The Columbia Press
January 21, 2022
7
www.corkeycomics.com
ZED by Duane M. Abel
Senior Moments
with Emma Edwards
Secrets among the seniors
I was thinking the other day
about all the money women
are saving by not applying
lipstick because they’re wear-
ing masks in public.
There are so many positive
things about the pandemic,
right? It’s probably a good
psychological exercise to
think of the advantages of a
situation instead of the in-
conveniences.
One of my sons-in-law loves
to pick up books on aging to
further educate me (I sus-
pect) in the art of aging.
He himself turned a young
70 during the Christmas sea-
son.
One of the books contained
several articles from the
1970s about growing old.
It dawned on me that I was
probably using such tactics
on my own parents about
that time. I suppose it is my
“kids” turn to help me.
I think I may have entered
my era of “growing old.”
Some of the books on aging
that I’ve been given or have
purchased seem to have a ba-
sic theme expressed by “old-
er people” -- Why am I still
here? What is my purpose?
Who needs me?
“So, teach us to number our
days, that we may apply our
hearts unto wisdom,” Psalms
90:12 admonishes us.
Henry Wadsworth Long-
fellow was past 70 when a
younger person asked his se-
cret of continuing creativity.
Longfellow pointed to an
old apple tree covered with
blossoms and said, “I try to
be like that tree. I grow a little
new wood every year.”
There again, I keep remind-
ing my senior friends as well
as myself that having a good
attitude is half the battle and,
perhaps, more.
I recall going over our 50th
wedding anniversary photos
with local photographer Lisa
Lamping (almost 25 years
ago now). As she pointed to
the wrinkles that were obvi-
ous on both of us, she offered
to do some “touch-up” and
“erase” those wrinkles.
Almost simultaneously, we
both said, “No. Please don’t
erase those wrinkles. We
earned every one of them.”
To this day, when I study
that photo, it delights my
soul that we kept our wrin-
kles. Hopefully, most were
from smiling!
I am reading a book that
was written in 1911 and it’s
amazing how the author’s
thoughts on aging and re-
tirement parallel those of
today’s retirees. We have the
same problems and blessings
overall. The main differences,
however, seem to involve se-
crets.
We are blessed nowadays
to be willing to share things
-- even secrets -- more read-
ily. At the same time, we pos-
sess the wisdom to know that
some secrets should remain
private.
More than a century ago,
age was considered a blessing
from God rather than some-
thing to be covered up with
cosmetics, surgery, hairpiec-
es and even lies, as some do
today. There can be so much
coverup that some hardly
recognize their true selves.
Retirement was a common
source of dissatisfaction.
A common grumble from
the wife of a retiree: “Half as
much salary; twice as much
husband.”
Spotlight on the City
by Jane Sweet, harbormaster
Marina plans include help from advisory panel
A new Marina Advisory
Committee has been formed
by the City Commission and
our first meeting was held in
March 2021.
The committee was formed
as a citizen advisory board
intended to work closely with
the Marinas Department.
The committee is helping
to develop a comprehensive
master plan for both mari-
nas, providing input in im-
mediate and future capital
improvement spending, and
finding funding sources, as
well as any other assistance
the city’s marinas may need
in developing and planning
for future success.
A big thank you to all Ma-
rina Advisory Committee
members for their time and
for the energy they dedicate.
They are a huge asset.
The second phase of the
Hammond Marina dredg-
ing was completed recently,
and we are waiting for the
post dredge survey to be per-
formed.
Bergerson
Construction
was our dredging contractor
and the company seemed
positive with the results of
the project.
It is the city’s goal to work
toward regular mainte-
nance dredging, so we’ll be
setting money aside each
year in the Hammond Ma-
rina Capital Improvement
Fund to support future
dredging needs.
Design plans are being
drawn up by PBS Engineer-
ing for the rehabilitation of
the commercial work pier in
Warrenton.
The project is being funded
by urban renewal dollars sup-
ported by the Urban Renewal
Advisory Committee and the
City Commission.
It is a much valued, used
and needed asset for our
commercial fishing fleet.
The rehabilitation proj-
ect will ensure that the
pier is available for years
to come. We hope to begin
the first phase of the proj-
ect in July.
Another big thank you to
the Urban Renewal Advisory
Committee for their time and
continued support.
I am also happy to report
that the Marinas Department
just filled the position of ma-
rina foreman.
Don Beck has joined our
team and brings a vast
amount of knowledge in
many different areas of
maintenance and repair that
we need to provide marina
users.
Don started his position
Dec. 1 and already has made
huge contributions in main-
tenance, repairs, planning
and providing consistent
productivity with the mainte-
nance crew.
He’s a very positive person
and brings us fresh ideas and
approaches to our mainte-
nance and repair needs.
We’re lucky to have him.
Special columns in The Columbia Press
Every week: Senior Moments with Emma Edwards
Week 1: Mayor’s Message by Henry Balensifer
Week 2: Financial Focus with Adam Miller
Week 3: Spotlight on the City
Week 4: Here’s to Your Health from CMH