Many
have commented about getting older. Groucho Marx once said “Getting older is no
problem. You just have to live long enough.” George Burns said “You can't help
getting older, but you don't have to get old.” And then there was Mark Twain
who expressed his often repeated view on aging, “Age is an issue of mind over
matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.”
Many of
us don’t want to think about getting older. But at some point in our lives, we
realize we are no longer young men – or women. My brother-in-law is an example.
He shared at the last family reunion that now he has turned 70, he can no
longer deny he is getting old.
Although
we may not feel old, there are unwanted signs reminding us old age has at least
moved into the neighborhood. While cleaning out the receptionist desk at the
Center, I found hidden in the back reaches of the bottom shelf, a poster
describing some of those signs. Here are my top ten favorites describing when
you know you are getting old. Maybe you can also relate to them.
1) Everything
hurts and what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work. 2) You think gay means “happy,
lively, and vivacious”. (Remember the Gay Blade clothing stores?) 3) You know
all the answers, but no one asks you the questions. 4) Your mind makes
agreements your body can’t keep. 5) Your favorite newspaper column is “20 (or
40) Years Ago Today”. 6) You feel like the morning after and you haven’t been
anywhere. 7) Anything under a quarter isn’t worth bending over to pick up. 8) You
stop to think and sometimes forget to start again. 9) A dripping faucet (or any
running water) causes an uncontrollable bladder urge. 10) You finally get to
the top of the ladder, but it’s leaning against the wrong wall.
And finally
here are my own observations discovered over the past eight years. 1) When you
fly, TSA no longer considers you a high security risk. 2) An elderly woman in
Portland was reported hurt and she was 10 years younger that you are. 3) When
someone asks for help moving furniture, they look right past you. 4) You turn to
the classic rock station and it’s playing 80’s music. And finally, 5) You have
no idea who Ashley Madison is and all you want is a good night’s sleep.
“Swiss cheese and Me” update: I’m making progress learning
to enjoy the taste of Swiss cheese, but it has had some unexpected consequences.
While I was cooking, my wife walked into the kitchen complaining about a
terrible smell - of body odor. It wasn’t me or the cumin spice, but the Swiss cheese!
She now stays out of the kitchen – at least when I’m cooking with swiss.
Because the Center is installing new floor
covering in the lobby, the custom built receptionist’s desk, which has admirably
stood the test of time, needs to be moved. But I wanted to make sure as much of
the desk would be preserved in the process. So there was no better person to
ask than Frank LaRoque who built and installed the desk back in 1987. A big
thank-you to Frank and friends for taking the time to modify the desk so it can
be still be used.
As I mentioned last week, the Center and Meals-on-Wheels
will be closed on Monday the 31st; but now also on the Tuesday, September
1st to move back into the lobby the bookshelves and the desk.
Although closed, Meals-on-Wheels will still deliver meals on Tuesday.
At the Center on Tuesday, September 1st, the Andre,
K.C. and Tom will be performing. Doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00,
everyone is welcome, and donations are appreciated.
The brilliant, reclusive, and eccentric
millionaire who built the H-4 Hercules aircraft (“Spruce Goose”) was Howard
Hughes.
This week’s “Remember When” questions was also
sent in by Marcia Lacock and is for the car buffs in the audience. There have
been twenty-three James Bond movies, and the automobiles in the films were often
used to show thrilling car chases and exotic gadgets. What was the make of the
car, first seen in Goldfinger in 1964, that is associated with James Bond?
Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788
or mail it with a picture of Sean Connery as James Bond.
Well, it’s been another week, just kickin’ down
the cobblestones and feeling groovy. Until we meet again, to take time to see
the extraordinary in the ordinary.
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