By Howard Sachs, MD, PhD
I went to bed early, but not sleepy, I began to muse about the most recent writings on my exploits and travels. It seemed that I had been just about everywhere on this planet. So then, what next, how does one go into outer space without an association with NASA? I began to think of medical research programs that would interest NASA, such as, “The neurological consequences of space travel,” or “are select segments of the brain affected by space travel?” concentrating on the known “pleasure centers” of the brain. I thought of offering myself as the first study subject undergoing PET and functional MRI studies before and after space travel.
But, then, I began to feel unenthusiastic. I just felt tired and sleepy and that’s what I wanted most to do, sleep. Then it struck me, this is crazy, I’m 84 years old and crippled, I’ve lost it, will I ever again be thrilled and get a kick out of such exploits again? Probably not. What do I do now? Help me, aren’t they having sales on rocking chairs for the holiday season? No, there must be alternative pleasures at this age and when I wake up, I’ll begin to search.
