It is always nice to hear from a friend you haven’t seen for a while. Several weeks ago I received a nice letter from Marilyn Erickson. She is doing fine “married to her walker” but her daughter tells her she is looking better every day. Marilyn provided critical leadership for the Center and was the regular writer of this column for many years – sharing the important work of the Center while adding her own personal touch. Because she is living and staying busy in Hood River, we don’t see her much anymore, but knowing the importance of the Center, she included her membership dues for this year – although she admits a little late.
But it is never too late! The Center is in the final push of its 2011 Membership Drive. The dues are only $35 per person or $60 per couple and you can be of any age although you have to be over 50 to vote at the July membership meeting. So as the Romans use to shout “Carpe Stylo” or “Seize the Pen” and write that check today!
Along with her check, Marilyn sent several “smiles” including this one which Marilyn said really did happen – which are always the best stories. On a warm June day, in the dining room of an assisted living facility, Marilyn’s friend was seated next to a person she really didn’t know very well. As another resident walked by the friend said to her new tablemate, “The paper says it may reach 90 degrees today.” Her companion replied, “Oh, she doesn’t look that old.”
It is time again for the Center’s Third Saturday Breakfast. This month’s menu includes Hot Cakes, Bacon, Country Scrambled Eggs, and Fruit plus the regular beverages. The cost is only $5.00 for the general public, $4.00 for Center members, and for anyone ten and under (and I’m not talking about your maturity level!) it is only $3.00. Everyone is welcome and as Jack always said,” Breakfast tastes better when someone else cooks it!”
The 11:00 Tuesday Lecture Series at the Center will continue through the month of June with slide show presentations from the “Mastery of Aging Well” series produced by OSU extension. The next two presentations will be “Medicine Jeopardy” on June 21st and “Physical Activity and Exercise in Later Life” on June 28th. During July and August the lecture series will take its usual summer break returning in September for the fourth year of Tuesday Lectures “for the curious mind”.
The Center’s Summer Rummage Sale has been rescheduled for Thursday June 23rd through Saturday the 25th (I won’t go into the details but you can guess the change had something to do with my organizational skills.) But it does give you one more week to clear out all of your unused items from around the house. Use the “two year rule” and anything you haven’t used, touched, seen or smelled in the last two years needs to go – now! Give the Center a call or just leave your unused items outside the Center’s basement door.
And the very last reminder for “The Talk – Engaging in Compassionate Conversations between Adult Children and their Parents” – a two hour workshop at the Center this coming Saturday starting at 10:00. The workshop will be led by Rev. Kathleen Flynn with an introduction by Lucille Torgerson.
Tuesday Night music on June 21st will feature Truman who has been entertaining folks with his “Country Gold” since the Shamrock was the hot spot. And tonight “Martin and Friends” will keep you dancing until the sun sets. It’s all fun and everyone is invited. And donations are always appreciated.
Several folks emailed their favorite Burma-Shave signs that dotted the roadsides of America. Marilyn Keys remembers: “T’would be more fun/ To go by air/If they could put/These signs up there”. Joann Scott’s favorite was “Brother speeders/Let’s rehearse/All together/ Good morning nurse!” And from Ted Mahoney in Wamic “In this valley/Of toil and sin/Your head goes bald/But not your chin.” If you want to read all 600 Burma Shave jingles you can find them on the web at http://burma-shave.org/jingles/. (And the winner of a free breakfast is Jean Emerson.)
This week’s “Remember When” is about the song “Beep Beep” released in 1958 and sung by The Playmates. It describes a duel between the drivers of what two models of American automobiles? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or write it on the back of a map of Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Well it’s been another week – looking for the gold at the end of the rainbow. Until we meet again, remember the advice of Mark Twain “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”
“I’ve been looking over the list of spring chores I made up last fall, and darned if they aren’t fall chores, after all.” Robert Brault
