diablo, that is one example and I know many like that. I have the pleasure of providing on going service to condominiums here in the largest repository of elderly northeasterners, southeast florida. another and quite different example of aging is a gentleman by the name of al proto. this man is 90 something years of age now. he drives himself to the local parish and volunteers to help out doing odd jobs or contracting people to perform those jobs. through the years he has awarded us a few contracts and we have done work at his home thus I have come to know him and consider him a friend. the man is the poster child for aging gracefully and his secret is service to others. if you saw him you would guess his age to be around 60ish. he is still married to his bride of 70 something years and yup, she volunteers also at the church thirft shop every day.
another example is my dad. he still runs his cigar distribution buisiness with the zeal of a man half his age. he and my mom have raised my irresponsible and moronic sister's 5 children so that she may continue her quest for a doctorate degree at the expense of all else. his motivation is capitism and love of his progeny. at 82 he is the hardest working man I know routinely putting in twelve hour days.
lastly is my grandmother who died at 102 years 8 months of age. she watched my children for us when we had to travel or were developing our amway business and no one else was available to care for them when she was in her mid eighties. at ninety she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent radical mastectomies, she was a cancer survior for twelve years until old age simply took her. I never saw her angry or bitter and had full use of her faculties until the last six months of her life.
the point is that if one applies themselves at something they derive pleasure or receive satisfaction from and is blessed with good health and a stout frame one may enjoy a full and productive winter. how we age will depend largely on we live and how we perceive our world. I'm a the glass is half full kind of guy I don't suspect that is likely to change either, irrespective of what life tosses in my direction. that's my hope anyways but time will tell.
