For most of us, memory loss is normal but can also be frustrating and confusing. Why can’t I remember where I left my phone when I can remember some obscure fact from two weeks ago? And why does it seem like whenever I remember a new name, my brain discards another to make room?

One way to help maintain your memory and help lower your risk of cognitive decline is to follow the Alzheimer’s Association’s 10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain which I’ve written about in previous columns.

But there are also “compensatory strategies”, based on how your brain encodes, stores, and recalls information. These strategies can help you cope with that everyday short-term forgetfulness, so you are more successful in recalling information.

Here are several strategies to try— if you’re not already using them.

1. Repeating things

When I meet someone new, I repeat their name at least three times in the conversation. But to ensure long-term retention, you should repeat the name after several minutes, several hours, the next day, and then every few days. People may think you’re nuts, but it can work!

2. Making reminders

Set reminders on your phone, create a daily to-do list—as my wife does every morning, or write reminders on sticky notes. But I have a problem with sticky notes. If I rely so much on them that I don’t focus on what I’m trying to remember, when I inevitably forget where I stuck my sticky note, I’m lost!

3. Using visual cues

Visual cues like brightly colored rubber bands or bracelets can be helpful ways to keep track of tasks you have yet to get done. It worked when I was younger, although these days they often only remind me that there’s something I am supposed to remember.

4. Setting consistent routines

Setting a consistent daily routine can reinforce patterns and help remember tasks. I know because it’s when I’m on vacation and out of my normal routine that I forget to take my morning pills.

5. Minimizing distractions

A clean living and working environment with minimal distractions may help you focus on your tasks and remember what you need to do. Research has shown that as you age, your brain is more easily distracted and then has more trouble remembering what you were doing before the interruption.

6. Avoiding multitasking

The term “multitasking” is a myth. Your brain can only focus on and encode one task at a time. When multiple tasks vie for attention, your brain lacks the energy to do any of them effectively. You need to give each separate task your full attention.

By using these strategies, you might not remember everything, but they may help you remember your next medical appointment!

You can learn more tips to improve your memory at

https://health.usnews.com/senior-care/articles/how-to-improve-memory-expert-tips-for-seniors.

Brain Tease: These may be too simple for you, but they weren’t for me. You may be better at lateral thinking.

1. In which sport do winners move backwards and losers move forwards?
2. Where do the biggest potatoes grow?
3. On which side of a cup is it best to have the handle?

The American humorist who achieved great popularity for her newspaper humor column and wrote fifteen books including If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? is Erma Bombeck. When I needed to submit this column, I was tagging along with my wife, who was attending the Oregon Library Association Annual Conference in Eugene. I will catch up next week. But I do know that last week I missed Nancy Higgins.

Until then, here are a few Erma Bombeck quotes that you might enjoy.

“When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out.”

“My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.”

“If the nest is truly empty, who owns all this junk?”

“If you can’t make it better, you can laugh at it.”

“I once told a graduation class that fame is Madonna; success is Helen Keller. Know the difference.”

In 1973, American actress and singer Bette Midler released a remake of the “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” on her 1972 The Divine Miss M album. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what singing group of three sisters, one of the most popular American musical acts of the 1940s, released the song in 1941? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with the Abbott and Costello 1941 comedy film Buck Privates.

Well, it’s been another week, trying not to rush when I no longer need to. Until we meet again, keep a smile on your face and cash in your pocket.

Answers:

¡ǝpᴉsʇno ǝɥ┴ (˙Ɛ ‘punoɹƃ ǝɥʇ uI (˙ᄅ ‘ɹɐʍ -ɟo-ƃn┴ (˙Ɩ

During our lives, we will inevitably face our personal challenges: an unexpected death, a terminal diagnosis, a natural disaster, or just being in the wrong place at the right time—or the right place at the wrong time.

We can’t avoid them, we can’t wish them away, and we can’t ignore them by hiding our heads in the sand of positive thinking.

What we can do is be ready so that when we turn past that quiet street corner and life unexpectedly jumps out from nowhere and slaps us across the face, we are prepared.

How do we prepare ourselves so we are best able to withstand, overcome, and even grow from these difficult experiences?

In the most recent edition of the magazine Alzheimer’s Today, the article “Finding (and Building) Resilience” reviews the book Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life’s Greatest Challenges by Jonathan M. DePeirro, M.D., Steven M. Southwick, and Dennis S. Charney. In the book, the authors share what they learned from reviewing the extensive research on resiliency and what they learned from talking with individuals they identified as “tremendously resilient”: individuals who had experienced significant trauma such as 9/11 life-altering injuries and global conflict.

So, what can we learn from their research that could help us when we face life’s challenges? The authors identified the following ten “tried-and-true methods” used by the “tremendously resilient” so they were better able to weather and recover from adversity.

1. Confronted their fears.
2. Maintained an optimistic but realistic outlook
3. Sought, accepted and provided social support.
4. Imitated sturdy role models.
5. Relied on an inner moral compass.
6. Turned to religious or spiritual practices.
7. Attended to their health and well-being.
8. Remained curious, pushing themselves to learn new things.
9. Approached problems with flexibility and, at times, acceptance.
10. Found meaning and growth during and after their traumatic experience.

When we face life’s challenges, whether it is caring for a loved one 24/7 or learning of a cancer diagnosis, it’s often hard to find the strength to persevere. But these ten methods can help us be more resilient and live our best life possible.

Brain Tease: See if you have heard this one before. And if you have, can you remember the answer?

A New York car salesman tells his two sons to race their cars to Atlantic City to see who will inherit his fortune. The one whose car is slower will win. The brothers, after wandering around Manhattan aimlessly for days, ask a gas station attendant for advice. After hearing the advice, they jump into the cars and race as fast as they can to Atlantic City. What did the gas station attendant say?

Over his seven-decade career, this actor, comedian, and filmmaker is one of only twenty-one entertainers to win the EGOT: an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. For this week’s “Remember When” question, who is the comedian that won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Producers (1967) and directed the hit comedies Blazing Saddles (1974) and Young Frankenstein (1974)? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with the 1960 comedy Album 2000 Year Old Man that he recorded with Carl Reiner.

The UCLA coach who retired in 1975 after winning ten men’s basketball national championships in twelve years was John Wooden. I received correct answers from Doug Nelson, Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Bruce Johnson, Jess Birge, Dave Lutgens, Steven Woolpert, and Bob Haechrel who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

And for the week before, what you were NOT supposed to put on the dinner table was your elbows. For that question I received correct answers from  Nancy Higgins, Sam Bilyeu, Jay Waterbury, Mike McFarlane, Pat Evenson-Brady, Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Dave Lutgens, Marny Weting, Debbie Medina, Shelley Hinatsu, Craig Terry, Tom Schaefer, Eva Summers, Tina Castanares, David Liberty, Lana Tepfer, Keith and Marlene Clymer, Bruce Johnson, Doug Nelson, and this week’s winners of a quilt raffle ticket  Ken Jernstedt and Lana Tepfer who both remember reciting “Mabel, Mabel strong and able, get your elbows off the table.”

I missed Rebecca Adams for the song “The Name Game”. And speaking of “The Name Game”, Marty Powell was the only person who took up my dare and sang it when I saw him last week. Well, maybe sang was too loose of a description!

Well, it’s been another week trying to hit the nail on the head while missing my thumb. Until we meet again, remember the lessons learned from the mistakes forgotten.

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” John Wooden, basketball coach and all-American guard for Purdue University

Answer: ˙sɹɐɔ ɥɔʇᴉʍs oʇ ɯǝɥʇ ploʇ ʇuɐpuǝʇʇɐ ǝɥ┴

With all the preconceived notions about aging and the common stereotypes about old people, one day we might hear someone singing, “Old people, what are they good for? Absolutely nothing!” But we know better. We regularly encounter older folks who demonstrate grace, humor, and kindness with tremendous spirit and grit.

Often the value of older adults is overlooked, so it was encouraging to read again the 2017, December 29th, New York Times article by John Leland, “Want to Be Happy? Think Like an Old Person”.

For three years, he followed six adults, most of them in their 90s, to try to understand the challenges and hardships adults over 85 confront financially, physically, and emotionally. And not surprisingly, he learned much more.

In his interviews, he found these “old” folks resilient and realistic. They had learned to accept loss and grief and took snubs or rejections in stride and no longer desired things they couldn’t afford. As they lived each day, they were not paralyzed by the challenges they faced.

In fact, they exhibited what gerontologists call the “paradox of old age”: as we grow older and much of our get-up-and-go has got-up-and-gone, instead of feeling worse and sorry for ourselves, we actually feel better – focusing on what we can still do and what we find rewarding, instead of what we can’t. As Ms. Wong told Leland, “I try not to think about bad things. It’s not good for old people to complain.”

From these six individuals in the twilight of their lives, he saw why older adults have higher levels of contentment and well-being than teenagers or young adults. And that there is much the younger generations can learn from these “over-the-hill” old folks.

But let’s face it. It’s not easy. We know the ups and downs of getting older, and we may know friends who are not taking it well. We try to make the best of each day, but some days are more tears than smiles.

We’ve made it this far, and during this third, fourth or fifth stage of our lives, we can use our special strength: we can think like an “old” person.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is updating the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), a roadmap that guides efforts to ensure every Oregonian, at every stage of life, has the opportunity to achieve their best possible health. To make sure the views of older adults are included, OHA has asked the non-profit AGE+ to survey older adults across Oregon.

On the survey, you will be asked to select your top three priorities from the seven priorities identified in the Oregon State Health Improvement Plan and then choose one and explain why it matters. It should take no more than 15 minutes. All responses are anonymous. The deadline for feedback is April 16th!

The priorities are:

1. Healthy Environments
2. Emergency preparedness and response
3. Health across the lifespan
4. Disease prevention and health promotion
5. Physical, mental, and community safety
6. Mental well-being and behavioral health
7. Equitable social conditions

You can complete the survey online at: https://ageplus.org/ship-survey/. If you have any questions, please contact Julia Brown at jbrown@ageplus.org.

Brain Tease. What five-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it?

For last week’s “Remember When” question, you were never supposed to put your elbows on the dinner table.

I have an engagement with my ENT doctor in Portland this Friday, so I needed to submit this column early when I didn’t know who had sent in answers for this week’s question. I will catch up next week.

But last week, as far as I know—which usually isn’t very far—the only person I missed was “Pat, Pat bo Bat/Bonana fanna fo Fat/Fee fy mo Mat/Pat” Evenson-Brady.

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is over, and a new champion has been crowned, although as I write this, I only know it’s not one of my two favorites: University of Oregon or Purdue University. But this week, let’s reminisce back to the days when Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) and Bill Walton were basketball heroes for UCLA.

For this “Week’s Remember When” question, who was the UCLA coach, nicknamed the Wizard of Westwood, who retired in 1975 after winning ten men’s basketball national championships in twelve years? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a video of the 1972-1973 championship game between UCLA and Memphis State when Bill Walton hit an incredible 21 of 22 field goal attempts.

Well, it’s been another week watching nature reawaken. Until we meet again, don’t jump to conclusions because you might not make it to the other side.

“It’s no longer a question of staying healthy. It’s a question of finding a sickness you like.” Jackie Wilson

Answer: ˙ʇɹoɥS

Have you written your obituary? That may sound like a strange question to ask because most of us don’t want to get too close to death in case it’s contagious.

But not everyone. Even though she was still active and engaged, Lucille Torgerson wrote her obituary as a gift to her children so it wouldn’t be another responsibility they would have to take care of at her passing.

Recently, I read about Kelly McMasters who takes it a step further.

In her opinion piece for the New York Times, “Why I Write My Own Obituary Every Year”, she shares how she started writing her obituary each year at the age of 12. Her mother began volunteering at the local hospice, and in preparation for working with terminally ill patients, her mother was given the assignment to write her obituary. At dinner, they discussed the assignment and when she went to bed that night, she wrote her own obituary.

You might think writing your obituary every year is odd, too emotional, even macabre. But as New York Times reporter Margalit Fox said in the documentary Obit, “Obituaries have next to nothing to do with death and absolutely everything to do with life.”

For most years, Kelly found that writing her obituary brought a sense of comfort. It wasn’t just a summary of those noteworthy life events typically found in an obituary but a more personal expression of her life. She writes, “Writing your obituary while you’re still alive can offer clarity about your life and, mercifully, if you find something lacking, you still have time to revise.”

Each year she wrote her obituary, the mood and scope changed. Some years her obituary was short and to the point; others were full of joy and hope. And then there were those years when her obituaries reflected her disappointments and life disruptions.

Some years when her motivation was low, she would even write an aspirational obituary. It could be what you have on your bucket list or just wishful imaginations. Maybe winning the lottery and giving a large bequest to the Sunshine Club in Hood River? Winning the Newbury Medal for your children’s book, “You Know What? The Story of a Lonesome Boy Named What”? Or your trip around the world in 80 days following the footsteps of David Niven and Shirley MacLaine..

Death is generally not a topic you want to discuss at social gatherings or around the dinner table with your family. But from her mother’s obituary exercise, Kelly McMasters learned the practice and value of holding death close so she can remember to live.

So, what would you write in your obituary?

Brain Tease. These random phrases hide the names of eight capital cities around the world. Each phrase contains the name of two cities. See if you can unscramble them and find the eight cities.

Lion Job Ending; Took My Ore; Crimson Elbow; Rapid Disarm

During the 50s and 60s, there were common rules for eating at the dinner table: finish everything on your plate, chew with your mouth closed, wait for everyone to finish, no talking with food in your mouth, and ask to be excused.

For this “Week’s Remember When” question, according to dinner table rules, what were you never supposed to put on the dinner table? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a box of curve-shaped macaroni.

The name of the 1964 song based on a game Shirley Ellis played as a child, where she would make a rhyme out of anybody’s name was the “The Name Game”. I received correct answers from Judy Kiser, Marny Weting, Dave Lutgens, Donna Mollet, Kathy Smith, Lana Tepfer, Doug Nelson, Kim Birge, and Shelley Hinatsu—this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

And last week, I was fishing with Andy and Opie Taylor, so I missed Pat Evenson-Brady, Marny Weting, Steven Woolpert, Nancy Higgins, and Keith and Marlene Clymer.

Again this year, I will enter the 50 plus “Remember When” winners in the Mid-Columbia Senior Center’s Quilt Raffle which will be held at the Center’s Cherry Festival Breakfast on April 26^th. I have a feeling—although it could just be my arthritis—that this is the year a “Remember When” entry will win a beautiful quilt.

Well, it’s been another week, waiting to see a flock of baby quail parading single-file behind their mother, wearing festive hats and carrying streamers. Until we meet again, don’t worry. It will never happen—until it happens.

“It can often seem that those in power don’t want us to enjoy making things ourselves – they’d prefer to establish a cultural hierarchy that devalues our amateur efforts and encourages consumption rather than creation.” David Byrne

Answer: sᴉɹɐԀ ‘pᴉɹpɐW; ǝɯoɹ ‘oʎʞo┴, ‘ʍoɔsoW ‘uᴉlɹǝq, uopuo˥ ‘ƃuᴉɾᴉǝq

Many of you may be living alone in your own home. Your spouse has passed away, and your children have moved—busy with their own lives. But you want to continue living where it is familiar, the mortgage is paid, and it provides a feeling of independence.

While there are advantages to living alone, there are also challenges, particularly regarding your personal safety. For example, if I was living alone who would ask me every morning if I had taken my pills, remind me about my medical appointments, and pester me to change the batteries in the smoke alarms? Most importantly who would remove the clutter so I wouldn’t fall—and if I did fall, who would be there to help?

And then there are the children. How would I ease their concerns about my safety so they will stop trying to convince me to move into assisted living when I’m not ready?

One advantage we have today when living alone is the many devices incorporating new technologies. I know firsthand technology can be a real pain in the … shall I say derriere, difficult to understand and set up. But you might want to consider some of the following devices to stay safe in your home for your benefit and your children’s.

• Fall Detection Devices: They can be worn as necklaces or wristbands and can detect a fall and then automatically alert a monitoring center.
• Medical Alert Systems: These systems allow you to call for help at the push of a button. Some even come with GPS features, allowing responders to locate you quickly.
• Smart Home Devices: Smart plugs, lights, and even stoves can be controlled remotely or set to turn off automatically.
• Video Doorbells: A video doorbell allows you to see and communicate with anyone at your door without having to walk across the house—particularly useful if you have mobility difficulties.
• Smart Locks: Smart locks allow you to lock and unlock your doors using a code or smartphone app. You can also give trusted family members or caregivers access without needing a physical key.
• Automated Medication Dispensers: These devices can help ensure you take the correct medication at the right time.
• Voice-Activated Assistants: Devices like Amazon Echo (Alexa) or Google Home can be used for hands-free calling, setting reminders, and controlling smart home devices such as your lights.
• Wearable Health Monitors: Wearable devices like smartwatches, and now smart rings, can monitor vital signs such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and sleep patterns.
• Home Security Systems with Remote Monitoring: Allows you or your family members to check in on your home from anywhere.

These devices provide many benefits, but there is a cost for each one, so you will need to consider your budget as well as your needs.

Staying safe when living alone is more than high-tech devices, but they can help you live safely in your own home on your own terms.

To learn more about how to stay safe while living alone, here are three websites you might want to visit.

https://seniorsite.org/resource/10-essential-safety-devices-for-seniors-living-alone-in-2025/

https://allseniors.org/articles/how-to-stay-independent-as-a-senior-tips-for-living-alone/

https://seniorsafetyadvice.com/safety-tips-for-seniors-living-alone/

Brain Challenge. Here is a quick brain challenge to exercise your attention and your working memory. Give it a try. It is not as easy as it may seem.

Name two objects for every letter in your first name. Work up to five objects, trying to use different items each time.

The character Ron Howard played in the Andy Griffith Show as a child actor was Opie Taylor. I received correct answers from Sandy Haechrel, Doug Nelson, Mike McFarlane, Dave Lutgens, Lana Tepfer, Shelley Hinatsu, Judy Kiser, Kathy Smith, Rose Schulz, Rhonda Spies, Craig Terry, Jess Birge, and David Liberty—this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

And while playing hooky last week I missed answers from Millie Baumgartner, Afton Fanger, Craig Terry, Linda Frizzell, Kathy Bullack, Lana Tepfer, and Nancy Higgins

I still sing this 1964 novelty song written and sung by Shirley Ellis who based the song on a game she played as a child. For this “Week’s Remember When” question, what was the name of the song where she would make a rhyme out of anybody’s name by following a few simple rules. “Shirley, Shirley bo Birley/Bonana fanna fo Firley/Fee fy mo Mirley/Shirley! (Or if you see me on the street you can yell out “Hey, Scott, Scott, bo bot, Bonana fanna fo Fot, Fee fy mo Mott, Scott”. I dare you!) E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with her recording of “The Clapping Song”.

Well, it’s been another week, searching for that fine line between possible and impossible. Until we meet again, keep whistling a happy tune.

“I’m so old I remember playing solitaire with a deck of cards.” Forwarded to me by Donnamae Grannemann.

I get annoyed when I’m trying to put on my socks and my jagged toenails catch any loose thread, forcing me to bend over and reach down even further to pull on my socks—when I have the flexibility of a 6-foot 2×4. It’s not fun.

My problem is I usually ignore my feet because I can hide them—no flip flops during the summer! I mean, why worry about something no one will see? It’s not like my face, which I do worry about every time I look in the mirror and scare myself.

I imagine in the future I will be visiting a pedicurist—which I used to think were only for women, but now learning are also for “mature” guys like myself. But until then, how do I cut my toenails, so my toes look and feel better than they do now?

To care for your feet, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society suggests the following so your self-inflicted pedicure is safe and effective.

1. Soak your feet in warm soapy water for approximately 10 minutes. This helps soften and clean skin and nails—and is soothing for both your feet and your mind.

2. After the foot soaking, gently remove calluses with a clean pumice stone or emery board. This gets rid of dead skin cells as well as calluses. Some body scrub products can help exfoliate dead skin between pedicures.

3. Push back the cuticles with a wooden cuticle pusher (orange stick) to avoid damaging your cuticles. A normal part of the nail, cuticles offer protection from bacteria and infection. Any cuticles clearly overhanging the nail margins should be trimmed carefully. Any trimming which goes further than the nail margin or draws blood is unsafe.

4. Trim toenails straight across rather than in a curved pattern and avoid trimming the nails too short to prevent ingrown toenails. Nails should not overhang the edge of the toe. Refine the nail edge with an emery board, maintaining the straight edge.

5. Apply cream and moisturizing lotion to the skin and nail margins. You can find several creams specially formulated for the feet. Massage the cream or lotion into the feet. A foot massage can help relieve tension and tired, aching feet. You can get a good massage at home by rolling your feet back and forth over a rolling pin.

6. Space your pedicures apart by approximately eight weeks.

If you have foot problems, be sure to talk to your doctor; your foot health can be a clue to your overall health.

To learn more about foot health: what are normal and not normal changes, how to evaluate your feet, how to find the right shoes, and why do your feet stink—if your grandkids ask, go online at https://medlineplus.gov/foothealth.html

Brain Tease. I’ve tried to avoid any tease that gets within 20 miles of algebra, but for you engineers and math majors in the audience here is one I was even able to solve—but then I could check my answer!

On the first 5 days of vacation, the Williams family drove 1,427 miles. They left on Friday, and the minimum and maximum distances for one day’s trip were 200 and 355 miles. They arrived at their destination late on Tuesday.

1. Since they left late, they drove the least number of miles on the first day.

2. They drove 105 miles more on the second day than on the first.

3. On Monday they drove the most.

4. On Tuesday they drove 68 miles less than on Saturday.

How many miles did they drive each day?

I received several different answers for the term used for when you were absent from school without an excuse: truant—Mike McFarlane, Donna Mollet; ditched—Debbie Medina, Doug Nelson, Pat Evenson-Brady; and the answer I was thinking of “playing hokey”—Judy Kiser, Julya Hoffman, Ken Jernstedt, and Dave Lutgens, this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

And the little rascals I missed last week were Becky Podvent, Craig Terry, and Doug Nelson.

Over his six-decade career, Ron Howard has received numerous awards for directing, producing, and writing, but he started his illustrious career as a child actor. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the character he played as the son of Andy Taylor, the widowed sheriff on the Andy Griffith Show? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send with a picture of Mayberry, North Carolina.

Well, it’s been another week waiting to see when the road ahead turns to gravel. Until we meet again, the end is just the beginning.

“Don’t believe everything you think.” Byron Katie

Answer

sǝlᴉɯ ㄥƐᄅ :ʎɐpsǝn┴ ;sǝlᴉɯ ‘ϛϛƐ :ʎɐpuoW ;sǝlᴉɯ 0ƐƐ :ʎɐpunS ;sǝlᴉɯ ϛ0Ɛ :ʎɐpɹnʇɐS ;sǝlᴉɯ 00ᄅ :ʎɐpᴉɹℲ

I imagine most of you are retired, and having retired you may have found it wasn’t as simple as you had expected navigating the five common stages of retirement: “I can’t wait!”, “Retirement is great!, “Now what?”, “Who am I?” and the final phase, “Ah, Life is good”. It could be an emotional rollercoaster ride.

Many retirees, when they reached the “Now What?” stage, found retirement really wasn’t satisfying, and decided to jump back in the workforce—although this time just part-time because they hadn’t lost their minds completely to work full time!

If you are thinking about unretiring, before you take the leap, Richard Eisenberg, in his article “6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Unretire”, suggests you think through your decision by asking yourself six essential questions.

1. Why do I want to unretire?

In a 2024 report published by T. Rowe Price, roughly half of unretires surveyed (48%) felt they needed to work for financial reasons. Another (45%) chose to work primarily for the social and emotional benefits: fending off boredom, social interaction, or finding a new sense of self by doing something they truly enjoyed. What is your reason?

2. Am I healthy enough to work in retirement?

Your physical and cognitive health are vital factors in whether you’ll be able to keep working in retirement. Although my ego says I’m as strong and sharp as I was ten years ago, reality tells me something different. Just standing three hours preparing sandwiches at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center’s Bingo wears me out. And I won’t mention how many times I forget to add the tomato slice! Know your physical and cognitive abilities.

3. How much extra money do I need in retirement?

What are your expected expenses in retirement compared to your income from savings, investments, and retirement plans? How does it affect your Social Security? Will you run out of your savings and when? How angry will your children be when you tell them you’re moving in with them to save money? (Hey, they don’t have children, so they have the room!)

4. Will I have enough time to work part-time in retirement?

Will you be caring for your parents or grandchildren, traveling to exotic places, joining social activities, and enjoying your favorite hobbies? How busy do you want to be in your retirement?

5. Is my partner on board with me working in retirement?

Will your partner be ecstatic that you‘re working and finally out of the house? Or upset because you’re not home cleaning out the basement as you promised. Make sure you both have a similar idea of what you expect in retirement.

6. Will working in retirement help me find meaning and purpose?

Although working can be emotionally satisfying, can you find that type of work? Or if money is not a concern, should you look for a volunteer position helping others in an area you enjoy?

If you are considering unretiring: driving a school bus, working retail, or being a Walmart greeter (my idea of the perfect job!), ask yourself these six questions. For more explanation about “The Great Unretirement” go online to https://www.nextavenue.org/the-great-unretirement/

Brain Tease. The following quote is about forgiveness. HINT: P = O

HPFN PB CF GMS BPVXART MSZ BPVXTN; DT QCFN ZPS’N DMSN NOT PNOTV ETVFPS NP BPVXTN NOMN DT BPVXMRT.

— ARTVS KMII

The title for the Our Gang comedy short films that were repackaged and released for television in 1955 was The Little Rascals. I received correct answers from Doug Nelson, Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Steven Woolpert, Jess Birge, Lana Tepfer, Keith and Marlene Clymer, and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket, Linda Frizzell. And last week’s Pedal Pusher answer keeps coming in from Pat Evenson-Brady, Becky Podvent, Kim Birge, Kathy Smith, Kathy Bullack, Rose Schulz, Ken Jernstedt and Lana Tepfer.

Unlike the Little Rascals, I never cut class, although I do remember being sent home in high school when I wore patched madras pants on the unauthorized “Dress Down Day”.

This week’s “Remember When” question is for those of you who may have taken a unexcused—although I’m sure well-deserved—day off from school. What was the term, seldom used anymore, for when a student was absent from school without an excuse? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it in with the Little Rascal short film about the day they skipped school to go fishing.

Well, it’s been another week trying to catch a glimpse of what’s yet to come. Until we meet again, stay on your toes—but don’t slip.

“I am never upset for the reason I believe.” Helen Schueman

llɐq uɹǝʌI —

˙ǝʌɐƃɹoɟ ǝʍ ʇɐɥʇ ʇǝƃɹoɟ oʇ uosɹǝd ɹǝɥʇo ǝɥʇ ʇuɐʍ ʇ,uop ʇsnɾ ǝʍ ;ʇǝƃɹoɟ puɐ ǝʌᴉƃɹoɟ uɐɔ sn ɟo ʇsoW

Do you want to live to 100? Thankfully we have a better chance today because U.S. life expectancy has risen considerably from 59.6 years for those born in 1922 to 77.5 years for those born in 2022. (Several websites will estimate your life expectancy including Northwestern Mutual’s Lifespan Calculator, https://media.nmfn.com/tnetwork/lifespan/index.html#0, which I’m sure is the most accurate because it determined I would live to 96!)

But would you want to live to 100 if your health was poor? A 2018 Harris Poll found that 89 percent of people 65 and older would like to reach 100­­­­­­—if they were guaranteed to be of sound mind and body.

And that’s the dilemma. There is a tremendous gap between living long and living well: the 77.5 years one can expect to live compared to 66.1 years one can expect to live in full health according to the World Health Organization’s latest calculations.

Healthspan, the number of years living in full health, has consistently lagged behind lifespan, largely due to high rates of age-associated chronic conditions including cancer, dementia, and heart disease. In addition, many of us don’t sleep enough, exercise enough, or eat enough nutritious food, all of which can detract from long-term well-being—all the things we should do, but don’t for our many reasons.

Today there is a growing awareness that life expectancy may not be the best indicator of overall health. Without an increase in healthspan, it could just mean more years with illness and disability.

There is promising research addressing our ability to maintain our health as we age, so we can stay active, engaged and able to enjoy our bonus years.

But as of now, there is no quick fix to healthy aging—no magic fountain of youth. A long and healthy life comes down to making sensible lifestyle choices: exercising, eating well, and staying connected with others. And a little bit of good luck.

When thinking about how to live a long life, you might want to consider Reginald Harling’s, age 96, answer when asked how he lived so long? You can find more of his thoughts, and those of other wisdom people, on the website “The Gathering of Wisdom People” at www.wisdompeople.org.

1. I selected the right parents (they and their parents) lived into their nineties,
2. Of course, the usual reasons about not smoking and not drinking,
3. Keeping away from doctors (most of my friends who died were involved with doctors in one way or another),
4. Keeping out of bed as much as possible, bed is a very DANGEROUS place, more people die in bed than anywhere else
5. But longevity is mainly a matter of luck – luck in health, in congenial occupation, in marriage, in family relationships.

Brain Tease. I found this one difficult because where do you start? I’ll give you a hint. Look for words within the words.

What do the following words have in common? Feminine, kindergarten, canine, overweight, threaten, cobblestone, height, done

During the 50s and the early 60s, a common name for calf-length pants was pedal pushers. I received correct answers from Doug Nelson, Donna Mollet, Barb Weiford, Judy Kiser, Marny Weting, Sandy Haechrel, Tina Castanares, Rhonda Spies, Kathy Gay, Sharon Pantely, Rebecca Abrams, Debbie Medina, Eva Summers, Keith and Marlene Clymer, Linda Frizzell, Millie Baumgartner and 104-year-old LaVerna Harmier who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. Last week I missed Jess Birge, Dave Lutgens, Pat Evenson-Brady, Craig Terry, Ken Jernstedt and Steven Woolpert.

Our Gang was a series of comedy short films produced from 1922 to 1944 chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the new title for these comedy shorts when they were repackaged for television and first aired in 1955? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with pictures of the main characters: Alfalfa, Spanky, Buckwheat, Porky, Darla, Froggy, Waldo, and Butch.

Well, it’s been another week trying to see the big picture while looking the other way. Until we meet again, don’t let the green grass fool you.

“One of the commonest ailments of the present day is the premature formation of opinion.” Kin Hubbard  (September 1, 1868 – December 26, 1930),

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).

Answer:

˙ɹǝqɯnu ɐ ɟo ƃuᴉllǝds ǝɥʇ ɥʇᴉʍ puǝ llɐ ʎǝɥ┴

Having been around the block for a few decades, I can’t help seeing different trends and styles disappear, then circle back and become popular once again. Look at clothing. In recent years, several styles have found a second life: tie-dye shirts, mini-skirts (with all the styles today covering just the bare necessities, mini-skirts just aren’t as eye-catching as they were in the 60s), and bell bottoms such as what Kendrick Lamar wore during his Super Bowl Halftime Show that created quite the excitement about something many of us wore during our younger days. (Although we didn’t pay $1300!)

But not every clothing trend is from the past. I never considered wearing pajamas outside the house, flip-flops during winter, or skin-tight yoga pants in public. But I guess each generation has to stretch the boundaries in their own way.

And what about the language of our youth – those words that identified us as being “cool” or ‘hip” in the 50s and 60s? Do they have a second life? Could we start a national tidal wave resurrecting a few linguistic antiques from the past? Just imagine hearing comments like “Hey, big daddy that cane is “far out”. Or “Man, there’s nothing cookin’ around here. Let’s split this retirement home and find some pad where we can crash.” Or, “Hey, baby, if I can find the car keys do you want to go see the submarine races? (I apologize for using the worn-out stereotypes. I couldn’t help myself!)

So what do you want to bring back to the world stage of slang? Grody? Fuddy–duddy? Or how about ginned-up (which means dressed–up for those who might have had a different idea.) We could bring coolness back to today’s generations and it could all start with us. And wouldn’t that be groovy?

It is tax season and as a reminder, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is providing free tax return preparation services and counseling for any taxpayer in the Columbia Gorge who needs it. Tax-Aide volunteers are trained to help you file a variety of income tax forms and schedules, but there are some more complicated situations where they may be unable to help.

There are three options.

1.) You can schedule an in-person appointment where the volunteer will complete your return on-site in one visit.

2.) You can schedule an on-site Facilitated Self Assistance appointment where you prepare and e-file your tax return at a computer station using free Tax Slayer software from AARP and a Tax-Aide Counselor will be available to answer your questions.

3.) You can prepare your tax return on your own using the free software provided through the Tax-Aide website.

There are no income restrictions for the in-person tax preparation, but there is a $84,000 AGI limit for the Facilitated Self Assistance or the free online option.

To learn more about how AARP Tax-Aide can help you, what documents to bring, and how to make an appointment, log on to gorgetaxaide.simplybook.me.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is available by appointment through April 14th at the following locations:

Columbia Gorge Community College, Hood River Campus, 1730 College Way, 1 PM – 5 PM, (Mondays Only)

Hood River Valley Adult Center, 2010 Sterling Pl, Hood River 2 PM – 5 PM. (Thursdays Only)

Mid-Columbia Senior Center, 1112 W. 9th St, The Dalles 3 PM – 6 PM. (Fridays Only) and 9 AM – 12 PM (Saturdays Only)

Brain Tease. Do you remember the answer to this Brain Tease?

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

The 1968 Presidential candidate who described some of his opponents as “briefcase-totin’ bureaucrats, ivory tower guideline writers, bearded anarchists and …pointy-headed professors” was the former Alabama Governor George Wallace.

I received correct answers from Kathy Bullack, Donna Mollet, David Liberty, Doug Nelson, Maria Kollas, Lana Tepfer, Rebecca Abrams, Rhonda Spies, Tina Castanares, and Judy Kiser, this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. Last week I missed Nancy Higgins, Rebecca Abrams, and Kathy Hannen-Smith.

Another clothing style that has become popular again is calf-length pants which today we call Capris.  But my sister called them something different when she wore them during her teens.

For this week’s “Remember When” question, during the 50s and the early 60s what was the common name for these calf-length pants that were often associated with Audrey Hepburn? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a Blue and White Schwinn Fair Lady bicycle with stainless steel finders, front carrier, and a 2-tone saddle seat – all fit for a queen!

Well, it’s been another week trying to remember to FOCUS! Until we meet again, as a friend told her doctor, “I’m not depressed, I’m just pissed!”

“Beauty, after all, is just a point of view.” Twiggy

Answer: ǝdolǝʌuǝ u∀

What do you want: good health, a new car, grandchildren, time away from your grandchildren?

Stephen Covey, author of the bestseller Seven Habits of Highly Effective Leaders, identified four universal needs; to live, to learn, to love, and to leave a legacy.

We often talk about how to live a life of purpose and compassion; how to continue learning as we age; what it means to love others and ourselves.

But we seldom talk about what it means to leave a legacy: an enduring positive impact on our family, community, or church that will outlive us.

It could be sharing your knowledge and experience with your children and grandchildren; preserving your family history through journals, photos, and recordings, writing a book about the life lessons you’ve learned, or knitting a blanket for your grandchild—which he will always keep because it is from grandma.

One particularly powerful way to leave a legacy is through estate planning. You may be one of the 65% of families that do not have a will and one of the many more who have not even considered including charitable giving.

So where can you learn about the importance of a will or trust, connect with experts and tools that can assist you, and talk with many of the organizations that may fit your charitable interests?

A united consortium of caring non-profits in the Gorge has come together to offer “Shaping the Future: Community Legacy Initiative”.

This free event will be held on Sunday, March 2nd, from 2-4 pm at the Ruins, 13 Railroad Street in Hood River. Spots are limited and pre-registration is encouraged. You can RSVP at: https://bit.ly/40s4FyY.

During this event, you will be able to:

· Meet experts working in financial planning, law, and more

· Hear from a panel of experts on the benefits and how-tos of estate planning

· Receive free resources and handouts to help you plan your financial future

· Connect with local non-profits who will be tabling at the event, and

· Determine if there is a local non-profit you feel encouraged to charitably add to your estate planning

We won’t live forever—I find that inevitability becoming more real every day!—but we can consider how we want to leave a legacy. If you are financially able, when you write your will, consider leaving a part of your estate to support the charities or causes you love most. By doing so, you can help make a better world for your children and your children’s children.

What do you want your legacy to be?

Brain Teaser. The following quote is from American humorist and writer Kin Hubbard (1868-1930). Can you decode the quote? Hint: Q=W

“HDLFL’C PK CLRFLH XUKJH CJRRLCC. OGO EKJ LMLF YPKQ X CJRRLCCIJV SXP QDK OGOP’H HLVV EKJ XUKJH GH?”

Since Kin Hubbard wrote in the early 1900s for my hometown newspaper, the Indianapolis News, here are a few more of his quotes.

“The hardest thing is to take less when you can get more.”

“Classical music is the kind we keep thinking will turn into a tune.”

“Live so that you can at least get the benefit of the doubt.”

“Flattery won’t hurt you if you don’t swallow it.”

The title of the love ballad partly sung in French on the Beatle’s album Rubber Soul was “Michelle.” I received correct answers from Stephen Woolpert, Bruce Johnson, Mike McFarlane, Judy Kiser, Donna Mollet, Kathy Bullack, Maria Kollas, Becky Podvent, Dave Lutgens, Lana Tepfer, Rose Schulz, Debbie Medina, Eva Summers, Keith Clymer and Doug Nelson. And the winners of a quilt raffle ticket each are Ken Jernstedt who took French classes at Hood River High School (I made the mistake of taking two years of High School German!), and David Liberty who took French in college and sent in the French verse from Michelle, “Ma belle, Sont les mon qui votre bien ensemble , tres bien ensemble”. I’ll let you translate.

And last week I missed Rebecca Abrams, Eva Summers, and Kathy Bullack.

In the 1968 Presidential election between Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey, there was a third candidate who described some of his critics as “briefcase-totin’ bureaucrats, ivory tower guideline writers, bearded anarchists and …pointy-headed professors”.

For this week’s “Remember When” question, who was this southern politician who in 1968 won the electoral votes in five southern states? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a picture of General LeMay, his vice-presidential running mate.

Well, it’s been another week playing catch-up. Until we meet again, make the best of what’s yet to come.

“Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.” Franklin Jones

Answer:

,,¿ʇᴉ ʇnoqɐ noʎ llǝʇ ʇ,upᴉp oɥʍ uɐɯ lnɟssǝɔɔns ɐ ʍouʞ ɹǝʌǝ noʎ pᴉp ˙ssǝɔɔns ʇnoqɐ ʇǝɹɔǝs ou s,ǝɹǝɥ┴,,