Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
B3
SENIOR NEWS
Confusion, fun, and remembering a few lost words
Senior
Living
Scott
McKay
I’m confused. Most of you
are reading this column on
June 16, but I’ve been writing
it since I finished my last col-
umn because my wife and I
are driving to California for
my son’s college graduation
on Saturday. As I’m writing,
that will be this coming
Saturday — but for you
readers, it was last Saturday!
I feel as if I’m in an HG Wells
time machine, not knowing
which week I’m in, mine or
yours!
I need to start writing
early because I don’t have
that newspaper reporter
talent of writing clearly on
a short deadline. It takes
me a while to be coherent.
And although I do have
several ideas cooking, I have
nothing ready to pull out of
the oven.
So what can I write about
on such a short timeline?
I usually try to include a
few thoughts about aging,
provide an encouraging
word or two and offer a few
bad jokes. (I think they’re
funny!) But now since you’re
waiting and the main course
isn’t ready, how about a little
dessert instead, something
more sugar than substance:
A trip down memory lane of
expressions we seldom hear
anymore. I once thought it
would be fun to start using
the word “groovy,” as in the
hit song titles “A Groovy
Kind of Love” or “The 59th
Street Bridge Song (Feelin’
Groovy).” Remember those?
But after five minutes of
questioning stares as in
“What DeLorean time ma-
chine did you step out of?”
I realized “groovy” doesn’t
quite have the same appeal
it once had.
So get out a piece of paper
and your Sheaffer pen. It’s
time for a “pop quiz.” See
how many of these eight
words from “days gone by”
you still remember. I suspect
you will recall most of them,
but words, as with certain
smells and tastes, can bring
back forgotten memories —
those pre-teen years when
the opposite sex was just a
distraction, or conversations
on the playground during re-
cess, or just silly adolescent
pranks. So, give it your best
shot. And for your immedi-
ate gratification, the answers
will be included below.
1. What were “cooties”?
a) Tiny cookies, b) Earrings,
c) Prizes in cereal boxes, d)
Imaginary infestations.
2. What was a “flattop”?
a) Skateboard, b) Haircut, c)
Table, d) Stupid person.
3. What were “dibs”? a)
Nerds, b) Candy, c) Claims,
d) Hairstyles.
4. What was a “spaz”?
a) Cold cut, b) Russian
astronaut, c) Uncoordinated
person, d) Candy mint.
5. What was a “blast”? a)
A dance, b) A Coca-Cola
and Seven-Up mixture, c) A
television commercial, d) A
good time.
6. What were you if you
had a lot of “bread”? a)
Uncool, b) Fat, c) Rich, d)
Smart.
7. If a person were to “go
ape,” what would they do?
a) Dance funny, b) Become
angry, c) Dress sloppily, d)
Date an ugly person.
8. What was a “pad”? a)
Residence, b) Notebook, c)
Article of clothing, d) Paid
advertisement.
(Full discloser: These
questions were forwarded
to me by someone, at some
time, from some website.)
•••
The secret Jim Lowe was
looking for when he sang
“Midnight, one more night
without sleeping, watch-
ing till the morning comes
creeping” was what was
behind the Green Door.
(Next week I’ll also mention
those who responded to last
week’s question.)
Growing up in Indiana
during the early ’60s, I
dreamed of “getting around”
with a surfboard strapped
to the top of a “woodie”
wagon (even though I was
2,000 miles from a California
beach!) inspired by the
music of this band. For this
week’s “Remember When”
question, what was the
name of the five-member
band known for their vocal
harmonies and musical
ingenuity that epitomized
the “California Sound.”
E-mail your answer to
mcseniorcenter@gmail.com,
call 541-296-4788 or send it
with the album “Pet Sounds”
one of the most critically
acclaimed and influential
albums of all time.
•••
Well, it has been another
week cautiously looking
behind the curtain. Until we
meet again, perception is
everything.
•••
“People who throw kisses
are hopelessly lazy.”
— Bob Hope
•••
Answers: d, b, c, c, d, c, b, a
•••
Nutritious home-deliv-
ered meals and pick-ups are
available for anyone over 60.
For more information, you
can call the meal site in your
area.
Hood River Valley Adult
Center at 541-386-2060;
The Dalles Meals-on-
Wheels at 541-298-8333;
Sherman County Senior
and Community Center at
541-565-3191;
Klickitat County Senior
Services — Goldendale
office at 509-773-3757 or
the White Salmon office at
509-493-3068;
Skamania County Senior
Services at 509-427-3990;
Seniors of Mosier
Valley at 541-503-5660 or
541-980-1157.
LYLE NEWS
Lyle Twin Bridges Museum now open Saturdays
■ By Mildred E. Lykens
After two years of pan-
demic-impacted learning,
the Class of 2021 can gradu-
ate with pride. They did so at
the Lyle Football Field June
5. First though, they cruised
through Dallesport and Lyle.
Building on the success of
the 2020 Senior Cruise, the
group followed an expanded
route in both Dallesport and
Lyle, departing from the old
Dallesport Elementary.
The Lyle’s Historical Twin
Bridges
Museum,
403 E.
Klickitat St.,
is taking
advantage of
the break in
the pan-
Mildred E.
demic and
Lykens
is opening
their doors for the season
Saturdays from noon to
5 p.m., through Sept. 4.
Take advantage of the free
admission (although there is
a donation jar at the sign in
book) and stroll the displays
that will take you on a jour-
ney back through the ages
of our local pioneer families.
For instance, acknowledge
the changes of the tools both
for women and men that
have progressed over time.
Upon visiting the Lyle
Twin Bridges Museum, I
found some changes in the
displays and exhibits all to
the better. The floor is more
open with room to browse
around. From the honorary
military display, to our local
Japanese families heritage,
to the antique household
furniture and tools of yester-
year, there is an abundant
supply of interest in every
corner. Upon your next visit,
you might find some nice
surprises.
It warms the heart to see
the Lyle Park crowded with
family members enjoying
each other on a sunny day.
Recently, the street was lined
with vehicles stretching all
around the park. It was good
to see a Bar-B-Q smoking
and families either playing
different sports or visiting
each other as they relaxed
in lawn chairs. I’m sure that
now that the health threat
is coming to an end that
we all feel the need reunite
with one another. The scene
brought memories of the
old Saturday Evening Post’s
covers of Norman Rockwell’s
paintings.
How about a standing
ovation for our PUD employ-
ees that worked so quickly
to get our electricity back on
recently? We certainly don’t
have any complaints about
their diligence and quick re-
sponses when our electricity
goes out. I understand the
outage came from power
lines downed by a fire across
the river. Our firefighters
and EMTs have also been
busy this week with separate
emergencies. We are truly
blessed to have them.
Send news to Mildred E.
Lykens, 509-365-2273 or
lykensme41@gmail.com.
Oregon Master Gardener Association invites
gardeners to ‘Connect, Collaborate, Cultivate’
■ By OSU Master Gardener Association
The Oregon Master Gardener Association (OMGA) will
hold a virtual Mini-College on July 16-17. This year’s theme
is “Connect – Collaborate – Cultivate.” Mini-College is a two
day gathering of gardeners of all levels who are interested in
further developing their knowledge and skills.
The OMGA Mini-College is usually held on the OSU
campus in Corvallis. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions
during the planning process, it was decided to hold the 2021
event virtually, and open registration to all who are interested
in attending.
Two keynote speakers, classes and workshops on a variety
of gardening topics are set for the virtual Oregon Master
Gardener Association (OMGA) Mini-College. Friday’s
Keynote Speaker Robert Michael Pyle will speak on the topic
of “People, Plants and Pollinators in the PNW,” while Gail
Langellotto, state coordinator, Oregon Master Gardeners,
will address the “OSU Master Gardener Annual Report” on
Saturday.
The lineup of classes will cover topics on bees, pollinators,
year round pollinator plants, insect pests, urban agriculture,
organic vegetable gardening, Japanese Beetle in Oregon, and
soil amendment.
Workshop topics include Hydroponics: Grow Amazing
Vegetables Indoors Year Round, OSU Plant ID Program,
Pollinator Garden Design with Native Plants, and Using
I-Naturalist for Insect ID. All classes and workshops are
designed to stimulate gardening enthusiasm and increase
horticultural knowledge.
For more information and to register, visit www.master-
gardenerminicollege.org.
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