By Mark McNease

Another night, another wake up at 3:00 am. It doesn’t matter that we’re in California and it’s three hours ealier – the routine is the same. Having talked about this to many people my age, it seems like it’s just part of the changing sleep patterns that come with getting older. I’ve gotten use to it, but on those rare occasions when I wake up at 5:00 am, or even 4:30, it feels like I’ve slept late.

If you’ve experienced this same phenomenon you’re not imagining things, and you’re definitely not alone. As we get older, sleep often changes in frustrating ways. Falling asleep takes longer for many people, although that’s never a problem for me. I often drift off halfway through a TV show at 8:30 p.m., maybe 9:00 p.m., and consider it a win if I get six hours of sleep. Then I wake up at 3 a.m. for no clear reason and lie there thinking about an acceptable time to get out of bed. Being in bed awake in the middle of the night doesn’t work for me: I explain it as feeling the way I imagine a turtle on its back feels. I just want to get up. Nothing is quite as disturbing to my fragile peace of mind as imagining terrible things in the dark while I’m stranded on my back.

One of the most important things to understand is that sleep changes with age are normal, but chronic exhaustion, if that’s a result, is not something we have to accept. Our bodies produce less melatonin as we age, and our internal clocks tend to shift earlier. That means lighter sleep, more awakenings, and earlier mornings. Add in medications, aches and pains, hot flashes, anxiety, or sleep apnea, and it’s no wonder rest can feel elusive. (I’ve been using a CPAP machine for seven years, and it’s not weight-related, which many people assume.)

By Mark McNease

New year, same old ageism. We’re surrounded by messages telling us that getting older is something to fight, hide, or delay. At the very least, we’re told to ‘age gracefully,’ because it’s required of us if we’re to be seen in public. We must be demure, soft-spoken, quiet. Loud, outspoken and old just won’t do.

Not here, and not by me. Aging is not a personal failure. It’s not something we did wrong. It’s a sign we’re still here, whether anyone wants to acknowledge us or not.

Health in later life isn’t about chasing youth or punishing your body into compliance. It’s about function, comfort, connection, and quality of life. It’s about knowing your body well enough to listen to it, and trusting ourselves to respond with care rather than criticism.

This column – this year – will be focused on our everyday realities: energy that comes and goes, sleep that changes, bodies that behave differently than they used to. We’ll talk honestly about what’s normal, what’s worth paying attention to, and what simply comes with time.

By Mark McNease

We joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) co-op several years ago and the annual cycle of picking up our share every two weeks is beginning again. We belong to the Tinicum (PA) CSA, and their large barn with adjacent farmland is just across a bridge from Frenchtown, NJ, to their location. We head over the bridge twice a month on Saturday, sometimes walking, sometimes driving, and fill up our bags with more vegetables than two people can possibly eat. We get the large share (they offer large and small), and each of us ends up with two full cloth bags to bring home. What they offer depends on the time of year and the various growing seasons, and we always end up with enough to give some to friends and neighbors.

We also have our own raised-bed vegetable garden in the back yard, but it’s tiny compared to what we get at the  CSA. So what, exactly, is a CSA?
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Co-ops Connect Farmers and Consumers Directly

There’s been a growing movement towards sustainable, locally sourced, and transparent food systems. One of the most effective and community-driven approaches to this is through CSA co-ops. These between farmers and consumers foster trust, promote ecological farming practices, and strengthen local economies. The bins are full, the vegetables and rinsed, and you can see some things grown right there in their fields.

Tinicum CSA also has flowers and various vegetables (such as okra) we’re able to cut and harvest ourselves as we walk along the rows with pairs of scissors.

By Mark McNease

As anyone knows who has not simply let their teeth fall out, effectively gumming their way through life, dental work is incredibly expensive.

In some ways I consider myself fortunate to only have about 8 ‘real teeth’ left. You can’t need expensive dental work on teeth you don’t have! The rest—those spaces where my natural choppers used to be—are filled in by very reasonable facsimiles with the cumulative price of a small automobile.

My lower front teeth were replaced about 15 years ago with a permanent bridge. The dentist, now long-retired, did a good enough job. They’re still there, still permanent, and will most likely last until they escort my body to the crematorium. The problem has been the top teeth. They, too, were initially replaced with a permanent bridge, but it had been anchored to a couple teeth I had left, and it was a mistake. The bridge came loose about 10 years ago, and I got a partial denture instead. By then I was I my 50s, married, and determined not to spend another small fortune to replace something I could just take out at night for a much better price.

As anyone knows who has not simply let their teeth fall out, effectively gumming their way through life, dental work is incredibly expensive. I’d paid approximately $10,000 for each of those bridges. Out of pocket. That is not a typo! So when I had to get a replacement for the top one that had proven not to be so permanent, I refused to shell out another ten grand. The partial option was only $2,000, so that’s what I went with. I quickly learned that Polident is my friend, and I found other ways to spend the difference.

Health Beat is a feature at LGBTSr highlighting health and wellness.

I recently had a regular eye exam. I knew my vision was getting slightly blurrier. It was impossible not to notice, since I spend a good three hours or more at my desk every day, between writing fiction, maintaining websites, and all the other things I’m doing in front of a computer screen. However, I’m also aware of being on a semi-fixed income: Social Security is about 80 percent of my income, with the rest coming from book royalties and writing workshops.

The question for me this time was: bifocals (the kind with a line across the lens), or another pair of progressives. The price difference is significant. My eye insurance covers some of it, and I knew bifocals were the more affordable option. So that’s what I got!

I don’t know yet if I regret not getting progressive lenses. Having spent $200 out of pocket for the bifocals, I’m determined to get used to them, but the difference is pronounced. Here are some things to think about.

What Are Bifocals?

Bifocal lenses have been a staple in vision correction for years. They feature two distinct optical zones: the upper portion for distance vision and the lower part for reading. This clear division is usually marked by a visible line separating the two segments, which is why bifocals are often referred to as “line bifocals.” Mine are for reading only, so the upper portion is set for reading a computer screen at somewhat of a distance, and the lower portion is for reading close-up text, such as a smart phone or book

By Mark McNease.

Narration by Wondervox.

Another year comes slowly to a close as the holidays kick in and that mixture of pleasure and stress takes over. It’s a reminder that stress is part of living, and how we handle it can make the difference between looking back at another good year, or dreading what the next one will bring. We often anticipate bad things happening, whether they do or not, and it increases this stress exponentially. Even without the added pressure, daily living is often stressful with its demands on our time, activities, and attention. Doctor’s appointment? Stressful. Sink stopped up? Stressful. Cat to the vet? Stressful. Holidays? Prolonged stress, no matter how much we may enjoy them.

Here are some thoughts on stress and how to cope with it in our lives.

Handling Stress: Strategies for a Balanced Life

Stress is a common part of life, affecting nearly everyone at some point, and many of us in a more or less chronic way. Whether it’s due to work pressures, personal relationships, or unforeseen circumstances, managing stress is essential for maintaining mental and physical well-being. But take heart! There are a number  of effective strategies for coping with and alleviating stress, allowing us to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease and resilience—and maybe even sleeping all night! (This is a problem for me and millions of others, and it can be exacerbate by the aging process: we tend to sleep less as we get older.)

Understanding the Causes of Stress

Before delving into coping mechanisms, it’s important to understand the sources of stress. Common triggers include high-pressure jobs, family responsibilities, health issues, financial worries, and major life changes. Identifying these stressors is the first step in managing stress effectively. For some people, keeping a stress journal can prove beneficial; by detailing when stressors occur and how they affect you, you can develop a clearer picture of patterns and triggers in your life. I don’t personally keep this kind of record, but I do journal on a regular basis. It’s as much a diary as a journal for me, and it’s augmented by thematic journaling (SEE HERE FOR MORE ON THAT).