Olney Senior Cub Center Chats By Pat Curtis

OK, it is September, so neat things happen this month -- right?? The answer is, “Yes,” but things are a bit different this year. By this time, we should be rid of 90’s, but here we are still running our air conditioners. My opinion is that September caught COVID and is running a temperature. Some cool mornings have given us the inkling that perhaps fall is near, but Old Sol turns the table on us. At least the Harvest Moon aka Corn Moon is right on schedule. A look at the rising of the moon is quite breathtaking as that big old moon appears as a deep orange orb bigger than normal. And, it is right on schedule since the autumnal equinox is on September 22 this year. Watch the moon rise and enjoy the spectacular view! If you see some lady walking around squinting her eyes trying to see, ask her if she has lost or misplaced her prescription glasses. If she says she has lost them, have her to call or come by The Cub Center --- we’ve had some pretty ones here since the big Texoma Gives day on the 8th. Since I’m on the topic of TEXOMA GIVES, here are the winners of the drawings from that day: Hubert Gray won twice, Jerri Corbin Ford won twice, and the following won one drawing - Pat Curtis, Edwana Fikes, James Ford, Donna Crow, Bethany Butler, and Sylvia Furr. The grand prizes consisting of four tickets to Rangers games went to Kimberly Watkins, Herrold Braddock, and Ginger Hilton. Congratulations to everyone and thanks for coming to the Center. We are especially thankful for all of you who so generously donated to The Cub Center.

Grasshoppers have been feasting on some of my airplane plants, so it appears that I have a new species of said plant, but, alas, it’s just those crazy hoppers who think they are barbers. Perhaps I should get a red-whiteblue barber sign installed next to my plants. I hate killing any bug since they have a purpose in our ecosystem, but at some point I draw the line. Grasshoppers be gone or suffer the consequences! The spotlight this week is on James Wiley. He is our bus driver/ meal deliverer/ tray disperser in dining hall/ funnyman. His aim in life (I think) is to, at some time or another, to pull a prank on everyone at least once. His quiet demeanor and sweet smile belie the fact that he is truly a jokester. He is dear to all of us at The Center, and we look forward to seeing him each day. He makes us smile!! Thanks, James, for delivering Meals on Wheels, for taking people to doctor appointments, for carrying our trays to us at lunchtime, and for being the trickster you are. We wouldn’t want you to be any other way!

Last week we said goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years in Great Britain. Much pomp and ceremony! As Americans we don’t fully understand the esteem a monarch has or even why some countries have kings and queens. Their upkeep costs a tremendous amount of money and the heirs to the throne are often pitted against one another. They are figure heads and world representatives for their respective countries, but hold no direct power in governing their nations. Last week America lost a great intelligence with the passing of Stephen Hawking. His cosmic revelations and research have opened up many questions and possibilities about the universe we live in. He was stricken with ALS as a young man, but his paralysis did not hold him back in his delving for answers.

Have a super week!