Tokens

One aspect of being raised by Old People is that they instill a totally different attitude towards loss and death. I imagine that humans reared by younger parents grow up a tad naive about the fact death and loss happen. I imagine most parents want to shelter their young ones from knowing that it's coming one day.

Not the Old People. The Old Woman has been particularly interested in making sure I understood that death and loss are a part of life and should be accepted. Perhaps this is why I am capable of "turning off" relationships once I experience betrayal or duplicity or unfettered meanness. It's not that I'm cold or don't mourn, but I understand that endings happen.

The Old Woman believes that one should be able to have some say in the amount of medical intervention that is acceptable at the end. She also believes that people who are dying painfully should have the option of ending their own lives without interferance from elected types. And, she has never wanted there to be squabling over "stuff" after she's gone.

For years now, the occassional debate in the household is who gets what. One item I know is coming to me is a mantle clock. I requested a chiming clock when the Phenom and I "got hitched" . . . but she couldn't find one she liked, so the one in her home is designated to be mine someday. I would love (but have not spoken up for it, yet) a small decoration that has been on every single christmas tree they have had over their marriage (this year will be the 73rd tree). It is a small bale of cotton. It isn't much. I'm surprised it is holding together. But, the Old Man bought it as a token gift for the Old Woman when they were kids. This was purchased on his "senior trip" in high school. When they first eloped, they were very poor and didn't have real christmas decorations. That's how a small bale of cotton became a tradtional christmas decoration in our home.