[Dan in Pasadena]

Jake, You didn't hijack. I loved your comments. I really like the story of your grandma's Friday nights. Godspeed to her AND to your other granny too.

I had a next door neighbor named George for about 13 years. George was about 80ish ten years ago when I knew him. I'd see him starting to climb a ladder to get on his roof and I'd say, "George you're gonna break your neck doing that. Lemme do it". George would come down the ladder and would say, "I know I shouldn't do this stuff but dammit I know in my head I can....its just that I've gotten go Goddamned old and its stupid of me to try, you're right."

Thing is, this guy was the SAME as you and I, meaning his body was 80 but in his head he was a 35-40 year old guy (just like I AM in my head still). He taught me you have to grow older but you don't HAVE to grow old...at least not in attitude.

When his wife passed away he cried like a baby and told me at her funeral, "Gawd Dan, take it from me Millie was a looker and a hoot as a young woman. She gave me a hell of a run and she loved me to the end. I will always be thankful for that and when I see her next I intend to tell her myself all over again". George died about a year later. When my wife split with me I remembered that and wished I'd had a chance to experience it. Now I havethe chance all over again because Jake, "my Lulu is a looker and a hoot and she's giving me a hell of a run...."