I’ve been thinking about all this for a decade or more. I’m 76, my disabled wife 78. The time is getting closer when I won’t be able to care for her. I hate that thought.

As we were celebrating some closely spaced birthdays this past weekend with our younger daughter, I realized they may see things very differently than my wife and I saw our parents.

Our kids are not far from being “old” themselves - 50 and 57. For a good part of their lives, we didn’t look that much different from the normal working world. Now, somewhat suddenly, they see us aging more rapidly. Does this hold up a mirror for them? Does it make them think about how close they are?

I don’t want to ask them.