I realized then that we take our parental age markers seriously not only as potential doom forecasts for ourselves, but also as connections to our parents. Even such disturbing measures keep us closer.
I was thinking the same thing last week as I approached my 49th birthday. I remember that my father was quite relieved to reach 49 because his father was 48 at the time of his sudden death. (And within 12 hours of receiving a ‘clean bill of health’ for an employment physical....which did little to cultivate a trust of doctors in my father.) My father lost his mother when he was 7. I approached the seventh birthday of each of my children with a bit of foreboding. Not so much for my own well being but with a knowledge of the profound effect this early loss had upon my dad.

My mother died suddenly at the age of 65. That gives me 16 years.....Or 15 and then a year of contemplation.