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AUGUST 2024
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BACK-TO-SCHOOL BUZZ 3 KEY PIECES OF ADVICE FOR COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS
August is a super exciting time for most kids because students of all ages start preparing for busy study sessions, extracurriculars, and lots of personal growth. I remember what it felt like when I was young, returning to school for the new academic year. I put on fresh new sneakers and clothes and dressed up! Even though I was fighting nerves and excitement simultaneously, I always enjoyed returning to my classes. With the school year kicking off again, I started thinking about my children and the advice I’ve given them throughout the years. This year is particularly bittersweet for me as my son is going off to Grand Canyon University this fall. I’m incredibly proud
and excited for him, but I can’t help but feel a little sad. This is a big goodbye for a parent. Even though I know he will be back, I realize his life and mine are changing. I’m getting a little older, just as my kids are, and it will be a big transition in the house not to have him or my two daughters, also off to university, here. I’ve given all of my kids three key pieces of advice as they embark on their college journeys. First, I tell them, listen, you get to be whomever you want in school now. It doesn’t matter what you did in high school or the traits people associated with you. College is a fantastic opportunity to reshape and redefine your identity. My son, for example, is on the shy side and is known to be a quiet kid. I reminded him that people at your new school don’t know you as shy or quiet. Get involved in groups, clubs, or sports, and put yourself out there. It’s also the perfect time for him to try new things and discover what his passions are. My second piece of advice for new college students is that it’s okay if you don’t know what you want to be yet. You may have ideas about what you want to study or pursue, but understand you’re never locked in. It’s completely fine to try something different than you planned. Both my older daughters started college with one focus in mind and left with something completely different. You can discover that along the way
as you learn new things about yourself and various subjects.
But the most important thing I tell my kids and any other young person beginning university is to enjoy this time and have fun. Once you leave these four years behind, life starts moving quickly. You’ll be going to work and likely be in the career world until you are at least 65. So, while you must focus on your education and gaining the skills you’ll need in your career, you must also build relationships. As hard as it is to see my kids grow up, it’s also one of the best feelings in the world. As a parent, you’re proud they are accomplishing a significant goal. You’ve raised them to be good human beings, and now you get to see them become the people they are meant to be. Still, it will be strange not to have them around all the time anymore. Luckily, my youngest daughter will be at home for another few years as she is entering her sophomore year of high school. While the house will feel quieter, I find joy in knowing my kids are on their paths to becoming remarkable adults. So, here’s to all the students embarking on their academic journeys and to the parents supporting them — may this year be filled with growth, discovery, and unforgettable memories. –Jeremy Rafferty
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TAKE A LITERARY ADVENTURE The Keys to a Thriving Book Club
People of all ages crave human connection, and book clubs are an increasingly popular path to that common need. Book clubs bring together people with common interests and offer opportunities to build friendships through discussion. If you want to be in a book club, one of the best ways is to start one yourself. Setting guidelines for how your club will work can take time and discussion with prospective members. Some groups focus on the month’s bestseller, while others select from lists published by groups like PBS Books Readers Club or the Seattle Public Library’s “Staff Picks for Adults 50+.” Others focus on a specific author, such as Jane Austen, and some clubs focus on a genre, such as mysteries or memoirs.
and you can join at little to no cost (outside of finding a copy of the book). Check with your local library for groups in your area. Also, AARP sponsors a virtual book club called Senior Planet. Staying connected and socially active can enrich your life in numerous ways, from improving your cognitive health to easing the negative effects of loneliness. Reading opens the mind to new ideas and improves memory. Many book clubs take on a character all their own, such as a monthly wine-and- cheese party with a little casual reading on the side. Social media influencer Katie Iwanski illustrated this option in a hilarious TikTok video. Among the 11 guidelines she posted for her book club, she included the following: Everybody brings a bottle of wine; guests choose a food theme,
such as “crostini night”; and discussion devolves from discussing the book and making cast picks for the movie version to opening more wine and letting the night end in chaos. And a good time was had by all!
If starting your own isn’t realistic, many public libraries host book clubs for seniors,
Comfort in Your Golden Years
The Essential Trio for Federal Employees
Social Security You will also receive retirement benefits through Social Security if covered in the Federal Employee Retirement System and/or if you have 40 quarters of work where Social Security was paid. You will pay 6.2% of your earnings into this fund, with the agency matching that as you work. Thrift Savings Plan The final prong is the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), which functions more like a 401(k). Each pay period, your agency deposits 1% of your pay into your TSP. You can also make additional tax-deferred contributions. Like a 401(k), you can decide how to invest these funds. There is no limit to how much you can contribute to your TSP, and your agency will match up to 5%. At Federal Benefits Made Simple, we examine what it would take to fulfill retirement dreams and your necessary expenses. Once we know what you hope to accomplish, we need to understand what you will receive in pension and Social Security benefits to determine the best amount to withdraw annually from your TSP and how to best invest your TSP dollars. Each component plays a crucial role in ensuring financial security throughout retirement. Your pension provides a stable income based on years of service and highest earnings, while Social Security offers additional support based on contributions made throughout your career. The Thrift Savings Plan adds another layer of flexibility and growth potential, allowing you to save and invest for the future. These three pillars create a comprehensive strategy to support your lifestyle goals and dreams in your golden years.
Retirement is a huge milestone, and if you are a federal employee, you’ll need a trio of essential components to achieve it. Your pension, Social Security benefits, and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) are the foundation of financial security in your golden years, each playing a crucial role in a stable retirement. Understanding how these pieces fit together and making informed plans early can pave the way for a worry-free future. Pension After you retire, you receive a pension or basic benefit plan that awards you a set amount, regardless of your contribution. It’s based on how many years you worked for the federal government and your highest three consecutive years of earnings. You must have worked for the government for at least five years to be eligible.
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How a Dog Saved Its Foster Family From Disaster A FLUFFY GUARDIAN ANGEL
When a Virginia family of five decided to temporarily foster a dog in 2023, they weren’t expecting it to be a life-changing event. But they might not be here today if it weren’t for the Great Pyrenees named Moose that they took home for the weekend. Christopher Cushna and his partner, Sheila Janes, were looking for something fun and unique to do with their three children when they learned about the Paws Around Portsmouth program. This program allows people to foster dogs from the local Humane Society for a short time. They fell in love with big, fluffy Moose and decided to take him on a field trip around town. The family visited their own music shop, where Moose met potential adopters at an event sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard. The friendly dog later accompanied them to a farmers market, a community band concert, and a flea market, where they met a woman who wanted to adopt him.
Moose suddenly woke Christopher and one of their daughters, Anya. Though everyone figured the energetic dog wanted to go outside, he was persistent, and they quickly noticed a neighboring houseboat engulfed in flames. As the fire began to spread, the family evacuated safely just minutes before the fire reached their boat.
“If Moose hadn’t gotten Anya and Chris up, we would not be here, as we were all sound asleep, and the fire spread very quickly,” Sheila said.
The family lost their houseboat and everything inside, but thanks to Moose’s heroic act, they are alive and grateful today.
“What I like to think about is that we saved Moose from the situation he was in, and Moose saved us,” Christopher said. Moose’s life-saving actions made big news, and a local woman adopted him. Now, the hero dog is living his best life on a 5-acre farm, complete with a swimming pool. For this family, who had no idea just how transformative a doggy day out could be, Moose will always be their knight in fluffy armor.
Moose returned to the family’s houseboat for the evening since the adopter could not bring him home that day. As everyone slept,
Train Your
Lime Chicken With Corn and Poblano Salad
BRAIN!
Inspired by PureWow.com
INGREDIENTS
Chicken • 3 tbsp olive oil
Corn and poblano salad • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 poblano peppers, diced • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1 14-oz can of corn • 4 scallions, minced • Juice of 2 limes • 1/3 cup chopped cilantro • Salt and pepper
• 1 cup all-purpose flour • 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper • 1 1/2 tsp salt • 3/4 tsp black pepper • Zest of 1 lime • 8 chicken thighs
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. In a large oven-proof skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
3. In a bowl, whisk flour, spices, and lime zest. Dredge chicken in the mix to coat. 4. Add chicken, skin-side down, to skillet, then place skillet in the oven for 30–35 minutes. 5. In a medium skillet, heat olive oil and add poblanos. Sauté 4–5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for another minute. 6. In a bowl, add poblano mix, corn, scallions, lime juice, and cilantro, toss and serve with the chicken.
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Sending My Son Off to College PAGE 1 Launch a Successful Book Club The Power of Pension, Social Security, and TSP PAGE 2 Meet Moose, the Great Pyrenees With a Hero’s Heart Lime Chicken With Corn and Poblano Salad PAGE 3 Aspiring Necromancer Sought to Revive George Washington PAGE 4
How a Doctor Planned to Resurrect George Washington MANIC MEDIC
Fans of deathbed dramas can hardly ask for a more harrowing tale than the story of an overconfident doctor who tried to resurrect George Washington. As the former president lay dying in December of 1799, Dr. William Thornton raced to Washington’s Mount Vernon home in hopes of reaching him before he passed away, according to “Washington’s End,” a 2020 book by historian and White House speechwriter Jonathan Horn. Washington had been both a friend and benefactor to Thornton. A classic product of the Enlightenment, Thornton was a brilliant polymath considered a genius in his time. He was born in the British West Indies and attended medical school in Scotland before gaining American citizenship. Washington selected Thornton’s design for the U.S. Capitol. Upon arriving at Mount Vernon, Thornton was shocked to see the president’s corpse, frozen solid from the frigid winter temperatures and surrounded by grieving family and friends. The situation did not stop the doctor from hatching a bold plan to revive him. Thornton had studied numerous cases of people who were
revived after appearing to be dead. He was an early advocate of the medical technique of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to revive victims of near-drownings. Before Washington died, he had suffered a series of tortuous medical treatments for a bad throat infection, including numerous bloodlettings, throat poultices, enemas, and purgatives. Thornton recalled cases he had read about fish being revived after freezing and proposed to thaw Washington’s corpse in cold water, restore air to his body by performing a tracheotomy, and replace the blood drained by the doctors with lamb’s blood. If a lack of air and loss of blood had killed the president, then restoring them and warming the body should revive him, Thornton reasoned. None of Washington’s grieving family and friends supported Thornton’s idea. They recalled the former president’s deathbed instructions to the doctors attending him at the time, “I pray you to take no more trouble about me; let me go off quietly.” Ultimately, the president’s instructions were honored. Despite Thornton’s effort to have his body transported to the Capitol for burial, they granted Washington’s final wish: He was permanently interred at his Mount Vernon home.
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