It was twenty four years ago in January 1987 that the Center celebrated its grand opening – at a time when Dow Jones Industrial average finally closed above 2000; the Simpsons first appeared on television, Nintendo video games were introduced and Fox television started broadcasting with only 10 hours of prime time programming a week.

How times have changed. But the Center has also changed: providing more activities and classes, and working with the many community partners to fulfill the Center’s mission of “promoting healthy aging by sharing and caring”. But as I look back through the photos and news paper clippings saved from those early years, these changes are just building on the strong foundation laid by the determined “United Seniors” who made this Center possible.

And yet many of their dreams remain unfulfilled. It has been the goal of the building expansion campaign to complete their dream for the Center: an elevator to the basement, additional office space to rent, and adequate space for exercise classes. These goals will be realized in the revised plans for the building expansion.

But while everything changes, many things remains the same and the expansion project is facing many of the same challenges the “United Seniors” encountered. The expansion is taking longer than anticipated, funding is difficult to acquire and we have had to scale back the project. But that didn’t deter the folks twenty four years ago and I hope it won’t deter us today. In a year from now what better way to celebrate the Center’s twenty-fifth anniversary than to start the construction of the Center’s expansion project. It can happen.

Reducing your daily stress can improve your brain health as well as your physical and emotional health. To help you manage your stress, MCMC is offering two free classes at Water’s Edge. From the “Introduction to Mindless Meditation” you will learn the history of meditation, the medical benefits and simple relaxation techniques that can help quiet the mind and body. The class is on Wednesdays February 9th and 23rd from 7 – 8 pm. And in the “MIndfulness Breath” class offered on Wednesdays January 26 and February 2 from 7 – 8PM, you will learn “simple breathing techniques that can help lower blood pressure, improve immune function, ease insomnia, improve digestion and speed healing time”. To register for both of these free classes call 541-296-7319.

Tonight’s Tuesday night music will feature a staple of the local music scene: Truman and his Country Gold. His silky smooth voice will give you a chance to dance all your troubles away. And next Tuesday on the 18^th, John Martin and Friends will be back again for your dancing and listening pleasure. The music starts at 7:00 PM and donations are always appreciated.

Do you want to exercise while walking along a beautiful trail with a companion who will listen and not interrupt, and will occasionally take a break so you can rest. Then drop in at Home-at-Last and walk one of their many dogs waiting to be placed in a caring home. But just don’t take my word for it, ask Karen Olson. You can call Home-at-Last for more information at 541-296-5189.

The Tuesday Lecture on the 18th starting at 11:00 will feature Jim Burris – a local Veteran’s advocate who has a “take no prisoners” passion for helping veterans receive the support they have earned and deserve. He will offer his uncensored and many times provocative views explaining the resources available to veterans and how to access them.

The bandleader who hosted forty eight consecutive radio and television broadcasts on New Year’s Eve was Guy Lombardo who with the Royal Canadians created the “sweetest sounds this side of heaven”. And the winner is Alex Currie and this time he outsmarted his son.

But this week’s “Remember When” question is for the younger generation and I imagine will stump most of you – although Al Wynn and I mentioned this TV show last month on the Coffeebreak. What American musical variety show aired on ABC from September 1964 to through January 1966? It featured such performers as the Righteous Brothers, Sonny and Cher, Rolling Stones, and Sam Cooke; and although its success was temporary, forced NBC to counter with its own “teen scene” show called Hullabaloo? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or write it on the back of a ticket stub to the Beatles concert at Shea Stadium in New York City on August 15^th 1965.

Well that’s another trip down memory lane wearing my favorite rose colored glasses. Until we meet again, keep your eye on the road, hands on the wheel and foot to the gas.

“I always find it more difficult to say the things I mean than the things I don’t.” W. Somerset Maugham

Last week I tried something different. I wrote the column as an annual Christmas letter, similar to the many letters I received this past Christmas from friends and family who shared their latest adventures or misadventures. (I once thought these letters were trite and impersonal but have come to appreciate this once-a -ear chance to hear from many friends whom I seldom see.

But the excitement and anticipation of the long holiday vacation is over and it is back to business as usual – with people to see, things to do and songs to sing. I just hope this year, I can stay in tune.

The Next Chapter lecture series kicks back in gear next Tuesday the 11^th at 11:00. The first presentation of the New Year will be an update on the Center’s building expansion plans, now that the latest design has been completed. This new plan features an elevator to the basement plus additional office space and a renovated interior entry way and commons area. We have had tremendous support for the initial expansion plan and this new plan will include many of the same features except for the medical clinic which was to be built in cooperation with MCMC. That part is still possible and could be added at a later date. But this newer and simpler design is more realistic considering these tight economic times as the country slowly grows out of the “Great Recession”.

The music never stops and tonight Andre and the Strawberry Mountain band will be playing old-time, foot-tapping music for your body and soul. And next Tuesday on the 11th Truman will be back performing his Country Gold. As with green bananas, some things just get better with age. The music starts at 7:00 and donations are appreciated.

Those of you who understand what Benjamin Disraeli meant when he said “How fair is a garden amid the trials and passions of existence.” Or who experience the same passion as the person who believed “God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done. Or those of you who have felt the same discomfort as Charles Dudley Warner when he observed “What a man needs in gardening is a cast-iron back, with a hinge in it.” Then you will want to attend this year’s OSU Wasco County Master Gardeners training. The training will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church beginning February 16th and ending on March 30th. Classes will be held on consecutive Wednesdays from 9:00-4:00. The cost for training is $90.00 for tuition and the Sustainable Gardening Handbook, and $15.00 for Wasco County Master Gardener Association dues. Applications are available at the Wasco County Extension Office 400 E. Scenic Drive Suite 2.278 and must be returned no later than January 28th. And keep your ears open for an upcoming workshop on the care and feeding of roses presented by the Master Gardeners on February 12^th at the Center.

Here is a New Year’s Eve solution for those who – like me – have trouble staying awake till midnight to watch Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve count down in Times Square. I discovered that with live video streaming over the Internet on your computer you can imagine yourself dancing and celebrating with all the folks in Times Square, give your spouse a big fat smooch at midnight and still get to sleep by 10:00 PM The Dalles time. What a deal! And who said you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

You may know Dick Clark has been hosting the Rockin’ New Year’s Eve since 1972 – and since his stroke in 2004 with a little help recently from Ryan Seacrest. But this week’s “Remember When” question goes back even further. Who hosted forty eight consecutive radio and television broadcasts of his New Year’s Eve show – including from 1956 to 1976 on CBS TV – starting with his first radio broadcast heard on December 31, 1928? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or write it on the sleeve of a phonograph record by the Royal Canadians.

And for the question from two weeks ago, many of you knew the name of the cat-like, present-stealing, joy-sucking green creature created by Ted Geisel – more famously known as Dr. Seuss. And contrary to Jodi Cochenour – who’s first thought was her husband Les since he did dress the part in a Starlight parade of years past – the greedy soul was the “Grinch”. And the winner of a free breakfast, which returns in March, is Ron Sutherland.

Well it’s off to the races for another year. Until we meet again, enjoy the New Year and all the possibilities it brings.

“Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Middle age is when you’re forced to.” Bill Vaughan

I finally found time to write my first ever Christmas letter. And of course I am late. But I will try to keep it short and not try to bore you.

It has been a good year at the Center. I use only the word “Center” because for many boomers “Senior” sounds too much like “old folks” and you know boomers: they will never get old. They will just dance off into the sunset singing the Who’s “My Generation”. to the sounds of the “Rolling Stones”. Boy will they be surprised! But one thing I have learned from the tremendous folks here at the “Center” is that although getting “old” is no piece of cake, you can still be a nice slice of pie – with a little luck and the right attitude.

I can’t say enough about the folks around here. I have a supportive and active board of directors and a tremendous cadre of volunteers including the sleeping bag brigade – those folks who volunteer so many hours they need a sleeping bag – including Edna Chandler, Janice and Lowell Finn, Betty Dalhberg and the keeper of the Nu-2-U Shop Martha Williams. Lyn Dalton who has called Bingo every Saturday for five years is finally cutting back thanks to Jim Lobdell stepping up to take her place but she is still calling Bingo twice a month as well as continuing on as the Center’s bookkeeper. I am the Senior Center employee, so the Center couldn’t operate without all the volunteers.

The Tuesday night music program is still going strong thanks to Boyd Jacobsen and the many music groups who play for free or just a pittance of their normal fee. The local musical talent is impressive including the Dufur Boys who are playing at the Center on the 28^th and the Strawberry Mountain Band playing on January 4^th. We try to make everything affordable for folks so the music is free but we always accept donations and we find folks to be very generous.

The Next Chapter Lecture series on every Tuesday still continues to be a success although I wish more folks would attend. There isn’t a lecture when I haven’t learned something new. Thanks to the Oregon Retired Teachers Association we hosted Roger Anunson a national speaker on Brain Health. He shared the basics on how to keep your brain fit: exercise both your body and brain, sleep and eat well, reduce your stress and socialize with others. We incorporate those ideas into the Center’s Brain Fitness Class that meets every Monday at 1:00.

Because of the “Great Recession” we have scaled back our dream to expand the Center focusing on a new elevator to the basement and some additional office space. There was strong support for the initial plan – we raised over $30,000 – but the timing could not have been worse. We just received the new drawings for the revised plan, and the next step is to start looking for funding – hoping we can start construction by January of 2012 when the Center celebrates its 25^th Anniversary. But more immediately, check the Center’s corner at 10^th and Chery Heights. It has been landscaped thanks to Jack and Alvena Smith. And if you drive by the Jack and Alvena Smith donated funds to landscape the corner of 10^th and Cherry Heights which is vast improvement.

We still provide exercise classes including Debra Lutjie’s chair Yoga class which is popular because she never asks you to get down on the floor – many of us wouldn’t be able to get back up. And she also instructs the well attended Seniorcise class when she – like an action hero – transforms from a gentle yoga instructor into the hardcore Marine drill sergeant. Corliss Marsh teaches the once weekly Tai Chi class which has shown to improve balance and strength. And the Strong Women class still meets on Monday and Wednesdays wishing that Fern Wilcox would come back to lead that class – now that she is retired she should have all kinds of extra time, right? Ardyce Edling who is a real inspiration is still teaching the Tap and Clogging and to spice things up they have added lap and pole dancing (Okay guys I am just kidding!)

And there is so much more: Nancy Russell’s “Yes, I can Draw” class, Josh Price’s Tech Talks, Steps to Wellness in partnership with La Clinica, AARP Tax Aide, the “Desire Not to Drink” AA meetings, Saturday Breakfasts, computer classes, the medical equipment loan closet, computer classes, pinochle, bridge – and I am out of breath.

Finally, it has been a real pleasure working with Denise Patton and all the Meals-on-Wheel crew. They provide nutritious meals at the Center and deliver over eighty meals thanks to their many volunteer drivers. (I have included a menu to give you an idea of what they serve.) The Senior Center and Meals-on-Wheels are separate organizations (We were married, then divorced and are now are living together and doing just fine.) but with similar missions working together to support older adults. The Senior Center would not be what it is without Meals-on-Wheels.

Well that was longer than I had hoped, but there is a lot going on at the Center. Until next year, let me paraphrase a common prayer circulating among us “old” folks: “Grant me the senility (wisdom?) to forget the people I never liked, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference”.

Wednesday (29) Salisbury Steak
Thursday (30) Stuffed Peppers
Friday (24) Closed
Monday (3) Salisbury Steak
Tuesday (4) Boneless Chicken Breast