My daughter-in-law laughed as she gave me a $2 scratch-off for my 73rd birthday. Ten months later, my own son shoved a senior living brochure in front of me and said, “We already picked your room.” They thought I was too old to fight back. They had no idea what I had been hiding.

“Then don’t rush.”

I ultimately chose to rent the house to an unrelated family through the management company, at market terms and with a standard lease.

I liked knowing it could become a place for new memories.

I didn’t need to stand at the door and guard the past.

That evening Colin stopped by my place with a photograph Sophie had taken on moving day.

It showed him, Jessica, Lucas, and Sophie standing on their new porch.