I’ve been back from the family reunion in Georgia for more than a week now, and it was quite a trip. All my worries turned out to be null and void: No noticeable humidity, temperatures comfortably in the mid-80s, and mosquitoes? Not even one, but I did see several varieties of colorful butterflies. And what we saw in Atlanta was enlightening: Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. preached, and the Atlanta History Museum, where I learned more about the complicated post-Civil War history of Georgia.
Unfortunately, my visit to Atlanta started with what I have been preaching to y’all (that’s southern talk!) to avoid: A fall. While leaving the Atlanta airport, I tripped and fell face-first on the concrete pavement. Several people kindly helped me up, and with my wife’s assistance, I was able to walk to the shuttle that took us to the hotel. And I was fortunate: No concussion or broken limbs. I only sustained a chipped tooth, bleeding gums, and a banged-up and painful hip.
The next day was a trip to urgent care, where I showed off my hip, which by then looked like a softball was crammed under my skin, and my bleeding gums, which made my mouth look like I had just feasted on human remains in a Zombie movie.
So, with this painful firsthand experience, I thought it would be appropriate to repeat what you can do to prevent falls.
1. Stay physically active. Plan an exercise program that includes balance and strength training exercises, e.g., yoga, Tai Chi, or a Strong People’s class.
2. Find out about the side effects of any medicines you take.
3. Stand up slowly — especially if nature calls during the middle of the night!
4. Use an assistive device such as a cane or walker if you need help feeling steady when you walk. Or hold hands with your partner. People will think, “Oh, how romantic!”
5. Always tell your doctor if you have fallen since your last check-up, even if you did not feel pain when you fell.
6. Keep your bones strong. Calcium and vitamin D can help, as well as weight-bearing exercises such as walking, dancing, and hiking.
7. Fall-proof your home: declutter your living space, remove tripping hazards, and in your shower or bathtub use nonslip mats — or a bath seat if needed.
And the one reminder I would add that could have saved me a lot of trouble: PICK UP YOUR FEET!
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Brain Tease: Based on the pairings shown below, what word is next, replacing the question mark?
rotate – tare; refits – firs; sneaky – easy; throne – rote; tepees - ?
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Time to catch up with all of you who answered the “Remember When” questions.
For Aug. 20, the answer was American Graffiti. I received answers from Doug Nelson, Bruce Johnson, Tom Schaefer, Judy Kiser, Rebecca Abrams, Donna Mollet, Shelley Hinatsu, Jess Birge, Lana Tepfer, Eva Summer, Dave Lutgens, and Sam Bilyeu, the winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
For Aug. 27, the type of ring that changes colors was a Mood Ring. I received correct answers from Donna Mollet, Bruce Johnson, Dave Lutgens, Eva Summers, Kim Birge, Rebecca Abrams, Rhonda Spies, Tom Schaefer, Kim Birge, Julie Hoffman, Pat Evenson-Brady, Debbie Medina, Patty McCarthy, Bonnie Brace, and Judy Kiser, who, even though she said I couldn’t have her Mood Ring, is the winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
For Sept. 3, the classic video game where the objective is to eat all the dots placed in the maze is Pac-Man. I received correct answers from Julie Hoffman, Judy Kiser, Donna Mollet, Dave Lutgens, Jess Birge, Lana Tepfer, Rhonda Spies, and Rebecca Abrams, this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
And from way back, I missed Ken Jernstedt and Betty Burrone, who answered Evil Knievel.
Gunsmoke was the longest-running Western series of all time and was the number one-ranked show during the late 1950s. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the marshal who attempted to keep peace in the wild west town of Dodge City? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-980-4645, or send it with a picture of Burt Reynolds, who played the role of the blacksmith Quint Asper from 1962–1965.
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Well, it’s been another week, trying to get back in the saddle. Until we meet again, keep moving and, please, stay upright!
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“Grandpa Patterson used to say: Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction.”
— Debbie Macomber
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Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.
Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) — Wednesdays with music on second and fourth Wednesdays; Mt. Hood Town Hall (541-308-5997) — Tuesdays; Hood River Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center (541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333).
For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services: Goldendale office (509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068), and in Skamania County call Senior Services (509-427-3990).
Answer:
The answer is pets. The second word in each pair is created by taking the middle two letters of the first word and then adding the first letter and the last letter of the first word.
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