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POSITIVE VIBES FOR POSITIVE LIFE
Sarah Neben: A very special weekend in October
The energetic sounds of 80s rock music enveloped the interior of my Jeep Patriot as I made my way to Lincoln last Saturday.
I was able to listen to a two-and-a-half-hour nostalgic concert on as I drove to our daughter Sydney’s house.
Sarah Neben
Sydney and I started a special tradition three years ago.
The Pride of the Minutemen marching band from Lexington participates in the Lincoln Public Schools Marching Band Invitational at Seacrest Field, which generally takes place on the third Saturday in October.
It usually falls on a weekend that the Huskers have a bye week, or are at an away game, so it works perfectly for me to spend some quality time with Syd and support the band.
This year the Nebraska football team was playing in Oregon, so it gave me the opportunity to spend the weekend with her. We had a ton of fun.
When I arrived, we ordered lunch from Door Dash, which happens to be one of the greatest things ever invented. I love that you can surf through a ton of menus from local restaurants and then order whatever suits your fancy.
Then comes a knock at the door, and you can fetch the food you ordered without ever leaving the house. If I had access to this all the time it would be dangerous and expensive.
But after years of cooking for seven people, it’s so nice to be able to get great food delivered without lifting a finger.
Following our lunch, Sydney and I sat down together and binge-watched a series she wanted me to see. The hours passed quickly, and before we knew it, it was time to get ready to go to the band competition.
We’ve been going to Seacrest Field for years for competitions, so the way is familiar. The parking lot was packed so I encouraged Syd to park on a side street. I thought we could drive around forever until we found a parking spot— it would be faster to park further out and then walk in.
The sun was shining and the cool wind brisk as we made our way to the stadium. I was gratified to see so many folks in Lexington’s colors. We settled in seats in the bleachers located above the 30-yard-line.
I am such a creature of habit. I have landed in the same area since about 2012.
Lexington’s band was the last to perform. What a thrill to see over 270 students lined up in their black and orange uniforms. I was incredibly proud of them, and so happy to see such a large band representing our community.
When Tyson made the announcement that they were leaving Lexington last year, I heard several remarks that Lexington would “become nothing more than a ghost town.”
Seeing that massive band take the field is nothing short of amazing. Lexington is not so dead after all. The band received a superior rating, and the awards of outstanding color guard and outstanding drum line.
Following Lexington’s performance Syd and I headed downtown. We were starving so we looked for a place to grab some supper.
We found a pizza place called Toppers across from the parking garage. Neither one of us had been there so we were anxious to try it. We got a pizza that had tater tots, white sauce, green onions, and was drizzled with nacho cheese sauce. It was fabulous, and we will be back.
After stuffing ourselves with yummy pizza, we headed to the movie theater. “Sense and Sensibility,” the movie based on the novel by Jane Austen, opened on Oct. 16, and I was excited to see it.
It was my kind of movie: set in Regency England with no terrible language and a couple of beautiful love stories woven in — I thought it was great. “Pride and Prejudice,” released in 2005, is still my favorite, but this movie came in a close second.
The next morning Syd and I watched one more episode of the series we started on Saturday, and then we left for some retail therapy.
We hit one of my favorite antique shops first: Piqued Curiosities, located in the Havelock neighborhood and then Barnes and Noble located on O Street.
I had way too much fun at the antique shop. I texted Dan and told him not to worry about a Christmas present for me because I had just purchased it. It was a beautiful art nouveau lamp that had been rewired.
I believe it had previously been a newel post lamp in a Victorian home, and I fell in love with it.
We headed back to Syd’s house, and I loaded up all my loot in the Patriot. I gave Syd and the grand dogs a hug, and then it was time to hit the road.
I had a blast, and I always look forward to the third weekend in October. It’s a celebration of so many things I love: time with our daughter, music, cheering on the Lexington band, food, antiques and books. You can’t go wrong with that.
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SUNNY SIDE UP
Susan Bennett: Am I really a senior citizen?
Try looking up the definition of “senior citizen."
The modern approach of defining something is, of course, to Google it. So I did.
Susan Bennett
On the first Google page alone, there were 13 definitions ranging from the standard dictionary definition: “sen·ior cit·i·zen, noun; Senior citizen; plural non: senior citizens. 1. An elderly person, especially one who is retired and living on a pension, synonyms: retired person” to the definition according to U.S. News.
This was just the first page of definitions of at least 10 pages.
I began getting AARP mailings when I was in my 40s. Appalled and offended, it immediately went into the trash without any consideration or perusing on my part. But their definition of “senior citizen” is 50 years or older.
Whether it is seen as admitting defeat or celebrating that I’ve actually survived this long, I have now fit their definition for several years.
The truth is that many of us considered in the group called senior citizens are still in the workforce.
We are not retired. We are not living on pensions yet. Most of us work a 40-plus hour weeks, enjoy our time off spent with family and friends and still feel relatively young.
We may have grandchildren or we may still have school age children of our own. Or we may have both! We know how to use computers. We may even, much to the chagrin of our children, have Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts! We are Baby Boomers! Hear us roar!
So as the “modern” senior citizens, just what are we looking for? Well, what were we looking for when we were younger, say in our twenties?
I can’t speak for everyone, but as for me, I was looking for a life with purpose, financial stability, time with friends and family, a good meal on the table and a roof over my head. That’s still what I’m looking for now.
I’m sure if you asked those around you in their 70s, 80s and even 90s, their answers would be much the same. The only thing that may change as we age is how we accomplish having those things or reaching those goals.
The truth is, age is relative. Instead of not admitting our age, we should celebrate it.
Imagine what those in their 70s, 80s and 90s could tell you about what they have experienced in their lives.
I am 63 and I've shared memories from my lifetime with my children because I've experienced things or remember historical events that happened before they were born.
For those even older than me, what a spectacular lifetime they must have had! Imagine the changes in the world or even just their communities they have witnessed.
Back when I worked specifically with seniors and got to know them, my perception of the word “senior” changed.
I remember celebrating my grandparent’s 50th anniversary when I was a kid. I loved them, but I saw them as “old people."
Years later we celebrated the 50th anniversary of my aunt and uncle. I saw that accomplishment as amazing because they still seemed so young and vibrant. 50 years is still 50 years.
All that had changed was my perception of the time.
Of course there are concerns that come with age — health, financial stability and probably the biggest one, becoming a burden to those we love.
But guess what. Those concerns were even there in our younger years.
They're just slightly more prominent as we age. So what’s to gain by being in the group considered “seniors?"
Well we have our lifetime of experience to share. I know I am wiser, less easily swayed and detoured from my goals or impressed with the unimportant than I was in my younger years.
I cherish friendships more and love and appreciate my family daily. But even at this more mature age, I know I have much to learn. I’m still cultivating the person that I am to become.
And as I approach my sixty-fourth trip around the sun that is coming soon, I don’t foresee that attitude changing.
So take the time to celebrate your age, whatever it may be. Be active. Be vital. Share your knowledge and talents. Love and appreciate those around you. Live with purpose. Live with joy. Live every day sunny side up!
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ALL THINGS NEBRASKA
Paul Hammel: Nebraska ballot issues overview
Paul Hammel
Proposed Constitutional Amendment 1: to expand term limits for Nebraska state senators from two consecutive, four-year terms to three consecutive, four-year terms.
FOR – Limiting legislators to two, four-year terms (or eight years) isn’t enough time for representatives to fully understand, and act on, complex issues. Term limits also shift power from elected officials to lobbyists, staffers and political parties.
AGAINST – Limiting representatives to two, four-year terms — which was adopted by voters in 2000 — gives others a chance to serve and limits the fund-raising advantages of long-time incumbents. Term limits also bring in more fresh ideas.
Initiative 440: would amend the Nebraska Constitution to allow betting on sporting events via Internet sites operated by state-licensed racetracks.
FOR – Legalizing online sports betting would generate an estimated $166 million a year extra for property tax relief. The state is losing money to other Internet sites because more than 100,000 online betting accounts already exist in Nebraska.
AGAINST – Online wagering is one of the most addictive forms of gambling, and legalizing it would increase problem gambling and bankruptcies. Such gaming hurts young men and low-income families the most.
Initiative 441: sets up the regulatory framework to govern online sports betting.
FOR – This initiative directs the State Legislature to establish rules to regulate online sports betting via Internet sites operated at licensed racetracks in Nebraska.
AGAINST – Online sports betting is addictive and will increase problem gambling and associated bad outcomes. Nebraska doesn’t need it.
Initiative 442: Amends the State Constitution to block biological males from participating in sports designated for females, women or girls by all public, private and postsecondary schools in Nebraska.
FOR – This would enshrine, in the Nebraska Constitution, restrictions on transgender athletic participation that were passed by the State Legislature in the 2025 “Stand with Women Act.” Clauses in the Constitution are harder to overturn.
AGAINST – The initiative is unnecessary because Nebraska law already blocks biological males from participating in sports for women and girls. Such restrictions intrude on private family decisions and impact very, very few cases.
Paul Hammel has covered the Nebraska state government and the state for decades. He is a retired senior reporter for the Nebraska Examiner and the former Capitol Bureau Chief for the Omaha World-Herald. A native of Ralston, Nebraska, he loves traveling and writing about the state.
