Artist Ed Ruscha and two current exhibitions of his work, OK/LA at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and Ed Ruscha: OKLA at Oklahoma Contemporary, will be the subject of a virtual panel discussion set for 3 p.m. Friday, March 5. Panelists will include the curators of both exhibitions, OKC Mayor David Holt and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Longtime Ruscha enthusiasts Mayors Holt and Garcetti will speak to Ruscha’s connections to their communities, both of which the artist has called home. Mark White, executive director at the New Mexico Museum of Art and curator of the OK/LA exhibition, will discuss Ruscha’s connections with five fellow Oklahoma artists who also made Los Angeles home in in the late 1950s. Alexandra Schwartz, cocurator of the Ed Ruscha: OKLA exhibition at Oklahoma Contemporary, and Kirsten Olds, a contributor to the exhibit’s catalog, will examine Ruscha’s oeuvre as interpreted in Oklahoma Contemporary exhibition. The two landmark exhibitions, OK/LA at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art in Norman, Oklahoma, and Ed Ruscha: OKLA at Oklahoma Contemporary in Oklahoma City, explore the lasting influence of Oklahoma on the career of Los Angeles-based artist Ed Ruscha. OK/LA, which opened Sept. 10, 2020, and runs through March 7, features the work of six friends and former Oklahomans who left the state in the late 1950s for Los Angeles: Patrick Blackwell, Joe Goode, Jerry McMillan, Ed Ruscha, Paul Ruscha and Mason Williams. Both exhibitions are free and open to the public.
Ed Ruscha: OKLA at Oklahoma Contemporary, on display Feb. 18 through July 5, focuses exclusively on Ruscha and his Oklahoma roots. Over the course of six decades, Ruscha has created a wide range of artwork varying in mediums that focus on the American Midwest and life on the road. This exhibition surveys the ways in which the Midwest has impacted Ruscha’s life and artwork. Registration for the March 5 event can be found on the museum’s website and event page: ou.edu/fjjma/Events. A link to join the webinar will be emailed upon registration.

by Darl Devault, Feature Writer

Seniors and their love of Minor League Baseball sat out last season with no crack of the bat, no roar of the crowd to excite the fans. The game is back, but seating is limited due to the pandemic. This makes this early notice to seniors important, so they can buy tickets before they are gone.
Seniors eager for games to begin again at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in downtown Oklahoma City need to jump on ticket sales early.
For seniors who played the game in their youth, to those who attended with the youth in their family this important business. Getting to see who is pitching well, who is hitting better is likely to be decided by who buys their single game tickets for April and May home games beginning March 9. Season tickets are available now.
Otherwise it is Internet/radio where award winning Dodgers’ sportscaster Alex Freedman delivers the play-by-play on AM 1340 “The Game” or through the iHeartRadio mobile app.
The Oklahoma City Dodges will play 142 games against nine different opponents in the newly created Triple-A West. The Dodgers open play Thursday, April 8 on the road against the Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle Mariners) in their only matchup for the season.
The 72-home-game season begins Thursday, April 15 against traditional rival Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers). The rest of the season will also see Thursday through Tuesday home stands, as the schedule was designed for Wednesdays off.
“This is the most anticipated season schedule in Oklahoma City baseball history,” said OKC Dodgers President/General Manager Michael Byrnes. “After not being able to have a season last year due to health and safety concerns, this announcement (schedule) is a significant step toward baseball returning to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Last year we saw 16 former OKC players help the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Series Championship, and we cannot wait to see what the future has in store.”
With the six-game length of each series, the team will have three separate extended 12-game homestands: June 3-15, July 15-27 and Aug. 26-Sept. 7.
The ballpark will open with a reduced capacity from its normal 9,000 sellout count to begin the 2021 season. The Dodgers are working with the OKC-County Health Department on making the fan experience as safe as possible.
To reduce travel to benefit player wellness, all series between the Dodgers and their opponents will be for six games. This will lengthen the season to Sept. 21, with no All-Star game or season ending playoffs.
Independence Day week features games against the Salt Lake Bees (Los Angeles Angels) July 1-6. Labor Day week will also see the team at home in Bricktown Sept. 2-7 versus the Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado Rockies).
Most of the games will be against teams in the East Division, including Albuquerque, El Paso (San Diego Padres), Round Rock and Triple-A newcomer Sugar Land (Houston Astros). The traditional rivalry with Round Rock continues with 36 matchups in 2021. In addition to Salt Lake, the Dodgers will also host three other members of the West Division: Las Vegas (Oakland A’s), Reno (Arizona Diamondbacks) and Sacramento (San Francisco Giants).
Fan-friendly surroundings at the ballpark is a complete recipe for family fun. The venue offers amenities designed to entertain children of all ages.
Catering to families is what these games are all about at the ballpark. Certain games feature face painting, clowns, jugglers, inflatables, toys, climbing structures. There is plenty of room for kids to play on playground structures and on the grassy hillside.
A Speedball game allows fans to throw a baseball past a radar gun twice to establish an average speed. If they can throw the third ball at the same speed as the average, they win a prize.
The ballpark features an outdoor picnic area in the outfield along the large concourse. It is wide and runs around the entire facility. This allows fans to walk all the way around the park and see every angle of play from all the dimensions of the venue. Parents can attend to their restless little ones and still watch the game by showing them the pitchers warming up in both bullpens from the concourse in the outfield.
Many fans enjoy looking at the history of baseball in Oklahoma portrayed on murals around the concourse. The ballpark also boasts of three larger-than-life bronze statues of Oklahoma’s National Baseball Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench and Warren Spahn.
Again, single-game tickets for April and May home games will go on sale March 9. However, fans can currently buy season ticket packages and/or group outings by calling (405) 218-1000 or by visiting okcdodgers.com/tickets.

Some of the biggest names in popular film, literature, television and music will be recognized during the 60th anniversary Western Heritage Awards, scheduled for September 17 – 18, 2021, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The event has been expanded to honor individuals from both 2020 and 2021.
New this year, individuals in the literature and music categories will be recognized during a special awards luncheon on Friday, September 17. All other inductees and honorees will be recognized during the Western Heritage Awards Induction Ceremony on Saturday, September 18 beginning at 6:00 p.m.
“We’re so proud to celebrate the 60th anniversary of this iconic event, which honors the individuals and creative works that continue the special legacy of the American West,” said Natalie Shirley, Museum president & CEO. “With both the 2020 and 2021 honorees and inductees being recognized this year, it’s sure to be an exciting weekend.”
For ticket information and other schedule updates, visit nationalcowboymuseum.org/westernheritageawards.
2021 Western Heritage Awards Honoree List
LITERATURE
Western Novel
The King of Taos: A Novel by the late Max Evans, published by the University of New Mexico Press.
Nonfiction Book
Sand Creek and the Tragic End of a Lifeway by Louis Kraft, published by the University of Oklahoma Press
Art/Photography Book
Making a Hand: The Art of H.D. Bugbee by Michael Grauer, published by Texas A&M University Press
Juvenile Book
Silverbelly by S.J. Dahlstrom, published by Paul Dry Books.
Magazine Article
“Transitions in the Changing West: The Photographic Legacy of Jessamine Spear Johnson,” by Tempe J. Javitz, published in Montana: The Magazine of Western History by the Montana Historical Society
Poetry Book
Second Wind by Patricia Frolander, published by High Plains Press
MUSIC
Original Western Composition
“El Caballo Del Fuego,” recording artist Doug Figgs/The Cowboy Way, composed by Doug Figgs, Floyd Beard, Mariam Funke
Traditional Western Album
A Place to Land, recording artist Kristyn Harris, produced by Aaron Meador
FILM & TELEVISION HONOREES
Western Lifestyle Program
Today’s Wild West, E307 produced by Mark Bedor at Today’s Wild West LLC
Theatrical Motion Picture
News of the World, starring Tom Hanks, produced by Universal Pictures
Documentary
Charlie Russell’s Old West, by coproducer and director Gus Chambers and writer and coproducer Paul Zalis at MontanaPBS
Fictional Drama
“I Killed a Man Today,” Yellowstone, S3, E8 starring Kevin Costner, written by Taylor Sheridan

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you give me some tips on how to pick a good nursing home in the COVID era? My mother had a stroke a while back and can’t use her legs any longer. I’ve been taking care of her at home, but her health has declined to the point that I absolutely can’t do it any longer. Need Help

Dear Need,
COVID-19 has hit nursing homes hard over the past year, making it extremely difficult for people attempting to choose a nursing home during this time.
While many eldercare experts suggest avoiding nursing homes during the pandemic if at all possible, some families, like yours, find themselves in difficult situations needing long-term or rehabilitative care for their elder loved one now. To help you find a good nursing home in the COVID era, and avoid a bad one, here are some steps to follow.
Make a list: There are several sources you can turn to for referrals to top nursing homes in your area including your mom’s doctor or nearby hospital discharge planner; friends or neighbors who may have had a loved one in a nursing home; and online at Medicare’s nursing home compare tool at Medicare.gov/care-compare. This tool will not only help you locate nursing homes in your area, it also provides a 5-star rating system on recent health inspections, staffing, quality of care, and overall rating.
Also keep in mind that it’s always best to choose a nursing home that’s close to family members and friends who can check in often, because residents with frequent visitors usually get better care.
Do some research: To research the nursing homes on your list, put a call into your long-term care ombudsman. This is a government official who investigates nursing home complaints and advocates for residents and their families. This person can tell you which nursing homes have had complaints or problems in the past. To find your local ombudsman, call your area aging agency (800-677-1116) or visit LTCombudsman.org.
You should also visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website (data.cms.gov), which provides updated data on U.S. nursing home reported COVID-19 cases and deaths.
Contact the nursing homes: Once you’ve identified a few good nursing homes, call them to see if they have any vacancies, what they charge, and if they accept Medicaid.
Also, find out their staff-to-patient ratio and staff turnover rate; their COVID infection-control procedures; the percentage of residents and staff that have been vaccinated for COVID; and their facility visitation policy.
If visitor restrictions are in place, see if they offer smartphone, tablet or laptop technology assistance so you can have Facetime, Zoom or Skype video calls with your mom.
Tour your top choices: The best way to evaluate a nursing home is to visit it in person, but because of COVID, some facilities may offer limited or virtual tours only. To help you evaluate and rate a facility, Medicare offers a terrific checklist of questions that you can print at Medicare.gov/NursingHomeCompare/Checklist.pdf.
Paying for Care
With nursing home costs now averaging $255 per day nationally for a semi-private room and nearly $290 for a private room, paying for care is another area you may have questions about or need assistance with. Medicare only helps pay up to 100 days of rehabilitative nursing home care, which must occur after a hospital stay of at least three days.
Most nursing home residents pay for care from either personal savings, a long-term care insurance policy, or through Medicaid once their savings are depleted.
The National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information website (LongTermCare.acl.gov) is a good resource that can help you understand and research your financial options. You can also get help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free counseling on all Medicare and Medicaid issues. To find a local SHIP counselor visit ShiptaCenter.org or call 877-839-2675.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

* As of this advisory, there are 422,156 cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma.
* 811 is today’s 7-day rolling average for the number of new cases reported.
* There are 38 additional deaths identified to report. 26 of the newly reported deaths occurred since 1/1/2021.
* One in Adair County, one female in the 50-64 age group.
* One in Beckham County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
* One in Caddo County, one male in the 50-64 age group.
* One in Cherokee County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
* One in Cleveland County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
* One in Comanche County, one male in the 50-64 age group.
* One in Custer County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
* Two in Garfield County, two males in the 65 or older age group.
* One in Greer County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
* Two in Kingfisher County, one female in the 65 or older age group, one male in the 65 or older age group.
* One in Kiowa County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
* One in Latimer County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
* One in Logan County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
* One in Love County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
* One in Mayes County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
* One in Noble County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
* Six in Oklahoma County, one female in the 50-64 age group, four females in the 65 or older age group, one male in the 65 or older age group.
* One in Ottawa County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
* One in Pawnee County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
* Two in Pittsburg County, two males in the 65 or older age group.
* One in Seminole County, one female in the 65 or older age group.

*The total includes laboratory information provided to OSDH at the time of the report. As a result, counts are subject to change. Total counts may not reflect unique individuals.
***The purpose of publishing aggregated statistical COVID-19 data through the OSDH Dashboard, the Executive Order Report, and the Weekly Epidemiology and Surveillance Report is to support the needs of the general public in receiving important and necessary information regarding the state of the health and safety of the citizens of Oklahoma. These resources may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be used in any way that would determine the identity of any reported cases.
Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health. *As of 2021-02-25 at 7:00 a.m.

Even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge health systems, the OU Health Edmond Medical Center is making significant strides in improving the health of older adults through its designation as an Age-Friendly Health System.
Edmond Medical Center, as part of the OU Health hospital system, received the certification from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, which works to improve and sustain better health outcomes for people across the world. The four essential elements of an Age-Friendly Health System are known as the 4Ms:
* What Matters: Asking older adults what matters most to them and aligning care with those goals in mind
* Medication: Using age-friendly medications that do not interfere with what is important to the older adult
* Mentation: Preventing, identifying, treating and managing dementia, delirium, depression and other mental health issues
* Mobility: Ensuring older adults move safely every day and maintain their function for activities that are important to them
“The 4Ms are helping us to provide better, safer care for our 65-and-older population,” said Darrin Nobis, RN, MSN, director of the Medical-Surgical Unit at Edmond Medical Center. “Asking our patients what matters is so important. Because of that, we’re using fewer medications, more appropriate medications and are helping patients move around more, which reduces falls. It is making a difference in their health outcomes.”
Healthcare providers may naturally use some of the 4Ms concepts in patient care, but having a framework ensures they will be addressed at every patient visit. In addition, the 4Ms have been incorporated into the hospital’s electronic health record so that providers can track improvement over time.
Asking patients what matters not only guides the other three M’s, but it creates a rapport. It’s not unusual, Nobis said, for patients to express surprise and delight when a nurse asks what’s important for them to do after their hospital stay.
“When patients know that their healthcare providers will prioritize their wishes when making treatment decisions, they are more engaged and more likely to be compliant with the plan of care,” he said. “We are also asking ‘what matters’ at different stages of their stay in the hospital – if they come in through the ER, for example, then go to the ICU or a regular floor. When we discharge them, our goal is to communicate their wishes to the next step in their care, like home health or a skilled nursing facility, so that the ‘what matters’ thread gets pulled all the way through.”
When patients are asked what matters to them, their answers vary but are often related to family activities. One patient, who had fallen at his home, wanted to return home and be able to walk around safely with his wife. For patients like him, nurses prioritized getting him out of bed and walking, which in turn would give him more strength and reduce the risk of falls. Even a week in a hospital bed without much mobility can significantly decrease a patient’s chances of moving about safely in the future.
Edmond Medical Center also places a high priority on a patient’s mental state and choosing medications that are most likely to be effective without impairing their cognition or increasing the risk for falls. Nurses assess patients for delirium at least twice a day, and they work with physicians to prescribe medications that don’t increase the risk of delirium or interact with other drugs in a negative way.
Currently, there are more than 46 million Americans age 65 and older, and that number is expected to double by 2060. The 4Ms framework will be crucial for helping that population age well, Nobis said. “We will have a massive influx of baby boomers into the hospital system,” he said, “and the 4Ms will help us deliver the outcomes that are important to their health and quality of life.”
The OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City is also part of the Age-Friendly Health System designation. Nobis served as co-manager for the project with Teri Round, MS, RN, Executive Director of Clinical Operations and Assistant Director, Reynolds Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, for the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at the OU Health Sciences Center.

In June 2020, Cliff Allison of Tulsa suddenly developed a severe cough and shortness of breath. He sought urgent care, but was sent straight to the emergency room because his oxygenation was dangerously low.
“We thought he had COVID-19,” admits Cliff’s wife Crystal. “That was the fear on everyone’s mind, but all the tests came back negative.”
At age 53 with no prior health issues, Allison was admitted to the hospital in Tulsa with presumed pneumonia, but doctors were baffled because there was no obvious cause. His condition deteriorated quickly and he was moved to the intensive care unit, where they ultimately discovered the problem was with his heart. Allison had suffered acute severe mitral valve failure, likely due to a congenital heart defect.
“Because the valve was not closing, blood was backing up into his lungs with each squeeze of his heart. He was basically drowning from the inside,” explains Crystal. “He was placed on a ventilator as doctors attempted to clear his lungs enough to perform open-heart surgery. Despite all interventions, Cliff was stuck in a vicious cycle. His lungs continued to fill with fluid while his heart was too weak to clear his lungs.”
Doctors in Tulsa had exhausted all options. Allison was clinging to life when he was air-lifted to INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. His last hope was an advanced life-saving treatment called ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. ECMO does the work of the heart and lungs. It is not a cure, but it buys a patient time to heal.
ECMO is often called the ‘last hope’ for critical heart patients. For Allison, this was most definitely the case. As the helicopter landed at INTEGRIS Baptist, Cliff’s condition suddenly decompensated. Without a moment to spare, Michael Harper, M.D., a critical care intensivist, performed emergency ECMO cannulation and saved Cliff’s life.
“Mr. Allison arrived to our facility in dire straits,” confirms Harper. “His lungs were so full of fluid that they could not absorb much oxygen, and his heart was failing to the point that his blood pressure was critically low. He was dying before our eyes. He wouldn’t have survived another hour without ECMO. Our team moved rapidly to get him on support and stabilized, but this was only the beginning of his long road to recovery.”
Once on ECMO and stabilized, Marshall Bell, M.D., a cardiovascular surgeon with the INTEGRIS Heart Hospital, was finally able to perform the life-saving open heart surgery Allison needed to replace his mitral valve.
“I received a call from Dr. Michael Harper about a patient with a ruptured mitral valve. He was young, in renal failure, had shock liver and severe pulmonary edema. He was very unstable and would likely not survive the night. We both agreed to move ahead aggressively,” says Bell. “While the surgery went smoothly, we still had a long way to go before Cliff could be considered healed.”
Although the surgery was a success, it took weeks to wean Allison off of ECMO. He suffered several setbacks and was hospitalized for a total of 47 days, mostly in intensive care.
“Life is so fragile,” states Crystal. “In an instant we went from being a normal healthy family to one facing a sudden medical crisis. I found myself in frightening and unfamiliar territory, but I never felt alone. The staff at INTEGRIS showed such compassion, not just for Cliff, but for me. I will forever be grateful for second chances.”
Against the odds, Cliff miraculously pulled through. “So many prayers were answered. It is only by the grace of God and the dedication and skill of my care team that I am alive today,” claims Allison. “Because of them, I am still here to enjoy life with my wife of 28 years and my three children. I’m very grateful to still be here for my family.”
Cliff got to go home from the hospital in late July. Through extensive rehab and physical therapy, he has made a full recovery. He continues to live his life with no restrictions, only newfound gratitude.

Story by Darl Devault, Feature Writer

For seniors trying to make a decisive quality of life recovery from pandemic restrictions booking outdoor experiences now is critical because pent-up demand will create a scarcity at premium destinations.
Seniors got to their vaccines first. With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions more Americans will be getting outside. This may mean seniors need to act quickly in planning a vacation. (story continues below)

www.Earsofoklahoma.com
Going to the Colorado high country in the summer is often on the minds of senior citizens. One of the most memorable experiences available there is taking the narrow-gauge steam locomotive sight-seeing train journey from Durango to Silverton. After a two-hour layover so visitors can eat, it returns to Durango through the scenic San Juan National Forest.
“I rode the train last year under full COVID-19 protocols where it only went halfway to Silverton. It was still a great experience,” said Larry Floyd, 68. The adjunct U.S. history teacher at OSU-OKC said, “This year going all the way on up to Silverton to spend two hours in the historic mining town and coming back would be a great bonus.”
“I also recommend driving up to Silverton to tour the wonderful mining town museum. The jail in the museum really gives you an idea of how bleak jail was at the turn of the last century. Also, only five miles out of Silverton is the Old Hundred Gold Mine tour. You find out what it was like to work underground in search of gold.”
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad also provides visitors an all-inclusive full day of Silverton’s historic mining town highlights. A bus takes visitors to Silverton in the morning. They return in the afternoon on the train.
Riding the D&SNG for three hours and 40 minutes each way at 12 miles an hour is one of the most unique vacation experiences in America. The trains travel at slow speeds along the mountain cliffs due to many sharp turns. The track takes the trains 400 feet above the Animas River amidst steep mountain scenery.
The coal-fired, steam-operated locomotives are 1923-25 vintage. The train offers four classes of service, from a historic private car, first class, recently refurbished deluxe class, to a seat in vintage coach seating or open-air gondola car.
The coaches each feature bathroom facilities as both enclosed and open gondola cars allow a panoramic view of the mountains.
Concessions are available on every train.
A National Historic Landmark and National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, the railway has been ranked in the top 10 railroad journeys in the nation for many years.
The railway features a 12,000-square foot free railroad museum in Durango near the ticket office matching its historic status. Besides many vintage exhibits, it features an 800-square-foot model railroad.
Last year for the first time in 138 years the train did not make it to Silverton, elevation 9,318 feet. The normal cadre of 159,000 tourists were denied a 45-mile full trip last summer on the 36-inch-wide rails.
The 2021 summer schedule will be released in early March. Seniors should book their tickets while these high-demand reservations are available. This is especially important to seniors who plan for the weekends where a 10 percent senior discount is offered if they book online.
Highway 550 between Durango, Silverton, and Ouray is known locally as the Million Dollar Highway. Some say it is because of the amount of gold ore many thinks is still in the roadway’s fill. Others say the name comes from the priceless views it provides of the San Juan National Forest and the highway’s actual cost through the rugged terrain. It features steep and twisting canyon-clinging roadway through the towering mountains.
From Durango the highway featuring steep drop-offs without guardrails climbs over Coal Bank Pass at 10,660 feet, and Molas Pass at 10,899 feet. Two campgrounds are nearby before the highway descends into Silverton.
Beyond Silverton on 550, drivers climb Red Mountain Pass, at 11,075 feet and descend the steep canyon walls of Uncompahgre Gorge into Ouray. Ouray, featuring a large outdoor natural hot spring, is known as the “Little Switzerland of America.” Bathers at the springs are treated to picturesque mountain views.
One way to see the historic train on its way to and from Silverton each day is to camp at the Durango North Riverside KOA, a convenient 15 minutes north of Durango. Campers can watch the train from their campsites along the gentle Animas river among Ponderosa Pines.
The KOA offers RV sites, lodging and tent sites. If tent camping, campers want a site next to the river where they can sometimes spot wildlife in the pasture across the river.
Many visitors to the area also tour the Mesa Verde National Park nearby. It sees half a million tourists each year. It is one hour and 15 minutes west of Durango by state highway and the Mesa Top Loop Road. The United Nations named the well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings a cultural World Heritage Site in 1978.
Visitors can buy 1-hour, ranger-led tour tickets for the park at the Durango Welcome Center beginning at 10 a.m. up to 2 days ahead in person only and sell out quickly.
Seniors age 62 or over can buy discounted annual and lifetime National Park passes in person at a federal recreation site or through the mail. It provides the pass owner plus any number of accompanying passengers entry in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle at all Federal operated recreation sites in America.
Touring the huge Cliff Palace and the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum offers visitors insights into this ancient Native American culture. Many of the dwellings can be seen from the Mesa Top Loop Road. It offers views of the archaeological sites and overlooks. This includes Sun Point Overlook with panoramic canyon views.
Starting just north of Durango, outfitters in town also offer rafting experiences of every level. They also offer guided 4X4 Jeep trail tours, zip line adventures and introductory rock-climbing excursions.
The folks at Mountain Waters Rafting sell a D&SNG Raft and Rail package. After a morning raft trip on the Lower Animas, customers take a shuttle for the scenic ride to Silverton along the spectacular San Juan Skyway. They explore on their own for lunch before catching the afternoon train back to Durango.
The phrase San Juan Skyway also invites visitors to the area to set out on a seven-hour minimum car tour they will not forget. The trip from Durango to Silverton is a small part of the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway System. It forms a 235-mile loop of southwest Colorado traversing the heart of the San Juan Mountains.
Please allow this story to serve as a caution to not show up in Durango and expect to buy a ticket for the train. It just does not normally happen. The train is almost always sold out. It makes sense to book reservations at www.durangotrain.com now to enjoy one of the greatest railroad experiences available.

by Greg Schwem

Back in 2018, when he was happily cancer free, the late “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek announced he was pondering retirement. Immediately I began polishing my resume.
In an earlier column, I pleaded with executives at Sony Pictures Television, distributors of the popular quiz show, to consider an unknown host for the role. Specifically, me. Someone whose updated LinkedIn profile would include “Unbridled passion for a game that involves more than ‘buying an o.’”
The television world hasn’t hired an unrecognizable face for such a high-profile assignment since 1993, when NBC announced some Harvard kid named Conan O’Brien would take over for David Letterman, after the latter moved to CBS. O’Brien eventually found his stride; true his late-night show (now on TBS) will be ending in June, but 28 years is pretty remarkable for a guy previously known for writing “The Simpsons” dialogue.
Trebek bravely hosted “Jeopardy!” until just 10 days before his death. All-time “Jeopardy!” champion Ken Jennings was tapped as the first replacement, performing admirably amid intense speculation that he would eventually be elevated to permanent host. But the creative minds at Sony have other plans.
For now, anyway, they have taken the easy and overdone-to-death route: Hiring a revolving cast of celebrities because, gosh, the public is hankering to see more of Anderson Cooper. Or Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Or “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie. Or TV doctor Mehmet Oz. All four have been promised tryouts, according to published reports.
True, celebrities love “Jeopardy!” They also love to brag on social media when the game includes them. A simple Twitter search yielded celebs like Billy Eichner taking a screenshot of the “Jeopardy!” board and gushing, “Oh my God I was a clue on JEOPARDY today!!! WHAT IS… AMERICAN HORROR STORY!!! I’m freaking out!!!”
Whoa, Billy. Dial it back a few exclamation points.
I’m not saying the upcoming hosts would be reading clues about themselves during their stints, but, in the event a columnist/comedian, disgruntled about being passed over for Trebek’s job, was to get a job as a WRITER on the show, then “Jeopardy!” viewers can expect to see the following scenarios playing out in upcoming episodes:
“Hi, I’m Anderson Cooper. Let’s play ‘Jeopardy!’ Our returning champion picks first.”
“Anderson, I’ll take Media for $400.”
“The answer is: ‘This major cable operation was often referred to as ‘fake news’ by the Trump administration.’”
“What is CNN?”
“That is correct. Well, it’s not really correct. I mean, we’re not fake news. You want fake news? Head over to Fox. That’s where’s you’ll see some…”
“Anderson, I’ll take Inebriated New Year’s Eve Hosts for $600.”
“I’m not reading that one.”
NEXT WEEK
“Hello, ‘Jeopardy!’ fans. I’m Aaron Rodgers. Let’s kick off ‘Jeopardy!’”
“Thanks Aaron. I’ll take Famous Fans for $800.”
“The answer is: ‘Against an over-the-hill Tom Brady, these fans braved icy temperatures to watch their team inexplicably kick a field goal on a crucial fourth down, costing them a trip to Super Bowl 55.’”
“Who are Cheeseheads?”
“Yeah, that’s right. And it wasn’t even that cold. And, yes, it was a stupid call. I could have hit Davante Adams easily!”
NEXT WEEK
“Hello, I’m Savannah Guthrie. Wake up to ‘Jeopardy!’”
“Thanks, Savannah. I’ll take Rhyme Time for $400.”
“The answer is: ‘The married name of a TV host if she wedded a famous Star Wars character.’”
“Who is Hoda Yoda?”
“Correct. Can we take a break? I feel an uncontrollable bout of laughter coming on.”
NEXT WEEK
“Greetings, ‘Jeopardy!’ fans. I’m Dr. Mehmet Oz. Let’s feel better with ‘Jeopardy!’”
“Thanks, Doctor. I’ll take Fables for $1,000”
“The answer is: ‘This doctor occasionally spouts debunked medical theories, including that hydroxychloroquine cures COVID-19.’”
“You.”
“Phrase it as a question please.”
“Who are you?”
“Correct. And more research needs to be done. Just don’t drink bleach.”
Sony higher-ups, if you don’t want these potentially embarrassing moments to be a part of the show, my offer to host still stands. You know where to find me.
I follow @Jeopardy on Twitter.
(Greg Schwem is a corporate stand-up comedian and author of two books: “Text Me If You’re Breathing: Observations, Frustrations and Life Lessons From a Low-Tech Dad” and the recently released “The Road To Success Goes Through the Salad Bar: A Pile of BS From a Corporate Comedian,” available at Amazon.com. Visit Greg on the web at www.gregschwem.com.
You’ve enjoyed reading, and laughing at, Greg Schwem’s monthly humor columns in Senior Living News. But did you know Greg is also a nationally touring stand-up comedian? And he loves to make audiences laugh about the joys, and frustrations, of growing older. Watch the clip and, if you’d like Greg to perform at your senior center or senior event, contact him through his website at www.gregschwem.com)