Sam Bauman: Seniors, guns and skiing were column topics in 2013

Was anything worth remembering here?

Guess you’re supposed to add up what you’ve accomplished in ’13 about now, but there’s not a lot I can count. Forty-nine columns aimed at seniors, one on skiing, and one spoofing the musclebound thinking of the NRA. The pro-gun folks missed the point and thought I was praising them; the anti-gun people thought I had gone over to the enemy.

One column got lost in the computer. None rocked any boats or beliefs.

That doesn’t count about 70 movie reviews, some of which were positive. I don’t think anyone went to a movie on my say-so.

I doubt if anyone, senior or otherwise, took up skiing at my urging. Too bad; even for seniors it’s a wonderful way to reconnect with nature. Cross-country is almost as safe as walking and easier than snowshoeing, at least for me. There are lots of X-C ski courses around, although the Spooner Park operation has dwindled.

Well, there was one column that many liked, the one about the pleasure of sitting on my balcony, martini in hand, watching the kids from the Northern Nevada Boys & Girls Clubs just being kids — chasing one another about, turning cartwheels, just being free to enjoy their worlds. I look forward to seeing those kids this spring.

So a year’s worth of columns, all automatically tossed out after they ran. I’ve never kept copies of any of what must be thousands of stories I’ve written. There’s no point in saving dead stuff.

On the seniors front, there was some good news. Research into dementia got a federal funding boost. There were lots of miracle workers peddling cures, one pharmacist offering cures for Alzheimer’s, MD, diabetes and just about all of mankind’s illnesses if you would subscribe to his publications.

So what do I look forward to writing about in the coming year? Whatever interests me.

OK, to some more meaningful thoughts. Here are some thoughts from the Web that might fit into the new year:

To have friends, you have to be a friend.

— Carolyn Austin

Accept your limitations.

— Diane Rowland

Some anonymous ones:

Be grateful for everyday things.

Think critically.

Read to your children.

Don’t smoke.

Never build your house in a flood plain.

Pay off credit card bills every month.

Exercise daily.

Don’t give advice to people who don’t ask for it.

Enjoy activities that stimulate you mentally, physically and emotionally.

Travel while you’re young.

Don’t wait until you’re retired and the kids are gone. It’s too rewarding and should take precedence for a family.

Happiness is a choice. No matter what happens to you, be joyful your attitude can make a big difference when times are tough.

Each decade presents new opportunities. Take advantage of them.

Sam Bauman writes about senior issues for the Nevada Appeal.