November is National Diabetes Month

Edna:  Margie, if you ever bothered yourself with something other than, well, yourself, you'd realize that November is National Diabetes Month.  The American Diabetes Association has lots of tools to help you learn more about the prevention of diabetes, including going here to take a Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test.  Diabetes is a serious condition, and the more you know about it, the better.

Margie: Edna, I'll have you know that I led a discussion about diabetes last month at the Senior Center. I told them about poor Uncle Bud who was diabetic all his life.

You might want to lay off all that sugar you inhale, sister.

Edna:  Lies!  Lies and slander!  I'm not the one in this house who adds a cup of sugar to every glass of sweet tea.  But just to be on the safe side, maybe it would be good for the both of us to stop eating sugary things.  At our age one can't be too careful.

Now hand over that pecan pie and I'll just run it over to the neighbors so we can start fresh with no sugar in the house.  I said, hand it over!  Good grief, she's run into her bedroom with it.  Fine, be that way.  We all know who the smarter (and healthier) sister is in this house anyway!

Great American Smokeout

Margie: Today is the Great American Smokeout, Edna. I'm sure you remember that I was a smoker once. That nicotine is a powerful drug but it is possible to give it up. I know I certainly feel better.

Besides, I couldn't smell a thing when I was smoking. When I walk by gentlemen now, I can inhale their good smelling cologne. Of course that also means I can smell the food you burn up every time you try to cook.

Edna: Margie, I have to say, I'm glad you gave up smoking. That secondhand smoke always did worry me, but your cigarettes also took a big chunk out of our household budget. Now that you quit, we've got more money to spend on special tea.

Plus, I guess giving up smoking means you'll live longer. Lucky me.

Margie: Edna, you are so right. I really couldn't afford to smoke anymore. The government decided to discriminate and put that big tax on my smokes so it didn't hurt to quit. They won't get my money.

Yes, we have more tea money and more money for chocolate. I sure hope lots of people will give up smoking today. We'll all outlive you.

Edna: I highly doubt that, since I'm younger than you AND I've never smoked a day in my life. But then, I guess the stress of living with you is what's going to send me to an early grave.

The Exercise Program

Edna: Margie, I heard the oddest thing when I was at the beauty parlor yesterday, but...I'm just not sure what to make of it.

Margie: Lawsy me, Edna, there's no telling what you heard in that place of old gossips. What did you hear?

Edna: You remember Junie Jenkins? Well, that Midge who does my hair down at the salon, she told me that her husband told her that he and his brother-in-law were called to install a big metal pole in Junie's rec room. The thing looked just like a fireman's pole, to hear Midge tell it. Now, what on earth would Junie want a fireman's pole for in her rec room? For the life of me, I just can't figure it out.

Margie: Well, maybe it's a toy for her kids or maybe Junie is practicing to be a firewoman. I can't think of what else it could be used for.

Edna: Come to think of it...maybe it has something to do with that exercise program we saw on the news the other night. You know, the one about the gals dancing around poles to lose weight? But surely no one would go to all the trouble of actually putting one of those poles in their house just to exercise, would they? What ever happened to just taking a walk?

Margie: I don't know much about new-fangled things, Edna, but I'd rather dance with a gentleman myself. Who wants to exercise with a pole? How can that make you lose weight ?

That reminds me of some Navy boys I knew. They sure loved to dance with me and I suppose we got a little exercise in if you catch my drift. Ahem! Did you want to try one of those poles, sister?

Edna: No way, not at our age! It sounds like a good way to break a hip. Not to mention it seems very unladylike, what with your arms and legs and whatnot all flailing around. I'll stick to my morning constitutional and leave the poles to the young folks, thank you very much.

Happy Thanksgiving

We wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving!!

Love, Margie and Edna

Margie and Edna's Thanks

Margie: Edna, I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving as I'm sure most people do. I hope our readers will share with us some of the things they're thankful for this holiday.

I am most thankful for my health. Having good health at our age might be considered a miracle. I try to eat healthy and drink my Special tea. That surely fights the germs.

I'm also grateful that I have a roof over my head and food to eat. I'm grateful for all my dear friends and everyone who visits us in the Basement.

What are you thankful for, Edna?

Edna: Well sister, I'm also thankful for all of our friends and family, and all of our lovely visitors here at the basement. You all keep two old ladies happy, so thank you.

I'm also thankful that as many bad things in this world that I've seen, I can still laugh. Laughter is the best medicine, you know, and it's kept me healthy and young at heart all these years.

Margie and Edna: Mental Health

Edna: Margie, did you know that May is National Mental Health Month? That's a subject that's near and dear to my heart.

Margie: I guess that's true, Edna, because you've been needing mental health for almost a century.

Edna: How dare you, I'm not nearly that old! And just remember Margie, however old I am, you'll always be older. Could we please just get on to discussing Mental Health Month?

Margie: Sure. I've done some research and here are some places where folks can find all types of information.


The National Mental Health Association


Health Finder


National Alliance on Mental Illness

National Humor Month

Margie: Sakes alive, Edna. Look what I found in the newspaper. It says here that April is National Humor Month. It says here, "It is designed to heighten public awareness on how the joy and therapeutic value of laughter can improve health, boost morale, increase communication skills and enrich the quality of one's life."

This is for you, Edna.

Edna: Well my lands, Margie, I wish we'd have known about this sooner, we could have been blogging about it all month! Although, it seems like it's always National Humor Month around here, doesn't it? And Mama always said that laughter is the best medicine.

Margie: Edna, if you're anywhere around, people are bound to be laughing. I've been laughing at your crazy antics for years.

Edna: That makes two of us, then. And you can interpret that however you'd like.