Page 52 - Sonoma County Gazette 12-18.indd

Euphoria and Ecstasy
FREE; 5-630p, 5:00p - 6:30p, Aqus Cafe Foundry Wharf, 189 H Street, Petaluma, 707-778-6060, info@aquscafe.com
They are very close semantic relatives. Exploring their parameters, for use Dec 5, 14, 19 ~ December Senior
in the piece I had in mind, was intriguing. It seems that “euphoria” is to be associated with positivity, while “ecstasy” can run the full gamut of mood and emotional applications. Despite Webster, Chambers and Oxford, I think that we humans can also experience negative versions of euphoria at times
Ballroom Dancing - December Senior Ballroom Dance at the Finley Center. Sign in at Person Senior Wing. $9, 1p- 4p, Finley Auditorium Community Center, 2060 West College Ave., Santa Rosa,, 707-543-3737
of grief or other negativity, with the same sort of out-of-body detachment we
achieve when dopey with giddiness or happiness. It’s bending the rules, but I Dec 19 ~ Legal Consultations for
guess that’s OK.
All that qualified...I have been thinking about how intensely both of those
emotional vehicles have been traversing the air since November 6. For me, either one of the concepts may bode ill if indulged in to the point of missing the point of it all.
My recent columns inspired several reader emails – from both political camps – and it was good to know that passion is so alive and well, that it translates into readership, and then, for some, inspires comment. Which brings me to my current concerns. After the fact of now having a rebalanced governing body where the responsibility of checks and balance “oversight” can be re-established and applied, I have noticed a certain air of shifting emotions as I listen to both the political veterans and the newly elected.
Both euphoria and ecstasy – in almost every category of mood and emotion – are on a rampage! The euphoria of victory and political gains or losses, mixed with outrageous ecstasy can scare the hell out of you! Part of me loves it and part of me begins that old worry about getting over ourselves and the election, and getting to work on the issues that created the results!
Right about now, a lot of us are seeking election recovery via the holiday spirit! Thanksgiving is behind us, and the holidays of December loom. A few weeks ago I was in Marisa’s Fantasia, in Petaluma, with my grand daughter, where many, many trees are decorated with hundreds of ornaments from everywhere, with every theme you could dream up! Music is playing and everywhere everything is blinking, twirling, flashing or glowing! Kids with parents in tow could hardly believe their eyes! At last, an environment that drowned out the pre-election static and chaos!
It’s the specter of January that creeps through all the transitioning...
It’s after the tinsel and bells and food and cinnamon flavored coffee and hot buttered rum have faded that we must look the challenges in the eye. There is so much to repair, and so little time. Wannabes will start campaigning for the 2020 contests – and some, no doubt, will not prioritize those “repairs.”
What repairs? How about we start with a White House that will learn in a hurry what “oversight” means; fixing damaged relations with our allies; rescuing the EPA; fixing the healthcare mess; cease validation and glorification of vicious dictators -- in the name of the USA; replacing arrogance with constraint (good luck with that one); honoring our immigration heritage and embracing its contemporary counterparts; restoring checks and balance; etc. OH, yeah, and how about reinstating respect for the Constitution? (We can start with the First Amendment...)
I tell myself: beware giddy euphoria and the seduction of ecstasy over gains, or the passions of ecstasy over losses. We have, again, our balance of power and can re-learn the skills for achieving consensus, if only we will. Can the elders teach well and the neophytes learn the ropes before insisting they are ready to replace the experienced (and wily) old guard? Something tells me we are in for a tough test in this window of opportunity!
52 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 12/18
Seniors and Family Members - Half- hour consultations with elder law attorney, Janice Sternfeld, on the third Wednesday of each month. Consultations can cover advance health care directives, planning for incapacity, conservatorships, estate planning, wills and trusts, probate, special needs trusts, and public benefits (including Medi-Cal and veterans’ benefits). Free, call for appointment, 10-11:30a, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, 1360 N. Dutton Ave., Suite C, Santa Rosa, 707-303-1530, jfcs.org
Dec 20 ~ Prevent Falls at Free Training
Dec 6 ~ Aqus ~ Singles Seniors Social
Dec 21 ~ Speaking of Death: Where friends meet, drink tea, and share matters of life & death. Tea & snacks. Potluck style. 3rd Fridays of the month. All Welcome $5, FREE for Wisdom Counts members, 3:30-5p, Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 North Hight St., Sebastopol, 707-829-2440, sebastopolseniorcenter.org
Dec 11 ~ Butter Is a Health Food with Michele Anna Jordan cookbook author, speaker, radio show host ... cooking tools, recipes, etc. Sips and nibbles with local wine. 10a-6p, Cultivate Home, 186 N. Main St., Ste 120, Sebastopol, 707-824-1400, Kathy Anderson, cultivatehome.com
- Protect yourself from falls, improve balance and strength 8-class series. Free - Donations accepted. Sonoma County YMCA, 1111 College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-565-5936, Dana Jacoby, djacoby@schsd.org
Sebastopol Area Senior Center 167 N. High St.Sebastopol, 707-829-2440, sebastopolseniorcenter.org
Dec 5 ~ Haircuts for Seniors at Sebastopol Senior Center - Have your hair trimmed by a professional stylist, Danny. Appointments are required. 1st Wednesday of the month. call 707-829-2440. Members: $10; Non-Members, $15 No one turned away for lack of funds!
Dec 5 ~ All About Memory - Join Dr. Bernstein, former Chief of Neurology at Kaiser, as we discuss how memory is created. $10 Members, 2:30p - 4:00p
Dec 6 ~ My Care My Plan - Advance health care directives workshop. FREE, 1-3p $5, FREE for Wisdom Counts members unless otherwise stated, Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 N High Street, Sebastopol, sebastopolseniorcenter.org
Dec 6 ~ TED Talks - Lively discussions, and big ideas. $5, FREE for members, 2-3:30p Aug 3 ~ As You Are Show - Focuses on lives of folks in the audience. $8, $5 for members, 3:30-5p
Blood Pressure and Glucose Screening - 3rd Thursdays, 12-1 p.m. *when volunteers available. 12-1pm. Fee: $3 Wisdom Counts Member; $4 Associate Members
Rides To Appointments - If you are 60 and over, live in the West County and need help getting to appointments, call five business days in advance. Call Dean Brittingham, 707-829-2440 or email dean@sebastopolseniorcenter.org.
Senior Dining Sites Council on Aging 30 Kawana Springs Road, Santa Rosa, Jennifer Mangosong-Shankle, MS , jmshankle@councilonaging.com, 707.525.0143 Ext. 119
Cloverdale Senior Community Center, 311 North Main St., M-F, 11:30a - 12:30p, Café style. 707-894-4826, cloverdaleseniorcenter.com
Bethlehem Tower ~ 801 Tupper, Santa Rosa, 707-544-5560, M-F, 11a - 1p, Café style
First United Methodist Church ~ 2150 Giffen Ave., SR., 707-525-0143, M-F, 12p
Healdsburg Senior Center ~ 133 Matheson St., 707-433-7515, M-F 11a - 1p, Bostro style
Jerry Casson Senior Center, Vintage House, 264 First St. East (Senior Social Club), Tu - Th @ 12p. Laurel Anderson, Manager, 707-996-1414
Rohnert Park Senior Center ~ 6800 Hunter Dr., Ste. A, 707-585-6787 M-F, 11a - 1p, Café
Sebastopol Senior Center ~ 167 High St., 707-829-8381, M-F 11a - 1p, Bostro style
Silvercrest Senior Housing ~ 1050 3rd St., Santa Rosa, 707-525-4487, M-F 11a - 1p, Bistro style
Senior Dining Room Lunch - 12 - 2p Wed & Friday. Council on Aging Senior Meals Program and West County Community Services. Available to anyone 60 and over Donation of $4.00 Reservation must be made 24 hours in advance, Russian River Community Center, 15010 Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville, 707-869-0618, Debra Rianda, russianriver.com/events/senior-dining-room-food-fun-friendship/
Zoë Tummillo has been writing about senior wisdom for the Gazette for many years. If you want to read more of her insights, visit SonomaCountyGazette.com for all her archived articles.