Wine, Butter, Chocolate, Caramel and Salt

So, this week I turned 65.

But this is my kind of math: At 50 I started counting down backwards.

So ... 50, 49, 48, 47 ........ and on down.

So this year, I'm 35. Hell yes. 35. Whoop!

Counting down seems better to me than counting up.

Why?

Because at some point I can say "Three, Two, One, I'm Outta Here...".

Or, at least I'd like to be able to do that. But that means I need to live to be 100.

Hmmmmmmm................. I think it's a good plan.

I've been reading all kinds of books about aging, aging well, staying healthy, and keeping my body and brain in tip-top shape.

Except. Except I'm a better reader than I am a practitioner.

Daniel Buettner in The Blue Zones tells me that diet, exercise, and staying highly engaged with friends and family will help me live to be 100. I’m all over the staying highly engaged. Diet and Exercise – still a work (very slow work) in progress.

Chris Crowley and Harry Lodge, in Younger Next Year, tell me basically the same things – diet, exercise and staying engaged academically. Oh, and working out so that the hubs thinks I’m still sexy. Pffffftttt … that’s a joke. He professes that he does (he’s such a kind, kind man), but come ON. I have a big mirror in my bathroom.

Michael Pollan in The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food remind me what to eat, what not to eat, when to eat, and why it all matters to not only me, but to the environment, too. This one I do try to follow when I can. Or, rather, when I want to. (Being totally honest here...) Less red meat. More vegetables. Ingredients that I can pronounce.

These guys are all fine writers and their messages make sense. And I do take them to heart.

But here’s what they seem to forget:

Wine.

Butter.

Chocolate, caramel and crunchy salt.

Did I mention wine?

Bottom line here: I’ll keep reading all the books, I’ll keep learning all the newest science, I’ll work harder on the exercise part, and I’ll be a semi-conscientiously careful eater. Um, sort of. Or not. Depending on the day. And whether there's wine, or butter, or chocolate, caramel and salt involved.