Only One U.S. Couple Reaches 80 Years of Marriage Each Year and This Year This Couple Is It

Betty and Kermit Eastman, both 99, celebrated their oak anniversary on June 6, joining a remarkably small group. On average, only one U.S. couple each year reaches the 80-year mark. Globally, it's estimated that only 1 in 6 million couples live long enough to celebrate eight decades together. The Eastmans' story began in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, where Betty moved into the neighborhood and caught Kermit’s attention. Before they could get their relationship off the ground, Kermit left high school to join the Navy during World War II. After returning from the war, the two married, and Kermit proceeded to finish high school. They even attended the prom together as a married couple. After college, they settled in St. Cloud, where Kermit worked as a superintendent. They raised two children and now have five grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. After eight decades, both said the formula for marital success is pretty straightforward. “Just don’t keep secrets and be honest,” said Betty. Kermit’s advice? “Just live every day. Every day is a gift.”

 

 

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How to Ward Off Spiders Naturally Using a Common Fragrance They Can't Tolerate

While spiders do plenty of good for our ecosystems by consuming other unwanted pests, many of us can agree that we would rather not have them bedding down with us in our homes. Their webs, bites, and simple presence can be a source of distress, and leave many people wondering how to get rid of spiders. Pesticides are often suggested as a way to keep local arachnid populations under control. If you would rather not have toxic pesticides in your home, there’s a simple and effective spider repellent that might be right under your nose: Clove essential oil. According to a study from the Journal of Economic Entomology, essential oil made from cloves can be an effective deterrent against those sneaky eight-legged creatures trying to gain entry into your house. So, how does it work? One way to use essential oils as a spider repellent is to dip cotton balls directly in the oil and place them around your home. Make sure to consider all of the places where the insects may be gaining entry, such as under doorways or through windowsills, vents, or gaps in the floorboards. If you would prefer the diluted version for a more subtle scent, combine five drops of essential oil with five drops of dish-washing liquid in one quart of water. Now you have a ready-to-spray solution that can be misted over any areas showing evidence of spiders. BEWARE — undiluted essential oils can be toxic if ingested, especially to pets. It’s important to place essential oils out of reach of pets and small children or to consider using a diluted solution. A side benefit of using clove oil against spiders is that the compounds found in cloves can also be toxic to other bothersome insects, including red ants, mosquitoes, flies, fleas and roaches.

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Scientists Say Mindset is the Key to Growing Old Gracefully

A new study by scientists at Yale University suggests that mindset plays a key role in the aging process. Key data revealed that if the elderly subjects believed that aging was a process of decline, they declined. If they believed that aging is a process of refinement, they improved. The study found that nearly half of adults aged 65 and older showed measurable improvement in cognitive function, physical function, or both, over time. The improvements were not limited to a small group of exceptional individuals — they were linked to how people think about aging itself. Those with more positive beliefs about aging were significantly more likely to show improvements in both cognition and walking speed, even after accounting for factors such as age, sex, education, and chronic disease. Those with negative beliefs about aging showed poorer memory, slower walking speed, higher cardiovascular risk, and biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The scientists hope that their findings will reverse the popular perception that continuous decline is inevitable and will encourage policy makers to increase their support for preventive care, rehabilitation, and other health-promoting programs for older persons that draw on their potential resilience.

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Humane Societies Are Saving Feral Cats By Giving Them Jobs

Across the United States, animal shelters are using a creative and compassionate way to save the lives of feral cats that might otherwise struggle to find homes. Instead of trying to place these independent cats in traditional households, animal shelters are giving them jobs. Known as “working cat” programs, the initiative matches feral or under-socialized cats with places that need natural rodent control, including barns, warehouses, churches, factories, and other enclosed properties. For many cats that are considered difficult or even impossible to adopt into a typical home, the program offers a second chance at life while also providing a valuable service. Rather than forcing the cats into environments that may cause stress or fear, shelters are placing them in settings where they can thrive more naturally. The arrangement is simple. In exchange for helping keep rodent populations under control, caretakers provide the cats with food, water, and safe shelter. The program creates benefits for everyone involved. Working cat programs now exist in shelters and Humane Society locations across California, Alabama, and Arizona. As the movement continues to grow, millions of under-socialized cats that end up in shelters are being given new opportunities instead of being overlooked. For these cats, a job is doing much more than keeping mice away. It’s giving them a purpose, a safe home, and a chance to live.

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