ONE DAY DENTURE AT SAVON INCLUDES: • Permanent Denture • FREE Exam • Pano X-Ray • 4 Extractions • 2 FREE Relines • 6 Months Adjustments Special $995* $3,000 VALUE 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Testimonials Available Affordable Dentistry Crown $600 & Up Walk-ins Welcome We Accept Insurance Porcelain Teeth $160 Extra *$995 offer expires 5/31/15 602-840-1234 • 3311 E. Thomas Rd., Phoenix AZ 85008 • www.Savon-Dental.com SAVON DENTAL CARE – CALL TODAY BEFORE AFTER BEFORE AFTER YOU’RE WARMLY INVITED 3200 East Glenrosa Avenue MorningStarSeniorLiving.com 480.300.4700 Dementia Care iver Support Group It’s About Empathy—and Education Every 2nd Wednesday • 6:00 PM Page 44 June 2015 RETIREMENT NOW WHAT? By Jean Hodgson When friends and family members asked about our April trip to Japan, a repeated inquiry was, “Did you see the cherry blossoms?” While spring is the season for this icon of Japan, we were actually there the last part of the month when most of the spectacular blooms were past their prime. However, we were far from disappointed. Japan is way more than cherry blossoms. The “more” inspired me to review, once again, our observations of this unparalleled culture and help me define some wonderful travel memories. The M (in more ) is about the manners that are particularly impressive to a senior traveler. Strangers were so accommodating when help was needed, and more often than not we were escorted to a destination rather than just pointed in the right direction. Apologies flow freely, even when there is no apparent need, and standard behavior is to bow at both the beginning and end of an interaction. The conductor on the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto even bowed to all the passengers before passing through the car to check tickets. It’s hard at first to get used to seeing so many people wearing surgical masks in public because in America we only associate that with some serious medical situation. We learned that while Japanese people do wear them to protect themselves from pollution and germs, their purpose is often to protect others from their own colds. When my husband bought medication from our hotel pharmacy for the sniffles, he was also given a complimentary surgical mask. Another example of Japanese manners. The O is for organized. We couldn’t fail to observe that everywhere. Schedules are followed to the minute. Everyone lines up on the left side of an escalator so that passengers who need an even faster track can easily pass. There is no litter anywhere, and we had to search for somewhere to throw trash in public places, often resorting to stashing it in a backpack until we returned to our hotel. In one restaurant an hourglass timer was served with our beverage. Why? So we would know when our tea was ready to be poured. The R has to stand for reverent and respectful. The tours we took included temples and shrines, and the guides were careful to explain the basic tenets of Buddhism and Shintoism so we would appreciate the cultural significance of these historic locations and their beautiful settings. Japan is known for being an expensive place to visit, so E is for exchange rate! Right now it is quite favorable with our dollar and, if you are considering an Asian vacation, keep in mind that tipping is not expected, and is even considered rude. This is a huge positive difference in planning a travel budget. Senior travelers should be aware that if you have a mobility issue, the two cities we visited, Tokyo and Kyoto, are not disability friendly. Lots of steps, a shortage of escalators and elevators, and you rarely see people in wheelchairs or with canes. Locals commented that they are attempting to improve this before the 2020 Olympics. Signs in Tokyo are mostly also in English, but not so much as you get farther away from the capital, which can also be challenging. Be aware that it is customary to remove your street shoes when entering a home and also some public places. I unexpectedly toured the Nijo Castle in my bare feet! This trip was a combination of tourist time, attending the dedication of a new school facility and reuniting with many Japanese friends. Despite cultural contrasts, friendships close the distance between the Valley of the Sun and the Land of the Rising Sun. Japanese culture discovered beneath the cherry blossoms Jean and Bill Hodgson in the Bamboo Forest outside Kyoto.

WE HONOR Your commitment to wellness. Your unique health needs. Your busy schedule. Your questions and concerns. Your right to feel empowered about healthcare. Making healthcare easier to navigate. Scottsdale Healthcare and John C. Lincoln Health Network are now HonorHealth. HonorHealth.com We are making healthy personal. Page 45 June 2015 WHERE’S THE NEIGHBOR? By Kaley Kalil “It really is weird in the coolest way – a very unique, gorgeous place,” local Kelly Klauber had to say about her recent trip to Portland, Oregon. Klauber spent five days in the city whose motto is “Keep Portland weird,” staying with her longtime friend, Lindy Tiedemann. “Lindy was born and raised in Arizona, but she’ll never move back, because she’s found Portland,” Klauber said. Now, she knows why. Klauber instantly fell in love with the city’s “laid back hippie scene,” and relished in its surprisingly impressive culinary vibe and plethora of local breweries. She indulged in lots of fresh fruits, oysters and salads overflowing with fresh vegetables and gorgeous greens. Klauber particularly enjoyed an egg, cheese and bacon sandwich on a cheddar biscuit for brunch, and tried fresh-made bacon potato soup ice cream at Salt & Straw, a local ice cream parlor. “This place had amazing waffle cones and crazy, savory flavors where you think it will be nasty. But then you’re like, ‘Wow, this is amazing!’” she said. Klauber’s favorite brewery was Cascade Brewing Barrel House. “Anybody that likes sour beers knows Cascade,” she said. She enjoyed visits to the Portland Japanese Garden and the International Rose Test Garden, showcasing more than 500 varieties of roses. Klauber went tubing down the Clackamas River, and strolled through the Portland Saturday Market, exploring its many food, arts and crafts vendors, as well as its street musicians and views from the bay. “Henna tattoos are really big there right now. We got [tattoos] done on our arms and our feet,” Klauber said. She attended a Lord Huron concert at a local favorite, the Crystal Ballroom, and journeyed into Powell’s City of Books to see what antique books she could find. “Every day I was there was a ‘five volcano day,’” Klauber said, a phrase local Portlanders use to describe a clear day where five of the Cascade Mountains’ volcanic peaks can be seen from the city: Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, Mount Ranier, Mount Adams and Mount Jefferson. “The weather was gorgeous,” she said. “It did not rain once, which was weird. I bring my nice Arizona weather with me!” The efficiency of Portland’s public transportation was another thing that really impressed Klauber. “There’s this PDX bus app you can download on your phone. You type where you want to go, and it tells you exactly what buses to take, when they’re coming, how long it will take to get there – even if you don’t know where you’re going, it’s really easy to get around in Portland,” she said. She was fascinated with how the city seemed to be divided into four sections, and how each section had its own eclectic vibe and local culture. “People are very loyal to the city division they live in,” she said. Klauber stayed in the Southeast division with Lindy, in a quaint, old farmhouse that had been converted into several rental homes. She adored the flower-lined streets they walked down every day during her visit. “Portland is a big city with all the stores and everything you could want, and great public transportation. But, it still feels like a small town. Everything is accessible via biking or walking. Lots of men with beards… lots of flannel…It really is weird in the coolest way,” she said. Later this month, Klauber is looking forward to traveling to Charleston, Virginia, for a fun-filled family reunion at Folly Beach. Arizona native experiences Portland’s utopian vibe Cheddar, bacon and egg biscuit – a typical SE Division brunch, and Klauber’s favorite meal. Portland’s motto proudly displayed. Tiedemann (left) and Klauber (right) enjoying sour beer at Cascade Brewing Barrel House