Optimistic Mayfly

As the absent-minded skydiver said when halfway down… so far so good!

Only 65 (age, not IQ although some days, well… no comment) and in fine health.

Good DNA is important. Had a “grand-uncle” on my mom’s side who made it to 100. My Aunt near Ann Arbor, also on mom’s side, turned 103 last fall.

Long lives on my dad’s side too, although most of the smokers ended in their 80s. Grandma “grammy” made it past 90. My dad smoked so heavily, his doctor told him not to quit! The shock of clean air would do him in. He kept smoking (as far as I knew) until he keeled over at 82.

On my mom’s side, grandpa smoked a pipe, and his son, my uncle Frank Jr., also smoked a pipe. Yet they made it to good old ages.

Hell no way am I gonna smoke, ever. I will live even longer!

All the health experts, doctors, aging researchers, anyone with good advice, say the same things: eat good foods, fruits and veggies with fiber, and avoid crappy sugary stuff, get some fresh air and sunlight, exercise, and don’t smoke. Same things, over and over since eons ago.

Way back when I was in grad school, working in the Bay Area, I was introduced to an old lady, 95 or so, not senile, went for daily walks, overall in fairly good shape compared to most 90-somethings. One thing she said was “Never visit doctors!”

I’ve heard that many more times from many middle-aged, seniors, and centenarians who were still in fine health.

Another thing I wonder about… once upon a time I read a claim that if you read any of Mary Baker Eddy’s books, you’ll live a long and healthy life. I don’t know about that, but yes I did read one of her books once long ago, and I do seem to be on track for a long healthy life.

In any case, yes, it’s good to move around, walk daily, eat wisely by being aware of nutrients and calories, and avoiding junk (I’m eating an apple strudel sugar thingy as I write this, duh), and of course don’t smoke, and as the oldsters keep saying: “STAY AWAY FROM DOCTORS!”

(btw, what the heck is a “doctor”?)

Of course, this not to be taken strictly. If you crush your hand in a machine, or fall off a ladder, or get winded climbing just one step up, go see a doctor. We have marvelous medical treatments and preventions for all kinds of maladies and wayward physiology. Doctors can save lives!

It’s the chronic conditions due to modern lifestyles, the prolonged use of medicines, reliance on medications over activity and environment, that the oldsters are saying to avoid. So far I’m 100% on board with that.