Similar to Joan’s story , I was in Belgium with my grandsons, ages 9 and 10 , daughter was out dancing, it was a big festival week. I promised to take the kids to our hotel and put them in bed. The crowd was thick as we got on the streetcar I turned around and saw Jimmy standing on the sidewalk. Doors closing. I panicked as we drove off and then pulled the alarm , streetcar came to a screeching halt and a lot of commotion , my face beet red but I retrieved the child and went home with a taxi.

I did not offer to baby sit again during that trip.

Thank you Joan for your answer. Thank you Cynthia for bringing this piece to us. Thank you Hillary for being able to handle this job,

as Joan stated a very difficult job indeed. 

Contentment? In the autumn of my years ( I refuse to go into winter ) I am content, I am very sad about my husband’s illness but I can’t change that. When I am just myself and do not pay attention to that part of my life (not too often possible) then I am very comfortable and content on where I am.

I tell myself every day that after Alzheimer there is a life completely full of contentment. That thought keeps me going. 

When I was in business and much younger (of course) I was not in that contentment stage, I was forever trying to work harder and harder and assume the responsability of being the wheel in the family wagon. If spokes fell I repaired them. Now , I gave that job to one of my responsible children. I just follow the wagon and when tired I sit in it and just see where it will take me.

Donna, every one in our family thought it impossible that we looked so much alike, she was born in Feb 1932 and I in March same year.

I had to see the movie twice which was a luxury for us. 

The title would be " Do Not need to Return, Ever"

the young me would be Peggy Ann Garner, I know no one remembers her.She was in a "Tree grows in Brooklyn" , we were like twins at that age. (She is now gone)

Adult me Bea Arthur, she was a bit taller than I but sturdy stock such as I. In my good days I can also be full of humour. ( I surely know how to pick the stars, both are gone!)

Morning Phyllis. Sadder with age? No, I am not. I am comfortable in my stretch mark skin.

Sad over circumstances , at time, yes. Otherwise I feel damn lucky. Doctors told me at 36 when I had bad bouts with arthritis that I would be in a wheel chair by age 50.

Lucky that  I did not buy into it and I still walk 2 miles back and forth into town without pain.

I am not a fan of the new vaccine, if it is my time to go then so be it.

Too much junk already in my system.

Frank, do not count on it. Courage and big business do not mix. My European friends can’t believe that this film is not yet  in the USA.

They seem to think that we are advanced.  

Liz, I want to know how you remember every one’s name when you have 4 or 5 of these "obligations" to visit in one day. I stutter when I see my neighbor coming. I am thinking is it Celine? Celia? Turns out to be Mary. What was I thinking?

I admire you for having the legs, feet, stamina for all these events but most of all that you remember who made the best hors d’oeuvres, drinks and names.

Kermie this is precious. Reminded me that one day, well after the war. the paper plant started to gt into production.

My mother was an accountant there (all hr life in fact) so she brought back some reams of paper which was made for newspapers.

We papered the walls with it and then we both sketched flowers on it with colored pencils. It was a hoot, we loved it.

I can’t remember a wall paper I liked more. It is giving me an idea……….