Surprise / Sun City West September 2025 by The Grand Season

20 op Five

THE EDITOR

I hope you and yours had a wonderful Labor Day. Across the nation, the first long weekend of September indicates fall is approaching. While we’ve had some amazing monsoon storms of late, we all know we can expect heat and summer like temperatures for several more weeks.

I realize September is a month of transitions for all of us. My hope is this month’s issue of The Grand Season will inspire you to continue discovering your “bestself,” regardless of the uncertainties you might face.

If you’re looking to make some changes to your home before company begins to arrive in the next few months, check out our talented advertisers who can help you transition your home into the home of your dreams.

Thank you for your support of The Grand Season, and for supporting the local business owners who make our publication possible.

Go Cardinals!

Melissa Whitton Editor/Associate Publisher

MEDIA WALLS

Ronnie & Tom

Our patio structures will not warp, twist or rot! These products look like real wood and are durable and solid. They’re maintenance free, are available in 7 baked enamel colors and come with a lifetime limited warranty We install various sizes of interior faux beams to add custom touches in your home. The beams are available in various stains, patterns, and can be painted. We offer K-6 seamless and half round raingutter in 30 baked on enamel colors. We also supply and install custom radiused gutter for rounded entryways.

INSPIRE

THE REAL YOU

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.

Bernard M. Baruch

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.

Oscar Wilde

Live life to the fullest, and focus on the positive!

Matt Cameron

Strive to be the most passionate, energetic, and tenacious professional in your clique.

Germany Kent

The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too.

Ernest Hemingway

Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.

Albert Einstein

Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.

Les Brown

Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.

Stephen Covey

Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.

Maya Angelou

LOVE

GIVE YOUR BEST

Regardless of where you are in your relationship, it’s crucial to find ways to start giving your spouse the best version of yourself again. If you want to nurture lifelong love and a happier marriage, here are some tips that will help you give your spouse the best version of you.

first person to hear it from you. Having close relationships with your family and friends is important, but your spouse should be your top priority. That means before you burn all your excitement with friends or family, take that news to your spouse first.

a conversation. It might mean making sure you’ve completed your daily tasks or obligations so that you can give your spouse your full attention. If you’re a task-oriented person, rather than a more people-oriented person, then clearing away these distractions will help you give your spouse your best.

By Drs. Les and Leslie Parrot

1. Share good news with your spouse first Whenever possible, if you have good news to share, make sure your spouse is the

2. Clear away distractions

Clearing away distractions doesn’t just mean turning off the TV or putting your phone down to have

3. Create moments of tenderness

You can certainly make more time for intimacy to create more tenderness in your marriage. However, little everyday gestures can do so much to help your spouse feel loved. Hold hands, look into each other’s eyes, or leave love notes for one another. Remember, what makes your spouse light up and add more of that to your marriage today.

4. Listen to your spouse’s heart

Has your spouse been seeking your attention or affection? Have you been pausing for long enough to meet their needs? Listen to their heart when they come to you with concerns.

5. Find your “off” switch

If you’re someone who prefers to stay busy, moving from one pursuit or task to another, it can be difficult to slow down. Finding your “off” switch is essential for a healthy marriage. It doesn’t mean you have to give up the dreams you’ve been pursuing. But it does mean that your spouse deserves to spend a little downtime with you.

FLASHBACK

1. Which Beatle was wearing all white on the “Abbey Road” album cover?

2. Name the girl group that released “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”

3. Which two songs ended up at the top of the 2024 revised Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list?

4. “Good Morning Starshine” is from which musical?

5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “If your heartaches seem to hang around too long, And your blues keep getting bluer with each song.”

HOLLYWOOD HAPPENINGS

America’s sweetheart Julia Roberts, 57, wife of cinematographer Daniel Moder and mother of 21-yearold twins as well as an 18-year-old son, can still find time to make a movie or two. In July 2024, she began shooting the thriller “After the Hunt” with Ayo Edebri, Andrew Garfield and Chloe Sevigny. Roberts plays a college professor grappling with her past amidst another professor’s scandal. It opens on Oct. 10.

Her second film, also a thriller called “Panic Carefully,” is with Eddie Redmayne, Elizabeth Olsen, Brian Tyree Henry, and Ben Chaplin. It began shooting in January but is still waiting on a release date.

YOU CHOOSE

Life is made up of a series of choices that determine whether you grow as an individual or stay stagnant. Sometimes, those choices are easy, but other times they require courage. If you’re looking for ways to grow as a person, check out some of these ideas.

1. Just show up. Say you want to run a marathon but have no prior experience. The first step is lacing up you shoes and hitting the pavement. Even if you only make it half a mile on your first training run, you’ll be about 2% closer to your ultimate goal than if you didn’t put in any work.

2. Start from the beginning. You don’t just happen to stumble upon the best version of yourself. You need to start from the beginning and take a high number of small steps in order to become what you envision.

3. Stop looking for a secret trick. There is no miraculous shortcut to the better version of yourself.

4. Accept help from other people. Don’t let your pride get in the way. Most successful people needed help along the way, too.

5. Stop pretending to know things you don’t know. You’ll never learn anything if you pretend to already know everything.

6. Help other people become the best version of themselves. Pay it forward. Doing so keeps you motivated on your own path, and you’ll find that the lasting connections you build from helping others will greatly benefit you moving forward.

BIBLE TRIVIA

1. Is the book of 1 Corinthians (KJV) in the Old or New Testament or neither?

2. From Acts 10, who had a vision of heaven opening up with a sheet knit of four corners being let down to earth? Caleb, Peter, Paul, Samson

3. What are the laws of a church, the collection of writings considered to be God’s word? Canon, Covenant, Gilead, Gilgad

4. Which prophet experienced an earthquake while standing on a mountaintop? Elijah, Abraham, James, Thomas

5. What Moabite woman became an ancestress of King David through her marriage to Boaz? Sarah, Rachel, Ruth, Rebekah

Screwdriver

Cocktail

Ingredients

Crushed ice

1 1/2 oz. vodka

Freshly squeezed orange juice to top, optionally strained of pulp

Orange wheels or slices, for serving

Directions

Fill a medium glass with crushed ice. Add vodka, then top with orange juice. Garnish with an orange wheel and serve.

Ice

2 oz. vodka or orange-flavored vodka

2 oz. triple sec

1 medium navel orange, juiced (about 1/4 to 1/3 c.)

Lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite

A few dashes of orange bitters (optional)

Orange slice, for garnish

Directions

Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add vodka, triple sec, and orange juice and stir to combine. Top with lemon-lime soda and garnish with an orange slice.

Gin Rickey

Ingredients

Ice cubes

2 oz. London Dry gin

1/2 oz. fresh lime juice

Club soda, for topping

Pinch of kosher salt (optional)

Directions

Fill a highball glass with ice. Add gin and lime juice, then top off with club soda. Sprinkle with salt, if using, and garnish with a lime wedge.

DINING GUIDE

PURSUIT

Answers on pg. 40

1. Which best original song from “Aladdin” won an Oscar?

2 In what year did the animated TV comedy “South Park” debut?

3. Where did the Romans build Hadrian’s Wall?

4. What is the capital of Brazil?

5 Which president was the first to be impeached?

6. What is the home of the Greek gods?

7 Which state is home to the U.S. Naval Academy?

8. What is the smallest prime number?

9 What is the original name of the farm in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”? TRIVIAL

Make

Dinner and a Movie!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

It’s never too late to become the person you want to be! Make time each day to invest in becoming the best version of yourself. The follow are some great ideas from Tony Robbins on cultivating your personal growth.

Let Go of Limiting Beliefs

You know who you are – but do you know who you could be? Most of us are held back by limiting beliefs: untrue thoughts we have about our intrinsic nature. By learning to recognize and let go of whatever limiting beliefs are keeping you from becoming the best version of yourself, you’re able to push forward and find the person you really are.

Toss Out Expectations

Our beliefs create our world – but unfortunately, sometimes our beliefs are not our own. Like most of us, you’ve built at least part of your identity on others’ expectations. The process of internalizing others’ values is unconscious and bringing it to consciousness is the essence of learning how to be the best version of yourself. Your vision for who you want to be must be yours – no one else’s.

Shed Your Old Identity

When you determine to find your ideal self, you’re essentially raising the bar – for yourself and the

people you know. Your “old self” will resist this due to feelings of insecurity and fear of the unknown. Resist the urge to cling to the familiar – the identity that’s been holding you back – and embrace a cando attitude.

Have Compassion for Yourself

Being the best version of yourself is about you – not other people. Stop comparing yourself to others and recognize that everyone is on a different path. If you’re not where you’d like to be, have compassion for yourself.

Stay Positive

As you learn how to be the best version of yourself, you’re sure to hit roadblocks and obstacles. Instead of getting discouraged, cultivate “positive” emotions like passion, curiosity and flexibility. Look at obstacles as opportunities instead of defeats.

Give Back

Contribution is an essential element of what makes us feel fulfilled. When we give back to our communities, we feel a greater sense of gratitude and abundance in our own lives. Volunteering –whether by giving your time, skills, knowledge or money – is one way in which you can be the best version of you no matter who you are.

RITA’S CLEANING SERVICES

HEALTH

HEADACHE RELIEF

If you’re one of the many adults who deal with migraines, the heat can feel like your worst enemy. Around 1 in 10 older adults get migraines regularly, and the combo of high temps and humidity can make life extra uncomfortable.

Migraines can be set off by all kinds of things — stress, lack of sleep, bright lights, strong smells, or loud noises. But weather changes are among the biggest culprits. “The combination of heat and humidity is especially brutal,” says Vincent Martin, M.D., of the University of Cincinnati and president of the National Headache Foundation.

Research backs that up. In a study of more than 70,000 migraine diary entries, Martin and his team found that for every 10-degree jump in daily temperature, migraine frequency went up 6 percent. In other words: hot days can pack a punch.

But it’s not just the heat itself — it’s the weather patterns behind it. Low-pressure systems can cause barometric pressure to fall, while pushing humidity and temps higher. That “perfect storm” is a known migraine trigger. Some people even say they can sense when a system is moving in — like human barometers! Scientists aren’t quite sure how, but it may be connected to pressure sensors in the sinuses or inner ear.

Older adults may be hit harder, because we sweat less with age, and certain medications — like diuretics or antihistamines — can make it tougher to stay hydrated and cool.

So, how do you outsmart migraines?

Drink up: Aim for about 8–12 cups of fluids daily.

Shun the sun: Wear sunglasses and seek shade to avoid light-triggered attacks.

Watch the air: Stay inside on high-pollution days.

Have a backup plan: Overthe-counter pain relievers may help, but frequent sufferers should ask their doctor about preventive treatments.

AAA SENIOR PLACEMENT AZ

A Message from Sue Royer

“I was born and raised in inner city Chicago, the sixth of eighteen children with fifteen brothers. Being the oldest daughter, I was always a caregiver which I believe influenced me to pursue work in the healthcare industry. Today, I have three daughters and five grandchildren.

Years ago, I volunteered for hospice and knew immediately that helping seniors was my calling. I was soon employed by hospice but I felt something was missing. I realized it was the limited time I was able to spend with my clients. Having my own business allows me to provide the intimate hands on service needed in our community. I am committed to our seniors throughout their lives and I thank the community for the opportunity to serve.”

Sue RoyerDirector

About Us

Since 2002, AAA Senior Placement AZ has been offering FREE services helping seniors find safe, affordable and loving assisted living.

When it becomes too difficult for you or your loved ones to safely manage daily living and/or manage medical needs, call Sue Royer for help navigating the many options available.

We are specialists in all levels of assisted living care resources with referrals to Arizona’s best:

• Group Homes

• Assisted Living Communities

• In-Home Primary Care Physicians

• Home Health Care Therapy

• Transportation

• Private Duty In-Home Care

• Respite Care

• Alzheimer’s Care

• Memory Care

• Hospice

• Support Groups

Assisted living resources accepting:

• Private pay

• Arizona Long Term Care-ALTCS

• Medicaid

• VA Benefits

6 Reasons You Should Call

AAA Senior Placement AZ

• We are well known and respected in the medical community.

• All clients are given a thorough assessment to determine proper placement needs.

• There is never a fee charged to the senior or their family for our service.

• We are NOT contractually bound to any outside business. This allows us to serve our clients with only their interests in mind.

• Years of knowledge and experience in the field of senior care.

• AAA Senior Placement AZ is family owned, allowing us to give you quality, personalized service.

ACRYLIC DECKING of ARIZONA

“An Elegant Finish To Plain Decking”

•Want to finish “The Look” of your landscaping?

•Want to protect yourself and your pet’s feet from burning cement?

ACRYLIC DECKING of ARIZONA has the answers to all of these problems!

1. What did the NFL reduce to 18 feet, 6 inches from 23 feet, 4 inches in 1991?

2. Who did Se-ri Pak defeat in the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament after an 18-hole playoff and two-sudden death holes?

3. What two boxers battled for the world heavyweight championship in the controversial “Long Count Fight” at Chicago’s Soldier Field in 1927?

4. The headquarters of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, an international body to settle disputes related to sports, is located in what European country?

ESTIMATES · LOCALLY OWNED

and

3) Gene

ANSWERS: 1) Goalpost width. 2) Jenny Chuasiriporn.

Tunney

Jack Dempsey. 4) Switzerland.

STRANGE BUT TRUE

Earth is the only planet in the solar system with rainbows.

Steve Jobs would eat the same fruit or vegetable for weeks on end, and believed that binging nothing but apples or carrots reduced his body odor to the extent that he would need to shower just once a week.

A heatwave can make train tracks bend.

Silk is stronger than steel.

Until 1911, the MLB had a rule stating that if an umpire was “unable to see whether a catch has been fairly made or not,” he was free to appeal to the game’s spectators for a judgment.

The eyes on Michelangelo’s statue of David look in different directions. Why is debatable, but some scholars believe the artist wanted to ensure the shepherd’s gaze was as impactful as possible from either side.

FLASHBACK

John Lennon. He was marching at the head of the group as they crossed the road — a message perhaps? He’d already left the group but it hadn’t been announced yet.

The Shirelles, in 1960. They almost didn’t record the song, thinking it sounded too country. It ended up at the top of the Hot 100 chart and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

Aretha Franklin, “Respect” from 1967 and Public Enemy, “Fight the Power” from 1989.

”Hair,” in 1967.

“Cry,” by Johnnie Ray, in 1951. Ray, known for his overly dramatic singing style, managed to incite the crowds to hysteria like Elvis Presley and the Beatles would eventually do.

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About Regency Specialties

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