Aging Well July 15th 2014

Is it hot enough? Hopefully, by the time you read this, the heat advisory will have expired. Fortunately, today we are better equipped to handle the excessive heat with window air conditioners and central air. But back in1967, only 10% of American homes were air conditioned, so most of us can remember the hot, sticky days and nights of summer. We may not have liked it, but we found ways to stay cool and lived to tell about it.  

During the hot and humid summers in Indianapolis, my dad would try to make it at least bearable, by using a dehumidifier in the basement and also installing a fan in the opening to the attic to pull hot air out of the house at night. But all too often that wasn’t enough. And many nights I would sleep without covers, spreadeagle, with a cold wet towel under my neck.  I’m sure many of you have stories of how you stayed cool during the summer. If you do, email them to me at mcseniorcenter@gmail.com.

But if you haven’t noticed, our bodies can’t jump as high, run as fast or bear the heat as well as we once did. So during these hot days, it makes good sense to heed the advice of the North Central Public Health District.

You should drink plenty of liquids, enough to have to urinate every four hours. (I wish I could last four hours!) But avoid caffeine or sugary drinks. Wear lose clothing and stay out of the heat as much as possible - which is a given for most of us. And if you need a place to stay cool, the Center is open until 5:00 every weekday and open for various activities from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM except Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights.

But most importantly, keep an eye on your neighbors - making sure they are able to handle the heat. Heat is the number one weather related killer causing more deaths than hurricanes, tornadoes, lightening and floods combined. It should be taken seriously.

Kristy Beachamp, manager of Wasco County Emergency Management, stopped by the Center to register folks for the Citizen Alert Notification system. When you are enrolled in the system, you will be contacted by phone, email or text, in case of imminent or potential threats to life or property including floods, wildfires, and natural gas leaks. You can also sign up for additional notifications such as public health advisories and law enforcement alerts. Sign-up by going to the Wasco County website. Or if you don’t have a computer or need assistance, we can help you at the Center.

The Center is hosting the annual Cowboy Breakfast from 7:30 – 9:30 on Saturday July 19^th, sponsored by Flagstone Senior Living. The menu includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit and coffee or juice. It’s still only $5.00, $4.00 for members and $3.00 for children 12 and under. And as an added bonus, members of the Mid-Columbia Car Club have been invited to bring their classic cars to show. You will be able to see all the classic autos during the Neon Cruise through downtown The Dalles on Friday night, August 8^th and the Cruise the Gorge “Show in the Shade” up at Sorosis Park on the 9^th.

Truman will be playing his “Country Gold” at the Center on Tuesday, July 22nd. Doors open at 6:00 and music starts at 7:00. All ages are welcome and donations are appreciated.

The cheerful but dim-witted, Canadian Mountie who was always rescuing the object of his affections, Neil Fenwick, is Dudley Do-Right. (And the winner of a free Cowboy Breakfast on July 19^th is Bill and Darlene Marick.)

When I was browsing through Klindts (which has all kinds of fun stuff besides a great assortment of books) I came across a book of all the things you need to know based on a popular series of children books first published in 1942. These books sold for twenty five cents and included “Pokey Little Puppy” and “The Little Red Hen”. What is the name of this series of “sturdy little books with the shiny cardboard covers and gold foil spines”? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with the gown created in 2010 made of hundreds of discarded and recycled books from this series.

Well, it’s been another week closed up in my bedroom with the air conditioner on. Until we meet again, as Steven Wright asked, “If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back?

"I have reached an age when, if someone tells me to wear socks, I don't have to." - Albert Einstein