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.

“She asked whether a guardianship evaluation might be appropriate.”

I was sitting in Helen’s garden when he called.

A monarch butterfly drifted over the last flowers of the season.

For a moment I simply watched it.

“Do you think she would try?” I asked.

“I can’t predict what she will do.

But secrecy about private finances is not proof of incapacity.

We’ve documented your decisions, and you’ve been fully engaged in every step.