ANOTHER CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE

 The old rusty Nail

AN E-JOURNAL FOR OLD PEOPLE

Russell Burton, an Old Person

Well, here it is December 26, 2013 and I am cleaning up by home where some nine of us had dinner yesterday beginning sharply at 1 PM.  I mention the fact that it was at 1 in the afternoon and not one minute later because these things can get out of hand with guests not arriving on time.  So, it gets put off and off until the dinner is served much too late for people who must live on a tight schedule.

This exact thing happened this last Thanksgiving which was scheduled to begin at noon, but someone phoned that she had to work and would get there as soon as possible.  Well, that ASAP was three in the afternoon.  One guest was a diabetic and this caused all kinds of problems for her as she must eat when it is time to eat and that is not three in the afternoon.

A young couple was a bit late this year but people were still serving themselves so my schedule was maintained.  Of course, there were the usual compliments about the food and some people even wanted a couple of the recipes.  Someone wanting the recipe to me is a sign that they really did like the food. 

One food I cooked was my version of Boston Baked Beans made from canned baked beans. The label on the can states that the contents are baked beans, but unlike Boston Baked Beans, they do not have any molasses and that is necessary.  I love BBB and I have tried to cook them from scratch with dried Navy Beans but without any success.  This recipe is my own and I like it a lot. 

I start with a can of Bush's Boston Baked Beans adding molasses, mustard, dried onions, a strip of uncooked bacon cut into pieces, and a squirt of Worcester Sauce.  I bake them for 2 hours at 325 F.  

My son-in-law mentioned that that kind of beans served with BBQ beef brisket was odd.  You know, in Texas some form of BBQ beans is not the norm.  But, he did eat a couple of portions and my other son-in-law wanted the recipe.  

The brisket I bought already cooked and it is very good, so why should I try to do the same when I really can’t do as well. Of course I think I can do better but then I think of all that electricity I'm saving keeping the oven going for hours upon hours.  I served three different kinds of BBQ sauces.  You know what they say, ‘the sauce is the boss’.  Not sure about that but I do know that different people like different sauces.

I tried for the first time making what was called ‘corn pudding’.  I saw it in the local newspaper the other day.  I know it is chancy trying out a new recipe on your guests but made of butter, sour cream, eggs, and cheese it had to be good.  And, it was very good.  Most everyone wanted that recipe!

The conversation was pretty thin as each family has its own history, activities and friends, etc. so there is really not much in common among the in-laws for topics for discussion.  So, after the gifts were opened we had disserts and everybody went home.  One dissert was a sugar-free pudding and the other a sweet-potato pie.  I love that pie but most everyone turns up their noses at the word sweet potato even though it tastes a great deal like pumpkin pie.

The gifts were traditional with clothing, etc. but what is becoming more common and expensive are these e-games for the younger people, both boys and girls.  One good thing about them is that they don’t take much wrapping paper as three games will fit into a small Christmas bag.  And, these games are not cheap.

Every time when I am in a store that sells $10 movies, I remember when the big deal was William Randolph Hearts had a movie room in his castle where guests could watch a movie all to themselves.  Boy that was a big deal for how could anybody be that rich?  My how times have changed!

Back to cleaning up the mess left in my home, which I will do in small jobs and be finished by bedtime.  But, I will be tired and sleep late in the morning and tell myself that this is the last year that I am going to do this, for I am getting too damn old.  Now, I said that last year and the year before that, so I guess next year I will have Christmas or Thanksgiving here again.

I know for sure if I stop having them at my house, it will be like giving up on another thing for the rest of my life.  And, I don’t want to give up anything until I really can’t do it anymore.  You know, just another bad sign of growing old.

Every Christmas brings back many fond memories of how much fun it was when I was a young boy especially when we were living in South Dakota.  Now there they have real winters with snow and really really cold weather.  I lived there with my folks from when I was six years old until I was ten and most of that time I believed in Santa Claus.

It was a tradition in my family that we opened our gifts on Christmas Eve and during the night Santa Claus would visit with special gifts just from him for me. 

Gifts I remember were leather gloves I got every year from my Grandmother who lived in Washington DC.  I always knew that in the small box from her would be leather gloves lined with fur.  And, how I needed them in that cold weather!  But, my mother would not let me open the box until it was Christmas Eve even with much begging.

The other gift I remember was a bike that we ordered from Sears Roebuck, yes not just Sears like it is now but Roebuck was part of the name.  I believe it cost $15 but they didn’t have the one my folks ordered so they sent a more expensive one that was much too big for me.  It did not cost my folks anymore money but my dad had to wire wooden blocks onto the pedals so I could reach them.  It took several years before I was big enough for that bike.

Yes, that was the best age for Christmas.

Well, I will close another BLOG article.  As I read over it I thought how much of it was my remembering things that happened but then that is some of the fun of being old.  Yes, memories especially fond memories are a pleasure which are ours alone and can’t be bought but must have been acquired by living for 82 years.

LIVING TO BE 100 YEARS OLD

The old rusty Nail

AN E-JOURNAL FOR OLD PEOPLE

Russell Burton, an Old Person

I ran across an article which appeared in a January/February 2013 issue of Health entitled ‘Live Long and Strong – Secrets From 100-Year Old Women” by Aviva Patz.  Of course, it had to be about women for very few men live that long.  I am not sure that I want to live to that age unless I was wealthy, healthy and wise.  Well I know I will not be wealthy unless some most-unlikely thing happens. Still to be healthy and wise at 100 might be fun. You know two out of three is not all that bad.

The article, showed ‘recent’ pictures of six of them and most looked to be in their 70s or perhaps even younger – quite amazing.  Of course each had some wisdom as they called it about living to be a centurion.

The article started with an interesting bit of trivia.  Fifty years ago just one person in 67,000 lived to be 100.  Today scientists predict that half of people born now will reach that age!  Wow… I am not surprised by these data for when I was growing up I wished I would live to see the turn of the century for that would have made me 68 years old, my life expectancy at that time.  Here I am 83 years old, healthy and I plan to live at least another ten years – perhaps to be 100!  Who knows…

Like I have written before my Uncle is healthy and 93 years old, my father died in his late 80s and my mother lived until the age of 92 so at least longevity is in my genes.  But, certainly this article showed that there is much more to reaching that age than merely genes for this remarkable increase in longevity over the last 100 years can not be explained by our genetic pattern – genes just don’t change that rapidly!  So, this increase in longevity clearly shows that right now half of us have genes to become centurions!

Of course much of this increase in longevity must be attributed to advances in public health, medicine, nutrition, technology (standard of living) and automobile safety.  Still there is some value in examining the wisdom of these six-young-looking 100 year-old women.

The article begins with a brief summary of their living habits including 77% exercise; 88% drink (alcohol I presume) and 22% go online.  Now, ‘going online’ I do not believe has anything to do with successful aging.  Well maybe as this suggest that they are trying out something new – looking forward.

The first individual piece of wisdom is ‘Get off your butt!’  This woman does Pilates for one hour each week.  Certainly exercise as a routine is important.  Just by walking 30 minutes several times a week is of great value in staying healthy.  In addition, weight lifting, aerobics on a stationary bicycle, stretches, and working on one’s balance are additional important exercises.

The second piece of wisdom found in this article is ‘Buddy up.’ Have an active social life.  Such social interactions ‘boost your brainpower’ and certainly are helpful in warding off depression, a common malady of old people.

Next, ‘Watch your weight – sanely’ which includes a healthy low-fat diet. In addition, exercise and not smoking are mentioned as key habits in reducing disease risk by 80%.  Please note that exercise keeps returning in the picture of successful aging.

Fourth, ‘Find a passion and follow it.’  This woman explained that ‘seeing the world’ that is being engaged with the world ‘gives meaning’.  Find out what makes you the happiest and do it such as hobbies like photography, gardening, or painting.  My major passion is of course writing.  I need to do it everyday which usually involves this blog.

Next to last, ‘Apply lipstick’ which means take care of your looks.  Well, I don’t think I will do that. One study, found a lower blood pressure in women who thought they looked younger after a hair job. I suppose I should get a hair cut more often.

Oops, lastly this 100-year-old lady did everything wrong such as being overweight and never exercising but her fix on longevity is ‘Look for silver linings’. A study from an aging institute found that being optimistic will help you live longer and happier lives.

A sidebar suggests that you can eat your way to health and old age.  Suggested were (1) eat five fruits and vegetables each day; (2) daily intake of low-fat yogurt; (3) eat fish 2-3 times each week; (4) snack on nuts; and (5) get plenty of fiber.

So there we have it - the secrets of long life.  Of course, none of these are secrets and without genetics on your side they will not offer you life for a century, still all of these suggestions for long life are important in living a longer and healthier life.   And, so you don’t make 100 years, 99 is nothing to sneer at. 

I mentioned my Uncle previously in this article who is doing quite well at 93 years of age. Now, I have never asked him his secret about successful aging.  He walks a bit; eats healthy food which his daughter fixes for him; engages actively in family matters and has a libation or two every night.  I think the last secret is an important one!

Well, the ‘old rusty nail’ is signing off another article on being old. Hey, just being old tells us that we must be doing something right.   It is indeed a privilege that I hope we all enjoy and appreciate every day.

   

CHAUTAUQUA

The old rusty Nail

AN E-JOURNAL FOR OLD PEOPLE

Russell Burton, an Old Person

I have never written in this e-journal about Chautauqua, an institution which each year provides everyone, who wants to pay each day, a nine-week program of lectures, plays, operas, symphonies, educational programs, and discussion group activities.  I call it an intellectual Disney Land knowing that such a reference might be considered a bit snobbish.

Each morning during the week the major lecture lasting an hour and 15 min begins at 10:45 includes Q & A as it is called, you know questions and answers. This lecture occurs in the Amphitheater known as the Amp.  Interestingly, this structure dates back to the early 1900 and is in the throws of being torn down or just rebuilt.  Much controversy here as anyone can imagine but that is another story.  Of course with that long history, many well-known speakers have presented at the Amp.  The most notable was President Roosevelt.

A few of these lectures have celebrity speakers, many of whom we have seen on TV.  The topics vary many are about timely issues covering a host of topics.  Each week has a theme in which the speakers are expert.  In the afternoon at 2 in the Hall of Philosophy is another lecture which can have some religious connotation as it is sponsored by the Department of Religion.  This lecture can be followed at 3:30 by another lecture some of which are also presented by well-known speakers.  These can include authors of books selected by the Chautauqua book club the topic I write about later.

Besides these major lectures the day is sprinkled with other lectures and learning activities.  At night are different entertainments including opera, symphony, plays, individual or team acts including musical groups.  Bill Cosby has been a regular but I think his visits have ended.  

I have been attending this annual event for well over a decade beginning in 2002.  I discovered it when I visited my son who was Assistant Professor at the New York State University located in Fredonia, NY.  Even though it was only a half hour away and he knew of Chautauqua, he had never visited.  So, during one of my summer visits when the program was ongoing we visited it and found it to be most entertaining.  Thus I have attended every year since.  I even bought a condominium unit on Lake Erie in the little town of Westfield just a short 20-minute drive to Chautauqua which of course I use each summer.

Now why am I writing about Chautauqua in this article directed towards old people?   Well because it is visited mostly by old people who get some respect there.  In fact if you attend when you are 90 years old you get to begin to attend for free.  Of course at this age not many people are capable of attending because a considerable amount of walking is involved.

Still getting in free is a considerable savings for to attend for one week the cost is several hundred dollars per person not to mention that living on the grounds in less than lavish small quarters costs about $1300 per week.  So, attending this program is not for poor people. None-the-less I enjoy it not only for the programs most of which are well presented but because I am among so many old people.  It is interesting but when we become old we suddenly find ourselves living in a minority group.  Now this can be disconcerting especially to us white people who in American have always been in the majority.  And, I am aware of my new position in life when I go to the grocery store and see how few old people are buying food.

Of course having attended Chautauqua for many summers I have met and acquired many good friends some of which have become very close but that is another story.

In the summer of 2014 I became a celebrity of sorts as I was appointed the rare and distinguished position of a Keeper of the Gates.  Now this requires some explanation to be sure especially if you have never attended Chautauqua during the summer activities.  I previously mentioned all of the formal activities which can be attended each year at Chautauqua but I failed to mention that anyone can become a member of the Chautauqua Literary and Science Club (CLSC) by the way the oldest book club in America, by reading just ten of their listed books of which ten new ones are identified and published each year.

But what is the CLSC and why should anyone want to join this rather low profile book club when it requires four years of dues and reading ten books? And, some of these books may not be high on your list of interesting books to read.  So my interest in this book club waxed and waned for over ten years of attending these summer programs before I decided to take the plunge. And to be sure, it was certainly not about reading books for I am not an avid book reader.  Oh yes I do read a few books each year but they tend to be on history and science and not many of those kinds of books appear on their book list.

None-the-less a few years ago I decided to join and begin to pay my yearly dues and read those ten books.  Well to my surprise I had already read some of those books so I only had to read about five which was about one each year.  Well, that was no big challenge so I began my quest to become a member. 

With my four years completed in 2013, I graduated with some 300 plus book readers from all over the United States and became a dues paying member of CLSC Class of 2013.  Out membership was the highest number since the Class of 2000. Another interesting distinction was that our class honoree was Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.  I campaigned very hard for her. For many years she has enjoyed Chautauqua frequently seeing her on the grounds on many occasions so in some respect she is a Chautauquan.  And, she was kind enough to address our graduating class.

I became our class Newsletter writer and Secretary an honor on top of an honor. The following year we had the privilege, well really the requirement to help put on the graduation ceremony for the CLSC Class of 2014. 

This graduation ceremony is rather elaborate for what one would call a local event.  I would class it at the level of any College graduation of which I have attended more than I wish to count.  One of the high lights of this graduation which takes place in the late morning hour is for the new honorees to pass through four named gates as they make their way walking to attend the major morning lecture in the Amp in their honor.

Well as I wrote about a few paragraphs ago, I was asked to be one of only two gate keepers for the first gate, known as the 'History Gate'. This gate being the first our class gate keepers will guard as we graduated just last year is one of four gates through which the new gradates pass each year.  And, I remain a guard for each of those gates for the next three years!  Of course I had to wear an elaborate shiny ornament around my neck which cost me only $40.  My uniform for this festivity was a white shirt and white pants.  I did have a white shirt but my pants were a bit off color but next year I will be prepared with the most pure white pants ever worn at this crowning event.

  

So, why am I writing this long dissertation on my new position?  Well, it is the commitment that I made to get this honor.  At 82 years of age I am committed to stay alive for another three years!  My last year of guarding the gate I will be 85 – Wow!!!!!

Interestingly, I did not think of this commitment until I had accepted this invitation.  I guess that speaks a thousand words about my thought process on accepting old age.  Good for me.  On the other hand, perhaps I should have reasoned that three more years at my age is nothing to scoff at although the actuary table guarantees me another six years of life.  With a guarantee like that I need not to worry about my age affecting my commitment to complete my obligation.  I have always prided myself on taking any challenge seriously.  You know if I said I would do something I would do it.  So with this commitment I am sure I will live at least three more years – well maybe.

MY NEW CAR

                          The old rusty Nail

AN E-JOURNAL FOR OLD PEOPLE

Russell Burton, an Old Person

Yep, you read it right I just bought a new car.  I decided that my old Honda Fit had to be traded in on a new one.  It was not that my old Honda Fit had anything wrong with it, but I needed some driving aids which I could only get by buying a new car.

Today most cars are built so well that many will go 200,000 miles without any problems.  In fact several years ago I had a 1998 Toyota Avalon that I gave to my son with about 200,000 miles on it.  He and his family needed another car and they put on another 100,000 miles without any major problems and it would have gone farther but one of his kids wrecked it.  I remember a few decades ago a person was lucky to get 100,000 miles on a car before there were serious mechanical problems with it.  Then the Japanese came along and showed American car manufacturers how to do it right.

I only had 90,000 miles on my 6-year old Fit so obviously it had many more trouble free miles on it, but I needed ‘cruise control’ and ‘automatic transmission’.  Yes, my old Fit had a stick shift and no cruise control.  Why would I buy a car that was going to be my only car with those two driving helpers?  Well, it was going to be my car for running around town.  My primary car for traveling long distances was going to be my old Avalon but like I just wrote my son and his family needed it so I gave it to them. 

Well here I was with a new little car that I quickly began to love.  I have told many people that it is the best car I ever owned and I have owned many very nice and some expensive cars. A Porsche sports car comes to mind.  So, here I am with a new car that I loved without cruise control and automatic transmission.  And, each year I drive myself from San Antonio, TX to Westfield NY on Lake Erie for the summer.  That trip is just a little less than 1900 miles. 

But of course, six years ago I was only 75 years old and able to give what it took to drive for three long days with my foot on the accelerator all the time.  Well, this last summer at age 81 it became just too much to give for what it took.  My right leg just gave out as it rode the gas pedal for hours upon end.  Yes, I stopped at all of the rest stops and that helped but once back in the car my right leg quickly began to hurt again.  And, trying to drive with your left leg on the accelerator is really impossible but I tried many times without of course any success.

Now, buying a new car is as much fun as getting a tooth canal as we all know from the horrible experience of doing combat with a car salesman or saleswoman.  Yes, now we have a choice to argue and fuss at a man or a woman.  And, I can tell you from experience there is really no difference. The one difference is that the saleswoman must be pretty whereas the salesman can be as ugly as a broken down fence post.  I wonder what the saleswomen do when they began to lose that kind of sex appeal.

At my age I assume that this will be the last car I will ever buy.  Come to think about it, this will be the last time I have to argue with a salesperson and it’s the last time they have to pretend to make me think I am getting a good deal. 

So, having returned not long from my summer trip back to Texas I had to buy a car with speed control and auto transmission.  Certainly, now days because most cars are so good a late model used car is a real bargain and worth looking at, but the Fit does not loose much value.  I paid $14,000 for it six years ago and the retail Blue Book was over $7000! An interesting side note is that 2007 was the first year that the Fit was imported into the US.  It had been in use in Japan for several years before they decided to start sending them to us.  Of course Americans had to ask for more car so it quickly got longer by 3.5 inches, with more gadgets, etc. so it weighs more and gets less gas mileage.  Still, the gas mileage is not all that bad. My first tank of gas gave me 33 mpg and that was mostly around town.  My old Fit gave me 42 mpg on the highway.  We’ll see…

So, why did I buy a Honda Fit?  Well, there are lots of reasons besides the fact that it gets relatively good gas mileage and I am concerned about global climate change.  Of course there are other cars which get better gas mileage so why the Fit.  The first big reason is that it is a very dependable car.  Consumer Reports of which I am a great fan, always gives it the highest marks on its list of several criteria.  According to CR I should be able to get a minimum of 200,000 miles on it without any major problems.  For me, it is practical for I like the huge rear space for hauling things which includes the ability to collapse the two rear seats for more room.  And, old people should drive small cars for the simple reason that they are easier to handle.  Lastly, it is reasonably inexpensive to buy.  

I’m still learning things about it which is fun.  Many surprises and most of them are rewarding.  Last night I suddenly realized that when I got in the car I could not find where to put in the key.  Of course the roof lighting was not turned on right. I had a difficult time finding the ‘on-off button’ for the radio.  For some reason they moved it from where it was on my old car, but the radio still looked pretty much the same.

It has tinted windows, some thin fake strip of paint on the side, and the door edges have some nearly invisible covering that the salesman pointed out with considerable pride.  I didn’t need this stuff but it came with the car so not much I could have done about it. And, of course they discounted the car so that stuff came free. Yea right…

It is silver in color which I like.  My other car was white.  These light colors are important when living in a hot climate for obvious reasons.  Everyone tells me that the tinted windows will help keep the interior cooler.  I suppose so…

But, I must admit that this car rides much better and with less outside noise.  I do love it already and I hope that those feelings remain as the years pass.  Speaking of years passing, when I get it paid for I will be 86 nearly 87 years old.  Yes, I financed it for some important personal reasons.  I usually pay cash for things like this but I may need the cash so I decided to finance it through the car dealership.  And, at 0.9 % interest the money is costing me very little.

I thought at my age they might think twice before offering me a 60-month contract and without life insurance.  Now, they didn’t bring up my age but they found out of course working out the contract with them.  And, the girl looked shocked at finding out my age.  Well, she tried to look surprised as she told me I looked much younger.  Now, that was not a reason for me buying the car from her, but it helped.

Now, I have monthly payments which I hate.  I am trying to get it taken off my bank account automatically each month so I don’t have to write a monthly check after they send me that monthly statement.  I wish they would just give me a book with monthly coupons which I could just tear out and send it in with the check.  Monthly statements sent to me become complicated when I move to NY each summer.  You know a change in address. 

I asked at the dealership about getting it taken off my bank account automatically each month.  He said just go to your back when you get the first statement and they will do that for you.  Well I did just that and the bank person told me no, that it was done through the dealership.  Oh well… 

I still love my car and I have had it for nearly two weeks now.  And, I think I am getting better gas mileage as I examine the gas gauge but of course I will not know for sure until I fill up the tank and check the mileage.  I should get good mileage for I drive like an old man.  I still try to stay out of the way of speeding cars which pass me like I am standing still yet I am going the speed limit.  Well maybe a few miles below it.  I think with age comes more responsibility behind the wheel of a car.  The trick of course is not to drive so slow that you impede the traffic flow.  I am cognizant of that because I don’t want anybody to think I’m an old person.

Oh by the way, occasionally I find myself trying to work with my left leg the clutch that isn’t there and I forget to sometimes use the cruise control when I should.  Oh I still attempt to lock the car by pushing on the right door lock button instead of using the electronic door lock button I now have on my car  key.  You know the problem of teaching old dogs new tricks.  

MY GERIATRIC PHYSICIAN

                                        The old rusty Nail

AN E-JOURNAL FOR OLD PEOPLE

Russell Burton, an Old Person

Now, the title might be a bit misleading for it could mean that my physician is old.  Well, that is not the case for indeed she is much younger than one who could be considered old. So when you read the title correctly you must conclude that I have a physician who specializes in old people.  The University of Texas Health Science Center located in San Antonio, TX has a Geriatric Center consisting of four physicians with appropriate medical specialties. This concept I think is rather unique and they do not pile up appointments months in advance and the physician takes plenty of time to talk to you.  You know not the five-minute visit most of the time with the physician writing out some prescription that you don’t need because he or she has not taken the time to understand your medical problem(s).

Of course those kinds of physicians have graduated from some medical school which at times gives them a god like ability to diagnose your condition by just looking at you.  Okay, I am being a bit factitious still it would be nice for your personal physician to get to know you a bit.  First they might learn something about you or your history that would have some bearing on your problem.  And, I do presume that you’re going to a physician because you have a problem and you think it might have some medical basis.

I have had three visits now with my geriatric physician group.  My first visit was about an hour long – yes an hour long.  She started out my giving me six things to remember then about ten minutes later she asked me to repeat them.  And, I got five of them immediately about 15 seconds later then I remembered the other one.  Not too bad, but then my brain is holding up alright as I write my monthly BLOGS and am I glad for a body without a brain is a most horrible thing.

During our hour chat she got to know me as she reviewed my meds which I was taking for my high blood pressure, GERD, and my blood thinner.  The blood thinner is for an arterial stint that I had inserted a little over a year ago.  She seems to think we can stop the blood thinner and that would be a wonderful thing to happen.  With this med I always have some severe bruising especially of my arms.  And of course when I cut myself, even very small lacerations it is hard to stop the bleeding.

My third visit was also enjoyable but different.  I was first greeted by a resident who took my history, etc.  You know this is a teaching hospital so patients must be patient as you are part of the learning experience.  He was very young, I thought early college age but of course at my age most everybody is younger so it becomes difficult to gauge their age precisely.  In 2013 while I was attending the Chautauqua Institute summer program the young man guarding the parking gate told me that he would probably not be there next year for he had just graduated from college.  I would have bet money that he had just graduated from high school.

I noted to my resident that one blood pressure drug was causing me to had short dry coughing spells that could be annoying.  He suggested that we might try another blood pressure drug.  Thoughtful but in comes the real doctor who suggested that we just reduce in half the drug I was taking. And take it in the evening instead of the morning. I’m sure the resident was prepared to have his instructions changed as it surely has happened before and will happen again until he escapes what he at times thinks is the ‘meddling oversight’.

As the patient I am thankful for the meddling oversight! Of course he is still learning about old people for his primary training in medicine was based on information on ‘normal-aged’ people.  Older people can have different norms.

I explained to the real doctor that I wrote a BLOG on being old and gave here one of my articles.  As I did, I explained that no one knows what it is like to old until you are old.  Now, she countered that my explaining that she had a severe accident that interfered with her mobility for several years and with great pain.  But, that is not being old.  Of course she has listened to many old people with aches and pains thinking that some of those pains would instill some knowledge about being old. 

Well, it is much more than getting hurt.  As I have tried to explain to someone who reads these articles on old age is that being old is another world that can not be explained.  It must be learned and that can only happen by being old!  There is no short cut or substitute!

Old age is a great dictator giving you no choice but to keep physically and mentally fit as possible.  One does not have any logical choice!  Young people have many choices about life but old people have few good choices.  Of course they can neglect what they must do to live a somewhat normal old life but only at their own peril.

It has been shown many times that the human mind does not care about the distant future.  It only is concerned about what is about to happen.  I wrote about that in an earlier article as the basis for not being concerned about the horrors coming at us full steam with climate change.  It is by far the most important problem we have but it is placed down the list of living priorities because the human mind will not grasp its importance because it is probably a century before we see the catastrophic changes which are surely to arrive then if not sooner.

It is clear that immediate problems are very important and in fact for less sophisticated animals it is by far most important.  The vast majority of animals have a short life span and with having to find food and water each day, escape life threatening danger, plus other serious problems, so short-term problem solving is in our DNA.  Long-term problems which now can be dealt with are very recent and primarily a human event, so of course it is not in our DNA. 

So, like growing old and even quitting cigarette smoking the consequences are far into the future but when they arrive it is usually too late.  I know about smoking for I had a three pack a day habit that was nearly impossible to quit, but I did it.  Now, I look at some of my friends who are still alive and still smoking (many of them died early) or quit much too late and am so glad that I could see the grim future in time.

But for old age it is much different than smoking to deal with.  Unlike cigarette smoking you can’t quit old age and be healthy. And, it is difficult to prepare for the future for it is unknown as to which of the major problems of old age will a person develop.  Still, care must be taken to approach old age with some activities which we know will be helpful.  Of course, those are simple physical and mental exercises which can be started in old age, unlike quitting the smoking habit when it is usually too late.

But of course trying to grow old with dignity I believe must be started early on in the aging process.  I started jogging when I was in my fifties and lifting weights at the gym in my late sixties.  The jogging has been reduced to walking for about an hour three times a week.  My weight lifting I do twice a week and lifting much lighter than the ones I use to work with.

Before my weight lifting, I do my stretches on a machine.  After this exercise, I walk upstairs without holding on to the railing and do a five minute balancing exercise on a ‘T-board’.  The day following weight lifting I do my 30 minutes of aerobics on a stationary bike when I get my heart rate over 100 bpm.

So, did I begin working on my physical prowess as I resist my old age on time?  No one knows but I am glad that I did start when I was much younger for I know it has helped me grow old with some kind of dignity!

As for staying young in mind, try writing a BLOG each month.  And, of course read regularly and don’t forget the Sudoku.

On my last visit she told me that I was very healthy so I should see her but twice a year.  Then she went on to explain the poor condition many people are at my age.  I guess to be considered healthy at my age the bar is not too high. And, I am off the blood thinner.

So I end pleased that I have my own Geriatric Physician who understands old people for old people have different physiologies and many different diseases one of which is old age.

HYDRATION FOR OLD PEOPLE

                                         The Old Rusty Nail

AN E-JOURNAL FOR OLD PEOPLE

Russell Burton, an Old Person

All life requires water for its survival.  NASA has considered all forms of alien life and without exception, water is a requirement.  That said, for higher forms of animal and plant life hydration is required on a regular basis for their existence. This fact should not surprise us as our basic building blocks are oxygen, hydrogen and carbon with some nitrogen thrown in.  Well water has two of those essential ingredients which are oxygen and hydrogen.  No wonder it is so important! 

Sorry about the biochemistry lecture, just had to throw that in to wake you up but I probably just put you to sleep.

Now, animals have a reflex that tells the body when to take in water and of course that reflex is called thirst. Interestingly though, this thirst reflex is not as reliable as many people believe in order to maintain hydration.  For instance with exercise in hot weather severe dehydration will occur if a person does not take in any water until he or she is thirsty.  The same can be said of old people for the thirst mechanism is significantly reduced. Consequently if we do not drink water each day on a regular basis we are dehydrated so our organs can not optimally function.

So, what is the proper amount of water that is required for a person each and everyday?  Good question and the answer depends on who you ask or what you read.   But, what we do know is that regular consumption of water each day is required if we are to live a healthy life.  Of course we take in considerable amounts of water in our food which is difficult to measure. 

Now, if our thirst mechanism does not work well in old people what should be do?  Well, I have a full large 16 oz glass of water with ice in it on my kitchen counter everyday and all day.  When, I go pass it I take a drink of water making sure that I drink a minimum of three glasses each day. For me, it is difficult to drink even a cup of water at one time.

Of course we take in water in many other ways.  Certainly coffee we drink in the morning counts.  Even a martini and wine count as a form of hydration. Good thought but these can not be considered as are main source of water.  On the other hand Black Jack on the rocks with a water chaser has some value here. But of course we will not over do that will we? Re food intake, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, these are loaded with water.

I began this routine hydration after I visited my physician and he asked his nurse to take a sample of blood from me.  Well, she jabbed and jabbed at the veins in my arm without any success and she was experienced at drawing blood!  Certainly we do not need a frustrated nurse with a needle poking holes as she is trying to take blood. So what was wrong?  I then realized that I was extremely dehydrated and my veins were nearly collapsed.  That certainly got my attention to where I now take in plenty of water every day.

I am not saying just because that is how I maintain my hydration that is how everyone should but what is important is that we do drink plenty of water everyday.  Of course, a problem we old people have is that our memory is not as sharp as it once was, so what routine you use in drinking water be sure to remember to do it.

When I go to a restaurant I always order just water.  Sometimes I get a scowl from the waiter or waitress for the house makes a lot of money off the ice tea or coffee thing.  I read someplace that is a major source of revenue for some of these cheaper places, like I usually frequent.

What works here is not just ordering water but drinking it!  Yes how many times do I see people order a glass of water and never touch it.   That is not good for two reasons:  The first of course in the back of one’s mind I had a glass of water at lunch.  Well that is a lie but when we get old we sometimes like to think we did something when we didn’t do it.  The second reason is that the water which you ordered and did not drink goes down the drain – just wasted and that is stupid when the world is always in a water shortage.

Here in San Antonio, Texas when we have critical shortage of water the waitress asks do you want a glass of water?  Why not ask that question when we are not in a critical water shortage?  What is wrong with conserving water when we have enough of it for a short period of time?  Next time you are in a restaurant look around and see how many glasses of unordered water goes to waist. 

So, how can one test that he/she is getting enough water each day.  Of course our urine tells us a lot here.  Its color should be a very light yellow if we are getting enough water.  Now when you urinate and it is a dark yellow, go get a big glass of water.

Oh when I was young I would get pretty dehydrated after a bout of drinking a bit too much alcohol the night before.  You know awake with a throbbing headache and that need to drink lots of water. So, we drank a couple of glasses of water quickly and we felt drunk again.  Called water intoxication, there is some explanation for that about the dehydrated brain suddenly rehydrating and nerve cell activity. Oh well…

As I write this I am drinking my second large cup of coffee.  Good for me.

So what happens to us old people who get dehydrated?  Several things can happen to us all of which are bad.  Our kidneys rely on good hydration and they are an important organ for life.  Bad kidneys and we have bad health.  Of course total kidney shut down and we die.  Young people can get a kidney transplant which is wonderful for each of us only needs one kidney.  But when you reach 80, many states do not support organ transplants!

The other bad thing which can happen is the mind does not work well and we begin to do stupid things.  And, at our age we have done enough stupid things in our lives.  We certainly don’t need to add to that list.

Well on that cheery note I close another blog.  This one is a short one but an important one for poor hydration is the cause of poor health and at times death.  And dying is not one of our goals – certainly not at our age.

It is always fun for me to write these things.  Hope you enjoy and get some valuable information from them.  You know not just making me happy.

I can always we reached by email: burton.russell@att.net  But please mention the Old Rusty Nail when you do this email thing.

EMPATHY

My son is very sick with some disease which is rare and there is no cure.  The disease involves his muscles so that he tires easily and suffers from severe muscle pain that can only be controlled with serious pain killers such as oxycotin and morphine.  I feel very sorry for him as I know I should but somehow I believe my feelings are not as deep as they probably should be – and that worries me. 

Like they say about the definition of empathy ‘is to feel someone’s pain’.  I can not do that but I try besides at my age I have enough pain without feeling more from somebody else.  The week of the commemoration of President Kennedy’s death showed some old film clips many women and some men are showing intense grief by intense crying with tears running down their cheeks.  I suppose this is a sign of empathy toward the recent widow.

I remember hearing over the radio of Kennedy’s death when I was working in a laboratory at the University of California at Davis.  I was of course shocked as was everyone but I did not cry so I guess I showed no signs of empathy.

The next day I went pheasant hunting with good friends who came down from Northern California to join me.  I was able to get some good hunting land from a friend I knew.  Good pheasant hunting grounds are a valuable commodity and especially in California when fewer owners will allow hunting on their property.  I suppose now 50 years later it is even more difficult. 

I would not know because some forty some years ago I moved to Texas as I found much better employment here.  Now finding better employment in Texas as opposed to California is indeed a rarity for many reasons.  But, my new job was with the Federal Government and had nothing directly to do with the State of Texas.  In addition, my friends who I hunted with have died. 

I remember discussing the President’s death with them.  The father of my best friend certainly did not show any empathy when he noted that the President had been killed with a ‘lead vote’.  Now, that was a callous remark and somewhat surprising to me because he was a kind and generous man.  In many ways I learned more from him than I did my father and during college and after he was more involved with my life than was my father.

FEAR OF DYING

Why do I write these Blogs?  I have asked myself that and I have come to the conclusion that I do so because it helps me understand problems that I am confronting.  Certainly old age has it problems and by writing these Blogs on Old Age I find it rewarding for it helps me understand what I am living through.

So, let’s write about death – yes my death. Death is an interesting subject.  I suspect most everyone including myself didn’t think much about it until they reach an age when they began to see their friends dying of conditions linked with old age.  Being a survivor so far of old age, and survival is in our DNA, does have its benefits but like it has been said growing old is not for sissies. In fact growing old is tough work but of course the alternative is less welcomed.

Interestingly, I began to think more about my death not many years ago.  I am not sure exactly when but when I began to have more of my life with aches and pains than without them.  Also, the challenges of everyday life like putting on my pants, washing my feet, putting on my shoes.  These challenges and others made me realize that I was human and life was indeed coming to an end.  

Now, death is for real in that it is certain for everyone that is born alive.  In fact all people have serious concerns about dying including people who are at an age when they will most likely not face death for many decades. Fear of Flying is a common psychological problem but of course it is not fear of flying that concerns these people it is fear of dying if the plane crashes. Of course such fear is baseless as commercial flying is the safest form of transportation. Although today it could really be fear of flying with the hassle of flying today and with tiny seats and no leg room.

Still, their concerns are significant in that they have created a god to take care of them after they die.  Most religious people think that some form of heaven is where you go in death.  There you supposedly ‘live’ with all of your loved ones who have died before you.  It is interesting that the majority of religions, even though quite different in structure and beliefs, all have the same plan of some type of heaven with eternal life.  

I suppose there is some comfort in that thought.  Certainly there are lots of church goers who believe in that and attend church services most every Sunday even though the activity it is not enjoyed by many of them. And too, church membership costs significant money. Still it is a price that they are willing to pay for ‘immortality’.  

But let’s say that the theory of heaven, and it certainly can’t be called a law, is wrong.  To begin, what is a theory?  Well it’s a formulation of underlying principles of certain observed phenomena which has been validated with scientific testing.  And, a well established theory predicts where and how it can be tested in the process of verification.  Thus, if those predictions are wrong then the theory is wrong.  Certainly, what we know of heaven does not fit into that definition of a theory, so let’s call it a conjecture or just a guess. Yet for most religious people it goes beyond that and for some reason that I find difficult to understand it becomes a cherished belief.

Now since it can’t be tested it’s not a theory but only a guess and one that is most likely wrong. So, how can an inquiring mind accept death when in fact we die and don’t go anywhere, but become only ashes (cremated) or dust (rotting in a coffin)?  Well, to begin with death of all living things is certain and it is a natural occurrence.  Dying is as natural as birth but of course we can’t fear birth because we are unaware of what is going to happen.  But, not with death – it is the other end of the spectrum where we know for certain that it is coming.  

But interestingly death is as important to life as is birth. Without death, there would be no evolution of life.  Life on Earth would not have developed as the most primitive forms of life would still be alive and crowding out those continuing to be born.  Our Earth would be very crowded indeed just think of living with all of those dinosaurs!  So, it is clear that birth and death are coupled so tightly together that one can’t exist without the other.

Okay, now that we have established that death is a normal occurrence why do people so dread it.  Well, to begin those who are in pain that can’t be cured welcome death.  And, those with a poor quality of life look forward to not living anymore.  But, there are those who suddenly find themselves dying and wish that it were not so even though they know that it will happen sometime.  I guess it is a matter of timing.  We all want to live to be really, really old, but of course only when we have a reasonable quality of life.  

Still death eventually wins out and we die.  So why not accept it as the natural phenomenon that it is?  I propose to do so the acceptance of death would have to be in our DNA but unfortunately it is not.  Perhaps some day it will be part of our genetic structure but not soon.  In fact, we have in our DNA quite the opposite, it is ‘FEAR OF DYING’ and it is in the most primitive forms of life!  And, it has to be in order to propagate the species.  In fact, it is difficult for me to understand how we could have DNA that fears death and DNA that accepts death.  Perhaps, it could be the same DNA that is activated at different times of life; i.e. the acceptance of death in our DNA would be activated by changes in health or even age.

Why isn’t it part of our DNA now?  To begin with, the knowledge of an eventual death is a new concept that has occurred only with the development of our brains to see into the future and to plan.  It is said that even humanoids, the Neanderthals, were not capable of planning so supposedly they were not aware of the eventual onset of death.  They did have ceremonies surrounding the dead but apparently, they were mourning their loss of that individual.

DNA is an interesting structure of only four amines that are capable of coding knowledge into an animal and plant that is useful in survival.  For instance, a new born kangaroo is so tiny that it can barely be seen, yet it has the knowledge to crawl up its mother body from her vagina and into her pouch and attach itself nearly permanently to one of her teats in about three minutes without any help from the mother!  All of that knowledge must be in its DNA!

People too have DNA that contains knowledge and therefore implanted into their activities that are predictable and assured.  For instance, we demand that we have a leader in every group of population.  When threatened short-term we perform protection activities that are required for our survival as a people.  These activates must be in our DNA!

Interestingly, we seem not to be concerned about life-threatening problems that are in the far future so we do not plan for these but ‘hide our heads in the sand’ and do nothing until we accept these problems as truly threats when they become short-term or immediate.  In fact with long-term problems we make excuses why we are doing nothing: e.g., (1) they are not really serious problems; (2) they will fix themselves; (3) intervention will disrupt our society; (4) we have time to fix it later; (5) problems solving is distasteful; (6) fixing the problem will cost time and money that we don’t want to invest; and, (7) it will not happen!

This logic is clearly visible in several current situations.  The most common one is an unhealthy habit that we enjoy but frequently kill us; oh yes, cigarette smoking.  Certainly, a smoker struggles with all of the above excuses as he/she continues to smoke cigarettes.  Suddenly they have the immediate terrifying threat of lung cancer and then it is usually too late.  Certainly, their DNA fear of dying is activated, but now too late.  So why didn’t their DNA respond when they knew the risks involved when they lit up their first cigarette?  It must be, because, long-term problem solving is not in our DNA.    

But there are many other problems that history has shown were not addressed until they became a short-term threat.  World War II is an example where time and time again, the threat of Hitler’s Germany was obvious yet ‘swept under the rug’ until the long-term threat (not in our DNA) became a short-term threat when we took action that is in our DNA.

There is no doubt that the most critical threat to our existence is climate change.  Unfortunately, it is known to be a fact by simple science.  Climate change is accepted by the vast majority of scientists knowledgeable in this area of science. Yet, because of the above listed reasons, it will not be addressed seriously until into the far future and then most likely, it will be too late.

Okay, back to the initial topic of our thoughts about death.  Our thoughts are occasional concerns thus the establishment of religions and their support by the majority of humans.  Still, it is well known that even very religious people cling to life as long as possible even though their future is blessed with eternal life. Thus, it appears that religion is a poor substitute for proper DNA!

Proper DNA should inform us soon after we learn about the inevitability of death that it is natural and will happen at the end of our life.  The information provided by the DNA will be accepted as one of the ‘facts of life’ to ‘enjoy’ – yes, enjoy!  But certainly not to enjoy to the point that we will kill ourselves, but to enjoy so that we do not fear it.  That DNA, when we have it, will not interfere with the survival DNA that we now have!

So everyone relax without fear of death.  It is a natural occurrence that happens to everyone.  The best that we can do is to enjoy our life as best as we can and don’t do something that will kill you.

Comments are welcomed at burton.russell@att.net.

I KNEW IT WASN'T ME!

Whew! What a relief to learn that when you walk into a room with some purpose in mind, only to completely forget what that purpose was is not because of old age?

What?  Yes, it turns out that doors themselves are to blame for these strange memory lapses.  Now listen up… no now read up… 
 
Psychologists at the University of Notre Dame have discovered that passing through a doorway triggers what's known as an event boundary in the mind, separating one set of thoughts and memories from the next. Your brain files away the thoughts you had in the previous room and prepares a blank slate for the new locale. 
 
It's not old me, it's the door!

Thank goodness for a study like this one and there should be more because we might learn that all of our experiences growing old are not caused by old age but are caused by some rational psychological phenomenon that affects young people too. Wanna bet…

Okay, if you buy that one I have some acreage that I would like you to buy from me.  I’ll show it to you during low tides.

But, there is some truth to all of this in that we tend to blame all of our problems on old age and forget that sometimes there might be another cause.  You know a cause that we can do something about.  We can’t turn back the clock and make us a robust young 75 again. No, we are stuck with our age but remember what I have noted before several times that there are young 80 year olds and there are old 80 year olds. Okay, maybe not young 80 year olds but less-old 80 year olds. And, less not forget there are lots of dead 80 year olds.  

The other day I was in a car dealership talking to a young lady car salesperson.  Yes, a young woman trying to sell me a new car.  Well, I started with a slick salesman who got my brain thinking buy, buy, yes buy.  Of course when I went into that car dealership I was not going to buy a new car – certainly not now, but later.  Oh yes, read on…

After he left she continued the spiel but somehow learned that I was 81 years old.  I guess I told her that when she wanted me to take out a 6-year note on a lone to buy the car – you know only $200 a month. Now are you ready for this?

She said, ‘I can’t believe that you are 81 years old.’

I frowned and said, ‘I look older?’ Of course knowing that she really meant younger – at least I hoped so.

I continued, ‘Well, how old do you think I am?’ I love that comeback because young people do not know what to say.  Now they begin rapidly thinking what age to make me and even making me 11 years young like 70 sounds old to a young person so they kind of stutter and mention something like 60.  Of course, now you know they are lying but it still feels good.  And, yes when you are trying to sell a new car to an old person it is good to make them feel younger.

I bought the car!

Now don’t think I bought a new car because a pretty young salesperson was helping (?) me. No, I bought the car because I felt like I had to buy a new car. But, why did I want to buy a new car?  The one I had was perfectly good with only 89,000 miles on it.  It was a Honda Fit getting good gas mileage – 42 mpg. And, Consumer Reports noted a few issues back that this car is good for 200.000 miles.  So, I had lots more miles and since it took me 6 years to get 89,000 miles on it I could have driven this car until I was 88 years old with more worries about my survival than worries about my old car’s survival.

Of course there had to be a reason… Well, I was too old for that car!  Yes, too old.  I do not want to admit that but with a stick shift and no cruise control my body just could not drive it 8 or more hours a day on long trips without getting cramps in my right leg.  And, the stick shift was fun but my speed at shifting had slowed which could be a problem especially when I was at a stop heading up a hill and some jerk gets his front bumper close behind me.

Now, there are other reasons for getting an automatic shift one of which is that many people now days can’t drive a stick shift – especially younger people.  Yes, I have younger friends and they might want to drive my car. And, these young people do not know how lucky they are not to have to go through the learning experience of pushing in the clutch, pushing and pulling the sifting knob about, letting out the clutch all in one smooth motion without accelerating the motor.

Who taught me and when?  Well, my father of course when I was 15 years old.  Taking lesions from one’s father, certainly my father was not fun.  Now, he didn’t hit me or anything like that, but oh the yelling for he was not a patient man.  But, I learned to use a stick shift like everyone did back then if they wanted to drive for automatic transmissions were a rarity.  Only one person in town had an automatic transmission and it was a Bar owner who was paralyzed from the waist down so that was his only option.

Of course knowing how to drive a stick shift came in handy many times in my life with various jobs especially driving trucks.

Yes, I had to buy a car with automatic transmission and cruise control if I was to ever take a long trip again like next year. Why a long trip next year? Well because like I have written before I live in upstate New York on Lake Erie during the summer and that is a three-day trip from my winter home in Texas. I say three-day trip, when I was younger I made it in two days, but that is another story.

Believe this or not but just now while I was writing this piece, the phone rang.  Guess who was calling?  Well, that young girl who sold me the car was asking me how I liked my new car.  But, I think she just wanted to hear the voice of a young 60 year-old man.

SUCCESSFUL AGING – CAN IT BE DONE

I attended a lecture this last summer (2013) with the name of this article at the Chautauqua Institute.  It was presented by a representative of the LECOM Institute for Successful Aging.  Living longer has become a common reality and with this phenomenon more interest is being generated for many reasons but of course the major one is money.

This lecture began with a simple concept: ‘Plan to age successfully and in doing so you add more years to your life and more life to your age’.  Catchy right and to do these marvelous things one must understand his/her body. Wow, I wish I had thought of that!

So, it began with some statistics about aging and old people by noting that Florida, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania in that order have the oldest populations.  Yes, now 13% of the US population is over 65 years of age and rapidly growing as a percentage.

Now came some interesting physiological facts on aging.  I was not prepared for this list of bad things that come with aging.  Okay let’s begin with the brain that is largest when we are 25 years of age but at age 60 we have 4 times more knowledge than we did when we were 20, what ever that means.  On the other hand on average when a person reaches 80 years of age intelligence begins to decrease – oh boy that’s me!  Let’s not forget that the number of our neurons in our brain decreases so we have less ability to remember and as no surprise our hearing is fading into the sunset.  Foot vibration detection drops so we fall more easily. Unfortunately we all know that from experience!

Are you ready for the entire list of mounting physiologic and anatomic failures?  Well here it comes: A reduction of functions includes, taste and smell (by 50%), production of saliva, thirst drive, stomach acid, gastric emptying. liver function, calcium absorption, cartilage in our joints, lung function (50% by 80) and size, muscle strength (back and arms) at age 65, heart function, kidney function (10% each decade beginning at age 40) which include decrease in size and blood flow, thyroid function, sex hormones, ovarian function, blood cell production, skin elasticity, sweating, detection of temperature change, immune ability and finally wound healing – WOW!!!!

But all is not lost some things do increase: Constipation, acid in our esophagus (GERD), heart size and blood pressure.

Of Course, with these reductions in organ functions there are consequences such as: taste and smell means our appetite is reduced so we lose weight;  thirst drive means we are more prone to dehydration that can be serious in hot weather; stomach acid means digestive problems; calcium absorption results in weaker bones; lung function causes less ability to exercise; heart and kidney functions results are obvious; blood cell production results in anemia; sweating and detection of temperature change can be serious in hot weather resulting in heat stroke; skin elasticity results in more torn skin; immune ability means easier to get sick; and of course wound healing speaks for itself.  

And, like the experts said at the beginning our the lecture all of these reduced functions in our organs are the cause of us aging and eventually dying. Simply like an old car we are wearing out. So, like restoring some antique car with new parts, it looks like in the future as studies on mice suggest that it will be possible to ‘artificial organs’ with our aging stem cells. Now the concept of replacing aging or damaged tissues with stem cells is not new and this could be applied to us old people.  The big problem with this concept is that stem cells age too so when we get old our stem cells are worn out and therefore can not restore function.  Scientists have gotten around this problem by introducing factors that once again renew old stem cells to where they can function once again and make organs!

But today it was noted that there are simple methods to slow down the aging process of these organs. How so? Avoid disease, now that makes sense. Increase our mental and physical activities, better lifestyle factors (what ever that means), good nutrition, healthy habits including self-care, engage in life with new experiences, good relationships with friends, and engage in productive activities such as life long learning and volunteer work.

Certainly life long learning or Adult Learning in Retirement is without a doubt a very good one for it includes not only exercising the brain but promotes good relationships with friends you share these learning experiences.  Just the physical activity of going to these classes results in some form of exercise.  So, there is no surprise that I have written a BLOG on such a title.

Now our brain which is our most important organ if we want good quality of life has its own prescriptions.  Certainly, a person without good mental function is not enjoying life. Well we can help our brain grow old with dignity by: eating healthy, getting lots of sleep, relax more, increase physical activity, increase activities that ward off depression, less alcohol consumption (I don’t like this one) and write more such as your memoirs or a journal o life.  Hey, how about writing a monthly BLOG on old people?

After this lecture I was not in a good mood because it looked like 80 years of age was the ‘breaking point’ and I am 81 +.  Well, like I wrote in this BLOG on Actuary Tables when it comes down to individuals like you and me, they don’t mean a damn thing.

Well, that is the trouble with lectures like these, in that they lump people together.  Many people are productive long into their 90s and live to be 100 or longer.  Remember the great heart surgeon in Texas (Houston, I think) who was doing serious open heart surgeries when he was well into his 90s.  I can’t remember his name now but it will come to me - sometime.  Yes, it was Dr. Michael Debakey.  Okay, I had to look it up on Wikipedia, but I had to know enough of it in order to do so.  Hey my brain is still functioning – well kind of.  

Certainly, one major reason Dr. Debakey continued to do all of these things was because he never stopped doing all of those things.  You know, he kept busy.  I do believe and I have read someplace that retirement is a possible death sentence if we don’t continue to function as noted previously in this article.  You know ‘use it or lose it’.

Well, this is the old rusty nail signing off with another article for old people but with the wonderful thought of ‘successful aging’. I guess the proof of the pudding is what is meant by ‘successful aging’.

Keep in mind that I can be reached at: burton.russell@att.net. But please remember, when you do let me know who you are by mentioning the ‘Old Rusty Nail’.  If not, your message will be deleted.