Okay, you’re fairly certain you don’t have early-stage dementia. And you want to keep mentally sharp so when you finally find your car in the parking lot, you know the way home. What should you do?

Most brain research suggests there are six lifestyle behaviors that impact brain health. But before I go any further, take a minute and consider what they could be.

Did you think of ongoing exercise with the goal of exercising several times per week for 30–60 minutes? Or eating right such as a Mediterranean diet that emphasizes plant-based foods, whole grains, fish, and healthy fats such as olive oil?

Good. But you may not have thought of the next three: managing stress such as practicing mindful meditation; restorative sleep preferably seven to eight hours; and being social which with the lifting of restrictions will be easier now.

Now the last may seem the most obvious: engaging the brain. There are many simple although not easy ways to challenge your brain that you can do by yourself anytime, and anywhere. (You don’t have to carry around a book of Sudoku puzzles or download a brain training app.)

Here are three mental exercises you can try just using that grey matter between your ears.

1.) Think of a list of items such as the months in the year and without paper and pencil alphabetize them by their first letter – and then by the second letter.

2.) Make a list of anything that comes to mind such as a to-do list and memorize it. An hour or so later, see how many items you can recall. You may often do this already when you leave your shopping list on the kitchen table!

3.) “Backward Digit Span”. When you hear or read a four-digit number, repeat it – but backward. Try increasing the number of digits and see how many digits you can repeat. Now try the same idea with letters.

You can keep your brain sharp by incorporating these six behaviors into your daily activities. You just have to put your mind to it.

Now that both Washington and Oregon have lifted most COVID restrictions, it is now up to us to decide what level of risk we want to accept. The risk has diminished significantly but there is still a risk. And even though I am fully vaccinated, and Oregon has reached the milestone of 70% vaccinated (and an even higher percentage for older adults) I’m still going to wear a mask when shopping indoors. For me, it is a wise choice.

In this month’s “Through the Eyes of an Elder”, Jamie Olivera interviews Ramiro Elisea who in 1968 made the journey from Mexico to “enjoy working hard” in the orchards in Hood River. It is an inspiring story worth reading.

The title of the novel by Grace Metalious published in 1956 that followed the lives of three women in a small New England village where the residents hold seamy sordid secrets was Peyton Place. I received correct answers from Susan Ellis, Steven Woolpert, Jeannie Pesicka, Karen Asai, Vicki, Billie Maxwell, Norma Simpson, Gene Uczen, Kim Birge, Margo Dameier, Lana Tepfer, Christy Turner, Dave Lutgens, Barbara Cadwell, Sharon Hartley, and Vicki White this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And last week I missed Susan Ellis and now I’ve forgotten who else I forgot last week!

It’s summer, it’s hot, so what did many of us do when we were younger – or maybe still do? We headed to the beach or our local swimming pool. During the summer of 1960, this song sung by Brian Hyland reached #1 and made this style of bathing suit – which was initially considered too risque – the rage of the beaches and swimming pools to the glee of every young man. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the song? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off while singing “One, two, three, four/Tell the people what she wore”.

Well, it’s been another week gently telling my younger friends, “I can do it!”. Until we meet again, don’t you find what’s most irritating about driving on the highway is encountering someone driving the speed limit?

“The trick to accomplishing anything is to avoid the obstacles that are not in your way.” Robert Brault

Boy, it’s been hot!

It reminds me of my younger days living in Indiana when we didn’t have air conditioning:  fans strategically placed throughout the house; a dehumidifier in the basement; sleeping uncovered, sprawled out on the bed, driving with the windows down and my shirt glued with perspiration to the back of the seat: hopping barefoot on the hot asphalt waiting in line to enter the pool. (I wasn’t too smart at that age!); and wearing my bathing suit all day long – which I thought I’d try again, but my wife quickly nixed that idea. Do you have memories of those not-so-good, good old days without air conditioning?

But we managed, didn’t we? Fortunately, these days there is air conditioning. Unfortunately, we are more susceptible to dehydration during these hot days because the percentage of a person’s weight in water significantly decreases as we get older. Consequently, any decrease in drinking fluids can cause proportionately more dehydration which can take a tremendous toll on every aspect of bodily functions, including possible changes in memory, vision, and kidney and heart function. (Okay, I’ll be back. I’m going to get a glass of water!)

Besides drinking plenty of liquids, preferably at least six cups throughout the day, stay cool. My house has only two window air conditioners so the house can get pretty warm. These last several days I’ve been using ice packs (or bag of frozen peas works well), cold water foot baths, and cold showers – plus plenty of fans.

As you hear on the news, heatwaves are dangerous. Thousands of emergency department visits are caused by heat illnesses and two of the most serious ones are heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention. Someone experiencing heat stroke may have a headache, confusion, no sweating, rapid heart rate, nausea or vomiting, and may lose consciousness.

If a heat stroke is suspected, it is vital to take the following steps: Call 911 immediately.

Move the person to a cooler place, use cold compresses to get their temperature down, and do NOT give them fluids.                                                                                                                                     

Unlike heat stroke, heat exhaustion does not require immediate medical attention. The early warning signs of heat exhaustion are nausea, light-headedness, fatigue, muscle cramping, and dizziness. It is imperative to recognize the warning signs and act on them as soon as possible to help get the temperature down and cool the person’s body. Those steps include moving the person to an air-conditioned place; having them take a cold shower or using cold compresses; drinking plenty of fluid, and removing tight or extra clothing.

You probably know all of this, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded because even with air conditioning during a prolonged heat wave with the hot days and nights that don’t cool off, homes can get dangerously warm. Stay cool, stay hydrated (although I would NOT recommend six glasses of your favorite wine!) And don’t forget to take time to check on your neighbors to make sure they can handle the heat.

Next week I’ll write more about dementia and how to keep your brain sharp.

The name of the original 1965 award-winning Broadway musical Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes and his 17th-century novel Don Quixote was Man of La Mancha. I received correct answers from Doug Nelson, Gene Uczen, Lana Tepfer, John McGuinn, Dave Lutgens, Diana Weston, Barbara Cadwell, and Deloris Schrader this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And last week I missed a bunch: Patty Burnet, Pat Evenson-Brady, Billie Maxwell, Keith Clymer, Gene Uczen, and Lana Tepfer.

This week’s question is about fine literature: a novel written not by Hemingway or Steinbeck, but Grace Metalious which was on the New York Times bestseller list for 59 weeks. For this week’s “Remember When” question what was the title of her novel published in 1956 that followed the lives of three women in a small New England village and became a popular expression describing a place where the residents hold seamy sordid secrets E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a DVD of the 1964 primetime television adaption of the book.

Well, it’s been another week enjoying cold showers and popsicles. Until we meet again, when does something misplaced become lost?

“I’m glad it is finally hot enough to complain about how hot it is!” Unknown

 At our age, it‘s common to worry when you can’t remember a name, or you can’t find that word on the tip of your tongue. When that happens, I often ask myself, “Is this normal for my age? Or am I in the early stages of dementia?” And then the more I worry, the more I seem to forget! 

I’m confused. Most of you are reading this column on the 16^th, but I’ve been writing it since I finished my last column because my wife and I are driving to California for my son’s college graduation on Saturday. But as I’m writing this, that will be this coming Saturday – but for you, it was last Saturday! I feel as if I’m in an HG Wells time machine, not knowing which week I’m in, mine or yours!

I need to start writing early because I don’t have that newspaper reporter talent of writing clearly on a short deadline. It takes me a while to be coherent. And although I do have several ideas cooking, I have nothing ready to pull out of the oven.

So what can I write about on such a short timeline? I usually try to include a few thoughts about aging, provide an encouraging word or two, and offer a few bad jokes. (I think they’re funny!) But now since you’re waiting and the main course isn’t ready, how about a little dessert instead, something more sugar than substance:  a trip down memory lane of expressions we seldom hear anymore. (I once thought it would be fun to start using the word “groovy” as in the hit song titles “A Groovy Kind of Love” or “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)”. Remember those? But after five minutes of questioning stares as in “What DeLorean time machine did you step out of?” I realized “groovy” doesn’t quite have the same appeal it once had.

So get out your paper and your Sheaffer pen. It’s 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, as with certain smells and tastes, can bring back forgotten memories – those pre-teen years when the opposite sex was just a distraction, or conversations on the playground during recess, or just silly adolescent pranks. So, give it your best shot. And for your immediate gratification, the answers will be included below.

1. What were “cooties”? a) Tiny cookies, b) Earrings, 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) Haircut, 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) Hairstyles. 

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.)

The secret Jim Lowe was looking for when he sang “Midnight, one more night without sleeping, watching till the morning comes creeping” was what was behind the Green Door. (Next week I’ll also mention those who responded to last week’s question.)

Growing up in Indiana during the early ’60s, I dreamed of “getting around” with a surfboard strapped to the top of a “woodie” wagon (even though I was 2000 miles from a California beach!) inspired by the music of this band.  For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the five-member band known for their vocal harmonies and musical ingenuity, and epitomized the “California Sound”. E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with the album “Pet Sounds” one of the most critically acclaimed and influential albums of all time.

Well, it has been another week cautiously looking behind the curtain. Until we meet again, perception is everything.

“People who throw kisses are hopelessly lazy.” – Bob Hope

Answers: d,c,b,c,c,c,d,c,b,a

Now that you are retired have you thought about working part-time? No, hold on. I know what you may be thinking, “Are you nuts! I’m already working part–time: taking care of my garden, watching my grandkids, and volunteering. I don’t have time for a part-time gig! 

How many drug ads can you tolerate during the evening news? Boniva, Celebrex, Fosamax, Lunesta, Nexium, Paxil, Eliquis – all describing how they will improve your health and well-being. And hidden at the end are the possible side effects: nausea and diarrhea; incontinence and constipation, sleeplessness and drowsiness; bad dreams and bad luck. But what do you really know about these wonder drugs?

Before you take any medication be a smart consumer and educate yourself first. Check out the website MedlinePlus hosted by the National Library of Medicine where you can find trusted health related information. But the best option is to ask your primary care provider, dentist, or pharmacist, so you can get the most benefit and prevent dangerous drug interactions.

But what should you ask? Here are ten questions from “Educate before you Medicate” created by the Medication Safety Project.

1) What is the name of the medication and what is it supposed to do? Basic stuff but often overlooked.

2) When and how do I take it? Make sure you understand the instructions.

3) How long do I take the medicine? Always finish your medicines unless otherwise advised by your healthcare provider.

4) Does this medicine contain anything that can cause an allergic reaction? Don’t forget to describe any pass reactions you have had to medications.

5) Should I avoid alcohol, any other medicines, foods and/or activities? You don’t want any unexpected reactions.

6) Should I expect any side effects from this medicine? Also find out who you should call if you experience any of the symptoms or have questions.

7) What if I forget to take my medicine? For some medicines missing even one day can be important. And never double your medication without consulting your healthcare provider.

8) Is there a generic version of this medicine that can be prescribed? A way to save money when the cost of prescription drugs can be prohibitive.

9) How should I store the medicine? Always keep medicines away from heat, light and moisture.

10) Is it safe to become pregnant or breast feed while taking this medicine? Probably not a problem for anyone reading this column!

No drug is without risk. It is always a balance between the benefits and the side effects. But it is your body, so do not hesitate to learn more about the medications you are taking.

Now how do you pay for these medications? Well, it’s complicated, as Sue Ann Arguelles points out in this month’s “Through the Eyes of an Elder.” Sue Ann is the area coordinator for the SHIBA program in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam County that provides free Medicare counseling by trained volunteer counselors. For your Medicare questions call 541 288-8341.

The name of the comedian, singer, and pianist who frequently interrupted his performance with the line, “STOP–da music, everybody!” and invariably ended his show with “Good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are.” was Jimmy Durante – the Great Schnozzola. (For those who are wondering, the best guess is “Mrs. Calabash” was his late wife Jeanne Olson.)

I received correct answers from Susan Elllis, Clare Zumwalt, Gene Uczen, Rhonda Spies, Mike Carrico, Lana Tepfer, Kim Birge, Dave Lutgens, Tina Castanares, Jim Stager, Doug Nelson, Tiiu Vahtel, Margo Dameier, and Kathy Vukelich this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And I’ve missed Steve Nybroten.

Actor Jim Backus is probably best known for playing Thurston Howell III on the 1960s sitcom Gilligan’s Island,but he was also the voice of a popular cartoon character. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the wealthy, short-statured cartoon character who gets into a series of comical situations because of his extreme near-sightedness and made worse by his stubborn refusal to admit the problem. E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a picture of W. C. Fields one of the inspirations for the character.

Well, it has been another week living in the now because I can’t remember the past and the future is too far away. Until we meet again, I’ve found if my wife asks if I could take out the trash, she is just giving me the illusion I have a choice.

“When we age, we shed many skins: ego, arrogance, dominance, pessimism, rudeness, selfish, uncaring … Wow, it’s good to be old!” – Stephen Richards

It is 3:15 on a Sunday afternoon. And as I am writing, my eyelids are slowly, unwillingly closing; my fingers are losing consciousness – typing a row of ZZZZZZZZZZZZ’s – and I know, from these telltale signs, it must be time for a nap.

But don’t think I am just another old codger who needs his afternoon nap. Napping has taken on added significance in this fast-paced world – a new way to increase employee productiveness where companies including Apple and Google are allowing employees to take naps on the job. Research has shown a nap can boost the brain’s learning capacity, improve memory, increase creativity, and is more effective than caffeine. And even a short nap can have a marked effect on your health.

The article “The Science of the Perfect Nap” that I discovered on the website Lifehacker, offers several suggestions on how to take the perfect nap. I’ll try to share it with you – before I fall asleep.

1. Watch the time. Twenty-minute naps work well. 2. Find a quiet and dark space. (Unfortunately, during my college days, the library was quiet and dark, and I often slept there more than I studied.) 3. Lie down. It takes significantly more time to fall asleep while sitting. 4. Get in your napping zone. Concentrate on your breathing, relax your muscles, and use visualization techniques. 5. Plan naps into your day. Take a nap before you get to the dangerous point of drowsiness. 6. Set an alarm. You don’t want to sleep longer than you desire.

Naps are natural and beneficial. And even the younger generations are now learning about the advantages of naps – reaping the benefits of improved productivity, energy, and mental capacity. So no longer think of napping as an essential guilty pleasure. Napping is a good thing – and at any age.

Now that you have taken your nap and your brain is refreshed, see how quick you are to solve these two riddles that stumped me the first time I heard them. 1.) There are six eggs in the basket. Six people each take one of the eggs. How can it be that one egg is left in the basket? 2.) You are driving a bus. The bus is empty when you begin your route. At the first stop, four people get on. At the second stop, eight people get on and 2 get off. At the third stop, 3 people get off and 4 get on. What color are the bus driver’s eyes?

The vaudevillian comedian who was known for his running gags that included his age (always 39!) and his cheapskate image was Jack Benny. I received correct answers from Jim Ayers, Emmett Sampson, Susan Ellis, Chuck Rice, Steven Woolpert, Lucile Stephens, Barbara Cadwell, Lana Tepfer, Tina Castanares, Gene Uczen, Kim Birge, Dave Lutgens, Margo Dameier, Ricki Duckwall, Linda Frizzell, Doug Nelson, Mike Yarnell, Keith Clymer, and Nona Moore this week’s winner of a free quilt raffle ticket. And as always, last week I missed somebody or should I say somebodies: Susan Ellis, Trudy Katona, and Samantha and Jeff Irwin.

One more question about a vaudevillian performer who successfully transitioned to television. He may not be as iconic as Bob Hope, Jack Benny or George Burns and Gracie Allen, but he was a popular guest on many radio and television shows and hosted his own show from 1954 through 1956. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the comedian, singer, and pianist who frequently interrupted his performance with the line, “STOP–da music, everybody!” and invariably ended his show with “Good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are.” E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a recording of the 1933 song “Inka Dinka Doo”.

The answers to the two riddles are: 1.) The last person took the basket with an egg in it. 2.) You are driving the bus, so what color are your eyes?

Well, it has been another week riding shotgun in the 56’ Chevy of life. Until we meet again, keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, and don’t take your foot off the peddle.

“How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.” Abraham Lincoln

Often as we age, we settle into our familiar routines. They are comforting and provide a sense of control: we don’t have to think, it’s automatic. 

During the last fourteen months, you may have become comfortable with the new routines you have established. And now as the Gorge begins to open up, you find the need to change your routines once again; going back to what you once did or creating new routines: a mix of the old and the new. 

Changing routines may be uncomfortable, but it can also be beneficial. Since routines are automatic, they require little mental effort which doesn’t increase the cognitive activity that helps strengthen your brain. 

There is a growing body of scientific evidence suggesting that by engaging in new and novel activities that do not depend on automatic processing, we can maintain or even improve our cognitive health. The key is to seek activities requiring cognitive effort where you actively focus; giving enough attention to a task to successfully complete it.

Instead of engaging in a passive activity such as watching TV, try learning something new: a new foreign language, Tai Chi, or join a book club. Or better yet, switch from Microsoft operating system to Google which I guarantee will challenge your brain – but also send you to an early grave!

You can also change the way you do simple daily tasks: drive home a different way while observing your new surroundings or learn to eat with chopsticks and then change hands. Very few activities maintain their novelty for long, so we must constantly pursue new opportunities to challenge our brains. In the simplest terms, you either use it or lose it.

Routines do provide a tremendous benefit in our daily lives. They can literally be lifesavers such as making sure you take all your medications. While others can be routines of convenience: parking in a regular spot at the grocery store so when you leave the store, you don’t have to look everywhere for your car! It works for me. But it is also important to move beyond the automatic and try new challenges for your brain health. 

So, take this brain challenge. See if you can remember my favorite “foreign” language when I was in grade school – Pig Latin. And using your Pig Latin reading skills, translate this Phyliss Diller (yllisPhay illerDay) quote. “enWhay youyay ayplay inspay ethay ottlebay, ifyay eythay onday’tay antway otay isskay youyay eythay avehay otay ivegay youyay ayay uarterqay. ellWay, ellhay, ybay ethay imetay Iyay asway elvetway yearsyay oldyay Iyay ownedyay ymay ownyay omehay.” 

It’s hard to stay up with youth culture, but when I read that the popular English singer, songwriter, and actor, Harry Styles was promoting men wearing handbags, I thought to myself, “Now I know how my father felt when I started letting my hair grow long! It’s just not right!”

The television series that aired from 1977 to 1984 where Mr. Roarke’s assistant Tattoo would yell “Ze plane! Ze plane!” was Fantasy Island – which reminded Eileen White of a corny joke from the ’70s. “What kind of M & M’s did Hervé Villechaize like best? Answer: de Plain! de Plain!” Okay, Eileen did say it was corny! 

I received correct answers from Eileen White, Gene Uczen, Barbara Cadwell, Keith Clymer, Kim Birge, Dave Lutgens, Lana Tepfer, Margo Dameier, and Beverly Thomas who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And last week I missed Keith Clymer, Margo Dameier, and Linda Johnston.

This is an easy one, but I hope brings back some wonderful memories. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what vaudevillian comedian starred on his own radio and television shows from 1932 to 1965 and was known for his running gags that included his age (always 39!), baby blue eyes, and his cheapskate image? E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a 1729 Stradivarius violin. 

Well, it’s been another week, trying to make the world a little bit better in those small and personal ways. Until we meet again, if you see me wearing a mask, it isn’t because I haven’t been vaccinated, I just didn’t want to shave this week!

“Growth in old age requires the curiosity of a five-year-old and the confidence of a teenager”. Jan Chittister author of “The Gift of Years”

My daughter, an introvert, finds living in our extrovert world uncomfortable: social gatherings, networking, meet and greets. But during these months of social limitations, she’s told me, with a smirk on her face, “Now the extroverts have to live in my introvert world!” 

Who wants to talk about feet? That is the part of my body I don’t want anyone to see! (Actually, there are many other parts of my body I want to hide, but my feet rank near the top.) But taking care of your feet is important. According to the US National Center for Health Statistics, impairment of the lower extremities is a leading cause of activity limitation in older people.

The human foot has been called the “mirror of health” because you can find signs of diabetes, arthritis, and circulatory disease which are more common in older adults. If you find in your feet dry skin, brittle nails, burning and tingling sensations, feelings of cold, numbness, and discoloration you should talk to your primary care provider. Pain in your feet is never “normal” and is often easily treatable.

To avoid foot problems, clean and inspect your feet daily. Are there unusual changes in color, cuts or strange bruises, nail distortions, and odd bumps? Also, wash your lower limbs with warm water and soap, then pat them dry. If you struggle with dry skin as I do, apply moisturizer except between the toes. Keep your nails clipped straight across and not too long.

Make sure your shoes fit correctly. Footwear that is too narrow, too tight, or not supportive enough can contribute to lower limb pain. You need shoes that don’t rub against your skin or squeeze your toes. Choose models that have wide toe boxes, arch support, and sufficient cushioning.

Our feet are the tires of our body and although the tread is worn, we need to care for them so we can maintain our mobility and keep moving for many more miles.

Let me get on my creaky soapbox one last time about vaccines. If we’re going to stop the pandemic and get back to “the way it was”, it’s going to depend on us. Only we can stop the pandemic – not the government. You just can’t pass a law to keep the virus out.

So, we should encourage, not tell, our friends to get vaccinated. According to the vast majority of the medical community, the vaccines are safe – but not 100% safe. As older adults, we know there are no vaccines or medications that are 100% safe. I take a blood thinner that reduces the chance of a stroke but increases the chance of internal bleeding and I have chosen to take it because the benefits outweigh the risks.

Before I step off my soapbox, I want to share one story. When I was ten, I remember being told if you don’t know whether something is right or wrong, ask yourself what if everyone did it. Lying. What if everyone lied? Stealing. What if everyone stole? So, what about the vaccine? What would happen if everyone decided not to get vaccinated? Granted, this test of right and wrong may be too simplistic, but I believe it holds some truth. And let me tell you, it worked for a 10-year-old! 

 “Through the Eyes of an Elder” shares informative, touching, and inspiring stories from “elders” in our communities. This month Paul Woolery shares what he has learned from poetry including a wonderful collage of his poems. I think you’ll find something that speaks to you.

The cigarette brand with the tagline “You’ve come a long way, baby” seen in the last cigarette ad on television was Virginia Slims. I received correct answers from Steven Woolpert, Susan Ellis, Chuck Rice, Tina Castanares, Katherine Schlick Noe, Barbara Cadwell, Lana Tepfer, Patty Burnet, Cindy Winfield, Gene Uczen, Linda Frizzell, Pat Evenson-Brady, Rhonda Spies, Rose Schulz, and Marlene and Keith Clymer this week’s winners of a quilt raffle ticket.

In 1961 Walt Disney produced the comedy film The Absent-Minded Professor (who was one of my role models!) starring Fred MacMurray as Professor Ned Brainard. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the substance Professor Brainard discovered? E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a picture of a flying Model T.

Well, it has been another week enjoying the great outdoors. Until we meet again, as our parents told us before crossing the street, “Stop, look and listen”.

“I’ve always had a duck personality. Calm above water, feet going crazy below.” K. Flay – musician