We are all social beings needing to interact with others: sharing our everyday experiences; our dreams and hopes; our mental lapses, stories about the grandkids; trips abroad, and listening to jokes we’ve often heard again and again (which I don’t mind since I never can remember a good joke – especially the punch line!).

But as we grow older our social connections are reduced: we may no longer be working; friends have passed away or moved; it’s easier to stay home instead of going out. And sadly, we may have lost our lifelong partner with whom we shared everything.

I’ve written about the value of social connections. But often overlooked is the importance of listening. If someone is going to share their stories, there needs to be someone there to receive them. And yes, while listening you may also hear about the latest doctor’s visit, or which medications are working – or not, and the different aches and pains, but we are all trying to manage this gift of living longer, and someone needs to be there to listen.

Although listening is simple, it is not always easy. As Margaret Wheatley points out, “Listening is such a simple act. It requires us to be present, and that takes practice, but we don’t have to do anything else. We don’t have to advise, coach, or sound wise. We just have to be willing to sit there and listen” – and I may add to be patient. Listening is something we should all do for each other. And if we listen carefully, it might be surprising what we will learn.

Last week, I wrote about the importance of shopping local and supporting our small businesses. Also to sustain a vibrant and healthy community, it is important to support our art, cultural and historical non-profits.

That is true on both sides of the river, but in Oregon you have a special opportunity. You have until the end of this year to donate to a qualifying nonprofit and the Oregon Cultural Trust to receive a matching Oregon tax credit. All you do is donate to any of Oregon’s arts, heritage, and humanities nonprofits which includes forty in Hood River, Sherman, and Wasco counties (listed at www.culturaltrust.org). Then make a matching gift to the Cultural Trust to claim your contribution to the Cultural Trust as a tax credit – which means your donation to the Cultural Trust won’t cost you a thing! The Oregon Cultural Trust supports local communities by funding county Cultural Trust Coalitions that annually distribute grants to area schools and non-profits.

Brain Tease: Based on the pairings that you see below, what word is next, replacing the question mark? rotate – tare; refits – firs; sneaky – easy; throne – rote; tepees – ?

The name of the 1967 satirical talking blues song by singer/songwriter Arlo Guthrie, about the place where “you can get anything you want” (except for Alice I was told) was “Alice’s Restaurant”. I received correct answers from Mark and Kay Fortin, Jess Birge, Rose Schulz, Lana Tepfer, Keith Clymer, Rebecca Abrams, and Lars Reierson this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And last week I missed Nancy Higgins and Margo Dameier.

The quilt raffle drawing was held on the 19^th and there was good news and bad news. The good news is the Mid-Columbia Senior Center quilters sold hundreds of quilt raffle tickets with all proceeds supporting the Senior Center. And the bad news? None of the “Remember When” winners I entered won! I guess I’m just going to have to wait and try again next year.

In the 1950s through the late 60s, westerns were a television favorite with seven of the top ten shows in the 1958 – 1959 season being westerns including this one. What was the name of the Western television series that ran for five seasons from 1957 through 1962 starring James Garner for the first three seasons as the clever and eloquent poker player working the riverboats and saloons while traveling through the 19th-century American frontier? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with the show’s theme song that began with “Who is the tall, dark stranger there?”

“Money talks… but all mine ever says is goodbye!” Anonymous

Well, it’s been another week, trying not to spend beyond my means. Until we meet again, everybody has a story to tell.

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through

Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River

Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center

(541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services – Goldendale office

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior

Services (509-427-3990).

Answer: pets or pest

As we enter this holiday season, it can be a difficult time for many of us. We all occasionally get the blues, but isolation, loneliness, and memories of past holiday seasons can contribute to seasonal depression or the Holiday Blues. An estimated six million Americans over the age of 65 have reported feeling down during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. To cope with the Holiday Blues, here are a few tips from the Milestone Retirement website.

1. Take your time. The holiday season can be a busy time and stressful. Try not to let your daily must-do list get in the way of spending time with family members and friends. And if you do get stressed find a way to exercise. Twenty-five pushups on the living room floor?
2. The more the merrier. We live in a culture that often makes it difficult to ask for help and during the holidays there is often plenty to do: purchasing gifts, putting up Christmas decorations, and cooking that special meal. Avoid trying to do everything by yourself. Instead, ask your children or friends to assist you. Or maybe they can help you plan a big social gathering – or maybe not! But inviting a few friends over can help beat the blues. It’s always more fun to do things with others than alone.
3. Make someone else’s holiday special. Try volunteering. There are many holiday activities needing volunteers. It might not be too late to help at the Community Thanksgiving Dinner in your area. Seldom are there too many volunteers.
4. Stimulate your mind or get creative. Snuggling up with a book on a cold winter day can be a nice way to spend an afternoon. I just started reading Phyllis Diller’s autobiography Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse – there is nothing like a laugh to pick you up. How about working on a crossword puzzle or a jigsaw puzzle? Or start again on that hobby you were too busy to do last summer.
5. Celebrate the present, but don’t forget the past. You may be one of the many older adults mourning the loss of loved ones and aren’t ready to make new holiday memories without them. You can pay special remembrance to family members who have passed away by looking at old photos, preparing their favorite foods, or going around the room and sharing your favorite memories about them. By acknowledging deceased family members, you are reminded that although the people who played such crucial roles in your holiday memories are gone, they’re certainly not forgotten.

During this holiday season, life’s difficulties can take center stage. While we may struggle with our personal challenges, there is always much to be thankful for. I wish you the very best and a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The stand-up comedian known for her self-deprecating humor, wild hair, and clothes and who as Linda Frizzell points out taught her and many of us how to laugh at ourselves and accept who we are was Phyliss Diller. I received correct answers from Lucile Stephens, Steven Woolpert, Doug Nelson, Lana Tepfer, Donna Mollett, Rhonda Spies, Rebecca Abrams, Kim Birge, Pat Evenson-Brady, Sandy Haechrel, Lana Tepfer, and Marny Weting, this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. Last week I missed Ruth Radcliffe and Samantha and Jeff Irwin.

Lana Tepfer shared with me her favorite hint from Phyllis Diller’s Housekeeping Hints. “It’s okay to let your kids write their initials in the dust on your furniture but NOT the date.”

I remember driving to Thanksgiving dinner listening to the radio and hearing this song which has become a tradition each Thanksgiving for many classic rock radio stations. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this 1967 satirical talking blues song by singer-songwriter Arlo Guthrie, about the place where ”you can get anything you want”? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a picture of the old church building in Stockbridge, Massachusetts where Arlo Guthrie spent Thanksgiving Day.

Brain Tease: Another teaser where you must think outside the celebrated box.

What word starts with `e` ends with `e` and only has one letter in it?

Well, it’s been another week, asking myself how can young kids walk around in freezing temperatures only wearing a t-shirt.  Until we meet again, take time to hold hands even if they are cold.

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through

Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River

Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center

(541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services – Goldendale office

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior

Services (509-427-3990).

Answer: An envelope!

With Thanksgiving becoming another shopping holiday: Black Friday spreading into Black Thursday, and now stealing into most of November, I have begun to appreciate the perspective I have gained from having lived these many years: I don’t need the mad rush of finding the best deals of the pre-pre-holiday sales. And I certainly don’t need crowded stores, long lines, and packed parking lots. The fact is I don’t need any more “things” (although I do dream of the latest Apple product).

But knowing that in a flash, my life could be tossed upside down, more “things” aren’t that necessary. As long as I have food in the cupboard, a roof over my head, friends, family, and a wonderful and patient wife, I’m doing just fine. I hope you have found all you need and can appreciate all you have during this season of giving thanks.

You may not need any more “things” this holiday season, but you may want to buy something for your grandchildren that’s more exciting than a gift card. When you do, think first about shopping local. Our communities depend on strong and healthy small businesses owned by local community entrepreneurs who put their time, energy, and passion into their businesses to serve you.

Everyone knows you can shop online, and I do for some items, but before you do take a tour through your downtown shops where you can touch and see all the wonderful item. (Well, it looked good in the picture on Amazon!). And while shopping for your grandchildren, you just might find there is something you really do need and can’t pass up!

I’ve been meaning to mention MedlinePlus, the website hosted by the National Library of Medicine, where you can find the latest information on a wide variety of health subjects such as:

Health Topics – Find information on health, wellness, disorders, and conditions.

Drugs and Supplements – Learn about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, drugs, herbs, and supplements.

Genetics – Explore genetic conditions, genes, and more.

Medical Tests – Learn why your doctor orders medical tests and what the results may mean.

Medical Encyclopedia – Articles and images for diseases, symptoms, tests, and treatments.

Healthy Recipes – Recipes for a healthy lifestyle.

On the Internet there’s a wild variety of health information, so much that it is often hard to separate what’s reliable from the quackery. MedlinePlus is your source to find the latest health-related information where you will learn what medical research has shown to be effective, ineffective, or where the results are inconclusive, so you can make your own informed health decisions.

Brain Tease: Enough of the language lessons. Here is a riddle found online at Braingle.

Find out what the animals are! For example, “To run away or escape” could be a “flea”.

1. hair-control foam; 2. very exposed; 3. tellin’ falsities; 4. a lamenting cry; 5. a dull person; 6. a precious or loved one; 7. first you get a parking ticket, then you get this; 8. these make up a chain.

Two bits is an old slang term for twenty-five cents that dates back to the 1700s. I received correct answers from Diana Weston, Nancy Higgins, Donna Mollet, Rhonda Spies, Kim Birge, Dave Lutgens, Lana Tepfer, Margo Dameier, Linda Frizzell, Rebecca Abrams, Emmett Sampson, Gloria Krantzof-Dee, and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket Keith and Marlene Clymer who if asked will enthusiastically belt out the cheer “Two bits, four bits, six bits a Dollar, all us Old Guys/Gals stand up and holler”. And last week I missed Tina Castanares.

For this week’s “Remember When” question, who was the stand-up comedian and actress, best known for her eccentric stage persona, self-deprecating humor, wild hair and clothes who was described by her mentor Bob Hope as “a Warhol mobile of spare parts picked up along a freeway”? (Hint: It’s not Joan Rivers.) Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a copy of her autobiography Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse – My Life in Comedy.

“I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes… so she hugged me.” Anonymous

Well, it’s been another week, looking forward to the holidays. Until we meet again, be careful what you look for. You might find it.

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through

Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River

Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center

(541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services – Goldendale office

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior

Services (509-427-3990).

Answers: 1. Moose (Mousse), 2. Bear (Bare), 3. Lion (Lyin’), 4. Whale (Wail), 5. Boar (Bore), 6. Deer (Dear), 7. Toad (Towed), 8. Lynx (Links)

You may have recently talked with someone who is having trouble expressing themselves: finding the right word or remembering a name, and thinking to yourself, “Poor soul. He must have dementia” while in the back of your mind worrying about your own memory.

Dementia is not a normal part of aging but many of us will be diagnosed with it. And although a diagnosis of dementia may seem dire, it is not the end of living. We’ll handle the diagnosis in different ways: denial, confusion, self-awareness and even humor.

As a community and as individuals, we need to support people with dementia. We can by using the following ten dementia friendly communication skills when speaking with someone with memory loss.

1. Greet people warmly even if you think they do not remember you. If they seem confused, remind them who you are.
2. Slow your pace slightly and allow time for the person to process and respond.
3. Speak clearly and calmly, and be patient and understanding.
4. Keep communication simple; ask one question at a time.
5. Listen with empathy and seek to understand the person’s reality or feelings.
6. Connect on an emotional level even if conversation topics shift or do not make sense to you.
7. Be aware of the person’s and your own body language: smile, and make eye contact at eye level.
8. Enjoy spending time with the person in the present moment.
9. Offer hugs and hand-holding as appropriate.
10. Avoid arguing with or embarrassing the person.

Because some of us will experience dementia, there are several facts we should consider.

Dementia is not a specific disease but rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with doing everyday activities.

Experiencing dementia-like symptoms may not be dementia. Those symptoms may be caused by infections, metabolic problems, a reaction to a medication or an interaction of several medications, depression, and even nutritional deficiencies.

To make the diagnosis of one of the several types of dementia including the most common Alzheimer’s, a neurological exam, brain imaging, and neuropsychological testing is generally needed.

Dementia is a scary diagnosis taking us into the unknown. But those diagnosed with dementia are still with us, living life in their own way and still in need of affection, connections, and opportunities to express themselves and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.

Brain Tease: In the last two weeks, I challenged you to translate several common phrases in Spanish and French to English. This week see if you can translate this sentence that’s written in my favorite childhood language: Pig Latin. “orryWay isyay ikelay ayay ockinray’ orsehay. Ityay’say omethingsay otay oday atthay onday’tay etgay youyay owherenay.”

The name of the 1958 novelty song that included the memorable line “Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang” was the “Witch Doctor”. I received correct answers from Diana Weston, Donna Mollet, Lana Tepfer, Rhonda Spies, Jess Birge, Dave Lutgens, and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket Doug Nelson back from his trip to Ireland.

For those of you who have won a quilt raffle ticket, you will learn if you are a winner of a beautiful quilt on November 19^th when the quilt raffle drawing will be held at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center during their annual Holiday Bazaar. Everyone who was a quilt raffle ticket winner since last December will be entered in the drawing. You do not have to be present to win but you are certainly invited to attend the holiday bazaar.

Two bits is a word we seldom hear anymore except in a cheer at sporting events. It means inferior, cheap, worthless, or insignificant, but is also an old slang term for a monetary value that dates back to the 1700s. For this week’s “Remember When” question, how much are two bits? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or a video of George Edmondson Jr. leading a cheer before the University of Florida football game at the age of 86.

Well, it’s been another week, wondering what is going to be served next. Until we meet again, don’t let the monsters under your bed keep you up at night.

Good things come in threes so one more piece of cowboy wisdom.

“Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.”

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River

Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center

(541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services – Goldendale office

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior

Services (509-427-3990).

In this month’s “Through the Eyes of an Elder” Colin Wood eloquently describes how the consequences of hearing loss have affected his life and offers suggestions for how family and friends can provide support to anyone with hearing loss.

One of his suggestions is to talk to your family and friends about your hearing loss, making this invisible disability visible. From my experience, when someone hears of my hearing loss, they are sympathetic – but they don’t really understand and are then often frustrated when I ask, “What did you say” for the third time!

So how do you describe hearing loss to others, so they can better understand?

A year and a half ago I mentioned Shari Eberts’s article “How to Explain Hearing Loss to the Uninitiated”. Because I found her suggestions for describing hearing loss to others useful, I thought I would again share three of them.

Hearing loss is like playing Wheel of Fortune where the players try to identify a phrase with only some of the letters visible. With hearing loss, you are trying to do the same, but with sounds instead of letters. You are constantly combining these incomplete sounds with other clues: lipreading, body language, and the context within the conversation to understand the words.

With hearing loss, you don’t have peripheral hearing. With sight, you do have peripheral vision: the ability to see things outside of your direct line of sight. But with hearing loss, when I’m focusing on an activity it’s difficult to concentrate and understand any conversation outside that activity.

Hearing aids don’t work like glasses. They don’t give you 20-20 hearing. Hearing aids will make sounds louder and help you differentiate between sounds but they are far from perfect.

As Colin points out even though hearing loss can be a significant burden, the financial barriers prevent most people from obtaining hearing aids.

But there have been significant changes to address the high cost of hearing aids. As of October 17^th, you can purchase OTC (over-the-counter) hearing aids without a medical exam, prescription, or professional fitting which can save you several thousand dollars.

But OTC hearing aids aren’t for everyone. Most importantly, they are designed to treat only mild to moderate hearing loss. If your hearing loss is more severe, you should consult a hearing health professional.

And you are on your own. There is no in-person hearing care provided after the purchase. No professional sizing, custom earpieces, or follow-up fine-tuning.

To learn more about OTC hearing aids, check out the National Council on Aging’s website at https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/over-the-counter-hearing-aids/

There are other options besides OTC hearing aids. Costco offers a variety of brand-name hearing aids at a low cost. And although Medicare doesn’t cover hearing aids, some Medicare Advantage plans now offer good quality, low-cost hearing aids.

Hearing loss has affected many lives. Now, thankfully, there are affordable options to make them more accessible and improve the lives of older adults.

Brain Tease: This week how about learning a little French in case you want to visit Paris. Try to find the translations for these common French phrases. “Merci beaucoup”, “Pourriez-vous m’aider?”, and most importantly “Où sont des toilettes?”

The name for the unidentified man who hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 during the flight from Portland to Seattle on November 24^th, 1971 was D.B Cooper or as several readers pointed out Dan Cooper. I received correct answers from Diana Weston, Rhonda Spies, Rhonda Schuh, Barbara Cadwell, Lana Tepfer, Doug Nelson, Donna Mollet, Patty Burnet, Dave Lutgens, Pat Kelly, Nancy Higgins, Tina Castanares, Rose Schulz, and Jerry Taylor this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And last week I missed Steven Woolpert.

Ross Bagdasarian Sr. whose stage name was David Seville wrote several novelty songs in the 1950s including this one. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the song that included the line (which I will never forget!) “Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang”? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with the album Sing Again with The Chipmunks on Liberty Records.

Well, it’s been another week, wondering how it could be November already. Until we meet again, although it is good to know where you are going, there are times to travel without a destination in mind.

Cowboy wisdom: “Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.”

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through

Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River

Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center

(541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services – Goldendale office

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior

Services (509-427-3990).