“You have the power to take action to protect yourself against heart disease.”–National Institutes of Health
The short list 👵🏼
I am often teased for my height. To be sure, I am easy to overlook, especially with the way gravity and aging are currently in cunning cahoots with their persistent resolve to pull me closer to earth. However, if you think I am short, you should have seen my Mamaw.
Mamaw was my Dad’s mom, and she was itty-bitty. I am not sure of her pinnacle height, but once I reached my full, so-called, height, I was taller than her. That’s ok. What Mamaw did not have in height, she made up for in moxie.
I can recall spending the night with Mamaw. Her house was modest, well-organized, and fastidiously tidy. Most guests entered through the backdoor entrance which led into the brightly lit kitchen filled with shades of yellow. Through the sunny kitchen was a compact TV, or family room, with Mamaw’s sewing machine squarely positioned in front of the room’s only window.
Mamaw was a quilter. It seemed as if every time I was there, she was working on a quilt. These vast projects of art typically took her six months to a year–depending upon the size of the quilt. Therefore, the TV room was often filled with pieces of brightly colored fabric, precisely arranged, laid out on the floor, and pinned together. I loved watching her work, especially once she got the large hoop out that held the fabric taut as her trained fingers worked the needle and thread like a fly buzzing above a soda can at a picnic.
Sweet Remembrances 🏡
In contrast to her diminutive stature, her footsteps came down with a heavy sound. You could hear her coming, no matter what part of the house she was in. This was especially noticeable in what my kid’s mind perceived as “early morning.” She tended to rise somewhere between 5:30 and 6:30. Her size-five, narrow feet sounded as if she were a giant stepping through the house as she went about her morning routine and began making breakfast.
Breakfast was typically simple most mornings. Sometimes she ate boxed cereal, such as Raisin Bran or Corn Flakes. Other times, she prepared poached eggs with toast. However, her biggest go-to breakfast that I recall was oatmeal. She made the oatmeal so thick and creamy that it often stuck to the pan, but boy was it ever good.
As best I can remember, she prepared our breakfast while I was still in bed. (She would check with me the night before to learn my breakfast preference.) Then she would mix up a cup of Tang for each of us (An orange powder, fortified with Vitamin C that advertisers claimed astronauts drank.) and then heat up water for her cup of Nescafe. By the time I made it to the kitchen, the table was set, and she was waiting for me. Sometimes we talked while we ate; other times, we were quiet. But there was a comfort just being with her in that bright kitchen, custom built to accommodate her petite size.
Walk This Way 🚶🏽♀️
Mamaw was active and was known to walk at a local high school track. I accompanied her on a few walks, and her pace was steady. Typically, her goal was two laps, which equaled two miles. If she was feeling good, we might walk a little more. If the weather was overly hot or humid, we might walk less.
Mamaw cleaned her own house weekly and cooked her own meals. She went up and down steps to her basement regularly to do laundry, grab a jar of canned vegetables or fruit, or retrieve another needed item. Grocery shopping was usually a once a week event–often coinciding with double-coupon day as she managed her budget tightly. Mamaw attended her Old Regular Baptist Church when she could, and even at her funeral, they still lined their hymns in a mournful melody, a tradition dating back to a time-period when hymnals weren’t readily available.
Mamaw never drank alcohol, and she never smoked. And while she often fretted over having a bit of a belly (from which her laughter emanated so joyfully), she overall maintained a consistent and fairly healthy weight for her body type.
Unexpected Event ❤️🩹
I do imagine there were moments in the span of her life that caused her stress because I can remember her saying she felt “nervous.” From a kid’s perspective though, she seemed happy enough. However, I feel certain, after her husband, Papaw Musick, suddenly passed away from a heart attack when I was less than a year old, and she still had a son at home in high school, she must have carried many burdens and worries.
Despite her overall level of daily activity and seemingly determined mindset, many years later, Mamaw also suffered a heart attack at the age of 74. I recall visiting her in the hospital and being stunned by the way her body had been temporally physically altered from emergency surgery. She, like her passed husband, was not a person anyone would have thought of as being at-risk for heart attack, and yet, they both suffered from a cardiac event.
February is Heart Health awareness♥️
Therefore, it is in honor of Mamaw and Papaw Musick that I write this piece. Friday, February 2, 2024 is National Wear Red Day, also known as Go Red for Women as part of the overall campaign for Heart Health Awareness during the month of February. This heart-centered initiative dates back to Lyndon B. Johnson, in 1964, who first established this annual event after he had a heart attack.
According to the CDC , “Over 60 million women (44%) in the United States are living with some form of heart disease.” It is the leading cause of death in 1 out of 5 women.
Regarding men and heart disease, the news is even more grim. The CDC also states that heart disease is the leading cause of death of US men, about 1 out of 4 men. What’s worse, half of the men who died suddenly had no previous symptoms.
Steps to maintain Heart Health 💕
Any way you slice it, heart disease is a silent killer of women and men, but there are some actions you can consider initiating this month to prevent heart disease according to the CDC and the Mayo Clinic:
- Get moving: Aiming for 30+ minutes of movement per day, even short bouts of movement, incorporated throughout your day, are helpful
- Quit smoking or using tobacco products
- Moderate alcohol consumption
- Know and monitor your blood pressure, and work to control it
- Eat whole foods that are heart healthy, specifically the Mayo Clinic recommends Dash or Mediterranean style of eating
- Maintain a weight that is healthy for your unique body
- Consider annual blood work to monitor cholesterol levels and triglycerides
- Manage your stress levels
- Prioritize quality sleep
- Take steps to prevent infections
- Take steps to prevent and/or manage diabetes
take care of your one and only precious heart ❤️
After Mamaw’s cardiac event, she went on to live for nearly two more decades, and for that I am grateful. She was an excellent role model for me in the art of living simply, making due with what you have, and being grateful for it. Mamaw laughed often–a full-belly laugh that seemed to fill her entire body with glee. Those dainty hands of hers kept busy most hours of the day, and she kept her body moving. Most of all her heart was kind and her spirit was gentle.
I hope my Mamaw’s story will inspire you to take care of your heart, if not for your sake, for the sake of your loved ones. Your precious heart matters, and YOU make a difference in the life of others, whether you realize it or not, just as my Mamaw did for me.
Steph Simply 