The Big 65 Archives

🤖 AI doesn’t know everything!

Spring Greetings … may this blog find you smiling, with your Medicare insurance coverage keeping you in the pink.

Wondering about Medicare Supplements or Medicare Advantage plans or the meaning of life? Email Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar and we’ll do our best to help.

Special thanks to Quantz’s childhood friend, Elaine, for taking care of our exchange student, Miti, while we were on the road.

A few days after returning home, one of my hives looked like it was starting swarm.

Since I couldn’t get in touch with my bee mentor, I took a picture of the hive. Here’s what ChatGPT said:

I was greatly relieved by the response and started back into the house when I heard a very loud buzzing up in the trees.

Of course I knew the answer but I decided to ask one more time and here was the response.

The good news was that I was able to capture the runaway Queen and her 20,000 swarmers. You can see the capture if you click on the picture below.

The bigger lesson is a very helpful reminder that my technologist daughter reminds me of frequently:

AI is a great predictive tool designed to please you, not a definitive source of accurate answers. Let the user beware.

Tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and others can be remarkably helpful for seniors when used the right way.

They can simplify confusing topics, help write emails, organize travel plans, summarize articles, generate healthy meal ideas, and explain complicated information on Medicare topics in plain English.

But like any powerful tool, they work best when used with a little caution: never share private financial or medical information, always double-check important facts, and remember that AI should support your judgment, not replace it.

With the help of my beekeeping mentor, we captured the swarm and the queen and set up two new hives at my buddy Joe’s house.

Joe is one of those people who never stops learning. He’s excited to be a newly minted beekeeper but smart enough to have already signed up for an in person beekeeping class.

Plus, he’ll use AI to augment his knowledge about the art of beekeeping and also to have fun. Isn’t this a great meme he created?

For the past eight years, every week, I sit down and personally write this weekly newsletter. But I leverage AI for summaries, suggestions, and to find source material.

AI is tool, but it only works well when you provide very specific prompts. Here is a link to a three minute video on how create helpful prompts.

Since my wife Q is still in Sicily visiting our Airman and his girlfriend for a couple more days, I make this prompt simple:

Quantz, please come home, we miss you!

To summarize best practices:

Use AI like a helpful assistant, not the final word.
Never enter private medical, financial, or personal information.
Let it help you get organized and make confusing things easier to understand.
Use it to brainstorm and think more clearly, but keep your own judgment switched on.
Be cautious with medical, legal, and financial advice.
AI can sound polished and confident even when it is flat wrong.
The clearer your question, the better the result.
AI is a tool to help you, not a relationship to replace people.

Used correctly, AI can be an amazing helper. Just remember, don’t surrender your judgement, your privacy, or your common sense or you’ll end up on a ladder chasing bees!

Keep asking, “What’s the next big thing?”

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

The Big 65 Medicare Insurance Services does not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 10 organizations that offer 50 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

“Do NOT go gentle into that goodnight!”

Easter & Passover Greetings … may this blog find you well, with your Medicare insurance coverage keeping Attila and the Huns off your back.

Questions about Medicare Supplements or Medicare Advantage plans? Email Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar if you or your friends need help.

After almost 10 months living at home in the US, my wife Q was ready to hit the road, so we did something I thought I would never do….

A river cruise from Budapest to Passau on the Danube.

The food was amazing, the scenery was stunning, and the friends we went with were delightful.

We saw new things in Bratislava and heard great stories.

Barbara taught us how to bake schaumrollen in Marbach.

We biked twenty miles along vineyards of the Danube.

We visited the abandoned castle where Richard the Lionheart was held ransom.

We had an amazing adventure.

But honestly, my favorite part of the trip was the afternoon we spent with the Rupf family (one of our former exchange students) and their beautiful little children.

Research shows that when older adults regularly interact across generations, they experience lower rates of loneliness and depression, improved cognitive function, and a stronger sense of purpose 🧠❤️.

Plus the beauty of intergenerational connection is that you don’t have even have to travel out of your neighborhood.

My hero is my big brother Rob. He just finished mentoring another group of first year Medical students on how to prepare for the emotional roller coaster of being a doctor. He also tutors inner city elementary students in reading.

Rob tells me he is certain he gets way more out of these activities than his students ever will. I say “the circle is unbroken.” When we connect, everyone benefits.

The bottom line? Get the hell out of your comfort zone. Go to a lecture. Read a new book. Volunteer at the local elementary school.

Build a new connection and rewire your brain. The world still needs you! Now get out there and live!

Keep asking, “What’s the next big thing?”

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

🧠 Protect your brain—start with your ears👂

March Madness Greetings … may this blog find you well with your Medicare insurance coverage keeping you on the road.

Questions about Medicare Supplements or Medicare Advantage plans? Email Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar if you or your friends need answers.

Our exchange student, Miti, and my wife, Quantz, had a great time exploring the national parks over Spring Break.

Miti was amazed by the geological formations and also by the kindness of Americans. Despite all the noise, we still live in an amazing country.

One of the secrets to aging well is continuous learning and maintaining your curiosity.

Unfortunately, hearing loss can severely diminish that ability—making it harder to stay engaged, connected, and mentally sharp. Sadly, most people wait 5-7 years before addressing this issue. That’s bad for them and the people they love.

Pride gets in the way. We tell ourselves it’s not that bad, or we don’t want to admit we need help—but not taking action can lead to:

social withdrawal & depression
increased risk of falls
higher risk of cognitive decline

I challenge you to get a hearing test and explore your options! Staying proactive—can protect your brain, your confidence, and your independence for years to come. Plus, any client of The Big 65 who reads this and gets tested, we’ll send you honey!

Just remember to be patient! If you do get hearing aids, it takes time for your brain to adapt. Listen to your audiologist and follow their instructions.

I’ve had hearing loss for more than two decades. Hearing aids have made all the difference in the world. They keep me connected to my family and to my clients. Don’t let pride get in the way. Keep growing, keep learning.

👓 Not Ready for Hearing Aids? Try This Instead.

If hearing in noisy restaurants 🍽️ and group settings 👥 has become a challenge—or if your hearing aids just aren’t cutting it—take a look at XRAI Glass. I’ve been wearing them for the past couple of months, and they’re game-changers 🚀.

They show real-time subtitles of conversations right in front of your eyes—like a movie 🎬—and can even translate 200+ languages instantly 🌍. I use them in the U.S. in loud restaurants and in Italy while visiting our son, and they work exceptionally well.

Plus, it was incredible to see Italian (or other languages) translated right onto the lenses—it truly helped me understand what people were saying around me (even when they didn’t think I was listening 😉).

If you want to try something new that actually works, click this link 🔗 or the picture below to check them out—Big 65 readers get a bonus pair of clip-on sunglasses 🕶️ with your XRAI glasses by typing in the discount code THEBIG65FREESHADES.

Let me know what you think 👍.

Keep asking, “What’s the next big thing?”

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

Is it time to get on the road again?

St. Patrick’s Day Greetings … may this blog find you well, staying healthy, with your Medicare insurance keeping you smiling.

Troubled by Medicare Supplements rate increases or Medicare Advantage questions? Email Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar if you or your friends need answers.

We just received our second snow of the month and Miti learned how to make snow cream: snow, vanilla, milk, and of course honey from our hives.

Two days later, every lick of snow had melted and the temperature was almost 80 degrees.

So while Plato and I are at home working on Medicare plans and finishing the taxes…

Quantz and our exchange student Miti are on Spring Break in Utah.

Which brings us to this week’s topic: How does Medicare work when you leave home?

Emergency care is covered anywhere in the US, but overseas, it’s different.

Original Medicare usually does not cover you outside the U.S.
Plan G and Plan N include a foreign travel emergency benefit.
That benefit has a $250 deductible.
After that, the plan pays 80%.
You pay the remaining 20%.
There is a $50,000 lifetime limit.
This benefit is for emergency care only.
If you’re traveling for more than 60 consecutive days outside of the country, beware. There may be a limitation. Check with your plan before departing.

What about Medicare Advantage Plans?

Many Medicare Advantage plans include worldwide emergency and urgent care.
In many cases, the cost-sharing is similar to your in-network hospital coverage.
But every plan is different so review your Summary of Benefits or call member services to get the details.

But keep reading so you don’t step into a cold shower!

Neither Medicare Supplements nor Medicare Advantage Plans cover Medical evacuation. They will not pay to transport you to a hospital if you are in the middle of nowhere.

You could consider harnessing a gaggle of doodles, but I’m not sure it would help.

If you are traveling to a truly remote destination, consider purchasing separate travel insurance using a brokerage like Squaremouth.

On this website you can price out trip insurance, evacuation insurance, or a hybrid. Visiting the Squaremouth website or talking with one of their specialists could make quite a difference.

Or you can click on Quantz if you’re not ready for the fall 😬!

Let’s be clear: for most trips to well populated first world cities, evacuation insurance may not be necessary, but if you are going somewhere exotic, it may be worth exploring.

Every situation is different. If you have an overseas trip coming up, give me a call and I’ll let you know my thoughts!

After all, Steve and Mary would never forgive themselves if they couldn’t get home to this rascal.

I mean, who’s gonna handle the remote if you don’t come home 😜!

Keep asking, “What’s the next big thing?”

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

Never 🚫 trust a man who says “trust me 😬!”

Greetings! May this blog find you in great spirits, with your Medicare insurance keeping you out of the cold🥶.

Troubled by Medicare Supplements rate increases or Medicare Advantage questions? Email Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar if you or your friends need answers.

After a super dry winter, we finally got some snow and Miti learned how to shovel.

As we age, it’s easy to get jaded by the winter weather.

So it’s been fun seeing the world through the eyes of our Malagasy exchange student. Miti always dreamed of seeing snow and Plato showed her how to be an angel😆.

But while Miti has been discovering the magic of snow, I’ve been thinking about something far less magical: the very real rise in senior scams.

The sad truth is that today’s scams are more convincing, more personal, and more relentless than ever—especially for older adults.

So here are some simple ways to protect yourself:

Slow down. Scammers want you to panic and act fast. If someone pressures you to send money, share private information, or keep something secret, that’s a major red flag. Take a breath and talk to someone before you do anything rash!

Consider protecting your phone. T-Mobile has ScamShield, Verizon has Call Filter, and AT&T has ActiveArmor. Adding these free apps to your phone will shut down some of the noise.

Verify before you trust.

If the call, text, or email claims to be from your bank, Medicare, Social Security, a grandchild, or even law enforcement, hang up and contact the real person or organization directly using a number you know is legitimate.

Speed is the enemy. Time is your friend. If you over react, you might have a meltdown.

Never pay in strange ways. Gift cards, digital currency, wire transfers, and cash pickups are favorite tools of scammers because they are hard to trace and nearly impossible to recover.

Protect your accounts. Strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and alert settings on bank and credit accounts can add another layer of defense.

Have a family code word. With AI voice cloning on the rise, a simple family password can help confirm whether an emergency call is real.

Talk to somebody. Scammers thrive in secrecy. If something feels off, run it by a spouse, child, friend, or trusted advisor before doing anything.

I’ve had the same trusted advisor for 37 years and Quantz keeps me on track!

If someone is creating urgency, asking for secrecy, or demanding unusual payment, stop right there. A short pause can save a lifetime of savings.

Like my little brother Haas says, “don’t let them hook you!”

Keep asking, “What’s the next big thing?”

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

The secret to longevity may have four legs🐕 🐕‍🦺 🐩 🐾

Beware of the Ides of March,

May this blog find you well, with your Medicare insurance coverage keeping you in the black🤣.

Questions about Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage plans, Part D drug plans? Email Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar if you or your friends need help.

While walking Plato, we saw this stylish Cadillac, built the same year as Quantz. It’s nice to be married to a classic that never goes out of style😮.

Just read a great article about longevity, and guess what the link was?

Hint: Look carefully at my brother Robert. No, it’s not the Ray Bans😄.

That’s right, owning a dog like Teddy may increase longevity! Now dog ownership does not automatically make someone healthier, but research suggests dog owners often have lower blood pressure, lower heart risk, and may even live longer.

Only 60% of dog owners actually walk their dogs, so part of the benefit comes from actually getting out like Rob and these guys I see on the trails.

Some studies suggest dog owners have better survival after a heart attack or stroke.

Just be careful NOT to surprise your spouse with the world’s largest Beanie Baby. Match up the dog breed and size to your lifestyle! Mark and Annette couldn’t live without Boris.

A large 2019 review found dog ownership was linked to a 24% lower risk of death from all causes over 10 years. Pets may also help reduce loneliness and isolation, especially for people who live alone.

Our daughter Susanna said cats need a little equal time as well: less physical activity required and they can provide great companionship as well (like when we babysit our grandcat Kali.)

Sometimes the real benefit is lifestyle. A pet may not be the magic bullet — but walking, laughter, and companionship may be the secret sauce.

Plus, we get to celebrate Plato’s eleventh birthday…and the means carrot cake for the family, right Plato?

Keep asking, “What’s the next big thing?”

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

Don’t Pay This Medical Bill Yet 💸✋🧾

Hello …. may this blog find you in excellent health with your Medicare insurance keeping you above ground just like this prairie dog😆.

Questions about Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage plans, Part D drug plans? Email Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar if you or your friends need help.

I saw this little rascal in the foothills while I was riding my bike. Both of us were glad for the sunshine.

Almost every week, we receive calls from clients like Wayne the photographer. He opened a medical bill and felt an instant jolt of stress: a demand for thousands of dollars that a specialist was threatening to send to collections😱🧾.

So, today’s lesson is: Verify first, pay second. 🧾🔎💸

Remember, a medical bill is a request for payment. Your EOB (Explanation of Benefits) is the document that tells you what you actually owe.

Wayne said he felt like the moth in the hawk’s talons below! (Great pic Wayne!)

Medicare’s own audits found that in 2025, about 1 out of every 15 Medicare Part A & B dollars was paid incorrectly (about $29 billion). Of that, coding mistakes accounted for about $3 billion—roughly 1 out of every 140 Medicare dollars.

Plato says, before you have a heart attack, follow these steps:

Take a breath. Don’t pay yet. ⏸️

Find your EOB (Explanation of Benefits) and match the date/service. 📄🔎

If the numbers don’t match, call the insurance carrier first and ask what you actually owe. ☎️✅

Call the provider billing office and say: “Please put this on hold and resubmit the claim.” 🧾🔁

Pay only after it’s confirmed—then file the EOB with the receipt. 💸📁🐶

Wayne followed these steps and the ginormous bill was reduced to the much more reasonable copay😅.

In our ever increasingly complex Medical industrial complex, there will always be errors. Don’t let them ruin your health. With a little patience and persistence (and perhaps some help Gray and me), we’ll get you through the hard stuff.

Be like the dog sledders Shelly and Dave and keep going!

Keep asking, “What’s the next big thing?”

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

If exercise🏋️‍♂️is so good for you, why is it so hard? 😩

Happy Valentine’s Day 💘, President’s Day🎩, Fat Tuesday🎭, Lunar New Year🏮🐎🔥, and Ash Wednesday ✝️ …

And may this blog find you well, with your Medicare insurance keeping you healthy so you see the world through rose colored glasses💗🕶️.

Remember to email Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar if you have questions about Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage plans, Part D drug plans, or if you need some help.

We brought back this swag from the Valentine’s day dance at our local Senior Center last weekend. Don’t you think Plato looks good in the pink🐩?

I can’t remember the last time we went to a dance (Quantz forced me to go🥴) and of course we had a great time.

That’s the whole point of trying new things. Getting out of your routine is just plain healthy. Plus, we met a bunch of super nice people and they gave us their extra drink coupons😂🍷.

The band played great tunes and everyone had a ball out on the dance floor💃.

We know that exercise (like dancing or walking) helps mental health and the evidence does support that.

But if it’s so “good for you,” why do so many people dread it or quit after a short burst of motivation🥵?

(Don’t worry about Dave and Shelly, they NEVER stop moving.)

This Denver Post article explains that the answer is simple: endorphins are real, but they’re only one small part of the experience.

(I think we need to ask Claire to share her endorphins. Looks like she had an amazing Valentine’s Day❤️!)

Experts note that the popular idea — work out → get endorphins → feel great — oversimplifies what’s happening in the brain and body. The same workout can feel completely different depending on your mood, stress level, sleep, life circumstances, and even where you’re exercising.

Some people get an immediate “runner’s high🏃‍♂️💨😄 ,” but many don’t—and expecting a dramatic mood payoff can set you up for disappointment.

(We took Miti to the Botanic Garden to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year🐉. Endorphin mission accomplished!)

The article also points out the very human barriers that can overpower any chemical boost: feeling uncomfortable in your body, fear of being judged, perfectionism, boredom, pain, or exhaustion.

Exercise isn’t like flipping a switch—there isn’t a guaranteed instant “high” that washes all that away.

(But if you aren’t feeling motivated, a visit to the Botanic Garden🌸can raise your spirits.)

What works is consistency over intensity. Pick something doable. Workouts feel better when you expect to succeed, have support, and improve over time. And you don’t need a gym: daily movement counts (yardwork, dog walks🚶🐕☀️, carrying kids, gardening).

(I met my buddy Joseph for a trail ride on Sunday. Watching Sierra jump in and out of her basket was good for the soul.)

Bottom line: the goal isn’t punishment, it’s finding “joyful movement” you can repeat.

Pair activity with something you already like (music, a podcast, sunshine, a friend), keep it challenging but not crushing, and build the habit slowly. Any enjoyable movement is a step in the right direction.

Heck, it can be as simple as walking over to your neighbor’s house and having a cup of coffee☕️, right John?

If exercise feels hard, that OK. Your brain is just doing what brains do: avoiding discomfort. Start small, keep it pleasant, and let consistency do the heavy lifting.

Miti just started playing intramural soccer⚽️at school and Plato wanted to show her how to be a great defender. It takes a village so keep moving, keep connecting, keep laughing, and the world will be your oyster!

We had a few warm days this past week and our bees🐝were up and at it!

If you’d like to receive honey🍯from our hives and you have a Gmail address (and haven’t given us a review yet), please click on this link, write us a review, and Quantz will send you honey. If you haven’t received your honey yet, please let us know.

It’s good to be home with family, keep finding ways to connect.

Keep asking, “What’s the next big thing?”

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

… just checking in🍀

Hey there … may these words find you well, with your Medicare insurance keeping you lucky🍀, even on Friday the 13th🐈‍⬛.

Questions, frustrations, or things not working with your Medicare Supplement, your Medicare Advantage plan, or your Part D drug plan? Check in with the carrier FIRST, but if that doesn’t help…

Email Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar and we’ll do our best.

After time in Sicily working from our son’s apartment, and having experienced the Festival of Saint Agatha, I was ready for something new. Or as the song goes:

“The secret to a long life is knowing when it’s time to go.”

I am so grateful to have a close friendship with our Airman, it’s no small thing to be able to hang with family without driving each other completely crazy, right?

We spent our last evening walking the ancient city of Catania….

…having a final dinner, and then saying our goodbyes.

Who knows when we’ll see each other next? Whether you live near or far from those you love, make each moment count.

Early the next morning, as the Airbus rose into the sky, over Sicily, and away from the volcano that dominates the horizon, I said a prayer for Sicilians and for all the people in my life.

Since I’m a CDB (a Cheap Dutch Bastard😹, my wife, Q, will confirm this), the tickets I book to travel are never direct (or expensive) and this meant the flight home would take several days.

The first stop was Naples where I connected with my old friend Pulcinella.

Pulcinella is a beloved character from the 1600’s street theater in Naples — a clever, imperfect everyman who uses humor, resilience, and adaptability to navigate a confusing world.

Visitors rub his nose for good luck🍀, hoping to carry a little of his clever spirit with them — a reminder that humor and flexibility can help us through life’s unexpected twists.

The next day, I flew to Munich and reconnected with one of our former exchange students.

The difference between Italians and Germans is the difference between cats and dogs, between night and day, yet both archetypes make the world better.

At the ancient beer hall in Marienplatz, Alex showed me a copy of the Reinheitsgebot, the Bavarian Beer Purity law of 1516, stating that beer can ONLY be made from water, barley, and hops. Only the Germans make rules about fun.

After dry January in Sicily, I did my best to make up for the long break by eating a schnitzel and drinking a single small glass of beer. As my German father always said:

“Everything in moderation…even moderation.” 🍺😂 Prost!

Spending time with the people you love is what it all comes down to, just like Wietze and Jeannie did on their bucket list trip to St. Kitts.

But Sam’s wife proves it’s just as magical on cold gray days in Wisconsin with the grandvarmints❤️.

Where you are matters much less than who you are with and the decisions you make each day. Plato’s glad I’m finally home, just in time for his birthday.

Keep asking, “What’s the next big thing?”

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

Did you know the circle⭕is unbroken 🌋🌊?

Buongiorno☀️ … We hope this blog finds you in superb health, with your Medicare insurance not keeping you up at night!

Email Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar if you are in a tight spot or if your friends need help with Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage Plans, or prescription drug issues.

The bells exploded at 5 AM on Tuesday, rousing the faithful (and the rest of us) who wished to experience the celebration of Sant’Agata, one of the largest of the holy festivals in Europe.

Piazza D’uomo filled with thousands, all hoping to see the sarcophagus, experience the 900th sharing of the martyr (Agatha was returned to the city in 1126 AD), and to receive the Bishop’s blessing.

I scampered up a high stone wall near the cathedral entrance, clasped onto a collumn, and gave thanks for every pushup and every squat that preceded this moment. My primary goal was to avoid falling and also to see and hear the procession.

With AI transcription glasses, I was able to understand the Italian liturgy and hear how Saint Agatha’s story continues, how priests and judges in modern Sicily have lost their lives to the Mafia, and how the fight for justice continues.

When the service finished, the one ton silver Fercolo holding Sant’Agata was carried from the cathedral, through the thousands (waving handkerchiefs and singing), then placed into the Candelora to be pulled by the devoti through the city.

It was a moving experience.

Rituals create attention.

They pull us out of autopilot and remind us that some moments deserve to be marked: birthdays, funerals, weddings, holidays.

That afternoon, Nicholas and I drove the north eastern coast of the island, surveying the recent cyclone’s damage.

In Sicily, you can never escape the volcano or the sea. These are the forces that continue shape the island.

Yet life goes on, and each year, the city pauses to remember what endures:, belief, family and tradition. The little boys build their cardboard Candelora and practice the procession. Perhaps they dream of carrying Sant’Agata through their city.

After days and long nights of celebration, in the brilliant midday sun, Sant’Agata returned to the cathedral, completing here 900th year in Catania.

Exhausted but unbowed, these young’uns took a breather after day of ritual, finding their way in this ever changing world that somehow never changes. As the song says, “the circle is unbroken.”

May we, who’ve been on the journey a while, look to them for inspiration and with encouragement, remembering to keep fresh eyes on the world.

Our country can seem busy and divided, stepping back softens the edges.

Practice gratitude, stay close to the people who matter most, treat others with kindness, and keep your eyes on the big picture.

It’s never just what happens, it’s how we choose to respond. “There is no them; there is only us.”

Keep asking, “What’s the next big thing?”

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including: