Aging Well in the Gorge October 3rd 2018

There are many excellent facilities and services supporting older adults in the Gorge: assisted living facilities, retirement communities, in-home care and both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services.

One of the inpatient rehabilitation services is mPower: a 6-bed accredited inpatient rehabilitation program located within Mid-Columbia Medical Center. They offer comprehensive rehabilitation services for persons who have sustained a variety of illnesses and injuries; and are proud to report that 93% of their participants return home at discharge, and 96% of their participants would recommend mPower Rehabilitation to friends or family.

But they know the best treatment is prevention. For the Center’s “Lectures for the Curious” on Wednesday, October 10^th at 11:00, Brandon Johnson from MCMC’s mPower will present “Reducing Fall Risks in your Home”. A common myth is that falling is normal as you get older. But it isn’t, and Brandon will explain steps (no pun intended) you can take to prevent falls. Just because you have fallen and have been able to get up without injury, doesn’t mean that will always be the case.

I am always amazed by what I learn from other “mature” folks about how to navigate this journey called life. “Let’s Talk: Conversations about Things that Matter” is a safe place where issues we all face can be discussed. For the next “Let’s Talk” on Friday, October 5th at 11:00, the focus will be “Independent, Safe or None of the Above - finding the Balance”.

Spending time with new and old friends with good food and good music makes for a very good day. Meals-on-Wheels offers meals at the Center Monday through Friday; and every Thursday you can enjoy the music of Tom Graff and his friends starting at 11:00. I know, you can always go to McDonalds or KFC for a bite to eat. But where can you enjoy a nutritious meal for a suggested donation of $4 (if you are fortunate to be 60 or over) while listening to some fine music without a cover charge?

And this Friday, October 5^th, Nehemiah Brown will be singing from 11:30 – 1:30 and its free – although we hope you do buy dinner. Nehemiah’s known for his buttery smooth voice, singing pop, country and gospel standards from the 50’s and 60’s. And once again his performance is sponsored by our friends at The Dalles Health and Rehabilitation Center.  

October is Gorge Happiness Month – “31 days of celebrating the three daily habits to make us happier and healthier”: 3 Gratitudes, an Act of Kindness and a Moment of Silence.

For these days in October try the following: 
4^th - Pick up Trash; 
5^th - Learn a new joke; 
6^th - Talk to someone at a Farmer’s Market, 
7^th - Pick a person or a goal to focus on this week; 
8^th - List your strengths; 
9^th - Include someone new; 
10^th – Tell someone what you like about them.

The television series that ran on CBS from 1965 to 1969 and told the story of two Secret Service agents James West and Artemus Gordon whose mission was to protect President Grant and the United States was the Wild, Wild West.

(I received correct answers from Jerry Taylor, Sharon Hull and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket Ruth Radcliffe which I hope is everyone. Because the previous week, I was once again a day late and a dollar short missing the correct answers from Lana Tepfer and Sharon Hull who both will also receive one free quilt raffle ticket each.)

With the regular baseball season over and the playoffs starting, it is time for a question for all the baseball fans in the peanut gallery.

For this week’s “Remember When” question, what pitcher cemented his place in baseball history in the 1965 World Series when he pitched two shutouts for the Los Angeles Dodgers to compliment his twenty-six wins during the regular season?  Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send your answer with pictures of the Cy Young awards he won in 1963, 1965 and 1966.

Well it’s been another week trying to keep the sticky notes stuck in my memory. Until we meet again, you can’t turn back the hands of time, but you can make sure the clock is wound.

"You win a few, you lose a few. Some get rained out. But you got to dress for all of them." Satchel Paige who at the age of 59 pitched three innings of one hit baseball for the American League Kansas City Athletics.