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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 2018)
T he C olumbia P ress December 28, 2018 Senior Moments with Emma Edwards Watch out for falling nuts “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” -- Henry Ford So, here it is a few days af- ter Christmas and almost the end of the year. Christmas. That is the time I suddenly realize that all the things yet to be done could have been done three months ago. Maybe we so readily write down New Year’s resolutions because we’re so fresh over lamenting what we did not do the year before. However, do we do better next year? About a week ago, I was lamenting to a sweet friend what all I still had to get done before Christmas. This is what she told me to think on: Whatever you do do today is more than you did yesterday before you do do what you just did do! I know, sounds like a lot of do do! (Did I say that?) Oh, well. Forgive me, I am a little happy tired I guess! As many of you know, I en- joy poetry that was written decades ago. This is one of my favorites: “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made. Our times are in His hand who saith, ‘A whole I planned, youth shows but half; Trust God: See all, nor be afraid!” -- Robert Brown- ing (written mid-1800s) We seniors realize more and more every year the truth of Mr. Browning’s writing. As we observe youth of today, either in our own families or circling around us, we like to envision their future years. We may be looking at the president of a large company or even of the United States. Or a future homeless un- fortunate. There is a senior group I heard about recently called the JOY group, of Just Older Youth. Mr. Browning would have liked that. Often, genealogy is a topic for discussion at our senior lunches. Recently, I read a definition of genealogy that described it as tracing your- self back to better people. Another thought in the same article quoted some- one as saying, “I trace my family history so I will know whom to blame.” The one I liked best was “Genealogists never die; they just lose their roots.” Yes, I knew you would like that too! Not to belabor the subject, but recently I ran across sev- eral one liners on the gene- alogy topic: “My family tree is a few branches short! All help appreciated.” Another, “Shake your family tree and watch the nuts fall!” And with chocolates and other goodies available at this time of the year, I thought you would like this little ditty -- And I have mixed emotions over the fol- lowing little quip that was shared with me:“My wife is a light eater; as soon as it’s light out, she starts eating.” Christmas is over and now I can say, “See you next year.” 7 It’s Whale Watching Week along Oregon coast Annual Whale Watching Week is under way as gray whales are migrating south. The Oregon Parks and Rec- reation Department will have volunteers from the Whale Watching Spoken Here pro- gram at 24 stations along the Oregon coast from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily through New Year’s Eve. They’ll offer whale-watch- ing tips and facts about the animals. Nearby stations are at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Ilwaco, near the Peter Iredale Shipwreck in Fort Stevens State Park, and at Ecola State Park in Canon Beach. Every winter an estimated 20,000 gray whales migrate Visitors look for whales passing offshore near Depoe Bay. south from Alaska to the warm calving lagoons off the coast of Baja, Mexico. During the busiest times, 30 whales pass by per hour. “Whales are a special part of the Oregon coast,” said Luke Parsons, a ranger with the Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay. “We’re very proud to work with our vol- unteers to help visitors con- nect with the whales and our oceans.” This Week in Aboriginal History by Carl A. Ellis Seminole tribe is first to offer Indian bingo Dec. 28, 1890: Sioux leader Big Foot leads his tribe away from the reservation only to be surrounded by 7th Cavalry troops at Wounded Knee Creek. The next morn- ing, when the cavalry tries to disarm the Sioux, shots ring out. During the next six hours, 146 Sioux men, wom- en and children, including Big Foot, are killed. The 7th Cavalry loses 31 men. Dec. 29, 1776: Mingos is directed by Chief Pluggy to attack a stockade in the set- tlement established by John Senior lunch menu Monday, Dec. 31: Parmesan chicken, pasta with pesto sauce, tomatoes, minestrone soup, berry trifle. Thursday, Jan. 3: Pulled pork, roasted potatoes, corn, cole- slaw, chocolate cake. 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. McClelland near present-day Lexington, Ky. Men are killed on both sides, including lead- ers from both forces. The In- dians eventually give up the attack. Dec. 30, 1759: A Spanish force of 600, responding to a Comanche attack that de- stroyed two missions on the San Saba River in central Texas, march north to the Red River. There they engage several thousand Coman- che and other Plains Indians fighting behind breastworks and armed with French ri- fles. The Spaniards are rout- ed out, losing a cannon in their retreat. From this point on, Comanche raids will be a constant threat to settlers throughout Texas. Dec. 31, 1813: Indian and British forces under Gen. Phineas Riall attack Buffalo, N.Y., burning the small vil- lage to the ground. Settlers will return soon, and rebuild. Jan. 1, 2001: The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla In- dians open Tahquitz Canyon near Palm Springs to visitors. Jan. 2, 1979: The Sem- inole Tribe of Florida be- comes the first tribe to enter the bingo gaming industry. Their endeavors encourage other tribes to begin gaming enterprises on reservations as a step toward economic self-sufficiency. Jan. 3, 1895: Hopi Chief Lomahongyoma and 18 oth- er Indians are placed in Al- catraz for five days for their resistance to the U.S. govern- ment. The 19 are jailed for refusing to farm on individ- ual plots away from the me- sas and for refusing to send their children to government boarding schools. Ellis is an author and his- torian working on a book about American Indians.
