Geez! After yesterday’s hour-long zoom  with my sibs I think I must have arthritis everywhere! Not that I would recognize it, since I only go to doctors in emergencies. . . but of course, at this age, I do “have aches and pains,” especially upon arising, before I get moving. Three of my sibs, however are very aware of their arthritis, and one of them had her hip replaced because of pain that doc told her stemmed from her hip, even though the pain was felt in her butt.

Now docs are saying her other hip is riddled with arthritis, but she’s not going to have it replaced unless and until it’s painful.

One sib who takes daily care of her three grandkids, has noticed that her knees, which used to hurt when she stooped to pick up the toddler, no longer do! We assume stooping regularly built muscle where it was needed.

Oh yes, I was informed that the older we get, the more we need to make sure we have protein with each meal, because it builds muscle. I do that already, protein with every meal.

My tremor (which I inherited from Dad) is shared by several sibs (and several nieces), though not as advanced. One sib tells me I should work with five pound weights, to build muscle in my arms; that this exercise helps her tremor. OKAY! Will do.

The most remarkable finding, was that two sibs only get two to three hours of real sleep each night. Both of them used to fight it, but now both are resigned, and realize that they can actually function okay on that amount of sleep. Both also take naps. (These two are grateful that they can finally nap, since they both retired, jut this year.)

We reminisced how Dad used to rise at 4 AM, every day, to sit in the living room, reading.

We also shared other best practices in terms of exercise and nutrition.

All in all, a very valuable session. Highly recommended!

P.S I’m going to take another three day break, from tomorrow, December 30, through January 2, when Mercury turns from it’s current retrograde process, going back over old stuff for three weeks total, to go forward. (This three-week retrograde process happens three times each year.)

Until January 2!