T he C olumbia P ress
June 15, 2018
Senior Moments
This Week in Aboriginal History
by Carl A. Ellis
with Emma Edwards
Healing power of humor
comes out in small things
Many of us enjoy going to
restaurants featuring food
from different ethnicities and
countries. Such eating places
are becoming more popular
in our area.
Overheard the other day
was a person trying to de-
cide which restaurant to go
to saying, “I can’t really de-
cide. Sometimes I’m caught
between a wok and a hard
place”.
I think it’s amazing how
many choices we have just in
our area. We no longer have
to go to Portland for an exotic
dining experience.
We even have choices when
it comes to which senior meal
site to patronize. Many of
us go to senior meal sites in
Warrenton, Astoria or Sea-
side.
Some shop menu while oth-
ers become a family, sitting
at the same tables and enjoy-
ing their peers while the food
becomes secondary.
As seniors, it’s fun to know
we’re missed if we’re not there.
It’s also fun to enjoy new expe-
riences. And, enjoy we do!
Truthfully, we do try (at any
of our impressive meal sites)
to stay away from subjects
such as politics, religion or
medical experiences.
We do like to hear jokes
(nice clean ones, of course).
At the Warrenton meal site
there’s a dish washer who
must stay up nights thinking
of jokes to share.
Yes, I’m talking about Mitch
Miller. It’s not unusual for
him to jump out of his dish-
washer cage, interrupt the
person doing the announce-
ments and delight all of us
with one of his stories.
There is an article in the
recent AARP Bulletin about
Alzheimer’s and other forms
of dementia being helped
through laughter.
In fact, it cited a story about
a daughter whose mother
had an advanced case of Alz-
heimer’s and, after visiting,
the daughter always went
away so sad.
Then one day, she found
her mom smiling and there
sat a lady comedian dancing
and being silly.
The comedian came back
several times (sometimes
wearing a large red nose)
and, before long, her mom
was laughing. The power of
humor is unlimited.
It can be a silly old joke such
as “Have you heard about the
golfer who always wears two
pairs of socks just in case he
gets a hole in one?”
Another one I like that’s not
quite so old is the sign at a lo-
cal marina that reads: “Out to
Launch.”
Or the sign on the door of
a music teacher: “Bach at 2.
OffenBach sooner.”
Admit it; those made you
smile!
Here’s a good definition of
“later years”: the time of life
when we try to convince our-
selves it’s only a vitamin defi-
ciency. Could it be a laughter
deficiency?
See you at senior lunch any
day of the week. Mondays
and Thursdays in Warrenton
and every day in Astoria and
Seaside.
You will come away smiling
and realizing how much we
need time with our peers.
7
Department of Defense OK’s use of peyote
June 15, 1742: A four-
day conference begins on
friendship and land ces-
sions between representa-
tives of the British in New
York and the “Six Nations,”
the Mohowak, Oneida On-
ondaga, Cayuga, Seneca
and Tuscarora.
June 16, 1636: As the
war builds between New
England colonists and
the Pequot tribe, the chief
of the Mohegans, a rival
tribe, warns the colonists
that the Pequots plan a
pre-emptive strike.
June 17, 1967: John
Stands-in-Timber dies.
He was a Northern Chey-
enne whose grandfather
was killed by Custer and
the self-appointed keep-
er of the oral literature of
his tribe. He co-authored
“Cheyenne Memories,” in
which he recounts his peo-
ple’s traditions.
June 18, 1999: Mem-
bers of the Native Ameri-
can Church may use pey-
ote in religious services,
even if they are members
Fresh eggs on
menu at food web
Thursdays are Egg Days at
the North Coast Food Web.
Farm-fresh chicken and
duck eggs will be available
for purchase from 9 a.m. to
4 p.m. at the Food Web, 577
18th St., Astoria.
Hosts are Brutal Hill Farms,
Lazy Creek Farms, Spring Up
Farm and Blackberry Bog
Farm.
of the military, according
to an agreement reached
with the U.S. Department
of Defense.
June 19, 1971: The Mo-
hawk Nation honors New
York tribal members Ray
and Christine Fadden. For
more than 20 years, Ray
taught young Mohawks
about their culture. He
also founded the Six Na-
tions Museum in Onchiota,
which exhibits an impres-
sive collection of historical
Iroquois artifacts.
June 20, 2011: A U.S.
federal judge agrees to a
$3.4 billion settlement
over mismanaged Indian
trust funds. The class-ac-
tion suit is among the larg-
est ever against the U.S.
government.
June 21, 1856: Indians
living in the lower Rogue
River and Port Orford ar-
eas are moved to a new
reservation, the Grande
Ronde, situated between
the Pacific Ocean and the
Willamette River.
Ellis is an author and his-
torian working on a book
about American Indians.
Learn more about American
Indian history at facebook.
com/snippetsintime.
Senior lunch menu
Monday, June 18: Roasted pork loin, mashed potatoes and
gravy, red cabbage, mixed greens, bread pudding.
Thursday, June 21: Spaghetti with Italian sausage, broccoli,
romaine salad, ice cream.
The Warrenton senior lunch program is at noon (doors
open at 10:30 a.m.) Mondays and Thursdays at Warrenton
Community Center, 170 SW Third St. Suggested donation is
$5 for ages 55 and older; $7 for those younger. For more
information, call 503-861-3502.