A theory

Last night was date night Friday, a weekly double date with a pair of dear friends. Over cocktails, the guys developed a theory based upon nothing but our own observations, and the insights created by the first flavored vodka. See if you agree.

People are living longer than they once did. Our favorite people passed much too early, but there is no shortage of very active 80+ yo's out and about. We credit that to 2 causes, air conditioning and better dentistry, everything else is a distant third.

Air conditioning:

In the not too distant pass, with no escape from the summer heat, the phrase "worked himself to death" had real meaning. A laborer could and often did die of heat related causes. It still happens, mostly among the old, infirm and/or the poor but heat is a far less common killer than it once was. An escape into air conditioning, during the day or at least at home, provides an escape or at least a chance to rest. Heat related deaths among those of working age are rare and becoming more so.

Better dentistry:

In my childhood, old people, those over 50 wore dentures. I've legions of aunts and uncles who slept with their teeth in a water glass, now I know very few people with dentures. Advances in dentistry during my lifetime have done much to keep teeth where they belong.

It follows that those with their own teeth will have a better diet than those without. Dr. George Washington Carver invented peanut butter as a source of dietary protein for bald mouths. That cheap, simple food enriched the lives of thousands of school children and malnourished old folks.

It follows that those with a more complete diet will be healthier and live longer than those without.

Toad