The COVID-19
pandemic has disrupted lives across the globe: cancellations and closures,
travel restrictions, layoffs or reduced hours, empty shelves and worse - deaths.
It is a serious threat particularly for us older adults over 60. But we can do
our part to protect ourselves and others by washing our hands often - Wet,
Lather, Scrub (20 seconds), Rinse and Dry and by practicing social distancing:
keeping three to six feet from each other. (Since I like to shake hands and
offer hugs, I find that hard to do - and elbow bumps just don’t feel right. So,
don’t be surprised if you see me do as the Japanese and bow when greeting you.)
I
won’t mention all the cancellations and closures, but Meals-on-Wheels is NOT
serving meals at the Center this week but are making sure meals are delivered.
And I’m not sure what they’re doing next week. The Center is working to stay
open (which may have changed by the time you read this) by implementing several
conditions: excluding anyone showing flu symptoms, limiting group activities to
no more than sixteen, requiring anyone entering the Center to wash their hands
or use sanitizer, reminding everyone to keep a safe distance, and sanitizing
surfaces with disinfecting wipes or bleach water (4 teaspoons of bleach per
quart of water).
We’ve
been around long enough to know that this too shall pass. But until it does, we
need to do our part to reduce the severity of this pandemic. And if you have
decided to self-isolate and hunker down at home, make sure you stay in touch
with friends and family. And consider this. Why not catchup doing what is now a
relic of the past – writing letters.
Have
you been singing Happy Birthday twice while washing your hands and wondering
“Who am I singing Happy Birthday to?” Or maybe you have mixed it up and chose
the first verse of a different song: Gloria Gaynor’s” I Will Survive”? Hank
William’s “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”? or the Temptations “I Can’t Get Next
to You”? Email any song you would suggest singing.
You
know it’s spring not because of the budding plants, the warmer days (with the
occasional snow showers) or the longer evenings, but by seeing Bruce and Lori
Harris driving around town in their Today’s Rays pickup getting sprinkler systems
ready for spring. And once again I want to thank Bruce and Lori for donating
their time servicing the Center’s irrigation system for the last many years.
After
writing last week about scam phone calls, I received two – one asking me to
press 1 for further information; and the other telling me I needed to call a
certain number to avoid being charged for I’m not sure what. They were very convincing
if I didn’t know any better.
But
there is some good news as reported on the AARP website. “Attorney General
William Barr recently announced the largest-ever annual sweep of alleged
fraudsters accused of targeting older Americans. More than 400 defendants have
been charged in the past year, and they are purported to have been behind
victim losses surpassing $1 billion. Barr also announced that preventing and
disrupting transnational elder fraud is now one of the top priorities of the
U.S. Department of Justice.” So, there is some hope. But I wouldn’t hold my
breath.
The
name given to the failed landing operation along the southwest coast of Cuba led
by Cuban exiles opposed to the increasingly communist government of Fidel
Castro was the Bay of Pigs. I received correct answers from Barbara Cadwell,
Lana Tepfer, Cheri Brent and Sam Bilyeu who is this week’s winner of a quilt
raffle ticket. And last week I missed Rhonda Spies
This
may be a guy thing, but do you remember moistening a small piece of paper and
blowing it throw a straw - a favorite way to disrupt the class by harassing a fellow
student? Today you can even find a professional guide on the internet! For this
week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name for this moistened piece of
paper rolled into a ball? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave
a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with your favorite prank from your school
days – that you are willing to admit!
Well,
it’s been another week, looking for the silver lining in an old worn out jacket.
Until we meet again, as they said in in England during WW II “Stay Calm and Keep
Your Distance” – or something like that.
“Introverts Unite – Separately.” seen on Twitter
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