Aging Well April 9th 2013

How are you doing financially? Are you able to live comfortably; able to take vacations to faraway places? Or are you just getting by - barely able meet your basic needs: housing, food, clothing, transportation and medical?

Because economic security is an important aspect of health and well-being, Financial Health is the focus for the month of April in your Passport to Happiness Calendar - and the topic for the next Passport to Happiness event at the Center on April 17^th from 3:00 – 4:30. Carol Mauser, from the Aging and People with Disabilities office, and Marvin Pohl from the Area Agency on Aging will explain and clarify different services available to support older adults including Qualified Medicare Benefits, SHIBA, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Oregon Project Independence. If you haven’t attended any of the events, it is never too late to start. And don’t forget to bring your passport - the tear off section at the bottom of your calendar.

April is also National Financial Literacy Month and on the website www.financialliteracymonth.com, there are suggestions about how to manage your finances and save money. A few examples include evaluating your health insurance annually - which means for us “mature” folks to always review our current medical plans during Medicare Open Enrollment in October; borrow instead of buy (The Dalles Wasco County Library has a large selection of popular videos to lend) and to start hand washing instead of dry cleaning one shirt a month (I’ve never heard of anyone dry-cleaning their shirts! But then, I never knew you didn’t ask for Thousand Island dressing in an Italian restaurant.)

The Center‘s first spring day-trip is to WAAAM (Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum) in Hood River on April 13^th. That is the second Saturday of the month when WAAAM fires up their aeroplanes and autos so you can experience what it was like in the “good-old-days”. The cost is $10.00 for admission, (but I have four two-for- the-price-of-one coupons, so for the first eight folks to sign up admission is only $5.00) plus $7.50 for the round trip transportation. But hurry - there is only room for twelve. We will leave the Center at 9:00 AM and return by 4:00 PM.

OSU Extension, in cooperation with CGCC, is offering the Mastery of Aging Well course in a five session series on Thursdays from 10:00 – noon at The Dalles CGCC campus starting April 18^th. Each session will include a 45 minute video presentation, plus an expert speaker to continue the discussion and answer any questions. The first session is on Memory Difficulties - followed by Depression in Later Life, Medication Jeopardy, Food as Medicine, and Physical Exercise in Later Life. Register by calling CGCC Student Services at 541-506-6011or online at www.cgcc.cc.or.us. And the cost is $10.00 for each session.

At the Center’s 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on April 16^th, Corliss Marsh will discuss the proposed new addition to The Dalles Wasco County Library. And write on your Passport to Happiness Calendar the Friday Night Out Library Benefit and Auction on May 3rd at the Center.  Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Klindt's Bookstore, or at the door.

And before the shallow water passes away to let the deep sea roll, playing tonight at the Center is “Martin and Friends”. And next week Truman will be serenading you with his Country Gold. Music begins at 7:00, everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.

The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question was General Douglas MacArthur who at his farewell speech before Congress spoke the famous lines “old soldiers never die; they just fade away”. (And this week’s winner is Sandy Goforth.)

This week’s question is about a common antiseptic from the 50’s which is seldom used anymore. Before my mother would paint my cuts or scrapes with this orange liquid, I can still remember grimacing, because I knew it was going to sting like the devil. (But she would tell me to blow on it - which amazingly did seem to help!)  What was the trade name of this antiseptic that some called “Monkey Blood”? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with any memories of this antiseptic.

Well, it has been another week enjoying spring but just wishing the grass wouldn’t grow so fast. Until we meet again, at the end of the day don’t forget to take a deep breath - and count your blessings.

“I told my wife that a husband is like a fine wine; he gets better with age. The next day, she locked me in the cellar”