Choosing a surrogate is important

My dad thought his mother, Katherine Reiman, was a good-looking woman, but I didn't think about that at all. I just found it easy to believe the family legend about how she met, and married, my grandfather. She literally carried him off on horseback!

Nan, as I called her, was from a family of nine children, and she was one of the youngest. She was not a peace-loving Mennonite, but from the other kind of Germans, those militaristic Prussians. She was red-headed and known for her hot temper. I think she thought most women were too wishywashy, and she always took her part and spoke up in family matters.

They were a contented couple, although they were complete opposites. My grandfather, Henry Moyer, whom I called Pop Pop, was a mild-mannered, sweettalking only child.

From the beginning, Nan made all the moves - including asking Pop Pop to court her, which she did in a very peremptory way. One night, she rode on horseback up under his second-story bedroom window and called to him. When he arrived at the window, she told him to jump down onto the horse's back behind her. He did, and they rode away, with her holding the reins. She never gave the reins up, either!

Pop Pop was training to be a clerk, but became a minister, after he lost his legs from the knee down in a train accident. With Nan's takecharge nature, she did all the books for the church, and Pop Pop usually did whatever she told him to. Their only child, Wilbur, was my father.

When I look at the family portrait of Nan and her brothers and sisters that hangs on my guest room wall, I see a wide distance in ages and many different faces. I won't say most of them were terribly attractive, but they all got married just the same. And they were intelligent, anyway.

Hmmmm . . . The photo is in black and white - maybe they would look much better in color?

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I'll be enjoying the performance of Broadway A La Carte this evening at 7:30 p.m. at Pensacola Junior College's Ashmore Arts Auditorium, and I hope to see you there. They will perform all this weekend, and you can reserve tickets by calling 850-484-1847.

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I just received a Nutrition Action Health Letter published by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, D.C. In this edition it names ten 'superfoods' you should eat.

Here are just a few of my favorites:

Sweet potatoes - "a nutritional winner; one of the best foods you can eat." Loaded with vitamin C, potassium and fiber.

Salmon or other fatty fish, such a salmon, swordfish and rainbow trout. The omega-3 fats can help reduce the risk of heart attack.

Kellogg's All-Bran (original) or Post 100 percent bran cereals - a half-cup serving of these cereals provides about a third of the fiber you need for an entire day.

What I like about the newsletter is that they list foods by brand - they 'name names' - wouldn't it be helpful to know which foods you see in your trip to the market will promote your health, and which ones won't?

If you are interested in receiving the newsletter, write to 1875 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20009.

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When you are writing a living will and designating a health care surrogate, you should choose someone you trust to take the responsibility for making serious medical decisions for you. You may also appoint an alternate surrogate who will step in, if the first named person becomes unable to act on your behalf.

Once you have written your designation and will, put the original signed documents in a secure but accessible place where they can be located quickly - NOT in a safety deposit box!

Be aware that these documents will not be effective in the event of a sudden emergency unless you have a nonhospital "Do Not Resuscitate Order" written on the appropriate form. Without this non-hospital DNR emergency personnel are required to perform resuscitation.

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Here's one for all my dogwalking friends (you know who you are!)

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went." ~ Will Rogers.

See you next week!