This one, I started noticing a lot lately. It started, at first, with polite conversations between friends. A group outing would end in coffee, and a little round robin competition of who is the sicker. We would sit and compare doctor's visits, surgical procedures, medications, and diagnoses. It could get heated, and truly competitive, with a winner emerging in the end. We even compete over gym time, and which exercises routine is best for our health.

I, we never did this before age 30, when I guess the bodies warranty was still in effect. It never got competitive until after 35. Now , I have caught myself, and my friends doing it with perfect strangers. Now, people we have just met, go directly into the health care competition, especially at doctors offices, and pharmacy waiting lines.  I remember my parents doing this, and I realized that I am now old.