A8 Wednesday, January 29, 2020
HOOD RIVER NEWS | Hood River, Ore.
hoodrivernews.com
AGING: ‘This journey can be so complex...we need to hear stories from others’
continued from A1
caring for an aging loved one.
“This journey can be so
complex and convoluted, we
need to hear stories from oth-
ers,” Wade said. “…We need
to hear each other’s stories
because in each other’s stories
we’ll hear of road-bumps and
potholes along the way, and
maybe, just maybe it’ll help us
anticipate those a little bit, and
help us prepare.”
Wade spoke about his expe-
rience taking care of his aging
grandmother and the ups and
downs that came with it —
including her death, which,
against her wishes, occurred at
the hospital following a stroke.
“Although the hospital wasn’t
her choice, it actually turned
out pretty well,” he said, as
friends were able to come and
say goodbye, which might not
have happened if she had died
at home.
“I didn’t know that at the
time, I didn’t see that at the
time,” he said, “when I realized
that, at the hospital, there was
actually a gift to be received, I
was able to let go a little bit of
my guilt.”
Wade stressed that, while
everybody’s experience will be
different, it is important to plan
ahead as much as possible
in order to avoid misunder-
standings that could worsen
a situation. One of the most
important ways to prepare is
talking with your loved ones
about their wishes in different
scenarios; and even though
that conversation can be diffi-
cult, Wade said, “This is an act
of love and an act of honoring
your aging parents and loved
ones.
“The more that we can plan,
the more that we can antic-
ipate, the more that we can
communicate, the more that
we can become more aware
of our emotions and our own
limitations, the better prepared
we’ll be — whether we’re the
loved one that needs caring
for or will need caring for, or
the ones doing the caring —
the better prepared we’ll be to
have a successful and pretty
smooth, hopefully, outcome,”
he said.
Even if you’re already in
the midst of caregiving for a
loved one, Wade said, “it’s still
possible to step back and take
a breath and pause and re-
imagine this phase of life both
for you and your aging loved
one, or the other way around,
if that’s your case.”
While Wade said that he
wished he had taken more
time to be truly present with
his grandmother, he called his
experience as her caregiver “a
gift,” and encouraged others to
adopt that mindset.
“There’s heartache in watch-
ing a loved one age. There is,”
he said. “Acknowledging and
embracing that pain is import-
ant, but even more, I think it’s
important to flip a different
switch in our brains and to rec-
ognize that this season of life,
whether you’re going through
it now or you’re going through
it with a loved one, is a tremen-
dous gift. It’s something that
can open up deep, spiritual
pathways that aren’t really
available anywhere else.”
An attendee later comment-
ed on her experience caring for
her aging parents, and on try-
ing to prepare herself for their
eventual deaths, saying, “I’m
going to miss them so much
but it’s just going to be so much
easier because I’m taking care
of them the best I can … and it
is a privilege.”
■
The next two events in the
series are scheduled to take
place at the Hood River Valley
Adult Center (2010 Sterling
Place) both from noon to 1
p.m.; the next event is sched-
uled for Feb. 19, and will fea-
ture a presentation by Britta
Wilson, MA in Gerontology
and program coordinator for
Volunteers in Action at Prov-
idence Hood River Memorial
Hospital, on environmental
changes/adaptations that can
Photo by Emily Fitzgerald
ABOUT 20 people attended the first part of GEM and AGA’s three
part series. Part two is scheduled for Feb. 19, noon to 1 p.m., at
the Hood River Valley Adult Center, with Britta Wilson presenting.
make life easier and safer for
elders; and in March, the team
will guide participants through
AARP’s “Prepare to Care,” a
planning guide for families.
Take-home resources will also
be available, including Elder-
care specialist Gail Goeller’s
book, “Coming of Age with
Aging Parents.”
For more information on
upcoming events, visit GEM’s
website, gorgeem.org.
BORDER: Lunch presentation tackles topic of immigration
continued from A1
“I don’t feel like I have a
sense of how awful the situa-
tions are that these people are
leaving,” answered one man.
“It hinders us from feeling
admiration and respect and
compassion. People have this
perception of, ‘They’re coming
here to steal or take our jobs.’
… I can’t imagine taking your
kid and walking thousands of
miles.”
Contreras said the closest
example she could think of
would be if your house were
to catch fire: The loss of the
safety of a home, being forced
to move from shelter to shelter
or being on the streets.
But because we know the
language and how to navi-
gate the system, it’s not a true
comparison, she added. Some
migrants only speak certain
dialects; all are at risk of being
taken advantage of by those
who wish to profit from their
desperation.
One woman asked how
someone from Guatemala or El
Salvador could come up with
money to pay for a smuggler.
“The easiest way is the drug
industry,” Contreras said. “Not
much of a want, but it ends up
being a need to survive. They
act as mules.” Families might
also raise money that the mi-
grants later pay back.
Another asked if there was
nowhere in Central America
that would be safe for those
trying to cross into the U.S.
“It’s the scale of risk —
come to the U.S. and make
money and stay safe versus
poor wages and maybe not
being safe,” Contreras said.
“Do they know the risk of
border separation?” she asked.
“If you’re trying to escape vi-
olence and possible death, any
risk is worth it,” Contreras said.
“What are the most import-
ant things white people can
do right now to help?” asked
another woman.
“Vote,” Contreras said. “Vol-
unteer for organizations. Do-
nate to charities that help
immigrants. Make them feel
welcome.
“Voting is your number one
tool that can help every indi-
vidual here to have a decent
life and be human,” she added.
“We’re all human at the end of
the day and we have to treat
one another with respect.”
She also suggested learning
conversational Spanish.
“Making that effort as mono-
lingual English speakers — a
simple ‘good morning’ — you
can see and notice the facial re-
action. That in itself is going to
spark a good opening for them.
‘This person is trustworthy; I
can trust them’ …
“I think the schools here are
doing a great job, getting more
bilingual and bicultural staff,
but I don’t know if, in the real
world, that’s really the case.
“It’s a tricky subject to talk
Photo by Trisha Walker
about,” she said. “I appreciate
everyone coming and giving NUBIA CONTRERAS presents a video on immigration at the Jan. 23 Lunch and Learn event.
me the opportunity to present.”
Lunch and Learn
continues
Contreras will host this
Thursday’s Lunch and Learn
conversation, “Mi Sueno
Americano/ My American
Dream,” on Jan. 30. On Feb. 6,
Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance
hosts “Gender Identity.” Lunch
and Learn events take place in
the library’s downstairs meet-
ing room and begin at 1 p.m.
All are welcome to attend.
PRESENTED BY:
®
®
HEARTS OF GOLD: Programs honored
continued from A1
inated by a previously honored
organization, FISH Food Bank.
Currently community mem-
bers Jeff McCaw, Mary Finley,
Kym Zanmillier and Leslie Hidle
serve on the board with Holm-
son. They would tell you it’s the
hundreds of volunteers work-
ing tirelessly throughout the
year that allow them to provide
meals, toys, gifts and a warm
sense of community during the
holidays, Frost noted. The nom-
ination described the Christmas
Project “reflecting the heart and
soul of a community that cares,”
said a press release.
Along with the award cele-
bration, guests will hear about
the Providence Brookside Sun-
shine Club, the beneficiary of
the event. The Sunshine Club
provides a day group for people
with memory loss disease. It’s
a place where families can help
their loved ones socialize, be ac-
tive, share community and enjoy
FEB 5-9, 2020
Portland Expo Center • Portland, Oregon
YOU COULD WIN TROPHY CATEGORIES:
Black Bear • Mule Deer (Typical &
GREAT PRIZES
Non-Typical) • Blacktail Deer (Typical &
GRAB THAT
TROPHY from your
Photo by Kirby Neumann-Rea
PACKAGE CENTRAL: Board members Mary Finley, left, and Kym
Zanmiller box up food in December 2019 at Hood River County
Fairgrounds.
themselves, said a press release.
“It’s a tradition to highlight
foundation programs each year
after awards and we know sto-
ries and photos about the Sun-
shine Club will touch the hearts
of our guests. It will be a very
special night,” said Frost.
wall, garage or attic and
bring it to the Pacific
Northwest Sportsmen’s Show
at the Portland Expo Center.
Official Record Book scorers
will measure it and prizes
will be awarded.
including a brand new Fort
Knox Maverick Vault Model 6637.
Valuable prizes are awarded and
provided by Danner, Gerber, Ruger, Fort
Knox, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation,
Browning, Rage, Block Targets, Muzzy
Broadheads, Carbon Express, and
Hornady!
SHOW HOURS
ADMISSION
Wed - Fri ...............11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sat. .......................10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sun. ......................10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Adults................................... $15
2-day pass .......................... $24
Juniors (6-16) ........................ $5
Children 5 & under............. FREE
Military* ................................. $8
Half Day (after 4 p.m) ................ $8
Half Day Juniors (after 4 p.m) ....... $3
*Proof of military ID. Good all days.
LEARN MORE
Non-Typical) • Whitetail Deer (Typical &
Non-Typical) • Mt. Goat
• Rocky Mt. Elk (Typical & Non-Typical)
• Roosevelt Elk (Typical & Non-Typical)
• Pronghorn • Cougar • Bighorn Sheep
• Moose
Over 500 exhibitors
with special show pricing
NEW Gear & Technology
TOP GUIDES & OUTFITTERS
GET $2 OFF one adult admission by downloading a coupon at thesportshows.com.
Hearts of Gold takes place at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 29 at the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn. In addition
to honoring the award winners, guests will be treated to a cocktail reception, live music and a gourmet meal.
Tickets are $100 each and sponsorships are available. Call 541-387-6242 to purchase tickets. All proceeds
from the evening benefit Providence Brookside’s Sunshine Club day respite program for people living with
dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Discounts may not be combined.
For more information about Head & Horns, call 541-530-2749. For complete contest rules
and prize packages, show info, coupons, directions, and daily seminar schedules,
visit:
thesportshows.com
WEATHER FOR HOOD RIVER, OR | JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2020
Today
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46° 48° 59° 56° 42° 51° 45°
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Low clouds and milder
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Cooler with a
chance of rain
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Partly sunny; chance
of am snow shower
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Mostly Cloudy
WEATHER SPONSORED BY:
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3140 W. Cascade, Hood River
541-386-1123
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BfR]Zej ARced
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Actual High/Low
January 22-27
Wednesday
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Updated 1.27.20, 8:09 AM PDT
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