Ageing Parents

I've been visiting relatives. We just got back from Hobbs, NM visiting my husband's parents. Two different houses so we had to shift back and forth for visits and sleeping on air mattresses. Both parents are not in good health but his dad is really getting bad. We went specifically for his 77th birthday.

It is so hard to see your parents failing health. It is even more difficult trying to convince them that they need help on a daily or weekly basis. They are both determined to be independent. It falls to my sister in law to be caregiver to both. We help out financially but we are 8hrs one way from them.

I sympathize with any of you who are facing this with your parents. So few of us live close to where our parents live and must rely on others for their care and safety. They can even tell their physician not to talk with us.

It breaks my heart to see their unhealthy diets and total lack of exercise. They are both at risk for falls but refuse to use a walker or move the scatter rugs.

On the other hand seeing all the nieces and nephews and sisters was very nice.

Now it is time for me to get back on the healthy diet and exercise program. It is so easy to live on fast food and sit talking all day and night, getting little sleep and just let the pounds pile on.

Did you catch the last episode of Biggest Loser? One girl has stopped losing weight even though she is on a strict diet and working out hours a day. The trainer told her to stop - she has told her before she is doing too much on too little. Now her body has shut down and is refusing to give up any more weight.

Every action has a re-action.

Do you dye your hair? Check out this tidbit in the news.

Gray hair, according to new findings, is caused by a massive build up of hydrogen peroxide due to wear and tear on hair follicles. The peroxide winds up blocking the normal synthesis of melanin, your hair's natural pigment.

All hair cells make a tiny bit of hydrogen peroxide, but as you age, the amount increases. Essentially, you bleach your hair pigment from within, and your hair turns gray and then white.

Researchers made this discovery by examining cell cultures of human hair follicles. They found that the build up of hydrogen peroxide was caused by a reduction of an enzyme that breaks up hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.

read the whole thing at

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/03/17/Why-Your-Hair-Turns-Gray-as-You-Age.aspx

I like the Touch of Grey commercials -- just grey enough to show knowledge and wisdom but not grey enough to indicate physical inability. Of course they have a catchier phrasing.

Just like the laugh lines around your eyes, grey hair is a badge of honor and living life.

until next time - and it will not be so long a time - smile
Sharon
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