In a July 2017 “Bend Living Magazine” article (recommended reading) featuring Bill Smith and his wife, Trish, Bend writer Cathy Carroll recounts that Smith’s German grandmother, who lived with the family in Denver, had a favorite exhortation she directed at her five young grandchildren: “You must verk.” And verk he did…starting in high school with […]
Ellen Waterston
Poet and author Ellen Waterston, named Oregon's Poet Laureate in 2024, is a woman of a certain age who resides in Bend. "The Third Act" is a series of columns on ageing and ageism.
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The Third Act: Left Right Center
A column on ageism and ageing
Have you discovered this zany, too-much-fun game? Everyone brings one dollar. Chips work, too. Three dice, each inscribed with L, R, C and a dot. Gambling-lite. It requires no skill other than coming up with your own surefire incantations to guarantee a winning roll, e.g., “Show me that you know me!” or your version of […]
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Larger Than Life
In memory of Joe Leonardi, April 24, 1945 – September 20, 2022
The upcoming gathering on Nov. 13 won’t be the first time The Belfry in Sisters has staged a rockin’, Joe-inspired “Party for Leonardi.” Since the ’70s, countless music venues throughout the region, as well as Joe Leonardi’s own geodesic dome home, have taken turns showcasing his impressive talent as songwriter, vocalist (think Van Morrison), bass […]
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The Third Act: I Yam What I Yam, Said the Sweet Potato
A column on ageism and ageing
What are you going to be for Halloween? Here’s one: a dog nose and tail, a large plastic cone to attach around your neck, and you’re a wounded woof to go. Or for fun, how about an exaggerated version of yourself? Gearhead, geek, helicopter (grand) parent, couch potato, bleeding heart environmentalist or, in my case, […]
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The Third Act: Play It Again, Sam
Of the millions of Americans living in long-term care facilities, many face cognitive difficulties sometimes made worse by leaving behind their familiar surroundings, friends and even their favorite music. Why would music matter?
This year, on Father’s Day, I attended an unforgettable concert. It was held, of all places, at an assisted living facility specializing in memory care. A friend of mine now resides there, a preventative decision made after months of thoughtful conversations between him and his grown children as together they weighed other options: living on […]
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THE THIRD ACT: Enough! What is to be done in these trying times?
Author Ellen Waterston’s latest column on ageism and ageing
“In a sense we all already know What Is To Be Done, and the real problem is navigating the grief and fear and selfishness that prevents us from ever actually putting what we all know to be true into practice.” This quote is from author Gerry Canavan’s review of K.S. Robinson’s latest book, “The Ministry […]
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THE THIRD ACT: Time Travel Metaphor-mosis Part II
Author Ellen Waterston’s latest column: Part II on a theme of “Change your metaphor, change your life.”
Thanks for hanging in there with me for a second column on this wacky theme of “Change your metaphor, change your life.” It’s just possible once we do, we’re no longer under the spell of the borrowed story, of the temporal and cultural myths that boss us around. See you later, memory, beauty, gut, bone […]
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What’s In Your Story Today?
Metaphor-mosis Part I
I‘ve been writing Third Act columns for a year?! Tempus really does fugit. By way of throwing myself a party, in this column and the next I’m going to re-noodle themes I’ve been chasing down over the past 12 months and, for that matter, forever. During the first half of life, according to author James […]
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Shaking the House
Who knew… the last week of March is National Cleaning Week? Get out your brooms, stock up on elbow grease. Spring cleaning time is here! Whose idea was this? Apparently, everyone’s. Regardless of religion, culture or climate, the sweet air of spring has always prompted us to clean up our houses and our acts, to […]
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A Long Way from Lupercalia
Ellen Waterston’s column on ageism and ageing is back with a special Valentine’s Day edition
If you think the history of Valentine’s Day is all about cupids, roses and chocolates, think again. Though the origins are obscure, what is known is they had more to do with bacchanals and blood. Blame it on the ancient Romans, who, for centuries, annually celebrated the fertility festival of Lupercalia on Feb. 14. Randy […]