Northwest Prime Time - December 2016

Rosanna Bowles:Rosanna Bowles:

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VOL. 16 NO. 10 DECEMBER 2016

Tableware designer and entrepreneur extraordinaire spreads holiday cheer far and wide

The holiday season is a magical time for many,

and Rosanna Bowles is no exception. This

internationally-acclaimed tableware designer

delights in sharing long-held traditions with family

and friends.

Her Seattle-based tableware and gift company, Rosanna Inc., encourages just that – it provides the backdrop for shared meals, festive gatherings and happy moments…moments as grand as a holiday party or as simple as sharing a cup of tea with a neighbor.

When you learn about Rosanna’s life, its direction seems almost inevitable.

Her parents ran a gift and tableware company in her hometown of Portland. Rosanna’s own passion for dishes began at age five when she first started collecting fine china. “Every summer, we’d go antiquing on the Oregon Coast and I was allowed to pick one piece of Limoges for my collection.”

The love of a well-set table took an even firmer hold on her

1920s bungalow in Seattle and the driver informed her she had to unload the goods herself.

“I started to cry,” admits Rosanna. “Oh, all right, lady,” the driver said and helped her unload the crates. “Just don't tell anybody.” But a bigger surprise awaited when Rosanna unpacked the boxes to discover wet wooden shavings stuck to 10,000 pieces of tableware. “It was like an I Love Lucy episode with me washing mountains of shavings off thousands of plates,” she recalls.

Her first order was to Meier & Frank, where she worked while in college – before serendipitously stumbling onto a nascent coffeehouse operation called Starbucks. They were just starting to grow and had hired Howard Schultz as merchandise manager. Rosanna took her suitcase with her samples wrapped in newspaper and showed them to Howard. He wiped out her entire inventory with one order.

For the first five years, Rosanna relied on a roster of specialty stores, working her way west to east, growing one store at a time. Her “big break” came in 1988, when Pottery Barn placed a major order. Since then, Rosanna products have appeared in stores and gift shops

around the world. More than three decades and millions of dishes later, Rosanna has emerged as an innovative leader in the homewares

industry.Rosanna is

proud to think that her products may play a part in her customers’ traditions. Since the time she was young, Rosanna has felt a connection between tradition and tableware. “My mother taught me about traditions and how dishes play a big part in our lives.”

She describes the value of tradition in her book, Coming Home: A Seasonal Guide to Creating

Family Traditions. “When I was growing up, our family life revolved around traditions and rituals passed down through the generations. The values my sisters and I learned were based on life lessons that our parents, grandparents and neighborhood

Rosanna Bowles’ book, “Coming Home: A Seasonal Guide to Creating Family Traditions,” shares a year-round plan for establishing traditions and making memories that will restore home to its central place in family life. And because the table is where family and beloved friends most often come together, she provides more than fifty favorite recipes for season’s character.

Seattle’s own Rosanna Bowles oversees an empire of tableware, décor, handbags and gifts that are sold around the globe through her company, Rosanna Inc.

continued on page 18

Seattle’s Designing Woman

while spending a year as a teen studying in Perugia, Italy – a hub of ceramics production. There she became proficient in the language, and later earned her Master’s Degree in Italian Language and Literature from the University of Oregon.

After finishing her Master’s, Rosanna was struggling to find a career path that would combine her love of Italian literature and the fine arts. She went to a fair where she took a class on how to be an entrepreneur.

Inspiration struck – she decided to import Italian ceramics. She wrote a business plan, took out a $15,000 loan using her house as collateral and, in 1982, she started her one-woman home-based tableware design company.

Rosanna began by traveling to Perugia, Italy and worked with local artisans to develop ceramics based on her own designs. “When I sat with the artists and painted with them, I had a sensibility and a knowledge for the craft,” she remembers. But she is the first to admit she hadn’t yet mastered the operations end of the business.

There’s the now oft-told tale of how a 20-foot container filled with her first order of hand-painted Italian ceramics pulled up to her

Rosanna is a strong believer in tradition and ritual, which she is passing down to her daughters, Alessandra and Francesca. This photo was taken years ago at the Oregon coast, which has been host to many family celebrations

nsideINostalgic Holiday Stories

pages 9 – 11

2 Northwest Prime Time www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com December 2016

Out & About

Collector to Curator

…by Barbara Keevil Parker

Conan O’Brien invited her to be on his show. She’s appeared on the Food Network, the A&E Network and CBS’ Sunday Morning. She’s assembled large displays in Chicago, Minneapolis and Hong Kong. She gives power point presentations around the U.S. and Germany. She is the author of six books, numerous articles and produces a monthly newsletter. Who is this amazing person?

Meet Arlene Wagner, the Nutcracker Lady, who lovingly cares for nearly 7000 nutcrackers housed in a unique museum in Leavenworth, Washington. This museum is one of only two all-nutcracker museums in the world. The other is located in Neuhausen, Germany.

Mrs. Wagner began collecting nutcrackers forty years ago when she was a dance instructor in Renton. During the holidays when her students were performing the nutcracker ballet, she decorated her studio with nutcrackers. Each year she added more until there was no more room to display her collection.

Her love of nutcrackers led to a store in Renton

named “Nussknacker Haus” and later another was opened in Bellevue Square. Vacationing in Leavenworth, she and her husband, George, found a store for sale and purchased it. The Wagners, having spent much time in Germany, felt right at home in this Bavarian Village. In 1985, they became full-time

residents and opened their store specializing in German collectibles and woodcrafts.

When purchasing nutcrackers for the store, Arlene became excited about the hundreds of unique designs available and the idea for a nutcracker museum began to emerge. She wanted to share the beauty and workmanship of nutcrackers with the public. George told her if they could earn enough at the store to pay rent for the upstairs space, she could open a nutcracker museum.

Arlene began researching nutcrackers and discovered that early humans used nutting stones to crack the hard shell of the nuts they gathered. She found that throughout the centuries, nutcrackers have been made of wood, porcelain, ivory, stone and various metals. The Wagners decided their

collection would include all types of nutcrackers and they searched the world for unique examples. Antique dealers from various countries, aware of their quest, contacted them whenever they found a unique piece.

In 1995, her dream came true. She and her husband opened the nutcracker museum in Leavenworth.

In 2000, they donated all the nutcrackers and the building housing them to the National Heritage Foundation, an umbrella for small non-profit foundations. They wanted to be sure their collection could be enjoyed by generations to come. Later, the nutcrackers and building were transferred to The Leavenworth Museum, a non-profit 501(c)3 foundation. Arlene was appointed curator by the board of directors.

With official non-profit status, other collectors have donated nutcrackers to the museum, making it the largest collection of nut cracking devices in the world and one of Leavenworth’s most popular tourist attractions.

Next time you visit Leavenworth, stop to say hello to the Nutcracker Lady at the Nutcracker Museum. You’ll find her dressed in a beautiful dirndl she made herself or one she brought home from Austria or Switzerland. When I asked if she wanted to share her age, she replied “I am 91 and ¾-years-old. At my age, you celebrate each step.”

She may be 91, but don’t try to race Arlene on the stairs of her building. She hikes up and down two long flights of stairs four or five times a day with the energy of a teenager.

Arlene Wagner: collector, curator, author, speaker and amazing woman. ❖

Arlene Wagner: The Nutcracker Lady

The Nutcracker Museum is located at 735 Front Street in Leavenworth. Hours: 1-5pm daily, May-October; hours vary November-April. 509-548-4573. www.nutcrackermuseum.com

Arlene Wagner’s books include The Art & Character of Nutcrackers; The Nutcracker Lady’s Introduction to Nutcrackers, Kids Love Nutcrackers; the I Love Nuts recipe book and Production List of Steinbach.

MORE INFORMATION

It’s Elementary

Footprints, splatter patterns and the powers of observation mark the journey through

The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes, on display

at the Pacific Science Center through January 8.

“The Conan Doyle Estate can’t remember an

undertaking as involved and exciting as this one,” says the estate’s representative Jon Lellenberg. “Museum visitors will experience the scientific and literary ideas that inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to create Sherlock Holmes, and Holmes’ methods for investigating and solving crimes as the world’s first consulting detective. ”

Visitors will be transported to Victorian London and can visit the very rooms in which all this took place. Learn how Sherlock Holmes used seemingly trivial observations of clues others missed to solve some of his era’s most mysterious crimes. His practices and techniques, created in the mind of doctor-turned-author Conan Doyle, changed the way police work was conducted and remain in practice today.

The interactive experience combines science with history and culture to bring to life the historic underpinnings of author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories. The galleries in the exhibition include:

Dr. Conan Doyle’s Study –Visit the learned doctor‘s study to view an original manuscript, letters and illustrations to gain perspective on the experiences that influenced Conan Doyle in creating Sherlock Holmes.

Science and History – Sherlock Holmes solved mysteries using observation and solid scientific experimentation. Visitors will participate in experiments of their own by exploring the developments in science and technology in the 1890s. The exhibition digs into real forensic studies in order to demonstrate the link between the Sherlock Holmes stories, detective science and today’s world of forensics.

Sherlock Holmes in Baker Street – Museum-goers will visit Sherlock Holmes’ and

Explore the mysteries of Sherlock Holmes at the Pacific Science Center


Arlene Wagner is the founder of The Nutcracker Museum in Leavenworth, housing the largest collection of nut cracking devices in the world. Photo by Andy Jaynes

The infamous sitting room of Dr. Watson and Mr. Holmes

Examine tracks with Sherlock’s footprint maker, photos courtesy of the Pacific Science Center

Sunday, December 18th

celebrate “National Bake Cookies Day” with us!Join us 11AM - 5PM for cookies and $10 - $2,500 Free Play.Then, at 6PM, a drawing winner willreceive $5,000 cash!

I-5 to Exit 88 • Rochester • 1-800-720-1788 • luckyeagle.com

*Must be 21 and a Players Club member. Everyone is a winner while supplies last.

December 2016 www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com 3

Northwest Prime Time is online!

Our website includes articles not seen in the paper - and our online calender of events is always more extensive than our printed calendar!

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Volume 16 Number 10

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Northwest Prime Time welcomes letters and comments. Please send to:[email protected] P.O. Box 13647Seattle, Washington 98198

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Volunteer Spotlight

…by Mary Pierce

Sonny MeadowsRSVP Volunteer at American Cancer Society’s Cancer Resource Center

RSVP volunteers helped Cancer Resource Centers reach nearly 500 patients last year! Sonny Meadows is an energetic, dynamic and delightful volunteer with an enthusiasm for her work that is infectious.

Volunteering four hours-a-week for over five years at the Cancer Resource Center at UW Medicine/Valley Medical Center in Renton, Sonny is a vital link in connecting cancer patients to the information, resources and referrals they need.

Sonny stresses that “there are a whirlwind of issues that face a newly diagnosed patient.” In her volunteer role, there is no doubt that she is well-versed about the resources that can help the patient – as well as their family, friends and caregivers.

The Cancer Resource Center is located near the Infusion Center where treatments take place. Sonny notes that this proximity provides “easy access for patients to visit the Cancer Resource Center.”

In her volunteer role, Sonny says, “I go to the Infusion Center to visit with new patients, provide a gift pack, a general information folder and a Health Manager file to help keep track of records. If a patient is willing, I sit and talk with them.”

The opportunity to visit with patients and stay connected as they receive treatment fits in well with Sonny’s love of people and her innate skill in reaching out to those in times of need. She is a retired nurse with over 30 years of experience and finds this is where she is needed the most right now. Sonny sincerely believes that “if you have lived a blessed life, it is important to give back.”

If you would like to find a satisfying volunteer job and give back to your community, contact RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program) of King County at 206-694-6786 or [email protected].

F.Y.I.

Meals for Seniors UpdatesIn July of 2016, Sound

Generations’ (formerly Senior Services) announced that for the first time in its forty-nine year history new applicants to its Meals on Wheels program faced a wait of up to five months before they could be added to the program. Now, with the help of several large contributions from local agencies and donors, Meals on Wheels has reduced the waiting list to one-to-two months, and will hopefully decrease that timeframe soon.

The reduction in the waiting list was largely possible due to $80,000 from Aging and Disability Services. Additionally, several foundations and individuals made generous donations in recent months.

Even with the new funding, Sound Generations is struggling to keep up with continually increasing demand. Currently, more than 200 individuals are on the Meals on Wheels waiting list and on average, 45 new individuals apply to the program each week.

An online fundraising campaign through the end of the year will meet your donations dollar for dollar, matched by Jeannie and Bruce Nordstrom visit bit.ly/mealsonwheelsdrive). Volunteers are also greatly appreciated. For more information, call 206-448-5757 or visit www.soundgenerations.org.

In related news, United Healthcare came through with a $50,000 donation to fund Food Lifeline’s mobile pantry food distributions, including funds to help support local seniors in need. “We are grateful for United Healthcare’s partnership in helping us serve people in our most vulnerable communities,” said Linda Nageotte, president and CEO, Food Lifeline, a nonprofit organization that supplies food to different food banks across Western Washington. “Our Mobile Food programs help ensure access to fresh, healthy food for children, families and seniors in hard-to-reach areas.”

Travel Tips for a Safe HolidayIn a little more than a year, two

dozen travel scams have been reported to the Better Business Bureau.

To help travelers have a happy holiday, BBB warns of these common travel scams and how to avoid them.

• Hoax sites: Many travel websites appear to be legitimate, but once a vacation is booked, the business disappears. It’s best to book with a company with a good track record. Find a reputable travel business by searching bbb.org.

• Be Wi-Fi Wise: Avoid using public Wi-Fi, including hotel internet access, for online banking or other financial account management. With just a click of a button, fraudsters can easily create fake Wi-Fi hubs, then gain access to personal information and passwords.

• Hotel Tricks: It’s common for hotels to call and check in with guests shortly after they arrive, but be on guard if the caller asks for personal information, like credit card info, to finalize check-in. Never give out financial information over the phone. Instead, visit hotel management in person.

• Vacation Rentals: Watch for fake rental listings and too-good-to-be-true deals. Scammers can hijack legitimate online listings and make it look like their own. Deal directly with the property owner or manager and verify through online research.

• Delivery coupons. These deals are usually slid under the hotel doors. The trick comes when a customer calls to place the order and is asked to give credit card info over the phone. Don’t do it! Check with the front desk before placing an order to ensure the restaurant is real or offer to pay when the meal is delivered.

• Easy on the selfies. Avoid blasting on social media that everyone in the house is away. This makes it all too easy for burglars to locate an empty house available for them to rob. Save the Facebook album for after the trip is over.

• Report travel scams to local law enforcement and at BBB.org/scamtracker.

Sonny Meadows


Life Perspectives

…by Gretchen Houser

“What Happened to Christmas?”

The Seattle sky was a slate grey that first day of January. I’d risen early to pack for my flight to Cleveland, but now I was savoring each remaining moment. My eighteen-month-old grandson Henry and I were snuggling in front of the picture window watching one of his favorite activities – the progress of the weekly garbage truck. He was mesmerized by its jerky movements, the stop-and-go of the garbage men and the truck’s grinding gears.

But, in an instant, his mood changed and he looked genuinely worried. “Gammie, what happened to Cwristmas?”

I rubbed the top of his head. “Honey, nothing will ever happen to Christmas.”

“But,” he whined, holding out his empty hand as if the season itself had recently resided there. “It’s gone, it ‘disappearwed!’”

I gazed outside, yearning to see what Henry saw, to try and understand his sadness. Several straggly Christmas trees had been set out and were awaiting pick-up; a few spindly ones already loaded, silver tinsel still nestling inside branches.

Even here, boxes of ornaments sat stacked ready to be stored, while the once adorned Christmas tree waited silently, pine needles strewn about on the wooden floor. Pieces of red tissue paper lingered under the coffee table, and on the mantle, cherished Christmas candles were misshapen from use.

It was true! Christmas was on its

way out. “Sweetheart, listen to Gammie.” His big brown eyes focused on my face with a childlike faith that I knew all the answers.

“You’re right, Christmas is gone this year, but it’s still here, in our hearts,” I explained. “And the best thing is, Christmas will come again next year.”

He looked around the room to make sure his Thomas the Train set was still there, and seeing it, looked comforted.

It was then I recalled the Christmases of my childhood, the sometimes bare-bones celebration in lean times, and in better times, actually receiving a present I’d asked for.

I then thought about my own children and how I, because of my childhood circumstances, had gone embarrassingly overboard with my son and daughter, showering them with too much, and then with even more, which in the end only served to overwhelm them and exhaust me.

In contrast, my daughter

and son-in-law’s attitude about Christmas was wise No going overboard and, most importantly, encouraging me to do the same. They concentrated instead on family activities: sledding when possible, ice-skating, sharing home-cooked meals with friends, bringing in the Yule Log the old-fashioned way.

As for me, I was in love with Christmas from the first time I got wind of such a wonderful happening. There had to be a reason for my devotion, and I have come to believe that it’s the very idea of it, that every year, a special day is set aside to celebrate and to think of others in a special way, but mostly, because it’s been going on for such a long, long time.

Henry and I snuggled closer and I rested my head against his. “Let’s keep Christmas in our heart all year, Henry. Would you like that?”

His eyes lit up with possibility. “We can do ‘dat’?”

“Sure, we can!” I declared, kissing him soundly on his chubby cheeks.

“Mama and Papa too, ‘wight?” he asked, searching my eyes with the perfect timing of a child.

“Absolutely!” I shouted, once again thanking the universe for this child who’d completely, irrevocably, changed my life. ❖

Gretchen Houser is a Seattle freelance writer and editor. Gretchen has long realized that writing’s nettlesome reward is discovering divinity in the human condition.

Gretchen Houser with her adorable grandson Henry


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Soundpath Health is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Soundpath Health depends on contract renewal. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and/or copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. Plan may not be available in all counties. Calls will be answered by a licensed insurance agent/broker. The formulary may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary. Soundpath Health complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. 注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-866-322-8649 (TTY﹕ 711).TENCIÓN﹕ si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-866-322-8649 (TTY﹕ 711). CHÚ Ý﹕ Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-866-322-8649 (TTY﹕ 711). Soundpath Health is licensed as a Health Care Service Contractor in Washington State. *Only available on the Peak + Rx (HMO) plan.

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Naturally Healthy

…by Lora Silver, reviewed by Dr. Diane Helsel, PhD, RDN

How the Holidays Can Become Good for Your Health

It turns out that ritual and ceremony surrounding holiday meals are good for us. For many Americans, the defining features of the winter holiday season include anticipation of special or traditional foods. and gratitude for the act of gathering together. The simple acts of slowing down and savoring food ensure maximum pleasure and nutrient absorption; this benefits our overall relationship with food and, ultimately, long-term health.

Slowing down to appreciate and enjoy the food we consume is easier said than done, especially when the hectic pace of daily life tempts us to multi-task and eat our meals on-the-go. However, it is probably no surprise that we are naturally able to savor food more when it is associated with a favorite holiday or seasonal tradition. The act of savoring begins with our eyes and nose because the perception of taste begins with the appearance and aroma of the food we are about to consume. Research has demonstrated that

eager anticipation of meals prompt release of digestive enzymes and enhance pleasant flavors.

Many factors work together in a surprisingly complex fashion to produce

our taste experience. By chewing many times and delaying the act of swallowing, we increase the moisture content of food with our own saliva. Moistened bits of food are more accessible to the tastebuds on our tongue, and this, combined with other sensory aspects, contribute to a greater intensity of overall flavor.

While it is true that taste preferences evolve and sense of smell fades with advancing years, a few tricks can enhance our eating experience at any age.

Exposure to a diversity of foods makes a difference, similar to the notion of ‘use it or lose it.’ Experiment with fresh herbs and dry spices or purchase perfectly ripe, in-season produce to preserve as much as possible of your tastebuds and olfactory senses.

Remember to slow down and savor food for a maximum flavor experience. Consider chocolate: did you know that expert tasters test dark chocolates by letting them linger on the tongue for several seconds longer than milk or semisweet varieties? The olfactory senses have more time to detect sweet aromas that generate a more complex flavor. Research has also found mindful eating behaviors to improve portion awareness and calorie control.

If you have found dark chocolate too bitter in the past, try it once more with a mindful eating

approach: take small bites, breathe deeply and allow the chocolate to melt before any attempt to chew or swallow. A moment of mindfulness like this, whether consuming a dessert or entire meal, will elevate the overall taste experience by adding another aspect of ritual and celebration to your next holiday gathering. ❖

Non-profit, accredited Bastyr University (bastyr.edu) offers multiple degrees in the natural health sciences, and clinical training at Bastyr Center for Natural Health (bastyrcenter.org), the region’s largest natural medicine clinic.

Studded Dark Chocolate Bark

Procedure

Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Toast pumpkin seeds on dry skillet over low heat until fragrant and slightly brown, set aside to cool. Melt chocolate in a double boiler (if available) or a small, heat-safe bowl that fits on top of (not inside) a half-filled saucepan of simmering water – the bowl should never touch the water. Stir constantly with a spatula until chocolate is completely melted and glossy. Remove bowl from heat and stir in figs and toasted pumpkin seeds just until evenly coated with chocolate. Pour mixture onto prepared baking pan, spreading evenly with a spatula if necessary. Place uncovered baking pan in refrigerator to

Ingredients

1/3 cup unsalted raw pumpkin seeds 12 ounces dark chocolate*, at least 65% cocoa mass, finely chopped1/3 cup finely chopped dried figs (tightly packed)

45 minutes, yields 20 pieces

harden (at least 15 minutes), then break into irregularly shaped pieces as desired. Store at room temperature in airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

*Remember: the darker the chocolate, the longer it should remain to dissolve on the tongue for optimal sweetness. Typically, dark chocolate contains 65% (or more) cocoa mass, while the average semisweet variety contains 50% and milk chocolate 20-40%.

Adapted by Lora Silver from Torres, Jacques. “Dark Chocolate Bark with Roasted Almonds and Seeds.” Food & Wine. March 2011. Web. 10 October 2016.

Senior Fitness Tip

Home Exercise Safety Tips

Many seniors like to exercise at home. Some seniors like to exercise with fitness DVDs, others have home exercise equipment. These are all good for keeping fit, as long as you’re being safe while doing it. Here are a few safety tips: Never exercise in house shoes (slippers) or socks as they could cause you

Participating in a balanced fitness program contributes to your well-being at every age —regular exercise is vital for older adults. While joining a program designed for seniors is a great choice and can help keep you motivated, Mark offers these tips for those who exercise at home.

to trip or slip; Never exercise on throw rugs that can move easily while you are exercising; Never do too much at once. If possible,

have someone with you while you exercise. If you feel lightheaded or dizzy stop the exercise. If you’re exercising alone, the best and safest way to do it is seated (in a chair). And again, don’t overdo it. A little goes a long way.

Mark Bryant is a Certified Senior Fitness Instructor and is the Enhance Fitness Coordinator at Southeast Seattle Senior Center. Despite having had a total hip replacement, Mark won the 2015 and 2016 Powerlifting World Championships. www.fitnessexpertmark.com.

…by Mark Bryant

Mark BryantBastyr Center’s nutrition teams can help you and your family with:

Bastyr Center’s nutrition teams can help you and your family with:

Schedule a personalized nutrition appointment by calling

3670 Stone Way N., Seattle, WA 98103

Schedule a personalized nutrition appointment by calling

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Using the Nose to Treat Damaged Knees

Researchers are now reporting they have successfully harvested cartilage cells from patients’ own noses to produce cartilage transplants for treating bum knees in ten adults. All the patients had cartilage that was damaged by injury. Two years after reconstruction, most recipients reported improvements in pain, knee function and quality of life. They also developed repair tissue in their knees that was similar in composition to native cartilage.

Researchers at the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland conducted a phase 1 study in which they extracted a small biopsy specimen (6 mm in diameter) from the nasal septum under local anesthetic. The harvested cells were multiplied by exposing them to growth factors for two weeks. The expanded cells were then seeded onto collagen membranes and cultured for two additional weeks, generating a 30 x 40 mm cartilage graft. The engineered graft then was cut into the right shape and used to replace damaged cartilage that was surgically removed from the recipient’s knee.

The study showed that nine out of ten recipients (one was excluded because of several independent sports injuries)

Health Matters

Medical Minutes...by John Schieszer

reported substantial improvements in the use of their knee and in the amount of pain compared to before surgery. No adverse reactions were reported.

“Our findings confirm the safety and feasibility of cartilage grafts engineered from nasal cells to repair damaged knee cartilage, but use of this procedure in everyday clinical practice is still a long way off,” said lead author Ivan Martin, Professor of tissue engineering at the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel in Switzerland. While this is a promising advance and may ultimately help patients with osteoarthritis, much larger studies with longer follow-ups are required before this technique could be widely available.Improving Low Level Vision with New Technology

A unique wearable artificial vision device may help people who are legally blind “read” and recognize faces. It may also help these individuals accomplish everyday tasks with significantly greater ease than using traditional assistive reading devices, according to a new study presented at the 120th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Millions of older adults have low vision. This sight loss impairs a person’s ability to do simple daily tasks. Optical

and electronic devices such as hand-held magnifiers, tele-microscopic glasses and computer and video magnifiers can help. However, these devices are bulky, cumbersome or not readily portable.

Researchers used a device called Orcam My Eye for their study. It clips to glasses, making it hands-free. It features a miniature camera that sees and recognizes what the user is viewing, whether text or a face. It then reads what it is seeing to the user via a small earpiece. The user activates the device by simply pointing a finger to the object or text, tapping it or pressing a trigger button.

Researchers tested the device on 12 legally blind people, who all had a visual acuity of less than 20/200. Study participants performed a 10-item test simulating activities of daily life, including recognizing products and reading a variety of items such as emails, letters, newspapers, books and signs. The study found that without wearing the device, the participants’ average score was 2.5 out of 10. When they first tried the device, their average score improved to 9.5 out of 10 and after a week of wearing the device, the average score of participants improved to 9.8 out of 10.

“While there have been many advances in eye care, the options for assistance in completing daily tasks are limited and cumbersome,” said Dr. Elad Moisseiev, with the Tel Aviv Medical Center, Israel. “This represents a new step in the evolution of assistance devices for people with low vision, giving them hope for improving their functionality, independence and quality of life.”

Adding Eggs to Salad May Increase Vitamin E Absorption

Including whole eggs in a salad may boost the amount of vitamin E the body absorbs from the vegetables in the salad, according to research from Purdue University. The investigators found vitamin E absorption was substantially higher when whole eggs were added to a salad. This study is novel because the researchers measured the absorption of vitamin E from real foods, rather than supplements, which contain mega-dose amounts of vitamin E.

“Vitamin E is the second most under-consumed nutrient in the average American diet, which is problematic because this fat-soluble nutrient has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties,” said Wayne Campbell, a professor of nutrition science at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. “Now consumers can easily improve their diets by adding eggs to a salad that boasts a variety of colorful vegetables.”

Vitamin E, which is absorbed along with dietary fats, is often found in oils, seeds and nuts. Eggs are a nutrient-rich food containing essential amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, B vitamins and a small amount of vitamin E. This study is intriguing because it highlights how one food can improve the nutrition value of another food when they are consumed together.

The findings were published in The Journal of Nutrition. ❖

John Schieszer is an award-winning national journalist and radio and podcast broadcaster of The Medical Minute. He can be reached at [email protected].

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Holiday Help for Alzheimer’s Caregivers…by Lisa M. Petsche

Many people consider the holiday season a hectic time due to the preparations and festivities that typically take place. Staying sane, not to mention enjoying this special time of the year, is even more of a challenge when you are caring for someone with dementia.

If your loved one has changed significantly, you may be particularly uneasy about the approaching holidays. Follow these suggestions to help keep stress manageable for everyone in your household.Gifts

• Shop by mail order or buy gift cards.• Use decorative bags and boxes to streamline

wrapping.• Keep presents stored away until it’s time to

exchange them.• Be prepared when friends ask for suitable gift

ideas for your loved one.• Suggestions should take into account cognitive

and physical limitations.Decorating

• Don’t decorate too far in advance.• Keep decorations minimal and out of reach as

much as possible. Forgo anything valuable or fragile.• Avoid lights that flash or play music, also

avoid sound- or motion-activated items.• Don’t keep inappropriate food, such as a

gingerbread house, out in the open.• Don’t let extension cords dangle or run across

walkways and don’t rearrange furniture.• Steer clear of decorations that could be

harmful if ingested.Entertaining

• Whenever possible, entertain at home rather than go out. Familiarity provides comfort.

• Prepare guests for your loved one’s cognitive and physical functioning and any uncharacteristic behaviors.

• Enlist a friend to supervise your loved one while you’re engaged in hosting duties.

• Keep rooms well-lit, since shadows may cause confusion and fear. Avoid candles.

• Keep music soft and familiar.• Keep gatherings small. Otherwise, situate your

loved one in a quiet spot and have guests visit one or two at a time.

• Instruct guests who your loved one may not remember to introduce themselves by name and relationship – for example, “I’m Mary, your brother John’s wife.”

• Place guests’ coats and handbags in a secure area if your loved one is prone to rummaging.

• Clean up immediately after entertaining, before your loved one has a chance to consume

anything that might make them ill.• Before inviting overnight guests, consider how

disruptive this might be to your loved one’s routines.Outings

• If you accept an invitation, do so on the condition that you may back out if your loved one is having a bad day.

• Limit the time and ensure there’s a quiet place your loved one can retreat to if they can’t handle the stimulation.

• Take along medications, adapted dishes and utensils, a bib, extra briefs and a change of clothes as needed.

• Recognize that your loved one may not eat as well as they normally do owing to anxiety or distractions.

• Attend an event without your loved one if it’s not feasible to take them with you.Further Tips

• Let family and friends know your needs and limitations.

• Share plans with your loved one on a need-to-know basis.

• Include your loved one in simple preparations to make them feel valued.

• Share holiday memories. Bring out photo albums or home movies and play favorite seasonal music.

• Schedule holiday activities during your loved one’s best time of the day.

• Space out activities and try to stick to routines.• Have a plan in place to deal with challenging

behaviors that may arise.• Don’t pressure your loved one to participate in

festivities. Previously enjoyed events may cause distress if they don’t understand the significance or no longer recognize family or friends.

Last, but not least, find something relaxing you can do each day. And do treat yourself to a special gift. ❖

Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters. She has personal and professional experience with elder care.

Tax Considerations

…by Teresa Ambord

The end of the year is rolling up fast. Time to think about tax moves you may need to make to protect your assets. While there’s time, talk to your financial advisor to see if any of these examples apply to you, and ask if there are others:

• Do you need to take a required minimum distribution of your retirement accounts? Don’t wait too long. Financial professionals are busy at year-end and may not be able to help you if you rush in too late.

• Should you sell investments now to take the capital gains hit in 2016? The answer may depend on what you expect your tax situation to be in 2017. If you have looming capital gains, would it be wiser to take the hit now, or wait?

• Should you increase your charitable contributions to get a tax break? Under a new administration, the rules regarding the deductibility of charitable contributions may ultimately change.

• Were you planning to reduce your taxable estate by making monetary gifts? You probably know that you and your spouse can each make an annual gift of up to $14,000 to any number of recipients without tax consequences. Suppose you have reason to reduce your taxable estate by more than that in the next few weeks. Make your $14,000 gifts by December 31st. Then on January 1st, you can do it all again and still spread the amounts over 2016 and 2017.

• Are there business purchases you could make now, to reduce your tax bite? New computers, equipment, business vehicles? Prices are generally good at year-end. May as well minimize your net business profit with strategic purchasing. For 2016 you can purchase up to $500,000. ❖

Quick, before the year ends, check your tax situation

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End-of-year Tips


Our bustling Main Street was home to many five and dime stores: Grants, Woolworths, Kresge,

Newberry’s, the upscale Williams Brothers and my all-time favorite, the Carl Company. Never mind that that store always had a peculiar, putrid smell and as kids, my brother, three sisters and I would dash in, squeal out “P-U!,” plug our noses and race to the back of the store and there, before our bulging eyes, would be the most delicious, unbelievable sight!

A Night Wrapped in Song…by Lydia E. Harris

The chilly wind blew as I huddled with other carolers outside our country church. I breathed in the crisp night air, shivering with excitement. After years of waiting, I was finally old enough to carol with the church choir. With church folk scattered throughout the rural area around Blaine, Washington, it would take most of the night to carol at each member’s doorstep. Bundled in my green woolen scarf and new gloves, I couldn’t wait to begin.

I remembered past Christmas Eves when my older siblings left the warmth of our family gathering at 11pm to carol. How I had longed to go along. At bedtime, I would beg my mother, “Please, wake me when the carolers come.”

When Mother awoke me in the middle of the night, I would peek out the dormer window of our green-and-white farmhouse. Sleepy-eyed and pajama-clad, I listened dreamily to the carolers with my nose pressed against the frosty window. They sounded like angels, singing Joy to the World and Silent Night. I returned their shouts of “Merry Christmas!” and nestled back in bed, wishing I could join them.

Now, after years of yearning and waiting, my turn had come. The wind nipped my rosy cheeks. A few snowflakes would make it perfect.

The choir director’s voice interrupted my dreaming. “Let’s get organized,” he said. “How many can take cars?” I looked around at the young men offering to drive. I hoped to sit in the front seat between a couple of them. But other teenage girls experienced at flirting won those seats. I piled into the backseat, just excited to go along.

We laughed and chatted as we drove through the countryside, stopping to sing for church members. By starlight and flashlight, we crunch-crunch-crunched our way over the frozen ground to the front doors of homes. Most folks expected us and flung their doors wide open, inviting us in for a snack, even at two or three in the morning. Sipping hot

chocolate by the crackling fires warmed us inside and out.

We continued our caroling, refueled with Sloppy Joes, hot dogs and fudge. As the

night wore on, our throats wore out from singing in the winter air. We sounded more like croaking frogs than the angelic choir I remembered hearing as a child.

After arriving home at five in the morning, I snuggled beneath my thick handmade quilt. I tried to snatch a few hours of sleep before the Christmas morning church service where the choir would sing again. But it was hard to fall asleep. The night had been better than I imagined.

4-Cent Toys…by Karen White-Walker


and Other JoysMore than fifty years later,

all-night caroling on Christmas Eve remains a treasured memory. I savor those magical nights wrapped in song that warmed me like my new woolen scarf.

Several years ago, I returned to the church of my childhood and asked the pianist, “Does the choir still carol all night on Christmas Eve?”

Her face broke into a wide grin. “We sure do!”

It cheers my heart to know the caroling tradition lives beyond my dreams, filling the hearts of another generation of youthful carolers with a melody that will last forever. ❖

Lydia Harris loves sharing Christmas with her children and grandchildren. She is the author of “Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting” and writes the column, “A Cup of Tea with Lydia”

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Jake’s First Christmas …by Teresa Ambord

“Be sure to hang the delicate ornaments high,” said Polly, my stepmom. “Jake might mistake the colorful glass balls for his toys and try to bite them.”

Jake was new to our family that Christmas. He was a beautiful brown and white puppy with giant puppy feet and a supremely expressive face. And of course, he was loaded with the puppy curiosity that makes everything a toy.

Two weeks before Christmas we brought out the boxes of ornaments, some of which had been in Polly’s family for ages. Among them were many handmade treasures, including a special box that held an entire gingerbread family. They were real cookies, hung with red ribbons and made with love by a one of Polly’s relatives years earlier.

Every now and then I, or one of my little sisters — Ruth and Sue — would pretend we were going to nibble one, knowing that Polly would say, “You’ll break a tooth! They’re so old that they’re rock hard and tasteless.” We didn’t really want to eat them, but we enjoyed teasing Polly.

The weekend before Christmas, Dad and Polly said, “Let’s all bundle up to see the new holiday movie at the drive-in!” Excited, we loaded into the car with our blankets,

pillows and bags of homemade popcorn.

A few hours later, we returned home, and opened the front door to find… a terrible mess. We stood just inside the door, staring at big brown chunks of… something. As it turned out, the mess was Jake’s bed. We didn’t know then that the bed was not the only casualty.

The next morning we girls were in the living room. I waited for American Bandstand to come on, while Ruth and Sue watched cartoons. I noticed that they weren’t sitting in their usual TV-watching spots. Instead they were very close to the Christmas tree. We weren’t allowed to touch any of the presents, but we could look. So Ruth and Sue “took inventory” frequently, checking carefully to see if any more packages with their names on them had magically appeared.

“Nothing new for me,” said Sue. “Just a new one for Dad.” Ruth continued to look, leaning in every

direction as far as she could, without

touching. Then something caught her eye.

“Hey, who broke

Gingerbread Baby?” she asked

accusingly. That

brought Polly out of the kitchen and

into the living room fast. “Where? Show me!”

Ruth pointed out the former baby cookie, which was now just a head, still tied to the tree by its red ribbon.

“Here’s another broken one,” said Sue. “It’s Gingerbread Grandpa. Or it was. Now it’s just his head and his hat and part of his bow tie.”

That caused a flurry of inspection, and soon it was clear that four members of the gingerbread clan — Baby, Grandpa, Aunt and Uncle — had been reduced to gingerbread heads.

“I didn’t do it,” I said… just in case anybody thought I’d had a midnight snack of rock-hard ornaments. Quickly my sisters echoed me with denials of their own. In unison, we girls and Polly all

looked at Dad. If anyone was famous for midnight snack raids, it was him.

“Not me,” he said. “I’m holding out for some fresh gingerbread cookies.”

Polly stared intently at the gingerbread catastrophe, then she realized, only the low-hanging cookies were affected. As if in slow motion, she turned, and said “Jacob!” Till that moment Jake had been sitting by Dad, happy as ever. Suddenly, his posture changed and he looked as guilty as if he’d been caught with Gingerbread Grandpa in his mouth. With his head bowed a little he tried not to meet Polly’s gaze, but it was clear what had happened. He may as well have been wearing a sign that said, “I killed three generations of an innocent family.”

We learned a lesson that year. To Jake, rock-hard, decades-old gingerbread cookies were just a different flavor of dog bone. Every Christmas from that time on, when the ornaments came out, the first thing we did was hang the survivors of the gingerbread massacre, as well as the four gingerbread heads, high up on the tree, out of Jake’s reach. And every year, he’d stare up longingly, as if remembering those tasty “dog treats” he enjoyed in his first Christmas season. ❖

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Christmas Blues, Part III…by Charles Forsher

As my readers know by now, I am slightly obsessed by Elvis Presley’s Christmas Blues song (this is the third time I’ve written about it). I have, to date, sung the song for an audience exactly twice.

The first time was a number of years ago when volunteering

for the Trinity United Methodist Church soup kitchen. They put on a Christmas event that year, including carolers. I had been faithfully helping to serve the homeless all year. I am sure these men and women were quite surprised to see me on stage, and they cheered me on through my presentation. What song could have been more poignant for a homeless person at Christmas than Elvis’ Christmas Blues?

This one-and-only performance as an Elvis Presley imitator would have been my singular way of honoring Elvis, until last year.

One of my new experiences as a senior was a prostate problem. I took medicine to alleviate the growing problem but to no avail. Initially, both my younger brother and I were against the surgery, but by December of 2015 it became apparent that I had no other choice. My brother stood with me at the doctor’s front desk when I asked for the first available date to schedule the operation… the earliest date was Christmas Eve. I figured that the sooner I got through this the better I would feel.

Following the pre-surgical instructions and treating the surgery as an imaginary senior boy scout elective, I marched bravely into the hospital prep room on the scheduled date and disrobed for a procedure surgeons would never have dreamed of a century ago. I woke up in a small boxy room all to myself on the seventh floor of Virginia Mason, warm and sleepy. I knew that a recovery period lay ahead, but felt confident. I dozed in and out of consciousness for the next several hours.

Sometime in the middle of the night, a woman came to look in on me. I felt sorry for her. I imagined she would have liked to have been with her kin and relatives on the night that Santa Claus travels in his magic sleigh pulled by his wonderful reindeer, delivering gifts to everybody in the world. What could I possibly give her for sacrificing her Christmas Eve to make hospital rounds?

Memories of Christmas songs I have heard over the years came to me. Then it struck me. I was laying in an echo-y hospital room and the answer was instantaneous. It was as if the song wasn’t coming from me, Christmas Blues echoing off of the boxy walls and surrounding the object of my compassion from all directions – as if Elvis Presley’s spirit was right there, personally serenading just her.

She stood transfixed, as Christmas Blues refocused her mind, for just those few moments, on things besides hospital rounds. She pulled away, turned and left with the last stanza.

Mission accomplished, I closed my eyes and went back to sleep.

It has occurred to me that in these last eleven months that my gift has come back to me eleven fold, and in the most remarkable ways. ❖

Tiny toys, gadgets and figurines, all spread out on long tables.

“You may each pick out one thing,” instructed both Mom and Dad.

“Just one,” reiterated Dad. “I’m not made of money, ya know. There’s no Rockefeller in our family tree.”

“But Dad,” we all cried, “those are only the four-cent tables!”

“Hey kiddos, you do the adding — five kids getting one thing a piece at four cents each, is what?”

“20 cents?” spoke up little Michael who really showed an aptitude for math.

“Make that a whopping 20 cents, Mike. In our house, on Daddy’s budget, that’s big bucks, son.”

Dad was always giving us kids pop math quizzes like he was preparing one of us to become a mathematician, or something.

“And kids,” warned Mom but with a wink, “don’t go flaunting your treasures in front of your less fortunate friends whose parents can’t afford such extravagance.”

Even back then Mom always used big words with us, even when we were in diapers, like she was preparing one of us to become a writer, or something.

“Remember my little darlings; you must always remain grateful and humble.”

Looking back, there was one Christmas season, one magical night that mirrored a Norman Rockwell painting. It had to have been a Friday, yep, Dad’s payday when he and Mom loaded us five kids onto our big sled and pulled us all the way into town. How young and vibrant they were!

It was snowing but there wasn’t any cold,

biting wind, so everything was still and quiet until….until we hit Main Street. Crowds of shoppers were darting in and out of the stores, but many lingered outside to listen to the Christmas music that was piped out onto the street. And there on the corner of Market Street and Main was the most magnificent sight ever — the real Santa Claus, waving to passers-by and stooping over to lift up five little kids, one by one, from their sled to ask, “And what do you want Santa to bring you, little girl?”

The overwhelming thrill of Santa patting my head and talking to me made the words stick to my tonsils like the snowflakes had clung to my eyelashes.

But my brazen sister, Mary Paula had no trouble speaking up. “Santa, I want every single 4-cent thing on those back tables in that Carl Company!”

And just when it looked like she was going to be reprimanded by our parents, she quickly added, even though I knew she was totally lying, “So I can give them to the other less fortunate children. Or,” and this is where she was telling the absolute truth, “I can resell them for five cents a piece.”

The only one with the true Christmas spirit was our sweet little Beth, a mere “baby” at three years old. From underneath the blanket that had swaddled us from the cold, she held out in her chubby little hand her once-hot hard boiled egg, one of five that Mom had given each one of us to keep our hands warm. “Here Santa, for you.”

A loving, selfless gesture that seemed to warm Santa’s heart more than his hands, and it came from a baby. A baby is what the world received on Christmas Day – a gift so that every day should feel like Christmas, even when life’s trials and tears get in the way. ❖

4-Cent Toys and Other Joys...continued from page 9

Charles Forsher

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An acupuncture benefit is now offered as part of a 2017 Medicare Advantage plan in our region. Seniors are disproportionately affected by so many chronic conditions that acupuncture

can treat, and until now, most seniors have had to pay out-of-pocket for acupuncture treatment, which is a significant obstacle for many on a limited income. Humana has added a new acupuncture benefit on its 2017 Medicare Advantage plans in select counties in Washington state, including King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. The benefit includes an initial consultation and up to six visits for a $10 co-pay per visit. “We are very excited to offer our Medicare enrollees greater access to acupuncture treatment, which traditional Medicare does not cover,” said Thomas Roben, M.D., a medical director at Humana who continues to practice medicine and has used acupuncture in his practice since 1997. “Acupuncture can have tremendous health benefits, especially for people with degenerative arthritis, chronic neck and back pain and other chronic conditions.”

A Conversation with Wendy Pender

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be the Older Adults Specialist for the King County Library System.

A: I’ve been a librarian for over 20 years, and have always had an interest in healthy aging. My mom turned 100 this year and grandma lived to be almost 100, so I know I need to be prepared!

I grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, near my grandmother and a lot of retirees. I was fascinated to learn from these amazing folks. What adventures they’d had: starting schools in Central America, helping people in Africa – I was inspired!

I didn’t start out to be a librarian. My mom wanted me to go to law school after college. I wasn’t interested in being a lawyer, but being a paralegal seemed practical and fun. I got a paralegal certificate specializing in estates and trusts. In my work, I encountered a lot of widows who had no idea what

they owned and had never written a check, so I’m very committed to helping people develop financial literacy and get end-of-life documents in order. Eventually that legal career felt rather “dry,” and I started volunteering at a library. I loved it! Later that year, I entered the University of Pittsburgh where I earned my Master’s in library science.

A gerontology certificate seemed a natural progression: I wanted more education in a health field as a way to expand my skills. I attended UW’s online certificate program so I could “go to class in my slippers.” I had joined KCLS as site manager of the Lake Hills and Crossroads libraries in 2008. When a new position specializing in services for Older Adults was created last year, I was thrilled and ready to jump right in!

As an Older Adult Specialist,

I identify needs, services, demographic and technology trends impacting older adults. I also develop partnerships to serve older adults in our community.

Q: How did you happen to come to Washington?

A: I fell in love on vacation! I lived in Ohio at the time, and went hiking in the Grand Tetons National Park. The guy in the next cabin asked if I wanted to go on a motorcycle ride. I jumped on the back of his bike and we had a wonderful time together. I thought, “What a nice man, easy to talk to” and told him, “If you ever get to

Toledo, look me up!” He started writing and calling, and a few weeks later I quit my job, married him, sold my house and moved here, where he lived. We’re celebrating our 10th anniversary next month. Never give up on letting love find you, even in the wilderness!

Q: What are you reading now? A: I just finished laughing

through The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion and am in the midst of The Orphaned Adult: Understanding and Coping With Grief and Change After the Death of Our Parents by Alexander Levy in preparation for the next discussion of the “Aging Well Learning Community” at the Snoqualmie Library. We meet on the 3rd Saturday of every month at 10:15am. Come join us!

Q: What are you most proud of? A: I just got back from Kansas

City where I was given the innovation award for civic and community engagement from the Urban Libraries Council. That was pretty cool!

Q: What’s next for you and KCLS?

A: Next year I hope to bring more Wisdom Cafes, another Assistive Technology Fair and another Arts & Technology Fest – this time in south King County. I also hope to work with Silver Kite Community Arts and the Frye Museum to host dementia-friendly arts classes in Burien and Bothell. Connecting vets and caregivers with community resources is also on my radar – lots to do!

Q: Any final words? A: Keep moving, keep learning

and keep connecting with people and purpose! ❖

Library Corner

King County Library System Older Adult Specialist

Thomas Roben, M.D.

Wendy Pender

Wendy with her 100-year-old mother, who has two librarian daughters of her seven children

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Relevance and Cheap Perfume

Okay, there’s a lot of information around about what you should do if your young child is a biter, but what do you do if it’s your three-year-old granddaughter who bites? As a

parent, you are supposed to make sure your child is behaving properly and that they are corrected and, if need be, disciplined for bad behavior. As a grandparent, your job is to spoil the heck out of them.

So let me first recount the incident as best as my memory serves. I went to pick up my granddaughter, Summer, at daycare. She was playing outside and clearly was the prettiest girl there – she was actually glowing (not that I’m prejudiced). Summer was at a table doing some artwork and I must say her drawing was museum quality (not that I’m prejudiced). As soon as she saw me, she ran to me. Her speed was blinding

…by Sy Rosen

Sy Rosen

The Bite

and I’m sure in a few years she’ll be competing in the Olympics (not that I’m prejudiced).

Summer then gave me a big hug and bit my leg right below the kneecap.

As a grandparent, my first instinct (after saying ow) was to compliment her. Great bite, you’ve got strong teeth, a vampire would be jealous. And then, of course, I realized biting was not a positive attribute. I wasn’t totally crazy. I was just “grandparent crazy.”

I decided to handle the situation myself. By saying “situation” and not “problem,” I was showing what a progressive grandfather I was. One thing I did not want to say was, “I’m going to tell your mother.” That’s not who I am. I am better than that. I can fix this problem myself (oops, I said problem).

I thought I should get to the root cause for her behavior, so I looked up the reason for children biting on the internet (the internet can’t be wrong, can it?). They could be experimenting, irritated defending themselves, showing love or being controlling. I, of course, chose “showing love.” Summer loved me so much that she wanted a piece of my leg to take home with her. And now it was time for the talk:

Me: Summer, when you bit me, were you just showing your love?

Summer: Huh?Me: I just want to know why you

did it.Summer: Did what?Me: A few minutes ago you bit me.

Right on my leg. Do you remember?Summer: Huh?Me: Okay, I’m not reprimanding you.Summer: What does

reprimoonding mean? Me: Okay, let’s table this for a

second.Summer: What table?Me: I mean let’s not talk about it.Summer: Talk about what? Me: Never mind. Do you want to get

some ice cream like last week?Summer: Yes, I want a little

strawberry, vanilla and chocolate with six M&Ms, two Gummy Bears, cookie crumbles and whipped cream. Just like last time.

Me: So you remember what you had last week.

Summer: Yes!Me: But you don’t remember biting

me a few minutes ago.Summer: Huh?Me: Let’s just forget the whole thing

and you promise not to do it again.Summer: Do what? Me: Never mind. Just give me a hug.

That’s nice, that’s a good hug. No, don’t bi—no, no, don’t bite - oww!!!!!! That’s it, I’m telling your mother. ❖

The Funny Side of Life

Today we find our heroines eating lunch at one of their favorite Thai restaurants in Fremont and discussing being ‘relevant’ in later years of life.

“I don’t know Rose,” Dawn growled. “But I think we listened to our parents more than the younger generation listens to us. If my father said not to do something, we didn’t do it…end of story. Even after us kids got married, we still listened to what he said. Was it that way when you were growing up?”

Rose didn’t have to contemplate for even a minute before she responded. “It was exactly that way when I was growing up. My father ran the house with a big Italian iron fist. He was the patriarch and that was that. No one questioned his decisions. Well, one of my brothers did once, but then he was asked to leave the house—permanently. So, the rest of us learned never to question the old man.”

Dawn looked puzzled. “It sure isn’t that way today. It’s the other way around…the younger generation tries to tell the older generation what to do. And the computers make everything easier, so they don’t need our knowledge.”

Rose smiled as she slurped a Phad Thai noodle that was trying to escape her mouth. “Does that surprise you, Dawnie? Be real. Get with the program. We have to make ourselves relevant and remember that we’re the ones with life experience and wisdom. If the kids don’t want to ask questions, then let them find out the hard way…on their own.”

Now it was Dawn’s turn to smile. “Wow, Rose, you’re so feisty. I guess you’re right. We’re like walking encyclopedias, but if no one uses us, it doesn’t make us any less smart. It’s their loss.”

Just then the smiling proprietress approached the table to offer to fill their water glasses. The girls slid dishes and glasses around to make access easier for the woman and smiled in thanks. Rose watched her walk away and wished her perfume were a little less odiferous. “I wonder if she has the same feelings of irrelevance. I wonder if younger people in her life look to her for answers to the mysteries of life.”

Dawn was now wiping tears from her eyes. “Oh no, Dawnie. Have I made you

The ongoing life-affirming adventures of Rose and Dawn

…by Diana Couturecry with my feelings of

inadequacy?” Rose asked worriedly. Dawn responded

with a chuckle. “No, no Rose. It’s the perfume. The woman’s perfume is soooo strong. It got me as she reached to fill the glass.” The laughter was in earnest at this time. “Should we tell her?” Rose queried with a snicker. “Or would she even listen, since we’re just a couple of old ladies?” “Old ladies with properly working noses.” Dawn guffawed.

The women bent their heads down to their plates and continued giggling as quietly as possible as the proprietress passed by again. The cloud of cheap perfume followed her like a faithful dog.

“Rose, there’s a lesson here,” Dawn said while wiping peanut sauce from the tip of her nose. We need to live and let live. That’s the way we stay relevant in today’s society. Let other people, even those we love, make their own mistakes and only offer answers when asked.”

“That’s very wise of you to say, Dawnie. Possibly you are right. But it’s so hard to do. For example, to watch my niece try to get her towels white without using bleach just kills me. I want to tell her, for the love of God, put some bleach in the load. But I don’t want to appear bossy, so she continues to have dingy towels. Is that what you mean?”

“Well, yes. I think that IS what I mean. I was thinking more along the line of life’s emotional troubles, but white towels work, too. If the younger generation wants to know, they just have to learn how to ask us. And not depend on the computer Google.”

“Ok Dawn. I’ll bite my tongue and remain mute even when I want to scream that there might be a better way to do things. But really, can’t we start this new phase of our relevance tomorrow? We NEED to offer some guidance to our hostess about the power of subtlety when it comes to the application of perfume. She NEEDS to know!” ❖

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...by Len Elliott

Across 1. Product used to cleanse Cupid’s

counterpart?6. Double-reed instrument10. “If at ____ you don’t succeed, try

spruces!”14. Detroit’s NFL team15. Las Vegas gas16. Run ____ (go crazy)17. Santa’s management challenge?19. Behind time20. Pershing’s WWI command: abbr.21. “____ the Walrus” (Beatles

tune): 2 wds.22. Cochise, e.g.24. Lozenges27. MRI test, e.g.28. Avoid Arsenio and family at the

holiday party?33. Assert without proof36. Large lexicon: abbr.37. That’s a moray!38. Dancer’s foot39. Weekend sketch show: abbr.40. Waiter’s handout41. It starts with Enero42. Baleen whale43. Pachelbel’s “Canon in ____”: 2

wds.45. Removal of shiny trimmings

from the holiday 67-Across?49. Cheese with a red coat50. In a group: 2 words.54. Actor Martin’s favorite holiday

67-Across?

57. Is ____ to (probably will)58. Part of mph59. Capital of Samoa60. National park where Santa keeps

his Washington herd?64. Soccer star Mia or actor Jon65. Smallest great lake66. Bingo’s original name67. Conifer, e.g.68. Garb69. ____ king (Wenceslaus)

Down 1. Sports shoe gripper2. Crude vessel 3. Opera singer Anna4. SASE, e.g.: abbr.5. Chinese restaurant general6. Paying attention to one’s work: 2

wds. 7. Mound of earth 8. Winning row in tic-tac-toe9. Intertwined10. Dancer Lola11. 1998 Apple introduction12. “Goodbye, Columbus” author13. ____Ball (arcade game)18. Daughter of a sister23. Oom follower in a type of band25. B-G filler26. Embrace27. Writer Silverstein29. Gin and ____ (drink)30. Actor Cobb: 2 wds.31. He succeeded Carson32. ____ one’s words (speak

indistinctly)33. At the drop of ___ (without

delay): 2 wds.

34. “WKRP in Cincinnati” actress Anderson

35. Diving bird39. Appear to be40. Poet Angelou 42. Angrily closed the door43. “____ know you from

somewhere? “: 2 wds.44. 3,000 to the Romans46. “____ Street” (PBS offering)47. Writer LeShan (anagram of 63-

Down)

48. Conical shelters51. Thrown weapon52. “____ evil,…”: 2 wds.53. Swashbuckler portrayer Flynn54. Thai monetary unit55. On ____ with (equal to): 2 wds.56. Citrus fruit57. Desert-like61. Play about Capote62. 39-Across network: abbr.63. Narc’s agency: abbr.

Holidaze

Solution on page 18

It Begins and Ends with Santa

Each clue defines a two-word phrase. The second word of each answer is the first part of the next answer.

Southern California city; First Lady 1987-91; Alaska aviator; gas stove feature; “Naughty Marietta,” e.g.; area from which to watch “Naughty Marietta”; cereal carton lid; security clearance classification; unknown holiday gift giver at the office.

Santa _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ ______ Santa

...by Len Elliott

answer on page 18

LUCK AND INEVITABILITYOn TV, there are pretty young faces;All flawless and perfect and new.If they’re lucky, they’ll live a long lifeAnd then they’ll have wrinkles too. -- Pat D’Amico

Aging One-LinersFamilies are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts thrown inLaughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the insideWhen I was a boy, the Dead Sea was only sickI'm wrinkled, saggy and lumpy...and that's only my left leg


It’s 1956 and I’m 15 years old, the eldest of four kids. Our mom is a real Christmas house-decorating enthusiast. I’m busy doing other stuff, but Mom says to get the stepladder and the big box of Christmas lights down from the garage rafters. I’m frequently on our house’s roof, installing my ham radio antennas, so I am the go-to person to be up on the ladder. I get the big box down and reach into this veritable snake pit of multi-strands of colored lights as I must verify that each bulb actually works and that I don’t bunch up the same color bulbs.

“Hi, what are you doing?” asks Louie, a precocious seven-year-old from across the street.

“My mom says I have to put up our Christmas lights,” I half-heartedly reply.

“What’s Christmas?” “You get presents at Hanukkah,

right?” “I get eight presents…one each

night.” “Who brings the presents to you?” “My mom and dad.” “No, it’s actually Santa-Stein who is

All of our lives are a series of events, large and small. Sometimes, simply a moment watching a sunset or a butterfly in flight can be the most significant.

Documenting events can be dry and boring OR it can be as touching and captivating as the movie Titanic or the book The Grapes of Wrath.

Three things especially distinguish good writing about events.

1) Cherry picking: Careful selection of events/moments that are important to the writer because they altered life in some meaningful way.

2) A clear “take home message”: Using the telling of an experience to demonstrate a point.

3) Including thoughts and feelings caused by and surrounding the event to compel readers by triggering our natural sympathies for a fellow human.

Choose from the several genres of narrative nonfiction (a combo of fiction strategies to deliver real experiences) to achieve a powerful story. Examples are from some of my books.

A) The Epistolary Novel approach utilizes the format of letters, journals, logs, diaries or emails to tell a story or parts of one. My Kitten Love: The Trilogy was a series of journals kept to retain sanity during the incorporation of a litter of abandoned kittens into my home which included two elderly pets and plenty of other things to do. Common to the epistolary model, my journal addresses readers

Writing Corner

…by Ariele M. Huff

Event Writing

in second person (“you”) and shares deep feelings and intimate thoughts in first person (“I”).

B) A how-to nonfiction book shares events as part of learning a skill or method. My books Pain: Treatments & Therapies; Processing Loss Workbook; and Get Rich, $tay Rich use personal stories (from me and others) to demonstrate success in these areas.

C) Making Mud Angels: Winning Strategies for Tough Times combines how-to with definition rhetoric. Books like this define a concept (winning strategies, in this case) and, thereby, make it doable. The book takes homey aphorisms shared by female mentors with me and demonstrates their application to real situations. For example, making lemonade out of lemons.

D) Fifty Shades of Graying: Love, Romance, and Sex after Fifty is an anthology of pieces gathered on my blog by the same name. The use of numerous authors sharing on the same topic is quite popular. Housekeeping is a group of opinion “shorts” that include events as examples.

E) The Perks of Aging: Blessings, Silver Linings, and Convenient Half-Truths is a poetry chapbook which records events and the feelings they bring stimulated by a set of lists of perks in specific areas of aging. The lists were all gathered from my elderly students, friends and family. That process inspired mostly humorous poems.

F) Gratitude, an anthology of published articles, is a book defining that emotion also employing lists (of gratitude given and received “events”).

G) The Queen of Mean: The Conversion of a Cold and Prejudiced Heart is a Magical Realist novella and Last Duets is a Suspense Romance novel. Both follow the narration form—a string of events—in these books, the majority of those events actually happened!

All books available at Amazon.com in eBooks and paperbacks. ❖

Poetry CornerHappy Hatcher

How happy I can benow I’m 94 you see.In my dream by chanceI’m going to the placeI used to dance.

I see a tall handsome mancoming my wayand then the music starts to play.I am going to take a chance.I rise from my wheelchair in a trance.

We dance a few steps of the Tennessee Waltz.We dance together beautifully without any faults.

Ariele M. Huff

Scenes from Childhood

Just Put Up the Christmas Lights

sometimes called Claus-Burg,” I inform him.

Louie thinks for a bit, then walks home. I manage to untangle the Christmas lights, verify their ability to provide optical cheerfulness and string them around the roof edges.

About an hour later, Louie’s mom comes across the street and knocks on our front door. I immediately think this can be trouble. My dad had previously cautioned me that making fun of someone’s religion was likely to cause problems. I overhear Louie’s mom relating how Louie had told her that it was Santa-Stein and Claus-Berg who actually brought Hanukkah gifts. Then she says, “It’s the funniest story I ever heard.”

Whew! Good luck for me that Louie’s mother had a good sense of humor. ❖

Pete MacDoran is the author of “THE OLD MEN WILL DIE FIRST–A True Story of Cold-War Espionage” www.amazon.com/dp/B01DB0B3WO

…by Pete MacDoran

Poetry may be excerpted, edited, or used in Sharing Stories on Northwest Prime Time’s website. Send to [email protected].

How happy can I bethat I’m still alive.I may even make it till 95.

How happy I can be, I’m only 93.My dentures fit tight; my hearing aid is all right;I’ve got new lens in my eyes that help me see.

The old boys smile as I walk by.They want to talk about yesteryear.I smile right back and keep on track.I only talk about tomorrow.

How happy can I be, I’m only 93.

--Goldie Hatcher (Poetry Corner 12/07)

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Seattle Girls ChoirDec 10, 1:30pm Town Hall Seattle; Dec 11, 3pm First Church near Seattle Center; Dec 17, 7:30pm Chapel of St Ignatius, Seattle U; Dec 18, 7:30pm Holy Rosary Church West Seattle, www.seattlegirlschoir.org Orchestra Seattle/Chamber SingersHandel’s Messiah, Dec 17, 7:30pm Free First Methodist Church; Dec 18, 3pm Everett First Presbyterian Church, 1-800-838-3006, www.osscs.org Sanctuary Choir ChristmasDec 17, 7:30pm; Dec 18, 1pm free concert “All American Christmas” features music from North, South and Latin America, Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave, Seattle.

Classical MusicLadies Musical ClubDec 1 noon featuring mezzo-soprano Gwen Trussler Seattle Art Museum; Dec 3, 2pm string quartet Frye Art Museum; Dec 11, 3pm Chopin West Seattle Library; Dec 11, 7:30pm piano concerto University House Wallingford; Dec 14 noon soprano Emily Riesser songs by Bellini Seattle Central Library; Dec 18, 3pm Italian songs of love by soprano Regina Thomas Mirabella; www.lmc.org Seattle SymphonyDec 9, 10, 11, Holiday Pops; Dec 28-29 The Four Seasons; Dec 30 “Untuxed”; Dec 31 New Year’s with the symphony classical soul of Motown; 206-215-4747, www.seattlesymphony.orgNavidad New World ChristmasDec 9, 7:30pm Edmonds Methodist Church; Dec 10 Emmanuel Episcopal Church Mercer Island; Dec 11, 2pm Benaroya Hall, Latin America’s unique mix of music, dance, chorus, 206-708-6003, www.pacificmusicworks.org. Early Music GuildBach’s Christmas Magnifcat, Dec 14, 7:30pm, Bach’s Christmas Magnificat, Town Hall Seattle 1119 8th Ave Seattle; Dec 16, 7:30pm, Bastyr University Chapel, 14500 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore, 206-325-7066, earlymusicguild.org The Irish TenorsDec 13, 7:30pm, holiday concert at Benaroya Hall, tickets on sale now! VIP seating includes reception with the Tenors, benefiting the Ballard NW Senior Center, 1-866-833-4747, www.benaroyahall.org, more info at www.BallardSeniorCenter.org Byron Schenkman & FriendsDec 29, 7pm, Bach & Corelli, Benaroya Hall, www.byronschenkman.com

Pop, Jazz, Folk, CountryGeoffry Castle’s Celtic ChristmasDec 2 Seattle’s Center for Spiritual Living; Dec 10 Historic Everett Theater; Dec 16 Kirkland Performance Center; Dec 17 Northshore Arts in Bothell; Dec 21 Unity in Lynnwood; Dec 22 Bake’s Place Bellevue; details at www.geoffrycastle.com Maritime Folk ConcertDec 3, 7:30pm, featuring the Whateverly Brothers and Village Carols, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1215 Thomas St, Seattle, $5-$15, 1-800-838-3006, www.maritimefolknet.org Thumbnail TheaterDec 3, 7:30pm “The Neil Youngs & Harvest Moon”; Dec 17, 7:30pm “Jose Gonzales Trio play a Charlie Brown Christmas” 1211 4th St, Snohomish.Seattle Jazz VespersDec 4, 6pm, Seattle Buskers, free and open to public, Seattle First Baptist (Harvard & Seneca in Seattle) www.SeattleJazzVespers.org Whateverly Brothers Holiday ShowDec 9, 7-8:30pm, Egans Ballard Jam House, 1707 NW Market St, Seattle, 206-789-1621, www.ballardjamhouse.com Sophisticated Jazz ExperienceDec 11, 6-9pm, lobby of Seattle’s Paramount Theatre, includes unique shops, benefits nonprofit serving emergency care for pets, $35, 911 Pine St, www.frankiesfriends.com/washington A Circus Christmas CarolDec 23, 7:30pm, playfully spooky holiday music revue, Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave, Everett, 425-258-6766, www.historiceveretttheatre.org Songwriting ContestWrite a song on the theme of the centennial of the Ballard Locks and Lake Washington Ship Canal. All genres of music are encouraged. Your song can be about historical events, or the present day. The top 15 songs will be recorded at Jack Straw Cultural Center, thanks to a grant to Maritime Folknet from 4Culture. Deadline: Jan 6, For more information: maritimefolknet.org/

It’s a Wonderful LifeDec 10, 8pm, Theater Anonymous fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants theater, $25, Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center, www.click4tix.com/anonymous Seattle RepThru Dec 11 “King Charles”; Dec 12, 7:30 public reading of “I’ll Get You Back Again” reunion of 60s rock band, 206=443-2222, www.seattlerep.org Centerstage TheatreThru Dec 22, Little Red Riding Hood traditional English Christmas pantomime $12-$35, Knutzen Family Theatre, 3200 SW Dash Point Rd, Federal Way, 253-661-1444, www.centerstagetheatre.com Miracle on 34th StreetThru Dec 24, $20-$24, Tacoma Little Theatre, 253-272-2281, www.tacomalittletheatre.com

Musical TheaterTacoma Musical PlayhouseDec 2,-3, 9-11, 16-17, “A Tuna Christmas” hilarious holiday show, $18-$20; 7116 Sixth Ave, Tacoma, 253-565-6867.Showtunes Theatre CompanyDec 3, 8pm; Dec 4, 2pm “Leap of Faith” gospel-style performances, $21-$46, Benaroya Hall, 206-215-4747, www.showtunestheatre.org Village TheatreThru Dec 31, Singin’ in the Rain, Issaquah, 425-392-2202, www.villagetheatre.org 5th Avenue TheatreThru Dec 31 “Disney’s Little Mermaid”; 206-625-1900, groups of 10+ call 1-888-625-1418, www.5thavenue.org Burlesque NutcrackerDec 9-29, traditional ballet gets bawdy makeover, $40-$65, Triple Door, 216 Union St, Seattle, 206-838-4333.Hedwig and the Angry InchDec 13-18, Seattle’s Paramount Theatre, 1-800-745-3000.Driftwood PlayersThru Dec 18, Mr. Scrooge, $22-$25, 425-774-9600 x1, www.edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org Meet Me in St LouisThru Dec 18, classic holiday musical, Tacoma Musical Playhouse, 7116 Sixth Ave, Tacoma, 253-565-6867, www.tmp.org A Prairie Home CompanionJan 7, 2:45pm, with the program’s new host Chris Thile, $31-$61, Seattle’s Paramount Theatre, 1-800-745-3000, www.stgpresents.org

Choral MusicNorthwest ChoraleCarols and sacred works; Dec 3, 7:30pm, Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, 10005 32nd Ave NE, Seattle; Dec 10, 7:30pm Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 13047 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, free, donations go to Northwest Harvest, 206-696-1222, www.nwchorale.org Medieval Women’s ChoirDec 3, 8pm, $25-$30, St James Cathedral, 804 9th Ave Seattle, 206-254-4822, www.medievalwomenschoir.org Seattle Symphony with ChoirDec 3, 11am, family friendly concert, music from holiday classic Polar Express,$15-$20; Dec 16-17 Handel’s Messiah; Benaroya Hall, 206-215-4747, www.seattlesymphony.org Songs of WinterDec 3, 7:30pm; Dec 4, 2pm; holiday concert featuring global music and the Adelphian Concert Choir, $5-$10, University of Puget Sound, 253-869-3100, www.pugetsound.edu/directions Northwest Chamber ChorusDec 4, 3pm; Dec 10, 7:30pm, Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, 7500 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle. Seattle Men’s ChorusDec 4-22, Holiday concert at Benaroya Hall, $25-$84, 206-388-1400, seattlechoruses.org Bellevue Chamber Chorus “O Magnum Mysterium” Dec 11, 3pm First Congregational Church in Bellevue; Dec 17, 7:30pm St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Bellevue; Dec 18, 4pm Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, Seattle. Special senior prices available, 425-881-0445, www.bellevuechamberchorus.orgHandel’s Sing-A-LongDec 9, 7:30pm, with Garfield High Symphony Orchestra, Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave, $10-$15, 1-800-838-3006, www.garfieldorchestra.org Seattle Choral CompanyDec 9 & 10, 8pm, Dec 9 arrive early for talk and carol sing-along, Wintertide Holiday Fantasy, St Mark’s Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave E, Seattle, 1-800-838-3006, www.seattlechoralcompany.org

A Calendar of Places to Go, Do or See…LET’S GO!Senior EventsWisdom CafesFree hosted conversations for older adults, all 2-3:30pm, Dec 4 “Make New Friends, Keep the Old” Shoreline Library; Dec 5 “downsizing” Lake Forest Park Library; Dec 6 “Gratitude” Richmond Beach Library; Dec 12 “Living our Legacy” Lake Forest Park Library.Northshore Senior CenterDec 8, 10am-2:30pm potluck & line dancing $6; Dec 13, 7:30-9:30pm Holiday Pops & Dessert $3; 10201 E Riverside Dr, Bothell, 425-487-2441, www.northshoreseniorcenter.org Shoreline-LFP Senior CenterDec 9, Karaoke/Bingo wear your favorite ugly holiday sweater, RSVP; Dec 20, 9:30-11:30am, free hearing screenings and hearing aids cleaning call to schedule free appointment, 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline, 206-365-1536, www.shorelinelfpseniorcenter.org OWL-voice of older womenfree, everyone welcome, University House at Wallingford, 4400 Stone Way N, Seattle, for info call Carol 206-325-6622.Mercer IslandDec 6, 13, 9-3pm Foot Care Clinic; Dec 14, 12pm, Senior Lunch & Conversation; Tue, Wed, Thr, 10-2pm Senior Social for those w/ physical, memory, hearing, visual limitations; Dec 16, 1-3pm Meet Me at the Movies-FREE (no RSVP needed)-“The Pianist;” Thru Dec 6, 10:30-12:30pm lively discussions for lifelong learning; Dec 6, 2-3:30pm Parkinson’s Disease Support; RSVP 206-275-7609 or www.miRecConnect.com, 8236 SE 24th St, Mercer Island.Social Security for 2017Dec 8, 4-5:30pm, workshop about 2017 benefits, Evergreen College, 1210 6th Ave, Tacoma. Free, no RSVP, more info at 253-798-4600.Northwest Center for Creative AgingLearn about programs atnwcreativeaging.orgSHIBA CounselingFirst and third Wednesdays of the month, by appointment from 1-5pm, make an appointment to speak with SHIBA volunteers about Medicare and other insurance questions; also ask about one-on-one help with computers, Shoreline Library, 206-362-7550.Dementia Friendly RecreationwithOngoing, Seattle Parks Lifelong Recreation Program offers a variety of walks and classes for those with early stage memory loss and their care partners, 206-684-4664 (Mari).Alzheimer’s Café2nd Tuesdays, 3:30-5pm, Greenwood Senior Center’s Alzheimer’s Café moves to Stage Door Café, 208 N. 8th St, Seattle, chance for those with Alzheimer’s and their care partners to socialize in safe environment, info call Carin 206-230-0166, www.phinneycenter.org/gsc Holiday EventsLights of ChristmasDec 1-4, 8-11, 20-23, 26-28; 5-10pm, the NW’s largest Christmas Festival, 20800 Marine Dr, Stanwood, 1-800-228-6724, www.WarmBeachLights.comFarmhouse Christmas CelebrationDec 3, 12:30, 2, or 3:30pm, tour the mansion decorated for the holidays, live holiday music, visit new Swedish and Japanese rooms, light refreshments, unique gifts, $10-$18, Neely Manion, 12303 SE Auburn-Black Diamond Rd, Auburn, RSVP 253-850-2777, www.neelymansion.orgBig Band ChristmasDec 5, 7:30pm, enjoy the music of Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Count Basie the Andrew Sisters and others with 16-piece orchestra and vocalists, $25, 253-565-6867, www.tmp.org Yule Log HuntDec 11, 1pm at group camp shelter at Schafer State Park in Elma, WA, hunt for log and enjoy bonfire with hot beverages and holiday music, bring cookies, free need discover pass to park.Model Train FestivalDec 17-Jan 1 (except Dec 24,25), $8-$12, Washington State Historical Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, 1-888-238-4373, www.washingtonhistory.org Cirque MusicaDec 18, 6pm, acrobats & aerialists with orchestra playing holiday favorites, Xfinity Arena Everett, 425-322-2609, www.xfinityarenaeverett.com Pacific Place Holiday PartiesThru Dec 24, 2 nightly snow shows, weekend live music,600 Pine St, Seattle, 2nd level, 206-405-2655, www.pacificplaceseattle.com

Bellevue Holiday Ice ArenaThru Jan 8, next to Bellevue Library at 10820 NE 10th St, $9-$12, free Mondays & Dec 11 free for grandparents with grandkids, www.Bellevuedowntown.com New Year’s Music of ParisDec 31, 6 & 9pm cabaret shows at Maximilien, 81a Pike Place Market, RSVP 206-682-7270.

Community EventsMercer IslandDec 2, 6:30-8:30pm Holiday Tree Lighting & Firehouse Munch, FREE! Dec 2, 9, 16, 7:30pmClassics On Film; Dec 6-15, 12:45-3pm Contract Bridge (RSVP) 206-275-7609 or www.miRecConnect.comAnnual Outlet Store SaleDec 3, 9am-2pm, homeware and gift sale at Rosanna Inc.’s annual sale, 6755 East Marginal Way S, Seattle, 206-264-7882. Annual Lutefisk and Meatball DinnerDec 3, noon-6pm, free parking, no RSVP required, $10-$25, Bothell Sons of Norway, 23905 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell, 425-485-9085, www.bothellsonsofnorway.org PROBUSDec 7, Christmas Luncheon, educational/social organization for full/part time retired persons, Covenant Shores Retirement Community, 9107 Fortuna Dr, Mercer Island, 206-232-0790.Walking Tour Lakeview CemeteryDec 10, 1-2:30pm, Atlas Obscura hosts history walk and talk, $20, RSVP atlasobscura.com National Cookie Day!Dec 18, 11am-5pm for cookies and $10-$2500 free play! 6pm drawing for $5,000 cash! Lucky Eagle Casino & Resort. I-5 to exit 88. 1-800-720-1788. www.luckyeagle.com David Sedaris WorkshopsJan 14-20, 7pm, readings from his new book before it’s published, Q&A, $50, Broadway Performance Hall, Seattle, www.brownpapertickets.com

Garden EventsBellevue Botanical GardenDec 3, 10am-noon or 1-3pm “Holiday Wreath Making Class” RSVP, bellevuebotanical.orgWinter Gardener Speakers SeriesSign up now for series that begins Jan 6, 9:30-11:30am, first topic “Banish Boring Yards” by Steve Smith, OMukilteo Presbyterian Church, 4515 84th St SW, Mukilteo, $20 (or $85 for series), 425-338-2400, gardenlectures.com

Exhibits & PerformancePacific Science CenterThru Jan 8, the International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes, discounted admission for seniors, 206-443-2001, www.pacsci.org Tacoma Art MuseumThru Mar 2017, “Coast to Cascades” artist C.C. McKim’s impressionist vision of the northwest, 1701 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, 253-272-4258, www.tacomaartmuseum.org Icicle Creek TheatreDec 3, 7pm, Bolshoi Ballet’s The Nutcracker, $7-$13; Dec 9-10 Old Time Live Family Radio Show; Dec 10 Live at the Met “L’Amour de Loin”; Dec 15 Joyeuz Noel film about real life truce during WWI; Dec 16 Magical Strings Yuletide; Dec 17 A Candlelight Christmas Concert; Icicle Creek Theatre, Leavenworth, www.icicle.org Khambatta Dance CompanyDec 9-10, 8pm, global dance, $18-$22, Broadway Performance Hall, Seattle, www.brownpapertickets.org International Ballet TheatreDec 10-13, Dec 15-22, The Nutcracker, Meydenbauer Theater, 11100 NE 6th St. Bellevue, www.ibtbellevue.org Museum of GlassThru Dec 31, “Season of Fire & Ice” hands-on activities, performances, demos, gift shop specials, 1801 Dock St, Tacoma, 253-284-2130, www.museumofglass.org Museum of Northwest ArtThru Jan 1, Northwest Artist Couples, 121 S. First St, La Conner, 360-466-4446, www.monamuseum.org

TheaterSeattle Public TheaterDec 2-24, Christmas Town, a film-noir inspired hard-boiled holiday thriller, $17-$34, 7312 West Green Lake Dr N, Seattle, 206-524-1300, www.seattlepublictheater.org Charlie Brown ChristmasDec 3-22, based on TV special, Second Story Rep, Redmond, 425-881-6777.

See our full calendar at northwestprimetime.com/calendar


awards. In 2005, Rosanna Inc. became the first American company to win the prestigious Gift of the Year Award in the U.K. “It is the gift industry’s equivalent of an Oscar!”

Earlier this year, Rosanna was chosen as the lead designer to create a historic collection of memorabilia for the influential White House Historical Association. “The White House

Historical Association, founded by Jackie Kennedy in 1961, approached the company to design for them after seeing Rosanna product at the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York,” says Rosanna. “It was a very exciting surprise and huge honor for us. We created product that honored past presidents and first ladies, as well as a 3D ornament of the White House, complete with a little flag on top.”

Despite Rosanne’s many successes, home and family remain at the center of her heart. Her motto could well be: savor life, create traditions and cherish family.

“Growing up, I felt abundantly loved by my parents and two sisters. To this day, their love inspires me to infuse every Rosanna product we design with that feeling. As an entrepreneur, I'm also proud to be a role model for my two daughters. I feel that through my career I've been able to show them that they, too, can achieve any and all of their dreams.” ❖

friends learned during their lives.” And she is passing down these same lessons to her own two daughters, Alessandra, 28, and Francesca, 19.

But she sees these traditions as falling away in today’s hectic world, and wrote her book to help others recapture family traditions throughout the year and to “take pleasure in life’s small moments of happiness.”

Reflecting those small pleasures has led Rosanna’s company to grow into a veritable empire of tableware, décor, handbags and gifts that are sold around the globe. Rosanna Inc. is known for its lines of “fashion tableware” with products that can be mixed and mingled. Twice yearly, Rosanna launches her new collections of festive porcelain dishes, plates, glassware and trays, as well as ornaments, textiles and other “giftables.”

Rosanna and her company have been featured in Oprah Winfrey magazines, the New York Times, Vogue, Better Homes and Gardens, Bon Appetit, Sunset and many others. Earlier this year, Rosanna graced the cover of Seattle Business Magazine along with other top Seattle business women.

She has also received many

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Crossword SolutionSolution to puzzle on page 15

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special services

It Begins and Ends with SantaAnswers to questions on page 15

Santa Barbara B(b)ush pilot light opera box top secret Santa

classifieds…classifieds…classifieds…

Rosanna Bowles: Seattle’s Designing Woman

...continued from page 1

The Rosanna Inc. outlet store is located at 6755 East Marginal Way South in Seattle, and is open Fridays from noon to 4pm. The annual Warehouse Sale is December 3, 2016 from 9am to 2pm – find specials on everything from current collections to one-of-a-kind pieces from their archives. For more information about the outlet store, call 206-264-7882 or email [email protected].

You can also find Rosanna products at stores around the world, including local retailers such as Macy's, Starbucks, Nordstrom and many more. Enter your zip code into Rosanna’s location finder to discover the many places to shop for Rosanna products: www.rosannainc.com/locations/

Rosanna offers these holiday entertaining tips:

• A key savvy tip for entertaining for the holidays is to keep things simple. Do what you do best and don't do things outside of your comfort zone. Use your go-to recipes. Decorate the home simply; candles are fabulous. Greenery is great. Basic dishes with decorated salad plates to change it up. Express who you are in the way you decorate and entertain.

• Take and tweak something you can do. My mother made 12 kinds of cookies at Christmas. I can’t do that. I make two.

• Four elements of a good party include enlightening conversation, fascinating people, great food and plenty of it, good wine and an interesting venue.

• What Rosanna appreciates in a party host: Someone who makes you feel welcome and introduces you to other guests.

MORE INFORMATION

Dr. Watson’s sitting room at 221B Baker Street, London, where their investigations began and concluded – a room looming large in popular imagination around the globe ever since the first Sherlock Holmes tale, A Study in Scarlet, in 1887.

Become a Detective – Visitors will have a book full of clues while hot on a trail to solve a remarkable murder. Using their own powers of observation, guests can crack a new Sherlock Holmes mystery written exclusively for this exhibition by Daniel Stashower, the writer and award-winning Conan Doyle biographer (author of Teller of Tales: TheLife of Arthur Conan Doyle and the author of new Sherlock Holmes stories.

Culture of Sherlock – Pop culture enthusiasts will enjoy the exhibition’s final gallery, housing a collection of all things “Sherlockian,” ranging from vintage Sherlock Holmes-themed card games, comics and magazines, to radio scripts, to movie and television show props and costumes. Featured are items from the Warner Brothers’ current Sherlock Holmes movies set in the Victorian era, alongside costumes, props and behind-the-scenes tools from the hit CBS television shows Elementary and the BBC’s Sherlock, both of which set Sherlock Holmes in the present day.

The exhibition offers museum guests the most comprehensive display anywhere of Sherlock Holmes as portrayed in popular imagination over the last 126 years since his creation.

“We will also have some fun holiday promotions for the exhibit,” says Alia Mahlum, Pacific Science Center Marketing and Event Manager. Through December 30, evoke the spirit of the season during Holmes for the Holidays, which includes a fashion show, high tea tastings, the Dickens Carolers, Victorian-themed lectures, nut roasting, snow machines and a Little Library Book hunt. ❖

To plan your experience, call 206-443-2001 or visit pacsci.org/Sherlock.

It’s Elementary...continued from page 2

Baby Rosanna with her mother and two sisters

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“Snow means fun” was the attitude I developed growing up in the Midwest. School might be cancelled and I’d be free to go outside and play in the snow. Familiar locations and objects took on mysterious new looks as the snow piled higher, challenging our memories on what might be buried under those strange-looking mounds. It was a time for building snowmen, sledding or tobogganing, ice skating, making snow angels and, of course, tossing snowballs. Never mind the cold, chasing after whoever tossed that snowball kept our cheeks rosy and warm.

Years later, when I moved to Seattle, I soon discovered that I missed the snow. But on the rare snow days in Seattle, Linda and I seldom waste the occasion. We keep plastic discs on hand and walk about a block to the local park with a hill. There we join several preschoolers with our discs and take great pleasure in going further down the hill than they can. At first, parents gave us curious glances, but they eventually got used to us. A few of them even bring their own discs and join us now. Kids playing on our hill come in all ages.

Not a fan of skiing, I discovered that I enjoyed the peace and quiet of snowshoeing, especially when I get off the beaten path where snow clings tightly

to tree branches in a forest. I purchased a good pair of high-tech snowshoes for just over $100 and quickly paid for them with saved lift ticket money.

Sno-parks are located along I-90 between the top of the pass and Easton. Season passes for sno-parks are $40 per car plus an additional $40 if you intend to use a sno-park with a groomed trail. Day rates of $20 (valid for 1-3 consecutive days) are good for groomed or un-groomed trail parking. Parking fees encourage carpooling. Groomed trails accommodate snowshoeing and cross country skiing, and some locations have snowmobile trails. I’ve used sno-parks several times and enjoy them, but I prefer areas where I am likely to be on my own without the aid of a groomed trail. Under certain conditions, specifically deep powder, I tend to use the sno-parks as it is too difficult to break trail in deep snow for any distance.

Finding and identifying animal tracks is my passion on outings. Often they tell a story as the animal goes about its

business of seeking food, shelter or possibly avoiding a predator, and I enjoy studying their behavior. Some of the more unusual tracks I’ve seen are bear, beaver, otter, wolf, pine martin and bobcat. Twice I have back-tracked my own trail and found that I was being followed by a mountain lion. Now I look over my shoulder on outings as a result. I tell myself that the animals may have only been curious – after I have repeated this several times, the goose bumps seem to get smaller.

When it snows in Seattle, I will walk

The Great Outdoors

Let’s Play in the Snow! ...by Roger Urbaniak

a mile to the store to fetch a necessity. In reality, what I come back with is seldom necessary; I just wanted to be outside enjoying the snow. Once it snowed enough for me to strap on snow shoes. The grocery clerk was impressed when I showed up.

The touch of a soft snowflake on my skin as I watch it pile higher and higher brings back pleasant memories of my youth. They say there is a little child still in most of us. For me, all it takes is a good snow storm to bring him out. ❖

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Northwest Prime Time - December 2016