However, such is life. Now I am the wall between my childrens' mortality and their lives. And only now in my mid sixties, I've been confronted with many personal infrastructure "weaknesses" and spending far too much time in a doctor's office. If it isn't my knees degrading, it's my gall bladder giving me fits. If it isn't severe degeneration of my lumbar vertebrae, it's severe stenosis leading to more weaknesses, pains, etc. After a lifetime of activity and no serious physical problems, in the last ten years I've have had six surgeries for minor repairs and more on the menu, some not so minor.

Add to that, last year I spent the entire of the winter plunged into a severe depression, about the worst I've ever been through.

You have my sympathy and support.

I have vowed this year to stave off such depression at almost any cost, mercifully I'm retired and able to do so. Movies take my mind off of things, I work on the boat as much as my body allows, try to participate more in social life with my close friends and family, and getting out and around, as it were.

Bless your heart. We've made it this far, no use to give up now! Keep sluggin'!!