SENIOR TIMES DECEMBER 2025

THE SENIOR TIMES

A publication of The Senior Network

December 2025

GOLDEN NUGGETS

“Bah, Humbug!”  is a common phrase heard around the Christmas season.  It is a constant whining about all the noise, gift giving and holiday cheer that is expressed by so many people.  This negative attitude puts a damper on the joy of the season.  What makes folks use this phrase?  It comes from the increased pressure felt to give the best party and the most desired gifts.  The materialistic value is placed first before the real reason for the season.  Happy holiday melodies grate on the nerves of many as they enter the hustle and bustle of searching for that perfect gift, deciding which parties to attend, what attire to wear to each function and how not to gain weight with all the events they must attend.  Trying to figure out who must get a gift, who gets a card or who is ignored or overlooked adds to the chaos and frustration overshadowing the joy this season should bring.  No, this is not Christmas!  However, it is often the only celebration that many humans indulge in during December.  To them the holiday is about giving presents.  The true meaning is what is gotten not given.  In the Bible it clearly states in Luke 2:11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  That is what the world got.  To all who believe in this Savior the true joy of the season is theirs.  No “BAH-HUMBUG”!  Just “Hallelujah to the Babe in the manger!”  Enjoy this joyous season and celebrate the reason for CHRISTMAS!

Brain Teaser

(answer at the end)

If it takes five elves, five minutes to make five dolls,

then how long will it take 100 elves to make 100 dolls?

REMEMBER WHEN

Christmas cards played a significant role in the fabric of holiday celebrations during the 1950s, serving as a means of connection among family and friends. It was common for families to send out cards to keep in touch with loved ones, especially those who lived far away. These cards often featured cheerful designs, religious themes, or winter scenes, adding to the festive spirit of the season.  Additionally, the tradition of signing and personalizing cards turned it into a cherished activity. Many families would host card-writing parties, where everyone would gather to pen heartfelt messages and memories. This personalized connection helped strengthen ties, especially in a decade where face-to-face communication was burgeoning yet still limited by geographical constraints.

Words of Wisdom

“It's always consoling to know that today's Christmas gifts are tomorrow's garage sales.”         –Milton Berle

GRANDMA’S COOKING CORNER 

Kris Kringle Cookies from Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen

Ingredients:

2-1/4 cups flour 

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

1cup softened butter

1 cup granulated sugar

½ cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla 

12 oz white chocolate chopped 

2 toasted chopped pecans 

2 cups dried cranberries

Ins

Heat oven to 375ºF.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing well after each addition. Stir in remaining ingredients.  Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets.  Bake 9 to 11 min. or until lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 3 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

MILITARY SALUTE

American troops were in the middle of the biggest bombing mission in military history during the Christmas season of 1972. The air campaign, called Operation Linebacker II, has largely been considered the action that ended U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.  President Richard Nixon ordered the bombings to begin on Dec. 18 after North Vietnamese delegates walked out on peace talks. Nicknamed the "11 Days of Christmas," the operation consisted of 11 successive days of raids by B-52 Stratofortress bombers flown in from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.  The only day that both sides got a reprieve was Christmas, when troops were given a 36-hour break to celebrate. During that time, Nixon ordered the North Vietnamese to return to the bargaining table. The North Vietnamese refused, so the bombings continued until Dec. 29, when they agreed to resume peace talks.  In 11 days, Linebacker II dropped 15,000 tons of bombs via 729 U.S. Air Force sorties involving about 12,000 airmen. Defense Department records show the raids destroyed or damaged 1,600 structures, 500 rail targets, 10 airfields and 80 percent of North Vietnam's electric-generating capacity. Fifteen U.S. B-52s were also destroyed in the process, killing 35 men and leading to the capture of nearly 40 American prisoners of war.  The resumed peace talks that came from the campaign led to the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973. The U.S. ended its involvement in the war soon after, but the last American troops wouldn't leave the country for another two years.

Who’d A Thunk

Accidental fires are always a possibility at Christmas, especially when a real tree is brought into the house. The 1950 patent designed by Leonard Deyo, sought to address this problem by introducing a water-filled star or another ornament that could be placed at the top of a tree. If a fire was detected, the ornament broke open, spilling water on all sides of the tree.  Nice thought, but what a MESS!

Humor Me

Two nuns are decorating for a Christmas party. One comes back from hanging the tinsel to see the other with her hands colored bright red, shaking her head in frustration at a sopping wet pile of fabric. When asked what she’d been doing, she explained that she had dug an outfit out of the linen closet that nobody had used in years, hoping to dye it red and make a Santa Claus outfit to entertain the children with, but the fabric was too stubborn and she couldn’t get the color to take. "Well,” the first nun said, “You know what they say: old habits dye hard.”

 Study Links Living Alone to Decline in Brain Health

A University of Florida and Providence College study found that living alone may accelerate brain aging. Rats kept in isolation showed faster cognitive decline and hippocampal damage, while those housed socially retained sharp memory and problem-solving abilities. Researchers say social interaction may not only slow decline but actually boost brain function — a lesson that may extend to humans.

Healing Powers of Garlic

Garlic, an ingredient found in almost every cuisine to improve the flavor, can be beneficial to your health.

Garlic can improve immunity and heart health, possibly help prevent as well as fight certain cancers, and lower triglycerides and total cholesterol.

Some benefits can be seen after eating just one meal with raw garlic. Have at least half of a clove every day.

To get the most benefits from garlic, first chop, slice, or crush fresh garlic. Then wait five to ten minutes before eating or using in a dish.

Part of the allium family, garlic can supply its health-boosting effects as well as its pungent aroma!

ENJOY!

SENIOR OF THE MONTH 

December 2025

DAVE FOUTS

Songs from the Heart...

“My music comes from the Heart... it is that simple. From every song I ever heard as a child listening in Church or to my mom playing Beethoven, or my first Beatles album in 1966, it is all inside of me”, states our December 2025 Senior of the Month, Dave Fouts.

Dave was born in Burlington, North Carolina, the son of a minister who started a new church there. When Dave was about four years old, his father was “called” to a church in Thomasville, North Carolina where the family lived until Dave was ten.  His father accepted a new minister position in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and the family moved again.  Graduating Hish School in Winston-Salem, Dave then attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Dave and his wife, Becky, have made the Triangle their home. They have two children (27 and 25) who are married and live in the area. Both  played multiple instruments since they were young; and their son had earlier recordings in Nashville.

No grandchildren yet but they do have “grand dogs”!

Although Dave says his wife is the best cook ever, he still boasts on making the #1 Colorado-style Green Chili in the world!

“Some call me McGyver because I can fix or figure out most anything or solve any problem (but not people; you can’t fix anyone but yourself.)”

Dave and Becky enjoy relaxing at their lake home with close family and friends or spending time at the beach (Indian Beach).

Playing or practicing at least four to five days a week, Dave also spends time songwriting.  He says he often wakes up with songs which play at the end of his dreams. If he is lucky, he will remember one out of ten.

He has been writing and recording original songs on guitar and piano since the beginning. These days he continues to write and create with others as well, with lyrical help from his wife.

Dave is a worship leader at Soapstone UMC in Raleigh.  Since 2000, he has worked with kids to teach guitar and how to lead worship in the youth praise team (Set In Stone).  He also works with one exceptionally gifted (musically) youth at a time to help them reach potential quickly.

Today, whether playing solo or with others, whether originals or covers, it still comes from the Heart. His sound is “rhythmic acoustic” in which you will experience many instruments at once, guitar, bass, drums, and keys, coming together as one.

You can read more of Dave’s story under “posts” (“blogs”) and under “Entertainers”. 

_____________________

Non Profit of the Month

The six cardiologists who founded the American Heart Association in 1924 would be amazed.  From humble beginnings, the AHA has grown into the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. A shared focus on cardiovascular health unites more than 35 million volunteers and supporters as well as our more than 3,300 employees.   Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally. Even when those conditions don’t result in death, they cause disability and diminish quality of life. AHA wants to see a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

The size and scope lets them have real impact. The AHA has invested more than $6 billion in research, making it the largest not-for-profit funding source for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease research next to the federal government. 

Grandpa’s Sports Stories

The first NFL games ever played on Christmas Day were in 1971 and ended up being the last for many years. Earlier in the day, the Dallas Cowboys beat the Minnesota Vikings 20-12. Then at 4 p.m. ET, the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins met in Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium. The two teams battled back and forth and were tied 24-24 at the end of regulation. After a scoreless first overtime, they went into a second one. Finally, with 7:20 left in the second overtime period, Miami’s Garo Yepremeian kicked the game-winning field goal. The game was only three hours and 21 minutes long in real time, but the outcry of how it cut into Christmas Day prompted the NFL to avoid scheduling another game on this day until 1989.

Answer to Brain Teaser

It takes one elf five minutes to make a doll, meaning it would take 100 elves making 100 dolls at the same time five minutes still.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!