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Club MED
July 2024
From High School Hills to Medicare Thrills: A Surreal Adventure with Predrag
Predrag Kopun has been my friend since 1975. We met at Spring Lake Park, running
1930s, is best exemplified by Salvador Dali’s strange works.
If you think I’m making this up, one of the prominent advertisers was Limitless Male Medical . Alabama’s PR team knows its demographic perfectly. Limitless Male Medical erection dysfunction promotions were everywhere. Sadly, no free samples — what a missed opportunity! Centris Credit Union, which got Predrag our tickets, had a special platform for their guests, an elevated view with tall chairs, tables, and our own bar. It was a perfect spot, considering the crowd below was lying on blankets or sitting in folding chairs. I wouldn’t have felt great the next day if I had to sit on the ground for two hours. The concert kicked off around 8 p.m., playing all the songs we grew up with: “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas, You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band,” “Love in the First Degree,” “Mountain Music,”
hills in the August heat for cross-country. Our coach, Wayne Bolt, had a peculiar fondness for 10th Street. because he could drive up and down the street in his car, checking on us to ensure no one was walking. He’d honk if he caught you slacking, a blaring reminder to pick up the pace.
Our surreal moment occurred on May 17, 2024. The last concert Predrag and I attended was in 1978, a Bee Gees show. All I remember is a girl three rows ahead of us with a perfect hourglass figure dancing to the music.
This time, Predrag got tickets to the Alabama concert at Harrah’s Cove outdoor venue. His wife, Judy, couldn’t make it, so I was his backup date. The surreal part? Driving to the concert, crossing the Missouri bridge just like in the old times, but now as old men crossing a new bridge. It felt like no time had passed, except now we had no alcohol in the car and arrived an hour early for our reserved seats.
You haven’t known real suffering until you’ve run on fresh asphalt at 3 p.m. on 10th St. in 90-degree Omaha heat. At 14, my brain was far from fully developed, making this torture seem almost normal. Among our many adventures, Predrag and I worked at the Firehouse Dinner Theater in the Old Market, now Upstream Brewing Company. As 15-year-old busboys, we were thrust into a world of singers, dancers, and theater. The dancing girls were in their mid- 20s and wore bustiers, fishnet hose, and feathered headdresses, which created a bizarre and mesmerizing environment that I’ve never experienced since. Predrag and I have stayed in touch over the years. I visited him at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota, when he was an airman, and he visited me during my priesthood in the parishes. We’ve seen each other through girlfriends, wives, kids, grandkids, and the deaths of both our parents. We’ve been through a lot together. Recently, we shared a surreal experience. “Surreal” is a marvelous word, a blend of fact and fantasy, meaning weird, bizarre, strange, freakish, unearthly, and unreal. Surrealism, an artistic movement of the
“Tennessee River,” “High Cotton,” “Song of the South,” and more. They couldn’t play all their hits, but it was enough. But by 9 p.m., Predrag and I looked at each other, said bottoms up to our Cokes, and headed home. It was past our bedtime.
Walking into the Cove was a shock. I was one of the young guys. The crowd was mainly my age and older — I could have set up a Medicare booth. Future concerts are now potential Medicare
marketing opportunities. Big rock or country groups from the 70s and 80s — those are my people! There were a few young folks, but those were likely grandchildren dragged along by their parents and grandparents. I imagined the backstage scene: teenage granddaughters pushing their groupie grandmothers in wheelchairs, still hoping to hook up with band members — two of whom are dead, and the third is 72.
If I hadn’t lived through my high school years, I’d never believe I used to come stumbling home at 4 or 5 in the morning after a concert. Now, I’m glad I’m old. I wake up at 4 a.m. instead of falling asleep.
Such is my boring life.
–Christopher J. Grimmond
Medicare Insurance Made Easy
402-614-3389 • 1
TOP BOOKS TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE EMPTY NEST TRANSITION TURNING THE PAGE
Ah, the empty nest. It’s a bittersweet time when the kids finally fly the coop, and you’re left wondering what to do with all the newfound silence — and space. Whether you’re feeling lost or looking forward to rediscovering your own interests, plenty of books can help you navigate this new phase of life. Here are three top picks every parent of newly adult children should consider adding to their reading list. ‘THE EMPTY NEST: 31 PARENTS TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, LOVE, AND FREEDOM AFTER THE KIDS FLY THE COOP’ BY KAREN STABINER This collection of essays offers a mosaic of perspectives on the empty nest phase, from the melancholy to the liberating. Compiled by Karen Stabiner, the book
explores the myriad ways parents cope with this transition. It’s comforting to read about other’s experiences and see how they’ve embraced (or struggled with) the changes, making this book a great starting point for those fresh to the empty nest lifestyle. ‘THE JOY OF LESS: A MINIMALIST GUIDE TO DECLUTTER, ORGANIZE, AND SIMPLIFY’ BY FRANCINE JAY Now that the kids are out of the house, it’s the perfect time to declutter and simplify your home — a task that symbolizes this new chapter in your life. Francine Jay’s “The Joy of Less” isn’t specifically about empty nesting, but its principles can help you clear out those now-unused spaces and make room for new hobbies and interests you previously set aside.
‘FROM MOM TO ME AGAIN: HOW I SURVIVED MY FIRST EMPTY-NEST YEAR AND REINVENTED THE REST OF MY LIFE’ BY MELISSA T. SHULTZ Melissa T. Shultz shares her transformative journey from a full-time mother to a fulfilled individual with a life enriched by new pursuits and passions. Her story is inspiring and offers practical advice for making the most out of the empty nest period. It’s mainly geared toward mothers facing the daunting question: “Who am I now that I’m not a full-time mom?” Reading these books can provide comfort, inspiration, and practical tips for navigating life’s emotional and practical aspects after your children have grown up and moved out.
Medicare Part D, the prescription drug coverage program, is about to get exciting updates! These changes aim to make your medication more affordable and the whole process easier to navigate. Let’s break down what you need to know in a simple and friendly way. 1. LOWER OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS One of the most significant changes is the introduction of a cap on out-of-pocket spending. Starting in 2025, you won’t have to pay more than $2,000 annually for your prescription drugs. This is excellent news for anyone who needs expensive medications, as it can save you a lot of money and provide peace of mind. 2. IMPROVED ACCESS TO VACCINES Vaccines are essential for keeping us healthy and will now be more accessible. Medicare Part D will fully cover the cost of recommended vaccines, like the shingles vaccine, starting in 2024. This means you won’t have to pay anything out of pocket for these essential preventive measures. 3. SMOOTHER COVERAGE TRANSITION Navigating the “donut hole” coverage gap in the past could be confusing and costly. However, the upcoming changes aim to simplify this process. The new structure will make understanding your benefits and what you owe easier, ensuring you don’t face unexpected expenses. 4. MONTHLY PAYMENT FLEXIBILITY For those with high-cost prescriptions, spreading the cost over the year can be helpful. Starting in 2025, you can spread your EXCITING CHANGES COMING TO MEDICARE PART D PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS
out-of-pocket expenses over the year in monthly payments. This change makes budgeting easier and avoids the financial strain of large upfront costs. 5. PRICE NEGOTIATIONS FOR MEDICATIONS To help keep drug prices down, Medicare will start negotiating prices for certain high-cost medications. This is expected to make many expensive drugs more affordable for everyone on Medicare Part D. While the impact of this change will grow over time, it’s a promising step toward affordable healthcare. 6. ENHANCED PLAN INFORMATION Choosing the right Medicare Part D plan can be overwhelming, but improvements are coming to make this easier. Plan information will be more precise and detailed, helping you make better-informed decisions. This means you can find the plan that best fits your needs without the hassle. 7. IMPROVED SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME BENEFICIARIES Extra help is available for those with limited income to pay premiums and other costs. The changes aim to expand this assistance, ensuring more people benefit from lower out-of- pocket costs and improved access to necessary medications. WHAT YOU NEED TO DO Stay informed and review your Medicare Part D plan options during the upcoming year. Review the changes and see how they might affect your current plan. If you want to learn more about the changes, don’t hesitate to contact us, your licensed insurance agent. You can also visit the official Medicare website or call their helpline. Your health and well-being are important, and these changes are here to help you get the care you need without the financial stress.
2 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
From the country that gave us Napoleon, escargot, and high-fashion runways, this news should come as no surprise: The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will break the mold. Organizers have missed no opportunity to put a distinctly French stamp on this international event, as TikTok personality one37pm pointed out in a video. Venues, ceremonies, medals, and mascots are all intended to highlight France’s unique architecture and history. The setting for the opening ceremonies will be the picturesque heart of Paris. The parade of athletes will be held on the River Seine, with each national delegation riding in boats fitted with cameras to project the athletes’ images on public screens. It may be hard for Paris to out-do opening ceremonies of the past, such as the four-hour extravaganza at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing or London’s 2012 Olympic opener featuring a Queen Elizabeth body double parachuting into Olympic Stadium from a helicopter. Nevertheless, in a significant first, admission for the hundreds of thousands of expected spectators will be free, a gesture also likely to be remembered. Open-water swimming events will also be held in the Seine — a plan that alarmed fans who recall that the river flooded with untreated sewage as recently as last year after heavy rains overwhelmed the city’s old sewers. French officials say the city has dug a giant reservoir nearby to collect excess rainwater and prevent a recurrence. The Eiffel Tower will be a looming presence over a temporary arena built for beach volleyball and other events. The layout ensures that the nearly 1 billion expected TV viewers will get an eyeful of the iconic 135-year-old iron spire. The Eiffel Tower plays another pivotal role. Iron taken from its girders during renovations in the past century has been forged into the center of each Olympic medal in the shape of a hexagon (mimicking the rough outline of France on a map). While most Olympic mascots have been cuddly animal figures, France’s quirky mascots, the Phryges (pronounced fri-jee-uhs), are red, white, and blue cartoon characters modeled after a conical hat worn as a symbol of liberty during the French Revolution. It’s a brief reminder, lest viewers forget, that among all of its other distinctions, France is also one of the birthplaces of modern democracy. PARIS 2024: NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER’S OLYMPICS GAME CHANGING
Testimonial
“As I neared retirement, I quickly learned that one has many options when it comes to Medicare coverage. Reaching a decision on such an important topic can be daunting. But it’s not if you’re working with Christopher Grimmond. In my meeting with Christopher, he thoroughly explained each option without pressure. He shared the pros and cons of each and encouraged me to pick the coverage I believed would best serve my needs. When looking for an agent who truly cares about serving you and your insurance needs, I highly recommend visiting with Christopher Grimmond.” –Rich R.
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
Summer Pizza
Fire up the flavor with a grilled summer pizza loaded with veggies and light on the cheese.
Ingredients • 1 lb pizza dough • 1/4 cup pesto • 1/3 cup shredded quesadilla cheese • 10 thin slices of zucchini • 10 thin slices of summer squash • 2 mini bell peppers, thinly sliced
• 1 thin slice of red onion, diced • 1 strip cooked bacon, chopped Butter Glaze (optional) • 1 tbsp butter • 1 tsp steak seasoning
Directions 1. Preheat grill to high heat on one side. 2. Reduce the flame on half of the grill burners to low. 3. Roll out pizza dough into a circle. Place dough on the grill over high heat. 4. Close the cover and let dough grill for 1–3 minutes until bottom is slightly cooked and shows char marks. 5. Use tongs to flip crust over and move it to the low-heat side. 6. Brush dough with pesto, sprinkle with cheese, and evenly distribute veggies and bacon. 7. Grill for about 3 minutes until cheese is melted; then carefully remove. 8. Optional: Combine butter and seasoning. Brush crust edges with butter glaze and place pizza in broiler until golden.
402-614-3389 • 3
11414 W. Center Rd., Suite 250 Omaha, NE 68144
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
402-614-3389 OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com Chris@OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
Code 80929_07012024_MK
INSIDE This Issue
Still Going to Concerts With My Friend
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2
Inspiring Books for Parents Entering the Empty Nest Phase
Medicare Part D Changes Incoming
2
Paris Summer Olympics Will Showcase French Flair
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Testimonial
3
Summer Pizza
4
Tips for a Stress-Free Backyard Barbecue
Grill and Chill Host a Summer
Barbecue for Everyone
Enjoying your own party can be more complicated than it sounds. Backyard barbecues are a high point of summer, but hosting one you enjoy with your guests requires planning. “If swimming is on the agenda, consider protecting new or light-colored indoor furniture with water-resistant covers so guests in wet swimsuits can sit wherever they want without stressing out their host,” says Calla Quinn, a TikTok influencer who recently posted tips on hosting up to 50 friends at your home. Another tip she shares is using portable misting fans in dry climates. These devices create a fine mist to refresh passersby in seconds, and they are especially popular on patios and decks. If attendees offer to bring something, don’t hesitate to accept, and be specific about what you want — from lawn chairs to beach towels. Martha Stewart
recommends having a stain remover on hand to manage stains and cloth towels that guests can use to wipe up spills. Expert hosts also recommend a self- serve bar for casual summer gatherings. Consider filling several 3-gallon drink dispensers with popular options. Depending on your guest list, you might offer family fare such as lemonade, iced tea, ice water, or premixed cocktails like strawberry vodka lemonade or passion fruit margaritas. Martha Stewart suggests allowing amateur mixologists to concoct their own beverages by setting out bottled juices, artisanal sodas, and kombucha. A stylish yet simple way to serve hors d’oeuvres and side dishes to complement your grilled entree is to assemble or have catered a charcuterie board. These feature finger foods such as meats, cheeses, olives, spreads, fruits, nuts, chips, and crackers.
A fully stocked charcuterie board adds a decorative touch while keeping guests well-fed for hours, adding what Quinn calls “a real wow factor.” And to make sure your day ends well, look for disposable, compostable bamboo or wooden dishes. Searching for “eco-friendly tableware and cutlery” should turn up some good options. This one last detail can go a long way toward supporting sustainable living while ensuring you don’t spend any valuable party time cleaning up broken glass or washing dishes.
4 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
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