"Old age is not for sissies"

Yes, Bette Davis (or whoever really said it first) was right, but old age isn't for the poor either. It's very complicated. We younger ones can try to "prepare ourselves," but we have no idea of what will cease to function first or at all.

The good news is that my family is blessed with elderly people, meaning that we come from a good gene pool. The bad news is that everyone needs some help, and not everyone can afford it.

It's easier to afford lots of kids. Cribs, carriages, clothes and toys can be used for lots of babies, and elder siblings help with the younger ones. But many of today's elderly can't be on their own, or they shouldn't be even if they are.

Recently, friends and I lucky enough to still have parents find ourselves in very difficult situations. Our children look at us dreading what our old age will be like.