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DaRk AnGel : Why Home : February 2006 : Chocolate Banana Milk Shakes and Dick Cheney

Chocolate Banana Milk Shakes and Dick Cheney

I had a home made chocolate banana milkshake last night.. I have to tell you it was AWESOME! Better than sex! Well actually sex was not an option last night. Given the choice though between the two, it might take some consideration.
Anyway this is not my topic today. In fact until five minutes ago, I had no topic.

When I used to live in Clearwater Florida, there was always an incident that involved someone that should not have been able to legally do what they were doing. Usually it involved a car and an elderly person. Someone in their seventies or eighties, who had a lapse and then they and their car ended up somewhere they should not have been. Like a living room or a convenience store. One time the St. Petersburg airport had to be shut down while they escorted an old couple off of the runway. Somehow they managed to drive off the expressway and onto the runway.

I feel great compassion for the elderly, and I realize I am much closer to that label than most of you reading this.
The fact is at some point it becomes unsafe for some people to do some things.

When I first moved to Florida and was transferring my drivers license over, I was in line and in front of me was an elderly couple. The man turned to his wife and asked why they were there. She replied to get the drivers license renewed.

He replied "oh" and stared off vacantly. Not five minutes later he asked again. Then as they were standing at the window he again asked. This time he was just two feet in front of the examiner. It was obvious that he had trouble remembering. I do not know if this was senility or Alzheimer's but it was more than obvious he had some impairment.

As I watched and waited it hit me. They were there to get his license renewed. Even with asking in front of the examiner he was issued a license. No written or driving test. Sorry but there has to be a way to gently deal with this sort of problem. Safety is definitely an issue with someone like that. At a certain age there should be more stringent testing when there is cause to be worried.

I had not thought about that day at the Florida DMV in years. But right before logging on today I went to Yahoo to check the weather forecast. I always browse the headlines and saw where Cheney had shot a hunting companion by accident. My first thought was "They let that idiot have a gun!" I have no respect for Cheney, I apologize to you his die hard fans. He just strikes me as a goof ball.

It seems there were three hunters. One was separate and when Cheney saw something move he thought he was shooting at some quail or dove or whatever he was hunting. It turned out to be the third hunter who is even older than Dick. The story made me think about old people traipsing around in the woods with guns. I did not give me a warm feeling.

For some of the elderly, mental processes are impaired as are reaction times due to aging. Things that require quick judgment and concentration can be a problem. The airlines force retirement for pilots at age 65, period. Some pilots are capable of flying but the industry has decided to err on the side of caution.

I am glad that the man that Cheney played target practice with is not seriously hurt. I bet he never hunts with the Vice President again. I think that Cheney should retire his hunting and maybe do it via video games.

That still leaves the problem though, of what activities should elderly be more stringently looked at before being allowed to continue doing. How does one decide which ones are a true threat with a gun or a car? Of does everyone simply get tested across the board? I would hope that we erred on the side of caution.

And to be the first to walk the talk, I will not make another milk shake until I am certified competent to operate the mixer. Right, believe that!