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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 3, 2019)
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Of a certain AGE Sue Stafford Columnist Still doing for myself My son Josh was here recently to get his motor- cycle that has been parked in my garage since March, when he and his wife moved to Phoenix. (Yes, I miss having them in Bend!) He left this morning to ride back to Arizona. While here, he expressed again a concern he had voiced sev- eral times recently over the phone. <Mom, aren9t you sorry to not be having a big party to celebrate your 75th birth- day?= (He9s 48). I had told him before that, <No, I don9t mind at all,= but I don9t think he believed me. He asked me what I did to celebrate, and I think my answer finally convinced him. I spent my 75th birthday mowing the lawn, doing my laundry, and changing the bed in the guest bedroom. And I went to Bi-Mart to pick up a new prescrip- tion for blood pressure medication. Nothing out of the ordi- nary, right? But I followed my list with telling him that I actually celebrated the fact that I was able to eas- ily do all those things for myself. I live without assis- tance in my own home that is paid for. I have a car that is paid for that I can drive anywhere, anytime. I cannot only perform all the basic activities of daily living, but my mind still functions. My good fortune extends to the place I have cho- sen to call home for the last 15 years 4 a friendly little town surrounded by magnificent natural beauty, where it takes less than five minutes to get anywhere in town (if you know the back ways during the sum- mer months). Deer wan- der through my yard, this time of year bringing their spotted fawns for a visit. Cultural events fill the cal- endar with an extraordinary variety of entertainment year round, especially for a town of 2,800. My body is beginning to show a little wear around the edges but, by and large, I have no major medical conditions, except a few extra pounds that would be beneficial for me to lose. I just received word from my ophthalmologist that an issue with my cornea has healed (which he originally had said it wouldn9t do). I wear glasses most the time, but only because they9re easier to find if I have them on my face. I have no hear- ing aids, cane, walker, knee braces, or support hose. Although I9m not sure what 75 is supposed to look like, it does feel good when my two sons and occasional friends remark that I don9t look 75, assuming I look younger and not older. I am blessed to have long-time friendships, some of which span 70 years. I can remember both the first and last names of almost everyone in my first-grade class, and all my teachers, at Sylvan School in Portland. My life has been full of meaningful family rela- tionships. My two older brothers are still living and we talk every week on the phone. I have experienced the joys and trials of moth- erhood and marriage. My work-life has involved a multitude of interesting and rewarding jobs, mostly being in ser- vice to others. I started out in the National Teacher Corps right out of college and then moved on to the United Way, to practicing as an expressive arts, horticul- tural, and substance abuse therapist, to the Transitions coordinator for hospice after moving to Central Oregon. Currently, I have my freelance writing work that I truly enjoy, and that hopefully helps keep my mind sharp. Total freedom is mine every day to decide what I9m going to do or not do, with no major hindrance from physical or mental maladies. I have lovely new friends and acquaintances in my life since moving to Sisters. Good fortune has indeed smiled broadly on me. Yes, Josh, I had a great deal to celebrate 4and I celebrated by doing the very things I still can do for myself. A friend with a mutual birthday expressed it per- fectly. She sent me an email saying we were celebrating our <diamond anniversary.= I like that much better than being <three-quarters of a century.= Logs from Sisters project sold By Ceili Cornelius Correspondent The log decks that line the Sisters side of Highway 20 will soon be finding new homes. On Tuesday, June 25, the auction for the log decks created during a massive tree-removal project along Highway 20 was completed. All of the decks were sold at a bid of $100,000 to the Ochoco/Malheur Lumber Company 4 $14,000 above the minimum bid. The haul of the logs to their new home was to begin on Monday. Some of the money received from the sale will go back to the U.S. Treasury. Some will go into local trust funds in order to improve the sale-area forestland. Some will also be used for future removal of dead and dying trees. Goss Co. LLC handled the logging project on a con- tract for $225,300. Home Health th & Wellness Start Here! Hot Tubs, Automated Covers, Spa Maintenance Services Traditional & Infrared Saunas Swim Spas • Essential Oils Wood Stoves • Pellet Grills aquahott h ub.com b NEW HOURS! (Closed July 4-7) Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sat. & Evenings by Appointment 541-410-1023 • 413 W. Hood Ave. SHOP LOCAL Sunset Serenades Free Concert Series — At Brand 33 at Aspen Lakes — Lino & Friends Classical Guitar with a Latin Flair Sunday, July 7 at 7 p.m. Come early and enjoy dinner with friends! 541-549-3663 or 541-549-4653 for more information The Nugget is brought to you weekly because of our advertisers’ rt support. So we ask you to support the local businesses which help make your community, hometown newspaper possible. PHOTO BY GARY MILLER 24