ruta

One of my fondest memories on the farm as a child was when my Papa would break out the slip n’ slide in the front yard draping it down the fastest hill I had yet to know. As I look back, the hill looks smaller, the slip n’ slide isn’t as long as I thought as a child and the fear of breaking a hip has most certainly ceased the slip n’ slide days. This of course does not prevent me from purchasing one for my own children over the weekend – a secret hope to relive those simpler times through their eyes. As I threw out that thin bright yellow piece of plastic and hooked up the water, I could see my ten-year-old a little disappointed that the slide wasn’t longer. I could see that she was most certainly not impressed but did enjoy the break from the heat. I then watched my four-year old’s eyes light up with excitement as he ran as fast as his legs would allow just to land in a puddle of cold grassy water at the end. In that moment God reminded me just how life can also be a slip n’ slide.

Ikeep hearing that people want more good news. This, despite TV ratings that consistently show viewers flocking to the cable anger- tainment networks. One notorious channel was absolutely livid during the years their preferred political party did not occupy the White House. Yet when their chosen candidate won the presidency, their “news” hosts got even angrier. If I didn’t know better, I’d think that rage and hostility translate into higher ratings and more advertising dollars.

You can’t always get what you want…” The words of the Rolling Stones often echo in my mind as I ponder the countless rejections we humans face over the course of our lives. (The words of the Rolling Stones also often echo in my mind as I ponder the many senior moments we face over the course of our lives. “Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name…”) I nearly died before I took my first breath, but Dr. K.J. Phelps went the extra mile for me in the delivery room. So I’ve always had a “thing” about people getting a fighting chance in life.

Annual visits with a primary care provider are a great opportunity to check in on your overall health. The purpose of an annual physical is to identify potential health concerns early so you can make small, proactive changes to help avoid more serious conditions in the future. Even if you feel healthy and maintain an active lifestyle, there are a few key health metrics (measurements) that should be checked each year. This is because many chronic conditions, such as heart disease or hypertension, can develop gradually without exhibiting obvious symptoms in your daily life. These include blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, body mass index (BMI) and preventive screenings based on family history.