Today’s column is adapted from one by the same name that ran Nov. 27 of last year. It had been inspired by a post I had received from a friend via Facebook, and I knew immediately that I had to share it. I think it is as pertinent today as it was back then.

That post told the story of a man who overheard an elderly woman and her daughter saying their goodbyes at an airport. During their farewells, they each wished the other “enough.” Upon the departure of her daughter, the elderly woman engaged the man, who was the writer of the original post, in conversation. He asked about their farewell wishes. She explained that it was a long-standing family tradition, handed down from generation to generation, and was intended to show their desire that the other person have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.

I thought this was a most fitting statement to ponder during this season of Thanksgiving. We may be feeling more down this year because so much of our recent history has been filled with difficult news. We continually hear about all of our world problems — from pandemic statistics, to climate catastrophes, to violence in the streets, to our government’s inability to reach agreement on much-needed solutions to these difficulties. We may fall prey to that cynicism that robs us of our ability to see the good things that still exist in our world.

In order to see those positives, we need to be able to actually notice, and then to appreciate, the bright spots of our own individual lives. We need to pay attention to all the reasons we still get out of bed in the morning. Basically, we need to have a set of priorities to which we pay attention every day. As long as we have priorities to which we attend, we have purpose to our life. And that purpose allows us to have a positive attitude.

I am fortunate to be married to a naturally optimistic, positive person. I find that I have to work at it a bit harder and have always considered myself not a pessimist, but a realist. Well, in one of our many early disagreements — I think in about the third year of our marriage — I was trying valiantly to convince my husband of the error in his thinking. I was right, after all, because I “saw things the way they were, not as I wanted them to be.” He looked right at me and said, “If you go through life with your head in the toilet, all you are going to see is s—!” I think you can fill in the blanks and derive his meaning. And, I had to admit, he was right. I have been working ever since to heed his words and to find life’s silver lining more often.

We seem to have a difficult time in today’s world making a determination of how much is enough. We live in communities full of storage facilities to hold all of the stuff our homes and garages can no longer accommodate. Our credit cards are full of charges made for more stuff. We routinely see yard and rummage sales selling items for which their owners no longer have a need. Desires morph into necessities to justify purchases. We appease ourselves by making donations to charitable agencies. Too much of our stuff still ends up in landfills where it contributes to the corruption of our environment. And commercials clog our television viewing and internet surfing all in an attempt to sell us more stuff.

Truth be told, all the stuff in the world cannot fill the void that exists within us that we are trying to satisfy through our purchases. Material possessions cannot provide the antidote to loneliness. By the time we have reached our senior years, most of us have come to that realization. The elderly woman at the airport mentioned in the first paragraph continued with the remainder of her family’s traditional farewell wishes as follows.

“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.” I have always been fond of the old adage, “Into every life, some rain must fall.” Rain, and the hard times it symbolizes, can be a very good thing. We learn how to handle life’s difficulties. We learn how strong we can be when life tests us. And we better recognize and appreciate the good, sunny times when they appear. When life is too easy — when it is always sunny — we lose our ability to cope when our fortunes change. We lose our resiliency. Life gets the best of us. So, we need those rainy days and those difficult times, along with all of the lessons they teach us and the strength they build within us.

“I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.” How much happier we are when we can appreciate the simple things in life, when we do not require expensive luxuries to be satisfied. I enjoy going to an expensive restaurant once in a while and really “letting it snap,” as my father-in-law was fond of saying. My husband and I always went out to a lovely restaurant to celebrate our anniversary. Our ability to set aside that one evening for a “celebration of us” was enough to see us through another year. And the memories of those celebrations sustain us yet today. In fact, our fondest memories are all simple pleasures: pancakes every Sunday morning, campfire cookouts at Piers Gorge when our boys were little, a shared bottle of wine on the deck in retirement, and time spent with friends.

“I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.” It is important to be able to successfully provide for ourselves. There is a lot of confidence and self-esteem acquired through earning our own way through life. We are, after all, raised on the ideal of American rugged individualism. But, again, unless we experience defeat, we can never know the truly sweet taste of success; we have nothing to which to compare it. Life without struggle is simply boring. But life with nothing but failure soon becomes disheartening, and we lose our ability to keep trying.

“I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye.” And there it is in a nutshell. All of us are either on the downward slope of our lives or are almost at the top about to look over the peak to the valley below where we will soon be heading. We need to be conscious of the time we have left so we can make the most of it. We need to spend time with those we love, being present in the moment, and savoring each new day for we never know when that last farewell will come. All we do know is that we have today and all the blessings it is prepared to give us if we but notice and appreciate them.

Enough will never be found in the easy times alone for it cannot be recognized without the struggle and work it takes to acquire. Sun comes after rain. Happiness comes after pain. Gain is experienced only after loss is felt. And the final goodbye is sweetest only after a million hellos are said … and remembered.

——

NURSING HOMES/ SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES

Freeman Nursing and Rehabilitation Community

Kingsford

906-774-1530

Freeman’s has resumed small group activities. Visitation is currently 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.

Sunday: Church on TV, 10 a.m.; “Antiques Roadshow,” 6 p.m.

Monday: Work out jam, 10 a.m.; devotions, 10:15 a.m.; trivia, 10:30 a.m.; group reminisce, 2:30 p.m.; room reminisce, 3 p.m.

Tuesday: Work out jam, 10 a.m.; devotions, 10:15 a.m.; trivia, 10:30 a.m.; horse races, 2 p.m.; room visits, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Coffee chatters, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:30 a.m.; shut the box, 1:30 p.m.; bean bag toss, 2 p.m.; room visits, 3 p.m.

Thursday: Coffee chatters, 10 a.m.; music, 11:30 a.m.; arts and crafts,1:30 p.m.; make a fun story, 2:30 p.m.

Friday: Coffee chatters, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:30 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; in-room visits, 3 p.m.

Saturday: Room visits, 1 p.m.; Uno, 2 p.m.; ice cream social, 3 p.m.

Iron County Medical Care Facility

Crystal Falls

906-874-1501

Sunday: Room visits, 9 a.m.; trivia teasers, 10 a.m.; chair exercise, 11 a.m.; room visits, 12:30 p.m.; bingorama, 2 p.m.

Monday: Cooking, 9 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; DT luncheon, noon; room visits, 1 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; jokes and cocoa, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Book club, 10 a.m.; geri-gym, 11 a.m.; wildlife film, 1:30 p.m.; how do you feel? 2 p.m.; comedy movie, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Coffee social/name that word, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; current events, 2 p.m.; night bingo, 6 p.m.

Thursday: No information available.

Friday: No information available.

Saturday: No information available.

ProMedica

(formerly Manor Care)

Kingsford

906-774-4805

The center is now open for visitation. Visitors no longer need to call in advance.

Sunday: Yahtzee, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Flip-o, 1 p.m.

Monday: Wet your whistle, 9 a.m.; reminiscing, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; leisure cart, 3 p.m.

Tuesday: Wet your whistle, 9 a.m.; manicures, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; birthday party, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: Wet your whistle, 9 a.m.; devotional, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; wild ‘n’ Wednesday social, 2 p.m.

Thursday: No information available.

Friday: No information available.

Saturday: No information available.

Maryhill Manor Nursing Home

Niagara, Wis.

715-251-3172

Visitation is allowed as long as all infection-control guidelines are followed, including wearing a mask, washing hands and social distancing. Daily scheduled activities continue to be for residents only.

Sunday: Scattegories, 10 a.m.; delivery of communion, 12:30 p.m.; rummage bingo, 2 p.m.

Monday: Rosary and communion, 9 a.m.; help your neighbor and hot cocoa, 10 a.m.; pamper and polish, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Rosary and communion, 9 a.m.; prayer service, 9:30 a.m.; Yahtzee, 10 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: Rosary and communion, 9 a.m.; devotionals, 10 a.m.; penny ante, 2 p.m.

Thursday: No information available.

Friday: No information available.

Saturday: No information available.

Florence Health Services

(formerly Golden Living Center)

Florence, Wis.

715- 528-4833

Visitation is allowed seven days a week in designated areas only. 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. There are no group activities at the present time.

Victorian Pines

Iron Mountain

906-774-5158

Sunday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1:30 p.m.; Packers vs. Eagles, 7:20 p.m.

Monday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo, 1:30 p.m.; refreshments, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; birthday party, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; music with Jim Edberg, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday: Juice time,10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; Lutheran Bible study, 1 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Friday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; music recital, 1:30 p.m.

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

Pinecrest Medical

Care Facility

Powers

906-497-5244

Sunday: Karaoke, 10:30 a.m.; Phase 10, 2 p.m.

Monday: Social circle, 10:30 a.m.; movie, 2 p.m.; one-to-one visits, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Lunch outing, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; one-to-one visits, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Bunco, 10:30 a.m.; tea party, 2 p.m.; reminiscing, 3:30 p.m.; one-to-one visits, 6 p.m.

Thursday: No information available.

Friday: No information available.

Saturday: No information available.

SENIOR CENTERS

Alpha-Mastodon Center

906-875-3315

Amasa Center

906-822-7284

This center remains open and has welcomed a new cook who will prepare meals on site.

Tuesday: Chicken parmesan

Wednesday: No information available.

Thursday: Pork fritter sandwich, pasta salad, mixed vegetables

Breen Center

Kingsford

906-774-5110

Now open for dine-in eating Monday through Thursday – serving at noon. Friday and night meals are on hold indefinitely. Carryout meals are available. Soup and salad bar are also available.

Menu for the week ­­–

Monday: Beef stir fry, rice, oriental vegetables

Tuesday: Chicken Alfredo over noodles, California blend vegetables

Wednesday: Ham, scalloped potatoes, peas

Thursday: Cube steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn

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

Crystal Falls Center

Head Cook: Sterling Peryam

Assistant Cook: Bitsy Peryam

906-875-6709

The center is now open on Mondays and is serving meals for dine-in or takeout – call the center by 1 p.m. to make reservations or to place an order. All food is purchased from local vendors. All dinners include warm vegetables, salad bar, soup, homemade desserts, coffee, tea, or milk. Salad bar begins at 4:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 5 p.m. Pickup for takeout meals is 4 p.m. – those planning to use takeout should call ahead and leave a message with phone number. A volunteer will deliver meals to homebound citizens only. Menu for the week –

Monday: Shepherd’s pie with gravy, dinner rolls

Tuesday: Baked salmon loaf, rice pilaf

Wednesday: Barbecue chicken, oven-browned potatoes

Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency

DICSA

Iron Mountain

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

This is a Meals on Wheels program only. Home-delivered meals only – call to make arrangements. Menu for the week —

Monday: Cheeseburger, french fries, wax beans

Tuesday: Broccoli cheese soup with gnocchi, lunchmeat slider

Wednesday: Pizza, winter blend vegetables, garlic bread

Thursday: Tater tot casserole, peas, pudding

Friday: Biscuits and gravy, hashbrown potatoes, treat

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

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

Crystal Lake Center

Iron Mountain

906-828-1776

Schedule for the week:

Monday: Spinning Spools quilting, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Les Artistes art club, noon to 4 p.m.; woodcarvers, starting at 9 a.m.

Tuesday: Cards – Pinochle and cribbage, noon to 4 p.m.

Wednesday: bingo, 1 to 3 p.m., cards cost 25 cents, with 10 games played; Happy Quilters, 1 to 3 p.m.

Thursday: No activities at this time.

Friday: Cards — smear, noon to 4 p.m.

Felch Center

906-246-3559

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

Monday: Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn

Tuesday: Biscuits and gravy, hashbrown potatoes, fried apples

Wednesday: Pizza sub sandwich, coleslaw

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 – see below. Menu for the week —

Monday: Liver and onions or chicken breast, cheesy potatoes, broccoli, fruit

Tuesday: Barbecue ribs, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, fruit cup

Wednesday: Swiss steak, mashed potatoes, beets, fruit, brownies

Thursday: Chicken noodle casserole, dark green salad, fruit

Friday: Fish sandwich, sweet potato puffs, western baked beans, 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, served at noon on Wednesday only.

Florence Community Center/Town Hall

RSVP for meal at 715-528-4261

Same as ADRC menu. Open Monday through Thursday, serving at 11:30 a.m.

Tipler Town Hall

RSVP for meals at 715-674-2320

Same as ADRC menu, served at noon on second Thursday only.

Hillcrest Senior Dining Center, Aurora

RSVP for meals at 715-589-4491

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

Hermansville Center

Coordinator: Barb Peters

906-498-7735

Center is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Meals are served through the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency in Escanaba. A Meals-On-Wheels program for those who are homebound is available.

Monday: Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes with gravy, Monte Carlo vegetables, fruited pudding

Tuesday: Beef stew, biscuit, coleslaw, grape salad

Wednesday: Bourbon chicken, baked potato, California blend vegetables, applesauce, birthday dessert

Thursday: Chili, copper penny salad, cornbread, fruited Jell-O

Friday: Pizza burger, oven potatoes, corn, fruited pudding

Iron River Center

906-265-6134

Now open for dine-in eating, serving at 11 a.m. Salad bar available. No night meals. Carryout meals also available. Menu for the week –

Monday: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, winter blend vegetables, fruit, milk

Tuesday: Vegetable beef barley soup, biscuit, fruit, milk

Wednesday: Chef salad, boiled egg, cottage cheese, fruit, milk

Thursday: Ham, scalloped potatoes, spinach bake, dinner roll, dessert

Niagara Senior Center/Café

715-251-1603

The center is open, and dinner is served at noon Monday through Thursday. Reservations are required one day in advance. Suggested donation is $4.50 for those older than 60 and $7 for those 60 and younger. Bingo played on most Wednesdays. Transportation is available.

Monday: Polish sausage soup, grilled cheese sandwich, fruit, cookie

Tuesday: Italian sausage with peppers and onions, roasted red potatoes, Irish blend vegetables, pudding

Wednesday: Rosemary chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, broccoli, banana

Thursday: No information available

Bingo will be played this week on Wednesday.

Norway Center

Director: Joyce Olesky

Head Cook:  Brian Gutkowski 

906-563-8716

Now open for dine-in eating served restaurant style beginning at 11:15 a.m. Salad bar available from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Takeout meals are available for pick-up from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Let staff know if planning to dine in or pick up.

Menu for the week –

Monday: Turkey burger, potato wedges, cheesy cauliflower

Tuesday: Spaghetti or polenta, breadstick, broccoli

Wednesday: Finnish pancake, sausage, hashbrown potatoes, strawberries

Thursday: Breakfast bake with sausage, hashbrown potatoes on the side

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

Board to meet at 1 p.m. Thursday.

Center activity schedule —

Mondays and Thursdays: Exercise at 10 a.m. and card bingo after the meal.

Monday through Thursday: Card game 101 from noon to 3 p.m. Call Joe at 906-563-5587 for information.

Tuesdays: Quilting and sewing.

Wednesdays: Ceramics and crocheting.

Last Monday of each month: Book club at 9 a.m.

Second Thursday of each month: Birthdays and bingo.

Sagola Center

906-542-3273

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

Tuesday: Sweet and sour pork, rice, Oriental vegetable blend, pineapple

Wednesday: Spaghetti, meat sauce, garlic bread, chef choice vegetable

Thursday: Pork chop, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, applesauce

All meals served with an option of milk, juice or no beverage.