We are the Elderly

I was born in 1934. So I am the Pre-Elderly, but still identify with the sentiments in this posting from My Face Book Page. I hope you are aging gracefully.

"Many have passed away, and those who are still here are called "the elderly." We were born in the 40s-50s-60s. We grew up in the 50's-60's-70's. We studied in the 60s-70s-80s. We were together in the 70s-80s-90s. We got married or not and discovered the world in the 70s-80s-90s.

We were adventuring into the 80s - 90s. We're settling in to the 2000s. We became wiser in 2010s.

And we’re going strong into 2020 and beyond. Turns out we went through EIGHT different decades...

TWO different centuries...TWO different millennials...

We've gone from phone with operator for long distance calls, pay booths to video calls worldwide.

We’ve gone from slides to YouTube, vinyls to online music, handwritten letters to emails and to What's App; Live games on the radio, black and white TV, color TV, then HD 3D TV. We went to the video store and now watching Netflix. We've known the first computers, punch cards, disks and now we have gigabytes and megabytes on our smartphones.

We wore shorts all through our childhood, then trousers, ep pants or mini-skirts, Oxfords, Clarks, Palestinian scarves, jumpsuits, and blue jeans. We avoided childhood paralysis, meningitis, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, swine flu and now COVID-19. We've done roller skating, roller skating, tricycle, bicycle, moped, gasoline or diesel and now we drive hybrids or electric cars.

We played with the little ones horses and checkers, ostrich and marbles, 1000 threshold and monopoly, now there's candy crush on our smartphones. And we read... much. And our schoolmates religion was not a subject... We used to drink tap water and lemonade in glass bottles, and the vegetables on our plate were always fresh, today we get meals delivered, via DoorDash or Instacart.

Yes, we have been through a lot but what a beautiful life we have had! They might describe us as “ex-annuals”; people who were born in this 50s world, who had an analog childhood and digital adulthood. We should add Biological Revolution that we have witnessed. In 1960, biology was very descriptive. 

We have witnessed the event of Molecular Biology: the molecules of Life have been discovered: DNA, RNA etc. When you see everything that has come from it: gene therapy, gene fingerprints, and others the progress is considerable.

We kind of have "seen it all"! Our generation has literally lived and witnessed more than any other in every dimension of life. This is our generation that has literally adapted to "CHANGE". A big congratulations to all the members of a very special generation".

Every country in the world is experiencing growth in both the size and the proportion of older persons in the population. By 2030, 1 in 6 people in the world will be aged 60 years or over. At this time the share of the population aged 60 years and over will increase from 1 billion in 2020 to 1.4 billion.

Lastly enjoy my photo of the Day

Lastly, If you are a THD Resident who will be 90 years old by the end of 2024 or over, I am thinking of forming a NONAGENARIAN Club here at THD. It will be just a social club, we will meet once a month and talk our common concerns. It is another way to build sense of community and belonging we really need at the stage of our lives specially if we live alone. Let me know if you are interested!

Events Highlights and My Word of the Day

Here's THD Events Highlight for the Week of July 1. I plan on attending Meet-UP of Fairmount Residents on Tuesday and the Excursion Lunch at the Claremont Hotel Saturday on Saturday. Of course the July 4th Celebration is a must attend event for ALL.

AND Now my word of the Day 
Prosopography

[prah-sə-PAH-ɡrə-fee]

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Latin, late 16th century

1.

A description of a person's social and family connections, career, etc., or a collection of such descriptions.  

Pier 1 Lunch Excursion and Candlelight Concert

Yesterday, sixteen Senior Residents of THD, Chaperon By Cidney Carbah with our capable and efficient driver, Nancy enjoyed this 5-hr Excursion from the Oakland Ferry Terminal to San Francisco  Pier 1. We left THD at 10:30AM. The day was perfect, sunny skies, no wind and temperatures in the High 60's. 

After our arrival at Pier 1, we were on our own and instructed to be back at Gate G at 1:40PM. The place was crowded and all restaurants have long lines. Luckily, Mary Ann DeWald, Jay Pollack and I were able to get a seat without waiting at Gott's Roadside. Mary Ann and I ordered the Chili and garlic fries. Jay indulged himself with the chicken sandwich. Mary Ann had white wine and I had draft beer.  As usual Jay has his soft-drink, since he does not indulge in alcoholic drinks.

Thank You Mary Ann and Jay for your company at lunch time.  Special mention to Mary Ann for giving me a few minutes of arm support when I felt a little bit dizzy after walking for 10 minutes in the Farmer's Market after lunch.   I took several pictures that I am posting today.   

Our trip back to THD was uneventful, except that we almost lost 2 seniors, Martha M

 and Eileen B. They unboarded the ferry early at the Port of Alameda instead of the Port of Oakland. 

Another event that could have been disastrous was that Farna W, almost fell on the uneven walkway at the Farmer's Market. A Good Samaritan was at the right time to catch her from falling to her face.

My suggestion to THD Activity: If this Activity be Repeated,  It is best to do it on Weekdays instead of Saturdays where the crowds are humungous and overpowering. Perhaps the lines at the Restaurants in Pier 1 will not have a 1-2 hours wait on Weekdays.   I would have love to dine at the Hog Island Oyster Company, but I have no time to wait for 2 hours.  My Congratulations to THD Activities for sponsoring this enjoyable Excursion- one of the best ways for us senior citizens to get out once in a while from our GILDED CAGE. 

Lastly, Don Hoffman's Candlelight Concert last night was a musical evening I will always treasure and remember during my stay here at THD. His repertoire was perfect, starting with Some Enchanting Evening from South Pacific and ending with When You Walk Alone from Carousel. In between the one -hour of heart warming of musical genius singing various genre of music is an event I will never forget. His bass-baritone voice that did not need any amplification filled the Activity Room with such booming and melodious sounds one is willing to pay hundreds of dollars. But it was free to us,  residents of THD. Thank You Galen and hopefully Don will be back soon. I could listen another hour with his music in spite of the not too comfortable seats in the new activity room. 

Two other favorite pieces of music that Don sang was Old/Man River from Show Boat and the Toreador song from the Opera, Carmen. He also sang an Elvis Priestly song.  
 

Awakening Joys for Seniors by Jeff Wessman

Happiness is not for the lucky few—it’s a choice anyone can make. In his groundbreaking first book, written with Shoshana Alexander, Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness (A Bantam Books Hardcover). James Baraz, cofounder of Spirit Rock Meditation Center and renowned meditation teacher for more than 30 years, reveals his 10-step program, based on the curriculum of his popular “Awakening Joy” course, for how we can reorient our minds away from dissatisfaction and distraction and toward the contentment and delight that is abundantly available in our everyday lives.

The seven factors of awakening (bojjhaṅga)

• Mindfulness (sati)
• Investigation (dhamma-vicaya)
• Energy (vīriya)
• Rapture (pīti)
• Tranquility (passaddhi)
• Concentration (samādhi)
• Equanimity (upekkhā)
• 
  
• Visit the following site for details:

https://www.audible.com/pd/Awakening-Joy-Audiobook/B004GEHV4E

Personal Note: If you attended last Wednesday Talk and you want to continue the Series, please let Galen know. If you were not able to attend, but like the summary in this posting, let me know also. I will relay your desire to Activity,  Have A GREAT Weekend everyone and looking forward for today's Excursion at Pier 1.

    

FaceBook Swamps with Senior Living Ads

I was reading my Face Book Page Today. There were about six ads on retirement communities in the East Bay, from Walnut Creek, Concord, Danville and up to Brentwood. THD had also several ads and today posted the July Events Highlights. A typical ads is as follows:

1. Comfort, Satisfaction and Care – When it comes to finding a retirement community for yourself or a loved one, the search can sometimes feel daunting.

You want exceptional services in a wholesome community that feels like home from the first moment.

With your needs in mind, --Name of Community-- offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care options, along with stylish residences, exciting amenities, and stimulating activities.

Discover our wealth of features and see why we’re a top choice for senior living in -location-.

Join our community starting at $3,495 per month.

Personal Note: The rental will vary depending on the size of the units you rent.

2. COMMUNITY FEATURES

All that we do at ---Sisco Senior Living Community( Walnut Creek)---is about our residents. The Executive Director meets with the resident committee regularly and holds weekly meetings with all residents to talk about hot topics and inform everyone on the happenings in and around the community. 

We have a resident committee that discusses food with our talented Executive Chef on a regular basis in addition to a committee that talks about the way they would like to see their home decorated for the holidays with our Activity Director.

Note: The above community(#2) was my second choice last year.  The main reason why I chose THD is because of my patio for my 2 cats.  The food service here as well as the Amenities is probably better than THD based on my interview with The Executive Director. The size of the 2-BR  apartments is about the same as THD. They have a full-time nurse in the community for residents who needs more assistance.  They community ambiance/location is not as great as THD. But the grounds are also well kept and maintained.   

Personal Wish: Attention THD Management: The above is my Personal Wish: Form a Resident Committee that Discusses food and other amenities. The Committee should be Chaired by the Resident Liaison and meets regularly for better communications of the Residents concerns and improvement of their well-being.

Here in the Walnut Creek Area, my estimated guess of the rental fees depending on the community location, offerings of services and size of the unit you need are as follows:

For studio- Range from $3,500 to $ 4,500 per month 

For 1- Bedroom: Range from $5,000 to 7,000 per month

For 2-Bedrooms: From $7500 to $10,000.00 per month

Here are three THD ads in its FaceBook Page:

1. "So enjoy not cooking and going to Newtons (the restaurant here). It is especially nice to share good food with friendly residents.”

We are delighted to hear that our residents enjoy the culinary delights and warm community atmosphere at Newton's Fine Dining. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Your satisfaction and happiness are what we strive for every day".

At The Heritage Downtown, we believe that dining should be an experience to look forward to. Our on-site restaurant, Newton’s Fine Dining, offers fresh, organic, and locally-sourced meals that are both nutritious and delicious. With diverse menu options and a beautiful dining setting, every meal is a treat.

From heart-healthy dishes to special themed events, dining at The Heritage Downtown is more than just a meal – it’s a time to enjoy great food and wonderful company.

2. “My experience living at the Heritage has been nothing but positive. Staff are friendly, food is terrific, and dog friendly with close proximity to downtown.”

We are thrilled to hear about your positive experience at The Heritage Downtown. Our dedicated staff, delicious dining options, and prime location are just a few of the things that make our community special. Thank you for your kind words".

3. "Pets bring unconditional love, companionship, and numerous health benefits to our lives. At The Heritage Downtown, we proudly support pet companionship with our pet-friendly environment. From emotional support and physical health benefits to mental stimulation and routine, pets enhance the lives of our residents in so many ways.

Our community offers pet-friendly apartments, on-site pet amenities, and access to pet care services, ensuring that both residents and their furry friends can thrive. We also organize pet-friendly social activities, creating opportunities for residents and their pets to build friendships and share joy".

My suggestion for Improvement of Communications between Senior Residents and THD Management:

Form a Resident's Council with two Representatives from each of the buildings and Chaired/Presided by the Resident Liaison or any Designated THD management Personnel.   This should be an umbrella group for the Greeters Program, Library Services and The Herald Newsletter and Activities run by Residents.  For Details read:

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2024/02/suggestions-for-improvement-on-quality.html

Meanwhile, THD Ads Yielding Positive Results: I heard that 15 New Residents will Moving to THD for the Month of July and August. Kudos to Jenny Shively, THD Leasing and Marketing Director.

Lastly, here's my lunch yesterday, dill pickle chicken salad sandwich and chilled fresh strawberry/yogurt soup. Yummy!

Poker Games and New Activity Room Here at THD

Last week THD activity started Texas Hold "em Poker💚. It is the simplest way of playing poker. Playing the game reminded me of my younger years, when I played Pai Gow Poker at the Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln, Ca every month from 2005 to 2015.  

 So what is Pai Gow Poker, here's what Wikipedia says:  

Pai gow poker (also called double-hand poker) is a version of pai gow that is played with playing cards, instead of traditional pai gow's Chinese dominoes. The game of pai gow poker was created in 1985 in the United States by Sam Torosian, owner of the Bell Card Club.

The game is played with a standard 52-card deck, plus a single joker. It is played on a table set for six players, plus the dealer. Each player attempts to defeat the banker (who may be the casino dealer, one of the other players at the table, or a player acting in tandem with the dealer as co-bankers).

Winning condition

The object of pai gow poker is to create a five-card poker hand and a two-card poker hand from seven cards that beat both of the bank's hands. The five-card hand's rank must exceed that of the two-card hand, and it is for this reason that the two-card hand is often called the "small", "minor", "low" or "2nd highest" hand whereas the five-card hand is "high" or "big." The two-card hand is also physically placed in front of the five-card hand, leading to the respective terms "front" (or "top") hand and "back" (or "bottom") hand.

https://www.888poker.com/magazine/strategy/pai-gow-poker

I suggested to THD Activityi Personnels ( Cidney and Teresa) that we should play weekly alternating Texas Hold Em, Pai Gao, Black Jack and Gin Rummy or Hearts in our newly furnished Game Room at the Lobby.  Cidney and Teresa said they will evaluate and study on  the feasibility of my suggestion.   

Meanwhile, The New Activity Room is now fully furnished withe 4 round tables and 8 chairs to match. I love the modern ( black and white) look of the furnishings. The Chair cushion may need a little pad to ease the burden of sitting for a few hours playing card games or doing handicraft/art work. Here are photos yesterday that I took with Patty, Peggy and Hisako of the new furnishings of the Room.

 

One long Side Table by the Side of the Fireplace complement the balance and beauty of the Room used to be called the FirePlace Lounge.  

💚https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Poker