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 told Colin I was proud of the father he was trying to become, that I hoped he’d remember Arthur’s patience, and that I would always love him.

I also told him I had a right to enjoy the remaining years of my life without asking anyone’s permission.

When I finished, I folded it into an envelope and put it with the documents Richard kept on file.

It was strange to think that the greatest gift I could leave might not be an amount in a bank account.

It might be a clear example of what self-respect looks like at any age.