Best Years Yet: January-February 2015

T H E P U B L I C AT I O N O F E XC E PT I O N A L L I V I N G F O R P E O P L E 5 0 A N D B E TT E R • W I L L A M E TT E VA L L E Y JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 / VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5

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The NFL Adventure A Historic Visual Adventure Inside the NFL Page 6

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends Page 10

January/February 2015 • Best Years Yet

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Best Years Yet • January/February 2015

| FROM THE PUBLISHER |

Welcome to 2015

CONTENTS 4 - Down In The Valley 4 - Flashback 5 - Calendar 6 - The NFL Adventure 8 - Books 9 - Music 10 - Start. Do. Now. 12 - Musings From Apifera Farm 14 - Parting Shots

H

appy New Year! Timing is just roaring past us and it’s hard to believe we’re already into a brand new year. It’s a great time for new beginnings and new dreams to dream.

On The Cover: Joe Namath, NY Jets, by Ross Lewis.

This issue of Best Years Yet features an article written by former NFL photographer, Ross Lewis. After spending a few years away from his photography work, he is back into it and shares the story behind his dream to be a photographer for the NFL and how that dream came true.

PUBLISHER Randy Hill

Writer Steve Prager is back and has written a piece guaranteed to help get your New Years resolutions off the ground and running. Katherine Dunn is also back with a humorous article about life on Apifera Farm.

We’ve added a couple of new sections in the magazine–a column on new books in print that might interest you and a section on new music releases.

As always, thanks so much for picking up this issue of Best Years Yet. We hope you enjoy reading it. Don’t forget to thank the advertisers for helping to make this issue possible.

SENIOR EDITOR Erin Grace ART DIRECTION Hill Design Studios CONTRIBUTORS Katherine Dunn, Ross Lewis, Steve Prager ADVERTISING SALES L. Andrew Brown/Concept Marketing Randy Hill PHONE 503.507.1228 MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 17264 Salem, Oregon 97305 EMAIL bestyearsyetpub@gmail.com WEBSITE TheBestYearsYet.com Best Years Yet is published bi-monthly. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Best Years Yet. This publication cannot be reproduced in any form without written consent from Best Years Yet. Although we have made very effort to insure the accuracy of the information in this publication, due to the passage of time and the anomalies inherent in the publishing process, we cannot be responsible for errors or incorrect information. Please contact the individual establishments to confirm information.

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Copyright 2015 Best Years Yet

January/February 2015 • Best Years Yet

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| DOWN IN THE VALLEY |

Flashback  Valentine’s Day Cards through the decades

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n February, love is in the air and Facebook greetings and cards will be sent. We suspect very few actual paper cards are sent out any longer. Back in the “good old days,” paper cards were purchased and mailed or handed out.

Here are a few from the 1940s, 50s and 60s we thought you might enjoy...

Oregon Garden “Stitches in Bloom” Quilt Show January 23, 2015 - January 25, 2015

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he Oregon Garden “Stitches in Bloom Quilt Show” is the last weekend in January, the 23rd – 25th from 10am to 4pm. The show will feature more than 150 beautiful quilts, vendors selling quilting wares, lectures by featured artist Cynthia Corbin and demonstrations by quilting vendors.

Enjoy the Tea Room, presented by Stash Tea, where lunch fare and specialty items will be available for purchase.

For more information visit: oregongarden.org.

1930s

1940s

Rogue Farms Gardening: Preparing For Spring February 28

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oin Rogue Farms to learn how to prepare your garden for Spring. Learn when to plant, how to irrigate, making your own compost and more. This workshop is free of charge and all ages are welcome. facebook.com/RogueFarmsHopyard/events

1950s

Miranda Lambert at Matthew Knight Arena February 14

G

JAYUZI

rammy award-winning singersongwriter and country star, Miranda Lambert, performs on Valentine’s Day. Justin Moore opens the act. matthewknightarena.com s

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Best Years Yet • January/February 2015

1960s

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”

–Sophia Loren

THINGS TO DO

IN JANUARY & FEBRUARY

JANUARY Through March - Salem No Ivy Coalition. We are Salem’s residents, businesses, and organizations working with City of Salem and Marion Soil and Water Conservation District.

Volunteers Needed: Saturday, January 24 at Brush College Park, 9 am—Noon Saturday. February 28 at Woodmansee Park, 9 am—Noon Saturday. March 28 at Woodmansee Park, 9 am—Noon Wednesday. No Experience Necessary/ Tools & gloves are provided. Wear sturdy shoes and long pants. We will be working toward restoring native habitat by removing invasive species of plants. Families are welcome. Preregistration helps planning. Please contact Tibby Larson, City of Salem Parks Volunteer Coordinator at talarson@cityofsalem.net or 503-589-2197.

Facebook.com/SalemNoIvyCoalition SalemNoIvyCoalition.Blogspot.com Through January 28 - From the Sheep’s Back to Yours ~ Pendleton Blankets, an Oregon Tradition.

Pendleton is one of the most recognized names when it comes to American blankets. This Fall Textile Arts exhibit will feature over twenty rarely displayed pieces of Pendleton products from the museums collection.

Willamette Heritage Center, Salem. willametteheritage.org 12 - Exhibit: Discover India! Salem Multicultural Institute is sharing an exhibit that will guide you to explore saris, rangoli, golu, cricket, the Taj Mahal, and more. Discover India! is on the ground floor of Reed Opera House in Salem. 189 Liberty St. NE, #107 503-581-2004. salemmulticultural.org/gallery.shtml

struggles to find inner peace and stability. Corvallis. oregonstate.edu/urm/events/discovery 16 - Fine Art Friday, Bush Barn Art Center, Salem. Opening reception for three new exhibitions: (ex) change

by Diane Jacobs, The Real Girl: New Work by Clayton Sukau and Featured Artist: Dale Kurtz. Come enjoy light refreshments and conversation with the artists. Bush Barn Art Center, 600 Mission St. SE Salem. 503-581-2228 SalemArt.org 17 - Winterfest at the Carousel. Enjoy a winter wonderland themed evening of activities and games. Activities Include: unlimited carousel rides, cookie decorating, mini snow cones, face painting, winter games, winter crafts and door prizes. Visit us online for more info. Salem’s Riverfront Carousel, 101 Front St. NE, Salem. 503-540-0374 salemcarousel.org 17–19 - Oregon Matt Hartner Memorial Classic. This is an exciting three day junior girls club volleyball tournament featuring teams from around the west coast competing at U14s, U16s and U18s age groups. These teams are among some of the top club programs in the country. 2727 Leo Harris Pkwy, Eugene.

23/24 - First Taste Oregon. Join us for the First Taste of the New Year – of all things Oregon – art, brew, entertainment, food, spirits and wine! firsttasteoregon.com/

23/25 - Good Earth Home, Garden & Living Show. America’s first sustainable home and garden show celebrates ten years in Eugene! Over 250 sustainable exhibits about home, garden, food, transportation, living, wellness and recycling. Learn from national green building experts, sustainable living experts and northwest authors. Over 75 eco-friendly seminars, 14–15 - 30th Oregon green neighbors, live Asian Celebration. music and signature ‘Chickens over the Aisle’!

796 W 13th Ave - Lane Events Center Eugene. eugenehomeshow.com

Reed Opera House 15 - Discovery Lecture Series at Oregon State University featuring Cheryl Strayed.

Shattered by her mother’s sudden death and the end of her marriage, Cheryl Strayed decided to confront her emotional pain by trekking more than 1,000 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail. In her bestselling memoir, “Wild,” Strayed tells the amateur hiker’s tale with grit and humor, peppered with the colorful characters she encounters as she

23–25 - Stitches in Bloom Quilt Show at the Oregon Garden. Join us for the Stitches in Bloom Quilt Show, January 23 – 25 from 10am to 4pm. The show will feature more than 100 beautiful quilts, vendors selling quilting wares, lectures

by featured artist Cynthia Corbin and demonstrations by quilting vendors.

Admission to the Quilt Show is included with Garden admission.

Want to learn new techniques and enhance your skills? A wool-felting workshop will be offered at the Oregon Garden Resort, January 22-24. Visit our web page for more information.: oregongarden.org/events/ quiltworkshops 25 - Oregon Truffle Festival Marketplace. The Oregon Truffle Festival Marketplace is a rare opportunity for the public to buy truffles. The event also includes truffle tastings, pairings, truffle dog demonstrations, cooking classes and other artisan foods. 66 E 6th Ave - The Eugene Hilton, Eugene. oregontrufflefestival.com

January 17 - Winterfest at the Carousel.

Photo by Shad Bolling.

star, Miranda Lambert, performs on Valentine’s Day. Justin Moore opens the act. matthewknightarena.com

14–15 - 30th Oregon Asian Celebration. Bring your family and friends to experience a weekend full of Asian cultural heritage at the Lane Events Center in Eugene. There will be 25 - The Oregon Symphony colorful performances on three stages featuring Concertmaster Sarah with demonstrations of Asian crafts, Kwak. The Oregon Symphony under martial arts, fine arts and Paul Ghun Kim, conductor and cooking. There will Sarah Kwak, violin performing January 25th: also be children’s Glazunov: Violin Concerto.

Sarah Kwak interactive Also on the program performances, Messiaen: Hymne, workshops, Mozart: Symphony and a No. 35, “Haffner” and marketplace Tchaikovsky: Francesca of more than da Rimini. Willamette 70 vendors, University-Smith including 22 Auditorium, Salem. food booths. Visit the Community Network Room to Through February 6 - Welcome learn about local human to Downtown Eugene’s FIRST First rights and civic groups, or visit the Friday ArtWalk of the New Year. The Kumoricon Room for a taste of the January 2015 tour will kick off at the anime convention experience, including New Zone Gallery and continue down crafts, video games, karaoke and much Broadway, making many stops along more. Lane County Events Center, the way. This free guided tour will be Eugene, Oregon. guest-hosted by Mija Andrade, Resident 28 - Rogue Farms – Gardening: Artist at the Oregon Supported Living Preparing for Spring. Join Rogue Program. Check out the walls of The Farms to learn how to prepare your Jazz Station (124 W Broadway), Urban garden for Spring. Learn when to plant, Lumber Company Furniture Showroom how to irrigate, making your own (28 E Broadway), InEugene Real Estate compost and more. This workshop (100 E Broadway), and conclude this is free of charge and all ages are month’s journey at Pacific Rim Art Guild welcome. & Gallery (160 E Broadway, basement). facebook.com/RogueFarmsHopyard/ See you there! events 14 - Miranda Lambert at Matthew Knight Arena. Grammy awardwinning singer-songwriter and country

FEBRUARY

January/February 2015 • Best Years Yet

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| PEOPLE |

A

 HISTORIC

VISUA L

A DV E N T U R E

I N S I D E

T H E

N F L

B Y

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A few months earlier I had been introduced to Dave by my friend Gail Blanke, who sent a few of my baseball spring training pictures to him. David responded to Gail with a note in green ink. To paraphrase: “This guy is pretty good. I don’t have any photographic work for him at this time, but if he is ever in LA, have him give me a call.”

L E W I S

As a photographer I was pulled into these everchanging mini-dramas.

The lens was my window into the worlds of this special fraternity of humanity.

ROSS LEWIS

n 1972, during a twoweek vacation on the west coast, I had the great privilege of meeting David Boss in his upper-floor office overlooking Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.

David was the Vice President of NFL Creative Services. He was selected for that esteemed position

by NFL commissioner, Pete Rozelle.

R O S S

Tom Landry, Dallas Cowboys.

When I arrived in the NFL offices I was thrilled, nervous and awed.

My meeting with David was polite. I showed him my limited portfolio of photographs, which I had assembled since I began photography only a couple of years earlier. There were no commitments. Just a courteous handshake and a gracious goodbye.

I was doubtful that this meeting would lead to my working for the NFL in the future.

The Letter:

calling, however, I wrote the Letter.

I’d had an idea! I wanted to take pictures of the NFL’s “Americana” posture in the United States, capturing the close-up passion of the game which everyone could relate to as human beings. To me, this was the “time capsule element” that would speak through the ages.

The Call:

Following my return to New York, I often thought about calling Dave.

“Could I possibly do something for the NFL? Anything?” Instead of

Several weeks passed. On a dark fall night, the telephone rang. It was David Boss. I worried that the call was a hoax from one of my friends, but somehow the gods ushered me to listen to the caller and give him credence.

“I received your letter,” he said.

“We are now doing a book that is similar to your idea. Would you like to contribute to it?”

I am not sure exactly what my reaction was at the time. I was certainly startled, unable to believe this miracle telephone conversation.

The voice in LA opened the door for me to launch a glorious 12-year career with the NFL during the 70s and 80s. From that moment, my enduring relationship with the NFL was built on trust, admiration and loyal friendship. I am a privileged human being to have been given this gift in life!

ROSS LEWIS

The Journey:

Nick Buoniconti, Miani Dolphis.

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Best Years Yet • January/February 2015

As I sat at my desk that evening, David proposed that I begin photographing NFL games in keeping with my idea, asking me to

Instead, I was always searching for fresh new angles and perspectives of the drama that surrounded me. I felt privileged to be an intimate part of the non-stop visual moments that made the total NFL experience.

Now, at the age of 71, I often think of my 22-year professional photography career. For the most part I was hired by large corporations to do photographs of people and industry. I was blessed to be awarded with assignments which took me throughout the United States and into Europe, Brazil and Africa. The work was often demanding; images had to be strong and reflect the themes of the corporate missions and messages.

The NFL was a far different environment. Their standards for excellence paralleled those of the

New York Jets bench, New York, Shea Stadium.

ROSS LEWIS

be a contributing photographer on “The Pro Football Experience,” a coffee table book published by Harry Abrams.

To that end, David asked me where I would like to go during the coming weekend. Gingerly, I requested a local New York game. “OK,” he said.

“Where next?”

I wondered how bold I should be with my travel requests. “How about Washington, D.C.?” It was only three hours away by train.

“OK,” he said. “Where next?”

The travel list increased: Boston, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Miami, New Orleans and additional New York games were added to my itinerary.

Every weekend for the remainder of that season I would drive, fly or board a train for my next NFL adventure. Photo credentials were waiting for me in each city. The game was on!

For the next 12 years I was given assignments throughout the eastern United States as far west as Green Bay, Wisconsin for multiple NFL publications. During two Super Bowls in 1979 and 1981, I was the lead photographer who entered Miami and New Orleans one week prior to the main contingent of guests, visitors and executives who arrived the Friday prior to the big game.

Many times I would propose ideas to David Boss. Often he would say, “Go do it!” I was living the dream I’d proposed in ‘72. I was not the sportsaction photographer who captured the precision of every play. Instead, I lived in my own world, continually walking the perimeter of the gridiron and into the upper decks of the stadiums for close-up photographs of the tiny moments and gestures of those who played and witnessed the games. I rarely spoke with anyone.

Ross Lewis, born in New Jersey, is a 1965 graduate of Rutgers University. He was an Associate Director with WCBS-TV News, New York (1968-1978) following two years as an Army Lieutenant and serving in the 7th Infantry Division in Korea. Following his ten-year career with CBS television, Ross launched an international photography career which included his being the NFL’s special assignment photographer. Between 1993-2010 Ross developed “SEE” (Special Eyes On The Environment), a leading special-education photography program throughout New Jersey for over 2,000 children and adults with multiple disabilities. In 2009 Ross was awarded as the “Public Citizen of the Year” by the New Jersey’s National Association of Social Workers. Today Ross’ FineArt photography can be seen and purchased through Ross-Lewis.artistwebsites.com

ROSS LEWIS

ROSS LEWIS

Lonely on the bench.

corporations, yet the NFL never told me what to do or photograph.

Their relationship with me was built upon confidence and trust. I had the freedom to immerse myself in the passion and self-expression which took place in every city on Sundays.

As a photographer I was pulled into these ever-changing mini-dramas.

The lens was my window into the worlds of this special fraternity of humanity.

What still amazes me is that it was all spawned by a hunch one night in a New York studio apartment, the Statue of Liberty glowing in the distance. That old manual typewriter with the black and red ink-ribbon!

That night, it was my friend and my companion in creating the Dream, the Letter and the NFL Adventure!

Rocky Bleier, Pittsburgh Steelers.

January/February 2015 • Best Years Yet

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| BOOKS |

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Best Years Yet • January/February 2015

“Recollections by J.R. Cash: Childhood Memories of Johnny Cash” New book published by Johnny Cash’s youngest daughter all in his own handwriting

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n 1995 Johnny Cash’s daughter gave a book of 365 questions and asked him to fill the questions out for her. One year later, on her birthday, he returned the book to her with the answers completed Most of the questions pertain to his childhood, and paint a clear picture of what it was like to grow up in Dyess, Arkansas, on land that was given to the Cash family as part of the New Deal.

The Cash home was part of the larger Dyess Colony, one of the many efforts during the great depression to provide economic opportunity to Americans. The Cash home illustrates the hardships of the 1930’s and the attempts to bring relief through initiatives like the Dyess Colony. Johnny moved to this new home with his family of nine when he was just three years old, and many of the questions answered in the book relate to his experiences and memories of his life on the family’s cotton farm and home, his childhood and young adult life. The stories are rich with his sentiments Historically, it is an important look into this time period, and equally important to expand on where life began for Johnny Cash, and where his love for music was born.

For more information visit johnnycashstore.com.

“Dead Wake” – Eric Larson From the #1 New York Times bestselling author and master of narrative nonfiction comes the enthralling story of the sinking of the Lusitania, published to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the disaster.

O

n May 1, 1915, a luxury ocean liner as richly appointed as an English country house sailed out of New York, bound for Liverpool, carrying a record number of children and infants. The passengers were anxious. Germany had declared the seas around Britain to be a war zone, and for months, its U-boats had brought terror to the North Atlantic.

But the Lusitania was one of the era’s great transatlantic “Greyhounds” and her captain, William Thomas Turner, placed tremendous faith in the gentlemanly strictures of warfare that for a century had kept civilian ships safe from attack. He knew, moreover, that his ship--the fastest then in service--could outrun any threat.

Germany, however, was determined to change the rules of the game, and Walther Schwieger, the captain of Unterseeboot-20, was happy to oblige. Meanwhile, an ultra-secret British intelligence unit tracked Schwieger’s U-boat, but told no one. As U-20 and the Lusitania made their way toward Liverpool, an array of forces both grand and achingly small--hubris, a chance fog, a closely guarded secret, and more-all converged to produce one of the great disasters of history.

It is a story that many of us think we know but don’t, and Erik Larson tells it thrillingly, switching between

hunter and hunted while painting a larger portrait of America at the height of the Progressive Era. Full of glamour, mystery, and real-life suspense, Dead Wake brings to life a cast of evocative characters, from famed Boston bookseller Charles Lauriat to pioneering female architect Theodate Pope Riddle to

President Wilson, a man lost to grief, dreading the widening war but also captivated by the prospect of new love. Gripping and important, Dead Wake captures the sheer drama and emotional power of a disaster that helped place America on the road to war.

Release Date: Mar 10, 2015

| MUSIC | Bob Dylan - Shadows In The Night New album “Shadows In The Night” Out February 3

C

olumbia Records announced that Bob Dylan’s new studio album, Shadows In The Night, will be released on February 3, 2015. Featuring ten tracks, the Jack Frost-produced album is the 36th studio set from Bob Dylan and marks the first new music from the artist since 2012’s worldwide hit Tempest.

Upon Columbia’s announcement of the album’s forthcoming release, Bob Dylan commented, “It was a real privilege to make this album. I’ve wanted to do something like this for a long time but was never brave enough to approach 30-piece complicated arrangements and refine them down for a 5-piece band. That’s the key to all these performances. We knew these songs extremely well. It was all done live. Maybe one or two takes. No overdubbing.

No vocal booths. No headphones. No separate tracking, and, for the most part, mixed as it was recorded. I don’t see myself as covering these songs in any way. They’ve been covered enough. Buried, as a matter a fact. What me and my band are basically doing is uncovering them. Lifting them out of the grave and bringing them into the light of day.”

As Columbia Records Chairman Rob Stringer explains, “There are no strings, obvious horns, background vocals or other such devices often found on albums that feature standard ballads. Instead, Bob has managed to find a way to infuse these songs with new life and contemporary relevance. It is a brilliant record and we are extremely excited to be presenting it to the world very soon.”

Shadows in the night track listing: 1. I’m A Fool To Want You 2. The Night We Called It A Day 3. Stay With Me 4. Autumn Leaves 5. Why Try to Change Me Now 6. Some Enchanted Evening 7. Full Moon And Empty Arms

“I don’t see myself as covering these songs in any way. They’ve been covered enough. Buried, as a matter a fact. What me and my band are basically doing is uncovering them. Lifting them out of the grave and bringing them into the light of day.” —Bob Dylan

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8. Where Are You? 9. What’ll I Do 10. That Lucky Old Sun January/February 2015 • Best Years Yet

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| STOP. DO. NOW. |

I get by with a little help from my friends Or, discovering the missing secret ingredient to concoc�ng successful New Year’s resolu�ons | BY STEVE PRAGER

I

just hit a big personal milestone: I finished a book I’ve been working on for what feels like forever. It’s back from the edits and ready to be published as a Kindle book in 2015. Whew! What a relief.

The project is a reference book in a niche as evergreen as dieting or true confessions.

My True Confession Speaking of true confessions, the New Year is almost here and I have a confession to make.

I love making New Year’s Resolutions.

Each and every New Year’s Day I thrill at the chance to start over, to be reborn from the ashes of last year’s sloth as the lean, mean phoenix of productivity I was meant to be. I relish goal-setting, mind mapping, dream mining and general babbling about projects like a Chatty Cathy doll with a broken pull string.

Another true confession, one you can probably identify with: my New Year’s Resolution success rate has been spotty at best. Some years have been an abject failure on the level of our last Congress. This failure rate is so common, I suspect it’s the main reason most folks eschew New Year’s resolutions the way vampires avoid the garlic section at Safeway.

But this past season I stumbled upon a secret, maybe the secret ingredient that’s been missing from the bouillabaisse of dreams and new gym memberships we concoct every January 1. That fateful missing eleventh of the herbs and spices that bring the flavor of continuous success.

The best news is this secret ingredient of success costs you nothing but your heart and your time. There’s nothing to buy—send no money now! No toothy TV guru will profit here. Our secret is a power that expands as you give to it, and yet you lose nothing. And I bet you already have some of this secret in your life.

The Secret Ingredient of Success I discovered this secret after spending the last umpteen years slaving away over a hot keyboard. It was always right there in my Facebook feed.

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Call it the mother lode of goal accomplishment, the wellspring of personal efficacy.

As it was foretold in 1967: “I get by with a little help from my friends.”

Our Friends They are the secret. Those lovely people we count on to like our latest out-of-focus Facebook selfie, tell us when we have broccoli stuck in our teeth or drive us home after too much holiday cheer.

Before you balk, I’m not saying friends are a commodity we use for success; this isn’t about using your friends for what they can do for you.

Friendship is a beautiful dance of give and take, and just as I happily support my friends in their pursuits, they do the same for me. It’s a blast and it’s what friends do!

How it Works Here’s how it worked for me and my book project: My friend K. suggested I write a vocabulary book, and R. said I should quit talking and start writing. B. gave me much-needed encouragement and some marketing

Best Years Yet • January/February 2015

Throughout history, songwriters, poets and philosophers have reminded us about the nearly magical power of true friendship.

While this theme transcends all generations and musical styles, it seems to have found its greatest expression in the music of the Baby Boomers. Grab your BBFF (Boomer Best Friend Forever) and give these classics a listen!

—”I Can Help,” Billy Swan (1974) —”I Get By With a Little Help from My Friends,” The Beatles (1967) —”You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” Randy Newman and Lyle Lovett (1996) —”I’ll Be There,” The Jackson 5 (1970) —”Lean on Me,” Bill Withers (1972) —”Thank You for Being A Friend,” Andrew Gold (1978) —”You’re My Best Friend,” Queen (1976) —”That’s What Friends Are For,” Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight (1986) —”Wind Beneath My Wings,” Bette Midler (1989) —”You’ve Got A Friend,” James Taylor (1971) —”Stand By Me,” Ben E. King (1961) —”What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life,” Ronnie Milsap (1977)

Each and every New Year’s Day I thrill at the chance to start over, to be reborn from the ashes of last year’s sloth as the lean, mean phoenix of productivity I was meant to be. I relish goal-setting, mind mapping, dream mining and general babbling about projects like a Chatty Cathy doll with a broken pull string. advice, while K.P. and S.C. kept asking how the project was going.

S.S. gave me some poppin’ word suggestions and J.S. reminded me to focus and not spread myself too thin.

B.S. told me how to find an editor, R.P. offered suggestions to make the book more pop-oriented. K. offered some valuable pre-editing. When I was stuck, C.C. gave me the name of a great editor that fit my budget.

M. said he would help me set up an online platform, J.R. turned me on to online publishing and T.B. said he wanted to buy the first copy.

excited and jumped in to help. That’s what friends do for each other.

So let’s take action. Are you talking about your dreams and goals with your friends? Have you asked for their help? Are you partnering with them and inviting them to come along with you on your journey?

Whether you need a work-out partner to keep you slogging to the gym or a writing coach to spur you along, your friends can be the secret missing ingredient to your success.

Tel-e-graph, Tel-e-phone, Tell-a-friend

Steve Prager is a retired military musician and Postmaster who lives in an old cottage near downtown Salem. He stays busy collecting one syllable words, writing cheery obituaries, learning how to play jazz and trying new things.

How did I get all this support?

With my mouth! I asked for it!

As part of our ongoing time together, I told my friends about my goal, asked for their suggestions and bounced ideas off them. They got

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January/February 2015 • Best Years Yet

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| MUSINGS FROM APIFERA FARM |

Smiling With The Goat No matter what stage of life, humor is a good medicine and antidote for many troubles. “Use your muscles to smile rather than frown,” my mother always said. If there is one creature in the world that can make you laugh, it is the goat.

Of course, you may have been saying off-color things to that same goat only moments before. Not many of you live on a farm as I do, but I am going to share a life lesson with you that I learned from a goat. This lesson includes some goathandling skills, just in case one walks into your life (or should I say, walks into your yard under your fence).

B

uy a whole bunch of pasture fence. Make sure it’s five feet tall. To be safe, buy deer fencing and weave it together so it will be about 24 feet tall. Spend your whole weekend getting it up. Do nothing else but focus on that fencing. Run electric wire on the top of the fence and the bottom of the fence. Heck, put four strands of electric wire on the fence.

Get some rebar and tap it into the ground all along the bottom and then wire it to the fence. Wow, that fence will hold a rhinoceros, you think. So you can go get a goat now. Before you put the goat in the pasture, introduce yourself by first name only. Goats are smart; they know you have a name.

Show the goat the gate, and put her on the other side of the gate. Smile.

Explain to the goat that her side is there, and your side is here. Point out that her side has electrical currents.

OOPS! She figured that out.

You have worked hard! You are now hungry. Make a good sandwich, preferably with homegrown tomatoes and homemade bread. Add some lettuce and greens. Get a lawn chair.

Now you can sit and enjoy that sandwich. Refrain from alcohol at this stage.

As you chew the luscious tomato

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you’ve spent months nurturing, take notice! The goat is happily roaming in the nicely fenced pasture you made just for her. Call out to her. “Hello! I see you!” Enjoy the sweet sounds of the goat calling back to you in goat bleats. I will translate: “Hello!” says the goat. “I see you too! What are you eating? You are so close, I can smell the bread! I love bread. Must have bread.

Best Years Yet • January/February 2015

I’ll be right there! OH! Ouch! Electric current! No problem, it’s over now.

There now, here I am! I will join you and your sandwich.”

Do not panic. Do not raise your voice to the goat. It is your fault for eating within 500 yards of her. Say nice things to the goat, then lead her back to the pasture with a bit of the bread. Ask her if she learned that touching the electric fence has consequences. She stares at you.

Return to your lawn chair, and your sandwich. Fidget a bit in the chair getting your position right. Finally, you are settled and comfy. You are anticipating that moment your mouth meets that tomato. But what is this?

Footsteps, quick little footsteps, are coming from behind you.

“Hello! I’m right here with you again!” says the goat. “Good, there is more bread!”

Although you are getting a bit irked, try to refrain from yelling. Once again, lead your goat back to the pasture.

What’s that? She won’t budge. Entice her with more bread. Nope, she won’t move. This usually works: pretend you don’t care what she does and don’t look at her as you walk back to her paddock and take an empty bucket and put rocks in it. Shake the bucket.

“Why are you shaking rocks in that bucket?” the goat wonders.

Move on to the next plan of attack.

Kick the bucket and say things directly to the sky. This will do no good as far as getting the goat to move your way, but you’ll feel somewhat better.

The lunch hour is way past over.

You have other things to do. There is only one more alternative. Go back to your lawn chair. Fold it up. Forget about the lawn chair. Go back to the goat pasture. Find a good rock to sit on. Enjoy your sandwich as much as possible. Because here comes the goat. Share the crusts with her.

Rush to the gate, shut it. You have slight indigestion since you ate so fast. Return to your house for some antacid. Oh look, the goat is there to greet you! How did she do that, you wonder? Do not waste one more second wondering. Just accept it. The sooner you accept a goat is a goat, you will have learned a valuable life lesson: there is no such thing as control.

As long as the goat is at your side, stand with her for a minute. Yes, she is tasting your shoelaces, but while she does, take the time to just be yourself, standing with a goat. Look at the sky. Look at your roses. Look at the goat eating your roses. It’s okay; they will grow back next year. The goat loved your roses. You have given her a beautiful gift with them. And she has taken away your control fetish, which can cause much stress and lead to all sorts of physical symptoms (especially at your age).

So you see, having a goat around will keep you much healthier. They eat your bread so you won’t, keep you walking and prune your plants.

Katherine Dunn is an artist, writer, and shepherdess living on Apifera Farm with her landscaper husband, lovingly known as The Dirt Farmer. Apifera is also home to many adopted elderly barn animals called The Misfits, which she writes about in short stories. Her art is showcased on Sundance, collected internationally and featured in her books. You can see her art, photography and books at katherinedunn.us and meet the many Misfits on her blog, apiferafarm.

Mature Living Choices

Community Name

Marian Estates Campus

Location

390 SE Church Street Sublimity, OR 97385 503.769.3499 1.800.440.2669 Call for a tour.

MarianEstates.com

Dallas Retirement Village

377 NW Jasper St. Dallas, Oregon 97338 Phone: 503-623-5581 Fax: 503-623-2901 dallasretirementvillage.com

Buy-In, Monthly Rental #Units

Ho us eke Tra epin g ns po rta Uti liti tion es Pla Inclu nn de d ed Me Activ mo itie ry s Ca re

Best Years Yet guide to Complete Retirement Communities

Amenities

Marian Estates is located on 38 beautiful acres in Sublimity, just minutes from Salem and offers Complete Retirement with No Buy In. Home cooked meals and choices are offered campus wide. There are no scheduled meal times in Independent living, dine at your leisure from a full menu or allow us to delivery to your home. Assisted Living and Nursing residents enjoy up to six different meals options for lunch and dinner.

Other amenities include, full gym, walking paths, bank, beauty/barber shop, gift shop, party hall, pharmacy services and life enriching activities.

“No Buy-In” •Independent Living: Cottages, Garden Homes •Assisted Living •Nursing Care •Alzheimer’s & related disorders special care & rehabilitation available. Call for detailed information.

“No Buy-In” •Independent Living: Apartment, Townhome •Assisted Living •Nursing Care •Alzheimer’s & related disorders special care & rehabilitation available. Call for detailed information.

An immaculately kept 30 acre campus situated among rolling farmland, vineyards, and yet close to all the necessary amenities; all levels of care in a single beautiful setting: different styles of independent living, assisted living, memory care, and a renowned skilled nursing center with rehab & therapy; a full host of activities, wellness programs, and travel opportunities; soon launching our new “Lodge” community center and new Lodge residences.

Senior Center Wish List Center 50+ 2615 Portland Rd NE, Salem, OR, 97301 (503) 588-6303

• Storage cabinets with shelves and doors for kitchen.

• Games and supplies.

• TV trays (six sets of four).

• Art supplies (colored pencils, art paper, paint, glue sticks, felt markers, pens, etc.).

• Handmade winter hats and scarves of all sizes and ages.

Silverton Senior Center

Santiam Senior Center

• 15+ passenger van/bus, plus insurance for a year.

• Endowments and/or donations for operating costs (current funding grant monies are about to end).

• Money for sponsoring programs and classes.

• 40+ large flat screen TV. • Electric scooter or electric wheelchair.

• Desktop computers or lap top computer.

• PA system.

• Volunteers: lawn mowing and yard work.

• Bookshelves.

• Smaller entertainment center for TV. • Items for Annual Auction, i.e. overnight stays, vacation, getaway packages or time shares, new camping equipment and camp sites.

41818 Kingston Jordan Rd SE, Stayton, OR, 97383 (503) 767-2009 • 8 ft. long white folding tables. Six would be a great help.

• Locking file cabinet (two or four drawers).

• Computer software (Windows 8).

• Office chairs (2).

• Room or window air conditioner (3).

• Cold drink dispenser- Coke machine (we can fill ourselves).

• Card tables (10).

• Electric Bingo board.

• Very large bulletin board - 4ft x 8ft.

115 Westfield St, Silverton, OR, 97381 (503) 873-3093

The Senior Center wish list is a complimentary service provided to senior centers by Best Years Yet. Send your wish list for possible inclusion to bestyearsyetpub@gmail.com

January/February 2015 • Best Years Yet

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| PARTING SHOTS |

GEORGE GENTRY/U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

The Fiechter Barn

The Fiechter Barn - William L. Finlay National Wildlife Refuge

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Best Years Yet • January/February 2015

Advertise in Best Years Yet Call 503.507.1228 for more information

January/February 2015 • Best Years Yet

15

Beat the winter blues at the Gilbert House!

20%

Gilbert House Children’s Museum is inspiring children to learn through creative play! Come explore indoor handson exhibits that engage children in the sciences, arts and humanities.

*Sale ends 2/28/15 Not to be combined with other offers or coupons.

Not valid on previous purchases.

We have exciting new membership options! acgilbert.org/membership/ Inspiring children to learn through creative play!

(503) 363-9744 • 1210 Commercial Street SE • Salem, OR 97302 116 Marion Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97301 | 503-371-3631 | acgilbert.org

Sale ends 2/28/15 - Not to be combined with any other offers or coupons. Not valid on previous purchases.

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Best Years Yet • January/February 2015