The first blessing
of old age
is mental capacity.
How sad
to have no memory of
events
and people in your
life
(though I'd just as
soon forget
the opening night I
soiled
myself in a white
tuxedo).
The second blessing
of old age
is a friend or
several, the older
the better, a
kindred soul
with whom to share
the hours
(with double duty as
audience
for the inevitable
repetition
of war stories).
The third blessing
of old age
is financial
solvency, just
enough to be
comfortable
(but not enough to
rescue
family screwups from
themselves).
The fourth blessing
of old age
is mobility, just
enough
to maintain
independence
(but not enough to
drive
to Reno with that
22-year-old
stripper).
The fifth blessing
of old age
is a sense of humor,
especially
about yourself (i.e.
many jokes
about yourself, none
about God).
