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.

I smiled sadly.

“He would have given a speech longer than the brochure.”

Colin laughed.

Then he told me he had also met with a debt counselor.

He and Jessica were selling one of their cars and reviewing school expenses.

They had not made a decision about the lease.

“That sounds responsible,” I said.

“I kept hoping you’d offer to pay it all.”