Author Archives: mcseniorcenter

Aging Well in the Gorge March 8th 2016

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Let me just get it off my chest and say I didn’t have much time to write this week’s column because I was having too much fun hanging out all weekend with my eleven grandkids.
Okay, that’s not quite true because I really don’t have any grandkids. What I was actually doing was coaching eleven fantastic young swimmers for The Dalles Swim Team at a swim meet in Oregon City.
But I have come to realize, coaching is like having my own grandkids: helping these young kids adjust to life’s many lessons, and in my case, guiding them to become better swimmers. If you don’t have grandkids or they aren’t nearby, and you need a grandkid “fix”, find an opportunity to spend time with young kids whether at your church or neighborhood school. (The SMART program is one opportunity.) You’ll find it personally rewarding and you’ll see that the future is in good hands.
So this week, the best I can do, is a little of this and a little of that and a question about a 1960’s movie star.
If you haven’t filed your income taxes, you might want to consider the AARP Tax Aide program which provides free income tax assistance to low and moderate-income taxpayers with special attention to those aged 60 or older. And this is the best time, because as we are half way through the 2016 tax season the lines are shorter – at least until it picks back up for those late minute filers. You can stop by the Center between 2:00 and 6:00 on Fridays or 9:00 and 1:00 on Saturdays. Or outside The Dalles, the AARP Tax Aide sites are Canyon Rim Manor from 10:00 to 1:00 on the 1st & 3rd Mondays; Tygh Valley Community Center Room from 8:00 – noon on Thursdays; and in Sherman County you can make a Saturday appointment at the Rufus Community Center by calling 541-993-1054.
Congratulations to The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels for winning the MCHF Compassion Award for Outstanding Community Service Organization. I see the important work they do every day: providing nutritious noon meals at the Center; and delivering meals to folks who are homebound or have difficulty preparing healthy meals. They provide an invaluable service and every day prove that Meals-on-Wheels is “More than a Meal”.
Getting older can play some cruel tricks. Now that your kids have left home, you are retired from work and the house is finally paid off, you have the time to fulfill the long held dream of traveling across America on Route 66 in your classic sports car. But you then discover that your knees, legs and back are telling you in no uncertain terms that there is no way you are ever getting in and out of a car that low to the ground!
Last reminder about the Irish band Barley Draught’s concert at the Center this Friday. But this time, in the spirit of St. Patrick, I’m giving you the Irish translation – at least according to the English website Whoohoo! (I’d give you the real Irish Gaelic translation, but you wouldn’t understand a word.)
Git into a rousin’ Oirish spirit at de Mid-Columbia Senior Center on March 11th wi’ de local Oirish ban’ Barley Draught. dis benefit for de Mid-Columbia Senior Center is sponsored by de Dalles ‘ealth an’ Rehabilitashun Center an’ Clock Tower Ales. Music starts at 7:00 an’ grub is served startin’ at 5:30. Grub an’ concert is $10, an’ for de concert only its $7.00. Dis is an over 21 event.
For the Center’s Tuesday Night music on March 15th the Simcoe Boys will be performing.  Doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00. Everyone is welcome and donations are appreciated.
The two-word slang term commonly used in the 60’s to describe someone as unpleasant or contemptible was “Rat Fink” commercialized by cartoonist and custom car designer Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. (The winner of a quilt raffle ticket is Barbara Pounds.)
For this week’s “Remember When” question, if I said U.S. Marine, motorcycle racing, “King of Cool”, the Blob, and the Magnificent Seven, what movie star of the 60’s and 70’s comes to mind? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with a 45 caliber Bullet.
Well, it’s been another week trying to stay out of trouble with a capital T. Until we meet again, no matter how hard, take time to discover each day’s blessing.

“An hour with your grandkids can make you feel young again. Anything longer than that can make you age quickly.” Gene Perret

Aging Well in the Gorge March 1st 2016

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Let’s face it. Alzheimer’s disease scares the bejeezus out of most of us. In fact, according to a 2011 MetLife Foundation/ Harris Interactive poll of American adults, only cancer tops Alzheimer’s as the disease Americans are most afraid of. And for adults aged 55 and older the fear of getting Alzheimer’s is even greater than cancer. 93% of those surveyed were aware of the disease, but 74 % said they knew nothing or only a little about Alzheimer’s; and more than three out of five people worry that they will have to eventually provide or care for someone with the disease.

These are sobering statistics about a frightening disease. But the Oregon Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is working hard throughout the state to provide education and support for people diagnosed, their families, and caregivers.

As part of their outreach, next Tuesday at the Center from 10:00 – 12:00, the Oregon chapter will be offering a two hour training that includes two parts. The first is the Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease – describing what is happening to a person with Alzheimer’s so you can better understand how to interact effectively and provide quality care. The second part is Effective Communication Strategies where you will learn how communication occurs and how to decode the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia, and identify strategies to help you connect and communicate at each stage of the disease.

Even though we aren’t much of a RSVP kind of town, for this training you are requested to register by calling the Center at 541-296-4788.

And speaking about memory, while my wife and I were visiting her father, he said “There is something I was supposed to remind you, but I can’t remember what it is”. Isn’t that the way it is. You know you are forgetting something – but don’t have a clue what it is.

Debra Jones, the sparkplug for the Center’s Creative Arts Classes, has scheduled the next four classes starting in April, but she is still working on the content. But while you’re waiting, The Dalles Art Center will be hosting their Opening Reception for the March show “Gardens and Garden Art” on Thursday from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. In addition, the TDHS Advanced Placement art students will be showing selections from their works.

March is the month for Irish music and once again, the local Irish band Barley Draught will be performing at the Center. But this year they’ll be playing on Friday, March 11th instead of St. Patrick’s Day which always conflicted with the St. Patrick’s Day concert at St. Peter’s Landmark. The Barley Draught Concert which benefits the Center is sponsored by the good folks at The Dalles Health and Rehabilitation Center and costs $7.00 for the concert only and $10 for the concert and a light supper of baked chicken or sub sandwiches. Doors open at 5:30 and the concert starts at 7:00 PM. Since beer will be served, thanks to Clock Tower Ales, this is an over 21 event. (And if you keep mispronouncing Barley Draught, as I always seem to do, remember this line that Mike Ballinger sent me, “If you’ve had a grand time, danced, sang and laughed, we really don’t mind if you blame Barley Draught!”)

Ron Holliday remembers a “Bushel and a Peck” was first sung by Betty Hutton (in a duet with Perry Como) and then Doris Day. But Bobetta Stewart emailed me that she and two of her girlfriends sang a “Bushel and a Peck” on stage at the Granada Theater during the Reddy Kilowatt show on Saturday morning; and even has a recording of it – if she can just find it. So sorry Ron, but with a story like that, the winner of a Quilt Raffle ticket has to be Bobetta.
There are words from the 50’s and 60’s we seldom hear anymore: fender skirts, suicide knobs, store bought, brassiere, picture show or ice box – what I use to call a refrigerator. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the two-word slang term commonly used in the 60’s that described someone as unpleasant or contemptible – and the first word is a type of rodent? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with an illustration by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth – cartoonist, custom car designer and purveyor of the term.

Well, it’s been another week watching nature come alive after its winter siesta. Until we meet again, keep your eyes on the road and your motor running.

Aging Well in the Gorge February 23rd 2016

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Hearing loss is one of those invisible chronic disabilities which can cause social isolation and loneliness; significantly impacting your health and well-being. Unfortunately, hearing loss won’t go away; you just have to learn how to best live with it.
With my hearing loss, I often depend on my good buddy “closed captions”. When I watch television or movies at home, especially when watching my favorite British mysteries, it really adds to the enjoyment when I can use closed captions to actually understand what is being said. It is amazing what a difference it makes. (And even if your hearing is normal, closed captions can also help decipher the strong English or Irish brogues – which no one I know can understand.)
But what about phone calls? How can you communicate with friends or family, or make a doctor’s appointment or answer the persistent telemarketer calls when you have hearing loss? I have my hearing aid connected to my smartphone so any conversation goes directly to my hearing aid which improves the quality considerably. But when I use a land line, I am often asking the caller to repeat themselves or having to moving into a quieter room. It is frustrating for both the caller and myself. And my hearing loss isn’t that severe.
But hearing loss does not have to limit the quality of phone conversations. The federally mandated Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is a telephone service that allows persons with hearing or speech disabilities to place and receive local and/or long distance telephone calls. The TRS providers, generally telephone companies, are compensated for the costs of providing TRS from either state or federal funds. There is no cost to the TRS user.
One of several forms of TRS is Captioned Telephone Service which is used by persons with a hearing disability but with some limited hearing. It uses a special telephone that has a text screen to display captions of what the other party to the conversation is saying which makes it possible to communicate with friends, family and businesses by phone.
Gary Waddington who works for CaptionCall, one of several companies that provides caption phones, will speak about “Telephone Options for the Hard of Hearing” at the next Tuesday lecture on March 1st at 11:00. He will discuss the benefits of different phone options for the hard of hearing; how you can qualify for a free caption phone; the requirements for installing a caption phone; and any other questions you may have.
Lucille Torgerson will be leading a discussion of the book Keep Moving – and other Tips and Truths about Aging written by Dick Van Dyke – who at the age of 90 should know a few things about “keeping fit as a fiddle and younger than springtime”. The first meeting will be at 10:30 on Wednesday, March 2nd and will continue through the month of March. It should be a fascinating discussion and I’m sure food for many future columns.
Although spring doesn’t arrive until March 19th, it sure feels like it – with folks getting out and enjoying the nicer weather and longer days. So starting March 1st, which means next week, the Center’s Tuesday Night music will start again at 7:00 with Andre, KC and Tom performing. Everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.
On the Phil Silvers Show, the name of the master sergeant of the Fort Baxter motor pool who was always devising get-rich-quick schemes was Sergeant Bilko. And because of the popularity of the character, when the show was rebroadcast years later it was renamed Sergeant Bilko. (This week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket is Bill Booth.)
During one of those Center conversations reminiscing about songs we enjoyed when we were younger, this song was mentioned. It featured the lyrics, “I love you a bushel and a peck. A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck”. It was recorded by several artists in 1950, so for this week’s “Remember When” question, who do you remember singing “A Bushel and a Peck”? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it in with a recording of the stage version of Guys and Dolls.
Well, it’s been another week trying to keep the lights on after the battery has run down. Until we meet again, as my wife often reminds me, “working in the garden means never saying you’re done”.
“There comes a time in the affairs of man when he must take the bull by the tail and face the situation.” WC Fields

Aging Well in the Gorge February 16th 2016

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Everybody talks about eating healthy but what does that mean? You can find all kinds of studies about what is good for you and what isn’t – and often they seem contradictory. Should you eat chocolate or only dark chocolate? And what about coffee – is it good for you or not?

Even with all the often contradictory studies, there is a general consensus among nutritionists about eating healthy according Kris Gunnars, who writes for Authority Nutrition. Those ten nutrition facts that (almost) everyone agrees on are:
1. Added Sugar is a Disaster;
2. Omega-3 Fats Are crucial and most people don’t get enough;
3. There is no perfect diet for everyone;
4. Trans fats are very unhealthy and should be avoided;
5. Eating vegetables will improve your health;
6. It is critical to avoid a vitamin d deficiency;
7. Refined carbohydrates are bad for you;
8. Supplements can never fully replace real foods;
9. “Diets” don’t work, a lifestyle change is necessary;
10. Unprocessed food is healthiest.

Now if you want something more succinct, you can follow the advice of Michael Pollan, author of Food Rules. “Eat (real) food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Or closer to home, Adeline Knorr always reminds me to avoid the 5 S’s: Sugar, Shortening, Seconds, Salt, and Soda.

If you have an Apple or Android smartphone, you can learn more about what is healthy to eat, by downloading the app Fooducate – which I learned about from my sister. By using your smartphone to scan the bar code of practically any grocery store food item, the app will grade its health value and explain why. The app also offers daily tips and provides recipes with their nutritional value. But I have to warn you, as I learned from shopping with my sister – you should expect to add two hours to your grocery shopping experience.

But what if you are on some kind of special diet: low sodium or low fat, gluten or dairy free, or high fiber? It’s hard enough to eat healthy without adding more restrictions. But coming to your rescue is the OSU website “Food Hero” offering recipes for special diets as well as plenty of good advice about healthy and tasty recipes, meal ideas, budgeting, shopping, and many more cooking tips and tools.

If you want to learn more about good nutrition and particularly if you are on a special diet, you are invited to the 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on February 23rd when Tracy Dugick, MCMC Registered Dietician, will discuss good nutrition and special diets.

Ginny McNary and I are working on scheduling day trips for this spring and summer. The first trip we have tentatively planned is a trip to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest in Woodburn, Oregon on Wednesday, April 6th. If you are interested, call or drop by the Center to sign up. You won’t need to pay now, but I expect it will cost around $20 which includes the transportation and admittance but not lunch.

We have also identified another eleven possible day trips and in order to arrange transportation we would like to know how many people would be interested in any of them. There is a list of trips at the Center. Or you can go to the Center’s website and click on the tab “Day Trips” where you will find instructions and a link to a questionnaire you can fill out.

At the Center on February 23rd starting at 6:30 PM, Country Road will be performing for your dancing and listening pleasure. Everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.

The title of the 1970 movie starring Ryan O’Neal and Ali McGraw that included the line, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry”, was Love Story. (The winner of a quilt raffle ticket is Ruth Radcliffe.)

This week’s “Remember When” question is once again from the golden age of television. On the Phil Silvers Show that ran from 1955 through 1959, what was the name of the master sergeant of the Fort Baxter motor pool who was always devising get-rich-quick schemes? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it in with your name and phone number on the back of $100 bill.

Well, it’s been another week stumbling my way towards mortality. Until we meet again, you know you are getting older when you hear everyone talking about dabbin and the only thing that comes to mind is Brylcreem.

“Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.” Michael Pollan

Aging Well in the Gorge February 9th 2016

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Sunday will be Valentine’s day – a day to celebrate love and romance with a box of fine chocolates, or a bouquet of flowers from Sigman’s or maybe a candlelight dinner at home with a glass of wine.

My wife and I have celebrated Valentine’s Day as a married couple for over forty years. And as with most older adults, we feel our marriage has improved and these later years have been some of the happiest years of our lives. Part of the reason is I have learned the secrets of a happy marriage: put down the toilet seat, (apparently it looks gross to women), put the cap back on the toothpaste; and answer any request from your wife with a gentle “As you wish my dear”. (But I have still been able to maintain a certain level of cave man aesthetic which I am sure she has come to lovingly appreciate.)

But then as life often happens, your spouse passes away, leaving only memories and pictures of all the special times. It is a tremendous adjustment and changes your world – even more than when you had your first child. But you learn to adapt, and life continues. And then one day, after you have learned to accept the solitude, you unexpectedly find a second love, a companion, someone to share new stories and adventures with.

It may be someone you knew from church, or an old friend from your school days you accidently found on Facebook. And you decide to remarry, or just live together or be friends with benefits. And surprisingly, you find you have never been happier in your life.

It happens to many. And Valentine’s Day reminds us when love is lost, it doesn’t mean all is lost forever – because it is never too late to find a little romance one more time.

A big thank-you to Dave Griffith Motors for sponsoring the Center’s successful Southern Fried Chicken Dinner. It would not have been possible without Griffith Motors and all the volunteers including the Red Hat ladies (Pat Lucas promised to bring me a red hat to wear next year); the donated desserts from Petite Provence and Shari’s Restaurant; Debra Jones and Donna Baldwin for arranging the center pieces for the tables; Andre Lemoreaux, KC Kortge and Sheryl Doty for the music; Denise Patton, Rick Leibowitz and the kitchen volunteers for preparing the food; and to Joan Silver for leading the charge. And last but not least, thank-you to all the folks who attended the dinner so the Center can continue to provide opportunities and supports for older adults.

There is still room in next week’s AARP Smart Driver class on Monday and Tuesday (February 15th and 16th) from 8:45 to 12:05. The cost is $20 and $15 for AARP members. You need to bring your driver’s license and a pencil. You will learn the current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today’s increasingly challenging driving environment. And with completion of the class, you should be able to receive a discount on your auto insurance.

Consequently, there will not be a 11:00 Tuesday lecture, but on the 23rd, Tracy Dugick, MCMC Registered Dietician, will discuss how to eat healthy while on special diets.

At the Center on February 16th starting at 6:30 PM, the Simcoe Boys will drive all the way from Goldendale to perform for your dancing and listening pleasure. Everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.

The football the team that won four Super Bowls in the 1970’s and included future all-stars Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, “Mean Joe” Greene, Mel Blount, and Lynn Swann was the Pittsburg Steelers. (The winner of one of the hot-selling quilt raffle tickets is Morris Melton.)

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, this week’s “Remember When” question is about a film considered one of the most romantic by the American Film Institute (ranked number nine). What is the title of the movie released in 1970 starring Ryan O’Neal and Ali McGraw and made famous the line, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”? (Was it really forty-six years ago?) Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with the book of the same title written by Erich Segal.

Well, it’s been another week running further behind, but enjoying every minute. Until we meet again, as Milton Berle once said “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”

“Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you.” Loretta Young

Aging Well in the Gorge February 2nd 2016

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When talking to folks at the Center, I find many are using what was once considered non-traditional medical practices. In fact in the U.S more than 30 percent of adults, use health care approaches developed outside of mainstream Western, or conventional, medicine. Two of the most common practices are natural products such as herbs, vitamins and minerals, and probiotics; and mind and body practices including the most popular practices: chiropractic and osteopathic manipulation, meditation, massage therapy and yoga.
But when I hear of these non-traditional methods, I often describe them as “alternative” or “complementary” medicines, often interchanging the terms because I really didn’t know the difference. But while searching various websites for reasons I have since forgotten, I found this rather straight forward explanation on the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) website.
If a non-mainstream practice is used together with conventional medicine, it’s considered “complementary.” If a non-mainstream practice is used in place of conventional medicine, it’s considered “alternative”.
Today with the growing research on the effectiveness of various “complementary” and “alternative” practices, modern medicine no longer ignores the benefits of many of these non-western medical approaches. For example, MCMC was an early adopter when they opened the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in 1996, offering stress management, exercise, nutrition counseling and an array of non-traditional therapies to address the whole patient and their health needs.
If you are considering a complementary practice, I have learned there are several things to consider. Do your homework. Find out how effective the practice is and make sure it is safe. (For supplements, drug interactions and possible contamination are two concerns.) The NCCIH website (nccih.nih.gov.) is a good place to start. Also talk to your health care provider to make sure there are no conflicts with your current medications; and to make sure you are not missing a more serious and preventable health condition.
Like any decision concerning your health, decisions about whether to use a non-mainstream practice are important. Make sure you understand the benefits, but also the possible risks.
Last chance to remind you of the Southern Fried Chicken Dinner sponsored by Dave Griffith Motors this Friday night, February 5th, from 4:30 – 7:00 PM at the Center. Tickets are $15.00 per person and $7.50 for children 12 and under, and can be purchased at the Center or at the door on Friday. We hope this becomes a regular event on your calendar as the Baby Back Rib Dinner is on the first Friday in October.
Cuba has been in the news since President Obama started liberalizing travel restrictions in 2011 and recently reestablished diplomatic ties. Last fall, Sandy Haechrel and Susan Gabay took advantage of this thawing in relations by spending eight days in Cuba on an educational People to People Exchange.  Among the many sites they visited were the cities of Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, and Trinidad; the Cienfuegos Province Botanical Gardens and Cienaga de  Zapata National Park; the Bay of Pigs; and Hemingway’s winter home; as well as schools, senior housing, and many art and music venues. They will be sharing their experiences and impressions with a slide show at the Center’s 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on February 9th.
At the Center on February 9th starting at 6:30 PM, Martin and Friends will be performing for your dancing and listening pleasure. Everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.
Many folks remembered the Palmer Method and its uniform system of cursive writing. But this week’s winner of a free quilt raffle ticket is LaVerna Bolton Harmier, who started school in 1926 at Fairfield School, a one-room school near Wrentham, graduated from Dufur High School in 1938, retired from teaching in 1982, and is now living with her daughter in Portland. She learned the Palmer method as a child, and also taught it to her students, so she knows from experience.
Since next Sunday is the Super Bowl (when you can watch really expensive advertisements for really large companies scattered between really big guys banging their heads together), you know what this week’s “Remember When” question is about.
In the 1970’s, what football team won four Super Bowls and included future all-stars Terry, Franco, Joe, Mel, and Lynn. Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with a steel curtain.
Well, it’s been another week losing my note pad with my to-dos that I didn’t want to forget. Until we meet again, keep moving, keep laughing and keep making the best of every day.
“If it weren’t for electricity, we’d all be watching television by candlelight.” George Gobel

Aging Well in the Gorge January 26th 2016

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Sometimes we think our plate is full with our own day-to-day responsibilities and health demands, but what if you have two plates to manage? That is the case with an estimated 40 million unpaid caregivers who provide annually over 37 billion hours of care because of a loved one’s debilitating disease, chronic health conditions or simple frailty. And if you haven’t been a caregiver, the majority of us will be one at some point in our lives.

Because the AARP recognizes how caring for a loved one can impact a person; and how important support and acts of kindness are to these caregivers, the AARP is hosting a contest through March 15th to help promote random acts of kindness for caregivers. AARP is encouraging folks to identify a caregiver they know and surprise them with a random act of kindness: preparing a meal, picking up the groceries, or doing that odd job – anything to show your appreciation and to make their life a little bit easier. You can find more details at https://caregiverkindness.aarp.org/.
If you are caregiver, “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” is being offered from 9:30 to noon on Thursdays for six weeks starting March 3rd. The program is designed to help family caregivers take care of themselves while caring for a relative or friend.  Class size is limited and registration is required. The class is sponsored by the Area Agency on Aging and will be held in the Mid-Columbia Council of Governments’ Board Room at 1113 Kelly Ave., The Dalles. To register call 541-298-4101 ext. 219. The cost is a suggested donation of $20, but is not required in order to attend class.
Also the PBS documentary Caring for Mom and Dad that shows the realities and challenges of caregiving, will be shown at the 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on February 2nd at the Center.  
The AARP Tax Aide Program provides free tax assistance to low and moderate income taxpayers, with special attention to folks sixty and older. It starts February 5that the Center, and will continue through April 15th on Fridays from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00. It is first come, first serve, and as you can imagine, it’s pretty busy the first several weeks. If you have questions about what documentation to bring, call the Center at 541-296-4788.
A couple of quick reminders – since I know we all need them.

To identify near-term solutions for better transit options in the Gorge, the Oregon Department of Transportation has initiated a Columbia River Gorge Transit Study. You are invited to complete a short online survey before January 31st about Gorge travel. You can find the survey on the Center’s website under the tab “Gorge Transit Survey”.

The Original Courthouse Regional History Forum starts on February 6th at 1:30 with Robert Boyd’s program on Rev. Henry K.W. Perkins: Forgotten Wascopam Missionary. 

You still have time to apply for the OSU Extension’s Master Gardener classes starting on Wednesday, February 17th from 9:00-4:00, but applications are due on January 27th. Contact Machelle Sager at 541-296-5494.
At the Center on February 2nd starting at 6:30 PM, Andre, K.C. and Tom will be performing for your dancing and listening pleasure. Everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.
As promised, the answers for last week’s quiz. 1. D) 5; 2. B) False: 3. A) 5%; 4.  A) True; 5. D) As a school reward for good behavior; 6. D) All of the above; 7. F) All of the above; 8. C) Jack Leasch; 9. C) Supportive and respectful because we share the same mission of promoting healthy aging.
Archie Andrews’ best friend in the popular comic book series Archie is Jughead. (The winner of a free quilt raffle ticket is Virginia McClain.)
This week’s “Remember When” question takes us back to our grade school days. Cursive writing has been on the decline ever since the invention of the ball point pen. (I remember when I only could use a fountain pen in class.) But back in the days when teachers still taught cursive writing instead of “keyboard skills”, what was the name of the writing method that taught students to adopt a uniform system of cursive writing with rhythmic motions? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with a writing worksheet from your elementary school days.
Well, it’s been another week hoping I’m not repeating myself. Until we meet again, try to make your random acts of kindness not so random.

“Nothing is more important than the helping hand of a neighbor.” Farmer’s Wisdom

Aging Well in the Gorge January 19th 2015

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The Mid-Columbia Senior Center is in the middle of its 2016 Membership Drive and more than half way towards the goal of 450 members. Individual and business memberships provide over 15% of the Center’s operating budget so the membership drive is a big deal for the sustainability of the Center. But during the membership drive, folks often ask, “What do I get for being a member?” Well, honestly there are very few tangible benefits. Whether you are a member or not, you can participate in all the Center activities – the Center is not a private club. But then why join? Because without its members, the Center would not be the valuable resource it is – helping older adults live healthy and meaningful lives.
But whether you are a member or not yet a member, here is a short quiz to test your knowledge of the Center, although there is much more to know and experience. (The answers will be in next week’s column or on the Center’s website.)
1. The Center has how many movement and exercise classes? A) 2, B) 3, C) 4. D) 5, E) None – old folks just stay home and watch TV.
2. Because the Center was built with a federal grant only individuals over 62 can use the facility.
A) True; B) False
3. What percentage of the Center budget comes from public funds? A) 5%; B) 15%; C) 30%; D) 100% – because seniors are entitled to it.
4) The initial concept for the Center included two levels, but because construction costs exceeded the available funding, the basement was not included. A) True; B) False.
5) Once a year, Colonel Wright students walk to the Center to play bingo because: A) They need the exercise; B) They like the smell of old people; C) We want them to get hooked on playing Bingo; D) As a school reward for good behavior.
6) In supporting older adults, the Center provides space at no or little cost for: A) Medicare Counseling (SHIBA), B) AARP Tax Aide, C) AARP Smart Driving Classes; D) All of the above
7) To give back to the community, the Center provides space at no cost to: A) Opportunity Connections for their Annual Meeting; B) ARC Friendship Club; C) 4-H Leatherworking Club, D) Boy Scout Troop #365; F) All of the above.
8) The Center has a close relationship with the City of The Dalles because the City donated the land and also wrote the federal grant for the Center. Who was the city planner that wrote the grant? A) Scott Keillor; B) Dan Durow; C) Jack Leasch; D) Daffy Duck.
9) The relationship between Meals-on-Wheels and the Center is: A) None, because we are the same organization with the same board; B) Difficult because you can’t imagine how hard it is to share the same space; C) Supportive and respectful because we share the same mission of promoting healthy aging; D) We’re in love!
You’ll notice several changes to this year’s “Go Red for Women’s Heart Health” event. Instead of a two day event, it has been combined into one day on Saturday, February 6thfrom 10:00 – 1:00. You’ll still find the Heart Health Expo including Health Screenings, Stretching Stations, Chair Massage and more, plus a soup and bread lunch ($3 cash) at the Heart Health Café; as well as the Heart Truth 3k/5k/10k Walk/Run starting at 10:00. It will be held at Kiwanis Pocket Park on Klindt Drive.  At the 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on January 26th, Linda Stahl, from Planetree Health Resource Center, will explain more about the “New and Improved” Go Red event.
At the Center on January 6th starting at 6:30 PM, the band Country Road will be performing for your dancing and listening pleasure. Everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.
The only sisters to win Oscars for Best Actress were Olivia de Havilland – To Each His Own (1946) and Joan Fontaine – Rebecca (1940). (The winner of a free quilt raffle ticket is Betsy Ayers.)
This week’s “Remember When” question is about a popular comic book series. Who was the lazy, skinny, quirky, but clever best friend of Archie Andrews? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with a copy of Archie #1 published in 1942.
Well, it’s been another week waiting for the sun to come home. Until we meet again, there’s nothing wrong with trying a little tenderness.
“My memory isn’t gone. It’s just on vacation, but I expect it back soon.” Andre Lemoreaux

Aging Well in the Gorge January 12th 2016

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“Pride goeth before a fall”. That familiar proverb came to mind while attending a Special Olympics swim meet. At the end of the meet, I needed to climb down from the top of the concrete bleachers, but couldn’t reach the aisle. As I was awkwardly climbing around and between folks sitting in the rows below me, with nothing to hang on except a couple of shoulders, one of my young assistant coaches, kindly offered her hand to help steady me. But I immediately thought, “No, I can do this. Does she think I’m old and clumsy?”

But then remembering when I missed a step and broke my hip several years ago; and feeling the stiffness in my knees, I realized I shouldn’t let my pride keep me from admitting to myself that it’s risky climbing down rows of bleachers; and it would be more embarrassing landing on top of someone – or worse yet, falling and breaking my other hip. That could ruin a nice day.

So being the wiser, I took her arm, which did help as I climbed down the last several rows, and thanked her for her assistance.

You’ve heard the tips to prevent falls: know the effects of your medications; improve your strength, balance, and flexibility through exercise; remove hazards in your house such as loose rugs and electrical cords; use assistive devices such grab bars for the showers and handrails on BOTH sides of the stairs; and wear sensible shoes. (Does anyone wear high heels anymore?)

But often overlooked is attitude: too proud for our own good. I still want to be the young, strong, muscular specimen of maleness that I once was. (Isn’t it great how our memories can reconstruct the past?) But that was then and this is now. And now at my age, I have finally accepted that it is often best to avoid certain risks, accept the help when offered and appreciate that someone cares – because you don’t want to let “pride goeth before a fall” – literally.

Mahjong is a game of skill and strategy that originated in China, and is similar to the card game rummy except it uses tiles instead of cards. At the Center on Fridays at 1:00, you can find folks playing Mahjong led by Corliss Marsh – our expert in residence. But there has been a growing interest in the game and if you are interested in learning how to play, there will be a Mahjong Beginner’s Day at the Center on January 29th starting at 1:00 PM. The cost is $1.00.
There will not be a Tuesday Lecture at the Center next week because of the AARP Smart Driver’s class being held at the same time. So instead you can sign up for the Smart Driver’s class, held on January 18th and 19th from 8:45 – 12:05, by calling the Center.
If Southern Fried Chicken reminds you of summer picnics, you can have a piece of summer in the middle of winter, by attending the Center’s Southern Fried Chicken Dinner sponsored by Griffith Motors from 4:30 to 7:00 on Friday, February 5th. The menu includes Southern Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, biscuit and dessert. The tickets are $15 which you can purchase at the Center or at the door while tickets last. All proceeds will benefit the Center.
At the Center on January 19th starting at 6:30 PM, the Simcoe Boys will be performing for your dancing and listening pleasure. Everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.
The comedic actor and impersonator who played Corporal Randolph Agarn on F Troop was Larry Storch. (The winners of a free quilt raffle ticket are Dennis and Mary Davis.)
This week’s “Remember When” question is about two actresses who were sisters born in Tokyo to English parents. The elder sister starred in Gone with the Wind and eight movies with Errol Flynn including the Adventures of Robin Hood; and the younger sister starred in Rebecca and Suspicion both directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Who were these two sisters, the only siblings to have won lead acting Academy Awards?  Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with a picture of the two sisters – before they stopped talking to each other.
Well, it’s been another week looking in the mirror and all too often asking myself “Whoa. Have I looked like that all day?” Until we meet again, don’t stop believing in yourself.

“The pride of youth is strength and beauty, the pride of old age is discretion.” Democritus

Aging Well in the Gorge January 5th 2016

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Have you forgotten a hair appointment or couldn’t remember whether or not you took your medications? These situations can be embarrassing – or worse, life threatening. These are examples of one of the most critical types of memory: prospective memory – the ability to remember to remember.

Prospective memory is a form of memory that involves remembering to perform a planned action sometime in the future. Remembering involves retrieving information from long term memory facilitated by cues: a song, a face, or an object. The difficulty with prospective memory is there are often no cues to remind you to remember.

The best strategy is to create your own cues. They can be physical cues: writing a reminder note, using a pillbox or setting a timer. (Although I have found a timer will remind me to do something, if I can only remember what that something is.) Often I use my car keys as a physical cue. I place them next to the item I want to remember, knowing I won’t get out of the driveway without my keys – and what I need to take with me.

Or you can create an imaginary cue. The most effective are wild and crazy images that are related to what you are trying to remember. For example, if you need to remember to turn off the lights when you leave, imagine the doorknob as a hot lightbulb.

Another suggestion is when you do remember, do it! We are more easily distracted as we age and more likely to forget what we were doing or need to do. When you remember to take your medications, don’t wait till after you take out the trash.

Prospective memory, the ability to remember to remember, becomes more difficult as we age. But by knowing the challenges, we can adapt so we don’t forget important tasks. To learn more, I’ll be discussing prospective memory at the Center’s 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on January 12th.
You always wanted to send emails to friends, or check-in with family on Facebook or even Skype with your grandkids. So this Christmas you finally broke down and bought yourself a new laptop computer or the latest tablet. But now you have to figure out how to operate the darn thing – and whatever happened to instruction manuals!

There are several resources available to help you get up and running. At the Center, there is the iPad User’s Group that meets at 1:00 on the first Wednesday of every month; plus computer/tablet help on Wednesday mornings at 9:00.

In addition, The Dalles/Wasco County Library offers classes covering Computer Basics, Email or Microsoft Word on Fridays at 9:00; drop-in help on Saturdays at 10:00 and 2:00; and by appointment, one-on-one help with software issues and tech skills. For more information call 541-296-2815 or stop by the check-out desk.

But the best advice is just to play around on your device. Discover what works and what doesn’t. If you feel more comfortable with a manual (even though they now seem like a relic of the past) you can usually find an electronic manual online. And as the last result, Google your question. Most every time you’ll find an answer – although I won’t promise you’ll understand it!

At the Center on January 12th starting at 6:30 PM, Andre, KC and Tom will be performing for your dancing and listening pleasure. Everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.

The name of the educational television series, hosted by Walter Cronkite, where CBS correspondents would report on the dramatic reenactment of historical events was You Are There. (The winner of a free quilt raffle ticket is Don McAllister, who said he watched it every week.)

Whenever I meet anyone named Judy, I imagine Cary Grant saying “Judy, Judy, Judy”. But when I was on the Coffeebreak with Al Wynn last month, I learned that Cary Grant never actually said those words. They were first spoken during a nightclub performance by a comedic actor who was impersonating Cary Grant when Judy Garland walk in. For this week’s “Remember When” question, who was this actor who also played Corporal Randolph Agarn on F Troop? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with a picture of the actor with Forrest Tucker and Ken Berry.

Well, it’s been another week waiting to see what the weather brings next. Until we meet again, stay warm – inside and out.

“Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.” Unattributed