This is indeed a rare month of August.   August 2010 has 5 Sundays, 5 Mondays, and 5 Tuesdays, all in one month which happens only once in 823 years.

Bonnie Announcements August, August 2010, rare month

Are ticks interested in older skin?  It’s possible that they are less interested, but I am living proof that they still find parts of a grandmother’s body succulent.

At my appointment for a quick follow-up to my annual checkup the doctor said to leave my skirt on.  He would just listen to my heart.  “Oh, no”, I said.  “I have something to show you!”  The evening before I had discovered that I had something uncomfortable on my backside, but it was not where I could see it   I wanted the doctor to tell me what it was, thinking that it might have picked up a tick walking in high grass to pick wild flowers with our two little granddaughters.  The doctor confirmed that it was indeed a tick.  The nurse removed it, a photo was taken (!) for research, and I was congratulated on having it removed properly.

Apparently the tick will still search out the soft skin of hidden areas no matter what your age.  Take a tick seriously.  Lyme disease is well known, and there are multiple other diseases borne by ticks.

• Learn about ticks in your area.
• Use a tick repellent and wear long trousers tucked into your socks when hiking in the forest or through high grass.
• Check your body for ticks if you have been in tick territory, including behind the ears and in your hair.
• If you have a tick, have a doctor remove it if possible.  If not,
• Remove a tick by pulling it straight out with a pair of tweezers close to the skin and save the tick in a plastic to show a doctor. Carefully wash and disinfect the skin where the tick was removed.
• If there is any swelling or redness, especially a bull’s eye, around the sore see a doctor immediately

Bonnie Announcements, Health Factors grandmother's body, lyme disease, never too old, older skin, tick repellent, ticks

Unfortunately, intense heat goes hand in hand with increased pollution.

Besides taking precautions to keep your body healthy during the heat wave, it will also be good for your age esteem to be proactive to help reduce the effects of pollution on everyone.

• Limit your use of polluting engines during the heat wave.
• Use your car as little as possible.
• If you do use your car, drive 20 km (12.5 miles) per hour less than the limit.

Bonnie Announcements, Health Factors age-esteem, heat wave, pollution, proactive

Many parts of the world are experiencing an important heat wave which promises to last.  Such intense heat can seriously affect your health and it is important to take precautions.

The 2003 heat wave provoked thousands of deaths in France, especially among older people who lived alone.  A heat wave has hit Europe again this year and governments are taking precautions to inform people of measures to take for their health.

As Age Esteemers is important for each of us to respect the negative effects that prolonged heat has on our bodies and to take our own precautions.  We are in control.

• Keep physical activity to a minimum between 11am and 9pm.
• Drink at least 1 1/2 liters (1.59 quarts) of liquid daily, especially water but also teas and diluted fruit juices.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeinated and sweetened drinks since they increase dehydration.
• Stay in an area that is cool or air conditioned at least 2 hours during the day and take cool showers.

Bonnie Announcements, Health Factors Age Esteemers, control, Europe, France, heat wave, precautions

June 26, 2010

Today, 45 years later, we remain committed, continue to have dreams – and love is still alive.   We have grown together while encouraging and supporting each other in our separate endeavors.   Our family now includes two precious granddaughters.

Neither of us would pretend that there have not been difficult moments during the years.  That is part of  life.  And marriage is a relationship; it  takes commitment, understanding and dedication on both sides to flourish.

We celebrated this 45th wedding anniversary with a simple barbecue among friends and family, people who share our values and rejoice with us in the blessings of the moment.  Each of them has played a positive role in our lives over the years.

45 years is neither the beginning nor the end.  However it is a happy event to celebrate.

Bonnie Announcements, Life Stages - Ages 45th wedding anniversary, commitment, love still alive, marriage, values

June 26, 1965

Forty-five years ago my husband Gerard and I committed ourselves to growing as a couple and founding a family together.  We were full of dreams.  We were in love.  Nothing would ever change that.

We met while I was doing my student teaching in St. Joseph, Michigan where he was working for a year with Whirlpool Corp. to learn the American way of doing business.  He was Swiss and had just finished his Engineering studies at the famous University of Technology in Zurich.   It wasn’t necessarily love at first sight, but there was a definite bonding that grew as we got to know each other and sparked that love .

He didn’t win me over with lavish gifts and flowers.  He did it fighting off imaginary dragons, flying kites, sailing, and blowing bubbles from the life guard stand.  Sunsets and walks on the beach gave us ample opportunity to get to know each other and to talk about the future.   It was often with laughter since his English was still rusty and my French was what I had learned in high school.  We learned to give the other the benefit of the doubt if something came out oddly. – Like the romantic evening that he told me I was a “witch” when he really meant that I was like a fairy God mother.

It may sound odd to younger people today, but this all created a solid foundation. – One that is lasting.

Bonnie Announcements, Life Stages - Ages 45th wedding anniversary, Michigan, solid foundation, St. Joseph

On June 20th, people in countries around the world celebrate world refugee day.  It is an opportunity to build awareness and to encourage interest in helping refugees on all continents.  We recognize the strength, courage and contributions of refugees.

“But for the grace of God, there go I.”  Often the only difference between a refugee and ourself is where we were born.  It has nothing to do with education, age and capability.  We were simply blessed to be born in a part of the world where we are safe.

In Geneva, Switzerland where the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is located the famous “Jet d’Eau” water fountain will be blue on June 20.  This is in recognition of the contributions made to our world by refugees such as Albert Einstein, Madeleine Albright, Marc Chagall, Dalai Lama, and Peter Carl Fabergé and for the hope of today’s refugees as the UNHCR continues its important work.

• Become aware of what refugee status means.
• Research the UNHCR to better understand the work that it is doing.
• Contribute funds to your local organization working with refugees or through the site of the UNHCR
• Volunteer time working with refugees in your community to teach the local language and to help them adapt and integrate.
• Count your blessings.

Bonnie Announcements, Holidays Albert Einstein, Dalai Lama, Geneva, Madeleine Albright, Marc Chagall, Switzerland, UNHCR, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Refugee Day

Happy Mother’s Day!

Most countries have a special day to celebrate mothers.  Mother’s Day is a wonderful occasion for traditions:  children make little gifts and cards in school; bouquets of flowers are gathered; poems are written; mother’s chores are done by others so she can rest…  There are multiple ways to make a mother feel special.  Why not try one of the following?

• Make a picture album with photos of you and your mother and grandmother.
• Create a book of Memories with Mom.  Fill each page with a special memory.
• Sprinkle her home with notes of love.  Put notes in places where she is sure to find them: refrigerator, medicine cabinet, pillow on her bed,…  On each note write something that you love about her.  This can be fun to do with your children for their grandmother.
• If your mother is no longer alive, adopt a mother for the day.
• Reach out to women who have touched your life and remind them of what they mean to you and that you love them.

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World Penguin Day coincides with the annual northward migration of penguins which happens on or around April 25th.  It is believed that they migrate north to have more daylight since they cannot see well and the light is essential for finding food.

Penguins do not fly. Rather, they walk or waddle and slide.  They are amusing to watch as they parade around in their black and white tuxedos.  This is a great exercise for your age esteem since the they are bound to provoke your laughter. and laughter is healthy for both mind and body.  You will probably need to got to the zoo to watch them.  Unless, of course, you  live in Antarctica, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, the Falkland Islands, or the Galapagos Islands where they are found.

Bonnie Holidays age-esteem, laughter, migration, penguins, world penguin day

This year’s World Health Day is focused on making cities healthier.

As the World Health Organization (WHO) states, « There are solutions.  Urban planning can promote healthy behaviours and safety through investment in active transport, designing areas to promote physical activity and passing regulatory controls on tobacco and food safety. Improving urban living conditions in the areas of housing, water and sanitation will go a long way to mitigating health risks.  Building inclusive cities that are accessible and age-friendly will benefit all urban residents.

Such actions do not necessarily require additional funding, but commitment to redirect resources to priority interventions, thereby achieving greater efficiency. »

Bonnie Holidays accessible, age-friendly, physical activity, WHO, World Health Day, World Health Organization