Author Archives: mcseniorcenter

Aging Well in the Gorge July 28th 2020

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I never thought cognitive tests would be such a headline story, but here we are. One benefit though is this interest can encourage us to think more about what we can do to keep our brain healthy and strong as we age.
There are five basic things you can do for brain health. Exercise daily – even 15 to 20 minutes a day can make a difference. Eat well – avoid Adeline Knorr’s five S’s: Sugar, Salt, Seconds, Soda and Shortening.” Sleep well – seven to nine hours a night is best.
Minimize stress – learn ways to cope with anxiety or tension. Stay socially connected – especially during this pandemic. And stimulate your brain – learn something new: a hobby, language, or card game.
You can also try these nine Neurobic exercises. Neurobic exercises shake up the “same old same old” by making you perform tasks that have been, essentially, automated by your brain. If you interested in learning more about Neurobic exercises plus the scientific rationale, google “Weird Brain Exercises That Help You Get Smarter” by Lawrence C. Katz, PhD, and Manning Rubin.
1.) Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand – the hand you wouldn’t normally use. Or you can practice writing with your non-dominant hand. If you’re like me, it can’t look much worse than your normal handwriting.
2.) Shower with your eyes closed. Use your tactile senses to adjust the temperature by locating the taps solely by feel. Then wash with your eyes shut. But use common sense to avoid injury.
3.) Switch around your morning activities. Get dressed after breakfast or walk the dog on a new route. But make sure you get dressed before you walk the dog!
4.) Turn familiar objects upside down (literally). Turn pictures of your family, your desk clock or calendar upside down. But explain yourself. You don’t want folks to think you’re nuts.
5.) Switch seats at the table – if your spouse will allow it. Switching seat changes your view of the room and even how you reach for the salt and pepper.
6.) Make a new connection with your nose. Keep an extract of your favorite scent near your bed for a week. Smell it when you first wake up, and then again as you bathe and dress.
7.) Open the car window. Remember when there was no air conditioning and as you drove down the road you’d feel the fresh air blowing in your face? Roll down the window again and try to identify new smells and sounds on your drive.
8.) Play with spare change. Place a bunch of coins in your pocket during a walk and identify them when you stop at a corner. But don’t forget to cross.
9.) Play “10 Things”. Choose an ordinary object and demonstrate 10 different “things” the object might be. If you get stuck imagine yourself as a child.
These Neurobic exercises will challenge your brain to prevent memory loss and sharpen your mind. If you want to learn more about brain health visit the AARP Staying Sharp website where you‘ll find a brain health assessment plus articles, games and recipes to help keep your brain fit.
The name of the voice actor responsible for most of the Looney Tunes characters was Mel Blanc who changed the spelling of his name when he was 16, from “Blank” to “Blanc”, because a teacher told him he would amount to nothing and be like his name, a “blank”. I received correct answers from Steven Woolpert, Clair Zumwalt, Carol Earl, Lana Tepfer, Jerry Phillips, Dave Lutgens, Barbara Cadwell, Kim Birge, Jim Tindall and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket, Joan Silver whose husband was a distant cousin of Mel Blanc.
“Well here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into!” was the catchphrase used by the comedy duo that was well known during the 30’s and 40’s for their slapstick comedy. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was their names? And for bonus points which one was always getting into a nice mess? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with a membership to the “The Sons of the Desert” society.
Well, it’s been another week, looking for the blind curves down the road. Until we meet again, as it’s often said, “If you expect everything to remain the same, you will be sorely disappointed.
“In show business, the key word is honesty. Once you’ve learned to fake that, the rest is easy.” George Burns
The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels daily menus. If you would like to pick up a meal at noon, call 541-298-8333 before 10:00.
Thursday (30) Oven Baked Chicken
Friday (31) Turkey and Dressing with Gravy
Monday (3) Lip-smacking good!
Tuesday (4) Scrumptiously delectable!
Wednesday (5) Mouthwatering tasty!

Aging Well in the Gorge July 22nd 2020

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Do you have to write notes for details you know you are going to forget? Or put a package by the door to remind yourself to take it with you? Or have a pill box so you know you’ve taken your medications – which I’ve found doesn’t always help? And now you’re afraid to mention your forgetfulness to your health care provider because she may say you have early stage dementia – and your life will be over! Or is that just me?
For 31% of older adults, dementia is their number one fear. But if you are concerned about your memory loss, talk to your doctor because there are many causes besides dementia: a new prescription, a urinary tract infection, or depression. But if you are diagnosed with early stage dementia, it is not the end of the world because there are things you can do. (Even if you’re just forgetful from time to time, keep reading. These suggestions are good for anyone.)
Remember you are still you! Even though you may have problems with memory, concentration and planning, enjoy the things you can still do.
Stay socially active. Keep in touch with others and engage in social activities with friends which is good for your confidence and mental wellbeing. Join a local dementia-friendly support group, (when they can start meeting again) where you can share experiences and learn tips from others who are living with dementia.
Look after your health – both physical and mental health. You know the routine: eat healthy, drink plenty of fluids, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. But also schedule regular dental, vison, and hearing check-ups; and if you feel depressed, which is common with dementia, talk to your health care provider.
Learn ways to cope. Have a regular routine, schedule activities for when you feel better (mornings? afternoons?), put your keys in a regular spot, keep a list of helpful numbers by the phone, use a pill box, and put your regular bills in one place so you don’t forget to pay them. (Thanks goodness my wife pays our bills!)
Plan for the future. You may be able to live at home, continuing to enjoy doing the things you have always done. But there will be a time when you may need additional support with daily activities.
Tell people about your dementia – when you are ready. You may be afraid of how they will react. But by example, you can help people be aware of and understand dementia, so that you and others with dementia can continue to live in the way you want and in the community you choose.
If you are ever diagnosed with dementia don’t let it keep you from enjoying the rest of your life. Everyone experiences dementia differently and with the right help and support many people can, and do, live well with dementia for many years. To learn more, the Oregon Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association Is a valuable resource.
Also from a local perspective, in this paper’s August installment of “Through the Eyes of an Elder”, Britta Willson, manager of Providence Hood River’s Volunteers in Action and a trained gerontologist, will share her thoughts and those of others about “Dementia-Friendly” communities.
The name of the animated comedy series that brought us Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig was Looney Tunes. I received correct answers from Jim Donnelly, Lana Tepfer, Mike Ballinger, Tiiu Vahtel, Julie Carter, Sally Crisp, and Molly Fauth – this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And Dave Lutgens reminded me that I forgot to mention him last week. I knew there was someone!
We all remember Bugs Bunny’s, “What’s up Doc?” or Porky Pig’s “That’s all Folks!”. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the voice actor, responsible for most of the Looney Tunes characters, who attended Lincoln High School in Portland before beginning his career at the age of 19 in 1927 on KGW and then working for KEX in 1933? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it on the back of a blank sheet of paper.
Well, it’s been another week, missing the hugs and handshakes. Until we meet again, as Bugs Bunny once said, “Don’t take life too seriously. You’ll never get out alive!”
“I think there’s so much good in the worst of us, and so many of the worst of us get the best of us, that the rest of us aren’t even worth talking about.” Gracie Allen

Aging Well in the Gorge July 15th 2020

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If you’re like me, you’re finally getting use to wearing a face mask whenever you go out in public. But this is The Dalles and you know during the rest of July and August there will be many hot over ninety-degree days. But it’s a dry heat, right?
You may already struggle with foggy glasses and chafed ears but now with the heat there is the potential for hot and sweaty face masks. So, what do you do? Andy Markowitz in his June 25th AARP article “Sweaty Face Mask? 5 Tips to Keep Cool While Covered Up” offers suggestion of how to stay comfortable wearing your face mask – while protecting others.
1. Choose the right fabric. A light, breathable material like cotton will likely keep your face cooler than medical and N95 masks made from synthetic materials. A two-layer cotton mask comes close to matching a surgical mask’s efficiency in stopping potentially infectious droplets from coughs and sneezes. Lighter, softer cotton coverings can also help you avoid chafing, heat rash or inflaming a skin condition. Take the time to feel the material against your skin so it feels good as well as looks good.
2. Keep it dry. Cotton traps less air and moisture than standard medical and industrial masks, and it’s more absorbent. But if it gets damp due to breathing and sweating, it can be less effective in filtering respiratory particles, as well as being uncomfortable and abrasive to your skin.
3. Time trips to beat the heat. In The Dalles who doesn’t – unless you’re headed to the river! You can also use an umbrella to shade yourself on sunny days.
4. Skip the makeup. Because sweat cannot evaporate with a mask on, perspiration mixed with makeup or oily skin care products can clog the pores and contribute to what has been dubbed “maskne,” a combination of mask and acne. But creams with dimethicone are a good moisturizer and creates a protection between your skin and the mask.
5. Bring a spare. If your mask does get damp and dirty, switch it with another. But try to follow the CDC recommendations when changing masks.
To keep the coronavirus from spreading, wearing a mask is small price to pay. And fortunately, in the summer we don’t have many sticky high humidity days. But when we do, we want our mask to be an effective barrier – and also comfortable.
I have been told that talking about dying won’t kill you – and can actually be life-affirming. You can join a conversation about death and dying at a Death Café where people come together to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 it will be held through ZOOM and not in person. (Sorry, no cake this time.)
The objective of a Death Café is “to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives”. It is a group directed discussion of death in a relaxed and safe environment with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is not a grief support or counselling session.
You can join the conversation on the last Wednesday of every month from 7:00 – 8:30 starting July 29th. Registration will be limited to 10 people. Email  brittany.willson@providence to register. The Death Café is offered to the community by Providence Volunteers In Action and AgePlus Circles of Care.
The first Beatles motion picture, a 1964 musical comedy directed by Richard Lester, was A Hard Day’s Night. I received correct answers from Jess Birge, Barbara Cadwell, Rhonda Spies and I have a nagging feeling I am missing someone – or was that a feeling from last week? Well, anyway this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket is Jerry Phillips.
Warner Bros. produced an animated comedy series from 1930 to 1969 during the golden age of American animation. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this animated series that brought us Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Tweety and Sylvester, and the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote. Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with the Academy Award winning animated short “For Scent-imental Reasons” starring Pepe Le Pew.
Well, it’s been another week, learning to smile with my eyes. Until we meet again, don’t jump to conclusions because you might not make it to the other side.
“It’s no longer a question of staying healthy. It’s a question of finding a sickness you like.” Jackie Wilson

Aging Well in the Gorge July 8th 2020

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Raise your hand if you have completed the 2020 Census? Good. Now, how many of you have forgotten about the 2020 Census because of COVID-19? If you are in the latter group, you have plenty of company. So far Oregon Gorge counties have a self-response rate significantly below Oregon’s average of 64.2%.
But you still have time to respond – before someone comes knocking on your door.
The Census questionnaires were mailed back in April. If you haven’t responded yet – and can still find it among all your papers on the dining room table – please complete the questionnaire and mail it back. You can also complete the online questionnaire at www.my2020census. Or if you prefer, you can call 844-330-2020 and complete the questionnaire by phone.
Even though the collection process has been interrupted due to COVID-19, the U.S. Census Bureau has announced it is now on track to conduct multiple follow-up activities over the next several months aimed at ensuring a complete and accurate count. Starting in mid-July, the Census Bureau will begin interviewing households that have yet to respond to the 2020 Census. All census takers will be trained on social distancing protocols and will be issued personal protective equipment (PPE).
If you have already completed the 2020 census questionnaire, there is a chance you may receive a follow-up call to validate the information you provided when you completed the census questionnaire.
The Census is constitutionally mandated to count every person living in the United States to determine representation in Congress. But over the years, more questions have been added to help determine how to allocate hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding for critical programs and services; as well as helping lawmakers, business owners, and many others to make critical decisions.
You can help shape the future of your communities by responding today.
Now that July 4th has flown by, we know there are many ninety-degree days ahead. And during those hot days of summer, don’t forget to stay hydrated. As we age, our bodies change (which I am reminded often) becoming less sensitive to heat and the feeling of thirst, making all of us more vulnerable to summer’s heat and humidity. In addition, certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, and medications commonly taken by older adults —water pills, allergy and sinus medications, and antidepressants—further increase the risk.
But according to The American Geriatrics Society’s Foundation for Health in Aging (FHIA), there are precautions we can take to prevent the harmful effects of dehydration. There are the obvious – but often ignored: turn on the air conditioner or go somewhere with air conditioning; when outdoors wear a hat and lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing; use SPF 30 or higher sunscreen; avoid strenuous activity; and my favorite – take a cool shower or bath.  
But what you may not know is that more frequent drinking of smaller quantities is better than less frequent drinking of larger quantities. (If you aren’t sure if you are drinking enough fluids – how should I say this politely? – check your urine. If it is the color of lemonade that’s good. If it is the color of apple cider you may need to drink more liquids.) And if you’re worried about the heat, have someone check on you once or twice a day during the heat waves.
This television sitcom that ran from 1972 through 1977 and starred comedian Red Foxx was Sanford and Son. I received correct answers from Jim and Sue Donnelly, Jess Birge (who noted that Redd Foxx’s given name was John Sanford), Lana Tepfer, Rhonda Spies, Dave Lutgens, Jerry Phillips, Barbara Cadwell and Susan Ronning this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
Between 1964 and 1970, the Beatles appeared in five major motion pictures, beginning with this 1964 musical comedy directed by Richard Lester during the height of Beatlemania. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of their first film described as “comic fantasia with music; an enormous commercial success with the director trying every cinematic gag in the book”? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with a DVD of their last film Let It Be (1970).
Well, it’s been another week, wondering “have I written about that before?” Until we meet again, take time to celebrate – even the small things.
“I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes.” Sara Teasdale, American poet

Aging Well in the Gorge July 1st 2020

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“What gives my life meaning and purpose?” or more simply “Why am I here?” are questions we ask ourselves as we age.
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We learned from The Dalles Blue Zones project that people who know their life purpose live longer, better lives. But finding your purpose is easier when you have your whole life in front of you. But what if you figure you have maybe fifteen, ten or five more years left. How do we find meaning and purpose, so when the going gets tough we keep going?
“Finding Meaning and Purpose in Old Age” by Ana Cocarla addresses how we as older adults can find and maintain our sense of meaning and purpose, because as she points out older adults are happier, but there are two things that tend to decrease as we age. You guessed it, a sense of meaning and purpose.
Meaning and purpose are not the same. Meaning is related to the significance of our lives; and our purpose reflects our goals and having something to live for. For example, loving your children gives meaning to your life, while your purpose might be raising them to reach their full potential.
There are several reasons why the sense of meaning and purpose can often be lost or more difficult to attain: the “empty nest” syndrome – now that the children have left home, the meaning and purpose they provided is difficult to replace; we have accomplished our life goals and feel it’s too late to set new ones; we may not have the energy we once had; or we have a illness or disability so we no longer can do those things we loved.
But you can still find meaning and purpose. It may just happen: having to care for a loved one. But more often you have to create opportunities in order to feel purposeful.
To find meaning and purpose, attitude makes a tremendous difference: focusing on the positive aspects of life; learning to accept others as they are; and finding ways to grow, learn and adapt. You can also try the following. Practice being present in the moment. Create new routines that are more fulfilling. Try things you’ve always wanted to do. Find ways to support your grandkids – because you know their parents need all the help they can get! Look for or create opportunities to contribute. Adopt a pet or take care of your garden. Travel if your situation allows. And study and practice your faith which can be a key source of meaning and purpose in your life.
In the years we have left, we all have something to offer. And in our own way, each of us can find the answer to the question, “Why am I here?”.
The name of the music historian who hosted his own radio program that played novelty songs by Spike Jones, Stan Freberg and of course Weird Al Yankovic was Dr. Demento. I received correct answers from Barbara Cadwell; Kenny Olsson who corresponded with him for a short time and found him to be one of the nicest people in show business; and Jonathan Carr who when as a freshman at Reed College in 1962, attended a keg party (remember those?) where Barry Hansen (Dr. Demento) curated the playlist with his stacks of 45’s including “The Bird (is the Word)”. Because it was a difficult question, all three win a quilt raffle ticket.
This television sitcom ran from 1972 through 1977 and was NBC’s answer to All in the Family and starred comedian Red Foxx known for his raunchy nightclub acts during the 1950s and 1960s. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this sitcom? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with the album Funky Tales from a Dirty Old Junkman.
Before I go, here are the answers to last week’s brainteasers. I hope you enjoyed the challenge. 1) Both weigh a pound; 2) A dozen; 3) Only one; 4) All twelve months have 28 days; 5) Nine – each brother has the same sister; 6) 59 days; 7) ONE WORD; 8) Four – broke, fried, and ate the same two eggs.
Well, it’s been another week, trying to keep my head from blowing off. Until we meet again, I’ve recently learned one of the benefits of getting older is your children start buying you gifts!

 “Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” (Christopher Robin to Pooh – A.A.Milne)

Aging Well in the Gorge June 24th 2020

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You may be playing it safe staying home and caring for your garden or overdosing on TV and Netflix. But what are you doing for your brain health as we weather this pandemic?

According to the Virginia Spine Institute, there are five things you can do to maintain and maybe even improve your brain health – and what the heck, you have the time!

Try to Maintain a Daily Routine. Maintaining a routine can limit stress. And during this pandemic, it can be your chance to develop a new and healthier routine: healthy breakfast, morning walk, afternoon meal, and then some time with hobbies that keep your brain working. Habit is a great motivator.

Exercise. Exercise can help maintain our physical as well as our mental health. Take an early morning walk – before it gets too hot. Or start with some easy and simple exercises at home: three legs lifts and gradually build up to more. Something is better than nothing. And which is the best exercise? The one you enjoy doing.

Get in Touch with Your Creative Side. How about creating a collage from your family pictures? Knitting? Working in your shop? Or pull those dusty cookbooks off the shelf or check out OSU’s FOOD HERO website and experiment with the recipes. Can you really add spinach to a fruit smoothie – and it will still taste good?

Stay Socially Engaged. I enjoy video calls because I can see who I’m talking to. But there is nothing wrong with the old fashion way: picking up the phone and dialing – and you don’t have to look “presentable”!

Put Time into Hobbies that Stimulate your Brain. Finish that James Patterson novel, work on puzzles or play cards online with friends using various apps including Trickster. Or check out the puzzles and games online at Sharpbrains and AARP’s Staying Sharp.

Speaking of stimulating your grey cells, try these eight brainteasers/riddles that I have enjoyed. And trying to solve a brainteaser is just as good for your brain as finding the answer – although not as satisfying. (The answers are posted under the Tab “Brainteasers Answers”.

1. Which is heavier? A pound of feathers or a pound of rocks?

2. How many three cent stamps are in a dozen?

3. On my way to St. Ives, I met a man with seven wives. Each wife had seven sacks, each sack had seven cats, and each cat had seven kits. Kits, cats, sacks and wives.

How many were going to St. Ives?

4. In a year, there are 12 months. Seven months have 31 days. How many months have 28 days?

5. A family has two parents and six sons. Each of the sons has one sister. How many people are in the family?

6. The water level in a reservoir is low but doubles every day. It takes 60 days to fill the reservoir. How long does it take for the reservoir to become half full?

7. Rearrange the letters: “nor do we” to make one word?

8. I have six eggs. I break two, I fried two, and I ate two. How many eggs are left?

One of the most widely recognized tobacco advertising campaigns before they were banned on television and radio in 1971 was “WINSTON Tastes Good Like a Cigarette Should”. I received answers from Lucile Stephens, Sandy Haechrel, Deloris Schrader, Dave Lutgens, Tiiu Vahtel, Lana Tepfer, Jess Birge, Barbara Cadwell, and Tina Castanares who asked which cigarette was “a silly millimeter longer”? But this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket is Judith Morgan.  

 

While my wife and I were sitting around the breakfast table we thought of this radio show which had a cult following but I never listened to because, well let’s say, it was a little demented. The show played novelty songs from the likes of Spike Jones, Stan Freberg and of course Weird Al Yankovic whose career he helped launch. What was the name this trained music historian used when hosting the show? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with a picture of the 1963 graduating class from Reed College.

 

Well, it’s been another week, making lemonade. Until we meet again, there times you want to be special, but when you get back your chest x-ray it’s nice just to be normal.

 

“Trust that little voice in your head that says “Wouldn’t it be interesting if…” And then do it.” Duane Michals, Photographer

Aging Well in the Gorge June 17th 2020

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Remember when you were younger? You did some really stupid things – taking risks you would never contemplate today. Why did I climb that 30 ft ladder to work on the roof? Why did I hitchhike from Eugene to Los Angeles? Why did I feel I like I needed to eat the WHOLE pizza?
We know life is not without risks and during this pandemic we are constantly asking ourselves, “What level of risk am I willing to accept?” Do I venture out for groceries, to attend church, or fly out of state to attend a sister’s funeral? Those are tough decisions.
But the most difficult question is what level of risk are we going to accept as a community, state or nation so we can safely get back to work and our daily lives?
During this pandemic many have questioned the requirements that have been enacted placing millions of people on unemployment and curtailing many if not most of our usual activities. Why were all non-essential services shut down? Why did I have to stay home? Why did I have to pump my own gas? (Okay, that’s just my wife’s question!)
But consider what most of us do every day where we accept a level of risk so we can work, play and visit: driving.
Driving is a risky business – over 489 motorists died in Oregon last year. But to reduce the level of risk, Oregon has passed laws making driving safer: speed limits, stop signs, seat belts, and rules against driving while intoxicated. And when the risk is too high and the ability to respond is inadequate, every winter we know what happens. The roads are closed.
You may say the chances of dying from covid-19 are remote, but so is dying from a motor vehicle accident. Why? Because we accept and follow the safe driving practices so we can protect ourselves and others.
Just as Oregon works to make driving safer, during the pandemic Oregon has instituted measures based on the best science to reduce the risk of being infected, hospitalized or even dying from COVID-10: staying home, social distancing, wearing a mask and frequent hand washing.
So, what level of risk are we, as in all of us, going to accept knowing that ninety-three percent of all covid-19 deaths in Oregon have been adults sixty and older. Three hundred? Six hundred? One thousand? Or is one too many when it is a loved one,
On our highways we know that one irresponsible driver can harm anyone of us. And to feel safer, we follow the rules of the road and safe driving practices and hope everyone else does also. But do we feel the same about COVID-19 and follow the recommendations of our public health departments?
Life will never be without risk. Sadly, people will die. But what level should we accept so we can work, recreate and enjoy our lives? I don’t know. But we may soon find out.
Staying connected is essential for our health and well-being. Fortunately, today when we should be staying home as much as possible, we can connect by making video calls – although, granted, it isn’t the same as meeting in person. But how many older adults are interested? To gauge that interest, please complete a short Tech Survey on the Center’s Website. Or call the Center at 541-296-4788 and leave a message that you are interested. As long as there isn’t an effective vaccine or treatment, I think we’re in this for the long haul.
Back when the tobacco companies argued that cigarettes were safe, this tobacco advertising campaign was one of most widely recognized. For this “Remember When” question, what cigarette brand “tastes good like a cigarette should”? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with an explanation of the grammatical difference between “as” and “like”.
“Love means never having to say you’re sorry” was from Love Story the 1970 top-selling novel by Erick Segal that was adapted into the number one film in 1970 starring Ryan O’Neil and Ali MacGraw. I received correct answers from Carol Earl, Jess Birge, Rhonda Spies, Lana Tepfer, Julie Carter, Tina Castanares and Dave Lutgens this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And last week I missed Michael Carrico.
Well, it’s been another week, distracted by too many distractions. Until we meet again, reach out and call somebody. They’ll appreciate it.
“No one ever makes the same mistake twice. The first time it’s a mistake. Anytime after that, it’s a choice.” Mark Twain

Aging Well in the Gorge June 10th 2020

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While staying home you may have been spending time watching one of the educational cable channels to learn more about subjects you find interesting: History Channel, Animal Planet, Food Network or one of the Discovery Channels.
And you may have found there is more you would like to learn – and with today’s technology it’s only a click away. Using your computer, tablet or even your smartphone, you can go online and find instructional videos and academic courses on practically any topic you can think of – or don’t want to think of.
For example, how about learning to play Tiddlywinks? Yep, you can find that on Vimeo.
How to feed a wild bear? Yep, but bad idea. How to make up with your wife or worse, how to get her back? Yep, and good luck.  
But you may have more academic interests. Online you can take courses in anthropology, or cosmology. Or if you’re really nuts, that algebra class you failed in high school.
Online there are numerous sites offering a wide variety of courses taught by experts in their fields. Several of the best are:
Couresa which offers online classes such as the Science of Well-being, or Biohacking Your Brain’s Health which teaches you how to maximize your brain’s fitness through nutrition, exercise, meditation, and sleep.
EdX is another site that offers a variety of classes including Power and Responsibility: Doing Philosophy with Superheroes which is a SmithsonianX and Harvard Division of Continuing Education course. (So, that’s what they teach at Harvard!)
And on the website Udemy, you can learn how to hypnotize people while getting a crash course in the basics of hypnotherapy for only $12.99. Or even Animal Telepathicallywhere you can learn how to “use your natural intuition and psychic abilities to communicate with any species.” (As I said you can find anything online.)
But before you register for a course online, there are several things to consider.
First, you need to be self-motivated. There won’t be an instructor to hold you accountable and usually there isn’t a set time limit to complete the course. But if you choose a course that engages you, motivation shouldn’t be a problem.
Second, know your goals and stick to them. Why are you taking the class? Do you want to get a degree or certification (make sure the provider is accredited), or just to broaden your mind and use your time in a way you find engaging?
Third, don’t get tricked into paying for a course you don’t want. There are many sites where you can find courses for free, but some may attempt to sell you on obtaining a certification.
Regardless of where your interests lie, there is a wide selection of instructional videos and online courses to explore. And the nice thing? You don’t even have to leave your house.
Speaking of online classes, you can register for Strong in Life – a free Virtual Live class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. from June 2nd – August 6, 2020. The class offers an easy to follow routine designed to improve balance, strength and flexibility for adults 60 plus. Join by calling Providence Resource Line at 503-574-6595 or 1-800-562-8964 or go to  https://oregon.providence.org/our-services/s/strong-for-life-exercise-program/. You can also find a link on the Center’s website under virtual classes.
The names of two drive-in theaters in The Dalles were Starlite Drive-in located on the bluff at Columbia View Heights and The Dalles Drive-in r where Home Depot is now.  And according to the website Cinema Treasures there was a third: Motor Vu Drive-In. I received correct answers fromRuth Radcliffe, Jess Birge, Lana Tepfer, Julie Carter, Carol Earl and Lucile Stephens this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
I’ve been doing well not missing anyone lately (at least that I realize) but lately I’ve missed Julie Carter, Lana Tepfer, Barbara Cadwell and Lucile Stephens.
“Love means never having to say you’re sorry” was voted thirteenth most popular movie quote by the American Film Institute. For this week’s “Remember When” question from what 1970 top-selling novel by Erick Segal that was adapted into the top film in 1970, was this quote taken? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with a theatrical poster signed by Ryan O’Neil and Ali MacGraw.
Well, it’s been another week, trying to stay safe. Until we meet again, find time to do something you’ve never done before.
“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Amos 5:24

Aging Well in the Gorge June 3rd 2020

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Have you ever had one of those crystal ball experiences when you see a vision of your future to be? This COVID-19 pandemic has been my crystal ball.
Because of the pandemic my wife and I have been meeting virtually with our children every weekend. It is nice to see them and share what has happened during the week, how work and school are going – you know, the usual family stuff. But that is not the REAL reason they have been talking with us. It is to check to make sure we are following their orders for us to stay home and not venture out of the house: have everything delivered, but we remind them The Dalles is not Portland, and work from home. (Never let your boy grow up to be a doctoral student in biology. He knows waaaaay too much about viruses!)
When we raised our children, I didn’t think we were helicopter parents, but they have certainly become helicopter children during this pandemic! It’s as if I am the young boy in high school and they’re my parents asking me if I went out while they were gone. And I would have to – let’s say, bend the truth – by using the tricks I learned: not telling the whole truth. “No, I didn’t go to Fred Meyer today” – not mentioning I did twice last week. Or not answering the question directly.  “Don’t worry. We’re making sure we are safe by washing our hands and wearing our masks.”
Then at aarp.org I read, “Role Reversal During the Coronavirus” by Anne Field. She gives examples of herself and other older adults whose children are nagging them to stay home and I realized my wife and I aren’t the only ones!
Over the years, I’ve talked with many older adults particularly those in their 80’s about their children trying to control their lives. But for my wife and me the pandemic has accelerated that timeline where here we are in our early 70’s, at a time when we still consider ourselves fit and active, having our children telling us what we should do.
It is the age-old tension between safety and freedom. And now the roles have been reversed. We want our freedom and they want us to be safe because they love us.
I thought this might be the time to take a stand, show our independence, that we should be able to make our own mistakes, that we know what we are doing, and they should treat us as adults! (Wow, that takes me back to my high school days!) But we have decided to just nod our heads and tell them “Yes, we’ll do what you ask” and then live our lives as we want – but doing it safely. And hope the crystal ball isn’t showing us our future when we are older.
The cartoonist who in 1934 created the satirical comic strip Li’l Abner, featuring a fictional clan of impoverished hillbillies in Dogpatch, USA, was Alfred Gerald Caplin known to all of us as Al Capp. And many people also remembered Sadie Hawkins Day, a day when the girls asked the boys out (and the day I feared the most in high school because I might be asked to a dance – which fortunately rarely happened). I received correct answers fromSam Bilyeu, Jess Birge, Betsy Ayres, Jim Donnelly from Parkdale, Delores Schrader, Dave Lutgens, Rhonda Spies, Carol Earl and Marla Skroch this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
This will be the last “What use to beeeeeee there!” question. But even if you haven’t lived in The Dalles for thirty plus years, you probably still remember going to a drive-in movie theater – and maybe even going to do more than just watch the movie.
For this week’s “Remember When” question, what were the names of two drive-in theaters in The Dalles, one located on the bluff at Columbia View Heights and the other where Home Depot is now? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with the name of the third drive-in theater that was in The Dalles.
Well, it’s been another week, over too soon and too soon forgotten. Until we meet again, you know you’re past your prime when the reason for taking your wife out for a late night drive to a dark secluded spot is to – set up a brand new telescope!
“The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.” — Mark Twain

Aging Well in the Gorge May 27th 2020

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For the last eight weeks I’ve focused on COVID-19 related issues from how to receive your Economic Impact Payment (which most of you should have received by now) through coping with self-isolation to last week’s column about how to wear and care for your facemask.
So, I’d like to change the channel and share something totally unrelated: words we seldom use any more – well, at least by most people.  
Words such as thingamajig or whatchamacallit – which I often used when I forgot the name of something. (No one thought I was old because I couldn’t remember. I was only seventeen! But now because of my age, it’s a “senior moment”.)
And do you remember these words and expressions? Fat city, cruisin for a bruisin, wet rag, fink, out to lunch, give me the skinny, passion pit, made in the shade (which is different from today’s “throwing some shade” which I have no idea whether it is a complement or an insult!). Or how about discombobulated, nincompoop, whippersnapper, canoodle, poppycock, skedaddle, brouhaha, catawampus, persnickety. Or how about …
““Okay, McKay, I’ve heard enough! Change the channel back!”
I will next week. But hold on. I have a pop quiz for you (which was forwarded to me by someone, some time ago.)
So, get out your paper and pencil and see how many of the following ten words from “days gone by” you still remember.
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) 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.
I suspect you remembered most of them if not all. (If you are unsure, I have posted the answers on the Center’s website.) But words, as with smells and tastes, can bring back special memories – memories of those pre-teen years when the opposite sex was just a distraction, of conversations on the playground during recess or just silly adolescent pranks. How about you? Did any of these words trigger lost memories?
The actor who played the “Man with No Name” in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly was Clint Eastwood. I received correct answers from Sam Bilyeu, Jess Birge, Diana Weston, Lana Tepfer, Rhonda Spies, Judy Skelton and Felton Jenkins from White Salmon, who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
I’ve been told that week’s question was too easy, but I hope this week’s is a little more challenging.  
I remember reading my favorite newspaper comic strips every day and especially on Sundays when they were larger and printed in color. One of the most popular was Li’l Abner a satirical comic strip featuring a fictional clan of hillbillies in the impoverished mountain village of Dogpatch, USA. The strip was even censored in 1947 by the Scripps newspaper company because they thought it wasn’t “sound citizenship to picture the Senate as an assemblage of freaks and crooks… boobs and undesirables.”
For this week’s “Remember When” question, who created this comic strip that entertained many and irritated a few? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with an explanation of Sadie Hawkins day which many of you may have celebrated in the 50’s and 60’s.  
Well, it’s been another week, remembering the past and looking to the future. Until we meet again, you know you are living the good life when you can enjoy a thrilling television mystery for the second time, and you are still surprised by the ending!
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, look to tomorrow, rest this afternoon.” Charles Schultz

Answers:

1. What were “cooties”? d) Imaginary infestations. 2. If a woman was “stacked”, what did she have? c) Large breasts. 3. What was a “flattop”? b) Haircut. 4. If a girl had a reputation as “fast”, what was she? c) Sexually active. 5. What were “dibs”? c) Claims. 6. What was a “spaz”? c) Uncoordinated person. 7. What was a “blast”? d) A good time. 8. What were you if you had a lot of “bread”? c) Rich. 9. If a person were to “go ape”, what would they do? b) Become angry. 10. What was a “pad”? a) Residence.