Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 3, 2014

9

THE GOOD LIFE

 Mountain Views News Saturday, May 3, 2014 

TRAVEL DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE TO OLDER TRAVELERS

Dear Savvy Senior:

What types of senior discounts are available to older travelers? My husband and I are approaching 
retirement and love to travel, but love to save money too. Almost Retired

Dear Almost:

There is actually wide variety of travel discounts 
available to older travelers – usually starting at either 
age 50, 55, 60, 62 or 65.

 

But, you first need to be aware that when it comes 
to senior travel bargains, the “senior discount” 
may not always be the best deal. Hotels, airlines 
and cruise lines, for example, offer advanced 
bookings along with special deals and promotions from time to time that may be a lower rate than 
what the senior discount is. Always ask about the lowest possible rate and the best deal available.

With that said, here’s a breakdown of some different senior travel discounts that are available today. 

Club memberships: If you’re a member of AARP, there are dozens of travel discounts available on 
hotels, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. To find them, see discounts.aarp.org/travel or call 
800-675-4318. Annual AARP membership fees are $16 or less if you join for multiple years.

If you don’t like AARP, there are alternative organizations you can join like the Seniors Coalition or 
the American Seniors Association that offer discounts on hotels and rental cars. 

Airlines: Southwest Airlines has the best senior fare program in the U.S., offering discounts to passengers 
65 and older. American, United and Delta offer some senior fares too but they are extremely 
limited. 

Trains: Amtrak provides a 15 percent discount to travelers 62 and older, and a 10 percent discount 
to passengers over age 60 on cross-border services operated jointly by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada.

Bus travel: Greyhound offers a 5 percent discount on unrestricted fares to seniors over 62. Peter Pan, 
which serves the Northeast region of the U.S., offers the same deal. Trailways, a privately owned bus 
company also provides senior discounts but they vary by location. And, most local bus lines and 
public transportation offer discounted senior passes.

Car rentals: Most car rental companies offer 5 to 25 percent discounts to customers who belong 
to 50-and-older organizations like AARP. Discounts are also available to AAA members. To shop 
around for the best rental car deals use travel aggregator sites like orbitz.com or kayak.com.

Hotels: Most hotels in the U.S. offer senior discounts ranging between 10 and 30 percent off. Age 
eligibility will vary by hotel. Hyatt offers one of the biggest discounts, up to 50 percent off, to guest 
62 and older.

Cruises: Most cruise lines offer special deals to AARP members. But, if you’re not a member, discounts 
on some cruise lines (like Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean) are also available to 
passengers 55 and older. The best way to find these is to contact a travel agent, or check with the 
cruise line your interested in.

Restaurants: Senior discounts are fairly common at mom-and-pop and family-style restaurants, as 
well as fast food establishments. The discounts will range from free coffee, to drinks, to discounts off 
your total order. Chains known for their senior discounts or specials include Burger King, Chick-fil-
A, Church’s Chicken, Dairy Queen, Dunkin Donuts, IHOP, Subway and Wendy’s.

Entertainment: Most movie theaters, plays, ballets, symphonies, museums, zoos, aquariums, golf 
courses and even ski slopes provide reduced admission to seniors over 60 or 65. If you’re over 62, 
you’re also eligible for the popular “America The Beautiful Senior Pass,” which provides a lifetime 
entry to 2,000 national parks and recreation sites. You can obtain this pass in person at one of the 
federal recreation sites for $10, or through the mail (see store.usgs.gov/pass/senior.html) for $20.

 To look for other travel discounts see seniordiscounts.com, a great website that lets you search by 
location and category for free.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller 
is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

 

FYI - STC (SENIOR TEXTING CODES) from Jonathon McKee

Since more and more seniors citizens are texting and tweeting, there appears to be a need for a STC 
(Senior Texting Code). If you qualify for senior discounts, these are the codes for you:

ATD: At The Doctor’s

 BFF: Best Friend Farted

 BTW: Bring The Wheelchair

 BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth

 CBM: Covered By Medicare

 CUATSC: See You At The Senior Center

 DWI: Driving While Incontinent

 FWB: Friend With Beta Blockers

 FWIW: Forgot Where I Was

 FYI: Found Your Insulin

 GGPBL: Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low!

 GHA: Got Heartburn Again

 IMHO: Is My Hearing-Aid On?

 LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out

 LOL: Living On Lipitor

 LWO: Lawrence Welk’s On

 OMMR: On My Massage Recliner

 OMSG: Oh My! Sorry, Gas.

 ROFL… CGU: Rolling On The Floor Laughing…Can’t Get Up

 TTYL: Talk To You Louder

 WAITT: Who Am I Talking To?

 WTP: Where’s The Prunes?

 WWNO: Walker Wheels Need Oil

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HELPFUL HINT: Got Ants? To banish ants from the kitchen, find out 
where they are coming in and cover the hole with petroleum jelly. Ants won’t trek 
through the jelly. If they are coming under a door, draw a line on the floor with 
chalk. The little bugs also won’t cross a line of chalk.

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FOR YOUR FUNNY BONE 

An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male 
pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, 
“They wouldn’t take me out while I was alive, I don’t want them to take me out 
when I’m dead! 

 ~ ~ ~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … May Birthdays*

Joann Serrato-Chi, Harriett Lyle, Jean Coleman, Birgitta Gerlinger, Donna Mathieson, 
Dorothy Murphy, Linda Wochnik, Marian Woodford, Debbie Sheridan, Joanne Anthony, 
Carole Axline, Kika Downey, Shirley Hall, Annie Scalzo, Janet Ten Eyck, Jane Thomas, Ray 
Burley. . *To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR 
of birth not required.

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Quote of the Week: “Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around.” 

 Henry David Thoreau

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ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the Hart Park 
House (Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

 

 YMCA San Gabriel Valley Intervale Senior Café: Monday-Friday at 12:00 Noon 

(Participants are urged to arrive no later than 11:45 A.M.) 

All seniors 60 and up can take part in the lunch program. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 
for those 60 and over and $3.75 for non-senior guests. Daily reservations are necessary as space is 
limited. Please call 24 hours in advance...626.355.0256

Free Balance Class: Monday, January 27th 11:00 to 11:45 with Shannon Vandevelde. A variety of 
balance exercises are practiced; all ability levels are encouraged and welcomed.

Free Blood Pressure Testing: Held Second Tuesday of the month from 11:00 am-12:00 pm: No 
appointment necessary.

 

Bingo: Every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm Cards are only .25c each! 

Chair Yoga Update: This class has become so popular that Instructor Paul Hagen has agreed to

offer another class. Starting Monday, April 7th chair yoga will meet twice a week on Mondays and 
Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45 am, except on the third Monday of the month when the balance 
class is held. Due to the demand for this class and Paul Hagen’s time a suggested donation of $5 at 
one of the classes is requested, but is not required. If you have any questions please feel free to stop 
by or give us a call 626.355.7394

Free Legal Consultation: Pasadena attorney Lem Makupson volunteers on the 2nd Wednesday of 
the month. He focuses on estate planning, trusts, wills, probate, conservatorships and business law. 
*Appointments are a must! Please call: 626.355.7394 to make yours

Birthday Celebrations: The 2nd Thursday of the month the Senior Center celebrates the birthdays 
of our patrons at 12:30 pm. Please join us for free cake and ice cream and “celebration.” (The cakes 
are provided due to a generous donation from the Sierra Madre Civic Club.)

Game Day: Every Thursday at 1:00pm. Poker is usually the game of choice, or should I say chance? 
Board games and other card games are also available. 

Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 1:00 pm -1:45 pm Conducted by long-time 
volunteer, Lisa Brandley. The class utilizes light weights for low-impact resistance training. Weights 
are provided by the Sierra Madre Senior Center. 

Senior Citizens Club: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House (Senior Center). Brown bag lunch at 
11:30am; Club meeting at Noon; Bingo 12:30- 3:30 pm. Only .25c per card.

LUNCH & LEARN: EXTREME HEAT Wednesday, May 28th • 12:00 to 1:00 pm

As you prepare for the summer season it is important to take preventative measures to avoid heat 
related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Debra Watson, LVN from Home Care 
Providers, will provide educational materials and tips to avoid these dangerous conditions. Mark 
your calendars and don’t miss this great presentation with valuable information. If you would like 
to have lunch during the talk please call the Senior Lunch Café at 626.355.0256 or bring your own.

SEASONAL FUN AT THE SENIOR CENTER

On Thursday, May 15th join us and the Garden Club in making FREE Succulent Gardens. You will 
be able to create your own mini garden to take home. The activity will take place from 10:30 to 
11:45, reservations are required. If you have any questions please feel free to stop by or give us a call 
at 626.355.7394.

 UPCOMING EXCURSIONS:

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum (Simi Valley, CA) Date: Friday, May 16, 2014

Time: 9:00am to 3:30pm

Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center Cost: $20.00 (does not include lunch)

Spend the day exploring the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. The guided tour is 
approximately 2 hours and includes an opportunity to see Air Force One, a replica of the Oval Office, 
and the exhibit “Honoring Legends of Baseball,” a limited time engagement. The special exhibit 
will display extraordinary artifacts from Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, 
the Los Angeles Dodgers, and scores of other historically important players and organizations. 
Participants are asked to bring additional money for souvenirs and lunch; two

restaurants are available on site. Last day to register is Thursday, May 1. Level of Walking: Moderate

SENIOR CINEMA: 1ST & 3RD WEDNESDAY 

 

*Change in Venue* Shown at the Hart Park House Senior Center

May 7th: Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

Author P.L. Travers reflects on her childhood after reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney, who seeks 
to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen. Rated PG-13, Start time: 1:00 pm (run time 125 
minutes) Featuring: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, and Annie Rose Buckley

May 21st: Captain Phillips (2013)

The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged 
MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years. Rated PG-
13, Start time: 1:00 pm (run time 143 minutes) Featuring: Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdirahman.


COUNT DOWN!

 “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” That song is typically played at 
Christmas, but if you have school-age children or know people who work at 
elementary schools, you’ve probably heard them humming it lately. I have several 
friends and relatives in education, but I draw most of my information from my 
mom’s 30 plus years of teaching third grade in a public school. 

 Some years, the count down to the last day began the first week of school! My mom’s district 
printed the calendar of the entire school year on a single sheet of paper, with each week represented 
by a small box containing five dots. Holidays or “student free days” (a.k.a. professional development) 
were represented by a minus or pound sign. My mom highlighted all the non-dot days, and every 
Friday she’d shear another week off the page. My grandma used to tell her that she was clipping her 
life away. But, as my mom put it, “The time’s going to pass either way. Why not celebrate it?”

 That’s how a lot of people in education 
see the countdown to summer. I’ve heard of 
many creative ways teachers make the arrival 
of the last day more exciting. Nearly every 
school has a white board in the lounge, and 
the office staff start numbering the remaining 
days starting from 20 if it’s been a decent year, 
and maybe 30 if the year’s been rough. Some 
people write the numbers on squares of toilet 
paper and rip one off each day.

 Other imaginative methods include 
attaching small balloons, each with the 
number of remaining days, to a corkboard 
and popping them with darts. I like that idea, but with the heightened security at schools, I somehow 
doubt that darts are allowed on campus.

 With all the excitement surrounding summer, we can forget those people who start counting the 
days until school starts again --parents! One of my favorite television ads was for Staples and first 
aired in the 90’s. The ad came out around September, and featured an exuberant father sailing down 
the aisle at Staples on a shopping cart with two sullen school-aged children in tow. They scowled 
at him as he flung notebooks, pencils, and other school supplies into the cart. People in education 
can identify with the children, facing the year ahead of them. But for the parents, it is “The Most 
Wonderful Time of the Year!”