How
did December arrive so soon? And as quick as you can forget the name of a
person you just met, 2018 will be here and we will be toasting in the new year
with a glass of red wine - which is my segue to the sixth of the “Power of Nine”
lessons from the Blue Zones. (But before we go any further, do you remember the
first five?)
The
sixth lesson is “Wine at 5”. People in the Blue Zones, except for the Seventh
Day Adventists, drink alcohol moderately and regularly - generally one or two
glasses a day with friends and/or with dinner. One of red wine’s possible
benefits is that it has been found to help absorb plant-based antioxidants
which may help protect your cells from damage.
(What about grape juice for non-drinkers? Some research studies suggest
that red and purple grape juices may provide some of the same heart benefits of
red wine.)
But
there are always risks. According to the University of Rochester Medical
Center, after age 65, your lean body mass and water content decreases and your
metabolism slows down. Translated that means alcohol stays in your system
longer, so the amount of alcohol in your blood is higher than it would have
been when you were younger. Consequently, at our age it is particularly important
to be prudent and drink in moderation.
Also,
if you are like me, you take more medications than when you were younger. The
trouble is alcohol can interact with hundreds of prescription medications
causing complications: nausea, fainting and headaches; and can interfere making
the medications less effective or useless; or even harmful or toxic to your
body.
As
you enjoy your glass of red wine at 5:00 with friends or during dinner, drink
moderately and read the drug labels to avoid harmful interactions - so you can
live a longer, healthier, and happier life.
(The
first five Blue Zone lessons are “Move Naturally”, have a “Purpose”, “Downshift”,
“80% Rule” and “Plant Slant”.)
On two
occasions this month, there will be special Christmas music before the Meals-on-Wheels
noon dinner at the Center. Students from Colonel Wright will be singing on
December 7th at 11:45 and on December 22nd, Bruce and
Sher Schwartz will be playing special holiday music starting at 11:30. Besides
the special music this month, Bruce and Sher will also be playing before lunch on
the 8th; Andre and K.C. on the second and fourth Tuesdays, and Tom
Graff on most Thursdays.
This sounds like
fun and for a good cause. The Springs at Mill Creek is having their annual
Gingerbread Open House on Thursday, December 7th from 5:30 – 7:30 PM
and you are invited. Enjoy Gingerbread House creations, wonderful desserts,
eggnog, cookie decorating and of course Santa. There is no charge, but each of the
Gingerbread Houses will be available for the Silent Auction to benefit the
Alzheimer’s Association.
I know some of
you have to be reminded more than once, so why don’t you do yourself a favor and
stick on the door a note that says “Holiday Breakfast, Center, this Saturday, 8
– 9:30. $6. Yummy! Bring extra money for raffle tickets.”
The
name of the song, an innovative combination of gospel and psychedelic rock
sounds, sung by Norman Greenbaum was “Spirit in the Sky”. (I received correct
answers from Deloris Schrader and Sonja Petersen-Talatzko who both win a free raffle
ticket for Saturday’s quilt raffle drawing.)
This
week let’s move from pop music to something less entertaining. I remember in
the 1950’s having to have my tonsils removed. Before I could get to the
promised milk shakes, I had to survive the surgery and I can still remember lying
down and the nurse putting a mask with a terrible smell over my face and asking
me to count to ten. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the type
of general anesthesia that was used? Email your answer to
www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with any
memories you may have had of this general anesthesia used during surgery.
Well,
it’s been another week, trying to talk and chew (or do anything) at the same
time. Until we meet again, a bad memory
isn’t all bad, because some have said it is the key to happiness.
“I
cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.” W. C. Fields
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