Keeping golden years untarnished

When someone asks octogenarian William F. Buckley how he is, the usual reply is: “Decomposing - but other than that - fine.” The bad news is, he's right. We all start decomposing from the time we are born; cells are constantly dying to be replaced with new. As we age the process slows down, tissue cartilage and bone break down. The good news is that we can mitigate the process by diet, exercise and good health habits augmented by modern wonder drugs, vitamins and dietary supplements, thereby offsetting the grim reaper and extending our active lives. Each generation is living longer, healthier, active lives; however, there is no free lunch. In order to enjoy this extended, active lifestyle it is necessary to throw off the bad habits of our youth (such as smoking), get up out of the easy chair, turn off the stifling TV and exercise the body and mind - all this in order to offset the ravages of age. Our senior years can be a train wreck (as some describe it) or they can be a time of happiness and fulfillment. You choose.