Out and About – Week of June 1st

Last week I wrote a lot about naps and sleep. Before I continue with this week’s column, I’d like to share a few more ideas that might help you nap a little better. I find it ironic how, as a baby, we all spent a lot of time napping. As we got older, naps were not as welcome, because it interfered with our playtime. As we enter our “Golden Years”, naps help us to be able to stay awake at least until 8 PM. Anyway, here is an idea that might help you enjoy that nap you so richly deserve. A cup of coffee before you nap might sound weird, but caffeine takes a while to affect you. By having a few sips of coffee before napping, you’re more likely to wake up more alert than from the nap alone. It may also keep you from getting sleepy again after you wake.

Whether you have someone graduating from college, high school, or even kindergarten, this graduation year will go down in history as one of a kind. I don’t know of any ceremony, happening in this area where graduates will walk across a stage, shake someone’s hand, and receive a diploma. This is supposed to be a very memorable moment for all graduates, but unfortunately it probably won’t happen this year. The one thing that stands out is that the Class of 2020 outdid themselves with the traditional “Skip Day”. I’m sure there will be some sort of a celebration for each graduate, but it just won’t be the same.

“It’s sometimes easier to get forgiveness than permission”.

It’s officially summer. It’s the time of the year when families gather for family reunions. Under normal circumstances, the planning for this event is handled long before now. Maybe the reunion was planned, but due to the pandemic, had to be postponed. Now that we have a better idea of when some restrictions might be lifted, we might try to make the reunion become a reality. If you have been elected to secure the reunion venue, here are a few things you’ll want to consider, should your home might not be the best place to get together:

Locate a site that has sentimental meaning for the family. Perhaps a family member lives on what used to be Grandpa’s farm. If the majority of the family loves boating or spending time at the beach, Michigan is known as the “Water Wonderland”. There are many state parks available for camping and many outdoor activities.
Look for a place that does all the work for you. Resorts or large hotels offer large rooms for parties. This is great because the work of cooking, serving and cleaning up is done by the members of the staff. For the best deal, you’ll want to schedule this during the off-season.
If you’d like to spare the cost of a resort or hotel, you might want to just have the reunion catered. There’s a variety of catering services available. Everything from a fancy buffet to a down-home barbecue.
Probably the most important thing to consider is expense. You don’t want to have someone not attend, because of the expense involved. This is when it’s smart to have a small planning committee handle the details.
St. Joseph County has many fine parks with picnic tables. You’d be surprised how much fun can be had if you have a pot-luck gathering with plenty of picnic tables, plus an area where the kids can have fun getting to know their cousins.

“Have you noticed that since beauty salons are closed, selfies are down about 68%?”

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman

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