Happy New Year…I Think
You know what’s worse than holiday hangovers? The people who suddenly find religion on January 1st and start preaching the gospel of “Dry January.” Look, I get it — after all the rum cakes, spiked eggnog, and cranberry margaritas, a break sounds smart. But must...
Beating the Winter Blues in the River Region: A Guide to Staying Active, Social and Joyful
Winter in Alabama is mild compared to most of the country, but even in the River Region—Montgomery, Prattville, Wetumpka, and Pike Road—the shorter days, early sunsets, and cooler temperatures can take a toll. Many people 55 and older feel the shift more than they expect....
Welcome to the”4th Quarter”
Happy New Year, BOOMers! We, with an average birthdate of 1951, have lived through 3/4 of the Game of Life. Ready for more?Let’s start ’26 by looking back at the quarter-century just completed. Sigh. The 21st century—so far, a rollercoaster that feels like it was...
Tellus Science Museum
Cartersville, Georgia, has no less than three world-class museums: Booth Western Art Museum, Tellus Science Museum, and, maybe the best place to find the first car you ever cranked, the Savoy Automobile Museum. Wife Cindy and I recently spent a few hours at Tellus Science...
BOOM! COVER PROFILE: Jay and Cheri Love
After 31 years of marriage, four children, and four toddlers now calling them “Lovey” and “JJ,” Cheri and Jay Love still radiate the same spark that began with a simple Subway sandwich order and a chance connection at a Chamber event. Their story is one...
Dothan Area Botanical Gardens
Alabama is home to several fine botanical gardens. Travelers heading south may want to explore the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens, where a peaceful stroll through the 50 acres of manicured gardens awaits. While the grounds may not be as extensive as others around the state,...
Discover Leiper’s Fork
Skirting Nashville, we found ourselves cruising south on Old Hillsboro Road, aka, Highway 46. While wife, Cindy, was attempting to navigate to Patina Meadows Farm, owned by her friends, California-to-Tennessee transplants Steve and Brooke Giannetti, I was merely taking the scenic route, not realizing I...
The Legacy of Chevy Chase
BOOMer icon Chevy Chase, now 82 (!) years old, finally admitted his big mistake. In a recent CNN Films interview, Chevy said he “never should have left Saturday Night Live” four episodes into its 2nd season. The entire interview airs January 1st on CNN- making...
Planning For Your Future (Part 5): Pooled Supplemental Needs Trusts (1st & 3rd parties) and/or ABLE Accounts
This article concludes our series on Planning for your Future. Like Part 4, discussing Supplemental Needs Trusts, “SNT”, this section is ONLY necessary if you are planning for yourself and/or any other Beneficiary that may require a needs-based public benefit, such as Supplemental Security Income...
Love at the Center of It All!
Every December, I find myself circling back to the simple wonder of that first Christmas—when the Savior entered our broken world, not with spectacle, but with presence. No headlines. No wrapping. Just hope, wrapped in humility. A gift from the heart of God to a...
Reindeer Wrapping Paperand Receipts From Hell
Christmas used to be simpler. A few toys, a plate of cookies, and maybe a single string of lights that worked 60% of the time. Now? Christmas feels like a military-grade operation crossed with a Hallmark movie marathon and just a hint of psychological warfare....
BOOM! COVER PROFILE: Kim Mason
Kim Mason is living proof that curiosity—and courage—don’t come with an expiration date. In this inspiring interview, the beloved actor, director, and longtime portfolio advisor opens up about feeling more confident than ever, the power of mentors who spoke life into her, and why she’s...
Turkey Day Trouble
Pinterest is a liar. According to the internet, Thanksgiving should look like a Norman Rockwell painting sprinkled with glitter. Perfect turkeys, designer centerpieces, smiling families basking in soft autumn light, all while golden retrievers nap peacefully by the fire. My Thanksgiving? The smoke alarm’s going...
Tuscaloosa’s Riverwalk
On game days in Tuscaloosa, traffic grinds to a chaotic crawl as some 100,000 fans converge on the west-central Alabama town’s football stadium. However, during the other 350 or so days of the year, residents and visitors seek out other diversions, including the town’s libraries,...
Holiday Weight Gain? It’s Ozemplicated
BOOMers, it’s a challenge we face every November/December during the Season of Justifiable Over-Indulgence. We know (with rare exception, and I’m jealous of THOSE people) we’re likely to add a pound or 10 to our weight. Putting it on is effortless. We continuously seek an...