From The Editor

Summer. The best place to spend a hot afternoon catching the breeze is in a comfortable chair under a huge old oak with a glass of iced tea in one hand and a good read in the other. We have tried to do our part and give you some good reading in our summer edition (this is a combined July-August issue).

Our cover and feature on American Patriotism offers some food for thought about what it means to be an American from two men who have served our country all their lives. Lt Gen Charles "Chick" Cleveland and Judge Charles Price both offer some ideas to ponder while you prepare for the July 4^th picnics, barbecues, and fireworks. We are honored to include their thoughts in this special issue.

Elsewhere, we focus on planning and prevention - good things to think about while you're swinging in that hammock. Sam Dayhood offers thoughts on multi-generational financial planning. Yvonne Messer discusses planning to start a business, particularly relevant today, as more and more people choose business ownership over employment and retirement.

Dr. Sepanski, MD, offers some valuable information about the effects of diabetes on vision and what you should do to prevent related problems. Linda Lee offers some summer tips for preventing eye injuries. And our friends at Baptist health tell us how to avoid that pain in the neck!

For lighter reading, we have included another episode in the saga of the town of General from Judy Bates and a particularly fascinating tale from Roger Condit. Anna Paige reviews a book that is both spiritual and about gardening - hard to imagine a better combination.

If lying in the hammock is not for you, we've included an assortment of stories of active adults and opportunities to go, do, see and enjoy. If you're up for an unusual "treat," follow Judy Bates advice and visit Smith Lake. Where else can you have a 40 pound fish eat a cracker from between your toes?

This issue marks our second year of publication. Thank you all for your participation. Please support our advertisers…they make all this possible.

Have a wonderful summer. We'll be back in September.