The place to gather with friends and neighbors; where you can eat healthy but inexpensively, share stories and learn about current issues affecting older adults, is for many folks the senior meal sites. Pioneer Potlatch supports several of them: the Wasco meal site serving noon meals every Monday, Dufur every Wednesday, Tygh Valley every Thursday and Mosier every Monday and Wednesday. And the Sherman County meal site in Moro and Meals-on-Wheels here in The Dalles offer noon meals five days a week plus home delivered meals. With shoe string budgets and the love, sweat and laughs of many volunteers, these meals sites provide nutritious meals – and much more.

Two weeks ago I was able to visit the meal site at the Sherman County Senior and Community Center in Moro for lunch with their director Jan Byram. Besides learning about the many ways the Senior and Community Center supports older adults in Sherman County, I also learned about an exciting effort to build a Gazebo adjacent to the Center on the lawn between the Center and the Sherman County Historical Museum. They are asking for community support in both cash and labor to build the Gazebo that would host Center activities as well as other community events such as music performances. It is an exciting project and to volunteer or learn more about it you can contact Jan at 541-565-3191.

And speaking of Sherman County, why not “take a walk on the rural side” at the Sherman County Historical Museum. The Museum is open daily from 10:00 to 5:00 through October and exhibits over 15,000 artifacts from those used in local churches and schools to dry land wheat farming. It is quite a jewel in the middle of Sherman County.

Did you know you can call 1-800-354-7319, a statewide toll-free hotline, to answer your questions about canning, freezing, making jams & jellies or pickling? You would if you read Garden Highlights – the colorful gardening guide produced by Master Gardener Marty Miller. This month’s guide is planted with tips about harvesting, canning and storing your summer harvest, and much more. Join the 4700+ readers of this free bi-monthly electronic newsletter by emailing Marty at gardenhighlights@hrecn.net. And if you don’t have email, stop by the Center and we will print you a copy.

From last week you know about Judy Merrill’s Foot and Nail Clinics at the Center, but also on the first Friday of each month, Debra Lutje, licensed massage therapist and the Center’s Seniorcise and Yoga instructor, offers 20 minute chair massages for only $20. If you have never had a massage, this is an inexpensive and modest (as in – you keep your clothes on).way to discover for yourself the benefits of a soothing back and neck massage. Call the Center to reserve a time slot between noon and 3:00 PM.

On Monday, August 6th from 5:00 – 8:00 cruise down to Burgerville and enjoy a burger, shake and Walla Walla onion rings. (Or a salad if you just can’t count the onion rings as a serving of vegetables.) The Center is partnering with Burgerville and 10% of everything run through the till between 5 and 8 will be donated to the Center.

“For The Good Times” will be playing tonight at the Center. And next Tuesday on the 7th, the Strawberry Mountain Band starts the month off once again. Doors open at 6:00; music starts at 7:00 and donations are suggested.

The name of the television game show that aired from 1961 to 1967 where celebrities would team up with contestants to guess secret words was “Password”. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast on August 18th is Rayburn Parker.) For this week’s” Remember When” question, how about one more game show question – this time from the fifties. The original version of this game show, hosted by Bud Collyer from 1950 to 1961, featured couples who were required to perform a prescribed stunt within a certain time limit which was counted down on a large 60-second clock. Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a 1954 Sylvania Stratford 21″ television set with halo lighting.

Well, it has been another week, trying to stay cool while the summer sun shines. Until we meet again, as the late Steven Covey pointed out “there are certain things that are fundamental to human fulfillment … to live, to love, to learn, and to leave a legacy”.

”If it wasn’t for procrastination … I’d have nothing to look forward to tomorrow.” Tom Wilson

Wednesday (1) Salisbury Steak
Thursday (2) Oven Baked Chicken with Baby Red Potatoes
Friday (3) Fish or Chicken Nuggets
Monday (6) Chicken Breast on a Bed of Saucy Fettuccine
Tuesday (7) Lemon Pepper Fish

You have a different perspective when you believe it won’t happen to you – when you can’t imagine you will need intense physical therapy (I have always been fit), or the doctor will ever find a spot on your chest x-ray (I never smoked). And certainly you can’t imagine ever falling down and breaking your hip (I am too young for this). But when it does happen, your perspective changes from sympathy – a sense of feeling sorry, to empathy – now I understand!
Over the last several years, I have experienced what I never thought I would when I was thirty years younger: hearing loss, eye floaters, and then the trip, the fall and the broken hip. No longer do I feel infallible – just the opposite. And when I hear what others at the Center have experienced, I now listen closely for any lessons learned.
But I have gained a greater empathy and less self-consciousness towards “getting older” as I experience both the blessings and the “wish that didn’t happens”. I no longer feel uncomfortable talking about toilet seat risers, because after my broken hip (when I was sure someone had lowered the toilet seat by two feet as I painfully tried to pull myself up), I can now extol their benefits.
And I never appreciated the need for foot and nail care. It wasn’t something I could imagine needing. But since 2009, when Judy Merrill started offering foot and nail care at the Center, I have learned how important it is to care for your feet and how difficult that may be for many older adults because of physical, vision and health problems. And now I can imagine Judy’s foot care may be something I will eventually need.
Judy, who has been a registered nurse for 37 years, offers monthly foot and nail care clinics at the Center every first Friday. And her clinics have been so successful, extra ones have been scheduled. In addition, Judy also sees folks in their homes, in facilities and community settings throughout the Mid-Columbia area. For more information or to make an appointment, you can call Judy at 541-980-5038.
Next Saturday, July 28th at 1:00 PM at the Rorick House, 300 W 13th, Karl Vercouteren will present a “hands-on workshop” on using block prints with petroglyph designs. And to make it easy, materials will be provided. You may also want to put on your calendar two other presentations at the Rorick House this summer: August 11, Bill Johnson will be discussing The Oregon Trail in Wasco County and on August 25, Gerald Richmond will be discussing The Civic Auditorium – Then and Now. The Rorick House is open every Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 – 4:00 PM through August.

Carol Mauser, manager of the local office of Aging and People with Disabilities, sent me the following warning from the FTC. Scammers have been making phone calls claiming they are from the government and they need to verify some information because of the Affordable Care Act. If you receive a call allegedly from the government – or from anybody – asking for personal or financial information, you know the routine: Hang Up. And then report it to the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP or the Oregon Attorney General at 1-877-877-9293.
as Carol Burnett
Tonight at the Center, the “Jazz Generations” are playing and next week, on the fifth Tuesday of the month, “For the Good Times” will be knockin’ your socks off. Music starts at 7:00 and donations are appreciated. .

Bucky Beaver wanted you to “Brusha…Brusha…Brusha” with Ipana toothpaste – the answer to last week’s “Remember When” question. (And the winner of a Saturday Breakfast is Ed Anghilante.) This week I will stick with television – specifically, TV Game Shows. What was the name of the television game show that aired from 1961 to 1967 on CBS; hosted by Allen Ludden, where celebrities would team up with contestants to guess secret words using word associations? Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a 1962 home version of the game distributed by Milton Bradley.

Well, it has been another week, trying to stay grounded when the winds a blowin’. Until we meet again, every experience is a teacher and there is still so much left to learn.

For age is opportunity no less/Than youth itself, though in another dress/
And as the evening twilight fades away/The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW, “Morituri Salutamus”

We come, we go, passing through The Dalles and thorough life with many stories to tell. And by fortune or luck, some of those stories are collected and remembered, so not to be forgotten, at the many historical sites in The Dalles. Stories of early settlers and their protectors, business people and farmers; civic leaders and people of faith, all who may mean little to us now, but were important threads weaved together through time to ake the fabric of The Dalles. And we continue to add our own threads and dyes and ribbons; creating new designs that enhance the warn fabric that’s often stretched and sometimes torn, but always mended, becoming stronger and more vibrant to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

And although during this week the big draw for many is the Ft. Dalles Pro Rodeo and Saturday’s 10:00 parade, there are many activities celebrating the stories and proud history of The Dalles. On Saturday video presentations will be shown at the Original 1859 Wasco County Courthouse including “Early Wasco County,” at 12 PM.; “Raising Wheat by Horsepower,” at 1 PM; “Farewell to Celilo,” at 2 PM and the “The Craft of Wheelwrighting,” at 3 PM; Family Fun Day from 10 AM. – 4 PM at the Fort Dalles Museum and Anderson Homestead including Aaron Auer of R.O.A.R. ministries re-enacting Rev. Jason Lee; Open House at the 1850 Rorick House (300 W. 13th St.) from 10 – 4 PM; and the School District Archive Museum (3601 W. 10th St. on the Wahtonka Campus – entrance by athletic fields) will be open 10 AM – 3 PM and every Saturday through September.

And if that is not enough, the Historic 1879 French & Co. Bank (later the 1926 Citizen’s Bank and now the current home of State Farm Insurance Agent Dean Dollarhide at 300 E. 2nd) will be open for tours from 9:00 – 6:00 PM through Friday.

It is also time for the Center’s Saturday Cowboy Breakfast from 8:00 – 10:00 sponsored by Flagstone Senior Living – serving Texas size French Toast (Can you use Texas and French in the same sentence?) with scrambled eggs, your choice of bacon or sausage plus fruit and your favorite breakfast beverage for only $5.00.

On Saturday the 21st it’s time for Old Fashioned Bingo starting at 3:00 (regular bingo starts at 6:00). There are small $5.00 cash prizes (except $25.00 for the last game) and only costs $3 a bingo card or two for $5. And since it is nothing complicated – no happy faces or chevrons – just the traditional straight up, across or diagonally, anyone seven and older can play.

I won’t try to rattle your brain by mixing up the words for this week’s music announcement. But if you want to give your brain a real work out, try doing a regular activity with different senses: unlocking a door with your eyes closed or eating a meal with friends using only visual clues. So this week instead of trying to decipher my jumbled letters, try reading this column while riding a bike; or read it with your eyes shut or better yet – on a bike with your eyes shut. But first you need to know that Truman is playing tonight, Jazz Generations on the 24th; the cost is a small donation or a large one if you have the spare cash. Doors open at 6:00; music starts at 7:00 and you are out before the sun sets. And everyone and their blue moon are welcome.

The legendary comedian who played the bratty toddler “Baby Snooks” on the radio and whose life was the storyline for the film “Funny Girl“ was Fannie Brice. (And the winner of a free breakfast is the P-51 gal – Anna Monkiewicz.) This week’s “Remember When” takes us back to the early days of television advertising. The Disney created character Bucky Beaver was the marketing icon and mascot for what brand of toothpaste that was the most popular U.S. toothpaste from the 1920’s through the 1950s? (And is currently the leading toothpaste in Turkey.) Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a 1920’s recording of “Smiles” by the Sam Lanin Orchestra.

Well, it has been another week, remembering what I can and forgetting what I can’t. Until we meet again, to paraphrase Sydney Smith – correspondences are like a pair of loose pants without a belt, it is impossible to keep them up.

“In times like these, it’s helpful to remember that there have always been times like these.” Paul Harvey

What do you think of when I mention the word “exercise”?

Do you agree with Phyllis Diller whose idea of exercise is a “good brisk sit”? Or Joey Adams who feels “If it weren’t for the fact that the TV set and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn’t get any exercise at all”? Or do you consider exercise a dirty word and every time you hear it you “wash your mouth out with chocolate”?

But to improve your health, maintain your independence, and preserve your mental abilities, it has been shown, over and over, you should be physically activity – whether it is traditional “exercise” or whether it is yoga, gardening, dancing, walking or just trying to keep up with the grandkids.

Because of the known benefits of physical activity, The Alberta Centre for Active Living has been studying what it takes to get people moving. And they have identified four steps: deciding to be physically active; making a plan; setting goals and identifying what stops you from being physically active.

That’s a lot and you can find the details at http://www.centre4activeliving.ca/our-work/toolkit/. But to keep it short and simple, here are a few of the most important points.

Decide why you want to be physically active. What is your motivation? More energy, to do more with friends and family, sleep better or feel stronger. (For many folks it is to lose weight, but even if you don’t lose weight, keep going, because the physical activity is most important.)

Make a physical activity plan that includes the 5 W’s: Why, What, Where, When and Who. It helps you get started, but most importantly, it can help you to keep going. And remember – the best kind of physical activity is the one you will do – and enjoy.

Set goals. And make sure they are achievable – not what you use to do when you were twenty-five. It may be just doing leg lifts in your chair or walking ten minutes every day. And rewarding – do you see the benefits from the activity and are they important to you? And accept a realistic timeline. Start with small steps; don’t look for dramatic change overnight.

Finally, consider possibly the most important question “What stops you from being physically active?”

There are always reasons, but there are usually ways to overcome them. If it is the weather – plan ahead; if it is boring – go with a group; if you are too tired – go early in the morning. And if you are self-conscious about how you look in that swim suit or walking shorts, you aren’t going to look any worse than the rest of us! Trust me.

So find a reason why, build a plan, set goals and overcome the challenges in the way. And then get moving, so you can make the best of the rest of your life.

At the Center, we are always trying different ways to get you out and about. Some work and others don’t, but you never know unless you “throw the spaghetti against the wall”. So under the category of “Let’s see what sticks”, Denise Patton, director of Meals-on-Wheels, is organizing a Pictionary Night on Wednesday July 18th from 6:00 – 8:00. This is open to anyone who just wants to have fun. And don’t worry, if you don’t know how to play – we will be glad to teach you.

The lads and lasses from Strawberry Mountain will be playing tonight for your dancing enjoyment. And next Tuesday, Truman will be singing the country gold from his two CDs. tI si a taerg yaw ot taeb eht taeh edistuo dna etaerc a elttil taeh deisni no eht ecnad roolf. ehT cisum strats ta 00:7, ydobyreve si emoclew, dna snoitanod era detseggus.

It was Danny Thomas who starred in the television sitcom “Make Room for Daddy”. (And the winner of a free Cowboy Breakfast on July 21st is Nadine McCracken.) Since last week’s “Remember When” question may have been too easy, this week I’m going back, back, back to the golden age of radio. Who was the comedian, singer, theatre and film star that played the role of the bratty toddler on the popular radio show “Baby Snooks Show”? Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or write you answer on the back of the album soundtrack for “Funny Girl”.

Well, it has been another week, wishing for winter in the heat of summer. Until we meet again, be cool, keep cool, and whatever you do – don’t blow your cool.

With the recent scam warning reported by the Northern Wasco County PUD – a PUD customer was called and asked for his bank account information because the caller said his payment was past due – reminds us to always be vigilant protecting our financial information. But even though you have heard that many times, you don’t have to be missing a few spoons in the drawer to still be swindled. These devious scam artists are really good at doing what they do best: discovering new ways to separate you from your hard earned dollars.

Not all telemarketing calls are scams, but if you find them irritating there are several things you can do. Avoid giving out phone numbers on surveys, sweepstakes, or online forms. Don’t answer unknown or blocked phone numbers – let them leave a voice message if it is that important. And register your phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov or 1.888.382.1222.

I have found the Do Not Call Registry to work, but there are exceptions to what calls are restricted. You can still receive calls from public agencies; companies with which you have established a business relationship; charitable organizations you have an interest in supporting and the big one during this campaign season – political campaigns asking for your opinion or vote. If you do have a complaint about any telemarketer or knowledge of a possible scam, you can call the Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392.

The next meeting of the Women Widows of Veterans Gathering Support Group will be at the Veteran Services Office in The Dalles at 201 Federal Street on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 11am. These gatherings are an opportunity for grief support as well as ensuring that widows of veterans receive all the available support from Veteran Services. Feel free to call Barb Thomas at 541-467-2651, Ruth Otto at541-769-0078 or Joyce Powell Morin at 541-296-7266 for more information.”

Have you wanted to write your life story? You don’t have to wait any longer. The Columbia Gorge Genealogical is offering “Journal Your Life Story” – a hands-on writing workshop facilitated by Sandy Bisset. The workshop will be held in the Discovery Center Board Room on Saturday July 14th from 10:30 – 3:00. Traditional and nontraditional methods of documentation including writing, drawing and more will be explained. For information and a supply list, email wildflowers@gorge.net or call 541-298-1240. There is a minimal $1.00 fee and preregistration is requested.

The Center’s annual Membership Meeting will be held at 1:00 on Tuesday July 17th. The meeting is also the traditional end of the Center’s 2012 membership campaign. If you have been meaning to join or renew your Center membership, now is the time. (Actually, the beginning of the year was the time but now will do.) Membership dues are $35 per person, $60 per couple or $50 if you want to be a Super Duper member.

Ever since the Center opened in ’87, the Center’s quilters have raised funds for the Center by designing and stitching quilts, as well as mending quilts for a fee. (The drawing for the most recent hand stitched quilt will be held at the Cowboy breakfast on July 21st.) If you are interested in joining the quilters, they meet every Monday from 10:00 – 3:00 in the basement of the Center.

It’s “Martin and Friends” performing at the Center tonight playing their favorite country western standards. And next week it will be the Strawberry Mountain Band. To live is to dance – and you can live every Tuesday at the Center starting at 7:00. Everyone is welcome and donations are appreciated.

Did you remember your favorite summer song? Marilyn Sarsfield (the winner of the Cowboy Breakfast on July 21st) remembered “The Song from Moulin Rouge” from the summer of 1953. But this week’s “Remember When’ question is back to the entertainment world of radio, TV and film. Who was born Amos Muzyad Yakhoob Kairouz in 1912, and was a radio and television actor, best known for playing shifty brother-in-law Amos in The Bickersons’s on the radio and starring in the television sitcom “Make Room for Daddy”? Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or include it with a medal pendant of St. Jude Thaddeus – the patron saint of hopeless causes.

Well, it has been another week, trying to reach my toes. Until we meet again, keep stretching – both body and mind.

“It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can.” Sydney Smith. Sent my way by Earline Wasser who is doing fine in Chandler, Arizona.

Three retirees, each with a hearing loss, were taking a walk one fine June day in The Dalles. One remarked to the other, “Windy, ain’t it?” “No,” the second man replied, “It’s Thursday.” And the third man chimed in, “So am I. Let’s have a coke.”

Does that joke sound too real to anyone besides me? Over the last few years, I have found myself increasingly asking friends to repeat themselves; telling my kids to please “e-nun-ci-ate”, and while watching television constantly annoying my wife with “What did they say?” (Thank goodness for closed captioning.)

But hearing loss is a serious condition – reducing your ability to communicate and consequently affecting your confidence and independence. Unfortunately, hearing loss can become permanent when the tiny hairs in your ears which deliver sound to your brain are damaged from the most common culprits: loud work environments, attending too many Rolling Stones concerts and from changes occurring with that chronic condition you can’t avoid – aging.

Untreated, hearing problems can get worse. But there are several possible treatments to improve your everyday functioning: hearing aids, telephone amplifiers, cochlear implants, special training, certain medicines, surgery and sign language (for those with severe hearing loss). If you are starting to notice hearing loss, don’t wait to check with a hearing professional.
But for some of us, it may be too little too late. And if someday, you and I are having a conversation, and I just smile and nod looking a little goofy, you may want to repeat yourself, because those will be the telltale signs I didn’t have a clue what you were saying.

If you haven’t started your spring cleaning, now is the time, because the Center is accepting donations for its annual Rummage Sale starting Thursday June 28th and continuing through Saturday June 30th. And since the Center is a non-profit, your donations are tax-deductible.

If, as some suggest, dance is a shortcut to happiness, tonight you can find out by dancing to Truman’s Country Gold. And next Tuesday on the 26th, the Jazz Generations will be playing the big band sounds for your listening and dancing enjoyment. The music starts at 7:00, everyone’s invited, and donations are suggested. And in between on Sunday the 24th, the Center will take its turn to host the Pie and Jam Social from 2:00 – 5:00.

I would like to thank Dean Dollarhide, a local agent for State Farm Insurance, for coming through at the last minute (I have to get better organized!) to sponsor last Saturday’s breakfast at the Center. Besides Dean, the Center appreciates the many other local businesses sponsoring the breakfasts over the past year including Mill Creek Point, Flagstone, Cherry Heights Retirement Community, Hearts of Gold, and The Dalles Health and Rehabilitation Center. These businesses are among the many supporting not only the Center but many other community organizations, so don’t forget to shop local first. And if you would like to sponsor one of our Saturday Breakfasts or become a business sponsor, give us a call and will find a place for you.

Okay, this is your last reminder about the “Remember When” Team Trivia night this Friday from 7:00 – 8:30 PM. And remember the secret of team trivia is you only need one really, really smart person and then you just ride their intellectual coattails.

The 1941 film based in part on newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and considered by many to be the greatest film of all time is Citizen Kane. (And the winner of a free Cowboy Breakfast on July 21st is Sandy Goforth.), There aren’t many memories as powerful or tragic as the assassination of President Kennedy. I can still visualize the images from the amateur video recording of President Kennedy’s motorcade passing through Dealey Plaza in Dallas. For this week’s “Remember When” question “What was the name of that silent, color motion sequence that captured President Kennedy’s assassination in 1963?” Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or include it with a Model 414 PD Bell & Howell Zoomatic Director Series movie camera.

Well, it has been another week, trying to keep my body moving in the direction my head wants to go. Until we meet again, there are times when you just have to go with the flow, because as they say in Arabic “The wind does not blow at the ship’s desire.”

“Time you enjoyed wasting is not wasted time.” T. S. Eliot

As we age, we should always try to keep moving since any exercise or physical activity helps improve our health and well-being. And what better way to move than to dance! Over the years I have mentioned the benefits of social dancing because as that wise sage “anonymous” once said “dancing makes us kinder and happier, more likely to love and be loved and less likely to go out and hang ourselves.”
But don’t take my word for it. Dr. Jonathan Skinner who studied the effects of social dancing among older adults found that “social dancing leads to a continued engagement with life – past, present, and future”, “contributes to the longevity of the dancers, giving them something to enjoy and focus upon – to live for” and “alleviates social isolation and quite literally helps take away the aches and pains associated with older age.”

In The Dalles there are many opportunities to dance: the Cherry Park Grange, the Civic and here at the Center on Tuesday nights (Martin and Friends are playing tonight and Truman on the 19th.) If you would like more information about dances or lessons, you can call Bill and Neva Reid (541-296-1570) or Steve Hudson (541-993-3540).

On Saturday, June 16th is the Arthur Higgins Memorial Art Auction supporting local charities including Mosier Valley Seniors and Pioneer Potlatch. Between 10:00 and 1:00 you can view Arthur’s remaining legacy sculptures, kinetic garden art, prints and some paintings with the auction starting at 1:15. Admission is a $5 donation and earns a raffle ticket for a selected piece. The auction is at the Oak Run Studio at 888 Marsh Cut Off Road – drive 3.5 miles east of Mosier on Highway 30 and turn right on Marsh Cut Off Road. There is limited parking so carpooling is recommended. For more information contact Kathy Long at 541-478-2910.

It is that time again – your chance to meet old friends and make new ones at the Center’s Saturday Breakfast from 8:00 – 9:30 AM on the 16th. The menu will include flapjacks, scrambled eggs, sausage and fruit plus the regular array of morning beverages – all for $5.00. As Jack always said, “Food tastes better when someone else cooks it.”

Also at the Center on the 16th, is Old Fashioned Bingo – a chance to play bingo just as you did when you were a kid. In fact bring your kids or grandkids for an hour of fun starting at 3:00 – and the Center will even provide root beer floats. The cost is $3.00 a card or two for $5.00 and the prizes are enough to make it fun: $5.00 for the winners of the first 9 games and $25.00 for winning the final blackout.

A Soul Portrait Workshop with author Sally McBain will be held at the Center on Tuesdays July 3rd and 10th from 10:30 till noon. Join Sally to create your own Soul Portrait which can enhance family communication about the future, serve as a memory aid, and personalize your legacy. You will need to sign up at the Center and purchase the book which is available at either Klindts or the Center.

Your local United Way, which supports many local human service programs including Meals-on-Wheels, is raising funds in partnership with Burgerville. On Monday, June 18th between 5:00 and 8:00 PM, Burgerville is kindly donating to United Way 10% of all sales and an additional 25 cents for strawberry desserts. Take that special person out to dinner, because as Jack always said, “Food tastes better when…” – hold it. I think I’ve already said that – but you get the idea.

Many folks answered Jack Nicklaus, but it was Arnold Palmer along with “Arnie’s Army” that was credited with helping to establish golf as a compelling television event. (Winning a free Saturday breakfast is Alex Currie.)

This week’s “Remember When” question returns to the Golden Age of Hollywood. What 1941 film is based in part on newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and is considered by many to be the greatest film of all time. Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a picture of Hearst’s little ranch in San Simeon, California. (And don’t forget the Center’s second “Remember When” Team Trivia Night, Friday June 22nd from 7:00 – 8:30 PM.)

Well, it has been another week, looking over my shoulder for whatever is trying to catch me. Until we meet again, don’t try to ignore it, but work through it – and then move on.

“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Buddha

To live long and prosperous – that is our wish. Yet we are constantly reminded if death isn’t just around the corner, it is in the neighborhood. And we start to identify with Bill Crosby: “Like everyone else who makes the mistake of getting older, I begin each day with coffee and obituaries.” So we struggle and learn to live with loss.

Last month, Ann Kister, Community Care Liaison with Providence Hospice of the Gorge, presented Seven Strategies: Coping with the Death of a Loved One. The strategies included 1) Reflect on how your loss is unique, 2) Identify your grieving style, 3) Access the available support, 4) Nurture yourself, 5) Become aware of your thoughts, 6) Find ways to honor your loved one, and 7) Explore how this event is redefining you. If you want more information, handouts from the presentation are available at the Center. But let me quickly highlight three of the strategies.

“Or yet if I act, or fail to act, in the manner of your design for action, let me be…” – from “Please Understand me,” by David Keirsaey and Marilyn Bates.

We are all unique – one-of-a-kind. And we approach grief in our own personal ways. There is no right or wrong. But acknowledge that the feelings exist and find your own way to cope – whether it is by talking with others, praying, journaling, reading, gardening, or knitting.

“To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep stepping.” Chinese Proverb

Grief is not a onetime event. You don’t know how long it will last and what it will be like. There will be ups and downs affecting all aspects of your world – creating uncertainty and questions. Find support whether it is close friends or one of the many grief support groups in the area.

“Grieving is about relearning how to be ourselves and to live meaningfully again, carrying the pain of missing those we mourn… It is also often about personal growth, living in fuller appreciation of what we previously took for granted, and embracing enduring meanings.” Thomas Attig

A death of a loved one affects us in many personal ways. But at some time, when you are ready, explore how the loss is redefining who you are, your dreams for the future and how you can create a new sense of normalcy.

As we age, we will experience the loss of loved ones. We will cope and move on. And as Thomas Attig points out we will meet the most difficult challenge “making the transition from loving in presence to loving in separation.”

Recently, I have received unsolicited text messages, one claiming I had “won” a $1000 gift certificate from Best Buy. And several emails from two friends asking me to check out a crazy video on an attached website (their contact lists had been hijacked). But delete them. They are examples of “phishing” – an attempt to direct you to a fake website that may contain malware and viruses designed to infect your phone or computer and steal personal information. So always beware. And for those of you, who haven’t fallen to the lure of electronic communication, see what you are missing!

Tonight at the Center, the Strawberry Mountain Band will be playing their “get up out of your seat” country music. Then next Tuesday on the 12th, Martin and Friends will be performing for your listening and dancing pleasure. The doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00 and you’ll be home before the lights go out. Everybody is welcome and donations are suggested.

More folks than I expected knew “Film Noir” was the name of the film style combining crime dramas with dark, stylized imagery. (And the randomly selected winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is JoAnn Brace.) But instead of watching a crime drama, you can watch a golf tournament practically every weekend on one of the major TV networks. But it wasn’t always that way. For this week’s “Remember When” question which player – who won his first championship at the 1958 Masters – is credited with helping to establish golf as a compelling television event? Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or include it with a membership in the Bay Hill Country Club and Lodge, in Orlando, Florida.

Well, it has been another week, trying to shake the butter from the cream. Until we meet again, as Dr, Seuss advised “Just be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind”.

Memorial Day weekend – the traditional beginning of summer – is over and now it is time to tackle the thrills and chills of rock climbing, sky diving and hang gliding. Maybe not? Okay, how about something a little safer and less strenuous such as – kayaking, because the Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation is offering adult Kayak lessons designed specifically for us adults who might not be as flexible as we once were. And an added bonus: no experience is necessary. Now are you interested? The instructor will get you started and build your confidence in these sit-on-top kayaks – ideal for comfort and stability. The classes will be from 9:00 – 11:00 on June 8, July 13 and August 10 and the cost is only $20.00 which includes the equipment. Register by calling 541-296-9633. And for more information, visit the Kayak Shack webpage at www.nwprd.org/Kayak_Shack.htm.

When the Center opened in ’87, horseshoe pits were added at the southeast corner of the Center property. But times change and for many years the horseshoe pits have been functioning more as a safe home for weeds, orphaned flowers and tall grass. But this spring Ashley Johnson, who volunteers in the Meals-on-Wheels kitchen and who I know through Special Olympics, heard about the proposed reduction in public funding for Meals-on-Wheels and thought the horseshoe pits would be the perfect spot to grow fresh vegetables for Meals-on-Wheels.

Ashley recruited two good friends, Rusty Hubbard and Jarvin Whitesell, and together they spent many days and evenings weeding, watering, digging and moving dirt to start the garden. Ashley also had the help of many folks including Tim at the Habitat’s Restore Store, Bruce Teed, Staci and Rosa Fuss, Brace Brothers and Gary Patton – and eleven volunteers from MCMC who recently spent a morning helping out. Because of Ashley’s efforts and good will, the vegetable garden is a win-win-win for Meals-on-Wheels, the Center and Ashley and her friends.

I didn’t know, but now I do: Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue is distributing to older adults free smoke alarms that MCFR received through a state grant. But they will have to install them which isn’t a bad deal – free smoke alarms with free installation. If you are interested, call the Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue at 541-296-9445.

It’s the “Jazz Generations” performing at the Center tonight. And next week on the fifth Tuesday, “For the Good Times” will be playing for your dancing and listening pleasure. (And once in a while I like to throw in a brain scrambler to see if you still have all your marbles. See if you can read the rest of this paragraph.) We’l lpu llu pth eru gsa ndp ush bac kth eta ble sso you can dan cet oyo urh ear t’sc ont ent ort ill you rle gsw ear out. Mus ics tar tsat 7:00, eve ryo nei sin vit eda ndd ona tio nsa res ugg est ed.

On May 18th the Center hosted its first Team Trivia Night – first, because we are going to do it again for old time’s sake on Friday June 22nd from 7:00 – 8:30 PM. For the first night, there were three teams with the friendly competition won by Jim Heitkemper’s intergenerational team of his mother, wife and grandson. I’ll remind you again before the 22nd, but you may want to start recruiting your team. Until then, I’ll continue to use some of the questions from the first Team Trivia Night for the weekly “Remember When” question.

I didn’t receive one correct answer for last week’s “Remember When” question until I spent last Thursday morning on the Coffeebreak with Al Wynn who knew the answer (which earns him a free Saturday breakfast). The correct answer is G Gordon Liddy: chief operative of the White House Plumbers unit and who directed the Watergate burglaries of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in May and June of 1972. But enough political espionage. Let’s get back to the movie escapism of Hollywood. 1940’s films such as The Big Sleep, The Maltese Falcon, Double Indemnity, and The Third Man were known for combining crime dramas with dark, stylized imagery. What is the name of this film style? Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or include it with a first edition of any Dashiell Hammett detective novel.

Well, it has been another week, looking for a noun in a city of verbs. Until we meet again, keep the tunes humming, the stories coming and the body moving.

“What the country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds.” Will Rogers

How many drug ads can you tolerate during the evening news? Boniva, Paxil, Celebrex, Fosamax, Lunesta, Nexium, Paxil, Vesicare – describing how they will improve your health and well-being. And the ads have to mention all the possible side effects: nausea and diarrhea; dry mouth and sweaty palms; incontinence and constipation, sleeplessness and drowsiness; bad dreams and bad luck. But what do you really know about these miracle drugs?

Before you take any medication be a smart consumer and educate yourself first. Check out the Planetree Health Resource Center or the website MedlinePlus hosted by the National Library of Medicine where you can find trusted health related information. But the best option is to ask your healthcare provider: your doctor, dentist or pharmacist, so you can get the best results and prevent dangerous combinations of medicines.

But what should you ask? Here are ten questions from the “Educate before you Medicate” presentation that was held last week at the Center.

1) What is the name of the medication and what is it supposed to do? Basic stuff but often overlooked. 2) When and how do I take it? Make sure you understand the instructions. 3) How long do I take the medicine? Always finish your medicines unless otherwise advised by your healthcare provider. 4) Does this medicine contain anything that can cause an allergic reaction? Don’t forget to describe any pass reactions you have had to medications. 5) Should I avoid alcohol, any other medicines, foods and/or activities? You don’t want any unexpected reactions. 6) Should I expect any side effects from this medicine? Also find out who you should call if you experience any of the symptoms or have questions. 7) What if I forget to take my medicine? For some medicines missing even one day can be important. And never double your medication without consulting your healthcare provider. 8) Is there a generic version of this medicine that can be prescribed? A way to save money when the cost of prescription drugs can be prohibitive. 9) How should I store the medicine? Always keep medicines away from heat, light and moisture. 10) Is it safe to become pregnant or breast feed while taking this medicine? Probably not a problem for any one reading this column!

No drug is perfect. It is always a balance between the benefits and the side effects. But it is your body, so don’t hesitate to find out more about the medications you are taking.

I need to make a correction from last week. Next week’s Tuesday Lecture is about Whooping Cough and not the newly identified Whopping Cough: a cough caused by breathing in too many excessively large hamburgers in an exceedingly short period of time.

But on the 29th at 11:00 Jenny Tran, a local pharmacist at RiteAid, will explain more about the ral Whooping Cough (Pertussis) and how to protect infants, who are most at risk, by creating a “cocoon of protection” around them to keep them safe. Consequently, vaccinations are highly recommended, especially for grandparents and babysitters. Contact your local pharmacist to learn more about the booster shot (Tdap) to protect yourself and the babies in your life.

It’s the Jazz Generations performing at the Center tonight. And next week on the fifth Tuesday “For the Good Times” will be playing. We’ll pull up the rugs and push back the tables so you can dance to your heart’s content or till your legs wear out. Music starts at 7:00, everyone is invited and donations are suggested.

There were many folks who called or emailed the correct answers to last week’s “Remember When” question. But no one remembered the “Day the Music Died” as well as Steve Bungum (the winner of a free Saturday breakfast) whose home in Iowa was ten miles from where the plane crashed carrying Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J. P. (The Big Bopper) Richardson.

But the answer to this week’s question occurred more recently – only forty years ago. In May and June of 1972, who organized and directed the Watergate burglaries of the Democratic National Committee headquarters? Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or include it with a case of Teflon plumber’s tape.

Well, it has been another week, listening to a digital world with transistor ears. Until we meet again, when it seems like you are constantly taking one step forward and two steps back, put a little swing in your hips and just imagine you are dancing.

“When you to the end of your rope – tie a knot in it and hang on.” Franklin D. Roosevelt