I saw the sweetest show on TV tonight titled "Over 90 and Loving It."  It highlighted men and women from 91 to 100 who are still living life to the fullest, staying active, exercising, some even working full time, and who are spending quality time with friends and loved ones.  "Move it or lose it" -- which these darling elderly citizens heed and they are still making the most of every day.  One 94 year old man still competes in track and field events -- and often wins!

By comparison, I think of my own mother, almost 92, who spends her day in an electric scooter, a recliner chair, or her bed.  Other than arthritis, she has no major ailments.  I tried to convince her years ago that she needed to be mobile and keep walking and exercising.  I hate to see her so stiff and immobile now but she won't make any effort to improve her flexibility.  Regardless, I am encouraged by these active seniors featured in this TV show and it motivates me to continue exercising as much as possible, being mentally active, and spending as much time as possible with those I care about most. ♥ 

On this Memorial Day, I am reminded of a springtime visit many years ago  to Arlington National Cemetery where I took a photo of the tulips near the headstones.  I looked at the photo later and was reminded  of Pete Seeger's memorable song sung by Peter, Paul, and Mary, "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"    "Where have all the soldiers gone ... gone to graveyards everyone." 

When will we ever learn?  On this Memorial Day, may we never forget those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom.♥ 

There is a nasty cold virus going around that has knocked many of us for a loop.  You awake in the wee hours (at least that's how it began for me) with a killer headache that won't go away, begin sneezing, your nose will not stop running, and you just feel rotten ... literally rotten.  Needless to say, I've gone through several boxes of tissues (the ones with aloe are less abrasive on a tender nose), taken Coldeeze, cough drops, Sudafed -- and today I added Mucinex.  I am  finally beginning to feel a little better.

I am perplexed as to how I became ill.  Perhaps it was when I vacuumed and dusted the refrigerator coils ... or when I used free weights or the mat at the gym?  I wash my hands constantly and I help keep the antibacterial gel manufacturers in business.  Regardless, no matter how healthy our lifestyle, no one is immune to the common cold.  The only cure is time ... and patience is a virtue.  Stay well. ♥

"Two things you give your children ... one is roots, the other is wings" (author unknown).   In my lifetime I have been a daughter, wife, mother, career woman, and grandmother.  My greatest role has been as a mother (and grandmother is a close second).

I will never forget the joy of having my firstborn; she was born the day before Mother's Day and today this beautiful young woman celebrates her birthday.  Nothing was more precious to me than holding a beloved little newborn in my arms.  I was blessed with three children and I spent so many nights rocking, soothing, nurturing all of my children,  treasuring every moment.  

Whether a woman works outside the home or is a stay-at-home mom, being a mother is still a full time job, 24/7.  A mother cooks, cleans, launders, teaches, trains, disciplines.  She is a taskmaster, tutor, chauffeur, and nurse.  We are not taught how to be good mothers, and some of us had better role models than others.  But a mother loves her children always and unconditionally  ... with a bond that is everlasting.   Happy Mother's Day. ♥

The loss of a beloved pet is always painful, but I think it is even harder to accept when we are older.  We may be living alone with family members far away, thus our pets fill a void and are our constant companions who comfort us and love us ... always unconditionally.

A dear friend of mine lost her little dog yesterday due to kidney failure.  Like me, she was devastated by her loss and I literally feel her pain.  My little Shih Tzu was my constant companion for almost 15 years.  She made me laugh, she licked me when I cried, and she always looked at me with those adoring eyes.  All she asked for in return was food, a warm bed, and lots of TLC.  After she crossed the "rainbow bridge" a couple of years ago, I grieved when I came home from work and she wasn't there to greet me, I imagined I saw her lying on the floor by my side when I worked at my computer, and I even thought I heard her.  That sweet little dog will always have a piece of my heart.

Now that I am retired, and even though I have a fairly active life with many friends nearby, I am feeling the need for another little furry companion. Many of my friends are cat lovers ... but from my experience, nothing can compare to the loyalty of a dog.  Stay tuned. ♥

Dry eye syndrome is a very common ailment as we age.  Because my eyes frequently feel dry, I find myself putting drops in my eyes several times each day and right before bedtime.  Medications  such as diuretics, antihistamines, anticholinergics, phenothiazines, antidepressants, hormones, and radiation  can exacerbate dry eye symptoms, but they may also be caused by smoking or  exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke and dry air.  And, as we age, we cry less, thus producing fewer tears which naturally lubricate our eyes.

In order to retain good eye health, we need to maintain a healthy diet and take vitamins which include Omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants,  and Lutein.  Staring at a computer or a smartphone causes stress in eye muscles.  Bausch.com recommends that you keep your monitor about two feet from your eyes and the top of your monitor screen slightly below eye level -- and blink often! An opthalmologist told me when I was a teenager that I should always wear sunglasses that block UV rays when outside because my eyes are light in color.  In addition to sunglasses, we should also wear wide brimmed hats when outdoors to reduce UV radiation.

The National Glaucoma Research division of the American Health Assistance Foundation lists several glaucoma risk factors and prevention measures to lower glaucoma risk here:  http://www.ahaf.org/glaucoma/about/risk.html.  The Mayo Clinic lists risk factors for cataracts:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cataracts/DS00050/DSECTION=risk-factors, as well as symptoms of macular degeneration:   

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/macular-degeneration/DS00284/DSECTION=symptoms.

So, in order to have good eyesight as we mature, it is important for us to maintain a healthy diet, exercise, get adequate sleep, take multivitamins, stop smoking, and have a thorough eye exam each year.   Looking into our eyes may reflect our overall health because, according to writer Alfred Thigpen, our eyes may truly be a "window to the soul."  http://bangordailynews.com/2012/03/07/health/eyes-are-a-window-to-the-soul-and-the-colon-too/.   ♥