Author Archives: mcseniorcenter

Aging Well October 8th 2013

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If you are struggling to pay your bills – as the cost of living constantly increases, and yet you have paid off your house – which you purchased for $35,000 forty years ago and is now worth four times that much, you are one of thousands of American older adults who are income poor but “house” rich. To help older adults in this kind of situation, reverse mortgages, also known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), were created to allow homeowners aged 62+ to convert a portion of their home equity into cash while they continue to live at home for as long as they want.

According to the National Council on Aging,reverse mortgages can be a useful financial tool for older homeowners and have become increasingly popular in recent years – but they’re not for everyone. And because there are unscrupulous people and companies that sometimes use reverse mortgages to exploit consumers, counseling is critical in providing unbiased information to equip the borrower with the knowledge needed to make an informed choice.
There is more information on the National Council on Aging’s (NCOA) Home Equity Advisor website, (http://www.homeequityadvisor.org/)  including other  options for saving money and remaining in your home, as well as additional questions and answers about reverse mortgages.
In addition, at the Center’s Tuesday Lecture on October 15th at the 11:00, Jim Bishop, from Westcorp Mortgage, will discuss the pros and cons of reverse mortgages to help you can better understand whether a reverse mortgage is a good option for you.
Thanks to everyone who attended the Back Rib Dinner fundraiser to support Meals-on Wheels and the Senior Center. Once again the attendance was great, the ribs were excellent and Hardshell Harmony entertained everyone with their “foot tapping, knee slapping, good time” music. Thanks to all the volunteers, businesses that donated to the silent auction, and especially The Springs at Mill Creek which with their sponsorship made it all possible.
But the success of the dinner is just one example of how so many folks support the numerous local civic groups that make our communities so healthy and strong. And you can find out what else is going on at The Dalles Chamber of Commerce’s “Community Calendar” website including other great fundraisers such as the “Book Lover’s Ball” at the Sunshine Mill on Friday the 11th and The Dalles Art Association’s “Art-a-ritaville Auction” on Saturday November 2nd.
Last month I mentioned to reduce your risk of falling, you should try activities that improve your strength, flexibility, and balance. To help you better understand the importance of balance, there will be a Balance and Falls Awareness Event at The Dalles Fitness and Court Club on October 30th from 9:30 – 11:00 presented by the therapists at Gorge Spine and Sports Medicine. There will be tests for postural alignment, functional reach, standing balance, and the ability to go from sitting to standing to walking. For more information call 541-386-9511.
On Tuesday nights, the Center pulls up the carpet and pushes back the tables, so you can dance and listen to some fine local talent – which on the 15th will be Truman playing his County Gold. And whether you come as a single, couple or as an entire family, everyone is welcome. The doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00 and the suggested donation is $2.00 per person.
Many remembered “Easy Rider” – the 1969 film starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson that depicted the societal tensions of the 1960’s as two bikers travelled through the American southwest and south. (And the randomly selecterd winner of a free breakfast on October 19th is Sandy Haechrel.) But for this week’s “Remember When” question, I’ll stick with movies but change to brand new genre: science fiction movies of the 50’s.
If you were like me when you were younger, you were scared silly by the science fiction thrillers of the time: Godzilla, The Fly, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. What was the name of this 1958 horror/science fiction movie classic that was Steve McQueen’s debut as a leading man and depicted a growing amoeba-like alien from outer space that terrorized the small community of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail with a 45 of the title song (which has the same name as the movie) written by Burt Bacharach and Mack David. 
Well, it has been another week trying to avoid turning on the heat in a drafty house. Until we meet again, don’t waste your time looking in a dark room for a black cat – when there isn’t one.

Aging Well October 1st 2013

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This Friday night from 4:30 – 7:30 Meals-on-Wheels and the Mid-Columbia Senor Center invite you to their 3rd Annual Baby Back Rib Dinner sponsored by their neighbors to the west – The Springs at Mill Creek. With their support and with several other small and large donations, all the expenses are covered, so every penny from every ticket sold goes directly to the Meals-on-Wheels and the Senior Center – split evenly. For only $15 per person you can enjoy a great meal, music by local bluegrass favorites “Hard Shell Harmony and help support Meals-on-Wheels and the Senior Center.

 And for the second year there will be a silent auction – but bigger and better. There will be many fantastic items generously donated by local businesses plus some special ones: a Trailblazer pennant signed by all the players, and for football fans there are two tickets to the OSU-Washington football game on November 23rd including a tailgate party. And with both Washington (4-0) and OSU (4-1) off to great starts, it should be a pivotal game.

 The Open Enrollment Period for Medicare, when you have the opportunity to review and make changes to your health coverage, occurs once again between October 15th and December 7th. In the meantime, you should be receiving in the mail your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) from your current plan. Because the plan can change how they cover your care each year, take time to review it, even if you are satisfied with your current Medicare coverage. Check to see if there are any changes in the plan’s provider network, the drugs that are covered and increases in the costs for the coverage.

 But don’t confuse the Medicare Enrollment Period with the enrollment period for the new Health Insurance Marketplaces or Exchanges (in Oregon called Cover Oregon) created by the Affordable Care Act. If you are enrolled in Medicare, the Marketplaces do not affect you. But the Affordable Care Act does create several new benefits for Medicare enrollees: the percentage you pay for drugs in the “donut hole” is gradually reduced; and Medicare now covers certain preventive services, mammograms or colonoscopies, without charging you for the Part B coinsurance or deductible.

 Unlike Trix cereal, vaccines are not just for kids – or silly rabbits. Each year thousands of older adults die or have serious complications from vaccine preventable diseases. Consequently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends older adults receive the following vaccines: Shingles, Pneumococcal, Influenza (flu), and Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap). At the Center’s 11:00 Tuesday lecture on October 8th Jenny Tran, a pharmacist at Rite-Aid, will explain and answer any questions about these “Vaccines for Older Adults”.

 And since the Flu season is unpredictable and can start as early as October, Jenny Tran will also be offering Flu Shots at the Center before and during lunch on Thursday October 10th.

 Dennis Davis, the volunteer instructor for the AARP Driver Safety Class, wants me to remind everyone that the Driver Safety Class is offered EVERY month on the third Monday and Tuesday. (The next class is from 9:00 – 12:00 on October 21 and 22nd.) The cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members. You can sign up by calling the Center.

Three quick reminders in chronological order: Tuesday, October 1st starting at 7:00 PM, The Strawberry Mountain Band will be performing; the monthly iPad Users Group will meet on Wednesday the 2nd at 1:00 to discuss the new iOS 7.0 operating system; and Sandy Haechrel, AARP Money Management volunteer, will be at the Center on Thursday Oct 3rd at 1:30 to help anyone balance their checkbooks or answer simple financial questions.

 Last week’s “Remember When” question was a tough one but the controversial cartoonist who created such countercultural characters as “Fritz the Cat” and “Mr. Natural” was Robert Crumb or more widely known as R. Crumb. (And the winner and only entry was Bill Van Nice.)

 Sticking with a counterculture theme of the ‘60’s, what was the name of the third highest grossing film of 1969, starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson that depicted many of the societal tensions of the 1960’s as two bikers travelled through the American southwest and south? E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or deliver it to the Center while riding the “Captain America” Harley Davidson specially designed and built for the movie.

 Well, it has been another week waiting to sink my teeth into some Baby Back Ribs. Until we meet again, remember the advice of Robert Heinlein “Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig”.

Aging Well September 24th 2013

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Falls can be more than an inconvenience – when you could just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and move on. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries. And according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) one out of three adults aged 65 or older falls each year, adding up to a cost of $30 billion in 2010.  
So you can see why fall prevention awareness is a big deal. Fortunately there are steps you can take to prevent falls including this list of actions suggested by NIHSeniorHealth. I shortened the descriptions, but you can learn more by going to http://nihseniorhealth.gov/ and searching for fall prevention.
1. Make an appointment with your doctor and be prepared to answer the following questions. What medications are you taking? Have you fallen before? Do you feel any dizziness, joint pain, numbness or shortness of breath when you walk?

2. Keep moving. Try activities that improve your strength, balance, coordination and flexibility such as walking, water workouts, yoga or Tai Chi. And there are exercises where you don’t even have to leave the house such as  a) standing on one foot, b) walking heel to toe, c) balance walk, d) back leg raises, and e) side leg raises.

3. Wear sensible shoes. High heels, floppy slippers and shoes with slick soles can make you slip, stumble and fall. So can walking in your stocking feet.

4. Remove home hazards: boxes, electrical cords and phone cords from walkways. Move coffee tables, magazine racks and plant stands from high-traffic areas; and loose rugs from your home. Use nonslip mats in your bathtub or shower.

5. Light up your living space. Keep your home brightly lit and place a lamp within reach of your bed for middle-of-the-night needs. Consider trading traditional switches for glow-in-the-dark or illuminated switches. Turn on the lights before going up or down stairs. (That was my mistake when I missed the bottom step while taking out the recycling in the dark and breaking my hip.)

6. Use assistive devices. A cane or walker can help keep you steady. In addition install hand rails for BOTH sides of stairways, add grab bars for the shower or tub, or install a sturdy plastic seat for the shower or tub.

These are all relatively simple steps you can take to prevent falls and maintain your independence while avoiding the fine young doctors in the emergency room.

Last week I mentioned the AARP Money Management program offered by the Area Agency on Aging (541-298-4101). But Sandy Haechrel, who volunteers for the program, reminded me that she will be available at the Center on Thursday Oct 3rd at 1:30 to help anyone balance their checkbooks or answer simple financial questions. She has been tested, stamped and certified by the Money Management program, so she knows her stuff.

At the Tuesday Lecture on October 1st at 11:00, I will show a Webinar produced by AARP on The Health Law: How it works for you and your family. Then on the 8th Jenny Tran will discuss Vaccines for Older Adults and on the 15th Jim Bishop will discuss the pros and cons of Reverse Mortgages.

And two quick reminders. At the Center on Saturday the 28th there is a Community Parking Lot sale from 8:00 until 1:00. And on Tuesday, October 1st starting at 7:00 PM, The Strawberry Mountain Band will be performing.
The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is Lucky Strikes Means Fine Tobacco (and the winner of a free breakfast on October 19th is Janet Mabrey.) But Bill Van Nice also remembers from fifty or so years ago, L.S.M.F.T. was used on the local radio stations and stood for “Les Schwab Means Fine Tires”. And Don McAllister had a junior high flashback remembering “Loose straps mean …”   Well, I better stop there – this is a family newspaper.
But this week’s question may be a tough one, unless you were a comix aficionado during the late ‘60’s. Who was the controversial cartoonist that created such countercultural characters as “Fritz the Cat” and “Mr. Natural” and the famous images from his “Keep on Truckin’” strip? E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with the first edition of Zap Comix #1 published in 1968.

Well, it has been another week when someone keeps raising the bar before I can get a drink. Until we meet again, as Will Rogers described the male condition “There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence.” 

Aging Well September 17th 2013

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Senior Living September 17th 2013 Gary Grossman at BiCoastal Media reminded me that “Brevity is the soul of Clarity” (I wonder what he was trying to tell me?).But that is good advice – particularly this week when there is so much to mention. So let’s turn off the lights and get the show started. 
 This month’s Passport to Happiness event is on Wednesday the 18th starting at 3:00 at the Center. The focus is on the many faces of elderly abuse: physical, financial and emotional. If you are a victim of abuse or know someone who may be, contact the Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) office (1-800-452-2333) or the Area Agency on Aging (541-298-4101) to report your concerns. I have referred several people to APD and they have been both discrete and respectful in their investigations. 
 What has become an annual event, the TDHS class of ’63 (and I am told the best TDHS class ever!) is sponsoring the Center’s September “Back to School” breakfast on the 21st. Because of their warm appreciation for all the teachers that instructed, scolded and dragged them through high school, they will pay for breakfast for all current and retired teachers who want to enjoy a menu of Texas French Toast, sausage, and scrambled eggs. Otherwise breakfast is $5.00 and $4.00 for Center members. Breakfast is served from 8:00 – 9:30 (which may be a little early for some classmates who will be “reunionizing” Friday night).
Watch your step! National Fall Prevention Day is Sunday, September 22nd (the first day of fall). And for the 11:00 Tuesday Lecture at the Center on the 24th, MCMC will present “Falls and Osteoporosis”. 
 No matter if you are a beginner or an experienced “hoofer” you are invited to join the Center’s “Trilogy Dancers” who are in the process of re-forming for the 2013-2014 season. This group of women gathers each Thursday morning from 10:00-11:30 to enjoy and practice three types of dancing: tap, clog and line dancing, as well as the fellowship. And since Ardyce Edling has retired, there is an opportunity for a volunteer to lead the tap section. 
 The Creative Arts class led by Debra Jones is returning after a summer break. This fall there will be four individual classes beginning with Chinese watercolor on Thursday September 24th from 1:00 – 2:30. You will learn basic brush strokes and why this quiet reflective method of painting is more about connecting to nature and your inner self. All supplies are provided and the cost is $2.00. But there is only room for eight, so sign up now by calling the Center at 541-296-4788. 
The local Money Management Program is available to help anyone who needs assistance managing their finances: from balancing a check book – to bill paying – to money coaching. If you know someone who needs help, or would like to volunteer, contact the Area Agency on Aging at 541-298-4101 ext 202.
David Lee shared with me a project he and others are working on at the Oregon Veterans Home. They hope to construct a garden adjacent to the facility – worthy of the veterans who reside there. But to move forward, they must convince the Oregon Department of Veteran’s Affairs it is a viable project. So far they have the Master Gardeners designing the garden, but they need to show they have the necessary volunteers when it is time to construct the garden. If you would like to support the project by signing up as a volunteer, or would like more information, call David Lee at 541-993-9862. 
On September 24th starting at 7:00 PM, “For the Good Times” will be playing at the Center for your dancing and listening enjoyment. All ages are welcome and the suggested donation is $2.00 per person and $3.00 per couple. “Look” magazine was the bi-weekly general interest magazine published from 1937 – 1971that emphasized photographs more than articles. (And the winner of a “Back to School” Breakfast on the 21st is Alex Currie.) 
This week’s “Remember When” question goes back to the days when doctors and even Santa Claus were used to sell cigarettes. First introduced on a pack of popular cigarettes in 1945, what do the letters L.S.M.F.T. stand for? E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a video clip of Eddie “Rochester” Anderson singing the praises of this cigarette on the Jack Benny show.  
Well, it has been another week moving sideways while trying to decide which way is up. Until we meet again, as they use to say in the old west, “Poor is having to sell the horse to buy the saddle.”

Aging Well September 10th 2013

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It is often said, “If you’ve seen one Senior Center, you’ve seen one Senior Center”. That’s because every Senior Center is unique: in how they are structured and operated; and how they reflect their community. And that’s true of every Senior Center and the many meal sites in the Mid-Columbia from Sherman County to Hood River and Klickitat Counties.

 But what they do have in common is offering a place where older adults can stay active, engaged and empowered to contribute to their own health and well-being; and where the experiences, skills, and knowledge of older adults are valued and their dignity, self-worth, and independence affirmed.

 Because of the valuable role of Senior Centers and meal sites, September has been designated National Senior Center Month to recognize both the senior center and meal site participants and the staff and volunteers who work every day to enhance the well-being of older citizens.

If you haven’t already visited your local Senior Center or meal site, take time and stop it. You will find helpful programs and activities, but most importantly you’ll find wonderful, caring and active folks.

 To kick off National Senior Center Month at the Center in The Dalles, two work teams of committed, energetic and slightly nuts volunteers decided to put words into action and added a little lipstick to the Center – which is showing some wear and tear of middle age. Because of their efforts, the Center’s downstairs concrete floor was brightly painted – after removing the carpet which Laura Comini remembers Shilo Inn donating twenty plus years ago. And then over the Labor Day weekend – believing you should never waste a good three day weekend – the Center’s dining room was repainted. (The most difficult task was choosing the paint colors – but so far the reviews have been good.) Thanks to everyone who helped plus Discover Rentals, Brace Brothers – and Sawyers True Value for having their Labor Day Paint Sale just for us!

 Did you know when older adults were asked what was most important to maintaining a high quality of life, staying connected to friends and family was the top choice – ahead of financial means? And that 71% of older adults feel the community they live in is responsive to their needs, but just 49% believe their community is doing enough to prepare for the future needs of the growing older population? These are some of the key findings from the National Council on Aging’s report called ”The United States of Aging” which will be discussed at the Center’s next Tuesday Lecture at 11:00 on the 17th.

 One of the benefits of having children home is they are always showing you some new technological device or program – to add even more distractions to your life. The latest example is Twitter. But even though I can waste hours reading the “tweets”, Twitter has allowed me to follow Oregon Scam Alert. The most recent scam has been reported by the Better Business Bureau, They are asking folks to keep an eye on their magazine renewal subscriptions, and avoid payment to Associated Publishers Network (APN). There have been a flood of complaints about this renewal subscription “business” mailing out phony renewal invoices. So beware. For more information and additional scam alerts check out the Center’s blog/website at midcolumbiaseniorcenter.com.

 Every Tuesday night there is music and dancing at the Center starting at 7:00 PM including Truman who will be playing his Country Gold on the 17th. The suggested donation is $2.00 per person and $3.00 per couple.
Several folks remembered the Seattle Pilots professional baseball team that played just one season in 1969 (including Jess Birge winner of a September 21st Saturday Breakfast). But I wasn’t one of them. I was in Indiana packing up my VW van for the wild, wild west called Oregon and the Wil-uh-Met Valley.

And for this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the bi-weekly, general-interest magazine that emphasized photos more than articles; and was published from 1937 to 1971 – peaking in 1969 with 7.75 million subscriptions, second to only Life magazine? E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a limited edition photo taken by film director Stanley Kubrick when he was a staff photographer for this magazine.

 Well, it has been another week trying to keep my marbles from rolling off the table. Until we meet again, as the Oklahoma sage, Will Rogers once said “If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging”.

 “Worry is like a rockin’ horse. It’s something to do that don’t get you nowhere.” Old West Proverb

Aging Well September 3rd 2013

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Because of the Labor Day Weekend, I had fewer days to collect my thoughts for this column, so I decided to kick the ball down the field till next week and instead share with you some sagely advise I found called the “Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess”. (But I do it with some reservation. I have this notion in the back of my head that I have shared it before. But then I shouldn’t be too overly concerned – there’s a lot of stuff I’ve discovered in the back of my head that should be ignored!)

Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess

Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from becoming too talkative, and especially from the unfortunate habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and at every opportunity.

Release me from the idea that I must straighten out other peoples’ affairs. With my immense treasure of experience and wisdom, it seems a pity not to let everybody partake of it. But thou knowest, Lord, that in the end I will need a few friends.

Keep me from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.

Grant me the patience to listen to the complaints of others; help me to endure them with charity. But seal my lips on my own aches and pains — they increase with the increasing years and my inclination to recount them is also increasing.

I will not ask thee for improved memory, only for a little more humility and less self-assurance when my own memory doesn’t agree with that of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong.

Keep me reasonably gentle. I do not have the ambition to become a saint — it is so hard to live with some of them — but a harsh old person is one of the devil’s masterpieces.

Make me sympathetic without being sentimental, helpful but not bossy. Let me discover merits where I had not expected them, and talents in people whom I had not thought to possess any. And, Lord, give me the grace to tell them so. Amen” 

Last week I mentioned how you can sign up for Citizens Alert, a reverse 9-1-1 system, by visiting www.co.wasco.or.us. But I just learned if you have a traditional listed land line, you are automatically signed up. So you are good – unless you don’t have a landline or want to be notified by cell phone, text or email, and then you will need to sign up.
Now that we have passed the unofficial demarcation between summer and fall, many of the Center’s activities are returning from their summer break. In particular two activities start on Tuesday September 10th: Tai Chi led by Corliss Marsh from 1:00 – 1:45 ($2.00 a class) and the free Tuesday Lecture Series at 11:00 when I will discuss National Senior Center Month and the value of Senior Centers and meal sites in your communities.
I’ll give you a break this week – no Pig Latin or other tricks – just your run-of-the-mill good old American English. Tonight the Strawberry Mountain band will be playing. And next Tuesday on the 10th Martin and Friends will be strumming and picking for your listening and dancing enjoyment. Doors open at 6:00 and the music starts at 7:00 – all for a suggested donation of $2.00 for one and $3.00 for two.
The answers to last week’s “Double Your Fun Remember When” questions were all about royalty: “Queen for a Day” and Nat King Cole. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast on September 21st is Sheila Cooper.)
And now that fall is in the air with football starting and professional baseball coming to a close, it’s time for a sports question. See if you are a true sports fan and can answer this one! What was the name of the American professional baseball team based in Seattle that played for just one season in 1969 before moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 2, 1970 and changing their name to the Brewers?
E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a paperback copy of “Ball Four” – Jim Bouton’s inside look at baseball during his 1969 season in Seattle.
Well, it has been another week trying to turn grapes into wine, strawberries into jam and lemons into lemonade. Until we meet again, keep your chin up, your head down and your pants on.
“Keeping up the appearance of having all your marbles is hard work, but important.”
― Sara Gruen

Aging Well August 27th 2013

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Over the last week, the firefighters and federal, state and local agencies have received well deserved appreciation for working courageously to contain the Government Flats Complex fires. And with the rain and cooler fall-like weather forecasted, the wildfire should no longer be a threat.  

But they haven’t been the only ones busy. The Red Cross and the North Central Public Health District have been supporting those disrupted by the wildfire. In particular, they have been distributing N95 Particular Masks to anyone who is adversely affected by the smoke in the air. The Center still has a few of the masks if you need one to add to your emergency preparedness supply kit.

But this might also be a good time to ask yourself how prepared are you for an emergency? You can learn more about Emergency Preparedness at http://www.wshd.org/including the recommended items for a basic emergency supply kit, how to make a family emergency plan (you might not always be together when an emergency occurs) and how to stay informed. (I learned when the power has been off for 4 hours or more you should throw away perishable foods in your refrigerator. And thawed food that contains ice crystals can be refrozen or cooked. Freezers, if left unopened and full, will keep food safe for 48 hours – 24 hours if half full).

Also you might want to sign up for the Citizen Alert system if you haven’t already. (It was used for the first time by the Wasco County Sheriff’s department to warn residents during the wildfire.) The system enables Emergency Response Agencies to quickly get critical information to you – not only concerning wildfires, but also severe weather, floods, street and road closures, missing persons, law enforcement activities and evacuation notifications. You can receive the notifications by phone, email, or text – whatever works best for you.
Go to the Wasco County website at http://www.co.wasco.or.us and at the bottom of the page click on “The Citizen Alert Notification Sign up”. If you have difficulty or don’t have access to the Internet, you can call Wasco County Citizen Alert at 541-506-2790. Or you can always stop by the Center on Wednesdays between 9:00 – 11:00 during the Computer Help Lab (or call and schedule an appointment) and someone will assist you in getting signed up.

Now that you are prepared for any kind of emergency, let’s move on to something a little less serious – the foreign language of my youth. No, not the “Ich mag nicht!” German I had to learn in high school, but Pig Latin of my elementary school days. And since many of you probably also learned that secret language, you won’t have too much trouble understanding the weekly announcement for Tuesday Night Music at the Center. (And if you do have trouble, you can actually find a Pig Latin translator on the Internet. No kidding!)
Onighttay atway ethay Entercay, “Orfay ethay Oodgay Imestay” illway ebay ayingplay. Andway extnay Uesdaytay “Ethay Awberrystray Ountainmay Andbay” illway utstray eirthay uffstay. Ethay oorsday openway atway 6:00, usicmay artsstay atway 7:00 andway uggestedsay onationsday areway $2.00 erpay ersonpay orway  $3.00 orfay away ouplecay.
The answers to last week’s “Remember When” questions were: Twiggy – the British teenage model, famous during the mid-1960’s; and Woody Woodpecker – the “ha-ha-ha-HA-ha” cartoon character. (And the winner of a September 21st Saturday Breakfast is Mike Nagle.)

And how about one more “Double your Memories, Double your Fun” – for old time’s sake? 1) What was the name of the game show broadcast on television from 1956 to 1964 where each contestant explained her recent hard ship story and what she needed most? 2) Who was the American jazz pianist and singer with a soft baritone voice who was one of the first African- Americans to host his own variety show? And both answers have something to do with “royalty”.
E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with the classic film noir “Double Indemnity” starring Fred MacMurray – playing a character quite different from his “My Three Sons” role.

(And thanks to all of you who have sent in answers. Even though I can’t always reply, it is good to hear from you, particularly the many “Remember When” memories you have shared.)

Well, it has been another week thanking all the public employees and volunteers who work to keep us safe and secure. Until we meet again, there comes a time when you see your doctor so often, she is now invited to your family reunions.

“Be kinder than is necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” Philo of Alexandria   

Aging Well August 20th 2013

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When does old age begin? A Pew Research Center study found that it depends on who you ask. Those thirty years old and under believe old begins at 60; those between thirty and forty nine, believe 69 is the turning point; and for those who are sixty-five and older, old age begins at 74 (which may just prove Bernard Baruch wasn’t far off when he said “To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am”.)

 But although chronological age can be a predictor, in reality we all age differently, we all deal with life differently; and it doesn’t matter whether we are young old (65–74), middle old (75–84) or the oldest old (85+); chronological age really doesn’t mean squat.

 Old especially in the context of “I’m too old” is just a broad broom that sweeps away possibilities and opportunities: an attitude that can color everything we do and limit what we can still accomplish. There are many of us who thirty-something’s might consider too old to set tables for a Saturday Breakfast, maintain the church grounds or serve on administrative boards. Or too old to mentor young children, dance with a friend and lover, or play a mean guitar. (Or as some overly protective adult children might believe – too old to live alone or drive a car!)

 But “too old” is not a good reason to avoid doing something – or anything. If you are not interested or unable, that’s okay. Not everything is possible – and you are the boss. But we are never “too old” to do what is possible: to play, explore, connect with others and in many simple ways – still make a difference.

 The Center will be hosting a Community Parking Lot sale on September 28th from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Spaces are $25.00 each. This is the third year Sylvia Loewen and Barb Pashek have organized this fundraiser for the Center. The deadline for reserving a space is September 20th. If you have any questions you can call Sylvia at 541-298-4682 or stop by the Center to pick up an application.

And at the same time the Nu-2-U Shop we will be clearing house with a sidewalk sale while cleaning and reorganizing the Nu-2-U Shop. This may be the year’s last chance to buy or sale good used items on one of the busiest corners in The Dalles.

 Tickets are now available for the Baby Back Rib Dinner, the Meals-on-Wheels and Center’s big fall fundraiser on October 4th – the first Friday in October. Once again it is sponsored by our neighbors to the east: The Springs at Mill Creek; and once again the tickets are only $15 a person. In addition to the lip smacking, back slapping, finger licking baby back ribs, there will be an expanded silent auction. And I have heard there just may be two tickets to the OSU – University of Washington football game in Corvallis on November 23rd including a tail gate party and a gas card to help pay for the trip. You can pick up tickets at the Center or at Klindt’s.

 Tonight at the Center, Truman will be playing his Country Gold. And next Tuesday “For the Good Times” will show you how to have a “good time” dancing and listening to classic country western. The doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00 and suggested donations are $2.00 per person or $3.00 for a couple.

 You probably thought last week’s question was too easy, but ask any nineteen year old what an 8-track is and he would be probably just give you a blank “what are you talking about” look. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast on September 21st is Jerry Harris.)

But this week’s “Remember When” is a “double your pleasure, double your fun” test with two unrelated questions, but the answers have something in common. 1) Who was the prominent British teenage model, who in the mid-1960s epitomized the swinging sixties? 2) What was the name of the animal cartoon character that first appeared on television in 1957 and was known for his famous staccato laugh: “ha-ha-ha-HA-ha”? And “tree” is the common element. E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a pack of Wrigley’s “Doublemint” gum. Well, it has been another week trying to stay ahead of the curve on the twisting road of life.

Until we meet again, always question, but don’t let it keep you from acting.

 “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C. S. Lewis

Aging Well August 13th 2013

Aging Well in the Gorge No Comments
Downsizing sounds like one of those cold business terms used during tough financial times. But it has a whole different meaning when after the kids have left for greener pastures, you decide living in your house is like wearing a 48 inch pair of paints with a 32 inch waist – way too much room.

But it is tough trying to sort through all the personal possessions accumulated over the many years: the children’s fourth grade Christmas decorations; the worn picture books read before bedtime, and the thanksgiving paper turkeys made out of traced hand prints.

And so many memories: pencil marks on the walls recording the growing children, the kitchen table where stories were shared and disagreements solved, and the rug on which you danced your two-year old to sleep while holding him in your arms. Memories you are afraid will be forgotten and lost – never to be awakened again, once you leave these familiar walls.

But it is time to move. And after days or months of indecision you find a moment of weakness and finally decide to clean house – tossing memories and hoping that days or months later you won’t regret your actions.

So you are ready. Now what are your housing options? A small condominium, apartment, assisted living – or a Volkswagen van crisscrossing America?

These options (except the Volkswagen van) will be discussed at the next Passport to Happiness event on Wednesday August 21stfrom 3:00 – 4:30 at the Center.  Dave Peters, the manager of the local Housing Resource Center, has invited speakers representing different types of housing including independent living, affordable senior housing, assisted living, group and nursing home care. You can also contact Dave at 541-296-5462 ext. 18 or toll free (888) 536-8919.

This coming Saturday is the Center’s monthly breakfast from 8:00 – 9:30 AM. Come and enjoy a delicious meal, meet old friends and support the Center. The menu includes either Biscuits and Gravy or Huevos rancheros casserole, (or what the heck, you can have some of both!) sausage, fruit and a breakfast beverage,

It is now confirmed – the LINK will be providing transportation to the County Fair on Thursday (free admission day) for the free Senior Picnic sponsored by Flagstone Senior Living and the Area Agency on Aging. The bus will be leaving the Senior Center at 10:00 and then leave the fairgrounds at 1:30. The cost is just $3.00 each way which is cheaper than the cost of gas to drive down there on your own. There is still plenty of room. Call the Center (541-296-4788) or the LINK (541-296-7595) to reserve your place.

Every time my daughter returned from one of her overseas adventures to Korea or Japan, she would bring home a bag or a shirt decorated with English words that at first glance you wondered “What  were they trying to say!“ So using a “lost in translation” version, here is this week’s music announcement for the Center after being translated to Chinese, Korean, Japanese and back to English. 

Today, Martin and friends to play center. Next Tuesday 21 August Truman move on the dance floor with your legs to create 6:00 doors open and music starts to 7:00, or donating $ 2 or $ 3.00 per door, thank you always encourage music.
The automobile company that entered the auto business in 1902 but closed its South Bend, Indiana factory in 1963 – and was the proud builder of the classis Avanti was the Studebaker Automobile Company or as Joann Scott, this week’s winner of a Saturday breakfast, pointed out was originally called The Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company.

For this week’s “Remember When” question, it’s one more question from the scrap pile of past cutting edge technology.  The reel-to-reel tape was the original format for magnetic tape sound reproduction, and although it produced superior sound it was complicated and unwieldy. In response, Bill Lear, of Lear Jet fame, led a consortium of companies including Ford and GM to develop an alternative: a magnetic loop tape enclose in a plastic container that could also be played in automobiles. What was the common name of this type of tape recording that was popular in the late 60’s and 70’s until replaced by cassette recordings? Mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or include it with Fleetwood Mac‘s Greatest Hits– the last major label recording in this format.  
Well, it has been another week trying to keep the chicken in the pot and the lid on top. Until we meet again, don’t let past imperfections taint your future choices.

Aging Well August 6th 2013

Aging Well in the Gorge No Comments
Because we live in a society that reflects the cultural values of independence, youthfulness, and productivity, often the elderly are either negatively portrayed as frail, descript and burdensome “old” folks – ignored, stored away and forgotten. Or on the opposite extreme “super seniors” accomplishing age defying feats of strength and daring.

In response, Orrin R. Onken, an Elder Law attorney practicing in Oregon, wrote “An Older American’s Pledge” which has recently been adapted into “An Elder’s Pledge”. A framed copy of the pledge, donated by Debra Lutje, the Center’s Yoga and Seniorcise instructor, can be found at the Center’s front desk.

This is pretty heady stuff. But it encourages us to stay strong and confident while we continue to write our own unfinished story as we face the many challenges ahead.

“An Elder’s Pledge”

  • We will not be judged by the values of youth.
  • We will not be expelled from work or play.
  • We will not equate aging with illness.
  • We will not be subject matter for experts.
  • We will not be the objects of condescension.
  • We will not be defined as a social or economic problem.
  • We will not be trivialized.
  • We will not be docile.
  • We will not be interned.

  • We will grow and learn.
  • We will maintain a sense of humor.
  • We will support one another.
  • We will cooperate across generations to create a better world.
  • We will nurture and guide the young.
  • We will contribute according to our abilities.
  • We will be proud.


Soon it will be Wasco County Fair time and once again at the fair there will be a free Senior Picnic sponsored by Flagstone Senior Living and the Area Agency on Aging. It will start at 11:30 during Thursday’s (August 15th) Free Admission Day made possible by Mel’s Sanitation.

And if you don’t have a ride to the Fair or would rather let someone else do the driving, LINK is willing to provide transportation. But there is a catch. They would like to have at least five riders. If you are interested in taking the LINK, reserve your place by calling LINK at 541-296-7595 or the Center at 541-296-4788.

And since I am talking transportation, you can now take the LINK to Portland on Tuesday as well as Thursday. The fixed route bus service leaves The Dalles at 7:30 AM and arrives at Clackamas Town Center at 10:30 AM with several stops in between. It then reverses course and returns back in The Dalles by 5:10. It costs only $8.00 one way, but there are no reservations, so it is first come, first served.

Playing at the Center tonight is the Strawberry Mountain Band.  And next Tuesday on August 14th Martin and Friends will keep the dance floor shaking. Doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00 and a suggested donation of $2.00 per person or $3.00 a couple is always appreciated.

The duplicating machine often found in schools, libraries and churches in the 50’, 60’s and 70’s was the mimeograph machine – although Francis Beers remembers an even earlier duplicating machine: the Hectograph – where you transfer the image to an inked gelatin surface. Anyone else remember that?  (And the randomly selected winner of a free August 17th Saturday Breakfast is Laura Comini.)

With Friday night’s “Neon Cruise” car show strutting their stuff through the “gut” of The Dalles; Saturday’s Cruise the Gorge “Show in the Shade” at Sorosis Park; and Sunday’s relaxing “Threshing Bee Car Show” in Dufur Park, for classic car enthusiasts this weekend is as big as the tailfins on a 1959 Cadillac.

So I thought a classic car question would be appropriate for this week’s “Remember When” question. What wagon and carriage company entered the automotive business in 1902 with electric vehicles and then in 1904 with gasoline vehicles, but after establishing a reputation for quality and reliability, closed its American plant in South Bend, Indiana on December 20, 1963? Mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drive your answer to the Center in the first privately owned Avanti which was presented to Roger Ward after winning the 1962 Indianapolis 500. 

Well, it has been another week trying to stay focused without losing my sight. Until we meet again, if you decide to put on a blindfold, don’t complain because you can’t see.

Calvin -“I wonder where we go when we die?” 
Hobbes: “…Pittsburgh?”
Calvin “You mean if we’re good or if we’re bad?” 
From Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson