Let me
just get it off my chest and say I didn’t have much time to write this week’s
column because I was having too much fun hanging out all weekend with my eleven
grandkids.
Okay,
that’s not quite true because I really don’t have any grandkids. What I was
actually doing was coaching eleven fantastic young swimmers for The Dalles Swim
Team at a swim meet in Oregon City.
But I
have come to realize, coaching is like having my own grandkids: helping these young
kids adjust to life’s many lessons, and in my case, guiding them to become
better swimmers. If you don’t have grandkids or they aren’t nearby, and you need
a grandkid “fix”, find an opportunity to spend time with young kids whether at your
church or neighborhood school. (The SMART program is one opportunity.) You’ll
find it personally rewarding and you’ll see that the future is in good hands.
So this
week, the best I can do, is a little of this and a little of that and a
question about a 1960’s movie star.
If you
haven’t filed your income taxes, you might want to consider the AARP Tax Aide
program which provides free income tax assistance to low and moderate-income
taxpayers with special attention to those aged 60 or older. And this is the
best time, because as we are half way through the 2016 tax season the lines are
shorter – at least until it picks back up for those late minute filers. You can
stop by the Center between 2:00 and 6:00 on Fridays or 9:00 and 1:00 on
Saturdays. Or outside The Dalles, the AARP Tax Aide sites are Canyon Rim Manor
from 10:00 to 1:00 on the 1st & 3rd Mondays; Tygh Valley Community Center Room
from 8:00 – noon on Thursdays; and in Sherman County you can make a Saturday
appointment at the Rufus Community Center by calling 541-993-1054.
Congratulations
to The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels for winning the MCHF Compassion Award for Outstanding
Community Service Organization. I see the important work they do every day:
providing nutritious noon meals at the Center; and delivering meals to folks who
are homebound or have difficulty preparing healthy meals. They provide an
invaluable service and every day prove that Meals-on-Wheels is “More than a
Meal”.
Getting
older can play some cruel tricks. Now that your kids have left home, you are retired
from work and the house is finally paid off, you have the time to fulfill the long
held dream of traveling across America on Route 66 in your classic sports car. But
you then discover that your knees, legs and back are telling you in no
uncertain terms that there is no way you are ever getting in and out of a car
that low to the ground!
Last reminder
about the Irish band Barley Draught’s concert at the Center this Friday. But this
time, in the spirit of St. Patrick, I’m giving you the Irish translation - at
least according to the English website Whoohoo! (I’d give you the real Irish
Gaelic translation, but you wouldn’t understand a word.)
Git
into a rousin' Oirish spirit at de Mid-Columbia Senior Center on March 11th wi'
de local Oirish ban' Barley Draught. dis benefit for de Mid-Columbia Senior Center
is sponsored by de Dalles 'ealth an' Rehabilitashun Center an' Clock Tower Ales.
Music starts at 7:00 an' grub is served startin' at 5:30. Grub an' concert is
$10, an' for de concert only its $7.00. Dis is an over 21 event.
For
the Center’s Tuesday Night music on March 15th the Simcoe Boys will
be performing. Doors open at 6:00, music
starts at 7:00. Everyone is welcome and donations are appreciated.
The
two-word slang term commonly used in the 60’s to describe someone as unpleasant
or contemptible was “Rat Fink” commercialized by cartoonist and custom car
designer Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. (The winner of a quilt raffle ticket is Barbara
Pounds.)
For
this week’s “Remember When” question, if I said U.S. Marine, motorcycle racing,
“King of Cool”, the Blob, and the Magnificent Seven, what movie star of the
60’s and 70’s comes to mind? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com,
leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with a 45 caliber Bullet.
Well,
it’s been another week trying to stay out of trouble with a capital T. Until we
meet again, no matter how hard, take time to discover each day’s blessing.
“An
hour with your grandkids can make you feel young again. Anything longer than
that can make you age quickly.” Gene Perret
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