I’ve been thinking (I know, don’t believe everything your mind tells you) about the book Being Mortal written by Atul Gawande, a surgeon, writer, and public health researcher. In this thought-provoking book, he reminds us that contrary to popular culture and marketing hype, we will not live forever. And unfortunately, most of us are not prepared to deal with this eventuality. As we age, we may try to do all the right things: being mentally engaged, staying physically active, and eating right, but like the tires on a 65 Mustang, we will eventually wear out.

But there is good news. Atul Gawande highlights the research of Laura Carstensen, a professor of psychology at Stanford University. Her work has shown that as we acknowledge our mortality, it changes our perspective on life, or as she says, “how we seek to spend our time may depend on how much time we perceive ourselves to have”.

She found when people feel they will live forever or are too busy to consider their eventual fate, they are more focused on climbing the economic ladder, trying new experiences, and taking chances, because if it doesn’t work out, well, there is always tomorrow.

But when you see your future in years instead of decades your perspective and focus changes to the here and now, the everyday pleasures, and the people closest to you. You see more clearly what is important and pay less attention to the trivial. You are more appreciative of the years you have.

That may not be news to most of us, but isn’t that ironic? As we ride what is seen by many as this downward trajectory of aging, we generally are happier. What was thought to be so important during our “productive” years is no longer, while friendships and living in the present are. It is like seeing the world with sharper glasses and thinking, wow, even with all the challenges of personal losses and physical ailments, life is pretty good.

In this month’s “Through the Eyes of an Elder”, Nancy Turner shares how she learned the meaning and importance of stories and offers an opportunity to learn the art of storytelling. Check it out.

Save the date. Starting May 25^th, a “Getting to Know Dementia” class will be held at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center from 10:00 – 11:30 every Thursday for six consecutive weeks. It is open to anyone in the Gorge. Stay tuned for more information.

Brain Tease: If you were able to solve last week’s brain tease, this one may be too easy. “How many pennies can you put into an empty piggy bank?”

The name of the 1955 – 1956 television show featuring the characters Ralph Kramden, Ed Norton, and their wives Alice and Trixie was The Honeymooners. As I am writing this column, my children are home visiting – and checking up on us. (We spent days cleaning so we wouldn’t give the impression we couldn’t take care of ourselves!) So, we’ll be enjoying our time with them and next week I’ll mention all of you who submitted the correct answer for the last two weeks.

I often use the word “cool” a slang term that was popularized back in the late 1940s. But there are many other slang terms we seldom hear anymore: “wet rag” – no fun or a bore, “don’t flip your wig” – tell someone to calm down, or “gas,” – any activity or event that was either fun or funny.

For this week’s “Remember When” question, what were the slang terms for something extremely gross or dirty; and for an unpleasant person who betrayed your trust or revealed a secret – and often included the prefix rat? You can email one or both answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a picture of a 50s teenage couple attending a “submarine race”.

Well, it has been another week looking life in the eye and trying not to blink. Until we meet again, most things are never as easy as you first thought, nor as hard as you may now believe.

“There are six myths about old age: 1) That it’s a disease, a disaster. 2) That we are mindless. 3) That we are sexless. 4) That we are useless. 5) That we are powerless. 6) That we are all alike.” Maggie Kuhn

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through

Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River

Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center

(541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

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

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior

Services (509-427-3990).

Answer: Just one – after that it won’t be empty.

I’ve written several times about the six lifestyle behaviors that impact brain health: exercising regularly, eating right, staying mentally challenged, sleeping well, managing stress, and being social – behaviors that can keep your cognitive engine running smoothly so you can remember where you left that whatchamacallit.

We worry about forgetting names and faces, at least I do, but can you imagine not forgetting anything? You might make thousands on Jeopardy, but wouldn’t you go nuts?

Scott A. Small, MD, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Columbia University and author of Forgetting: The Benefits of Not Remembering suggests that for most people, not only are memory lapses normal, they’re also necessary for the functioning of a healthy brain while also benefiting our cognitive and creative abilities by not interfering with access to new learning or ideas.

Besides the scientific benefits for a healthy brain, imagine how forgetting can have several other more practical benefits. You can enjoy a murder mystery again because you forgot who the culprits were. Or you can eat healthier by placing out of sight the unhealthy foods, you know the ones you really like, so you only see the healthy fruits and vegetables. Out of sight, out of mouth!

But a more serious benefit of forgetting is letting go of painful memories that can affect your emotional and physical well-being. It’s easy to forget where you parked your car, but it isn’t so easy to forget resentments, grudges, and disappointments that can contribute to depression and anxiety. The more we dwell on a hurtful memory or think about the events surrounding the memory, the stronger the neuronal connections become around the memory. But staying social, seeking friendships, and engaging with life can help you forget the hurt from those memories.

As Dr. Small points out, “The ability to forget helps us prioritize, think better, make decisions, and be more creative. Normal forgetting, in balance with memory, gives us the mental flexibility to grasp abstract concepts from a morass of stored information, allowing us to see the forest through the trees.”

So now you no longer need to apologize when you forget your wedding anniversary. You can just explain that you are trying to think better and be more creative by making room in your brain for the important stuff – although you might need to find somewhere else to sleep!

Brain Teaser: If you didn’t know the answer to last week’s teaser, you’re not alone. When I asked a small group of friends, and they were much younger than me, no one knew the answer! But this week you should find this simple math question a little easier. Give it a shot. “How many times can you subtract 5 from 25?”

The country pop duo considered by some as the greatest duo of all time and recorded the 1958 #1 hit “Wake Up Little Susie” was the Everly Brothers. I received correct answers from Bruce Johnson, Mike McFarlane, Lana Tepfer, Donna Mollett, Rhonda Spies, Jess Birge, Deborah Medina, Doug Nelson, Keith and Marlene Clymer, Steven Woolpert, and Mary Pierce whom I missed several weeks ago, but not this week because she’s the winner of this week’s quilt raffle ticket.

When Jackie Gleason starred in his own television variety show from 1952 – 1957, he played many comic characters including Joe the Bartender, Reginald Van Gleason III, and his most famous character, the blustery bus driver Ralph Kramden. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the 1955 – 1956 television show featuring the characters Ralph Kramden, Ed Norton, and their wives Alice and Trixie? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a picture of the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot in Brooklyn.

Well, it has been another week, going around in circles while trying to stay on my feet. Until we meet again, here is one of Roger Rosenblatt’s rules for aging that’s always good to remember. “Just because the person criticizing you is an idiot doesn’t make him wrong.”

“I saw a commercial on late night TV, it said, ‘Forget everything you know about slipcovers,’ so I did, and it was a load off my mind; then the commercial tried to sell me slipcovers, and I didn’t know what the hell they were.” Mitch Hedberg

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River

Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center

(541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

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

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior

Services (509-427-3990).

Answer: Just once, because after you subtract anything from it, it’s not 25 anymore.

When you get behind the wheel in your car, do you know how far back you should adjust your seat? Or what angle you should position the steering wheel? Or what you should consider when adjusting the mirrors? I don’t. I just do what feels comfortable without considering what might be the safest.

Although the AARP Smart Driver Program improves our driver safety by addressing cognitive abilities and skills, we can also improve our safety by ensuring our cars are properly adjusted.

As older drivers, we are more likely to wear our seatbelts and less likely to speed or drink and drive, but we are also more likely to be killed or seriously injured when a crash occurs because we’re generally less able to withstand the impact of an accident.

CarFit, a free educational program created by the American Society on Aging and developed in collaboration with AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association, helps address these safety concerns by showing us how to adjust the “fit” within our cars.

During a CarFit event, you and your car will go through a 12-point checklist with trained technicians. In addition to demonstrating proper seat belt position, technicians will be checking your steering wheel tilt and head restraint; the distance from your chest to the steering wheel; line of sight above the steering wheel; mirror adjustment including blind spot checks and a quick check of all lights, horn, windshield wipers, etc.

And if your car has any of those new safety features we never would have imagined when we were kids such as lane change warnings and automatic braking, they will also be checked and explained. After the final vehicle walk-around and tire check, you will receive a Resource Bag with educational material and a copy of the 12-point checklist.

The CarFit event will take place on Saturday, April 29th from 12:00 – 3:30 in the Mid-Columbia Senior Center parking lot. Spots are limited, so to guarantee a twenty-minute CarFit checkup, call the Center to pre-register. Or if you like to wait till the last moment, stop by and see if they can fit you in.

Also, volunteers are needed as technicians and support help. To register to be a CarFit volunteer, call the Center at (541) 296-4788. And for further information, you can email Dick Frost at kc7vpf@aol.com.

We can have this CarFit event in the Gorge thanks to the efforts of Mosier resident Dick Frost, a long-time Smart Driver instructor and the CarFit State Coordinator.

BRAIN TEASE:

Brain Tease: When trying to solve this one, remember we often make the mistake of assuming what isn’t. “A donkey is tied to a rope 6 feet long and there is a bale of hay 8 feet away. How can the donkey get to the hay if he does not bite or undo the rope?”

The name of the hair gel introduced in 1965 and marketed as a setting lotion for rollers to give you that perfect ‘Do” was Dippity-do. I received correct answers from Nancy Higgins, Rhonda Spies, Donna Mollet, Virginia Nelson, Kim Birge, Melissa Hayes, Marlene Clymer, and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket Pat Evenson-Brady who found you can buy a vintage partially used jar of Dippity-do on e-Bay for only $48.88! But why? And last week I missed Bruce Johnson, Anna O’Donnell, and once again Nancy Higgins.

Because of their tight harmonies, this singing duo influenced many top recording artists including the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, and Simon & Garfunkel. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this country pop duo considered by many as the greatest duo of all time, and who recorded the 1958 #1 hit single that included the lyrics “Well, what are we gonna tell your mama?/ What are we gonna tell your pa?/ What are we gonna tell our friends/ When they say ‘Ooh la la’”? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a photo of Boudleaux and Felice Bryant who wrote many of the duo’s hits.

Well, it has been another week, enjoying the blossoming colors of spring. Until we meet again, there are times to live loud and times to be still. The hard part is knowing when.

“Write a wise saying and your name will live forever.” Anonymous

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center (541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services – Goldendale office (509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior Services (509-427-3990).

Answer: The other end of the rope is not tied to anything!

As you grow older, think of the benefits. You no longer have to worry about how to ask that cute girl to the middle school dance, what your children are doing after the football game on Saturday night; and the annual performance review so you can obtain that needed job promotion. We’ve been there, done that.

But now there are other worries. What other part of my body will need to go to the shop for repair? How am I going to get myself off the couch and stay active and engaged? (I’ve found a bowl of ice cream is an effective reward although some may consider that counterproductive!) How am I going to plan for long-term living arrangements on a fixed income?

These are some of the challenges we face as we age. To learn more about how to address these challenges and make the best of the coming years, you are invited to attend the Aging Well Learning Series which will be held once a month from April 19th through August 16th.

On April 19th the first presentation in the series will be “Aging and People with Disabilities Long Term Services”. You will learn about the services available for older adults and people with disabilities at home, in the community, and in care facilities.

The next will be a “Community Resource Panel” on May 24 when you will hear from a variety of organizations that support older adults: 211info, Alzheimer’s Association, CAPECO Money Management Program, Circles of Care, and Hood River Valley Adult Center.

The last three presentations will be “Disaster Preparedness for Older Adults and their Caregivers” on June 21st; “Staying Healthy and On Your Feet” on July 19th; and “Having the Tough Conversations” on August 16th.

These five presentations will take place from 11:30 to 12:30 at the FISH Food Bank Community Meeting Room at 1130 Tucker Road in Hood River. Bring a lunch or snack and hear what you can do to live well.

If you are aware of the benefits of technology in today’s digital world, (you may even be reading this column on the CGN website), you should consider becoming a trainer to lead a Senior Planet technology course in the Gorge. Senior Planet courses teach with a purpose: to help older adults be more socially engaged, financially secure, healthier, and creative in our digital world.

To become a new trainer, you will need to attend five virtual one-hour classes starting the week of May 15. There are two options: Tuesdays at 9:00 am or Wednesdays at 2:00 pm. If you are interested in being a trainer, contact Roni Hyde at 541-705-4870 or rhyde@gobhi.org before the end of this month.

Brain Tease: See if you find this one too easy. “You are running in a street marathon and you overtake the person in last place, what position are you now in?”

The name of the “greasy” hair gel that used the tag lines, “a little dab will do ya!’ was Brylcream. I received correct answers from Afton Franger, Lana Tepfer, Jay Waterbury, Donna Mollett, Doug Nelson, Keith Clymer, Marny Wetting, Rhonda Spies, Rebecca Abrams, Sandy Kice, Jess Birge, Tina Castanares, Barbara Telfer, Pat Evenson-Brady, and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket is Hood River High School Class of 1962 graduate Ken Jernstedt.

But the most intriguing answer was “Wildroot Cream Oil” submitted by Linda Frizzell which I’ve never heard of. Have you? According to Wikipedia, in the 1950s it was also associated with the greaser subculture when teenage boys slicked their hair down into a ducktail style.

Before hand-held hair dryers became popular, I remember my younger sister using this hair gel which was introduced in 1965 and marketed as a setting lotion for rollers. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this woman’s hair gel that could give you that perfect ‘Do”? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a picture of a Beehive hairdo – maybe from your high school yearbook?

Well, it has been another week, starting and stopping; starting and stopping. Until we meet again, if you use GPS when driving, you’re missing out on the adventure of getting lost!

“A flower blossoms for its own joy.” — Oscar Wilde

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through

Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River

Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center

(541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

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

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior

Services (509-427-3990).

Answer: This cannot happen. You cannot overtake the person who is in last place, as there is no one behind them!

I’m trying to hold back the slow, methodical footsteps of time. I do all the right things. I exercise five days a week; I keep mentally stimulated by playing brain games and working the online NYT crossword puzzles (I use autocorrect!); I keep my sodium intake low and eat a daily variety of vegetables; and I stay socially active by working parttime and volunteering. But then I realize, I’m no longer the young whipper-snapper I used to be.

How do I know? Friends start giving me tissues when my nose, without informing me, starts dripping like an old pipe; I mention Ma Bell to my adult children and they want to know who she is; and among my younger friends, I’m the only one who knows how to spell Alzheimer’s! I can now empathize with the woman who was looking for someone with younger legs to mow her yard because at 87 she had finally reached the age when she couldn’t “cut the mustard, let alone the grass!”

I can’t stop the quickening passage of time. (Well, I can but I don’t like that alternative!) Instead, I will learn to embrace my age with humor and determination while enjoying this precious life adventure.

Which leads to this month’s “Through the Eyes of an Elder” a monthly column where over the past three years, a diverse set of “eyes” have shared their touching and moving examples of how to embrace your age. The column is made possible thanks to Columbia Gorge News and the efforts and vision of Tina Castanares and the Aging in the Gorge Alliance. Please check out this month’s column “It is never too late – or too early – to ‘Talk About Aging’”.

AGE+ is a non-profit supporting older adults, particularly in rural Oregon. In 2019, AGE+ established Circles of Care in The Dalles and is now active in the Hood River Valley through a partnership with Hood River Valley Adult Center and Providence Hood River.

Another initiative of AGE+ is the Ageless Awards to be held on April 20^th which recognizes Oregonians 75 years or older who have lived their lives making significant contributions to their communities. These honorees are examples of the many individuals in our communities who defy ageist stereotypes, demonstrate the positive impact of older adults, and inspire others to do more in their communities. This year one of the five honorees has Gorge connections: Ed Edmo, a tribal member, poet, and storyteller, who grew up at Celilo Village and has spoken many times in the Gorge.

You can watch the Ageless Awards and hear the honorees’ inspiring stories by registering online at ageplus.org. Or you can attend a Watch Party at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center on April 20^th from 11:45 to 1:00.

Brain Tease: See if you can read this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson while walking backward. Actually, walking backward may not be a good idea.

.yleneres dna llew ti nigeb llahs uoy ;yad wen a si worromoT .nac uoy sa noos sa meht tegrof ;ni tperc tbuod on seitidrusba dna srednulb emoS .dluoc uoy tahw enod evah uoY .ti htiw enod eb dna yad hcae hsiniF

The name of the song Henry Mancini composed with lyrics by Johnny Mercer for the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s was “Moon River”. I received correct answers from Tina Castanares, Donna Mollet, Bruce Johnson, Kim Birge, Marny Weting, Rhonda Spies, Debbie Medina, Dave Lutgens, Pat Everson-Brady, Linda Frizzell, Doug Nelson, Lana Tepfer, Kirk Taylor, and Nancy Higgins who wins a quilt raffle ticket because I’ve missed her not once but twice! And last week I also missed Mary Pierce, Rebecca Abrams, and Rose Schulz.

In the 60s the makers of Vitalis launched an advertising campaign ridiculing grown men who still used that “greasy kid stuff.” For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of that “greasy” hair gel that used the tag lines, “a little dab will do ya! Use more only if you dare but watch out! The gals will all pursue ya! They’ll love to run their fingers through your hair.”? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with the original TV commercial.

Well, it has been another week peeking around the corner. Until we meet again, keep an open mind but don’t let your brains fall out.

“Never test the depth of the water with both feet.” African Proverb

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through

Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River

Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center

(541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

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

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior

Services (509-427-3990).

In her February 16^th opinion piece in the Washington Post titled “Gen Z might not want to drive. Gen Old shouldn’t”, 84-year-old Elaine Soloway, urges her generation to “Please STOP driving!”

That may be a little extreme and stereotyping older adults – although she lives in Chicago and who would want to drive in any large city? But even around here, we’ve probably known someone we think should stay off the roads, hang up the keys, and sell the car.

But when to stop driving is one of the most agonizing decisions we make as we get older. Driving is a sign of independence. It allows us to visit friends, attend our favorite activities, and buy groceries on our own and when we want.

There are excellent door-to-door transportation options in the Gorge if you decide not to drive. I’m not there yet. But if I’m going to continue driving, I need to learn how to drive smarter. My automatic pilot isn’t as dependable as it once was. And the best way to learn to drive smarter is to complete the AARP Smart Driver Course.

Over 16 million drivers have completed the course and ninety-two percent of the participants say they’d recommend the AARP Smart Driver course to a friend. The course teaches proven driving techniques to help keep you and your loved ones safe on the road. You’ll learn about the effects of medication on driving; how to maintain the proper following distance; handling left turns, right-of-way, and roundabouts; and the proper use of safety belts, airbags, and new technology found in cars today.

You’ll also learn techniques for how to adjust your driving to compensate for the age-related physical and cognitive changes many of us experience such as how to reduce driver distractions. And after completing the course, when one of your children is driving, you’ll have the confidence to gently scream, “YOU’RE DRIVING TOO CLOSE!”

The AARP Smart Driver course will be held at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center on April 26^th from 1:00 – 4:30 and April 27^th from 11:30 – 3:00. You’ll need to attend both sessions to receive your certificate. The cost is $25 per person or $20 for AARP members and you should bring your driver’s license and a pen. Call the Center at 541-296-4788 to sign up. It is open to all Oregon residents.

For those of you who are unable to attend the course, you can take it online by logging on to the AARP Smart Driver Course website. You don’t experience the interaction you find in an in-person class, but it’s convenient and self-paced with sixty days to complete the course.

Brain Tease: This week see if you can solve this ‘series teaser’ where you try to complete the following sequence of numbers. Ready, set, go!

What number comes next? 35, 79, 1113, 1517, ?

The name of the frightening 1968 psychological horror film about a story of Satanism and a young wife’s pregnancy was Rosemary’s Baby. I received correct answers from Lana Tepfer, Bruce Johnson, Rhonda Spies, Dave Lutgens, Deborah Medina, Steven Woolpert, Maria Kollas, who pointed out Rosemary’s Baby is pretty tame compared to horror films nowadays, and Sharon Mounsey this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And last week I missed Linda Frizzell.

Henry Mancini, one of the greatest film composers of all time, wrote the scores for the Peter Gunn television series, the Pink Panther films, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s which included this song described as a “romantic song in which the romantic partner is the idea of romance.”

For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the song Henry Mancini composed with lyrics by Johnny Mercer for Breakfast at Tiffany’s and became Andy Williams’ theme song? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with the iconic black Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film. (It’s for my wife!)

Well, it’s been another week, trying to keep my mind on the road. Until we meet again, as Robert J. Sawyer once said  “Learning to ignore things is one of the great paths to inner peace.”

“Why is it that our memory is good enough to retain the least triviality that happens to us, and yet not good enough to recollect how often we have told it to the same person?” Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through

Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River

Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center

(541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

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

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior

Services (509-427-3990).

Answer: 1921…just keep adding two, 3…5…7…9…11…13…15…17…19…21

When you listen to a favorite old song, smell a certain perfume, or browse through a picture album, does it trigger images and emotions long forgotten? This nostalgia, the emotions caused by remembering something from the past, has been described by Angela Carter as the vice of the aged. “We watch so many old movies our memories come in monochrome”. And John Thorn uses the Greek description to define nostalgia as the pain of not being able to return to one’s home and family.

Nostalgia is often considered detrimental to your emotional well-being. If you are constantly comparing your current situation to the past and wishing you could return to the “good old days”, it can create a sense of loss, isolation and a corresponding disconnect from the present.

But according to the 2013 New York Times article written by John Tierney “What is Nostalgia Good For? Quite a Bit Research Shows”, nostalgia has many positive benefits. It can provide psychological comfort and support – counteracting feelings of boredom, loneliness, and anxiety. It can raise self-esteem, increase optimism, and bring couples closer together when sharing common nostalgic experiences. And it can bring back memories that remind us that our lives do have meaning.

We can’t go back – time moves in only one direction, and we shouldn’t live in the past. But we can benefit from looking back and recalling the many fond and often embarrassing memories: listening to the Indianapolis 500 in the backyard with all the aunts and uncles; making a basket for the opposing team in a grade school basketball game (But I did get the sportsmanship award that year!); and driving my high school steady home in my grandmother’s ’63 Buick Skylark convertible.

Cherish the memories, but don’t get stuck. The comforting memories of the “good old days” can provide the confidence and strength to look forward to new adventures – and future memories.

Several weeks ago, I mentioned the Klickitat County Newsletter but I don’t want to ignore the folks in Skamania County. The Skamania Senior Services in Stevenson offers a variety of community-based services including their Swiftwater Senior Newsletter. The March/April newsletter is posted online and includes information about the Medicare Savings Program; calendars with activities and menus for March and April; and a Nutrition Tip by Sally Munoz, Nutrition Manager. You can also check out the Skamania County Senior Services Facebook page for the latest.

Brain Tease: Last week’s puzzler was a Dr. Seuss quote which was relatively simple to decipher if you knew that all the letters in the words were strung together and then separated into indistinguishable words. For those who didn’t figure it out, here is the Dr. Seuss quote from last week.

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life’s realities.” – Dr. Seuss

The name of the game show where a panel tried to guess contestants’ occupations and also featured a “mystery guest” where the panelists while blindfolded would attempt to determine a celebrity guest’s identity was What’s My Line. I received correct answers from Steven Woolpert, Mary Pierce, Chuck Rice, Rebecca Abrams, Bruce Johnson, Dave Lutgens, Kim Birge, Lana Tepfer, Donna Mollet, Keith Clymer, and Marny Weting this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And last week I didn’t miss anyone – at least that I know of.

In January I asked a question about the 1954 movie Godzilla which scared me out of my childhood pajamas. But years later I saw another movie that I found even more terrifying.

For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the frightening 1968 psychological horror film about a story of Satanism and a young wife’s pregnancy starring Mia Farrow, Ruth Gordon, and John Cassavetes and written and directed by Roman Polanski? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a copy of the book of the same title written by Ira Levin

Well, it’s been another week, looking under the couch for that word I’ve forgotten. Until we meet again, only a real friend will tell you when your zipper is unzipped.

“No matter how chaotic it is, wildflowers will still spring up in the middle of nowhere.” – Sheryl Crow

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through

Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River

Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center

(541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

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

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior

Services (509-427-3990).

Have you fallen in the last year? If so, you are not alone. More than one in four people aged 65 years or older fall each year – and the risk of falling increases with age.

But why? Are they unavoidable, unfortunate accidents? Sometimes. But even if we can’t totally eliminate the risk of falling, there are common sense ways we all know to reduce the risk, but we often just don’t do them.

As a reminder some of those ways are:

1. Remove clutter in your home, and walk carefully when there are potential hazards, such as throw rugs. Pets are wonderful companions, but they can also get under your feet and cause a fall.
2. Never stand on chairs to get to something you can’t reach – which may not be your first reaction when the kitchen fire alarm starts blaring. (Yes dear, I know I need to clean the oven!)
3. Make sure whatever you use for support such as a shower grab bar is secure and stable.
4. Immediately wipe spills off the floor and use a rubber-backed bathmat to prevent the bathroom floor from getting wet. Even a small amount of water can lead to a slip.
5. Wear sensible shoes such as properly fitting, sturdy, flat shoes with nonskid soles Avoid floppy slippers, shoes with slick soles, and high heels. (And tell me, why do women wear high heels?)

Besides fall-proofing your home, fall prevention is also a matter of attitude. Consider the following.

Keep moving. Consider activities that improve your strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility such as tai chi or a StrongPeople class. And don’t let an unnecessary fear of falling keep you from being active!

Talk with your primary care provider about any of your medications or health conditions that could increase your risk of falling. And if you fall make sure you tell her.

Use assistive devices if necessary. Many won’t use devices such as a cane or walker because they don’t want to be seen as frail or dependent. But assistive devices allow us to continue the many activities we care about.

Know your limitations. We aren’t the same physically as we were years ago – maybe even last year, but we are wiser. So, if there’s a task you can’t easily complete, don’t do it! Wait and ask for help.

Remember a fall can happen to you – and it can happen again. But by fall-proofing your home, staying active, using assistive devices if necessary, talking with your doctor, and knowing your limitations, you can reduce the risk of falling and avoid serious and costly consequences.

Brain Tease: From last week, do you still remember the three items I used as an example of creating visual images to remember things? If you’ve forgotten, they’re listed at the end.

In the 1968 epic science fiction film 2001: A Space Odyssey the name of the 9000 supercomputer with a human personality was HAL. I received correct answers from Bruce Johnson, Patrick Cadwell, Steve Woolpert, Linda Frizzell, Dave Lutgens, Mike Nagle, Rebecca Abrams, Lana Tepfer, Donna Mollet, and Mary Pierce who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. And last week I must have been asleep because I missed Lana Tepfer, Linda Frizzell, Donna Mollet, and Rebecca Abrams.

There were many game shows during TV’s first golden age including I’ve Got a Secret (1952–1967), To Tell the Truth (1956–1968), You Bet Your Life (1950–1961), and a game show that ran on CBS from 1950-1967. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this game show where a panel tried to guess contestants’ occupations, and also featured a “mystery guest” round, where the panelists while blindfolded attempted to determine a celebrity guest’s identity? (You can find many of the classic episodes on YouTube featuring such stars as Julie Andrews and Alfred Hitchcock) Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a group picture of Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf, Arlene Francis, Hal Block, and host John Daly.

Well, it’s been another week, waiting for the birds to return from their winter vacations. Until we meet again, never walk with your hands in your pockets.

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!'” — Robin Williams

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through

Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River

Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center

(541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

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

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior

Services (509-427-3990).

Answer: Potato, Piano, Umbrella. Mr. Potato Head dancing on the top of a piano waving an umbrella over his head.

In high school did you have to memorize the Gettysburg Address or Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll? Today we can rely on gadgets outside our brains, so why memorize a poem or practically anything when we can look it up at our fingertips?

But I’ve found there is one thing I do need to memorize: my grocery list. And that has become my weekly memory test.

How? I usually start by writing the list of grocery items on the back of the closest piece of paper. Then at the store, when I check my pockets, I realize I left the list on the kitchen table! And the test begins. How many of the items can I remember? I don’t usually do too bad – around a B-, although I do get an F for forgetting the list!

But I’ve learned I can improve my grade by using a memory palace. In a 2011 New York Times article adapted from Joshua Foer’s “Moonwalking With Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything,” Foerexplains “…just about anything could be imprinted upon our memories, and kept in good order, simply by constructing a building in the imagination and filling it with imagery of what needed to be recalled. This imagined edifice could then be walked through at any time in the future. Such a building would later come to be called a memory palace.”

Another tip. When creating your memory palace, use images that are bizarre, unbelievable, or even lewd, because we don’t generally remember the ordinary.

So, let’s say at your Medicare Wellness Exam, your doctor tests your memory by asking you to remember three items: potato, umbrella, piano. You don’t want the doctor to know how bad your memory really is, so you create a mental picture of Mr. Potato Head waving an open umbrella while dancing on the top of a piano in the corner of the living room. Pretty ridiculous, right? But memorable! (Next week I’ll ask if you still remember the three items.)

Creating a memory palace is one way that can help us remember things. But as we worry about our forgetfulness, Joshua Foer reminds us that “our biggest failing may be that we forget how rarely we forget.”

The Klickitat County Senior Newsletter is an informative resource for those of you living in Klickitat County. In this month’s newsletter, you’ll learn about the Volunteer Connection Program seeking volunteers, (call 509-493-3068 or 509-773-3757), Veterans Service Office, the monthly Grief Group, AARP Tax-Aide, utility senior discounts, and more. You can view the newsletter online by searching for Klickitat County Senior Newsletter. To be added to their mailing list call 509-493-3068 or 1-800-447-7858.

Brain Tease: A man is asked what his daughters look like. He answers, “They are all blondes but two, all brunettes but two, and all redheads but two.” How many daughters did he have?

The name of the innovative and supportive bed that was invented in the late 1960s and was a rage in the 70s and 80s was a waterbed. I received correct answers from Diana Weston, Doug Nelson, Melissa Hayes, Dave Lutgens, Marlene and Keith Clymer, Jeannie Pesicka, Rhonda Spies, Rose Schulz, Mary Pierce – who I missed last week, and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket Bruce Johnson who shared his story of his cat thinking the new waterbed was a scratching pad. It did not end well, but the cat won!

With all the talk about the advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it will save or destroy civilization, it reminds me of the 1968 science fiction film 2001: A Space Odyssey which follows the voyage by astronauts and scientists on a spacecraft whose operations are controlled by a 9000 supercomputer with a human personality. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this supercomputer? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a recording of Richard Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra.

Well, it’s been another week, trying to pay attention to what I’m doing and not to what I’m not. Until we meet again, just because you’re slower doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enter the race.

“Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward.” Kurt Vonnegut

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through

Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River

Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center

(541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

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

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior

Services (509-427-3990).

Answer: He has 3 daughters. One blonde, one brunette, and one redhead.

When March arrives, I expect winter to be over. Okay, as my wife reminded me, winter doesn’t officially end until March 18th, but I’m talking unofficially or maybe more accurately wishfully. But it looks like this year my wish has not come true – with the ten-day forecast predicting daytime highs not getting above the mid-forties.

But soon, maybe not around the corner but at least not far down the road, spring will arrive, and the once dormant yard and garden will burst out of their hibernation waiting for some tender loving care. But that’s my wife’s love.

For myself, it’s time to start taking walks again: to get out of the house and explore the town I’ve lived in for over forty years and rediscover the hidden and not-so-hidden treasures I’ve ignored because I was just too busy or in a rush.

And this spring, I’ve found some help! Several weeks ago, Scott Stephenson, director of The Dalles Art Center, spoke at The Dalles Rotary, and during his presentation, he demonstrated a fascinating app you can use on your smartphone. It’s called OtoCast. The beauty of the app is it shows the location, photos, and a brief description of various sites in The Dalles or Hood River. It’s like a walking tour guide in your pocket – and it doesn’t cost a thing! On the app, you can find different historical sites featured in “Altogether The Dalles” a city-wide art collaboration. In Hood River, you can find twenty-five pieces of public art from the “Art of Community” artistic collaboration which turns ordinary spaces into community landmarks.

You can download OtoCast at Apple’s App Store or Google Play. Then while taking a walk and enjoying the fresh spring air, you can also enjoy the unique treasures in The Dalles and Hood River.

I’ve written about how the Powerful Tools for Caregivers class can help caregivers take care of themselves by reducing stress, improving self-confidence, better communicating their feelings, making tough decisions, and locating helpful resources so they can care for others.

But there can’t be any Powerful Tools for Caregivers without class leaders.

If you are a Washington resident and want to lead a Powerful Tools for Caregivers class, there is a virtual training over Zoom on April 3rd through the 7th from 1pm to 4pm. There’s no cost but space is limited so you need to register soon by emailing AgePrideCenter@uw.edu. And you’ll find it also beneficial because as John C. Maxwell said, “You never really know something until you teach it to someone else.”

This month’s “Through the Eyes of an Elder” is beautifully written by Susan Hess sharing her conversations with five women living in two cultures; working to preserve their traditional culture and language for future generations.

Brain Tease: Farmer Smith owns three pink pigs, four brown pigs, and one black pig. How many of Smith’s pigs can say that it is the same color as another pig on Smith’s farm?

The one-time teen idol who performed at the Shamrock in The Dalles five months before his tragic death was Ricky Nelson. I received correct answers from Emmitt Sampson, Sandy Haechrel, Diana Weston, Anna O’Donnell, Steve Woolpert – who I missed last week, Donna Mollet, Doug Nelson, Rhonda Spies, Lana Tepfer, Dave Lutgens, Deborah Medina, Katherine Schlick Noe, Bruce Johnson, Jess Birge, Pat Evenson-Brady who will send you a copy of the “Travelin Man” if you ask nicely, and Nancy Higgins who saw him at the Oregon State Fair in 1978 and is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

This type of bed was invented in the late 1960s, was a rage in the 1970s, and in the mid-1980s was 22% of all bedding purchases. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this innovative and supportive bed that was supposed to offer a sound night’s sleep, but for some it just made them seasick? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send your answer with your favorite story of owning this type of bed.

Well, it’s been another week, thinking too much about this and not enough about that. Until we meet again, if you are going to leap before you look be prepared for a wild ride down.

“Spring is when you feel like whistling, even with a shoe full of slush.” — Doug Larson

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through

Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River

Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center

(541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)

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

(509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior

Services (509-427-3990).

Answer: None. Pigs don’t talk.