August 30, 2019
T he C olumbia P ress
Senior Moments
with Emma Edwards
Best-laid plans best described
by a tiny mouse’s behavior
It was just one of those
days!
Everything seemed to go
wrong with my planned out-
ing. Out of my mouth popped
the old expression, “best-laid
plans of mice and men.” And,
later, I pondered where the
expression came from.
A few of my “sources” re-
vealed it was from a poem,
“To a Mouse,” written by
Scottish author Robert Burns
in 1785 and found above the
chimney in the parlor of an
inn. While plowing on a No-
vember day, Burns ruined
the nest of a field mouse sup-
posedly snuggled in for the
winter. He pondered why the
wee mouse runs away in such
terror.
Do take a moment and go
to Warrenton Community
Library and read the entire
poem. It’s a good read!
So, back to one of those
days. As seniors, we realize
the time will arrive when our
homes have to be “plowed
under.” A new home will be
found; not all joy! But, for
some, it turns in to the big-
gest blessing of their lives.
Attitude, of course, has a lot
to do with it. Even when driv-
ing privileges are denied due
to age and/or circumstance,
we kind of feel plowed under.
Often, when a field is plowed,
it’s being readied for a plant-
ing of seed, eventually result-
ing in new growth. Maybe we
should feel that way about
our circumstances. It’s a new
life!
New life could be around
the corner. Some purchase
a travel trailer and become
RVers when they willingly
or are forced to give up their
homes. My hubby and I did
just that and joined a group
called the Escapees RV Club.
We were blessed to travel to
many states and make many
lifelong friends.
To this day, if you learn a
visitor is an Escapee mem-
ber upon telling them you
are too (or were) then you
get a big hug from them and
sometimes a meal. So we re-
ally don’t need to feel sorry
for ourselves when we feel
our house has been plowed
under.
Stretch your horizons and
maybe see what God has
around the corner for you.
Maybe it will be a whole new
life with joy unfathomable!
Another option for seniors
is to check out assisted or in-
dependent senior residenc-
es or consider adult foster
care homes as an alternative.
Meals are included in most
cases.
Many still come to local
senior meal sites in Astoria
503-791-7298, Seaside 503-
738-7323 and/or Warrenton
503-861-3502. For those who
can’t or don’t drive, local bus-
es are available to take you
places you want to go.
To learn what’s readi-
ly available in many areas
of your life, a good contact
would be Northwest Senior
and Disability Services near
the animal shelter in Warren-
ton, 503-861-4200.
7
Cullaby hike includes tour of historic cabin
A Cullaby Lake hike that in-
cludes a tour of the historic
Lindgren Cabin is set for 1:30
p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4.
The hike is sponsored by
the Angora Hiking Club and
begins at the cabin, which
was built by Finnish immi-
grant Erik Lindgren for his
family in 1922. The five-room
house has been described as
“America’s foremost example
of a hand-hewn cabin” and a
prime example of “Wild West
axmanship.”
Greg Jacob of Finlandia
Foundation will conduct the
tour. Afterward, there will be
an easy hike around the park,
The 1922
Lindgren
Cabin is
housed within
Cullaby Lake
County Park
and will be
included as
part of the
hike.
which includes native trees
and points of interest, includ-
ing the gravesite of Chief Cul-
laby, for whom the lake was
named.
To participate, call hike
leaders Don or Gwen Burtch
at 503-861-8720 by Tuesday,
Sept. 3. There is a $5 county
park fee per vehicle.
Road work
W arrenton
• A one-night closure of Youngs
Bay Bridge is scheduled from 9
p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, to 5 a.m.
Friday, Sept. 6. The Highway
101 bridge has been undergoing
repair. Most of the work is being
done from beneath. The over-
night closure is to allow annual
maintenance on the drawbridge,
guardrail, wheel ruts and signs.
The overall project will be com-
plete in 2021.
• A sheet pile wall is being
installed on Columbia Beach
Lane west of Smith Lake Road.
The project runs through Sept.
5. Columbia Beach Lane will be
open for local traffic only during
work hours.
C latsop C ounty
• A culvert replacement project
has a portion of Youngs Riv-
er Loop Road closed through
mid-October. The culvert is
Senior lunch menu
Monday, Sep. 2: Closed for Labor Day holiday.
Thursday, Sept. 5: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy,
corn, romaine salad, bread pudding.
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
$6 for ages 55 and older; $7 for those younger. For more
information, call 503-861-3502.
near Youngs River Falls, which
will remain accessible from the
Jeffers Gardens access to the
loop road. During construction,
the road on the Astoria side of
the falls will be closed to through
traffic.
• A culvert will be replaced on
Clifton Road near Gnat Creek
Fish Hatchery Sept. 9-13. Traffic
will be routed around the work
area.
a storia
• Work continues on the wa-
terfront bridge project, which
affects the foots of Sixth through
11th streets downtown. Six aging
bridges are being replaced. Work
on half the streets has been
completed and is shifting to the
remaining streets. The project
will cause disruptions in the area
through June 2020.