It won’t be long before many of us are celebrating Thanksgiving by gathering around the dining room table with friends and family, sharing our blessings and stuffing ourselves with delicious home cooked culinary delights prepared by a kitchen saint. (And when we start imitating the animal kingdom by adding an extra layer of body fat to keep us warm during the long, cold winter months.)
But as we enter the winter holiday season, this is also a good time to slow down, take a deep breath, and just offer that simple prayer – “Thank-you”. Thank-you for the many blessings that are visible, but often out of focus as we are distracted by all the daily noise and our own self-absorption.
Thankful for our friends and family who are still with us or the comforting memories of those we have lost. Thankful for the neighbors who keep an eye on us and offer help even when we think we can do it ourselves. And thankful that we can wake up and get out of bed each morning, and start moving – although it may take a while to loosen up the old joints.
But maybe we should also be thankful for our misfortunes that remind us not to take anything for granted and to cherish each day – one day at a time. And then we can ask ourselves the question Charlie Brown posed “What if, today, we were grateful for everything?”
Thank-you to the good folks at the Salvation Army for once again taking on the monumental task of organizing the local tradition of the annual Community Thanksgiving Meal. As usual, it will be held at St. Mary’s Academy on Thursday from 12:00 – 3:00. But if you cannot leave the house and need to order a home delivered meal, you can call RaeAnne at 541-705-4656.
As you would expect the Center will be closed Thanksgiving Day and through the weekend. So, for all our loyal bingo players, you will look forward to seeing you on the first Thursday and Saturday in December.
Continuing the countdown of “40 Great Things about Growing Older”: #6 “It’s easier to forgive and forget”. Because why hold a grudge, when everyone else is out dancing.
Last month the Governor’s Commission on Senior Services (GCSS) held it’s one-day
Oregon Conference on Aging. The agenda included four panel sessions discussing the issues of Elder Justice; Long-Term Services and Supports; Healthy Aging; and Retirement Security – issues that will be discussed in the 2017 Oregon Legislative session.
For the Tuesday Lecture on November 29th, I will show the Long-Term Services and Supports panel discussion that includes leaders from Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon, Community Connection of NE Oregon, Northwest Senior Disability Services, Governor’s Commission on Senior Services, Portland State University Institute on Aging and State Representative David Gomberg. As discussed in the book The Age of Dignity, long term services and supports are critical to the well-being and dignity of older adults and will be a much-discussed topic at the legislature this coming session.
Next Tuesday, November 29th, is the fifth Tuesday of the month and I thought I had a band lined up. But life happens and they can’t make it. Don’t worry though. There will be band, I’m just not sure who. But what I do know is that the doors open at 6:00, music and dancing starts at 6:30 and donations are appreciated.
Candid Camera, created and hosted by Alan Funt, was the NBC television show that filmed regular people in unusual situations, and then surprised them with “Smile, you’re on Candid Camera. (This week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket each are Pat Wilson, Maxine Parker, Sue Ortega Sandy Haechrel, Joann Scott, Delores Smith, Louise Wooderson, Ed Anghilante and Tina Castanares.)
Back in the days of the three major television stations, and social media was passing notes between friends, television news was respected and not just another form of entertainment. (Okay it might have been a little boring, but it was solid news). For this week’s “Remember When” question, what television newscaster ended his news program with the words “And that’s the way it is.” Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with a copy of the first episode of The Twentieth Century.
Well, it’s been another week, trying to make it work without the instructions. Until we meet again, have a great Thanksgiving – and make sure you don’t spill the gravy.
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” William Arthur Ward
