I’ve written several times about the six lifestyle behaviors that impact brain health: exercising regularly, eating right, staying mentally challenged, sleeping well, managing stress, and being social – behaviors that can keep your cognitive engine running smoothly so you can remember where you left that whatchamacallit.

We worry about forgetting names and faces, at least I do, but can you imagine not forgetting anything? You might make thousands on Jeopardy, but wouldn’t you go nuts?

Scott A. Small, MD, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Columbia University and author of Forgetting: The Benefits of Not Remembering suggests that for most people, not only are memory lapses normal, they’re also necessary for the functioning of a healthy brain while also benefiting our cognitive and creative abilities by not interfering with access to new learning or ideas.

Besides the scientific benefits for a healthy brain, imagine how forgetting can have several other more practical benefits. You can enjoy a murder mystery again because you forgot who the culprits were. Or you can eat healthier by placing out of sight the unhealthy foods, you know the ones you really like, so you only see the healthy fruits and vegetables. Out of sight, out of mouth!

But a more serious benefit of forgetting is letting go of painful memories that can affect your emotional and physical well-being. It’s easy to forget where you parked your car, but it isn’t so easy to forget resentments, grudges, and disappointments that can contribute to depression and anxiety. The more we dwell on a hurtful memory or think about the events surrounding the memory, the stronger the neuronal connections become around the memory. But staying social, seeking friendships, and engaging with life can help you forget the hurt from those memories.

As Dr. Small points out, “The ability to forget helps us prioritize, think better, make decisions, and be more creative. Normal forgetting, in balance with memory, gives us the mental flexibility to grasp abstract concepts from a morass of stored information, allowing us to see the forest through the trees.”

So now you no longer need to apologize when you forget your wedding anniversary. You can just explain that you are trying to think better and be more creative by making room in your brain for the important stuff – although you might need to find somewhere else to sleep!

Brain Teaser: If you didn’t know the answer to last week’s teaser, you’re not alone. When I asked a small group of friends, and they were much younger than me, no one knew the answer! But this week you should find this simple math question a little easier. Give it a shot. “How many times can you subtract 5 from 25?”

The country pop duo considered by some as the greatest duo of all time and recorded the 1958 #1 hit “Wake Up Little Susie” was the Everly Brothers. I received correct answers from Bruce Johnson, Mike McFarlane, Lana Tepfer, Donna Mollett, Rhonda Spies, Jess Birge, Deborah Medina, Doug Nelson, Keith and Marlene Clymer, Steven Woolpert, and Mary Pierce whom I missed several weeks ago, but not this week because she’s the winner of this week’s quilt raffle ticket.

When Jackie Gleason starred in his own television variety show from 1952 – 1957, he played many comic characters including Joe the Bartender, Reginald Van Gleason III, and his most famous character, the blustery bus driver Ralph Kramden. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the 1955 – 1956 television show featuring the characters Ralph Kramden, Ed Norton, and their wives Alice and Trixie? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a picture of the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot in Brooklyn.

Well, it has been another week, going around in circles while trying to stay on my feet. Until we meet again, here is one of Roger Rosenblatt’s rules for aging that’s always good to remember. “Just because the person criticizing you is an idiot doesn’t make him wrong.”

“I saw a commercial on late night TV, it said, ‘Forget everything you know about slipcovers,’ so I did, and it was a load off my mind; then the commercial tried to sell me slipcovers, and I didn’t know what the hell they were.” Mitch Hedberg

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: Just once, because after you subtract anything from it, it’s not 25 anymore.

When you get behind the wheel in your car, do you know how far back you should adjust your seat? Or what angle you should position the steering wheel? Or what you should consider when adjusting the mirrors? I don’t. I just do what feels comfortable without considering what might be the safest.

Although the AARP Smart Driver Program improves our driver safety by addressing cognitive abilities and skills, we can also improve our safety by ensuring our cars are properly adjusted.

As older drivers, we are more likely to wear our seatbelts and less likely to speed or drink and drive, but we are also more likely to be killed or seriously injured when a crash occurs because we’re generally less able to withstand the impact of an accident.

CarFit, a free educational program created by the American Society on Aging and developed in collaboration with AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association, helps address these safety concerns by showing us how to adjust the “fit” within our cars.

During a CarFit event, you and your car will go through a 12-point checklist with trained technicians. In addition to demonstrating proper seat belt position, technicians will be checking your steering wheel tilt and head restraint; the distance from your chest to the steering wheel; line of sight above the steering wheel; mirror adjustment including blind spot checks and a quick check of all lights, horn, windshield wipers, etc.

And if your car has any of those new safety features we never would have imagined when we were kids such as lane change warnings and automatic braking, they will also be checked and explained. After the final vehicle walk-around and tire check, you will receive a Resource Bag with educational material and a copy of the 12-point checklist.

The CarFit event will take place on Saturday, April 29th from 12:00 – 3:30 in the Mid-Columbia Senior Center parking lot. Spots are limited, so to guarantee a twenty-minute CarFit checkup, call the Center to pre-register. Or if you like to wait till the last moment, stop by and see if they can fit you in.

Also, volunteers are needed as technicians and support help. To register to be a CarFit volunteer, call the Center at (541) 296-4788. And for further information, you can email Dick Frost at kc7vpf@aol.com.

We can have this CarFit event in the Gorge thanks to the efforts of Mosier resident Dick Frost, a long-time Smart Driver instructor and the CarFit State Coordinator.

BRAIN TEASE:

Brain Tease: When trying to solve this one, remember we often make the mistake of assuming what isn’t. “A donkey is tied to a rope 6 feet long and there is a bale of hay 8 feet away. How can the donkey get to the hay if he does not bite or undo the rope?”

The name of the hair gel introduced in 1965 and marketed as a setting lotion for rollers to give you that perfect ‘Do” was Dippity-do. I received correct answers from Nancy Higgins, Rhonda Spies, Donna Mollet, Virginia Nelson, Kim Birge, Melissa Hayes, Marlene Clymer, and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket Pat Evenson-Brady who found you can buy a vintage partially used jar of Dippity-do on e-Bay for only $48.88! But why? And last week I missed Bruce Johnson, Anna O’Donnell, and once again Nancy Higgins.

Because of their tight harmonies, this singing duo influenced many top recording artists including the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, and Simon & Garfunkel. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this country pop duo considered by many as the greatest duo of all time, and who recorded the 1958 #1 hit single that included the lyrics “Well, what are we gonna tell your mama?/ What are we gonna tell your pa?/ What are we gonna tell our friends/ When they say ‘Ooh la la’”? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a photo of Boudleaux and Felice Bryant who wrote many of the duo’s hits.

Well, it has been another week, enjoying the blossoming colors of spring. Until we meet again, there are times to live loud and times to be still. The hard part is knowing when.

“Write a wise saying and your name will live forever.” Anonymous

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: The other end of the rope is not tied to anything!

As you grow older, think of the benefits. You no longer have to worry about how to ask that cute girl to the middle school dance, what your children are doing after the football game on Saturday night; and the annual performance review so you can obtain that needed job promotion. We’ve been there, done that.

But now there are other worries. What other part of my body will need to go to the shop for repair? How am I going to get myself off the couch and stay active and engaged? (I’ve found a bowl of ice cream is an effective reward although some may consider that counterproductive!) How am I going to plan for long-term living arrangements on a fixed income?

These are some of the challenges we face as we age. To learn more about how to address these challenges and make the best of the coming years, you are invited to attend the Aging Well Learning Series which will be held once a month from April 19th through August 16th.

On April 19th the first presentation in the series will be “Aging and People with Disabilities Long Term Services”. You will learn about the services available for older adults and people with disabilities at home, in the community, and in care facilities.

The next will be a “Community Resource Panel” on May 24 when you will hear from a variety of organizations that support older adults: 211info, Alzheimer’s Association, CAPECO Money Management Program, Circles of Care, and Hood River Valley Adult Center.

The last three presentations will be “Disaster Preparedness for Older Adults and their Caregivers” on June 21st; “Staying Healthy and On Your Feet” on July 19th; and “Having the Tough Conversations” on August 16th.

These five presentations will take place from 11:30 to 12:30 at the FISH Food Bank Community Meeting Room at 1130 Tucker Road in Hood River. Bring a lunch or snack and hear what you can do to live well.

If you are aware of the benefits of technology in today’s digital world, (you may even be reading this column on the CGN website), you should consider becoming a trainer to lead a Senior Planet technology course in the Gorge. Senior Planet courses teach with a purpose: to help older adults be more socially engaged, financially secure, healthier, and creative in our digital world.

To become a new trainer, you will need to attend five virtual one-hour classes starting the week of May 15. There are two options: Tuesdays at 9:00 am or Wednesdays at 2:00 pm. If you are interested in being a trainer, contact Roni Hyde at 541-705-4870 or rhyde@gobhi.org before the end of this month.

Brain Tease: See if you find this one too easy. “You are running in a street marathon and you overtake the person in last place, what position are you now in?”

The name of the “greasy” hair gel that used the tag lines, “a little dab will do ya!’ was Brylcream. I received correct answers from Afton Franger, Lana Tepfer, Jay Waterbury, Donna Mollett, Doug Nelson, Keith Clymer, Marny Wetting, Rhonda Spies, Rebecca Abrams, Sandy Kice, Jess Birge, Tina Castanares, Barbara Telfer, Pat Evenson-Brady, and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket is Hood River High School Class of 1962 graduate Ken Jernstedt.

But the most intriguing answer was “Wildroot Cream Oil” submitted by Linda Frizzell which I’ve never heard of. Have you? According to Wikipedia, in the 1950s it was also associated with the greaser subculture when teenage boys slicked their hair down into a ducktail style.

Before hand-held hair dryers became popular, I remember my younger sister using this hair gel which was introduced in 1965 and marketed as a setting lotion for rollers. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this woman’s hair gel that could give you that perfect ‘Do”? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a picture of a Beehive hairdo – maybe from your high school yearbook?

Well, it has been another week, starting and stopping; starting and stopping. Until we meet again, if you use GPS when driving, you’re missing out on the adventure of getting lost!

“A flower blossoms for its own joy.” — Oscar Wilde

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: This cannot happen. You cannot overtake the person who is in last place, as there is no one behind them!

I’m trying to hold back the slow, methodical footsteps of time. I do all the right things. I exercise five days a week; I keep mentally stimulated by playing brain games and working the online NYT crossword puzzles (I use autocorrect!); I keep my sodium intake low and eat a daily variety of vegetables; and I stay socially active by working parttime and volunteering. But then I realize, I’m no longer the young whipper-snapper I used to be.

How do I know? Friends start giving me tissues when my nose, without informing me, starts dripping like an old pipe; I mention Ma Bell to my adult children and they want to know who she is; and among my younger friends, I’m the only one who knows how to spell Alzheimer’s! I can now empathize with the woman who was looking for someone with younger legs to mow her yard because at 87 she had finally reached the age when she couldn’t “cut the mustard, let alone the grass!”

I can’t stop the quickening passage of time. (Well, I can but I don’t like that alternative!) Instead, I will learn to embrace my age with humor and determination while enjoying this precious life adventure.

Which leads to this month’s “Through the Eyes of an Elder” a monthly column where over the past three years, a diverse set of “eyes” have shared their touching and moving examples of how to embrace your age. The column is made possible thanks to Columbia Gorge News and the efforts and vision of Tina Castanares and the Aging in the Gorge Alliance. Please check out this month’s column “It is never too late – or too early – to ‘Talk About Aging’”.

AGE+ is a non-profit supporting older adults, particularly in rural Oregon. In 2019, AGE+ established Circles of Care in The Dalles and is now active in the Hood River Valley through a partnership with Hood River Valley Adult Center and Providence Hood River.

Another initiative of AGE+ is the Ageless Awards to be held on April 20^th which recognizes Oregonians 75 years or older who have lived their lives making significant contributions to their communities. These honorees are examples of the many individuals in our communities who defy ageist stereotypes, demonstrate the positive impact of older adults, and inspire others to do more in their communities. This year one of the five honorees has Gorge connections: Ed Edmo, a tribal member, poet, and storyteller, who grew up at Celilo Village and has spoken many times in the Gorge.

You can watch the Ageless Awards and hear the honorees’ inspiring stories by registering online at ageplus.org. Or you can attend a Watch Party at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center on April 20^th from 11:45 to 1:00.

Brain Tease: See if you can read this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson while walking backward. Actually, walking backward may not be a good idea.

.yleneres dna llew ti nigeb llahs uoy ;yad wen a si worromoT .nac uoy sa noos sa meht tegrof ;ni tperc tbuod on seitidrusba dna srednulb emoS .dluoc uoy tahw enod evah uoY .ti htiw enod eb dna yad hcae hsiniF

The name of the song Henry Mancini composed with lyrics by Johnny Mercer for the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s was “Moon River”. I received correct answers from Tina Castanares, Donna Mollet, Bruce Johnson, Kim Birge, Marny Weting, Rhonda Spies, Debbie Medina, Dave Lutgens, Pat Everson-Brady, Linda Frizzell, Doug Nelson, Lana Tepfer, Kirk Taylor, and Nancy Higgins who wins a quilt raffle ticket because I’ve missed her not once but twice! And last week I also missed Mary Pierce, Rebecca Abrams, and Rose Schulz.

In the 60s the makers of Vitalis launched an advertising campaign ridiculing grown men who still used that “greasy kid stuff.” For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of that “greasy” hair gel that used the tag lines, “a little dab will do ya! Use more only if you dare but watch out! The gals will all pursue ya! They’ll love to run their fingers through your hair.”? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with the original TV commercial.

Well, it has been another week peeking around the corner. Until we meet again, keep an open mind but don’t let your brains fall out.

“Never test the depth of the water with both feet.” African Proverb

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).