Last week I wrote about how to avoid scams and fraud, and since we can’t go back to the simpler days of snake-oil salesmen, I thought I’d follow up with a more detailed list of tips from The National Cybersecurity Alliance. You probably already know many of them, but there may be some you’ve forgotten or even some you’ve never thought of. So here goes.

1.) Know the red flags. If anyone contacts you and insists on payment by wire transfer or gift card, it’s a scam. Venmo and Zelle apps are reliable and safe ways to transfer money.

2.) Verify to Clarify. Be suspicious of emails, text messages, or phone calls that create a sense of urgency. Just last week a reader wrote that he had received a phone call from a person claiming to be his grandson who had been injured in an accident. After asking a few questions to verify, the caller hung up.

3.) When in doubt, throw it out. Be wary of clicking on links or downloading anything that comes from a stranger or that you were not expecting.

4.) Keep a clean machine. Keep all software on devices updated. To help, you can configure your device to automatically install updates when available. Besides providing new features, updates also install the latest security updates.

5.) Lock your devices. Always require a passcode to unlock your phone or tablet.

6.) Make a long, unique password. Length is more important than complexity. Create a password at least 12 characters long related to something you’ll remember. How about IL0vetheBeachB0ys! ? (If you use the Google browser, you can check the security settings to see if any of your passwords are compromised and should be changed immediately.)

7.) Own your online presence. Immediately configure the privacy and security settings on any new accounts, downloaded apps, or new devices.

8.) Share with care. Be cautious about how much personal information you provide on social networking sites. And here’s an interesting tip: just because a website asks you for your address or mother’s maiden name, it doesn’t mean you have to answer honestly. So, my mother can be a Rockefeller!

9.) People online aren’t always who they say they are. I’ve received emails from friends that just didn’t seem like something they would send. Instead of responding, I would send a separate email asking if they were trying to contact me.

10.) I don’t think I need to mention online dating – or should I?

Going online or even answering the phone is like driving down I-84. It is risky, but by taking the proper precautions, you can arrive at your destination safely.

BRAIN TEASE: Here is one for the gamblers in the audience. If I flip a coin twenty-five times and each time it comes up heads, would you bet the next coin flip is tails?

The name of the first commercially viable easy-to-use instant camera released in 1972 and invented by American scientist Edwin Land is the Polaroid Land Camera.  I received correct answers from Nancy Higgins, Rhonda Spies, Bruce Johnson, Dave Lutgens, Donna Mollet, Lana Tepfer, Doug Nelson, Jess Birge, Rose Schulz, and this week’s winners Keith and Marlene Clymer, who may still have one in their garage or attic!

For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the bi-weekly, general-interest magazine that emphasized photos more than articles; and was published from 1937 to 1971 – peaking in 1969 with 7.75 million subscriptions, second to only Life magazine? E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or mail it with a limited-edition photo taken by film director Stanley Kubrick when he was a staff photographer for this magazine.

Well, it has been another week, trying to remember to roll up the windows because I’d forgotten it can rain in The Dalles! Until we meet again, keep the tunes humming, the stories coming and the body moving.

“Worry is like a rockin’ horse. It’s something to do that don’t get you nowhere.” Old West Proverb

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: Most people would say yes. But no matter how many times you get consecutive heads in a coin toss, the next coin has a 50/50 probability of being either heads or tails! This is called the Gambler’s Fallacy which is based on a belief that if a random act happens more frequently than usual, it will become less frequent in the future.

Have you ever lost money to a scam and were so embarrassed you didn’t tell anyone or even report it because you felt really stupid?

Well, you weren’t stupid. You were the victim of a sophisticated cybercrime and what you may have been feeling is called “fraud shame” – where people feel it is their fault for being the victim of a cybercrime, even though the real person responsible is the criminal perpetrating it.

As a society, we have a strong tendency to blame the victim of scams and fraud; focusing on something the victim didn’t know or didn’t do rather than focusing on the criminal and the crime. According to an AARP report on victim shaming, the vast majority of Americans (85%) think that fraud can happen to anyone, and yet a majority (53%) also believe that fraud victims are culpable and blameworthy.

But victims don’t intend to send many to criminals. As Kathy Stokes, Director of Fraud Prevention Programs for AARP points out, “They were trying to help a beloved grandchild get out of trouble, or trying to build generational wealth.”

Fraud shame affects us all. Besides adding insult to injury, fraud shame can cause victims not to report that they were the victim of a crime. Crimes go unreported, criminal activity is not addressed, and we are more at risk.

Although there is the perception older adults are more gullible, scams affect everyone regardless of their age, education, or technological proficiency – but differently.

In 2021, older adults were about five times more likely to report losing money on tech support scams than younger adults; and twice as likely to report losing money on a prize, sweepstakes, or lottery scam. But not surprisingly, younger adults were over four times more likely to report a loss on an investment scam such as bogus cryptocurrency investment schemes than older adults; and five times more likely to lose money on job scams.

So what can we do to fight fraud shame? A couple suggestions.

First, if someone close to you tells you they are the victim of fraud, don’t blame them! Instead, provide support, and help them reach out to the authorities to report the crime.

Second, explain to them how to stay safe online: knowing the different types of cybercrimes such as phishing; using a long, unique password; installing the latest software updates; and using two-step authorization. The National Cybersecurity Alliance at https://staysafeonline.org/resources/ is an excellent source to find tools to stay safe online.

It’s becoming harder to identify scams. (Is my computer really being attacked by a virus? Do I need to call the phone number flashing on my screen? HELP!)  And it’s not going to get any easier with artificial intelligence! But if fewer folks felt ashamed and reported crimes; and more folks knew how to identify and avoid cybercrimes, the Internet would be more secure and safer for all of us.

BRAIN TEASE: An orchestra of 120 players takes 40 minutes to play Beethoven’s 9th symphony. How long would it take 60 players to play the symphony?

The name of the game show where four panelists must determine guests’ occupations by asking only “yes” or “no” questions was What’s My Line. I received correct answers from Elaine Kirby, Carol Earl, Jess Birge, Dave Lutgens, Marny Weting, Donna Mollet, Keith Clymer, Doug Nelson, Pat Evenson-Brady, Rhonda Spies, Diana Weston, Nancy Higgins, and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket Lana Tepfer whom I forgot the last two weeks! So Lana would have some company, I also missed Bruce Johnson.

I remember this camera when it first came out because you could develop a picture in less than 60 seconds! For this week’s “Remember When Question”, what was the name of the first commercially viable easy-to-use instant camera released in 1972 and invented by American scientist Edwin Land? Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788, or drop it off with the SX-70 model.

Well, it’s been another week, pondering all of life’s intangibles. Until we meet again, you know it’s autumn when the alarm goes off and it’s still dark!

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

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: Eighty minutes is the most common answer, but is still wrong. A song is forty minutes no matter how many people are playing it.

How many times have you heard, “You aren’t going to see me at a Senior Center. They are just for “ol”d people!” Maybe you even have thought that. Sadly, they are missing out on all that senior centers have to offer.

There are over 10,000 senior centers across the country responding to the diverse needs and interests in their communities and serving as community focal points for older adults. To encourage more people to visit their local center and celebrate their contributions, September has been proclaimed National Senior Center Month.

So, this month if you haven’t already, take the time to visit your local center and discover what it has to offer. Every senior center is different, but you’ll always find opportunities to make new friends; and enjoy a healthy meal for just a donation – if you’re 60 or older. (Another advantage of getting older!)

You may also find exercise classes: Strong People, Tai Chi, or chair Yoga (same benefits of yoga but I don’t have to struggle to get up off the floor!); live music, and new learning opportunities: Medicare counseling, AARP Smart Driver classes, Senior Planet technology classes, health presentations, and book clubs.

But if you don’t find something you like, start a class! There may be others who like to play your favorite card game (anyone know how to play Euchre?). Or start an art class, a walking club, or share your travel adventures. Many activities at senior centers were started by someone like you.

Senior Centers support healthy aging by providing opportunities for older adults from the frail to the most active to explore new experiences, connect with others, and volunteer. Research has shown that senior center participants have higher levels of health, social interaction, and overall life satisfaction compared to their peers who do not participate in a senior center.

Senior Centers are not just for “old” people. Instead, think of them as a social club, recreational center, learning hub, and cafeteria all offered in one place – and where you’ll find folks who are active, fun-loving, and role models for living gracefully.

If you are a grandparent raising grandchildren, you are particularly encouraged to attend the next “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” class which offers caregivers the strategies and tools to better take care of themselves when taking care of others.

The six-week class will be offered virtually on Thursdays, September 28th through November 2^nd from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. The class is free thanks to the support of the Providence Children’s Health Foundation and their generous donors. To register call 971-415-5349 or email swindells@providence.org

Brain Tease.

When I was looking in the mirror, I tried to read the artists printed on my new Motown t-shirt. It wasn’t easy! See how well you can do reading the mirror images of these seven Motown artists.

ƨɘɿobommoƆ ,ƨɒllɘbnɒV ɘʜƚ bnɒ ɒʜƚɿɒM ,ɘviᖷ noƨʞɔɒႱ ,ƨnoiƚɒƚqmɘT ,ɿɘbnoW ɘivɘƚƧ ,ƨɘmɘɿquƧ ,ƨqoT ɿuoᖷ

L.S./M.F.T. (Lucky Strikes Means Fine Tobacco) was found on a package of Lucky Strike cigarettes.  I received correct answers from Sandy Haechrel, Diana Weston, Doug Nelson, Marny Weting, Dave Lutgens, Keith and Marlene Clymer, Pat Kelly, Ken Jernstedt, Donna Mollet, Anna Bolton, Kim Birge, Rhonda Spies, and Steve Nybroten who’s this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

There were many classic game shows in the 50s and 60s including I’ve Got a Secret (1952 – 1967) hosted by Garry Moore and Groucho Marx’s You Bet Your Life (1950–1961). For this week’s “Remember When Question”, what was the name of the game show where four panelists must determine guests’ occupations by asking only “yes” or “no” questions – and where the question “Is it bigger than a bread box?” was first used by Steve Allen? Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788, or drop it off with a picture of the moderator John Daly and the most frequent panelists: Dorothy Kilgallen, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf, and Hal Block.

Well, it’s been another week, trying to remember where I left off. Until we meet again, as Dick Van Dyke sang in Bye Bye Birdie, “Put on a happy face.”

“That’s the way I look at things – if you focus on the worst-case scenario and it happens, you’ve lived it twice. It sounds like Pollyanna-ish tripe but I’m telling you – it works for me.”   Michael J. Fox

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: The answers are in the mirror.

Are you ever frustrated that after reading an article, you try to explain it and you can’t remember what you read?  Or you get halfway through a novel and suddenly you realize you have read it before!

Many of us use our leisure time to read whether it is an article in this newspaper, on the Internet, or that bestseller you just borrowed from the library. And with so much information at our fingertips, it’s even more important to remember what you read even if you aren’t studying for a history class final – thank goodness!

To better comprehend and remember, here is a quick summary of “Eight Tips To Remember What You Read” by Dr. Bill Klemm, professor of Neuroscience at Texas A&M University. (You can read the entire article on the SharpBrains website.)

1) Know Your Purpose

Ask yourself, “Why am I reading this?” Continuously checking how the purpose is being fulfilled helps you stay on task and focus on the more relevant parts of the material.

2) Skim First

Skimming first can help you identify what is important to focus on in your reading. But it shouldn’t be your default mode of reading – as I keep telling myself.

3) Get the Mechanics Right

You may remember from your English classes that you shouldn’t read word by word but focus on several words at a time which can increase your speed and comprehension.

4) Be Judicious in Highlighting and Note Taking

Okay, I’m reading a book; highlighting all the important points, and then realize I’ve highlighted the entire page!

Try to highlight the few key points to act as your reminder cues. And don’t get so focused on highlighting that you don’t pay enough attention to what you’re reading.

5) Think in Pictures

I’ve previously written about how creating a picture can help you remember objects – particularly when your doctor gives you the three-word memory test! So when reading, identify the keywords and think of the associated mental images.

6) Rehearse As You Go Along

Read in short segments – a few paragraphs to a few pages – all the while thinking about and paraphrasing the meaning of what you are reading. Rehearse what you are memorizing by reconstructing the mental pictures.

7) Operate Within Your Attention Span

Paying attention is central to memorization. If you can’t concentrate, reading is a waste of time. Most of us have short attention spans – and mine is getting shorter all the time – so try not to read dense material for more than ten or fifteen minutes at a time. After each session, quiz yourself on what you just read.

8) Rehearse Soon After Reading Is Finished

When you finish reading, rehearse what you learned right away. Avoid distractions and multitasking. Again, ask yourself questions about the content of what you read and how it satisfies your purpose for reading.

Follow these eight steps if you want to better remember what you read. And for me, it’s simply to remember what I read fifteen minutes ago!

Brain Tease: You should be getting good at these lateral thinking patterns. See how you do on this one.

“Four men were fishing. The boat tipped, and every man fell into the water. Not a single man got wet. How is this possible?”

Before he went solo, Smokey Robinson sang with a group of teenage friends who recorded for Motown as the Miracles. I received correct answers from Marny Weting, Rhonda Spies, Dave Lutgens, Rose Schulz, Donna Mollett, Keith Clymer, Kim Birge, and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket: Rebecca Abrams. And I’ve missed Diana Weston from way back, Donna Mollett from last week, and probably someone else this week.

In 1944, the message L.S./M.F.T. was introduced on the packages of a brand of cigarettes. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of that brand? Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788, or drop it off with an episode from the 1959 season of the Jack Benny Show.

Well, it’s been another week, moving faster but getting nowhere fast. Until we meet again, you can be an inspiration to others without even knowing it.

“Sharing tales of those we’ve lost is how we keep from really losing them.” Mitch Albom

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 married so there was not a single man to get wet.

One of my favorite songs from the ’60s was the little-known “No Regrets” written and recorded by Tom Rush. It’s about a broken relationship he had no regrets about even though it was painful.

Many feel a life well lived is one where there are no regrets about the decisions you’ve made or the words you’ve said or left unsaid.

But we all experience regret, don’t we? Some regrets may be minor such as missing a Smokey Robinson concert to something as painful as not having visited a friend I had promised to see before she passed away.

In her New York Times article, “Regret Is Painful. Here’s How to Harness It”, Jancee Dunn shares insights from her conversation with Daniel Pink, author of “The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward.”

Daniel Pink found that regret, a negative emotion you feel when you wish you had done something differently, falls into four main themes: failing to reach out to others; lapses in moral judgment; incremental choices that result in big consequences — like smoking or working too much; and holding back when we should have been bolder.

Those regrets can hurt but as Pink points out they are also a source of insight and growth. By thinking about our regrets, we “can clarify what we value most in life.” How can we make that happen? When dealing with regret Pink suggests we look inward, outward, and forward.

When looking inward, realize when we make mistakes, we often treat ourselves more harshly than we would treat anybody else. Instead of punishing yourself, try to look inward and talk to yourself the way you would a loved one: kind, generous, and forgiving.

When looking outward, Pink suggests confiding in someone you trust or forming a circle of friends where you can share your regrets. This can take away the hurt by realizing that everyone has regrets and you aren’t the only one.

Then look forward by asking yourself what lessons can I draw from this regret? And how can I apply them to my life going forward? Start with determining if you can still do something about it such as by being less judgmental, spending more time with close friends, or speaking up about something you feel strongly about.

In those cases when you can’t go back and you’re burdened with regret about an action you did or did not take, reframe your regret by at “least-ing” it – switching your thinking from “if only” to “at least.” For example, I can tell myself I may have missed seeing Smokey Robinson perform, but at least I can download his songs – and I saved the $150 for concert tickets!

There will always be times when we wish we could start over. But although regret can be painful, we can use it by looking inward, outward, and forward to appreciate what is important in our lives.

BRAIN TEASE: These may be too easy, but I’ll let you find out.

1.)   A man shaves several times a day but still has a beard. Who is he?

2.)   What disappears as soon as you say its name?

3.)   What can you hold in your left hand, but never in your right?

The band known for smashing guitars and writing the first rock opera Tommy was The Who. I received correct answers from Marny Weting, Rebecca Abrams, Dave Lutgens, Rose Schulz, Steven Woolpert, Keith Clymer, Pat Evenson-Brady, and Jess Birge this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. From the weeks before I missed Jean Harmon, Steven Woolpert, and Rose Schulz.

I mentioned Smokey Robinson, an early songwriter and singer for Motown Records who is still recording and performing at the age of 83! But before he went solo, he sang with a group of teenage friends who recorded many top hits including “The Tears of a Clown”. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this group? Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788, or drop it off with a picture of Hitsville U.S.A.

Well, it’s been another week, and glad to be back in the Gorge. Until we meet again, too often I find out I don’t know what I always thought I knew.

“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” Winnie-the-Pooh

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).

Answers: 1.) A barber; 2.) Silence; 3.) Your right hand

I hesitate to start with this next topic because who really wants to talk about feet because what do you think of? Ugly toenails, disgusting smells, and corns and bunions? There ain’t nothing sexy about feet. But you live and learn, and I have found that this constantly used and often neglected part of the body is a clue to your overall health and critical to your well-being.

Many things can go wrong with your feet – which probably is not surprising to most of you – so it is important to assess your foot health regularly in order to catch problems early. Here are five easy steps to examine your feet and ankles.

1. Check the appearance of your feet and ankles.

While sitting, look for things like swelling, discoloration of the skin or nails, blisters, and excessive calluses. Be sure to examine the space between the toes and the soles of your feet. (If I try, I feel as if I’m imitating a soft-knotted pretzel!) And while standing, look for anything that has changed or looks suspicious in the shape of your foot and ankle.

2. Assess the blood flow.

Press down on the nail of your big toe until the color fades, about 5 seconds. Then let go and allow the blood flow to return to your toe. If you have average circulation, the return of normal color to your toe should take 2-5 seconds.

3. Test your foot and ankle function and flexibility.

For your foot, try to pick up a marble or small dishtowel with just your toes to assess their flexibility. (Is that really possible?) To test your ankle flexibility, stand facing a wall, move your front foot back four inches, and move your knee towards the wall. If your knee can touch the wall, you have good flexibility in your calf and ankle.

4. Evaluate sensation.

Take a pencil eraser and run it on the top, bottom, and both sides of your feet. The sensation should feel the same on all sides of the foot. If you lack sensation in one area, repeat the test over the next few days to see if you get the same result.

5. Examine your level of pain.

There should be no pain in the average, uninjured foot. If you do have pain, make sure to feel the parts of your foot to locate the exact position and source of the pain.

If you find anything suspicious or unusual from swelling and excessive callouses to persistent foot pain, make sure you contact your primary care provider. Good foot care and regular foot checks are an important part of your health care. Often foot problems are the first indication of more serious problems including arthritis, diabetes, and kidney, heart, circulatory, or neurological disease.

BRAIN TEASE

What word is missing?

Begin, inch, chapel, elastic, ? , cellar, arisen, end

Johnny Carson’s sidekick and announcer was Ed McMahon. I received correct answers from Dave Lutgens, Donna Mollet, Rebecca Abrams, Kim Birge, Pat Evenson-Brady, Keith Clymer, Ronda Spies, Nancy Higgins, and Lana Tepfer who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

And from the week before when the answer was Abbott and Costello, I received correct answers from Rhonda Spies, Lana Tepfer, Keith Clymer, Donna Mollet, Rebecca Abrams, Deborah Medina, and Nancy Higgins’s almost 99-year-old mom Anna Bolton who is the winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

Since my mom grew up with the Mills Brothers, Harry James, and Frank Sinatra, she couldn’t understand why the musical groups I listened to had such foolish names: The Beatles, the Animals, Mamas and Papas, and the band called just – The Band. So for this week’s “Remember When” question, what band, whose name is more appropriate for a basic journalism class, was known for smashing guitars on stage. and writing the 1969 classic rock album Tommy?  Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788, or drop it off at the Center while singing with youthful rebellion “My Generation”.

Well, it’s been another week, wondering, “Where did the time go?” Until we meet again, sometimes stubbornness is just another name for being determined – and sometimes it’s not!

“It’s a strange world of language in which skating on thin ice can get you into hot water.”

Franklin P. Jones

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

Ice. Each word begins with the last two letters of the previous word.

I’ve shared this parable of a Chinese farmer a few years back. I can’t remember when and you probably can’t either! So, since none of us can remember, I’d like to share it again.

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, we can take comfort in looking for 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.

BRAIN TEASE:

Before the Brain Tease, I have to give a plug for the website Staying Sharp by AARP. There you can find games, brain-healthy recipes, articles, and activities to challenge your brain. Try this example.

“On a sheet of paper, write your name normally. Then switch your pen or pencil to your non-dominant hand and write your name again. How closely did your letters match? Try a few more times to see if you can improve.”

Now that you have worked your brain by changing a routine fine motor movement, here is this week’s BRAIN TEASE.

A recent graduate in engineering was applying for his first job. The interview went well but there was one last question. If he answered it correctly, he would have the job.

“If we filled up a bathtub and offered you a teaspoon, a teacup, and a bucket and ask you to empty the bathtub, which would you use?”

The engineering graduate thought it must be a trick question, but not seeing how it could be, he decided it must be the obvious answer: the bucket.

Did he get the job?

The comedy duo that made famous the comedy routine “Who’s on First” which was first seen in the 1949 comedy film “Naughty Nineties” was Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. Since I’m traveling to upper Michigan for the annual family gathering with a stopover in Detroit to visit the Motown Museum – the music of my youth! I’ll list all of you who sent in correct answers next week when I get back to the Gorge.

Johnny Carson was the gold standard of late-night talk show hosts. For this week’s “Remember When” question, who was Johnny Carson’s sidekick and announcer from 1962 through 1992? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a 1958 episode of Who Do You Trust?

Well, it has been another week, separating the sense from the nonsense. Until we meet again, try something you have never done before – and you don’t have to let anyone know!

 “I always knew looking back on the tears would make me laugh, but I never knew looking back on the laughs would make me cry.” 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: No. He should have pulled the plug.

Last week I attended the Conference for Older Adults in the Gorge at One Community Health in Hood River. The event was spearheaded by Teresa Obregon who works for One Community Health’s Connected Care Program and Roni Hyde who is an Older Adult Behavioral Health Specialist for GOBHI.

The conference featured six older adults who demonstrated how as we grow older, we can live rich vibrant lives, can still be active and engaged in our communities, and how there are many ways to stay healthy and independent.

But while listening to their inspiring stories, I realized they were living examples of being “old at heart”.

I know for many of you that just doesn’t sound right. Who wants to be “old at heart”? I’m sure my wife doesn’t want to be! But our society has this misconception that anything young is good and anything old is all downhill: frail, inactive, and uninterested in life. But what I heard from these individuals was that they were in their own ways active and engaged with their families and community.

We talk about wanting to be “young at heart”: staying active and trying new experiences – and we should. But if young at heart means waking up every day and enjoying that day as a gift, unburdened by regrets, and understanding the importance of friends and family, I’m not sure that is what I was experiencing when I was “young”.

That is more like how I feel now. And besides I feel I’m more patient and resilient, a little wiser from my life experiences, learning how to accept the blessings and burdens of life, and discovering what is truly important. And I’m considered “old”! So couldn’t we see those attitudes as “old at heart”?

I’m still growing up and still need role models showing me how to navigate this thing called aging. And these six individuals, who for me exemplify what it means to be “old at heart”, I consider inspiring role models. And if I just look around, I’ll find many more!

You can read about another inspiring role model in this month’s “Through the Eyes of an Elder.” Linda Chamberlain describes her travels to Uganda starting when she was 58 and now continuing into her 80s supporting women through knitting, dancing, laughing, and singing who are undergoing life-changing surgery.

BRAIN TEASE:

Last week if you were scratching your head trying to figure out how I came up with the answer 56, well, I shouldn’t have. As Jay Lyman pointed out, the answer should have been 40.

So, to make up for last week’s blunder here is one more number puzzle. Let’s see if I can get it right this time!

111, 13, 112, 24, 113, 35, 117, ??? Is the answer A) 46, B) 57, C) 68, or D) 79?

The pianist, singer, and songwriter discovered and first recorded by Sam Philips at Sun Records was Jerry Lee Lewis. I received correct answers from Sandy Haechrel, Karen Mielke, Nancy Higgins, Donna Mollet, Lana Tepfer, Rebecca Abrams, Keith and Marlene Clymer, Patty Burnett, Jay Lyman, and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket Kim Birge who enjoyed listening to Jerry Lee Lewis’s cousin Mickey Gilley.

I still laugh when I watch the comedy routine “Who’s on First?” in which a peanut vendor named Sebastion Dinwiddle, is talking with Dexter Broadhurt, the new manager of the mythical St. Louis Wolves. Broadhurt is identifying the players on his team, but the players’ names can simultaneously serve as the basis for questions which leads to repeated misinterpretations and frustration.  For this week’s “Remember When” question, what comedy duo made this routine famous?  Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it in with a copy of the December 26, 1999, Time magazine where “Who’s on First” was named the best comedy routine of the 20th century.

Well, it’s been another week trying to avoid those moral dilemmas. Until we meet again, as I was recently told, “I have most my marbles. I just don’t where I put some of them!

“And I urge you to please notice when you are happy and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice I don’t know what is.” Kurt Vonnegut

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: The answer is D) 79. The answer is the last digit and the sum of the digits of the preceding number.