Her freedom is very limited, her life very hard; nevertheless, she cherishes that life. I have become acquainted with many of her 80-106 year old neighbors and found that they too cherish life despite real pain and challenge. They inspire me; I love being with them.

I had a very similar experience this past week. I was in a couple’s home where the husband is so far gone in dementia that he was arguing with the mirror, telling that stranger to get out of the house. It was funny and sad simultaneously, and I had to remind myself that in a few decades, I might be doing the same thing. And his wife treated him so tenderly, and with such respect. Her life must be very difficult, but she is living without regrets or bitterness. She is an outstanding person.

Many thanks for the recommendation of the Valente-Reynard book! I’ll check it out today. More and more these days, I learn what gratitude makes possible.

I especially want to salute former YW president Ruth H. Funk, who turns 90 in July. Ruth is blind now, and in a wheelchair, dealing with a variety of the ills that flesh is heir to. And she has just returned from a trip to New Zealand with some family members; she’s looking ahead to a summer trip to the Jackson Hole area. She reads 4-5 books a week (on audio tape), keeps up with her countless cherished friends, and generally goes on with the rich life she’s always created. Last fall I sat with her in her home and talked as fast as we both could about books, music, birds, friends, and much else. Gratitude poured out of her as steadily as song from the songbirds outside her window. Ruth is brilliant, energetic, devoted, loving–but above all, I think, it is her gratitude that has made her the great person she is.