"SENIOR TIMES"

A publication of The Senior Network

February 2026

GOLDEN NUGGETS

The Amethyst is February’s birthstone and belongs to the Quartz family. It’s almost impossible to miss the sparkling purple of an amethyst gem. It’ll undoubtedly grab your attention. But beyond its beauty, it holds sentimental value. It’s the perfect gift for marking your 6th or 33rd wedding anniversary. The brilliant purple color of amethyst comes from iron residues, irradiation, and trace/transition metals. Care for your amethyst crystal properly. Leaving it out in the sun can change its color from purple to orange or brown.

Amethyst can transform into other members of the quartz family, like Citrine and Prasiolite when treated to high temperatures. Ancient Greeks and Romans believed this purple stone could help them avoid a hangover. Drinking cups carved from amethyst or decorated with it were standard in ancient times. Amethyst has about 25,000 years of history. First discovered in French mines, it was used for decorations and adornment.  Amethyst could hold the secret to love and beauty. Saint Valentine and Cleopatra were known to wear amethyst rings. Amethyst makes a great Valentine’s Day present because of its connection to love.  Amethyst is valued in different religions. Amethyst is one of the gemstones mentioned in the Bible. It was the symbol for the tribe of Dan and was added to the prophet Aaron’s breastplate. Amethyst ranks seventh on the Mohs hardness scale, slightly above a steel nail rated 6.5. It’s still lower than diamonds which place at number 10. It makes eye-catching jewelry and has religious significance.  It’s often called the stone of peace and is believed to possess calming and spiritual healing properties.  Amethyst is usually purple signifying royalty; it represents love and peace and is very strong.  These same qualities can be found in a person described in the Bible in Isaiah 9:6.  It says of Jesus, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” There in one human are the qualities of royalty, strength, love and peace. Hopefully you will love Him as He shows His mercy and love to you!

Words of Wisdom

“If we’re not meant to have midnight snacks, why is there a light in the fridge?” Unknown

Brain Teaser

(answer at end of nesletter)

`        Each of five neighborhood dogs (Saber, Ginger, Nutmeg, Pepper and Bear) enjoys one of the following activities: getting its ears scratched, playing catch, taking a nap, burying a chew toy and going for a walk.

Pepper is either playing catch or burying a chew toy.

Neither Ginger nor Saber nor Bear is on a walk.

One of the dogs named after a spice is getting its ears scratched.

A dog not named for a spice is playing catch.

Bear is getting some exercise.

Can you figure out what each pooch is doing?

GRANDMA’S COOKING CORNER

Trisha Yearwood’s Blackberry Cobbler 

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar 

2 cups plus 1 tablespoon self-rising flour

2 cups fresh blackberries

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, cold, cut into small pieces, plus more for greasing

1/2 to 2/3 cup milk 

Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Directions

1.   Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Butter a 1-quart casserole dish or baking pan.

2.   In a medium saucepan combine the sugar, 1 tablespoon of the flour, berries and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat and set aside.

3.   In a medium bowl, use a pastry blender or two knives to cut the butter into the remaining 2 cups flour. Stir in just enough milk to make a soft dough that pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Turn the dough out on a lightly floured board and pat into a square. Use a rolling pin to roll it to 1/2-inch thick. Cut the dough into 2-inch-wide strips.

4.   Pour 1 cup of the blackberry mixture into the bottom of the pan. Arrange half of the dough strips on top of the blackberry mix, placing them close together. Bake until brown, for about 12 minutes, then remove from the oven and pour the remaining berry mixture over the baked strips. Arrange another layer of dough strips on top and bake until brown, about 15 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream.

Cook’s Note

 If you don't have self-rising flour, substitute 2 cups all-purpose flour mixed with 3 teaspoons baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

REMEMBER WHEN

In February 1967, the federal minimum wage in the United States increased from $1.25 an hour to $1.40 an hour for 30,000,000 workers. An additional 8,000,000 workers in retail work, hotels, restaurants, construction, laundries and hospitals were guaranteed at least $1.00 an hour, to increase to $1.60 by 1971, and 400,000 farm workers were covered by minimum wage for the first time as a new law took effect.  Fifty-nine years later the minimum wage will be $10.59 and on the rise!

Who’d A Thunk

Boeing introduced the 747 jumbo jet, known as the "Queen of the Skies," in 1968. This aircraft was the first wide-body airplane, significantly increasing passenger capacity and reducing costs per seat-mile. The 747's design included a distinctive hump on its upper deck, allowing for a luxurious lounge area or additional seating. The first 747 rolled out of the factory on September 30, 1968, and it made its maiden flight on February 9, 1969.  The introduction of the 747 revolutionized air travel by making long-haul flights more affordable and accessible to a broader segment of the population. Its range and capacity enabled airlines to offer non-stop transcontinental and transoceanic flights, fundamentally changing global travel patterns. The 747 became an icon of the jet age and set new standards for comfort, safety, and efficiency in aviation. Over its decades of service, the 747 has transported millions of passengers and played a vital role in the globalization of commerce and tourism.

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Grandpa’s Sports Stories

On February 25, 1964 Cassius Clay and Sonny Liston were fighting for the world heavyweight championship.  As the bell sounded for the seventh round, Clay was the first to notice that Liston had spat out his mouth guard. Clay moved to the middle of the ring with his arms raised, dancing the jig that would become known as the "Ali Shuffle" while Howard Cosell, broadcasting at ringside, shouted "wait a minute! Wait a minute! Sonny Liston is not coming out!" Liston failed to answer the bell for the seventh round, and Clay was declared the winner by technical knockout. Liston became the first World Champion since Jess Willard in 1919 to retire on his stool during a Heavyweight title fight. At that point the bout was level on the official scorecards of the referee and two judges. Sensing that he had made history, Clay quickly ran to the ropes amidst the commotion in the ring and shouted at sportswriters, "Eat your words!" In a scene that has been rebroadcast countless times over the ensuing decades, Clay repeatedly yelled "I'm the greatest!" & “shook up the world."

SENIOR OF THE MONTH 

February 2026

CHARLOTTE ABRAHAM

           Charlotte was born in a rural town in southern Alabama but moved with her family to Mobile when she was a toddler.

           Mardi Gras (or “Carnival” as it was often called) became something she looked forward to every year.  Mobile, as well as New Orleans, Louisianna and Galveston, Texas hosted many parades, balls and festivities from January 6^th (twelve days after Christmas) until Fat Tuesday in February which fell the day before Lent began.  The entertainment, the beads, the masks and of course the colors of purple (justice), green (faith) and gold (power) were part of her life.

           Charlotte, her husband Nick and their two children moved to Richmond, Virginia in 1981. Every year she and Nick return to Mobile during Mardi Gras for the festivities.

           Charlotte’s activities include teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir at her church. Two of her six grandchildren live in Virginia; the other four live in North Carolina

           Her dream is to have a family reunion in Mobile during Mardi Gras!

MILITARY SALUTE

When Elvis Presley entered the Army in 1958, he was at the height of his popularity. He was offered a chance to enlist in Special Services to entertain the troops but was persuaded by his manager to instead serve as a regular soldier, a decision that earned him the respect of not only his fellow military men but older folks back home who viewed him and his music as a threat on America's youth. “I had quite a few interesting experiences such as I slept out in the snow,” Presley said in a post-service news conference. “I suppose the biggest thing is that I did make it. I tried to play it straight like everybody else. I made a lot of friends that I wouldn’t have made otherwise. All in all, it’s been a pretty good experience.”  His Army experiences made him a more mature person and entertainer.

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Humor Me

So, there was this man in Bulgaria who drove trains for a living.  He loved his job. Driving a train had been his dream ever since he was a child. He loved to make the train go as fast as possible. Unfortunately, one day he was a little too reckless and caused a crash. He made it out, but a single person died. Well he went to court over this incident. He was found guilty and was sentenced to death by electrocution. When the day of the execution came, he requested a single banana as his last meal. After eating the banana, he was strapped into the electric chair. The switch was flown, sparks flew, and smoke filled the air - but nothing happened. The man was perfectly fine.  Well, at the time, there was an old Bulgarian law that said a failed execution was a sign of divine intervention, so the man was allowed to go free. Somehow, he managed to get his old job back driving the train. Having not learned his lesson at all, he went right back to driving the train with reckless abandonment. Once again, he caused a train to crash, this time killing two people. The trial went much the same as the first, resulting in a sentence of execution. For his final meal, the man requested two bananas. After eating the bananas, he was strapped into the electric chair. The switch was thrown, sparks flew, smoke filled the room - and the man was once again unharmed.  Well, this of course meant that he was free to go. And once again, he somehow managed to get his old job back. To what should have been the surprise of no one, he crashed yet another train and killed three people. And so he once again found himself being sentenced to death. On the day of his execution, he requested his final meal: three bananas.  "You know what?" said the executioner. "I've had it with you and your stupid bananas and walking out of here unharmed. I'm not giving you a thing to eat; we're strapping you in and doing this now." Well, it was against protocol, but the man was strapped into the electric chair without a last meal. The switch was pulled, sparks flew, smoke filled the room - and the man was still unharmed. The executioner was speechless.  The man looked at the executioner and said, "Oh, the bananas had nothing to do with it. I'm just a bad conductor."

Non Profit of the Month

At Mayo Clinic, experts work together to solve the most challenging unmet needs of patients. Its history of innovation  dates back almost 150 years, when brothers Will and Charlie Mayo pioneered an integrated, team-based approach to medicine. Today, that trailblazing spirit drives innovations like Mayo Clinic Platform — which powers new technologies to change how care is delivered to all.  The unwavering drive to create better medical care has earned Mayo Clinic more top rankings for high-quality patient care than any other health care organization. In fact, Mayo Clinic has more specialties ranked in the top three than any other hospital in the nation.  Everyone at Mayo Clinic is on a mission to provide compassionate, world-class care to each person, in every connection. That includes 1.3 million patients from over 130 countries who visit Mayo Clinic campuses each year.  At the Clinic, future health leaders who share this drive to transform health care are trained. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, education, and research, providing whole-person care to everyone who needs healing. Here, experts solve the biggest health care challenges together. Behind its top rankings, you'll find a diverse, inclusive culture of teamwork, excellence, mutual respect, and dedication to putting patients first.  The Clinic is undaunted by the unknown and walks alongside patients on their journeys to find answers and solutions.

Answer to Brain Teaser

 Saber is taking a nap, Ginger is getting her ears scratched, Nutmeg is ­going for a walk, Pepper is burying a chew toy and Bear is playing catch.