Aging Well June 10th 2014

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 16^th and 17^th 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