Its Cherry Festival time. On Saturday the downtown will be filled with the sights and sounds of food venders, antique autos, children’s games, plant sales, music performers and the health fair; with folks gathered around, waving and shouting for the main event: the Cherry Festival Parade.

But before the parade, stop by the Center for a Cherry Festival Breakfast sponsored by Washington Federal Savings. This year’s menu of culinary delights includes French Toast with special toppings, scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit and the usual beverages. Breakfast starts at 7:30 to give the early birds a chance to eat before they prepare the finishing touches for the parade.

And in special recognition of the self effacing, story-telling Grand Marshal Bob Wagenblast, I have to mention that the Mid-Columbia Shrine Club is hosting their 25th Annual Oyster (or Chicken Cordan Bleu) Feed on Friday at St Peter Parish Center from 5:30 – 7:30pm. Stop in, say hi to Bob and thank him for all he has done for the community – but you may want to avoid his jokes.

It is frustrating when you know you know but can’t remember. Last year in this column I shared a three step process for remembering everything and anything, but as life happens, I forgot one of the steps. But help is on the way. At the Next Chapter Lecture on Tuesday at 11:00, Lindsay Couch will discuss aging and memory including memory tricks. (And if I’m lucky she will help me remember the missing step.)

There are many opportunities to enjoy good music in the Gorge and last Friday night was one. The Dalles Wahtonka High School Key Club hosted the Senior Citizens Prom for a modest but enthusiastic crowd of all ages. But if you want to dance to the TDWHS Jazz Band you actually have to know how to dance. Not like me where I step left, right, back, turn, stumble, fall. But watching the young kids dancing, I realized somebody has learned a step or two. They were looking good.

And speaking of showing your moves on the dance floor, tonight at the Center you can dance till you drop to the music of the Sugar Daddies, followed by the Jam and Pie Social with the Jammers on Sunday the 26th from 2 – 5 pm. Then on Tuesday the 28th the Jazz Generations return for another terrific night of dancing. Tuesday Night music starts at 7:00, admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Because it’s never too late to start caring for your feet, Judy Merrill RN and Sole Desire Foot and Nail Care, will be providing a foot and nail care clinic at the Center on the first Friday of each month beginning May 1st at 9 a.m. Judy has been a registered nurse for 34 years and has worked in The Dalles for 11 years. Through her work, she has witnessed the difficulty people have in caring for their feet and toe nails as they age and/or have health problems.

Sole Desire Foot and Nail Care specializes in care for seniors, diabetics and people with problem feet. “Comfort for your Sole”— $25.00 per session (cash or check) includes: assessment, warm foot soaks, nail trimming, callus buffing, foot massage,
treatment of minor foot problems and referrals for complex foot problems.
Call Judy for questions (980-5038) Please leave a message. Be sure to make an appointment at the front desk at the Center.

Skip Tschanz, hiker extraordinaire, has added another hike to Dalles Mountain on Monday the 27th. Car pool from the Center at 1:00. And in the spirit of “let’s try anything” Marc Berry and I are organizing a weekly bicycle ride starting from the Center at 10:00 on the first Thursday in May. It is a leisurely ride – no racing – and Marc has promised to teach me how use those fancy shifter thingies.

Well, that’s it for another week. Until we met again, a little advice for you guys out there.

“A foolish man tells a woman to stop talking, but a wise man tells her that her mouth is extremely beautiful when her lips are closed”