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Club MED
October 2023
We Spent the Summer of 2023 in Europe
The other day, I bumped my cellphone and accidentally called my granddaughter, Madison. Before it could ring once, I hung up. I didn’t want to bother her. To my surprise, she called right back. Madison was on her way to dinner at the school cafeteria. She’s four weeks into her freshman year at Binghamton University. She chatted away. I was surprised she was happy to talk with me. It wasn’t strained. I got to hear about school, new friends, and the nasty cafeteria food. Then, we said goodbye as she got into the food line.
incredible art in human history was gathered within its walls. The dome is one of the largest in the world.
As we rounded the corner, and she gazed down the road, she said, “Nice. Oh, look there. A gelato shop. May I have some ice cream, please?” I was crushed. Her Nana bought her some ice cream, and she talked about the screaming baby on the plane flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Rome. I watched the sun go down over Michaelangelo’s dome and wondered if I was the only tourist in awe. When Madison was a child, she wanted to be a dinosaur doctor. As she grew, her life goals became more sophisticated, as did her vocabulary, and eventually, her career aspirations
It is amazing how much talking with that little girl melts my heart.
My wife, Bev, and I had talked about taking Madison to Europe for years. We were shooting for after high school but before college. We were delighted when she accepted.
morphed into paleoanthropology. Madison has fixated on becoming a paleoanthropologist since she was 10 years old. I never knew what paleoanthropology was, nor did I care until she started applying to colleges.
Bev spent months planning the trip down to the smallest detail. There was not a flight, train ticket, cab fare, or tour guide unaccounted for. Every minute was mapped out with Bev precision. The big day finally arrived: June 14. Bev and I anxiously waited in the Rome airport. Madison was flying from Brazil to Rome alone, and she’s only 17. We were nervous. When we had eyes on her walking out of customs, we relaxed.
Paleoanthropology is the study of human evolution through fossil and archaeological records. It is an interdisciplinary field whose practitioners include biological anthropologists, Paleolithic archaeologists, earth scientists, and
geneticists. Isn’t that exciting? I can’t say the subject matter really got me revved up.
Binghamton University is in New York state and is one of the top universities in the nation for paleoanthropology. There is actually a real place where people go to study this stuff. I couldn’t believe it. I have no desire to visit, but I want to see what these kids look like. Madison is a cute, normal-looking kid, but I can’t help but think her fellow paleoanthropologist wanna-bes are some bug-eyed, brainiac, nerd types. I’m hoping to see photos of her classmates. There is no way they are normal. Because of that, Bev found an archaeologist tour guide in Rome. Can you believe it! Bev can do anything. The guy had worked on ancient digs in Rome itself. We visited one of his sites during the tour. Archaeology is not very lucrative, so he had evolved into an overly educated tour guide.
Then, I saw her clothes. My heart sank. I had bought her some very nice things when she was back for Christmas, but she arrived in the rags that seem to be the fashion now. And her footwear was beyond ugly. I thought the old Roman gods would rise up and curse us. None of us had slept for 24 hours, so we staggered to the hotel. But no one could fall asleep, so we walked to St. Peter’s in the Vatican. It was only a few blocks away. I tried to prepare Madison for the awesome moment when she would round the corner and gaze upon St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time. The boulevard leading to St. Peter’s is probably half a mile. The view is tremendous as you walk up on the biggest thing in Rome. I told her that this structure was built in the 16th century with nothing more than mules, human muscle, and pulleys. It had endured wars, world wars, fires, earthquakes, and riots. The most
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... CONTINUED FROM COVER I was hoping Madison might pick up on that. I questioned her about job prospects in the paleontology world, but she gave me the usual adolescent idealism. “I don’t want to be rich. I want to do something I love.” Canal and were transported back in time. Venice is still the most unusual city in the world.
The first Venetians escaped barbarian hordes on the mainland in the 11th century. They moved to the swampy islands of the lagoon to build what became a pearl of the Mediterranean and one of the lights of democracy. Bev coordinated incredible tours through San Marco Cathedral and the Doge’s Palace. We sailed on the bay and visited the islands where they have made
I assured her there was absolutely no hope of becoming rich on that track, and being broke was definitely a more highly probable and uncomfortable future reality for her. I could feel the heat from Nana Bev’s maternal stare.
We began the tour on our first day at the Vatican Museum before it opened to the public around 7 a.m. I hadn’t been to the museum for 30 years, so I was impressed at how much improved it was. Madison was forced to look at some of the greatest works of art in human history without the distraction of an ice cream. From there, we moved to the Colosseum. We climbed the Palatine Hill to Roman ruins, the Circus Maximus, a collection of parks with incredible vistas of Rome. We got an afternoon break for a couple of
handblown glass for 800 years. After four days, we crawled out of bed at 3 a.m. to meet our water taxi for the airport.
The way we traversed Europe was using GPS and Google Maps. Technology is amazing! The problem, however, is that the satellites had a hard time connecting with our phones because of the narrow alleys and tall buildings. Venice was the worst.
At 3 a.m. in the dark, I’m holding my phone to the sky, praying I would catch a signal. We wandered in circles in the dark. Venice’s streets were utterly deserted at 3 a.m. No one was there to ask for directions,
hours. Then we were back at it until 8 p.m. In total, Bev tracked on her watch 30,000 steps, which is about 15 miles. I was exhausted and dehydrated. Italian espresso and wine were not great ways to rehydrate, I discovered.
and the boat was going to leave without us.
The taxi driver called and told us he would leave for his next fare if we didn’t arrive in five minutes. Dragging too many overloaded bags through the streets of Venice, we sent Madison running ahead of us to hold the boat until we arrived sweating, stinking, and exhausted. A truly Italian vacation came to an end. I slipped the driver an extra $40, and we tore off across the lagoon for our 45-minute boat ride to the airport. Uber doesn’t do water taxis yet. During our time with Madison, we asked her about the times she spent with us as a child. She couldn’t remember many of the moments, which was incredibly sad because I’ll never forget those precious times. I hope 20 or 30 years from now, when I’m gone, at least the memory of the summer of 2023 in Europe will stick with her and how she stood before the glory of Michelangelo’s Pietà in St. Peter’s Basilica with Nana, Gramps, and the hideous shower shoes. –Christopher J. Grimmond
Fortunately, Rome is full of very fashionably coiffed young ladies. The good effect was Madison shed her adolescent grunge and started dressing in the smart summer dresses the Italian girls were donning. But she kept wearing the hideous shower shoes that now plague the teenage world. How can you walk the streets of the Caesars and martyrs in dopey, rubber shower shoes?! After four exhausting days in Rome, we boarded the Norwegian cruise ship Epic and sailed to Naples and the ruins of Pompeii in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius. Then, around the Mediterranean and back to Rome. During the cruise, I was tempted many times to throw Madison’s shower shoes overboard, but I knew her Nana would buy even more hideous replacements. I shoved them under her bed as far as possible, but she dug them out. I had never been to Venice, so we hopped the bullet train across Italy to Venice. Venice is undoubtedly the most unique place I’ve been. We exited the train station onto the famous Grand
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Testimonial “After just one meeting with Chris, I felt like he was my friend. He was competent, confident, and an excellent communicator. He walked me through the Medicare sign-up
ARE YOU READY FOR AEP?
The Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP) is upon us again. AEP is Oct. 15–Dec 7. Annual Election Period is the time of year when Medicare allows you to change your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan and your Medicare Part C Medicare Advantage plan. AEP is also the time of year when the insurance companies announce all plan changes: The prices change, the medications change, the networks change, etc. Checking your medications is critical because even if your medications have not changed, your plan might have. You may discover that a medication is no longer covered, or it is covered at a high tier and copay. Many a time I receive phone calls in January when a client discovered a medication was not covered or covered at an exorbitant price. There’s little you can do about your Part D plan when AEP is over. Now is the time to double- check and adjust. Medicare Part C/Medicare Advantage plans announce changes as well. If you are unhappy with your Medicare Advantage plan or are looking for lower copays, AEP is the time to review your options. Or would you like the lower outpatient surgery copay on one plan over the one you currently use? AEP is the time to switch. Please email us your medication list with dosages, preferred pharmacy, the name of your current plan, and other relevant details. We will run the medications through our software, and it will calculate which of the plans cover your drugs while maximizing your budget. I also only use plans that provide you
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Medicare has a five-star rating system that covers over 50 different areas. Five stars are the highest rating. One star is the lowest rating. We will get back to you with our recommendation before the end of AEP on Dec 7. We can take care of everything over the phone, but you can come in, too, if you wish. Many of your friends and family likely enrolled with an agent years ago, and they’ve since disappeared. Some people do it over the phone or online, and they don’t have an agent. Problems arise, and they need help figuring out what to do or where to go. Share our information with your family and friends on Medicare or going on Medicare. Many of you have, and we appreciate it! I have received hundreds of referrals over the years. Your testimonials on Google, BBB, and Facebook have inspired others to contact us about their Medicare needs. Thank you very much for your kind five-star recommendations. Do a kindness for your family and friends. Medicare is confusing. Many are overpaying for their supplements. Others are missing out on all that is available to them with their Medicare plans. Some are unnecessarily being hit with wallet-killing drug costs. Could you send them our way? We don’t cost anything. We will talk with them. If we can help and it’s a good fit, we’ll improve their Medicare situation. Have them call 402-614-3389 to speak with an experienced, licensed insurance agent professional.
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Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese
Inspired by TheModernProper.com
Colder weather means mac and cheese! Try this spicy twist on a weeknight classic. Ingredients • 2 sticks butter, divided
• 2 tsp garlic powder • 1/2 tsp pepper • 1 lb bacon, chopped and cooked • 8 jalapeños, seeded and chopped • 1 lb macaroni, cooked • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup flour • 5 cups milk • 8 oz cream cheese • 3 cups shredded white cheddar cheese, divided • 4 cups shredded pepper jack cheese, divided • 2 tsp salt
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a large saucepan, melt 1 stick butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until fully absorbed in butter. Whisk in milk slowly. 3. Once sauce thickens, stir in cream cheese and shredded cheese until melted, reserving 1 cup of each shredded cheese. Add seasonings, bacon, and jalapeños before removing from heat, then combine pasta and sauce. 4. In a small skillet, melt remaining butter and stir in panko. 5. In a greased baking dish or skillet, add macaroni and top with panko and remaining cheese. Bake for 30–40 minutes and serve warm.
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INSIDE This Issue
1
Reflecting on Our Europe Vacation
3
Are You Ready for Medicare AEP?
3
Testimonial
3
Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese
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Halloween’s Haunting History
Let’s Unmask Halloween: The Origins and Legends Behind Your Favorite Traditions
Here come the scary decorations, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, and spooky costumes because Halloween is just around the corner! These traditions are what make Halloween fun and exciting year after year. However, did you know that jack-o’-lanterns come from an Irish legend or that trick-or-treating comes from a historical ritual called “souling”? As we prepare for Oct. 31 activities, here are some fun facts you might not know about Halloween! HALLOWEEN IS BASED ON A CELTIC FESTIVAL. Samhain, a pagan festival held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, celebrated both the harvest and the “dark” second half of the year. During this celebration, it was believed
the barrier separating the spirits from the physical world would come down, allowing demons to enter and the spirits of all who passed away that year to move on to the next life. ‘STINGY JACK’ HELPED EVOLVE JACK-O’-LANTERNS. The Irish myth of a man named “Stingy Jack” goes like this: Stingy Jack invited the devil for a drink, and because he didn’t want to pay, he convinced the devil to turn into a coin so he could buy their drinks. However, instead of paying, he placed the “coin” next to a cross in his pocket that prevented the devil from returning to his original form. Once he freed the devil, Stingy Jack continued to trick him. When he died, God turned away Stingy Jack with only coal to light his
way, so he placed the coal in a carved- out turnip to create a lantern. From there, people slowly transformed his “lantern” into the modern-day jack-o’-lantern! CANDY CORN WAS ONCE CALLED CHICKEN FEED. Candy corn, which the Wunderlee Candy Company began producing in the late 1880s, is an extremely popular Halloween candy. In fact, today, about 35 million pounds of the candy are sold each year! When the Goelitz Candy Company brought it to the masses at the turn of the century, they called the sweet tricolored candy “Chicken Feed” because so many people worked on farms at the time. Their early ads exclaimed, “Something worth crowing for!”
Now you know! Happy Halloween!
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