If you enjoy exploring challenging new ideas – whether you agree with them or not – you will want to have “Lunch with TED” at the Center starting next Wednesday the 22nd at noon. TED isn’t actually a person but a website providing 20 minute videos of “riveting talks by remarkable people”. Every Wednesday during the lunch hour you can enjoy a nice meal while watching and discussing a presentation by a world renowned speaker that will make you think if not change your life.

At the Center’s Third Saturday breakfast you will find many fine folks including regulars Dennis and Mary Davis and Tom Bailey at their own The Dalles High Class of 1963 table. So this Saturday if you want to catch up with old classmates or just want to enjoy a nice breakfast, the doors will be open from 8:00 – 9:30. This month’s menu includes scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, fruit and a muffin plus all your morning beverages. And as Jack always said “Breakfast tastes better when someone else cooks it” – as long as you don’t ask me.

This Friday the 17th the Center will be “hoppin” and “groovin” to the sounds of the 50’s and 60’s. Bob Jones from Milton-Freewater will be the DJ for this Oldies Night sponsored by The Dalles Wasco County Library District and the Libraries of Eastern Oregon. Bob is the Library Director in Milton-Freewater and has been presenting the Oldies Night in his community since 2006. And it has been such a success he has taken it on the road. The music starts at 6:30 and lasts until 8:30 so you can still take your girl – or guy – out for a soda after the dance. Come and enjoy the hits from the 50’s and 60’s, imagine yourself on American Bandstand and remember those days of innocence – or not so innocence? And who knows, maybe Sheila and Phil will be there and show us a few dance steps.

If you are more into country than 50’s and 60’s pop, you will enjoy the sounds of Truman’s Country Gold at the Center on Tuesday the 21st. And tonight you can start off with the sweet sounds of the Notecrackers for your listening and dancing pleasure. Everybody is welcome – young and old and in between. The music starts at 7:00 and doesn’t cost one iota although donations are appreciated.

The Tuesday Lecture on the 21st will feature Anya Kawka, activities coordinator for Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation District. She will be describing the many opportunities provided by the Parks and Recreation district for older adults as well as her vision for future activities.

We had several different answers to last week’s “Remember When” question including Moon River, Pink Panther and Baby Elephant Walk. (Henry Mancini was quite a prolific composer during that time!) But the song he composed with lyricist Johnny Mercer for the movie of the same name was “The Days of Wine and Roses” starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick. And of the six correct answers, Pat Davenport is the winner of the bottle of wine. (And again thanks to Joann Scott for the wine donation.)

And to get into the mood for Oldies Night on Friday, this week’s “Remember When” question is “What “rock and roll” pioneer wrote and recorded the 1958 hit, Johnny B. Goode, considered by many the greatest guitar song of all time?” E- mail mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or put the answer inside a Gibson ES-335 electric guitar and leave it next to my desk.
.
You probably figured out most of the answers to last week’s brain teasers but don’t flog yourself if you missed a few. They always seem obvious – after you know the answers. So here goes. 1) The cars he passed were going in the opposite direction. 2) Seven. The four daughters have only one brother, making five children, plus mom and dad.3) Just one – after that the piggy bank won’t be empty. 4) Every month has 28 days. 5) Just once, because after you subtract anything from 25, it’s not 25 anymore. 6) Yes, he is a justice of the peace. 7) The surgeon is his mother. 8) The last person took the basket with the last egg still inside it.

Well, have I caused enough damage for one week? Until we meet again, a Danish proverb says “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man be perfected without trials” but I have to admit – there are days I would gladly trade a little less perfection for a few less trials.