My List of a Dozen Things Learned During 2020 (minus any Covid facts)

Happy New Year for 2021,
and a Thankful Goodbye to 2020

“Never stop learning” is a frequently-sung refrain. Hopefully, I’ve learned more than these dozen items this past year, but these were the ones I remembered to write down. Keeping your own list might amaze you; and perhaps some on my 2020 list are new to you.

Before going onto my list, I will also add that I have learned life is tough for a ‘blogger.’ As a heads-up, look for something new announced on Aging With Pizzazz soon. In the meantime, I realize that we all have more than we can read, whether from news, magazines and online articles – not to mention forwarded jokes and comics. I remain thankful for the loyal readers I have. I hope you will make a commitment this year to share (in whatever way you do your sharing) at least one of my blogs with friends, family or others.

1. Tip for Color-Blind or Fashioned-Challenged Folks

My ears always perk up when I hear news from the Parsons School of Design in NY since their parent institution (The New School) is one of my alma maters. While a bit slow on the uptake, I was interested to learn that a couple years ago a Parson’s graduate won a sponsored challenge to designers considering needs of older people. Camila Chiriboga’s solution was specifically for the blind or visually impaired, but I trust it will translate to others. The method uses a 3-D tag to identity type, style and color of clothing; including whether it is for casual, business, outdoors or indoors. [You may have seen it pitched on the Shark-Tank TV show.]

Its benefit for visually impaired is obvious, but haven’t you known someone who should take advantage of such a service (even if you don’t make a pronouncement of it)? Men may welcome this since they are more often color-blind than woman (8% of men vs. 0.5% of women). Lots of partners could get a break from nagging, or answering questions about what to wear or “does this go together.”

2. Where to Sit to Pass a Kidney Stone?

Renal Calculi are incredibly painful. [See guest blog: “Childbirth for Men” by Wayne Morgan.] If it’s possible to simply sit somewhere special to pass a kidney stone, I think a lot of people will be thrilled to avoid the surgery, restrictive diets and intense pain. So where to sit? In a roller-coaster! And its’ best to sit in the back seats (64% stone passage vs. 17% in front seats).

Perhaps you are wondering if this is a joke; it isn’t. After numerous accounts, a study was conducted and published in the Journal of American Osteopathic Association that explained research using a 3D model to emulate the stone’s reaction to a roller coaster. (Big Thunder Mountain Railroad thrill ride at Orlando’s Disney World was used.) The best ones (for ‘real’ life stone passage) move at about 40 mph and have quick drops and sharp turns. By the way, for those who pretty much hate such attractions, the Big Thunder Railroad is much easier to tolerate than the god-awful Space Mountain. (Just an opinion.) Using a roller coaster to pass a kidney stone may be odd, but worth a shot for little expense. People who have experienced the coaster’s benefit evidently weren’t surprised by the research findings. Still, don’t you have to wonder how someone with an active kidney stone was even capable of getting on such a ride without knowing about this possible-positive outcome?

3. US Coast Line

Did I previously know this and just forget it? Or do I simply find it so challenging to believe, that it’s difficult to remember? Of the entire United States coastline more than half is in Alaska. While the Shoreline mileage (‘statue miles’) as per NOAA can be confusing (since small islands off states are combined), Alaska has 33,904 miles according to them. [You may see figures anywhere from 38K to 44K.] Still, Alaska has more shoreline than all other continental states combined.

4. Gum-Chewing Tally

Game Score: Chewing 1; Abstaining: 2.

While I mentioned in a blog sometime past that a study from Cardiff University in Wales chalked up a plus for gum chewing (they found chewers more accurate and quicker in recall responses); here is another negative. Aside from the TMJ discomfort gum chewing causes or exacerbates in many, it has another dark side. Evidently, chewing gum can release 15% more mercury vapors for those who still have amalgam fillings (very common for seniors). [Note: having a dentist remove amalgam fillings also releases mercury, which is why many people cautiously wait until individual fillings need replacing. I heard about a dentist in my town that removes all fillings at once while wearing a hazmat suit. Hmmm.]

5. Celebrating Fika

Unaware that I was keeping with my Swedish heritage, this is something we do almost daily in our house. Fika is the tradition of pausing in the day for coffee and a pastry. This could be bad advice for quality diets, but when not overdone, it can be a lovely mental-health break. It’s kind of a recess I always look forward to as the day progresses. Giving it a name (or rather, discovering it has a name) creates a splendid sweet spot in the afternoon. [See the next daily step after Fika at napachino.] Oh yes, it is pronounced Feeka (emphasizing ‘fee’ – as in the cost of something), not sounding like the Ficus tree.

6. Not a First Responder

At the end of 2020, posted signs thanking first responders were common in southern Oregon. The September fires that ravaged the land couldn’t stop the gratefulness for a helping hand – whether the hand is from a first responder with a ‘job’ or one that volunteers. But what about the term “last responder?” I had never heard it. A last responder is one who strives to determine the cause or reason for a death, such as a coroner’s investigation. They are sometimes referred to as MDIs (medicolegal death investigators) but ‘last responder’ says it all.

7. Entomophagy

The technical term for the practice of including insects in the diet, or eating insects, is entomophagy. The “Ento Diet” may be the next big thing (or very small). [See Insects & Health – the Good, Bad, & the Ugly just in case you are ready for the barbecue.]

Don’t let the idea of eating insects bug you.
It’s only a matter of taste.

8. Politics and Policies

So I think EVERYONE may have learned this, but I couldn’t resist including it. Friends won’t be surprised if I say that I pride myself in knowing a bit about government election processes and polices, but this one passed under my radar until this year. AND I suspect you learned more about it than you expected (or wished). Still, just in case it passed your notice, here is a tidbit about presidential transitions and inaugurations — namely, where does the money come from?

Transitions are a massive undertaking. The money for it (and the inauguration) is released after the presidential election (as per process and protocol in normal years) by the low-profile agency, General Services Administration (GSA). This money is used through the transition period until Inauguration Day for salaries, computer/communication systems, administrative support and more to set up a new government. This process (for both administrative briefings and release of money) became more important after 1933 when the transition period was shortened (from March 4 to January 20). The GSA agency is in charge of funding for use of federal buildings, office space and equipment for the transition (with taxpayer money).

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Keeping with a theme of ‘unprecedented’ by the out-going administration, after Joe Biden was declared President-elect, a Trump-administration appointee refused to sign a letter releasing funds for the transition. I won’t cover the speculated reasons for this action, but the controversy is what brought the GSA’s function as ‘the pocketbook’ to everyone’s attention.

For a bit more background, the GSA Administrator Emily Murphy had previously come under criticism from the agency watchdogs (and Democrats). Two controversies surrounded her regarding financial-favoritism: the planned consolation of FBI headquarters (which Trump wanted changed from a previously agreed-upon compromised plan); and a lease that the agency granted to the Trump company for its D.C. hotel, located at the (federally owned) Old Post Office Pavilion.

Under Murphy’s guidance (during the Trump administration), the GSA repeatedly declined to provide House Democrats requested documents; this included monthly income statements it was to receive from the Trump company. Despite the inspector general determining it was “improper” for the GSA to ignore the requests, the GSA defended itself by explaining they themselves “found no undue influence, pressure or unwarranted involvement of any kind by anyone.” Thus, the controversial GSA behavior continued after the election with a long delayed announcement for the transition process.

9. Zleep – Senior Seeping Patch

Is this for real? I never feel confident about any product for at least a year; when the hype wears down, the testimonials are calmed, and pros and cons are more available. Still, products for good sleep interest me. Anyone who reads AgingwithPizzazz.com knows that I am a strong advocate for the advantages of sleep. It is vital to our health, mental health and our looks (see: Are Dark Circles & Eye Bags Inevitable as we Age? Yes- No- Maybe.)

I know some people feel doomed to never be great sleepers. I sometimes recommend audio books which work for me (I have a timer to turn off the device), but I have had friends who find books “too stimulating.” Another remedy, Melatonin, while often effective for jet lag is much less so for chronic sleep disorders, despite its frequent prescribed use. Many sleep aids are expensive and not very valuable for the long haul. You can find Zleep for about $1/patch and they claim the effectiveness is both “short and long-term.” Total Heath Reports did a review here (not the most glowing). Consumer Review does not include them in their top three products but Zleep may have been too new for their consideration when the list came out.

It will be a while before we know if the Zleep product helps people any more than other products do. For those people who aren’t good sleepers, they may not have anything to lose other than money? However, it’s still wise to be careful.

While Zleep is ‘all natural’ we have come to understand that this doesn’t always translate to ‘all safe.’ Still, looking at the ingredients, nothing seems wildly risky, and possibly the synergy of the elements boosts the effect. Although I am unsure if ingredients are limited to these, it includes: melatonin, L-Theanine (an amino acid), Herbs like Valerian, Chamomile, and Ashwagandha – most of which I have covered before as reputable ingredients. As a warning, while reading their reference notes, I noticed the footnotes are general facts being referenced and not necessarily about the product itself. There ARE other sleep patches; one may work for you. Nevertheless, and as with any remedies, I strongly suggest a bit of reading.

10. American Passports?

I was lucky to visit China two years ago, as I think that destination (particularly) has dried up in many minds, both politically and health-wise. Fewer have traveled this year, and hesitation to travel abroad may persist for a while. But, how many people COULD travel internationally? Meaning, how many have a passport? The numbers vary. A few years back, posts on social media claimed only 20% of Americans have a passport. But according to State Department accounting, the number of passports issued over the past 10 years represents about 37-39% of the population. (This does not separate out the number of those born in the US to demonstrate travel by non-immigrants — an important point since “Americans” are notoriously infrequent foreign travelers.)

While 39% may not sound like an impressive number of willing and curious Americans, it’s an increase, and hopefully won’t decline from here (after our Covid year). Traveling outside the US provides so many new perspectives, such as terrain, art, cultural differences, government, traditions, and food. The future possibility of safe travel allows us to dream of a time in which we are all free to be adventurers once more.

11. Childhood Cake Rediscovered

Okay, it’s actually just the frosting, not the entire cake. My mom died without leaving me the recipe that I so love (at least in my memory). Worse is that I was never certain of the actual name; she called it “boiled” frosting. Perhaps it is a Northeast-region delicacy. An Arizona friend, who grew up as a Pennsylvania farm-girl, said her grandmother called it “dream cloud,” but I still couldn’t find it. Thanks to two industrious relatives I now have two versions (pretty similar). After my first draft of this blog, I found another version, so now we have three.

My cousin Bob found it (called “White Mountain Frosting”) in an old Betty Crocker cookbook. The other was from the Food Network. Amazingly this coveted cake-covering recipe is simple (unlike the Sourdough bread I learned to bake this year via a local online Osher Lifelong Learning Institute – OLLI – class). I figured I would share these recipes with you. Healthy? No. But a great way to recreate childhood memories if this was popular in your family. Surprisingly, my cousin said they had this frosting on their wedding cake.

 

12. Jupiter Moons…. This Many and Counting?

In 2009, it was recorded that Jupiter had 49 official moons (and 14 on the ‘waiting list’). A few years later it was 53. Now Jupiter is prided with 79 moons (63 of them are less than 10 km / 6.2 mi in diameter). See map of the outer moons of Jupiter here. With all those moons it must be a romantic place.

As a New Year’s goal to relax, breath a bit more, and be thankful to see the back end of 2020, give yourself a couple minutes to enjoy a blast from the past……..

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Title Picture by drb

 

 

 

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