Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/65303
FEATURES two children and a 13-year- old grandson. Two years ago, our 48-year-old unmarried son very reluc- tantly told us that he has been diagnosed with gender identity disorder and con- siders himself to be female. This came as a complete surprise, but we decided to support her wholeheartedly, and we find her to be much happier than before. Dear Annie: We have Annie's Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Here is the problem: Our other son and his wife don't want their teenage son to know because they are afraid it will have a nega- tive effect on his development. This makes family gatherings impossi- ble, as the boy's uncle now dresses and lives as a woman. We love both of our children and our grandson, but we are getting older and don't know how long this impasse will last. How do we best explain transsexualism to a boy that age, and should we? — The Parents Dear Parents: Children are amazingly adaptable, and a typical boy of 13 who watches TV and sees movies likely already has a grasp on gender identity issues. Having a rel- ative who is transsexual is not going to make him change his gender. But we agree that these things should be explained sensitively, and the par- ents must be the ones to make that decision. Please contact PFLAG (pflag.org), which has a transgender network and can help you. Dear Annie: My best friend, ''Donna,'' has been happily married The Altacal Audubon Society program and field trip activities for May are as follows: Park and Stony Gorge Reservoirs Presented by Charles Garvin - Monday, May 21, 6:30 p.m., Chico Creek Nature Center. U. S. Park Ranger Charles Garvin, who will talk about the bird infrastructure at East Park and Stony Gorge Reservoirs and his observa- tion of core relationships with other wildlife. East Park Reservoir, on Little Stony Creek, is 33 miles southwest of Orland and Stony Gorge is 20 miles west of Willows. Both reservoirs store surplus water for irrigation, but also provide areas for camping, picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing, and bird- ing. The American Bird Conservancy has recog- nized East Park Reservoir as a Globally Important Bird Area. Birders may see substantial movement of warblers and other neotrop- ical migrants in late April/early May and in September. Join Charles Garvin's back- ground includes US Marine Corp, trained in South Africa as a Game Ranger under Kruger National Park. He worked in Alaska at Togiak National Wildlife Refuge and Denali Nation- al Park. • May 12, Saturday - Upper Bidwell Park Bird- ing. Weather permitting, this trip will be different! It is our last Second Saturday hike before summer break. Start at Horseshoe Lake and drive up to Bear Hole. Field Trips Over 25 years of experience The North State's premier supplier of stoves STOVE JUNCTION Wood Burning Stoves Did you know? We've Got Exempt From No Burn Days! Serving Butte, Glenn & Tehama Counties Tues-Sat 9am-5pm • Closed Sun & Mon 22825 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff 530-528-2221 • Fax 530-528-2229 www.thestovejunction.com May Program - East for 34 years. She and her husband eloped when she was 21, and they now have two grown sons and a 16- year-old daughter. Donna has mentioned more than once that she regrets not having had a wedding. So, when she announced that she was having a commit- ment ceremony for her 35th anniversary and asked me to participate, I was thrilled. However, what she is planning is far different from what I had imagined. She plans to wear a long white dress with a full train and a waist-length veil, and she has invited 100 guests. She wants me to be her matron of honor. I feel that this is something much more appropriate for a young first- time bride, not a 57-year-old adult who looks her age. I fear she is making a ridiculous spectacle of herself — and, yes, of me, too. How do I tell her this? Or am I just being an old wet hen myself? — Renee honor, you should offer to help Donna pick out her wedding dress. This will give you the opportunity to show your enthusiasm for some- thing more appropriate. However, this is the wedding Donna dreamed of, and now she can afford it. If she is determined to go the whole nine yards (of material), we hope you will be a good sport. That's what best friends do for each other. Dear Annie: As the representa- tive of more than 10,000 florists, Dear Renee: As the matron of We'll hike the rim of the spectacular Iron Canyon, through Black Rail and Peregrine Falcon habitat and late blooming wildflowers. Prepare for a little mud from seeps. Bird- ers of all levels are wel- come. Meet at east Horse- shoe Lake parking lot just past the gun club at 9 am. Bring binoculars, water, snacks, walking shoes and proper clothing for expect- ed weather. Back to our cars by noon. Rain cancels. altacal.org/sites/UpperBid- wellPark/index.php. Con- tact Jon Aull at the Chico Creek Nature Center for more information 530-891- 4671. • May 19, Saturday - Sutter Buttes Hike, Peace Valley Birding. In coopera- tion with California State Parks, Altacal Audubon is offering a guided hike into the Sutter Buttes Peace Val- ley area with Parks Ranger Zach Chambers. We will visit an early California cemetery, a Wintu grinding rock site, an old homestead, a beautiful side canyon deep within the Buttes and the birding for those spring migrants will be at its peak! The hiking will be mostly on uneven ground and climbs will be from moder- ate to strenuous. Good physical shape is required. We will meet at Chico Park and Ride lot closest to Hwy 99 at 8 a.m. Bring binoculars, field guide, and food, plenty of water, wear hiking boots and money for Friday, May 11, 2012 – Daily News 5A Aunt trapped in an uncle's body wholesalers and flower growers, the Society of American Florists would like to respond to ''Friend of a Young Cancer Victim,'' who asked readers to list a charity or medical organization in lieu of flowers in death notices. organizations are a worthwhile cause, flowers also can be a great source of comfort to those grieving the loss of a loved one. They express sympathy in a heartfelt way, honor the deceased's life and add warmth to the memorial service. Research from Harvard and Rutgers shows that flowers increase feelings of compassion and happiness, and people feel less depressed, anxious and agitated in their presence. Instead of requesting ''in lieu of While donations to charitable Tetanus boosters are needed at 10 years TOR K: What is tetanus? And why do I need a tetanus booster shot? DEAR DOC- DEAR READ- ER: When I gradu- ated from medical school, I assumed I would never see a patient suffering from tetanus. It had become unusual since tetanus immunization became available. But it did- n't take long for me to see my first case. flowers,'' we hope the family will consider simply stating, ''The fami- ly suggests memorial contributions be sent to Such-And-Such'' or ''Memorial contributions can be made to Such-And-Such.'' This provides a suggestion, without dic- tating to family and friends what they should do. — Jenny Scala, Director of Consumer Marketing, Staff Liaison of Professional Floral Communicators — International Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Audubon Society programs for May ride sharing. There is a twenty person limit. Advance reservations are required with a requested donation of $20. Please contact Jennifer Patten at jpchico@sbcglobal.net. • May 26, Saturday - Pine Creek and Indian Fish- ery Birding. Two trips in one! Our first stop will be the Pine Creek Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. We will walk and bird parts of this restored site looking for grassland and riparian birds. Next we will visit the Indian Fishery area of the Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park. Here we will walk a half mile nature trail to see several species of woodpeckers and many other resident and migrat- ing woodland and aquatic birds. We may also see river otter, beaver and pond tur- tles. Beginning birders are always welcome. Bring water, a snack or lunch. Meet at the Chico Park and Ride closest to Hwy 99 at 8:30 a.m. We will carpool over to the Pine Creek Unit and then to the Indian Fish- ery. We will return by 1 p.m. Rain cancels. For more information, contact Skip Augur at wba@acm.org or 530-519- 4724 . to the spillway and beyond, enjoying a relatively flat mile or two walk. We'll see both riparian species like Common Mergansers and Belted Kingfishers and songbirds that inhabit the gray pine/chaparral com- munity including California Towhee and Wrentit and more elusive birds like Rufous-crowned Sparrow and Rock Wren. Meeting time is 8 am in the parking area near the bathhouse on Old Ferry Road off of the Montgomery Street round- a-bout in Oroville. Please carpool as parking is limit- ed. Bring water, lunch, sun- screen, hats and binoculars. There could be opportuni- ties to take a dip too! The trip will end about 1pm. To see the meeting place and birding route: g.co/maps/ep4qu. To view the Brad Freeman Trail, http://www.giswk.tzo.com/ lowerdamtrails/default.aspx . Contact Dawn Garcia at mel.dawn@sbcglobal.net or 530-513-1785. A man in his 20s was wheeled into the emergency department by the para- medics. He was strapped to the gurney (a stretcher with wheels). He had to be — he was having seizures. He was writhing in pain. He would have throw himself off the gurney without the straps. Above all, I remember his face, his jaw. His mouth was clamped shut. He was breathing through his nose because he couldn't open his mouth. He had tetanus, also called lockjaw. And he was going to die unless we got him the right treatment, fast. We did, and he sur- vived. Dr. K by Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D. nized against tetanus through a series of four vac- cinations. Children then receive two tetanus booster shots between the ages of 4 and 12. After age 12, a tetanus booster shot usually is recommended every 10 years. tetanus was an intravenous drug abuser, who shoved a lot of dirty nee- dles into his skin. The other reason that patient got tetanus was that he hadn't had a tetanus shot since he was a young child. In the United States, babies are immu- Why are booster shots necessary? Because the immunity provided by a tetanus booster shot begins to wane after five to 10 years. Booster shots enhance, or boost, tetanus immunity. They ensure that you continue to be protect- ed. Why had he gotten tetanus? Tetanus is caused by an infection with certain bacteria. The bacteria pro- duce a toxin that spreads in the blood through the body and produces severe muscle spasms, cramps and seizures. The bacteria that cause tetanus can be found almost anywhere. They are espe- cially common in the soil and manure of farms. But they also contaminate dust in cities, the dirt of suburban gardens and dirty floodwa- ters. develop after almost any type of skin injury, major or minor. This includes a dirty puncture wound, cut, scrape, burn, animal bite or some other break in the skin. Tetanus also can develop after body piercing, tattoo- ing, an insect sting or even a tiny splinter. The patient who introduced me to A tetanus infection may In some cases, your doc- tor may give a booster dose after fewer than 10 years — for example, if you get a severe cut or puncture wound, and it has been more than five years since your last tetanus shot. I think intravenous drug abusers should get tetanus shots every five years. If you are regularly exposed to dirt, dust, manure or dirty water, be especially careful to keep your tetanus shots up-to- date. This would apply if you are a farm worker, vet- erinarian, landscaper, gar- dener, firefighter, or if you are exposed to sewage or floodwater. If it has been more than 10 years since your last tetanus booster, schedule an appointment with your doc- tor. Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School.To send questions, go to AskDoctorK.com, or write: Ask Doctor K, 10 Shattuck St., Second Floor, Boston, MA 02115. Gleaners day, May 14, Recreation Center • Los Molinos, 9 a.m. to noon, • May 27, Sunday - Brad Freeman Trail along the Feather River Birding. We'll take a walk on the Brad Freeman Trail mean- dering along a portion of the lovely Feather River, up All programs and activi- ties are free of cost unless otherwise indicated and are open to the public. For information on events visit www.altacal.org or contact Altacal Audubon Society Publicity Chairman Way- land Augur at 519-4724 or email wba@acm.org. Gleaners will distribute food as follows in May: • Rancho Tehama, noon-2 p.m., Mon- Tuesday, May 15, Masonic Hall, 25020 Tehama Vina Rd. • Corning, 8 a.m. to noon, Wednes- All other sites in the county will be at the usual times and places. Applications for food bank cards may be on the day of giveaway. Bring large paper or plastic bags if possible. day, May 16, Corning Senior Center, 1015 Fourth Ave. • Red Bluff, 8 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, May 16, Food Bank, 20699 Walnut St. All income must be reported. Income is gross monthly per household not net. Only one card will be issued per household. The