Preview of Your Coming Attractions

When I retired after 40 years of writing columns for the San Jose Mercury News, I figured I'd said about all I could say. Wrong. I've realized that at age 76, I'm about 10 years older than the oldest baby boomers, who are now turning 66. My very average body has had a lot of experiences in those 10 years. I've learned a lot that could be helpful to people just starting on that same path -- what to do, what to avoid, what to keep an eye on.. Consider me your canary-in-the-coalmine for the boomer generation. Tune in regularly for the heads-up advice.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Look at This


     As we get older, our brains age along with us. We sometimes forget things. I’ll tell you what eventually. It’ll come to me, I know.
     But not to worry. The brain is an amazing thing. You can see that by reading the message below:
7H15 M3554G3
53RV35 7O PR0V3
H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N
D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5!
1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5!
1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG
17 WA5 H4RD BU7
N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3
Y0UR M1ND 1S
R34D1NG 17
4U70M471C4LLY
W17H 0U7 3V3N
7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17,
B3 PROUD! 0NLY
C3R741N P30PL3 C4N
R3AD 7H15.
      Cool, huh? Your brain performs a work-around, just as we do to fix computer problems. Don’t have all the letters available? The brain makes us recognize some numbers as letters, given their similar shape. It can perform similar work-arounds for people who’ve had strokes or for those who body parts have lost connection with the control room over time. It requires some concentration, but it works.
     And now I remember what I was going to say: That’s reassuring.

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