WWURA NEWS
Western Washington University Retirement Association
- - Welcoming Retired WWU Faculty and Staff and others - - JANUARY 2023 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - wwura.wwu.edu
Inside:
Calendar
President's Notes
Interest Groups:
Health Notes
Cooking for One
Book Review
Getting to Know Members
* EVENTS *
A February Valentine Gathering is being planned.
Travelogues, etc. are being discussed for the Spring.
Even excursions may happen again this year!
. . . . . . .... NOTES on recent events: ...
The December 11, 2022 Bellingham Jingle Bell Run:
Over 1700 people participated!
It raised about $128,000 for The Arthritis Foundation.
The WWURA Team took part.
~~~
Over 30 members enjoyed the Dec 14th Holiday Party.
President’s Notes
In December, 32 WWURA members gathered in the Encore Room at the Mount Baker Theater to share food, song, stories and fellowship during the holiday season. All comments (and the volume of conversation in the room) confirm that the members were actively engaged with each other. The provided main dishes and the members' contributions were enjoyed … and as always the desserts were probably the star of the show.
In response to the success of the Holiday Gathering, the WWURA Board at Tuesday's meeting decided that we should sponsor another get-together around Valentine’s Day…a mid-afternoon “Tea and Cookies” gathering. The date is not confirmed yet as we are seeking confirmation on a site. We are hoping the MBT will be available on the dates we submitted but if not we are looking for another facility that will handle us…are you aware of a space that would fit 30-40 people that might be an option? Does anyone live in a community that has a recreation/meeting space? Please let me know of any sites at (360)733-8145 or via email (Note: cheap is good, free is better).
We are also seeking one or more volunteers to help coordinate the resumption of our “Informal Dining” program. In pre-covid days WWURA co'ordinated monthly gatherings bringing 6-8 random members together for meals/conversation/fellowship hosted by a member that had enough space. My own experiences, both attending and hosting, was very positive and I look forward to starting up again…perhaps with a few changes in format in support of safe gatherings. However, we are in need of one or more members to help coordinate the program . . . or perhaps you might nominate another member who would be a good organizer!
I encourage all members to keep the spirit of community by reaching out… we are healthier and happier when in connection with other human beings. As always stay safe in these continually challenging times!
Kevin
INTEREST GROUPS
If you are interested in one of the groups please call or email the contact person.
BOOK GROUP - Donna Moore, 360-733-5769 dfmoore12@gmail.com
Tuesday, Jan 17th 2:00 pm meet via ZOOM - Lina will send the link.
Jan. book: The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan - discussion leader, Barbara Davidson
Feb. book: The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
Mar. book: A Long Pedal of the Sea by Isabel Allende
INFORMAL DINING - Interested diners, please email B_Davidson33@Hotmail.com
OPERA GROUP - Evelyn Ames, 360-734-3184, eames@comcast.net
2023 Opera season: King FM and CBC Radio 2 broadcast at 1 pm EST
The Met: January 14: radio and HD transmission of Giordano’s Fedora.
January 21 radio broadcast of Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore.
January 28: radio broadcast of Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites.
Seattle Opera: January 20 and 22: concert version of Samson and Delilah
Lohengrin (Mar 18), Falstaff (Apr 1), Der Rosenkavalier (April 15),
Champion (Apr 29); Don Giovanni (May 20), Die Zauberflote (June 3).
A must see/hear for opera lovers: “Renée Fleming makes her highly anticipated return to the Met in the world-premiere production of Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Kevin Puts’s The Hours, adapted from Michael Cunningham’s acclaimed novel. Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway. … “The powerful story follows three women from different eras who each grapple with their inner demons.” A short segment was shown on PBS NewsHour. When completed, the reporter exclaimed “WOW.”
Some YouTube sites to consider: The Intermezzo from Fedora (gives listener idea of how lovely the music is and a couple of arias).
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?&q=arias+from+Fedora+you
+ tube&view=detail&mid=34E1844BFF0C67C9E53834E1844BFF0C67C9E538&FORM=VIRE&ajaxhist =0&rvsmid=645833D1430DD0338370645833D1430DD0338370&form=VDQVAP
Scenes from Fedora: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?&q=arias+from+Fedora+yo
+ tube&view=detail&mid=645833D1430DD0338370645833D1430DD0338370&FORM=VIRE&form=VD RVSR&ajaxhist=0
Elixir of Love: baritone and tenor duet (Bordeaux wine is the elixir.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsLXTlgpOlU Jose Carreras sings Una Furtiva Lagrima https://www.bing.com/videos/search?
&q=elisir+d+amore+you
+ tube&view=detail&mid=A339F121C084AD4F59ABA339F121C084AD4F59AB&FORM=VIRE&form=V DRVRV&ajaxhist=0
WRITING GROUPS
- The original group is all female. We meet on second and fourth Thursdays from 2 p.m till about 4 p.m. If you would like to be part of a supportive group where your writing can be heard and receive feedback, as you wish, at every meeting, we welcome hearing from you.
Contact: Lynne Masland: Lynne.Masland12@gmail.com (360 676-9821)
- The second writing group welcomes any gender.
Usually meets every two to three weeks.
Contact: Bill Smith 360-920-5390, billsmith1545@yahoo.com if interested.
HEALTH NOTES by Evelyn Ames
Mechanisms that Trigger Feelings of Happiness
The pursuit of happiness is enshrined in the founding document of our nation as a fundamental and inalienable right. What does it mean to be happy? How can such happiness be sustained over the long term? Can happiness be accurately gauged or measured? How does the paradoxical relationship between happiness and pleasure shape our quest to lead the good life? In 2017, the top ten countries rated as the happiest were: 1. Norway 2. Denmark 3. Iceland 4. Switzerland 5. Finland 6. Netherlands 7. Canada 8. New Zealand 9. Australia 10. Sweden. The United States was 14th
Underlying factors related to happiness come from two dimensions: endogenic factors, meaning the biological, cognitive, personality and ethical sub-factors and exogenic factors such as behavioral, social-cultural, economical, geographical, and life events. Studies show that biological sub-factors are the significant predictors of happiness. Existence of significant differences in temperament and happiness of infants appear also to be indicators of biological influences. Mounting evidence suggests that the cumulative experiences of positive emotions are critical building blocks supporting happiness, flourishing, and overall life satisfaction. Neuroscience studies show that parts of the brain (e.g., amygdala, hippocampus, and limbic system) and neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and endorphin) play a role in the control of happiness. Cortisol and adrenaline from the adrenal gland and oxytocin from the pituitary gland are involved in controlling happiness.
Endorphin, as studied in happiness, is described as an endogenous opioid peptide functioning as a neurotransmitter. It is released during continuous exercise, fear, love, music, chocolate eating, laughter, sex, orgasm, etc. Increased levels of endorphin are shown to inhibit pain in the body whereas reduced levels of endorphin are shown to inhibit positive feelings. Exercises such as walking, running, gym workouts, and laughing, as well as meditation and listening to music are shown to release endorphin or serve as stimuli to release this hormone, providing feelings of strength, confidence and a mood of well-being and happiness.
International studies comparing rates of happiness and incidence of cardiovascular diseases, in particular hypertension, show the rate of hypertension is low among happy societies. In addition, researchers concluded that special emotions like fear, anger, and happiness, play a clear and important role in psychopathology and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies show that people with happiness are more able to fight cancer and survive. Some researchers have used music therapy to increase positive emotions in individuals with cancer; they concluded that music therapy has a significant effect on dealing with cancer.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27258656/ NIH - National Center for Biological Technology
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763420306801?via%3Dihub
https://www.psychologistworld.com/emotion/10-happiest-countries-happiness-report#:~:text=Top%2010%20Happiest%20Countries%201%201.%20Norway%202,7.%20Canada%208%208.%20New%20Zealand%20More%20items
Happiest Countries in the World
Interesting data from the Gallup World Poll, based entirely on survey scores and answers to the main life evaluation question asked in the poll in over 150 countries.
The 2020 report features the happiness score averaged over the years 2017–2019.
The 2022 Report shows several shifts;
The US changed from 18th to 16th.
Afghanistan ranked last in both reports.
Full data is available in many places, including Wikipedia.
Here are the top 20 countries;
2020 Report:
1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Switzerland
4. Iceland
5. Norway
6. Netherlands
7. Sweden
8. New Zealand
9. Austria
10. Luxembourg
11. Canada
12. Australia
13. United Kingdom
14. Israel
15. Costa Rica
16. Ireland
17. Germany
18. United States
19. Czech Republic
20. Belgium
2022 Report:
1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Iceland
4. Switzerland
5. Netherlands
6. Luxembourg
7. Sweden
8. Norway
9. Israel
10. New Zealand
11. Austria
12. Australia
13. Ireland
14. Germany
15. Canada
16. United States
17. United Kingdom
18. Czech Republic
19. Belgium
20. France
COOKING FOR ONE (or two) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Suzanne Krogh
It was 1960. Newly married Lynne Masland and her first husband were living with her aunt in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Not one of the three knew anything about cooking. The one thing Aunt Isabel could teach Lynne to make was the currently popular “SOS”, which stood for Same Old Stuff or S*** On a Shingle, depending on your view of it. Making SOS involved acquiring a little (reusable!) glass jar of shaved corned beef, adding it to some white sauce, and serving it over toast. Sound familiar? Your aunt or mother probably made it too.
Lynne wasn’t overly fond of corned beef and it wasn’t long before she started substituting canned tuna. Over time, Lynne has decided that creamed tuna on toast is great comfort food, but it needs a bit of modernizing. I like creamed tuna myself, and I’ve enjoyed making Lynne’s version for its creative approach to something so traditional. It was especially welcome during the frigid days of late December, 2022.
Lynne Masland’s Cold Weather Comfort Tuna
Ingredients
1 slice toasted bread
½ 5oz. can white Albacore tuna
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
½ cup milk
1 large or 2 small mushrooms, In bite-size pieces
1 teaspoon butter (for the mushrooms)
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon thyme
1-2 teaspoons white wine or vermouth
salt and pepper to taste
a sprinkle of paprika
Instructions
1. Melt 1 teaspoon butter in a small fry pan and add mushrooms.
Stir over medium heat until cooked through. Set aside.
2. In a small pot, melt butter and add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme.
3. Add 1 tablespoon flour. Cook, stirring over low heat to make a roux.
4. Slowly add wine or vermouth and milk. Stir over heat until thick.
5. Add tuna and mushrooms. Stir and cook until heated through.
Serve over toast with paprika sprinkled on top.
Tips:
1. According to Lynne, the other half of the canned tuna should definitely find its way to a good lunch salad.
2. To make this dish for two, just double everything.
BOOK REVIEW by Minda Rae Amiran
The Slowworm’s Song, Andrew Miller (2022, Europa Editions)
Andrew Miller is not well known in our country, but he is highly regarded in England. His first novel, Ingenious Pain, appeared in 1997, and his latest, The Slowworm’s Song, came out just this year. The story concerns an ordinary man whose life was almost irreparably damaged by his experience as a British soldier in Belfast during The Troubles. Summoned to testify at an inquiry in Belfast some thirty years later, his first concern is that his daughter, Maggie, will reject him forever when she learns what he did there.
The story is narrated by the man, Stephen Rose, a recovering alcoholic, who is living in his deceased father’s house. He was in jail for small time drug dealing when Maggie was born, and when he got out, he didn’t try to join her and her mother. She has only recently tried to get to know him, moving near the small town where he lives to set up a tearoom with her partner, Lorna. He writes a diary/autobiography to try to explain himself to her.
This may sound like desperate stuff, but the novel is really about different kinds of love and forgiveness in daily life, in a completely unsentimental way. There is the love between Stephen and his father, Stephen’s love for Maggie, the love between Maggie and Lorna, and, to a lesser extent, between Stephen and his high school girlfriend, now a friend, and between Stephen and Maggie’s mother. Miller gives Stephen a distinctive voice and character and the writing is vivid. How could a decent young man be involved in an atrocity? How can an army veteran become an alcoholic knowing that he’s ruining his life? We are made to understand these things in a deeply affecting way.
Getting to know Our Members by Lynne Masland
Meeting WWURA Member: Suzanne Krogh
Readers will know me as the person who writes recipes for one (or two). The editor of this column wonders what else I’ve done. Let’s find out!
Where did you grow up?
Some of my ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Chicago. I have an iron bootjack that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
I was born in Oak Park, the first suburb west of the city. However, I only lived there until I was ten and our family moved to Miami. The new North Miami High School graduated its first class in 1955 and I was a member of it.
Where has your life taken you?
If being born to travel is possible, then I guess I was. As soon as I graduated from Florida State University, I left for Hawaii where I worked in a travel agency.
I soon saw that employment would be a good way to support my travels. Coincidentally, marriage and graduate school did too. Thus, Hawaii was followed by Tokyo, Seattle, Washington, DC, Ashland, Eugene, Gainesville, FL, Barcelona, and finally Bellingham with a year off in Bosnia and another in South Korea.
What was your job at Western and what did you like best about it?
In 1990, I left the University of Florida where I had taught early childhood education, and came to Western as chair of Teacher Education. The year before, I had been a temporary chair at UF and I was eager to continue the challenge. After three years, however, Western divided the education college into more departments and I returned to teaching early childhood.
Best of all was supervising student teachers across a range of ages and grades. It was exciting to see students improve their skills, but also so satisfying to interact with classrooms full of enthusiastic little humans.
Tell us about your retirement activities.
I’ve enjoyed travel even more, now that I don’t have to work for it. My favorite has been my membership in England’s HF Holidays, a group devoted to hiking throughout Great Britain. I’ve taken my granddaughter twice, making the experiences even more fun. In addition to participating in WWURA’s writing group, I’ve also continued some professional writing, co-authoring a new edition of an early childhood college textbook. Occasionally, I play (increasingly simple) music on my keyboard, work on a jigsaw puzzle, or try baking something new. Blame Covid hibernation for the recent addition of those last two.
From the Writers
MEMORY
Often the things that trigger
A memory are illusive.
Pictures from the past
Just flash unbidden on the inner
Screen, or a madeleine-like
Trigger floods awareness.
The bits of the past seem so
True: "That's what happened."
If time travel were possible
And all forward experience
Were wiped away - What
Would the former self really
Be experiencing?
When we are gone to another
Realm what of our present reality
Might remain - and will
It seem true - or a constructed
Fiction?
-by Pat Clarke
Spring 2015
~~More Opportunites for Activities in Our Community~~~~~~~
The Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) is a volunteer-led community providing a
variety of educational and cultural programs in a pressure-free environment.
No stress - no tests
Anyone can enjoy these great "classes" - check out the current programs:
https://oce.wwu.edu/academy-lifelong-learning
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Bellingham Senior Activity Center
A variety of wellness programs, classes and other activities.
Computers and coffee bar.
Membership is open to anyone age 50 and better.
https://whatcomcoa.org/bellingham-senior-activity-center/
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