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Wednesday, June 15, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Of a certain age...
By diane Goble
Columnist
The main reason I live
alone is that through my
experiences of living with
others I’ve developed a
preference for having my
own space and making my
own decisions. Some might
say it may just be me, that
I’m impossible to live with
or have annoying habits and
that may well be, but I con-
sider myself self-sufficient
and enjoy my own company
and not having to pick up
after others. Most things
I’ve learned to do myself
out of necessity and the few
things I can’t do or don’t
want to do, I’d rather pay
someone who leaves after
the job is done.
Not that there aren’t
some downsides, but luckily
my glass is always half full.
Going on a shopping spree
at the Farmers’ Market,
with its endless selection of
fresh fruits and vegetables,
seems like a great idea at
the time, but eating them
before they spoil is a chal-
lenge. When I buy at Costco
to save money, I end up
encroaching on “Best Used
By” dates on items I don’t
consume quickly enough,
so I get good use out of my
crockpot.
Since I often eat alone,
there are no limitations on
what I eat, what I want to
cook, when I eat or where,
whether I’m dressed or in
my PJs. I can have din-
ner for lunch and a snack
in the evening. I get take-
out whenever I don’t feel
like cooking or there are
no leftovers in the fridge.
I know who took a bite
out of something and put
it back every time. There
is no mold growing in the
fridge because it is never
stuffed with someone else’s
leftovers.
When I spill something
or make a mess, I always
know who did it and whose
job it is to clean it up. If I
forget to do something, it’s
my own damn fault ... no
one to blame but myself.
If the plant is dead, I know
who forgot to water it. I
can’t ask anyone else to
clean Cheech and Chong’s
litter box or take out the
trash.
There are no distrac-
tions when I need to get
something done. I can turn
off the phone, lock the
door, turn down the lights
and immerse myself in any
number of things that inter-
est me for however long I
care to remain engaged. I
can stop and do something
else whenever I want. I can
go out and take a walk, do
yoga or meditate or get in
my car and go for a drive
at a moment’s notice and
without asking anyone’s
permission.
I can be as outrageous
and emotional as I want
without restraint. I don’t
have to lip-sync when Elvis
comes on the radio. I can
dance like nobody’s watch-
ing because nobody is. It
New Shipment!
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Come in and see all the
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Sarah Rybka, Owner/Technician
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Prevention & Aesthetics
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p 541-549-9486 f 541-549-9110
410 E. Cascade Ave. • P.O. Box 1027 • Sisters, Oregon 97759
Hours: Mon., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Tues.-Wed., 8 a.m.-4 p.m.;
Thurs., 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
makes my cats a little ner-
vous but they’ve adjusted
to my outbursts of musical
talent. I don’t have to argue
about someone always
watching TV because I
choose not to have a TV and
I make the decisions around
here.
I’m a writer so I tend
to talk to my characters,
or myself, and read what I
write out loud to be sure it
makes sense and to check
for typos. There’s no one to
get irritated or critical or tell
me I’m wasting my time. I
can argue with myself with-
out getting defensive or
insisting I’m right. If I need
help, I can always count on
my friends.
When married friends
tell me their horror stories
about living with their part-
ners and say how lucky I
am that I don’t have to deal
with it, I definitely feel good
about my choice to remain
single.
Most of all it’s the free-
dom — freedom to do what-
ever I want whenever I want
however I want with whom-
ever I want. Some people
might say that’s selfish, but
I’ve been a parent, care-
giver, caretaker, counselor,
support person all my life.
At this certain age, sorry,
but for the first time in my
life it’s all about me!
Community cycling
specialist to speak
The public is invited to
join the City of Sisters for a
presentation by Steve Clark,
bicycle-friendly community
specialist from the League of
American Bicyclists.
The presentation and dis-
cussion is set for 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, June 23, at City
Hall.
Clark will offer an over-
view of recent trends in
community biking and offer
suggestions for ways to
improve Sisters’ bicycle sys-
tem. Biking advocates are
applying to upgrade from
Silver to Gold designation
for Sisters as a nationally
recognized Bicycle Friendly
Community.
Ideas and input are wel-
come. For more information
call or text 541-639-5888.
occupiers to face
firearms charges
PORTLAND (AP) —
Defendants who will head
to trial in connection to the
armed occupation of a fed-
eral wildlife refuge will face
charges of conspiracy to
impede federal officers and
firearms possession in a fed-
eral facility.
The
Oregonian/
OregonLive reports that a
federal judge ruled in written
orders filed Friday that the
charges will stand, despite
defense attorneys’ arguments
that the allegations were
unconstitutionally vague
or broad, or that the federal
government did not have
jurisdiction over the Malheur
National Wildlife Refuge.
The judge has not yet
ruled if a third count of using
and carrying a firearm in the
course of a crime of violence
will stand.
The charges stem from a
41-day occupation of the ref-
uge. The occupiers wanted
the federal government to
relinquish public lands to
locals and free two Oregon
ranchers imprisoned for set-
ting fires.
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Locally Owned
Thank You,
Drivers!
Tim Draxler, Susan Waltosz and Debbie Hook
for running the Sisters Rodeo Bus Shuttle!
Every year, you have been there for us,
whenever we need you. Tim and his crew
have made the free shuttle a total success!
Th ank you so much!
Keith Sweeney & the Sisters Rodeo Association