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January 2023 Grinch Heart Grows
THROUGH GRANDCHILDREN’S VISIT AND BALLET
I’m turning into the Grinch. I dread the barrage of Christmas songs on the radio starting before Thanksgiving. “Jingle Bells” is like Chinese water torture dripping endlessly on my brain. Television is a ceaseless litany of perfume and jewelry commercials pounding at the psyche.
she was a professional dancer — a ballerina with the American Midwest Ballet.
only date boys with Platinum or Black American Express cards. She said she would never go out with boys. I was the only boy she would go out with. Oh, how early the lying begins! On Sunday, we got the phone call that Sam’s hair was curled, and she was patiently waiting, which was short for come pick me up now! We drove to the show in complete silence. It was like going to church. I couldn’t get Sam to say a word. Going to the ballet, particularly “The Nutcracker,” is a solemn business, I guess. The chandeliers and heavy velvet curtains bedazzled Sam when we stepped into the Orpheum. I was surprised by how many kids were at the matinee. It was as though they let the Omaha grade schools out for the occasion. The crowd was loud. It sounded like the lunchroom at school. Ushers wandered about with their hushed warning chimes as the lights dimmed. We snuggled into our seats, and Tchaikovsky’s intro to “The Nutcracker” began. In pitch black, the main curtain rose, and the breathtaking colors of the Stahlbaum family grand ballroom overwhelmed us with the most beautiful tree imaginable. Clara and her brother, Fritz, were playing and teasing one another when Uncle Drosselmeyer showed up with two life-size mechanical dolls that danced. Sam squealed with glee when the cute little mice scurried on stage, but she was upset with the Rat King who hurt the Nutcracker. Then, she cheered with delight when Clara knocked out the Rat King when she hefted her slipper.
Samantha had just started dance class, and getting her to class every week was becoming a challenge. I thought if she met a real ballerina, it might inspire some motivation. I also knew “The Nutcracker” was coming up, so I asked
As the Christmas season was ramping up, we got to babysit the grandbabies.
Kogan, my bartender-ballerina, if she would be interested in giving my granddaughter a backstage tour after the show. Kogan was equally sweet and sparkled at the opportunity. “Of course, I would.”
While riding in the car, a sweet little voice singing “Jingle Bells,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Felix Navidad,” and myriad other carols in a mellifluous voice from the back seat invaded my ears. My heart softened.
“The Nutcracker” was on Dec. 4.
Sam’s wardrobe is not overly formal. Jeans and T-shirts are not the usual attire for ballet, so I decided to sweeten the deal with some shopping. I was nervous she might not want to wear something formal. I was very wrong. Since I was paying, I got to go along. With my credit card in hand, Nana Bev led the expedition to Von Maur.
As a bachelor for all those years, I was never much for decorations. I was happy with my Charlie Brown Christmas tree, but with the grandkids, Bev transforms our house into a winter wonderland that would make Mr. and Mrs. Claus proud. The twinkling lights transfix Jake, the 3-year-old. Presents produce even more audible wonder of oohs and aahs. Jake knows the rule, however. He can’t open presents until Christmas, so he patiently pets the boxes like dogs in anticipation. As a small insurance agency, I’m the chief marketing officer, among other things, so I network, build connections, and talk to anyone and everyone with an ear. At a restaurant near our house, I struck up a conversation with one of the bartenders. I observed she had impeccable posture compared to her confreres who were leaning on counters and slouched over chairs. With chagrin, she agreed. She explained that it was probably because
Turns out no one likes my taste in clothes. Every suggestion I made was met with icy-cold stares and quickly shot down. It’s incredible how cold a 7 year old’s eyes can be regarding dresses and shoes. I’m sure I would have been ditched along the road to the store if I wasn’t paying. As it turns out, the apple falls only a short distance from the tree. Sam, like her Nana, is already developing high-end taste. I was surprised at her strong opinions on shoes and purses. I told her she should
Dark rooms in the middle of the afternoon are not my friend. Sitting still for two hours
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Medicare Insurance Made Easy
402-614-3389 • 1
SHARING YOUR TIME CAN BECOME YOUR FAVORITE EXERCISE VOLUNTEER TO KEEP YOUR BODY AND MIND ACTIVE
Staying active is increasingly vital to our health as we age. But pain, injury, or the lack of an exercise location can limit how we keep fit. But luckily, there is an easy way to have an active lifestyle without lifting weights or joining a gym: volunteer! Here are three reasons volunteering can be your new favorite exercise if you’re looking to flex some physical, mental, or social “muscle.” IT MOVES YOU. Volunteering offers different ways to move your body! Even small things like strolling through a park to pick up litter, navigating around a soup kitchen, or directing visitors at your local donation center keep you active. Most organizations are happy to modify more strenuous activities (like lifting heavy boxes or walking up a steep hill) to fit your abilities. So, even if you’re just beginning
an exercise habit, volunteering is a perfect initial step in your fitness journey.
more connected to others, and some of these people may even become friends when the job is complete. If you want to get active but don’t know of volunteer opportunities in your area, visit VolunteerMatch.org and enter your zip code to find local in-person options. Help yourself and others by making volunteer work your go-to exercise!
YOUR BRAIN EXPANDS. When you volunteer with others, you usually have a common goal, like feeding the community, cleaning up a park, or planting a garden. Joining others to accomplish a task provides a significant brain boost, and studies show camaraderie increases positive thoughts and feelings. On top of feeling better, volunteering keeps your mind agile. By working hard to solve a problem, you’re using more neural pathways, which helps keep mental decline at bay. YOU FORM CONNECTIONS. As we mentioned earlier, when you show up to volunteer, others usually attend for the same reason. Socializing with the group can help you feel less isolated and
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Then came the beehive of hallways behind the stage and the warren of dressing rooms. The costumes and headdresses bedazzled Sam. The sparkling sequence made her eyes twinkle. Sam was agog. At the end of our tour, Kogan asked Sam if she would like to do what ballerinas do on stage. She was speechless. Kogan said they needed little girls for the spring’s upcoming “Wizard of Oz” performance. “Would you like to be in the ‘Wizard of Oz’?” Kogan asked. Sam
has a drowsing effect on me. Sam and Bev cruelly mocked me when my head nodded up and down.
When the curtain finally went down, I texted Kogan that we would be out in the main foyer on the ground floor. Then school was out. Hundreds of noisy children were chattering away. It reminded me of my days running grade schools when the school bell rang to let the kids out. All the hours of artificially imposed quiet explode in a wild, raucous bedlam of running and yelling.
pounced like a rabid cat on a mouse. “Would you like to wear a costume?” I thought her head would come off her shoulders she nodded so hard. The tour ended, and Kogan excused herself because she needed to help pack everything up. The dance troupe was taking the show on the road the next day. Bev and I led a little Sam, who glided out of the theater, to dinner. She said very little as she ate her french fries and thought about the afternoon.
Kogan found us, and Samantha was transfixed. Kogan still wore her sparkling makeup and was attired in a vibrant green frock. Sam gazed on with pie eyes and enthusiastic nods as Kogan asked her questions and told her about key aspects of the performance.
My wife and I became invisible as Sam floated behind Kogan as she led us backstage. We all stepped behind the curtain and saw the mechanics of the stage: computers and cameras, wires and weights, stage scenes and lighting. The backstage is a stark contrast to the magical view from the audiences’ seats. We saw the Christmas cake prop, and Kogan opened the back and showed us how the ballerinas hid inside the cake.
I felt, for my part, a new spirit of Christmas I hadn’t felt in a long while. Children remind us of the wonder we all once felt around the Christmas season — the colors, the symbols, the mystery, and the grandeur. Sam and her sweet little voice was my Mary Lou Who that enlarged my Grinch heart and reignited my Christmas spirit.
–Christopher J. Grimmond
2 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
Testimonial
Medicare Part D Explained
January begins a new calendar year for Medicare. What does that mean for your Part D prescription drug plans in 2023? For most members with a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, you have a deductible. The Part D deductible for 2023 is currently $505. The Part D deductible for 2022 was $480, which is a 5% increase. The deductible is the amount you initially pay out of your pocket before the plan begins paying. The deductible is vital because it keeps the overall cost of medications low and prevents members from overusing the Part D plans. I bring the deductible up in our newsletter because I get distressed phone calls every year in January, February, and March after clients go to the pharmacy. Sticker shock motivates clients to call, shouting that they can’t afford $500 monthly for their medications. I remind them they are in the deductible phase of the plan. Once they meet their deductible, the medication will decrease to around $45 per month. Since it’s been an entire year that a deductible was paid, it is understandable that people forget. For those paying the deductible all at once in January for the first time, the deductible experience will be a new and shocking surprise. Please, call me, a licensed agent, if you want to vent or get a better understanding of how your medications will play out in 2023. I don’t know about you, but $505 is a lot of money to pay out all of a sudden, especially if you were not planning on it. I’m usually all tapped out by January because my trophy wife, high-maintenance stepchildren, and grandchildren require much maintenance around Christmas.
Once you have met your Medicare Part D deductible for the year, your Tier 3, 4, and 5 medications will be the amount listed in your handbook during the initial phase before the Gap. Please, consult my other blogs about the Gap/Donut Hole. Most people, however, will not fall into the Gap and will pay minimal copays for the remainder of the year. It is the deductible that is the big obstacle. Clients ask, “Are there other Part D plans without a deductible?” There are a few, but the monthly premiums are much higher, and the copays are generally higher, too. When I run your medications through the Part D medication calculator, I look primarily at the total annual cost. The winner for you is the plan with the lowest annual cost and with at least a three-star rating. The calculator combines the monthly premium, deductibles, copays, and Gap — if applicable — and spits out a total number for the year. That is the plan you want to use. As for the Medicare star rating, you want to have at least three stars. More is better. There is no point in having the cheapest Part D plan if you never get your medications, or the insurance company is so painful to deal with that you need additional medications to handle it. January to March is when Part D plans remind most people that they have a deductible. Don’t be shocked. There is nothing wrong. You just need to meet the deductible to get to the lower cost for your medications for the remainder of the year.
“My wife and I were very impressed with Chris and his ability to patiently explain Medicare and the various options available. Chris is very knowledgeable and experienced, plus he is an absolute pleasure to
work with. With his assistance, we now feel confident about our coverage decisions. We would highly recommend visiting with Chris as a critical first step in moving to Medicare.” –Tom & Suzi F.
Easy Cherry Cobbler
Inspired by Life-In-The-Lofthouse.com
On a cold winter night, few things are better than warm bites of yummy cobbler. This recipe’s sweet and fluffy crust perfectly balances the tart cherry filling to create the ultimate after-dinner treat. Ingredients • 1/4 cup salted butter, melted • 1 cup cake flour or all-purpose flour • 1 cup granulated sugar • 1 tsp baking powder • 1 cup milk • 1 21-oz can cherry pie filling Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In the bottom of a 2.5-quart baking dish, pour melted butter. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk until combined. 4. In the baking dish, pour batter over the butter, and don’t stir. Then, pour the cherry pie filling over the batter, and don’t stir. 5. Bake 45 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
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11414 W. Center Rd., Suite 250 Omaha, NE 68144 402-614-3389 OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
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INSIDE This Issue
Christmas Spirit Revived
1
2
Volunteer to Stay Active
3
Medicare Part D Explained
3
Testimonial
Easy Cherry Cobbler
3
4
Tips for a Cozy Winter Picnic
4 Tips for a Successful Winter Picnic It’s Cozy Season!
This time of year, we all enjoy nestling up by a fire, cuddling under a blanket on the couch, or enjoying a warm cup of joe at the local coffee shop. If someone were to propose a winter picnic at the local park, you’d probably think they were crazy. But don’t be so quick to dismiss the idea. With these four tips for hosting a winter picnic, you’ll be up for having lunch outside in January any time. KEEP WARM Maintaining heat in winter is at the forefront of all concerns, and your winter picnic is no different. Be sure to pack hats, scarves, gloves, blankets, socks, and an extra set of clothing for unexpected changes in the weather. Believe it or not, a large beach umbrella is extremely helpful in protecting you from the winter elements. You can even plan some active picnic games to keep your body moving and the heat flowing! LIGHT A BONFIRE If the location of your picnic permits, light a fire to cozy up next to. Some beaches and campgrounds have designated firepit areas to start a fire while enjoying a warm winter meal. You can even cook your food over the fire! Remember to be careful when building a fire in the wilderness and take proper safety precautions.
PACK HOT MEALS Picnics are all about ease and relaxation! Here are some toasty and hearty winter picnic meal ideas to help warm you up:
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Soup Stew
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Pot pie
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Loaded baked potatoes
Toasted sandwich or panini
Quiche
Warm brownies
Chili
Baked mac and cheese
KEEP IT SIMPLE Remember, it doesn’t need to be complicated! Even just a thermos of hot chocolate; some warm, freshly baked cookies; a bunch of blankets; and hats and gloves are plenty for a winter picnic — ultimately, it’s all about soaking up the beauty of the most wonderful time of the year!
4 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
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