After last week’s column, I received a phone message from a friend I’ve known for a long time (I could say an old friend, but these days I try to avoid to avoid using the word old) reminding me of the risks associated with taking statins.
It was a good point. Statins, as is the case with most every prescription drug, do have side effects that every person who uses them should know. But it is always important is to weigh the benefits against the risks for any drug.
We all know that too much cholesterol in your blood increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes. And research shows that statins block a substance that your liver needs to make cholesterol which causes your liver to remove cholesterol from your blood - which is a good thing.
But there are side effects.
According to the Mayo Clinic, one of the most common complaints of taking statins is muscle pain causing mild discomfort, but it could be severe enough to interfere with your daily activities. Statins can also cause mild to severe liver damage; increased blood sugar levels which may lead to developing type 2 diabetes; and some people have developed memory loss or confusion. If you think you're experiencing any side effects from taking one of the different types of statins, it is important you talk to your doctor. Your doctor may be able to come up with an alternative treatment plan.
We all react to drugs differently, so know the possible side effects and always consider both the benefits and the risks. And in the case of statins, they can reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, and even though the risk of life-threatening side effects is very low - they do exist. It’s your choice.
You may have noticed, it’s back to school time - a time for drivers to keep an eye out for youngsters walking to school. And doesn’t it also bring back memories of walking to school in your new clothes, with your used books, notepads, Scheaffer pens and no. 2 pencils; and sitting at your wooden desk with that round ink well in the corner. They were simpler days.
If you want to get in the back-to-school spirit and learn something new, here are three going-ons you might want to check out. Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society’s presents "Non-Population Census Records" on Saturday, September 10, 2016 (https://cggsblog.blogspot.com/); ODOT historian, Robert Hadlow presents “Remember, Restore, Reconnect: The Historic Columbia River Highway,” Friday, September 9, at Columbia Gorge Discovery Center (www.gorgediscovery.org); and a 2-Day Beginner Pastel Painting Workshop with Karen Watson on September 10th and 11th at The Dalles Art Center (http://www.thedallesartcenter.org/).
This is the last week I’m going to pester you to send in your favorite grandchild experience, because the entries have to be submitted by Saturday, September 3rd. Mail them to the Mid-Columbia Senior Center at 1112 W 9th Street, The Dalles, 97058 or email them to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com.
Even though Grandparents Day is on Sunday, September 11th, the Center is celebrating the importance and joy of being a grandparent at the Grandparent Pancake Breakfast sponsored by Flagstone Senior Living on Saturday September 10:00. This is the Center’s first year of what is hoped to be an annual tradition - and I already have some ideas for next year.
There is music every Tuesday at the Center and on September 6th, Andre, KC and Tom will be playing for your listening and dancing enjoyment. Doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00 and ends when there’s no one left on the dance floor. Everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.
The movie that starred Charlton Heston; and was the highest-grossing film of 1959 and winner of a record eleven Academy Awards was Ben-Hur. (This week’s winners of a quilt raffle ticket are Sandy Goforth and Ed Anghilante.)
This week’s “Remember When” questions is about one of network television's longest running and most beloved prime time game shows which broadcast from 1950 - 1967. What was the name of this game show that consisted of the four panelists trying to guess the occupation of a guest contestant? Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it in an object “bigger than a breadbox”.
Well, it’s been another week, laughing at my own mistakes before anyone else can. Until we meet again, remember no one ever died of laughter.
“Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting.” Author Unknown
THE CENTER IS BACK OPEN.
Fundraiser Dinner and Auction - Friday, February 22nd $35 per person.
AARP Tax Aide Fridays from 2:00 - 6:00 and Saturdays from 9:00 - 1:00.
Bingo every Thursday and Saturday Nights. Doors open at 4:00 and games start at 6:00. New players encouraged to arrive by 5:30. Average payout is over $1300 each night. Minimum buy-in is $10.
UPDATED 2.18.19

Aging Well in the Gorge August 23rd 2016
John
C. Maxwell, an American author and speaker, talks about two kinds of pride: “Good
pride” representing our dignity and self-respect; and “bad pride” - the deadly
sin of superiority composed of conceit and arrogance. As we age, sometimes we
let that “bad” pride” get in the way when making decisions about our own well-being.
This
may sound silly, but for example, I was proud I took only one prescribed medication.
I felt special particularly when nurses were always surprised to learn I took
so few for a “man of my age”.
That
was until my annual physical when I was told that according to the latest
recommendations, I should be taking a statin to help reduce my cholesterol. I
balked. That would mean two prescriptions. And I wouldn’t be so special!
So I went
to a higher authority – my cardiologist. He explained that by taking a statin,
it would increase my chances of living another twenty years. Okay, so I could
be proud and take only one prescription OR I could have a better chance of
living another twenty years. And since I need to work twenty more years to pay off
my parent loans for my children’s college education, I decided to swallow (no
pun intended) my pride and take the statin.
We
would all like to feel and act as we did fifty years ago (without repeating the
stupid things!). But let’s face it. It ain’t gonna happen. Instead we need to
be smart and accept what “is” - and adapt the “is” to what we want it to be. And
not let pride get in the way of making good choices – whether deciding to use a
walker, or telling someone you were wrong or taking a recommended medication.
It’s
early but save the date, October 7th, for the annual Baby Back Rib
dinner. The dinner is again sponsored by the good folks at The Springs at Mill
Creek, so all the proceeds from the dinner will support Meals-on-Wheels and the
Center. The cost is still only $15 - and it includes music performed by the
fabulous bluegrass band Hardshell Harmony,
who you may have heard at the County Fair’s Senior Picnic.
And
speaking of the Senior Picnic, it was good to see The Dalles Mayor Steve Lawrence;
Wasco County Commissioners Steve Kramer and Rod Runyon; and Wasco County Clerk,
Lisa Gambee, dishing out all the fried chicken and fixins. (There were others
but apparently my memory’s capacity is only four names). Thanks to Flagstone,
the Area Agency on Aging and Canyon Rim Manor for sponsoring this county fair tradition.
At the
Center’s Saturday Night Bingo on the 27th, there is a real good
chance someone will blackout in 58 numbers on the last game and drive home with
an extra $1000. Games start at 6:00 and the minimum buy-in is $10. All ages are
welcome.
I know
there are more great stories out there about your special grandchild experiences.
Entries have to be less than 300 words - we have one entry of only 40 words,
and you can even write you story on the back of a napkin. We don’t care. Prizes
include a Grand prize of a $300 certificate to any Shilo Inn. You have until
September 3rd. So get a pen and napkin and start writing.
The
Center’s usual fifth Tuesday band couldn’t make it, but we were able to rope in
the Shades of Country to perform on
Tuesday August 30th. Doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00, and donations
are appreciated.
The
television broadcaster and entertainer who hosted his own Talent Scouts television show was the “Old Redhead” Arthur Godfrey.
(This week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket is Harold Stephens.)
Back
in Indianapolis, I remember watching this epic movie with my parents at one of
those big motion picture palaces built in the 20’s and 30’s. For this week’s “Remember
When” question, what was the name of the movie
that starred Charlton Heston; and was the
highest-grossing film of 1959 and winner of a record eleven Academy
Awards? Email
your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or
drive it to the Center in a late model chariot.
Well,
it’s been another week, looking for shade on a sunny afternoon. Until we meet
again, don’t let the “some things” that could happen, keep you from enjoying the
“good things”.
“I
don’t intentionally spoil my grandkids. It’s just that correcting them often
takes more energy than I have left.” Gene Perret
Aging Well in the Gorge August 16th 2016
Since
1966, Medicare has been critical to the health and wellbeing of older adults.
But it will be facing significant challenges and the fall elections could have
a significant impact on the future of Medicare and your healthcare coverage.
What
are some of the challenges?
1. Healthcare
spending is nearly five times higher for those aged 85+ than the national average.
(Why I probably have seen a doctor more over the last four years than I had
during my first forty years.) 2. A growing aging population with the Baby
Boomers starting to turn sixty-five. 3. The number of people who pay into
Medicare are fewer. (In 2000, there were 5.2 reported workers for every retiree,
but by 2030 it is expected there will be only 3 workers for each retired individual.)
4. While Medicare already consumes 15% of the federal budget, many experts
believe that today’s benefit levels and quality of service cannot be sustained
without more revenue.
So
what might you want to know from the candidates? To get you thinking, national senior
advocate Carol Marak suggests the following questions that address many of the
issues facing Medicare.
What
are your proposed policies and strategies to keep Medicare financially secure
for generations to come? Do you support limiting Medicare benefits only to
those with low incomes? What role would you like to see private health plans
play in Medicare? How would you improve the Medicare drug benefit? Do you
support federal or state government’s involvement with drug prices
negotiations? Do you think greater coverage for preventive care would drive
health care costs down?
These
are important times. Whoever we elect to Congress and the White House will have
to address these questions and find solutions to keep Medicare financially
viable while maintaining the benefits levels and quality of services for future
generations.
But in
blunt terms, the fundamental question may be: Will our elected leaders work
together to improve the healthcare for older adults - or will they give up and say
we can no longer afford “old” people?
If you
like country music from the 50’s, you’ll want to hear Jeanne Coady perform in a
free “Tribute Concert to Patsy Cline” at The Springs at Mill Creek’s new Outdoor
Amphitheater (1201 W 10th) on Thursday, August 18th
starting at 7:00. Because there is limited seating, please bring blankets or
LOW sitting chairs for the grass area.
I’ve
found reminders a good thing, so here are a couple quick second reminders.
Write
down your most memorable experiences with your grandchildren in 300 words or
less, and send it to the Center by September 3rd. And it can just be
handwritten if you like. The grand prize for best story is a $300 Shilo Inn
gift certificate and runner up prizes include three one-year subscriptions to
The Dalles Chronicle.
Thursday,
August 18th is Free Day at the Wasco County Fair and Rodeo sponsored by The
Dalles Disposal, plus there is a free Senior Picnic in the Park starting at
11:00 - thanks to the generous support of Flagstone, Area Agency on Aging,
Hearts of Gold Caregivers and Canyon Rim Manor.
There’s
music and dancing at the Center on Tuesday nights; and on August 23rd
Country Road will be playing. Doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00, and
donations are appreciated.
The
first televised National Convention was in 1952 and the anchor was Walter
Cronkite - “the most trusted man in America”. (This week’s winner of a quilt
raffle ticket is Ron Nelson. And last week’s winner was Jim Ayres who reminded
me that he was the one who told me you had to wait an hour before swimming.)
Patsy
Cline had been performing for many years before she had her breakout national
exposure in 1955 singing “Walkin after Midnight” on the television show Talent Scouts. It was hosted by an American
radio and television broadcaster and entertainer who played the ukulele and was
nicknamed “Old Redhead”. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was his
name? Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at
541-296-4788 or mail it with the 1951 hit recording, “What is a Boy”.
Well,
it’s been another week, when I’m REALLY looking forward to sweater weather.
Until we meet again, try something different. You may be pleasantly surprised.
What
children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance.
They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in
life. And, most importantly, cookies. ~Rudy Giuliani
Aging Well in the Gorge August 9th 2016
Often
I write about the importance of volunteers to the Center and to all the local
non-profits in the area. At the Center, volunteers have started and lead most
of the activities including many of the exercise and movement classes, card
games, quilters and more.
But the
Center is always looking for new ideas, and if there is something you enjoy and
think others might also, we can find a space for you. For example, Edna
Chandler enjoyed playing Dominoes when visiting her family in Hawaii and now
she has started a Dominoes group at the Center every Tuesday at 1:00. Evelyn
Brown enjoys playing the Ukulele and is now leading a small Ukulele class for
all levels on Wednesday afternoons at 3:00. Everyone is invited to join either
of these new activities or any of the other activities at the Center. You don’t
have to be a member to participate - although we hope you will see the Center’s
value and eventually become one.
I’ve
heard so many stories about the joys of having grandchildren, great
grandchildren and even great-great grandchildren that one of these days I hope
to enjoy the pleasure of my own grandchildren – although coaching seventy enthusiastic,
young swimmers on The Dalles Swim Team fills in quite well.
So I’m
sure you have stories of your most memorable experiences with your
grandchildren. And as you may have read, the Center, with the help of The
Dalles Chronicle and BiCoastal Media, is asking you to share those special stories
in 300 words or less. Mail them to the Center at 1112 W 9th Street, The Dalles,
OR 97058, email them to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, or just drop them off at the
Center before September 3rd. There will be prizes for the best ones including a
grand prize of a $300 Shilo Inn gift certificate. The Dalles Chronicle staff
has graciously offered to do the judging, and to keep it fair no names will
appear on the entries being judged. And to make it sound like one of those
national contests - all entries become the property of the Mid-Columbia Senior Center.
Jean
Vercouteren would like to me to help spread the word that the Gray Century
Ranch, begun in 1868, will be the subject of a free presentation by fourth
generation co-owner Nancy Gray Proctor at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 13th,
at the Moody/Rorick House located at 300 W. 13th St., The Dalles. As the
presentation will be held outside, lawn chairs are welcomed.
If you
are planning to attend the free County Fair Picnic on Thursday, August 18th
at the Wasco County Fair and Rodeo, but don’t have a ride, the LINK is
providing a bus to take the first fourteen folks who call the Center and sign
up - for free. The bus leaves the Center at 10:00 to arrive at the fair in time
for the 11:00 picnic. The County Fair Picnic is made possible by the generous
support of Flagstone, Area Agency on Aging, Hearts of Gold Caregivers and
Canyon Rim Manor.
There’s
always music and dancing at the Center on Tuesday nights, and on August 16th, the
Simcoe Boys will be playing. Doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00, and
donations are appreciated.
My parents
allowed me to do many things that are considered unsafe today, but I had to
wait one hour before going swimming. For some reason they thought I would drown
from cramps. (This is a little embarrassing, although not unusual, but I can’t
remember who told me their correct answer last week. So whoever you are, could
you tell me again. But I did remember that I forgot Kay Havig from the week
before, who called in the correct answer to the “Beep, Beep” question and wins a
quilt raffle ticket.)
The Republican
and Democratic National Conventions use to be rough and tumble affairs before
television came along. Now the conventions are often described as “sanitized, made–for-television,
infomercials”. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what year was the first
televised national convention and who was the anchor? Email your answer to
www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with a
picture of “the most trusted man in America”.
Well,
it’s been another week, looking forward to sweater weather. Until we meet
again, not all that is said was worth saying.
“Becoming
a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you’re just a mother. The next you are
all-wise and prehistoric.” Pam Brown
Aging Well in the Gorge August 2nd 2016
Can you
tell the difference between the color of lemonade and apple cider? It could
come in handy during the summer and I’ll tell why later.
Last
week’s heat wave reminded me of the importance of staying hydrated - especially
for older adults who are more susceptible to the dangers of dehydration. But it
is not always easy to drink enough fluids, but here are some simple tips I
found on Familydoctor.org.
1.)
Keep a bottle of water with you - and don’t lose it. (By the way, if you find a
purple metal water bottle with “SMILE” printed in bold white letters on the
side, please return it to me. It was my favorite!) 2.) If you are the forgetful
type, drink on a schedule. For example, drink water when you wake up; at breakfast,
lunch, and dinner; and when you go to bed. Although I skip the water before
bed. It only adds another bathroom stop during the night and I don’t need any
more. 3.) If you don’t like the taste of plain water, try adding a slice of lemon
or lime. 4.) If you like to sweat, be
sure to drink water before, during, and after a workout. 5.) When you’re
feeling hungry, drink water. Thirst is often confused with hunger, but real hunger
is not satisfied by drinking water.
But how
much water do you really need?
Although
there is no hard evidence to support the popular recommendation to drink eight
8-ounce glasses of water a day, it is close to what the Institute of Medicine
recommends for women which is nine total cups of fluids a day; and for men
thirteen cups a day. Or drink enough so you go to the bathroom every two to
four hours. And the obvious, drink water when you are thirsty. Thirst is an
excellent indicator of your hydration needs.
But
there are other considerations. You may need more water if you are eating a
diet high in sodium. Avoid sugary fluids with their unnecessary calories, but
not necessarily caffeine - which has a mild diuretic effect, but doesn’t seem
to increase the risk of dehydration. Taking a lot of medications without
drinking enough water could also put a strain on your kidneys. If that is a
concern, talk to your health care provider.
Now
you have ideas on how to stay hydrated and how much you should drink, but we
are all different, so how can you tell if you are actually hydrated? An easy way, although maybe a little distasteful,
is to check your urine. And this is where we get back to that first question I
asked. If your urine is pale like the color of lemonade, you are in good shape.
But if it’s dark like apple cider, you need to increase your intake of fluids.
I never
use to drink much water. I could run 26 mile marathon without
taking a sip. But I’ve changed after finally realizing how important water is to
maintaining good health - especially at my age.
There’s
always music and dancing at the Center on Tuesday nights, and on August 9th,
Martin and Friends will be playing. Doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00,
and donations are always appreciated.
The
1958 novelty song “Beep, Beep” sung by the Playmates describes the driver of a
Nash Rambler passing a Cadillac at 120 mph and yelling, “Hey, buddy, how can I
get this car out of second gear”. (The winner of a quilt raffle ticket is Jim
Heitkemper.)
Back in
the 50’s and 60’s, there were different ideas of what was safe and what wasn’t.
I didn’t wear a bicycle helmet; I put raw eggs in my milk shakes; I used baby
oil instead of sun screen: and my sister and I would sleep on the mattress in
the back of the Mercury station wagon while my mom and dad drove to Florida.
But during the summer we were constantly reminded to wait an hour before doing
what? Email your answer for this week’ “Remember When” question to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com,
leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with a copy of a Sandra Dee
Coppertone ad.
Well,
it’s been another week trying to catch the next wave. Until we meet again, don’t
stop. The race isn’t over until you cross the finish line.
“I
think fish is nice, but then I think that rain is wet, so who am I to judge?” Douglas
Adams
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