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Thursday, November 24, 2011 – Daily News FEATURES Eloquent essay enhances esteem Dear Readers: Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you are fortunate enough to be spending the holiday with family and friends. And an extra shout-out to those readers who are spending the day volunteer- ing at shelters and soup kitchens. Bless you for your kind hearts and generosity of spirit. Here is one of Ann Lan- Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. Annie's Mailbox ders' favorite essays, which we feel is quite appropriate for Thanksgiving: I Asked God (author unknown) I asked God for strength, that I might achieve. I was made weak, that I might learn to obey. I asked for health, that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy. I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life. I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for — but everything I had hoped for. by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar I am, among all men, most richly blessed. Dear Readers: This was written many years ago by Judy Vekasy, a registered nurse and director of activi- ties in a nursing home in Savannah, Tenn., and it appeared several times in Ann Landers' column. It originally appeared in the Memphis Commercial Appeal. For those with some spare time this week, please stop by any nursing home and volunteer: You say you can't do anything. Can you read? Good. Read to me. My eyes aren't what they used to be. Can you write? Good. Write a letter or a card for me. My hands are shaky. Can you sing? Good. Help me with the words and I'll sing along. Can you tell me about your job? I was a nurse once myself. Can you listen? Wonderful. I'm starved for conversation. Can you bake a sponge cake or zucchini bread or angel biscuits or make fudge? They aren't on the nursing home menu, but I remem- ber how good they were and I would like to taste them again. Do you play checkers or domi- noes or rummy? Fine, so do I, but there is never anyone who has the time. They are understaffed around here, you know. Do you play the violin or the flute or the piano? My hearing is poor, but I can hear any kind of music. Even if I fall asleep, you'll know I enjoyed it. Once we were somebodies, just like you. We were farmers and farmers' wives and teachers, nurs- es, beauticians, stockbrokers and electricians, bankers and sheriffs and maybe a few outlaws, too. We're not all senile — just old and needing more help than our fami- lies can give us. This home, what- ever its name, is ''home'' to us and you're an invited guest. Please come. The welcome mat is always out and not just on Thanksgiving. I hope you will keep this and read it again in January, February, and every other month of the year. We'll still be here and our needs will be the same. Annie's Snippet for Thanksgiv- ing (credit the late Irv Kupcinet): An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day. Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Cottonwood girl takes first in bird race Special to the DN Ashley Clarke of Cot- tonwood took first place overall in the Colburg, Ore. young bird race on Saturday, Sept. 24. Her blue check hen, AU 2011 RBPC 0099, flew 264 miles against 151 pigeons and 17 club members to win. From Yreka to Red Bluff this little hen flew against south winds of 15 to 35 mph, which made it more difficult for the yearling. Ashley is a first year junior member of the Red Bluff Pigeon Club, attends Evergreen School where she is in sixth grade, and is a member of the Bowman 4-H Club. She has had a remark- able year with the club, her birds have been on the front race sheet five times out of the six races we have flown. Ashley participated in all the club's activities this year and came in second place at the Tehama District Fair with her pigeons. The club is proud to say that Ashley will be returning next year for another flying year. Napping can help you think better DEAR DOC- TOR. K: As I've gotten older I don't sleep as well as I used to. I'm retired, so I have the time to take an afternoon nap. But I'm worried that if I sleep during the day, I'll have even more trouble sleep- ing at night. What do you think? Dr. K by Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D. DEAR READER: I'm not surprised that you don't sleep as well as you used to. Our sleep changes as we get older. After about age 60, we have less deep sleep. We awaken more often and sleep an average of two hours less at night than we did as young adults. It was once thought that older people didn't need as much sleep as younger ones. But that's not the case; we need it just as much. We just have a hard- er time getting it. Regardless of age, we typically need seven and a half to eight hours of sleep to function at our best. So if you're not getting enough sleep at night, what about daytime naps? Or, as you asked, does napping dis- rupt the sleep cycle? Will napping ultimately lead to less sleep and more day- time drowsiness? Everybody's different, and napping is both good and bad, depending on who you are. If you have trouble sleeping nearly every night, and as a result feel tired during the day, napping in the evening is a bad idea. Evening naps make it harder to fall asleep at bedtime. Long naps at any time of day often make you sleep less soundly that night. On the other hand, sup- pose you have an occa- sional bad night's sleep. Maybe there is stress at work, or child-care demands or a noisy neighbor. Whatever the cause, a nap the next day can be a good idea. It does- n't disrupt your nighttime sleep, and increases your total sleep time. That's true whether you take relatively short 45-minute naps or longer two-hour naps. If you're a shift worker, frequently shifting the time of day when you go to sleep can throw off your sleep cycle. Napping usu- ally is helpful, because it increases your total sleep time. And napping provides an additional bonus: It helps you think and func- tion better. That's because napping increases the time you spend in the phases of the sleep cycle that help restore the body and brain. We have a lot more information on sleep, sleep cycles and insomnia in our Special Health Report called "Improving Sleep: A Guide to a Good Night's Rest." You can find out more about it at my web- site. As I mentioned, most people sleep less well as they get older. But if your sleep problems are more serious than that — if they're disrupting your ability to think clearly and function effectively dur- ing the day — then talk to your doctor. There are doctors who are sleep specialists. Your doctor may refer you to one of them. Otherwise, treat your- self to an afternoon nap. You're likely to sleep more and feel better. Oh Snap! The Daily News wants your photos: Cute kids, Adorable pets, Inspirational sights, Any shot you think readers would enjoy You might just see it in the Daily News Send pictures to editor@redbluffdailynews.com or drop off at 545 Diamond Ave. in Red Bluff. Include a caption. 3B Courtesy photo Ashley Clarke of Cottonwood, pictured here, took first place overall in the Sept. 24 young bird race in Colburg, Ore.