I thought I would take the day off and instead transport you back in time to the heyday of Hollywood Squares from 1966 through 1981 with these “zingers” from the show which at that time were often considered a little off-color.

1. Do female frogs croak? A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads underwater long enough they will.
2. If you’re going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be? A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.
3. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years. A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.
4. You’ve been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman? A. Don Knotts: That’s what’s been keeping me awake.
5. According to Cosmo, if you meet a stranger at a party and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he’s married? A. Rose Marie: No. Wait until morning.
6. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older? A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.
7. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking? A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I’ll give you a gesture you’ll never forget.
8. During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet? A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I’m always safe in the bedroom.
9. Can boys join the Campfire Girls? A. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.
10. When you pat a dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose do? A. Paul Lynde: Make him bark?
11. If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to? A. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.
12. According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people? A. Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army.
13. Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do? A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.
14. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they? A. Charley Weaver: His feet.
15. According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed? A. Paul Lynde: Point and laugh.

Now back to the regular programming.

Brain Tease. It’s time to move on from last week’s Logic Puzzle to another lateral thinking puzzle and as always you need to think beyond the obvious.

Why are 2017 UK pound coins worth more than 2015 UK pound coins?

The British comedy troupe formed in 1969 who were known for their sketch comedy television series from 1969 – 1974 and the movies Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life” was Monty Python. I received correct answers from Stephen Woolpert, Jess Birge, Rhonda Spies, Lana Tepfer, Dave Lutgens, Doug Nelson, Bruce Johnson, Donna Mollet, and Julie Carter, this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket who found that the name Monty Python was chosen because it sounded like a really bad theatrical agent! And last week I missed Ruth Radcliffe.

This American actor was also an art historian, art collector, and gourmet cook. He appeared on stage, television, and radio, and in more than 100 films. For this week’s “Remember When” question, who was this actor most associated with the horror films based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a tape of Michael Jackson’s song “Thriller”.

Well, it’s been another week, and another step on the stairway of life. Until we meet again, I’ll leave you with this Red Skelton quote, “If I wake up and not surrounded by roses, I’m doing fine”.

“At age 20, we worry about what others think of us. At age 40, we don’t care what they think of us. At age 60, we discover they haven’t been thinking of us at all.” Ann Landers

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: 2,017 UK pound coins because there are 2 more of them. (What a difference a comma makes!)

When I was in my twenties, I heard you had to “fake it to make it.” Many of us may have taken that advice – although unconsciously. We became what others expected of us: breadwinners, homemakers, caregivers, and ignoring who we really were.

But now that we are older and no longer need any validation, we don’t have to fake it.

We can be like our cartoon hero, Popeye the sailor man who said “I yam what I yam and that’s all what I yam.

We can be our authentic selves. We can be the “I yam.”

But that’s not easy and a little scary – at least for me.

It means asking myself Who am I really? What do I genuinely want to do with the rest of my life? and What will make me happy?

This may not be the first time in your life you have considered these questions.

I knew friends in college who I thought were too self-absorbed; wasting time trying to figure out who they were – or as I would say disparagingly “contemplating their belly button.” I didn’t have time! I was busy navigating the college social landscape, looking for my true love, and oh, yeah, trying to pass my college exams.

But now in later life, there are likely fewer obstacles in the way so you can take the time to look at your life, not the should-ofs or what-ifs from the past, but the possibilities for the future.

I figure I’m at that stage of life where you take me as I am or don’t take me at all – although that approach can be problematic with my wife!

We no longer have to fake it to make it. There are fewer expectations of who we should be. And we are no longer constrained by those expectations so we can grow in our self-awareness, grow in our spirituality, and grow into who we truly are.

Brain Tease. I wasted twenty minutes, no, let me say that again, I invested twenty minutes working my brain while solving this logic puzzle. I usually avoid logic puzzles: they are more complex, and I find them harder to solve – I always need paper and pencil. But for this one time, see if you can solve this logic puzzle.

Alex is a keen dog admirer and over the years has had a number of dogs.

Alex has had an Alsatian, a Dalmatian, a Poodle, and a Great Dane, but not necessarily in that order.

Alex had Jamie first. The Dalmatian was an adored pet before the Great Dane. Sammy, the Alsatian, was the second dog Alex loved. Whitney was housed before the Poodle and Jimmy was not a Great Dane. Can you match the dogs to their names and find the order in which Alex had them?

The commercial name of this gum packaged in a red, white, and blue color scheme, and starting in 1953 included with each piece a small “Bazooka Jo” comic strip was Bazooka bubblegum. I received correct answers from Julie Carter, Ryan Rooper, Lana Tepfer, Rebecca Abrams, Jess Birge, Rhonda Spies, Keith and Marlene Clymer, and Deborah Medina, this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

Last week I missed, but I may have missed more, Mike Nagle, Pat Evenson-Brady, Julie Carter, and Elena Smith. In a round world, it is hard to keep things straight.

This British comedy troupe formed in 1969 consisting of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin became known for their sketch comedy television series from 1969 – 1974. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this comedy troupe that used animation and an innovative stream-of-consciousness approach in their comedy routines? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with two of their films: Life of Brian (1979), and The Meaning of Life (1983).

Well, it’s been another week, looking through my contact list and remembering all of those I’ve forgotten. Until we meet again, remember the words of Niles Bohr, the famous Danish Physicist: “Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future.”

“If your knees aren’t green by the end of the day, you ought to seriously re-examine your life.” Bill Watterson

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: Alex had Jamie the Dalmatian first, then Sammy the Alsatian, Whitney the Great Dane, and finally Jimmy the Poodle.

Fifteen years ago, I didn’t understand why there was such an emphasis on fall prevention. You fall, you get up, and move on. What’s the big deal? But as I look back, I wonder how I could have been so ignorant. But hey, I was only sixty!

But now I do know the seriousness of falls: broken hips, fractured shoulders, head injuries; and the short and long-term consequences. And working for Circles of Care, I often meet folks who have requested support because of falls and the resulting loss of independence.

So, what can you do to avoid falling? And what can you do if you do fall?

You’ve probably heard these recommendations before, but considering their importance there is no harm in a reminder. (You can find more about fall prevention at the National Institute on Aging’s website https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/prevent-falls-and-fractures.)

1. Find out about the side effects of any medicine you take. If a drug makes you sleepy or dizzy, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
2. Stay physically active.
3. Wear non-skid, rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes, or lace-up shoes with non-skid soles that fully support your feet.
4. Have your eyes and hearing tested.
5. Get enough sleep.
6. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
7. Stand up slowly.
8. Use an assistive device if you need help feeling steady when you walk.
9. Be very careful when walking on wet or icy surfaces.
10. Always tell your doctor if you have fallen since your last checkup, even if you weren’t hurt when you fell.

Okay, you’ve followed all the recommendations, but then your dog, your loving companion for years, jumps in front of you; you trip and fall. What do you do?

Breathe. Take several deep breaths to try to relax. Remain still on the floor or ground for a few moments. Then decide if you are hurt. Getting up too quickly or in the wrong way could make an injury worse.

If you think you can get up safely without help, crawl to a sturdy chair. Put your hands on the chair seat and slide one foot forward so that it’s flat on the floor. Keep the other leg bent so the knee is on the floor. From this kneeling position, slowly rise and turn your body to sit in the chair.

Get help. If you are hurt or cannot get up on your own, ask someone for help or call 911. If you are alone, try to get into a comfortable position and wait for help to arrive.

Falls can be life-changing: continual discomfort, possible weeks of rehabilitation, and loss of independence. So be smart; be careful to avoid spending a beautiful summer day in your favorite emergency room.

Brain Tease. We all remember playing our favorite albums on our portable record player, so this one should be easy, right? “Which is greater, the number of grooves on one side of a vinyl record or the number of days in the year?

The Oregon resident who wrote “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and who was “too young to be a beatnik, and too old to be a hippie,” was Ken Kesey. I received correct answers from Wendy Schaefer, Donna Mollet, Susan Conklin, Jay Waterbury, Kim Birge, Dave Lutgens, Lana Tepfer, Mary Radcliffe, Steven Woolpert, Sandy Haechrel, Mike McFarlane, Rebecca Abrams, Rhonda Spies, Nancy Higgins, Patty Burnett, and Dennis Morgan who pointed out that the correct spelling for the 1939 school bus which carried the Merry Pranksters was “Furthur”. And last week I missed Carol Earl.

I remember going to the neighborhood drugstore and buying these pieces of bubblegum marketed by the Topps Company and sold for a penny. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the commercial name of this gum packaged in a red, white, and blue color scheme and starting in 1953 included a small comic strip with each piece? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with one of the over 1,535 different comic strips enclosed with the gum.

Well, it’s been another week, trying to fulfill the expectation of being a fountain of wisdom when I don’t really have a clue. Until we meet again, remember, it’s okay.

“I like maxims that don’t encourage behavior modification.” Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes

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: Days in the year as there is only one groove per side of a vinyl record!

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas Edison

Or as Winston Churchill put it more directly, “Never, never, never give up.”

Our culture celebrates self-sufficiency and pull-yourself-up-by-your bootstrap stories told to us since childhood. That attitude has served us well, persevering through adversity so we’ll get to where we want to go.

But are there times when you should consider quitting not as giving up but letting go? That was the focus of Judith Graham’s interview with Pulitzer Prize winner Julia Keller, author of her new book, Quitting: A Life Strategy. The Myth of Perseverance – and How the New Science of Giving Up Can Set You Free. (https://www.nextavenue.org/dont-think-of-it-as-quitting-think-of-it-as-letting-go/)

Keller points out that quitting requires us to ask ourselves ‘How do I feel about the way things are working out for me?’ If the answer is ‘just OK,’ then the question becomes ‘Is OK really enough?’

What if giving up can make your life better especially when you’re not happy with your current circumstances?

What if letting go is liberating when you’re stuck and unsatisfied making room for other possibilities in your life?

Keller argues quitting is about abundance and not loss; choosing hope over fear; believing that there is a brighter tomorrow. But in our culture quitting is a dirty word. It takes courage – and maybe a little ignorance to quit. And then what if things don’t work out? But as we age, quitting may become more important because we don’t have the time to continue doing what isn’t working.

Keller found in the interviews for her book “people expressed much more regret over things that they didn’t quit but wish they had than the changes they found the courage to make.”

We have worked hard all our lives and persisted through tough situations which we can be proud of. But are there times to stop and decide if this is something you really want to continue doing? Not quitting but letting go so your life will be happier and more fulfilling.

Senior Planet from AARP offers online classes plus articles on a variety of topics: Life and Culture, Tech, and Healthy Aging for example. But Senior Planet also offers a Tech Support Hotline. If you have a specific tech question, you can call the FREE Senior Planet National Tech Hotline: 888-713-3495 anytime between 9:00 am – 8:00 pm EDT (That’s 6:00 – 5:00 for us left coast folks), Monday through Friday. They can help you with whatever tech issues you’re experiencing. And if they can’t they’ll help you find someone who can.

Brain Tease. How about a sequence puzzle? For example, the answer for the clue M T W T ? is Friday (F) because, well, you know the sequence. So, try to find the answers to these two sequence puzzles. 1.) J F M A M J J ?  2.) T T T F F S S ?

The name of the 1968 Broadway theater production described as “The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” was Hair. I received correct answers from Nancy Higgins, Steven Woolpert, Judy Merrill, Rhonda Spies, Rose Schulz, Kay Fortin, Pat Evenson-Brady, Donna Mollet, Lana Tepfer, Bruce Johnson, Joan Chantler, and Dave Lutgens this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

And for the week before those who sent in the answer The Red Balloon were Ron Nelson, Karen Mielke, Lana Tepfer, Dave Lutgens, Carol Earl, Rhonda Spies, and Becky Podvent that week’s winner.

This Oregon author grew up on a working dairy farm in Springfield, Oregon, was a successful wrestler in high school and college, and graduated from the University of Oregon in 1957. For this week’s “Remember When” question, who was this author described by one of his instructors as “a sort of highly talented illiterate” and who wrote the critically acclaimed novel set in the Oregon State Hospital? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a picture of “Further” the 1939 International Harvester school bus which carried the “Merry Band of Pranksters”.

Well, it’s been another week, trying to lower the bar to help others over. Until we meet again, don’t let the gravy drown the mashed potatoes.

“I am a kind of paranoid in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy.” J. D. Salinger

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: 1.) (A) August; 2.) (E) Eighty

Whether you call it talking, conversing, dialoguing, or schmoozing, expressing yourself clearly so you are understood can be a challenge. As George Bernard Shaw once said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

But effective communication is essential for family, caregivers, and spouses to avoid conflicts and help improve and maintain healthy relationships as we age. The following are some helpful tips – condensed for this column – from Working Caregiver. You can find more details on their website workingcaregiver.com.

1. Breathe. Start with a deep breath to relax and give yourself time to pull your thoughts together.
2. Ask questions. Find out what is really going on. Don’t take anything for granted – you know what happens when you assume.
3. Truly listen. Hear and understand their experiences and opinions and listen for any fears driving their responses that they may not even realize. And don’t argue.
4. Slow down. Take your time and think before you respond. Silence can be golden.
5. Speak directly to the person. Set aside time to have one-on-one conversations. And avoid multitasking.
6. Speak distinctly and clearly. Many of us don’t like to admit we have trouble understanding conversations.
7. Laugh. When appropriate, humor can help ease tense situations.

Last week talked about what not to carry in your wallet to avoid scams and fraud. But what impacts most of us are the billions of illegal robocalls that occur annually costing victims an average of $1,200.

But there are several ways you can reduce these irritating intrusions.

1. Add a call blocker. Check with your landline or cell phone service provider to see what no-cost or low-cost options they provide.
2. Let calls go to voicemail if you don’t know the number. I add everyone I know to my phone’s contact list, so I only answer the calls I recognize.
3. Hang up if it is a live person calling and you don’t know who they are. If you engage with the scammer, they may put more extra pressure on you to get money or your personal information.

You can report scam phone calls to the FTC by calling 1-877-382-4357 or by going online at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/.

You can also report any scams to the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork. There you can also find a map of all the scam calls reported to AARP. For example, in the Hood River Upper Valley an individual reported a scam from someone saying they were employed by Netgear and wanted to update their router. Another individual received a robocall call telling them they were behind in their payments and that their power would be turned off in thirty minutes!

Any of those sound familiar?

Even though we think it can’t happen to us, it can. Over 59 million US residents lost money from a phone scam in 2021. Don’t be fooled.

Brain Tease. Another Caesar Shift puzzle. See if you can decode this gardening quote by Bill Watterson of Calvin and Hobbes fame.

“F’j klq arjy. F grpq exsb x zljjxka lc qelolrdeiv rpbibpp fkclojxqflk.”

The 1956 thirty-four-minute short French film popular with children and educators which follows the adventures of a young boy who makes friends with an object that seems to have a mind of its own was The Red Balloon or in French Le Ballon Rouge. It’s another holiday, so next week I will mention all those who sent in correct answers.

In 1968 this Broadway musical was the talk of the theater department at Purdue University where my girlfriend at the time was a theater major. It was a groundbreaking new Broadway musical genre depicting hippies and the counterculture scene. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this theater production described as “The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical”? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with the soundtrack that included the hits “Aquarius” and “Good Morning Starshine”.

Well, it’s been another week, tangled up in all my loose ends. Until we meet again, as Anonymous once said, “As you slide down the banisters of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way”. Ouch!

“I got called pretty today. We’ll actually the full statement was ‘you’re pretty annoying’, but I only focus on positive things.” Unknown

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: “I’m not dumb. I just have a command of thoroughly useless information.”

With identity theft rampant, identity fraud is costing 40 million Americans a combined $43 billion in 2022 according to an AARP-sponsored report from Javelin Strategy & Research. One safeguard is to keep only the essentials in your pocket or purse.

According to her article, “10 Worst Things to Carry in Your Wallet,” Katherine Skiba lists those items to keep at home in a safe place and grab only when needed – which I imagine is easier for men than for women because there is only so much you can carry in your back pocket!

Check out this list and see if your wallet or purse contains any of these items.

1. Social Security card.
2. Multiple credit cards. Choose one credit card and one debit card you wish to use the most and leave the others at home. And you may want to take smartphone photos of the front and back of all your cards, so you know whom to contact if one does go missing.
3. Checkbook or even one blank check. Okay, this one I failed. I often carry a blank check for those rare times when a credit card is not accepted.
4. Library card. Failed this one also. But who would use my library card to check out books and sell them online? A well-read thief?
5. Work ID card. I don’t think many of us work anymore where we would need IDs.
6. Gift card not fully redeemed. But if it’s not in my wallet I’ll never remember it!
7. House key. Thieves could find your address from the contents of a stolen wallet.

And under the category “What are you thinking?”

8. Your passport,
9. Your passwords,
10. Your birth certificate.

And your Medicare card? Only carry it when going to a medical appointment when you might need it. And if anyone contacts you out of the blue and asks for your Medicare information or money or threatens to cancel your benefits, immediately report it by calling 800-633-4227 (800-MEDICARE).

One exception is when you are traveling. Keep your Medicare card handy and secure in case you need it. And if you don’t have the information on your smartphone, you may want to leave a copy with a loved one in case you lose yours.

When it comes to carrying identity data in your wallet or purse, “less is significantly safer.” If you feel you have been targeted by any kind of scam or fraud, you can find free support and guidance on what to do next at AARP’s Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360. Last October I gave you an example of the Caesar Shift that involves replacing each letter of the secret message with a different letter of the alphabet. See if you can decode this gardening quote by Doug Larson.

“C yggf ku c rncpv vjcv jcu ocuvgtgf gxgta uwtxkxcn umknn gzegrv hqt ngctpkpi jqy vq itqy kp tqyu.”

The crew-cut comedian who starred in his weekly show from 1954 to 1960 that included stories and sketches allegedly about his real-life wife, Alice (nicknamed “Spooky Old Alice”) was “Lonesome” George Gobel. Although he may be way before their time, I received correct answers from Lana Tepfer, Jess Birge, Rhonda Spies, Marny Weting, Dave Lutgens, Rebecca Abrams, and Jane Nichols who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And last week I missed Sandra Fritz.

This may take you back to your grade school days watching short films such as Disney’s Donald in Mathmagic Land on a 16 mm projector. Or this short film which is this week’s “Remember When” question. What was the 1956 thirty-four-minute short French film popular with children and educators which follows the adventures of a young boy who makes friends with an object that seems to have a mind of its own and begins to follow him through the streets of Paris? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with an original poster for the film Le Ballon Rouge.

Well, it has been another week, looking forward to the holiday. Until we meet again, stay as cool as a fresh cucumber.

“Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?” George Gobel

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: “A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows.”

Loneliness has been described as “when one door is closed, but the ‘other one’ has yet to open”. Or “an ‘inner worm’ that gnaws at the heart” and it can appear like an uninvited guest at any time in our lives. But circumstances we encounter as we get older: the loss of a life partner or difficulties with our hearing, seeing, and mobility, can make it easier to be more withdrawn and alone.

But we are social beings – meant to be with others. And although it may feel more comfortable just talking to ourselves (at least that person knows us), research has found that social engagement is better for both our physical and mental health. (Maybe because we find someone who will pick us up when we get down on ourselves!)

But if you are one of many who doesn’t find socializing easy or natural; and who reacts to a large group of strangers (meaning two or more) the same as you would to a dentist’s drill, you might find these suggestions helpful.

First, social encounters can be tricky, and if doesn’t go well don’t interpret it as rejection or hostility – and then blame yourself. Focus on the positive and not on what you may have thought went wrong.

Second, it may be easier to meet new friends while attending an exercise class or another group activity – something you’ll have in common to talk about instead of having to start a conversation from scratch.

And last, but most important, give it a chance. Whether attending lunch at the senior center or a church service for the first time, most groups have established social relationships built over time. And although they’re open to new friendships, don’t expect them to welcome you like a long-lost rich uncle. Give yourself time to establish your own relationships. And as a rule of thumb, try it at least six times before you decide that it doesn’t work for you.

Life has much to offer during all stages of our lives. Get out, start conversations, and enjoy new friendships. You will discover new ideas and unique perspectives (some very unique!) and foster deeper connections with family, friends, and neighbors.

The “Getting to Know Dementia” class will be held at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center from 10:00 – 11:30 every Thursday for six consecutive weeks starting May 25^th. As a participant, you will learn what happens when a brain is changing due to some form of dementia. You will also be introduced to the GEMS® State model of the progression of dementia which explains not only what is lost, but what is retained; and the Positive Approach to Care model developed by Teepa Snow. Teepa Snow has stated, “Dementia doesn’t rob someone of their dignity; it is our reaction to them that does.” To register contact Roni Hyde at 541-705-4870 or rhyde@gobhi.org.

Brain Tease: Another one of those “Why couldn’t I think of that answer?”

“A woman had two sons who were born on the same hour of the same day of the same year. But they were not twins. How could this be so?”

One of the most lauded jingles ever written for the advertising industry that practically every boy sang in the 1960s was “Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener, That is what I’d truly like to be, ‘Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener, Everyone would be in love with me.”

I received correct answers from Sandy Haechrel, Mary Pierce, Lana Tepfer, Rhonda Spies, Marny Weting, Dave Lutgens, Keith and Marlene Clymer, Pat Evenson-Brady, Rebecca Abrams, and Kim Birge this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And last week I missed Pat Evenson-Brady, and Donna Mollet who did remember the slang term “grody”.

This week’s “Remember When” question goes back to an early star of American television which many of you may still remember. For this week’s “Remember When” question, who was the “lonesome” crew-cut comedian that starred in his weekly show from 1954 to 1960? Call 541-296-4788, email mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, or send it with a picture of his wife “Spooky Old Alice”.

Well, it has been another week, wondering where time is running off to. Until we meet again, keep smiling!

“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.” –Alice Walker

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: They were triplets, quadruplets, etc.

May is Older Americans Month – a time for all of us to acknowledge the many contributions and achievements of older Americans. This year’s theme is Aging Unbound which reminds us to take the opportunity to explore a wide range of new experiences without defining what we can or should do by our age.

But doesn’t that seem contradictory to what I wrote last week – that according to Laura Carstensen, a professor of psychology at Stanford University, when we consider our mortality our perspective on life changes to focusing on the here and now, the everyday pleasures, and the people closest to us instead of focusing on new experiences and taking chances?

It can be. But I don’t think it has to be if you consider the idea of living intentionally – meaning to make deliberate choices to reflect what is most important in your life. Living intentionally means not sleepwalking through the rest of your years and instead doing what you really care about.

It can be finding a new passion; not to accomplish the big end but for the pleasure of doing – in the moment. So what if your painting looks like something a child would paint or some piece of modern art? It’s okay.

Or it could mean that after forty years working 9 – 5 and raising a family, you want to spend your time relaxing on your recliner enjoying your favorite classic movies from your younger days.

Or you may decide after considering your abilities and limitations, you are going to let the wind take you wherever you are meant to go.

Whether you decide to find a new passion – or not, push boundaries – or not, try new activities – or not, embrace the opportunity to change – or not, be intentional in how you want to live and observe the world with your eyes wide open. Being intentional for the rest of your life can help you maintain a positive attitude, experience more clarity, and be more present – and be amazed. It is your decision.

Brain Tease: I’ve heard this teaser several times over the years, but I still couldn’t remember the answer! Maybe you can do better.

“Six drinking glasses stand in a row, with the first three full of juice and the next three empty. By moving only one glass, can you arrange them so empty and full glasses alternate?”

The name of the 1955 – 1956 television show featuring the characters Ralph Kramden, Ed Norton, and their wives Alice and Trixie was The Honeymooners. I received correct answers from Nancy Higgins, Bruce Johnson, Lana Tepfer, Donna Mollett, Jay Waterbury, Rebecca Abrams, Rhonda Spies, Jim Tindall, and Maria Kollas this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

Last week the question was much more difficult. An unpleasant person was a fink or ratfink. I received the correct answer from Marny Wetting, Linda Frizzell, Mary Pierce, Keith and Marlene Clymer, and Bruce Johnson – who also remembered taking his first date to the submarine races along NE Marine Drive near PDX which he thought was pretty “rad”! (Remember your first date or kiss)? And the slang word for extremely gross or dirty that I remember was grody, but Marny remembered funky, and Keith and Marlene remembered scum or scum bag. It brings back memories thinking about the words we once used to confuse our “dorky” parents who were so “square”. But since there were so many possible answers to last week’s question, everyone who answered is a winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

And as usual, several weeks ago I missed Jim Burrone from Hood River.

Richard Trentledge wrote this classic jingle in an hour, and it became one of the most lauded jingles ever written for the advertising industry. For this week’s “Remember When” question, in the 1960s what did every boy wish they were? You can email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a picture of a traveling Weinermobile which will be at the Safeway in Oregon City on May 14^th.

Well, it has been another week watching the temperature zig and zag. Until we meet again, it will soon be time to get out the SPF 40.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

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: Pour the second glass into the fifth glass.

I’ve been thinking (I know, don’t believe everything your mind tells you) about the book Being Mortal written by Atul Gawande, a surgeon, writer, and public health researcher. In this thought-provoking book, he reminds us that contrary to popular culture and marketing hype, we will not live forever. And unfortunately, most of us are not prepared to deal with this eventuality. As we age, we may try to do all the right things: being mentally engaged, staying physically active, and eating right, but like the tires on a 65 Mustang, we will eventually wear out.

But there is good news. Atul Gawande highlights the research of Laura Carstensen, a professor of psychology at Stanford University. Her work has shown that as we acknowledge our mortality, it changes our perspective on life, or as she says, “how we seek to spend our time may depend on how much time we perceive ourselves to have”.

She found when people feel they will live forever or are too busy to consider their eventual fate, they are more focused on climbing the economic ladder, trying new experiences, and taking chances, because if it doesn’t work out, well, there is always tomorrow.

But when you see your future in years instead of decades your perspective and focus changes to the here and now, the everyday pleasures, and the people closest to you. You see more clearly what is important and pay less attention to the trivial. You are more appreciative of the years you have.

That may not be news to most of us, but isn’t that ironic? As we ride what is seen by many as this downward trajectory of aging, we generally are happier. What was thought to be so important during our “productive” years is no longer, while friendships and living in the present are. It is like seeing the world with sharper glasses and thinking, wow, even with all the challenges of personal losses and physical ailments, life is pretty good.

In this month’s “Through the Eyes of an Elder”, Nancy Turner shares how she learned the meaning and importance of stories and offers an opportunity to learn the art of storytelling. Check it out.

Save the date. Starting May 25^th, a “Getting to Know Dementia” class will be held at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center from 10:00 – 11:30 every Thursday for six consecutive weeks. It is open to anyone in the Gorge. Stay tuned for more information.

Brain Tease: If you were able to solve last week’s brain tease, this one may be too easy. “How many pennies can you put into an empty piggy bank?”

The name of the 1955 – 1956 television show featuring the characters Ralph Kramden, Ed Norton, and their wives Alice and Trixie was The Honeymooners. As I am writing this column, my children are home visiting – and checking up on us. (We spent days cleaning so we wouldn’t give the impression we couldn’t take care of ourselves!) So, we’ll be enjoying our time with them and next week I’ll mention all of you who submitted the correct answer for the last two weeks.

I often use the word “cool” a slang term that was popularized back in the late 1940s. But there are many other slang terms we seldom hear anymore: “wet rag” – no fun or a bore, “don’t flip your wig” – tell someone to calm down, or “gas,” – any activity or event that was either fun or funny.

For this week’s “Remember When” question, what were the slang terms for something extremely gross or dirty; and for an unpleasant person who betrayed your trust or revealed a secret – and often included the prefix rat? You can email one or both answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a picture of a 50s teenage couple attending a “submarine race”.

Well, it has been another week looking life in the eye and trying not to blink. Until we meet again, most things are never as easy as you first thought, nor as hard as you may now believe.

“There are six myths about old age: 1) That it’s a disease, a disaster. 2) That we are mindless. 3) That we are sexless. 4) That we are useless. 5) That we are powerless. 6) That we are all alike.” Maggie Kuhn

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 one – after that it won’t be empty.

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.