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From Crayons to College Perspectives on Parenting Grown Kids
Change is a natural part of life, but few times throughout the year bring it more than May. As we approach Memorial Day weekend, we’re beginning to see the last remaining seasonal residents return home for the summer to spend time with their families and friends there. At my home, major things are happening that will soon change my family dynamic forever. First, my daughter Lindsay turns 18 this month and will soon graduate from high school. Although she is still finalizing her college plans as I write the article, this will likely be the last summer our family can count on to spend together before she moves on to the next chapter of her life. Meanwhile, my baby, Caleb, turns 16 in May — meaning that I’ll soon reach the age when all four of my children are drivers. I don’t know where the time went, but I’ve somehow ended up with three adult children and a fourth who’ll be a high school junior when fall comes around. With May also being Older Americans Month, I look at these milestones in my family and realize how precious — and fast-moving — life really is. A few weeks back, I met with a lovely couple in their 70s, but I could swear they were in their 50s! Perhaps my perspective of what “older” means has changed slightly in recent years. When I was a kid, 70 seemed so far away. Now, as a father of adult children making their own decisions and following their own paths, it feels much closer. In many ways, children teach us as much as we teach them. Being a dad has taught me the value of patience, listening, and being there when they come to me for care and guidance. Without question, raising them has helped me be a more present and mindful person here at the firm. At the same time, my interactions with clients and their families over the years and the stories they’ve shared about raising children — and what they did right and the mistakes they made along the way — have provided perspectives that have helped me be the best parent possible. I thank my clients for helping to teach a new dad how to raise kids over the years. Taking the experiences I’ve
learned from clients and applying them to parenthood at home has been the greatest gift I’ve ever received in my line of work. When my kids were little, people would tell me, “Enjoy this time. You only get the diapers and the boo-boos for a short period. You’ll miss it when it’s gone.” That’s all true, but I also believe our hearts should always focus on the present and future. Today, I see four outstanding young individuals becoming the people they were meant to be. Tomorrow, they will all inevitably move on to where they don’t need Mom and Dad as much. Further down the line, they’ll have their own families, and my wife and I will depart from their everyday lives entirely. This reality makes me realize more than ever how essential it is to protect your legacy through estate planning. We may not influence every significant change that affects our lives, but we can put solid plans in place to ensure those changes are positive for ourselves and the ones we love.
–Michael Hill
1 (239) 265-9779
MAY 2025
Secrets of the Silent Tombs
INSIDE THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA
investigations into their origins, purpose, and, of course, more than a few wild (and sometimes otherworldly) theories. Guidance for Gods Most people today create an estate plan to determine what happens to their most cherished possessions upon their deaths. However, pharaohs — the rulers of ancient Egypt — adhered to the practice of taking everything with them to the afterlife. Pyramids were built as tombs pointing toward the gods and contained items that would help ensure a pharaoh’s safe journey after death as they transcended their earthly existence and became gods. Building Legends The first of three major pyramids built at Giza was also the largest. Construction began around 2550 B.C. at the behest of Pharaoh Khufu. Standing nearly 500 feet above the plateau, the pyramid is constructed of
more than 2 million stone blocks weighing between 2.5 and 15 tons each. The second pyramid was built circa 2520 B.C. for Khufu’s son, Khafre, whose burial site also includes the world-renowned Sphinx. The third and smallest Giza pyramid was constructed circa 2490 B.C. for Khafre’s son, Menkaure. Architecture From Aliens? Scientists and architectural experts have marveled at the pyramids’ precise designs for centuries, leading many to question how builders created these monuments so perfectly so long ago. One theory suggested that aliens — not humans — formulated and implemented the pyramids’ layout and construction. While this conclusion inspires many sci-fi movies, scientists believe the pyramids were created using copper drills, saws, and chisels held in human palms and were most likely not the handiwork of industrious extraterrestrial beings.
Few monuments have perplexed historians — and spurred on conspiracy theorists — more than the Pyramids of Giza. Still standing after more than 4,500 years, these extraordinary tombs offer insight into ancient humanity’s ingenuity and the culture of ancient Egypt. Naturally, their existence has led to extensive
B r a i n B r i l l i a
Secrets to Sustained Sharpness
Who you are often depends on how well you think. As we age, we commonly experience times when our memory and comprehension skills play tricks on us. Sometimes, these events are normal reminders to slow down and not allow stress and hefty schedules to steer our lives; in other instances, they may indicate serious cognitive issues we need to address. Either way, we can follow simple steps to help us minimize those “senior moments.” Here are a few surprising facts to guide your thoughts in a clearer direction. Miami’s Map to Cognitive Clarity We all know maintaining a consistent exercise routine does wonders for our bodies, but getting up and moving also holds the key to our cognitive strength. In addition 2 floridaestateplanning.com
to better prompting the flow of lymph fluids, exercise helps blood reach our brains to ensure proper function. If you’re a senior wondering how much to exercise to promote these desired effects, you can thank the Sunshine State for providing a scientific answer. Seven years ago, a research project at the University of Miami explored the findings of several dozen studies conducted on over 10,000 seniors with an average age of 73. This extensive endeavor revealed that seniors’ ability to fulfill tasks and comprehend information dramatically improved if they exercised for at least 52 hours over six months. The Glorious Benefits of Great Tunes The music you love is more than just the soundtrack of your life — it’s one of the
most significant ways to help keep your physical and mental health strong. Research suggests that listening to music has a considerable positive effect on our immune systems and blood pressure and can aid in reducing common symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. Although any music that evokes positive feelings is suitable for this purpose, scientists have found that classical music, in particular, has proven advantages for our brain and heart health.
GOLDEN YEARS BE GONE? Reevaluating Retirement
According to a recent report by Newsweek, 64 is the average age at which most Floridians call it a day at work for the last time and embrace retirement. For some, reaching this stage of life means basking in the glow of fewer responsibilities and more time to devote to hobbies, travel, and relaxation. However, many others have reached their employment finish line only to feel unfulfilled in their new lives. Here are a few perspectives on whether retirement is still the optimal way to enjoy your later years. The Truth About Timed Retreats If world history has taught us anything, it is that societal practices often considered positive were founded on questionable principles.
In 19th-century Germany, they instituted a retirement system to give older workers a financial incentive to leave their jobs and allow new opportunities for younger generations. While this move may seem altruistic, it was actually an attempt to quiet disruptive protests by the nation’s unemployed workforce. Here in the U.S., the Social Security Act of 1935 established the distribution of benefits to citizens who had reached 65 — something that may seem laudable until you learn our country’s average life expectancy was 62 at the time. Ways to Postpone the Pivot Fortunately, people live longer now than in the ’30s — and research shows that average residents in our state live until just a few months shy of 80. Depending on a person’s physical and mental well-being, they could enjoy an active and prosperous life beyond the previously expected timeline. These days, it’s common to see seniors embrace new careers as industry consultants, community leaders, leaders in the nonprofit sector, and more. Reaching 64 is no longer a time to put yourself out to pasture; it’s a time to explore new possibilities for personal and professional fulfillment.
Ultimately, your decision whether to retire should always be based on your wishes and unique personal circumstances and never prompted by what you’re supposed to do at a certain age.
TAKE A BREAK!
INGREDIENTS
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1 1/2 cup heavy cream, divided 1 cup milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips (6 oz)
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Optional Garnish: Grated chocolate, crushed nuts, toffee, or brittle
DIRECTIONS 1. In a microwave-safe bowl, put 1/2 cup of cream in the microwave for 1 minute. 2. Stir in chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes, then whisk until smooth. 3. In a separate bowl, beat the remaining 1 cup of cream with a hand mixer or whisk until soft peaks form. 4. Set aside 1/2 cup of whipped cream for topping, and continue whipping the remaining cream until stiff peaks form. 5. Gently fold whipped cream into the cooled chocolate mixture in batches, mixing until combined but still light and fluffy. 6. Spoon into four ramekins or glasses, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. 7. Top with reserved whipped cream and garnish if desired.
ANSWER ON TOP OF PAGE 4
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INSIDE this issue
SUDOKU ANSWER
Children and New Chapters PAGE 1 Stone Shrines and Pharaohs’ Peace PAGE 2 Make Your Mind Move PAGE 2 More Beyond 64 PAGE 3 Silky Chocolate Mousse PAGE 3 Record-Breaking Russian Mom Gives Birth to 69 Children PAGE 4
The best compliments we receive are your referrals. When you refer us to your loved ones, we do all we can to exceed expectations.
i n d GUINNESS NAMES WORLD’S MOST PRODUCTIVE MOTHER You may have heard of Octomom, the California mother of 14 who gave birth to octuplets, or the woman in Morocco who gave birth to nonuplets in 2021, all nine of whom are alive and well. These record-breaking moms have nothing on Mrs. Feodor Vassilyev. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the 18th-century Russian woman gave birth to 69 children — including 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets, and four sets of quadruplets! Even the Guinness editors admit the story seems unlikely, but they cite “numerous contemporaneous sources” to back the story. The first was a monastery in the town of Nikolsk, northeast of Moscow, where monks recorded and reported the births to Moscow officials in 1782. The Lancet, a respected medical journal, recounted in 1878 an account by French researchers from the “Statistical Works of Russia,” showing that Mrs. Vassilyev’s husband had spawned 87 children by
two wives. Separately, The Gentleman’s Magazine, an 18th and 19th- century English periodical, published a report by a writer claiming to have an original letter, dated 1782, saying that O.S. Feodor Wassilief (sic), age 75, had 69 children via 27 births by his first wife and 18 children via eight births by his second wife, for a total of 87 offspring! Citing information from an English merchant in St. Petersburg, the writer said 84 of the children had survived, and the father had been invited to meet the empress, Catherine the Great. The first Mrs. Vassilyev’s remarkable record suggests that she was pregnant for 243 months, or more than 20 years, of her life — more than half the average life expectancy of Russian women in that era!
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