I went to the United Parcel Service terminal this afternoon to ship a carton to my nephew in Philadelphia. Standing next to me was an older women just chatting away with the counter person. She was speaking very loudly, so it was hard not listen.

She was complaining away. She went on about how hard it is to be retired, people who aren’t retired just don’t understand. She had so many demands, especially from her grand children: Grandma, please come to my recital; Grandma, please come to my baseball game.

I had to exert all of my self control not to turn to her and say, Grandma, at least you have lived to see your grandchildren, what a great gift!

Joel T. Nowak, MA, MSW