At the magical age of 50, things begin to happen. Letters of welcome from the president of AARP seem to appear weekly in the mail, and at the doctor’s office, scheduling of the “screenings” begin. It’s best to know if something is wrong. I can handle the poking and the squeezing. But at my latest appointment, I am told that it’s time to get the test–the one “That-Must-Not-Be-Named.”

If you are familiar with the Harry Potter series of books, you most likely remember Lord Voldemort, the villain who is so feared that almost no one uses his real name, referring to him, instead, by saying “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.” For those of us over 50, we also avoid naming the aforementioned test, and we ask our friends, “Have you had ‘it’ yet? Is it as bad as I imagine it would be?”

As I learned from my friends, and now from experience, the preparation is much worse than the actual test. After a day of eating no food, drinking only clear liquids, and enduring an evening of nausea and related discomfort, I was actually looking forward to “That-Must-Not-Be-Named” the following morning–and I was not disappointed.

Conscious sedation left absolutely no memory of the actual procedure, after which I was brought cookies and a drink, and Steve made sure the DVD player was set up so that I would be entertained during the remainder of my day of “rest at home.”

It could have been the effects of the medication, but I felt absolutely no guilt as I spent six hours on the couch watching “The Bucket List” and “Charlie Wilson’s War.” After receiving a clean bill of health and a promise that I would not have to repeat this experience until at least 2018, I felt I deserved it!



Coming up: Saturday, Nov. 8, the Montgomery American Legion Auxiliary will hold a soup and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bower Decker Post 251, located at 185 Broad Street.



Sunday, Nov. 9, St. John Lutheran (Brick) Church on Route 405 between Muncy and Montgomery will be holding a Basket Bingo, beginning at 2 p.m. Doors will open at 1 p.m. with the Early Bird game to begin at 1:45 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 547-6423 or at the door. The event is sponsored by the Fuel Task Force Committee.



Every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., Storytime for preschool to second grade-age children will be held at the Montgomery Area Public Library on Main Street.



Tuesday, Nov. 11, Veterans’ Day-Meat loaf dinner, starting at 4 p.m. will be served at the Watsontown United Methodist Church, 11 E. Third St., Watsontown.



Tuesday, Nov. 11, The Footprints of Montgomery, the food pantry sponsored by the Ministerium in Montgomery, will hold its distribution between 5 and 7 p.m.



Wednesday, Nov. 12, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., St. John Lutheran (Brick) Church will have a dinner featuring roast beef, filling, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, apple sauce, rolls, beverage, and dessert, served family style. Cost: $8-adults, $4-children age 6 through 10, under 6 free. Take-outs available; call 547-6423 to place your order.



Wednesday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m., the Susquehanna Writer’s Guild will meet at Borders in the Lycoming Mall for their monthly critique session.



Saturday, Nov. 15, Arts and Crafts Show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Warrior Run Area Fire Department Social Hall, 188 White Deer Ave., Allenwood.



Tuesday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m., Montgomery resident Andrew Forsyth will present a slideshow program on the “Daily Life and Attire of Eastern Native Peoples” during the next meeting of the Montgomery Area Historical Society at the Borough Building at 35 South Main Street in Montgomery.



Saturday, Nov. 22, 1 p.m., the Lycoming County Genealogical Society will meet at the Thomas Tabor Museum, located at the corner of Maynard and 4th Streets in Williamsport. Representing the Lycoming County Veterans Affairs Office, I will present a program entitled “17,000 and Still Counting – Keeping Track of our Deceased Veterans.”



In continuing with the “Adopt-A-Child” program sponsored by the Montgomery Legion Riders, and in memory of Ben Mock, last year’s sponsored child, the Riders have chosen 15-year-old Cody Lynch, who lives in Montgomery and suffers from Duchene’s Muscular Dystrophy, to adopt this holiday season. If anyone is interested in making a donation to Cody, see a Legion Rider member or leave donations at the Montgomery American Legion.



In closing, I would like to dedicate this column to the memory of my parents, Clarence and Clara Wheal, who would have celebrated their 98th and 90th birthdays this coming week.