I read a fun age-related article this morning on the web. It’s titled, Clean Living Key to Long Life? Don’t Believe It!

The article points out that genes are far more influential to longevity than clean living. I can relate to this one. In a previous post, I wrote about my friend, Mary, who just celebrated her 95th birthday. I’ve drilled Mary about what she’s done to live so long. I didn’t hear anything that sounded that healthy to me. She smoked, dipped snuff and ate a typical southern diet of fried vegetables and meats. She’s had multiple surgeries, including cancer of the stomach surgery. She’s recovered from them all.

What I do see in her is a fierce determination not to give up, an uncanny ability to let go of hurts, a trust in God, and a voracious appetite. She prepares and eats whatever she wants.

She takes one medication to keep blood pressure down. She credits a daily multi-vitamin for keeping her healthy. She gave up cigarrettes when they hit $1.00 a pack and lost her taste for snuff after the stomach-cancer surgery. She said she’s always been active and she still has goals. One is to find out how Ashton Kutcher does in Charlie Sheen’s role on 2-1/2 Men!

I don’t mean to diminish Mary in any way. She’s an incredibly strong woman who’s spent her life in service to others. Clean living describes her life in many ways. She believes that God numbered her days before she was born, and when He’s ready He’ll take her home. I hope He’s not in a hurry. Mary is a delight to know.

Has anyone in your life lived past 90?

Have a great day!

Mary often says, “I’m as happy as a clam!”

©2011 BLN
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Baby boomers have the power to positively impact health-care reform in America. Not only do we have the power, we have the responsibility to live a healthy lifestyle and stay strong  for as long as possible. Click here to read my full article on this subject.

©2011 BLN

At 59-years-old, I think about how many years I may have left and what my quality of life will be as I age. I’ve experienced enough of life, through my parents and relatives, to be guarded about my “golden years.” I had an uncle who lay helpless in a nursing home for 10 years. Who would want that? My aunt spent her last years there, too.  When she died, I cried, but more out of joy for her than anything else. She was a strong Christian woman who could count on a joyful eternity.

My father wouldn’t consider assisted living, even though he fell and couldn’t get up, he could barely walk using a walker, and he had multiple medical problems. Eventually, he gave up his home and his car and made the move. He made good friends there, and considered it his home by the time he died. Nonetheless, he often talked about how hard it was to be old. He said more than once, “I wish God would turn out the lights.”

Old age is rough, no matter the person. I’d begun to think it would be better to die younger, say in my 70′s, before life becomes intolerable. Then I met Mary. She just celebrated a 95th birthday, and still enjoys her life.

Mary lives alone in the house she and her lifelong husband built. Her daughter and granddaughter live nearby and look after her. She wakes up when she’s ready, lives in her nightgown, a soft terrycloth robe, and bootie slippers. She makes her own breakfast. She likes a couple of strips of bacon and an egg, or a packet of oatmeal. She has a favorite chair she sits in and she spends the day doing word puzzles, reading the paper, or watching TV. She keeps snacks by the chair: nuts, crackers, and candy. She told me that she loves to eat and that she can eat anything. Amazing for a 5’2″ woman who weighs 88 pounds. I told her she’s better off than I am, because I have many food allergies, including corn. She said, “Oh, honey, look at all the foods you’re missing out on. What’s life worth without a good piece of summer’s sweet corn?”

Mary is sharp as a tack. She said she’s been through all kinds of serious surgeries and she always pops back.

Last time I saw her she whispered, “You know, I may have cancer.” I whispered, “Why do you think that?” She explained that she’d had a stomach surgery for cancer, but doctors said they got it all. Then, she heard a doctor whisper “cancer” to her daughter. The daughter asked, “how long?” Mary heard him say, “6 months.” I asked Mary how long ago that was. She said, “last July.” I asked her if she was having any pain. “I don’t have any pain,” she said smiling. “I think I beat the odds!”

For her birthday, Mary asked her family for a barbecue sandwich, a piece of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and big bars of chocolate. She said at her age she doesn’t need anything else.

I told Mary I wouldn’t be surprised if she makes it to her 100th birthday. She said it wouldn’t surprise her, either. She also said it’s ok if she dies sooner, because she’s a Christian and knows where she’s going.

Mary has 2 goals. She said she’s going to walk around the house more, and she wants to go to the grocery store, at least one more time, to pick her groceries.

Mary’s an inspiration. I can’t believe she was already 36-years-old when I was born.  She helps me see that old age is challenging, but even at 95, life can still be worth living.

Thank you, Mary.
Happy 95th!

©2011 BLN

Today I had the pleasure of delivering Community Food Garden vegetables to elderly people living on limited income. I’ve been doing this once a week for awhile now, and I never grow tired of it. I meet the nicest and most interesting people. Many of them are close to 90-years-old and still living independently. Isn’t that amazing? These people are thrilled to get fresh veggies delivered to their homes. I’m thrilled to have the privilege of delivering to them. They especially love tomatoes, okra, and greens of any kind.

Visiting the elderly teaches me a lot. In some ways it makes me nervous about aging. Every one of them have health problems, deal with pain on a daily basis, and suffer from the loss of beloved people in their lives. Those things are nothing to look forward to. Some of the people respond to age-related traumas by becoming hopeless and depressed. I can’t help feeling sorry for them.

On the other hand, I visit homes of people who are suffering but still have sparkle in their eyes. These people are often reading their Bible when I arrive and they tell me how much they love and rely on Jesus.”Katherine” is a good example of a hopeful person.

While in the hospital, Katherine suffered an overdose of a painkiller called fentanyl. She went into a coma and almost died. She’s left with crippling side-effects: her vision and hearing are impaired, as is her balance. She’s angry about what happened to her because of medical error, but refuses to let it define her life. She told me Jesus is always with her and helps her make it through every day. She’s still able to enjoy her life.

You’d be surprised how many elderly people live alone behind the many doors we drive by each day. They often have limited incomes, limited mobility, and some do not have bare necessities. If you have a chance, look into volunteering an hour or 2 to help the elderly in your community. You’ll find they give you as much as you give them.

“The oldest trees often bear the sweetest fruit.” German Proverb

Have a wonderful weekend!

©2010 BLN

Last night I had dinner with 4 lovely ladies from my church. After dinner we went to function at church for women in their 40′s and 50′s. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we had a speaker from our hospital’s Breast Cancer Center tell us about the importance of self-checks and yearly mammograms. This is a topic I’m ambivalent about. It seems like cancer, in general, has become big business in America. I see pink everywhere I go–pink blenders, pink measuring spoons and cups, pink shirts and hats– pink, pink, pink. It all adds up to big bucks. I want to know where all that money’s going to.

On the other hand, I have great empathy for anyone who faces this terrible disease. My younger sister just finished treatment for stage 2 breast cancer. She had a mastectomy and re-construction and is now cancer free. I thank God for that. Her cancer was not thought to be inherited.

I recently had my yearly pap. Last year, I convinced my doctor that I’d have mammograms every other year rather than every year. She said okay; it was my choice. This year she was a little more direct. She said she gets hers yearly and she takes her 82-year-old mother for a yearly mammogram. I asked her about the radiation and its effect on the breasts. It seems to me that continually radiating the breasts could actually cause breast cancer. She said the risk was minimal and suggested I ask the technician when I went for this year’s mammogram. She said the truth is, “you’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.” I agree.

I asked the nurse speaking at my church about radiation risk. She said the radiation of a mammogram is equivalent to standing outside naked in the sun for a day. That didn’t sound like much risk, except the sunburn could be mighty severe. What kind of day is she talking about? Cloudy, full sun? How long? I didn’t think to press for details.

I don’t feel any reassurance, but I’ve decided to make the call tomorrow and schedule the mammogram. I hate doing it. I’m not convinced that it’s not harmful, and I’m scared to death of having my life turned upside down. I have those beautiful grandchildren, though, and wonderful daughters, and a husband I adore. I want to spend more time with them. I just hope I’m making a decision in my best interest rather than in the best interest of greedy health care moguls.

What’s your opinion?

©2010 BLN
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