Health and Wellness

Gerry goes skiing every day, now that it is winter. I walk, weather permitting. In nice weather, we play tennis. Since I'm not a winter person, I resort to my treadmill in very cold weather. I do try to get exercise regularly, though I'm not nearly as good at that as my husband. He absolutely requires physical activity in order to be well and in good health.

Good health is, of course, something one aspires to, being sixty plus. I do try. I avoid prescription medications. That is actually pretty easy if one avoids doctors. My theory is that what is undiagnosed is unprescribed. Or more seriously, I don't go to the doctor when I am well, only when I am sick. I am extremely grateful that so far, I have had no major illnesses. Gerry has beat cancer twice! In both cases, his cancer was surgically removed, requiring no chemo or radiation. And he returned to health and fitness in pretty short order, at least after he was able to be physical again.

My good health aspirations are predictably about weight. I hope not to gain any weight. I hope to lose weight. I hope not to be struck with cancer or some other deadly disease. I am deeply grateful and humble to have been this healthy for this long. And while I do not expect it to be any time soon, perhaps my greatest wish is a good death. (meaning quickly). Having been part of so many funerals, speaking about death is a natural thing for me, in no way morbid.

My mother died the long death of alzheimers. I was a witness and loved one. It is the last thing I would choose for myself. If I am struck with it, however, at least there are some things I have learned from my personal expeience. There are other parts to being human besides memory. One can live in the present painlessly. One still has will, imagination, humor, relationships.

It's funny how health and wellness become a top priority as you age. And when you are young, you take it all for granted.

I guess we get what we get. And the point is not what we get, but how we respond, manage, cope, live with it. That's the journey.

And in the end, the journey is spiritual. Keeping the faith.