICKENS from page 1

Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol pose outside

their home.


Bethany Village – The Oaks

325 Wesley Drive

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

717-766-0279

www.bethanyvillage.org

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Spring Creek Rehabilitation

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StoneRidge Retirement Living

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Myerstown, PA 17067

717-866-3200

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717-352-2721

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Cook’s Note: The secret to a smooth pastry cream is cooking over low

heat. It takes longer but prevents the egg yolks from curdling.Whisking a little of the hot pudding into the yolks is calledtempering and warms them so that they don’t cook too fast andcurdle. Use a thermometer to prevent overcooking, and if you haveflecks of cooked egg, don’t hesitate to strain it out.

Copyright by Pat Sinclair. Pat Sinclair announced the publication of her secondcookbook, Scandinavian Classic Baking (Pelican Publishing), in February 2011.This book has a color photo of every recipe. Her first cookbook, Baking Basicsand Beyond (Surrey Books), won the 2007 Cordon d’Or from the Culinary ArtsAcademy. Contact her at http://PatCooksandBakes.blogspot.com

Cake (Serves 2 to 4)

4 slices (3/8-inch thick) poundcake

1 tablespoon seedlessraspberry jam

2 to 3 tablespoons cream sherryPastry cream (see right)1/3 cup whipping cream1 tablespoon powdered sugar½ teaspoon vanilla½ pint fresh raspberries

For trifle, spread the jam oneach slice of cake. Arrange the cakein a small glass bowl, breaking tofit, and drizzle with the sherry.Spoon the warm pastry cream intothe bowl. Refrigerate until cool.(You can also make individualtrifles in wine glasses.)

Whip the cream in a mediumbowl until soft peaks form. Addthe powdered sugar and vanilla andcontinue beating until thick.Spoon onto the trifle and garnishwith raspberries. Refrigerate untilserving, at least four hours.

Pastry Cream (Makes 1 cup)

¾ cup half-and-half¼ cup sugar1 tablespoon cornstarch2 egg yolks1 teaspoon vanillaAdditional flavoring

Heat the half-and-half in a smallsaucepan until it almost comes to aboil.

Mix the sugar with the cornstarchin a small bowl. Whisk the egg yolksin a medium bowl; slowly add thesugar mixture and continuewhisking until the mixture lightens.

Slowly stir in the hot half-and-half, beating constantly with awhisk. Pour the sauce back into thesaucepan and cook over low heatuntil the custard thickens. Do notlet the custard boil. (I use an instant-read thermometer and cookto 160 degrees F.)

Remove from heat and add thevanilla. Stir until it cools slightly andcover with plastic wrap until needed.

Raspberry TrifleBy Pat Sinclair

On Christmas Eve when my family gathers, we feast on hearty appetizersand rich desserts. Everyone chooses a favorite appetizer and I provide dessert.

For many years, Raspberry Trifle has been my contribution for the center ofthe table. This festive English dessert adds to the celebration, carefully arrangedin a large, glass trifle bowl and crowned with mounds of whipped cream. Freshraspberries and mint leaves mimic the colors of the season.

Here is a recipe for two to four servings. I have posted the recipe for 10 to12 servings on my blog, Pat Cooks and Bakes (http://PatCooksandBakes.blogspot.com). It’s from Baking Basics and Beyond, which has just been reprintedand now includes new photos.


York County

Calendar of EventsDelta Area Senior Center, Inc. – (717) 456-5753

Eastern Area Senior Center, Inc. – (717) 252-1641

Golden Visions Senior Community Center(717) 633-5072Dec. 1, 12:30 p.m. – Sing-Along with Marlene ShillingDec. 12, 12:30 p.m. – Pet Therapy with Diane Smith

and FriendsDec. 22, 10:30 a.m. – Music and Dance with Jim Thomson

Heritage Senior Center, Inc. – (717) 292-7471

Northeastern Senior Community Center(717) 266-1400

Red Land Senior Citizen Center – (717) 938-4649

South Central Senior Community Center(717) 235-6060Tuesdays, 9 a.m. – QuiltingTuesdays, 12:30 p.m. – Cooking ClubWednesdays, 9 a.m. – Ceramic Class

Stewartstown Senior Center – (717) 993-3488Dec. 19, 10:30 a.m. – Program on Holiday TraditionsDec. 23, 9 a.m. – Christmas PartyDec. 30, 10 a.m. – New Year’s Party

Susquehanna Senior Center – (717) 244-0340

White Rose Senior Center – (717) 843-9704,www.whiteroseseniorcenter.org

Windy Hill Senior Center – (717) 225-0733

Yorktown Senior Center – (717) 854-0693

Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information.

York County Library Programs

York County Department of Parks and RecreationPre-registration is required for these programs. To register or find out more about these activities or anyadditional scheduled activities, call (717) 428-1961.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays in December, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Project FeederWatch, Nixon ParkDec. 2, 6 to 8 p.m. – “Hanging of the Greens,” Rail Trail, Hanover Junction Train StationDec. 4, 2:30 to 4 p.m. – “Animals in Winter” Hike, Nixon Park

Programs and Support Groups Free and open to the public

Dec. 2, 5 to 8:30 p.m.Second Annual York Gifts That Give Hope FairChrist Lutheran Church29 S. George St., Yorkwww.giftsthatgivehope.org/york

Dec. 10, noonCelebration ChoirBrown’s Orchards & Farm Market3100 N. George St., Emigsville(717) 767-4142www.brownsorchards.com

Dec. 13 and 27, 7 to 8:30 p.m.Women with Depression/Mood Disorders Support GroupEmanuel Methodist Church40 Main St., Loganville(717) [email protected]

Dec. 17, noonTwelfth Night Boar’s Head Festival PreviewBrown’s Orchards & Farm Market3100 N. George St., Emigsville(717) 767-4142www.brownsorchards.com

Dec. 18, 1 to 2:30 p.m.Ryan’s TrumpetersBrown’s Orchards & Farm Market8892 Susquehanna Trail South, Loganville(717) 428-2036www.brownsorchards.com

Dec. 20, 3 p.m.Caregiver Support GroupGolden Visions Senior Community Center 250 Fame Ave., #125, Hanover(717) 633-5072

Arthur Hufnagel Public Library of Glen Rock, 32 Main St., Glen Rock, (717) 235-1127

Collinsville Community Library, 2632 Delta Road, Brogue, (717) 927-9014Tuesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. – Purls of Brogue Knitting Club

Dillsburg Area Public Library, 17 S. Baltimore St., Dillsburg, (717) 432-5613

Dover Area Community Library, 3700-3 Davidsburg Road, Dover, (717) 292-6814

Glatfelter Memorial Library, 101 Glenview Road, Spring Grove, (717) 225-3220

Guthrie Memorial Library, 2 Library Place, Hanover, (717) 632-5183

Kaltreider-Benfer Library, 147 S. Charles St., Red Lion, (717) 244-2032

Kreutz Creek Valley Library Center, 66 Walnut Springs Road, Hellam, (717) 252-4080

Martin Library, 159 E. Market St., York, (717) 846-5300

Mason-Dixon Public Library, 250 Bailey Drive, Stewartstown, (717) 993-2404

Paul Smith Library of Southern York County, 80 Constitution Ave., Shrewsbury, (717) 235-4313

Red Land Community Library, 48 Robin Hood Drive, Etters, (717) 938-5599

Village Library, 35-C N. Main St., Jacobus, (717) 428-1034

Senior Center Activities

Give Us the Scoop!

Please send us your pressreleases so we can let our

readers know about free events occurring in

York County!

Email preferred to:[email protected]

(717) 285-1350

Let

Help you get the word out!

If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to [email protected] for consideration.


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supporting role63. More viscous64. Way to go65. Tide alternative66. Short musical pieces67. Mythology

anthology68. Departure

announcement69. Abandon70. Textile worker

1. SALT concern2. Demand3. Best4. “You ___ bother!”5. Clip6. Capital on a fjord7. Grand ___8. Decrease9. Church donation10. Attack11. “My ___!”12. It comes to mind13. Sarah’s husband21. Potter

22. River of Lyon26. Excluding27. Asian buffalo29. Cotton fabric30. Grace period?31. In case32. Double curve33. Worked the soil34. Slough36. Mushroom you can

eat37. Departure38. Historian Toynbee40. Soldier of fortune

41. Black gunk47. Alate49. Just beat50. Gush51. Reverent52. Like a snicker54. “___ or not ...”55. In reserve56. Give away57. Bank58. Lothario’s look59. Bucks60. Start with while61. Telephone button

Across

Down

Solution on page 19

By Myles Mellorand Sally York

This Month in History:December

Events

• Dec. 5, 1933 – The 18th Amendment to theU.S. Constitution, the Prohibition Amendment,was repealed. For nearly 14 years, since Jan. 29,1920, it had outlawed the manufacture,transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages inthe U.S.

• Dec. 17, 1903 – After three years ofexperimentation, Orville and Wilbur Wrightachieved the first powered, controlled airplaneflights. They made four flights near Kitty Hawk,N.C., the longest lasting about a minute.

• Dec. 18, 1865 – The 13th Amendment to theU.S. Constitution was ratified, abolishingslavery. It stated, “Neither slavery norinvoluntary servitude, save as a punishment forcrime whereof the party shall have been dulyconvicted, shall exist within the United States,or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

Birthdays

• Dec. 6 – Photojournalist Alfred Eisenstaedt(1898-1995) was born in Dirschau, Prussia. He is best known for his Life magazine coverphotos, including the sailor kissing a nurse inTimes Square, celebrating the end of World War II.

• Dec. 19 – British explorer William Parry(1790-1855) was born in Bath, England. Heconducted Arctic expeditions and made threeattempts to find a Northwest Passage.

• Dec. 25 – Film actor Humphrey Bogart(1899-1957) was born in New York City. He isbest known for The African Queen, The MalteseFalcon, Casablanca, and To Have and Have Not.

New Program Offers Trainingfor Caregiving Families

A new program for families andcaregivers called Passages™ is nowavailable from Visiting Angels of Yorkand Hanover.

Passages™ focuses on providingextensive dementia care training forVisiting Angels caregivers and offers asix-week training for the families. Thefirst step in Passages™ is to complete a

dementia-specific plan of care based ona comprehensive home assessment withthe individual.

Passages™ focuses on the individualand provides specialized assistance tothose who have dementia and partnerswith families to allow their loved onethe opportunity to stay at home safelyfor as long as possible.

www.yorkareahg.org

Cloverfield ApartmentsJoyce Santiago, Property Manager

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How You Qualify:

• Applicants who are 62 or over and/orthose who are disabled and require thefeatures of an accessible unit.*

• An applicant’s gross annual income maynot exceed the following limitsestablished by the Federal Government:

• Monthly rent is equal to approximately 30% of aresident’s monthly income. Utilities are included.

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* subject to Federal Government adjustment

Number ofPersons in Family

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I Married for Love, Sort Of

Such Is Life

Saralee Perel

One part I loathe about theholiday season is that it’s usuallya time of reflection. From age 5

until 8, I reflected on hating my parentsbecause we were Jewish so I didn’t getany Christmas presents.

From 9 to 15, I reflected on hatingmy parents because they wouldn’t let mebring one lousy tree in the house. Hey!People have plant life indoors. So what ifit has lights and tinsel on it?

At age 16, my reflections changed. Ireflected on how rotten my parents werebecause it was Christmas, for heaven’ssake. How about forking over a hugewad of dough so I could buy my ownpresents?

And Chanukah? You think lightingcandles on a menorah was what Idreamed of? No. I dreamed of jewelryand boys. Well, I’d get one present. Whatall teenagers die for. A new dictionary.

There’s nothing like the Christmaslights in New England, where I now live.Makes mereflect onevening drivesmy mom and Itook throughthe infidels’decoratedneighborhoodsin Maryland,where I grewup. It musthave broughther joy while I’d scream, “They’re justlights, Ma! It’s not like they’re satanic!Why can’t we have them?”

She must have loved the constantfracas of changing radio stations fromSinatra to Christmas carols. She’d nearlydrive off the road during our hand-slapping battles while I’d shout, “PA

RUM PUM PUM PUM” over Sinatra’s“My Way.”

And NewYear’s? Oy vey.The Jewish newyear is as close toour national newyear as Big Macsare to hamburgersmade from soybeans. On RoshHashanah (newyear), we don’t dofireworks. We go

to temple. I’d pretend to listen to therabbi while I’d play mind games—imagining the Hebrew letters in theprayer book as people in weirdpositions—when I was 40.

At some point, I focused on gettingmarried. Although love is important, Ineeded something else too. I wanted a

man who not only adored me, but whoalso had a characteristic I’d cherish asmuch as love: a God-loving, present-giving Christian.

Last month, my Christian husband,Bob, and I celebrated our anniversarywith a whole bunch of presents (oh yeah,we said “I love you” a lot too).

The finest present I’ve ever receivedwas from a sad and silent man—mygrandfather. I was his fundamentalsource of joy. And I adored him. Otherthan when he’d look at me, the only timeI’d see rapture on his face was while he’dplay his violin. When he’d visit fromManhattan, we’d hug like there was notomorrow.

Born in 1885, he was 76 when I was10. That Chanukah, he walked the aislesof Woolworths, collecting 5- and 10-cent“pearls” and “sapphires” and hundreds ofpieces of sparkling jewelry that he put in


Crossword shown on page 17

… in the countryThere is something to be said

About the simple pleasuresAfforded to the privileged few

Who choose to live … in the country.

To drop into bed bone tiredAfter a day that started at 3 a.m.

With milking and feeding,Haymaking and then … in the country.

A farmer never has timeOn his hands, nor does his wife

And helpmate who goes behind himGetting things done … in the country.

Sweet rewards, though,Are sleeping under homemade quilts

With the window cracked openTo let in the sweet, sweet air … in the country.

Written and submitted by Linda Susan AmosDedicated to David and Lizzie Beiler

a fancy jewelry box. What man woulddo such a thing in that day and age?

As I write this, my eyes fill withtears. I see myself as that little girlopening the magical box. I rememberfeeling the strands of jewelry but onlylooking at Grandpa. I needed him tosee my face filled with delight andadoration because I knew, even then,there was something more importantthan jewelry. I needed to see him smile.His smiles were so rare. I needed himto know how happy he made me. Forthat would bring him peace, if only fora few moments.

Late in his life, Grandpa was movedto my parents’ house. I can stillvisualize him, having arrived at theBaltimore & Ohio Railroad Station. Hewas sitting in a wheelchair outside thetrain, all alone, while passengers andluggage carriers rushed around. In his

arms was his beloved violin, though hecould no longer play it.

So nowadays, when Bob comeshome, we hug like there’s no tomorrow.Bob has my grandpa’s soul. I must have“sensed” that when we met.

I have learned that presents don’tmatter (oh, who am I kidding?). Whattruly matters is the joy on Bob’s lovelyface as he tenderly opens a present yetlooks at me before seeing what it is. Hisexpression is identical to the look ofadoration I had for Grandpa.

I have a heart filled with treasuresfrom my grandfather and my husband.And nothing, no matter what may lieahead, will diminish the wealth thesetwo loves of my life have permanentlyetched in my heart.

Award-winning columnist Saralee Perelwelcomes emails at [email protected] via her website: www.saraleeperel.com.

York County 50plus Senior News Dec. 2011

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