Page 56 - Sonoma County Gazette 3-19

The Third Rail and Other Risky Games
Rides to Medical and Social Services Appointments ~ Call to arrange rides - FREE for members of the Cloverdale Senior Community Center, 311 North Main Street, Cloverdale, 707-894-4826 Elizabeth, cloverdaleseniorcenter.com
thru Apr 1 ~ Senior Art Show Registration - Open to Artists Age 60 plus. Register through Friday, April 1. The show runs May 21-July 11, at Finley Community Center, Santa Rosa, 707-565-5900, apps.schsd.org/SAS/, seniorartshow@schsd.org
In Winter, the ice on New Pond, in Westwood, Massachusetts, would freeze
slowly from the shallow edges to the deeper middle. It wasn’t a very deep
pond, but deeper than any of us were tall. The dare was to see who would walk thru Apr 17 ~ AARP Free Tax Preparation Tax-Aide program offers free tax
or skate out the furthest until the ice began to crack—then stay longest before it threatened to break through and send you plunging into the dark, cold water under the ice.
The game ended one Winter when one of the boys went too far, stood too long and suddenly disappeared into the water through the broken ice. I don’t remember his name. There was a huge blizzard, and he was not found until Spring melted the ice. I remember never going to New Pond again.
There were other stupid games kids played—like who could jump over the railroad tracks from furthest from the edge and miss the third rail. We are all so smart at 12 and taking risks can be exhilarating!
Our attitudes about risk-taking definitely evolve. We certainly have a blaisé attitude when we are kids—it changes when we have kids!
We lay down the law of do and don’t, and save our own childhood risky adventure stories until they are old enough to not want to go out and try them! My own risk-taking doesn’t trouble me a lot, and never has. The small
ones now are mainly about pushing the edge on my limitations, (like leaving the cane in the car for certain excursions). The larger ones generally have to do with some former proprieties that no longer trouble me! In fact, some things that felt like “risks” some years ago, now feel like responsibilities! Those days when it might have seemed smart to walk cautiously on those eggshells and avoid risks, as we made our way through relationships and career-building, can seem like unnecessary nonsense now. In any case, that mindset can serve as an OK rationale!
It’s the powerful risks that others take and that cause ripple effects on me personally, my loved ones, my community and my beloved country that really piss me off!
Instead of clueless children venturing toward possible death on thin ice, we have clueless “leaders” taking risks on my behalf without so much as a fare- thee-well...
Nuclear risks with a twisted despot, reckless alienation of trusted allies, uninformed swiping away of environmental protection efforts—like so many crumbs off the table of a Medieval Kinglet ...
I fondly remember being sneaked onto the racetrack in our adjacent town when I was young. (Females weren’t allowed to race in those days...too risky.) My guy pals would take their risks, sneak me in and let me do a few laps! Remember that scene in “Out of Africa” when Redford comments to Streep, who just shot a charging tiger? He simply says something like: it’s OK to take the risk when you are the only one who pays.
There are risks, and there are Risks. There are those of my own doing. There are those of others that do not affect me, and those that seriously do. One can only hope that those who play with the well being of others, who take risks with the inheritance of future generations and who insulate themselves in the process, will eventually meet with that quaint old manifestation: comeuppance!
Consider that adage from the protests of the 50’s and 60’s:
“Question authority!” We took many good risks then that could serve
us well again—now.
Zoë Tummillo is a Business & Marketing Consultant/Trainer/Commercial Writer, dba COMMUNICA- TION CONCEPTS, in private practice since 1974. In addition to Commercial work, she writesSenior Momentum: A Series of Situations; “Pieces of My Path. essay memoirs of growing up first-generation Italian American; andSenior Momentum: Front And Center!. Email Zoë at writingservice@earthlink.net
56 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 3/19
preparation and e-filing at ten sites throughout Sonoma County. FREE, , aarpca2. org/sonoma-napa, taxaide4sonomaco@yahoo.com
Mar 14 ~ Welcome to the Village - Learn about aging better together. Meet Village members and volunteers at a free information mtg. Free, Village Network of Petaluma, 955 Petaluma Blvd. South, Petaluma, 707-776-6055, VillageNetworkofPetaluma.org, info@villagenetworkfopetaluma.org
Mar 15 ~ St. Patty’s Day Lunch (Age 50+) Join Santa Rosa Recreation and Parks for a ‘wee-bit’ of lunch to celebrate the Luck of the Irish! Members: $5 Non-Members: $10, 11:30 AM - 1:00p, Person Senior Wing - Finley Community Center, 2060 West College Avenue, Santa Rosa, 707-543-3745, srcity.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=917
Mar 5 ~ Senior Saunters - Enjoy leisurely walks with friendly, older adults. Explore plant and animal life, swap stories. Free, parking $7, 10:00 AM - 12:00p, Coastal Prairie Trail - Meet at the Bodega Bay Community Center, 2255 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-539-2865, Shelly Spriggs, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Play/Calendar/ Senior-Saunters-2019-03-05/, Shelly.Spriggs@sonoma-county.org
Mar 15 ~ St. Patty’s Day Lunch (Age 50+)- Join Santa Rosa Recreation and Parks for a ‘wee-bit’ of lunch to celebrate the Luck of the Irish! Members: $5 Non-Members: $10, 11:30 AM - 1:00p, Person Senior Wing - Finley Community Center, 2060 West College Avenue, Santa Rosa, 707-543-3745, srcity.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=917
Apr 2 ~ Senior Saunters- Enjoy leisurely walks with friendly, older adults. Explore plant and animal life, swapstories. Free, parking $7, 10:00 AM - 12:00p, West County Regional Trail, 6990 Front Street, Forestville, 707-539-2865, Shelly Spriggs, parks. sonomacounty.ca.gov/Play/Calendar/Senior-Saunters-2019-04-02/, Shelly.Spriggs@ sonoma-county.org
Sebastopol Area Senior Center 167 N. High St.Sebastopol, 707-829-2440, sebastopolseniorcenter.org
Mar 9 ~ Mardi Gras Dance Party - Decorations, fortune tellers, card readers, palm readers and lots of food and good music! $12 adv, $15@door, 6:30 - 10p
Mar 15 ~ Speaking of Death...over tea and snacks (new time) Where friends meet, drink tea, and share in matters of life and death. Facilitated by Tess Lorraine. $5, Free for Members, 2:30p-4p
Mar 4, 11, 18, 25 ~ PLAY MAHJONG - There are relaxed rules and Facilitator Guy Richards will be happy to show how we play. Members, FREE; non-members, $5 day-use fee.
Mar 1, 8, 15, 22, 19 ~ SCRABBLE -Fun, sociable group for a classic game on Fridays from 12-1:45pm Members, FREE; non-members, $5 day-use fee.,
Mar 5, 12, 19, 26 ~ Play Bridge - Card games for usually 4 players in two partnerships that bid for the right to declare a trump suit. Free for members, $5 non-members, Tues 12p-4p
Mar 5, 12, 19, 26 ~ Writing Classes - We have two weekly writing classes; both are on Tuesdays. Members free / $5 non-members, Tues: Insurgent Writers 10a-11a, Life Stories 1:30p-4:30p
Mar 6 13, 20, 27 ~ Chair Pilates - Build strength for better posture, balance and flexibility. Gain muscular strength and endurance. $8 members, $10 non- members, Wed 3:30-4:30p
Mar 4, 11, 8, 25 ~ Play Poker - Who wants to play POKER? Drop in & see how this group likes to play. Open to all levels of skill. Free for members $5 for non members. Mondays 12:30p-4:15p
Mar 5, 12, 19, 26 ~ Yoga for Radiance - Learn to use your breath as a tool to reduce stress & fatigue, increase stamina & overall well-being $8 members/$10 non- members, Tuesdays 9:30a-10:30a
Blood Pressure and Glucose Screening - 3rd Thursdays, 12-1 p.m. *when volunteers are available. Suggested Fee: $3 Wisdom Counts Member; $4 Assoc.Members
Rides To Appointments ~ Over 60, live in the West County and need a ride to medical and social service appointments? CALL five business days in advance of your appointment, Dean Brittingham, 707-829-2440 or emaildean@ sebastopolseniorcenter.org.