Of a certain age? Give senior centers another look

The town of Erwin is 150 years old this year. The Clinchfield Senior Adult Center in Erwin is 50 years old. Milestones galore! I'll soon observe my own personal milestone when I turn 60 years old later this month. It may be cliche to say so, but I don't feel my age, whatever that means. I honestly don't feel a day over 30 except when I attempt to stay up past 11 at night. A night owl in my youth, I'm not sure how I ever stayed up to 2 or 3 in the morning, but I did, especially when I got into the zone with a piece of writing. Turning 40 and 50 didn't faze me. It was only the turning 30 that bothered me for a while. There are several personal reasons for that unsettled feeling after my 30th birthday, but I could best sum it up as having finally realized and admitted that it was now time to take life more seriously. That feeling probably lasted all of a couple of weeks. I put together the weekly Heritage page in The Erwin Record. This task basically consists of gleaning some interesting tidbits from the newspaper's archives in past decades, including the 1950s and 1960s. It's a real hoot for someone who enjoys history, but it's also a bit sobering. How is it possible that "Star Wars: A New Hope" made its debut 49 years ago? I've parked myself at my computer to write this column, so it's possible that particular reference was influenced by the fact that the day marked what is now commonly known as "May the Fourth Be With You" in reference to the iconic phrase from the franchise. Fans celebrate by watching movies, wearing themed apparel, and holding events to celebrate the Star Wars universe. I don't go that far, but I do like that long ago and far away universe. I'll probably go to the theater and see the latest: "The Mandalorian and Grogu." Maybe there's a senior discount available for my ticket now. There are even some songs that I thought I was still hip enough to be enjoying when I entered my 40s that are now 20 years old. That does boggle my brain some days. It seems like yesterday that I graduated high school with all my classmates. It's a little mystifying to stop and realize it has been 42 years! Age is only a concept. You've probably heard that. Driving home recently I caught a couple of segments on National Public Radio about aging in America. The segments left me feeling mostly reassured moving forward. I usually tell myself that, regarding my life, it's been so far, so good. I've made one decision that I think will pay positive dividends. I could have done so any time after turning 50, but I am planning to enroll for a membership with the Clinchfield Senior Adult Center in Erwin. I know firsthand of the good work done by Cathy Thomas, Heather Harris, Lacie Barrett and all their volunteers to offer engaging activities and events for their members. The membership will be a birthday present for myself. My aunt has also been active at the center in recent months, and I know how much she has enjoyed the experience. The region is home to several strong senior centers. I'd encourage everyone of a certain age to pay them a visit and see what they have to offer. There's no time like the present. These centers depend on an active membership to thrive, and I know they have a lot to offer. I have no doubt that any strong community also includes a strong local senior center. Bryan Stevens is the managing editor of The Erwin Record. He will turn 60 on May 24, 2026. He can be contacted at bstevens@sixriversmedia.com.