"Old age" is a relatively recent phenomenon.

In Barbara Kingsolver's novel, "Prodigal Summer," Nannie Rawley -- a feisty septuagenarian -- bristles at criticism that she doesn't act "normal" for her age: "There isn't any normal way to act 75 years old ... people are supposed to be dead and buried at our age. That's normal. Up till just lately, the Civil War or something, they didn't even know about germs. If you got sick, they slapped leeches on you and measured you for a coffin."

Medical advances are the culprit, according to Nannie: "Along comes somebody inventing six thousand ways to cure everything, and here we are, old, wondering what to do with ourselves" -- not for the next five or 10 years, but for another 30 or 40 years, a veritable second half of life.

Those "six thousand ways to cure everything" have clearly added years to our lives. The challenge now is to add life to those years. How?

• n By exploring new avenues for individual growth and spiritual deepening;
• n By opening ourselves to new opportunities for an "encore" career and meaningful work that speaks to our hearts desire; and
• By gathering about us companions for the journey and creating new communities in which to live.

A one-day seminar, Spirit, Service and Community in Second Half of Life, will probe these challenges on Feb. 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Seymour Center. Presentations will be by Second Journey founder Bolton Anthony, ElderSpirit co-housing community founder Geraldine Peterson, and philosopher John G. Sullivan.

The cost of $35 per person and $55 per couple includes lunch. The seminar is sponsored by Second Journey (www.SecondJourney.org) and the Orange County Department on Aging. For info, visit www.secondjourney.org/Seymour.htm.

To register, call 968-2070.

Tax assistance

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program is a free tax service that begins Feb. 1 for low- to middle-income households, with special assistance for the homebound, elderly or disabled. No restrictions on age or county of residence apply.

Tax situations that are complex or lengthy may be referred to the IRS. Volunteers trained according to IRS and N.C. guidelines will be available to prepare computerized federal or North Carolina returns. Returns will then be filed electronically at no charge.

Appointments are being taken for services Feb. 1-April 16, depending on the site. Refer to the sites below for information or to make an appointment.

Non-English-speaking clients need to bring an interpreter. Spanish-speaking clients may call 245-2010 (Orange County) or 742-1448 (Chatham County) to be matched with a Spanish-speaking tax preparer. For appointments or information, call 968-2070; in Chatham County, call 542-4512.

"The Town Before Brown"

A showing of "The Town Before Brown" will be held in the theater at the Seymour Center on Feb. 29 at 10:30 a.m. Gerald Unks of the UNC School of Education conceived this film 10 years prior to it's production. The initial inspiration for the film stemmed from the realization that Chapel Hill's involvement in segregation was slowly being forgotten in favor of a more liberal view of the town.

Seymour Center Melange Fridays

Join us for lunch at 11:30 a.m. Call and register by noon of day prior to lunch. Programs are: Feb. 1, "You Can Change Your Future" with Pat Otto, medical palm reader; Feb. 8, "Don't Let the Computer Scare You" with Francis Coyle; Feb. 15, "Aging Transitions -- Medicaid and Your House"; and Feb. 22, "Beware of the Current Scams" with Art Englebardt of the Chapel Hill Police Department.


Feb. 11

• Valentine Tea at 3 p.m. with entertainment by Horace Sher on trumpet.
• Movies at the Center
• Every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Free. Popcorn is available. Feb. 5, "Calamity Jane"; Feb. 12, "Random Harvest"; Feb. 19, "Victory" and Feb. 26, "National Velvet."

Feb. 9

• Saturday Matinee at the Seymour Center at 11:30 a.m. "The Notebook."

Every Tuesday

• Line dancing, 1:30-3 p.m. Fee: $12 per month. Sign up at the Seymour Center front desk or call 968-2070.

Feb. 7, 21

• Waltzing Practice, 7-8:30 p.m. Fee: $2 at the door.

Feb. 28

• Ballroom Dance Social, 7-9:30 p.m. Fee: $2 at the door. For information call 933-8982.

Feb. 14

• Couples Dance, 6:30-7:30 p.m. there are lessons for waltzing, swing, some Scandinavian couple dances; from 7:30 to 9 p.m. there is dancing to recorded music. Free.

Wednesdays, Feb. 6-27

• Tap Dance Classes, 2 p.m. Fee: $52. Join Robin Vail, head tap dancer of the popular Footnotes Ensemble to learn some savvy tap dance moves. Sign up at the front desk or call 968-2070 to register.

Feb. 14

• Valentine's Day Potluck. The center will provide the lasagna; you bring the dessert or a side dish to serve at least eight people. Entertainer will be Tom Gernerous. Call 968-2070 to register and let us know what you are bringing.

Feb. 21

• Village Elders Lecture Series, 2:30 p.m. Emily Kass, director of Ackland Art Museum, will speak on "What's New at the Ackland?"

Feb. 8

• Dominoes Tournament, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Northside Gymnasium at Hargraves Center. Refreshments and prizes will be provided. Call 968-2070.

Feb. 15

• Annual black history program at Hargraves Center, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Keynote speaker, great food and a time to reflect. People of all races and nationality are welcome. Sign up at the Seymour Center front desk or call 968-2070 to register.

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• Art Classes at the Seymour Center, Mondays, Jan. 28-March 3
• Beginning Oil Painting with David Sovero, 10 a.m.-noon. Class will begin with still life sketching followed by learning to paint still-lifes, landscapes and portraits. Fee: $60.

Mondays, Feb. 25-March 31

• Basic Pastel Painting, 1-3 p.m. Materials needed list at the front desk. Fee: $48.

Mondays, Feb. 4-March 24

• Beginning Origami, 1-2 p.m. Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. Join Theo Cokkinos to create flowers, animals, boats, boxes. Sign up at the front desk or call 968-2070 to register. Fee: $40.

Tuesdays, Feb. 5-March 25

• Introduction to Hand-built Ceramics, 7-8 p.m. Tool kits are available at $16 each. Fee, $10 per class. Sign up at the front desk or call 968-2070 to register.

Feb. 18

• Book Discussion Group, 2 p.m. The group will review "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards. For information, call 490-9795. Newcomers welcome.

Tuesdays, Feb. 5, 19

• Writers' Discussion Group, 2-4 p.m. This group is looking for new members. Membership includes both experienced and beginner writers. For information, call Nonnie Ginther, 942-2137.


Health matters

Feb. 27

• Ask the Pharmacist, 9 a.m.-noon. Schedule a 20-minute uninterrupted appointment with Jena Ivey of the UNC School of Pharmacy. Free.

Feb. 13

• Ask the Registered Dietician, 9-11 a.m. Call to schedule a free 20-minute appointment and come with your questions.

Feb. 6

• Healthy Food Demo, 3-5 p.m. Matthew Butler of Piazza Italia from Brightleaf Square, Durham, will showcase dishes with an Italian flare. Commitment fee: $7.

Central Orange Senior Center

Feb. 18

• President's Day Potluck Luncheon, noon. The center will provide the pot roast and you bring the sides. Call the center to register and let us know what side you plan to bring. Registration required prior to Feb. 12.