April 17, 2009 Chautauqua

From the Editor's Computer

Our small communities are fortunate to have so many nonagenarians.

In this modern age, it is becoming more and more rare for someone to reach such an advanced age of wisdom and experience. Due to its increasing rarity, all of us who are younger are fascinated and eager to learn the secrets of their longevity.

However, there are no secrets as we know what we need to do to live longer lives.

First...eat good wholesome homegrown food. Dieticians freak when they consider the diets of the pioneers which included lots of red meat, fats, and more. Yet, the food was healthier for people. The vegetables and fruits were grown in rich soil and then canned for winter. Eggs and dairy products didn't have all the nutrition destroyed so they truly helped boost the immune systems. Animals weren’t fed food that wasn’t natural to their diets .

Second...lots of activity. Those who have lived longer than us were more active so their bodies used the food they ate. My grandpa Richardson, who was over 90 when he died, chopped wood virtually every day of his life.

Third...community. While today we can be in touch 24/7 with anyone and everyone around the globe electronically, people of yesteryear were literally in contact with each other all the time through church and community events, social gatherings of all kinds and by really lending a helping hand when needed.

If you asked our nonagenarians why they have lived so long, I doubt that they would list such things as TV watching, fast food, or the like. There is a lesson for us all there.

Beth

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