NIAGARA, Wis. — As we age, we all begin to notice a certain amount of forgetfulness. It is to be expected. When we were younger, we rarely forgot. Remembering names, birthdays, tasks to do at home and work was not a problem, and a quick trip to the grocery store did not require a list. We could easily recall dates and places both past and present. Questions at our annual physical — if we even had an annual physical — did not include remembering, and repeating, where John Brown lived.

Now, however, after we reach a certain age, we can lose our train of thought mid-sentence if we get interrupted while speaking. We forget what we got up to get if the trip to retrieve it is too long. We do not leave the house without a list — not only of the individual items we need from the grocery store, but also of the additional places we need to go. My calendar book has become indispensable to me. It keeps track of all of my appointments along with a short task list for each day so I do not overlook something in the course of the week. I make a list of the phone calls I need to make. But as long as I can continue to pass that memory test at the doctor’s office, I am told I am fine.

Well, I am beginning to doubt the validity of that memory test after what happened this past week. My husband and I have a morning routine. We watch a little news — just a little so as not to cast a cloud over the day. Then while he is in the shower, I ride my stationary bike. While he gets dressed, I set up breakfast either in the kitchen or on the deck depending upon the weather. We work through our daily crossword puzzles and word searches and talk about what we plan to accomplish that day. We check the mail and go through it right away. Then we do dishes together, and I get cleaned up. Then we go our separate ways until lunch time. Eventually, it is happy hour.

On this particular day, we deviated from that routine ever so slightly. It was laundry day, and the first load was already finished and needed to be moved to the dryer. I had put on a small saucepan of four eggs to boil for the salads we were going to have for supper. Generally, once the eggs come to a boil, I turn off the burner, put the lid on, and set the stove timer for 10 minutes for a perfect hard-boiled egg. Once cooled, they get peeled and stored in the fridge until I am ready to use them. But today, my husband said, “I will take care of dishes this morning. There are not many. You can just go about getting the laundry finished.” As well intentioned as this gesture was, it was a big mistake. The routine was broken … there was a blip in my brain in that moment.

I left the kitchen and headed for the laundry room to continue switching loads of wash. My husband headed upstairs to do a bit of work in the office. I continued getting cleaned up for the day and got dressed. Then I watched a little HGTV while the machines did the laundry. At one point, I heard a pop. I did not think anything of it right away placing the blame on my new washing machine; it makes many little noises in the course of its cycles that were not made by my old machine. Then I began to smell something metallic. I checked my washer and dryer first, hoping it was not a malfunction in either of them. I could not see anything out of the ordinary — no smoke anywhere. So, I returned to my HGTV show. I heard a couple of more pops, and the odd smell continued.

Shortly thereafter, my husband appeared and said, “Suzie, come here a minute.” I asked him what he needed, and he just said to follow him … back into the kitchen. I looked at the kitchen floor, and it still did not register. I saw what I thought was a broken dish or picture. I scanned the kitchen walls wondering what had fallen and why. My husband noticed my confusion and actually had to say, “your eggs” before I realized what had happened. He had heard the same pop I had heard all the way upstairs and had noticed the strange smell. Thankfully, he had come down to investigate, and that is when he saw the disaster.

Left unattended all this time, the water in the stainless-steel sauce pan had boiled away, hence the metallic odor. Then the eggs had cooked to the point where they had exploded out of their shells and landed all over my kitchen. The floor and counters were littered with bits of very hard-boiled egg and what had once been their shells. Those boiling eggs had so completely left my mind that I did not even know what I was looking at until he told me. I could not believe it! We cleaned up the mess and soaked the pan, which cleaned up nicely the following day, leaving no trace of my absent mindedness.

I cannot tell you how this incident lingered in my brain, making me feel my age more than I had ever felt it before. I enjoy cooking and pride myself in my culinary ability. I am trying new recipes all the time, tweaking others and devising my own new ones. So, to screw up boiled eggs was incredible to me! But what really bothered me was how completely those eggs had left my mind the minute I stepped out of the kitchen. My husband tried teasing me out of my funk and stopped when it became very clear that approach was not working.

The most ironic part of it was that just days before this “egg incident” I had been talking with my brother on the phone. Our mother had lived with him for 13 years as her dementia worsened to the point where she needed nursing home care. He was recounting some of the behaviors he had noticed, and one of them was “forgetting that she was cooking something on the stove — specifically scrambled eggs!” So, then I began to wonder if this was the beginning of something to worry about for me.

Finally, I had to just let it go and chalk it up to aging. I also told myself that at least it was not the washer and dryer as I had initially feared. It was easily cleaned up and cost nothing more than a little personal pride. I vowed never to leave the kitchen again until whatever I had placed on the stove was either finished or had been moved to the oven and the timer set.

I am sure that with a little passage of time, this will become a funny story that I can share with friends. And my husband will be able to tease me about it. And I can remember it as the day that my kitchen became a foundry!

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NURSING HOMES/SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES

Freeman Nursing and Rehabilitation Community

Kingsford

906-774-1530

Freeman’s has resumed small group activities. Visitation is being allowed twice weekly with screening and COVID-19 testing required before entering the building. All precautions are still being taken to protect residents. Everyone has adjusted to this new normal; however, they are all looking forward to a great get- together when it is safe to do so.

Maryhill Manor

Niagara, Wis.

715-251-3172

Scheduled visits are being allowed in the facility’s living room. Visitors should call ahead to reserve. The weekly Happy Hour and bingo have resumed for residents only. No additional information is currently available.

Golden Living Center

Florence, Wis.

715-528-4833

Visitation is allowed in designated areas only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Each visit is limited to 30 minutes and must be scheduled in advance. All visitors will be subject to health screening before entering the facility. Residents have resumed some small group activities.

Victorian Pines

Iron Mountain

906-774-5158

Sunday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1:30 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Monday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Tuesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; “Wheel of Fortune,” 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Thursday: Lutheran Bible study, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; music with Chris and Larry, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Friday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Saturday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; movie and popcorn, 2 p.m.

Pinecrest Medical Care Facility

Powers

906-497-5244

Sunday: One-to-one visits, 10 a.m.; time outside, 2 p.m.

Monday: Bus ride, 10:30 a.m.; resident council, 10:30 a.m.; ice cream social, 2 p.m.; outside social, 3:30 p.m.; one-to-one visits, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Coffee social, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 1:30 p.m.; cards, 3:30 p.m.; one-to-one visits, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Fair outing

Thursday: Coffee social, 10 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; cards, 3:30 p.m.; room visits, 6 p.m.

Friday: Shopping, 10:30 a.m.; Catholic Mass in multi-purpose room, 2 p.m.; rosary (radio), 2:30 p.m.; games, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday: Bingo, 10:30 a.m.; one-to-one visits, 2 p.m.

SENIOR CENTERS

Alpha-Mastodon Center

906-875-3315

Amasa Center

906-822-7284

Now open for dine-in eating — serving at 11:30 a.m. Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Ham, potato salad, coleslaw

Wednesday: Meatballs, mashed potatoes, peas, carrot coins

Thursday: Spaghetti, green beans, garlic bread, lettuce salad

Note: All meals include milk, bread and butter, fruit and dessert

Breen Center

Kingsford

906-774-5110

Now open for dine-in eating — serving at noon. Carry-out meals also are available. Menu for the week —

Monday: Liver or sausage, potatoes, carrots

Tuesday: Egg bake, applesauce, fresh fruit

Wednesday: Lasagna, corn, garlic bread

Thursday: Hard or soft shell tacos, corn, salsa and sour cream,

Friday: Chicken Alfredo, garlic bread, green beans

Note: All meals served with a choice of skim milk or juice and fruit

Crystal Falls Center

Head cook: Lucy Korhonen

906-875-6709

Crystal Lake Center

Iron Mountain

906-774-2256, ext. 230 or 235.

Home-delivered meals only — call to make arrangements. Menu for the week —

Monday: Ham and cheese sliders, macaroni and cheese, broccoli

Tuesday: Sloppy Joes, tater wedges, cauliflower

Wednesday: Barbecue chicken, mixed vegetables, buttered noodles

Thursday: Lasagna, garlic bread, carrots

Friday: Italian sub sandwich, string cheese, chips, pickle, yogurt

Note: All meals include a choice of skim milk, juice, or no beverage

For more information, call Christine McMahon at 906-774-2256

Felch Center

906-246-3559

Now open for dine-in eating — call for serving times. Carry-out meals also are available. Menu for the week —

Monday: Barbecue pork, potato chips, coleslaw

Tuesday: Chef salad, dinner roll, fruit

Wednesday: NIGHT MEAL — Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, watermelon, corn, biscuit

Note: All meals served with skim milk or juice

Aging and Disability Resource Center of Florence County, Wis.

715-528-4890

Director: Tiffany White

Restrictions have lifted at some centers. Menu for the week —

Monday: Turkey ranch wrap, potato salad, string cheese, fruit

Tuesday: Stuffed shells with meat sauce, spinach salad, green beans, fruit

Wednesday: Country style ribs, sauerkraut, baked sweet potato, peas and carrots, cinnamon roll cake

Thursday: Chicken strips, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, fruit

Friday: Sub sandwich, potato salad, three bean salad, fruit

Note: All meals served with whole grain bread, butter and milk

Fence Center/Town Hall

715-336-2980 — RSVP for meal at 855-528-2372

Same as ADRC menu, home-delivered only.

Florence Community Center/Town Hall

RSVP for meal at 715-528-4261

Same as ADRC menu. Now open — serving at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday.

Tipler Town Hall

715-674-2320 – RSVP for meals

Same as ADRC menu, home-delivered only.

Hillcrest Senior Dining Center, Aurora

715-589-4491 – RSVP for meals

Same as ADRC menu. Now open — serving at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Hermansville Center

Coordinator: Pam Haluska

906-498-7735

Iron River Center

906-265-6134

Now open for dine-in eating – serving at 11 a.m. Carry-out meals also available. Menu for the week –

Monday: Scalloped potatoes and ham, mixed vegetables, roll, fruit

Tuesday: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, corn, fruit

Wednesday: Pepperoni pizza, side salad, fruit

Thursday: Parmesan chicken, noodles, cauliflower, breadsticks, dessert

All meals include 8 ounces skim milk or juice

Norway Center

Director: Michelle DeSimone

906-563-8716

Now open for dine-in eating served restaurant style beginning at 11 a.m. Take-out meals will remain available for pick-up. Menu for the week —

Monday: Polish sausage and sauerkraut, red potatoes, green beans

Tuesday: Cranberry chicken wrap, sweet potato fries, broccoli

Wednesday: TWO MEAL DAY — 11 a.m., turkey burger, tater tots, peas; 5 p.m., barbecue ribs, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables Note: Ribs are pick-up only

Thursday: Baked chicken breast, baked potato, spinach

All meals include milk, juice, fruit, bread and dessert

Sagola Center

906-542-3273

Now open for dine-in eating — call for serving times. Carry-out meals also available. Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Country-fried steak, mashed potatoes, corn, Mandarin oranges

Wednesday: Barbecue chicken, roasted potatoes, mixed vegetables, peaches

Thursday: Beef tips, mashed potatoes, peas, mixed fruit

All meals served with fruit and choice of skim milk or juice.