LiveLongAgeWell

My next blog will be about health and social networking on the internet, but today I suggest you check out this outrageously funny blog, (supposedly) written by two women in their 80s…it’s wild and raw and if you can imagine something written by the Golden Girls on steroids, this would be it.

These women—assuming it’s not a hoax blog, but I believe somehow two old ladies are writing—are definitely going to drop dead dancing in their 90s…at least dancing on their scooters (see their homepage). The best word I think to describe them—feisty; these are two feisty women, getting older and having a great time at it.

Warning: if you love Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney and/or don’t like to read strong language, probably best to avoid the blog, but otherwise, check it out:

http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/
I hope I’m not violating any copyright here, but here’s a sample of one of their posts, so you can see what I’m talking about:

Let me tell you a little story about my shit for brains nephew who actually does live in California. He was married ten years and had two children. Sadly, it didn’t work out. Honestly she was horrible, but you never really want to see a marriage end. So we were all a little sad when she left and he fell apart. Eventually he got his shit together, picked up the pieces and met another girl. I don’t like her much, but she makes him happy so what do I care if they want to get married? However, the Catholic church cared a great deal. You see, he was still married in the eyes of the church even though his moron of an ex-wife had been gone 4 years. And the new one is also divorced… and (oh my) a Baptist.

Problem? Not for long. Two annulments later and wallah – they were never married. Never mind the kids. Bastards all of them I guess. Funny but I didn’t know the Catholic church could annul a Baptist marriage, but you live and learn.

I’ve lived a long time and I have learned many things. For instance, I now know that even if the marriage is annulled, you don’t get your wedding gift back. I also learned that the previously married then divorced then never really married and now newly engaged couple can actually have the gall to print on their invitation where they are registered. As if that blender I purchased for the first wedding was annulled as well. But I digress…

Medical Bankruptcy

Health care costs have been one big reason we are in the Great Recession right now, and a majority of personal bankruptcies also have medical bills as a cause…. check out this New York Times blog post:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/medical-bills-cause-most-bankruptcies/

Something seriously needs to be done to fix the medical care system. Usually I love Paul Krugman’s op-ed pieces in the Times, and today’s is about the insurance industry and health care reform:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/05/opinion/05krugman.html?em

bottom line:

1) Don’t trust the insurance industry.

2) Don’t trust the insurance industry.

Finally, here is the single best article I have read that explains why the U.S. has been going bankrupt medically. (I am sure the same forces are taking shape in many other countries as well.) It’s long, but, in true New Yorker fashion, is a sample of writing perfection and well worth your time:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/06/01/090601fa_fact_gawande?currentPage=all

I will leave you with a quote from the article:

the damning question we have to ask is whether the doctor is set up to meet the needs of the patient, first and foremost, or to maximize revenue….

Today where I am, in Brazil, Carnival begins, and there is nothing that compares in the United States. Even New Orleans is more like a small-town street fair in comparison. In Brazil, the whole country stops most its business, and people turn to having a good time, trying to forget for five days all that’s bad. That seems especially true for the poorest people here, of which there are many.

So from today and for the next five days when Carnival ends, the banks will all close and even if you have a bill due during this period, you don’t have to pay until after Carnival. Brazilians really know how to enjoy themselves (and not only during these five days). My opinion is that U.S. Americans, generally, seem to spend much more time in a competitive pursuit of money, and…where has that gotten our country now?

The life expectancy in the U.S. is about 78 years and in the south of Brazil where I am now, it’s 75 years. My observation is that down here, their 75 years are much less stressful and happier due to the easier-going attitude. I think it’s something North Americans can learn somewhat. If you do, I think you’ll live longer and age better.

I’m interested to hear my readers’ reactions to my cross-cultural observations.  Am I off-base? And what about this: despite being a more laid-back country, Brazilians seem much more appearance-conscious than North Americans. They spend a lot of time, and money, on making sure their skin and hair and bodies look good, and the cosmetic surgery rate is likely the highest in the world. What do you think about that? Is it “wrong”? More about cosmetic surgery here next week (in honor of Carnival, I’m combining the usual Monday and Wednesday posts into Tuesday).

Have a good weekend. And I hope you consider if—despite the tough economic times everywhere—you want to “loosen up” your life a bit, and if so, how you might do it.