North Georgia Elder Law - December 2019

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Kevin’s Peace of Mind

www.kevintharpe.com (770) 503-1022

December 2019

Life Lessons From a Good Friend Living Life With Love

our families became close and we started doing everything together, like post-church lunches and holiday celebrations. My daughter called him Uncle Jeff, even though she already has two Uncle Jeffs who are both blood-related. But Jeff Drake was family. It was an easy friendship to form for many reasons, but the most simple yet powerful reason is that Jeff was always there. Without fail, before you had even thought to pick up the phone and call him, Jeff was there ready to help. He had an uncanny knack for knowing what other people needed before they even knew themselves. Jeff truly had a servant’s heart, and he got true joy from serving others. Me andmy family were regular recipients. When they were younger, Jeff’s siblings entered the military, and Jeff longed to serve his country, as well. Unfortunately, Jeff was denied that opportunity when doctors said he didn’t meet the necessary vision requirements. But when I think about the way Jeff lived, I can’t help but smile at how those military doctors missed it. His doctors could not see what Jeff saw. Jeff had exactly the right vision to fulfill an entirely different mission and purpose. Jeff exemplified how one can serve their country by serving God and by serving others. He viewed the world in a unique way that always prompted him to see the good in people. Jeff was so invested in doing whatever he could for others that it’s a wonder tome how he ever had time for himself. But when you’re that happy helping others, I suspect it’s all you need. This Christmas will be challenging because Jeff won’t be here to do one of his favorite things —play Santa. With his long white beard that he kept up all year long, coupled with frosted spectacles and his extra special ho-ho-ho laugh (which he also kept up all year long), Jeff was created for the job. But it wasn’t just Jeff’s physical demeanor that made him“camera ready”to be Santa. Out of his servant’s heart, Jeff was attentive and jolly to everyone in the family, but he also went above and beyond to bring a special meaning to his role as Santa Claus. Every

It’s rare that youmeet someone and instantly know they’re going to be meaningful to your life. My friend Jeff Drake was that type of person tome, my entire family, and, I imagine, nearly everyone whomet him. We lost Jeff unexpectedly in October 2019, and it’s been incredibly hard to navigate our way around the crater he’s left in our lives. But I think a great way to start is by sharing the joy of having known him. Jeff and I met over 20 years ago through our church, where we worked together on producing a children’s puppet ministry. That fact alone already provides a clear idea of what kind of person Jeff was: a fun-lovingman with an infectious spirit. Jeff wanted nothingmore than to serve God and be a blessing to his family, friends, church, and community. Jeff’s goal was to bring happiness to others. It wasn’t long before

year, Jeff would visit the forgotten areas of his community to spend personal time with children who may have not gotten a chance to have a “Santa”experience. Jeff consistently volunteered the endless love in his heart in order to provide others with the true meaning of the season. Jeff did it so naturally that I often wondered myself if maybe he really was Santa. I have learned some of life’s most valuable lessons throughmy friendship and brotherhood with Jeff. The most valuable lesson, though, is that making yourself available to others and giving of yourself will make you wealthy with love and gratitude. Jeff was living proof of that. He was loved because he gave love. The doctors said we lost Jeff because his heart just gave out. I have to disagree. We didn’t lose Jeff because his heart gave out —God called himhome because Jeff gave his heart out. Jeff didn’t just talk about his faith. He lived it, and there was no limit to it. I know that early October morning when Jeff left us, God welcomed home one of His most dedicated and faithful servants. I will always celebrate Jeff’s life by serving others, seeing the good in everyone, and above all, loving God, lovingmy family, and loving others without limits.

I will miss you, Santa Jeff.

-Kevin

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There’s No Expiration Date on Entrepreneurship THE JOYS OF STARTING A BUSINESS AFTER YOU ‘RETIRE’

As a nation, America is getting older. By 2030, 20% of Americans will be 65 or older. With people living longer than ever before and the baby boomers approaching retirement age en masse, older adults will continue to have a massive impact on the American economy at large. Normally, we think of seniors as people who cash in on the hard work they’ve already accomplished. Many young people even worry Social Security will be wiped out by the time they reach retirement age. But who’s to say older adults can’t contribute to the economy? If you’ve ever tried to change jobs late in your career or pick up some part-time work after retirement, you know it’s hard to be hired as a senior. Quartz recently called seniors “the economy’s most underused natural resource.” Until more employers understand the value and potential of older workers, entrepreneurship remains the most viable avenue for seniors wanting to work after their primary career has ended. There are a number of reasons why seniors find creating their own business to be rewarding and why they tend to succeed when they do. Unlike younger people, who often become business owners in an attempt to make a fortune, older entrepreneurs can be content with small, sustainable micro-businesses. They also approach their businesses with a wealth of experience that can’t be purchased. As a result, 70% of ventures founded by older entrepreneurs are still open five years later, more than double the rate of the general population.

With so much potential to be found in senior-run businesses, it’s no surprise that organizations are rushing to empower older adults with the tools they need to succeed. Senior Planet, a coworking space for seniors with outposts nationwide, teaches classes on skills like website creation in a space that makes older learners feel welcome and comfortable. On top of being an important economic driver, entrepreneurship can be a wonderful way for seniors to generate meaning and value in their lives. It’s never too late to start the business of your dreams.

Royal Rinks CURLING ATHLETES EVERY FAN SHOULD KNOW Every four years, as some of the world’s best Olympic athletes battle for gold medals, the world falls in love with curling. Curling originated in 16th-century Scotland and is most popular in Canada, where many Scots immigrated. Now, 480 years after the first recorded instance of curling occurred on a frozen pond in Scotland, many devotees have left their mark on the sport’s history. These are just a few of the greats. Harvey Mazinke Curling Team In 1973, Canada held its collective breath as the Harvey Mazinke Curling Team took their final shot in a world championship match against Sweden. The rock ultimately failed to reach the rings, crowning Sweden as world champions and snapping the 10-0 record Harvey Mazinke had built during a week of competition. But regardless of that final score, Harvey Mazinke’s impact on the sport was not diminished. The team was crowned the Canadian Men’s Curling Champions in 1973, and the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame recognizes them as “ambassadors to the game.”

Roy Thiessen Choosing only one devoted coach to highlight is difficult, but it must be Roy Thiessen. Roy coached championship teams —or rinks, as they are called in curling— at both provincial and national levels. His expertise led him to chair the first Saskatchewan Summer Games in 1972, theWorld Junior Men’s Curling Championships in 1979, and theWorld Ladies’Curling Championships in 1983. Budding athletes can learn all of Roy’s secrets and the fundamentals of curling in the numerous books he wrote.

Joyce McKee Curling Team Without Joyce McKee, Sylvia Fedoruk, Donna Belding, and Muriel Coben, the Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship, now called the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, would have never become the nationally recognized organization it is today. The aforementioned women were part of the Joyce McKee rink and were the first winners of the championship in 1960. Their style, play, and knowledge propelled women’s curling into the leagues of men’s competitions, proving that women could compete at just as high of a level as their male peers. To this day, the Joyce McKee rink’s accuracy is unparalleled. If you can’t wait another two years before curling hits center stage at the Winter Olympics, check out the podcast “Curling Legends” to get your fix of curling greatness.

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TAKE A BREAK

We all know reindeer visit our rooftops every Christmas Eve, but what brings them there? Follow the unique and complicated history of Santa’s reindeer to find out. A visit fromwho on what night? In the 1820s, Clement Clarke Moore penned a holiday poem that became the foundation for a phenomenon still alive today. Commonly known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,”“A Visit From St. Nicholas” is a beloved story shared by every generation. It is in this poem that reindeer were first credited with powering Santa’s sleigh around the globe. Many popular songs, movies, and plays have preserved Moore’s vision of St. Nick, and his reindeer and their names are no exception. (Well, kind of.) Rudolph wouldn’t join the squad until a department store added him as part of their promotions in the 1930s. What’s in a name? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, and Cupid were all brought to life by Moore, but have you ever heard of Dunder and Blixem? Though we now know the duo as Donner and Blitzen, Moore originally named them Dunder and Blixem— the Dutch words for thunder and lightning — but publishing companies wanted names that would rhyme better with the rest of the poem. Still, it was a few decades before Donner and Blitzen made their appearances in the version of the poem we know today. Reindeer burgers, anyone? Moore’s poem paved the way for Santa’s most famous form of transportation, but it was actually Carl Lomen, an Alaskan businessman, who mass-marketed reindeer as Santa’s companions. In the late 1890s, the Sami natives of Northern Europe, who were longtime reindeer herders, made their passage from Norway to the U.S. with a herd of reindeer to invigorate the Alaskan landscape and help their native neighbors. Lomen saw the reindeer as an opportunity and partnered with the Macy’s department store company to create a promotional Christmas parade in which Santa, led by his reindeer, a sleigh, and Sami herders, were prominently featured. Lomen’s goal was to promote his massive reindeer conglomerate for the production and sale of reindeer meat. Instead, a holiday story was born. WHAT ABOUT DUNDER AND BLIXEM? The Strange History of Santa’s Reindeer

CLASSIC ROAST CHICKEN

Inspired by Ina Garten

Ingredients

1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise

1 chicken, approx. 5–6 lbs

2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Kosher salt

1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced 4 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces

Freshly ground pepper

1 large bunch fresh thyme, 20 sprigs removed

1 lemon, halved

Olive oil

Directions

1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Rinse chicken inside and out, removing giblets if included. Move to a work surface, pat dry, and liberally season with salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with thyme bunch, lemon halves, and garlic head. Brush outside with butter, and then season again. Tie chicken legs together with kitchen string. 3. Meanwhile, in a roasting pan, toss onions and carrots in olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and 20 sprigs of thyme. 4. Place the chicken on the vegetables and roast for 1 1/2 hours. 5. Remove from oven, and let stand for 20 minutes covered with foil. 6. Slice and serve with the vegetables.

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(770) 503-1022 www.KevinTharpe.com 405 Broad St Gainesville, GA 30501 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

In Memory of My Dear Friend, Jeff Drake

The Power of Senior Entrepreneurship Get to Know Some of Curling’s Best Athletes

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Classic Roast Chicken How Santa Claus Became Powered by Reindeer

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Glamping at Its Finest

YURT SWEET YURT GLAMPING IN BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS

Spruce Hole Yurt, Colorado

The allure of the great outdoors calls to many, but pitching a tent and cooking over a fire isn’t for everyone. If that describes you, consider the yurt: a small, permanent structure often outfitted with electricity, plumbing, and other modern amenities. Expertly nestled in remote locations, they provide comforts of home in the midst of nature. Here are just a few around the United States available for rent. For those new to the glamping scene, this is a great choice for an easy transition. With picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean, the Treebones Resort in Big Sur has an array of spaciously comfortable yurts to choose from. The resort has heated pools, a cozy lodge, and even a sushi bar. About an hour up the coastline, you can find a few shops, restaurants, and art galleries if you decide you’ve gotten your dose of nature for the day. Treebones Resort, California

Nestled in the San Juan Mountains about 10 miles north of New Mexico, this yurt is a snow- lover’s paradise. Skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking trails are plentiful in this backcountry location. At the end of a chilly day, come home to comfy beds, cooking supplies, and decor made to feel like you’re camping — but with sturdy walls to keep out the cold. For the glampers who truly want to get away, hike just under 1 mile into the woods of the Adirondack Mountains to discover rustic yurts beckoning you to cook over a fire or bundle up with a book. At night, the yurt’s domed skylight offers excellent stargazing. For those keen on winter activities, skiing and snowshoeing trails start right outside the front door. In the summer, enjoy hiking, fishing, and swimming. Falls Brook Yurts, NewYork

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