1957 Volvo P1900 Sport Convertible Coupe
What if when we were born we were issued one car, a single vehicle that had to last us our entire life? We don’t get to trade it in for a new model or sign a new lease. We must take such good care of the vehicle that it will serve us well as long as we live. This is, in effect, exactly what happens. When we’re born we have one physical body that has to last us our entire life. The condition we keep it in is totally up to us. As such, I strive to be a good mechanic—steward—of my body; exercising consistent preventive maintenance on my 1957 model.
The famous actor and comedian, George Burns, lived to be 100 years old (1896 – 1996). He is well remembered for saying, “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!”
Note: I did not take this photograph. I found it here. It’s a 1957 Volvo P1900 Sport Convertible Coupe. I drive a 1996 Volvo that has well over 200,000 miles on it.
“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
~ Laurie Buchanan
www.HolEssence.com
Copyright © 2010 Laurie Buchanan — All Rights Reserved
Tuesdays with Laurie 
“If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself…
I like that one…
I like this and posted my 1962 model……See my blog too….
Take care and have a good day, I am listening to storms…
Kim – I saw it over on your blog, with a picture, to boot!
Good morning! What a quaint way to express taking care of our selves, like a car or vehicle you would only have one of! Imagine.
Yet we are not taught to think of our body/mind/spirit in the way… if we are taught to think of it at all until it is ill and breaking down…
Old George had something there, and he lived a full life, even if he made a joke about!
Thank you again for sharing your wisdom!
I am Love, Jeff
Jeff – I’m really enjoying The Reluctant Blogger — your new WordPress blog! Whoohoo!
Howdy,
Actually 2 things. My mom in law actually says Jalopy! I love when she does – it’s so cute!!!
And I have a George Burns book. He did calisthenics each morning. That’s what helped him live to 100. That plus all the laughing I bet!
I’m signed up to go to laughing yoga in Libertyville next Thursday night at 6:30. Have you ever attended one? You’re welcome to join in if you are interested! I can’t wait!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH HOHOHOHOHOHO
HEEE HEEE HEEEEEEEE.Maybe I can laugh off my belly that’s like a bowl full of jelly. 🙂
Beth
Beth – I’m assuming that you’ll blog about your Laughing Yoga experience Friday morning on your Celebration Goddess blog; at least I sure hope so!
Laurie this seems to be a question that is filling the in-between spaces of my days and nights. I just responded to my friend Peter’s post “The Under Belly of Self-care” http://kissing.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/the-underbelly-of-self-care . I believe in personal maintenance and self-care. I practice such as best I can… yet I wonder… I wonder if there isn’t something more to discover?
Terrill – First of all, thank you for the link to Peter’s post! Second … I think you very much eluded to the “something more to discover” in your Creative Potager post, Sacred Rock. There is definitely a non-physical element to it. There is a tremendous body-mind-spirit connection. In my perespective, making/taking the time to be aware of what’s sacred goes a long way toward health and well-being.
Thank you Laurie for your visit over on my new blog. http://jeffstroud.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/there-are-so-many-paths/
Jeff
Hey, Laurie, we both have a 1957 model! I sure hope we can keep ours going good. Give it good gas, keep checking the oil, keep our tires well-filled, and even vacuum now and then! Don’t spill coffee down on our floor. No. That is not a good idea. But if we do…then wipe it up really good. (I spilled coffee in my cup holder yesterday. Luckily none hit the floor. It looked kinda bizarre though. Lesson: bumps and coffee in the car are not necessarily a good thing. However it sometimes results in a thorough cleaning!)
Kathy – Shhhhhh, don’t tell this to anyone else, but I think that 1957 model is pretty terrific (probably the best). IBy the way, I really enjoyd your post today — If he sky was falling would you notice?
Hi, I appreciate the sentiment. But today I feel like calling a wrecker. For one of the healthiest people I know, I am having a time of it this week. Thank goodness I’m not alone in this, Atlanta is sneezing it’s head off. With temps in the high 80’s all the buds that were waiting so long to open have exploded like popcorn, showering us in waves of greenish yellow pollen. I have to turn on the wind shield wipers in the morning to see out. This won’t last long, a few weeks but it already feels long enough. Good News! It will rain Thursday and maybe wash the air.
Sandi – That’s gotta look kinda cool! Maybe not nice (at all) for the sinuses, but it’s got to be beautiful. Our sun was out today, but still the coolish temperatures — at least the bit that I got to be outdoors. How’s Barney faring with the Chicken Ladies?
Sandi — when I thought of myself as a “jalopy” my old 1962 Ford Falcon station wagon came to mind: a little creaky and unstable, but with three on the column, I could get whereever I wanted to go. It never occurred to me to call a wrecker . . .
Hi, Laurie — I discovered about 20 years ago that I was probably going to live well into my 90s given the fact that my grandparents lived into their 80s and my mother is still going strong at 85. You have given us all sage advice — it is better to hit 90 in a vertical position rather than a horizontal position. As a public health worker, I see far too many people thinking they are going to die *zap* from a heart attack. Too often, though, genetics is going to determine how long we live no matter what kind of chronic disease we manage to get.
Barbara – I’m glad you stopped by (although you’ve got plenty of time with the longevity you’ve got in your DNA). I think I’m in for the long haul too (unless, of course, I get struck by a wayward bolt of lightning — quite possible with the storms we’ve been having). Our high tomorrow is only supposed to be 46; which is strange because I think our grass grew 4-inches just the other day due to the heat. Oh well. I’ll take it — it’s not snow.
I have a 1963 model with a bad ankle, and the knees make that creaking sound like dial up modems used to. Also one of the hips sticks from time to time. But the steering is OK, no cracks in the wind shield yet and a regular service should get a few years out of me.
Seriously Laurie another wonderful and insightful tune up.. blog!
Kevin – 1963 means you practically just rolled off the showroom floor! And I know you just got out your running shoes (make sure you tape that ankle before each run and stretch properly), so you can’t be tooooo rickety. And you just told your girlfriend that you love her, so she better be able to expect a few more years out of you. It’s almost dawn for you — have a great day! (For those of you who don’t know Kevin, he lives in Scotland).