Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 26, 2023 -- THREE
~ Letters to the Editor ~
Good News Only by Doris Brosnan
Father Thankachan Joseph
St. Mary’s Catholic Church Wasco
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You must look for the things
that are above
The Golden Years
Something really weird
happened to me yesterday
while I was washing dishes.
I got old. Seems kinda un-
fair that it can happen while
you’re just going about
your business, innocently
doing some mundane chore.
But, yep, I looked down
and there they were…my
grandmother’s hands. How
the heck did that happen?
And why wasn’t I warned?
Nobody told me my body
would turn on me, or I
wouldn’t be able to bend
and breathe at the same
time. And what’s with the
turkey neck thing? I feel
like I’ve just been placed
on the clearance rack at
Wallies.
I guess the biggest
shock is how I got here
so quickly. Seems like
just a couple months ago,
I was normal merchan-
dise. I could see, hear and
touch my toes. I could also
leave home without go-
ing over a long checklist.
Let’s see now…glasses,
teeth, hearing aids, hair,
meds, phone (in case I fall
and break a hip). Maybe it
was something I ate. More
likely something I drank.
It appears chocolate milk
doesn’t originate in the
Fountain of Youth.
They say old age is not
for the weak. True words.
Not to be morbid but,
there’s something a little
unnerving about reaching
the age when nobody’s sur-
prised when you die. And
here’s a thought. Maybe
the Golden Years should be
called The Titanium Years.
Isn’t that what they’re mak-
ing new hips and knees out
of these days?
But what’s so bad about
being old, anyway? After
all, you’re in good company
because there are a lot of
old people these days. Just
make a trip to Bi-Mart. It’s
swarming with them. My
granddaughter noticed it.
“Wow Gramma, there’s a
lot of old people in here.”
Yep. It’s actually one of
my favorite places to hang
out. In fact, it’s where I go
to pick up guys…and help
them to their car.
I guess when you con-
sider the alternative, getting
old is a pretty good thing.
It means you’re still here
by God’s choice. The way
I see it, if you woke up this
morning, He still has work
for you to do. Maybe not
laying concrete or bucking
bales, but there’s a lot of
wisdom to be shared and
the value of a righteous man
(or woman) has nothing to
do with age. My wake-up
call has convinced me of
that. If you can manage to
smile at a stranger, pray for
your family and seek the
Lord in all things, you have
immense value here. While
smooth skin, flat tummies,
and a full head of hair might
get you a place on the world
stage, it won’t guarantee
your place in heaven. Only
faith in Jesus can do that.
So while you’re here,
make the most of your time
and your talent. And make
things right with Jesus. He
has a great retirement plan.
“I pray that your love
will overflow more and
more, and that you will
keep on growing in knowl-
edge and understanding.
For I want you to under-
stand what really matters,
so that you may live pure
and blameless lives until
the day of Christ’s return”
(Philippians 1:9-10).
Susie Crosby
Prineville, OR
WCCC Sunday
Men’s Play
Sixteen participated
in Sunday men’s play on
Sunday, July 23, at Willow
Creek Country Club. The
results are as follows:
KP #1-10, 2 nd shot,
Duane Disque, 3’11”.
Net was a three-way tie
among Derek Gunderson,
Dave Pranger and David
Allstott, 56.
Gross—1 st , Charlie
Ferguson, 59; 2 nd -3 rd (tie),
Barry Munkers and Jerry
Gentry, 69.
The next Sunday play
will be a two-man best ball
hosted by John McCabe
and Josh Coiner. There
will be no organized play
on Aug. 6, as the couples’
tournament will be held that
weekend.
Over the Tee Cup
Tuesday, July 18, was
warm and sunny for the 11
ladies who turned out for
their play day at Willow
Creek Country Club.
Eva Kilkenny took low
gross of the field, while
Sharon Harrison took low
net of the field. Sarah Ruck-
er had least putts of the
field.
For flight A, Karen
Thompson had low gross
and long drive, and Pat
Dougherty low net.
For flight B, Pat Ed-
mondson had low gross and
Sarah Rucker long drive.
For flight C, Karen
Smith-Griffith had low
gross, Lorrene Montgom-
ery low net, and Kris Lind-
ner least putts and long
drive.
Pat Edmundson had
a chip-in on #6 and Sarah
Rucker a chip-in on #8.
In other events, Kim
Carlson was the winner of
a special prize on #4 and
Karen Smith-Griffith took
the special prize on #6.
Seniors Matter menus
for August
South Morrow Coun-
ty Seniors Matter has an-
nounced the following
menus for the month of
August:
Aug. 1: Chicken bake
with roll, wild rice, broccoli
and a dessert.
Aug. 8: Enchiladas with
Spanish rice, refried beans,
side salad and dessert.
Aug. 15: Pork Roast,
mashed potatoes, carrots,
dinner roll and dessert.
Aug. 22: Quiche, hash-
browns, peaches, coffee
cake and dessert.
Aug. 29: Meatloaf with
garlic mashed potatoes,
corn, salad and dessert.
Meals are served at
11:30 a.m. every Tuesday at
St. Patrick’s Senior Center
in Heppner. Seniors 60 and
above may donate what
they can toward the cost
of the meal. Those 60 and
younger are asked for a
suggested donation of $5.
No to-go plates or de-
livery are offered at this
time, but diners may bring
empty containers for a por-
tion to take home.
Spiritually Speaking
Cynthia (Showalter) Dangerfield, Pam (Orr) Powell, Kelli
Bergstrom, Shelley (Stroeber) Hill, Kimberly (Hughes) Den-
nis, Jennifer (Hughes) Jaca, Stephanie (Payne) Ball, Wanda
(Riley) Hordyk, Cammie (Papineau) Jones, Jodi (Padberg)
Sass. -Contributed photo
Taylor Turner started work as a physical therapist with
Shelley McCabe on June 12, and Taylor credits Shelley’s
support as what empowered her to reach this goal made
several years ago. Five years ago, Shelley first hired
Taylor as an aide. For two summers she filled this role,
while working toward her Bachelor of Science Degree
in Clinical Physiology at Central Washington University.
The work with Shelley, a doctor of physical therapy, was
necessary experience before Taylor could be accepted into
a PT program. She was accepted into Pacific University,
completing the three-year program, earning her Doctorate
in Physical Therapy in May, and returned to work side-
by-side with her mentor, three days a week in Heppner
and two days a week in Boardman. Welcome, Taylor! We
hope to see you often, out and about, on the streets, in the
stores, rather than in your place of business!
Some ranch wives might be able to identify with the
following: Late afternoon, feeling a bit tired and very
grubby from working outside, an early shower and a cool,
short, lightweight nightie sound inviting…No sooner
sparkling clean and clad for relaxation, than in the door
comes the husband. “Get some boots on and get out here
to help me! That cow has jumped the fence again!” So,
in nightie and boots, aware that passing cars have an
unusual sight to behold, the assist is accomplished, but
then… “We need to change pastures, or those cows are
going to push that fence down!” So, gate open, wading
through the pasture to help steer the bovines in the right
directions, making sure none successfully veer off in the
wrong direction. And then, an early shower and a cool,
short, lightweight nightie sound inviting…
The visit from daughter, Darci, and granddaughters,
Katie and Amy, from Sunday, the 16 th , until last Wednes-
day brightened this Mom-Grammy’s days. The Salem
group enjoyed their walks with the dogs, the visits to
Murray’s and Breaking Grounds, Flood Town Books,
the swimming pool, the pizza, and, hopefully, the catch-
ing-up. Thoughtful people that they are, they purchased
a 1500-piece jigsaw puzzle to start and leave behind!
This year marked the 18 th annual “Girls Trip”
for the women in the HHS class of ’85. After flying and
driving to meet in various gathering spots on Wednesday,
July 19, the destination was McCall, ID. Each trip is filled
with skills learned from Tupper, hiking, time on the water,
singing, adventuring and rekindling lifelong friendships
formed when most of these women met in kindergarten
and a few more joined them in about the fourth grade.
Every year, before departing on Sunday, a new location
and adventure are chosen.
Seventy years ago, 1953, Wilbur and Marie Steagall
and Wilbur’s siblings organized the first “Steagall Fam-
ily Reunion,” and every year since, Steagalls have been
gathering at Bull Prairie, beginning on the preceding
Wednesday and continuing through the second weekend
in July. Even during the Covid crisis, family members
chose to meet, with the necessary precautions. Five gen-
erations, 73 people, attended this year’s reunion—the
youngest, a six-week-old great granddaughter of Bob
Steagall’s from the TriCities, and the oldest, 98-year-old
Bobby Steagall of Albany, Wilbur’s youngest brother.
His sister Irene, who is also in her 90s, came from CA.
This year, five Steagall progeny came for the first time,
adding Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio to the list of
states represented: ID, UT, CA, OR, TX, WA. Much of
the success of this endeavor presently rests mainly with
sisters Pat and Deanna, who have many totes of necessary
cooking equipment and food stuffs, but everyone knows
they need to plan for the potluck dinners: Thursdays =
spaghetti, Fridays = burgers, Saturdays = chicken, and
Sunday breakfasts. And donations help cover common
expenses, as well as this year’s coffee mugs, and pay for
the every-year tee shirts commemorating the 70 th year.
Many thanks to everyone who contributed just en-
joyable stories this week! Readers continue to hope for
Good News, so how about adding yours? Send or call:
dbrosnan123@gmail.com or 541-223-1490.
Here’s hoping that some good news comes to every-
one reading this!
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Last week, we read in the Parable of the Wheat and
Weed, “While everyone was asleep his enemy came and
sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.” It
is in fact for all of us an eye opener; if we are not cautious
in our spiritual life, the enemy around us is waiting for
an opportunity to destroy us in any way.
This week, the first reading from the First Book of
Kings (3:5, 7-12) makes us question whether faith and
trust in God are the prime value that influences our choices
or not. This reading gives us the beautiful description of
Solomon being asked by God to choose anything he would
like from God. Instead of asking for wealth and material
possessions, Solomon prayed for the gift of wisdom. He
could have asked for anything on earth so that he could go
around lavishly and comfortably in his palace and ponder
the truths of the universe, but he asked God for wisdom
and an understanding heart so that he could govern his
people wisely and prudently. God was so pleased with
the choices that Solomon asked for, He blessed him with
all that was needed to govern God’s people and granted
wealth and treasures, as well. What would have been
our choices in such a situation? If God comes in your
dream tonight and asks you to ask for one thing and one
thing only, what would you ask for? Would you ask for
wealth or success in business or your love life, family
life etc.? Would you have the wisdom of Solomon to ask
for the reign of God in your life? Is the kingdom of God
so important to you that you are prepared to part with all
you have in order to have His kingdom? If you have the
kingdom of God, you have everything, and if you don’t
have the kingdom of God, you have nothing.
The second reading from the letter of Paul to the Ro-
mans (8:28-30) is about trusting in God. Paul says, “We
know that all things work for good for those who love
God, who are called according to His purpose” (8:28).
God has predestined everything for everyone who trusts
in Him. Paul reminds the Romans that they will be able
to endure suffering and trials because of this trust in God.
Divine providence or trusting in Him suggests the ability
to look beyond the present suffering and see its meaning
in the future. Paul reminds us that everything in our lives
will turn out to be good when we Trust in Him and live
according to His commandments.
The Gospel reading of this week from Matthew 13:
44-52 is about the Parable of the Pearls; the kingdom is
compared to a man who is searching for rare pearls and
when he finds one, he is ready to give up everything he
owns to acquire the pearl of rare value. A treasure is some-
thing uncovered quite by accident, whereas the pearl is
found after deliberate pursuit and searching. From the par-
able of the treasure and pearls we can see that discipleship
or membership in the kingdom of God is a precious gift.
It demands on the part of the disciple a certain amount of
renunciation, commitments, sacrifices and daily choices
in our lives for the sake of the kingdom’s values. Do we
continue to make a constant search in our lives?
To conclude this reflection of the day, let us ponder
the title of this article: You must look for the things that
are above. Worldly possessions and material things? Or
God’s kingdom and His values? As we have noted before,
according to its dictionary meaning, a pearl is born out
of great suffering. A speck of sand makes its way into an
oyster. The oyster is a living organism, so the intruder
hurts the oyster. To protect itself, the oyster stows a
substance called nacre, to surround the intruder. It is the
secretion that gradually forms the pearl. Thus, the pearl
is born out of much torment and pain. Not that there are
many pearls around us, but some are fine pearls. People
seek truth and life in such things as philosophy, science,
technology, wealth, fame, art, music, literature and reli-
gion. But there is only one pearl that is priceless, only
one pearl that is worth more than the world itself—the
pearl of Jesus Christ Himself.
I r t h r I g h t
Birthright of Morrow County needs
volunteers for the following shifts:
Mondays 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Mondays 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Thursdays 5:00 to 7:00 pm
Work once a week or
once a month.
Call 541-676-0530
if interested.
For Thomas G Martin
A remembrance will be held
at 1:00 pm, August 19th at
the Willow Creek Country
Club, Heppner - No flowers
needed. If you would like
to make a donation to the
country club
it would be great.
Tommy loved this
golf course. Come for a
great visit.