May 2016 - ftlprimetimers.org

Volume 13 No. 5
May 2016
A social club of mature men and those who enjoy their company
President's Message by Henry Penas
At our March General Meeting, we met detective Frank Pilewski who
taught us how to protect ourselves from predators and con artists on
the Internet, on Silver Daddies type sites and in real life. At the April
meeting we met Joe Pundai, a representative of the Neptune Society
who discussed the importance of making arrangements for what
happens to us after we die, rather than leaving that decision to someone else.
On Monday, April 11 there was a letter to the editor of the Sun
Sentinel from an elder law attorney who asked the readers to remember that April 16 is National Health Care Decision Day. I immediately
thought that this special day had something to do with a deadline for
changing Part B or Part D of Medicare. Not even close.
National Health Care Decision Day is a reminder that it’s time to
come to grips with “the kinds of medical treatments you would want in
case you become incapacitated and unable to make those decisions for
yourself”. We still all think we are immortal. But the reality is that it is
too late to make those decisions when it’s actually too late to make
those decisions.
( Continued on Page 4)
Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers Inc. PO Box 100666, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33310
[email protected]
www.ftlprimetimers.org © 2003 Page 1
Mr. May 2016
by Doug Kent
Dawson, New Mexico is not known for many things, but it is now well
recognized world wide for the birth place of our Mr. May (Mr. M). Mr. M was
one of ten children born into this family on December 29, 1944. They were
supported by the labors of their father who worked in the mines and toiled in
the farm fields, while their mother toiled at home. The family moved many
times throughout Mr. M’s early childhood. He started school in Tonville,
Colorado in a two room school house and attended schools in Texas, New
Mexico and Oklahoma, before graduating high school in Brighton, Colorado in
1962. He did play sports and was an average student.
Immediately after high school Mr. M joined the Air Force and did his basic
training at Lackland AFB, in San Antonio, Texas. He spent 18 months in
Kincheloe AFB in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan performing his duties with the
security service. He was then stationed for three and a half years in Spain,
spending 18 months in Madrid and 2 years in Zaragoza.
Upon his return to the States, he began what was to be a long and grueling journey to a Sociology
Degree at the University of Colorado at Denver. He attended school part time on the G.I. Bill at first. It
took 17 years and many part time classes, but he finally did graduate in 1984.
As he went through life Mr. M took several jobs, and moved several times to support himself while he
attended his college classes. In 1978 Mr. M took a position with the Union Pacific Railroad working with
computers. He was promoted in 1981 and began traveling for the Union Pacific as an implementor of
various computer programs. The travel was extensive. In 1986, Mr. M underwent open heart surgery,
thus ending his travel. In 1988 he was able to return to work and became a train dispatcher for the
Union Pacific and moved to Sacramento California. In 1991 ,Union Pacific consolidated their
d ispatching, and Mr. M movd to Omaha, Nebraska to continue his work.
Mr. M lived a normal existence and remained single through out his adult life. At the age of 56 Mr. M
decided to marry. He had several gay encounters earlier in his life and enjoyed them, but did not consider himself a gay man. In 2001 Mr. M took a early retirement from the Union Pacific, and lived with his
wife in Helendale, California until she passed away in 2009. Being lonely and having time on his hands,
Mr. M discovered the Caffmos Community web site for mature gay men and managed to meet several
individuals. He enjoyed the encounters and in 2013 attended the Celebration of Friends in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was at the Celebration that he met Tony and a year later they decided to move in together. They remain together today and both enjoy sunny Florida.
Mr. M enjoys golf and bowling. He participates in Prime Timers and generally enjoys his retired life.
Can you identify this Prime Timer after reading all this information about his life?
(Answer on Page 5)
Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers Inc. PO Box 100666, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33310
[email protected]
www.ftlprimetimers.org © 2003 Page 2
The Fear of Failure by John D. Siegfried
What do Elvis Presley, Michael Jordan, Dr. Seuss, Winston Churchill and Henry Ford have in common? That was the
question Gavin Newsom, then mayor of San Francisco, in a commencement address asked the graduates of San
Francisco State University.
My first response was they all have a common chromosome. They are all male. Therefore, they all have a Y
chromosome. But I knew it had to be a trick question and my answer was too easy. Turns out what these gentlemen
had in common was they were all failures.
Michael Jordan was kicked off his high school basketball team because he wasn’t good enough. Churchill finished last in his class and Henry Ford went bankrupt not once, not twice but three, four, five times. In peddling his
manuscript for Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss was rejected twenty-three times before a publisher finally decided,
“What do I have to lose?”
And Elvis Presley got an F in music.
While this may be a sweet song to the ears of grads at the bottom of the class who struggled to make it into a
cap and gown – and sweeter still to those who hadn’t made the academic cut at all – Newsom’s pitch wasn’t Fail like
these guys did and eventually you’ll succeed. Rather, he was echoing Churchill who said that the secret of all success
is moving from failure to failure with enthusiasm.
That’s a concept with universal applicability. All of us, even those of us who haven’t donned a cap and gown in
decades – or ever for that matter – will at some time fail. The ability to “move from failure to failure with enthusiasm” may be the key to future success even when mortgage foreclosures, business failures and ruptured relationships
seem to be a death knell.
Many people become paralyzed by the fear of failure and won’t heed the old adage of Try, Try Again. FDR captured it beautifully at the start of World War II with his famous declaration, “The only thing we have to fear is fear
itself.” And fear of failure can be even more paralyzing than the actual failure.
But moving from failure to failure with enthusiasm doesn’t apply just to the intrepid and the young.
For those of us who are gay ‘n gray, or gray sans gay, moving from failure to failure with enthusiasm requires
a different kind of stamina. My mortgage is paid and my retirement secure, but I still face failure. Ahead of me may
be heart failure, kidney failure or my lungs may give out. How can you be enthusiastic about that?
You can’t. But one of the unexpected benefits of living in South Florida, or in any retirement area, is seeing
older
individuals who do move from physical threat to physical threat – from failure to failure – with courage, if
not enthusiasm. My friend Bob had a chronic lung disease but still attended cocktail parties and went to the supermarket with an oxygen canister in tow. Whenever I met him we’d laugh when, with mock seriousness, I'd ask, “Got a
light?” Eventually he had lung surgery and the canister was no longer necessary. Then a few weeks ago I met him
in a restaurant and the oxygen canister was back. But he’s still going and still smiling.
Another friend, who, after cancer surgery, functioned on one quarter of one kidney, was a member of the
Front Runners, a gay running group in town. When I questioned him about the wisdom of running in view of his medical problems, he said, “Well, I can’t really run. But I walk and when I get tired I sit down. I do the best I can.” My
list of examples could go on. But in a community where friends are frequently experiencing failure, they move forward with courage.
I’m grateful for all the systems I have that haven’t failed as yet. But when my time comes to experience failure, I want to have the courage and tenacity of my peers. I want to be able to move from failure to failure – if not
with enthusiasm – then with courage.
Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers Inc. PO Box 100666, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33310
[email protected]
www.ftlprimetimers.org © 2003 Page 3
President’s Message (Continued)
The decisions to make include withdrawal of life support, do not
resuscitate orders, advanced directives, a living will, appointing a
health care surrogate, a durable power of attorney, which allows you
to also appoint someone to be your “attorney-in-fact” who can help
with financial and health care decisions.
The rational for taking care of these matters is twofold. By
completing forms that clearly state what you want, and by selecting
the people you trust to speak and act on your behalf, you are
ensuring that your wishes and intentions will be honored. You are
also helping your loved ones and your doctor understand what your
wishes are and giving them the authority to act on them.
To find out more about the types of forms and documents you can
contact your lawyer or go to this link http://www.nhdd.org/publicresources#where-can-i-get-an-advance-directive on the National
Health Decision Day Organization’s web page. There you will find
many other links to organizations that have tools and resources to
help you get your documents in order.
This is not something we like to think about, but once done, you will
have peace of mind knowing that you and your friends and family can
face whatever comes your way with less stress and greater
confidence.
Some Food for Thought
"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it is in your power to act."-- Proverbs
"There is no folly equal to that of throwing away friendship in a world where friendship is so rare." -Edward Bulwer-Lytton
"Pride is at the bottom of most great mistakes."- John Ruskin, English writer and critic
"The only good prayer begins: 'How can I help?'"
"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." Ozick
"This is the final test of a gentleman: his respect for those who can be of no possible value to him”.—
William Lyons Phelps
Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers Inc. PO Box 100666, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33310
[email protected]
www.ftlprimetimers.org © 2003 Page 4
Mr.
May 2016
Fred Paiz
Cruise News
A few months ago you received a survey that the
Board of Directors produced to find out if there was
interest in organizing a Prime Timer Cruise in the fall of
2016. Over 110 members responded favorably to the
idea. The possibility of a Fort Lauderdale Prime Timer
cruise is still in the works, but not for the fall of this
year. The Board felt that having it in the fall would cause
a conflict with the Post Thanksgiving Pied Piper Cruise.
Many of our members go on that one every year, and it
might have an impact on the success of our own cruise.
Therefore, we have postponed the inaugural Fort Lauderdale Prime Timer Cruise until March of 2017. There will
be more information forthcoming as the time gets
closer.
Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers Inc. PO Box 100666, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33310
[email protected]
www.ftlprimetimers.org © 2003 Page 5
Does this sound familiar?
Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder
This is how it manifests itself:
I decide to water my garden. As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and
decide it needs washing.
As I start toward the garage, I notice mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail
box earlier. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys on the
table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table and notice that the can is full.
So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first... but then I
think: Since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as
well pay the bills first. I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only one
check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study; I go inside the house to my desk
where I find the can of Pepsi I'd been drinking.
I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Pepsi aside so that I don't
accidentally knock it over. The Pepsi is getting warm, and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold. As I head toward the kitchen with the Pepsi,
a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need water. I put the Pepsi on the
counter and discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning. I decide I
better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.
I set the glasses back down on the counter , fill a container with water and suddenly spot
the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realize that tonight when we go to
watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen
table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers. I
pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor so, I set the remote
back on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill. Then, I head down the hall trying
to remember what I was planning to do.
At the end of the day:
The car isn't washed;
The bills aren't paid;
There is a warm can of
Pepsi sitting on the counter;
The flowers don't have enough water;
There is still only 1 check in my check book;
I can't find the remote;
I can't find my glasses,
And I don't remember what I did with the car keys.
Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today,
I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day,
And I'm really tired.
Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers Inc. PO Box 100666, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33310
[email protected]
www.ftlprimetimers.org © 2003 Page 6
May Luncheon by Doug Kent
Our May luncheon will take us to Italy. Il Mulino, located at 1800 E.
Sunrise Blvd., in Fort Lauderdale is one of the most popular family Italian
Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale. We will be meeting on Thursday, May the
26th, at 1pm. Conveniently located next to the Gateway Theater on Sunrise
Blvd., Il Mulino serves home made pasta and sauces along with the classic
Italian dishes we all know and love, plus they always have inspired specials.
They have an extensive wine list and full bar. I know you all will enjoy this
restaurant, so be sure to join us for our Italian feast at Il Mulino. Mark your
calendars today, and make sure you e-mail Doug Kent at [email protected]
or simply call him at 305-495-2978. I know you will enjoy this Italian
outing.
April Luncheon
Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers Inc. PO Box 100666, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33310
[email protected]
www.ftlprimetimers.org © 2003 Page 7
Prime Timers , Inc. May “Special Event” will be held at
Naval Air Station & Museum
4000 Perimeter Rd, Ft Lauderdale (Davie)
Thursday, May 19, 2016
(Cut Off date for reservations to be received is May 14)
Guided Tour will start at 2:00 PM. Arrive no later than 1:45 PM
Come with us and visit the only Military Museum in Florida.
See the Link Trainer that simulates flight for pilot trainees.
Observe a photographic collection of over 10,000 images of combined
with a collection of letters, manuscripts, and technical manuals aircraft, ships, people and historic events; combined with a collection of
letters, manuscripts, and technical manuals
Take a virtual “on-line” tour of several historical military exhibits
Witness stories of Veteran experiences in the Veteran’s History
Projects of WW1 & WW2
Learn about Flight 19, mistaken called “The Lost Patrol.” It was supposed to be
a routine training flight of 5 aircraft and 14 crew members on December 5,
1945 that mysteriously disappeared never to be seen or heard from again. This
launched one of the largest air, sea searches in and was the beginning of the
myth of the Bermuda Triangle.
Visit the John Paine Memorial Library which contains 3,000+ volumes ranging
from personal memoirs to aircraft carrier cruises books, naval manuscripts,
Witness the “Broward Goes to War” exhibit memorializing the war years of 1941
– 1945
Members $5 Guests $7
Member Name ______________________________
Member Name _______________________________
Guest Name
_______________________________
Please complete the above information & send the bottom half with your payment to Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers, Inc.P. O. Box #100666, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310 or go to our web page (ftlprimetimers.org) and click on the
Reservations’ Link to pay with a credit card.
If you have to cancel notify Richard Lefebvre (401-472-9242) or Eddie Green (954-557-5485) no later than 3 hours
before the event or you will not get a refund.
Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers Inc. PO Box 100666, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33310
[email protected]
www.ftlprimetimers.org © 2003 Page 8
Prime Timers, Inc.. May Dinner
TROPICS
2000 Wilton Drive
Wilton Manor, FL
On
THURSDAY- MAY 12, 2016
(Cut off date for receiving reservations is May 7)
Dinner served at 6:00 P.M.
Please arrive by 5:45 P.M.
Members $27
Guest $32
Starters: Choice Soup, Chef’s Salad, or Small Caesar Salad
Entrees include:
1. Mrs. Pinkham’s Pot Roast
2. Chicken Marsala
3. Pork Loin with Sage Gravy
4. Baked Provincetown Fillet of Sole
Sides for all entrees include: Sweet Potato & Broccoli
Choice of: Iced Tea, Hot or Iced Coffee is included
Dessert choices –
Same as at Sunday Brunch
Member’s Name _____________________Entree_______
Members’s Name _____________________Entree_______
Guest’s Name ________________________Entree_______
Please complete the above information and send your payment to
Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers, Inc. P.O. Box 1000666, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310
or go to our web page (ftlprimetimers.org) and click on the Reservations’ Link to pay with a credit card.
If you have to cancel notify Richard Lefebvre (401-472-9242) or Eddie Green (954-557-5485)no later than 5 PM
the day before the event or you will not get a refund!
Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers Inc. PO Box 100666, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33310
[email protected]
www.ftlprimetimers.org © 2003 Page 9
Birthdays, Anniversaries & New Members
Birthdays
Anniversaries
Tony Puma
Gerry Winterrowd
Gary Bisogni
Jesse Monteagudo
Paul Jarvis
James McNerney
Jim Golly
Iain MacArthur
Denis McDougal
Joseph Prior
Joe Romans
James Wood
Roscoe Gore
Bernard Stark
Harold Carrow
Michael DeLemma
Albert Dube
Richard Lefebvre
5/1
5/4
5/4
5/6
5/6
5/6
5/6
5/7
5/7
5/8
5/8
5/9
5/9
5/9
5/10
5/10
5/10
5/11
Mike Adam
Michael Costa
Richard Goodnight
Daniel Lazaro
Paul Braune
Clarence Powers
Frank Piasecki
Deric Bownds
Dennis Mesenhimer
David Eccleston
Andrew Cheng
Edward Stupi
Jean-pierre Noel
David Cingel
Jack Harrison
Bob Wagnon
Anthor Caparco
Joseph Levesque
5/11
5/12
5/13
5/14
5/14
5/15
5/16
5/16
5/17
5/18
5/22
5/22
5/23
5/23
5/24
5/26
5/27
5/31
John Siegfried & Howard Apperman
5/27/1992
24 years
John Head & Robert Cooper
5/15/1993
23 years
William Tadros & Bob Woodman
5/20/2002
14 years
Gene Huszcza & Al Wheeler
5/14/2014
2 years
New Members
Robert Connell
May Birthday Boys
Craig Cox
Herbert Fontecilla
Peter Gallus
John McCardle
Tony Puma
Michael Sabol
Ed Stone
Michael Vita
Patrick Wernimont
That brings
our total
membership
to 555*
*As of
4/15/16
Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers Inc. PO Box 100666, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33310
[email protected]
www.ftlprimetimers.org © 2003 Page 10
Prime Timer Monthly Events — May 2016
Sun
Mon
2
1
Card Games
Tennis
General Meeting
2:00 pm
Pride Center
Mixer
8
Card Games
9
Tennis
Tue
3
Card Games
Wed
4
Bowling
16
Tennis
Ballet Group
12:30 pm
Pride Center
Mixer
22
Card Games
23
Tennis
“Party”
4:00 pm
Empire Stage
Mixer
29
Haulover Beach
10:00 am
30
Tennis
Card Games
Fri
5
Bowling
Sat
6
7
12
Bowling
13
Bocce
14
Dinner
6:00 pm
Tropics
History Group
2:00 pm
Stonewall
Library
19
Bowling
20
Bocce
21
26
Bowling
27
Bocce
28
Luncheon
1:00 pm
Il Mulino
History Group
2:00 pm
Stonewall
Library
Bocce
Collectors’ Group
11:00 am
Stonewall
Library
10
Card Games
11
Bowling
Mixer
15
Card Games
Thu
17
Card Games
18
Bowling
Collectors’ Group
11:00 am
Stonewall
Library
Board
Meeting
4:00 pm
Pride
Center
24
Card Games
Naval Air Museum
2:00 pm
25
Bowling
31
Card Games
Mixer
Opera Group
12:30 pm
Pride Center
Weekly Events
Card Games - Sundays at Noon and Tuesdays at 11:30 am - Pride Center
Tennis - Mondays at 10:00 am - Palm Aire
Mixer - Mondays at 5:30 pm - Tropics
Bowling - Wednesdays at 11:00 am - Manor Lanes; Thursday 11:00 am Brunswick /Margate Lanes
Bocce - Fridays at 10:00 am - Palm Aire
After - Mixer Informal Dinner - Mondays at 7:00 pm - See weekly email for restaurant
Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers Inc. PO Box 100666, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33310
[email protected]
www.ftlprimetimers.org © 2003 Page 11
April Membership Meeting
Bowling Banquet
Guest Speaker, Joe Pundai
Pictures by Kaz Takahashi & Mike Trask
Don't See Your Picture? Go to ftlprimetimers.org
Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers Inc. PO Box 100666, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33310
[email protected]
www.ftlprimetimers.org © 2003 Page 12