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.

When I arrived, Lucas opened the door and greeted me with a clumsy hug.

Sophie had made place cards for everyone.

Colin had cooked pasta, and Jessica had baked a cake with lemon frosting.

It leaned a little to one side, but nobody complained.

There were gifts wrapped on the table.

A book of watercolor techniques from Lucas.

A hand-painted flowerpot from Sophie.

A framed photograph of Arthur and me from Colin, restored from an old print.