This week we celebrate the Fourth of July. This means that there will be fireworks for most of the week. It’s a time to celebrate the United States of America. Hopefully, you have attended one of the many parades in the area. It’s too bad that Schoolcraft couldn’t have a parade, but as the Detroit Tigers used to say, “Wait until next year.” I’m hoping that everyone celebrates the Fourth safely. If travel is part of your holiday, please drive defensively and remember, “He who comes forth with a fifth on the fourth, may not come forth on the fifth.”
In previous columns, I’ve touched on taking proper care of our eyesight and hearing. Here are some ways to protect your sense of taste and smell:
• Stay hydrated. Dehydration can reduce the body’s ability to produce saliva. Saliva is a crucial component of tasting, so we should all drink plenty of water and limit our salt intake. Never pass up a water fountain.
• Retrain your nose. Studies suggest that repeated focus on certain scents may help train your brain to regain your sense of smell. You can collect four scents from your everyday life. These might include eucalyptus, rose, lemon, or clove. Smell one for fifteen seconds while trying to remember what it once smelled like. Rest for ten seconds, then switch to each of the other three. Every few months, try another set of four.
• Brush and floss regularly. It has been said that poor oral hygiene and diseases affecting the gums can alter taste sensations. Routine brushing and flossing can help. If you use a mouthwash, don’t rinse your mouth after spitting the mouthwash out.
• Keep up with your vaccines. Every time you get a cold, flu or bout of COVID, it takes a toll on your smell receptors, reducing their ability to regenerate. It’s also smart to limit your contact with people who are sick. This makes sense altogether. Make sure you get plenty of good sleep and keep a healthy diet as much as possible.
If you are not a member of the Commission on Aging (COA), you might want to check on it, because the COA offers many programs that benefit our senior citizens. In Three Rivers, check with the Rivers Enrichment Center and Residence at 1200 West Broadway Street. Phone numbers are (269)279-8083 or 1-800-641-9899. If you are from the Sturgis area, stop by Oaks Enrichment Center, 306 North Franks Avenue. The phone numbers for Oaks Enrichment Center are the same as Three Rivers. Hours for both facilities are 8 AM until 4 PM, Monday through Friday. I’ll do what I can to keep you advised on some of their many activities.
Like most men, I’ve tried my best to understand women. Many years ago, I found myself walking the Lake Michigan Beach in South Haven. I came across a strange looking bottle in the sand with the top still intact. I carefully removed the cap and believe it or not, a Genie appeared. The Genie had been held captive in the bottle for quite sometime. After I released him, he granted me a choice of two wishes. My first wish was to have a bridge running from Los Angeles to Honolulu. This way I wouldn’t have to deal with airline travel. The Genie said that this wish would be almost impossible to grant due to the expense and difficulty with the construction. The Genie asked me what another wish might be. I replied that I would like a book that would explain everything I needed to know to better understand how a woman thinks. Without delay, the Genie said, “Would you like that bridge to be two-lane or four-lane?”
See you Out and About!
Norm Stutesman lives in Three Rivers. He receives mail at P.O. Box 103 in Three Rivers.
