Old Folks At Home

Thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

Job 11:17
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Hello Rurrenabaque, Bolivia
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On Wednesday I finally put all my curmudgeonly misgivings aside, and coerced by an artist friend went kicking and screaming into the local senior center. I did that because at 72 I'm considered a "Senior" or old coot, old fogy, old geezer or some other appropriate appellation.

I already knew some of the people there through the artists association to which I belong. So I was welcomed and had a chance to chat with some of the other people. One of the reasons I have avoided that place for so many years is that I didn't want to sit around talking with old folks about the good old days. I was pleased to find that no one was doing that.. In fact, short of the public schools, this is probably the most active group of people in the community. There are all sorts of projects going on and they are always looking for new ones.

I was asked if I would put one or more of my paintings in the art room. I was asked if I could start a play reading group. I was given coffee and some delicious pastry and introduced to more people than I can remember.

There were no relics lolling around in wheelchairs, feeling sorry for themselves and waiting to be entertained. These folks were entertaining themselves. I left with a very good feeling about the place.

I was taken around and shown some of the various rooms where projects were going on, charitable efforts and creative works. At one point I heard the thunder of feet and a group of teenagers passed me by. It seems there are activities for all ages of people at this place.

My guide, Linda, was very helpful in showing me around, getting me to meet people and giving me some valuable information; the gentlest ox goad, ring in the nose, I can imagine. Evidently next Wednesday we're going back for lunch, at which time I'll find out more about the place and the people. Who knows, if they accept vagabonds, I may even plunk down my dues and become a "Senior."

Then, stand back and pardon me if I shine forth and be as the morning.

DB - The Vagabond
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Mind Twister Of The Week Answer
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1. Here are three numbered statements.
2. Two of them are true.
3. One of them is false.
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How many of the statements are true? Why?
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Well it didn't take long for Geo to come up with the answer' Here's his reasoning.

#1 seems visually verifiable as true. There are three numbered statements.
#2 claims two statements are true.
#3 says the same thing. So, if #2 and #3 are true, #1 must be false. However, since #1 doesn't refer to the content of #2 and #3, only to their being numbered, I consider all three statements true.

Geo.
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And here's mine.

I arrived at the same conclusion with a slightly different route.
1. is obviously true as you say.
If 2. is also true then the 2 true ones are 1 and 2. Statement 2 only says 2 are true. It doesn't say only 2 are true.
But if 3 is the false one then what it says (1 is false) isn't true.
That leaves 3 true ones.

Now I have to dream up another puzzle Geo. See what you make me do?
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SPRING QUESTION
(This is not a contest)

NASA has planned to send a two man mission on an 18 month trip to the planet Mars. It would take 6 months for the astronauts to get there and after 6 months of exploration another 6 months to return.

Should they do it and why, and if not, why not?

dbdacoba@aol.com

5 answers so far

I eagerly await your answer.

DB
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