Senior Living March 11, 2008

At the Senior Center, you will find a wonderful variety of folks with a wide range of attitudes, beliefs and temperaments. There are folks laughing all the time and others who rarely smile. There are ones who are always helpful and others who feel they have done their share. There are some who are financially secure and others who cannot afford the $3.00 donation for a meal. Some are large and some are small and we all seem to be getting shorter. Some drive across country and others have lost their driver’s license. Some are cranky (depending on the day) and some give you a hug every day. Some are constantly reading and others are in different stages of dementia. And some see the glass half full and other see it half empty and want to know who drank their half.

The center is alive with all kinds of folks. We want to be a place where everyone can feel comfortable; a place that is simple, warm and inviting; a place where all seniors can meet friends and build relationships while taking classes and expanding their horizons. Not a place where we look for the latest anti-aging secret afraid of getting older, but a place where we find the pro-aging wisdom that comforts us on this journey called aging. We are of all colors, textures, rhythms and melodies. We all have our unique stories to tell and our songs to sing; our beliefs in what is right and what is wrong and what is in between. Although at times these differences may cause confusion, frustration and irritation, we acknowledge and cherish them because as Mr. Pete from Petersburg use to say “If we all had the same tastes, we would be married to the same women.” And I don’t think I could handle that.

The Transportation Network (formally known as LINK) has instituted a weekly trip to Portland, every Thursday. For only $8.00 one way, you can leave The Dalles’ Transportation Center at 7:30 AM and return to The Dalles at 5:10 PM. Along the way, the bus stops at the Gateway MAX Station at 9:05, OHSU at 9:45, and Clackamas Town Center at 10:30. On the return trip the bus leaves Clackamas Town Center at 2:15, OHSU at 3:00, and Gateway Max Station at 3:30. With the cost of gas heading for $4.00 a gallon that is quite a deal. Call Columbia Area Transit at 541-386-4202 for more information.

This Saturday the Senior Center will be serving its monthly Breakfast from 8:00 – 10:00. Edna, who has owned her own restaurant in Parkdale for 17 years before she retired, has created this Saturday’s menu of biscuits and gravy, sausage, country scrambled eggs, oatmeal, fruit and the regular beverages. Let Edna and Bonnie cook you a delicious breakfast, so you can get your Saturday morning off to a satisfying start. The full breakfast is only $5.00 and $4.00 for Senior Center members.

Thanks to everyone who have showed their support by joining the Senior Center particularly the fifty-six new members. We are more than half way to our goal of 400 members, but we still have a ways to go before the conclusion of the official membership drive at the end of this month. Membership is still only $25.

Have you heard of Elderhostel and wanted to know more? The next speaker for the Senior Center’s Next Chapter Lecture Series on March 18^th at 11:00 is Suzanne Burd, the Adult Community Education Coordinator at Columbia Gorge Community College. She will be discussing and answering questions about Elderhostel, an international organization sponsoring groups from all over the world to come to the Gorge for a 6-day educational trip from May 4th – 9th. It will involve hiking, site-seeing, geology, and the study of the wildflowers of the gorge. Come and enjoy this presentation and learn more about Elderhostel and how you can sign-up for this educational adventure. For more information online, go to www.elderhostel.org.

Next week Carl Kramer will be celebrating his 100^th birthday and we are planning several events for the special occasion. During the regularly scheduled Meals-on-Wheels birthday dinner at noon on Tuesday March 18^th there will be several special presentations to honor Carl. Then that evening at the Senior Center’s Tuesday Night Music we will continue the celebration with Truman Boler returning to play his popular dance music for Carl and friends. Everyone is always welcome, but this night you have a special invitation. All ages are welcome; no charge, but donations accepted. Coffee and goodies provided.

On Sunday March 16^th at the Senior Center from 2-5 PM, Kathy Killian and The Dallesport Jammers will be playing country and dancing music. They play entertaining jam sessions throughout the Gorge and we are pleased to welcome them to the center. Enjoy some fine music and a piece of pie too.

You can fine more great local music at the Cherry Park Grange. They have several musical events scheduled this week including Gospel Music on Thursday, Dance Lessons and a Dance on Friday and Karaoke on Sunday; all starting at 7:00 PM.

You know things are getting bad when you feel you should apologize for repeating yourself not knowing whether you have or not. But I just know if I haven’t, I will and if I do I want you to just nod your head and smile just as you would when your best friend tells you the same story for the second or third time.

So until we meet again, relax and breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in …