Aging, memory & alertness

[shootingstar]

I was just viewing an Internet video clip (about 6 yrs. old by now) of conference session delivered by a retired judge on medical records and patient's right to access and protection of privacy for personal information.

I'm in awe how still, at nearly 80 yrs., he was lucid and detailed in his memory and oratory delivery. Also alert..since he was conscious of his speech timing and checking with the monitor.

He is well-known in Canadian medical law/jurisprudence circles. But how I knew him was way more humble since I was just law librarian serving a bunch of judges.... At that time, one could witness the intellectual brilliance of his memory and alertness. He would have been 72 at the time, I served him as a library client several times.

When my physical fitness does diminish a whole lot by his age...I hope that at least my mind will have such clarity as folks like him.

Something to be said about activities that encourage mental fitness and emotional health...in addition to physical activities.

[wackyjacky1]

My dad was active mentally and physically, but Alzheimer's still got him.

[Zen]

Check my post about Clara's Great Depression Cooking Show (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuMkW35BwK8).
She's not exactly a professional person but intriguing nonetheless.

[shootingstar]

Wow, she looks good. Wonder if she colours her hair. No matter, her skin still looks good at 91. Just look at her hands.

As for the knife thing...at least the knife is small. I was recently reading a book on traditional Chinese gourmet cooking styles...and the style is to use the cleaver for everything from meat to peeling water chestnuts. I actually was taught, Zen as a teenager to peel a piece of ginger root and take off the ginger root outer skin carefully with a medium-sized knife. Not a paring knife at that time. The knife wasn't exactly chef-sharp but not totally dull either. I still do that..and hold the ginger root in the air, not on the cutting board. (But we do have and use paring knives if it gets too tricky for me.)

I bet Clare loves cooking ...that probably keeps her young/motivated to maintain her hand dexerity. Before my partner's mother (now dead), went into the nursing home at 91, she was doing all that fine cooking/baking and cutting herself. It was her creative outlet.

[Zen]

Wow, she looks good. Wonder if she colours her hair. No matter, her skin still looks good at 91. Just look at her hands.

I noticed the same thing, fabulous skin.

[Aggie_Ama]

I am not sure how her stroke will have changed things but my Mammaw was still doing the NY Times Crossword in pen, crafts and reading last week at 91. She doesn't get along as well but she has had arthritis in her knees most of my life. She sometimes gets names confused (3/4 grandsons start with J and her son it is easy) and she does forget some things but not much for 91. At 80 she was even sharper. Her body looks 91 but she is smart!

My father's mother has alzheimers though and it such an awful disease. Somedays she doesn't remember her husband died. Somedays she is mean. Somedays she is careless and happy. I hope they have a cure if I am stricken with that awful disease.