Saturday, November 3, 2007

Take Your Vitamins Please

Today my mother turns 86 and 1/2. I know that it is mostly young children who usually focus on the 1/2 year. Generally, once we turn a certain age most people stop counting it. However, at some point in time, I think that the 1/2 a year becomes important again. Heck at some point, each and every day becomes a day to celebrate wakeing up in the morning.

A little over 6 and 1/2 years ago, my father died. He was 1 week short of turning 86 and 1/2. Now my mother has passed that milestone. I must admit, I didn't actually think of it as a milestone until it dawned on me yesterday that she has lived longer than he did.

There have been times when I have had to fill out forms, at doctor's offices, asking whether or not my parents were still living, and if not at what age they died. When I've listed my mother's current age, and my father's age at death, the doctors have always replied, "You certainly have longevity in your family".

I guess this means that each and every day that my mother lives is one more day on the Longevity Scale. I better go make sure my mother takes her vitamins.

11 comments:

Mary said...

Lynn,

Congratulations! Your mother has lived a long life. I hope she is in good health. A family history of longevity gives us something to look forward to.

My great-grandfather lived to be 85, his son, my grandfather lived to 93.5 years. Mom is 82. So... maybe I have a chance.

Mary said...

Lynn,

Enjoyed visiting your blog and appreciate it that you left a comment on my "Loonie" post. I've added you to my blogroll. Blessing!

Patti said...

You are lucky to have longevity on your side, Lynn.

I'd rather not count the 1/2 years - they go so quickly.

Lynn said...

Mary - Here's to both of us living long and healthy lives!

Mary - I enjoyed visiting your blog and I look forward to reading more of what you have to say. I added you to my blogroll as well.

Patti - Longevity is great, as long as you are able to enjoy it.

jaded said...

Did you bake your mom a cake or offer her a treat of choice? At this stage the little things really do matter.

If you want quality of life at her age I think YOU better take your vitamins.

Lynn said...

Patches - You are right. I used to take a vitamin every day...I wonder what happened to them? Thanks for reminding me that I better go out and buy some more.

Patti said...

Yes, take your vitamins! Homer and I do. ;-)

Renee Nefe said...

Congratulations to your Mom. I heard just last week that our bodies are designed to last 400 years but with all the stress and poor health habbits we don't make it nearly that long. I can't imagine living that long unless I could be pretty much like I am today. I mean who wants to live just to be alive...I wanna do also.

Take care!

Lynn said...

Patti - Can you recommend a good vitamin? The one that I was taking, before I ran out and forgot to get more, smelled yucky.

Renee - 400 years sounds like a really long time. I'm with you, I wouldn't want to live just to exist. Quality definitely beats quantity.

Lynn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Patti said...

We are taking Centrum, or the store brand equivalent when I don't have a coupon.