(Continued from page 3)

•  Another severe weather event is expected to sweep across the state May 29 and 30; bringing with it a potential for severe weather that may include strong winds and hail.
• Before replanting, Edwards encourages farmers to consult their crop insurance representatives. More information will be posted to iGrow.org.
•

• 39 million Americans or 13% of the U.S. population are 65 and older, and our nation's 76 million baby boomers are just beginning to turn 65. A timely 2009 Pew Research poll on growing

old, found encouraging words as well as a sizable gap between the expectations of young people and what actually happens.
•
• The survey asked about negative benchmarks of aging such as illness, memory loss, inability to drive, an end to sexual activity, loneliness and depression, and difficulty paying bills. The study discovered that younger people thought elderly would experience more problems of aging than actually occurred. It's good to know they were wrong.
• I found it encouraging that only 40% of those aged 85 or older experienced significant memory loss, only 30% experienced feeling sad or depressed, only 25% no longer drove, and the vast majority had made peace with their circumstances, with only 1% that said their lives had turned out worse than expected.
• But in contrast the survey also asked about benefits of aging such as spending more time with family, traveling for pleasure, having more time for hobbies, and doing volunteer work. Younger people thought the elderly would experience more of

(Continued on page 5)