Many of you may understand my frustration: my wife is always mumbling, and I can’t understand a word she says! So, what did I do? I took out a small loan and bought a pair of expensive hearing aids. Over $4000! Even a good pair of over-the-counter hearing aids can still cost over $1500.

But as I have become more mature and wiser, I recently realized, my hearing is not the problem. No, the problem is much simpler: she just can’t enunciate clearly enough! And once I had that “ah-ha” moment, I realized there is a much simpler and cheaper solution than expensive hearing aids.

She needs to practice tongue twisters!

You see, tongue twisters are an effective way to improve your enunciation skills.

They strengthen your mouth muscles; help improve muscle memory; and provide a quick and convenient way to perfect specific sounds.

You can start with the common tongue twisters you learned as a child.

1.) “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

2.) “She sells seashells by the seashore.”

3.) “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?”

To improve your enunciation, make sure you pronounce each sound. Then you can have fun concentrating on how fast you say each tongue twister. Start by quickly repeating each tongue twister three times; then really push yourself by repeating each one ten times. And remember enunciate!

If those were too easy, you can advance to the more challenging tongue twisters.

1.) “A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk.”

2.) “Fresh French fried fly fritters.”

3.) “I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit, and upon the slitted sheet I sit.” (Be careful with that one. You could be embarrassed!)

After you learn those three, you can now advance to the master level. Here are the top three tongue twisters considered the hardest to pronounce in the world.

1.) “Pad kid poured curd pulled cod.”

2.) “Brisk brave brigadiers brandished broad bright blades, blunderbusses, and bludgeons — balancing them badly.”

3.) “Rory the warrior and Roger the worrier were reared wrongly in a rural brewery.” (This one contains two of the hardest English words to pronounce: “rural” and “brewery.”)

Now that you know how to train your wife or husband to enunciate using these tongue twisters, this simple solution will save you thousands of dollars. I wish I had known this sooner because I would be a much richer man today.

Now if I can just get everyone else to stop mumbling by practicing tongue twisters!

BRAIN TEASE: These have been around the block a few times so they may be too simple for some of you.

1.) Which is heaviest a pound of feathers, a pound of wood, a pound of steel?

2.) How many times can you take 7 away from 49?

3.) What occurs twice in a lifetime, but once in every year. Twice in a week but never in a day?

The next question for your “Soul Portrait”: What are your hopes and prayers?

The singing cowboy who became one of the biggest Western stars of all time starring in over forty movies and his own television series was Gene Autry.

My wife and I were on vacation in Bellingham over the Labor Day weekend and since I needed to submit this week’s column early, next week I will include everyone who sent in the correct answer.

This month I am going to change it up a bit and see how well you know the lyrics of popular songs from the 60s and 70s – and don’t be surprised if you start singing along.

Since my favorite music was from Motown, I’m going to start with a song written by Smokey Robinson and recorded in 1965 by one of the most popular Motown vocal groups. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the song that included the lyrics:

I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day / When it’s cold outside I’ve got the month of May / I guess you’d say, What can make me feel this way?

Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a photograph of Motown’s Funk Brothers.

Well, it’s been another week, finishing another box of cereal – and still no prize! Until we meet again, before making a big fuss, think about what Vic Gold said, “The squeaking wheel doesn’t always get the grease. Sometimes it gets replaced!”

“Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

Answers:

1.) ¡ǝɯɐs ǝɥʇ llɐ ǝɹɐ ʎǝɥ┴

2.) ¡ᄅㄣ ɯoɹɟ ㄥ ƃuᴉʞɐʇ ǝq llᴉʍ noʎ ɥɔᴉɥʍ ɹǝʇɟ∀ ˙ǝɔuO

3.) ¡ǝɯɐs ǝɥʇ llɐ ǝɹɐ ʎǝɥ┴

In just a few days it will be Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, and the federal holiday established in 1894 to honor the “the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, laws, and well-being of the country”. (Did you know that in 1887 Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day an official public holiday?)

One segment of the labor force that is largely undervalued and unappreciated but essential to the health and well-being of millions of older adults are the paid and unpaid caregivers.

Unpaid family caregivers, usually a spouse or an adult child, are the backbone of long-term care. They never asked to be a caregiver but there is often no other option to care for their loved ones to make sure they are comfortable and safe. It is emotionally draining: balancing caregiving with their own care and responsibilities – often creating a mixture of exhaustion, guilt, and resentment.

Today it is estimated there are 34.2 million unpaid family caregivers in the United States whose contribution to the U.S. economy is worth roughly $600 billion per year. Because we are living longer and have fewer children who often are living too far away, the share of available family caregivers will keep shrinking, outpacing the supply – and it is expected to get worse.

Consequently, over the next decade, those of us who will need care, and that may be most of us, caring for us will fall upon professional caregivers either in our homes or in assisted living facilities.

But there is good news. In the next several years there will be additional Medicaid funding to hire professional in-home caregivers, and many more older adults will be eligible, so they can continue to live in their homes and avoid expensive assisted living facilities.

But there is also bad news. Even with the increased funding, there may not be enough professional caregivers to meet the demand. For example, the demand for professional caregivers in Oregon is expected to increase dramatically by 2030, with an estimated 10,000 more caregivers needed to meet the demand. And worse, due to high turnover, an aging workforce, and increasing demand, estimates show that Oregon will likely need to recruit, hire, and train closer to 65,000 more care providers to keep up.

So as we enjoy the Labor Day weekend and celebrate the workers who are the backbone of our nation’s economy, let us not forget the professional and family caregivers who labor tirelessly to support the health and well-being of millions of older adults.

On the ‘Lighter Side”

This dialogue from the movie Miss Congeniality reminds us of how easily the English language can be misinterpreted.

Stan Fields: “Describe your perfect date.”

Cheryl: “That’s a tough one. I’d have to say April 25. Because it’s not too hot and not too cold. All you need is a light jacket.”

The next question for your “Soul Portrait”: What do you like to celebrate?

BRAIN TEASE: If it took Alex, Billie, and Charlie exactly 60 minutes to dig a hole, how long would it take for them to dig half a hole?

The name of the weekly Saturday morning children’s show where the host Don Hubert played a science hobbyist was Watch Mr. Wizard. I received correct answers from Judy Kiser, Lana Tepfer, Dave Lutgens, Donna Mollet, Nancy Higgins, and Bruce Johnson this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And last week I must have been dozing off because I missed Bruce Johnson, Ken Jernstedt, Pat Evenson-Brady, Rebecca Abrams, and Gary VanOrman.

In the 50s, I remember watching Saturday morning westerns starring this singing cowboy. For this week’s “Remember When” question who was the former rodeo performer who became one of the biggest western stars of all time starring in movies and his own television series, as well as recording over 600 songs? Email mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a recording of his signature song “Back in the Saddle Again”.

Well, it’s been another week, enjoying the unwinding of summer. Until we meet again, now that it is cooler we can start wearing real clothes again.

“My definition of an intellectual is someone who can listen to the William Tell Overture without thinking of the Lone Ranger.” —Billy Connolly

Answer: ¡ǝloɥ ɐ ɟlɐɥ ǝʌɐɥ ʇouuɐɔ no⅄

Do you enjoy viewing works of art? Or do you find it intimidating, asking yourself, “What am I looking at?

Intimidated is how I felt until I attended classes taught by Kerry Cobb. (You may have read her contribution to this month’s “Through the Eyes of an Elder”.)

I learned viewing art is more than just looking. It is seeing. As Jon McCullam, art instructor at Shasta College, explains, “With seeing, we slow down. We focus. We experience what we are looking at on another level. We let what we are seeing “speak” to us.” Then after learning to take the time to “see”, I can engage in a deeper conversation about the artwork.

There is also another benefit of viewing art. For those living with dementia, Kerry has found conversations about art particularly powerful when it may be challenging to find ways to communicate. Why? Viewing art keeps the conversation in the present – you aren’t asking someone to remember what happened yesterday, and it allows the expression of opinions and ideas in the moment. And contrary to what we have been taught, in art there are no wrong answers. It’s how it “speaks” to you.

If you are hesitant, Kerry reminds us that sharing art with anyone living with dementia takes no skills other than curiosity and conversation. You just have to start.

To start a conversation, Kerry has several suggestions.

1.) Find some artwork to share. She has found artwork that tells a story works best, but any art will do.

2.) Using a computer, tablet, or art book, view the artwork and talk about the images together.

3. You can start by asking these types of questions: What do you think is going on in this piece of art? What do you think that person is thinking about? What do you think it feels like to be there? How does this make you feel? Do you like this art? If yes/no, then why?

Once you get started, you’ll find it surprisingly easy to keep the conversation going. And be sure to share your thoughts in the conversation. Remember, there are no wrong answers!

If you are caring for someone living with dementia, engaging and interacting with art together can bring beauty and enjoyment – and you may be surprised by what you learn.

The next question for your “Soul Portrait”: What do you fear?

BRAIN TEASE: Okay, this may be too easy for you who have heard it before, but if you haven’t, see if you can find the answer. “Five apples are in a basket. How do you divide them among five girls so that each girl gets an apple, but one apple remains in the basket?”

The name for a mechanical instrument used to compute mathematical problems that

looked similar to a ten-inch ruler was the slide rule. I received correct answers from Julia Hoffman, Kathy Bullack, Dave Lutgens, Rhonda Spies, Judy Kiser, Eva Summers, Jay Waterbury, Nancy Higgins, and Lana Tepfer and Linda Frizzell who thought those of us who carried slide rules were all geeks or nerds! (No, the nerds wore pocket protectors! No offense to any engineers.). But this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket is Krista Thie who still has her slide rule from high school Trig Functions and Matrix class along with the instruction booklet! And last week I missed Ken Jernstedt,

Back in the 50s and 60s, before there were STEM programs in schools, this Saturday morning television series introduced millions of curious children to the extraordinary world of science hiding in their homes and backyards. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this half-hour live children’s show where the host Don Hubert played a science hobbyist and every Saturday morning a neighbor child would come to visit while he was doing a laboratory experiment? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788, or mail it with the DVD Watch Mr. Wizard, Volume 1.

Well, it’s been another week, wondering what did I do?  Until we meet again, don’t let a piece of good advice stand in your way.

“A possible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit.” Kurt Vonnegut

Answer: ˙ʇǝʞsɐq ǝɥʇ uᴉ ǝlddɐ ɹǝɥ lɹᴉƃ ɥʇɟᴉɟ ǝɥʇ ǝʌᴉפ

Have you ever gone to a large department store and had trouble finding what you wanted: a new shirt, bath towels – or more importantly the nearest restroom? Or have you had a medical appointment at OHSU on the hill and didn’t know how to find Suite 3200 in the Multnomah Pavilion?  Each time didn’t you wish there was an information desk?

It is often just as difficult to find the resources we may need as we grow older: home-delivered meals, transportation, family caregivers, crisis support, Medicare and Medicaid help, and long-term care options.

But in Oregon and Washington, there are “information desks” where you can find where to go for what you need.

In Oregon, it is ADRC (Aging and Disabilities Resource Connection). ADRC is focused on older adults, people with disabilities, care partners, and veterans. The service is free and there are no income restrictions. ADRC does not provide the services themselves, but they do know the majority of resources available.

You can contact ADRC by going online to www.adrcoregon.org, but the best way is by phone so they can give you more personalized information. For Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties, ADRC is administered by the CAPECO Area Agency on Aging, and you can call them at 541-705-5434.

In Washington State, you can call Klickitat County Senior Services’ “Information and Assistance” where professionally trained and caring specialists are available at both the White Salmon office (509-493-3068) and Goldendale office (509-773-3757). They will confidentially answer questions and provide information, assistance, or referral to local, state, and federal services and benefits. In Skamania County, you can reach an Information and Assistance specialist by calling 541-427-3994 or emailing them at seniorsia@co.skamania.wa.us.

As we get older, there may be times when we need a little help. These “information desks” can point us in the direction of relevant resources so we can enjoy the best quality of life possible.

The next question for your “Soul Portrait”. Over the years what you like to wear has probably changed, but today how do you prefer to dress?

BRAIN TEASE: See if you can decipher this quote by Anonymous.  “Zm lkgrnrhg rh hlnvlmv dsl uzooh luu gsv Vnkriv Hgzgv Yfrowrmt, zmw zugvi 50 uollih hzbh, ‘Hl uzi hl tllw!’” – Zmlmbnlfh

The name of the small rotating doorknob-shaped handle attached to the steering wheel that made it easier to turn with only one hand had many names including Brodie, suicide, and squirrel knobs. The most common answer I received was a suicide knob sent in by Gary Hertel, Eva Summers, Mike Yarnell, Kathy Bullack, and Bruce Johnson whose dad used a suicide knob on his 1954 Ford Country Sedan wagon. Judy Kiser and Rebecca Abrams called it a Brodie knob. Lloyd Olson had a squirrel knob on his 1937 Plymouth, and Keith and Marlene Clymer covered all the bases remembering it as a steering, suicide, spinner, or squirrel knob, and today still has one on his 1968 CJ-5 Jeep.

But this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket is John from Klickitat County (sorry, we didn’t get your last name.) who called it a necking knob because, as you can guess, it allowed you to more easily navigate winding roads while still keeping one arm around your partner – although I don’t recall my father using it for that reason.

And last week I missed Craig Terry.

Before there were graphing calculators and smartphones, to solve math problems in high school, I used this mechanical instrument that looked like a ten-inch ruler and consisted of three linear strips of which the middle strip moved back and forth. And don’t ask me how to use one today!

For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this instrument that NASA engineers used to build the rockets that landed Apollo 11 on the moon? Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788, or mail it with a TI-30 scientific calculator.

Well, it’s been another week, thinking of that 1959 #1 hit song by the Platters. Until we meet again, as I was recently reminded, we’re all in this together.

“Question everything … except the wonder of the world.” Albert Einstein

Answer: ”,¡pooƃ os ɹɐɟ oS‘ ‘sʎɐs sɹoolɟ 0ϛ ɹǝʇɟɐ puɐ ‘ƃuᴉplᴉnq ǝʇɐʇS ǝɹᴉdɯƎ ǝɥʇ ɟɟo sllɐɟ oɥʍ ǝuoǝɯos sᴉ ʇsᴉɯᴉʇdo u∀“

I don’t know how many of you would like to stay in your own home as you grow older, but a recent study indicates 88% of adults 50 and older would like to. Which makes sense. Your home is familiar with special memories, you know your neighborhood – and then there’s all your stuff you would have to clean out!

Staying in your own home as you grow older is called “aging in place” and as many of you know, aging in place involves more than simply staying put. According to the CDC, it’s having “the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of age, income or ability level.”

And that may not be easy. There will be those inevitable changes that may already be knocking at your front door. And even though you may want to live in the “now”, you should think about the future and plan for how and where you want to live.

When you do, there are some things to consider.

If you stay in your home, will there be support available if needed: family, friends, or neighbors? And will you ask them for help?

Is your current home safe and accessible: walk-in showers or bathtubs, grab bars, doors wide enough for a wheelchair, and single level? The National Census Bureau reports that only 10% of all houses in the U.S. are suitable for older residents.

Are you prepared for the unexpected repairs: a furnace that turns off when it gets too cold? (I’ve got to get it replaced!) Or the leaking kitchen sink?

And there is caring for the yard. You may love gardening, but does that include mowing and raking leaves?

Then, the $64,000 question: How much will it cost to age in place? And how much will it cost to move to someplace more suitable? And do you have enough funds to pay for your preferred choice?

In Oregon, if you need help planning for your long-term living needs, you can call the state ADRC (Aging and Disabilities Resource Connections) Options Counseling. (541-705-5434). There you can talk with trained staff about your situation and local options.

Most people prefer to stay in their homes for as long as possible, and the decision about whether and when to move is often difficult and emotional.  But there may come a time when it’s no longer safe or comfortable to “age in place”.

Saturday, August 10^th is the Neon Night’s Alzheimer’s Awareness Benefit Concert to celebrate and thank local radio DJ Randy Haines for his 40 years touching the hearts and lives of thousands of people in the Columbia River Gorge. It will be held at the Lewis and Clark Festival Park in The Dalles. Admission is $10 which will support those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Doors open at 5:00; music starts at 6:00. More information at https://www.neonnightsconcert.com/.

The next question for your “Soul Portrait”. With all the sights and sounds around us, what drives you to distraction?

BRAIN TEASE: Which of the following words don’t belong in the group and why? CORSET, COSTER, SECTOR, ESCORT, COURTS

The title of J.D. Salinger’s 1951 novel that depicted adolescent alienation and loss of innocence was Catcher in the Rye. I received correct answers from Steven Woolpert, Rebecca Abrams, Eva Summers, Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Rhonda Spies, Dave Lutgens, Pat Evenson-Brady, Kathy Bullack, Bruce Johnson, Doris Schrader, and Mike McFarlane who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

This weekend’s “Cruise the Gorge” in The Dalles reminds me of my father backing up the Shasta RV trailer using this small, independently rotating doorknob-shaped handle attached to the steering wheel. (This was before power steering, power seats, power windows, power tailgates …)

For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this device that allowed you to turn the steering wheel easier and faster with only one hand? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788, or send it with a pair of fuzzy dice for a car mirror.

Well, it’s been another week, asking, “Now what?” Until we meet again, even the blues are a color of the rainbow.

“If you stumble, make it part of the dance.” – Unknown

Answer: ˙ɹǝɥʇo ɥɔɐǝ ɟo sɯɐɹƃɐuɐ ǝɹɐ sɹǝɥʇo ǝɥʇ ɟo ll∀ ˙sʇɹnoƆ

I’ve found after living in the same house for almost forty years, I’ve collected way too much stuff. And there comes a time when I am still physically able, to start clearing out the clutter.

Decluttering your home can be a chore. But there are tips to help: begin by choosing one small area to organize, sort items into three piles: Keep, donate, and toss; find a specific home for everything you intend to keep; group similar items together; and if you buy something new, get rid of something else.

Good advice, but Cheryl Maguire offers an additional suggestion that I wish I had known earlier, in her article “Declutter Your Parent’s Home While They Can Join In”

As you can tell this is written by an adult child whose perspective, no offense to my children, I often find suspicious because it seems like they believe we can’t handle the situation ourselves. (Although I haven’t refused my son’s help installing the window air-conditioners!) Oops, I digress. Back to the article.

She encourages parents and their adult children to declutter together because by doing so it becomes an enjoyable activity instead of a chore. And most gratifying, you recall forgotten memories triggered by something you had tucked away long ago. Then you can share those memories about the treasures you’ve discovered: your son’s old teddy bear or your daughter’s grade school poems. It’s as if you’re going through a three-dimensional family picture album.

So, what are some tips Cheryl Maguire offers to make decluttering with your children fun?

1. Use music to set the mood. Play your old favorites, you know, the “good” music with understandable lyrics that just hint at sex. (Remember “Afternoon Delight”?) But you can’t spend all your time dancing!
2. Treat everyone with food. Have some pizza or desserts ready. Or keeping with the nostalgic mood, prepare something you ate when you were young: peanut butter and mayonnaise on a sliced banana, laid on a piece of lettuce – or maybe not!
3. Share memories about what you find. Create a memory box for each family member. You could also document the shared stories in a journal, or you can make video recordings of the stories as they’re told while you declutter.
4. And I would add, don’t rush. Enjoy the memories together. You don’t want it to be a chore.

Decluttering with your children provides an opportunity to have fun, share life stories, and learn more about each other. And maybe in the process, they will finally take their stuff you’ve been storing for 25 years!

The next question for your “Soul Portrait”. If you were to have a conversation, what topics would interest you?

BRAIN TEASE: “While on my way to St. Ives, I saw a man with 7 wives. Each wife had 7 sacks. Each sack had 7 cats. Each cat had 7 kittens. Kittens, cats, sacks, and wives. How many were going to St. Ives?”

The simple card game played by children that relies exclusively on luck was “War”. I received correct answers from Judy Kiser, Donna Mollet, Rebecca Abrams, Marny Weting, Linda Frizzell, and Rhonda Spies who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

I can’t recall if in high school or college, I ever read this widely popular and controversial 1951 novel written by J. D. Salinger that was especially influential among adolescent readers. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the title of this novel that depicted adolescent alienation and loss of innocence through the eyes of the main character Holden Caulfield? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788, or send it with a picture of Salinger’s home in Cornish, New Hampshire where he lived for 30 years as a recluse.

Well, it’s been another week, looking for a nice cool smoke-free breeze. Until we meet again, why is the shortest distance always the longest?

“Friendship is the comfort, the inexplicable comfort of feeling safe with a person having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring all right out just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful friendly hand will take and sift them keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of comfort blow the rest away.” Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

Answer: ǝɯ ‘ǝuo ʇsnſ.

When talking with a friend who is living with a chronic condition such as dementia, you want to be positive and empathetic. So you may say, “Why, I know how you feel. I’m always forgetting things.” But instead of a warm appreciative smile in return, there is unexpected silence – because you really don’t know what living with dementia is like.

You have since learned it is more than memory loss. It can affect your balance, sight, and even your personality depending on what part of the brain is affected.  And looking back, you wish you could rewind the tape and start over again.

When talking with someone with a chronic condition, it’s unreasonable to expect you’ll always say and do the ideal thing. You aren’t perfect; you’re not going to get it right all the time.

That is Jennifer Cramer-Miller’s message in her June 3, 2024 article “Is It Better to Say the ‘Wrong’ Thing Than Nothing?” on the Next Avenue website. She describes her experiences living with a chronic condition and how she dealt with comments she found hurtful and uncomfortable from good, caring friends.

She shares her fear that nowadays because we are so much more sensitive to saying something unknowingly hurtful, we may hesitate to say anything at all, terrified of saying the wrong thing. This hesitation to speak snowballs into silence and we withdraw from the friendship thinking “I never know what to say”.

But from her experience living with a chronic condition, she’s found conversations with friends offer a shelter from loneliness and those relationships can be the rock to help manage difficult times.

So, the answer to her question, “Is it better to say the wrong thing than saying nothing at all” is a definite yes. Think about what to say, but don’t stop talking!

The next question for your “Soul Portrait”. Where do you find comfort?

BRAIN TEASE: A boy was at a carnival and went to a booth where a man said to the boy, “If I write your exact weight on this piece of paper then you have to give me $50, but if I cannot, I will pay you $50.” The boy looked around and didn’t see a scale, so he agrees, thinking no matter what the carny writes he’ll just say he weighs more or less. In the end, the boy ended up paying the man $50. How did the man win the bet?

John Mellencamp’s stage name when he sang his early hits “Jack and Diane” and “Hurts So Good” was Johnny Cougar. I received correct answers from Trisha Walker, Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Dave Lutgens, Deborah Medina, Pat Evenson-Brady, Rhonda Spies, Jess Birge, Kathy Bullack, Rebecca Abrams, Keith Clymer, Rose Schulz, and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket is Teri Thalhofer.

You may have played this simple card game when you were a child. A deck is divided evenly among the players. Each player plays their top card and the player with the higher card takes the cards played. But if the two cards played are of equal value, then the players place the next card face down and then another card face-up. The player with the higher face-up card wins all the cards played. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this card game? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788, or send it with a deck of Donald Duck Inspired Playing Cards by Bicycle.

Well, it’s been another week wondering how many times I have to do it wrong before I get it right. Until we meet again, every day is a chance to make new memories.

“Family life is a bit like a runny peach pie – not perfect but who’s complaining?” Robert Brault

I was going to use the Abraham Lincoln quote, “How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.” But I looked back and found I used that quote just three years ago, and since I don’t want to repeat myself so soon, I’ll wait till later to share the quote.

This week’s Brain Tease answer: ˙ɹǝdɐd ǝɥʇ uo ,,ʇɥƃᴉǝʍ ʇɔɐxǝ ɹnoʎ,, ǝʇoɹʍ puɐ plnoʍ ǝɥ pᴉɐs ǝɥ sɐ ʎlʇɔɐxǝ pᴉp uɐɯ ǝɥ┴

Well, I’m back home in the Gorge! It was a wonderful seven-day family reunion with my sister and brother “the elders” and our children. But by the end of their visit, I was beginning to feel it was too much of a good thing, and I was getting too old for it all: waking up and going to sleep at strange hours, sharing bathrooms – where’s my toothbrush? and eating out too often because it was easier than cooking for 11. And with my hearing, or lack of hearing, missing out on 90% of the conversations!

But it was a time to share our family traditions: Breyers vanilla ice cream and brownies, and our card games of Euchre. And this year enjoying walks along the Seaside Promenade and visiting sites they wanted to see: Tillamook Creamery, Astoria Column – no, I did not climb to the top!, and the Maritime Museum. Having out-of-state visitors reminds me of all the fascinating places in Oregon and the Gorge that I often disregard because, well, I can always see them later – but never do.

Now that my wife and I have had a week to recuperate, we are looking forward to next year’s weeklong family reunion (I guess I’m not that old yet!), and paraphrasing Bruce Johnson, to finish the conversations we started this year.

With the excessive heat, don’t forget to clean your window air conditioner filters to maintain a healthy indoor environment whether there is smoke in the air or not. You should clean the filters monthly, or if you’re like me, at least at the beginning of the summer season.

The next question for your “Soul Portrait”. How would you describe your character?

BRAIN TEASE: I didn’t even get close to solving this one, and it even took me a minute to understand the answer.

A farmer challenges an engineer, a physicist, and a mathematician to fence off the largest amount of area using the least amount of fence. The engineer made his fence in a circle and said it was the most efficient. The physicist made a long line and said that the length was infinite. Then he said that fencing half of the Earth was the best.

The mathematician laughed at the others and with his design, beat the others. What did he do?

Readers who sent in the correct answer, 2001: Space Odyssey were Bruce Johnson, Eva Summers, Julie Carter, Linda Frizzel, Tina Castanares, Pat Evenson-Brady, Deborah Medina, Lana Tepfer, and Steven Woolpert; On the Waterfront were Bruce Johnson, Kathy Bullack, Rhonda Spies, Kim Birge, and Mike McFarlane; and Singing in the Rain was Kathy Bullack.

And then there were Judy Kiser, Dave Lutgens, Tom Shaefer, Donna Mollet, and Eva Summers who sent in the correct answers for all three questions, and they each win a quilt raffle ticket.

I remember during the early days of MTV watching the music videos of singer/songwriter John Mellencamp’s early hits “Jack and Diane” and “Hurts So Good” – but that wasn’t the name he was known as when he recorded those hits. For this week’s Remember When” question, what was his early stage name demanded by his first manager who insisted that the German name “Mellencamp” was too hard to market? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788, or send it with a recording of the first Farm Aid concert.

Well, it’s been another week, enjoying the sights and sounds from the front porch. Until we meet again, I remember when I could listen to my favorite music and work at the same time, but now the music is a distraction – or is it the work that’s the distraction?

“If no one answers the phone, dial louder.” ~Lucy

Answers for last week’s Brain Tease:  23.) Squares on a Chess Board; 24.) Days and Nights of the Great Flood; 25.) trombones in the Big Parade; 26.) Ways to Leave Your Lover; 27.) Bottles of Beer on the Wall; 28.) Seconds in a Minute; 29.) Horn on a Unicorn; 30.) Justices on the Supreme Court; 31.) Brides for Seven Brothers; 32.) Dots on a Die; 33.) Wonders of the Ancient World; 34.) Men on Dead Man’s Chest

This week’s Brain Tease answer: ˙ǝpᴉsʇno ǝɥʇ uo ǝq oʇ ɟlǝsɯᴉɥ pǝɹɐlɔǝp puɐ ɟlǝsɯᴉɥ punoɹɐ ǝɔuǝɟ llɐɯs ɐ ǝpɐɯ uɐᴉɔᴉʇɐɯǝɥʇɐɯ ǝɥ┴

When I see my primary care provider, I’m often told I should be on a Mediterranean diet. It helps prevent heart disease and stroke; and reduces risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. And it might even improve my ability to remember, and process information – and I need all the help I can get!

So I’ve decided after 76 years, I’m going to turn over a new leafy green vegetable and start eating as if I were living on a Greek island in the Mediterranean.

But then I asked myself, what is a Mediterranean Diet?

I’ve learned that there is not one standard Mediterranean diet, but they all have some common factors. According to the Mayo Clinic, a Mediterranean Diet is most often high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, olive oil, and herbs and spices are used for seasoning

The main steps to follow a Mediterranean Diet include:

• Each day, eat vegetables, fruits, whole grains and plant-based fats.
• Each week, have fish, poultry, beans, legumes, and eggs.
• Enjoy moderate portions of dairy products.
• Limit how much red meat you eat.
• Limit how many foods with added sugar you eat.
• Enjoy wine in moderation if you drink alcohol.

Also, Virgin olive oil, a healthy, monounsaturated fat, is the primary fat source and may help the body remove excess cholesterol from arteries and keep your blood vessels open.

Now if you decide to follow a Mediterranean Diet, there are some health concerns to be aware of.

According to MedlinePlus: an online service of the National Library of Medicine, the health concerns include:

• Gaining weight from eating fats in olive oil and nuts,
• Lower levels of iron. Be sure to eat some foods rich in iron or vitamin C which helps your body absorb iron.
• Calcium loss from eating fewer dairy products. Ask your healthcare provider if you should take a calcium supplement.

The most important thing is to focus on the overall quality of your diet, rather than single nutrients or foods. So, maybe I can still sneak in the occasional burger, fries, and shake for lunch?

The third question for your “Soul Portrait”. What are your beliefs?

BRAIN TEASE: And there’s still more!! But these are the last. 23.) “64 = S on a C B”; 24.) “40 = D and N of the G F”; 25.) “76 = T in the B P”; 26.) “50 = W to L Y L”; 27.) “99 = B of B on the W”; 28.) “60 = S in a M”; 29.) “1 = H on a U”; 30.) “9 = J on the S C”; 31.) “7 = B for S B”; 32.) “21 = D on a D”; 33.) “7 = W of the A W”.

The 1954 movie, starring Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy was “On the Waterfront”. I just returned from building castles of sand at the coast, so next week I’ll list all of you who sent in correct answers for this week and last.

Another quote from one of my favorite 1952 movie comedies. For this week’s “Remember When” question, in what film did you hear this dialogue,

“You mean it’s gonna say up on the screen that I don’t talk and sing for myself?… But they can’t do that!…They can’t make a fool outta Lina Lamont! They can’t make a laughing stock outta Lina Lamont! What do they think I am, dumb or something? Why I make more money than…than…than Calvin Coolidge! Put together!” Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788, or drop it off while twirling an umbrella.

Well, it’s been another week, looking out for the undertow. Until we meet again, as the philosopher Charlie Brown said, “Be yourself. No one can say you’re doing it wrong.”

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, look to tomorrow, rest this afternoon.” Snoopy

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).

Answers for last week. 12.) Dollars for Passing Go in Monopoly; 13.) Sides on a Stop Sign; 14.) Blind Mice (See How They Run); 15.) Quarters in a Game; 16.) Hours in a Day; 17.) Wheel on a Unicycle; 18.) Heinz Varieties; 19.) Digits in a Zip Code; 20.) Players on a Football Team; 21.) Words that a Picture is Worth; 22.) Days in February in a Leap Year.

This week I’m enjoying my annual family summer reunion. So once again, I’m sharing this Chinese parable – hoping you’re like me and can’t remember anything I’ve written more than a week ago!

One day a farmer’s horse ran away. His neighbor hears of his bad news and comes over to commiserate. “I hear that you lost your horse. That is bad news.” “Bad news, good news, who’s to say,” said the farmer.

Well, the next day the farmer’s horse returns to his stable and has brought back nine wild horses. The neighbor across the way can’t believe what he hears and decides to come over and congratulate him. “This is such good news,” he says. “Good news, bad news, who’s to say,” said the farmer.

The next day the farmer’s son decided to ride one of the wild horses, and as luck would have it, the son was thrown from the horse and broke his leg. Of course, upon hearing this sad news, their neighbor came over to offer condolences. “This is such bad news,” he said. “Bad news, good news, who’s to say,” said the farmer.

On the following day, soldiers came by commandeering an army. They took sons from most of the surrounding farms, but because the farmer’s son had a broken leg, he could not go and was spared.

The neighbor comes running over and says, “Yes! This is such good news; how lucky you are!” And the farmer replies, “Good news, bad news, who’s to say?”

Have you experienced “bad news” from which you later found some “good news”? This parable of the Chinese farmer reminds us that our situation is always fluid, and we shouldn’t become too consumed by either our good fortune or bad. There is no magic crystal ball to tell us what our future holds.

When we experience hardships and accidents, we can take comfort in looking for the hidden benefits and opportunities. Granted it may not compensate for the current hurt and pain, but we’re tough and resilient. And the “good news”? Much of what we have learned about life has come from the “bad news” we have experienced.

The second question for your “Soul Portrait”: How would you describe your attitude?

BRAIN TEASE: And there’s more! 12.) “200 = D for P G in M”; 13.) “8 = S on a SS”; 14.) “3    B M (S H T R”); 15) “4 = Q in a G”; 16) “24 = H in a D”; 17.) “1 = W on a U”; 18.) “57 = H V”; 19.) “5 = D in a Z C”; 20.) “11 = P on a F B T”; 21.) “1000 = W that a P is W”; 22.) “29 = in F in a L Y.”

HAL told Dave, “This conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye” in the 1968 science fiction movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey – which I’m finding more disturbing with the accelerating advances in Artificial Intelligence. Since I’m enjoying the family reunion, I’ll mention everyone who sent in the correct answer in two weeks.

This is a tougher movie quote. For this week’s “Remember When” question, in what 1954 movie, ranked as one of the greatest movies of all time, did Terry Malloy played by Marlon Brando say, “You don’t understand! I could’ve had class. I could’ve been a contender. I could’ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.”? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788, or send it with a picture of longshoremen on a New York dock loading barrels of corn syrup.

Well, it’s been another week, trying to keep my end of the bargain. Until we meet again, remember the old Chinese proverb, “If you don’t know what to say, tell an old Chinese proverb”.

“Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.” The Dalai Lama

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).

Answers to last week’s Brain Tease.

1. Letters of the Alphabet; 2. Days of the Week; 3. Arabian Nights; 4. Signs of the Zodiac; 5. Cards in a Deck (with Joker); 6. Planets in the Solar System; 7. Piano Keys; 8.  Stripes on the American Flag; 9. Degrees Fahrenheit at which Water Freezes; 10. Holes on a Golf Course; 11. Degrees in a Right Angle.