Ruth Clarke Christmas Dinner to be savoured Friday

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Posted 2 months ago

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Yes, as you drive around, you see lots of Christmas lights up. The weather has been wonderful, and no snow yet to shovel or to cause a fall.

Are you in the Christmas mood yet? Sure hope so. The Ruth Clarke Christmas Dinner is on Friday, Nov. 27, and we expect to see many of you there.

At the Christmas party, we will once again pay tribute to our new 90-plus members.

This year we have four members who will be joining last year's 90-plus club. The new members are Grace Brackenbury (whose father was principal of Port Hope High School numerous years ago), Mary Cappler, (who is well known as a figure skating judge for 58 years), George Henderson (an avid bridge player) and Ron Reynolds (a traveller and card player). Congratulations to these people, and we are very proud that you are members of the Ruth Clarke Centre.

Pictures of our newest members will soon be hanging on our 90-plus wall, along with the others.

The Ruth Clarke newsletter Silver is enjoyed by many. If you are unable to get to the centre, let us know if you would like a copy dropped off or mailed to you. It is not always easy to get to the centre for some of our members, and this is one way to keep in touch as to what is going on there.

In the last article for the paper, I mentioned Amy (our senior co-ordinator) and I were to attend an Older Adult Conference in Toronto. It was an eye opener for me.

I attended numerous sessions, and some statistics were rather scary.

Are you aware that only 3-5% of seniors eat and exercise properly? Sixty-nine per cent of seniors lack energy, and much of this is due to poor nutrition (too many wrong foods, too little food, and too much caffeine).

Keynote speaker Colin Milner showed us pictures of Whistler's mother and Tina Turner. Both were taken when they were 69 years old. What a difference!

The emphasis was on, "It's not about age, but function."

Okay, seniors, let's eat better and exercise more. Walking is one of the best exercises we can do.

Tuesday morning tai chi is offered at the Ruth Clarke Centre.

As well, there is a fitness room where numerous pieces of equipment for exercising are kept and used by several members.

Fitness classes are conducted several times a week for those wishing to do more strenuous exercise.

Don't forget, even climbing the numerous steps up the stairs could be helpful (or harmful, if you have health problems).

Personally, I have a Wii fitness program. This is fun, and is used in many senior centres.

It was also stressed that we must keep our brains active too.

Playing bridge is, of course, a great to help in this respect. Other cards games are helpful too. Word games like Scrabble are excellent.

If members are interested in such things, let the centre know about your interests and hopefully they can be arranged.

Chess is now offered for that very reason.

This conference session by Colin Milner also stressed friendships, belonging, buddy programs, outings and inter-generation programs as being excellent for seniors.

Hopefully next spring, outings to local places will become a reality.

Although I attended other sessions, all were good -- but I feel that this one was the best.

November was the month for elections, and four new faces will be joining the executive committee.

Welcome Phyllis Baldini, Sandra Bolton, Betty Collins and Anne Niblett.

These members are already quite active at the centre and will do an excellent job, I'm sure.

Since this is my last article for 2009, the Ruth Clarke Centre wishes all of you Merry Christmas.

If you are writing Santa, please ask for a new building all on one floor. Who knows -- Santa may even have elves who could help to make this more than just a wish.

Programs will continue during December. Be sure to check for those offered between Christmas and January 1.

"At Christmas, all roads lead home." -- Marjorie Holmes

-- Bee Makepeace / social committee, Ruth Clarke Activity Centre