Since I am 57 and my folks are 87, it’s hard to imagine what they were once 57.

At the age of 57, my parents were still working. Dad was a freelance journalist for a trade magazine in NYC.

Dad was still in the army reserve. I think he enjoyed it and the travel.

Mom had a nice HR job. She helped employees manage and sell their stock from the company.

Mom was and is a wonderful grandma. She was also a great mom with seemingly infinite patience.

My parents still had a fairly stable relationship. They enjoyed music at Symphony Hall and other localities.

My folks also enjoyed theatre. They attended plays in our hometown and in other cities.

Mom and Dad took road trips with my younger sibs. They also went for walks every night after supper.

My childhood was at times very sad. When I got older; I rebelled and made them worry. My mom cried. I feel like crap for that.

Fortunately my mom’s patience helped me come back to family for support.

In doing the math now, I realize that I let them both back into my life when they were 57.

I am sure it was a bit of a relief for mom that we were becoming close again.

At that time some big changes were going to happen. My divorce sent me into a mental health crisis.

My mom came over to my house every day after work. We took care of my house and yard. We talked about what was happening. Both mom and dad were a great support for me.

At the age of 57, my folks still seemed young. They were full of energy and I realized how much I looked up to them. They were smart and fun.

At 87, Dad has slowed down. I hope as he gets older, he will still use his imagination to write stories.

Mom, on the other hand, hasn’t been on the trampoline in a little over a year. She just has this great, magnetic energy.

Her plan is to be alive and thriving for the next 20 years or so. I hope I will be like her when I am 87.