Aging Well in the Gorge April 26th 2016

Okay, this is for the guys. You’ve been married for thirty years - or more; and you have bought your loved one fresh flowers, sweet chocolates; taken her to the movies or made her breakfast in bed, and now you want to spice things up with something really special, but not too kinky, that will show how much you really care. But you have run out of ideas.

Well, I have a solution that I promise will surprise her. Take her to your favorite pharmacy for a Shingles date! I did and you can’t imagine how much my wife enjoyed it.

Why, it is something she has always wanted. We have been talking about getting our shingles vaccine for years but never seemed to make the time. But finally two weeks ago, after I checked with our Medicare plans and I made sure the vaccinations were available, I took her out for a night at the pharmacy for our shingles shots.

Now every time she hears of someone enduring the misery of shingles, she’ll thank me and give me a big kiss. And that’s an expression of true love - don’t you think?

It was a great Cherry Festival Weekend albeit a little windy, but what do we expect in The Dalles. Thanks to everyone who attended the Center’s Cherry Festival Pancake Breakfast and to this year’s sponsor Cherry Heights Living. Also thanks to Lisa and her talented crew at The Dalles Chamber of Commerce for giving the Center the opportunity to host the King Bing and Queen Anne coronation, recognizing this year’s recipients, Dennis and Shannon Morgan, for their valuable contribution to the community. It was great fun and we are already thinking of ways to make next year’s coronation bigger and better.

I ran into Cal McDermid, the Fort Dalles Museum Director, downtown on Saturday and he mentioned that the Fort Dalles Museum is looking for volunteers. Because the museum is open seven days a week through October, they need plenty of volunteers for landscaping, office work, greeting visitors or helping with special events. If you have the time, they will provide the training. Call them at 296-4547 or go to their website at FortDallesMuseum@gmail.com.

The Center is now offering Strength Yoga taught by Debra Lutje. While sitting and standing with the assistance of a chair, participants will do range of motion exercises, abdominal crunches, free weights, isometric exercises and chair yoga. It is a good all-purpose class that loosens joints, strengthens muscles and connects your mind & body. No matter your fitness level you will be able to do this class! The class meets every Wednesday and Friday at 9:15 downstairs at the Center. The cost is only $3.00 for each class.

There is one last Saturday night of “Second Chance Bingo” at the Center on April 30^th. And then to start the month of May with a bang, Saturday Night Bingo will host a Bingo Bonanza on May 7th with a free Pulled Pork Sandwich dinner for all players served between 4:30 and 5:30. There will be new games and payouts with a minimum buy-in of $15. Come and enjoy America’s favorite pastime - BINGO!!

Every Tuesday night at the Center there is live music for your dancing and listening enjoyment. This coming Tuesday, May 3rd, Andre, K.C. and Tom will be playing. Doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00, and everyone is welcome. Donations are appreciated.

Looks like I stumped everyone last week with “Heathkit” - the brand name of the popular kits to build your own electronic devices. But this week we’ll see if anyone knows the artist who Ron Sutherland remembers singing the hit song "Somethin' Else". 

For this week’s “Remember When” question who was the sharply dressed young American musician/songwriter who epitomized the 50’s rebel rocker and recorded "Twenty Flight Rock", and "Summertime Blues", before he died in 1960 at the age of 21 when the taxi he was riding in crashed while on tour in England? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail your answer with a DVD of the 1956 musical comedy The Girl Can't Help It.

Well, it’s been another week checking the mail and finding only credit card offers. Until we meet again, as my dad often told me, “Pass away shallow water and let the deep see row.”

“The single story creates stereotypes. And the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make the one story become the only story.” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie