Young at Heart

[Gwizz]

I heard on the radio that in the US that 50% of those 70 and older are connected to the INTERNET.

I don't know if I believe that or not. 

I wonder if most nursing homes now have net access?

[Hawk]

Did it say 50% of how many? I would think it's rare for anyone in a nursing home to live to be that old. A nursing home is not generally a healthy place to live and a lot of folks stuck in them usually loose the desire to live, sad as that may be.

[Gwizz]

I believe it was the Kim Komando Show that gave that figure.

I believe it was for the whole country.  We have a lot of friends older then 70 that e-mail us daily. I think the oldest is about 85.

Rest Homes do have a bad repretation;  But, My Great Uncle lived to be just short of his 100th birthday in a rest home.  He lived with us for over 15 years until he was about 90.  My aunts took power of attorney over him and committed him to a rest home over my objections.  To this day I have nothing to do with those aunts for what they did. 

If computers were then as inexpensive as they are now, I'm sure he would have had one.   When he died computers were the size of a small room.

[Gwizz]

Speaking of e-mails.

A friend just sent us one concerning the debt of the states.

Only 8 states are not in the red.

West Virginia is one of them.  Their coal fuels power plants.  I don't expect much of a lay off at power plants.

Alaska was not on the debtor list either.  They have a small debt now with tourism and the price of oil down. 

[Gwizz]

interesting story:  I shortened it some.

>

> A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things

> were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and

> wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as

> one problem was solved, a new one arose.

>

> Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and

> placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she

> placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed

> ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

>

> Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did

> and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take

> an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard

> boiled egg.  Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter

> smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it

> mean, mother?'

>

> Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same

> adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in

> strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the

> boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its

> thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting

> through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee

> beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had

> changed the water.

>

> 'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your

> door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

>

> Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain

> and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

> Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?

> Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial

> hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my

> shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff

> spirit and hardened heart?

>

> Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the

> very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it

> releases the fragrance and flavor.

> How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

>

> When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling..

[Gwizz]

I've been making a few business trips while taking in some sights along the way.

I spent a couple of nights in a time share condo on a large lake.  I asked why the elevators didn't go all the way to the top floors.  I was told the people on the top were owners. 

It seems there were movie stars and VIPs of the world who owned full time use of the best of the view condos. 

I asked about the builders of the condos.

With some reservation I was told they were among these owners.  I asked if these people paid the same use fees that maintained the condos as the part time timeshare people. 

All I got was a smile.

I guess if I was as rich as they are, I would still pay my share and not let the little people on the lower levels pay all the expensies for the condo.  But then without the big wheels there might not be little people in the lower floors.

[Glaun]

I should apologize GWiz, but considering the topic I must confess, I never got past,

   "The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the

    boiling water, it softened and became weak."

Ah, old age, ain't it great.