Hats off to you, Ann! Good health, good writing, and a good reminder not to make assumptions.

I'm 68 and holding my own pretty well, cycling to classes as I work toward my second graduate degree. I catch a cold maybe once in 2-3 years, and I've never been admitted to a hospital.

I can't claim the healthy habits you exemplify aside from moderate amounts of moderation, so I think there must be other factors to consider, probably genetic. Choose your parents well.

Someday I suspect researchers will identify the genes that control resilience and stress resistance as well as aging. Maybe you and I will live to hear about it.