Talking about Alzheimer’s

On April 27 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Portland, David Shenk of New York City gave a lecture on how Alzheimer’s disease touches us all. He spoke to a large and interested audience of about 300 people. He is the author of the groundbreaking book and PBS documentary “The Forgetting: Portrait of an Epidemic.”

Eleanor Goldberg, executive director of the Maine chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, introduced Shenk, and a panel of local experts gave a presentation on “10 ways to maintain your brain.”

Shenk explained that abnormalities in the chemistry of brain and changes in the structure of brain cells prevent nerve cells from functioning. The cell tangles and senile plaques that occur in normal aging are more frequent and widespread in Alzheimer’s disease. I read about this also in a book called “Ourselves, Growing Older,” 1987.

Shenk showed us pictures of a brain with the tangles. The disease is named for Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German neuropathologist, who was an early researcher of brain tissues. Much research is now being done on this disease.

We also had additions to our literary knowledge, as Shenk mentioned many allusions to senility by authors, over several centuries. They include Aristophanes, Homer, Jonathan Swift, William Shakespeare, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Dickens, O. Henry, Hawthorne, and Thoreau. This Shakespeare quote is from his play, “As You Like It:”

“His big manly voice,

Turning again toward childish treble,

Pipes and whistles in his sound.

Last scene of all,

That ends this strange, eventful history

Is second childishness, and mere oblivion,

Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste,

Sans everything.”

Let’s hope and pray for those cures, after all the research.

A movie at Park-Danforth

It was a pleasure to view a famous movie, “The Last Time I Saw Paris,” at Park-Danforth April 29. The film took viewers back a few years, when the stars Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson were at their prime. It was nice to hear the popular song. “The Last Time I Saw Paris,” played frequently during the film.

The film was shown at 1:30 p.m. in the third floor activities room. The appreciative audience enjoyed the chance to reminisce.

Grange members enjoyed spring thoughts

Presumpscot Grange’s April 28 CWA meeting was well-attended, with several visiting Grangers taking part. Presumpscot’s chaplain, Betty Huff, invited the guest officers, with Nancy Clark of Harraseeket Grange as guest lecturer. Other officers were Master Florence Libby of Cape Elizabeth , Grange Overseer Virginia Elwell, Chaplain Harold Gower of Cape Elizabeth, Steward Clayton Collins of Cape Elizabeth, Assistant Steward Eugene Libby of Cape Elizabeth (who also had a strong, singing voice), Lady Assistant Steward Pauline Spencer, White Rock Grange, Secretary Ellie Collins, Treasurer Karin Gower, both of Cape Elizabeth, Pianist Larry Berry, White Rock (we always enjoy his playing), and the three Graces, Pearl Mitchell, Marlene Moore, and Betty Huff.

Nancy Clark’s enthusiasm is catching. She is fond of wildflowers, and had three members read about trilliams, bluebells, and dewdrops. She also passed around slips with tongue twisters typed on them, to be read rapidly by three groups of those present. That was fun! One verse was: “If two witches would watch two watches,

Which witch would watch which watch?”

Try to say that one rapidly!

Harold Gower, guest Chaplain, gave a prayer, all by memory. It was appreciated.

We were all glad to hear that Presumpscot’s Assistant Steward Ralph Moore is improving. He is now doing well, at Brighton Medical Rehab, after a slight stroke. We miss him, and will be glad when he can return to our meetings again.

In conclusion, Nancy Clark gave us a nice message, and said, “CWA Night is special and it honors those who contribute so much to the mission of our wonderful order. Here’s a tribute to the harbinger of Spring in Maine, entitled “Daffodil’s Return.”

What matter if the sun be lost?

What matter though the sky be gray?

There’s joy enough about the house,

For Daffodil comes home today.

And the last verse, in the poem by Bliss Carman (1861-1929)

Oh, who would care what fate may bring,

Or what the years may take away?

There’s life enough within the hour,

For Daffodil comes home today!”

RECIPE

Today’s recipe is easy to make, with many good ingredients, and it’s tasty, too. I made it in 1973, after getting the recipe after a party with a Portland Public Library group. Anna Weiss, who worked in the catalogue room, contributed the recipe.

ANNA’S APRICOT BREAD

1 cup dried apricots

1 cup sugar

2 tbls. soft butter or margarine

1 egg

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup orange juice

2 cups flour

2 tsps. baking powder

1/4 to 1/2 tsp. soda

1 tsp. salt

1/2 cup nuts

Soak apricots, cut in small pieces, in 1/4 cup hot water and 1/4 cup warm water, until soft. Drain. Cream sugar and butter. Add egg. Add water and juice. Sift the dry ingredients together and add to sugar-egg mixture. Blend in the nuts and apricots. Pour into greased, wax-paper-lined 9x5x2 pan. Let stand 20 minutes. Bake 55-60 minutes at 350 degrees. Enjoy!