Don’t know what to say?
If you want to know what you can say that won’t harm more than help, I had cancer, so it’s “okay” for me to share a bit, of great advice. You may say:
Breast cancer
“You may call me anytime you want to talk to someone.”
“No matter how you feel, we’ll stick with you through this.”
“Let’s plan on enjoying some time together whenever you like.”
“A year from now I hope we’ll be celebrating your victory!”
“I like your new look, how do you like it?”
“How is your recovery going?”
“What evening may I bring over supper?”
Colon cancer
“I don’t know how to talk to you about your cancer — I don’t know what you feel inside.”
No emptier promise has ever been spoken than the frequently abused phrase, “Let me know how I can help.” Don’t offer this phrase up to your friend or loved one unless you mean it.
During this time, the person facing this incurable disease could probably use a hand with groceries, meal preparation, watching children during treatment, and even basic home care, such as lawn mowing.
If you say you want to help, be ready to act upon that promise. The person fighting the cancer is depending on you.
Donna Gray-Davis
Hood River
Record family stories
Reading another of Maija Yasui’s fascinating stories about her family’s heritage made me wonder if any of today’s 15-35-year-olds, especially those of Hispanic heritage, are smart enough to be collecting the stories of their ancestors. Take it from one whose family roots have all died: They’ll wish they had.
Dave Dockham
Hood River
Looking for Oregon info
Hello! My name is Lindsey A. I am a fifth-grade student at Harlan Intermediate School in Harlan, Iowa. My class is studying the geography and history of the United States. I picked out Oregon because of the beautiful beaches and glamorous sunsets.
I would appreciate it if you would send me information like a state map, and souvenir, or any information about the wonderful, awesome state of Oregon.
My teacher, Mrs. Newlin, would like a car license plate if possible, for a school project. I appreciate your time.
Thank You!
Lindsey A.
Mrs. Newlin’s S.S. class
Harlan Intermediate School
1401 19th St.
Harlan, Iowa 51537
Make parenting a pleasure
Dear Parents: One of the most rewarding things about being a child care provider is knowing that you have it in your hands to be an individual who rewrites the destiny of children in your care.
Same goes to being a parent. There is simply no other job in the world to compare with it. It’s really hard work, but the rewards are beyond calculation.
If you are interested in new parenting techniques, want to feel more confident as a parent/childcare provider, or simply want to share your experiences and advice with others, the Parenting Now series starting Tuesday, Feb. 26, is an opportunity not to miss.
I attended the eight-week class series last fall, and felt that I greatly benefited. Bring your spouse and bring your children, who will have a great time making craft projects and playing games.
Not only is this series great for parents, but also child care providers. From my experience, I feel that I got a behind-the-scenes look at what problems parents have to deal with on an everyday basis. I was also able to give advice to those parents looking for new routines or positive discipline techniques.
We also covered child development, taking care of yourself and how to teach your child about making choices and taking responsibility for their own actions.
If you’re a parent, take one night out a week where you don’t have to make dinner, do dishes or plan an activity with your kids might be something you’ll look forward to. I feel more confident as a child care provider after participating in the class series.
Go the first night (open house) on Tuesday, Feb. 26, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Hood River Early Childhood Center (Pine Grove School) and check it out! You can then decide if this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss. You won’t regret you went!
For more information or to sign up for the series, contact Melissa Bramlett at 541-380-1690 or melissag1441@gmail.com. Bambinos Learning Center will be providing the free child care.
Melissa Bramlett
Hood River
Labeling helped
Did you buy beer for Super Bowl weekend this year? Did you notice anything new or extra? Maybe the taste, or something about the can? What about the cardboard box?
How about that warning label reminding you not to provide to minors? Yes, that’s it.
Super Bowl weekend is without a doubt one of the busiest for most everyone, especially football fans. Store shelves stock up with immense amounts of alcohol as it literally flies out of the store.
With such a high consumption of alcohol, it can become ridiculously easy for a minor to get a hold of an alcoholic drink.
As a reminder to those of age, Hood River Valley High School Health Media Club took action on Feb. 1 by doing its annual bottle tagging/sticker shock.
Health Media members have been designing stickers specifically for this event to help remind the community that providing to minors is against the law and comes with serious consequences.
All members of Health Media are extremely grateful to the local supermarkets that were willing to let members cover beer cases with a positive message.
A big thank you to Rosauers, Safeway and Mercado Guadalajara for taking part in such a crucial movement. We are happy to share that there were no MIPs or DUIIs on Super Bowl Sunday.
Ibette Sanchez
HRVHS Health Media
Club member
Willful ignorance
A few recent letters refute our letter to President Obama on human activities being a significant contributor to global warming and climate change and the need to make dramatic changes in how we do things.
Thousands of scientists around the world, whose lives are dedicated to objective science, agree that human activities are a key factor in global warming and climate change. These are just part of the global predicament so-called higher civilizations have created.
Other aspects of the predicament include degrading and collapsing ecosystems (our real-life support systems), peak potable water, spread of infectious diseases, declining human health, decline of functioning human communities and civility, declining economies, gridlocked politics — just to name a few.
People who deny overwhelming scientific agreement come from either ignorance, a fantasy belief system or an economic vested interest. On the contrary, to acknowledge the reality of our global predicament is not fun, comfortable or rewarding. It’s darned depressing!
I am reminded, once again, of a story I heard 30-some years ago. I worked in wildland fire control with a seasoned and crusty old professional with already 30 years in the field. He told me about a commuter airplane that “augered” into a mountain near the runway. All on board perished. The last recorded words of the pilot as he broke through fog were, “Oh !”
That pilot was innocent. He was doing the best he could with his instruments and experience. People who willfully deny humanity’s enormous detrimental effects on Earth, in the face of mountains of evidence, are not innocent and not doing the best they can.
There’s a cure for willful ignorance and denial. It’s called extinction. There’s no pie-in-the-sky going to save us from ourselves. We got ourselves into this pickle and we’ve got to get ourselves out; that is, if we want to leave a respectable legacy to our descendants.
Will your last words be similar to the pilot’s, if you accept too late what has been known for decades?
Keith Harding
Mount Hood
Be grateful for bottled water
A recent letter argued against bottled water on principle, but the author ignored some key facts.
Many consumers are grateful they can choose bottled water when they need it. Bottled water is a healthy choice, unlike sugary sodas and juices which contribute to the costly national epidemic of obesity, and it’s the most convenient option for people on the move.
And, when clean water is not available, bottled water is an important alternative. Just ask the 300 people in Oak Grove who have been on a boil-water order for the past three months due to E. coli contamination.
Having clean water available can even save lives during emergencies. My company, H2Oregon Premium Bottled Water Company, is a local business through and through. We are family-owned and we employ people who live, work and reside in Oregon. We’re proud members of our community and have always felt as welcome here as any other business.
Just like people deserve to choose for themselves what they want to drink, water bottlers deserve fair consideration and acknowledgement of the benefits they bring to Oregon.
Ross Rosette
The Dalles
Don’t miss next concert
We were so impressed by the Columbia Gorge Sinfonietta’s terrific concert Sunday at the Wy’east Middle School theater in Odell. Hats off to conductor Mark Steighner, the amazing viola soloist and all the superb musicians, board and orchestra supporters who made such a wonderful cultural event available in our community.
If you missed it, please shed a few tears and resolve not to miss the next one! And we hope, too, for many more presentations in that great new venue. It was our first time enjoying the beautiful theater there.
Tina and Doris Castañares
Odell
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