I came across this quote by Mitch
Abom, journalist and writer best known for “Tuesdays with Morrie”. “It’s funny.
I met a man once who did a lot of mountain climbing. I asked him which was
harder, ascending or descending? He said without a doubt descending, because
ascending you were so focused on reaching the top, you avoided mistakes. The
backside of a mountain is a fight against human nature,” he said. “You have to
care as much about yourself on the way down as you did on the way up.”
Isn’t that the way life is? You
think the first half of your life should be the most difficult: school, careers,
family and kids. But it’s really the second half that is the greater challenge:
after you have reached the pinnocle of your life, trying to reimagine the rest
of your life as you experience personal loss and body malfunctions. (Soon I’m
going to be taking bets on which of my body parts will fail me next. And in the
meantime I’m hoping above all hope my wife doesn’t treat me like an old jalopy
and trade me in for a more dependable model!).
But just as this second act demands
greater attention and care, it is worth it. The view can be
breathe taking and there
is so much more to experience - as you discover new mountains to climb.
Thanks to everyone who has responded
to the recent mailer and contributed to the Center’s Elevator Fund - from the twenty
five hundred dollar check to the twenty dollar bills. Every donation and dollar
counts. We are over half way to the goal of raising $104,000 which will be used
as the local match when applying for large foundation grants.
The total cost of adding an
elevator is estimated by Design Structures to be $312,000. And some folks have
asked, “Isn’t that pretty expensive for an elevator?” Well, yes and no. It is a
lot for just an elevator, but to accommodate the new elevator without losing
space while also enclosing the outside stairs, the most cost effective solution
is to expand out the front of the building. Fortunately, the roof line already
extends out, so all that is needed is to frame in the front of the Center that
is covered. The elevator will be inside near the northwest corner of the
building adjacent to the stairs. The Nu-2-U shop, lounge and receptionist area
will be reconfigured and a men’s/women’s handicap restroom will be added. We
hired Chris Haffner, a local architectural engineer, to make sure all the
pieces fit together and we meet all the building codes and accessibility
requirements.
With your continued support,
we hope to conclude the fundraising campaign by next fall so we can apply for
grants to complete this vital addition to the Center.
There is still time to register for
the June 16th and 17th AARP Smart Driver Safety Class led
by award winning instructor Dennis Davis. The updated curriculum incorporates
new understandings about the aging, or should I say “maturing brain”, and how
it affects our driving abilities. The class is both informative and
entertaining - and cookies are included. The class is on the third Monday and
following Tuesday from 9:00 – 12:00 of most every month. The cost is $20.00 or
$15.00 for AARP members. Call the Center to sign up.
“For the
Good Times” will be playing their good time music at the Center on Tuesday June
17th. Music starts at 7:00, and donations for the Center and the band are appreciated.
Many folks remembered Adams Blackjack, the
world’s first flavored chewing gum. (And what Jerry Phillips described as almost
as tasty “as the fresh tar when The Dalles was in the process of paving streets
after WWII”.) But the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Patty Geiger.
This
week “Remember When” goes back to Hollywood. Who was one of the most popular American
actors in the 50’s, and starred in Sunset Boulevard, Picnic and Stalag 17 for
which he won an Academy Award? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com,
call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a picture of this actor as best man at Ronald
and Nancy Reagan’s wedding in 1952.
Well,
it has been another week trying to keep the car on the road while driving from
the backseat. Until we meet again, there is no point in getting discouraged - it
just doesn’t get you anywhere.
"Listen, if you start worrying about the
people in the stands, before too long you are up in the stands with them."
Tommy Lasorda Baseball Manager
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