Tuesday, Jan. 23. Life is a Crap Shoot...

I wrote this a few days ago but have been reluctant to post it. It is not meant to be judgemental, nor critical of people at all. It is a bit of a summary about how we, as humans, progress through life as we age, as I see it just by observing passengers aboard.

As a preamble we have encountered a few people who are aboard to recover from serious health issues, or because serious health issues have encouraged them to take such a trip, while they still can.

********

After a couple of weeks on the ship I have a few ramblings running through my mind, that never seems to sleeps.

Life is a Crap Shoot: What do I mean? We are all born, tiny, helpless and most times, cute little babies, innocent and entirely dependant upon mom for all the essentials of life. And, 60, 70, 80, 90 years or more later, we end up either dead or alive. Those of us still alive oftentimes have some form of health issue. Some issues are more visible than others. The invisible ones are diabetes, blood pressure and heart issues, cholesterol issues, lungs, kidney, cancer and other insidious diseases, the list is almost endless.

However, I notice that many, many on the ship have visible mobility issues. The causes? I am guessing but I think they run the range from arthritis, worn out knees, hips and other joints and who knows what else. Many have balance issues and others have canes, walkers and braces on ankles, knees etc.

How did they we go from innocent babies to seriously impaired elders? I told you, life is a crap-shoot, you never know how that little baby is going to turn out. So many factors have input over those 60, 70, 80, 90 or more years: genes from our ancestors, life style, and little decisions made over a lifetime, even choice of a spouse or partner shapes a future lifestyle.

Regardless of the causes, it is interesting to see how few of us do make it to 70 or more without any visible or invisible health issues. And what did they do different than those more seriously impaired? Ask them, then please let me know, I would sure like to know the answer.

I am sure that there are some that made personal health a real priority and hopefully they turn out just fine. I am also sure that the vast majority of us wasted our first forty or 50 years before we came to the realization that we are mortal but do have some influence on how long will be on this place called earth.About then we also began to hope that our parents gave us the gift of good genes. Many are not so fortunate and have to deal with  what they are dealt with in the gene department.

We no doubt have a mix on this ship, good genes and bad genes, good choices and bad choices. The only thing about choices is that we are not fully aware at the time that it is, indeed, a choice we are making. We however have to live with the results, good or bad.

The above may be a bit incoherent and disjointed, but as people move around on the ship, on the gangway, getting in and out of busses, or even up from a chair, I wonder, how did they get to that state? I am not judging people and I thank the dear Lord for my own relatively good health, but I cannot help but wonder, how did they get where they are? I know where I am, and I know a bit about my genes, so I think I know why I am what I am, but do they?

As an aside, I think that size seems to play into the late-in-life mobility issue. There are some pretty tall men and women in this world, and sometimes with tall comes weight and back issues. I don't seem to see as many small or shorter men and women with issues in getting around as with tall and heavy folks. Just a comment.

As I said at the beginning folks,  just my overactive mind working...

**************

Tomorrow Fellette and I are off on a shore excursion to go horseback riding in Castro. I think that it is more likely to be a Pony Trot than a Wild West show from previous experiences though.