Another 'Fountain of Youth'

Illusionist David Copperfield, renowned for making the Statue of Liberty seem to vanish, claims he has found the "Fountain of Youth" in the southern Bahamas.

The fountain is reportedly amid a cluster of islands he recently purchased for $50 million. Copperfield, in an interview with Reuters, said he has hired biologists and geologists to study the fountain's potential effects on humans, although he has not yet invited humans to swim or drink from the fountain just yet.

However, Copperfield claims the water has had remarkable effects on plants and insects. "You can take dead leaves, they come in contact with the water, they become full of life again," he told Reuters. "Bugs or insects that are near death, come in contact with the water, they'll fly away. It's an amazing thing, very, very exciting."

Otherwise, one of Copperfield's islands in the Exuma chain, Musha Cay, is a private resort that rents for $300,000 a week. The other islands serve as a buffer to help maintain the privacy of celebrity guests.

It remains to be seen if Copperfield's claims can be verified. It may be sleight of hand or merely a clever marketing ploy. If it is the latter, it's certainly an attention-getter. And it's certainly not unique.

People have sought for years for a means to turn back the clock. They will pay great sums to reverse the signs of aging by undergoing plastic surgery, Botox injections or facial peels. They will take vitamins or natural supplements if they believe they will somehow slow down time. They will engage in heavy exercise to try to stay as fit as possible. They will dye their hair, buy hair extensions and even hair plugs to maintain a youthful look. They will eat specialized diets and drink teas purported to have anti-aging properties. An entire industry has been built around attempts to postpone the inevitable.

It's simple enough to be critical of Copperfield, but, in truth, others try to peddle their respective fountains of youth, and no one seems to bat an eye about that.

In a culture that values beauty, it is understandable why aging baby boomers and others seek to postpone growing older. It's a shame, though, that people can't embrace the gray hair, the wrinkles and yes, even the forces of gravity, that come with aging. Instead of viewing these changes as signs of a well-lived life, they are viewed as something of which to be afraid.

Thus, the ongoing desire for a "fountain of youth."