While more and more older adults are jumping on the information superhighway, many are tentatively dipping their toes in the pool of social networking sites to broaden their social connections and to stay engaged in their communities. According to one report in the New York Times, the number of older adults visiting social networks online last year grew twice as fast as the overall rate of Internet use among older adults.

For folks who live alone – about one third of persons over 75 according to a recent study by AARP – it is important to stay connected and engaged. And social network sites – where you can share stories; connect with old friends and make new ones; and learn about civic and educational opportunities – can help. As Joseph F. Coughlin, director of the AgeLab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, stated “The new future of old age is about staying in society, staying in the workplace and staying very connected. And technology is going to be a very big part of that, because the new reality is, increasingly, a virtual reality. It provides a way to make new connections, new friends and new senses of purpose.”

Jeff Eagan, in his work helping many older adults navigate through the maze of Medicare options, has seen the need for an easy accessible online Internet site where adults over 50 can keep connected and engaged in the community. Because of this vision, Jeff has created the online site Myover50.com. You can learn more about how to use this website to stay connected with friends and your community at 11:00 next Tuesday April 6th at the Center.

April is the month for planting, taxes, baseball and, yes, the Center’s spring membership drive. By providing opportunities to “explore, connect and contribute”, the Center is working hard to fulfill its mission of “promoting healthy aging by sharing and caring”.

By being a member you will help support the many activities and programs that the Center offers: drawing class, wildflower hikes, monthly foot care, a loan closet of medical equipment, exercise classes, computer classes, lecture series, music and dance, cards, driver safety and Wii bowling. And I mustn’t forget Bingo!

And it is not just about us. The Center also provides space for the local ARC chapter and sponsors Boy Scout Troop and Cub Scout Pack #395; provides space for several community programs including the Area Agency on Aging’s “Living Well with Chronic Conditions” and Medicare counseling; and La Clinica’s “Steps to Wellness” class and well as the AARP Tax Aide.

Since there is a richness of activities providing a variety of opportunities for older adults we, we also support and promote other community resources including MCMC, the Columbia Gorge Community College, Wasco County Historical Society, Community concerts and many others.

The Center’s goal is to increase its membership to 600 – one person, one couple at a time. Whether you participate directly in the Center activities or indirectly – such as reading this column – I ask you to become a member. The annual dues are only $35 per person on $60 per couple. Just drop in or mail you membership dues to the Center at 1112 W 9th, The Dalles.

Next Tuesday, Truman, the Center’s friend and guitar picker (who like Madonna and Bono is identified by only one name) will be playing his country gold. And tonight the good ole Dufur Boys (and Molly) will be playing for your dancing and listening enjoyment. The fingers start plucking at 7:00 and there is no charge but donations are widely accepted.

The epic film that debuted in 1959 and featured a chariot race was Ben-Hur. Joe Usatine’s name was randomly drawn winning him a free breakfast on Cherry Festival Saturday.

This week I am taking a different tack and see how far upriver I can sail. My memories of my youth – those that I can remember or want to remember, and which usually involve a girl – usually include a sound track. This week’s “Remember When” question is “What is your most memorable song from your high school days? Call 541-296-4788, or email mcsenorcenter@gmail.com.

Well that is another week and another seven dollars. Until we meet again, keep clean, keep current and keep connected.

“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked” Bernard Meltzer

Last week was Brain Awareness Week – no, I didn’t forget, apparently I just wasn’t aware. But at the Center and in this column I have been discussing and promoting brain fitness for some time. Although it is personal (where is my banana?), there is a growing national interest in how our brain functions so as we live longer, we can continue to be productive and enjoy our later years.

At last year’s “Aging in America” conference I attended a workshop by Alvaro Fernandez, co-founder and chief executive officer of SharpBrains which provides independent, research-based, information about the growing brain fitness market. Their website offers fascinating information about the brain including a list of ten lifestyle activities to help maintain and improve your brain health. As part of Brain Fitness Week – better late than never – I want to share them with you in an abbreviated version – since we all have things to do and people to meet.

1. Better understand your brain. “It will serve you well to appreciate your brain’s beauty as a living and constantly-developing dense forest with billions of neurons and synapses”.
2. Eat well. The “brain only weighs 2% of body mass but consumes over 20% of the oxygen and nutrients we intake.” And especially avoid the junk foods.
3. Exercise. “Things that exercise your body can also help sharpen your brain”.
4. Be positive. “Stress and anxiety, no matter whether induced by external events or by your own thoughts, actually kills neurons and prevent the creation of new ones. You can think of chronic stress as the opposite of exercise: it prevents the creation of new neurons.”
5. Engage in Mental Challenges. “The point of having a brain is precisely to learn and to adapt to challenging new environments. Challenge your brain often with fundamentally new activities”.
6. Aim high. “The brain keeps developing, no matter your age, and it reflects what you do with it.”
7. Explore and travel. “Adapting to new locations forces you to pay more attention to your environment. Make new decisions, use your brain.”
8. Think for yourself. “Make your own decisions, and mistakes. And learn from them. That way, you are training your brain, not your neighbor’s”.
9. Develop and maintain stimulating friendships. “We are ‘social animals’, and need social interaction”.
10. Laugh loud and often, “especially to cognitively complex humor, full of twists and surprises”.

In a nutshell, the four legs to the table of good brain health are: physical exercise, a balanced diet, stress management, and brain exercise. At the Center there are activities addressing all to these legs: Seniorcise and Strong Women, the Meals-on-Wheels’ noon dinner, yoga and massage, and the Center’s Brain Fitness class. Celebrate a belated Brain Awareness Week by stopping by the Center and giving your brain a treat.

And speaking of treats, there are only four months this year that include a special fifth Tuesday and March is one of those months. And what does that mean? Another evening of dancing on the 30th for all of you dancing fools. And the special treat will be the Dufur Boys (and one girl) playing for your dancing and listening pleasure. And tonight don’t forget the Jazz Generations playing your favorites from not too long ago. Admission is free but donations are appreciated. And all generations are welcome.

The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question was “Wheaties” – the Breakfast of Champions. The name randomly drawn from the fourteen entries and winner of a free Cherry Festival Saturday breakfast at the Center is Nadine McCracken.

This week’s question and another chance to win a free breakfast in April is “What 1959 epic film directed by William Wyler, won eleven academy awards and included a chariot race – considered by many as one of the most spectacular action sequences ever filmed? Call 541-296-4788, email mcseniorcenter@gmail.com or just write the answer on the back of a 1200 sq ft piece of carpet delivered to the Center.

Well that is another week with flowers sprouting – checking who is new in the neighborhood. Until we meet again, take a chance and try something uncomfortable – anything new will be.

“Brain: an apparatus with which we think we think.” Ambrose Bierce

If only I was a cow. I wouldn’t have to endure this biannual tradition of adjusting my inner timepiece – which always takes me a few days even though it is only one hour. Cows don’t have to adjust their watches so they can “spring forward” in March and then “fall back” in November to insure all the planets are aligned. So here I am at my desk– still yawning, after having dragged my body out of bed, grasping for the covers screaming “one more hour!” Well I guess all I can say is “Moooo?”

Like your favorite lost pet that has finally returned home, the Center’s Third Saturday Breakfast is back this coming Saturday between 8:00 – 9:30. You can enjoy some tasty biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, fruit and your favorite beverages. The breakfast is sponsored by Mel Thompson’s family in his memory. Mel’s wife Dee regularly attends the lunch time meal provided by Meals-on-Wheels and is also a Monday night Wii bowler at the Center. So come and join Dee for a fine breakfast with good friends – because as Jack always said, “Breakfast tastes better when someone else cooks it.” The cost is $5.00 and for Center members it is only $4.00.

Tuesday night music at the Center may be a kick in the pants but no one steps on the blue suede shoes. Next Tuesday playing the beats from the past will be the Jazz Generations and their favorite big band sounds. And tonight the Sugar Daddies will be playing for your dancing and listening pleasure. You won’t have to smash your piggy bank to get in – it’s free, but to keep the musicians off the street corners we do gladly accept donations.

Next up on the Center’s Tuesday lecture card on the 30th at 11:00 is Jerry Tanquist, a popular local historian, presenting his latest slide show and commentary on the “Restoration of the Harris Canyon Water Tower” and the “Harry Carleton Story”. Jerry always seems to find those personal stories and anecdotes that make our local history so fascinating.

Folks must be doing their spring cleaning early because once again the Center’s Nu-2-U shop has received some nice donated clothes. And since we really don’t have the room to store them and we don’t have much room to display them, we need to move them. So Betty and Martha have decided to have another half price sale. But this time it won’t be just for a day, or three days but for practically two weeks from Wednesday March 17th to Friday the 26th. The Nu-2-U shop is open from 10:00 – 1:30 Monday through Friday.

Saturday’s Prescription Drug Collection was a tremendous success. Organized by YouthThink with help from The Dalles City Police and several local pharmacists, over seventy-five folks turned in their unused prescription drugs totaling almost one thousand containers. A big thank-you goes to all of these folks for making our community a healthier and safer place to live.

The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question was Edward R. Murrow: the American broadcast journalist who from 1953 – 1959 hosted the popular television show “Person to Person”. Sandi Goforth’s name was randomly selected from the 10 correct answers submitted and wins a free Saturday breakfast.

This week’s question is “What breakfast cereal in the 1930’s started depicting athletes on their packaging (including Bob Richards as the first athlete on the front cover in 1958) and is known as the ‘Breakfast of Champions’”? You can call 541-296-4788 or email mcseniorcenter@gmail.com.

And finally, you may want to stop by the “Citizens for the Gorge Discovery Center” Annual Meeting, on Wednesday the 17th at 5 pm for their annual social hour, business meeting, and tribute to Bill Hulse. I had the pleasure of working with Bill when he was Wasco County Judge and he is at the top of my list for people I admire most. He is definitely a class act. For more information call 541-296-8600 x 215.

Well that is another oar in the water – I just hope I am going in the right direction. But if you’re ever confused take solace in this perspective from Edward R. Murrow, “Anyone who isn’t confused really doesn’t understand the situation”.

“For myself, I am an optimist. It does not seem to be much use being anything else.” Sir Winston Churchill

The great baseball player Satchel Paige once asked “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?” Do see yourself younger, older than your chronological age? Are you as young (or old) as you feel?

Your actual age does matter but according to Markus H. Schafer, a doctoral student in sociology and gerontology at Purdue University “it’s your interpretation that has far-reaching implications for the process of aging. If you feel old beyond your own chronological years you are probably going to experience a lot of the downsides that we associate with aging. But if you are older and maintain a sense of being younger, then that gives you an edge in maintaining a lot of the abilities you prize.”

Shaeffer believes there are both negative and positive effects of trying to stay up with the Jones’ kids. “People want to feel younger, and so when they do inevitably age they can lose a lot of confidence in their cognitive abilities.” As the saying goes, “Inside every older person is a younger person – wondering what the hell happened.”

But Shaeffer also sees the positive effects of trying to stay young. As we try to keep up with all the new trends and activities we can feel energized, excited, alive and relevant. One example he mentions is learning new technologies which from my experience will keep you cognitively challenged for a long time. (I mean it will keep you on your mental toes and not make you feel stupid – well actually it will do both.)

In our current modern culture we constantly see messages urging us to look younger: Botox, vitamins and plastic surgery; and to stay active: Elderhostel (renamed Exploritas), a variety of master sports such as swimming – and should I even dare mention Viagra!

But even though you were God’s gift to the human race when you were 21, there are limits to staying youthful and current: don’t wear anything that shows more flesh than fabric, if you “cruise the gut” looking for some action there is a reason you are alone (they’re texting) and even though wearing shoulder length hair was a sign of standing up to the “man”, it doesn’t quite have the same affect when your hair line starts at your ears. There is a difference between possibility and fantasy!

A quick reminder: The Prescription Drug Collection will be held this coming Saturday from 10:00 – 3:00 pm at the Center. Help your community, your environment and yourself by bringing your out-of-date, unused or unwanted prescription drugs to the Center so they can be safely disposed.

Dance till the stars come down from the rafters/ Dance, Dance, Dance till you drop. W.H. Auden

Every Tuesday Night starting at 7:00 pm at the Center whether it is cloudy or not, the stars shine when the music starts. Next Tuesday the Sugar Daddies will be back. The Center missed them last month because of illness (thanks to Truman for filling in at the last moment) but the Center always look forward to their upbeat sounds. And tonight the Notecrackers will be playing your favorite dance tunes. Even though you may feel like a million dollars, the evening is free, although donations are gladly accepted

The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question was American Bandstand hosted by the venerable Dick Clark. Ben Neumayer’s name was drawn from the fourteen entries and wins a free breakfast at the center on Saturday March 20th serving from 8:00 – 9:30 am.

This week’s question is “Who was an American broadcast journalist (and WSU graduate) who first came to prominence with a series of radio news broadcasts during World War II. And from 1953 – 1959 hosted the popular television show “Person to Person” interviewing celebrities in their homes from his chair in his New York studio. Call 541-296-4788, email mcseniorcenter@gmail.com or just slip me a ten dollar bill with the answer written on it.

Well, that is another divot in the fairway of life. Until we meet again as Jonathan Swift once said “May you live all the days of your life”.

“Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.” Will Rogers

Through this weekly column I try to provide a little humor, invoke a few memories, suggest a couple activities to enjoy and offer some ideas to ponder. But more importantly, I hope to encourage you to keep exploring, keep seeking adventure and not just accept what appears to be – no matter your situation.

Many of us don’t have a clue what to expect during this third chapter of our lives: the emotional and physical challenges that lie ahead. Many of those who do know tell me, “It ain’t easy!” But we are all given this gift of life, some longer than others, in this land of so many opportunities for a purpose. And this gift is to be embraced and not ignored. I am optimistic because I see so many folks who still have the energy and passion to dance, to read, to share ideas and most importantly to visit and care for one another – to nurture those relationships that mean so much.

So keep up the good fight. Stay strong. Keep looking. But if you can’t see, use your ears; if you can’t hear, raise your arms and if you can’t move, open your heart to all the possibilities.

Are you up for a win-win-win opportunity? At the Center on Saturday March 13th from 10:00 – 3:00 PM, there will be a “Prescription Drug Turn-in Event” sponsored and organized by “Youth Think” – a local grass roots organization partnering with youth to prevent the use of alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and other harmful behaviors. Bring to the collection expired or unwanted prescription medications, over the counter medicines that are no longer used and any unknown medications. By doing so, you will keep them out of the soil and groundwater – which could happen if flushed down the toilet, keep them from those who would abuse the use of prescription drugs, and reduce the risk of you or a loved one accidentally taking the wrong prescription. By helping your environment, your community and yourself, it is definitely a win-win-win. For more information contact Debby Jones at 541-506-2673.

It has been said, “There ARE short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them”. So you don’t have to go to the top of the mountain, just show up every Tuesday night at the Center. On the 9th you can dance to the sounds of the Notecrackers who will be playing favorites from the 20s through the 60s — vintage music that will bring back memories. And tonight the popular two-man country duo the Rhythm Ramblers will be playing for your dancing and listening pleasure. And how much does all of this happiness cost? Zero, zip, zilch, but donations are kindly accepted. The Center starts shaking at 7:00. And as Dave Barry says, “Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance.”

The Center’s 11:00 AM Tuesday lecture on March 9th will feature Carola Stepper, Licensed Acupuncturist, explaining and demonstrating the benefits of “Acupressure”. Carola has presented several times at the Center and you can expect her presentations to be informative and “hands-on”.

Last week’s ‘Remember When” question caught a few off guard with the reference to the “forgotten miracle”. It was 1960 when the US won the Gold to Canada’s Silver – a reversal of the outcome 50 years later. And the location was Squaw Valley in California. Correct answers were sent in by John Layson and Joann Scott, who were both just old enough to watch the Olympics on TV.

Many of my peers learned the latest dance steps (the Monkey, Watusi and the Twist) from the “regulars” on this television show – originally taped in Philadelphia – which featured teenagers dancing to hits from the top 40 introduced by a clean-cut 26 year old (it was 1956). What was the name of the show? Call 541-296-4788, or email mcseniorcenter@gmail.com. The first name drawn from all the correct answers will win a free Saturday Breakfast on March 20th.

Well, that is another seed in the ground. Until we meet again, keep your chin up but don’t forget to duck.

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming…Wow! What a ride!” Melvin Trotter 1924-2006

With the “Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat” playing on the television in the living room – crowds screaming for Apolo, Bode Miller and the American hockey team – it is hard to focus on the important stuff: writing this column. So if the column feels a little disjointed, disorganized – it’s the quick trips to the television set to watch the latest Olympic excitement.

We are social beings and no one should go a day without personal interaction with someone. But many folks for various reasons are homebound or unable to prepare their own meals. For over ninety folks, Meals-on-Wheels provides a daily home delivered meal and a friendly hello, and for many, this may be their only daily contact. But the number of people receiving home delivered meals is growing while the number of drivers is not. Friends, husbands and wives, working professional of all ages deliver meals, and if you have the time to join these good folks, Meals-on-Wheels needs your help! You will learn first-hand that this valuable and important service is “more than a meal”. For more information you can call them at 541-298-8333.

Once a month, the Tuesday lecture series invites world renowned speakers to discuss various topics of interest. Well not exactly. But just imagine you spent $50, drove 180 miles roundtrip to sit in a large auditorium where the speaker is so far away you have to watch the presentation on a large monitor to your left. You might as well be at the Center, sitting in a comfortable chair, watching the presentation on the Center’s large television screen – except the speaker won’t be here in person. (But if you still feel like you are missing the real experience you can pay us the $50.) This week’s speakers – via the website TED – will discuss the creativity within all of us. Elizabeth Gilbert the author of “Eat, Pray and Love” talks about the “impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses — and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person ‘being’ a genius, all of us ‘have’ a genius”. Also Amy Tan the author of the “Joy Luck Club” will discuss “out of nothing comes something” or how we create.

The tickets are going fast for “Cats” – the Broadway musical coming to Portland. But the Center still has thirteen tickets to sell. These are great seats: Orchestra Level rows C,D,E,F – so close you can smell the greasepaint. And did I say only $65 including transportation? Stop by the Center to pay for your tickets – you will receive them the day of the show. We will leave at 10:45 for the 1:00 Sunday matinee performance on March 28th.

Even though I don’t know for sure who is playing next Tuesday night, I do know you will be kicking and screaming when we have to turn off the lights. Every Tuesday night we offer music that’s “got a good beat and it’s easy to dance to” even though we’re not in Philadelphia. Tonight the Sugar Daddies will be playing their danceable music for you and your sweetheart. Music starts at 7:00 and doesn’t cost you one thin dime, although donations are appreciated. And on Sunday the 28th from 2:00 – 5:00 it will be the Center’s monthly turn to host the Jammers. Enjoy the talents of our local musicians who play because “it is just what they love to do”.

The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question was “The Catcher in the Rye” by JD Salinger who just recently died on January 27th. And this week, to celebrate the Vancouver Winter Olympics, a question from fifty years ago. In the 1960 Winter Olympics, thirty teams competed (the Soviet Union winning the most medals) highlighted by the US Hockey team upsetting Canada, USSR and Czechoslovakia to win the gold medal in what has become known as the “forgotten miracle”. Where were the 1960 Olympics held? Email mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop by the Center.

Well, that’s another hole in the dike. Until we meet again, keep your skates on the ice and your eye on the puck.

“I am a kind of paranoid in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy.” J. D. Salinger

It hasn’t always been this way. When I was growing up in the Midwest, it was a simpler time. There were only three network television stations, a few fast food restaurants (Big Boy, McDonalds and White Castle – and it was always a special treat when after work mom would bring home a sack of neatly stacked White Castle hamburgers) and t-shirts that were just plain white.

But time passes and things change. The choices we have in practically every aspect of our lives has increased dramatically, but we as a people seem to be less happy. How can that be? Barry Schwartz in his book the “Paradox of Choice” suggests we are experiencing too much of a good thing. When given too many choices, instead of liberating, we are paralyzed; unable to choose among the many options – whether it is shampoos, pants or Medicare Advantage plans. And once we make a choice we are less satisfied, because we can imagine out there somewhere, some place there is a better product at a better price.

Would I give up my iPhone for a simpler time? Probably not. But just the realization the more choices doesn’t necessarily mean greater happiness is something we should acknowledge and appreciate.

On your wall calendar or in your iPhone, I want you to write down for Tuesday the 23rd, “7:00 pm -Senior Center – Tuesday Night Music and Dance”, because that is where the action will be. Bring your best dance floor moves because the Sugar Daddies are playing and they want to see everyone up and dancing. And tonight you can dance to the golden country sounds with Truman Boler. All the C minors and B flats are free and the dance steps won’t cost a thing either. But donations are appreciated. And there is no age discrimination – we welcome anyone under 105.

Starting Monday March 1st from 1:00 – 2:00 we are going to repeat the weekly Brain Fitness class. In the class we do a variety of activities that stimulate different parts of the brain, including reminiscing about past experiences, engaging in listening and seeing activities, testing memory skills and sharing information we have found about memory and brain development. Many of us will be repeating the class to see if we remember half of what we heard the first time. I will also add several videos to the curriculum to provide some new content that will challenge your thinking and stretch your brain.

Do you remember reading a particular book in high school that reflected the feelings and attitudes of the time? When I was in high school in the early 60’s there was one controversial book every guy wanted to read and it wasn’t Moby Dick. Even though it was written in 1951, it had elements of rebellion and teenage angst that was beginning to infiltrate the adolescent culture of the 60’s. This week’s “Remember When” question is about that book. What novel follows Holden Caulfield’s experiences in New York City after being expelled from prep school? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off at the Center.

The answer to last week’s question was Kookie – played by Edd Byrnes – who was the parking attendant in the television detective series “77 Sunset Strip”. You may also remember the top ten Billboard hit Edd Byrnes sang with Connie Stevens, “Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb”. We had over 10 folks who knew the correct answer and I was going to mention them all, but I misplaced the list on my desk – and if you saw my desk you would understand.

Well that is another nail in the – uh, let’s see – in the two by four? Until we meet again, I hope your days are good and you can sidestep those days that made the “Old Perfessor” Yankee manager Casey Stengel say, “I’ll never make the mistake of turning seventy again”.

Last week it got a little heavy writing about sunsets and the pace of time. So this week I will go straight to what’s happening in our little corner of the world.

It is said that dogs have owners, and cats have staff. Whether you are a cat aficionado or not you will enjoy the matinee performance of the musical “Cats” on Sunday March 28th. Last summer, to get the best possible seats, the Center reserved tickets and now with less than two months, tickets are on sale. The cost is still only $65 including hassle free to-the-Keller-Auditorium-door service. And the trip is open to anyone in the Mid-Columbia region whether you are a Center member or not. Call or stop by the Center to purchase your tickets.

If you are on a limited or fixed income and require various medical prescriptions, there is a Medicare program that could save you some hard cash. If you qualify you will pay no more than $2.40 for each generic drug and $6 for each brand name drug plus the program helps pay your prescription copayments and other drug costs like monthly premiums and annual deductibles. Jean Hockman learned there are 232 folks in the 97058 zip code region who for whatever reason are missing out on this opportunity. And she wants to find them! You qualify if you make less than $16,245 and have less than $12,510 in resources or as a married couple you make less than $21,855 and have less than $25,010 in resources. If you think you or someone you know may qualify, call Jean at the Area Agency on Aging at 541-298-4101.

Truman Boler is back again this coming Tuesday the 16th playing his one man Country Gold. And when Truman plays, the girls just want to dance – we keep moving the tables further back to make more room. And tonight the Notecrackers will be playing for your dancing and listening pleasure. The music starts flowing and the bodies swaying when the clock strikes seven. It is all free but if you enjoy fine music, donations are appreciated.

It is clear that loneliness and isolation are detrimental to one’s health particularly for older adults. The Friendly Visitor program works to address this problem by providing “social visits” by screened and trained volunteers to homebound seniors. You can learn more about the Friendly Visitor program at the Center’s Tuesday Lecture on the 16th at 11:00 am. Marilyn Buchanan the coordinator will be discussing how the program can help isolated seniors stay connected and engaged.

Sometimes you know what you want to say, but you don’t really say it. Last week I didn’t mention I was looking for the sponsor of Burns and Allen’s television show which was Carnation Evaporated Milk. (You can go to the Center’s blog at midcolumbiaseniorcenter.com and see a short video from the show.) But both Joanne Scott and Loretta Commander did know the sponsor for the Burns and Allen radio show from 1945 – 1949 which was Maxwell House “good to the very last drop”.

This week’s “Remember When” question is again about a television series, about a decade later from 1958 – 1964 which I watched as a teen and thought was pretty cool. In the ABC television series “77 Sunset Strip” what was the name of the hipster parking attendant who helped the private eyes on their cases and was known for combing his hair? Call 541-296-4788, email mcseniorcenter@gmail.com or stop by with the correct answer so I can show folks you are as old as I am.

Well that’s another cobblestone on the walkway of life. Until we meet again, keep searching and asking questions because as Walter Mondale once said, “If you are sure you understand everything that is going on around you, you are hopelessly confused.”

It is going to be one of those hurry-up-and-keep moving kind of days. The calendar is full; I have once again over committed – I think it runs in the family. But it seems when I need more time, those precious minutes I do have pass so quickly. Maybe that is why, at least at my age, time seems to go so much faster. I know I don’t have forever anymore and I have noticed the sun beginning to set. But aren’t the most beautiful times of the day, the sunrise and sunset? As I try to accomplish all that I want before I punch the time clock for the last time, I should lean back, take a deep breath and enjoy the expansive and glowing sunsets in life. And like the early explorers, not fear what is beyond the sunset but accept, when the time comes, the ultimate adventure, discovering what lies beyond this world we know.

But while you contemplate life’s mysteries, you might want to waltz down to the Center on Tuesday nights. On the 9th, you can listen and dance to the Notecrackers who are back playing a gentle breeze of fine tunes. And although you may not have been dancing since you were a babe on your daddy’s knee, you can always learn – there is nothing better than taking someone in your arms and dancing your cares away. And playing tonight are The Rhythm Ramblers who are beginning to build quite a following. Bring your friend, your companion, your lover and discover what all the talk is about. The music starts at 7:00 and it’s absolutely, unequivocally and unbelievably free. But don’t miss the fine print “donations are warmly accepted”.

You may not be aware but the Wasco County Court is no longer. Not surprisingly, many people thought that the Wasco County Court was actually a judicial court instead of the legislative and administrative body for the county. But with the new reorganization creating a Wasco County Board of Commissioners, the confusion has been removed and the people of Wasco County are better served. You can learn more about the changes in county government and the challenges ahead at the Center’s Tuesday Lecture at 11:00 on the 9th. Dan Ericksen will make his annual pilgrimage to the Center to share with us his thoughts on county government and also give you a chance to ask him any questions you may have.

And Dan’s mother, Marilyn Ericksen, former Senior Center board president, Senior Living columnist extraordinaire and long time Original Courthouse board member is doing fine and feeling as good as when she was twenty – well maybe not that good. She will be the first speaker for this year’s Original Courthouse Regional History Forum series that begins Saturday the 6th at the Original Wasco County Courthouse behind the Chamber of Commerce. The topic will be “Nine Lives: the Little Courthouse that Refused to Die” about the history of this local historical treasure built in 1859.

Virginia at the Mid-Columbia Council of Governments wants me to mention that the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) still has a few positions available. This program builds on the idea that older Americans are dependable, reliable and energetic employees and a valuable resource for businesses, non-profits and public agencies. SCSEP is a work based training program for older workers; providing subsidized, part-time (up to twenty hours a week at minimum wage), community service work based training for low-income persons age 55 or older and have a family income of no more than 25% over the Federal poverty level. If you are interested and think you qualify for this program or just have questions, contact Virginia at 541-298-4101.

There were several responses to last week’s “Remember When” question including Jim Ayres who said he would be embarrassed if he didn’t know that Bart Starr was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers when they won the first two Super Bowls in ’67 and ’68.

Today advertisers buy 30-second commercial spots during the Super Bowl to show their latest and greatest commercials, but in the early days of television, the whole time slots for the television shows were owned by the sponsors such as Grape Nuts, Maxwell House Coffee, and Lucky Strikes. Which leads to this week’s question “What company/product sponsored The Burns and Allen Show”?

Well, another week, another step in the stairway of life. Until we meet again, I’ll leave you with this Red Skelton quote I heard at the Center, “If I wake up and not surrounded by roses, I’m doing fine”.

How many more times do I have to hear “your call can not be completed as dialed” before I remember to add the 541? I usually make calls using speed dial, but when I actually have to dial the number I forget to add the area code. But I wonder, just like all the modern conveniences allowing us to move less, are we becoming creatures of comfort; less mentally fit because everything is computerized and easy? But that’s too much thinking for now. I’ll worry about that another day.

Whether they make us smarter or dumber, we are in the computer age. And trying to understand how to use a computer is unfamiliar territory to many of us. But there is help. The Center offers computer classes – no more than four students per class – on Wednesdays from 10:00 – 11:00 and Thursdays 1:00 – 2:00, plus a Help Lab on Tuesday from 1:45 – 3:00. We can show you how to avoid the potholes and reckless drivers along the information highway. And because the classes are individualized you can start whenever you wish.

Ronell Currie has rounded up her “tried and true” AARP Tax Aide volunteers to start assisting you with your tax returns. The excitement begins February 5th and continues every Friday from 4:00 – 6:00 pm and Saturday from 9:00 – 1:00 through Saturday April 10th. Don’t forget to bring the usual financial documents. And it’s all free.

Last week I mentioned the value of gardening in staying fit and active which caused Marty Miller to send me an electronic copy of the Master Gardener’s “Garden Highlights” newsletter that he does most every month as a Master Gardener. It is free and bug free – he knows how to keep the bugs out of your computer as well as your garden – informative and colorful and can be delivered right to your computer hard drive by just emailing him at gardenhighlights@hrecn.net.

If you like to walk and would like to help create a more walkable The Dalles, the local public health department wants you. They need volunteers on Sat. Feb. 13th, from 9:00 – 3:00 pm (including lunch) to walk the streets (that doesn’t quite sound right, does it?) and measure the walkability of street sections and intersections. The findings will be presented to City Council, and County Commissioners, Road Departments and City Public Works, among others. If you are interested in taking part in this project contact Allyson Smith or Jeanette Montour at the North Central Public Health Department at 541-506-2625.

The Rhythm Ramblers have played several times during lunch for Meals-on-Wheels but for only the second time they will be the top bill for the Center’s Tuesday Night music. Come and enjoy this entertaining duo on the 3rd. And tonight the Jazz Generations will be playing the big band sounds. Music starts at 1900 hours and doesn’t cost a thing except a little sole on your shoes. But donations are warmly accepted.

The calendar is beginning to fill-up for the Tuesday Lecture Series – at least for February; Dan Ericksen discussing the state of the County on the 9th, Marilyn Buchanan explaining the new Friendly Visitor program on the 16th and MCMC on the 23rd. But you may notice there is no one scheduled for next Tuesday the 2nd. But fear not. I am going to show two short taped presentations one by Dan Gilbert author of “Stumbling on to Happiness” and the other by Barry Schwartz on the “Paradox of Choice” from TED, a website that features internationally respected speakers. Come and find the answer to one of life’s most perplexing questions, “Does having a choice of 24 different deodorants really make us happier?

It is only 12 days till “The Super Bowl” hits the America’s television airwaves on Sunday February 7th; when we all wait in anticipation not to see the gridiron exploits of grown men abusing each other but to watch the latest and greatest TV commercials! To celebrate this American tradition, this week’s question is “In the first Super Bowl in 1967 the Green Bay Packers won their first of two consecutive Super Bowls. Who was Packer’s quarterback? This time the winner will not receive a special prize, but the public recognition that they are old enough to remember such events. Last week’s answer was Skitch Henderson, Johnny Carson’s first bandleader. And Joanne Scott was the winner.

Well that is another note in the song of life. Until we meet again, keep your feet dry, your nose clean and your eyes on the road.