FOTO FRIDAY: BE A KIND HUMAN

FOTO FRIDAY during my very quiet birthday week had a very special timely gift arrive in the mail. Hold on and I will share its significance...

Traditionally this week I would have been having a birthday lunch with my friend Sue at Dave's Bar B Que with a burnt end bar-b-que beef sandwich, mashed potatoes and their complimentary bday dessert of choice. We always shared the bread pudding after the sparkler died out... But alas like everything in the world this year, the celebration didn't happen. Yet it wasn't COVID 19 which stopped the tradition rather  it was the end of Sue's fight with cancer this summer... 

Sue's motto was "Be a Kind Human" and she even made up t-shirts with it. So what was in the birthday package from a 'mutual' friend but 2 masks one for Natureman and myself.  Take a look and you can understand why tears filled my eyes...

Thank you Kathy. It's absolutely perfect! Sue would have loved us spreading the word now more than ever... One of the best ways to be kind to others is to wear our masks out in public. 

Besides our governor Tony Evers’ mask mandate starting Saturday demonstrates "his trust of scientists and public health experts. It shows a dedication to helping us all live healthier lives. By one estimate, wearing masks reduces the risk of spreading or catching COVID-19 by 85%."


 My collection now includes: my first 2 two sided masks made by daughter-in-law Leah's Mom, Lori and 4 made by friend Brenda when she discovered I had misplaced the others.(I did eventually find them) in addition to this newest one. Now each car is equipped with an extra clean one in addition to a couple at home besides the one I'll have in my purse. A new accessory line for sure.

Do you have a photo in your mask to share? Send it my way and I can make a collage.

VANDALISM...

Order was short lived with the newly mulched front garden bed. With all the rain and hungry birds a lot of seed was dropped by those messy eaters. Translated: a lot of sunflowers are sprouting around the feeder. Actually, the first one bloomed today but I'm going to allow a little more chaotic natural self seeding. 

Protection.  Protection for the birdfeeder.  Why would it need protection? Vandalism.

Well, after feeling good about almost completing two sides of painting its post and ready to move onto side number 3, I was going out to check out how well the paint had dried but something silver caught my eye from that painted flue. It 'had' been completed covered... 

It wasn't the paint peeling it was as if someone had keyed a car. Who / what did this damage?


It could be fixed but it wasn't until checking the post's backside that I understood what had happened...

One of the barn cats had decided to scale the post to pick off one of the birds feeding and the not quite dry paint peeled downward with her claws's efforts. 





                           
 Who us? Yes, one of you is guilty.

THE CULPRITS: ALIAS PARTNERS IN CRIME

Once finished the plan was to apply 3 coats of polyurethane to protect the post from the elements and also be slippery enough to not provide any traction for uninvited guests. 

The addition of butterflies, bees and some ants still needed to be added before that finish. Now it's pretty obvious where those additions need to go.

Unfortunately I also got ahead of myself by starting another side before finishing the first. A tough lesson to learn... 
 A new sign might help...

The water bottle is filled and ready to ward off the barn cats anytime they get near the feeder and there's some animal repellant that may also ward them off.  Perhaps those growing sunflowers can also help by serving as a bit of a deterrent ...  I'll just have to deal with yellow flowers in the front garden. 

FOTO FRIDAY: PREVIEW ADDED WHIMSY

FOTO FRIDAY: Trying to find the perfect time to paint the birdfeeder post has been a challenge inbetween the heat, rain and insects. 

Art teacher friend Sally was consulted and reminded me to start with a sketch and brighten up colors by adding white to make them pop... Okay, I'm working on it. Photos really help one see issues too. So  I'm just saying it's a work in progress.

The plan is in motion with 4 sides = 4 different sketches. Each side will feature one flower and one bird for sure. 2 sides are almost done but still being tweaked. I just had to share prematurely as butterflies and insects will also be added...

Yep, brightening  needed below

The northside features SUNFLOWERS and the cardinal ... 

While the southside's coneflowers have a gold finch...









It's not even done and the birds are showing up for the preview along with y'all! 

Guess it's a 'bird's eye' viewing... 

TBT: EYESORE

Gosh, I can't tell you how many years it's been  with all our gorgeous window views here from the bowl of the End of the Rainbow Valley I have been staring from my dining spot at an eyesore...

When Natureman set the homemade T shaped birdfeeder in the front flower bed, it seemed a great place for bird watching as they congregated during dining times while we enjoyed ours...

But eventually the tree branch post needed replacing. Natureman found a different post but I have to admit the feeder's 6"X 6"post seemed a bit overkill. Seriously, how much could those birds weigh? 





Over time Natureman's construction wisdom (?) would prove itself weight bearing as other animals besides birds helped themselves to seed, jelly/ suet/ the birds themselves... Really, besides birds of prey picking the diners off, the barn cats have been seen atop it as they leap up in a single bounce for a feathered catch, raccoons and possums have knocked off and broken a couple jelly bowls but it was the squirrels that acted like real pigs scarfing up all the seeds.

Natureman decided an unused tin chimney flue would prevent those greedy squirrels from scaling the post. It's slick flat surface gave the squirrels nothing to hold on to and at first it 'seemed' to do the trick. Until squirrels appreared atop the feeder again. As we watched, they headed to the nearby pine tree and found the branches which would serve as springing boards, flying onto the feeder. This was easily remedied by pruning branches back and the birds finally got their sunflower seed. 

What did remain was the eyesore of the shiny metal on the weathered post until 2 weeks ago when I couldn't stand it anymore. 


 I had this new set of acrylic paints aching for a project ... TBC check out this past week's FOTO FRIDAY. 

MONDAY MUSINGS: ONE LAST CROSSING

Yesterday we as a nation watched as Rep. John Robert Lewis took his last trip across the Edmund Pettus bridge, the very same bridge in Selma, Alabama, he first walked across 55 years before on Bloody Sunday, March 7th 1965 and would continue to cross annually to commemorate. 

Yet, it wasn't Rep. Lewis's two feet that carried his body this  time but a horse drawn caisson with his casket draped in our country's flag. Pancreatic cancer had taken his life.



Mid bridge the carriage stopped. The symbolic stop was marking  Bloody Sunday where John Lewis amongst other non violent protesters saw what was awaiting them on the other side of the bridge. Civil Rights leader John Lewis would be one of the first brutally attacked, beaten by a Alabama State Trooper's night stick, knocking him unconscious and fracturing his skull. 

The mourners this Sunday could be heard singing We Shall Overcome and this Little Light of Mine.



After crossing the bridge family members were given roses to lay in front of the carriage. 





The casket was then moved  ironically by Alabama troopers into a hearse which would transport the body to lay in state in Alabama's capitol in Montgomey where afterwards the casket would be flown to D.C. to lay in state in our nation's capitol. 

Once again discussions have begun regarding renaming the bridge. Retired CBS newscaster Bob Schieffer who had walked with John Lewis last March across the bridge stated Lewis wanted the bridge to remain being called Edmund Pettus to make sure Civil Rights history was not forgotten especially the white supremacy Pettus embraced...

"History will not be kind to us. So you have a moral obligation, a mission and a mandate, to speak up, speak out and get in good trouble. You can do it. You must do it. Not just for yourselves but for generations yet unborn.” John Lewis

May the memory of  John Lewis always be a blessing...

MASKLESS, STILL??

It was a very full day yesterday for both Baltos, the dog and the human. The 4 legged one got dropped off at doggy daycare to get some socializing while the 2 legged one had his hospital day for infusion #9 which enabled me to check off my errand list during that 4+ hour span while running back and forth...

We were definitely all ready for our mid afternoon naps... But, let me back up with Natureman's good hospital visit. All of his test results BP, creatin, weight and kidney function all were stable and normal. Normal we 'really' like!

I was worried that our salt intake this past weekend would have affected something but maybe his body really needed that extra salt??? A new recipe had me brining fish and whoa was it ever salty even with unsalted butter and parsley for its sauce. Even though I halved the recipe's amount of kosher salt perhaps it was its type/way it was filleted ??? Then, Natureman made a hot dog dinner this past week too. Perhaps we're just not used to using a lot of salt any more but apparently an 'occasional' salty food doesn't wreak too much havoc...

There was ONE 'fixable' glitch in the tests and it was his thyroid. Apparently another side effect of chemo meds. So if need be, a thyroid drug might be necessary but this will be determined at his next visit...

Speaking of visits, new European research finds show 2 possibilities for Natureman's cocktail chemo treatment in his future treatment. One is instead of taking his oral chemo drug twice/day it could be taken one time/ day. AND the second is big which is instead of have infusions every 3 weeks, infusions could be given every 6 weeks if the med is doubled. Who wouldn't mind not going to the hospital as much?

While enjoying the serene setting of where 3 rivers- the La Crosse River, the Black River and the Mississippi, converge in the Irish section of the International gardens, we celebrated the good news with a private late picnic lunch of cheddar poblano soup and caprese panini.

We opted to head home without walking the gardens as there were way too many folk without masks... I sure hope your cities are doing better with mask wearing than ours.

MONDAY MUSINGS: WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW...

This past Friday our country lost another icon, something we just don't have enough of, especially in politics nowadays. A biblical man who served three decades as the "Conscience of Congress,"a voice of truth speaking up against our country's injustices towards not only people of color but for humanity who was respected by his colleagues, constituents and countrymen.

This son of Alabama sharecroppers was one of the original 13 Freedom Riders in SNNC, rode on those busses in the 60's and faced the brutal police batons on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in that nonviolent march to Selma. He walked with King in the March in Washington. This man who believed and acted in nonviolence was John Robert Lewis. 

As Reverend Barber pointed out "It is in honor of John Lewis's  name we should pass the bill for healthcare, living wages and against monies for big corporations." 

We should 'get it right' to protect the vote for all peoples. 

June 7 2020 John Lewis was there...

As the song says so well is what the World Needs Now is love, sweet love filled with activism so that 'we shall overcome someday.'

May we continue John Lewis's legacy...

What the World Needs Now ... 

FOTO FRIDAY: BUSTING OUT ALL OVER

FOTO FRIDAY: BUSTING OUT ALL OVER  is about showing off down by the B&B Beach, our beach by our mailbox. On one side of the road this week, each day there has been more to see. It was quite a spectacle. 

It only got better.  Here's the loner...

Not even a naked lady but here's what happened on the other side...

Wild natives in the lily family with the name Turk's Cap... 
Showy, right?

Last week featured: BERRy, BERRY NICE...


  

TBT:FACELIFTS

There is a lot that need facelifts around here in the End of the Rainbow Valley but hey I don't like knives... Maybe something less invasive with a lot less work could be fixed on one of our rainy days with something inanimate.... Hmmm.

That new acrylic paint set certainly could be put to use on a small project like a sign whose home is on one of the walls of the coop. This sign was a house gift from friends Ed and Corine on a visit some 15 years ago. It has seen a lot of weather. In fact, it had fallen apart and was found behind the antique rose when I noticed it missing. I saved it before you know who would decide it might be good kindling wood for our fire pit. 

It ended up a joint ( pun) project as Natureman glued and stapled it back together and my new paintbrush and paints made the lettering and chickens complete its facelift. Natureman inquired whether I'd be sanding and restaining the wood and I chortled, "Hey this weathered look's in style."

And here it is all ready with its facelift to return to its coop wall. 

Only 5 chickens left but their eggs are still fresh...

CURBSIDE ... PRICELESS TOO

Shopping has never been a problem for most women if you ask a man. But, perhaps that depends on the kind of shopping... For example I 'love' plant shopping but grocery shopping, not so much.

Now it seems grocery shopping has taken on new challenges especially for our immuno compromised household. Although we might both be updating what the shopping lists contain, it is I who has become the one who logistically plans out the how and when. Curbside pickup has been a godsend.

Take yesterday for example the 7 am grocery trip run into town   due to needing canning jar lids. Yep, the garden has started to produce. And it was going to be a dilly bean canning day.

Canning also means it's time to defrost the freezer and discover what we still have in its bowels and make room for the garden newbies. My early rising helped for getting the procedure underway. First, lining up all the ice chests and depositing its insides. Then the upright freezer's thawing process began while I ran to town for the grocery run...

Wouldn't you know that one crucial item on that grocery curbside pick up, canning lids was what no longer in stock? GRRRRR.  None of the other local stores would be open for another hour. Dang.  Start the new list... Canning lids.

It turns out after returning home and checking the internet, folks have begun hoarding again.  One gal had bragging rights for clearing out her supplier's shelves of 60 boxes of canning lids.  She boasted of not only being able to supply her family but also having extras for future years. Okay that's just plain selfish... 

The challenge of shopping curbside will continue to bring more stories. Walgreen's is on the list for the next trip for essentials and Ace is on the way so the 50 lb bag of birdseed can be replaced along with their 4 boxes of  canning lids ... Yep, I jazzercised at 6:15 and ran into town and we have our hygiene products, bird seed and canning lids.




The most important discovery is what's already made and frozen -  as I will not need to purchase more groceries for some meals nor cook as much... Priceless.

CON mucho MUCHO AMOR

Charisma is a unique trait but you certainly know if you are in the presence of someone who has it like Walter Mercado... 

Born in Puerto Rico he knew he was 'different' since childhood. He relates his preference to stay at home to be with his mother rather than go with his brother and father.  The NetFlix documentary: Mucho Mucho Amor: the Legend of Walter Mercado provides fascinating insight about his iconic life and the difference he made in so many's lives not only in the latino hemisphere and the U.S. but abroad as well. 

 Mercado was accomplished in dance, starred in movies and telenovelas (soaps) until he started hosting astrological segments on a tv show which turned into his own program. In the University he majored in pedagogy, psychology and pharmacy and used these studies in his understanding of the human mind.

His appearance crossed genders and he was known for  being flamboyant in dress with intricate capes/robes and accessories and what was eventually referred to his gorgeous 'grandma' coiffed hair. 

And then at the height of his career, he just disappeared. Poof. Where did he go and why? The documentary fills us in. 

When I lived in Mexico one summer I remember watching him with my bonus Mexican abuelita as she adored him. Walter Mercado left a great imprint on many lives. Were you one of them?

In 2012 a Miami museum held a 50th anniversary exhibit and extravagant celebration  attended by Mercado on its opening night. It was the last public event attended by Mercado as he passed shortly thereafter at the age of 87.

And as Mercado would always end his shows "Con mucho, Mucho amor" with a lot, a lot of love ...

Any stories to share? 

Here's the trailer: Con Mucho Mucho Amor:The Legend of Walter Mercado

MONDAY MUSINGS: WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY

MONDAY MUSINGS this week is confession time and I'm not even Catholic! We all fill our quarantine time in different ways and sometimes 'mental' health takes precedent over what needs to be done. 

Okay, I confess I also started a new project this weekend before finishing the two already started last week. It absolutely was more fun than the other two and wasn't even on the list of things to do.

Notification had also arrived my library book for book group was ready for pick up which meant I could accomplish two errands in one trip. 

The impetus...  a friend's posting on FB Marketplace which had me look what she had for sale. Yet, it was something else which caught my eye when opening up the day's new listings. 

 Take a look.

Yep, an unopened paint set of acrylics with 4 brushes. 

Yeah, yeah I have acrylics but look at these colors! Screaming at me to give them a new home and add whimsy to the eyesore of the front garden's bird feeder. 

Don't worry prearranged no physical contact issues with the seller who would don a mask, leaving the item on the car hood where payment would sit in an envelope as we met in the Walgreen's parking lot.  After the drop off and a thank you exchanged through a partially opened window, he returned to his car and I retrieved the item with gloves on before wipe down with an antibacterial wipe. Mission accomplished!

Where there's a will, there's a way. For $10 the new project  will give me hours of art therapy... 

FOTO FRIDAY: BERRY, BERRY NICE

FOTO FRIDAY this week is about something else that is not bothered as much as me about this heat and almost daily rain. In fact they are thriving and no, I'm not referencing those insects that have eaten both of us 'all' over, but something bigger...

After tending to the garden and picking our dinner's salad fixings  Natureman will return to the outdoors with a small plastic container which he will fill with berries, both wild blackberries and raspberries we planted. To tell you the truth I'm surprised any make it back to the house as there's nothing like a warm berry just picked...


Yesterday he shared a special raspberry. 

 Isn't she a beauty? 

I just had to share and add they are some nice things which are a result of heat and water. A berry, berry nice crop of berries. 

Do you have any pickings to share?

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY was 'E'SCAPING 
  

THE NUMBER THIRTEEN...

One is never supposed to watch/read scary things before bedtime. No horror flicks, movies with a lot of violence, etc...  Unless that is if you like having scary, disturbing dreams. The number in the title of Natureman's Netflix pick should have been a red flag as it contained the number 13.  It was disturbing, leaving me irritated,  disgusted and certainly unsettled for sleep...

The movie's title was 13th and it was not your typical type of horror story... The monsters of the story weren't wearing costumes, in fact, they look like people like you and me if you are white. Their horrendous actions are taken upon people with a different skin color.

FACT: One out of 4 people in the world are locked up and behind bars here in our country, the U.S.A. 
FACT: One out of three black males will be incarcerated at some time in his life.
FACT:In 1972 the prison population numbered 300,00 today that number is 2.3 million

AND the FACTS keep coming in Ava DuVernay's 2016 NETFLIX original documentary called 13th after the 13th Amendment to the Constitution - 

“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States.”


If you think we abolished slavery, you haven't been paying attention because you don't have to ... If you have any doubt/ need reaffirmation/ how about 'knowledge' regarding one of our broken systems in this country, watch this documentary but just don't do it right before bedtime. It is a scary story whose narrative needs to change. It's a narrative of 150 years in the making...Why do WE have the highest rate of incarceration in the world?

It's time to fix broken and put the 'human' back into humanity.

* You can also look on YOUTUBE to watch 13th.

MONDAY MUSINGS:KNEE HIGH BY THE FOURTH OF JULY

With all that rain and heat we've had you've heard me complaining a lot about how fast and tall the weeds are growing. Some serious weed whacking besides extra mowing has been necessary. 

We don't have much lawn, much less it being manicured. The once rock paths and mulched areas were getting sparser as ground cover plants and native plants were even smothering desired plants.   After a good week of constant weeding and mulching some semblance is returning to the front garden bed. It's not done but look there's progress.

Knee high by the Fourth of July are less but weeds weren't what that old farmers's saying was referring to as it was used to predict the corn crop yield. Well, if that's true, it looks like we are going to have a bumper corn crop! 

Natureman proudly stands by our corn which we weren't even sure was going to germinate since it was old seed. That quarantine prevented our annual seed purchases so we just used up leftover seed from years past. No bicolor corn this year, our favorite. :( 

We're just thrilled to have a crop.


And if we can beat the raccoons to the corn, we should be corn rich for the year...

FOTO FRIDAY: 'E' SCAPING

FOTO FRIDAY: Never too old to try something new. We discovered a new food by mistake.  Our neighbor had been kind enough to share some amazing different types of garlic bulbs with us which he had grown at his previous home. 

Since we were novice growing garlic we didn't realize that in order to get better bigger bulbs one needs to cut the tops of the garlic off. These cuttings are known as 'scapes.' The scapes are not only yummy grilled but this past week I sauteed mushrooms with them to eat with our mediterranean turkey burgers(yum) but the extras made an interesting centerpiece.

I had read if you want your cut parsley/ cilantro to last longer put them in the fridge in a small glass of water. So, the extra scapes went into in a vase... 

                 And look their  structural beauty can't be 'e'scape'd.

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY: ROUND AND ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH

TBT: CREATIVE MEMORIES SAVE MEMORIES...

TBT:  For many of us who scrapbook the name Creative Memories may ring a bell.  I remember attending my first scrapbooking party where I was introduced to the product line many moons ago. It was costly but guarantee of non yellowing with acid-free paper sold me and obviously many others.  

Apparently the parent company saw $425 million in retail sales in '04 but then came the competition and Creative Memories couldn't really compete as I discovered they filed for Chapter 11 in 2013 and became the bankruptcy with the largest debt in the Twin Cities. It did get rebought BTW. Hold on, the story's coming...

Well, my friend Sue was digitizing her photos and decided I should inherit her Creative Memories album covers. She had a lot of them. 

I finally started the search for pages and page protectors a couple weeks ago... Not having much luck on line, I decided to contact Jamie, whom I met as a Creative Memories rep when she was a college student and I first moved here.  We are still in contact through FB even though she lives across the state now. After messaging her and explaining I had inherited these album cover sets from "a" friend, she shared she hadn't touched scrapbooking since she became a Mom (3 kids ago) and gave me some answers as to size variations and some ideas.  It was super kind of her to take the time and even research the web for me.

Then, out of the blue she added, "Your tribute to Sue this week was beautiful. She was a good friend of my mom's from years ago. She really helped my mom through the grieving process after my brother died from cancer years ago." Besides welling up as I am now, I replied, "These album covers were hers."*

It's funny how scrapbooks save memories.  I really wish I could call Sue and tell her... 

* There's an addendum Jamie added after reading this entry.Read on in Jamie's words: "....to bring it even more full circle...Sue wrote an article about me in Coulee Region Women magazine years ago. I had spent a year interviewing my grandpa from his unique childhood experiences of growing up in Germany during WW2 and coming to the USA. It was fascinating to learn so much history about my family and see all the old pictures. Sue loved hearing about it and just had to write an article. Now that he is gone I am so thankful that I have that piece of family history to share with my own kids."


Here's the link to Sue's tribute in case you missed it:SUE

GREENING OF THE END OF THE RAINBOW VALLEY

Infusion #8 is behind us as Natureman received another thumbs up from Dr. O, his oncologist. Normal temp, heart rate and weight although he did lose a couple of pounds (must be all that weeding). It's summertime and when it's hot who wants a heavy meal? Not our household. Great salads do accompany our lighter meals. Natureman's creatine number was up a bit but the doc wasn't concerned. The nurse did have an issue inserting his infusion drip due to a vein valve(?) issue. Once arms were switched, there was no issue. Whew, but it did prolong the anxious causing procedure.

   southside of garden front to rear:
 greens, garlic, cilantro, onions,
eggplant, beans, corn

In addition to a decent hospital visit, Natureman's veggie garden is also looking good.

northside;tomatoes, basil, dill, kale, chard
  broccoli, cauliflower,cabbage, potatoes &peas  

But there is no rest in store because besides weeding, he ordered wood which will be delivered next week. 


I hope to have the mulch all in place before it arrives. Natureman offered to help but I think I'll "let' him be on weed whacking patrol. The recent daily rains have not only added growth onto weeds but necessitated road grading. It was a good rescue for the tractor as she was almost buried in brush! I always worry about us getting swallowed up by the woods too.

Natureman continues to have some really good days sprinkled by the not so good usually 2 weeks after infusions. We've been treating ourselves to little reprieves with some early evening Miata rides and some incredible ridge sunsets. 

We have also enjoyed 'car' picnics so we don't run into the unmasked. And Natureman's request to have lunch at the International Gardens after the appointment was doable as the morning rains had come and gone and we had the place to ourselves for a while to enjoy the lovely June blooms.

And here we are almost in July...

HEALTH ... DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED

My Mom always told me nothing can ever replace good health... Amen on that when you discover one of your loved ones is ill. Not only do families suffer physical and emotional burdens but also substantial financial ones.

In fact, Natureman's cancer may have been caught sooner had he not avoided incurring medical costs of even yearly health visits. He, like many on limited incomes have to make this decision. 

But then when disease / a pandemic hits who gets hit the hardest?

In our household Natureman's bill looks like just for his duo med combo treatment of Infusions @ $20,000 every 3 weeks and his pills which he takes twice a day are $400 per day. That's not including his labs nor his physician visits at those 3 week appointments. Fortunately for us we have help.  Age helps as does paying for a supplement. 

Medicaid has been a lifesaver to many but needs to be expanded. In fact, Wisconsin's Governor Evers and Lt. Governor Barnes were elected on a platform standing for healthcare reform but everyone from the man in the White House to our very own Wisconsin GOP leaders are standing in the way. 

A recent interview from UpNorthNews stated: 

"It is not new news that Wisconsin ranks as one of the worst states for African Americans in terms of health care disparities, incarceration rates and poverty statistics. Consider the fact that while African Americans make up 6 percent of Wisconsin’s population, they account for 19 percent of total COVID-19 cases and 35 percent of virus-related deaths, according to the state Department of Health Services. Similarly, Hispanics represent 7 percent of the state’s population, but 34 percent of the total cases and 10 percent of the COVID-related deaths." 

Expanding Medicaid would bring $1 billion into the state to help our minority populations and alleviate these disparities.  Nobody is going to get voted out of office for allowing folks to have better health.

It's a no brainer... Don't take your / others's health for granted.