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May 2024
SPRINGTIME RENEWAL Future-Proof Your Legacy by Updating Your Estate Plan
Emerging from winter into spring can spark new energy for decluttering our homes and organizing our lives. We are starting anew. While you’re busy cleaning up, looking through boxes and bins, and turning over a new leaf in general, consider doing your loved ones a favor by adding a review of your estate plan to your to-do list. Here’s why. A Timely Tune-Up Like so many responsibilities in life, we may devote time and attention to creating an estate plan and then say, “Great, we’re done,” check it off our list, and put it in a file. After years pass, some people can’t find their original plan. Others misremember the contents or mistakenly believe they have updated their plan to reflect important life changes. Then I have to remind them, “That’s not what this says.” Maintaining an estate plan is like maintaining a car. You can’t just put gas in the tank and keep driving. You have to tune it up occasionally, replace outdated parts, and check the tires. The alternative is having a breakdown or blowing a tire on the interstate. If more than one U.S. presidential election has passed since you last revisited your estate plan, you are probably due for an update. Your life circumstances have probably changed. Perhaps you have inherited assets, or the family has expanded WORKSHOP Have you (or your clients) “been meaning” to get a plan in place? It’s easy to get started with our 7 Hazards to Your Estate Plan Workshop . This free workshop explains the key planning concepts, documents, and the factors in selecting a plan that is right for you. Plus, workshop participants receive a complimentary consultation with no obligation to retain our services. The workshop is available on demand or in person, so stop thinking about a plan and create one. Register online at PromiseLaw.com/Estate-Planning-Workshop or call (757) 690-2470.
or contracted via births, deaths, marriage, or divorce. Maybe your family’s needs have evolved. Some parents create a will naming a guardian for their children and making the same person their executor. Within a few years, the children’s needs or the guardian’s availability may have changed. Spring is an excellent time to locate your estate planning documents. Ask yourself whether someone who didn’t know you could find all the information they would need to carry out your wishes without your explaining it to them. We recommend clients prepare a summary of all their accounts, the institutions where they are held, contact information for people named in their documents, and instructions on handling any memorial services. Also, some clients planning overseas travel call us on short notice to update their estate plans because they are concerned about the risk of illness or accidents. As much as I would like to help them, I’m typically booked four weeks out. If you’re not sure your plan would reflect your wishes should the worst happen, act early to revise it. Starting Fresh If you don’t have an estate plan, consider drawing on the momentum you built by filing your taxes last month to gather documents for creating one. Estate planning may seem like a time-consuming burden, but it’s a gift for survivors whose loved ones have made the effort. It provides clear guidance at a time when they need it most. And while you may incur some legal costs, leaving your loved ones with a solid plan is far less expensive than leaving them to untangle a costly mess caused by a flawed plan or no plan at all.
If you need to create an estate plan or update an existing one, please contact our office today. We can help you with all the steps necessary to lay a firm foundation for you and your loved ones’ future. –Geneva N. Perry, Esq.
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How Oklahoma Claimed Its Panhandle
The shape of Oklahoma is quite unusual. It is an uneven square with a
shaky legal status. Bootleggers in the region operated with impunity. They founded Beer City, a sanctuary of brothels and saloons. Finally, in 1890, Oklahoma Territory incorporated the Panhandle, and this rectangle became part of Oklahoma in 1907. Settlers could now claim their land under the Homestead
rectangular parcel of land jutting from the map’s left side, giving the state a saucepan- like shape. This parcel of land is thus called the Panhandle. Despite its unassuming landscape, it has one of the most fascinating histories of any region in America.
It was owned or occupied by Native tribes, Spain, and Mexico until the Republic of Texas claimed it in 1845, when Texas became a state. Even though Texas was a slave state, the Panhandle was above the line created by the Missouri Compromise, meaning states below 36 degrees 30 minutes north latitude were “slave states,” whereas those above weren’t. So, Texas relinquished its claim on the Panhandle. It was no longer part of any state. The federal government designated the nascent Panhandle as the Public Land Strip, subject to squatter’s rights. Settlers built towns and defended their own communities. These towns were rife with outlaws who took advantage of the
Act, allowing them to mortgage their property to invest in farming equipment. Land developers built railroads, and the area’s population grew. Unfortunately, the Panhandle was the epicenter of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. Agriculture crumbled, and people left. The Panhandle’s population still hasn’t recovered: Less than 1% of the state’s population lives there. Today, ghost towns populate the Panhandle’s expansive horizon. Beer City has since become a wheat field, but some brave tourists still visit this narrow patch of land, keen on seeing its many abandoned places.
HOW FREDERIC J. BAUR MADE PRINGLES A HOUSEHOLD NAME
The Pringles can is both iconic and comedic. Its distinctive long cylindrical shape protects the stackable chips and gets many a hand almost stuck. But did you know this packaging has a rich history that goes back half a century? In 1966, Procter and Gamble tasked a food storage technician, Frederic J. Baur, with developing a revolutionary container for a new potato chip. Baur, who held a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, set out to create a packaging solution that would protect these new, uniquely shaped chips, Pringles. According to Baur’s son, Larry, his dad was determined to design a container that not only served a practical purpose but also stood out on the shelves of supermarkets. In an interview with NPR,
Larry shares what his dad told him, “‘I can’t stand greasy, broken chips.’” This desire fueled him to create packaging that has still not been replicated. Baur said of his father, “He was just so enthusiastic about making something that would be on the cutting edge of science and technology.” He certainly succeeded. The cylindrical shape of the tube carefully protects the saddle-shaped chips from breaking. The resealable lid was another key innovation, allowing consumers to enjoy portions and save the rest for later without compromising any freshness. This innovation took only two short years, debuting on shelves in 1968. The can turned Pringles into a household name. In 2023, the chips generated
$2.76 billion of annual net sales worldwide. Baur was so proud of his creation that when he died in 2008, he requested that some of his ashes be buried in a Pringles can. As we continue to enjoy the crunch of these fresh chips, it’s worth taking a moment to marvel at this history of creativity behind the can that has become a snacking phenomenon worldwide. Thanks, Frederic J. Baur!
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TAKE A BREAK
The brain is like a command center for our bodies; it processes everything, from memories to emotions. Our happiness, cleverness, and general well-being require us to take good care of that gray matter. If we give it what it needs, it will serve us well. Here are a few tips anyone can incorporate into their routine to give their brain some TLC. Keep the phone out of bed. When you transition from asleep to awake in the morning, your brain waves steadily transition from alpha to theta to beta. So, don’t reach for your phone when you open your eyes first thing. Doing so interrupts your brain’s essential waking process, resulting in a slew of adverse effects throughout the day, including making it harder for you to think creatively, among other things. Stop negative self-talk. We’re our own worst critics. Doubting and discouraging ourselves is easy, but pushing away negative self-talk is imperative. It leads to stress and overwhelming perfectionism while harming relationships. It undermines positive self-esteem, confidence, and body image. The cyclical nature of negative self-talk makes it hard to get rid of, often requiring therapy, but cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a standard and effective treatment. Avoid ultra-processed foods. Ultra-processed foods aren’t just bad for your heart; Using These 3 Simple Steps SAFEGUARD YOUR BRAIN HEALTH
BLOOM CINCO COMIC DERBY EMERALD GEMINI GRADUATION LILY MEMORIAL MOTHER
RENEWAL VETERANS
Citrus BBQ Chicken
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
Ingredients
• 8 skin-on chicken leg and thigh pieces
• 3 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce • 2 tsp ground cumin • 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika • Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 1/3 cups ketchup • 2 tbsp brown sugar
they also harm your brain. Hot dogs, sugary sodas, and TV dinners — just a few culprits — harm emotional and cognitive health. One study found that people who eat these things are more
• Juice and zest of 1 orange • Juice and zest of 1 lemon
Directions 1. Place chicken in a large resealable plastic bag. Combine all other ingredients in a small bowl. 2. Reserve 1 cup of the sauce and add the rest to the plastic bag. Toss to evenly coat the chicken and marinate overnight. 3. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add remaining sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer to thicken sauce, about 10 minutes. Set aside. 4. On grill set for medium-high heat, arrange chicken skin side down. Cook until grill marks form, about 4 minutes. Flip chicken, cover grill, and cook until a thermometer inserted into thighs reads 165 F, about 20–25 minutes. 5. Serve with remaining sauce.
likely to have depression and anxiety. Another study correlated high ultra-processed food consumption with an intelligence
decline, especially with aging. It’s unclear why ultra- processed foods are so bad for brains, but the leading theory connects it to gut health. Regardless, abstaining from or reducing your intake of these foods is vital to protecting your mental and physical health.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Include an Estate Plan Update on Your Spring Checklist
The Oklahoma Panhandle: A Historical Gem
2
The Scientist Behind the Pringles Can
Citrus BBQ Chicken
3
Essential Steps to Ensure Your Mental Well-Being
3 Lifestyle Changes to Slow the Aging Process
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3 PROVEN WAYS TO SLOW DOWN THE CLOCK
Age happens naturally, but that doesn’t mean we enjoy the process. Most people don’t want to look older than they feel. If you count yourself among them, you can do a few things to slow down the process. No. 1: Stop Eating Sugar
cell associated with aging. If telomeres get too short, they can’t divide, so they start dying. This happens naturally over time, but alcohol consumption hastens the process. No. 3: Lather on the Sunscreen
The sun gives us life, but it also gives us UV rays. They break down collagen, causing wrinkles while increasing the risk of skin cancer. Even if you’re just running errands, put on sunscreen. Light gets in through windshields and windows. How aging progresses depends on lifestyle choices. While it’s inevitable, making the right changes can support a healthier body in the transition. So, if you avoid sweets, alcohol, and UV rays, you’re doing a great job protecting your body from the ravages of time.
It’s time to finally master that sweet tooth — sugar ages you. It reacts to protein and causes “glycation,” which leads skin to wrinkle and cells to harden. Sugar also hardens collagen, stiffening skin. The more you consume, the more likely you are to suffer these adverse effects. No. 2: Quit Drinking Alcohol While most Americans drink alcohol, these intoxicating imbibements accelerate aging significantly. The substance damages telomeres, the part of a
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