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WAY MORE THAN FIREWORKS The Meaning of Independence
I have to admit something. I was terrified of loud noises as a child. The annual Fourth of July fireworks show scared me senseless. I loved watching the explosions, but the bangs sent a shiver up my spine. I remember going to the Oakland Community College Independence Day celebration with my parents, who would lay out a blanket on the lawn for the festivities. I must not have been very old when my parents realized they needed a solution to keep me from going berserk. Always ingenious, they realized that if they plugged my ears, the Fourth of July would turn from terror to delight. It worked like a charm. Luckily, I didn’t pass on my fear of loud noises to our kids. Every year, we head out to the lake to barbecue, watch the parade, and view the spectacular fireworks display. Our kids certainly aren’t old enough to have fireworks of their own, but we let them play with some sparklers. It’s quickly becoming a Berry family tradition, one we hope to keep up for years to come.
Of course, the Fourth of July isn’t just about food and fireworks. It’s also about celebrating our independence as a nation. Every year, as the Fourth of July rolls around, I can’t help but think about how much independence matters, not just in terms of politics, but in terms of our personal lives, as well. Our firm aims to preserve your independence throughout the second half of your life. The ability to make your own decisions may seem like a given, but it’s not guaranteed. Without proper planning, you can end up having no control over major decisions in your later years. When it comes to how you want to spend the latter part of your life, I’ve always advocated freedom of choice. The more choices you have, the better those choices tend to be. The last thing you want is to leave these choices up to an external source. Independence doesn’t have to mean living on your own, but it does mean electing how you want to spend your time on your own terms.
We set up a personal care plan for many of our clients. This legal document dictates your personal do’s and don’ts for care, including big issues like the type of care you want to receive and small details like the foods you want to eat. With a safeguarded personal care plan, you’ll never have to leave these details up to chance. It’s your life, and you should control how it plays out rather than a representative from an insurance company or Medicare. Taking the time to hash out a care plan will ensure your independence. When we broke away from Britain in 1776, it was so we could decide the fate of our nation without influence from a foreign power. You deserve the same control over your destiny that our Founding Fathers sought for America. I want to wish everyone a happy Fourth of July and remind you to not take your independence for granted. – Christopher J. Berry
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A Female Gorilla Rescues an Unconscious Child THE DAUGHTER OF SUNLIGHT AND THE LITTLE BOY
Almost everyone has heard the story of Harambe, the 17-year-old male silverback gorilla shot and killed by his handlers last year after grabbing a 3-year old boy who fell into his enclosure. This was one of many hotly contended issues of 2016, and pundits are divided on whether the killing was justified or not. Some argue that Harambe was trying to protect the child, while others say he was displaying signs of imminent aggression, dragging the child along concrete and threatening his safety.
gently on the ground, where zookeepers rushed in to retrieve him. She not only ostensibly saved the boy, but she did it with her own 17-month-old baby gorilla clinging to her back the entire time. Throughout the incident, zookeepers sprayed water over the exhibit to discourage the other gorillas from approaching Binti and the boy. Officials aren’t sure how the boy managed to climb over the 4-foot fence, but it’s clear he wrested control from his mother and ran far ahead of her. The boy was treated in a hospital and made a full recovery.
It’s impossible to say definitively which side is correct. But that sad story harkens back to 20 years earlier when a different gorilla aided in the rescue of a critically injured toddler. And it has a much happier ending. On August 17, 1996, a 3-year-old boy climbed the fence of a gorilla enclosure at Brookfield Zoo, fell 18 feet, and was knocked unconscious by the resulting head injury. Binti Jua, which means “Daughter of Sunlight” in Swahili, a 7-year-old female gorilla and one of seven gorillas in the enclosure, immediately rushed over to the boy and scooped him up, cradling him gently in her arms.
Needless to say, Binti Jua received a lot of media attention in the coming weeks. Camera crews from places as far-flung as Australia showed up to get footage of the maternalistic gorilla relaxing in her enclosure. Thousands of individuals sent in requests to “adopt” her. According to the Chicago Tribune, one local grocer even offered 25 pounds of free bananas. Nowadays, you can still see the now 29-year- old gorilla lounging in her enclosure, though she hasn’t yet had to spring into action to rescue another tyke.
Avoiding the other curious primates, she quickly brought the child to a door in the enclosure and placed him
WALKING FOR A CAUSE The 2017 Walk to End Alzheimer’s
As an elder care firm, Alzheimer’s and dementia are issues we have to confront daily. We are dedicated to helping families who are affected by these conditions, and we do everything we can to raise awareness and promote research. For a number of years, we’ve sponsored the Brighton Walk to End Alzheimer’s, and this year is no different. We’re excited to take part in this great cause, and we hope you’ll join us in our mission. The Walk will take place on September 30 this year, and we’ll be focused on fundraising in the months leading up to the event. We’re hosting a kickoff party on July 20 at Downtown Main in Brighton from 6–9 p.m. Proceeds will go to the Walk, and we’ll even have a top-secret celebrity bartender mixing drinks! We’re lucky enough to be on the committee for the Walk, which gives us the chance to personally see the amazing efforts of our community.
We help families navigate the long-term care journey every day, so we encounter the difficulties of Alzheimer’s firsthand. For us, it’s a privilege to be able to contribute our time, money, and effort to such a worthy cause. Last year, The Elder Care Crew was the top-donating team for the walk, and we hope to do even better in 2017. Come join us for our kickoff party to have some fun for a good cause. If you want to contribute to our donation page, walk alongside us, or volunteer your time, give us a call at 888-390-4360. We’re grateful for whatever contribution you can make and want to thank everyone who donates in whatever way they can. Together, we can make a difference. Let’s make 2017 the best year yet for the Brighton edition of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
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Thorough, well-executed retirement planning can make your later years truly golden. But planning is a complex process fraught with pitfalls that may diminish the quality of your retirement. Common mistakes affect far too many people. Here are four mistakes we see all too often. MISTAKE 1: THINKING YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME Procrastination is the biggest retirement planning mistake. The earlier you begin saving, the more time your money has to accrue interest. Even small amounts can grow to huge sums as they spend decades in retirement accounts. Set your goals early and start working toward them as quickly as possible. You don’t want to scramble during the last few years of your career. MISTAKE 2: FAILING TO PLAN FOR HEALTH CARE COSTS When you’re young, you feel invincible. Nobody wants to consider the deterioration of health that comes with age. If you don’t account for this, though, you will end up in a pickle. Don’t rely on Medicare or Medicaid alone. Even if you have great insurance and low costs now, the future isn’t guaranteed. MISTAKE 3: FAILING TO PLAN FOR LONG-TERM CARE Simply put, long-term care is expensive. The cost of assisted living or a nursing home can easily reach into the tens of thousands, rapidly exhausting your Retirement Planning Pitfalls 4 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
retirement savings. By taking into consideration the rising cost of long-term care, you can protect both savings and assets from disappearing in the event that you need assistance. MISTAKE 4: FAILING TO UPDATE YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN Even the best plans can’t account for the biggest of all variables: time. You shouldn’t make a plan once and then consider it foolproof for the coming decades. Instead, you should sit down with an expert every year to review if your needs have changed and how your planning should change accordingly. Cost of living fluctuates, and if you treat planning as a one-and-done exercise, you could be in for a nasty surprise.
PALEO AVOCADO TUNA SALAD Chris’ Paleo Corner:
Thank You! For us to be able to help family and friends just like you, we depend on referrals. Thank you to the following people for your support!
A Great, Quick, Easy, and Healthy Snack or Lunch Total Time: 5 minutes Servings: 1–2
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 avocado • 1 lemon, juiced to taste • 1 tablespoon chopped onion to taste
• 5 ounces cooked or canned wild tuna • Sea salt to taste • Freshly ground pepper to taste
Bryan Bradford
Richard Paul
DIRECTIONS:
1. Cut the avocado in half and scoop the middle of both avocado halves into a bowl, leaving a shell of avocado flesh about ¼ inch thick on each half. 2. Add lemon juice and onion to the avocado in the bowl and mash
together. Add tuna, salt, and pepper, and stir to combine. Taste and adjust if needed. 3. Fill avocado shells with tuna salad and serve.
Patti Gibbons
Patricia Rhodes
Jonathan Grady
Jim Shroat
Amy Hartman
(Recipe from cookeatpaleo.com/paleo-avocado-tuna-salad.)
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8550 Grand River Ave., Ste. 200 Brighton, MI 48116 888-390-4360 www.MichiganEstatePlanning.com
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INSIDE this issue
Way More Than Fireworks PAGE 1
The Daughter of Sunlight and the Little Boy PAGE 2
Walking for a Cause PAGE 2
Common Retirement Planning Mistakes PAGE 3
Paleo Avocado Tuna Salad PAGE 3
The World’s Happiest Vacations PAGE 4
DESTINATION: HAPPY PEOPLE Visit the Happiest Places in the World — It’s Contagious
THE HAPPIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
Visit a hustling, bustling tourist trap and what do you get? Crowds of competitive travelers and a local population that is sick to death of them. Visit a place with happy people, and you get good service, friendly faces, and you’ll learn firsthand what Harvard researchers affirmed in a 2012 study: Happiness is contagious. Luckily for the average traveler, the places that topped a nationwide Gallup poll and the United Nations’ annual World Happiness Report have plenty to offer in addition to cheerful locals. If we were to tell you that Hawaii is the happiest state in the country, you probably wouldn’t be surprised. And sure enough, Hawaii ranked first in overall happiness for the sixth consecutive year. The sunny beaches, rich culture, and perfect weather give tourists a taste of paradise that the natives enjoy all year long. Next in line is a state that has little in common with the Aloha State. Alaska came in second place for the third consecutive year. With eight national parks, including Denali, Glacier Bay, and Gates of the Arctic, Alaska’s 663,000 square miles are filled to the brim with the wonders of nature. THE HAPPIEST STATES IN THE U.S.
Denmark has long been the standard bearer in this
category. This year, it relinquished its title to its Scandinavian sister, Norway, home to some of the most breathtaking vistas on earth, most notably its western fjords like the
world-famous Geirangerfjord and Nærøfjord. For the city wanderer, you’ll find choice seaside restaurants and walkable streets in towns like Bergen, the country’s second-largest city, which sports rainbow architecture and a 15th-century waterfront. Knowing the heart of a destination begins and ends with its people. Tack on beautiful scenery and daydream-worthy activities, and you just found yourself the perfect vacation.
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