83 Here and There

My mother-in-law here in Chongqing, and my father back in Sudbury, Ontario are both 83. They are quite healthy and active for their ages, neither without their health challenges, but still leading high quality lives. I wonder how much environment affects life-span, and if either would have been able to thrive so well in each other's quite diverse surroundings. Probably, they are both tough, resilient people, and you have to be to do what they are doing. My dad is going in for a knee replacement operation today, and will be bedridden for at least a week while the new joint finds acceptance in his system. Guo Fang Ju has poor eyesight, but still likes to take long walks down and around the hilly streets and pathways around her apartment complex. My dad likes to take walks too, and even lifts some weights every other day to keep the blood flowing. His favourite activity is strapping an old bowling ball to a neck harness and doing head raises. He swears by this exercise and the only other people I have ever seen do that are professional bodybuilders. Fang Ju likes to dance too, and has better moves than GW Bush. What great examples Leo and Fang Ju are, for staying active, feisty, involved, and healthy long past their primes.

last modified Apr 27, 2007 at 21:13

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