80 And Beyond

Ocala, Florida

Weather: low 73 degrees, high 97 degrees, showers late in the afternoon

We were out and about today, and met a very nice older man who is 80 years old. What's so great about 80 years old? Well, we aspire to being that old and more someday, and to have a sharp mind with good health. The older man told us his name, but his accent was so thick that I couldn't understand what he said. Being the type of people who didn't want to embarrass ourselves or him by acting as though we couldn't understand him, we didn't say anything.

We did understand much of what the old man had to say, and he kept us busy as we tried to follow along as he told us where he was from and many details of his life. He and his wife, who is 74 years old, hold dual citizenship from France and Switzerland. He came to the US when he was 18 years old, and has lived here since. His career was in finance and real estate, and he still owns several pieces of real estate in Florida, with much of it in Ocala.

The old man seemed to be most proud of the quality of health that he and his wife enjoy. Neither of them take any medicine, and that's with going to the doctor every three months for checkups. He walks three miles a day, as well as rides a bicycle. They take care of their own yard, which is about an acre in size. His hair is white, but it doesn't look as though he ever lost any of it.

The old man has obviously been blessed with good health in his life. However, it was also obvious as we talked to him that they had tried to live a healthy lifestyle. He said that they had never eaten fried chicken! Can you imagine that? Maybe fried chicken is not good for us, but it sure is good! Now that I think of it, I don't eat fried chicken any more, since I have been advised to reduce my sodium intake.

Now that I think about it a little longer, I don't eat anything that tastes as good as it used to since I was in the hospital. Carolyn's a good cook, and she is adjusting to the new way of cooking. But I sure do miss pizza, fired chicken, Chinese buffets, hot dogs, juicy hamburgers, chili.......

With this new lifestyle, maybe I can make it to 80 and beyond.

As the reader might be able to infer, this was a slow day for us.

More later, be safe.

Today's Town - Chattanooga, Tennessee: The Attraction’s Only Natural

Not all who wander are lost.