04

In the event that I begin to fall hopelessly behind again today, I thought I'd better go with a "rerun" Newsletter theme - this one from exactly four years ago today:

11 - Brownie Shaffer Haracivet ('62) of VA AND Susan Avent Hill ('66) of VA AND Kathy Cooper ('70) of VA;

From My Cousin, Jean Atkinson Mallory (Warsaw HS / Rappahannock HS / John Marshall HS - '65) of VA - 04/06/09 - "High Schools":

Hey Carol,

I like the fact that you put High Schools and dates after names, and I'm sure that you don't know this info as you know about as much about Warsaw as I do Newport News.

In 1962, Warsaw High School and Farnham High School were combined into one school, Rappahannock High. (Brand new building at that time and on the outskirts of Warsaw.) This was the beginning of Stuart's senior year, so in 1963 he graduated from Rappahannock.

I started at Warsaw, went into Rappahannock in 10th grade, and then did my senior year at John Marshall, graduating in 1965. (At Warsaw, we had no middle school at the time. Elementary was 1st through 7th; high school 8th through 12th.) Both of us started at Dumbarton Elementary in Richmond and then Warsaw Elementary, Stuart in 5th grade and me in 3rd.

Jim's total high school experience was at J. R. Tucker in Richmond.

I knew that you didn't have any idea about this, and it doesn't matter to me whether you correct it or not. Just wanted you to know.

FYI, my favorite HS was Warsaw, followed by John Marshall, and then Rappahannock (which I really didn't like at all). Personally, I don't understand anyone who went to the same HS all 4 years (5 in my case). Maybe that's why I'm not that into high school now. But you've done a wonderful job of getting your school connected!!!!!!

Love to all,
Jean

Thank you so much for telling me this, Jean! I'm rabidly obsessive about such details. I've tried to re-edit all the recent Newsletters to amend all the errors; I'm not certain I caught them all.....

Brain Enhancement - Kung Fu and Your Brain
By David Anzaldua, M.D., ABFP, ABAARM, Mar. 24, 2009

I have good news and bad news for you in regard to your brain.

First, the bad news. After the age of 20, thousands of your brain cells die off every single day. The good news? Well, there wasn’t much of that until the late 1990’s. That’s when Elizabeth Gould at Rockefeller University discovered that many new neurons are also born in your brain every day – 5,000 to 10,000, to be precise. These new neurons arise as stem cells in an area of the brain known to be involved with learning, memory and mood – an area called the hippocampus. That gave us new hope for brain health.

But there’s a catch. Within a couple of weeks, the great majority of these new brain cells will dry up like tumble weeds in the desert if conditions aren’t right for them to take root and grow. What makes them take root and grow? Learning does. Not just any old kind of learning, but challenging learning that pushes us out of our “comfort zone.” The need for challenging learning to save brain cells has been well demonstrated in animal studies and evidence points to this being the case in humans as well.

There’s an additional factor to consider in the generation and maturation of new neurons, however. That factor is exercise. Exercise causes the release of “brain derived neurotropic factor” (BDNF) in the brain. BDNF is to neurons what “Miracle Grow” is to plants. It nourishes brain cells and helps them grow and develop. When you combine exercise with challenging learning material, the beneficial effects on new brain cells is maximized. This is the ideal recipe for mental sharpness.

This brings us to training such as we encounter in a well run Kung Fu school. Due to the great depth of beautiful material available for learning in Kung Fu, the student is always challenged to learn more and more complex routines as he or she advances through the ranks. The result is a learning environment that is both highly challenging and, as anyone knows who’s tried it, accompanied by plenty of vigorous exercise. This makes Kung Fu a perfect activity for brain health, as well as general health.

The benefits to brain health go further than mental function and extend into the area of emotions as well. It so happens that healthy neurons in the hippocampus are also associated with a stable mood and less depression. Thus, the total contribution to brain health from regular Kung Fu training gives us the perfect package of physical, neurological and psychological well-being. What more could anyone ask for from something that is also so much fun?

Author's Bio

David Anzaldua, M.D. is board certified in family medicine and also in the newest medical specialty, Anti-Aging/Regenerative Medicine. He is a lecturer at Stanford Medical School and former Senior Professor and Dean of Integrative Medicine at AIMC, Berkeley. He has lectured nationally and internationally. He is an active student at Chuan Wu Kung Fu Institute. His website, dedicated to regenerative health, is vitalessencemed.com.

© Copyright by SelfGrowth.com, Self Improvement Online, Inc

Walk This Way for Happier Knees

Here's a good way to keep moving but take some of the pressure off your knees.

Just put one foot behind the other. Yep, walking backward puts less strain on your patellofemoral joint -- an important kneecap-to-thighbone connection.

Backward March
Okay, you won’t want to do this in an area that is highly trafficked, unlevel, or unfamiliar. But under the right (read safe) circumstances, walking in reverse gear will make your quadriceps muscles contract differently than they do when you're walking forward. It will cause a concentric contraction -- a movement that's gentler on your anterior cruciate ligament, a knee ligament professional athletes routinely injure. Guess some NFL running backs could use this trick . . .

(Need to sit it out today? This video shows you how you can work out from a chair.)

Backward Benefits
If you want to try backward walking, go slow until you get the hang of it. Maybe invite a spotter along. And don't try it for the first time on a treadmill. If you've got knee problems of any sort, check with your doctor first. And consider these other ways to stay active while staving off knee trouble:

1. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 24, 25, and 26, 2009 - The Class of 1954 will hold its 55-Year Reunion. For details, contact Dr. Harry Simpson at 804-694-0346 or email him at hdsdds@aol.com - CLASS OF 1954

2. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 15, 16, and 17, 2009 - The Hampton High School Class of 1964 will hold its 45-Year Reunion at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. For details, see: www.hamptonhigh1964.com - HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL - CLASS OF 1964

3. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 4, 5 and 6 (Labor Day Weekend), 2009 - The Class of 1969 will hold its 40-Year Reunion at the Point Plaza Hotel, Newport News, VA. For details, see: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion2009-69.html and contact Jean Baker Howell at hokie13mom@cox.net - OPEN TO ALL NNHS ALUMNI

4. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 18, 19, and 20, 2009 - The Warwick High School Class of 1959 will hold its 50-Year Reunion at the Marriott Newport News at City Center, Newport News, VA. For details, contact WHSREUNION1959@aol.com.

5. Friday and Saturday, October 9 and 10, 2009 - The Class of 1964 will hold its 45-Year Reunion at the Newport News Marriott at City Center, 740 Town Center Drive, Newport News, VA 23606: For details, see: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion2009-64.html - CLASS OF 1964:

Your NNHS 64/45 Reunion Committee is pleased to announce that musical entertainment has been arranged for our Reunion.

On Friday evening, we will dance to the tunes of DJ, Susan Voss. Those of you who attended our “Turning Sixty” Party in 2006 at Spirit Events will remember Susan’s talent and energy.

Y'all take care of each other! TYPHOONS FOREVER! We'll Always Have Buckroe!

From The Honeymoon Express, 1913

You made me love you
I didn't want to do it, I didn't want to do it
You made me love you
and all the time you knew it
I guess you always knew it.
You made me happy sometimes, you made me glad
But there were times, Dear, you made me feel so bad

You made me sigh for, I didn't want to tell you
I didn't want to tell you
I want some love that's true, yes I do, deed I do, you know I do

Give me, give me, give me what I cry for
you know you got the brand of kisses that I'd die for
You know you made me love you

Animated Tiny Birthday Cake clip art courtesy of Sarah Puckett Kressaty ('65) of VA - 08/31/05
Thanks, Sarah Sugah!


And another grocery store memory:				http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/SITE-MAP.html http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/old-stomping.html http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/OOSG-C-G.html http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/colonial-stores.html WOWZERONI!!! Thanks so much, Eric!