As long ago as the 1970’s our midwestern public high school offered Chinese language and history study with Japanese taught at our Saturday centrally located language school. The points here are very well made. I’m concerned a bit over the title… mightn’t that be better considered “America Better Get Used to Sharing Responsibility….??” Our world is becoming smaller… and our young people “know” one another virtually in some cases as well or better than the kids down the block. It makes me hopeful — somewhen perhaps some of our human territorial urges will wane?

Reasonable response. Seems “all” would be different for each person … and likely different for each person at various times of life (and maybe even the day!;P)

Indeed, Tinka. That which strikes fear into my heart is inflation. There are no hills around here for me to head to…

*Laughing* You know what truly rattles me about aging? It’s when I am startled into realizing that certain important roles in society are filled by people who are younger than I! First it was the occasional doctor. Later it was assorted government positions. Depending upon how the election goes, I may go into quite a shock after our new President takes the oath of office. Perhaps when the Pope is older than I, it will stop disturbing me?

May I suggest for future polls an option: None of these, let me explain in my post. That would have been my selection this time. Like Carol Wilson *waves* reading, most especially something truly engaging and positive. Talking with friends always helps as well, but sometimes that can be troublesome. Bless our hearts, women sometimes talk ourselves into worse states of strain. I know exercise helps as well, but *hangs head* I rarely turn to that de-stressor.

April’s fiction beautifully written (condensed! so short and bittersweet!) resonated with my own ambiguous feelings about relentless aging. I don’t lie about my age, in fact, onceuponatime I told my teen-aged students each year, as they fed my ego by telling me their disbelief. Now, my world has become very small. I am caring for my dear and clear 91 year old mom. My age seems to be toting up fast as those numbers fly by on the gas pump and jolts me with much the same dismay. These months, years are leaking away, too fast, too small. I still don’t lie, but no one doubts my truth.

Dear Edith Ann, I am glad to see you are thinking of things which will make our world better… and we grownups should take time to consider whether we’d have one of your stickers put on us! Politicians are likely a good place to begin the “Warning: This Grownup’s actions are a Bad Example.” I’m thinking you’ll need quite a few for the greedier types in the “entertainment” industry, corporate world, media, insurance industry… Truly? Every bunch of humans has way too many bad eggs it seems. I really like your idea of Warning Labels. *checks her back for a sticker*

Though I understand brad berger’s reaction too… for me it was those floaty lingering peering remnants of those who have died. I’m secretly tickled to find even a tiny glitch on this polished site! Makes me less concerned about typos and such!

I’ll second Susan S. I know that there are reasons the money is bigger in some professions: sometimes know-how, sometimes education, sometimes great risk. But, truly? that know-how and education seemed not to help. And the risk? It does sometimes bite, no?