Aging Well February 12th 2013

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We are all social beings, connected through shared experiences of loves lost – and found; of breaks and falls and trips to the doctor; and of past memories and dreams for the not so distant future. We all share the human condition – trying to understand and live this unsolicited gift we have been given. But there are times when we can get disconnected from life – stuck in our own sorrow and self-pity; isolated in our own losses and miseries; when we may not even want to get out of bed, let alone get out of the house. And then we need a pair of jumper cables to get reconnected to life.
Fortunately, there are many places where you can find those jumper cables to get reconnected to life. You can find them though a child by becoming a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters or helping a child learn to read through the local SMART program. You can get connected with others through a new or forgotten hobby. Enroll in an art class at The Dalles Art Center, purchase a ukulele at Columbia River Music and practice with the local ukulele players or join the Mid-Columbia Car Club and restore that 56’ Chevy.
Social health and the benefits of staying connected and engaged with others is this month’s focus in your Passport to Happiness Calendar. (And you better have your calendar hanging up next to your icebox or lying on your coffee table, because it provides more than telling you what the date is! Each month the calendar features a healthy food recipe, insights to enhance your personal well-being, a comprehensive listing of agency and service resources, as well as a schedule of events that are of specific interest to older adults. And if you don’t have a calendar, call the Center to find the closest location to pick one up.) This month’s event focusing on the importance of social health will be held on Wednesday, February 20th from 3:00 – 4:30 at the Center. Don’t forget to bring your Passport card (the tear off at the bottom of your Calendar) to get stamped. At the end of this year, there will be a Passport to Happiness celebration where participants with complete (or nearly complete) passports will be awarded various prizes including gift certificates to various local businesses.
The Center was “rockin and rollin” more than usual last week. Brenda Green and Marsha Morrison gave a lively and moving (as in moving your body) demonstration of Zumba Gold – filling the classroom with energy and fun. And for those who can’t wait till the next class, Zumba Gold will start on Wednesday February 20th at 9:00 in the Center’s basement. (And the Center has made special arrangements, so the cost is only $3.00 a class.)
Also last week the iPad and Kindle users groups met (they meet every first Wednesday of the month) and everyone was busy exploring and sharing new ways to use their electronic devices. If you think the Center is just a bunch of “old” people, you are missing all the fun and excitement!
And before the seeds start to sprout – playing tonight at the Center is Martin and Friends followed next week by Truman. Music begins at 7:00, everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated
The author of over eighty Perry Mason novels and short stories that were the basis for the Perry Mason television series (which I have been told is the longest running syndicated television series) was Erle Stanley Gardner. (And the randomly selected winner of five quilt raffle tickets is Jess Birge.)
To find the question for this week’s “Remember When” I had to go back to my grade school days. Who sang the #1 hit “Great Balls of Fire? – the first 45 RPM record I ever bought (and promptly lost at school the next day). And for those who thought that question was too easy, what was the name of the studio where the song was recorded? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a copy of the “million dollar quartet” recording session from Tuesday December 4th1956.
Well, it’s been another week, peddling in the sand as fast as I can and not getting anywhere. Until we meet again, when you experience life’s quirks and whims – celebrate the ups and don’t get stuck in the downs. 
“It’s paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone.” ― Andy Rooney

Aging Well February 5th 2013

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You have probably seen the Capital One credit card commercial asking “What’s in your wallet?” But even if you aren’t interested in collecting extra travel miles, it is still a good question if you care about protecting yourself from identity theft.
Most importantly what you should NOT have in your wallet is your Social Security Card. But what you may not know is you should also avoid carrying your Medicare Card since it also shows your Social Security number. Instead, make a copy of your Medicare Card and then black out at least the last four digits of your Medicare number – the digits that make your number unique. 2) Don’t carry blank personal checks in your wallet. But if you still do because you prefer to pay using personal checks, make sure your checks contain as little information about you as possible. And the next time you order checks, order them with just your first initial and last name – making it more difficult for con artists to forge checks in your name or commit identity theft. 3) Carry only one credit card – it’s much easier to close one credit card account than several. 4) I know it is hard to keep track of bank account numbers or pin numbers, but don’t keep a “cheat sheet” in your wallet. 6) And lastly, don’t keep large amounts of cash in your wallet. But really, who has to worry about that anymore!
There are several types of information you should carry in your wallet. 1.) Emergency contact information of the person(s) to be contacted in case of an emergency. 2) A list of the medications you are taking, so in an emergency, first responders will have access to as much information as possible about your physical health. 3) And if you no longer have a driver’s license, consider obtaining a State Identification Card from the Oregon DMV which serves the same purpose as a driver’s license when you’re asked to verify your identity. And it costs only $44.50.
Knowing what you should have and don’t have in your wallet, could save you time and money – more than the extra travel miles you can earn on your credit card.
The monthly iPad and Kindle Learning Circles will meet again on Wednesday, February 6th(iPad group at 1:00 and the Kindle group at 2:00) to explore, discover and share the many functions of these electronic devices. The Learning Circles are not your typical instructor lead classes. Instead they consist of folks like you, who want to learn more about their iPads or Kindles, and are also willing to share what they already know.  
At the Center’s Tuesday Lecture, Julie Reynolds will be presenting “A Look at Aging in China”. Julie recently returned from a trip to China and since her professional training is in the field of aging, she was particularly interested in observing the cultural norms and characteristics of aging in China. She will share her insights, anecdotes, and photos from her trip on February 12th starting at 11:00.
And before the tide rolls in – playing tonight at the Center is the Strawberry Mountain Band followed next week by John Martin and Friends. Music begins at 7:00, everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated
The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is Maxwell Smart, the bumbling secret agent in the 1965-1970 television comedy series “Get Smart”. (And out of the eleven entries the winner of five quilt raffle tickets is Don Hansen.)
This week the question is about the longest running and most successful lawyer series on television. We all know Raymond Burr played the fictional attorney-detective, but who was the author of the over 80 Perry Mason novels and short stories that were the basis for the television series. E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with an original copy of the children’s magazine “Youth’s Companion” from 1899.  
Well, it’s been another week, wondering whether it will and hoping it won’t – snow again. Until we meet again, as it is often said – “it is not the years in your life, but the life in your years”.  
“The older I get, the more I see there are these crevices in life where things fall in and you just can’t reach them to pull them back out. So you can sit next to them and weep or you can get up and move forward. You have to stop worrying about who’s not here and start worrying about who is.”  Alex Witchel, The Spare Wife

Aging Well January 29th 2013

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Living a long and rewarding live is much about accepting and adapting – knowing your limitations without giving up your dreams. Even though you may no longer be the spring chicken roaming the barnyard, it is even more important to stay active and open to new adventures.
In that spirit, you will want to attend the Tuesday Lecture at 11:00 on February 5th when Marsha Morrison demonstrates Zumba Gold. I know you are probably thinking “Oh, right. You expect me to dance around in tight leotards with a bare midriff like the cheerleaders for the Portland Trailblazers? Who are you kidding?”
But wait! Zumba Gold has been designed to keep all the exciting Latin and other international dance rhythms that has made Zumba so popular, but modified for the active older adult. It provides a safe and effective workout in a party like atmosphere with friends of your own generation. And ask yourself – why should the younger generations have all the fun? And I promise – there will be no mirrors!
But if Zumba Gold is not your type of energy drink, there are a variety of other exercise and movement opportunities for the active older adult – from walking along the riverfront trail to taking water aerobics classes at the Fitness and Court Club or Water’s Edge. And at the Center there are classes including Seniorcise, Chair Yoga, Strong Women and Tap and Clogging. Accepting your limitations is not giving in. Adapt and keep moving on!
While talking to Bill Johnson several weeks ago, I learned that the nine thousand plus photographs of the history of Wasco County collected by the Wasco County Pioneers Association are stored at the Discovery Center where they have been scanned and electronically archived. Described as one of “one of the greatest treasure troves of photographic history archives in the State of Oregon” you can view these photographs on line at http://oregondigital.org/digcol/cgdc/. And for a small fee, anyone can order a high-resolution copy of one of the historic photos by calling the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center at 541-296-8600.
And speaking of history, The Dalles archeologists Eric Gleason and Jacqui Cheung will present the first program of the 2013 Regional History Forum Series Saturday, Feb. 2, 1:30 p.m., at the Original Wasco County Courthouse, 410 W. 2nd Place, The Dalles.  Their topic is “The Modoc War: Archeology and Historic Photos.”
I feel like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland – late once again. But the Center is finally kicking off its 2013 membership drive with renewal reminders hitting the mailbox this week. I’ve heard the reasons why many of you are not members: the center is just for old people, you’re just too busy or you keep forgetting to mail the check. But enough of the excuses! Make this year the year you join hundreds of others in supporting the Center’s mission of promoting healthy aging but offering generations opportunities to explore, connect and contribute. Membership dues are $35.00 per person or $60 per couple. And if you want to become a Super Duper Member (with membership benefits so super-duper we can’t tell you what they are) it is $50 per person.
And before the sun sits – playing tonight at the Center is Annie Lane. And next week we start back at the top of the charts with The Strawberry Mountain Band jump starting the month of February. Music begins at 7:00, everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated
In the popular beer commercial from the 50’s, whenever a customer wanted a beer he would yell out to the barmaid, “Mabel, Black Label.” – a beer brewed and distributed by Carling. (And the winner of five quilt raffle tickets is Bob Thouvenel.)
With help from the Needle Nutzs, this week’s “Remember When” question is from the television series (1965 – 1970) created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry and starring Don Adams and Barbara Feldon. It was described as an “insane combination of James Bond and a Mel Brooks comedy” and featured an array of gadgets including the often used “shoe phone”. What was the name of the bungling secret agent in this television series? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a 1965 Sunbeam Tiger Mark I red convertible that was driven in the opening credits.
Well, it’s been another week, taking one step at a time. Until we meet again, remember the best kind of exercise – is the exercise you will actually do.
“My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where the heck she is.”  Ellen DeGeneres

Aging Well January 22nd 2013

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Is anyone else getting tired of the grey, cold skies lying over The Dalles like a wet dirty blanket? It makes you want to visit your snow bird friends in Arizona. But wouldn’t that be cheating – admitting you aren’t tough enough to cope with weeks of inversions and stagnations. And don’t you have to endure the tough times to enjoy the good? But on the other hand – one more week, and you just might see me screaming down Hwy 197 for the Arizona border!
But as we look forward to the warmer days of spring, there are several opportunities coming our way. The fact that heart disease can largely be prevented is the theme for this year’s “Go Red” – which kicks off with a panel of experts discussing “Small Steps for Big Changes” to prevent heart disease at 6:00 pm on Thursday, January 31st at Water’s Edge. There is limited seating, so call 541-296-8444 to register.
The “Go Red” events continue on Friday at the Civic Auditorium with the Health Expo and Noon Heart Walk from 11:00 – 2:00; followed on Saturday by the Heart Truth Walk Run at the Kiwanis Pocket Park on Klindt Drive starting at 10:00 am.
The Center is already receiving calls about the AARP Tax Aide Program which provides free tax assistance to low- and moderate-income taxpayers, with special attention to folks sixty and older. Locally, it is administered by the Mid-Columbia Community Action Program – offering tax assistance at the following locations: Canyon Rim Manor in Maupin – 1st & 3rd Mondays from 10 am to 1:00 pm; Tygh Valley Community Center – Thursdays from 8 am to 12 pm; and the Mid-Columbia Senior Center – Fridays from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. You can also make an appointment for tax assistance at the Rufus Community Center by calling 541-993-1054.
A dedicated cadre of volunteers will assist you preparing basic federal and Oregon personal tax returns and can electronically file them for you. They have gone through hours of training but are not professional tax preparers (although several have accounting backgrounds), so they cannot prepare more complicated schedules and forms.
Photo ID is required and you must bring acceptable proof of social security number or ITIN for every person on your tax return. Bring all income report forms such as W-2’s, interest, dividend and miscellaneous income statements, social security and pension statements, and other tax-related information such as documentation for itemized deductions. And if you can, bring your previous year’s tax return.
I have received many positive comments about the “Passport to Happiness” Calendar, but as I had expected, several mistakes have been pointed out. The local phone number for the Wasco County Veteran’s Services Office is correct (541-506-2502) but the toll free 888 number will send you to the Veteran’s Services office in Hood River. And there are two Father’s Days listed: the third Sunday in June and the third Sunday in July- which the fathers in the audience might want to use to their advantage.
I also would like to thank the Calendar sponsors including: OSU/Wasco County Extension, Hearts of Gold Caregivers, PacificSource, Flagstone Senior Living, Rebecca Street Physical Therapy, Casa El Mirador, Columbia State Bank, and the Mid-Columbia Senior Center. And the monthly sponsors including Columbia Basin Care Facility, Kramer’s Market in Dufur, Canyon Rim Manor in Maupin, Edward Jones, Mid-Columbia Community Action, NWC Parks and Recreation, and the Area Agency on Aging.
And before time runs out – playing tonight at the Center is Truman and next week Annie Lane will perform. Music starts at 7:00, everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated
Last week’s “Remember When” question was a challenge with only Joanne Scott emailing the correct answer – “Twentieth Century”. But I was surprised when everyone else remembered “You Were There” also hosted by Walter Cronkite, but five years earlier between 1952- 1957.  (You can watch twenty episodes of “You Were There” on the Museum of Broadcast Communications website at www.museum.tv.)
But this week you shouldn’t have a problem. TV commercials of the 1950’s featured mostly cars, cigarettes, kitchen appliances and beers. In this popular beer commercial, whenever anyone wanted a beer, they would call out to Mabel holding a tray of what brand of beer? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with an autographed picture of Jeanne Goodspeed who played Mabel for fifteen years.
Well, it’s been another week waiting for the clouds to lift and the sun to shine. Until we meet again, make the best of the wonders yet to come.

Aging Well January 15th 2013

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How would you like to have in one handy place – dates of local events such as Go Red, Mid-Columbia Community Concerts and monthly educational programs; a listing of important phone numbers including transportation resources, support groups and assisted living facilities; short insights about different aspects of healthy living; and nutritious recipes for good measure – all in an attractive packet you can hang on the wall.  
You can have it all with the “Passport to Happiness” Calendar – created and printed right here in the Gorge for older adults in Wasco County including their families and caregivers. The Calendars are now available at several locations in The Dalles including the Area Agency on Aging, the Mid-Columbia Community Action Program, The Mid-Columbia Housing Authority, the Aging and People with Disabilities office, the Mid-Columbia Senior Center, the OSU Extension Office, and Water’s Edge. And soon at the meal sites in Mosier, Dufur and Tygh Valley.
One of the many benefits of the “Passport to Happiness” Calendar is each month the Calendar focuses on a different factor that can lead to improved health and greater happiness. And then on every third Wednesday of the month, from 3:00 – 4:30 at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center, there will be speakers and information that will address that month’s focus.
Wednesday, January 16thwill be the kickoff for the monthly events and the January focus is “What is Happiness?” Lauren Kraemer, OSU/Wasco County Extension Agent, will lead a discussion about happiness and what it means to each of us as we grow older; and how improving our health and well-being can lead to greater happiness. And if you are interested in reading more about the topic of Happiness, Klindt’s Booksellers will have books on hand to purchase.  
Since this is a journey towards achieving greater health and happiness with a different destination or focus each month, bring your passport with you – the tear off section at the bottom of the Calendar. At each of these monthly events, your “Passport to Happiness” will be stamped, and at the end of the year there will be a celebration offering prizes depending on the number of months stamped.
The “Passport to Happiness” Calendar was a year-long project of the Wasco County Network on Aging (I thought the Aging Network sounded good, but it was vetoed since it sound like we were just getting old.) The Network includes representatives from OSU/Wasco County Extension, the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council, Mid-Columbia Medical Center, Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation, the local Aging and People with Disabilities Office, Flagstone Senior Living, North Central Public Health District, Mid-Columbia Housing Authority, Canyon Rim Manor, as well as Julie Reynolds.
It was a packed house at the TDWHS auditorium for “Dancing with the Gorge Stars”. And although all the dancers were entertaining and the dance routines “extraordinaire”, my man, Rick Eisland, was number one. (Although some felt he only won because of his silly smile and – like a true elected official – he knew how to work the crowd for votes.) Thanks to all the dancers: Rick, Gene, Gavin, Kristi, Tina and Celeste for making it such an entertaining night and to Platti Blagg and the Community Concert crew for bringing “Dancing with the Gorge Stars” to The Dalles.  
I am running out of room so I will keep it short – real short. “Martin and Friends” tonight at the Center, “Truman” on the 22nd, starts at 7:00, everyone welcome and donations are always appreciated. How was that?
Many folks remembered the quips and adlibs of Groucho Marx, the host of the game show “You Bet Your Life” and the answer to last week’s “Remember When” question. (And the winner of ten quilt raffle tickets for the new quilt hanging in the Center’s lobby is John Lampe.)
This week’s question may be one of those tough ones – when you can’t remember the answer until someone tells you and your response is, “Oh yeah, I knew that!”
We are remember Walter Cronkite who was described as “the most trusted man in America” and anchorman for the CBS Evening News in its heyday from 1962 to 1981. But do you remember the name of the TV documentary series about important historical events he hosted from 1957 through 1967? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a “Piece of the Rock”.
Well, it’s been another week waiting to see which way the winter winds blow. Until we meet again, it is easier to enjoy the winter knowing spring is around the corner.    



Aging Well January 8th 2013

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It’s like visiting your kids or grandkids – you wouldn’t miss the chance, but it is always nice to be back home. The two week break from writing this column gave me a chance to spend more time with my son (and yes, he still wants my wife and me to move to the bay area!), watch a few movies including “White Christmas” on Christmas Day and just lollygag around the house. But it is nice to be working these old grey cells once again – writing about the many opportunities in the community and the joys and challenges of aging. 
For New Year’s Eve my wife and I just stayed home – like many of you may have done. But I found instead of struggling to stay awake till midnight to watch the ball drop in Times Square (tape delayed by three hours), I can watch it live by streaming it over the Internet.  So how about this for next year? We celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Center with music, noise makers, some bingo – and then join millions of revelers in Times Square streamed live on the big screen TV. And we can still be home in bed by 10:00. What do you think?  
It is only January and already you have the chance to see what may be the “talked about” event of the year. On Thursday January 10th, Mid-Columbia Concert Association is presenting “Dancing with the Gorge Stars” starting at 7:00 PM at The Dalles Wahtonka High School. This show is similar to ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” except instead of watching Apolo Ohno, Jennifer Grey, Donnie Osmond or Melissa Rycroft, you will have a chance to see our own Rick, Gene, Gavin, Celeste, Kristi and Tina (is there a reason they don’t give their last names?) paired with professional dancers from the Utah Ballroom Dance Company.
I have to admit they have more nerve than I have – to put themselves out there on stage in front of thousands of friends (and did I hear there will be representatives from ABC looking over the local talent?) But my money is on Wasco County Sheriff Rick Eisland. Early last spring during Steve Hudson’s Swing Classes, I had a chance to dance with Rick and I can personally testify to his natural gracefulness – except he wouldn’t let me lead! Tickets are only $25 at the door or $20 if you purchase them early at Klindts Booksellers or Columbia Music.
The 11:00 Tuesday Lecture Series is back – and although I don’t yet have a speaker lined up for next Tuesday, I guarantee you will learn something new and worthwhile. An example was today’s presentation by Courtney Kendrick who described the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. This valuable program is looking for volunteers to mentor local children – helping them gain greater confidence, improve their school performance and lead positive lives. It only takes about eight hours a month and no special skills are needed. If you are interested in making a difference in a child’s life, give Courtney a call at 541-296-8118 extension 216.
And Tuesday Night Music is also back. Because New Year’s Day was on a Tuesday, the music is starting a week late. But fortunately there are five Tuesdays in January so the Center can follow the usual schedule starting off with the Strawberry Mountain Band performing tonight. And next Tuesday on the 15th, Martin and Friends will barnstorm their way through a set of country and western favorites. Music starts at 7:00, everyone is invited and donations are always appreciated.
The answer to the last “Remember When” question of 2012 (if you can still remember it) was Rosemary Clooney, the jazz vocalist and actress who sang the 1951 hit “Come on-a My House” and starred in the 1954 Christmas movie classic “White Christmas”.
But I’m going to start off the new year with one of my favorite comedians of vaudeville, film and television fame. Who was the host of the game show that ran from 1947 through 1960 where a couple would try to answer a series of questions and if during the questioning the contestant would say the “secret word” a toy duck with a moustache, glasses and a cigar in its bill would drop down. E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with the lyrics for “Hooray for Captain Spaulding”.  
Well it has been another week, thankful to see a new year. Until we meet again, don’t let age get in your way of living a full and generous life. 

Aging Well December 18 2012

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Tis the Christmas Season: a time for memories that stir our senses: cookies baking in the oven, houses sparkling with Christmas lights, and bells jingling at local grocery stores.

It is also a time to remember how we have been blessed at our chronologically advantaged age. But sometimes it is hard with all the bad news: shootings near and far, physical challenges we endure; and the personal losses that touch us – particularly at this time of the year when we would give everything to again share memories of Christmas’s pasts with friends and loved ones who are no longer with us.

It is not always easy to stay upbeat and positive, but Shawn Achor, who researches and teaches positive psychology, describes three steps that can help us see and look for the positive instead of passively absorbing the negative. First, for twenty one days in a row, take two minutes a day and write down three things you are grateful for. Second, start a journal and each day write about one positive experience you encountered. Third, do one positive random act of kindness each day – whether it’s complimenting the salesperson during a hectic Christmas shopping day or buying a bottle of Martinelli’s sparkling juice for your local senior center director (and he prefers a red grape to a white apple cider!)

But I would also suggest two more steps. Fourth, each day give at least one person a big hug – the human touch is an essential nutritional requirement for the spirit. And last, if there has been something you have been meaning to tell someone, tell them. Don’t wait. There are reasons as we get older why we don’t buy green bananas.
Whether your glasses are rose colored, broken or you can’t find them, during this season of hope, love and possibility, consider these five steps to better see all that is good and right – and the bountiful banquet that is spread before us.

This is usually the place where I announce the performers for Tuesday Night music, but because of the holidays, we have pushed the pause button until January 8th. But the sounds of guitars strumming and cowgirls singing won’t totally vanish. Every Wednesday before and after the Meals-on-Wheels noon dinner, there is music for your listening pleasure – and there are often several couples who take the opportunity to stretch their legs and dance a few steps. Annie Lane and “For the Good Times” alternate Wednesdays. And on the third Thursday, Tom Graff stops in and warms up the diner crowd. Particularly if you don’t like to get out after dark, this is your chance to enjoy listening and dancing to some good country tunes.
I stumped most everyone with last week’s “Remember When” question. The answer wasn’t Burns and Allen or Fibber Magee and Molly (but look for them in the future), it was Bob and Ray who both started as radio announcers, until their informal banter became so popular they were asked to fill in when the Boston Red Sox baseball games were rained out. On YouTube, you can find them performing two of their classic interviews on the Johnny Carson Tonight Show: “Most Beautiful Face Contest Winner” and “Four Leaf Clover Farmer.” (And the winner is the Bob and Ray aficionado Joann Scott.)

This week’s ”Remember When” question is about the successful jazz vocalist and actress who became nationally known with the 1951 hit “Come on-a My House” written by the unusual duo of author William Saroyan and David Seville (who would later create the famous Alvin and the Chipmunks) and recorded with Mitch Miller and his orchestra. But during the Christmas season she is remembered for starring in the 1954 Christmas movie classic with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen. What was this singer/actress’s name? E-mail your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a package of “Extra value is what you get, when you buy Coro-net” paper towels.

The Center and Meals-on-Wheels will be closed for Christmas Eve, Christmas as well as New Year’s Day. And since Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Tuesdays – the day this column is printed, I won’t be back visiting with you until next year on the 8th.
So until we meet again, I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and the best in the New Year. And as the famous anonymous once said, “As you slide down the banisters of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way”.

Aging Well December 11th 2012

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During the regular chit chat with my sister over the Thanksgiving holiday (you know – football, the weather, latest aches and pains) my sister threw me a curve and asked “What have you learned from having worked at the Senior Center for almost six years now?” It caught me off guard and what immediately came to mind was the only fact I learned from the lecture on continence – you should wait long enough so that every time you – the how should I say this gently – use the bathroom, it should last at least ten seconds. (So guys if you see me in the restroom counting to ten, now you know why.)

Fortunately I kept that thought to myself and instead offered more sagely advice reflecting my years of wisdom and experience: “Stay socially connected and keep moving”. Good advice, right? But after several days of reflection, I should have answered “To age well you need to learn to accept and adapt”.

As we age, we experience changes we never thought would happen to us – uncooperative bodies, memory lapses and personal losses.  But it is important to accept “the way it is” – this new and often challenging reality. But accepting is not the same as “giving up” – if you identify ways to adapt. For instance, if it is getting difficult to drive, avoid complicated intersections; if you can’t read because of poor vision, listen to books on tape; and if you have lost close friends, meet new ones.

Although we may wish we could just take off our shoes, kick back and relax at this stage of our lives, we know it isn’t that easy. But the good news is that with effort, creativity and perseverance, we can accept and adapt – and make the remaining years of our lives both purposeful and rewarding.

Hot cakes, scrambled eggs, and sausage or bacon is the menu for the Center’s Christmas Breakfast sponsored by the same folks as last year, but with a new name this year- “The Springs at Mill Creek”. They are bringing along Santa, gifts and holiday entertainment with “Harmony of the Gorge”. This is your chance to get into the holiday spirit and while enjoying a delicious Saturday breakfast.

If you appreciate the art, cultural and historical non-profits, you only have three weeks to donate to your nonprofit of choice and to the Oregon Cultural Trust in order to receive a matching tax credit. All you have to do is make a donation to any of Oregon’s arts, heritage and humanities non-profits including twenty-two in Wasco and Sherman County (listed at www.culturaltrust.org); make a matching gift to the Cultural Trust; and then claim your entire contribution to the Cultural Trust as a tax credit. The Oregon Cultural Trust is an innovative public-private fundraising and grant making program that funds the local Wasco Cultural Trust Coalition which annually distributes $500 to $1000 grants to area schools and non-profits.

The Center’s Nu-2-U Shop is overflowing with used clothes of all kinds. So Betty and Martha are having their End-of-the-Year Bag Sale on Thursday and Friday (13th and 14th). And for both days the store will be open from 10:00 – 3:00 PM.

Tonight at the Center, Martin and Friends will be playing the last Tuesday Night performance in 2012. But like bed bugs in a cheap hotel, the music will be back on January 8th starting at 7:00 PM.

The 1948 – 1957 television show that used puppets to appeal to the children but was watched more by adults was “Kukla, Fran and Ollie”. (And the winner of a Christmas Breakfast is Herm Neuberger.) For this week’s “Remember When” question, I may be repeating myself since I can’t remember if I’ve asked this question before. (But then I imagine you can’t remember either!) So possibly for the second time, what comedy duo had their own show on both radio and television that included imaginary off the wall interviews with recurring characters such as Wally Ballou, Biff Burns, Arthur Sturdley, Webley Webster, and the McBeeBee twins. E-mail your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a tape of the radio soap opera “Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife”.

Well, it has been another week, remembering the past while imagining the future. Until we meet again, celebrate the years remaining because, to paraphrase Robert Frost, the afternoon knows the joys what the morning never suspected.

“Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence.
Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance.
Autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence.
Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.”
― Yoko Ono

Aging Well December 4th 2012

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Can you imagine an Intelligence Scanner you wear as a ring or necklace and helps you see and remember things; or an Auto Car that transports you to the store without you having to drive it; or a gloved sleeve you wear over your arm controlling involuntary arm movements so you can drink a cup of coffee without spilling it. These are just three of the twelve projects I had the fortune of judging last weekend at the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO League Robotics competition for the Gorge area. Through these regional competitions, teams of 9 – 14 year old students experience real-world science and technology by building a robot that performs specific tasks, but also creating a project that offers a solution to a challenge facing the nation.

The challenge this year was “Senior Solutions” – finding solutions that help older adults stay independent, engaged and connected. In developing their project, each team selected a Senior Partner to learn more about the challenges facing older adults, and then imagined and researched a solution to a problem that was identified from the conversations with their Senior Partner.  As part of the competition, each team’s solution was evaluated based on the level of research and innovation as well as the quality of their presentation.

Several older adults from the Center were recruited to be Senior Partners for the four teams from Colonel Wright Elementary. Because of that connection with the Center, several of the Colonel Wright teams have agreed to present their projects at the Center for the 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on the 11th, It will be fun and you will have an opportunity to see budding scientist in the making. I just wish they would hurry up and build the memory enhancement device. I need it now!

Several weeks ago when I wrote about the value of support groups I forgot to mention the Women Widows of Veterans Gathering and Support Group which meets every second Tuesday of the month (which according to my Gregorian calendar is December 11th) at 11:00 AM at the Veteran Services Office at 201 Federal Street in The Dalles. The gatherings are an opportunity for grief support as well as ensuring that widows of veterans are accessing all the support available from Veteran Services. For more information, call Barb Thomas at 541-467-2651, Ruth Otto at 541-769-0078 or Joyce Powell Morinat 541-296-7266.

One last reminder. This Wednesday, the 5th, the monthly iPad User’s group will meet at 1:00, as well as the first meeting of the Kindle User’s Group at 2:00. These user groups are for both beginners and experienced users (we need someone who knows what they are doing) and will give you a chance to share what we know and ask questions about what you don’t.

Tonight at the Center, The Strawberry Mountain Band will be kicking up the dust. And next Tuesday on the 11th, Martin and Friends will be playing for your listening and dancing pleasure. The Center’s Tuesday Night Music will then take a break for the holiday season returning on January 8th. As always, the music starts at 7:00, everyone is welcome – including lonely reindeer waiting for the big trip, and donations are always appreciated.

Arlo Guthrie (the son of Woody Guthrie – writer of the local hit song from 1941 “Roll on, Columbia, Roll On”) wrote and recorded the 18 minute satirical protest song from 1967 called Alice’s Restaurant – including the lyrics “You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant – excepting Alice”. (And the winner of a Saturday Breakfast is Jess Birge.)  

When I was on the Coffeebreak last month, Al Wynn mentioned this television show that used puppets and was totally ad-libbed. It first aired November 29th, 1948 on Chicago’s WNBQ and was originally created for children but soon was watched more by adults. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this television show? E-mail your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a 1961 picture of Buelah Witch, Fran Allison, and Madame Oglepuss.

Well, it has been another week, appreciating life’s changes. Until we meet again, keep your eyes and mind open for new and exciting opportunities.


“As you get older; you’ve probably noticed that you tend to forget things. You’ll be talking with somebody at a party, and you’ll know that you know this person, but no matter how hard you try, you can’t remember his or her name. This can be very embarrassing, especially if he or she turns out to be your spouse.” Dave Barry

Aging Well November 27th 2012

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Did you survive Black Friday (and Thursday and Saturday), and then Cyber Monday after catching your breathe on Sunday? It can wear you out! But most importantly, I hope you had a chance to enjoy the company of family and friends either over a traditional turkey dinner or – as my family did – by video conferencing using Skype. (And for all you geezer geeks, I discovered you can video conference with up to 10 people using Google+ Hangout. And it is free!)
But it is not only the beginning the holiday shopping season, we are also entering the time of the year for bazaars, open houses, concerts and other holiday treats – many supporting local non-profits.

On Saturday December 1st is the Annual Three Museum Holiday Open House from 11:00 AM until 4 PM at the Fort Dalles Museum and Anderson Homestead. Admission is free and you will find Santa for the grandkids, live Christmas music, a raffle drawing plus Christmas cookies and Hot Cider. And the Gift Shop will be open if you want to purchase a little history for the holidays.

Also on Saturday, Habitat for Humanity is holding their annual Christmas Bazaar at the United Congregational Church from 10:00 – 2:00. There will be vendors of all stripes and colors and baked goods to sink your teeth in.
And then there is the 33rd Annual Mosier Country Christmas Fair on Saturday – and on Sunday (in case you can handle only one Christmas bazaar a day) from 10:00 – 4:00 PM (Admission is $2.00 plus one can of food).
If bazaars aren’t your cup of hot chocolate, the Cascade Singers are presenting Gloria a Dios and Misa Criolla and Spanish Carols on Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 3:00 PM at the Zion Lutheran Church (admission is by donation).

The Center is planning for its Christmas Breakfast on December 15th sponsored by The Springs at Mill Creek who will be providing music by “Harmony of the Gorge”, gifts and a special appearance by Santa. And during breakfast, a raffle drawing will be held and the winner will take home one of the two distinctly different quilts hanging in the Center’s lobby. They are beautifully hand stitched and would make a great Christmas gift. Raffle tickets are available at the front desk

Because of the popularity of the affordable Kindle e-readers and tablets, the Center is starting a Kindle User’s Group on the first Wednesday of the month which in December is the 5th. The Kindle group will meet at 2:00 PM – right after the iPad User’s Group which meets at 1:00 also on the first Wednesdays. The purpose is to share information and help answer each other’s questions about these new-fangled devices.

People with disabilities are important contributors to the fabric of our communities. They may be your friends, neighbors and more often these days your co-workers. Consequently, would you like to better understand the various types of disabilities; develop more effective skills in assisting people with disabilities; and better understand how to respectfully communicate with people with disabilities? If so, you will want to attend the Tuesday Lecture at 11:00 on December 5th featuring Katie Maple discussing “Disability Awareness”. Katie works for the local non-profit Opportunity Connections that provides supports and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Tonight at the Center, “For the Good Times” will be performing for your dancing and listening pleasure. And during December, because of the holidays, there will be an abbreviated music schedule. The Strawberry Mountain Band will be playing on the 4th and Martin and Friends on the 11th. The music starts at 7:00, everyone is welcome – including any of Santa’s helpers, and donations are always appreciated.

The popular TV series that aired the famous “Moo goo goo goo” Thanksgiving episode in 1975 was The Bob Newhart Show. (And the winner of a Saturday Breakfast is Don McAllister who remembers seeing Bob Newhart substituting for Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show.)

This week’s “Remember When” question is for the Boomers in the audience.  What satirical protest song (more aptly described as a 18 minute musical monologue) released in 1967, is the self described story of the son of a famous folk musician being arrested for dumping trash on Thanksgiving day and his ensuing efforts to avoid the draft. E-mail your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a copy of your 1960’s draft card.
Well, it has been another week, wishing the days could be a longer and the nights a little warmer. Until we meet again, keep the home fires burning.