After attending the Christmas concert at Old Christ Church, I returned to admire all the festive decorations that shone brightly up and down the street (including my own lights, of course.) I hope your neighborhood is like ours - everyone goes all out to make the most of the holidays. It's a lot of work, but it's worth it. Many folks drive around at night just to see all the lights. Uh-oh, I just remembered: everything has to be taken down now and packed away for another year.

I know a couple of strings of lights will have burned out, and my big wreath with the lights and poinsettias is getting pretty old and starting to fall apart in several places, but it looks all right at nighttime.

But now I have to find room in the closets to fit the Christmas stuff back in. It has to go in with all those other decorations - Valentine's, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Halloween - I could go on and on. Well, I'll worry about that next week. After all, there is always next year.

***** How many of you have ever heard about the painful and debilitating ailment commonly known as frozen shoulder (or, in the fancy Latin terminology, adhesive capulitis?)

This condition may be a result of trauma, calcium deposits, or tendonitis. Symptoms may include restricted motion in all directions and associated pain.

It's important to seek early treatment for a frozen shoulder - also, physical therapy is indicated, including heat, ultrasound, and eventually, strengthening exercises for the shoulder muscles.

The physician may choose to inject cortisone directly into the shoulder joint, or, as a last resort to restore the range of motion, patients may be placed under general anesthesia while an orthopedist manipulates the shoulder.

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Having a son who is becoming an 'official' senior this year by passing the age of 65, I was encouraged to hear that he had long ago given serious thought to his retirement plans. I advised him (not as his mother) to take a long hard look at the issues. You may want to go over some of these yourself, if you are a 'young' senior.

First, assess your current needs - will they change when you retire? What special plans or dreams do you have? Will those frequent trips to Europe still be possible? Are you making the most of your company's retirement plan and/or your 401K? And, last of all, is retirement mandatory at some point, or do you have the option of continuing to work if you choose to do so?

I hope my children are able to follow in our family's footsteps and enjoy a long and happy retirement. And I wish you good luck with your retirement, from a "senior" senior!

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If one of your New Year's resolutions is to get out and exercise more - or to get out and socialize more - you can do both by joining the Gulf Breeze Methodist Church's walking club.

The club meets Wednesdays at 6:30 at the church at 75 Fairpoint Drive in central Gulf Breeze. From there, they walk a variety of routes through town, some short and some longer. You don't have to be a member of the church to join the club, so get out your new sneakers and get going. Call 932-3594 for more information. ******** A thought for the New Year - Aspire to inspire before you expire. See you next week!