Oh, and another thing... I want to tell you about my experience meeting two elderly ladies. It is just amazing how differently people age.

a) D's mother, age 83
b) Bff's MIL, age almost 80.

a) Has Alzheimer's. A widow as of many years. He takes great care of her, giving her both neurological and psychiatric meds (some Seroquel to improve touch with reality). He brushed up on neurology to do that. She used to be an artist but not anymore. Her last painting is dated 2010. Her paintings are bright and optimistic and very detailed. Right now she spends all day in her room, with the TV on. She does not go outside at all. She needs a caretaker when he travels. Her hair is all white - completely white. And in disarray. She has a bit of trouble with the eye contact. While I was staying with bff, she had an incident - while D. was running errands, she lost touch with reality, became disoriented and stopped recognizing that she was in her own apartment, became scared and fearful, went to a neighbor who called 911. An ambulance arrived, did tests, everything was OK. By then D. came back and explained to the ambulance team what must have happened. They left. He raised Seroquel by a bit. He said he was even glad that this happened because everything - blood sugar, etc. etc - was OK, and it would have been hard to take her to a clinic for all those tests.

b) Has a perfect figure. No fat. Perfectly shaped medium-sized breasts. Brightly colored eyes. Perfect eye contact. Nice auburn hair and a neat hairdo. Actively helps her son and DIL with the kids on a regular basis. Told me that her ex H recently started making sexual advances to her and she told him off, reminding him how he left her with two children without support. She said that she can be friends with him for the sake of children and grandchildren. And, I can totally see how someone would make sexual advances to her!

So basically (b) looks and acts a whole generation younger than (a). If not more.

(b), named Nina, comes from a large family. Her mother had 11 kids. No abortions ever. One infant died, 10 survived. Last pregnancy at 43 and she was really embarrassed! And they have something about female longevity - Nina's brothers have died but all sisters are alive and well. In terms of her good shape and health, she credits regular visits to Russian steam baths where people experience contrasting temperatures. I too used to love them, many years ago. Saunas have dry heat and Russian steam baths have steam - that is the difference.