I grow old. My children are bald! I want to keep reminding myself that I am my own responsibility. I remember my mother lining up her six children and basically saying that she had us so that we would be in service to her. To take care of her. When I was about 7 she made me vow never to put her in a nursing home. Fine and good but the vows one makes at age 7 can get a tenecious grip deep down in your consciousness.

So here’s my deal: I decided to have children so I could let them be free. I don’t want them to be stuck with me. I don’t want them to change my Depends. I don’t want them to have to prepare my food and shoot me full of insulin.

All I ask is that I retain the stamina to check myself into a nursing home when the time is right.

My children will then have the opportunity to bring in some decent coffee and a visitng cat about once a month. No more often than that.

I hope it happens. Nobody should be responsibility for the capricious creatures who brought you into the world.