By the time you read this article, I will be in Kona, Hawaii. Writing that line immediately triggered the memory of the Glen Campbell song that my parents listened to on the radio while I was growing up. And that thought makes me think of the “Music Battles” being played out in senior centers across the country.

For some of you, this may be a new concept: arguments over music? Well, when “senior” encompasses a 50-year age range and when music can be so evocative, so important to our pasts and bring up so many emotions – trust me on this one, music can be a battlefield.

The morning pool table guys. You could never ask to meet a nicer group of men – gentlemen each and every one of them. And all of them good friends. But when it comes time to pick the music for morning game? Arrgggh. Will it be the Ink Spots or The Mills Brothers for our dear friend approaching 90 years old? Or the Beatles, Eagles or Van Morrison for the younger guys in their early 60s? How about Big Band Swing or music from the 1950s Hit Parade for the guys in their 70s?

Whether it’s because we are Enumclaw, or because it is just the safe choice we can all agree on – its classic country. George Jones, Merle Haggard, Lorretta Lynn – if you didn’t listen to it, your parents did. And trust me, nothing is more disturbing to hear “Down By the Old Mill Stream” followed by “Helter Skelter.” Don’t get me wrong – I am probably one of the few people on the planet who can sing all the lyrics to both.

Multi-generations under one roof, but all labeled the same thing – seniors. Music differences aren’t the only challenges. Room temperature differences, too. “Its too cold in here” or “its too hot in here” which is played out every day, all day, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Older women who have lost their body fat and are always chilled sitting next to younger, menopausal women who are “hot flashing” their way through the next 10 years. The staff handles this by smiling and turning the air conditioning up and then smiling and turning the AC down. Every day. All day. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

So what do I know for certain? Music (and room temperature) will continue to be a challenge not only in our senior center, but in all centers across the country. And that is good – because diversity and exposure to new things is good for all of us – at all ages.

And this is the other thing I know, when writing the line “by the time you read this I will be in Hawaii” leads me to a discussion on aging issues, inter-generational issues and senior center issues overall – this girl needs a vacation.

Aloha!

The author, Jobyna Nickum, is the director of the Enumclaw Senior Activity Center