A Healthy Retirement

A Healthy Retirement?

Part I—"The Cookout"

by Ann Henninger Biology Department Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa

Late afternoon on a Monday in June

"The backyard is ready for tonight's cookout," Jim announced as he entered the kitchen and dropped into a chair. "The tables and chairs are set up, the grill is clean, and the drinks are on ice. Sure glad I cut the grass yesterday. I don't think I would have had time to do that today too. What are you doing? Do you need any help?" "No, thanks," said his wife Nancy. "I'm almost done with these snacks. Why don't you fix us a drink so we can sit and relax a little before the neighbors arrive. Getting ready for these parties used to be a breeze, but right now I'm pooped. Can't understand why I feel so tired all the time." "OK, Hon. Put your feet up for a bit. I'll be the waiter." He gave her shoulders a good rub and then headed to the refrigerator, returning shortly with two cool drinks. As they sat on the porch swing and sipped their drinks, Jim and Nancy went over the list of things they had done and the things they had yet to do before their cruise to Alaska. Planning had been intense. It was the middle of June and the Towers had been working hard to get their garden beds planted and odd jobs finished around the house before they left on their two-week vacation. Jim retired last year after 40 years in sales. He had suffered a massive heart attack a few years earlier and now takes medication to control his blood pressure as well as an aspirin every night. He is 68 years old, overweight, and keeps promising to quit smoking. Nancy is 62 years old and just retired from teaching mathematics at the college level. She's still trying to find a place at home for the books and papers she decided to keep. Although she swims a few laps and lifts weights several times a week at the local Health and Wellness Center, Nancy weighs more than she should. She has been taking hormone (estrogen) replacement therapy since she had a...