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Janet, your message caused me to dig up my "essay". Spunky People Our bodies 'wear out'. Take care that this process does not get accelera= ted by your 'indiscretions'. Chance will place you in harm's way many times = on it's own. You are foolish to take chances - especially when the potenti= al gain for you is insignificant compared to the hazard. In other words, poisoning your homeostatic system with booze, other drugs-chemicals to re= duce inhibitions is foolish. There are ways to reduce your inhibitions harmle= ssly. Increased self-esteem will also decrease inhibitions. These often have partial origin in early-life-events when powerful-righte= ous adults told you to "Be Quiet!", "Shut Your Mouth!", or "You can't do any= thing right!". Several of my older friends are examples that more should emulate. They remain independent and are proud that they have made their own way. Not = all are still able to accomplish every task they wish to do. The wise ones h= ave accepted help, but they continue to care and do what they can - for thems= elves and others. They have learned-know that loving-caring is the essence of their personal happiness. I invite the reader to consider Professor Stephen Hawking. His body has = been a 'disaster' for many years - due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease). He is a leading theoretical physicist and professor. The fear of dying may be part of the causes of the current phenomenon tha= t is extant - much of one=92s medical costs are paid during the last year of l= ife. A second major factor is the "practice" of doctors to do all that can be do= ne.=20 I am compelled by my honesty and concern for the "common good" to say tha= t greed appears prominent as motivator. The excuse of avoiding malpractic= e law suits is somewhat real, but integrity, honor, honesty, professionalism, e= t cetera and loving-caring should each be more important to a physician tha= n is money. Living longer may be worth much, but wasting wealth is immoral at all tim= es in our lives. It seems a poor bargain, for instance, that my father =91liv= ed=92 his final ten weeks in pain and anguish in hospitals; with Mom and family bei= ng miserable in sympathy and frustration. "Spunky" people are young in spirit - pay little attention relatively to = their body's age or complaints - grow every day - change for the better. We l= ive, laugh, love, give, learn-change and remain happy - even euphoric. We hop= e to accept .. and complete .. the termination of life with dignity. --=20 Ron Vetter 1936, 1984 PD dz ... "money is coined liberty" ... Dostoevsky e-mail: [log in to unmask] http://www.ridgecrest.ca.us/~rfvetter