Summer is a time to enjoy the outdoors and the beauty of the Gorge: fishing on the Columbia, trips to Lost Lake, and hiking the Gorge trails.

But as we have experienced, it is also wildfire season, and as you may have heard, the latest forecast is for a significant wildfire potential in the Pacific Northwest starting this month.

We don’t need to be reminded to avoid smoke because we know who’s at the greatest risk. Us! So, how do we prepare to “Be Smoke Ready” and protect ourselves from wildfire smoke?

The go-to resource for the Gorge is the website SmokeReadyGorge.org. There you can learn how to create clean indoor air, make a plan, protect your mental health, protect pets and livestock, and find the air quality index (AQI) from over thirty air quality sensors in the Gorge. And if you haven’t already, you can also sign up for emergency notifications from your local alert system.

But if you don’t want to make a trip to the website, here are some of the key points.

Be aware of the air quality where you are living. The AQI (Air Quality Index) ranges from 0 – 500 with different levels and health concerns. If the AQI is above 100, it can be unhealthy for sensitive groups. If the AQI is above 150, it can be unhealthy for the general public.

Avoid outside activities, but if you must be outside in heavy smoke, a properly fitted N95 grade mask can help. And make sure it fits properly! Your mask should fit tightly around your face so you can’t smell an air freshener sprayed in the air. N95 masks are available through Hood River County Emergency Management, Hood River County Health Department, OSU Extension Service, and NCPHD.

Continuously run a portable air purifier in one or more rooms, but an air purifier can be expensive – unless your overprotective children buy you one! An inexpensive and surprisingly effective alternative is making your own DIY filtration unit. Simply seal a 20–inch square MERV-13 furnace filter (which you may have to order online) to a 20–inch box fan with a bungee cord, and you’re set.

This summer be prepared and visit SmokeReadyGorge.org. It only takes a spark!

Brain Tease. For those of you who remember middle school math classes.

Divide 30 by ½ and then add 5, what’s the answer?

Let’s catch up again. For May 14^th, I missed Shari Lewis, Rebecca Abrams, Dave Lutgens, Rhonda Spies, Rose Schulz

For the May 21^st question, those who sent in the correct answer were Ed Sullivan, Doug Nelson, Dave Lutgens, Judy Kiser, Lana Tepfer, Shelly Hinatsu, Donna Mollet, Craig Terry, Julie Hoffman, Tina Castanares, Pat Evenson Brady, Debbie Medina, Bruce Johnson, Rhonda Spies, David Liberty, Ken Jernstedt, Rebecca Abrams, and Mike McFarlane.

And for last week, the name of the live variety show, first broadcast in 1950, starring Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris was Your Show of Shows. I received correct answers from Bruce Johnson, Judy Kiser, Donna Mollet, Jess and Kim Birge, Dave Lutgens, and Lana Tepfer.

And the quilt raffle ticket winners are Mike Nagle and Eva Summers.

My apologies to Nancy Higgins, whom I have missed too many times.

At a meeting, as part of introductions, I was asked who my favorite female movie star was. Since I seldom watch the current movies, I could only think of this movie star whose Hollywood career started in 1932. I definitely showed my age!  For this week’s “Remember When” question, who has won four Academy Awards for Best Actress and is known for her 26-year relationship with Spencer Tracy? Mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a copy of one of my favorite movies, Bringing Up Baby.

Well, it’s been another week, trying to stay on the road with the wind blowing in my face. Until we meet again, don’t order more than you can swallow.

“So this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad, and I’m still trying to figure out how that could be.” – Stephen Chbosky

Answer: ˙ϛ9 ɥʇᴉʍ dn puǝ noʎ puɐ ϛ ppɐ ‘uǝɥ┴ ˙ᄅ ʎq 0Ɛ ʎldᴉʇlnɯ oʇ pǝǝu noʎ ‘ᄅ/Ɩ uoᴉʇɔɐɹɟ ǝɥʇ ʎq ǝpᴉʌᴉp noʎ uǝɥM ˙ϛ9

We’ve been around the block a few times – even as the blocks seem to get longer and the body slower. We have learned to accept the blessings and burdens of life while embracing our age. And since the days when we thought we knew it all, we have learned many lessons and hopefully are a bit wiser.

Because of our age, we are often thought of as vast storage containers of wisdom.  But if someone asked me what wisdom I would share, I’m not sure what I would say. “It is what it is”, or “It could be worse”, or “Never pass up a chance to use the restroom!”

But what advice would you share with some young fiftysomething who still has so much to learn?

To prime your thinking, here is some advice that circulated in the Internet world several years ago.

1. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.
2. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise like walking every day, eat well and get your sleep.
3. Don’t stress over the little things. You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down, and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now.
4. Always stay up-to-date. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age.
5. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today
6. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people; it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better.
7. Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. Find something you like and spend some real time enjoying it.
8. Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations: Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new – or something old.
9. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them, but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through.
10.  If you’ve been offended by someone, forgive them. If you’ve offended someone, apologize. Don’t drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter.
11.  Laugh a lot. Laugh at everything. Find the humor in your situation.

Brain Tease. Identify these well-known proverbs from the following phrases. For example, if the phrase is: “Rap upon timber”, the answer is “Knock on wood.”

1. Members of an avian species of identical plumage congregate.
2. Each vaporous mass suspended in the firmament has an interior decoration of metallic hue.
3. To place a primitive agricultural conveyance in a position anterior to the animal Equus caballus.

The host of the Sunday night television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971 was Ed Sullivan.

Well, it’s been a hectic month, and once again, I need to wait until next week to list everyone who turned in the correct answer for last week’s “Remember When” question, not because of medical appointments (both the Cochlear Implant and cataract surgeries went well), but because Rita and I will be heading to the coast to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. She is an amazing woman and my best friend—and not just because she has tolerated my bad jokes for all these years!

This show was first broadcast in 1950, but it has had a lasting influence on television comedies by popularizing the sketch comedy format. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the 90-minute live variety show that starred Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris? Mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a video copy of the comedy sketch “From Here to Obscurity”.

Well, it’s been another week, playing the cards I had hidden under the table. Until we meet again, you can’t drive to where you want to go by only looking in the rearview mirror.

Answers: 1. ˙ɹǝɥʇǝƃoʇ ʞɔolɟ ɹǝɥʇɐǝɟ ɐ ɟo spɹᴉq, 2. ˙ƃuᴉuᴉl ɹǝʌlᴉs ɐ sɐɥ pnolɔ ʎɹǝʌƎ, 3. ˙ǝsɹoɥ ǝɥʇ ǝɹoɟǝq ʇɹɐɔ ǝɥʇ ƃuᴉʇʇnԀ

Every May, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month (OAM), a time to recognize older Americans’ contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm America’s commitment to serving older adults.

The 2025 theme, Flip the Script on Aging, focuses on transforming how we and society perceive, talk about, and approach aging. It encourages us and our communities to challenge stereotypes and dispel misconceptions about getting older.

One important way is by examining the subtle ways we use language to reinforce aging stereotypes, because words matter – as I am often reminded during my “differences of opinion” conversations with my wife!

Another example is when you hear someone talking about an older person in his 80s, did they say, “he is still driving,” or say “he drives?” Do you notice the subtle difference? Phrases like “still” can reinforce the idea that older adults over a certain age shouldn’t be driving.

And here’s another example. When you forget a name, an appointment, or the grocery list you just wrote, do you call it a “senior moment”, telling yourself it’s normal for older adults to forget things? Yes, as we age, our ability to recall information generally does get worse.

But if you ask anyone at any age whether they have forgotten something during the day, everyone will say, “yes”, unless they are lying, because who doesn’t forget? When I was younger, if I couldn’t recall the name of some object, it became a “whatchamacallit” or a thingamajig. No matter our age, we will have our memory “moments”.

So, during Older Americans Month, let’s flip the switch and challenge the misconceptions and stereotypes about aging by changing the way we communicate about aging, by finding time to honor the contributions of older adults, and by sharing the opportunities in our communities where we can find purpose, explore, and connect with others

As part of this year’s Older Americans Month celebration, PBS is streaming the documentary Aging in America: Survive or Thrive. You can find it at

https://watch.opb.org/video/aging-in-america-survive-or-thrive-ykg0z3/

“This one-hour documentary, narrated by Martin Sheen, uses the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Why Survive: Being Old in America by Dr. Robert N. Butler, the first director of the National Institute on Aging, as a guide. It celebrates the promise of increased longevity while addressing crucial and unprecedented public policy challenges such as ageism, healthcare, economic insecurity, and Alzheimer’s disease.”

Brain Tease: Here are three brain teases that I hope at least one of them you haven’t heard before and will challenge your grey matter.

1. What kind of running also means walking?
2. What has a bottom at the top?
3. I have two newly minted coins in my pocket. One isn’t a nickel, but they total 30 cents. What are the coins?

This beloved puppeteer and ventriloquist who had her first major show on NBC from 1960 to 1963, and then in the 1990s, returned with her PBS series was Shari Lewis. And for the bonus point, her most recognized hand puppet was Lambchop. I received correct answers from Judy Kiser, Shelly Hinatsu, Marny Weting, Tina Castanares, Kathy Smith, Dave Lutgens, Eva Summers, Kim Birge, and Lana Tepfer, this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

And from the week before, the title of the 1965 hit song sung by the English singer Petula Clark was “Downtown”. I received correct answers from Mrs. Black, Rhonda Spies, Doug Nelson, Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Marny Weting, Rhonda Spies, Shelly Hinatsu, Keith and Marlene Clymer, Dave Lutgens, Lana Tepfer, Kathy Smith, Eva Summers, Bruce Johnson, David Liberty, Jess Birge, Pat Evenson-Brady, Rebecca Abrams, Craig Terry, Barb Weiford, and Mrs. Black this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

When I was growing up, the whole family gathered around the TV set to watch this Sunday night variety show featuring an assortment of entertainers from classical musicians and opera singers to popular recording artists such as Elvis Presley and the Beatles. For this week’s “Remember When” question, who was the host of this television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971?  E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a video of “Little Italian Mouse” puppet Topo Gigio.

Well, it’s been another week, searching for the cherry to put on top. Until we meet again, don’t step on the gas when you are looking for the brake.

“It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment; and in these qualities old age is usually not only not poorer, but is even richer.”  Cicero

Answers: ˙sᴉ ɹǝɥʇo ǝɥʇ ʇnq lǝʞɔᴉu ɐ ʇ’usᴉ ǝuo—lǝʞɔᴉu ɐ puɐ ɹǝʇɹɐnb ∀ ˙Ɛ ˙sƃǝl ɹno⅄ ˙ᄅ ˙sɐƃ ɟo ʇno ƃuᴉuunɹ ˙Ɩ

American slang is constantly changing. Do you know what cheugy, snatched, or flex mean? I have no idea! But every generation has used slang to assert their identity and communicate in a way that resonates with their friends. And just as important, to confuse and irritate their out-of-touch, uncool, and old-fashioned parents. (Mom, they are hippies, not beatniks!)

But many slang terms have lost their group identity and become part of our everyday language, while many others are seldom heard these days. And that’s a real bummer! But we can change that. How? By indoctrinating our grandchildren with our favorite slang from our youth—and then they can be the cool cats on the playground. And wouldn’t that be swell!

So let’s take a trip (not that kind of trip!) back to our youth and see if you can identify from these definitions ten common slang words used in the 50s, 60s and 70s. 

50s slang

1. Looking for trouble or a fight.
2. A drive-in movie theater, often associated with dating.
3. A member of a youth subculture known for slicked-back hair and rebellious attitudes.
4. Having things going well, often without effort.
5. A punch to the face.
6. To make the tires skid when accelerating.
7. Making out in the backseat of a car.
8. To understand or approve of something.
9. To leave or depart.
10. An uncool or out-of-touch person. 

60s slang

1. Meaning cool, neat, or excellent.
2. Relaxed, laid-back, calm.
3.  A disappointing situation or person.
4. Gross or unpleasant. 
5. To leave or depart.
6. To relax, take it easy.
7. A place to live, often used by hippies.
8. A tattletale.
9. An unreliable or useless person.
10. Someone who is not cool or unconventional.

70s slang

1. A term that expresses something upbeat, lively, and fun. 
2. A frequently used synonym for “cool,” indicating someone or something was stylish and trendy. 
3. A term for something clever, ingenious, or admirable. 
4. Meaning “see you later,” often associated with flipping a record to the other side. 
5. A phrase encouraging defiance against authority. 
6. A phrase meaning “keep moving forward,” often used in a positive way. 
7. A term for someone who is absent-minded or daydreaming. 
8. To dance or move around.
9.  Refers to positive energy and feelings.
10.  A term for someone who is naive or stupid.

Brain Tease from the Brain Health and Puzzles website.

A fascinating brain exercise is visualization. To help you with your creativity and imagination, try using your mind’s eye to visualize your surroundings. For example, try visualizing your home and moving around from room to room, upstairs to downstairs. Picture every room and every piece of furniture, picture every step you make, avoiding chairs and tables. And don’t trip over the dog!

The title of the song sung by the English singer Petula Clark that became the first number one hit of 1965 was “Downtown”. 

I haven’ a list of the correct answers for last week because once again I needed to submit this column early, not because of an exciting trip to the Caribbean or Hawaii, but because of medical appointments: cataract surgery and follow-up for my cochlear implant. Ah, the joys of modern medicine. 

This beloved puppeteer and ventriloquist had her first major show on NBC from 1960 to 1963, and then in the 1990s, returned with her PBS series aimed at toddlers and young preschoolers.

For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this multifaceted performer who won 12 Emmy Awards during her career and was celebrated for her creative puppetry and influence on children’s programming​? And for bonus points, what was the name of her most popular hand puppet? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with the video of her appearance on Captain Kangaroo in 1956. 

Well, it’s been another week enjoying the ride, even with the random bumps and bruises. Until we meet again, as I often tell myself, the first step to remembering is to pay attention!

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on.” Robert Frost

Answers. 

50s Slang: ˙ǝɹɐnbS ˙0Ɩ ‘ʇᴉldS ˙6  ‘ƃᴉp ˙8 ‘oƃuᴉq ʇɐǝsʞɔɐq ˙ㄥ ‘ɹǝqqnɹ uɹnq ˙9 ‘ɥɔᴉʍpuɐS ǝlʞɔnuʞ ˙ϛ ‘ǝpɐɥS ǝɥʇ uᴉ ǝpɐW ˙ㄣ ‘ɹǝsɐǝɹפ ˙Ɛ ‘ʇᴉԀ uoᴉssɐԀ ˙ᄅ ‘,uᴉsᴉnɹq ɐ ɹoɟ ,uᴉsᴉnɹƆ ˙Ɩ

60s Slang: ˙ǝɹɐnbS (˙0Ɩ ‘ǝʞɐlℲ (˙6 ‘ʞuᴉℲ ˙8 ‘pɐԀ ˙ㄥ ‘ǝsoo˥ ƃuɐH ˙9 ‘ʇᴉldS ˙ϛ ‘ʎpoɹפ ˙ㄣ ‘ɹǝɯɯnq ˙Ɛ ‘ʍollǝW ˙ᄅ ‘ʇno ɹɐℲ ˙Ɩ

70s Slang: ˙pɐǝɥɹᴉ∀ ˙0Ɩ ‘sǝqᴉʌ pooפ ˙6 ‘ǝᴉƃooq ˙8 ‘ʇǝpɐɔ ǝɔɐdS ˙ㄥ ‘,uᴉʞɔnɹʇ uo dǝǝʞ ˙9 ‘uɐɯ ǝɥʇ oʇ ʇᴉ ʞɔᴉʇS ˙ϛ ‘ǝpᴉs dᴉlɟ ǝɥʇ uo noʎ ɥɔʇɐƆ ˙ㄣ ‘ʎʇɟᴉN ˙Ɛ ‘dᴉH ˙ᄅ ‘ʎʌooɹפ ˙Ɩ

When I read about some 40-something who says they feel so old and past their prime, I just want to yell, “Give me a break! You’re just a rookie!”

There is so much to learn and experience as we grow older—doing what we can with what we’ve got, and each in our own way. Some of us are skiing down the slopes of Mt. Hood while others are enjoying sitting on the couch watching repeats of Gunsmoke.

But here we are, having escaped our youthful adventures alive and in one piece, and now looking ahead to the adventures of old age, although at a little slower pace—thankfully!

But about that forty-something. How will he know he is reaching the dreaded edges of old age? Here is a list of signs that make sense to me.

1. You avoid noisy bars, preferring a night in to a night out.

2) You begin thinking doctors look really young, which you see all too often. 3) You are obsessed with monitoring your health.

4) TV shows suddenly look extremely racy.

5) You have no idea what “young people” are talking about—even when they aren’t mumbling.

6) You take a keen interest in gardening and “classic” automobiles.

7) You buy shoes and clothes for comfort rather than style, and everyone can tell.

8) You book a cruise, preferably one that doesn’t allow children.

9) You start placing sticky notes around the house as reminders, and finally,

10) Your idea of adventure is no longer climbing Mt. Hood but riding the Ferris Wheel during the Cherry Festival!

Aging is living, and whether you are 20, 40, 65, or 85, there will always be opportunities and challenges, joy and grief, and success and failure. It’s life. And you know, at this stage of my life, it’s nice being a professional!

Brain Tease. A short and easy one for this week.

What do the numbers 88, 96, and 11 all have in common?

When I have to skip a week announcing the correct “Remember When” answers, I get confused trying to remember what week it is. I try to live in the “now”, but sometimes I don’t know which “now” I’m in! But here goes.

The popular American humorist who wrote a newspaper column as well as fifteen books including If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? is Erma Bombeck. I received correct answers from Mike McFarlane, Shelly Hinatsu, Doug Nelson, Judy Kiser, Julay Hoffman, David Liberty, Maria Kollas, Lana Tepfer, Tom Shaefer, Dave Lutgens, Marny Weting, Rhonda Spies, Pat Evenson-Brady, Tina Castanares, Jaynie Guidinger, Donna Mollet, Debbie Medina, Marcia Lacock, Craig Terry, Kim Birge, Rebecca Abrams, Mrs. Black, and Susan Ronning, the winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

The three sisters who released the original “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” in 1941 were the Andrews Sisters. I received correct answers from Donna Mollet, Bruce Johnson, Tina Castanares, Rebecca Abrams, Shelly Hinatsu, Dave Lutgens, Pat Evenson-Brady, Kathy Smith, Lana Tepfer, Jess Birge, and Lucile Stephens, the winner of another quilt raffle ticket.

And then there are those I missed. For Mel Brooks, I missed Nancy Higgins, Eva Summers, Tina Castanares, and Rose Schulz. And further back in time to John Wooden, the Wizard of Westwood, I missed Vic Blandine, Rebecca Abrams, and Jim Stager.

In 1964, the English singer Petula Clark released a song that became the first number-one hit of 1965 in the U.S. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the title of the song with the lyrics, “When you’re alone and life is making you lonely, You can always go…”? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with one of her many German, Italian, and Spanish hits from the early 1960’s.

Well, that’s a wrap for another week. Until we meet again, a Danish proverb says, “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man be perfected without trials”, but I must admit – there are days I would gladly trade a little less perfection for a few less trials.

“Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

Monthly listing of nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Wednesdays with music on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays; Mt. Hood Townhall (541-308-5997) – Tuesdays; Hood River Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center (541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333).

For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services: Goldendale office

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068), and in Skamania County call Senior Services (509-427-3990).

Answer: ˙dn ǝpᴉs ʇɥƃᴉɹ puɐ uʍop ǝpᴉsdn ǝɯɐs ǝɥʇ ʞool ʎǝɥ┴

For most of us, memory loss is normal but can also be frustrating and confusing. Why can’t I remember where I left my phone when I can remember some obscure fact from two weeks ago? And why does it seem like whenever I remember a new name, my brain discards another to make room?

One way to help maintain your memory and help lower your risk of cognitive decline is to follow the Alzheimer’s Association’s 10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain which I’ve written about in previous columns.

But there are also “compensatory strategies”, based on how your brain encodes, stores, and recalls information. These strategies can help you cope with that everyday short-term forgetfulness, so you are more successful in recalling information.

Here are several strategies to try— if you’re not already using them.

1. Repeating things

When I meet someone new, I repeat their name at least three times in the conversation. But to ensure long-term retention, you should repeat the name after several minutes, several hours, the next day, and then every few days. People may think you’re nuts, but it can work!

2. Making reminders

Set reminders on your phone, create a daily to-do list—as my wife does every morning, or write reminders on sticky notes. But I have a problem with sticky notes. If I rely so much on them that I don’t focus on what I’m trying to remember, when I inevitably forget where I stuck my sticky note, I’m lost!

3. Using visual cues

Visual cues like brightly colored rubber bands or bracelets can be helpful ways to keep track of tasks you have yet to get done. It worked when I was younger, although these days they often only remind me that there’s something I am supposed to remember.

4. Setting consistent routines

Setting a consistent daily routine can reinforce patterns and help remember tasks. I know because it’s when I’m on vacation and out of my normal routine that I forget to take my morning pills.

5. Minimizing distractions

A clean living and working environment with minimal distractions may help you focus on your tasks and remember what you need to do. Research has shown that as you age, your brain is more easily distracted and then has more trouble remembering what you were doing before the interruption.

6. Avoiding multitasking

The term “multitasking” is a myth. Your brain can only focus on and encode one task at a time. When multiple tasks vie for attention, your brain lacks the energy to do any of them effectively. You need to give each separate task your full attention.

By using these strategies, you might not remember everything, but they may help you remember your next medical appointment!

You can learn more tips to improve your memory at

https://health.usnews.com/senior-care/articles/how-to-improve-memory-expert-tips-for-seniors.

Brain Tease: These may be too simple for you, but they weren’t for me. You may be better at lateral thinking.

1. In which sport do winners move backwards and losers move forwards?
2. Where do the biggest potatoes grow?
3. On which side of a cup is it best to have the handle?

The American humorist who achieved great popularity for her newspaper humor column and wrote fifteen books including If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? is Erma Bombeck. When I needed to submit this column, I was tagging along with my wife, who was attending the Oregon Library Association Annual Conference in Eugene. I will catch up next week. But I do know that last week I missed Nancy Higgins.

Until then, here are a few Erma Bombeck quotes that you might enjoy.

“When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out.”

“My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.”

“If the nest is truly empty, who owns all this junk?”

“If you can’t make it better, you can laugh at it.”

“I once told a graduation class that fame is Madonna; success is Helen Keller. Know the difference.”

In 1973, American actress and singer Bette Midler released a remake of the “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” on her 1972 The Divine Miss M album. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what singing group of three sisters, one of the most popular American musical acts of the 1940s, released the song in 1941? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with the Abbott and Costello 1941 comedy film Buck Privates.

Well, it’s been another week, trying not to rush when I no longer need to. Until we meet again, keep a smile on your face and cash in your pocket.

Answers:

¡ǝpᴉsʇno ǝɥ┴ (˙Ɛ ‘punoɹƃ ǝɥʇ uI (˙ᄅ ‘ɹɐʍ -ɟo-ƃn┴ (˙Ɩ

During our lives, we will inevitably face our personal challenges: an unexpected death, a terminal diagnosis, a natural disaster, or just being in the wrong place at the right time—or the right place at the wrong time.

We can’t avoid them, we can’t wish them away, and we can’t ignore them by hiding our heads in the sand of positive thinking.

What we can do is be ready so that when we turn past that quiet street corner and life unexpectedly jumps out from nowhere and slaps us across the face, we are prepared.

How do we prepare ourselves so we are best able to withstand, overcome, and even grow from these difficult experiences?

In the most recent edition of the magazine Alzheimer’s Today, the article “Finding (and Building) Resilience” reviews the book Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life’s Greatest Challenges by Jonathan M. DePeirro, M.D., Steven M. Southwick, and Dennis S. Charney. In the book, the authors share what they learned from reviewing the extensive research on resiliency and what they learned from talking with individuals they identified as “tremendously resilient”: individuals who had experienced significant trauma such as 9/11 life-altering injuries and global conflict.

So, what can we learn from their research that could help us when we face life’s challenges? The authors identified the following ten “tried-and-true methods” used by the “tremendously resilient” so they were better able to weather and recover from adversity.

1. Confronted their fears.
2. Maintained an optimistic but realistic outlook
3. Sought, accepted and provided social support.
4. Imitated sturdy role models.
5. Relied on an inner moral compass.
6. Turned to religious or spiritual practices.
7. Attended to their health and well-being.
8. Remained curious, pushing themselves to learn new things.
9. Approached problems with flexibility and, at times, acceptance.
10. Found meaning and growth during and after their traumatic experience.

When we face life’s challenges, whether it is caring for a loved one 24/7 or learning of a cancer diagnosis, it’s often hard to find the strength to persevere. But these ten methods can help us be more resilient and live our best life possible.

Brain Tease: See if you have heard this one before. And if you have, can you remember the answer?

A New York car salesman tells his two sons to race their cars to Atlantic City to see who will inherit his fortune. The one whose car is slower will win. The brothers, after wandering around Manhattan aimlessly for days, ask a gas station attendant for advice. After hearing the advice, they jump into the cars and race as fast as they can to Atlantic City. What did the gas station attendant say?

Over his seven-decade career, this actor, comedian, and filmmaker is one of only twenty-one entertainers to win the EGOT: an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. For this week’s “Remember When” question, who is the comedian that won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Producers (1967) and directed the hit comedies Blazing Saddles (1974) and Young Frankenstein (1974)? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with the 1960 comedy Album 2000 Year Old Man that he recorded with Carl Reiner.

The UCLA coach who retired in 1975 after winning ten men’s basketball national championships in twelve years was John Wooden. I received correct answers from Doug Nelson, Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Bruce Johnson, Jess Birge, Dave Lutgens, Steven Woolpert, and Bob Haechrel who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

And for the week before, what you were NOT supposed to put on the dinner table was your elbows. For that question I received correct answers from  Nancy Higgins, Sam Bilyeu, Jay Waterbury, Mike McFarlane, Pat Evenson-Brady, Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Dave Lutgens, Marny Weting, Debbie Medina, Shelley Hinatsu, Craig Terry, Tom Schaefer, Eva Summers, Tina Castanares, David Liberty, Lana Tepfer, Keith and Marlene Clymer, Bruce Johnson, Doug Nelson, and this week’s winners of a quilt raffle ticket  Ken Jernstedt and Lana Tepfer who both remember reciting “Mabel, Mabel strong and able, get your elbows off the table.”

I missed Rebecca Adams for the song “The Name Game”. And speaking of “The Name Game”, Marty Powell was the only person who took up my dare and sang it when I saw him last week. Well, maybe sang was too loose of a description!

Well, it’s been another week trying to hit the nail on the head while missing my thumb. Until we meet again, remember the lessons learned from the mistakes forgotten.

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” John Wooden, basketball coach and all-American guard for Purdue University

Answer: ˙sɹɐɔ ɥɔʇᴉʍs oʇ ɯǝɥʇ ploʇ ʇuɐpuǝʇʇɐ ǝɥ┴

With all the preconceived notions about aging and the common stereotypes about old people, one day we might hear someone singing, “Old people, what are they good for? Absolutely nothing!” But we know better. We regularly encounter older folks who demonstrate grace, humor, and kindness with tremendous spirit and grit.

Often the value of older adults is overlooked, so it was encouraging to read again the 2017, December 29th, New York Times article by John Leland, “Want to Be Happy? Think Like an Old Person”.

For three years, he followed six adults, most of them in their 90s, to try to understand the challenges and hardships adults over 85 confront financially, physically, and emotionally. And not surprisingly, he learned much more.

In his interviews, he found these “old” folks resilient and realistic. They had learned to accept loss and grief and took snubs or rejections in stride and no longer desired things they couldn’t afford. As they lived each day, they were not paralyzed by the challenges they faced.

In fact, they exhibited what gerontologists call the “paradox of old age”: as we grow older and much of our get-up-and-go has got-up-and-gone, instead of feeling worse and sorry for ourselves, we actually feel better – focusing on what we can still do and what we find rewarding, instead of what we can’t. As Ms. Wong told Leland, “I try not to think about bad things. It’s not good for old people to complain.”

From these six individuals in the twilight of their lives, he saw why older adults have higher levels of contentment and well-being than teenagers or young adults. And that there is much the younger generations can learn from these “over-the-hill” old folks.

But let’s face it. It’s not easy. We know the ups and downs of getting older, and we may know friends who are not taking it well. We try to make the best of each day, but some days are more tears than smiles.

We’ve made it this far, and during this third, fourth or fifth stage of our lives, we can use our special strength: we can think like an “old” person.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is updating the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), a roadmap that guides efforts to ensure every Oregonian, at every stage of life, has the opportunity to achieve their best possible health. To make sure the views of older adults are included, OHA has asked the non-profit AGE+ to survey older adults across Oregon.

On the survey, you will be asked to select your top three priorities from the seven priorities identified in the Oregon State Health Improvement Plan and then choose one and explain why it matters. It should take no more than 15 minutes. All responses are anonymous. The deadline for feedback is April 16th!

The priorities are:

1. Healthy Environments
2. Emergency preparedness and response
3. Health across the lifespan
4. Disease prevention and health promotion
5. Physical, mental, and community safety
6. Mental well-being and behavioral health
7. Equitable social conditions

You can complete the survey online at: https://ageplus.org/ship-survey/. If you have any questions, please contact Julia Brown at jbrown@ageplus.org.

Brain Tease. What five-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it?

For last week’s “Remember When” question, you were never supposed to put your elbows on the dinner table.

I have an engagement with my ENT doctor in Portland this Friday, so I needed to submit this column early when I didn’t know who had sent in answers for this week’s question. I will catch up next week.

But last week, as far as I know—which usually isn’t very far—the only person I missed was “Pat, Pat bo Bat/Bonana fanna fo Fat/Fee fy mo Mat/Pat” Evenson-Brady.

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is over, and a new champion has been crowned, although as I write this, I only know it’s not one of my two favorites: University of Oregon or Purdue University. But this week, let’s reminisce back to the days when Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) and Bill Walton were basketball heroes for UCLA.

For this “Week’s Remember When” question, who was the UCLA coach, nicknamed the Wizard of Westwood, who retired in 1975 after winning ten men’s basketball national championships in twelve years? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a video of the 1972-1973 championship game between UCLA and Memphis State when Bill Walton hit an incredible 21 of 22 field goal attempts.

Well, it’s been another week watching nature reawaken. Until we meet again, don’t jump to conclusions because you might not make it to the other side.

“It’s no longer a question of staying healthy. It’s a question of finding a sickness you like.” Jackie Wilson

Answer: ˙ʇɹoɥS

Have you written your obituary? That may sound like a strange question to ask because most of us don’t want to get too close to death in case it’s contagious.

But not everyone. Even though she was still active and engaged, Lucille Torgerson wrote her obituary as a gift to her children so it wouldn’t be another responsibility they would have to take care of at her passing.

Recently, I read about Kelly McMasters who takes it a step further.

In her opinion piece for the New York Times, “Why I Write My Own Obituary Every Year”, she shares how she started writing her obituary each year at the age of 12. Her mother began volunteering at the local hospice, and in preparation for working with terminally ill patients, her mother was given the assignment to write her obituary. At dinner, they discussed the assignment and when she went to bed that night, she wrote her own obituary.

You might think writing your obituary every year is odd, too emotional, even macabre. But as New York Times reporter Margalit Fox said in the documentary Obit, “Obituaries have next to nothing to do with death and absolutely everything to do with life.”

For most years, Kelly found that writing her obituary brought a sense of comfort. It wasn’t just a summary of those noteworthy life events typically found in an obituary but a more personal expression of her life. She writes, “Writing your obituary while you’re still alive can offer clarity about your life and, mercifully, if you find something lacking, you still have time to revise.”

Each year she wrote her obituary, the mood and scope changed. Some years her obituary was short and to the point; others were full of joy and hope. And then there were those years when her obituaries reflected her disappointments and life disruptions.

Some years when her motivation was low, she would even write an aspirational obituary. It could be what you have on your bucket list or just wishful imaginations. Maybe winning the lottery and giving a large bequest to the Sunshine Club in Hood River? Winning the Newbury Medal for your children’s book, “You Know What? The Story of a Lonesome Boy Named What”? Or your trip around the world in 80 days following the footsteps of David Niven and Shirley MacLaine..

Death is generally not a topic you want to discuss at social gatherings or around the dinner table with your family. But from her mother’s obituary exercise, Kelly McMasters learned the practice and value of holding death close so she can remember to live.

So, what would you write in your obituary?

Brain Tease. These random phrases hide the names of eight capital cities around the world. Each phrase contains the name of two cities. See if you can unscramble them and find the eight cities.

Lion Job Ending; Took My Ore; Crimson Elbow; Rapid Disarm

During the 50s and 60s, there were common rules for eating at the dinner table: finish everything on your plate, chew with your mouth closed, wait for everyone to finish, no talking with food in your mouth, and ask to be excused.

For this “Week’s Remember When” question, according to dinner table rules, what were you never supposed to put on the dinner table? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a box of curve-shaped macaroni.

The name of the 1964 song based on a game Shirley Ellis played as a child, where she would make a rhyme out of anybody’s name was the “The Name Game”. I received correct answers from Judy Kiser, Marny Weting, Dave Lutgens, Donna Mollet, Kathy Smith, Lana Tepfer, Doug Nelson, Kim Birge, and Shelley Hinatsu—this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

And last week, I was fishing with Andy and Opie Taylor, so I missed Pat Evenson-Brady, Marny Weting, Steven Woolpert, Nancy Higgins, and Keith and Marlene Clymer.

Again this year, I will enter the 50 plus “Remember When” winners in the Mid-Columbia Senior Center’s Quilt Raffle which will be held at the Center’s Cherry Festival Breakfast on April 26^th. I have a feeling—although it could just be my arthritis—that this is the year a “Remember When” entry will win a beautiful quilt.

Well, it’s been another week, waiting to see a flock of baby quail parading single-file behind their mother, wearing festive hats and carrying streamers. Until we meet again, don’t worry. It will never happen—until it happens.

“It can often seem that those in power don’t want us to enjoy making things ourselves – they’d prefer to establish a cultural hierarchy that devalues our amateur efforts and encourages consumption rather than creation.” David Byrne

Answer: sᴉɹɐԀ ‘pᴉɹpɐW; ǝɯoɹ ‘oʎʞo┴, ‘ʍoɔsoW ‘uᴉlɹǝq, uopuo˥ ‘ƃuᴉɾᴉǝq

Many of you may be living alone in your own home. Your spouse has passed away, and your children have moved—busy with their own lives. But you want to continue living where it is familiar, the mortgage is paid, and it provides a feeling of independence.

While there are advantages to living alone, there are also challenges, particularly regarding your personal safety. For example, if I was living alone who would ask me every morning if I had taken my pills, remind me about my medical appointments, and pester me to change the batteries in the smoke alarms? Most importantly who would remove the clutter so I wouldn’t fall—and if I did fall, who would be there to help?

And then there are the children. How would I ease their concerns about my safety so they will stop trying to convince me to move into assisted living when I’m not ready?

One advantage we have today when living alone is the many devices incorporating new technologies. I know firsthand technology can be a real pain in the … shall I say derriere, difficult to understand and set up. But you might want to consider some of the following devices to stay safe in your home for your benefit and your children’s.

• Fall Detection Devices: They can be worn as necklaces or wristbands and can detect a fall and then automatically alert a monitoring center.
• Medical Alert Systems: These systems allow you to call for help at the push of a button. Some even come with GPS features, allowing responders to locate you quickly.
• Smart Home Devices: Smart plugs, lights, and even stoves can be controlled remotely or set to turn off automatically.
• Video Doorbells: A video doorbell allows you to see and communicate with anyone at your door without having to walk across the house—particularly useful if you have mobility difficulties.
• Smart Locks: Smart locks allow you to lock and unlock your doors using a code or smartphone app. You can also give trusted family members or caregivers access without needing a physical key.
• Automated Medication Dispensers: These devices can help ensure you take the correct medication at the right time.
• Voice-Activated Assistants: Devices like Amazon Echo (Alexa) or Google Home can be used for hands-free calling, setting reminders, and controlling smart home devices such as your lights.
• Wearable Health Monitors: Wearable devices like smartwatches, and now smart rings, can monitor vital signs such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and sleep patterns.
• Home Security Systems with Remote Monitoring: Allows you or your family members to check in on your home from anywhere.

These devices provide many benefits, but there is a cost for each one, so you will need to consider your budget as well as your needs.

Staying safe when living alone is more than high-tech devices, but they can help you live safely in your own home on your own terms.

To learn more about how to stay safe while living alone, here are three websites you might want to visit.

https://seniorsite.org/resource/10-essential-safety-devices-for-seniors-living-alone-in-2025/

https://allseniors.org/articles/how-to-stay-independent-as-a-senior-tips-for-living-alone/

https://seniorsafetyadvice.com/safety-tips-for-seniors-living-alone/

Brain Challenge. Here is a quick brain challenge to exercise your attention and your working memory. Give it a try. It is not as easy as it may seem.

Name two objects for every letter in your first name. Work up to five objects, trying to use different items each time.

The character Ron Howard played in the Andy Griffith Show as a child actor was Opie Taylor. I received correct answers from Sandy Haechrel, Doug Nelson, Mike McFarlane, Dave Lutgens, Lana Tepfer, Shelley Hinatsu, Judy Kiser, Kathy Smith, Rose Schulz, Rhonda Spies, Craig Terry, Jess Birge, and David Liberty—this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

And while playing hooky last week I missed answers from Millie Baumgartner, Afton Fanger, Craig Terry, Linda Frizzell, Kathy Bullack, Lana Tepfer, and Nancy Higgins

I still sing this 1964 novelty song written and sung by Shirley Ellis who based the song on a game she played as a child. For this “Week’s Remember When” question, what was the name of the song where she would make a rhyme out of anybody’s name by following a few simple rules. “Shirley, Shirley bo Birley/Bonana fanna fo Firley/Fee fy mo Mirley/Shirley! (Or if you see me on the street you can yell out “Hey, Scott, Scott, bo bot, Bonana fanna fo Fot, Fee fy mo Mott, Scott”. I dare you!) E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with her recording of “The Clapping Song”.

Well, it’s been another week, searching for that fine line between possible and impossible. Until we meet again, keep whistling a happy tune.

“I’m so old I remember playing solitaire with a deck of cards.” Forwarded to me by Donnamae Grannemann.