THE SENIOR TIMES AUGUST 2025

Melanie Crippen
Aug 1
9 min read

In Greek mythology the primary symbol for August is Leo the lion. So let’s consider the characteristics of a lion. A lion is fierce and a great protector. He is powerful and known as “king of the beasts”. Each lion has a mighty roar that is meant to help define his territory and scare off other wild animals. The roar is also used to communicate with other lions in the area. A lion is the most social of all the world’s creatures, gathering his family or pride around himself and he usually lives a long life. Every one of these lions represents strength, majesty and royal lineage. In the Bible, Jesus is referred to being the Lion of Judah. Revelation 5:5 states, “And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold the Lion of Judah, the root of David has conquered so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals”. He is a conquering king destroying all our enemies. He protects His own and asks His children to gather themselves together to worship God. Jesus will reign forever. His kingdom is without end. Without a doubt Jesus is a strong conqueror defying death. He is God full of majesty and worthy of praise. When Jesus returns, he will come as royalty. He is the King of Kings and His kingdom shall have no end! This is the LION you need to know!

Brain Teaser

(answer at end of newsletter)

A wealthy family lived in a big circular house. They had a maid, a butler, and a gardener. The parents were going to a party, so they tucked the younger kids into bed and kissed them goodnight and said goodbye and kissed the older kids goodnight. When the parents came home, all the kids were gone—they had been kidnapped. The authorities ask the butler, maid, and gardener what they were doing at the time of the kidnapping. The butler says he was organizing the library, the maid says she was dusting the corners, and the gardener says he was watering the plants. Who’s lying and actually kidnapped the kids?

Words of Wisdom:

“Old age comes at a bad time! When you finally know everything, you start to forget everything you know.”

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Grandma’s Cooking Corner:

Lazy Sunday Cinnamon Roll Cake from 1953

Ingredients:

For the Cake Batter:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup granulated sugar

4 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 cups milk

2 eggs 2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

For the Cinnamon Swirl Filling:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

1 tbsp ground cinnamon

For the Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar

5 tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp of honey

Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set it aside. This size works perfectly for getting those delicious gooey swirls throughout every bite.

Step 2: Make the Cake Batter

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder. In another bowl, mix the milk, eggs, and vanilla until well combined. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry, stirring just until smooth. Then, gently fold in the melted butter. The batter will be thick and creamy—almost like pancake batter with a little extra oomph.

Step 3: Pour the Batter

Pour the cake batter into your greased baking dish and spread it out evenly with a spatula. Set aside while you make the swirl.

Step 4: Make the Cinnamon Swirl

In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Stir until it forms a smooth, spreadable paste. This is where the flavor magic happens.

Step 5: Swirl It In

Drop spoonfuls of the cinnamon mixture all over the top of the cake batter. Then, using a butter knife or toothpick, swirl the cinnamon filling through the batter. You don’t need to overdo it—just enough to create beautiful ribbons of cinnamon sugar in every slice.

Step 6: Bake Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. The edges will be golden, the center puffed up, and your house will smell like a cinnamon dream.

Step 7: Glaze Time While the cake is still warm (but not hot), whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, honey and vanilla for the glaze. Drizzle generously over the top of the cake. The glaze will sink into the crevices and add the perfect sweet finish.

MILITARY SALUTE

General William "Billy" Mitchell is known as the "Father of the Air Force." He was a turn-of-the-20th-century pilot who advocated for a separate, independent Air Force. He argued that airpower would be a revolution in modern warfare but was dismissed as a radical by his peers. Mitchell became an Army aviator at a time when he was considered too old to go through pilot training. He paid for lessons and led more than 1,400 planes against the Germans during the World War I Battle of St. Mihiel. His experience flying planes in combat led to his idea of a separate Air Force, even demonstrating the power of airplanes against naval battleships. When he criticized the War Department for incompetence and negligence, he was sensationally court-martialed. He resigned his commission instead of accepting a humiliating sentence.

Although based in northern Wake County, North Carolina, we are receiving numerous requests from around the country and are now partnering with churches and other organizations in many states to fulfill needs of seniors, whatever they might be. Meanwhile, since we have learned that the universal need is socialization, we are concentrating on social events we bring to local senior living facilities as well as transporting to larger social events that are open to the public. We provide entertainment, an educational special feature and a total “party-like” atmosphere with something for everyone at no charge.

HUMOR ME

“Sometimes I catch myself with a jar of mayonnaise in my hand, in front of the refrigerator, and can’t remember whether I need to put it away or start making a sandwich”.

The second lady chimed in, “Yes, sometimes I find myself standing on the stairs and can’t remember whether I was on my way up or on my way down.”

The third one responded,”Well, I am glad I don’t have that problem; knock on wood,” as she rapped her knuckles on the table. She looked up and said, “That must be the door, I’ll get it!”

REMEMBER WHEN

There are still a lot of conflicting records and stories about the true origin of swing dancing. But we know the basics. The swing dance came roaring into the American ballroom dancing scene in the 1920s in the Harlem area of New York City. At that time, jazz music was extremely popular. Every weekend, young people flocked to dance halls and clubs to dance to the lively rhythm of the music. A notable dance that came to be atop jazz music was the Lindy Hop, which many considered to be the earliest form of swing dancing. The Lindy Hop first appeared in the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, NYC. It’s a combination of traditional African-American dances, along with the eight-count structure of classical European partner dances. As a result, the dance is familiar and can be performed by everyone at the time (do note that when the Lindy Hop came onto the scene, the US still practiced racial segregation). The Savoy Ballroom was one of the few places that didn’t discriminate by skin color, so everyone – no matter the color of their skin – could dance and learn from each other. It’s one of the many reasons why, eventually, the Lindy Hop spread beyond the Harlem and swept across the country in a swing dance craze. That craze was the period that’s now known as the “Swing Era”, which lasted from 1933 to 1947. At the height of its popularity, big-band music dominated the airwaves. You couldn’t tune in to a radio station without hearing a classic or two, like Mame by Louis Armstrong and Indiana by Gene Krupa. And of course, every weekend, the entrance of dance halls was packed with enthusiastic dancers. Due to its lively energy and risque, sensual moves, swing dance became a symbol of youth culture and rebellion. Older folks who were used to the stricter, more formal ballroom dances weren’t very pleased … but they were a minority. Everyone loved swing dancing. Unfortunately, in the decades that followed, swing dance gradually fell out of favor, as other dance styles, such as rock and roll and disco, took center stage. Fortunately, there have been sporadic resurgences of swing dancing (which was in the 80s). Today, swing dance continues to be enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds, with communities and dance scenes thriving in cities worldwide.

Who’d A Thunk

Old, squeaky, or sticky shoes can often benefit from a little help from a classic household item: baby powder. If your shoes are getting a little sticky on the inside or creating squeaks with every step, a light dusting of baby powder can do wonders. Simply sprinkle some powder inside the shoes and shake them around to distribute it evenly. The powder absorbs moisture and reduces friction, helping to prevent those uncomfortable squeaks and keeping your shoes feeling fresh - making them a safe and effective alternative to chemical-laden sprays.

Nonprofit of the Month

As a humanitarian, faith-based organization, Convoy of Hope’s goal is to serve people who are impoverished, hungry, and hurting. Convoy of Hope is a humanitarian aid organization with a heart for those who are suffering. Whether it’s serving a community after a disaster, feeding a hungry child, or helping a parent put food on the table, Convoy of Hope is proud to deliver your kindness to those who need it most. Convoy loves others unconditionally and recognizes the inherent worth of every person. Even in times of greatest need, Convoy of Hope believes that there are brighter futures ahead. Convoy equips communities and individuals with resources, training, and connections that create lasting change. Convoy is moved by need and is driven to help those who are hurting.

Grandpa’s Sports Stories

Tamakoce Te'Hila, a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, is better known as Billy Mills, an Olympic great. His Indian name means "loves his country," and it also means "respects the earth." Mills lived up to his name because after graduating from the University of Kansas, he was commissioned in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1962. A gifted athlete in both boxing and running, Mills decided to focus entirely on running. It turned out to be a good decision because, while still in the Marine Corps, he qualified for the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo on the U.S. Track and Field Team. As a largely unknown runner, Mills qualified for the 10,000-meter race, as well as the marathon. Several other runners were favored to win the 10,000-meter race. Mills' winning time of 28:24.4 was about 50 seconds faster than he'd ever run that distance before, and it set a new Olympic record. No other American has taken the gold in the 10,000 before or since. Mills placed 14th in the marathon: 2:22:55.4. During the 10,000, Mills told his wife, Patricia, that he thought, “I’m going to win, but I may not get to the finish line first." It was because there were two races, he told her. "The first was to heal the broken soul. And, in the process, I won an Olympic gold medal.” What Mills meant by broken soul was the racism he'd experienced in life and also being orphaned at the age of 12. There was still a lot of pep left in Mills after the Olympics. He beat his own Olympic run time the following year, setting a U.S. record in the 10,000 at 28:17.6. Mills and Gerry Lindgren broke the world record for the six-mile run, finishing in a tie at the Amateur Athletic Union National Championship of 1965 with a time of 27:11.6.

SENIOR OF THE MONTH

August 2025

KEVIN FARLEY

Father of five daughters and one son in a blended family, and “Grumpa” to three (soon to be four) grandchildren, Kevin stays busy. He is a software engineer and an aspiring science fiction and fantasy novelist. Ten of his novels are available on Amazon.

Hailing from the coal mining region of the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia, read Kevin’s story under blog on theseniornetwork.org.