Writing our stories down may be one of the most important things we do. In our own vernacular and style, we write the narrative of the experiences and people of our lives so they can be visited and revisited by ourselves and by those who follow us. Stories are how we explain, understand, and reconcile our values, ideas, and how we live our lives. We write the stories at home, read them in our class, and learn from each other. We will also share tips for writing and publishing memoirs. Class members choose which of their stories will be published in our semester book. Limit 18. 

Glenda Love Bell, Coordinator
9:30—11:30 A.M. Wednesday, Starts Feb. 18
The Church at Highland Park, Burchette Room
5206 Balcones Drive (78731)

This class offers practical, down-to-earth guidance to help you identify, clarify, and communicate your end-of-life wishes with understanding and ease. We will discuss topics including, but not limited, to funeral home prices, prepaid funeral contracts, natural/green burial, options like Donate Life Texas, hospice care, and death doulas. You’ll also be encouraged to complete or update your healthcare advanced directives, including the Texas Living Will. (Customizing these documents to express your wishes and priorities may require some homework.) Please bring $10 for plentiful handouts to our first class meeting. Limit 16.

Alex Casas, FCACT
10:00—Noon Wednesday, Starts Feb. 18
Dittmar Recreation Center
1009 W. Dittmar Road (78745)

Discover the joy of Argentine tango—a dance of playful connection, musicality, and gentle movement that anyone can enjoy. No experience is needed. If you can walk, you can tango! This class introduces you to the basics of tango in a relaxed, welcoming environment. You’ll learn how to move comfortably with a partner, navigate the dance floor, and adapt your steps to a variety of tango music styles. Everyone gets to try both leading and following—no fixed roles, just a chance to explore what feels natural. Tango improves balance, posture, and mental agility while offering a fun way to stay active and social. Come solo or bring a friend—no partner needed. Our inspiring, experienced guide will have you moving with grace. You can see him in the Warmup Video and contact david@tangotribe.com if you have questions. Wear comfortable shoes and get ready to move, connect, and smile! Note: No class on February 25; course extends one week. Limit 20.

David Phillips
10:00—Noon Wednesday, Starts Feb. 18
Northwest Recreation Center, Multi-purpose Room
2913 Northland Drive (78757)

Please note: Class schedule has been changed. No class on March 25. Last class is April 1. Tiny England went to sea and built the greatest empire in history. At its height, the British Empire had a quarter of the earth’s land mass and a quarter of the population. England didn’t set out to build an empire but accumulated it under a variety of means.

From isolation to the world’s first superpower and the world’s first industrial nation, England influenced and shaped world events. Many legacies remain today from the accumulation of British power and the relatively orderly dismantling of that vast empire. This course outlines significant events of the last 400 years that together answer how tiny England achieved its empire and why our modern world is the way it is:

• Coming out of Isolation—how England found its identity as a maritime trading nation and competed with larger powers

• Trade is the path to riches—North America and India

• Industrial/agricultural revolutions fuel growth—how Britain achieved economic and technical leadership

• Undisputed world power—the empire fully formed under Queen Victoria

• Scramble for Africa—opening the Dark Continent to European domination

• Fighting tyranny to exhaustion—two world wars are tough on a far-flung empire—the transition back to British Isles

Our ever-popular master instructor, retired Naval officer and business executive, brings his love of world exploration and history to bear on our nation’s story. Note: No class on March 25; course extends one week. 6 Classes. Limit 50.

Todd Clayton
10:00—Noon Wednesday, Starts Feb. 18
The Village at The Triangle  
4517 Triangle Avenue (78751)

This class is B1 level according to the CEFR. This means you'll be able to talk about topics in simple language, construct more complicated sentences, listen to longer audio clips and understand instruction in German. If you are not sure whether this class is right for you, try this placement test and/or contact the instructor via email (deutsch2henrike@gmail.com)

Ich helfe gerne! Bis bald! Ich freu' mich drauf!

Please bring $5 for copies to the first class. Limit 16.

Henrike Belz
10:00—11:30 A.M. Wednesday, Starts Feb. 18
Violet Crown City Church
1300 Morrow Street (78757)

This course is for those who already read music and have some previous experience playing one or more sizes of recorder. A "consort" is an ensemble of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass recorders, with occasional use of other sizes. We learn and play music from the Medieval and Renaissance periods to the present. If you enjoy playing recorder music and would like to be part of a consort, then this group is for you. Before registering as a new member, please contact the group facilitator at 512-825-4252 or richter@haus.org. She will provide more information about what's needed for the course. Limit 25.

Susan Richter
10:15—Noon Wednesday, Starts Feb. 18
Hancock Recreation Center
811 E. 41st Street (78751)

This course is for people who like indie films, value personal growth, and wish to learn and challenge their thinking. Each week the class will cover 1-2 movies that are assigned for home viewing and discussion in class, selected to demonstrate specific psychological themes, techniques, and topics such as mindfulness, fear, love, trauma, perfectionism, or empathy. The instructor will show clips and provide open-ended questions for discussion in class. Assignments for home viewing will prioritize Netflix, AmazonPrime, and free films. Examples of anticipated films include Perfect Days (2023), Pig (2021), Sing Sing (2024), or Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). Class will include group work, using film clips and media as inspiration. Note: No class on March 18; course extends 1 week. Limit 24.

Miki Tesh
10:30—Noon Wednesday, Starts Feb. 18
Northwest Recreation Center
2913 Northland Drive (78757)

The investment world is full of lingo, jargon, and terminology. It can be difficult to understand with so many buzzwords, charts, and graphs. This course goes over the basic terminology and strategy around investment and retirement planning. Whether you are just starting out or want to learn something new, the workshop will bring you back to the basics so you can become a more educated investor. You'll learn:

• Key features and strategy of bonds, stocks, and mutual funds

• Cash-flow planning in retirement

• Basics of Medicare

• Basics of estate planning

Our instructor is a registered Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and a popular presenter. 7 Classes. Limit 20.
Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.

Chris Cybulski
11:00—Noon Wednesday, Starts Feb. 18
Lamar Senior Activity Center, South Room
2874 Shoal Crest Avenue (78705)

Science fiction stories, art, and movies have always reflected the times in which they were made, articulating our hopes and fears about our future. By studying sci-fi movies, and especially those lesser-known and made since the sci-fi renaissance of 1977, we’ll develop a deeper appreciation of the prevalent themes and ideas about humanity that these films encompass—our engagement with technology and how it changes and defines us as humans; the possibilities of time travel, exploration, alien life, climate change, and our tendency to make war. We’ll consider the consequences of our own evolution as a species and finding our place in the cosmos. This semester we’ll explore these themes in “Mirror Darkley: The Twin Stranger,” “Did I Do That? Prometheus Redux,” “Get Out: The Urge to Explore,” and “Strange Neighbors: Aliens Arrived.” We’ll start each week’s screening with about a dozen slides including the movie’s trailer, factoids from the history and context of the time of its production, and interesting trivia. After the screening, we’ll facilitate a brief group discussion. Note: Course starts one week late; no class on March 18; ends April 22. Limit 20.

Rex Schuller and Adam Miller
10:00—Noon Wednesday, Starts Feb. 25
Bethany Lutheran Church, Chapel
3701 W. Slaughter Lane (78749)