Written by Carolyn Kulik, published in The Charlotte News
Love keeps the cold out better than a cloak.”
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.”
~ Oscar Wilde
“A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.”
~ Carl Reiner
Love Carl Reiner’s work. Have my own thoughts about snow. For me, when it’s white outside—with families of icicles and blankets of roof snow suspended in mid-slide—it feels like something is right with the world.
Winter season is winding down at the Senior Center—which is not to say that there is not a lot happening—just that other than the Wednesday talks at 1:00 p.m., there are no new courses that start in February.
The insert for the Spring Schedule covering March through May will be in the 2/25 issue of The Charlotte News, and it will be posted here. Registration for new courses and activities will begin 3/1 online. Please follow directions at the end of this column.
Ongoing exercise courses
‘Ongoing’ means continuing throughout the year, with no end point. Join any week, and continue as long as you wish; pay at the end of the month for the classes you attended.
You are probably aware that not all exercise is equal, but did you realize that we have courses that cover the complete range? There are those that have high intensity, challenging workouts to the more mellow sort of stretching—and everything in between. Starting on the lower intensity side, there is Chair Yoga and Gentle Yoga, followed by T’ai Chi Ch’uan for Beginners, EssentricsTM, Pilates and Pilates Plus. And, for a totally different approach to well-being that is not overtly physical, there is Mindfulness Meditation Practice with Jill Abilock on Wednesday afternoons.
Because everything is on Zoom, all courses require registration. The instructor sends the invitation/link for each class. For course descriptions and days/times, see Online Zoom classes. For registration and payment information, please also see the end of this article.
Ending soon
2/24. Coping with COVID with Karen Chatfield. Wednesday mornings, 11–12 noon. Last meeting: 2/24. Registration required by prior Monday. Join your peers to explore coping strategies and share methods you have used to deal with life during the pandemic. This group is designed to provide connections and support as we navigate “the new normal” together. Please note that this group is not intended to be a substitute for therapy or professional mental health treatment. No fee.
2/24. Snowshoe Expeditions with Susan Hyde. Wednesday morning at 11:00 a.m. Last outing on 2/24. For more information, please email Susan directly. No fee.
Talks on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m.
These free, interactive events are online via Zoom. Please note that they do not require registration. The Zoom invitation/link to the talks are posted on the home page the day before. The link also appears in Front Porch Forum for that week.
2/17. Nepal: Through the Eyes of An American with Sandi Detwiler. Nepal, home to Mt. Everest, is a geographically diverse and a multiethnic country situated between India to the south and China to the north. This talk will present the beauty of its people, culture and land. Included will be pictures of our trek along the Annapurna Circuit as well as pictures of people and places in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. A virtual visit to Nepal could be the antidote to any winter blues. ~ Sandi was an ESL teacher in American International Schools in Greece, Israel, Bangladesh, Hungary and Brazil where her husband, Rick, served as each school’s director. After 21 years abroad, they returned to Vermont in 2009.
2/24. Here’s Looking at You… Louise Nevelson! with Linda Finkelstein. The art and amazing life of Louise Nevelson will be featured in this engaging hour. Learn how a little girl who fled the Ukraine with her family to Rockland, Maine, became the most celebrated and influential American female sculptor of the 20th century—best known for her monumental, monochromatic, wooden wall assemblages and outdoor sculptures. This experience will be a feast for your eyes and spirit at the end of the winter. Linda Finkelstein is a mixed media artist and former art teacher, with degrees in art history and art education.
Art exhibits
The Senior Center’s monthly art exhibits are suspended until further notice.
“There comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So, you’d better learn the sound of it. Otherwise, you’ll never understand what it’s saying.”
~ Sarah Dessen, Just Listen
The mission of the Senior Center is to serve those 50 and up; some course enrollments are limited, and if a course is not full, younger participants are welcome to enroll. Feel free to leave a message anytime at (802) 425-6345; voicemail is checked frequently.
