Category Archives: Aging Well in the Gorge

Welcome to Aging Well in the Gorge, the Mid-Columbia Senior Center’s article series by former director Scott McKay.

Aging Well in the Gorge January 29th 2020

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You know all the reasons moving is good for you: strengthens your heart, keeps your brain sharp and helps maintain your weight. But why is it always so hard to actually start? Are you too busy? Afraid of falling? Too embarrassed to exercise in public? Or just too tired? Well, you are not alone. Only about half of adults get the 150 minutes per week of exercise the CDC recommends.
But now you won’t have any excuses because here are six suggestions on how to get moving from the AARP Staying Sharp website.
1. Even though your body constantly reminds you that you’re no longer seventeen, think back to when you were younger and the physical activities you enjoyed. Bicycling? Swimming? Dancing? You’ll keep moving if you enjoy what you’re doing.  
2. Start small. Remember the saying “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”.  Don’t worry about meeting the CDC recommendation when you start, just get started. If five minutes a day gets you moving, do it. Then add more the next week until you reach a comfortable level. The idea is to keep it fun. You don’t want to reach the point when exercise becomes a chore.
3. Increase all the physical activity you already do that you don’t think of as exercise —vacuuming or laundry – and when it gets warmer, planting a garden. And outside the home, take the stairs instead of the elevator; or walk inside instead of using the drive-through window. Easier doesn’t always mean better.
4. Use a pedometer or your phone’s step-counting app to track your steps each week. Then challenge yourself. Try to increase the number of steps by 10% each week. Record the number on your refrigerator to remind yourself how you are improving. 
5. Find someone to workout with. You can hold each other accountable and encourage each other to do a little more until you reach a comfortable but challenging level. Besides it’s fun to work out with a friend.
6. Double your pleasure by doing purposeful tasks that can also increase your physical activity: walking your dog more often, volunteering to pick up trash at a Blue Zone event or doing my laundry. (I can drop my laundry off anytime that works for you!)
So. remember what you once enjoyed, start small, extend you non-exercise activities, measure your progress, get a buddy and exercise for a purpose. Then pull yourself up off the couch, take that first bite or in this case your first step, because it doesn’t matter where you start, it’s where you finish that counts.
Every year I try to mention the Original Courthouse Regional History Forum because they always have such fascinating programs. This year’s first program on February 1st is “From Radical Idea to Ratification:  Women’s Voting Rights”. The speaker is Janice Dilg the state coordinator for an online resource for the 2020 centennial of the 19th Amendment that extended voting rights to women.  She will tell the story of Sylvia Thompson (D-The Dalles) who introduced the bill ratifying the amendment in Oregon’s 1920 special session. The program begins at 1:30 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom of the 1859 courthouse behind The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce.
For last week’s “Remember When” question I had to check Wikipedia twice to make sure I had the correct movie because so many were answering Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. But the correct answer is Lilies of the Fieldwhose title came from Matthew 6:27-33. I received correct answers from Rhonda Spies, Lana Tepfer, Julie Carter, Rhonda Austin, Cheri Brent and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket Dave Lutgens.
One last movie question before the Academy Awards. In 1957 David Lean won the Best Director Oscar for the film The Bridge on the River Kwai and five years later won his second Oscar for Best Director. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the title of the epic historical film he directed about an English officer who successfully united and led the diverse Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or drop it off with a map of the Ottoman Empire before World War I.
Well, it’s been another week, looking for the cherry on top. Until we meet again, start doing what you know you can do.
“Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it.” Author Unknown

Aging Well in the Gorge January 29th 2020

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You know all the reasons moving is good for you: strengthens your heart, keeps your brain sharp and helps maintain your weight. But why is it always so hard to actually start? Are you too busy? Afraid of falling? Too embarrassed to exercise in public? Or just too tired? Well, you are not alone. Only about half of adults get the 150 minutes per week of exercise the CDC recommends.
But now you won’t have any excuses because here are six suggestions on how to get moving from the AARP Staying Sharp website.
1. Even though your body constantly reminds you that you’re no longer seventeen, think back to when you were younger and the physical activities you enjoyed. Bicycling? Swimming? Dancing? You’ll keep moving if you enjoy what you’re doing.  
2. Start small. Remember the saying “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”.  Don’t worry about meeting the CDC recommendation when you start, just get started. If five minutes a day gets you moving, do it. Then add more the next week until you reach a comfortable level. The idea is to keep it fun. You don’t want to reach the point when exercise becomes a chore.
3. Increase all the physical activity you already do that you don’t think of as exercise —vacuuming or laundry – and when it gets warmer, planting a garden. And outside the home, take the stairs instead of the elevator; or walk inside instead of using the drive-through window. Easier doesn’t always mean better.
4. Use a pedometer or your phone’s step-counting app to track your steps each week. Then challenge yourself. Try to increase the number of steps by 10% each week. Record the number on your refrigerator to remind yourself how you are improving. 
5. Find someone to workout with. You can hold each other accountable and encourage each other to do a little more until you reach a comfortable but challenging level. Besides it’s fun to work out with a friend.
6. Double your pleasure by doing purposeful tasks that can also increase your physical activity: walking your dog more often, volunteering to pick up trash at a Blue Zone event or doing my laundry. (I can drop my laundry off anytime that works for you!)
So. remember what you once enjoyed, start small, extend you non-exercise activities, measure your progress, get a buddy and exercise for a purpose. Then pull yourself up off the couch, take that first bite or in this case your first step, because it doesn’t matter where you start, it’s where you finish that counts.
Every year I try to mention the Original Courthouse Regional History Forum because they always have such fascinating programs. This year’s first program on February 1st is “From Radical Idea to Ratification:  Women’s Voting Rights”. The speaker is Janice Dilg the state coordinator for an online resource for the 2020 centennial of the 19th Amendment that extended voting rights to women.  She will tell the story of Sylvia Thompson (D-The Dalles) who introduced the bill ratifying the amendment in Oregon’s 1920 special session. The program begins at 1:30 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom of the 1859 courthouse behind The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce.
For last week’s “Remember When” question I had to check Wikipedia twice to make sure I had the correct movie because so many were answering Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. But the correct answer is Lilies of the Fieldwhose title came from Matthew 6:27-33. I received correct answers from Rhonda Spies, Lana Tepfer, Julie Carter, Rhonda Austin, Cheri Brent and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket Dave Lutgens.
One last movie question before the Academy Awards. In 1957 David Lean won the Best Director Oscar for the film The Bridge on the River Kwai and five years later won his second Oscar for Best Director. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the title of the epic historical film he directed about an English officer who successfully united and led the diverse Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or drop it off with a map of the Ottoman Empire before World War I.
Well, it’s been another week, looking for the cherry on top. Until we meet again, start doing what you know you can do.
“Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it.” Author Unknown

Aging Well in the Gorge January 22nd 2020

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It’s said as you get older you experience more aches and pains. I’m not sure you can say that for all older adults, but it sure seems to be the case for me. (Although it may be I’ve just forgotten all the aches and pains when I was younger.)
Living with any type of pain can be difficult: interfering with your daily activities, keeping you from having a good night’s sleep; and can be both mentally and physically draining. But pain can also be your best friend, telling you when something is wrong.
If you decide to see your health care provider concerning the pain, how do you describe it in a way that helps your health care provider more accurately diagnosis the cause so they can identify appropriate treatment options?
The National Institute on Aging (https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/pain-you-can-get-help) suggests eight questions to ask yourself to better describe the pain.
1. Where does it hurt? 2. When did the pain start? Does it come and go? 3. What does it feel like? Is the pain sharp, dull, or burning? Would you use some other word to describe it? 4. Do you have other symptoms? 5. When do you feel the pain? In the morning? In the evening? After eating? 6. Is there anything you do that makes the pain feel better or worse? Does using a heating pad or ice pack or changing positions help? 7. What medicines, including over-the-counter medications and non-medicine therapies have you tried, and what was their effect? 8. How would rate your pain on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain you can imagine.
If you are dealing with chronic pain, MCMC offers a free Persistent Pain educational series led by different healthcare professionals. These eight 90 minute presentations will help you address multiple areas of self-management that can ultimately lead to decreased pain and improved quality of life.
The winter session begins January 28th on Tuesdays from 1:30 – 3:00 on the 2nd floor of Waters Edge Health & Wellness Center. You can attend the entire series or just drop in. For more information and to register call 541-296-7319.
The Dalles Art Center is presenting their Elementary Student Art Show from January 21st through February 8th to showcase the work of our schools’ budding young artists. This year you’ll find the students’ art works exhibited in the windows of downtown businesses; and the winner of the juried competition will have their work displayed on a billboard donated by Meadow Outdoor Sign. The reception for the art show will be at the Art Center on Thursday, February 8thfrom 3:00 to 4:00 pm.
There are many excellent tax preparers in the Mid-Columbia region, but if your situation is relatively simple, there is free tax help available through AARP Foundation’s Tax Aide program which assists low to moderate income persons and families of all ages.
Tax Aide will be downstairs at the Center on Fridays from 2:00 – 6:00 and Saturdays from 9:00 – 1:00 starting Saturday, February 1st. It is” first come, first served” so don’t be surprised by the lines. But when you arrive, they’ll tell you if they will be able to see you; and if so, approximately how long you will have to wait. Make sure you bring all your supporting documentation and a government issued photo ID for each taxpayer.
No one has sent in their lyrics for this year’s boomer hit “Will You Still Love Me When I’m 84”. But I’ll give you one more week.
The number one song sung by Johnny Nash released in 1972 was “I Can See Clearly Now.” I received correct answers from Rhonda Spies, Carol Earl and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket Jerry Phillips.
The 92nd Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 9th – reminding me of watching the Academy Awards with my family, hoping my favorite movie wins. So, for this week’s “Remember When” question, what movie did Sidney Poitier win the Academy Award for “Best Actor” in 1964, becoming the first black actor to win that honor? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or drop it off with the twenty-eighth verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew.
Well, it’s been another week, making the best of what I can’t control. Until we meet again, consider the words of Nelson Mandela,” It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
“Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go.” Hermann Hesse

Aging Well in the Gorge January 15th 2020

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Is it snowing yet? I’m asking because I sent this column in on Saturday and the last forecast I saw for Wednesday was high 27 and low 22 with a 50% chance of snow, but you never know how accurate the forecast will be.  Whether the cold temperatures and snow arrives today or next month, one thing we do know is it will eventually happen. And when it does, don’t forget a couple common sense basics to keep yourself safe.
Dress warm and stay dry. At our age shivering is not always a reliable warning sign of hypothermia because older people tend to shiver less or not at all when their body temperature drops.
Be careful working outside such as shoveling snow. When it’s cold outside your heart works double time to keep warm.
Keep indoor temperature at 65 degrees or warmer. But make sure wood stoves are properly vented and cleaned; and space heaters are at least three feet away from anything that might catch fire.
Avoid driving. If you need to make sure your car is winterized, avoid hills and take your cell phone for emergencies.
As I mentioned last week to avoid falls “Walk like a Penguin”.  And be particularly careful of the black ice on sidewalks or parking lots where the snow melted and then froze again.
But the best advice is to purchase all your necessities ahead of time and then stay home, relax and enjoy the wonder of the falling snow.
When the snow falls, the Center always receives calls asking whether the Center is open or not. The general rule of thumb is if D-21 is closed the Center and Meals-on-Wheels will be closed. If D-21 has a delayed start, the Center’s morning classes are usually cancelled, but you may want to call the Center to make sure.
Martin Luther King Day is Monday, January 20th – a day off for many folks. But it is also a holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.
In response to this call to action, there will be a Martin Luther King Day Community Services Clean-Up in cooperation with The Dalles Blue Zones and City of The Dalles Beautification Project. Participants will be picking up trash along 6th street from 11:00 – 2:00 on the 20th. If you want to participate, meet at the Home Depot parking lot near the corner of 6thand Chenowith Loop Road. Bring gloves and a reflective vest if you have one. This is an opportunity to have fun by getting outside, meeting some new people, and giving back to your community.
And on the evening of the 20th, Blue Zones is hosting a gathering to learn how to cook simple, tasty and nutritious meals. And your reward? You get to eat what you prepared! The cooking demo is Monday, January 20th from 5:30-7:00 at One Community Health, 1040 Weber Street. For more information call 202-465-1702 or email brett.ractchford@sharecare.com
“Will you still love me when I’m 64” is the song written by Paul McCartney about a young man singing to his lover about his plans for their growing old together.  I received correct answers from Julie Carter, Lana Tepfer, Jim and Betsy Ayers, Cheri Brent, and this week’s winner Ruth Radcliffe. And as I often do, my apologies to Laura Comini and Cheri Brent who answered correctly last week.
Paul McCartney wrote the song when he was just sixteen when he probably thought 64 was old. But here’s a challenge. Can you rewrite the lyrics as a 64 year old singing to his/her lover “Will you still love me when I’m 84”? Email me what you come up with.
Now that it’s 2020 you have probably heard all the catchphrases playing on the idea of 20/20 vision: hopes for a clear vision in 2020, how to see with clarity in 2020 and more.
But the first thing that comes to my mind is the title of a song by Johnny Nash. For this week’s “Remember When” question what was the name of this number one song with a reggae beat released in 1972? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or drop it off with the soundtrack to the comedy sports film Cool Runnings.
Well, it’s been another week, keeping an eye on the sky. Until we meet again, keep yourself safe and warm.
“To me, old age is always 10 years older than I am.” Bernard Baruch on his 86th birthday

Aging Well in the Gorge January 8th 2020

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We’re in that catch-your-breath after Christmas calm trying to remember what year it is. (How long will it take before I stop writing 2019?) And wondering when the ice and snow will arrive – when we’ll wish we were snowbirds sunning in Arizona.
We know the ice and snow will come – maybe not enough to close schools, but enough to make walking treacherous. (I remember the wonderful snowy days when I was in grade school staying in bed hoping to hear my mother walk into my room and saying. “There’s no school today.” What a feeling knowing unexpectedly I had the day off to play in the snow!)
But during the snowy or icy days it’s best to stay home. But if you do need get out because you want to enjoy a nutritious Meals-on-Wheels lunch at the Center, think of the phrase “Walk like a Penguin”.
What does that mean? Well, it’s a way to think about walking safely in snow and ice. To walk like a penguin, try the following: point your feet out slightly; bend your knees and keep them loose; extend your arms out to your side (and hands out of your pockets); and take short steps or waddle.
In addition, since we haven’t evolved webbed feet yet, wear shoes or boots with traction. And this is where I must really pay close attention: assume all wet and dark areas on pavement are icy – especially around snowbanks where the melt off freezes over-night.
Whether it’s icy or not, this is also a good time to remember that falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. So this winter, don’t rush, pay attention and remember to “Walk Like A Penguin”!
Would like a part-time gig for eight to ten weeks that pays $16 an hour plus mileage with flexible hours? Sounds too good to be true? It would except once every ten years when the U.S. government is looking for census takers. Think what you could do with the extra cash. A trip to Hawaii or the Caribbean? New clothes? Gifts for the grandkids? To apply you can go online at 2020census.gov/jobs or call 1-855-JOB-2020. You can be a part of history while supporting your community by helping to ensure there is an accurate count – which affects how billions of dollars are distributed.
I’ve mentioned it before, but I need to mention it again because this raffle has the perfect prize: twelve $25 gift certificates from The Dalles finest restaurants. The Center’s Meal-a-Month Raffle tickets are being sold at the Center for $10 apiece or 3 for $25. You have three chances to win, and you may be one of those three winners!  
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is regarded by some as “the most important and influential rock-and-roll album ever recorded” and was ranked number one of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” by Rolling Stone magazine. One of the album’s songs, written by Paul McCartney, is about a young man singing to his lover about his plans for their growing old together. For this week’s “Remember When” question, the young man is asking, “will you still love me when I’m …” what age”? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or drop it off with a special version of the song recorded by McCartney’s children as a surprise present for his birthday in June 2006.
The earlier name for The Dalles Health and Rehabilitation Center was Valley Vista and the business once located where Holstein’s is today was the Handout. Rhonda Spies and John Huteson remembered the Handout (which Diana Weston points out was owned for many years by Phil Hammond after he sold the Dairy Queen on 4th and Union), and those who answered both questions correctly were Diana Weston, Lana Tepfer, Carol Earl and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket Karl Vercouteren.
Now that I’m back from the “Windy City” Chicago, those who answered The Poseidon Adventure from the previous week were Rhonda Spies, Lana Tepfer, Delores Schrader, Carol Earl and the winner Don Hansen,
Well, it’s been another week, trying to find the place I am supposed to be. Until we meet again, you know you are getting older when you start every new conversation with “I may have told you this before, but…”
“An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight. …The truly wise person is colorblind.” Albert Schweitzer

Aging Well in the Gorge January 1st 2020

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The new year is knocking at our doors, which like a toddler trying to walk will have many ups and downs – and will eventually knock over everything in the house! And yet we survive, looking forward to another year.  
At the beginning of a new year it is the traditional time to make your New Year’s resolutions. But for us more experienced folks, we may ask “Why do we need New Year’s resolutions? Why would we want to change? I’m happy with my situation, and besides as Doris Day sang, “Que Sera, Sera, Whatever Will Be Will Be”, right?
But consider all the possibilities for this new year. There might be some new habits you want to make or some old ones you want to change. What was the doctor telling you? Enroll in an exercise class – that yoga or Tai Chi class that can improve your balance? Eat better – by preparing healthy recipes found at OSU’s “Food Hero” website? Or get out of the house more – spending time with old friends and making new ones?
There might also be new activities you want to experience: walking unfamiliar trails in the Gorge, taking trips into Portland to watch a NW Senior Theater musical, or building Lego structures with your grandkids.
Yet you may still feel New Year’s resolutions are a great waste of time; and you just want to keep doing the same old same old – and there’s nothing wrong with that. It is familiar and in a world that seems to be constantly changing, the same old same old feels reassuring.
But if you do decide New Year’s resolutions might not be such a bad idea, here are nine simple tips from the Happiness Project’s website, www.happiness-project.com, that could help.
 1. Write your resolution down and be specific. Instead of “make new friends” describe how – such as “start a movie group” or “join an exercise class”.
 2. Review your resolution constantly so you won’t forget.
 3. Hold yourself accountable. Don’t make excuses.
 4. Think big. Make your resolution inspiring and exciting.
 5. Or think small. Something simple and doable.
 6. Separate your resolution, no matter how small, into manageable tasks.
 7. Work on your resolution every day. It is easier to do something consistently than to skip days
8. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The best exercise it the one you will actually do.
 9. As mentioned before, don’t make excuses, but if you keep breaking your resolution, no use constantly beating yourself up. Try a different approach that will get you to the same goal.
New Year’s resolutions are an opportunity to branch out and experience life in ways you may never had considered before. These nine simple tips can help you set and achieve your goals for a new year, whether seeking new experiences or creating new habits, that just might improve your health and help you live a little better and longer. As Carl Bard once said, “Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new beginning.”
The name of the 1972 film in which an aged luxury liner on her final voyage is capsized by a giant wave on New Year’s Eve was the Poseidon Adventure. And since last week I was at my niece’s wedding in Chicago (where contrary to what you would think the weather was expected to be warmer than The Dalles), I will announce the quilt raffle ticket winner next week.
Once a month for the next several months I will be focusing on local businesses that have gone and been replaced by a different but similar type of business at the same location. (My apologies to the newcomers who have arrived in The Dalles in the last twenty years.) For this week’s “Remember When” questions, what was the previous name for The Dalles Health and Rehabilitation Center (even before it was called Evergreen); and what was the name of business that was located where Holsteins is today? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or drop it off with a 1979 map of The Dalles.
Well, it’s been another week, trying to be optimistic in a world of cynicism. Until we meet again, some good advice I saw on a poster at The Springs, “Believe something wonderful is going to happen.”

“One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things.” John Burroughs

Aging Well in the Gorge December 25th 2019

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During the holiday season you can get caught up in all the hustle and bustle: shopping not for yourself but for your grandkids!; writing Christmas cards to friends and family; and preparing for a family gathering – unless you are fortunate and your children organize it for you.
Or we you could get caught up in your own personal problems whether it is your health, your financial situation – or you are still grieving the loss of a loved one which particularly stings during this time of the year.  
All of this can make it easy to forget to stop and appreciate what you do have. Here are several suggestions to help keep your eyes open to see all there is to be grateful for.
1. Don’t be picky: appreciate everything. Life is too short to get upset about the little things – as I often remind my wife when she has to clean up after me. The habit of being grateful starts with appreciating every good thing in life and recognizing that there is nothing too small for you to be thankful for.
2. Find gratitude in your challenges. That’s right. Sometimes a difficult situation can be a blessing in disguise. I’ve been told by several folks how their heart attack has motivated them to be closer to their family and to take better care of themselves.
3. Keep a gratitude journal. Everyday write down what you are grateful for. And don’t forget to include the small blessings you encounter. Then when times are tough, you can pick yourself back up by going to your journal and remembering all that you have been grateful for.
4. Volunteer. There isn’t any better way to appreciate what you have than by helping those who don’t have as much – whether delivering meals, providing shelter during these wintry days, or picking up a church member who no longer drives. In other words: helping others helps you!”
A life well lived is one of gratitude and thankfulness. This season take time to consider all your blessings large and small. But if you can’t think of anything, you can at least be grateful that it isn’t any worse!”
Now that the Center has finished its day trips for the year, I have to give a shout out to Ginny McNary who chooses, organizes and chaperones (It’s a wild bunch!) the Center’s trips. The trips are a wonderful opportunity to travel with your fun loving peers and enjoy incredible sites and fine entertainment – while letting someone else do the driving!
The Center has started its 2020 membership drive. Whether you visit the Center daily, weekly or once a year for special occasions, I hope you consider joining the Center. The Center works to enhance the community by providing opportunities for all generations to “explore, connect and contribute”. The only government funding the Center receives is to operate the SHIBA (Medicare Counseling) Program – which is minimal. A yearly membership is only $35 per person, $60 per couple or to be a SUPER DUPER member it is $50 per person.  
From last week’s questions, Burl Ives was the snowman narrator in Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (1964); Boris Karlof was the narrator in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (1966); and in Frosty the Snowman (1969) Jimmy Durante narrated and sang the title song. Those who answered at least one of the three questions correctly are Cheri Brent and Rhonda Spies who remembered Burl Ives; Diane Weston who answered all three questions correctly, and John Huteson this week’s winner of a free quilt raffle ticket who remembered the schnoz himself – Jimmy Durante.
New Year’s Eve is just around the corner when we’ll all be in front of our television sets watching the ball drop in Times Square at midnight. Right? But that wasn’t the case for the characters in this 1972 film. For this week’s “Remember When” question what was the name of the film in which an aged luxury liner on her final voyage is capsized by a giant wave on New Year’s Eve? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with an original poster describing the movie as “Hell, Upside Down”.
Well, it’s been another week, trying to model the behavior I wish to see. Until we meet again, may there be peace on earth and goodwill towards all people.
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Ferris Bueller

Aging in the Gorge December 18th 2019

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Was it in the 60’s that there was a media frenzy about the “Generation Gap”? And were you one of the boomers who challenged their parents and their generation because they were out of touch, espoused different values, and were too slow responding to crises of the times: the Vietnam war and civil rights? And do you remember the phrase popularized by Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin that summarized that time, “Don’t trust anyone over 30”?
Wow, how times have changed. Now we know how our parents felt because today the boomers are being ridiculed with the catchphrase “OK Boomer” used by the Z generation. It mocks boomers for being out-of-touch, close-minded and too slow responding to many of our current crises: climate change and income inequality.
But we should be careful not to encourage this new “generation gap” because we have been there before – and it perpetuates stereotypes of both the young and old: older adults describing today’s younger generations as pampered, unable to work hard, and without meaningful person-to-person relationships because of their smartphones! And young adults characterizing boomers and older generations as unproductive, a drain on society and technologically inept (So I don’t know anything about Tik Tok! Is that a bad thing?)
We do know more about being young than the young know about being old, but it often seems that we have forgotten when young boomers were described as lazy, pot smoking, unpatriotic hippies. And that we did plenty of stupid things – which I am reminded of whenever I see an egg!
The generations do have different life experiences. With age we see the world with all its complexities, vulnerabilities, and challenges that we may not have appreciated when we were younger.
As a society we should appreciate the strengths of each generation. As the boomers have grown older, experiencing their own personal successes, failures and mistakes, they have become who they are – which isn’t all that bad. And so will the younger generations.
As the end of 2019 approaches, this is your last chance to donate to your favorite non-profits to lessen your tax burden while supporting important community organizations. So this year consider contributing to the Oregon Cultural Trust as well. If you make a donation to any of Oregon’s arts, heritage and humanities non-profits including twenty-two in Wasco and Sherman Counties (listed at www.culturaltrust.org) and make a matching gift to the Cultural Trust, you can then claim your contribution to the Cultural Trust as a tax credit. The Oregon Cultural Trust is an innovative public-private fundraising and grant making program that funds local coalitions including the Wasco County Cultural Trust Coalition that annually distributes $500 to $1000 grants to area schools and non-profits which in the past has included the Center.
The name of the singer who pioneered a weekly musical variety television show, but was particularly known for his Christmas television specials beginning on Christmas Eve 1948 was Perry Como affectionately known as Mr. C. I received correct answers from Laura Comini, Lana Tepfer, Rhonda Spies, Jess Birge, Glenna McCargar, Cheri Brent and Izetta Grossman this week’s winner of a free quilt raffle ticket. And once again I missed several folks last week: Virginia Johnson, Laura Comini, and Barbara Cadwell.
To prepare for Christmas day, the Center and Meals-on-Wheels will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Center will also be closed on New Years Day to celebrate the new year but more importantly to watch University of Oregon play Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.
Another Christmas related question, but this one I believe you will find much more challenging. There are many classic children’s Christmas specials from the 60’s that were narrated by well-known actors. For this week’s “Remember When” question answer one of the following three questions correctly. Who was the narrator In Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (1964)? Who voiced the Grinch in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (1966)? And who narrates and sings the title song in Frosty the Snowman (1969)? You only have to answer one question correctly. Email it to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or drop it off with the Vince Guaraldi jazz score for the first Peanuts special: A Charlie Brown Special (1965).
Well, it’s been another week, hoping for some “warm” 45 degree days. Until we meet again, as John Fredrick told me, you know you’re getting older when you walk down the high school halls and the students call you “sir”.
Commandment #14 for growing older – You thought growing old would take longer.

Aging Well in the Gorge December 11th 2019

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There is a point in your life when you learn to accept the fact you will not live forever – no matter how well you eat, exercise and do all the right things. There will be an end. The question is how do you want to experience your end-of-life journey?
Last week Heart of Hospice spoke at the Center about “Demystifying Hospice” and there was much about hospice services I didn’t know, and you may not know either.
Did you know that hospice is about staying in your own home? Hospice can provide doctors, nurses, care managers, CNAs, social workers, bereavement coordinators and trained volunteer that come to YOU in your home.
Did you know you continue to call the shots? You aren’t forced to do anything. (Except the unavoidable paperwork necessary to qualify.) This is your journey. You are in control. 
Did you know hospice is not just about pain relief?  It is much more. It is enhancing your quality of life by taking the burdens off you and your family by facilitating medical visits, social interactions with friends and family and providing spiritual and emotional support – if desired.
Did you know that you don’t have to worry about who is going to pay? Necessary services are covered with little or no cost to you and paid by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance companies. Think – no co-pays.
Did you know who is eligible for hospice services? There is no exhaustive, black-and-white list of conditions which make a patient hospice-appropriate. Often a doctor can suggest hospice but there are many times when a family requests hospice support. But generally, in order to be eligible for hospice care under Medicare, an individual must be certified as being terminally ill by a physician, with a disease whose prognosis is six months or less if it runs its normal course. There is no limit to the length of time as long as the patient continues to qualify for hospice.
As I learned, hospice is much more about living well than of dying. And as contradictory as it may sound, while your condition may get worse, your life can get better. Learn more about hospice by contacting one of the local hospice providers: Heart of Hospice or Providence Hospice of the Gorge.
There comes a time when you realize, “I don’t need any more stuff!” Instead you want to get rid of possessions. Following that principle, the Center’s is beginning its primary fundraiser: a raffle not for something that may end up on a dusty shelf, but something you can consume in one sitting – or in this case twelve. The Center is offering you THREE chance to win a Meal-a-Month: a $25 gift certificate to twelve different local restaurants. The tickets are $10 each or three for $25.
You can purchase your tickets at the Center. And a perfect time is at the Center’s Holiday breakfast this Saturday, December 14th sponsored by the Center’s neighbor Cherry Heights Living. The breakfast of All-You-Can-Eat French Toast, scramble eggs and sausage, fruit and a beverage will be served from 8:00 – 9:30. The cost is $6.00 or $3.00 for children 12 and under.
         
The name for the children’s toy consisting of small cylindrical wooden objects is Lincoln Logs. I received correct answers form Cheri Brent, Dale and Becky Roberts, Diana Weston, Beverly McKinney, Jerry Phillips, Jess Birge, Lana Tepfer, Rhonda Spies, Virginia Mcclain, Jim Ayers, and Harold Stephens. (Lucile Stephens reminded me of the wooden construction set called Tinkertoys which I had all but forgotten!) And this week’s winner of a free quilt raffle ticket is Cheri Brent. Last week I missed mentioning Barbara Cadwell and Cheri Brent; and for some unknown cosmic reason I forget to mention the quilt raffle ticket winner: Louise Wooderson.
Remember sitting around the television watching Christmas specials? For this week’s “Remember When” question what was the name of the singer affectionately known as Mr. C who pioneered a weekly musical variety television show, but was particularly known for his Christmas television specials beginning on Christmas Eve 1948? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or drop it off with a recording of his last Christmas special in 1994 filmed in Ireland.
Well, it’s been another week, thankful for this special season. Until we meet again, take your time during the hustle and bustle of the holidays.
Commandment #6 for growing older – You’ll have days when your life is just one small tent away from a circus.

Aging Well in the Gorge December 4th 2019

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November 19th Sesame Street celebrated it’s fiftieth year on PBS. For my preschool children, Sesame Street was their daily ritual – and one Christmas I even bought my son a three foot tall stuffed Big Bird. (I was also a fan of Big Bird!) But what does that have to do with aging?
I wouldn’t have had a clue until I read “5 Sesame Street Lessons We Need Again As Adults” by Bryce Kirchoff found on the Next Avenue website. So what are these five lessons that can also apply to us old-schoolers?
1. Put Down the Ducky if You Want to Play the Saxophone.
When Muppet Ernie wants to play the saxophone, he learns he must first put down his rubber ducky. If you want to try something new: attending a new exercise class, learning to play the ukulele or reconnecting with an old friend, you often must put down the things that hold you back such as your fears of embarrassment or rejection. 
2. A Sense of Adventure Never Gets Old.
Remember when you were young building forts, playing make believe? As an adult, a sense of adventure may be key to a more rewarding life whether it’s cooking a new meal or learning to ski. (I’ll pass – unless it’s warmer than 50 degrees.) You can be adventurous at any age.
3. Friends Matter.
As an adult, it turns out that friends may actually be lifesavers. Those friendships can encourage healthier behaviors, ward off depression, boost self-esteem and provide support when most needed. As shown on Sesame Street – friends make life better.
4. Celebrate Yourself.
Do you ever wish you could climb into a dryer for ten minutes and come out wrinkle-free and three sizes smaller?  We are often our own worst critic – losing confidence in ourselves to the point of self-paralysis. On Sesame Street children are good at celebrating themselves. Maybe this time we should follow their example.
5. When All Else Fails, Dance. Not everything will go as expected. With the good we can also get our fair share of the bad: an unexpected expense, a difficult diagnosis, or loss of a close friend. So, for the final lesson, sometimes you just have to put it all aside, turn up the music, and just dance, dance, dance.
The Center recently received several donated model plane kits with more coming. I remember gluing together the small plastic pieces of a ’57 Chevy and the smell of the model glue stuck to my fingers. I would like to start a model making club at the Center sometime in February after the winter weather passes. If you are a model enthusiast or just interested, call the Center or email me at mcseniorcenter@gmail.com.
There may be snow on the ground, but this coming February would you like to learn more about plants and gardening? If so, consider becoming an OSU Master Gardener. No gardening experience is necessary, but rather the desire to learn and to garden. And a basic understanding of plants is also helpful. The 2020 Master Gardener training is on Wednesdays from 9:00 – 4:00 pm starting February 19th continuing through April 1st, but you need to register by December 12th. For more information contact Michelle Sager at 541-296-5494 or michelle.sager@oregonstate.edu.
The answer to last week’s question was “elbows”. I received correct answers from Jess and Kim Birge, Rhonda Spies, Michael Carrico, Louise Woodersen – and Lana Tepfer , Cathy Wilson and Karl Vercouteren who remember the old saying (which I never heard before) “Mabel, Mabel young and able. Get those elbows off the table”. And my apologies to Dale Roberts who called last week to enter the correct answer for his wife Becky.
         
What was your favorite Christmas toy: a Lionel toy train, Raggedy Ann doll, Radio Flyer wagon, or the Candy Land game?  For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name for the children’s toy consisting of square-notched small cylindrical wooden objects used to build small forts and buildings? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with a picture of John Lloyd Wright, the second son of the well-known architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who invented this toy around 1916.
Commandment #10 for growing older, “#10 – “Lately, you’ve noticed people your age are so much older than you.”
Well, it’s been another week, trying to ask more questions – since I already know what I know. Until we meet again, keep your light burning bright during these overcast days of winter.