The Songs That Bring Back a Decade, Foods That May Delay Dementia and Heart Disease, and 6 Wealth Strategies for Volatile Markets

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Fiction: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins – A troubled commuter becomes entangled in a missing-person investigation after witnessing something unsettling from her train window, uncovering dangerous secrets along the way.

History (Non-Fiction): The Forever War by Dexter Filkins – This gripping firsthand account chronicles years of reporting from Afghanistan and Iraq, revealing the violence, chaos, and human experiences behind America's modern wars.

Memoir: The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath by Leslie Jamison – This candid memoir blends personal experiences of alcoholism and recovery with stories of famous writers, exploring addiction, creativity, and the difficult process of rebuilding a life.

Romance: Twisted Love by Ana Huang – A cold, ambitious businessman agrees to watch over his best friend's younger sister, but their growing attraction threatens to expose dangerous secrets from his past.

✨ THIS WEEK'S FEATURED READ ✨

Prana Rising by Courtney Stough – This powerful new release explores how to stop performing the life you think you should live, reconnect with your authentic self, and reclaim the energy, creativity, and vitality that make you feel fully alive.

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Check a few boxes, and we’ll match you with trusted options and initial consultations—many completely free—across insurance, housing, travel, finances, and more. It takes about five minutes, and you’re not committing to anything—just seeing what can save you time and energy.

Sometimes it takes only the opening few notes.

A song begins playing in a store, on the radio, or during a movie, and suddenly you're not simply hearing music. You're remembering the car you drove, the clothes people wore, where you spent Saturday nights, or the kitchen where music seemed to be always playing.

Certain songs don't just remind us of a particular year. Somehow, they evoke an entire decade.

Think about how quickly music can place you in a particular period.

The harmonies of The Beach Boys or The Supremes can immediately suggest the 1960s. The Bee Gees and ABBA can transport you to the disco era of the 1970s, while Fleetwood Mac or Led Zeppelin might bring back an entirely different side of the same decade. Then come the unmistakable synthesizers and larger-than-life pop of the 1980s—perhaps a song by Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson, or Cyndi Lauper.

You don't even need to have loved the song at the time. Hearing it repeatedly in the background of everyday life was sometimes enough to permanently attach it to an era—and to your life in it.

A song may remind you of your first apartment because the neighbor played it constantly. Another might bring back summer drives your first year out of high school because it was always on the car radio. Another could remind you of weekends with your first child, who bopped along whenever the song came on.

That's what makes musical memories so personal. Two people can hear exactly the same song and be transported to completely different places.

Try asking friends, "Which song sounds most like the 1970s to you?" The answers—and the stories behind them—may be more interesting than the songs themselves.

Choose one decade and make a list of ten songs you strongly associate with it. Don't worry about selecting the decade's biggest hits. Choose the songs that bring your version of that period back.

Then listen to them in order.

You may be surprised by the details that surface: a favorite restaurant, a particular vacation, a dance floor, a workplace, or simply the feeling of an ordinary Saturday afternoon. Memories you haven’t thought of in years may come flowing back, along with the emotions they entail.

Music can preserve the atmosphere surrounding everyday experiences long after the details have faded. A familiar song doesn't simply remind us what we listened to—it can remind us what life felt like when we were listening.

We're looking for seniors who are embracing life with enthusiasm, purpose, and adventure. Whether you're traveling the world, starting a business, volunteering, pursuing a passion, learning new skills, or simply making the most of every day, we'd love to hear your story.

Think that might be you?

Email [email protected] with a photo and a short bio. We may feature you in an upcoming edition of Seniors Magazine.

Before the day ends, think of one person who made your life better. You don't even have to tell them—although you could.

The discount: Captain D’s Seafood

What it gives you: Different locations offer different discounts for senior menus

How to claim it: Ask for a senior meal at the restaurant

“The Box of Christmas Cards”
From the life overview of William P., 80, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Shared with permission.

For nearly thirty years, my wife held onto every Christmas card we received.

She put them in a cardboard box in the hall closet. Then every December, she would bring the box down and read through some of the cards before putting up the decorations.

I used to tease her about it. “Why do we need cards from people we haven’t seen since 1979?”

She would say, “Because they sent them.”

After she died in 2016, I found the box while cleaning out the closet. I sat on the floor and opened it.

There were cards from neighbors, old colleagues, cousins, people we had traveled with, and families whose children were now grown.

Some had photographs inside. Others had handwritten letters that went on for two pages.

There was one from my wife’s parents, dated 1984. Her father had drawn a crooked little Christmas tree in the corner.

I had completely forgotten that.

I decided I would keep the box. Now every December, I take it down.

I don’t read all the cards anymore. There are too many.

But I always look for the one from my wife’s parents.

My wife was right after all. If she hadn’t kept that box, I wouldn’t remember half those people.

I also wouldn’t remember my father-in-law’s terrible drawing, either.

***

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Musicmap – The History of Popular Music
Explore how familiar musical styles evolved and influenced one another through this enormous interactive map of popular music. Follow the connections between blues, jazz, country, rock, soul, and dozens of other genres, with descriptions and listening examples along the way. It's a fascinating way to trace the musical roots of songs you've enjoyed for years.

Google Earth – Voyager
Google Earth's Voyager feature offers guided, interactive journeys through remarkable places and stories around the world. Explore traditional homes in different cultures, follow unusual wildlife migrations, or discover landscapes through satellite imagery and panoramic views. Each experience gives you a new way to investigate a place or subject without leaving your computer.

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Your morning cup of coffee can be the beginning of a surprisingly interesting hobby. Coffee is grown in dozens of countries, and beans from different regions can have remarkably different flavors, from bright and fruity to rich, nutty, and chocolatey.

Exploring those differences doesn't require expensive equipment or professional tasting skills. All you need is a willingness to try something new.

Start by choosing coffees from three different growing regions.

Ethiopian coffees are often known for floral and fruity notes, while Colombian coffees frequently offer balanced sweetness and caramel-like flavors. Coffees from Sumatra, Indonesia, can have earthy, herbal characteristics and a fuller body.

These descriptions are general tendencies rather than guarantees. Processing methods, roasting, and individual farms all influence the final flavor.

For an introduction to different origins, explore Atlas Coffee Club's coffee offerings, which feature coffees sourced from countries around the world.

The same coffee beans can taste dramatically different depending on how they're roasted.

Light roasts often preserve more of a coffee's original acidity and distinctive characteristics, while darker roasts develop stronger toasted, smoky, or bittersweet flavors.

Counter Culture Coffee offers a variety of coffees with tasting notes that can help you compare roast styles and flavor profiles.

When experimenting, try brewing two different coffees using the same method. This makes it easier to notice differences between them.

A simple coffee tasting, sometimes called cupping, is a fun way to explore different beans.

Prepare small servings of two or three coffees, ideally using the same coffee-to-water ratio. Smell each cup before tasting, then compare the flavors as the coffee cools.

The Specialty Coffee Association's coffee resources provide information about coffee evaluation, brewing, and the wider coffee industry.

Keep a notebook with the country of origin, roast level, brewing method, and your impressions. You might discover that you prefer a bright Kenyan coffee in the morning and a mellow Brazilian roast later in the day.

Coffee culture varies enormously around the world. Explore Italian espresso, Turkish coffee prepared in a cezve, Vietnamese coffee brewed with a phin filter, or Scandinavian-style filter coffee.

For brewing inspiration, Blue Bottle Coffee's guides explain different preparation methods.

You don't need to master every technique. Even trying one new coffee each month can introduce you to flavors, traditions, and places you might never otherwise encounter.

A Wi-Fi digital photo frame can display a rotating collection of family pictures without requiring anyone to manually transfer photos. Many models allow relatives to send new pictures directly to the frame from anywhere.

Look for a Wi-Fi-enabled frame with remote photo sharing, such as models from Aura, Nixplay, or Frameo-compatible brands. Check whether the frame requires a subscription for certain features.

Plug in the frame, connect it to your home's Wi-Fi network, and follow the instructions to install its companion app on a smartphone.

Most frames use a pairing code or invitation system to connect the device to an account.

Open the frame's companion app and look for an option such as Invite Members, Add Contributors, or Share Frame.

Send invitations to family members you'd like to contribute. Once connected, they can upload photos from their own phones, even if they live hundreds of miles away.

Depending on the model, you may be able to approve photos before they appear, adjust slideshow timing, and schedule the display to turn off overnight.

Keep the frame connected to Wi-Fi so new pictures arrive automatically. If the connection temporarily drops, previously downloaded photos can usually continue displaying.

Today: Mackinac Island, Michigan

With no private cars, historic hotels, horse-drawn carriages, and beautiful views of Lake Huron, Mackinac Island feels like a delightful step back in time. It’s particularly suited to travelers looking for a slower-paced getaway.

Ingrid’s Tip: Stay overnight rather than visiting only for the day. The island becomes wonderfully peaceful after the day visitors catch their ferries back to the mainland.

Unscramble the letters to find a famous person, event, or object. Think you know it? Reply with your answer and show off your brainpower.

Today’s clue: Toy that sprayed water during backyard battles.

REWAT NUG

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