You're not a senior citizen! You have another 2-4 years to truly qualify (AARP just wanted to add to their ranks, I suspect). My grand parents did that, but not for the last five years. He died, leaving behind his wife over 60 years and his two senior citizen children. So not terribly uncommon. Just less common than it should be. The older America gets, the more it will happen.

Just wait. One day you will find out that ALL your children belong to AARP. That's when you really feel old.

Unfortunately, it was not the case in my family.

All buy 1 of my grandparents died young.

My parents and their siblings are in their 50's now... getting to the age of their parent's deaths. It's scary. I just hope the trend stops with them.

You brought back some nice thoughts, Julu. I was a mere child of late-late twenties when I moved back 'home' to this area because that is where my parents decided to retire. I have never regretted it, nor did I think I'd ever end up back here. I know now, it was where I was drawn like a siren's call.

That meant that after traipsing all over, I was so very blessed to see my parents numerous times a week and talk to them nearly daily through their 'golden' years. When I married last, I always went past the street to their house on my way back from work, and the car just instinctively pulled off and to their house. (even if I only stayed long enough to rip off a few corny jokes with Daddy and ask his advise about something.......God I miss that, he knew how to do everything. And, have a cuppa tea with my Mama.

As I pulled away from their house to continue home, I always said a prayer of thanks that I could enjoy this and I appreciated how long that lasted. For many years and never took it for granted. My father died eighteen years ago this summer. I can empathise with what you are saying. I was a middle ager and there were our whole immediate family alive and doing well. It was very, very precious. My folks, who lost siblings or parents/grandparents to tragic accidents and wars weren't so fortunate. I never took it for granted. My dear Mama lived to the age of 91 and I just lost her two years ago. You can't imagine what we were able to talk about in those widow years she had. Elderly people can open up and they have such eyes to the world.

What a sweet story, Caliope. How very lucky we are. I just wish my one sister who seems to hate the whole family would come around so we can all just get along. One in every family, I guess.

Not every family julu.
Our parents and grandparents are gone now
but my siblings and I are very close. If one of us is
having a problem we all pitch in to help.
I don't know what I would do without them,
especially my sister Gail.