November 2017

The Carlton TimesLove Honor Provide

1700 Broadway Street, Concord, CA 94520 925.686.1700 www.carltonseniorliving.com

Insulin is a hormone normally produced by the pancreas. Insulin is very important because itregulates the sugar level in the blood, and it allows the body to use this sugar for energy. Without enoughinsulin, the body's cells can't get the energy they need, the sugar level in the blood gets too high, andmany problems can result. Diabetes is not curable, but, fortunately, it is treatable.

There are two main types of diabetes. They are known as type 1 and type 2. Type 1 usually affectschildren and young adults. People with type 1 diabetes can't make insulin, so they need to take insulinshots to stay alive. Type 2 is much more common than type 1. In fact 90-95% of diabetes is type 2. Thistype of diabetes is more common in people who are over the age of 40 and overweight. It also tends to runin families. People with type 2 diabetes make some insulin but either it's not enough, or their bodies justaren't able to use it properly. Many people with type 2 diabetes can control their blood sugar with dietand oral medication, but some people also need to use insulin shots.

Anyone can develop diabetes and the risk increases with age. Being overweight is a risk factor fordeveloping this disease, but other risk factors such as family history, ethnicity and age also play a role.Also, people who are overweight, inactive, smoke or have family members with diabetes are at a higherrisk.

A few things you can do to reduce your risk of developing diabetes are maintaining a healthy weight,getting regular exercise, not smoking and eating a healthy diet that focuses on wholes grains and “good”fats (like olive and canola oil). According to the American Heart Association, adopting a healthy lifestylecan help prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and is critical to managing the disease.

HealthCorner

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventhmonth of 1918 the armistice between Germany and the Al-lied nations came into effect. In November 1919, PresidentWilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemorationof Armistice Day with the following words:

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the hero-ism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because ofthe thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to showher sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetingsand a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

In 1926, the United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I and declaredthat the anniversary of the armistice should be commemorated with prayer and thanksgiving. AnAct approved in 1938 made the 11th of November a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to thecause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day."

Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, afterWorld War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen inthe Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress,at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out theword "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this

legislation in 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

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Carlton Senior Living- Concord Family

Peter NixdorffExecutive Director

Mark WatsonAssociate

RetirementCounselor

Phillip CarterPlant Operations

Manager

John VelascoChef

Georgina GarciaPersonal Expressions

Manager

First Impressions Team- Pam Thomas, Suzette Marco, Tammy Demler and Rebecca Meier.Personal Expressions Team- Leslie Pollock and Melissa Alvarez.

Maintenance Team- Duke Lin and John Baldwin.Housekeeping Team - Veronica Gomez and Brittney Bowen.

Kitchen and Dining Staff Team- Juan Palomera, Aida Best, Mike Saveedra, Lourdes Galvan,Elizabeth Curiel, Dedee Santos, LaKeya Muldrow, Jasmine Wood, Jordon Ponzo, Alyssa Cooper

and Anna Rios.NOC Shift Night Attendants - Eduardo Marquez and Tri To.

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Pizza & Beer PartySunday, November 19th

4:00-5:00 pmJoin us for Pizza & Beer on aSunday afternoon! Sign-up infront of the Activity officewith your favorite type ofpizza: Cheese, pepperoni or

combination. There is a $5.00charge per resident. This

includes a slice of pizza and abeer or soda. Amount is due

that afternoon.

Fabulous Finds RummageSale

It is the time of year again for cleaning!Are you left with items that you wanted to

donate? Are you looking around yourapartment and realizing the piles are get-ting larger and still there? Well, here is

your chance to lighten you load!

Saturday, November 18th10:00 - 1:00 pm

Dining & Living Rooms

Please RSVP to Georgina or Suzettebefore 11/10/17.

Important Dates to Remember

11/1 Massage with Glennie11/3 Concord Loop Shopping11/3 Concord Library Shuttle

11/ 4 Hand Massage & Polish with Melissa11/5 Chaos Bingo

11/6 Trader Joe’s Shopping Shuttle11/6 DVAL Performance “Curl Up & Dry”

11/7 Activity Steering CommitteeMeeting

11/8 Cache Creek Casino Outing11/8 Culinary Meeting

11/9 New Resident Welcome Party11/10 Martinez Loop Shopping

11/11 ZUMBA Fitness11/11 Veterans Day BBQ

11/13 Grocery Outlet Shopping Shuttle11/13 Kit’s Class

11/15 Lazy Dog Lunch Outing11/15 Massage with Glennie

11/16 Community Safety ObservationMeeting

11/16 Resident Birthday Party11/17 Health & Wellness Fair

11/17 Pleasant Hill Shopping Loop11/17 Concord Library Shuttle

11/ 18 Fabulous Finds Rummage Sale11/18 ZUMBA Fitness

11/18 Hand Massage & Polish w/Melissa11/19 Chaos Bingo11/19 Pizza & Beer

11/20 Trader Joe’s Shopping Shuttle11/20 Singing Messengers Performance

11/22 Reindeer Ornaments11/23 Thanksgiving Dinner

11/24 Martinez Shopping Loop11/25 Adult Coloring with Suzette

11/25 Tree Decorating Party11/26 Holiday Red Cocktail Party

11/27 Grocery Outlet Shopping Shuttle11/27 Kit’s Class

11/29 Jack’s Restaurant Lunch Outing

Please sign up in front of activity officefor outings.

Saturday, November 25th

2:00 - 3:00pmLiving Room

Join us for a special happy hour of hotcocoa, cookies and decorating our

Christmas tree to the beautiful backgroundmusic of Gary Neuman! The tree will

remain decorated and unlit until our specialHoliday RED Party which will take placethe next day on Sunday, November 26th!

Concord CarltonRed Cocktail Party

And Christmas Tree Lighting

Sunday, November 26th5:00 - 7:00 pm

Dining & Living Room

All residents are invited to join us incelebrating this holiday season. We willenjoy music with Ciro Vargas and lightrefreshments prepared by Chef John.

Special Cocktails will be served and forthis celebration all residents are

encouraged to wear RED!!

Tree Decorating Party

Come down and join us making candy cane reindeerornaments for our Christmas tree. We will be

making a few dozen of them so space is limited.This is an annual tradition don’t miss out on the fun!

Reindeer OrnamentsWednesday, November 22nd

1:00pm Activity Room

Thursday, November 2

9:30 - 3:00 Doctor Shuttles (L)10:30 - 11:00 Fabulous Fitness (LR)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:30 - 2:30 Bible Study with Pastor Phil (TR)2:30 - 3:30 Happy Hour (LR)Entertainment: Ed Davin7:00 - 9:00 Movie: “Keeping Up with the Joneses”(TR)

~All Souls Day~Friday, November 3

9:00 - 11:00 Bank Shuttle (L)10:30 - 11:30 Live 2 B Healthy Senior Fitness Class(DR)11:30 - 2:00 Concord Loop Shopping (L)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:00 Hand and Foot Canasta (DR)2:00 Popcorn Social (DR)2:30 - 3:30 Concord Library Shuttle (L)7:30 - 9:30 Poker (AR)

Saturday, November 4

10:00 - 11:00 Memoir Writing w/Ted (TR)10:30 - 11:00 Balance Fitness with Melissa (BB)1:00 - 3:00 Hand Massage & Polish w/Melissa(DR)2:00 - 4:00 Movie: “Mothman Prophecies” (TR)2:30 - 3:00 Indoor Walking (L)2:30 - 3:30 Upwords Game (AR)

~Daylight Savings Ends~

Wednesday, November 1 Sunday, November 5

10:30 - 11:30 Live 2 B Healthy Senior Fitness Class(DR)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)12:00 - Canasta (DR)1:00 - 2:00 Massage with Glennie (DR)2:00 Popcorn Social (DR)2:00 - 3:00 Sing-along with John V (LR)7:30 - 9:00 Wacky Wednesday Bingo (DR)

~All Saints Day~

9:15 - 12:00 Church Shuttles (L)10:00 - 11:00 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)11:00 - 1:00 Sunday Brunch (DR)2:00 - 3:30 Chaos Bingo (DR)3:30 - 4:30 Hooks n” Needle Chat (LR)6:00 - 9:00 Movie: “Patriots Day” (TR)

LR:Living Room AR: Activity Room

L: Lobby TR: Theatre Room

BB Balance Bar CY: Courtyard

WW: West Wing

Bold Items= Outings/Special Events orActivities

Daylight Savings TimeEnds…..

Don’t forget to turn your clocksBACK 1 Hour before bed on

Saturday, November 4thth!

Veterans Day BBQSaturday, November 11

3:00 - 5:00pmThis will be in place of dinner service. PleaseRSVP all guests to the front desk by 11/9/17.

Passes will not be accepted.

Saturday, November 11thSaturday, November 18th

11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Crafts with Suzette & Linda

Monday, November 6 Friday, November 108:30 - 9:30 24-Hour Fitness Shuttle (L)9:45 - 11:30 Safeway Shopping Shuttle (L)10:30 - 11:00 Fabulous Fitness (LR)11:30 - 12:30 Trader Joe’s Shopping Shuttle (L)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:00 Diablo Valley Assistance LeaguePerformance: Curl Up & Dry (DR)1:30 - 2:30 Worship with Pastor Phil (TR)2:30 - 3:30 Upwords Game (AR)7:00 - 9:00 Movie: “Home for the Holidays” (TR)

9:00 - 11:00 Bank Shuttle (L)10:30 - 11:30 Live 2 B Healthy Senior Fitness Class(DR)11:30 - 2:30 Martinez Loop Shopping (L)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:00 Hand and Foot Canasta (DR)2:00 Popcorn Social (DR)2:30 - 3:30 Reader Rendezvous/Book Club (TR)7:30 - 9:30 Poker (AR)

Tuesday, November 7 Saturday, November 119:30 - 3:00 Doctor Shuttles (L)10:30 - 11:00 Balance Fitness with Melissa (BB)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:00 - 3:00 Mahjong (AR)1:00 - 1:30 Activity Steering Committee Meeting(LR)1:30 - 2:00 Trivia with Georgina (LR)2:30 - 3:30 Upwords Game (AR)

10:00 - 11:00 Memoir Writing w/Ted (TR)11:00 - 11:30 ZUMBA Fitness (LR)11:30 - 12:30 Arts n Crafts with Suzette & Linda(AR)2:00 - 4:00 Movie: “Something’s Gotta Give” (TR)2:30 - 3:00 Indoor Walking (L)2:30 - 3:30 Upwords Game (AR)3:00 - 5:00 Veterans Day BBQ (DR)Entertainment: Jack Convery

~Veterans Day~Wednesday, November 8 Sunday, November 12

8:30 - 3:30 Cache Creek Casino Outing (L)10:30 - 11:30 Live 2 B Healthy Senior Fitness Class(DR)11:30 - 12:00 Culinary Meeting (LR)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)12:00 - Canasta (DR)2:00 Popcorn Social (DR)2:00 - 3:00 Sing-along with John V (LR)7:30 - 9:00 Wacky Wednesday Bingo (DR)

9:15 - 12:00 Church Shuttles (L)10:00 - 11:00 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)11:00 - 1:00 Sunday Brunch (DR)2:00 - 3:30 Bingo (DR)3:30 - 4:30 Hooks n’ Needles Chat (LR)6:00 - 9:00 Movie: “The Heroes of Telemark” (TR)

Thursday, November 9 Did you know??9:30 - 3:00 Doctor Shuttles (L)10:30 - 11:00 Fabulous Fitness (LR)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:00 - 1:30 New Resident Welcome Party (LR)1:30 - 2:30 Bible Study with Pastor Phil (TR)2:30 - 3:30 Happy Hour (LR)Entertainment: Matthew Schwartz7:00 - 9:00 Movie: “Blind Date” (1950) (TR)

The birth flower of November isChrysanthemum. It symbolizes love and

cheerfulness.

The birthstone of November is Topaz.

Monday, November 13 Friday, November 17

8:30 - 9:00 Donuts & Coffee (DR)8:30 - 9:30 24-Hour Fitness Shuttle (L)9:45 - 11:30 Safeway Shopping Shuttle (L)10:30 - 11:00 Fabulous Fitness (LR)11:30 - 12:30 Grocery Outlet Shopping Shuttle (L)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:30 - 2:30 Worship with Pastor Phil (TR)2:30 - 3:30 Kit’s Class (LR)2:30 - 3:30 Upwords Game (AR)7:00 - 9:00 Movie “The BFG” (TR)

9:00 - 11:00 Bank Shuttle (L)10:30 - 11:00 Live 2 B Healthy Senior Fitness Class(DR)11:00 - 1:00 Health & Wellness Fair (DR)11:30 - 2:00 Pleasant Hill Shopping Loop (L)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:00 Hand and Foot Canasta (DR)2:00 Popcorn Social (DR)2:30 - 3:30 Concord Library Shuttle (L)7:30 - 9:30 Poker (AR)

Tuesday, November 14 Saturday, November 18

9:30 - 3:00 Doctor Shuttles (L)10:30 - 11:00 Balance Fitness with Melissa (BB)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:00 - 3:00 Mahjong (AR)1:30 - 2:00 Trivia with Georgina (LR)2:30 - 3:30 Upwords Game (AR)

10:00 - 11:00 Memoir Writing w/Ted (TR)10:00 - 1:00 Fabulous Finds Rummage Sale (DR)10:30 - 11:00 Balance Fitness with Melissa (BB)11:00 - 11:30 ZUMBA Fitness (LR)1:00 - 3:00 Hand Massage & Polish w/Melissa(DR)2:00 - 4:00 Movie: “Suzette’s Choice” (TR)2:30 - 3:00 Indoor Walking (L)2:30 - 3:30 Upwords Game (AR)

Wednesday, November 15 Sunday, November 19

10:30 - 11:30 Live 2 B Healthy Senior Fitness Class(DR)10:30 - 12:30 Mt. Diablo Safeway Shuttle (L)11:30 - 1:30 Lazy Dog Lunch Outing (L)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)12:00 - Canasta (DR)1:00 - 2:00 Massage with Glennie (DR)2:00 Popcorn Social (DR)2:00 - 3:00 Sing-along with John V (LR)2:30 - 3:00 Indoor Walking (L)7:30 - 9:00 Wacky Wednesday Bingo (AR)

9:15 - 12:00 Church Shuttles (L)10:00 - 11:00 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)11:00 - 1:00 Sunday Brunch (DR)2:00 - 3:30 Chaos Bingo (DR)3:30 - 4:30 Hooks n’ Needles Chat (LR)4:00 - Pizza & Beer (DR)6:00 - 9:00 Movie: “The Pursuit of Happyness” (TR)

Thursday, November 16

9:30 - 3:00 Doctor Shuttles (L)10:30 - 11:00 Fabulous Fitness (LR)11:00 - 11:30 Community Safety ObservationMeeting (LR)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:00 - 1:30 Resident Birthday Party (LR)1:00 Jewelry Repair with Ruth (DR)1:30 - 2:30 Bible Study with Pastor Phil (TR)2:30 - 3:30 Happy Hour (LR)Entertainment: Antonia Venezia7:00 - 9:00 Movie: “Priceless” (TR)

American MahjongLessons

Join us on Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 pmin the Dining Room for American

Mahjong lessons with Joyce! Learn toplay a different way and make new friends

along the way.

Monday, November 20 Friday, November 248:30 - 9:30 24-Hour Fitness Shuttle (L)9:45 - 11:30 Safeway Shopping Shuttle (L)10:30 - 11:00 Fabulous Fitness (LR)11:30 - 12:30 Trader Joe’s Shopping Shuttle (L)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:30 - 2:30 Worship with Pastor Phil (TR)2:30 - 3:30 Upwords Game (AR)7:00 - 9:00 Movie “Life on the Line” (TR)

9:00 - 11:00 Bank Shuttle (L)10:30 - 11:30 Live 2 B Healthy Fitness Class (DR)11:00 - 2:30 Martinez Shopping Loop (L)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:00 Hand and Foot Canasta (DR)2:00 Popcorn Social (DR)2:30 - 3:30 Reader Rendezvous/Book Club (TR)7:30 - 9:30 Poker (AR)

Tuesday, November 21 Saturday, November 259:30 - 3:00 Doctor Shuttles (L)10:30 - 11:00 Balance Fitness with Melissa (BB)11:00 Singing Messengers Performance (DR)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:00 - 3:00 Mahjong (AR)1:30 - 2:00 Trivia with Georgina (LR)2:30 - 3:30 Upwords Game (AR)

10:00 - 11:00 Memoir Writing w/Ted (TR)11:30 -12:30 Adult Coloring with Suzette (AR)2:00 - 3:00 Tree Decorating Party (LR)Entertainment: Gary Neuman2:00 - 4:00 Movie: “Suzette’s Choice” (TR)2:30 - 3:00 Indoor Walking (L)2:30 - 3:30 Upwords Game (AR)

Wednesday, November 22 Sunday, November 2610:30 - 11:30 Live 2 B Healthy Senior Fitness Class(DR)10:30 - 12:30 Mt. Diablo Safeway Shuttle (L)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)12:00 - Canasta (DR)1:00 Reindeer Ornaments (DR)2:00 Popcorn Social (DR)2:00 - 3:00 Sing-along with John V (LR)2:30 - 3:00 Indoor Walking (L)7:30 - 9:00 Wacky Wednesday Bingo (AR)

9:15 - 12:00 Church Shuttles (L)10:00 - 11:00 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)11:00 - 1:00 Sunday Brunch (DR)2:00 - 3:30 Bingo (DR)3:30 - 4:30 Hooks n’ Needles Chat (LR)5:00 - 7:00 Holiday Red Cocktail Party & TreeLighting (DR)Entertainment: Ciro Vargas6:00 - 9:00 Movie: “Wonder Woman” (TR)

Thursday, November 23 November is..10:30 - 11:00 Fabulous Fitness (LR)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:00 - 3:00 Thanksgiving Dinner (DR)7:00 - 9:00 Movie: “Kindergarten Cop” (TR)

~Thanksgiving~

National Diabetes MonthNational Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

National Life Writing MonthNational Georgia Pecan Month

National Adoption MonthFamily Stories Month

Monday, November 27

8:30 - 9:00 Donuts & Coffee (DR)8:30 - 9:30 24-Hour Fitness Shuttle (L)9:45 - 11:30 Safeway Shopping Shuttle (L)10:30 - 11:00 Fabulous Fitness (LR)11:30 - 12:30 Grocery Outlet Shopping Shuttle (L)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:30 - 2:30 Worship with Pastor Phil (TR)2:30 - 3:30 Kit’s Class (LR)2:30 - 3:30 Upwords Game (AR)7:00 - 9:00 Movie “The Resurrection of GavinStone” (TR)

Tuesday, November 28

9:30 - 3:00 Doctor Shuttles (L)10:30 - 11:00 Balance Fitness with Melissa (BB)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:00 - 3:00 Mahjong (AR)1:30 - 2:00 Trivia with Georgina (LR)2:30 - 3:30 Upwords Game (AR)

Wednesday, November 29

10:30 - 11:30 Live 2 B Healthy Senior Fitness Class(DR)10:30 - 12:30 Mt. Diablo Safeway Shuttle (L)11:00 -2:00 Jack’s Restaurant Lunch Outing (L)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)12:00 - Canasta (DR)2:00 Popcorn Social (DR)2:00 - 3:00 Sing-along with John V (LR)2:30 - 3:00 Indoor Walking (L)7:30 - 9:00 Wacky Wednesday Bingo (AR)

Thursday, November 309:30 - 3:00 Doctor Shuttles (L)10:30 - 11:00 Fabulous Fitness (LR)11:00 - 11:30 Community Safety ObservationMeeting (LR)12:00 - 12:45 Catholic Mass w/Father Walt (TR)1:00 - 1:30 Resident Birthday Party (LR)1:00 Jewelry Repair with Ruth (DR)1:30 - 2:30 Bible Study with Pastor Phil (TR)2:30 - 3:30 Happy Hour (LR)Entertainment: Antonia Venezia7:00 - 9:00 Movie: “Priceless” (TR)

Readers Rendezvous/BookClub

Read a good book lately? Share it withus. Tell us about your favorite author

or writer you’ve just discovered.Friday November 24th and we will bereviewing “Outlasting the Trail” byBarmeyer O’Brien. Please join us in

the Theatre Room to share or justlisten about books.

Concord Carlton SeniorLiving Health Fair

Friday, November 17th11:00am - 1:00pm

Join us in the Dining Room on Friday forour health fair. We will have guestspeakers on topics such as: aging,

exercise and physical therapy. We willalso have several vendors available to

answer questions about services offeredto seniors.

Chaos Sunday, November 5thSunday, November 19th

2:00 - 3:30pmDining Room

Hand Massage & NailPolish with Melissa

Sign-up for hand massage & nail polishchanges with Melissa beginning this month on

the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month from1-3:00 pm in the Activity Room.

Betty Pearl, 11/2

Mark Snow, 11/2

Amalie Gentry, 11/3

Doug Campbell 11/4

Don Holm, 11/4

Helen Holm, 11/16

Camille Darr, 11/21

Ming Zou, 11/22

We will celebrate all birthdaysThursday, November 16th,

1:00-1:30 pm in the Living Room.

Happy Birthday to You!

A Note from PeterA brief update to share. We continue to

care for evacuees in our DowntownCommunity and thanks to so many ofyou the clothing donations were well

received and of immediate use. We tooka great deal of clothing to the Concordhomeless shelter as they have many

seniors with needs.Thanks in part to your donations and our

associates efforts, as a team this yearwe raised over $4600. for the

Alzheimer's Association! The Alzheimer'sWalk at Heather Farm was a beautifulevent and a fun walk that many of our

associates took place in. Our GrandChampion Suzette looked fabulous!

Please continue to support the ContraCosta Food Bank and our canned food

drive. Together we can make an impacton families and seniors in our

Community.

Welcome Home toChateau on Broadway

Linda Head, #102David Corrall, #223

Come down and welcome the newest residentsto Carlton Senior Living!

Music, Music, Music!!

Ed DavinThursday, November 2nd

Matthew SchwartzThursday, November 9th

Jack ConverySaturday, November 11th

Antonia VeneziaThursday, November 16th

Gary NeumanThursday, November 25th

Ciro VargasSunday, November 26th

Dan & Laurie RoldanThursday, November 30th

Check Calendar for times

Bec

ause

You

Can

When my daughter, Shannon, moved to this area from Bend, Oregon I watched as movers unloadedall of her belongings from the large moving van into the house. I became fascinated with one of themovers as I watched him work. It was obvious he wasn’t a kid, but he was lean and muscular andworked harder than the eighteen-year-old mover. Curious, I asked the man who was checking off theitems if he knew the man’s age. He shook his head and then shouted over to him, “Hey, Jim, howold are ya’?”

“Eighty-two,” Jim replied as he kept working. Intrigued, my other daughter, Deb asked, “Why areyou doing this kind of hard work?” “Because I can,” Jim replied with pride, “keeps me moving andhealthy.” He kept walking towards the van as he talked with us.

I knew a lovely lady who was in her late 90’s who also lived by that philosophy. She was still turningout beautiful raku pottery and living in a upstairs condo as an independent woman well into her90’s. When asked why she was still working and keeping so busy, her response was always, “becauseI can!”

Perhaps you remember Grandma Moses who got a late start as an artist when she began painting inher 70’s. In 1938, an art collector discovered her work. Completely self-taught, Moses soon becamefamous for her images of country life. If asked why she began her painting career so late in life Ithink she might have responded, “because I can.” Moses passed away in 1961 at the age of 101leaving behind an amazing collection of 1,500 paintings.

On the dark side of aging, I once knew a perfectly healthy, strong woman who, at the age of 55,proclaimed herself “old” and took to her rocking chair. She rocked away each year of her life only tobecome a grouchy, lonely old woman who lived to be 101, and who no one wanted to be around. Iam thankful that I knew this woman – for she has been my inspiration to remain youthful in myattitudes and lifestyle and to remember that age is only a number which tells us how long we havehad the privilege of living and hopefully serving in some useful way.

Of course, the opposite of “because I can,” is that old worn out phrase on which we frequently lean:“I can’t.” How often do we use that phrase as an excuse to grow older and complacent instead ofexerting just a little more energy to do something different, new, or a bit more difficult --- Becauseyou can!?

Here are some things to try this week: Get moving – how about trying that great exercise classeveryone is talking about? When was the last time you made the effort to talk to someone you didn’tknow and made a new friend? How about helping a new resident to integrate into your community?Have you been outside lately to enjoy nature? Or tried a new craft? Looking over the monthlynewsletter you’ll find enough activities to keep a person in the I can” attitude for a lifetime.

Tonight, before you retire for the evening, I challenge you to think of the things you have been tellingyourself that you can’t do. Now take a piece of paper and write down at least one new thing you willdo to improve your “I can” attitude. Now place the note where you will see it first thing in themorning.