Aging Well in the Gorge December 19th 2018

There is nothing like seeing snow on Christmas morning. For me it is the one day when snow has a magical quality and I can feel like a child once again. But my wife and I won’t have that chance this year because we will be visiting our children in California over the holidays where fifty degrees is the definition of freezing.

Ever since our children left the roost, we have always looked forward to visiting them: learning how they are getting along (just fine without mom and dad!); checking out the coffee shops in their neighborhoods; and again asking “Exactly what do you do at work?“

But it can be a little stressful making sure I don’t spontaneously say something I’ll regret in front of their friends - or worse their “significant other”. Or worrying that the gifts we bought are something they will actually use.

And now there is one more thing I have to fret about: I have to pretend what I’m not: a spry 45-year-old.

I’m trying to prepare. I have been practicing getting off the couch without groaning, eliminating anything from my conversations related to recent medical conditions, and making sure I know when my nose is dripping. Also, I have been concentrating on putting my underwear on without tipping over; avoiding any scary noises emanating from my mouth while eating; and thinking how to sneak in covert naps so I can stay up past my normal 9:00 bed time and still avoid yawning at 10 in the morning or falling asleep in the early afternoon.

It’s not easy, but the charade is essential. The more my children think I am getting old, the more they will feel they need to “help” us old folks in deciding what my wife and I should be doing the rest our lives. (We’ll do just fine thank-you!). Nonetheless it will be a great visit because I know I can pretend for at least one week I’m twenty-five years younger - I hope!

As the end of 2018 approaches, this is your last chance to donate to your favorite non-profits to lessen your tax burden while supporting important community organizations. And this year consider contributing to the Oregon Cultural Trust as well. If you make a donation to any of Oregon's arts, heritage and humanities non-profits including twenty-two in Wasco and Sherman Counties (listed at www.culturaltrust.org) and make a matching gift to the Cultural Trust, you can then claim your contribution to the Cultural Trust as a tax credit. The Oregon Cultural Trust is an innovative public-private fundraising and grant making program that funds local coalitions including the Wasco County Cultural Trust Coalition that annually distributes $500 to $1000 grants to area schools and non-profits which in the past has included the Center.

The Center and Meals-on-Wheels will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Also, several Center classes will not be meeting during the holidays, so call if you are not sure about your class.

Warren Beatty’s popularity took off when he starred with Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde, the landmark film portraying two criminals who moved from small time heists to robbing banks during the middle of the great depression. (I received correct answers from Diane Weston, Sue Ortega, Sandy Haechrel, Lana Tepfer, Kim Birge, Jeanne Pesicka, Cheri Brent and this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket Rhonda Auskin. And I thought I checked my phone messages last week, but as it has happened way too many times what I thought wasn’t - so I missed Ruth Radcliff, Diana Weston and Carol Earl who back then had three different dates who all took her to see Dr. Zhivago!)

The holiday season is an ideal time to watch some of the Christmas classic movies. Two of my favorites are the 1942 Holiday Inn which introduced the Christmas classic ‘White Christmas’ - the best-selling single of all time, and the 1954 movie White Christmas. Both starred Bing Crosby with music by Irving Berlin. Although it was not initially intended, Bing Crosby had a different male costar in each of the two movies. For this week’s “Remember When” question who were they? Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or write your answer on the back of a 1942 78 single release of "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby on Decca Records.

Well, it’s been another week trying to keep it simple. Until we meet again, have a very Merry Christmas!

“Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.” ―Peg Bracken