Meet Carolann Adams Nelson: Women's Baseball Pioneer and Sports Advocate

Have you seen the movie, A League of Their Own? Tom Hanks and Geena Davis starred, depicting the advent of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Recently, I met Carolann Adams Nelson, an actual participant in that historic league which paved the way for Title IX in the 1970's, and the promotion of women's sports today.

The one thing that Carolann Adams Nelson wants to make sure people know regarding the American Girls Professional Baseball League  is that "we were good."

Carolann explained to me that the league was formed in 1943 by Phillip Wrigley, the chewing-gum mogul who had inherited the Chicago Cubs' Major League Baseball franchise from his father. He was searching for a possible solution to avoid the collapse of major league baseball parks across the country during World War II, not to mention a national morale booster that the country so desperately needed. The league originally consisted of four teams and began as a non-profit organization in the industrial hub of the Midwest. It eventually grew to 15 teams and was in effect until 1954. Now, that was news to me because the movie leads you to believe that once the war was over, and the country got back to normal, so was women's baseball. Actually, Carolann related that it was the invention of television that killed the sport. In the mid-fifties, more and more homes were getting their own television sets and were able to watch the broadcast of men's major league baseball.  Since there was greater access to MLB, its' popularity grew and interest in the woman's league waned.  

Carolann has always been passionate about sports. She was 14 years old at the time the league was up and running. In order to play on the professional teams, you had to be 18. So Carolann was drafted to play on the talent development team for the Fort Wayne Daisies. She played on the team for three years and said it was a great experience. The teams were heavily supervised. No swearing or drinking was allowed. The girls not only honed their baseball skills but also learned about leadership, sportsmanship, and how to be aggressive as well as competitive--skills not generally encouraged with young women of the day.   

Carolann wholeheartedly believes that the success of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League paved the way for Title IX in 1972. That famous Education Act stated that: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."  I was in junior high at the time and remember well when girls athletic teams started up and were encouraged. While I never played on a sports team, I had many friends who were thrilled at the opportunity to play. One of my daughters has benefited from this revolution, having had no problems being able to participate and excel in girl's water polo in high school. Some of her teammates even went on to play for Division I college teams. There is no doubt that allowing women full participation in school athletics makes a difference in their future life skills. Not only does it promote positive self esteem but social, psychological, and motor skills as well. Carolann also related a recent statistic that says 80 % of today's female managers of Fortune 500 companies have a sports background and attribute part of their success to what they learned as athletes.    

The All American Girls Professional Baseball League is a great story. Unfortunately, it took 30 years for the league to be recognized at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. In an effort to create awareness of this historical movement, Carolann travels around her home state of Arizona speaking on her experiences and the great influence the league has had on individuals and the country. She is also writing a book that will share her experiences. What an honor it was for me to meet Carolann and learn the real story of talented women who gave America something to cheer about during a time of war and encouragement for women to participate in sports today.

Did you play sports in high school or college?        

#FamilyGameNight=Fun and Educational?

Sounds like an oxymoron, right? How can a game night be fun filled and brain challenging at the same time?  With these two choices from Thinkfun, you can enjoy both worlds!!!

 ThinkFun  sent me two games to try out and keep. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own.

The best way to stay young and keep your brain active is to practice games that utilize new thought processes. These mind-friendly games are all the rage right now and can be found as apps for your smart phone, on the internet to play on your computer, and as traditional board-type games that two or more players can enjoy. I love how these brain games are also generational-age friendly. Children  teenagers, and adults of all ages can all benefit when joining in on the same mind-twisting activity. 

I have always liked the game selections I've tried from Thinkfun, so when the company asked me to investigate two new games, I was more than happy to accommodate their request. I took them with me this past Memorial Day weekend when I was visiting extended family to try them out. As tradition has it, my family gets together to play games each night when someone is in town visiting. Usually, we play card games and that was what everyone was expecting the first night my husband and I arrived. When I brought out Swish Jr. and Word A Round and asked them if they wouldn't mind help me critiquing these games, they were more than happy to assist. 

There were six of us playing, ranging in age from 53 to 80 years of age. 

We first played Word A Round. This game consists of 100 round cards that display a total of 300 words that you need to identify. The words are spelled out in one continuous ring; not the traditional left to right, straight line fashion. The challenge in Word A Round is to quickly figure out where the word starts and to read it aloud before your opponents. The first person to collect 10 cards by correctly reading the word written in the designated ring on the card, is the winner. The game seems simple enough, but it is really tricky to identify the word first. 

What we found out right away was that where you sat made all the difference. If the word order was facing you, you could pick it out really fast. However, especially if you were sitting at the opposite end of where the word was directed, it was really hard to decipher what it was you were looking at. While we only played one game, everyone had fun and agreed it was a great activity to stretch your vocabulary skills and use your brain. There was one definite downside however. One of our players suffers from dyslexia. Therefore, this was not a game friendly activity for him. Basically, he just sat while everyone else was shouting out their answers. That was why we only played one game; we didn't want him to feel ostracized because of his disability. So, something to be mindful of. (Pardon the pun)

Swish Jr. is a game that helps to develop visual and spatial thinking skills. The object is to match the shape and color outlines on the transparent playing cards so that they form solid shapes. You can rotate and flip the cards any way you can to make the match. 

Because the cards are transparent, placing them on a solid surface is a key. 

We played on a floral tablecloth which made it even more challenging to make the matches. I guess that was ultimately OK since we were developing our brain skills any way. Other things we found out along the way: 1) Cheating can occur if you are studying the cards while a match is being cleared away. We had to purposefully have everyone close their eyes or look away so this didn't happen. 2) It is important to cover the playing area in-between rounds. Again, to discourage cheating. 3) The cards stick together easily so you have to be careful that you are only dealing with one card at a time when putting down the playing area. And while it is intended as a game for "juniors," (age 4-7) we all felt it was challenging and fun even for mid-life adults. Final word: everyone had a good time playing it as shown by our playing several rounds before calling it a night.

It is always fun to break up a regular routine and try something new.Games included. And here are two great ways to add some fun and education to your regular family game night. You can find these and other mind boggling Thinkfun games on their web site or at Amazon.com. Enjoy.

What is your favorite family game night game?       

Take Charge Of Your Life - #LetsGetOld

"Everyone's doing it"

Sound familiar? 

But I'm not talking about some crazy fad or some dangerous prank. 

I'm talking about what is happening to all of us each and every day: Getting Old

And believe it or not, you can do something about it, right here, right now.






Last fall, I had the fabulous opportunity to get in on the ground floor of Pfizer's Get Old initiative. Like with all ground floor projects, once you've started something great, there is no where else to go but UP in scope and influence. And that is just what Pfizer has done: improve and update their project to better reflect a philosophy of maintaining a conversation about aging and living better. I love how they want to actively challenge people of all ages to rethink what it means to Get Old in order to break self-imposed and societal limitations and discover a better quality of life at every age.

In a recent Get Old Survey, nearly nine out of ten people who live in the U.S. believe they will live a long life, yet 40 percent believe being old is something to fear due to potential health and financial concerns. Instead of waiting for those potential situations to develop down the road, individuals are better off taking action today.  “A lot of how we get old is up to us,” says Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, Chief Medical Officer, Pfizer. “Taking action today to better your health improves your odds of enjoying a longer, more active and satisfying life. And now is the time to help our communities prepare to meet the needs of older people, for the benefit and enrichment of all.”

I'm all about being in charge now to prepare for my future possibilities. Take my exercising. Even though I have been working out for over 22 years, I recently found myself on a plateau and sooo bored with my exercise routine. Knowing how important it is to do some kind of regular exercise daily, I knew if I didn't do something different, I was at risk of loosing the benefits that I have worked so hard to maintain all these years. So what did I do? I joined a gym and began taking classes to improve my energy level and outlook. I also bought a Groupon certificate for a personal training, 5 week Boot Camp. My hope with this Boot Camp is to 1) not die (I'm not kidding here. I've heard these "camps" can be rewarding but extremely grueling) and 2) gain new knowledge for me to carry on on my own in the future.

Fitness Results Boot Camp - Upland, CA

How else am I taking charge? Continuing my quest to eat right by staying up to date on the latest healthy eating research, then incorporate that knowledge in to my daily meal plans. For example,  I recently took some classes on using whole grains in your diet and I'm excited to share that information with you soon.

Getting old on my terms doesn't stop with just me. After all, I don't want to get old all by myself. That would be really lonely. Recently, I added the title of "coach" to my long list of other job titles. Not an athletic coach but a healthy living coach to my husband who has added 25 unneeded pounds to his very under-exercised, 54 year old self. I couldn't make/guilt trip/nag him to start eating better or exercising more (Believe me, I tried). Nope. He had to come up with the motivation from within himself. Finally, a week ago, he decided he was ready for a healthy change. (Hallelujah) To jump-start his new goals, I went with him to Jenny Craig and observed as he got all set up with their program. My role now is to help him track his progress, keep the fridge door closed, and his tennis shoes ready as he works to undo his bad health habits.     

From HerWeightLossDiary.blogspot.com

And while my kids are young adults, starting their own families, they are ahead of the game.  They already realize that they need to practice healthy goals to have the energy to chase their kids now and to continue to be productive and happy later on. I truly believe that my example of a positive get old attitude is the best legacy I can provide for them.  

Starting June 5th in Times Square, New York and on Pfizer's dynamic Get Old web site, individuals from all walks of life are claiming their age and committing to taking whatever steps they need to to age and go forward on their terms.  I've already declared my age and encourage you to do the same. It is a great place to be inspired and explore #LetsGetOld.

There's no denying it-- everyone is getting old. But how you get old is up to you -- and only you. What are you doing to take charge of how you grow old?

My Dad Is A Real Man: He Cries

Some people want you to believe that real men don't cry. But my dad has shown me that real men are compassionate, thoughtful, and carry a hankie.









Maybe it was because before he was twelve years old, he was raised by a single mom and while she was at work, his maternal grandmother took care of him. Maybe it was because he married the oldest of three daughters. Or maybe it was because he had three daughters of his own. Whatever the reason, my dad has always been able to easily tap into his feminine side as shown by his shedding more than a few tears as long as I have known him.

It can start with a sad movie, hearing about someone's struggles, cheering for a favorite cause, or even while listening to the Star Spangled Banner. Ever so subtly, my dad's lips will start quivering and his eyes will start to water. His voice will catch and then he'll need to take a deep breath or two in order to regain his composure. 

I thought all dads did this kind of thing so I was never embarrassed by his actions. Rather, I learned from my dad that it was OK, even for men, to feel deep emotions and let them show during tender moments of both joy and sorrow.   

When I met my husband, we were still in high school. Sure I thought he was cute and fun and had nice wheels. But what sealed the deal for me, was seeing my future spouse express his deepest emotions through falling tears. Because I was used to my dad responding in a similar way, I knew I had found a special man to share my life with.

My dad has also shown me his more "manly side." From him, I've learned how to devour the daily sports page, how to swoosh a basketball, how to put my college degree to work, and how  to always be true to myself. But of all things my father is to me, the way I am most my father's daughter, is in the way I can feel the moment and not be ashamed to cry. What a wonderful legacy: to know and experience the softer side of life. Thank you, Dad.    

This is a bloghop! Read what the bloggers of Generation Fabulous have to say about the fathers in their lives.

   



  

   

Remembering Memorial Day: It's All About The Real Heroes

While picnics, barbecues and retail store sales are a nice diversion, spending part of the Memorial Day holiday honoring the intent of the day, is what matters most. 









For this year's Memorial Day, we were visiting my parents at their retirement community in Sun Lakes, Arizona. My mom is a member of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and her chapter was one of the sponsors of the local Memorial Day Service along with seven other Veterans Organizations. The hour long program featured placement of memorial wreaths by each of the groups as well as a guest speaker, Colonel Sam Young, past commander of Luke Air Force Base and a member of the Arizona Veteran's Hall of Fame.  A highlight of the event was watching all of the 70, 80, and 90 year old veterans wave their hands during a rendition of Lee Greenwood's, "God Bless the USA,"

After, they solemnly saluted during the final Echo Taps. Their  respect and patriotic dedication was really moving and heart felt. 

Having the program presented in a retirement community, I knew that there were going to be a lot of veterans present. As I helped the DAR ladies pass out mini American flags to the guests, I was able to also strike up conversations with some of the veterans and hear their experiences. The first gentleman I talked to was a World War II veteran, one of the greatest generation that is dwindling down to a very few. He served in the Pacific, a member of the Air Force, working on several battle ships. Next, I met George, a Vietnam Vet, serving in the 1st Cavalry of the Army. He said it was really hard for him to attend events like this but that he goes to show respect for his fallen comrades. 

Ken Baker was an outgoing Vietnam Vet who served in Da Nang in the Air Force. He was stationed in the middle of Vietnam, near the DMZ. George was anxious to explain to me the meaning of the ribbon that adorned his cap. The ribbon, known as the Vietnam Flag Ribbon, is worn by those who served "In Country," and depicts the South Vietnamese flag. The yellow represents the color of the skin of the Asian people.  The three red stripes represent the three sections of the country: North, Central, and South Vietnam. The green stripes were added to represent the American government who supported the South Vietnamese cause.

Sitting behind me were two patron members of the Jewish War Veterans. One of the gentlemen, Mr. Goldman, shared with me that the Jewish War Veterans was the first and therefore oldest veteran's organization, having been formed in 1896. Because there are so few World War II veterans left, these non-military patron members' duty is to support the veterans in  every way. 

I couldn't help but notice a vivacious woman veteran, Cheryl Almond. Ms. Almond served during the Vietnam war in the Air Force in the intelligence forces. She was stationed in Thailand and was responsible for reconnaissance and search and rescue missions. She told me that of the 14,000 women who served during the war, only 714 were non-medical like herself. I asked Cheryl how she came to serve in the Air Force. She said it was because of the example of her parents. Her father was a medical doctor who arrived in Nagasaki, Japan nine days after Japan's surrender to help give medical aide to the POW's. Her mother was one of the original Rosie the Riveters during the war. From her parents, Cheryl learned that, "Serving is Ops Normal." She said it was very rewarding to serve in the Air Force and later with the Red Cross.

The message of the day was clearly Freedom Is Not Free. As Mr.Baker put it, "The cost of freedom is R.I.P." The speaker, Colonel Young, ended his remarks with these thoughts: 

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,who has given us freedom of religion. It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,  who has given us freedom of the press. It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.  It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.    It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the VETERAN,not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote. It is the VETERAN who salutes the flag and who serves under the flag.

I wish I had the chance to talk to more of these great men and women. I'm sure each one had a great story to tell. The real lesson I learned yesterday was who are the true heroes among us. It is our veterans. So, if you love your freedom, remember to thank a vet.

How did you spend your Memorial holiday?

Meet Lisa Baird: Mid Life College Graduate

What do you do when your husband and four adult children have between them Five Bachelor's Degrees, Three and a half Master's Degrees, an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), and a Doctorate in the works? Well, if you are Lisa Baird, a grandmother of eight, you join your family and get a college degree of your own at age 53.







What set you on your path to get a college degree at this time of your life? I think this idea of going back to school started when we moved to a college town in Utah. My children were all in school, my husband was working and I felt a little lost. I was busy doing "stuff" with my family, going to business things with my husband, going to soccer games, softball games, basketball and football games and beauty pageants all with and for my family. I felt a little lost in their lives. So, as my children started graduating from high school and went off to college, I started taking classes a little at a time.

Why did you wait so long to get started?   I had hated going to school as a kid and didn't really have a desire to continue when I graduated from high school. I knew inside that I probably should, but just didn't have any motivation to go. I did go for a couple of semesters because it was important to my parents. But back then I was clueless about a lot of things. In the meantime, I met my husband, got married, and started having children, so my education got put on the back burner to raise my family.

How did you take that first jump? I started taking 1-2 classes at a time, just to get an idea about how I would feel going back to school and really started enjoying it--much to my surprise. So, I started taking more classes.

Did you have any obstacles along the way?   About the time I went back to school, we started a business, which means feast or famine when it comes to money. My two biggest obstacles were finding money to pay for tuition and books and finding time to study. Apparently, I am not one of those people that can get by with a cursory glance through the materials. My brain just needs a lot of help and a lot of studying. Another obstacle was the guilt I felt because I had to miss out on family "stuff" so that I could study. I found I was studying and doing homework every day from the time I got home from work until late. On the days that I had school, I usually had a couple hours in between classes that I would also study and do homework. My kids always claimed that when I was in school, that I just disappeared and only came up for air at the end of the semester.



What were the costs involved? It was approximately $3,500 per semester to attend plus books, which luckily I was able to find either on Amazon or Chegg for as little as I could spend. The cost of books per semester could cost anywhere from $300 to $800, but by taking the time to search, I usually averaged about $50 to $200, which was more manageable. I was also able to qualify for full Pell Grants, which was an unforeseen bonus of starting your own business. You are always poor and so you can qualify for Pell Grants. Yay!!!

Besides your course of study, what else did you learn along the way? My husband is a very patient man and will support anything that I want to do. My children are great examples of doing homework. They were still in school when I started and watching them do their homework helped me to put my homework first and succeed. I also remembered and applied one of the things my mom and dad told me when I was younger, "If you just go to class every day, and do your homework for your classes, you will do great. It is as simple as that." Lastly, I learned that I am a "little" competitive. Once it hit me that everyone in my family had a Bachelor's Degree (except me), that two of them had Master's Degrees and that another one is working on a Master's, I really wanted to keep up.

What did you like best about going to college? I no longer feel lost. I have goals for me and not anyone else. I feel that all my life, with our children, my husband and I really emphasized going to college and getting a good education and they all did. But what kind of example was I to emphasize this and then not do it myself? It had to be done so I did it!!!

Now that you are a college graduate, what are you going to do?  I'm not sure what I am going to do with my degree. I love the job I have currently and I find that I still need more education for the field of Computer Forensics that I would like to go in to. When I started, there were no Computer Forensic degrees, but now there are, so onward and upward!!! The sky is the limit!! Right....?

Congratulations Lisa Baird on this great accomplishment!!! She has truly proven that you are never too old to finish goals that were first set in younger years.      

    

Making Sense Of The Oklahoma Tornadoes

With the rash of disasters lately- both man-made and natural -- I have become quite empathetic to the cause of working towards  relieving the pain and suffering of my fellow citizens. Here are some ideas, no matter where you live, that show compassion and support during these troubling times







What is the number one simplest, cheapest, and less time consuming way to help others in a disaster situation? Give Blood. Your donation of one pint of blood can help three separate individuals in need. 

This is not a new activity for me. I have given blood once or twice a year for over 20 years. What is different now is that in the past, I gave in connection with blood drives at my church. Always the same old routine: sign up on a sign up sheet, show up on the assigned day and time, give blood, eat snacks, go home. But today, I gave my 0+ universal blood type blood because the local blood bank called me personally and told me they needed my blood NOW for the disasters. Because there was no prearranged blood drive, I had to go to the blood bank to donate. I've driven past the blood bank on numerous occasions but never went inside before. Let me tell you: it was a great experience; way better than blood mobiles or make shift donor centers in a church recreation hall.   

For one thing, everything was state-of-art and computerized. All I had to do was click a mouse to answer the mandatory questions. The pre-testing to make sure I didn't have a temperature, that my blood pressure was normal, and that I had enough iron in my blood, were done in the privacy of a curtain-drawn room. But the best part was the actual blood donation area. All I have ever done before was lie down on hard, portable bed/tables. Not today. I got to sit in a reclining chair!!! Very comfortable. It made all the poking and prodding totally worth it. After just a few minutes, my donation was completed and I was ushered to the galley for the mandatory 15 minute eat, drink, and refresh yourself time before I left to resume the rest of my day. This part of the donating is definitely a highlight for me because you are free to eat and drink all the sugary, carbohydrate snacks you want, all so that your system can begin replenishing the blood that was lost. Final analysis: best time giving blood ever. Especially since it was a spontaneous donation for a critical situation.

Utilize Technology. This is a relatively new and quick way to make donations. You can find out almost instantly on line, after a disaster, what organizations are doing to help out and how you can support their efforts. For instance, I found out on Facebook about numbers you can text a one word message to and upon your approval, $10 dollars is sent to that organization. Your contribution is just added to your regular monthly phone bill. How amazing is that?   After texting twice, I was able to make donations to both the Red Cross (text REDCROSS to 90999) and the Salvation Army (text Storm to 80888). I love technology.

Support your community's efforts. Especially if you don't live anywhere near the disaster. Cities have channels already in place to assist other cities; churches have connections with other congregations; service groups have chapters all around the country. The organizations you are already familiar with and trust can put you in touch with opportunities to give.

There is no need to stand by and observe the suffering that follows disasters. By tapping in to familiar channels, utilizing technology, and giving blood, you can quickly and confidently serve your fellow man. With the rate of all these disasters lately, who knows...your area might be needing assistance next. It is always so much easier to receive help if you are in the habit of giving help first.

How have you supported others after a disaster?