My mother, 92, has been pretty disciplined all her life about eating and exercising, one reason she likely outlived all her siblings, a husband and an older-age boyfriend.

But she always had one secret passion -- chocolate. She eats several pieces of chocolate most days after dinner. Even her doctor a year or so ago told her to eat that chocolate with joy. She does. On some days, she has a better memory than most of us kids!

Today, a Los Angeles Times story in our newspaper should erase any guilt she has about her daily indulgence. It said that "in a study published Wednesday in the journal Neurology, researchers reported that chocolate may help improve brain health and thinking skills in the elderly."

So eat and enjoy that chocolate, Mom. It's good role-modeling.

(Spokesman-Review archive photo)

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