Yeah, I was joking with “only.” 
The wild thing is they lived totally different lives. Granddad worked on the railroad in Birmingham, which at that time was a steel town with dirty air; Great uncle Tink was an accountant in a small Mississippi town.
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The genetic hand they were dealt made the environmental effects almost irrelevant.
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Yes, I think so.
Thanks Beth. Indeed, I am incredibly fortunate to have him as a father. I was a difficult and willful child, he let me find my way.
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Lara. That is an excellent question.
My dad (the one in the photo), and I had many discussions about that. He was absolutely adamant that he would not want to be alive if he could not strive, do things in the world. Contribute.
That man would hate to be alive, needing assistance daily.
He made it to 99 with a bit of help. His own home. Biking and reading daily. Then cognitive decline made it impossible to do as he had always intended (suicide).
The man he has become is mostly content with his current existence. He is different of course, but the core of the man is the same.
We all change. I need to honour the man he is now, (content), and remember who he was.
I will fight tooth and nail to maintain my own independence as long as I possibly can. Everyone here knows it takes work, not “just” pills and potions to stay strong, fit, flexible. Also luck. Lots of luck.
None know what awaits. We can only hope.
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