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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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

About a month ago, my youngest daughter delivered our 4th granddaughter. Her name is Juliana (Juli-ah-na) Nicole. Her name suits her well, because she’s a jewel of a baby. Juliana has smiled from day one. I don’t care what you say, it’s NOT just gas.

Anyone who’s become a grandparent knows there’s no relationship like the one with grandchildren. Grandparents fall insanely in love. Grandchildren are wonderful at reciprocating that love. Since aging and grandchildren go hand in hand, I don’t mind aging. What an incredible stage of life.

And now, a drum roll, please. Here’s Juliana!

Tex, the dog, is the only boy in the family. He’s already protective of his little “sis,” though he’s jealous of her, too. Typical, whether human or canine!

Juliana not only has loving parents and adoring grandparents, she also has cousins who are anxious to show her the ropes! Here’s a picture of her big girl cousins: Kristen, Elizabeth, and Presley Kate.

We grandparents have so much to be thankful for. I’d love to hear about your grandchildren. Feel free to comment.

On another note~

I am thrilled that the scorching days of summer have passed, and that fall is showing its beautiful, cool self. The leaves are just beginning to turn, but already are stunning. Every day brings more beauty.

It’s time for me to go get my hair colored and cut, so I’ll close for today. I’m reading Tris Hussey’s book, Create Your Own Blog. It’s inspiring. I’ll be back tomorrow! I know that’s hard to believe. I’ll have to earn your trust!

©2010 BLN

I’m back at home with DSL service–finally! Starbucks was fun, but inconvenient, too. It’s great to write from my own desk and make coffee in my own kitchen. I’m so glad to be free of hours long phone calls with AT&T “customer service” rep’s. Going through that much drama, just to transfer service from one house to another, is enough to make any sane person cave in to crazy!

I want to review some of the topics I wrote about in previous posts and get this blog up and running again. I apologize for my inconsistencies and my slow posts.

~We moved to a home with no stairs, ease of entry, and no trees! Now don’t get me wrong. We love trees, but needed to lessen the workload that comes with a yard full of trees. We now enjoy a great view, fresh backberries along the fence line, and other people’s trees and horses. Nirvana!

~I am writing the blog as a WP50 (well-past 50) woman, who often feels misunderstood in this youth oriented society. As I mentioned before, it’s odd to feel “eternally 30,” while facing aging related challenges. This blog is my place to record my experiences, interests, and perceptions as I advance through my senior years.

~Health is a big concern for an aging population. The goal is to remain strong and healthy for as long as possible.

~My health challenges: I have Celiac disease, an inherited autoimmune disorder. I am unable to digest the storage protein (commonly called “gluten”) in wheat, barley, and rye. I am also allergic to dairy products and corn. That means I can’t eat the majority of foods in the supermarket! I consume almost all fresh food and very little sugar. I still need to lose weight, keep cholesterol and blood sugar levels down, and maintain a healthy blood pressure. Diet and exercise are the ticket.

~I do not trust pharmaceutical companies. My goal is to stay off medicines as long as possible. So far, I do not take any medicine. I hope to keep it that way. I have been reading The Truth About Beauty, by Kat James. I have incorporated many of her suggestions, including replacing toxic health and beauty products with natural, health promoting ones, eating organic as much as possible, and avoiding blood-sugar spikes. The book is about health; true beauty comes from good health. I’m noticing that others are now agreeing with Kat: Oprah’s trainer, Bob Greene, has a new book out with similar recommendations. Nutri-Systems has joined the low-glycemic band wagon, as well. I will write about my quest for “true beauty” and health, on a regular basis.

~I use Sparkpeople.com to help me stay on track with my diet. I am able to record what I eat and receive feedback on nutrient levels and carbohydrate, fat, and protein ratios. Sparkpeople has a library of superb articles on health and fitness. They also have great recipes. Check them out! It’s free.

~ I love to reminisce about the past or to write articles about interesting family members or friends. For example, my husband’s Grandmother, Minnie, collected salt and pepper shakers. In childhood, Mike spent hours admiring her colorful shakers.

He and I decided to start a collection for OUR grandchildren. Looking for unique shakers brings us a lot of joy. We try to buy ones that are especially humorous or that have special meaning. We have alligators from a trip to Georgia, a pair of aging beachcombers from Florida, Minnie and Mickey, in honor of our 1st granddaughter, Kristen (she loves them!), and many more. One of my sisters sent an adorable set of barrel cacti from Arizona. In Texas, we found a horny toad wearing boots with spurs, a bandanna, and a hat. An antique grandma, sitting in a rocking chair, symbolizes the reason for the collection.

My great grandmother, Mabel, and her sisters played with the tea set on the lowest shelf.

Did you know that the world’s largest salt and pepper museum is in Gatlinburg,Tennessee?

I’m thinking that I’ll dub Friday “Fun Friday,” and reminisce about people, places, or times that I’ve known.

Wow! I’m whopped. I’ve got to get the writing muscles back in shape. It’s a pleasure to be back. Do you have interesting tales from your childhood? Silly question, huh? Who doesn’t? Feel free to comment! Have a great afternoon!

©2010 BLN
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I love new beginnings, whether the beginning of a year, a month, a week, or even a day. Today is Tuesday, June 1st, and it’s the date to re-start this blog. My life has been a whirlwind for the past few months. The chaos isn’t going away anytime soon. In 2 weeks, we are closing on our new home. It’s both an exciting and a challenging time.

Mike and I have more to do than we have time. I think we’re both a little burned out from all the work or we’re feeling the effects of aging! We sure aren’t as fast as we once were. We decided to move out of our current house before we put it on the market. Living in the house, packing our belongings, and showing the house, all at the same time, is a stretch for us old folks! (We actually don’t feel old at all until the aches and pains set in or we look in the mirror!)

I began this post a month and a half ago! Great things have happened since then. We finally emptied our old house and moved into the new one. We’re experiencing a few complications: Our new refrigerator is on back-order at Lowe’s; we’re eating from an ice chest; we’re watching an old TV with rabbit ears, while waiting for Direct TV to get us hooked up, and AT&T is taking forever to transfer our DSL service.

According to AT&T customer service, our number is “lost in the system.” They say, until it surfaces, there’s nothing they can do about it. I’ve talked to at least 15 AT&T customer service rep’s and am no better off than when I started. This morning they told me to watch my modem and to call them when a green DSL light comes on. I thought modern technology was supposed to make things happen faster! AT&T seems to be be stuck in the stone ages…

Starbucks is my salvation. At least I can use their WiFi until AT&T gets it together. It’s actually very relaxing here at Starbucks. I love the music and the interesting people that hang out here.

I have all kinds of things I want to write about on this blog: health concerns that come with advancing age (I’ve actually dropped a few pounds since I was last on), spiritual growth, marriage and family (I have a new granddaughter arriving in August), books I’m reading, great food and recipes, and anything else that I think is interesting. I hope you’ll join me.

I’ve been in Starbucks far too long! Good-bye for today. Stay cool, and have a great evening.

©2010 BLN
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In yesterday’s post, I said I wouldn’t be interested in taking a pill that would end aging and aging related diseases. I didn’t say that I wouldn’t do all that I can to stay as vibrant and beautiful as possible in my golden years! I am currently working at dropping some weight and adding more strength training and cardio exercises to my daily round.

I use an incredible site called Sparkpeople.com to keep track of calories, nutrient intake, and fitness. I highly recommend this site! There’s helpful information, such as exercise demo’s, recipes, educational and motivational articles, and a ton (no pun intended!) of people ready and willing to be a friend.

Counting calories isn’t too hard for me. I am allotted plenty of calories to satisfy my hunger. Due to an autoimmune disease called Celiac disease, I can’t eat anything containing the gluten found in wheat, barley, and rye. That eliminates most processed food. I’m also lactose intolerant, so dairy is out,too! That leaves lots of calories for delicious whole foods.

Consistently exercising is difficult for me. I’m better at putting it off than doing it! Sparkpeople helps keep me motivated. They suggest a group of 6 strength training exercises that take only 11 minutes to do! I like to do them first thing in the morning after getting out of bed. That way, I don’t have to think about them all day long.

I actually enjoy walking. I reserve my iPod music for when I walk and play all my favorite songs. One time I walked an extra lap around the neighborhood just because of the music.

(Off the subject, but anyone else love American Idol? What a talented group is competing this year! Who are you rooting for?)

It’s not easy dropping weight at this age. Actually, my daughters find it difficult, as well. I’ve been wondering what other factors lead to weight gain. I’m reading a very interesting book, by Kat James, called The Truth About Beauty. I’m just a chapter

or 2 into the book, but have already learned so much. James explains that the many toxins, that daily assault our bodies, keep us from being healthy and fit. She teaches a systematic way of replacing toxic substances with healthful ones. Today I am cleaning out the toiletries I use that are toxic. I plan to replace them with a few excellent natural products. I’ll write more about this as I go through the book.

How have you solved health or weight problems?

That’s all for now! Have a great day!

“Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.”
~Eleanor Roosevelt

Note: I have not been compensated or asked to endorse any of the products or services mentioned in this post.

©2010 BLN
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Happy Birthday to Me!

This blog is a 58th birthday present to myself. I’m entering the “Twilight Zone,” you know, the “twilight years.” To be honest, aging is intimidating. I have no good ideas of what to expect in old age. I’ve witnessed enough of the bad that can happen to want to push this whole stage of life away from me.

We all know that’s not going to happen! I’ve decided to ascribe to the old adage, “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!” I’m going to chum up to this pesky companion called aging, try to come to terms with it, document my journey, and pray to grow spiritually as I go.

This blog isn’t intended to be a scientific study of aging, or a place to get aging related information, such as “Overcoming the Terrors of the Medicare System.” The purpose of this blog is more personal–a conversation, of sorts, between friends–albeit “aging friends!”

One evening 2 of my daughters and I brainstormed for a byline for this blog. The youngest suggested, “I feel like I’m 30, so why do I qualify for the the Early Bird Special?” I didn’t end up using this line, but it makes me laugh. That’s the gist of how I and other people feel. It’s strange to be treated differently, based on age and appearance, when you feel about 30–only wiser and smarter!

A comment my father made illustrates the confusion between felt age and actual age. When he first went to assisted living he looked around at a dining room full of residents and said, “I won’t fit in; these people are old!” I have to tell you that on the outside my 80+ year old father was no youngster himself, but his mind and spirit were as young as ever. Over time, he discovered youthful spirit behind the old faces of his neighbors and made incredible friendships. He died 10-months-ago. I miss you, Pop.

That’s all for today. I’m so happy to be here and to have this opportunity to write. It sounds cliche, but writing is my joy. Please join me anytime!

” The great secret that all old people share is that you really haven’t changed in seventy or eighty years. Your body changes, but you really don’t change. And that, of course, causes great confusion.” ~Doris Lessing

©2010 BLN
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