Tribute to Woodstock on 55th Anniversary: Fantastic Positive Spirit
Woodstock Music and Art Festival 1969
I was at Woodstock, and it absolutely remains to this day as one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
There are so many things that made it so memorable – the amazing performances, the setting, the size of the crowd, the experience of getting there (70 miles from my parents’ house in New Jersey), which took one hour to drive the first 60 miles (leaving at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, the first day of the festival) and then seven hours to go the final 10 miles on a two-lane country road, and the fantastic positive spirit and generosity of everyone.
I was a 20-year-old University of Oregon student at the time and, fortunately, was at my parents’ house doing a summer job at a sand and gravel yard.
the passing of time like a train in the night, a river in thaw: leaves turning gold after a misty rain by a lake in Vermont, by a mill in New York: the march of time through the seasons, beyond the clouds to a meadow, where the sun stays by a lake cool in the shade of summer’s light.
I know you are writing music now. How is that going?
It’s going well. I have been writing songs since I was 17. Up until 2021, I had probably written around 200 of them. Some were just lyrics, some had lyrics and music, and most were awful! But I thought a few were pretty good. That and my love of music kept me going.
In 2021, I was thinking about how my life was going, retirement, all that sort of thing. I thought I might want to spend many of my last years somehow more involved in creating music, mainly since I could not perform like I used to. Chris gave me songwriting lessons for Christmas that year, and I just took off.
Since January 2022, I have written at least one song a month, sometimes two or three. As opposed to the past, many more of these are good, or at least I like them – meaning I like to sing them to myself or listen to my recordings. I’m listening to podcasts, reading books, and taking classes in songwriting, so my skills are improving. I have recorded 45 songs in my home studio, with 16 songs performed and recorded by professional musicians in a studio. I will release my first album this year, but all 16 songs are already on the streaming services and YouTube. The more I do it, the more meaningful I find it.
In 2023/2024, the SDPA Aging Issues Committee produced six ninety minute Zoom presentations entitled Later-Life Transitions Luncheon Series. Topics covered in this series included Retirement, Loss of Physical Capabilities, Moving to a Senior Facility, Becoming Caregiver to a Family Member, Loss of a Spouse/Partner and The Final Transition. We are presenting a summary of the material covered in each of the six series presentations in monthly installments .
The second topic Loss of Physical Capabilities was facilitated by Cynthia A. Cotter, Ph.D. and Kenneth S. Dellefield, Ph.D. on June 16, 2023 and covered vision, hearing, vestibular and musculoskeletal systems.The summary below covers the material presented on hearing.
HEARING
Hearing loss is very common in older adults and is often considered one of the most devastating losses of physical capabilities because it impacts our ability to communicate with others. Loss of hearing in older adults occurs through a number of mechanisms.
Conductive Hearing Impairments. Hearing loss can occur anytime something obstructs transmission of sound through the outer or middle ear so the information cannot be recorded in the auditory systems of the brain. Examples include ear wax, arthritic changes in components of the ear and middle ear inflammations.
Created in the land of the Pilgrims amid colorful cranberry bogs, the Plymouth is a sandwich that will bring smiles to your guests’ faces. It is tasty and easy to make.
Use a quality bread of your choice Spread mayo on each piece Spread jelled cranberry sauce on each slice of bread Spread fresh, mashed avocado on each slice Add a generous amount of roast turkey on the bread Add sliced tomato if desired Close and cut in half
Writing skills are necessary throughout high school, college, and graduate school. Jobs often require writing ability. So, what is the problem? There are several. Once you commit to putting something on paper, you are exposed, both then and in the future. It can be intimidating, and many people shy away from writing. People need more confidence in grammar, spelling, and expressing themselves clearly on paper.
Seniors need to write. With retirement comes time, and we all want to keep our connections with family and friends. Email is an excellent way to do that. In California, most of us come from somewhere else, so writing becomes a tool for connection and community. So, what is the answer for anxious writers?
Grammarly is a program for writers that edits and corrects. It has a limited free version and a more comprehensive version available for a yearly fee. The program corrects spelling and grammatical errors and suggests other word use methods. For example, I just wrote “using words,” and the program suggested “methods of word use.”
The company recently added a new AI feature, a terrific change. Here is how it works: After I finish a paragraph, I highlight it and press a bar that the program launches next to it. My paragraph appears with spelling and grammatical corrections. If I choose them, I press accept, and the changes are recorded. The program can also improve the flow of sentences and rearrange words to enhance clarity.
I control the program, and it only makes changes with my approval. It suggests changes that stay within my writing style. It improves and edits but doesn’t rewrite. It is a tool that makes life easier and is worth looking into!
Like many children of immigrants, my father grew up relatively poor in Boston, Massachusetts. Unsurprisingly, he developed an eye for a bargain early on. Even in later years, when he was affluent, he loved to chase down a good deal. The stage has now been set for my confession: I love to go to Costco.
Though there are many Costco stores in San Diego, I am loyal to the original flagship store on Morena Boulevard. The parking is marginal, the building is old, and it always seems crowded, but I like the feeling I have when I go there. It reminds me of wandering through Haymarket Square in Boston on a Saturday morning when the vendors hawk their wares.
I like the fact you must show a card to get in. It’s like being a member of the country club for a moment. All thoughts of exclusivity disappear as soon as I enter the store. First, there is the electronics department to peruse. I rarely make purchases there since mostly big-ticket items are for sale, but it’s a fun area to window shop. I usually head down through hardware and sports until I reach the always-serious food and wine section.
This French restaurant on Adams Avenue is a place to go. Why do I say that? The food is wonderful, the ambiance is inviting, and the servers and other employees are welcoming and there to help. On my last visit, I had Boeuf Bourguignon preceded by a tasty salad with fruit and cheese. Was the dinner delicious? Take your best guess. There is an extensive wine list and a full bar.
The restaurant’s prices, compared to similar eateries in Sa Diego, are very reasonable.
An underdog high school basketball team, the Chuska Warriors, from a reservation in New Mexico achieves more than anyone thought they could following a tragedy. The movie is playing on Netflix and was inspired by the book by Michael Powell entitled Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation.
The ball players and their coach are fighting against the forces of demoralization resulting from cultural isolation and marginalization.
Rez Ball is a fine movie that is inspiring and sobering at the same time.
