Author Archives: mcseniorcenter

Aging Well July 15th 2014

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Is it hot enough? Hopefully, by the time you read this, the heat advisory will have expired. Fortunately, today we are better equipped to handle the excessive heat with window air conditioners and central air. But back in1967, only 10% of American homes were air conditioned, so most of us can remember the hot, sticky days and nights of summer. We may not have liked it, but we found ways to stay cool and lived to tell about it.  
During the hot and humid summers in Indianapolis, my dad would try to make it at least bearable, by using a dehumidifier in the basement and also installing a fan in the opening to the attic to pull hot air out of the house at night. But all too often that wasn’t enough. And many nights I would sleep without covers, spreadeagle, with a cold wet towel under my neck.  I’m sure many of you have stories of how you stayed cool during the summer. If you do, email them to me at mcseniorcenter@gmail.com.
But if you haven’t noticed, our bodies can’t jump as high, run as fast or bear the heat as well as we once did. So during these hot days, it makes good sense to heed the advice of the North Central Public Health District.
You should drink plenty of liquids, enough to have to urinate every four hours. (I wish I could last four hours!) But avoid caffeine or sugary drinks. Wear lose clothing and stay out of the heat as much as possible – which is a given for most of us. And if you need a place to stay cool, the Center is open until 5:00 every weekday and open for various activities from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM except Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights.
But most importantly, keep an eye on your neighbors – making sure they are able to handle the heat. Heat is the number one weather related killer causing more deaths than hurricanes, tornadoes, lightening and floods combined. It should be taken seriously.
Kristy Beachamp, manager of Wasco County Emergency Management, stopped by the Center to register folks for the Citizen Alert Notification system. When you are enrolled in the system, you will be contacted by phone, email or text, in case of imminent or potential threats to life or property including floods, wildfires, and natural gas leaks. You can also sign up for additional notifications such as public health advisories and law enforcement alerts. Sign-up by going to the Wasco County website. Or if you don’t have a computer or need assistance, we can help you at the Center.
The Center is hosting the annual Cowboy Breakfast from 7:30 – 9:30 on Saturday July 19th, sponsored by Flagstone Senior Living. The menu includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit and coffee or juice. It’s still only $5.00, $4.00 for members and $3.00 for children 12 and under. And as an added bonus, members of the Mid-Columbia Car Club have been invited to bring their classic cars to show. You will be able to see all the classic autos during the Neon Cruise through downtown The Dalles on Friday night, August 8thand the Cruise the Gorge “Show in the Shade” up at Sorosis Park on the 9th.
Truman will be playing his “Country Gold” at the Center on Tuesday, July 22nd. Doors open at 6:00 and music starts at 7:00. All ages are welcome and donations are appreciated.
The cheerful but dim-witted, Canadian Mountie who was always rescuing the object of his affections, Neil Fenwick, is Dudley Do-Right. (And the winner of a free Cowboy Breakfast on July 19th is Bill and Darlene Marick.)
When I was browsing through Klindts (which has all kinds of fun stuff besides a great assortment of books) I came across a book of all the things you need to know based on a popular series of children books first published in 1942. These books sold for twenty five cents and included “Pokey Little Puppy” and “The Little Red Hen”. What is the name of this series of “sturdy little books with the shiny cardboard covers and gold foil spines”? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with the gown created in 2010 made of hundreds of discarded and recycled books from this series.
Well, it’s been another week closed up in my bedroom with the air conditioner on. Until we meet again, as Steven Wright asked, “If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back?

“I have reached an age when, if someone tells me to wear socks, I don’t have to.” – Albert Einstein

Aging Well July 8th 2014

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The weather is warmer, okay maybe a little too warm; you see folks of all ages out walking, and you’ve heard from your friends about different exercise classes. (And how many times have you been told physical activity is good for both your heart and brain!) And now, even though you were never that “athletic”, you’ve decided it’s not too late to begin some kind of physical activity. Where do you start?

You may be the type that can just go out and “Do It”, but for most people setting goals is one of most effective tools to get started and stay motivated. Here is a quick “two minute drill” version for setting goals.

The first step is to know what you want. Why is it you want to be physically active? To prevent falls? To walk through an airport without assistance? To be able to bounce your great grandchild on your knee?

Then decide what exercise goals will achieve what you want – something you can and want to do. Many of us have a condition that makes it difficult to keep moving: arthritis, respiratory problems or weight issues. But there is always some activity you can do. And talk to your medical provider for suggestions if you need help determining what will work for you.

Be specific – include the when’s, where’s and how’s. I will walk around the block every other morning at 7:00 for 30 minutes. Or I will spend the first 15 minutes of every day completing seven stretching exercises and practicing deep breathing techniques. 
By starting a regular exercise plan, you won’t get any younger, but you can increase your endurance, become stronger and more flexible; and generally feel better. You can find several more tips about staying active as well as a delicious and timely recipe for a Cherry Salad in your Passport to Happiness Calendar for the month of July.

I hope everyone had a good viewing spot for the spectacular The Dalles Fourth fireworks display. It was the first time in twenty plus years, I actually saw a staged fireworks display other than on television. And what a difference it makes. Watching from my front porch on east 7th street, there were several times my head instinctively move backward afraid the expanding embers of light were going to reach the front porch. With the fourth on a Saturday next year, I am hoping to stay up way past my bed time again for anther spectacular fireworks display.

If you are a member of the Center, (and it is still not too late to join) you should be receiving in the mail an invitation to the Center’s Annual Membership Meeting on Tuesday July 15th. The meeting will start at 3:00 and conclude by 4:30 when there will be a free dinner of pulled pork sandwiches and all the fixin’s provided by Chris Zukin and the Center’s Board of Directors to show our appreciation to the Center’s many members and volunteers.
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I’ve been reading more about the benefits of meditation, and on Wednesday, July 16, 2014, you can learn more about Mindfulness Meditation from 7:00-8:30 PM at Water’s Edge. In this class you will learn the history and benefits of meditation, plus several simple relaxation techniques you can use to incorporate in your daily routine. Register by calling 541-296-7319.

“For the Good Times” will be playing for your dancing and listening pleasure at the Center on Tuesday, July 15th. Doors open at 6:00 and music starts at 7:00. All ages are welcome and donations are appreciated.

It was Slammin’ Sam Snead who was considered the best golfer of the 1950’s and who in 1997, at age 85, shot a round of 78 at the Greenbrier golf course in West Virginia. (And the winner of a free Cowboy Breakfast on July 19th is Sandra Fritz.)

But this week’s “Remember When” question is about a hero in a 1960’s animated television series. Featured on the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, who was the cheerful but also dim-witted, Canadian Mountie who was always trying to catch his nemesis Snidely Whiplash, with the help of his horse named “Horse”. E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with an original copy of this Canadian Mounties own “How to Do Right Book of Manners”.

Well, it’s been another week trying to be cool on another hot summer day. Until we meet again, don’t let the little things block you path to having an incredible day.


“This is a youth-oriented society, and the joke is on them because youth is a disease from which we all recover.” – Dorothy Fuldheim

Aging Well July 2nd 2014

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Do you enjoy visiting new destinations: museums, historical sites and scenic vistas that offer new perspectives? Or maybe you just want to revisit familiar places you haven’t seen for a while. But you find it difficult because you no longer appreciate the unexpected surprises driving through unfamiliar city neighborhoods or on congested, bumper-to-bumper highways.

If you are interested in visiting new or familiar sites while letting someone else do the driving, the Center’s Travel Club is scheduling several trips for this summer and fall. But they want to know what trips folks are interested in. They are considering trips to the Oregon Gardens in Silverton, a cruise and lunch on the Portland Spirit, a cruise on the Sternwheeler combined with a visit to the Interpretive Center in Stevenson, and a tour of the Warm Springs Museum. The estimated cost of each trip is between $40 and $60 which includes transportation, and will take place on Tuesdays or Fridays. If you are interested in any of these trips, call, email or drop by the Center to complete an interest form and you will be the first to know when the trips are scheduled.

 And as a once-in-a-while reminder, particularly now that the weather is more accommodating in Portland, (how many times have I left a sunny and warm The Dalles, forgetting that further west, I would need a jacket and an umbrella), the LINK offers trips into Portland every Tuesday and Thursday, except for major holidays, for $8.00 each way. It is first come, first served, so there are no reservations. You do have to get up early as the bus leaves The Dalles at 7:30 AM, but returns by 5:10. Stops include Gateway Max Station, the Portland Art Museum, OHSU, and Clackamas Town Center. For the most current information, call LINK at 541-296-7595.

And this summer at the Portland Art Museum, you can view an international exhibition showing the art, design, and evolution of Paris’ most famous garden: the Tuileries Garden. Admission for adults over 55 is $17. And if your art interests are more local, The Dalles Art Center’s July Show features the work of 2D artist, Dennis McGregor, and 3D artist, Kris Joy. The opening reception, which gives you an opportunity to meet the artists, will be held this Thursday, July 3rd, from 5-7 p.m.

 The Center will be closed on the fourth, but thanks to the generous support of businesses and individuals, you can enjoy all the 4th of July activities at the Lewis and Clark Festival Park; as well as the 10:00 parade and the KODL Home Town Hero Chicken BBQ from 11:00 – 2:00 between 1st and 2nd on Federal Street. And the day ends with a big exclamation point: one of the best fireworks shows in the Northwest!

Martin and Friends will be playing their crowd pleasing country music at the Center on Tuesday, July 8th. Doors open at 6:00 and music starts at 7:00. All ages are welcome and donations are appreciated.

Soon the heat will drop by like an uninvited guest on a Friday night. And during those warm Thursday and Saturday evenings, you can play Bingo at the Center where it is cool and comfortable. Games start at 6:00 PM, the minimum buy-in is $10 and an average of over $1000 is paid out each night. For just a little more than the cost of a movie ticket, you can help support Meals-on-Wheels on Thursdays, the Center on Saturdays; and have a chance to take home some spare cash for that special occasion. (But there will not be Bingo on July 3rd.)

The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is Casey Stengel, the coach of the New York Yankees from 1949 until 1960 during which time he won seven world series including an amazing five straight from 1949 – 1953. (And the winners of a Cowboy breakfast on July 19th are Bob Brockman and Virgil Choate.)

Let’s stick with sports for another week, but try another game where you need to hit the long ball. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player were the top golfers of the sixties. But who was considered the best golfer in the fifties, winning 82 PGA tour events during his career including being the first player to win PGA Tour titles in four different decades, although he never won the US Open? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail your answer written inside a straw hat.

Well, it’s been another week swinging, but seldom connecting. Until we meet again, keep your eye on the ball and aim for the fences.

“Never make predictions, especially about the future.” Casey Stengel

Aging Well June 24th 2014

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Summer and reunions go hand in hand – from high school class reunions to family reunions. And last week, my family and I flew back to Indianapolis for my Aunt Janet’s 90th birthday and a chance to visit the extended McKay clan. An added bonus was also seeing my Aunt Mo who will turn 100 next January. A retired PE teacher, she still pedals on her stationary bike every day. And she told me, “Age is just a number and my number is unlisted.”
It was also a chance to visit with my brother and sister and their families. And what’s better at a family reunion than dragging out the old slide projector (the ones with the slide carousel that always had at least one picture upside down), and subjecting our spouses and children to pictures of when we were so cute and adorable – dressed up cowboy gear or a birthday dress; and later how slim and attractive we were lounging around the pool. Of course, the audience, which could not escape, probably had other thoughts!
 
But we didn’t care. Because those old family pictures brought back memories and feelings long forgotten in our busy day-to-day lives: memories of childhood friends, tent camping along the shores of Higgins Lake in Michigan, and listening to Sid Collins announcing the thrill of the Indianapolis 500 on WIBC radio.
And whenever the McKay clan gets together, its family tradition to play the Midwest card game of Euchre. A game we always played while camping – after dark on warm summer nights, illuminated by a gas Coleman Lantern.
My sister-in-law, who isn’t fond of this McKay tradition, described Euchre as “A game invented by a bunch of drunk Germans not playing with a full deck”.  But if there are any sober Midwesterners who would like to play Euchre or anyone who would like to learn, call the Center and we’ll set a time to play a few hands.  
Although there isn’t Euchre at the Center – at least not yet, you can play Pinochle on Thursdays at 1:00 and Friday nights at 6:00. And if you haven’t played Pinochle in a while, come early on Friday nights and Gala Hill will give you a quick review of the rules. Also on Fridays starting at 1:00, there is Mahjong, a Chinese game which reminds me of rummy using tiles instead of cards. And there is Bunco at the Center on the third Tuesdays of the month starting at 1:00.
The Center is hosting its annual summer rummage sale downstairs from 9:00 – 3:00 on Thursday (26th) and Friday (27th); and on Saturday (28th) from 9:00 – 12:00 when everything that’s left will be sold by the bag. There’s plenty of good stuff including some furniture at basement prices. And just down the street at 1324 W 10th, the Center’s good friend Barb Pashek is having her “giving it up” sale on Friday and Saturday from 9:00 – 4:00 PM with antiques, shop items and her “ever famous” miscellaneous. You might even find a few antique bowling ball pins. 
The Strawberry Mountain Band will be playing their crowd pleasing country music at the Center on Tuesday, July 1st. Doors open at 6:00 and music starts at 7:00. All ages are welcome and donations are appreciated.
The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is Spike Jones and the City Slickers Band who once toured in the 50’s as the “The Musical Depreciation Revue”. (The winner of a free July Cowboy Breakfast is Pat Davenport.)
While in Indianapolis (or Naptown as we use to call my hometown), I drove by the neighborhood grade school I attended from 1953 through 1960. One of my most vivid memories was the excitement of listening to the World Series during class.
I can’t remember the names of the teams, but during that span the New York Yankees were in five of the seven World Series – winning three. For this week’s “Remember When” question, who was the coach of the New York Yankees from 1949 until he was fired in 1960 after which he remarked he had been fired for turning 70 and “he wouldn’t do that again”. E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a number 37 New York Yankees baseball jersey.  
Well, it’s been another week wondering how many times do I have to do it wrong, before I get it right. Until we meet again, every day is a chance to make new memories.
“Family life is a bit like a runny peach pie – not perfect but who’s complaining?” Robert Brault

Aging Well June 17th 2014

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I’ve found that after I’ve asked someone to repeat themselves – for the third time, they just shake their head with that look that says “Oh, never mind. It’s not really that important – even though your house is on fire!” Or when someone asks me a question, I often just silently nod, with a goofy smile, hoping they aren’t asking something I could easily answer – if I could just understand them! Ah, the trials and tribulations of living with hearing loss.
But I’m only one of nearly 36 million Americans who have some degree of hearing loss of which 35%  are older than 64. And as I have learned, hearing loss is more than trying to understand conversations. It can lead to frustration, anger, name-calling – and that’s just my wife’s reaction when I can’t understand her. 
Hearing loss is a serious chronic condition with significant health risks effecting a person’s emotional, social and cognitive well being. According to the Better Hearing Institute, studies have linked untreated hearing loss to: irritability, negativism and anger; fatigue, tension, stress and depression; avoidance or withdrawal from social situations; social rejection and loneliness; reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety; impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks; reduced job performance and earning power; diminished psychological and overall health. That’s quite a list.
But many people who are aware their hearing has deteriorated, are reluctant to seek help for many different reasons: embarrassment, sign of weakness or they feel they can get by without any help. Unfortunately, too many folks wait years before getting treatment.
If you suspect you have a hearing loss, don’t wait. First step, check with your health care provider. It could be something easily treatable: wax in the ear canals or an ear infection. But if is something more complicated, such as sudden hearing loss, you will probably need to see a Ear, Nose and Throat specialist or an audiologist to arrange for a hearing test to determine the degree of hearing loss and what options you have – such as hearing aids.
 
You can learn more including types and causes of hearing loss; different treatments; and the latest trends in hearing aid technology, at the 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on June 24th when Jim Petrusich, audiologist at MCMC, will be the speaker. It should be a fascinating and informative presentation on an important topic that affects many of us. 
The Center does not offer computer classes, but it does provide computer help every Wednesday from 9:00 -10:00 (or call for an appointment) for those who are stuck or need help with the basics. Bring your laptop or iPad, or even your iPhone, with you.  But I know many folks who aren’t interested in learning about computers or the Internet. And yet, more and more information is now provided online. If you are looking for information or forms – for example the Elderly Rental Assistance Program Form (90R), call the Center and we will do our best to find the information online and print it for you. 
At the Center this Saturday the 21st is your monthly chance to let someone else do the breakfast cooking. The menu includes Biscuits and Gravy with scrambled eggs and sausage plus fruit and coffee served from 8:00 to 9:30 – all for $5.00. Thanks to Leanne Curtis and the employes of The Dalles Health and Rehabilitation Center for sponsoring the breakfast. 
Truman will be playing his “Country Gold” at the Center on Tuesday, June 24th. Doors open at 6:00 and music starts at 7:00. All ages are welcome and donations are appreciated. 
One of the most popular American actors in the 50’s, winner of an Academy Award for his role in Stalag 17, and best man at Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s wedding was William Holden. (The winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Joann Scott.)
During the 1940s and early ‘50s, a big band toured under the name “The Musical Depreciation Revue”. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the American musician who led this band that was known for their irreverent arrangements of popular songs often using gunshots, whistles, cowbells, and outlandish vocals? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a 1942 recording of the City Slickers performing “Der Feuhrer’s Face”. 
Well, its been another week trying to keep the beat without forgetting the lyrics. Until we meet again, don’t try to build a suspension bridge over a river that doesn’t exist. 
“I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives.” Anonymous

Aging Well June 10th 2014

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I came across this quote by Mitch Abom, journalist and writer best known for “Tuesdays with Morrie”. “It’s funny. I met a man once who did a lot of mountain climbing. I asked him which was harder, ascending or descending? He said without a doubt descending, because ascending you were so focused on reaching the top, you avoided mistakes. The backside of a mountain is a fight against human nature,” he said. “You have to care as much about yourself on the way down as you did on the way up.”

Isn’t that the way life is? You think the first half of your life should be the most difficult: school, careers, family and kids. But it’s really the second half that is the greater challenge: after you have reached the pinnocle of your life, trying to reimagine the rest of your life as you experience personal loss and body malfunctions. (Soon I’m going to be taking bets on which of my body parts will fail me next. And in the meantime I’m hoping above all hope my wife doesn’t treat me like an old jalopy and trade me in for a more dependable model!). 

But just as this second act demands greater attention and care, it is worth it. The view can be
 breathe taking and there is so much more to experience – as you discover new mountains to climb.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to the recent mailer and contributed to the Center’s Elevator Fund – from the twenty five hundred dollar check to the twenty dollar bills. Every donation and dollar counts. We are over half way to the goal of raising $104,000 which will be used as the local match when applying for large foundation grants.

The total cost of adding an elevator is estimated by Design Structures to be $312,000. And some folks have asked, “Isn’t that pretty expensive for an elevator?” Well, yes and no. It is a lot for just an elevator, but to accommodate the new elevator without losing space while also enclosing the outside stairs, the most cost effective solution is to expand out the front of the building. Fortunately, the roof line already extends out, so all that is needed is to frame in the front of the Center that is covered. The elevator will be inside near the northwest corner of the building adjacent to the stairs. The Nu-2-U shop, lounge and receptionist area will be reconfigured and a men’s/women’s handicap restroom will be added. We hired Chris Haffner, a local architectural engineer, to make sure all the pieces fit together and we meet all the building codes and accessibility requirements.

With your continued support, we hope to conclude the fundraising campaign by next fall so we can apply for grants to complete this vital addition to the Center.

There is still time to register for the June 16th and 17th AARP Smart Driver Safety Class led by award winning instructor Dennis Davis. The updated curriculum incorporates new understandings about the aging, or should I say “maturing brain”, and how it affects our driving abilities. The class is both informative and entertaining – and cookies are included. The class is on the third Monday and following Tuesday from 9:00 – 12:00 of most every month. The cost is $20.00 or $15.00 for AARP members. Call the Center to sign up.
“For the Good Times” will be playing their good time music at the Center on Tuesday June 17th. Music starts at 7:00, and donations for the Center and the band are appreciated.
Many folks remembered Adams Blackjack, the world’s first flavored chewing gum. (And what Jerry Phillips described as almost as tasty “as the fresh tar when The Dalles was in the process of paving streets after WWII”.) But the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Patty Geiger.
This week “Remember When” goes back to Hollywood. Who was one of the most popular American actors in the 50’s, and starred in Sunset Boulevard, Picnic and Stalag 17 for which he won an Academy Award? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a picture of this actor as best man at Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s wedding in 1952.

Well, it has been another week trying to keep the car on the road while driving from the backseat. Until we meet again, there is no point in getting discouraged – it just doesn’t get you anywhere.

“Listen, if you start worrying about the people in the stands, before too long you are up in the stands with them.” Tommy Lasorda Baseball Manager

AGING WELL June 3rd 2014

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It is already a new month; summer is upon us and we’ll soon be complaining about the heat – having forgotten our wish for hotter days during the past cold winter months. And it is time to turn another page on your Passport to Happiness calendar to June and the month’s focus on Cardiovascular Health.
An important component of Cardiovascular Health is treating and most importantly preventing high blood pressure – which is considered a reading of 140/90 or higher. High blood pressure can cause serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. And because it usually has no symptoms it is often referred to as the “silent killer”. The Center for Disease Control estimates that 31% of Americans have high blood pressure and 2 out of 3 adults over 65.  
One approach to reducing high blood pressure, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, is by following the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet which over time can reduce your systolic blood pressure by seven to twelve points. That can make a significant difference in your health risks. The DASH diet is a lifelong approach to healthy eating that encourages eating vegetables, fruit and low-fat dairy foods; and moderate amounts of whole grains, fish, poultry and nuts.
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The DASH diet also includes reducing the use of sodium. But what are the recommended levels of sodium for a day? In a typical day you might consume around 3,500 mg of sodium. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests keeping your daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg a day.  And the American Heart Association recommends no more than 1,500 mg for all adults. If you aren’t sure what sodium level is right for you, talk to your medical provider. 
As you make your food choices, you may want to know the Top Ten sources of sodium for folks 71+ years old. They are: breads and rolls; cold cuts and cured meats; soups; meat and mixed dishes; sandwiches; biscuits, muffins, quick breads; pasta mixed dishes; poultry; cheese; and pizza.
If you want to stick to a low-sodium diet, check the Nutrition Facts label and as a rule of thumb avoid anything that has more than 5% sodium per serving. And fortunately, you can retrain your taste buds to appreciate and enjoy good food with less sodium and live a healthier life. Although I do miss that Friday night Digiorno Pizza.

For the Tuesday Lecture on June 10th, I will further discuss the DASH diet and ways to reduce you sodium use. Bring your success stories of ways you have discovered to reduce your sodium intake.

And for the rest of June, before the Lecture series takes a break during July and August, there won’t be a Lecture on the 17th (there just isn’t any room with the Zumba Gold class led by Marsha Morrison downstairs and the AARP Smart Driver Class upstairs on the third Tuesdays). And on the 24th, Jim Petrusich, local audiologists at MCMC, will discuss the whats, whens and whys of hearing loss.

Martin and Friends will be playing at the Center on Tuesday June 10th. Doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00 and everyone is welcome.

The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is a Beanie or Freshman Cap as Bill Van Nice remembers them being called. (But the winner of a Saturday Breakfast has got to be Don McAllister who still has his green beanie he wore as a freshman at Gonzaga University.)
This week’s Remember When” question is about a unique chewing gum with a colorful history.

In 1869, after buying a ton of chicle from exiled former Mexican president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Thomas Adams boiled a small batch of the chicle in his kitchen creating chewing gum which he later started producing. Then in 1884, he began adding licorice flavoring creating the first flavored gum in the U.S. What was the name of this gum that sold well into the 1970’s? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off with five shares of Mondelēz International, Inc. an American multinational confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate.

Well, it has been another week trying to remember which came first the chicken or – the – uh – pig? donkey? The whatchamacallit!  Until we meet again, keep walking and try to stay on the sunny side of the street.

“It’s possible to own too much. A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure.” Lee Segall

Aging Well May 27th 2014

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It’s ironic, but just this morning before writing this column, I was distracted from my regular routine and I couldn’t remember if I had taken my diuretic pill. I decided I had, but what if I hadn’t, and missed a day. Or worse yet, what if I had taken my pill, but decided I hadn’t and doubled my dose? Both could have serious consequences. But there are a number of things you can do to remind yourself to take them at the right time and in the right amount.

First, as I mentioned last week, know your medications. Make sure you know how to use them correctly, including what to do if you miss taking your pill or accidentally double your dose. And what are the side effects.

Second, set a daily routine. Take your medications at the same time and place every day. And know whether you have any flexibility in when you can take them or need to be taken at a specific time.

Third, create a system of reminders that works for you. You can use a daily or weekly checklist, sticky notes, alarm clocks, or a pill box organizer. Phillips Lifeline offers a medication dispensing service with audio reminders for a monthly fee. And if you are more technologically savvy, you can even use smartphones to receive texts and emails as reminders. (For more information visit the Script Your Future Medication Awareness campaign at www.scriptyourfuture.org.)

Fourth, there is nothing wrong in asking for help. Find out from your healthcare professional if there is an easier way to take all of your medications such as taking take fewer pills on fewer occasions? Ask a friend to help you figure out a system to help remember your medications. And if you have difficulty remembering to take your medications, tell your healthcare professional. She may be able to offer other solutions.

It is important to take the proper dosage at the proper time for the length of the prescription. And as I mentioned last week, if you would like to learn more about ensuring safe and appropriate use of medications check out the website Medication Use Safety Training (MUST) for Seniors™ at http://www.mustforseniors.org/.

At the Center every Thursday and Saturday Nights, starting at 6:00 PM, you can play Bingo the classic American game of chance. And this coming Saturday night May 31st, there will be free pizza from 4:30 – 5:30. And the payout for the last game is up to $1000 if you black out in 61 numbers. (And at 61 numbers there is a darn good chance someone is going to win it!)  So stop by the Center on Saturday night for free pizza and a chance to win some big money.

The speaker for the next 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on June 3rd will be Tim Willis, manager of the local Habitat ReStore Store. And if you don’t know, the store is now open from 9:00 – 6:00 on Tuesdays through Fridays and from 9:00 – 5:00 on Saturdays. And they are particularly looking for volunteers during the busy summer months.
The Strawberry Mountain Band will be playing their foot stomping country music at the Center on Tuesday June 3rd. Music starts at 7:00 and there will be Pie and Ice Cream for sale and donations for the band are appreciated.

The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is saddle shoes – popular in the 50’s and worn by both men and women including Elvis Presley in the movie Jailhouse Rock. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Bill Van Nice.)

On many college campuses during the 50’s and early 60’s, it was a tradition for freshmen to wear this kind of cap including at Purdue University when I was a freshmen in 1966.  What was the name for a tight fitting brimless cap made from triangular sections of cloth joined by a button at the crown, and seamed together around the sides? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off at the Center with a one of these caps that has a propeller attached to the top as worn by Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent’s friend.

Well, it has been another week trying to tap dance my way off the stage. Until we meet again, as the wise farmer once said “Timin’ has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.”

“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” Carl Sandburg

Aging Well May 20th 2014

Aging Well in the Gorge No Comments
It is said if you’re over 65 and need a conversation starter, bring up the subject of medications. It is a safe bet because five out of six persons 65 and older are taking at least one medication and almost half take three or more.
With the advancement in pharmaceutical research, the lives of older adults have been improved and many have been saved. But there are also significant risks, so it is important you manage them safely.   
Some steps you can take are common sense: keep an up to date list of your medications and supplements with your health care team; follow your doctor’s instructions; take only your own medications and keep them in their original containers.
But it is also important to know your medications.  
Which means to ask questions – and make sure you understand the answers. (I try to bring my wife with me so I have another set of ears – and a better memory.) Know the name of your medications and how they look so you will recognize if the pharmacist gives you something different.
Know how to use the medications correctly. Read the directions on the label and any other information you receive. Ask if there other medicines, foods, or activities that you should avoid while using the medications? What to do if you forget a dose? When you should take the medication and how long between each dose?
And know about possible side effects.  Older adults are more medically complex. And for adults over the age 65 who take five or more medications, about one-third experience a serious adverse effect each year. So ask what side effects to expect and which ones are serious. And since some side effects may bother you initially, but improve over time, ask when you should contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have certain side effects?
By knowing your medications, you will know what to expect, what to avoid and are more likely to use them correctly. Next week I will share with you tips on how to make sure you take your medications on their prescribed schedule. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about ensuring safe and appropriate use of medications an excellent website is Medication Use Safety Training (MUST) for Seniors™ at http://www.mustforseniors.org/.
Nehemiah Brown is performing once more at the Center on Friday May 23rd from 7:00 – 9:00 sponsored by The Dalles Health and Rehabilitation Center. Everyone has enjoyed his previous performances, and for $3.00 per person, you can’t beat the price.
The speaker for the next 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on May 27th will be Andy Roof who will be discussing “Living with Persistent Pain”. Andy is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Specialist with a master’s degree in physical therapy. He works at Water’s Edge where he also teaches the “Explain Pain” class which helps patients understand the role pain plays in their lives and bodies and how to treat pain through a variety of treatment methods including lifestyle changes, appropriate exercise and education on the physiology of pain. This is another MCMC presentation you won’t want to miss.
Truman will be performing his Country Gold at the Center on Tuesday May 27thstarting at 7:00 PM. There will be Pie and Ice Cream for sale for those with a sweet tooth. Bring your dancing shoes and enjoy an evening of fine country music.
It is not Caster Oil or Geritol, two of the answers I received for last week’s “Remember When” question. But it was Hadacol: the 1950’s product marketed as a vitamins supplement although in the dry counties in the South if was known to be served in a shot glass because of its 12% alcohol content. (And the winner is Karl Vercouteren who remembers the jump rope rhyme from the 50’s “HADACOL the doctor/ HADACOL the nurse, HADACOL the undertaker/ driving the hearse”.)
But this week it is clothing styles. What is the name of the style of shoe, most common in black and white, popular in the 50’s, worn by both men and women, and has a distinctively shaped decorative panel placed mid foot – which gives the style of shoe its name? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop a pair off with your favorite poodle skirt. (I wear a size 10 – and that’s the shoe not the poodle skirt!)   
Well, it has been another week trying to light a fire on another windy day. Until we meet again, no matter whether the sun shines or not, life goes on.
“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” James Dean

Aging Well May 13th 2014

Aging Well in the Gorge No Comments
I don’t think any of us need to be reminded about the importance of physical activity and exercise – which is the focus for the month of May in your Passport to Happiness Calendar. But for many folks the challenge is how do you get going, keep going and know how your “going” is doing? A great place to start is the website Go4Life at www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life. It is created by the National Institute on Aging and offers simple everyday fitness ideas on staying physically active at any age: how to get started; setting goals and a sample of exercises focusing on endurance, strength, balance and flexibility.
But the site also suggests to get the most out of your exercise it needs to be a basic part of your life.  But how?
Start by making it a priority. You might want to take a walk first thing in the morning. Or in my case, every morning I practice my balance and flexibility – by trying to put on my pants, standing up, one leg at a time. And sometimes it’s not a pretty picture.
Make it easy. That may seem counter intuitive, but throw away the athletes’ axiom “No Pain No Gain”. Start simple and slow.  And then try pushing yourself, but know your limits. Remember you are exercising the body you have – not the one you once had.
Make it social. Do you have an exercise buddy? Someone to walk and talk with. Or a dancing partner? Consider joining an exercise group with a friend.
Make it fun. Because the best activity is the one you enjoy doing. If you enjoy the outdoors, try biking or hiking. Listen to music while you walk; read Zombie books while on the treadmill.
And make it happen. There are many places and ways to be active. If you can, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Or when you go shopping, park a little further away; and when inside, walk every aisle in the store (although that might be expensive – finding items you hadn’t thought of buying!) 
Decide to make physical activity a daily part of your life by making it a priority, easy, social and fun. It is never too late to start doing something – which is always better than nothing.
It’s back to the Center’s regular Saturday breakfast schedule: third Saturdays from 8:00 – 9:30. This coming Saturday’s production is sponsored by Green Home Construction and stars foxy French Toast with a supporting cast of screamingly scrumptious scrambled eggs, and buffo bacon, as well as fruit and beverage. The cost is $5.00 for adults, and $3.00 for children 12 and under. All ages are welcome.  
Are you getting the hang of reading the Center’s music announcement backwards? Let’s work the grey cells for another week before a break.  
Ta eht Retnec no Yadseut, Yam ht02, “Rof Eht Doog Semit” lliw eb gniyalp rof ruoy gnicnad dna gninetsil tnemyojne. Ereht lliw eb eip dna Eci maerc rof elas; dna a noitanod nac lliw eb tes tuo rof eht dnab. Cisum strats ta 7:00, sdne yb 9:00 dna enoyna ohw sliame em lliw eviecer eerht eerf tliuq elffar stekcit.
The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is Hedda Hopper: gossip columnist who wrote Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood for the Los Angeles Times starting in 1938. (And the winner of five quilt tickets is Terri Dean.)
While attending the Wasco County Pioneers Annual gathering, I was reminiscing with Del Hendrickson about a product he remembered in the 50’s marketed as a vitamin supplement that would give you “Pep, Strength and Energy of Buoyant Health” – although the 12% alcohol content labeled as a “preservative” may have had something to do with it.  It was heavily marketed including traveling medicine shows through the south featuring such celebrities as Hank Williams, Bob Hope, and James Cagney. And when Dudley LaBlanc, the entrepreneur who made millions selling this elixir, was asked how he came up with a name for the product he answered “Well, I hadda call it something.” What was the name of this cure-all?  E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off with a bottle of Min-So-Late made by the Happy Day Company.
Well, it has been another week trying to pick up the pieces before they fall through the cracks. Until we meet again, if you find the front door locked, climb in through the bathroom window.  
“You gotta try your luck at least once a day, because you could be going around lucky all day and not even know it.”  Jimmy Dean