Seriously? We’re Still Watching our Weight at 95?

Written for WTAD.com blog 9 05 16

Seriously? Still Watching Our Weight in our Nineties?

My mom turned 92 yesterday. It sounds better in dog years: 13.14. But she’s not the oldest of her resident family. We had Cassano’s Pizza, Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake and Pepsi for the residents and some family at Bradford Villa, an assisted living facility at 12^th & Kochs Lane. Oh yes, and also Diet Pepsi, as requested for a 95 year old resident, we’ll call, “Pearl”.  Pearl STILL watches her weight and I’m quite disturbed by this, because of what this means for those of us under 95.

The first time I heard Pearl pass on dessert and exclaim, “I’ve gained two pounds!” I laughed. Until I realized she wasn’t kidding. It’s never occurred to me that weight would still be an issue when I’m 95. I was so hoping that, eventually, I wouldn’t give a hoot in an old age stage.  Great, just great.

On the other hand, I realized, this is kind of cool : here’s this 95 year old Pearl, a gem who still catalog shops for clothes and jumps (well, hops low) at the opportunity to go to the mall. In Yiddish, that’s what we call having, “Chutzpah”! And she’s got it BIG time. Pearl also loves the cosmetic gift bags; you know, spend “X” amount and get free Lancôme stuff in another zipper travel bag, of which we all have dozens. Pearl dresses fabulously for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And THAT’s daily.

Recently, she showed me her new Chicos scarf.  It’s beautiful, but it’s longer than she is tall and could double as her bedspread. I offered to take her scarf home to steam it, due to shipping wrinkles. I smiled, while steaming her scarf, because Pearl’s weight-watching is not a curse, as I’d originally thought. Instead, it is a blessing; a high level of pride and a sign that life and hope pulses strongly through this woman. In that respect, and as much as it wears me out to think about weight-watching all my remaining years, I guess I should hope I still want to watch my weight, wear makeup, cologne and cool clothes, whether I’m 61 or 101. Hold the chocolate sauce, just give me the ice cream. Make that one BIG scoop. Oh, yes, and a Diet Pepsi.