It’s time to get serious. I am officially a diabetic.

Yes, I have started taking medication to get my numbers lowered, and I’ve been working on having better eating habits, with a lot more research to do on my part.

I have been checking food labels for quite a while, yet kept putting off decreasing the bad things in my diet, such as potatoes, pastas, pot pie and noodles, sour cream and breads, to name a few. They are certainly not bad foods, but apparently are bad for the diabetic.

I guess I was in denial, thinking those bad eating habits weren’t going to get to me. But, here I am.

So far, it hasn’t been too much of a battle except for just missing those foods that I had been finding comfort in.

I plan on doing more research on diabetes and checking out what I can and cannot eat. In the meantime, my main focus is to keep the one kidney I still have left, intact and healthy.

Right now, my main downfall probably is not getting enough exercise When it gets warmer, I am going to do my best to get outdoors and move. I’ve known all of this stuff for quite a while, but kept putting it off as usual, in my case.

I did change one important habit years ago. I drink more water now than I used to, and I’m proud of that fact. I don’t think I can lose much of anything having done that. If I could do that, I can adjust the food part of my diet.

It’s really time to make a big change in my life and it has to be for the better. Bear with me as I travel down this new road in life. I know other people are dealing with it in more serious ways than I am. So, I am finally realizing it’s time to get on the right track so I can be around for as long as I can and as long as God allows me.

Anybody wanting to give me some sage advice or ideas, please do so. I want to learn more, especially about something I love…food and its intake.

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Don’t forget:

• The Ansonia American Legion has begun having fish fries through Lenten on Fridays. They are set for Feb. 25 and March 11, 18 and 25. Served during Lent will be the fish and French fries. The regular all-you-can-eat fish fries are set for March 4, April 1 and May 6. Steak fries at the Legion continue March 12 and April 16 from 5 to 8 p.m.

• The Treaty City Seniors Dances will continue every Monday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge on East Third Street in Greenville. Tom Everhart will entertain with his rock and roll music of the past. There will be food to purchase, soft drinks only, door prizes and a 50/50 drawing.

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Happy birthday:

• Feb. 25 to Rhonda Magoto, Russ Reichard Jr., Bill Collins (75), Amy Fulk, Angie Stewart (40), Linda Wappelhorst, Dr. Brad Burns, Tim Becker (55) and John Brickler (80).

• Feb. 26 to Hope Snyder Brodrick, Dane Ganger and Judge Julie Monnin.

• Feb. 27 to Nick Hahn and Diane Weeks.

• Feb. 28 to Richard “Joby” Hollinger, Janie Young, Mike Honeyman and Bill Brown.

• Feb. 29 to Liz (Waggoner) Esarey, Jeff Cole, Craig Ganger, Susie (Lawrence) Thompson, Janice Edsall Combs, Vickie Miller, Doyle Burns and Rick Hittle of Arcanum.

• March 1 to Doug Albers, Carol Ungericht, Barbara Snyder, Tom Clevenger and April Hiestand Warren.

• March 2 to Darin Leeper, Virginia Lee Scanlon, Aleene Tyo Cromwell, Norma Garland, Jason Wright, Dustin Hall, twins Diane Zimmer and Donald Hathaway (55), Greg Schmidt and Roberta Crawford.

Happy anniversary to: Jannie and Frank Barrow on March 1.

Happy belated anniversary to Marilyn and Don McMiller (50 years) on Feb. 19.

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Don’t forget to pray for: Stacy Dorko, Mary Marshall, Jenson Fullerton, Anthony Joyner, Shirley Mead, Maurice Longfellow, Teresa Ketring, Dave Sloan, Harry Moody, Jim Moody, Maxine Weimer, Linda Subler, Jerrod Pratt, Tim Ridenour, Dan Norton, Shelly Hoffman, Kathy Hiestand, Keith Howard, Betty Grimes, Kathy Magoto, Dean Brewer, Lisa Hall, Dick Neff, Tammy Shapiro, Ken Martin, David Magoto, Darrell Theurer, Charles LaFuze, Phil Clark, Sonny Hunt, Jim Marker, Roger McEowen, Terry Longfellow, Bill Drew, Don and Linda Myers, Nina McDaniel, Rusty Wilson, D’Arleen Waymire, Lee and Bea Moody (our parents), Linda Johnston, Ron Kreitzer, Pappy Harshman, Harold Rismiller, Rick Jones, Delores Duncan, Ansonia Police Chief Frank Shapiro, Randy Heck, John Klipstine, Elsie Svajda, Dave Sherman, Sue Chitty, Phil Chilcoat, Christine Pipenger, Paul Barton, Terry Ungericht, Gracyn Blackburn, Lowell Arnold, Robert Codling, Kohen Thwaits, Deanna Jones, William DeBord, Dave Starline, Bob Hiestand Jr.

Also, Kathy and Tom Hamilton, Joanne Sharp, Larry Bemis, Ivan Miller, Cindy Elson, Cary Van De Grift, Dina Dancer Morris, Teresa Mayo Amspaugh, Jim Crotcher, Tina Kiser Deaton, Alvera Schmitz, Vicky Henderson, Julia Frey, Tonia Thompson, Fred Monnin, Bob Coppock, Stephen “Brownie” Brown, Nate Epperson, Brad Pipenger, Faye Schlecty, Michelle Sparks Reed, Sheila Reed, Bill Beasley, Steve Cunningham, Kody Ketring, Bob and Sandy Finkbine, Kevin Dickey, Joe Martin, Tracy Bailey, Brenda Grimes, Margaret “Peg” Bundy, Kevin Hemmerich, Ray Dickey Jr., Penny Starns, Tim Heck, Vanna (Hannam) Abbott, Suzy Heck Schilling, Addie Henderson, Barb Morrow Zimmerman, Samantha Smith, Shannon Peters Hall, Todd Walls, Ron Kramer, Melissa “Missy” Helmer, Susie Gress of Nebraska, Dana Holzapfel, Kara Didier, Carla Welch, Bill Schuette and to all those others who suffer from the many debilitating diseases.

And, God bless all of our military people serving and protecting this nation.

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Jamie and I send our condolences to the families of Glen Mangen, Fred Fine and Bob Gangwer.

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Think about it: “I am old but I am forever young at heart. We are always the same age inside. Know that you are the perfect age. Each year is special and precious; you can only live it once. Do not regret growing older, it’s a privilege denied to many.” — Richard Gere.