Great article Wings, and great philosophy Mel.

It makes me want to sign up for another sprint triathlon....my plan was to win an AARP one...I did my last one at 50 and didn't make it to the AARP ones. I have my doubts I will ever do another one...but hope springs eternal. My first ever bike race done at 36....I passed a man who was....87. I felt guilty passing him...but I had a medal to earn, LOL. (I'm a jerk.) Now I just want to get my ever enlarging butt on the bike seat....forget the medals...

The inflammation theory makes one want to eat an entire bottle of ibuprophen.

I do want to say as much as I preach on my genealogy....what I did find was an amazing longevity in my Swedish line....my lord, many lived to their
80's-90's back in the 1600-1700's. Plus many women bore children in their mid 40's....and the kids lived as long as their parents. I think TB, influenza etc took the most lives back then. Today in Sweden, their average life span is 10 years longer than ours.

Aging has been associated with telomere disintegration, which probably is that self destruct inflammatory process.

I had every infection as a kid but mumps....I had to get a mumps shot as an adult. I remember having the measles...wow I was sick...then the chicken pox, german measles (rubella)...ah yes, the good old days. Yet....I show no visible signs of inflammation...what an enigma.

Oh well, I might as well enjoy my gingerbread bears made with American grown wheat, US molasses, Wisconsin organic butter, and 100 other ingredients from who knows where...if their premise holds true...I am toast.

I will pass on pimping the skin....just because it can be done doesn't mean I have to do it. I gave up on climbing Everest too.

Two things are certain, death and taxes. Alert me if that changes soon.