If It's Your Health, Mum's The Word

Bob Schieffer Says Taking Care Of Yourself Means Also Keeping Your Health News To Yourself

(CBS)  Weekly commentary by CBS Evening News chief Washington correspondent and Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer.

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When Uno the Beagle won "Best of Show" at last year's Westminster Dog Show, I though it couldn't get any better than that. Finally: A top dog that looked like a dog!

Well, it got better.

This year the oldest dog in the show, a 10-year-old Sussex Spaniel named Stump, walked off with the top prize.

You can see why I would identify with the oldest dog in the show. They said in human years, Stump would be 70 - which means if I were a dog I'd be turning 504 this month.

When you're 504, people have a right to ask if you've learned anything, and the answer is yes - mainly, that the older you get, the more you have to take care of yourself.

But here's my advice: Go to the doctor, do what the doctor says, and discuss your health with no one else because no one else cares.

Especially if it's about your teeth.

I thought friends would be fascinated to hear about my dental implant. They weren't. So I told a colleague, "If I bring up my teeth, just say 'There's something on your ear, which will be the reminder to talk about something else."

Sure enough, friends who disappeared in recent weeks started drifting back - at least some of them; maybe the rest haven't heard. If you see any of them, tell them I've changed the subject.

When you're 504 years old, you need ALL your friends.

[tmonta1]

A black day indeed: here I was thinking, ''Wow, that guy is still going strong and has his wits and head about him enough to analyze world issues at his age.'' I was sure that underneath that suit there HAD to be a solid, rock-iron bod of steel defying the laws of physics.... :)

Cheers, Bob. We know you''ve got all your teeth, you''re just being modest :)

[gopher22]

Do you !

[eggy1620]

Are Bob and Andy sharing a cubicle now?

[mswolfestock]

This is like so many other subjects - you have to choose your words carefully and be brief.

[moribelle]

First of all, it''s gross to talk about one''s body parts and their repair, or disrepair. It''s not that your friends don''t care about you, just be kind enough to spare them the unnecessary "details". Would you want to hear about their bodily details ? Probably not.