You know I've given a lot of thought to this longevity thing.

Some people think that it's a Blessing. This may be true as some people do. If you stick around long enough you see some beautiful things; like racial equality, a man on the moon, ending of wars that we should have never been in the first place...and those beautiful chidren and grand children.

That is if you were lucking enough to fool a woman into thinking you were a good catch. I seem to have had some success in this arena. Unfortunately I've had to duplicate it a few times. Some faults of mine or some of theirs but longevity seems to forget the mistakes and pain and just remember the good when your children smile!

But enough of that... how do you attain longevity?  

Some propose that you eat right, exercise and try and dance with the one you love as much as possible. They also disdain red meat, too much sugar and starch, alcohol, drugs and God forbid that you smoke.

Well I've done all of the best and frankly most of the worst.

I've been a vegetarian and refused food that 'smiled'. And I've smiled while eating some that use too. I believe that Jesus turned water into wine for good purpose, Hell it was a Party. The Romans were paying attention and voila!, a bottle of wine on the dinner table, my heritage. The egyptians purified water by making beer and the German Monks, also my heritage, took it to the next level.

Now I agree with exercise both physically and mentally. The aches and pain that come with old age are generally associated with the sports exercise that we enjoyed in our youth. Of course the injuries that you suffered and recovered from in your prime...now creep up to remind you of that youthful slide into 2nd base or a hard tackle when you where trying to score from the 1 yard line.

So we suffer with the aches and pains of youth gone by and watch sports, live or on TV, to regain the excitement we once knew.  Of course that's where the alcohol comes in...Hell it's a Party!

But enough of that... how do you attain longevity?

An Octonagarian and registered dietician, who once nursed me thru Chronic Fatigue syndrome, was a retired Postal workier who walked his route and still competed in 5K races 4 times a year. He noted that retirees of his group, who stopped walking, lived less than a few years after retirement.  His motto 'Never stop walking'.

Another Octonagarian friend of mine simply said 'Think good thoughts!'

I think these are two true keys to a happy and healthy longevity. But I might add what Andy Rooney learned in the Army during WWII and I learned in the Navy during the Vietnam era. 

When you wake up: "Make your bed every day with the full intent to occuppy it that night"

Bless you Andy, sleep well old friend we missed you on "60 Minutes" tonight!

~FPaulFuhr