A few days ago I climbed yet another rung on the ladder to Social Security, Medicare, and heaven’s pearly gates. It was the ideal birthday: the celebration covered seven days, I don’t feel any older, and my beautiful grandchildren were actively involved in the cake and the singing. If I asked for more, I’d be greedy.
One of the greatest gifts of my life—a gift that improves with every year—is my daughter. Now a mom herself, she is my friend, my therapist, my advisor, my editor, my intellectual sounding board, my cheerleader, and (along with my wonderful son-in-law) provider of those other great gifts, my grandchildren. I look at Rachel and see all of the good in my life, present and past. In her I see glimpses of her father who, after nine years, lives only in my heart and hers.
My daughter also produces a lot of the fun in my life. For this birthday, she took me to Greenville, South Carolina, to visit my ailing uncle and to explore the city. We shared a good meal, a bottle ...