Helen Hudson

Interesting ride in the elevator this morning. As the doors closed, I went to push the UP button, but the four year-old next to me beat me to it, hitting the DOWN one instead. We headed down. “DADDY!” she shrieked, “Why aren’t we going UP???” “Because you pushed the DOWN button,” he said with a grimace of embarrassment.

I swim ½ mile everyday at the local pool. In the roped off area, there is usually an elderly water aerobics class going on next to me. You know, white-haired, wrinklies flopping about on noodles or lifting Styrofoam dumb bells. Most are women and most spend the entire class talking, not exercising. But that doesn’t matter. These are the last legion of the upward and still mobile and I admire their perseverance.

I don’t plan to mince words with you as I begin my first blog for the ACA. Time is just too short, even if you’re young. Speaking of which, if you are around age 25, grab a camera right now and take a shot of yourself. Don’t worry how you look. Forget the makeup or what you’re wearing. Truth is, you are not really going to age much beyond today for the rest of your life, at least in your mind’s eye that is.