DYK? Shingles & Depression

Did you know (DYK) that the pain that accompanies shingles, known in medical circles as post herpetic neuralgia (PHN), is the leading cause of suicide amongst the elderly? I heard this statement on a news broadcast last night while I was waiting to have tea and tiramisu with a homeschool friend who, ironically, has suffered from shingles a number of times. For a more detailed discussion of this phenomenon, click here.

Also, did you know that exercise can help alleviate depression? Quoting from Dr. Weil.com:

A Duke University study found that a 16-week exercise program worked s well as antidepressant drugs on adults with symptoms of major depression. The study included 202 men and women divided into four groups: one took antidepressants; a second took a supervised exercise class three times a week; a third group worked out at home. The fourth one took a placebo. At the end of the study, 47 percent of the patients on the antidepressants and 45 percent of those in the exercise class were no longer depressed. The group that exercised at home did well, too --- 40 percent had overcome their symptoms. Of those who took the placebo, only 31 percent improved. Exercise may have the same beneficial effect on the brain chemicals involved in depression as the drugs that target these substances.

For readers who would like to read the full text of this study, check the September 2007 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine. Article title: “Exercise and Pharmacotherapy in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder.”

House Sold!

Way back last summer, shortly after I started Gooseberry Lane, my mother put my childhood home up for sale. My father had passed away in November 2005 and the large 1910 structure was unnecessarily roomy for one seventy-six-year-old lady. After several months of sorting and decluttering, donations, and an estate sale, the home went on the market August 31, 2006. Originally listed at $79,000, in early March my mother received an offer of $74,999 for the property. Given the slowing real estate market in the Upper Midwest, selling seemed like the best option. Holding out for a “better” price seemed like wishful thinking and the bank was waiting for a payment on my mother’s new house, a three-bedroom mobile home that she had purchased before the “big” house was ever for sale. After a month of paperwork, inspections, and loan officer questions, the house was finally sold. A new family now owns it.

When this whole process began, I made a prayer request, less for the house (I think) and more for my ability to cope with the transition of seeing my childhood home pass to someone else, but I made the request nonetheless. This is what I asked for:

- the home would be purchased by a family with small children
- the building and grounds would be kept in good repair
- the home and grounds would create wonderful memories for children

Well, yesterday afternoon, my mother informed me that the new owners are married with a baby on the way and at least one other child who, interestingly enough, is the same age as my sister when my parents bought the house in 1960. Also, after some conversation with the new owner-husband, my mother ascertained that he is knowledgeable about home maintenance and repair. So, it appears that my prayer was answered, at least as far as my first two requests. I may never have an answer to my last request. That really depends on the new family and how they live their life. But God is faithful and, knowing that He already answered part of my prayer, I have faith that He will keep the new family in His care and will help them build a wonderful life for their children in a home that, for the last one hundred years, has already provided much joy to those who have lived within her walls.

Bless this house, O Lord, we pray.
Make it safe by night and day.
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out.
Bless this roof and chimney tall,
Let thy peace lie overall.
Bless these doors that they may prove
Ever open to joy and love.
Bless the windows shining bright,
Letting in God’s heavenly light.
Bless the hearth a-blazing there,
With smoke ascending like a prayer.
Bless the people here within…
Keep them pure and free from sin.
Bless us all, that one day, we
May be fit, O Lord, to dwell with Thee.

Stardust Demolished

In 1976, the summer before I started high school, my aunt and uncle took my sister and me on a “once in a lifetime” trip around the western United States. Our destination: Las Vegas, Nevada. My uncle was a big-time (although very responsible) gambler who visited Las Vegas often and, on this particular occasion, agreed to take us with him so we could see the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone National Park, and an auto museum in Norfolk, Nebraska (my uncle was also a big-time antique car aficionado). During our visit to the desert gambling Mecca, we visited the Stardust Hotel and Casino, a fixture on the Las Vegas strip since it opened in 1958. My aunt had visited this hotel numerous times and, during our stay, she recounted stories of her encounters with celebrities while eating dinner in the restaurants or going to the various shows. It was fascinating, as a young teenager, to see this site that provided my relatives with so many great memories but I really gave no thought to the fact that, someday, the Stardust would no longer exist. Well, I aged and so did the hotel, and in a city whose casinos are becoming large, multimedia entertainment destinations in their own right, the poor old Stardust was no longer attractive, let alone competitive. The time had come for it to move over and make room for a newer guy on the block --- Echelon Place. So, as of this morning, the Stardust was imploded in one of those amazing, precisely planned explosions where nothing but the targeted structure falls straight down without disturbing so much as a shrub next door. I guess time marches on for buildings as well as people.

Happy Birthday, Honey

Just a quick post to wish my darling husband a “Happy Birthday.” Of course, being the organized housewife that I am, I do not have anything amazing planned for his special day. Frankly, I don’t have anything planned, let alone something amazing. Birthdays really aren’t a big deal at our house. Half the time, the person having the birthday forgets that it is their birthday. I’m not certain if that is a coping mechanism geared toward graceful aging, or an advanced stage of denial. Since the former sounds healthier, I opt for that. :-)

Anyway, “Happy Birthday,” honey (and thanks for putting the towels in the dryer). I love you!

50th Wedding Anniversary

Etiquette question: is it correct to observe a wedding anniversary if one half of the married couple is deceased? Strange query, I know, but this issue has been troubling me for a while now because, if my father were still living, today would have been my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. I did call my mother this morning to wish her “Happy Anniversary,” just so she knew I was aware that she might be reflecting on marriage memories today. She thanked me for my sentiment and did not indicate that I upset her or that she felt my comment was out of place. No. In fact, she went on to share some marriage musings with me.

It would have been nice to share this day with both my parents, although I doubt they would have had a big party. They rarely agreed on the size of celebrations, or the public nature of them. My mother, a gourmet pastry chef, is certainly capable of planning, organizing, and executing such a large event, but I guess she just isn’t that comfortable with crowds. My father, on the other hand, was a social butterfly. Being a meat cutter since age fourteen, I am sure he would have enjoyed a huge party that welcomed a flock of relatives, friends, co-workers, and customers. Either way, I know they would have had a lovely day appreciating each other and the life they had created. I only hope my marriage will last as long and be as happy.

Happy Anniversary, Mom (and Dad).

My Real Age

Yesterday, my good friend Koalagirl15 sent me a “test” from RealAge.com. Annoying though it was because of the time it consumed, I discovered that I am actually 45.7 years old. My chronological age is 45 years, 13 days. Not bad, I guess. At least I hit the target. Unfortunately, I took one of these RealAge “tests” several years ago and, at that time, I was at least three years younger than my chronological age. Does that mean that I’ve actually aged six years in three years? I’m so confused!

Anyway, according to my personalized RealAge plan, in order to become younger, I should do the following:

1) REDUCE MY CONSUMPTION OF RED MEAT to one small serving per week. Man, I’m really going to miss those Friendly’s hamburgers.

2) EAT MORE POTASSIUM-RICH FOODS. This includes bananas, figs, avocados, and lentils. I’m not a big fan of these choices, except bananas (with brown sugar, of course). Avocados are good in guacamole, but I think that might break the low-fat rule.

3) EAT FISH SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. I hate fish. My daughter would live in the fish market. I, on the other hand, am the daughter of a meatcutter from landlocked southern Minnesota. This could explain my affinity for red meat and, consequently, my dislike of ocean-going protein.

4) CONSUME LESS “BAD” FAT. I guess this means I could eat the guacamole mentioned above since avocados are high in monounsaturated fat, but this also means onion rings are off the list.

5) INCREASE MY VEGETABLE INTAKE. Ok, now they sound like my mother. My favorite vegetable is spinach. Is it safe to eat yet?

6) INCREASE MY CONSUMPTION OF WHOLE GRAINS. This is wonderful advice. Can they explain to me why, whenever I eat an abundance of whole grains, my scale protests? I thought I was supposed to lose weight.

7) INCREASE MY FRUIT INTAKE. This is fine with me. If only the grocery store would drop the price of blueberries somewhere below astronomical.

8) EXERCISE!!! Once again, exercise!!! Ok, I think I’ve got it now. What was that again? Oh yeah, exercise. The goals are: 90 minutes of strength training and 210 minutes of aerobics per week. This could take some serious schedule management.

9) BEGIN A WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM. Hey, I lost four pounds on vacation. Doesn’t that count?!

10) SPEND MORE TIME BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.

11) SCHEDULE TIME FOR MYSELF. This was my favorite suggestion because it was introduced by the sentence, “Taking care of other people’s health needs can put your own health at risk.” Didn’t they just recommend that I build strong, close relationships with others? Where is the motivation to do that if taking care of these people puts me at risk? I think I may know why people are becoming more isolated.

Seriously, though, I do need to make some (if not all) of these changes, but it may take a while. Maybe Koalagirl15 and I can encourage each other. In the meantime, here’s what I am doing right:

- not smoking
- not taking prescription medications
- being happily married to the same man for 21 years
- driving a larger car
- not drinking & driving
- flossing regularly
- consuming enough folic acid
- taking daily vitamins
- not talking on my cell phone while driving
- following speed limits
- wearing a seat belt
- eating breakfast

If you want to discover your real age, what you are doing right, and where you could improve, visit RealAge.com. Just remember to set aside some time before you do. The test takes awhile. God bless.

I Want to Be This Woman!

This morning, my hometown newspaper, the Fairmont Sentinel (MN), carried this article about a 98-year-old woman who still volunteers at a community meal program. She does it to keep busy. She also walks around her housing development, Friendship Village, every day, a distance that could add up to a couple of miles (I know because my aunt used to live there). I want to be this woman, alive and embracing life even at an advanced age!