Senior Living March 26th
For over twenty-six years the Mid-Columbia Senior Center
has played an important role supporting older adults in the Mid-Columbia Area by
providing opportunities to explore, connect and contribute. And, whether you
are 55 or 95; or visit the Center every day or once a month for breakfast, I am
personally asking you to join the three hundred other members in supporting the
Center and its mission of promoting healthy aging by sharing and caring. The
membership dues are only $35 a year or $60 for a couple. And if you want to join
Patti Blagg and become a Super Duper member, it is $50 per person. This is the
last week of the Center’s Spring Membership drive, so mail your membership dues
in now - before you forget again - to the Mid-Columbia Senior Center at 1112 W
9th Street, The Dalles, 97058. And THANK-YOU for your support.
Since watching the trailer
for the documentary “Ping Pong”, about eight table tennis competitors with a
combined age of 703 competing in the 80+ world table tennis championships, I
have started a 60+ table tennis club at the center on Thursdays from 11:00 –
12:00 PM. Table tennis is a great sport at any age, but particularly when you are
older because it has all the excitement and challenge of tennis, but easier on
the body and knees. (When I turned fifty my knees went, and then at sixty it
was my hearing. I am now looking forward with great anticipation to see what body
part fails me when I turn seventy – and I can tell already, there will be several
possibilities!).But we could really use several more players to join us - to
add a little more competition, but more importantly, to remember after a long
volley who was serving!
You probably have your own opinions about how Oregon
supports low income families, but what do you really know? At the Center’s 11:00
Tuesday Lecture on April 2nd ,Susan Gabay, who works for the Oregon Department
of Human Service, will help you better understand how low income families are
assisted in Oregon.
And before the troll comes our from
beneath the bridge to “gobble me up” – let me quickly mention “For the Good
Times” is playing tonight at the Center. And next Tuesday it is back to the front of
the line with ”The Strawberry Mountain Band”. Music begins at 7:00, everyone is welcome and
donations are always appreciated
Last Wednesday,
Lauren Kraemer, OSU Extension agent, discussed the importance and benefits of
good nutrition at the March “Passport to Happiness” event. (The next event will
be at the Center on April 17th.) I was once again reminded to eat
more whole grains (which I am now doing), add color to my meals by including
more vegetables and fruits (which I am trying), and to eat a variety of foods (but
I like my banana every morning!). Lauren also prepared three different healthy dishes
including one with Quinoa (it does taste good while taking less time to cook
compared to brown rice) and a Popeye Power Smoothie (with, you guessed it, fresh
spinach!) that you wouldn’t imagine tasting so good. You can find more of these
“quick, tasty,
and healthy recipes” plus some nutritious tips on the OSU’s web site at www.foodhero.org.
But one of
the ingredients Lauren used for the Popeye Power Smoothie was a cup of Nancy’s Yogurt
- which brings us to this week’s “Remember When” question. In 1969 Nancy Hamren (the namesake for Nancy’s Yogurt) met this
counterculture leader and author who invited her to take care of his Pleasant
Hill, Oregon farm - which eventually lead her to working for the author’s brother
at a little creamery in Springfield, Ore., What was the name of the author? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a picture of
“Further” the 1939 International Harvester School driven by the Merry
Pranksters.
And
I can’t forget, the 1971 bestseller that Frances Moore Lappe wrote claiming a vegetarian diet
was better for the body and the planet was “A Diet for a Small
Planet”. (And
by a flip of a coin between the two entries from Jim Heitkemper and Joanne
Scott (who really prefers cookies) the winner is Jim Heitkemper.)
Well, it has been another week watching soap bubbles
dance in the wind. Until we meet again, the quieter you become, the more you
will be heard.
“There is nothing more notable in Socrates than that he found
time, when he was an old man, to learn music and dancing, and thought it time
well spent.” Michel
de Montaigne
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