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Mountain Views News Saturday, June 28, 2025

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SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …JUNE BIRTHDAYS*

Joanne Thrane, Nellie Haynes, Dorothy McKay, Diane Hatfield, Georgette 
Dunlay, Elizabeth Shula, Donna Doss, Mary Carney, Carol Handley, 
Marilyn McKernan, Pat Fujiwara, Beth Smith-Kellock, Ann Disbrow, Joan 
Ellison, Anne Montgomery, Trini Ornelas,, Pat Starkey, Kathleen Coyne, 
Jacque Persing, Jeanne Peterson, Roxana Dominguez, Carolyn Lanyi, Claire 
McLean, Suzanne Decker and Grace Sanders.


SENIORS AND KEEPING YOUR PETS SAFE DURING THE 
4TH OF JULY

 
The 4th of July is a time of celebration, but 
it can be stressful for pets—especially for seniors 
who may find it more difficult to manage their 
animals during fireworks and gatherings. Loud 
noises, flashing lights, and unfamiliar guests can 
cause pets anxiety, making it important to take extra 
precautions.

First, create a quiet, safe space in your home where 
your pet can retreat during fireworks. This could 
be a bedroom or a cozy corner with their favorite 
bed and toys. Close windows and curtains to muffle 
sounds and reduce visual stimulation. Playing 
calming music or white noise can also help soothe 
them.

 Seniors should ensure pets are wearing collars with up-to-date ID tags. Microchipping is another 
safeguard in case a pet escapes during a noisy celebration. Walking dogs earlier in the day before festivities 
begin is recommended to avoid startling them with sudden booms or crowds.

 If mobility is a concern, consider asking a friend, neighbor, or pet-sitting service to help care 
for the animal during peak noise times. Having someone around to check on them can ease both the 
senior’s and the pet’s stress.

 Keep party food and alcoholic beverages out of reach, as many holiday treats can be toxic to animals. 
Make guests aware that pets should not be fed scraps, no matter how adorable they may look.

Above all, preparation is key. With a little planning, seniors can enjoy Independence Day while ensuring 
their furry companions stay safe, calm, and close by. Taking these simple steps can prevent emergencies 
and make the holiday enjoyable for everyone—pets included.


NIFTY GOLF GADGETS THAT CAN HELP OLDER 
GOLFERS


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you recommend some good golf 
gadgets that can help older golfers? I like 
to walk the course when I play but I have 
some back problems that make stooping over to tee-up or retrieve the ball difficult, and some hand arthritis 
that make gripping the club painful. Fragile Golfer

Dear Fragile,

There are actually a wide variety of adaptive golf equipment that can help older golfers who struggle 
with arthritis, injuries or mobility problems. Here’s a rundown of some of the different types of golf 
equipment you can purchase that can help with many different needs.

Upright Golf Products

For golfers with back, hip or knee problems, there are several different products on the market that 
will allow you to tee up the ball (and retrieve the tee) from an upright position without having to 
bend or stoop over. To find these stoop-proof devices see Zero Bend Golf (ZeroBendGolf.com, $80), 
Reacher Golf (ReacherGolf.com, $65), Tee Pal Pro (TeePalLLC.com, $79), Joe’s Original Backtee (UprightGolf.
com, $20) and Toss Tees (TossTee.com, $15.50).

Many of these same companies also offer accessory products for retrieving the ball from the ground 
or cup, repairing divots, marking the ball on the green, or picking up a club, sand rake or flag stick off 
the ground, all without bending over.

Gripping Solutions

Gripping a golf club can also be challenging for golfers with hand arthritis or those who have hand or 
elbow injuries. To help alleviate this problem there are specially designed golf gloves and grips that 
can make a big difference.

Some good gloves to consider include the Bionic Golf Glove (BionicGloves.com, $18 to $33) that has 
extra padding in the palm and finger joints to improve grip. And the Eagle Claw (The-Eagle-Claw.
com, $50), which includes a golf glove and a plastic claw that fits over you thumb and index finger to 
lock the club to your hand.

Another gripping solution is to get oversized grips installed on your clubs. These can make gripping 
the club easier and more comfortable and are also very good at absorbing shock. Oversized grips are 
usually either one-sixteenth-inch or one-eighth-inch larger in diameter than a standard grip, and cost 
around $10 per grip. You can find these grips and have them installed at your local golf store or pro 
shop.

Low Vision Golf Balls

If diminished vision from cataracts or eye problems makes locating the ball difficult, Chromax golf 
balls (ChromaxGolf.com) can help. These are reflective colored golf balls that make them appear 
larger and brighter. Cost: $11 for a three-pack.

Age-Friendly Golf Carts

For older golfers who like to walk the course, there are ergonomically designed golf carts that are 
lightweight and easy to push or pull. Brands like Sun Mountain (SunMountain.com), Bag Boy and 
Clicgear (Clicgearusa.com) offer a variety of three and four-wheeled push/pull carts that are highly 
rated for function and foldability. Costs typically range between $280 and $350.

There are also remote electric caddies that will transport your clubs around the course for you as you 
walk. Some top brands include Stewart Golf (StewartGolfusa.com), Motocaddy (Motocaddy.us) and 
MGI (MGIgolf.com). These run anywhere between $1,000 and $3,500. 

Or, for people with severe mobility loss, there’s a specialized electric golf cart called the SoloRider 
(SoloRider.com). This provides mobility challenged golfers the ability to play from a seated or standing-
but-supported position. Retailing for $16,500, plus a $600 shipping fee, this cart is lightweight 
and precisely balanced so it can be driven on tee boxes and greens without causing any damage. 
Federal ADA laws require that all public golf courses allow them.

Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, 
Norman, OK 73070.

HEAT IS NOT JUST A NUMBER, IT'S 
AN ATTITUDE

Lately, the temperature in Florida has topped 100°. I saw on the news 
that the Northeast is also hitting 100°.

It's easy to see why everyone wants to come to Florida. If they can't, they wish for some 
of our heat. Well, good luck with that. We’ll send you all you can handle.

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I have lived in Florida for over thirty years. 
We've enjoyed every single day, and we have no plans to leave. At first the heat was 
more than we expected, but within a short time we got used to it. Now we enjoy it.

Records show this is the hottest June our country has seen. This heat has serious consequences. 
The human body can't handle such heat for long.

Just the other day, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage complained about how hot it 
was. “Oh, my,” she said, “where does all this heat come from?”

For a moment, I almost answered. But after 54 years of blissful marriage, I’ve learned 
when to speak and when to stay quiet. Of course, I’m still learning when to speak. 
That’s one of my biggest challenges. I could have said, "It's summer, the sun is out, and 
the heat comes from the sun." But I knew that wasn't the answer she wanted, so I held 
back.

I remember my father saying that life isn't about numbers but attitude. I'm starting to 
understand what he meant.

When I was young I had two female dogs at home, male dogs in the neighborhood 
would gather in our backyard when the females were “in heat.” It was something beyond 
my control even though I tried. But that's not the attitude I mean here.

At my stage in life, when I step out into the hot sun, I start sweating. That sweat drives 
me crazy. The sweat runs from the top of my head all the way to the bottom of my feet. 
Everything about me is soaked. Believe me, it’s not my favorite attitude.

I walked into the house and The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage looked up and 
asked, “Did you take a shower with your clothes on?" Then she laughs. I did not 
respond.

My recliner is next to our big glass door. I can see the sun shining and feel the heat. I 
sigh deeply because I'm glad to be on the cool side. I enjoy the heat outside while I stay 
cool indoors.

One thing about this heat season that I have learned is, I avoid driving when it’s this 
hot—not because my A/C doesn’t work, but because other drivers have attitudes I can’t 
relate to. The other day, I was driving across town. I saw cars go by with drivers shaking 
their fists out the window. It’s like they thought that would fix anything!

If I shook my fist, it would only create more problems. I don’t think those drivers realized 
that shaking their fists out the window didn't make the heat go away.

I don’t want to drive among those people. After all, I love living.

One great perk of being retired is that I can choose not to drive if I don’t want to. I am 
increasingly appreciating that.

My body isn’t as strong as it used to be, so I avoid the 100° heat whenever possible. I 
respect my body, even if I’m not sure it respects me. That’s a different issue.

In the late afternoon, the sun had been blazing all day and showed no signs of letting 
up. I was in my recliner drinking some ice tea when The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage 
sat down in the rocking chair and asked, “When will this heat go away?”

I chuckled to myself, remembering about a month ago a cloudy day with rain. Back 
then, she looked out the window and asked, “Where in the world is the sun?”

I wanted to respond, “My dear, the sun is in the sky, just above the clouds.”

You have no idea how much I wanted to say that, but being a seasoned and successful 
husband, I kept it to myself.

The heat is not about numbers; it’s about attitude. Some people’s attitudes make me uncomfortable. 
Shaking fists and yelling at the sky show an attitude not rooted in sanity.

One of the best things about a hot, sunny afternoon is, I can sit down and enjoy it in a 
cool atmosphere. I remember those days far, far away when I lived up north and had to 
look out the window and see white fluffy stuff fill up our yard and driveway. Maybe if 
I would’ve stood there and shook my fist at the snow it would have gone away. If only I 
knew that back then.

Now that I have experienced both of these weathers, the hot and the cold, I have chosen 
the hot weather. And I am unanimous in that decision.

While contemplating on this I thought of some scripture.

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that 
the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that 
ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4).

My attitude should not be based on what’s going on around me. The heat and the cold 
comes and goes, but my relationship with God is firmly rooted in God’s Word.

Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. 
Telephone 1-352-216-3025, e-mail jamessnyder51@gmail.com, website www.jamessnyderministries.
com


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