Isn't Life Grand

I had a delightful exchange with my daughter while driving her to voice lessons yesterday. She referred to one of my opinions as being very "middle aged." I asked her what she would call someone who is beyond middle age and she replied, simply, "Old." So, I told her that since I would be 50 this year and that I didn't think I'd live to be 100, that I was I beyond middle age. Then I gave her permission to call me old. She said, "Oh, no, Mom, you'll live to be 100 and probably older. I can just picture you now. You'll be like, 'I'm so happy to be alive. I love my life. Isn't life grand' (in a mockingly sweet old lady voice)." Then she went on to say, "And if I live to be 100 I'll be like, 'Why, oh, why must I still be alive? Wasn't 100 years on this Earth long enough? The pain and the torture to be alive. Lord, take me home!'" She's so dramatic and I laughed and delighted in her imitation of me and her as old women. She promised she'd take care of me if I promised to behave. So, if I do, indeed, live to be 100, that means I am not even a middle aged woman right now (well, not until August anyway). So, don't be calling me old (or middle aged) before my time. And, by the way, I am so happy to be alive and I do love my life and I do believe life is grand . . .