Looking both ways

AVIVA GOELMAN

I have always been fascinated by the history that directed January to

become the first month of the year.

January begins 10 days after the winter solstice. Its name is

derived from the Roman god Janus, who was the deity of doors and

gates, and also of beginnings and endings, which explains why Janus

is always depicted with two faces, each looking in opposite

directions.

As the sun comes up on 2004, we find ourselves following the Roman

practice, looking forward with expectations of the future. Yet at the

same time we gaze behind us, surveying the events of 2003. These

events brought us so far and gave birth to new beginnings at the

Costa Mesa Senior Center.

For me, January means the celebration of life. Most of all, it’s

the month to say, “Thank you.” I’d like to take this space to thank

all those who helped make our senior citizens’ holiday a special one.

Heartfelt thanks go to Prince of Peace School and the Secret Angels

Page School Choir, whose students’ voices and enthusiasm brought

cheer and joy to our seniors.

Thanks are assuredly in order to those who made our second Senior

Gift Chest such a success, bestowing upon every senior a gift to take

home for the holidays. The Associated Students of Orange Coast

College, headed by senior Student Body President Ben Jensen,

collected blankets, gloves, socks, sweat outfits, soaps, stationary

and countless other items.

We are grateful to Kline Private School’s advisor, Nancy Patino,

who led her leadership council of Courtney Youngberg, Peter Sekas,

Beth Barnard, Tomo Andry and Katie Reed in the collection of many

wonderful items.

The gratitude of the senior center is also extended to Ron and

Linda Davies, Jan Moore of Wachovia Securities, former Costa Mesa

Mayor Mary Hornbuckle and many anonymous donors who all helped us

distribute gifts to homebound seniors and to seniors attending the

center.

Dona Bunnel, instructor of our scrapbook class, also deserves

special thanks. She brought her husband, David, and friends Don

Swanson, Dennis and Sandra Bucher and Josephine Yarnal to spend an

evening wrapping more than 200 blankets and other gifts.

We also want to thank the brave Costa Mesa firefighters, headed by

Curt Yoder, for their support. They made 30 food baskets -- to which

we added gifts -- and the firefighters personally distributed them to

homebound seniors who would otherwise not have had a holiday meal.

Indeed, so much could not have been accomplished had it not been for

all of the volunteer hours given at the senior center.

So where did the year 2003 go? It seems we all make New Year’s

resolutions that come and go, but the many challenges in front of us

don’t disappear as easily and have to be faced. In facing our

challenges, we make a difference in the lives of others.

Here at the senior center, our main challenge is to continue

working hard to make our seniors’ lives happier and healthier. We

strive each year to expand our events and programs. Last year -- in

additional to our annual capital campaign, ice cream social and other

fundraisers -- we celebrated many holidays, including Valentine’s

Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Independence Day. We also hosted our

popular hoe down, Hawaiian luau, Halloween party, autumn celebration,

Thanksgiving and many December events.

In addition to these calendar highlights, our year was filled with

birthday celebrations, membership meetings, and a walk along the

beach for seniors. Our cooking classes and many other get-togethers

continued to keep our seniors active and thriving.

So at the start of this new year we, like that old Roman god

Janus, also gaze forward to new beginnings and to the hope that we

get bigger and better with every coming year. Thank you for reading

my column, and please watch for all the fun and upcoming events in

2004. I wish everyone a very happy and healthy new year, and may

peace come to all of us.

* AVIVA GOELMAN is the executive director of the Costa Mesa Senior

Center and will write occasional columns about the center, its

members and senior issues.