I am almost 73 (ye gads) have COPD and use oxygen but I am doing pulmonary rehab trying to get off it again. I have done it once before.

I am up to a mile on the treadmill in 30 minutes. I love walking to Dancin' Queen, from Mamma Mia. At home I ride a stationary bike and walk the dogs for exercise. Last year I could not get into my favorite clothes. Now I can wear some of them, but not all.

My writing life is being held hostage by the results of bad choices -- one of them being smoking.

Being able to breathe has to be my #1 priority.

I'm like a voice in the wilderness, crying out to young people -- I consider anyone under 70 young. Stop letting fear interfere with your becoming all you were meant to be.

As for food, fear of being hungry, fear of feeling your feelings, fear of not being deadened to pain by food, fear of revealing who you truly are underneath the layers of fat, fear of finding out you aren't as great as you thought you were, fear of realizing it wasn't the weight holding you back -- it was your own weakness, fear of finding out just how great you are and just how badly you have blown it . . . then reaching down deeper than you ever thought possible to overcome all these fears and finally succeed at the one thing that has defined your whole life . . . only you know what that is.