h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes, even some of those. My mother, who is feeble, says that staying alive "beats the alternative."

Good friend of mine was sad for years because his very old mother was so tired of living and kept telling him. She was poorly for years after her husband died so there's no blaming her really, but it was hard on her son

My mother has always made the best of things. She may have worried over her kids, as mothers do, but she tried to be optimistic, and still does.

The thing is, expectations count for a lot. Both of my parents had close relatives who lived into their nineties. They took good care of themselves, knowing that it was likely they would live a long time (as they did). It's better to be a healthy nonagenarian than an unhealthy one -- if you have a choice.

I am happy for them

The problem is you can't force people into being optimistic - not even by sneaking happy pills into whatever they drink

I am going to copy this and have two tattoos** when I reach that point, of being a (very unhealthy) old person. One, on my chest, will say 'Do Not Revive' and the second on my back will say 'Please Turn Over.'

** this is a true story of some other old lady, so I am led to believe.

Why do you think you'll be a very unhealthy old person, Lanzababy?

well judging by the state of me some days paulh, you hardly need to ask!

I don't know much about the state of you, Lanzababy. Sorry, I have to ask.

None of us are as young as we used to be. But at least we can still contribute to hootoo.

I think we have a lot to contribute.

I think so too