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 April 1st 2014

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Being active in your community is both good for the community and good for your health and well-being. This community involvement is often called Civic Engagement – April’s theme in your Passport to Happiness Calendar. An example is represented by the photo for April: The Dalles Floozies on the Queen of the West – a group of local individuals with a flair for the dramatic and the comical, having fun greeting the cruise ship tourists to make their visit to The Dalles a memorable one.

Voting is another example of civic engagement and your next opportunity is the primary election on May 20th. And because it is a mail in ballot you need to make sure to update your registration when your residence or mailing address changes – even if you are only changing rooms in a senior living facility. You can update your registration by going online at www.sos.oregon.gov or stopping by the Clerk’s Office in your county.

No matter your age, you can still contribute, whether by volunteering, working on a political campaign or joining the Floozies. There is no better time than now to make a difference.

Now several weeks into spring, I see more folks out walking and enjoying the warmer weather – although I can’t say drier. Walking is one of the best and simplest movement exercises, much better than sitting on the couch watching TV, and is an essential activity for independent living. But while I haven’t seen anyone fall off a couch, falling is a definite concern when walking – whether you are walking the dog or walking to the bathroom. At the Center’s next 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on April 8th, Ann Stanley will discuss “Walking and Aging: How to keep moving and prevent falls”, and will demonstrate a simple test to help determine your risk of falling.

I promised Betty and Martha I wouldn’t forget to mention that the Nu-2-U Shop is now restocked with fine used spring clothes. The shop is open from 9:00 – 3:00 Monday through Friday. And although the shop is small, what it lacks in size, it makes up in quality.

This is the last week for the Where in The Dalles is the Elevator? contest. You can find all four sets of clues for the five elevators (well, there aren’t exactly five, but you’ll figure that out.) on the Center’s website at www.midcolumbiaseniorcenter.com. Or you can pick up the clues at the Center. And whether you identify all five or only one, email, snail mail or send them by carrier pigeon – I don’t care, as long as you get your answers to the Center by 5:00 on Friday April 4th.

Last week I reversed the letters in the words and the week before I reversed the words in the sentence, so what’s up this week? A double whammy. I’m doing both. But don’t just skip over the music announcement. Novel challenges are good for the grey matter in that skull of yours.

.detaicerppa syawla era snoitanod Dna .nwod edispu ro pu edis thgir ,sdrawkcab ro drawrof emoc uoy rehtehw emoclew si Enoyreve .erusaelp gninetsil dna gnicnad ruoy rof gniyalp niaga kcab eb lliw Sdneirf dna Nitram ht8 Lirpa no Dna .MP 00:9 – 00:7 morf thgin Yadseut yreve Retnec eht ta cisum si Ereht

It wasn’t Ralph Miller, but Slats Gill who was the Oregon State University coach during their three consecutive trips to the NCAA Basketball Tournament from 1962 – 1964. And the top scorer in the 1963 NCAA tournament was Mel Counts – who Don McAllister remembers seeing in Wallowa County sometime in the 70’s-80’s sitting in the Cowboy Bar in Joseph, Oregon. You can’t miss someone who is 7’3” in Joseph. (And the winner of a Cherry Festival Breakfast is Rayburn Parker.)

This week’s “Remember When” question is about a comedian who was a child actor in many movies including the Perils of Pauline; was a regular on various radio shows during the 30’s and 40’s; and then moved to television to host the Texaco Star Theater. Who is considered by many the first star of television and was known as Mr. Television? E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send your answers with a tape of the 1939 radio comedy show Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One.

Well, it has been another week trying to see what I can learn from this body of mine. Until we meet again, seek the wind that will fill your sails, but watch out for those sandbars.

“Almost half of all people over 40 believe they look younger than they are. This says something important about older Americans: We have terrible eyesight.” Dave Barry

Aging Well March 25th 2014

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We are all learning how to navigate this digital age: email addresses, numerous passwords, Facebook friends, and online banking. (Okay, not all of us. I know several folks who have resisted the temptation and after spending hours trying to remember my passwords, they just may have the right idea!)
But knowing that you can’t really turn back the hands of time, the Center is trying to keep up with its own website at www.midcolumbiaseniorcenter.com. If you have any questions about Center activities, I would encourage you to visit it. It is updated every week, usually by Wednesday morning, and has plenty of information including a Resource Guide for Older Adults, clues for the “Where in The Dalles is the Elevator” contest plus the Center’s weekly newsletter. I have to admit the site is not fancy, but like an old John Deere tractor, it gets the job done.
What do you get when you add “Barley Draught” with an Elevator on St. Patrick’s Day? Good music, great fun and over $1000 raised for the UpLifting Elevator Fund! Thanks to Barley Draught for donating their time to rock the Center with their high energy Irish music. I also want to thank all the folks who helped make the evening such a success: Mary Murray, Kevin Ryan, Edna Chandler and Colleen Ballinger; Spookys, Papa Murphys and Pizza Hut for donating pizzas, the band members for donating their delicious Irish Soda Bread and Mark Powell at Clock Tower Ale for setting up the keg of Guinness Beer – because I didn’t have a clue. After the rousing St. Patrick’s Day concert, I am looking forward to inviting “Barley Draught” back in the not too distant future to celebrate the addition of the new elevator.
The Center is expanding its Creative Arts program by adding two new offerings this spring. The first is a Dynamic Drawing Class where you can learn how to draw or expand your knowledge of drawing. Former university art professor, Joy Kloman, will teach old-master drawing techniques to create a lively composition. The cost is $50 for the four classes, plus $11.00 to purchase the supplies – available at the first class. The classes are on May 9th, May 23rd, May 30th, and June 6thfrom 1:00 – 3:30 downstairs at the Center. To register call the Center at 541-296-4788.
The second offering is a Writer’s Tertulia. (Tertulia is a Spanish word meaning an informal gathering to talk about common interests.) In this Writer’s Tertulia, you will have a chance to explore a variety of writing experiences: stories from your life, short fictional stories, Haiku and poetry, chapbooks and 10-minute plays. So whether you have been writing all your life, have always wanted to write or just want to explore a new talent, consider joining this Writer’s Tertulia. It will be facilitated by Robert Griswold and takes place downstairs at the Center on Fridays from 10:00 – 11:00 starting April 4th.
A quick reminder: the speaker for the 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on April 1st will be Taylor Haag from GREEN HOME Construction discussing the advantages of weatherizing your home.
I’ve upped the difficulty for the Center’s April 1st music announcement. See if you can decipher it. .
Ereht si cisum ta eht Retnec yreve Yadseut morf 7:00 – 9:00 MP. Dna no Lirpa ts1, Eht Yrrebwarts Niatnuom Dnab lliw eb gnimrofrep. Dna sa a laiceps taert rof siht laiceps yad, Erdna lliw eb gniwohs rehtona edis fo sih lacisum stnelat yb gniyalp a edulerp, na edute dna neht na edutrenni rof eht lacissalc ratiug. Dna rebmemer enoyreve si emoclew dna snoitanod era syawla detaicerppa.
The brother and sister in the popular reading primers of the 40’s and 50’s were Dick and Jane along with their dog “See Spot run.” (And the winner of a Cherry Festival Breakfast is Gwenna McCarger.)  
If you are sports fan, you know we are in the midst of basketball’s March Madness. So this week’s “Remember When” question is from the NCAA Basketball Championships long, long ago. From 1962 through 1964, Oregon State University played in the NCAA Basketball Tournament making it to the final four in 1963. Who was the OSU coach? And for bonus points who, according to Wikipedia, was the top scorer of the 1963 tournament? E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send your answers with two OSU 2014-2015 basketball season tickets.
Well, it has been another week enjoying the slow slide towards spring. Until we meet again, live without fear and with imagination.
“Children are often spoiled because no one will spank Grandma.” Seen on a wooden sign in The Breezeway Antiques and Gifts store on 2nd Street in The Dalles.

Aging Well March 18th 2014

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Is there anything you want to learn or better understand – something to sink your teeth in? It could be learning how to stitch, playing a ukulele, trying your hand at poetry, or since you always doodled as a child, learning how to draw. Or how about learning how to use a new iPad, or smart phone? Or even better, how to set up that blankety-blank new flat screen TV with what seems like a thousand different channels. (Remember when there were only three television networks and the only show you could watch after midnight was the test pattern!)

All through our lives we have been learning – from how to read in grade school to on the job training in our professional careers. And now after retirement, there is no reason to stop. In your Passport to Happiness calendar for the month of March you will find, besides a healthy recipe for a Chicken and Dumpling Casserole, and a picture of Pauline Westover reading in the library at Flagstone Senior Living (she was once a school librarian), several tips about how to continue on your own path of lifelong learning.
For example, you can enroll in a class at the Columbia Gorge Community College; or register for the spring Mastery on Aging Classes offered by OSU Extension at the CGCC campus in Hood River (The first class is April 14th on Memory Difficulties. For more information call OSU Extension 541-506-6011.) And at the Center there are the Creative Arts Classes which I’ve mentioned before. But next week I will provide more information about two new opportunities: a Dynamic Drawing Class taught by Joy Kloman and a Writer’s Tertulia (you can look that word up later!) facilitated by Robert Griswold.
In addition, there are Lectures at the Center every Tuesday except the third Tuesdays. Some of the upcoming speakers are Taylor Haag from GREEN HOME Construction on April 1st discussing the advantages of weatherizing your home; Ann Stanley on April 8th discussing the value of walking and particularly what you can do to prevent falls. And then in May, PK Swartz will discuss Advance Directives, POLST and Organ and Tissue Donations on the 6th; and on the 13th, Julie Reynolds will reprise the talk she gave in February at the Original Wasco County Courthouse on “Close Encounters: Wasco County Residents Remember the Rajneeshees”.
Thanks to Meadow Advertising and Katie Cordrey, you can now donate to the “UpLifting Elevator Fund-Raiser” online at www.seniorelevator.com. And by using your credit card you can earn more reward points on your favorite credit card for that trip to London? New York? Portland? Or just a nice overnight stay at the Balch Hotel in Dufur.
And while you have your credit card out, you can also go to the Civic Auditorium’s website at CIVIC27.com and donate $27 or more to support the operation and maintenance of this community asset and living memorial to local veterans. It is easy, simple and you receive your receipt by email which you can print out for your tax records.
Now it is once again time to challenge your cranium by mixing up the words and letters in this week’s Center’s music announcement. So here goes.
.appreciated always are donations and invited are ages All .enjoyment dancing and listening your for tunes country some playing be will Boys Simcoe the 25th March on And .PM 00:9 – 00:7 from Tuesday every Center the at music is There
The sixteen B-25s, each with a five member crew, that flew the first air raid strike over Japan in April of 1942 was led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle and called the Doolittle’s Raiders. And the Hollywood movie based on the air raid was called “30 Seconds over Tokyo” starring Spencer Tracy, Van Johnson and Scott McKay – really! (And the winner of a Cherry Festival Breakfast is Ron Sutherland.)
This week’s “Remember When” question is from the 40’s and 50’s when many of first learned to read using this common reading series. In this reading primer, what were the names of the brother and sister that became cultural icons? And for the bonus question, what was the name of their dog? E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send your answers with your first grade report card. 

Well, it has been another week when if it ain’t one thing, it’s another. Until we meet again, keep your head up, eyes open and your imagination free.

“The thing that’s important to know is that you never know. You’re always sort of feeling your way.” Diane Arbus Photographer

Aging Well March 11th 2014

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Is it beginning to feel like spring? Because we are getting closer with the first day of spring (or the vernal equinox as the say in the more educated circles) arriving on March 20th. And just like flowers sprouting in the gardens and ants climbing on the kitchen counters, the Center is busy with activity. So stay with me as I share with you many of the spring activities at the Center.

 Another sign of spring is the return of the Center’s Saturday Breakfast from its two month winter hiatus. We’ll still working on the menu but the serving line opens at 8:00 but you better get up by 9:30 to enjoy a delicious breakfast for only $5.00. And remember, as Jack always said “Breakfast tastes better when someone else cooks it!”

 It’s also time for the Center’s Spring Membership drive. With the UpLifting Elevator Fundraiser picking up steam, one of the ways the Center can show community support when applying for grants for the elevator is by the number of Center memberships. So the Center has raised the bar for 2014 to a goal of 500 members: an increase of 100 members over last year. And we are about half way there. The cost is still $35 per person or $60 per couple; and then there is the Super Duper membership for $50 per person. In addition, this year we added the convenience of buying your membership online. Go to the Center’s website and click on the “Buy Now” button under membership.

 Debra Jones is continually growing the creative arts program at the Center and her latest is the Creative Arts Spring Series – two Tuesday classes in each of the months of March, April and May. You can choose which classes you want to attend, but you need to call the Center to register for each because space is limited. The next class on drawing with watercolors and pen and ink is from 1:00 – 2:30 March 25th. This class is open to all skill levels; particularly a great way for beginners to learn to use watercolors. Debra Jones is the instructor and the cost is $2.00. For more information you can contact Debra at 541- 298-2131 or visit the Center’s website at midcolumbiaseniorcenter.com for a full listing of all the creative arts classes.

 The good news is that “Barley Draught” will be playing at the Center on St. Patrick’s Day starting at 7:00 PM to raise funds for the Center’s Elevator. It is an over 21 event with Irish Beer, Irish pizza and Irish Soda Bread.

 But the bad news is that you will have to make a choice, because also on Monday folks will be celebrating St. Pat’s Day at Old St. Pete’s with the Cascade Singers, a Children’s Choir, and the Almost-All-Irish – Almost – All – Brass – Band. Music starts at 7:00 at the St. Peter’s Landmark. Admission is a free-will offering to benefit the St. Peter’s Landmark.

 And there is always music at the Center every Tuesday from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. Truman will be playing his Country Gold on the 18th. And on Sunday the 16th, the Pie and Music Jam will be making its monthly stop at the Center from 2:00 – 5:00. And it is free.

 The answer to last week’s question is Mad Magazine whose mission has been described as “being ever ready to pounce on the illogical, hypocritical, self-serious and ludicrous”. And the goofy looking boy often found on the cover? It’s “What – Me Worry!” Alfred E Neuman. (And the winner of a free breakfast this coming Saturday is Mad Man (Dennis) Morgan.)

 This week’s “Remember When” question was inspired by an email from Marv Elsberry reminding readers not to forget these famous flyers of WW II. To send a message to Japan and to boost American morale after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, in April of 1942 sixteen B-25s, each with a five member crew, took off from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet to bomb Tokyo and five Japanese industrial centers: What was the name given to these eighty WWII heroes? And for bonus points, what was the name of the 1944 Hollywood movie based on the raid? E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send your answers with a picture of the B-25 nicknamed “The Ruptured Duck”.

 Well, it has been another week feeling good until I don’t. Until we meet again, as Paul Newman once said “It is useless to put on your brakes when you’re upside down”.

 “In retrospect it becomes clear that hindsight is definitely overrated!” Alfred E Neuman

Aging Well March 4th 2014

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Life can be broadly defined by three stages: the years preparing for work and family – when you were told what you had to do, followed by years of working and raising a family – when you did what you thought you should do.

And now this third chapter when you are no longer working, or at least working less, and watching your grandchildren grow – a time to do what you have always wanted to do, no longer constrain by time or self-imposed limitations. You can now discover or rediscover your passions and interests while reevaluating what you are currently doing to see if it is time to let go of old habits and thought patterns, so you can take advantage of the many opportunities around you to pursue your “want tos”. And don’t worry if your “want tos” seem immature or irrational. This is the time in your life to follow the adage “Dance first and think later”.

There are many folks who have taken that leap: pursuing an interest in drawing or painting through Debra Jones’ creative arts classes at the Center or classes at The Dalles Art Center; or learning more about their family history through the Columbia Gorge Genealogy Society, or purchasing a ukulele at Columbia River Music and learning to play.

But we know it isn’t always going to be easy. As we have more time to spare, we seem to have less energy; and with fewer responsibilities, there are often fewer goals and dreams to challenge us. And I won’t mention the difficulties living on a modest income that gets more modest every year. It takes guts to age successfully; to take responsibility for your life and not just let life happen; to finally pursue what you have always wanted to do. But as long as you have the energy and the courage, there is still much to accomplish in the years ahead.

My apologies to all the Saturday Night Bingo players. We cancelled Bingo thinking the snow and possible freezing rain was going to come sooner than later. But I don’t suspect there will be any more winter weather advisories, so we should be good for the rest of the year. And as a reminder, because of the fantastic volunteers, every penny from Thursday and Saturday Night Bingo goes to either the players or the operation of Meals-on-Wheels on Thursday night or the Center on Saturday night. And although there may not be the large pay outs as some of the big city bingo halls, over $1000 is paid out each night – and that’s no small potatoes.

The turnout for the Nehemiah Brown Concert last Friday night at the Center was even larger than last year with over 70 people in attendance. A big thank-you goes to Danette Utley from Flagstone who was responsible for bringing Nehemiah to The Dalles. And you might want to write down May 23rd on your Passport to Happiness Calendar– Nehemiah’s next performance at the Center.

There is always music at the Center from 7:00 – 9:00 PM on Tuesday nights. And next Tuesday on the 11th, Martin and Friends will be playing their country best. All ages are welcome and donations are appreciated. 

Many people, including myself, remember seeing news clips of Nikita Khrushchev banging his shoe on his desk at the United Nations General Assembly. But it may be another example of how our minds can create their own memories, because even though everyone agrees he banged his fist, there is no recorded video or pictures of him banging a shoe. (And by the way, the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast on March 15th is Bob Thouvenel.)

Before there were the Simpsons, Jon Stewart’s Daily Show and the Onion, there was a magazine, first published as a comic book in 1952, that satirized all aspects of American society from the media and big business to hippies and the Vietnam War. For this week’s “Remember When” questions what was the name of the magazine and the name of the boy with the gap-toothed smile often found on the cover? E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send in a vanilla envelope the first edition of the comic book Tales Calculated to Drive You Mad.

Well, it has been another week learning that problems never cease, they just change. Until we meet again, tell me I’m not the only one who when learning of the symptoms for a serious illness, imagines having each one of them.

“Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.” Anonymous

Aging Well February 25th 2014

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“Anybody who thinks talk is cheap should get some legal advice.” – Franklin P. Jones American Journalist and Humorist

Don’t you wish the American legal system was simple, understandable, and inexpensive? But doesn’t it seem like the laws are becoming even more complex, and in the name of clarity and fairness more ambiguous and contradictory, to the point where you just want to throw up your hands and scream “I give up!”

But there may be a time when consulting an attorney is your best and wisest choice. You may have been pressured by a door to door salesman to buy a security system you don’t really need. Or you are threatened by a relative who is living with you. Or you just want to make out a will that will treat your heirs fairly.

But as we all know, legal services are not cheap and are often financially out of reach for many older adults. But for those who feel they can’t afford the cost of legal help, there are several resources available to you. 

Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) serves people with low-incomes and seniors offering assistance in many areas including elder law. They have a staff of 46 attorneys in offices around the state with their regional office in Portland serving Wasco and Sherman Counties. You can call them at (503) 224-4086 or 1-800-228-6958.

Or you can attend the 11:00 Tuesday Lecture at the Center on March 4th, when Andrea Ogston, an attorney for Legal Aid who focuses on legal help for individuals over the age of 60, will discuss the free legal services available through Legal Aid.

There is also Oregon Law Help – a website which provides a guide to legal information and free civil legal services (non-criminal) for low-income persons and seniors in Oregon. On the website you can locate information on a variety of legal issues, as well as information on how to contact programs providing legal assistance in Oregon. This website is a free service and can be found online at OregonLawHelp.org

And finally, there is the Lawyer Referral Service, provided by the Oregon State Bar, which cannot provide any legal advice or answer any legal questions. But they can refer you to a lawyer who may be able to assist you. After describing your legal issue, they will give you the name and telephone number of a lawyer with whom you can make an appointment for an initial consultation of up to 30 minutes for a maximum fee of $35. You can call them at 503-684-3763 or toll-free in Oregon at 800-452-7636.

Even if you are unsure whether you need to speak with a lawyer, you may still want to contact one of these services to help you determine what kind of assistance you may need and what next steps you may want to take.

You won’t find a four piece band with backup singers, but you will find at the Center NW Pacific vocalist Nehemiah Brown performing the hits made famous by the likes of Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin, and Ray Charles. Back by popular demand, Nehemiah will be performing at the Center on Friday, February 28th from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. And the cost is $3.00 per person.

If country music is more your style, on Tuesday, March 4th at the Center, the always popular Strawberry Mountain Band will be performing from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. All ages are welcome and donations are appreciated.

The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is the ABC Wide World of Sports, hosted by the unflappable Jim McKay, that broadcasted over 100 different sports including ice barrel jumping which both Don McAllister and Jess Birge particularly remembered. (And who are the winners of a free Saturday Breakfast on March 15th.)

For this week, the category is international political theater. Who was the Russian premier who in the autumn of 1960 allegedly (although no photograph or video has ever been found) angrily banged his shoe on his desk during a UN General Assembly meeting? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a pair of shoes manufactured in Pirmasens, Germany.

Well, it has been another week waiting for the first glimpse of spring to come around the corner. Until we meet again, it’s never too late to savor new and often unexpected adventures.

“I consider conversations with people to be mind exercises, but I don’t want to pull a muscle, so I stretch a lot. That’s why I’m constantly either rolling my eyes or yawning.” Jarod Kintz

Aging Well February 18th 2014

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Unless you are a Jeremiah Johnson living in the Rocky Mountains, everyone needs to participate in a network of social supports. When raising a family and working full time, those supports came easily. But when the last paid job is only a memory; friends and family have moved or passed away; and the body? Well, it certainly ain’t what it used to be – all these changes make it harder to get out and stay socially connected.
But the effort is worth it. Staying socially engaged provides many benefits for your overall health and wellbeing: new relationships, feelings of accomplishment from learning new skills, the knowledge and information gained from others, and the mental stimulation. In fact, a 2009 Archives of Internal Medicine study showed that social activity for older adults is just as important as exercise and found that folks who were socially inactive experienced physical decline at a rate 1/3 more rapid than those who were socially active – even if they exercised regularly.
But I imagine most of you reading this column are already socially active and maybe even feel you are busier now than when you were working! (But instead of doing what you had to do, you can now do what you want to do, when you want – which is no small potatoes.) But you may also know someone, a friend or even a parent, who you feel needs to get out more and start doing things. For those folks here are several suggestions.
Enjoy a nutritious lunch at the Center provided by Meals-on-Wheels for a suggested donation of $3.75 for anyone over 60, participate in religious or spiritual activities of your choice, attend community events such as the February 23rd A Taste of Literacy (a benefit for The Dalles SMART Program) at the Sunshine Mill. Or for something smaller and quieter, join an interest group (or start one) such as the third Thursday book group at The Dalles/Wasco County Library or the Quilters and the Needle Nutz at the Center. And then there are many places looking for volunteers of all shapes and sizes.
Often transportation is a barrier and if so, you can call LINK at 541-296-7595 to reserve a ride. You may find it less convenient than owning your own car, but how convenient is it to pay for insurance, gas and change flat tires? The fare is from $1.50 to $5.00 each way and you will need exact change. Reservations must be made by 3:00 PM for a ride on the next business day and you may request a ride one to thirty days in advance. And they will make every effort to fulfill all requests for rides.
By popular demand, Nehemiah Brown, a Pacific NW vocalist in the smooth vocal style of Nat King Cole and Tony Bennett, will be returning to the Center on Friday, February 28th from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. The cost is $3.00 per person.
7h3 5imco3 Boy5 will BE back A7 7HE C3N73R n3x7 7u35day 7h3 25th playing 7h3ir rou5ing 57yl3 of mu5icfor your li573ning and dancing 3njoym3n7. 7h3 door5 op3n a7 6:00, mu5ic 57ar7s a7 7:00 and you’ll b3 hom3 by 9:00 or clo53 7o i7. 3v3ryon3 i5 invi73d  And dona7ion5 ar3 ALWAY5 APPR3CIA73D
I stumped most everyone last week except Alex Currie who is the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast on March 15th. And the two Americans who won Gold in the 1960 men’s and women’s figure skating competition? They were David Jenkins and Carol Heiss, who later starred in the movie “Snow White and the Three Stooges”.
For this week’s “Remember When” question, here’s something a little easier but still sports related. Before Bob Costas and Bryant Gumbel were the prime time hosts for the Olympics on NBC, Jim McKay was the host for six Olympics on ABC. But he was also the host of what weekly sports show that spanned the globe “to bring you … the thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat…”? And for the bonus question, what sports event do you remember most vividly from that sports show? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with two season passes to the ESPN Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.   
Well, it has been another week trying to keep my head above water while keeping a smile on my face. Until we meet again, it’s not important what song is playing, just keep dancing.

“I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way (s)he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.”  Maya Angelou

Aging Well February 11th 2014

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I hope you have dug yourself out of the snow by the time you read this. But as I was shoveling the snow – for the third time! – my mind wondered back to the days of my childhood when snow was a gift from the heavens giving children a chance to build snow caves, play capture the flag in the back yard ravines, and drink hot chocolate with marshmallows instead of going to school.
But while you were stuck inside, hopefully warm and secure, you may have thought, “What if this snow storm had been worse. No water, no power and no Winter Olympics! What would I have done?” So this may be a good time to remind everyone how important it is to be prepared for an emergency. Here are some quick reminders from FEMA at www.ready.gov and the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/seniors.
First, prepare a kit of basic supplies including one gallon of water per person per day for up to three days; at least three days of non-perishable food including a can opener (and don’t forget the pets); a battery powered radio with extra batteries; and enough medications and medical supplies to last seven days.
Second, make a plan of whom to contact. And because during emergencies it is more difficult to get through on a local call than long distance, include one or two contacts outside of your area code. And often sending a text is more successful than phone calls.
And third, the American Red Cross recommends that you create a personal support network of friends, neighbors or family with whom you should discuss these seven important points. 1. Make arrangements for your support network to immediately check on you during and after an emergency. 2. Exchange important keys. 3. Show them where you keep emergency supplies. 4. Share copies of your relevant emergency documents, evacuation plans and emergency health information card. 5. Agree on and practice methods for contacting each other in an emergency. Do not count on the telephones working. 6. Notify each other when you are going out of town and when you will return. 7. And learn ways you might be able help them as well during an emergency.
Don’t expect the government or the utility companies to immediately come to your rescue. They will be doing their very best to restore services and assist all of those in need. So be prepared by taking responsibility for your own safety. And you can start by having a kit, a plan and your support network in place.
The weather got the best of us last Tuesday, so we postponed Melissa Howtopat’s presentation. We have rescheduled her for next Tuesday February 18th. And in case you have forgotten she will be explaining the many programs and services that the Area Agency on Aging offers including in-home assistance through the Oregon Project Independence program, Friendly Visitor, AARP Money Management and Senior Health Insurance and Benefits Assistance (SHIBA).
Lyn Dalton emailed me a brain teaser, demonstrating the amazing ability of the brain, where one is asked to read a sentence with several key letters replaced by numbers. Using that idea, see if you can read this week’s music announcement. (Congratulations to Diana Weston who won ten quilt raffle tickets for being the first to email me after reading last week’s music announcement in Euro-English.)
N3x7 7u35d4y 3v3n1ng 47 7h3 C3n73r 7rum4n w1ll b3 pl4ying h15 Coun7ry Gold for your l1573n1ng 4nd d4nc1ng pl345ur3. 7he coff33 15 on 4t 6:00, 7h3 mu5ic 574r75 4t 7:00 4nd you c4n 5l1d3 hom3 by 9:00. 3v3ryon3 15 w3lcom3 1nclud1ng 35k1mo5 and pol4r b34r5. 4nd don471on5 4r3 4lw4y5 4ppr3c1473d.
The Super Bowl Trophy was named after Vince Lombardi – the coach of the Green Bay Packers. (The winners of a free Saturday breakfast in March are Virginia McClain and Cheesehead Karl Vercouteran.)
Being how we are in the midst of the 2014 Winter Olympics from Sochi, this week’s “Remember When” question is about the 1960 Winter Olympics held in Squaw Valley, California where the US won its first Olympic Gold in Hockey (the forgotten Miracle on Ice). What Americans won the other two gold medals – in men’s and women’s figure skating? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a copy of the movie “Snow White and the Three Stooges“.  
Well, it has been another week slipping and sliding down the snow packed slopes of life.  Until we meet again, stay safe and warm during this winter wonderland. 
“A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.” Carl Reiner

Aging Well February 4th 2014

Aging Well in the Gorge No Comments
Maybe it’s the weeks without seeing the sun, or the chilly days cooped up inside, or the late sunrises and early sunsets, but it is easy to get down during these cold grey days of winter in The Dalles.  
And if you do get the “wintertime” blues, you may try to “just get over it” as your parents use to tell you when you broke up with your first puppy love in junior high. Or you may try writing a gratitude list or start watching comedies to perk yourself up.
And if still all your self-remedies are not working: you have lost interest or pleasure in activities; are irritable, tired and have feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and hopelessness. And you feel you have been stuck in your sadness or grief for too long, you may be suffering from depression.
Andrew Soloman, who wrote the award winning book The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression, describes his own depression as the opposite of vitality. In 1994, three years after a series of personal losses things changed for him. He no longer wanted to do the things he regularly did and he didn’t know why. He knew his reactions were ridiculous but he couldn’t do anything about it. And through his emotional horror he saw depression as “… much, much too much sadness, much too much grief at far too slight a cause.”
Depression affects fifteen in every one hundred adults over 65 – of which 70% are women. It is a serious illness that should not be confused with sadness and grief which we all experience at different times of our lives. Depression is nothing to be ashamed of or to hide from. And it is not a natural part of aging! But most importantly it is treatable. If you feel you may have depression, talk to your health care provider to find help so you can climb out of the emotional abyss of depression and live a fuller and happier life.
Walking is an activity most anyone can do, offers a multitude of health benefits and most importantly – it’s cheap! But as we walk to improve our stamina, mobility and balance, we should also be aware of the dangers of falling. On Tuesday February 11th at 11:00, Ann Stanley and Linda Alexander from Columbia Gorge Spine and Sports Medicine will discuss the benefits of walking and how to prevent falls as we get older.
Two reminders: Don’t forget to have your Passport to Happiness passport stamped at the StrongWomen’s table during the Go Red for Women’s Heart Expo at The Civic Auditorium on Friday from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. And if you are one of the millions who own an Apple iPad (or an iPhone) join us at the Center on Wednesday, February 5th from 1:00 – 2:30 PM to learn more about the many ways to use your new device.  .
Now that you are fluent in the new Euro-English spelling, I’ll use it one more time for the Center’s music announcement. Tusday night on February 11th Martin and Friends vil be performing for yur dansing and listning pleasur.  Ze dors opn at 6:00, musik starts at 7:00 and ze fun nds at 9:00. (And to se if yu ar stil reading zis, if yu ar ze first to email me or kal the Senter, you’l reseive ten fre quilt rafle tikets.) And I mustn’t forget …everyon is velkom and donations ar apresiated.
English grammar can be a cruel mistress. You forget one verb, a punctuation mark and confusion breaks out! It was pointed out to me that last week I forgot to include “was” and a question mark. The sentence should have read “… the popular television show “Candid Camera” which ran on NBC from 1960-1967 was hosted by what television personality?” which explains why only Sandy Haechrel emailed the correct answer: Allen Funt.
But this week’s “Remember When” question is inspired by the Seahawks dominant (and boring?) victory in Sunday’s Super Bowl. After their win, the team took home the Super Bowl trophy named after Vince Lombardi who coached what team to the first two Super Bowl victories? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a “cheesehead” hat first worn in 1987.
Well, it has been another week enjoying the rollercoaster of life’s ups and downs. Until we meet again, as Vivian Greene wrote “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass—it’s about learning to dance in the rain!”

“Sometimes I get the feeling the whole world is against me, but deep down I know that’s not true. Some smaller countries are neutral.”—Robert Orben

Aging Well January 28th 2014

Aging Well in the Gorge No Comments

There are many organizations in the Mid-Columbia supporting older adults, but there are very few whose only mission is the health and wellbeing of older adults. One of those organizations is the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) operated under the Mid-Columbia Council of Governments serving a five county region: Wheeler, Gilliam, Sherman, Wasco and Hood River counties.

Through the Older Americans Act (OAA), the AAA receives funds for food and nutrition programs, support services, and planning and coordination of local services. The AAA also receives funds from the state of Oregon to operate the Oregon Project Independence program which pays for in-home services so older adults can stay in their homes and live as independently as possible.

 But the AAA also recruits and trains many volunteers to provide several other important services for older adults including the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program (SHIBA) that offers free counseling to people eligible for Medicare; Friendly Visitor program that helps older adults stay socially connected, and the AARP Money Management program that provides help with simple financial tasks such as paying bills and balancing a check book.

If you would like to learn more for yourself or someone you know, at the Center on Tuesday, February 4th at 11:00, Melissa Howtopat will explain the many important services offered by local Area Agency on Aging.

 Hopefully you have received your Passport to Happiness Calendar in the mail. (If not you can still pick one up at the Center.) To encourage a healthy and active lifestyle, there is a Passport, in addition to the Calendar, that you can pick up to be stamped each month at various community activities promoting healthy aging including the quarterly events held at the Center. Then in December at the last event, you can turn in your passport for prizes and gifts donated by local businesses and individuals.

 The first community event where you can have your Passport stamped is the Go Red for Women’s Heart Expo at The Dalles Civic Auditorium on Friday February 7th from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. Pick up your Passport at the StrongWomen table and have it stamped by Fern Wilcox the volunteer coordinator for the StrongWomen program. And each month another community event will be announced where your “Passport” can be stamped.

 Two quick reminders: The first Creative Drawing class at the Center (led by Debra Jones and based on the Art of Silliness Drawing Workshop created by Carla Sonheim) is next Tuesday from 1:00 – 2:30. Call the Center for the supply list and the cost is only $2.00 per session. And if for Christmas, you bought a new iPad or iPhone for yourself or your children bought one for you, there will be a iPad/iPhone class on Wednesday February 5th from 1:00 – 2:30 pm.

 I hope you have stayed up with me regarding the proposed changes to English spelling called “Euro-English”. For this week’s music announcement, I am adding the last three changes: replacing “th” with a “z”, the “w” with “v”; and dropping the “o” from words containing “ou”.

 Nxt vek starts a vhol new monz and on ze first Tuesday night in February (4th) if yu want to “kut a rug!”, kom on down to ze Cnter and njoy the sunds of ze Stravbery Mountain Band. Ze dors open at 6:00, and althugh it von’t be all night, yu kan dans from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. Everyon is velkom and donations are apresiated.

The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is Wingtips – a style of leather shoe decorated on the toe cap with perforations in the shape of a “W”. (And the winner of a free March 21st Saturday Breakfast is Ted Mahoney.)

 This week’s question was inspired by the funny YouTube video “Smart Dog Drives Smart Car” emailed to me by Diana Weston. It is one of hundreds of pranks found on the “Just for Laugh Gags” channel on YouTube. But the videos reminded me of the popular television show “Candid Camera” which ran on NBC from 1960-1967 hosted by what television personality. E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a picture of Durward Kirby, the co-host of the show for several years. 

Well, it has been another week wondering for how long will I have to drive out of town to see the sun? Until we meet again, in conversations when you start digging yourself into a hole, know when to put down the shovel.

 “The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” Joseph Addison