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.

If someone takes formal action, we’ll answer it with appropriate evidence.”

I thanked him and asked him to keep copies of all communications.

That evening, I told Helen.

She put down her knitting.

“She wants to turn your independence into a symptom.”

“I think she wants control.”

“Then it’s good she doesn’t have it.”

The next week, I met with Dr.