Its one of those days – several good ideas cooking but nothing ready to pull out of the oven. And that is a problem, because writing this column is not like writing an essay for only your English teacher. No, this is real pressure. I need to satisfy an audience of thousands – or maybe a few hundred? Okay, I know four people who at least skip down and read the “Remember When” question.

But I usually try to include a few thoughts about aging, provide an encouraging word or two, and offer a few bad jokes while not trying to confuse everyone with the wrong dates. (Barb Pashek has learned to always check every date and time I mention. I suggest you follow her example.)

But since the guests are waiting and nothing is ready, how about a little dessert instead – something more sugar than substance. A trip down memory lane of words we once used but seldom hear anymore. (I once thought it would be fun to start using the expression “groovy” but only after five minutes of questioning stares as in “What DeLorean time machine did you step out of?” did I realize even in the sixties “groovy” sounded pretty lame.

So get out your paper and pencil – time for a “pop quiz”. See how many of these ten words from “days gone by” you still remember. I suspect you will recall most of them, but words, like certain smells and tastes, may bring back hidden memories – memories of those pre-teens years when the opposite sex was just a distraction, of conversations on the playground during recess or just silly adolescent pranks. So give it a shot. And if you get stuck, I will post the answers on the Center’s website.

1. What were “cooties”? a) Tiny cookies, b) Ear rings, c) Prizes in cereal boxes, d) Imaginary infestations. 2. If a woman was “stacked”, what did she have? a) Too much eye makeup, b) Beehive hairdo, c) Large breasts, d) Tall stature. 3. What was a “flattop”? a) Skateboard, b) Hair cut, c) Table, d) Stupid person. 4. If a girl had a reputation as “fast”, what was she? a) Skinny, b) Goodie two shoes, c) Sexually active, d) Reckless driver. 5. What were “dibs”? a) Nerds, b) Candy, c) Claims, d) Hair styles. 6. What was a “spaz”? a) Cold cut, b) Russian astronaut, c) Uncoordinated person, d) Candy mint. 7. What was a “blast”? a) A dance, b) A Coca-cola and Seven-Up mixture, c) A television commercial, d) A good time. 8. What were you if you had a lot of “bread”? a) Uncool, b) Fat, c) Rich, d) Smart. 9. If a person were to “go ape”, what would they do? a) Dance funny, b) Become angry, c) Dress sloppily, d) Date an ugly person. 10. What was a “pad”? a) Residence, b) Notebook, c) Article of clothing, d) Paid advertisement. (Full discloser: These questions were forwarded to me by someone at some time from some website.)

Tonight at the Center, you won’t find any rich men offering gifts to younger girls but you will find the “Sugar Daddies” playing good music for your dancing and listening pleasure. And next Tuesday you can enjoy the talents of Hank and Ann Krum plus Bob Fiske of the Jazz Generations playing sounds from the big band era to the present. The music starts at 7:00 and continues to the wee hours of 9:00 (it’s wee for some of us). And there is never a cover charge although donations are warmly accepted.

It has been almost two years since Tracy Dugick last visited the Center but she will be back next Tuesday the 26th at 11:00 discussing how diet affects your health – plus she will share information about Diabetes Day on November 11 from 11 AM to 3:30 PM at the Water’s Edge. Tracy is a certified Dietitian at MCMC and from her last presentation I have personally changed my diet particularly reducing my salt intake – eating less prepackaged foods – and eating my larger meal in the morning: “eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper”.

The first person enrolled in Medicare was Harry Truman. But since this one stumped everyone except Joann Scott and Bob Haechrel, they both win a free Saturday breakfast. But for this week’s “Remember When” question there are no wrong answers. What word or expression do you remember always using that is seldom heard today? E- mail mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or write it on the back of a store circular for the “Gay Blade”.

Well it’s time to toss another dime in the tin cup. Until we meet again, don’t get too wrapped up in yourself – it usually makes a very small package.

Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the airplane, the pessimist invents the parachute. — George Bernard Shaw