February 15, 2008

A Real Life Fairy Tale

by Pat Redmond

Valentine's Day for Peggy and Sara, both 65, continues to grow bigger each year. This is their 44th, and in 4 more months, they mark their 45th anniversary together. To them, theirs is a fairy tale love story!

It all started in high school in Rome, Georgia. The year was 1960. Sara, a newcomer, had just entered her junior year, and she couldn't stand Peggy. Peggy was into sports and band. Sara was into neither. But, Peggy graduated and went on to Tift College in Forsyth. Sara's college plans were put on hold when she got pregnant. However, she put the baby up for adoption, and then headed on to college, as well. It was either serendipity or fate, but Sara ended up at Tift College, too. Fast forward a few years to the summer of 1963 and a Girl Scout Camp, where unknown to each other, both got jobs. Peggy came down with typhus and Sara tended to her. You how those stories about counselors and summer camp go.

When Peggy graduated, Sara left as well. What was the point of staying, she thought. Peggy moved to Atlanta to enter Grady's medical tech program and Sara decided to train as a radiology technician.

They continued to see each other, fully convinced they were in love, but not living together. Sara moved in with a widow to keep her company. Peggy was a constant guest. Both became fast friends with the widow's daughter, Ann, even helping her when she later married and had children. Now, they're helping with Ann's five grandchildren. And Peggy supported Sara when she decided to search for, and was eventually reunited with, her biological daughter.

Twenty-three years after they fell in love they were encouraged by a younger lesbian friend who was in a partnered relationship to come out. In 1985 they acknowledged their committed relationship and set an anniversary.

Sara says her heart still jumps at the sight of Peggy and that some days it's like “Day 1” all over again. She says the most important thing Peggy gave her was that she believed in the relationship enough to change and learned how to listen. Peggy says the most important thing Sara gives her is unconditional love.

Who said there are no real-life fairy tales?

American Heart Month

Although many people think of heart disease as a men's disease or even as an older women's disease, the truth is that heart disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S., and it is 2nd leading cause of death among women aged 45–64 years. Our chances of developing heart disease increase with age, but it is never too late to change daily habits that may put you at risk for developing heart disease. You can reduce your chances of getting heart disease by quitting smoking, exercising regularly, controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol, and managing your stress. Click here or more information on cardiovascular diseases and ways to manage your risk.

As you make daily food choices, base your eating pattern on these American Heart Association recommendations:

• Choose lean meats and poultry without skin and prepare them without added saturated and trans fat.
• Select fat-free, 1% fat, and low-fat dairy products.
• Cut back on foods high in dietary cholesterol. Aim to eat less than 300 mg of cholesterol each day.
• Cut back on beverages and foods with added sugars.
• Choose and prepare foods with little or no salt. Aim to eat less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day (or less than 1,500 mg if you are in a higher risk group for high blood pressure).
• For women, consume no more than one drink per day.
• Follow the American Heart Association recommendations when you eat out, and keep an eye on your portion sizes.

Physical activity in your daily life is an important step to preventing heart disease. You can take a few simple steps at home, at work, and at play to increase the amount of physical activity in your life. Get tips and ideas here.

Shout Out

Many thanks to our guest columnist, Pat Redmond, who is a member of the Health Initiative's new volunteer Writers Board. Her story (above) is a beautiful addition to our Valentine's issue of the News You Can Use, and we appreciate her lending her time and talent to this week's publication. If you are interested in joining the Writers Board, which is involved with the newsletter, grant writing, and health marketing, e-mail us here or call 404-688-2524.