My grandmother was a damned good cook. When she started listening to the health experts and fear mongers, she changed the way she cooked. Tried to cook healthier. It was still good, but not the same.
She came down with a variety of illnesses in her senior years. Cancer, cardiac, kidney issues, among others. She's sitting in her chair at home after a lengthy hospital stay. She looks over at me in her voice that was now so weak you had to concentrate to hear her. She said "I wish I'd never changed how I cooked. Food was better. And the change didn't get me one day extra on this earth." A week or so later she passed away.
I'm not saying be obese or a t-totaller. But do what the hell makes you happy. Tomorrow isn't a guarantee for any of us. We will all be gone from this earth at some point. Might as well enjoy what time we have on this earth while we have it.
Moderation in everything. There's no shortage of things that will kill you. Natural and Not so natural. Accidents, crime. Hell, scientists and doctors are as responsible for as much or more death than alcohol or fried foods are.
One thing is certain. One day, you'll wake up dead. Enjoy what time you have.
This is kind of my theory too...
I workout hard, do cardio, eat healthy, but I eat "good" food. I do all that, because I enjoy it. I never thought I'd make it to 66 in the first place, and I certainly didn't think I would be this healthy at this age. So the way I figure it, it's all gravy and ice cream cake at this point so why do something crazy like giving up drinking entirely. Hell I enjoy it. I enjoy the social aspect of it, I enjoy a little buzz and I enjoy the relaxation it gives me.
Do I self moderate? Yes I do. We just had a huge party weekend over on the Bay with 8 of our friends. Did I keep drinking well into the night? No. I stop drinking at a reasonable hour and covertly switch to a glass of water with a lime in it in order to hydrate and flush out my system before bedtime.
Benjamin Franklin famously said, "God made beer so man could be happy."
When the partygoers at the wedding ran out of wine and Mary told Jesus about it, he turned the water into wine to keep the party going. It wasn't Boone's Farm crap either, because the sommelier (The guy in charge of the party and the mixing of the wine) tasted it and said, "Why did we save the best wine for last?"
