Middle Age

While walking to the end of the drive this morning to pick up the newspaper, it suddenly occurred to me that I am approaching one-half of my grandmother's final age. I will be 51 next month and Grandma lived to be 102. The realization immediately improved my mood. Now, I'm certainly not expecting to live to be 102, but with medicine what it is today (and tomorrow) it may make up for the abuse I have suffered my body over these first 51 years. So, why not?

I think I picked up my step a bit and I noticed that I was humming. It is so strange the way that the mind works. I had been a bit dispirited about the downward spiral feeling that I was way past middle age. And now, just possibly, if I live a clean life, exercise, diet and give up the booze, I could just be right at middle age. When I put it that way, I am not sure I am still feeling so good about this realization.

In all sincerity, its really amazing to realize that my grandmother lived 51 years beyond the 51 years that I have muddled through. She out lived her husband who was seven years her junior by 13 years and most of her 11 siblings who were all younger. Grandma had a great quality of life, living in her own home until she was 101. The catch here is that she really did live a so-called clean life. She didn't smoke, didn't drink, she worked hard and took lots of vitamins every day. Her only vice was strong black coffee.

Note to self: You can still drink the coffee!