Kind of a morbid topic, I know, however in light of my birthday and the fact that my moms passed recently, I had to explore and write on this topic. First of all, in talking to all of my women friends, ladies stay at the doctor from the time they hit puberty for the rest of their lives with annual pap smears and other types of check ups. My cousin in California told me that she has gone to the doctor solidly once per year since she was 17 or 18.
I was shocked at this to say the least. As a man, about the only time I ever have even considered going to see a doctor was due to sports injury. Honestly, I can count on one hand how much I’ve gone to see a doctor. I ruptured my achilles tendon playing basketball at San Bruno Park, San Bruno, California. I saw an orthopedic doctor, Dr. Leslie Anderson, in San Francisco who repaired and sewed up my ruptured achilles.
Then, playing in my fast pitch baseball league at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, I reached on an outside fast ball and pulled my back. I went to a doctor and saw a chiropractor. Another time, I was playing hoops in Mosswood Park in Oakland, California and came down on my dudes ankle which rolled my ankle. My ankle looked like a tennis ball had been inserted inside of it. Again, I went to the doctor.
Y’all seeing where I’m going right? I never, ever until 2010 have said “Hey, let me go for an annual checkup just to make sure everything under the hood is good”. So, I went to the doctor. The doctor checked my blood pressure, checked for diabetes, checked my liver and my kidneys, and in two weeks I go to get my colon checked.
I am convinced that the way to stay alive and not inadvertently drop dead from something that you do NOT know about is to go see a doctor routinely once per year. Just get a physical. Pretend it’s for sports and pretend you are still playing high school or college ball and you have to have a physical before the football season starts. At least you will have the knowledge that you will NOT pass out and die and leave people behind in a surprising fashion. Better to know you are leaving than not to know.
Happy health.



















