Old Dogs, New Tricks

‘It’s Gorgeous!’ New Fortuna Facility, Vol. 39, No. 9 September 2020 Page 11 Old Dogs, New Tricks Fortuna HSRC Opens By René Arché Eel River Valley residents may have noticed an increase in the number of Humboldt Senior Resource Center (HSRC) vehicles traveling through their community of late. That’s because all HSRC programs on Fortuna’s Gene Lucas Community Center (GLC) campus on Newburg Road — including the Fortuna Senior Dining Center, Adult Day Health & Alzheimer’s Services, and Redwood Coast PACE — are now in operation. The Senior Nutrition Program in the GLC was the first to open in February. The HSRC Senior Dining Center shares space with the Fortuna Senior Center, providing local elders with the services from two or- ganizations in one new, larger location near Newburg Park. Alas, after only a few weeks of serving meals at the new site, the dining room had to close when the pandemic shelter-in-place order went into effect in March. Currently, all three HSRC Senior Dining Cen- ters — Fortuna, Arcata and Eureka — are providing once-weekly packages of five meals each for those 60 and older. The pick-up day in Fortuna is Thursdays. SOOTHING SOUNDS of the classical viola replaced the Highland wail of bagpipes when Those interested in this service can call 707-725-6245 George Ingraham picked up new instrument in his 70s. See story on page 4. Ted Pease photo. for more information and to make required reserva- tions. Home Delivered Meals are also being provided From Zoom to Birds to Patience to Fortuna residents out of the new dining site. By Ted Pease On the same campus, the new HSRC Adult Day Health & Redwood Coast PACE Center opened its “Of course old dogs can learn new tricks,” new tricks” dates to the mid-1500s in England. doors to a limited number of participants in early Frank Munroe said, a little irritably. “Who told It is a bit annoying, say many local “old dogs,” August. This new, state-of-the-art facility, designed by you that?” that one of the oldest expressions in the English Greenway Partners, includes a day center, physical and occupational therapy room, The expression “You can’t teach an old dog language is so incorrect. Continued on Page 15 Continued on Page 11 humsenior.org ASK THE DOC HSRC LETTERS Published since 1981 by Why Vaccinate? Programs & Services Fire Funding, Masks & More HUMBOLDT SENIOR RESOURCE CENTER Page 5 Page 14 Pages 21-22 Page 2 Old Dogs, New Tricks September 2020 • Senior News TEDtalks: New Tricks In This Issue Old Dogs, New Tricks Published monthly since 1981 by long with the phrase, “Getting old ain’t demic has prompted (or forced) them to learn Features Afor sissies” (Bette Davis), many seniors new tricks, from singing to reading, to learn- From Zoom to Patience .. 1 find the old adage, “You can’t teach an old ing to tell people “I love you.” Fortuna HSRC Opens ..... 1 dog new tricks” the most annoying. We’ve all learned a lot in just the last few Still Learning ................... 3 The saying seems to give us a free pass months — like how to shelter-in-place, how Circulation 11,000 TV Time .......................... 3 on participating fully in life after we reach a to wear a mask properly, when to go gro- Bagpipes to Brahms ........ 4 certain point of fatigue or achiness or ennui. cery-shopping safely, and how to use Zoom to All opinions expressed in Senior Garden Know-How ......... 7 News are those of the writer and not Not that there’s anything wrong with being stay connected with family and friends. necessarily of the Humboldt Senior Spirit Creatures ............... 8 Resource Center. HSRC does not a couch potato (like my friend John Meyers I’m hoping Zoom is an entry for many endorse any products, services or of Trinidad, who has qualified for the 2021 seniors to become more comfortable getting One Thing I Learned ....... 9 candidates advertised in Senior Working From Home .... 16 News. All advertising is paid for by the Olympics in BarcaLounger). But the truth is online, because computer literacy is going to businesses involved, which are totally that we “old dogs” can and are still learning be a necessity in the post-pandemic world, not Columnists responsible for content. plenty of new tricks. only to talk to grandkids, but for doctor visits, Tedtalks: New Tricks ....... 2 finances and to stay informed (see page 5). Submissions: Senior News may We may be a bit stuck in our ways, but that The Doc: Vaccinate? ....... 5 accept unsolicited readers’ stor ies, doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy new things if we Sure, getting online can be daunting and up to 400 words. Contact the editor, Rainwater-Gish: Zoom! ... 6 have a mind to. confusing, but if you can Zoom, you can do Ted Pease, at 707-443-9747, x1226, Kellermann: Virtual ........ 8 or [email protected] at least When she was 95, Nola Ochs of Fort Hays, a Google search. Searching for “free senior one month prior to the desired pub- computer classes online” yields many options, Heckel: Elder Image ...... 10 lication issue for details. Kansas, made the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s oldest college grad- including instructional resources at Medicare. HSRC News Advertising: Call Elizabeth org, and courses through TechBoomers.com, Whitley at 707-443-9747, x1227, or uate. Then she got a master’s degree. “Our Fortuna HSRC Photos ... 11 visit www.humsenior.org. education is never complete,” she said. TeachAnOldDogNewTricks.com and SkillfulSenior.com. Program Status ............. 14 Subscriptions: $20 a year. Call People over 65 make up the fastest growing 707-443-9747 or mail to Senior News, demographic in the country and in Humboldt (Caveat: Whenever using any online re- & ETC . 1910 California St., Eureka CA 95501. County, and like Nola Ochs, they keep learn- sources, remember to beware of scams, and Pandemic Challenges ..... 5 don’t offer any personal information unless MELISSA HOOVEN, CEO ing. Where Will We Live? .... 12 George Ingraham is a prime example. A you’re sure you know what you’re doing.) Life’s Lemons ................ 13 RENÉ ARCHÉ, PUBLISHER retired ophthalmologist (see? Even at my ad- Comedian George Burns once said that by Horse Garden ............... 17 vanced age, I have learned to spell that word the time you live to 80, you’ve learned every- Crossword ..................... 20 TED PEASE, EDITOR thing; the problem, he said, is remembering it. 707-443-9747, x1226 without looking it up!), George was a proud Letters ...................... 21-22 [email protected] member of a 15-member Eureka marching Maybe so, but there’s nothing wrong with bagpipe band until surgery knocked him out. learning it again — if you don’t remember it, ELIZABETH WHITLEY So, at 71, George took up the viola (see it’s new to you! Coming Next Month ADVERTISING CooRDINATOR — What We Fear 707-443-9747, x1227 page 4). [email protected] Senior News readers report that the pan- Ted Pease, editor of Senior News, relearns something new just about every day. HSRC Board of Directors: Jack Irvine, president, James Aste, Patricia De La O, Willard Foote, Susan Hansen, Dianne Keating, GALE & Bruce Kessler, Nancy Dye Leer, Joan Rainwater-Gish, Frank Ramos. Community Advisory Council: NIELSEN Gina Belton, John Heckel, ELDER LAW ATTORNEYS Serving the Community Since 1998 Patty Holbrook, George Ingraham, Joan Rainwater-Gish, Dave Rosso, Penny Whitehead. RELIABLE SOLUTIONS. 2850 Harris Street, Eureka, California Proofreaders: René Arché, Brenda Cooper, Mark Larson. FAIR PRICE. www.galenielsen.com (707) 269-0167 © 2020 HSRC Senior News • September 2020 Old Dogs, New Tricks Page 3 Through My 50s, 60s, 70s . I’m Still Learning By Steve Pence I was in my early 50s when I was first offered a senior The second encounter occurred when the lights went discount. Rude — and presumptuous! — I thought. Distract- out at a coffee shop, just after I ordered and paid for an ed, if not dazzled, by my very white hair, this woman was espresso. I waited 15 minutes for the local god of electric- not paying attention to the entirety of me, I reassured myself, ity, a harsh god, it seems, to answer our prayers. Then I and this mistake wasn’t going to recur. asked my waiter if he could substitute a small dessert for Of course, I took the discount. my drink, which could not be made without power. In a It was in my early 60s that I walked into a restaurant, surprisingly sharp tone, the young man rebuked me with, anticipating being early enough to be seated near a rock/ jazz “Sir, I cannot give you free food.” band from Chicago. Before I could make a seating request, Shamed, I walked away. Wordless. the hostess chimed, “Follow me. I’ll seat you far from the Yikes! 70 wasn’t going well. Was it my age, my attire, music. It’s going to be loud.” my backpack? After quietly declining her offer, and having been seated Some will remember that Gore Vidal and Norman where I wished, I endured a mediocre meal: the price often Mailer were once titans of Manhattan’s literary scene who paid for live music. As the band was setting up, the waitress loathed each other. Immediately upon being punched by rushed in and scooped up the plates. She promised to “have Mailer at a gathering where they argued, Vidal declared, us out” before the music began. “Once again, dear Norman, words have failed you.” I snapped! But not in a scary, COVID Era way. At times, either my words or my appearance have clear- “Thank you for your courtesy,” I said, “but I am not here ly failed to signal my intentions.

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