Aging Well January 21st 2014

We all know that as long as we physically can, we should keep moving and regularly engage in some kind of movement/exercise activity. Be we have also learned - if it is all work and no play, it is no fun and we probably won’t continue for very long.

One key I have found for making exercise fun and enjoyable is to exercise with others. By sharing stories, personal foibles and wacky experiences, I make the social connections that keeps me coming back even when I could think of other things to do – like stay in bed.

An example is the Strong Women’s class at the Center. I have often wondered if they were actually exercising or just drinking scotch and sodas and telling lewd stories. Fern Wilcox, who is probably responsible for it all, is still teaching the class which she started before she retired as an OSU Extension faculty member. 

But the class is more than just laughing and telling stories. There are many proven benefits of the Strong Women’s class: increased muscle mass, strength and balance; improved bone density and reduced risk for osteoporosis; reduced risk for diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, depression, and obesity; and improved self-confidence, sleep and vitality. The class is every Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 2:00 – 3:00 and the cost is a suggested donation of $2.00 per session.

But if you rather enjoy being alone or with a couple of friends, and enjoy the outdoors where you can really experience the different seasons, walking is an easy, inexpensive and convenient form of exercise to consider.

If you would like to start walking for exercise or even if you are already walking, you will be interested in the Center’s Tuesday Lecture on February 11^th at 11:00 when Ann Stanley and Linda Alexander, from Gorge Spine and Sports Medicine, will be discussing the importance of walking as we age, offer advice and tips on how to walk safely and then end with a walking test to assess your risks for falling.

There are many ways to keep moving. Strong Women and walking are just a few of the choices offered in the community whether at the Center, the Dalles Fitness and Court Club or Water’s Edge. But what is really the best exercise for your health and wellbeing? Whatever you will do – and keep doing!

And a quick reminder. Next Tuesday at the Center on the 28th at the 11:00, Joyce Powell Morin from MCMC will discuss the “Healing Power of Gratitude and Optimism”.

Last week I introduced the new (tongue-in-cheek) English spelling called “Euro-English”. For this week’s Tuesday Night Music announcement, I am incorporating two more changes: the removal of double letters and the wasteful silent e.

Nxt Tusday at the Senter, the Simco Boys wil kep you steping out on the danse flor with their spesial brand of kountry musik. Dors open at 6:00, the band starts piking and struming at 7:00 and you kan go home by 9:00. And to kep the rom warm and the band hapy, donations larg or smal ar always apresiated.  .

Last week’s “Remember When” question brought back memories for several folks particularly Marilyn Gladwell (the winner of a Saturday Breakfast on March 15^th) who remembers wearing "petticoats" as in the "Petticoat Junction" TV show. I learned she and many others called them "crinolines", short for crinoline petticoats.  Marilyn describes them as often made with net and a very heavy starch, or even plain gelatin to make them stiffer to create the desired fullness. And as she sat down, they would often make loud crackling noises. Ah, the joys of our youth!

Since last week’s question was about women’s fashion, this week’s question should be about men’s. But what can you ask about men’s fashions? Not much. But let’s try this one from my youth.

When I was in high school, my dad made sure I had the proper shoes for church and the formal high school dances that he tried to bribe me to go to! What was the name of this style of leather shoe decorated with perforations on the toe cap in the shape of a “W” and is still worn today but in many more colors? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a pair of Scottish ghillie brogues.

Well, it has been another week trying to be more help than a bother. Until we meet again, as the sign in the Mayflower Coffee Shop in Chicago says “As you wonder on through life, sister/brother, whatever be your goal, keep your eye upon the donut, and not on the hole.”