Happy Birthday Charlie!

 

Charlie Simms turns 94 today and we wish him a very happy birthday.  Later today at Buzzy's Country Store we will have a little get together for him starting around 4 o'clock.  Drop in to wish him a good one but please remember to bring and wear your mask if you do so.

I recently came upon an article written by Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel titled Why I Want to Die at 75 (click here)  As he discusses one's quality of life after 75 and how one's health slowly declines as it does from 75 on, I thought of Charlie and how well he has done and continues to do.  I thought of how, when I see Charlie stroll into Buzzy's everyday, smiling and joking with folks, it makes me feel a little better about these so called "golden years."  Charlie serves a role model for so many of us.

I also heard some Gerontologist on the radio the other day discussing the keys to living a long life and she noted that it was a factor of three things: diet, exercise and genes.  She explained that diet and exercise certainly play a big part in how long one can expect to live, but ultimately it all comes down to whether or not you have good genes.  She concluded that whereas you can do something about your diet and your exercise routines, ultimately your genes are your genes and over that you have no control.  Obviously, Charlie has some pretty good genes.

How's this for a little coincidence?  As I landed on an age-related song to play here, I learned that Stephen Stills turned 75 in January of this year while Neil will celebrate his 75th birthday next month on the 12th.  Long may they run as they try to catch up with Charlie.  (That they recorded this song in 1976 makes me feel older too!)