Last week when I suggested you solve your hearing problems by teaching your spouse how to enunciate using Tongue Twisters, I hope you didn’t take me seriously because as I grow older, my attitude is, “If I can laugh at it, I can live with it.”
But laughing is not always easy, because it can be tough living with hearing loss. It puts a strain on your relationship with your spouse when you misunderstand what she said. “For the third time, could you take out the trash?” Hearing loss also makes it difficult to follow conversations in large or even small groups, so you become more socially isolated. What’s the point of participating if I can’t understand 80% of what is being said?
People are often unaware that hearing loss is like playing Wheel of Fortune, where the players try to identify a phrase with only some of the letters visible. With hearing loss, you are trying to do the same, but with sounds instead of letters. You are constantly combining these incomplete sounds with other clues: lipreading, body language and context, to understand the words.
If you feel your spouse is mumbling — and she gives you that cold evil glare when you suggest tongue twisters — or if you have difficulty hearing in crowds, you should probably have your hearing evaluated by an audiologist.
Improving your hearing will improve your relationship with your spouse, reduce social isolation, and best of all, when you have that puzzled look, people will stop YELLING AT YOU!
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Friday, September 20th from 11:00 – 2:30, One Community Health is hosting the 2nd Annual Conference for Older Adults in the Gorge bringing together older adults who are living rich, vibrant lives as they grow older. It will be held at One Community Health in Hood River and lunch will be provided. Register by Friday, September 13th by calling the Mid-Columbia Senior Center (541-296-4788); Hood River Valley Adult Center, (541-386-2060), or One Community Health, (541-386-6380). The conference is sponsored by MCSC, HRVAC, One Community Health and Bristol Hospice.
You don’t always want to be worrying about every possible disaster: earthquake, fire, train derailment. But when one does occur, you want to be prepared. To learn more about preparing for various emergencies, join NW Natural and local experts at “Get Ready” on Saturday, September 21st from 10:00 – 1:00 in The Dalles at the Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue. There will be prizes and the first 300 people will receive a free lunch.
And here’s a tip I learned from Tonya Brumley, NW Natural’s Community Affairs Manager for the Columbia Gorge. To create a record of your possessions in your home, videotape every room. It will provide fond memories for your children — and maybe one day your insurance agent will thank you.
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BRAIN TEASE: See if you can solve this Anagram puzzle by unscrambling the letters to make a word and then determining what the four words have in common. Good luck!
Shingle, His Naps, She Nice, Manger
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The next question for your “Soul Portrait”: What do you like to celebrate?
The singing cowboy who starred in movies and his television series was Gene Autry whose signature song was “Back in the Saddle Again.” (Almost as many answered Roy Rogers who had a similar career but is associated with the song “Happy Trails to You” written by his wife Dale Evans.) I received correct answers from Judy Kiser, Lana Tepfer, Dave Lutgens, Eva Summers and Pat Evenson Brady, this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
The song written by Smokey Robinson and recorded in 1965 by the Temptations was “My Girl.” I received correct answers from Doug Nelson, Nancy Higgins, Bruce Johnson, Mike McFarlane, Lana Tepfer, Rhonda Spies, Judy Kiser, Ken Jernstedt, Eva Summers and Deborah Medina who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
This couple met in Los Angeles in 1962 and became one of the greatest duets of all time until their divorce in 1975. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of their first single that included the lyrics:
“They say our love won’t pay the rent / Before it’s earned / Our money’s all been spent / I guess that’s so, we don’t have a pot / But at least I’m sure / Of all the things we got”
Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a DVD of the four seasons of their comedy show.
Well, it has been another week, looking for the right balance. Until we meet again, when was the last time you did something for the first time?
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“A person who knows how to laugh at himself will never cease to be amused.” — Shirley MacLaine,
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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 2nd and 4th Wednesdays; Mt. Hood Townhall (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).
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