Getting through life's changes

It has been said that life has many beginnings, and those of us who are seniors have lived through many of those new beginnings, or major transitions in our life. Do you remember when you first started going to school, or went away to college or the military service, or started a new job, or got married or divorced, or became a parent or grandparent, or retired from work, or suffered the loss of a loved one, or were stricken with a life-changing health problem, or became a caregiver, or moved to some type of senior housing environment?

Those are just a few of the major transitions that can occur in one's life, and when one of them happens it seems like our whole world becomes uprooted, and we need to go through the planting process all over again. All of those transitions and many more are a normal part of life, and we should have been expecting them and been prepared to deal with them.

However, we probably weren't aware that many of those major events would happen, so we most likely were unprepared to take full advantage of the opportunity for personal growth that each of them presented. Wouldn't it be nice if life transitions were taught in school so everyone could do a better job of anticipating them and have a plan to deal with them? Maybe then our life would be a little smoother, without so many bumps in the road.

The above was researched and written by Senior Center member Rich Brockmann.

Holiday schedule announced

Please mark your calendar for the schedule adjustments in the upcoming weeks. The Senior Center, Senior Dining and the Clothes Closet will be closed all day on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. The Clothes Closet will also close at noon on Dec. 24 and noon Jan. 31.

Home know-how
Join us at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 5 for the next free home maintenance class provided by Ace Hardware of Faribault. This class will focus on winter safety at home and on the road and you will learn tips for living safely in Minnesota's season of snow, ice and cold.
The class is open to the public and will be held in the Senior Center's dining room. Please call the Senior Center, 332-7357, to preregister.

Winter weather
At this time of the year, it is always a good idea to be prepared for severe winter weather. Living in Minnesota, we all know that a snowstorm can shut down our normal activities in a hurry. The Senior Center makes their cancellation decisions using the public school closings as a guide. If school is called off for the day, the Senior Center and the Clothes Closet will also be closed. If school has a late start, you will need to listen to the local radio station, KDHL, for an announcement about our closing status. If you don't hear anything on the radio, you can assume that we are open.

Reminders and deadlines

Just a reminder to our current senior center members that we would like to have as many renewals completed as possible before the year's end.
Health insurance counseling service has been cancelled for Friday. Next appointments will be offered in January.
Newsletter assembly will be done in the dining room on Tuesday, following the noon meal.
Have family members coming to visit this Christmas? Why not take a shopping trip to the Clothes Closet? We continue to have great deals on winter clothing for all ages.
There is still time to purchase a gift certificate for one of the services that we offer here at the Senior Center. We have them for Senior Dining, 2012 membership dues, Foot Clinic and the Clothes Closet.
Christmas dinner at Senior Dining is tomorrow. Reservations were required.
New Year's brunch scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 30. Call to sign up.

Upcoming trips

Jackpot Junction on Jan. 3 and 4, 2012. Gaming package includes $50 in free play and "50-plus Wednesday perks." Cost is $48, including transportation and hotel, meals on your own.
"Hairspray" at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 25. $75 pays for lunch (chosen from the menu), performance and transportation. Reservations must be made by Jan. 5.
Brochures are still available for 2012 Costa Rica and Belgium, Netherlands and Paris tours.
Hannibal, St. Louis, Memphis, Jefferson City and more! Feb. 22-27, 2012. Included are lots of sightseeing, entertainment, good food, nice hotels and a great time. Brochures with prices and details available at the Senior Center. Prompt sign-up is encouraged.

— Mona Kaiser is the director of the Faribault Area Senior Center. She may be reached at 332-7357.