Mostly, what I have learned so far about aging, despite the creakiness of one's bones and cragginess of one's once-silken skin, is this: Do it. By all means, do it.

I have a son, who is my heart. A wonderful young man, daring and loving and strong and kind.

My mother is so full of joy and life. I am her child. And that is better than being the child of anyone else in the world.

I'm convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere.

Listen carefully to what country people call mother wit. In those homely sayings are couched the collective wisdom of generations.

The most important thing is to DARE.

Someone was hurt before you, wronged before you, hungry before you, frightened before you, beaten before you, humiliated before you, raped before you... yet, someone survived... You can do anything you choose to do.