Page 56 - Sonoma County Gazette April 2018

Dear Melania,
I have wanted to write to you for some time now. But, each time I begin,
By Date
Apr 3 ~ Senior Saunters - Join friendly older adults who love the outdoors, explore signs of wildlife on an urban fringe. Free, 10a- 11:30a, A Place to Play Park, 2375 West Third St., Santa Rosa, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Play/ Calendar/Senior-Saunters-April-3-2018/
Apr 4, 11, 18, 20, 25, 27 ~ Classes to Help Seniors Prevent Falls - Increase balance, flexibility and strength through gentle exercise, Free, 1-3p, Windsor Senior Center, 9231 Foxwood Dr., Windsor and 9:30-11:30a, Rohnert Park Senior Center, 6800 Hunter Dr., Rohnert Park707-565- 8085, sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human- Services/
Learn the importance of exercise in preventing falls and promoting strength, flexibility and balance. Classes are at various venues throughout Sonoma County. 707-565-5936, Dana Jacoby, Program Coordinator, sonomacounty. ca.gov/Human-Services/Adult-and- Aging/A-Matter-of-Balance-Managing- Concerns-About-Falls/, mob@schsd.org
Apr 5 ~ Singles Seniors Social - Mix & mingle. Make new friends. Free, 5-6:30p, Aqus Cafe Foundry Wharf, 189 H St., Petaluma, 778-6060, info@aquscafe.com
Apr 15, 19 - Legal Aid for Seniors - Preregistration required, $5 (Free for members) 12:30-1:30p, 3rd Thurs; 10- 11:30a, Bennett Valley Senior Center, 704 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, 707-545- 8608, srcity.org/559/Active-Adults
Senior Resources
something else happens that makes me hesitate just to see what will come of the newest outrage, how it must impact you, and how it would again in uence what I want to say to you.
Regardless of our di ering personalities, economic status, marital status, poli- tics and other de ning features – under it all – we have in common that we are women. Many of us are or have been wives (some of us more than once). And we also are daughters, sisters, aunties, cousins, friends and.... mothers.
Blood Pressure and Glucose Testing
Melania...do you know that there are women in our country – political per- suasions aside – who care about you in the face of all that is coming at you from almost every direction? Indeed, and in fact, do you know that many of us can actually personally relate to some of the dilemmas that must be upon you cur- rently?
Screenings every third Thursday of the month by students from the Empire College medical training program. $3 Wisdom Counts Member; $4 Associate Members, 3p - 4p
In the relatively few times when you have been visible, I have studied your face for signs. I have noticed your body language in an e ort to divine what you might be feeling as you go through the motions of what many expect from you. I must confess that I have found myself wishing I could know what was going through your mind when you were going through the motions.
Apr 4, 11, 18, 20, 25 ~ A Matter of Balance
I do not focus here on the ba ing complexities of why we women choose to love the ones we do! (I’m too old not to have learned it’s a mystery!) I do focus on something I believe we all share – sometimes as a virtue and sometimes as a curse. It is the ne line we all walk that holds our own personal loyalty and integrity in crucial balance as we walk along with love.
Rides To Appointments ~ If you are 60 and over, live in the West County and need help getting to medical and social service appointments, call Dean Brittingham, Transportation Coordinator, 707-829-2440 or emaildean@ sebastopolseniorcenter.org.
Rides to Medical and Social Services Appointments - Free for members of the Senior Center, Cloverdale Senior Community Center, 311 North Main St., Cloverdale, 707-894-4826, cloverdaleseniorcenter.com/, Elizabeth elizabeth@cloverdaleseniorcenter.com
Melania, for each of us as women there is a bit of “unique” and a whole lot
of “same as, same as.” So, if you can look past your “unique,” and consider the “same as,” you could see that you are not alone and that you have many sisters.
I often wonder about how profoundly alone you must feel in the midst of the particular chaos and humiliations that you have inherited by default (with your child looking on). (Surely you may have heard about Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy, Pat Nixon and Hillary Clinton...to name just a few -- your sisters un- der the skin? ...with all the wrong things getting under the skin?)
I also often speculate about the very beginning of all of this for you – at those moments when you seemed to be quite hopeful, appeared to be excited about the good you could do, might have begun to think about what mark you could leave from the honored posture of First Lady for my beloved United States of America! Did those dreams or plans even have a chance to get o the ground – you being forced into that big shadow and all?
I remember the few strong words you spoke (back then) about the focus you intended to place on the causes about which you felt strongly! (The causes that “circumstances” have managed to insult and elevate to the level of a national embarrassment...)
Apr 6, 13, 20, 27 ~ Senior Ballroom Dance
With all the layers of insulation that I know are in place, I hold no illusions that you will see my words! It’s more a matter of my need to say them out loud. When one woman is disrespected (especially from the largest bully pulpit in the free world), we all are. Just remember that you are not alone.
$8, 1-4p, Finley Community Complex, 2060 West College Avenue, Person Senior Wing, Santa Rosa, 707-543-3737, Billie Erkel, Heresbillie@aol.com
Council on Aging ~ Senior Dining Sites
Cloverdale, Mon-Fri, 12p; Cloverdale Multipurpose Senior Center, 311 North Main St, Cloverdale, 707-525-0143
Healdsburg, Mon-Fri, 12p, Healdsburg Senior Center, 133 Matheson St, 707-525-0143 M,T,W 12p; St. Paul’s Church, 209 Matheson St, 707-525-0143
Rohnert Park, Mon-Fri, 12p; Rohnert Park Senior Center, 6800 Hunter Dr, Ste A, 707-525-0143
Santa Rosa, Mon-Fri, 12p, Bethlehem Tower, 801 Tupper, SR, 707-525-0143; M,W 12p, First United Methodist Church, 2150 Giffen Ave, SR, 707-525- 0143; Mon-Fri, 12p, Silvercrest Senior Housing, 1050 Third St, SR, 707-525- 0143
Sebastopol, Mon-Fri 11-1p, Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 High St, Sebastopol, 707-525-0143. $4-$7
West County Community Services, Every Wed & Fri. 60 and over. Reservation 24 hours in advance. $4, 12-2p, Russian River Community Center, 15010 Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville, 707-869-0618, russianriver.com
Respectfully, Zoe Tummillo
Zoë Tummillo is a Business & Marketing Consultant, Trainer and Commercial Writer, dba COMMUNICATION CONCEPTS and Writing Service, in private practice. SENIOR MOMENTUM: A Series of Situations!© Zoë Tummillo To contact her: email: writingservice@earthlink.net.
Zoë Tummillo has been writing her Senior wisom and perspective for the Gazette for years. If you want to read more of her insights, please visit our website at SonomaCountyGazette.com for archives of previous srticle.
56 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 4/18