Joanne Lindholm photo Brett Calcari, Golden K chairperson and Sarah Gospodarek, Golden K member, teamed up for a presentation on the word “fall.”

By JOAN JOUPPI

For The Daily News

KINGSFORD — Weekends can be full of activities and events that leave one happy and tired. For some, Monday initiates the work week ahead. Retired seniors on the other hand can just roll over for extra slumber. Not so for the Golden K group. Friends, fresh coffee and a great program await. Each Monday brings something new. This week we were surprised to discover the piano was relocated and continued by singing a cappella.

Chairman Brett Calcari opened the meeting with the usual ceremonies, keeping everything on track. Lois Outcelt lead the a cappella group in singing some bright and happy old tunes.

Maxine Vaccarello, won the 50-50 drawing and the Welcome Song was sung for Lois Chartier and Bonnie Spaton. Happy Dollars Thoughts reflected good feelings about the weather, a grandmother anxious about a family trip downstate and Kathy Jo Anderson basking in sunny Hawaii.

Golden K extends sympathy to the family of Karen Burgess, who was a member of Golden Throats and loved singing with the group. With business out of the way, the group indulged in coffee and doughnuts. Calcari’s “Thought for the Day” was “Embrace the journey, not just the destination. It encourages us to appreciate learning, growing and evolving.”

Calcari teamed up with Sarah Gospodarek and presented a program on “fall.” As holds true to many words in the English language, the word fall has many meanings. Capitalized it represents a season, a beautiful time of glorious colors.

The word fall can mean to fall in or out love. Projects fall by the wayside, and one may fall off the wagon with diet plans or exercise goals. A young girl loved skating and found that falling was part of her learning. There’s a lesson in falling and getting up gracefully. The sensation of falling is something seniors are very much aware of. Seniors know falling is present in every step they take.

In an effort to avert unplanned tumbles, Gospodarek advises people to take inventory of their home. Check for rugs that may slip, extra cords out of place, and obstacles laying around on the floor. Aging can affect stability and simple things may cause one to stumble and fall.

Maintaining a good diet and using prescriptions properly will help your body stay strong. Check with your doctor when experiencing unusual weakness, unbalanced walking, or dizziness.

If you fall, take time to stabilize before getting up. When you are sure you are okay to move, begin slowly. Sit down and give your body time to recover.

Youngsters may fall and pop back up; however, an older person does not.

One member recalled his experience of falling. On two occasions, for unknown reasons, he fell. He felt dizzy and could not figure out why. Doctors checking his blood test results gave him an answer. He was given IVs to stabilize. In this case, the hemoglobin level was dangerously low and adjusting diet helped maintain stability.

Falling is not something most of us look forward to. Icy wet conditions, curbs and uneven ground, and rushing are dangers that affect all. Give grandma and grandpa an extra minute or so for safety’s sake.

Golden K will meet at 10 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford, featuring the Iron Mountain Jazz Band. Join us for a rocking good time.