At the end of our lives, we may not be able to share our wishes as to the kind of medical care we want. So many of us have completed an Advanced Directive taking some of the burden off our loved ones during difficult medical situations.
But let’s go a step further. Imagine you are in a care facility unable to communicate. They know your medical wishes, but what do they know about you? What do your children even know about you? We often talk about our favorite family memories and funny stories, but we seldom go deeper, sharing who we are: our dreams, fears, and joys – even our favorite music.
That was the question Sally Zuck McBain addresses in her book “Soul Portrait”. Sally McBain passed away this year after an extensive career in the field of aging which she pursued with passion and energy – a lot of energy!
Many times she walked down the halls in care facilities seeing residents staring out windows, and wondering: What did they once enjoy? What did they like to celebrate? What made them laugh? From those experiences, she wrote Soul Portrait.
Soul Portrait consists of 40 topics to help you express who you are and as Sally wrote, “to share the deepest part of ourselves while we are still able”.
Each week I will share a question for you to write about and discuss with your children and maybe at some time share with your care provider. So, get out your pencil and paper and start writing your “Soul Portrait” as was Sally’s hope.
The first question: “What activities do you enjoy?”
But wait a minute! I can’t write. I can hardly spell. For you, Sally has some encouraging advice.
“Writing doesn’t come easily to some of us. I know, because it took me years to find my own voice. My breakthrough came when I realized the very best writing comes from the heart. I stopped trying to sound like other writers and started to write in a way that honored who I am. I don’t like rules; they hold me back. So, if the same is true for you, make your own rules. Forget grammar and sentence structure and big words. Trust what comes out, what you feel, what you need to express. You aren’t trying to impress anyone, and no one will judge your writing skills. This is your soul work.”
BRAIN TEASE: See how many of these you can solve. I’ll share the answers next week to give you more time to go nuts searching for the answers. Example: “60 = M in an H” is 60 Minutes in an Hour.
1.) “26 = L of the A”; 2.) “7 = D of the W”; 3.) “1001 = AN”; 4.) “12 = S of the Z”; 5.) “54 = C in a D (with J)”; 6.) “9 = P in the SS”; 7.) “88 = PK”; 8.) “13 = S on the A F”; 9.) “32 = D F at which W F”; 10.) “18 = H on a G C”; 11.) “90 = D in a R A”.
Johnny Weissmuller played Tarzan in twelve feature films from 1932 to 1948. I received correct answers from Stephen Woolpert, Bruce Johnson, Mike Ballinger, Donna Mollet, Tom Shaefer, Eva Summers, Jay Waterbury, Kathy Bullack, Judy Kiser, Lana Tepfer, Dave Lutgens, Kim Birge, Pat Evenson-Brady, Rhonda Spies, Linda Frizzell, and Sherry Munroe this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
To mix it up a little, for the next three weeks, I’ll share quotes from popular movies and see if they bring back any memories.
For this week’s “Remember When” question, in what 1968 science fiction movie was it said, “Dave, this conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.”? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788, or send it with a picture of the latest monolith found this month on a Nevada hiking trail north of Las Vegas.
Well, it’s been another week, wandering and wondering. Until we meet again, I’ve found the word is no longer on the tip of my tongue, but mischievously hiding somewhere deep in my throat.
“One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don’t know.” From the Marx Brothers’ film Animal Crackers
Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.
Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Wednesdays with music on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays; Mt. Hood Townhall (541-308-5997) – Tuesdays; 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), and in Skamania County call Senior Services (509-427-3990).
