The Weak Cannot Grow Old

 

My mother and my father used to both tell me that growing old was not for weak people.  I never fully understood what that meant until I grew old and then grew even older.

Aside from all the typical childhood illnesses and except for having HEPATITIS twice before graduating high school (which now shows up in my bloodwork as never having Hepatitis before - go figure?), I HAVE NEVER BEEN SICK until I reached the age of 60.

Now, I have always seen both my family doctor and dentist twice a year for as long as I have lived.  But, since elementary school, I have never had a cold for instance, nor have I had the flu.  I may have felt bad for twenty-four hours but nothing more.

At age SIXTY...  that changed...  I had a triple bypass level heart attack, a few months after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.  I got the flu a couple of times.  Five years later I was diagnosed with Melanoma that went away and came back twice and for which I am still being treated.  Chemo treatments screwed up my Thyroid and three years ago, I had 5 lower back disks fused.

I would also like to add that up until the age of sixty, I was very active, running, walking, daily exercising, using strength machines and was never overweight.   Due to the anti-nausea meds, I have been taking since age 60, my weight has increased to where I am now 20-30 pounds over my recommended weight limit.

At 77 years of age, almost 78, I can fully understand and appreciate what my parents said about the weak not growing old.  Old age is not for sissies...  it is serious business.

My advice is stay young as long as you can and if you cannot stay young, stay healthy and never allow yourself to get overweight.  Your body will no longer like you if and when you do.