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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It is a busy week ahead. So without any further ado, here is this week’s coming attractions.

Tonight at the Center, Truman will be playing his “Country Gold”. And next Tuesday on the 22nd the Jazz Generations will be back playing the big band sounds for your dancing and listening pleasure. Doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00, everyone is invited and donations are suggested.

Thursday May 17th will be twenty five years to the date since the Senior Center held its first open house in 1987. To celebrate twenty five years supporting older adults in the Mid-Columbia, the Center is hosting a 25th Year Anniversary Open House – starting at 11:00 with displays and demonstrations; followed by a special dinner at noon provided by Meals-on-Wheels. At 1:00 there will be a program with invited guests John Mabrey and Bill Hulse, who were respectively The Dalles mayor and Wasco County Judge in 1987; as well as Betty Harlan who was the manager at that time of Meals-on-Wheels. The Open House will conclude with every ones’ favorite – cake and ice cream.

On Friday May 18th, the Center will host a Team Trivia Night celebrating this year’s theme for Older Americans Month “Never Too Old to Play”. The action will start at 7:00 and will continue until we finish the two rounds or the majority of folks fall asleep – which for me will be around 9:00. The questions cover three areas: Events, Culture and Sports and include all the decades from the 30’s to 2000. So you may want to bring one of your younger friends.

But there are many other activities at the Center that would fit the “play” category. Jody Cochenour (541-296-5692) is looking for more Bunco players to play every third Tuesday from 1:00 – 3:00; there is Mahjong (the Chinese version taught by Corliss Marsh) most every Friday from 1:00 – 3:00. And also at 1:00 on Fridays, the bridge group welcomes new players from experienced to beginners. And if you want to learn the computer, which could either be considered play or torture, there is help available every Wednesday from 9:00 – 11:00.

It is already time for May’s Saturday Breakfast on the 19th from 8:00 – 9:30 AM sponsored this month by The Dalles Health and Rehabilitation Center. The menu will include biscuits and gravy, bacon, scrambled eggs and fruit as well as your favorite beverage. Come and enjoy a delicious breakfast with friends and neighbors.

And there is plenty more action in the Gorge. Noon on Saturday May 19th at the Discovery Center, Jerry Tanquist is presenting his slideshow on the OR&N and The Union Pacific Railroads. Also on the 19th the Compassion Tea for the Relay for Life is from 2:00 – 4:00 at the Untied Church of Christ Congregational (541-298-1602). On Sunday the 20th, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, a fundraiser for Opportunity Connections, will be at the Columbia Gorge Hotel from 2:00-4:00 ($25 at the door). And if none of that fits your style, there is the 16th Annual Tygh Valley All Indian Rodeo on Saturday and Sunday starting at 1:00 with a $5.00 admission.

The next 11:00 Tuesday Lecture at the Center hasn’t been decided yet, but on May 29th there will be a presentation about the highly contagious disease Pertussis – commonly known as Whopping Cough. Pertussis has reached epidemic levels in Washington and parts of Oregon (there has been one confirmed case in The Dalles). It is most serious for infants and children, but adults can also have complications from the disease. The Tuesday Lecture on May 29th will provide more information about Pertussis: what are the risks for older adults and what steps can be taken to avoid the spread of the disease.

And finally time for the answer to last week’s “Remember When’ question. It was Bob Dylan (and not Jimi Hendrix) who shook up the folk scene when he played an electric set at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. (The winner of a free Saturday breakfast is Esther Esson.)

For this week, I have asked part of the question before, but here is the whole sandwich. “They say the music died when these three musicians’ plane crashed in February 1959. What were all three of their names? Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or include it with a picture of Waylon Jennings who was one of the band mates and gave up his seat on the flight.

Well, it has been another week, wondering if I have been here before. Until we meet again, don’t take for granted what you encounter every day.

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” – George Bernard Shaw

As we age why don’t we play as much – we certainly have the time. Are we too tired, too cautious or too self-conscious? Or are we looking for types of play that are more adult, more challenging and finding too few opportunities?

May is Older Americans Month and this year’s theme “Never too Old to Play” tries to dispel the common perception that play, like Trix cereal, “are just for kids”. Instead it promotes the idea that play is a vital component of healthy aging.

There is not a clear definition of play, but it is often described as doing something “just for the sake of it”. And it can include social play, imaginative play and physical play. But even though the understanding of play is unclear, there has developed a greater appreciation of the value of play for all ages – including older adults.

Dr. Stuart Brown, director of the National Institute for Play, believes play has an important physiological and neurological function – just like sleep and dreams. And our bodies are designed to play throughout our lifetime. And why not? Play offers a chance for anyone at any age to explore new imaginative worlds and engage in new social and physical activities – providing many personal benefits including greater social interaction and increased optimism. By expressing yourself, play also offers control, choice and freedom – which are often gradually lost as you get older.

Think back over your life – what types of play did you enjoy? You may no longer be that twelve year old playing kick –the-can on a hot humid night in Indiana, but use those playful memories to find something fun (and maybe crazy) to do now – just for the sake of it. And if your kids think you are nuts – all the better. Just tell them they need to grow up.

The Center’s 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on the 15th is “Educate before you Medicate” a special presentation made possible through a grant received by YOUTHTHINK. From this presentation you will learn the importance of informing your health care provider, dentist and pharmacist about all the prescription medicines, over the counter drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements you are using (in other words, any pill you stick down your throat!); how to ask the appropriate questions to make sure you avoid the dangers of unsafe combination of medicines; and how to use a medicine record form to keep track of the prescription medicines and any other pills you take.

Once again the Center is moving through the monthly dance card with Martin and Friends performing tonight and Truman playing on the 15th. Join one of the Center’s most popular activities with forty to sixty folks listening and dancing the night away. Doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00, everyone is invited and donations are suggested.

Every week my mailbox is stuffed with answers to the weekly “Remember When” question – well, not exactly – but that isn’t my goal (although I do appreciate the emails and phone calls). Rather, I hope each week’s question might uncover forgotten memories tucked away: screaming at the Beatles in Portland, reading the Whole Earth Catalogue during your bell bottom, bead wearing days, or listening to Guy Lombardo on New Year’s Eve. As important as it is to explore new knowledge and experiences, it is also important for your brain health to recall the emotional memories of past experiences that make us the social beings we are. Test yourself each week, but I also hope each question brings back fond memories of “once upon a time”.

And did you remember the “Rumble in the Jungle”? – the heavyweight title fight between George Forman and Mohammad Ali held in Zaire when Ali used the rope-a-dope to knock out George Foreman. (The winner of a free Saturday breakfast is Kathy Shebley.)

This week’s “Remember When” question may bring back memories of the “generation gap” during the sixties. What was the name of the musician that shocked the world and angered many fans when he played an electric set of music at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival? Email your answer to themcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or include it with a map of Highway 61 from Minnesota to New Orleans.

Well, it has been another week riding shotgun in the 56’ Chevy of life. Until we meet again, keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and don’t take your foot off the gas.

For many older adults there comes the time, either of their own choosing or at the urging of their children, to move out of their familiar home and downsize to something considered more manageable: an apartment, a retirement community or assisted living. You could think of it as reliving those youthful carefree days of high expectations and excitement. I remember traveling from Indiana to Oregon with everything my wife and I owned in a Volkswagen Van so loaded down it could barely make it up the mountain grades. But forty years later, I am not as energetic or adventurous (but I hope a whole lot wiser) and downsizing now is more a struggle than an adventure. I have read several articles about where to begin: the old cell phones, VHS movies, used clothing, old bills – and how to get rid of stuff: yard sales, non-profit thrift stores, and eBay. But after raising two children in the same house with a quarter century of accumulated stuff, shrink wrapped in memories, my biggest challenge is the emotional difficulty of downsizing. What anyone else would consider junk misses my emotional attachments to many of the things I have kept: the unusable folding chair my dad gave me before I left for college; the first board game I played with my children; picture notes I drew for my daughter to go with her school lunches. When I look at those useless objects or pieces of paper, I experience feelings that I hadn’t felt in years. And I admit – I am afraid if I toss those memory triggers away, I will also be tossing those comforting memories – out of sight and out of mind – forever. And forever is a long, long time. There are other reasons why downsizing is difficult for older adults according to David Ekerdt, professor at the Gerontology Center at the University of Kansas. You may feel what you give away will not be appreciated as much by someone else. Or downsizing may force you to face reality: maybe you aren’t going to read all those books on your library shelves and you aren’t going to learn to play that electric guitar stored in the basement and tour the world with Paul McCartney. When you have to make decisions about what is important to you, you are really defining who you are by what you want to keep. But it has also been found that after downsizing, most folks are glad they did. You are no longer a prisoner of your past and by deciding what you want to keep as Professor Ekerdt states “you are choosing what you are going to be and this can be very gratifying”. And you may find less stuff can mean more happiness. The speaker for the 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on May 8th will be Dan Hammel from the Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue. Dan will discuss fire safety and prevention including the use and maintenance of smoke alarms. And on the following Tuesday there will be the program “Educate before you Medicate” funded by a grant through YOUTHTHINK discussing how to safely use medications. And don’t forget Saturday is your chance to empty your cabinets of unused and expired prescription or over the counter medications at the local “Drug Take Back Event” held at the Center from 10:00 – 2:00 in concurrence with the local Community Clean-Up day. Who is playing the Center tonight you may ask? It is Andre and the Strawberry Mountain Band for another entertaining evening of music and dance. And next week Martin and Friends will be back to strut their stuff. Doors open at 6, music starts at 7:00, everyone is invited and donations are suggested. The event that an estimated 500 million people watched live on July 21, 1969 was not the lunar landing – which occurred on the 20th – but the first time man walked on the moon. (And the winner of a free Saturday breakfast is Jody Cochenour.) This week’s “Remember When” question is again from Team Trivia Night to be held at the Center on Friday May 18th. What was the promotional name of the classic 1974 boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman? Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or include it with a George Foreman “Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine”. Well, it has been another week spreading the manure among the dandelions. Until we meet again, keep singing even though you may have forgotten the tune. “Don’t cry because it is over, smile because it happened.” Dr. Seuss

It was a busy weekend – maybe it was the warm weather – but I didn’t have enough time to finish my thoughts on one of my son’s favorite topics: how living with less stuff can equal more happiness. Of course as a carefree young single man, he doesn’t have a whole lot of possessions to worry about. But it is a subject of interest for many of us “empty nesters” who have too much space filled with too much stuff – at least until the kids come back home to roost. And this extra week gives those of you who have downsized a chance to share your thoughts and any regrets by emailing me at smckay1948@gmail.com and I will try to include them in next week’s column. Sally McBain will be the featured speaker for the Center’s Tuesday Lecture on May 1st. Sally has worked in the field of aging most of her adult life and has witnessed, in various care settings, older adults who are unable to communicate and no one really knows who they are. The result of her experiences is a recently published work “Soul Portrait” which she wants to be “an important component of every one’s retirement plan, as well as a critical part of the family discussion as we age”. As Sally explains, “Soul Portrait helps each of us understand who we are and also encourages our caregivers, family members, friends, and health care personnel to provide us with the best care possible should the time come when we cannot speak for ourselves”. You can learn more about what inspired Sally to write “Soul Portrait” and what she hopes the book will accomplish at next week’s Tuesday Lecture starting at 11:00. It is that time of year again – time for the annual two-day celebration filled with the Friday night’s Lip Sync, live entertainment, vendors and the Saturday parade starting at 11:00am. And before the parade, why not stop by the Center for a breakfast of strawberry topped Texas French Toast with scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit and your favorite beverage – all for only $5.00. Breakfast starts at 8:00 and will continue until 10:00 for the late arrivals. Tonight at the Center, the Strawberry Mountain Band will keep you off your seats with a dance friendly mix of country and western. And next week we start the monthly rounds again with guess who? No, not the classic Canadian rockers “Guess Who” but again with the Strawberry Mountain Band – back to their regular slot on the first Tuesdays of the month. Doors open at 6, music starts at 7:00, everyone is invited and donations are suggested. We have a date! Last week I mentioned in order to celebrate Older Americans Month and this year’s theme “Never Too Old to Play” the Center is going to host a Team Trivia Night. And now the date is set for Friday May 18th from 7:00 – 9:00. Until then the “Remember When” question will be one of the questions that will be used on Team Trivia Night, so you faithful readers who attend can have at least a foot up on the competition – that is if you don’t forget! Last week’s answer was “Grapes of Wrath” published in 1939 and written about Depression-era migrant workers. (And the winner of a Cherry Festival breakfast is Jim Gordon.). This week’s “Remember When” question is “What event did an estimated 500 million people worldwide watch live on July 21, 1969 – which at the time was the largest television audience for any event in history”? Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or fly it to the Center in the talons of an Eagle. Well, it has been another week separating the chaff from the wheat. Until we meet again, sometimes the shortest distance between too points is around. (But don’t ask me what that means.) “You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it’s all right.” Maya Angelou (Well, it looks like I’m a little short this week. I could do a clumsy tap dance or sing off key, but why not a few bad puns to keep you grinning – or groaning. “I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.” Or how about, “I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.” And if that isn’t bad enough, here’s one more, “I couldn’t quite remember how to throw a boomerang, but eventually it came back to me.” And as Porky Pig would say “That’s All Folks!”)

While temporarily sidelined; awkwardly moving about on my crutches like a new born foal, friends ask how I am doing: Any pain? Are things getting better? And I appreciate their concern, but I am a little embarrassed – because I’ve had it easy. There hasn’t been any real discomfort and it is temporary – only six more weeks!
For at the same time, I know too many people who are quietly, without notice or fanfare, carrying a much heavier burden – either physically or emotionally. Some are suffering daily from back pain without an easy medical answer – and yet they get up every morning and keep moving. There are others who are carrying for a loved one, 24/7, and they get up every morning and keep giving. And there are folks who have been diagnosed with a life threatening condition and still get up every morning and keep laughing.

Some of you might think knowing these folks would be depressing – a vivid reminder of a future when “if it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t work”. But for me, they are my real heroes. They are reach-out-and-hug examples of how to live with whatever problem is thrown your way. And how you learn to just deal with it – both the good and the bad – without self-pity and bitterness, but with graciousness and quiet perseverance. Unknowingly, they have taught me, although problems never go away – they just change, there is no need to hide under the covers when each day is a gift of friendships, memories and new adventures.

Do I remind you of a community event the day before – when it may be too late, because you already made plans? Or do I remind you three week in advance and give you a chance to forget? Since I haven’t a clue to the answer, I’ll do both.

Tomorrow, Wednesday the 18th, The Dalles Area Habitat for Humanity is having their annual Pizza Feed at Spookys. It’s from 5:00 – 8:00 and the cost is $12 for those between 13 and 100. (I guess for any of you out there over 100 – it’s free!) And then on Saturday, May 5th, at Calvary Baptist, the Wasco County Pioneers will have their Annual Wasco County Pioneer Association meeting with lunch starting at 11:30. Membership is $12.50 for a family or $10.00 for an individual and is open to anyone interested in Wasco County history.

The Center’s Old Fashioned Bingo is back for another month on Saturday April 21st. All ages are welcome, parents, grandparents and grandkids, to play bingo as we did when we were kids. We use the old fashioned hard cards which are $3 a piece or two for $5. And to make it interesting, there are small $5.00 cash prizes for the first nine games and $25 for the last blackout. This family affair starts at 3:00 at lasts for a tad over an hour.

This month’s Saturday Breakfast sponsored by Cherry Heights Retirement Community would normally be held this Saturday. But during the month of April we hop on the Cherry Festival train and serve breakfast on the morning of the parade. So don’t stop by the Center this Saturday, unless you want to play cribbage at 9:00, and I’ll see on the 28th serving breakfast at the Center between 8:00 – 10:00 am.

Tonight at the Center, Truman will be playing his smooth Country Gold and next Tuesday the Strawberry Mountain Band will be roughing it up with more country and western. The music starts at 7:00, everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.

“Hey, Culligan Man!” was the person housewives called to soften their hard water. (And the winner of a free Cherry Festival Breakfast on April 28th is Jenny Gardner.)
May is Older Americans Month and the theme is “Never Too Old to Play”. And to celebrate, the Center will host a Team Trivia Night on a Friday in May. But one of the trivia questions for that night is this week’s “Remember When” question. What Pulitzer-Prize winning book, published in 1939, was written about Depression-era migrant workers who traveled from farm to farm to pick crops? Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or Fed Ex it to the Center with the album “Okie from Muskogee”.

Well, it has been another week pushing the envelope up the mountain slope. Until we meet again, as the British government told their citizens during WW II “Keep Calm and Carry On.”

If exercise is the best prescription for your long term physical health, volunteering could be the best medicine for your mental health. The reasons are many: you meet new friends, improve your social skills, and build self-confidence while having fun and making a difference in your community. Many of you are already volunteering, but for those who are considering volunteering, you may want to follow these five steps to avoid wasting your time pursuing volunteer opportunities that just aren’t “you”.

1. Identify your interests. What do you feel passionate about – children, social issues, gardening? It might help to look back over your life and remember what you found rewarding.
2. List your skills and talents. Do you have computer or writing skills? Do you understand accounting? Are you patient enough to work with children?
3. Decide what you are willing to do—and not do—as a volunteer. Do you enjoying talking on the phone or would you rather spend all day on a tractor? Do you feel comfortable with teenagers or do you consider them another alien species.
4. Determine how much time you can realistically volunteer. Some opportunities are a long term commitment; while others may be a one-time event – and fit your snowbird calendar.
5. Identify the organizations that could be good matches. Ask friends and family; or check the newspaper or Internet for organization’s that might fit. Most organizations are always looking for volunteers.
6. Contact the organizations that match. But let them know your interests and skills; what you can and cannot do and your time commitment.

After you find the volunteer opportunity that is personally rewarding and fits who you are, you will discover the difference it will make in your own life and in your community – guaranteed.

Speaking of volunteer opportunities, do you want to help a student find the right path? The Dalles Wahtonka High School is looking for caring and enthusiastic volunteers for their new MAPS Program. If you enjoy tutoring and mentoring young adults, please consider joining the team of MAPS Navigators! For more information, contact Ginger Gonzales, Parent and Community Involvement Coordinator at (541) 506-3449 ext. 4003 or at gonzalesg@nwasco.k12.or.us.

Although many people have coped with loss in the past, it is always beneficial to learn more about dealing with the loss of someone significant in your life. The Seven Strategies: Coping with the Loss of a Loved One “will help identify unique factors affecting a person’s grief, different ways people grieve, how a person might access support as well as ways to honor a loved one”. The “Seven Strategies” presentation is free and open to anyone and will be held at the Center on Monday, May 7, 2012 from 6:00—7:30 pm. Anne Kister, Community Care Liaison for Providence Home Services, will be the presenter.

At the Center’s next Tuesday Lecture on April 17th at 11:00, local attorney Antoine Tissot will be speaking on the often requested topic: Wills. Antoine practices with Brad Timmons and has special training in Elder Law.

Tonight at the Center, Martin and Friends will be playing country western so you can dance with your sweetheart (or a good friend) till the lights go out. And next Tuesday the 17th Truman will be making his monthly appearance. The music starts at 7:00, everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.

Whether you’ve been dancing since you were in diapers or you need to learn because your wife thinks it’s a good idea (I’ve been there!), Steve Hudson will be teaching another session of East Coast Swing starting Sunday April 15th from 7:00 – 9:00 at the Center. To reserve your spot call Steve at 541-993-3540.

The perennial candidate from Minnesota who ran for the Republican Party nomination for President from 1944 until 1992 was Harold Stassen. (And the winner of a Cherry Festival Breakfast on April 28th is Steve Bungum.) This week’s “Remember When” question is about memorable ads. In the radio commercial starting in 1959 and later in the animated television commercials, who did the housewife call to turn her hard water soft? Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call541-296-4788 or mail it to the Center on the back of a crisp C-note.

Well, it has been another week searching for that missing word on the tip of my tongue. Until we meet again, the person who truly gives is one who doesn’t take a tax deduction.