"What a gift it is to be here still, to be conscious of this life, of its end, and of the exquisite pain and joy of being alive." Yes indeed! There's a lot of that "looking in the mirror" at a stranger going around lately. Probably because that's where the road meets the rubber for most of us, when we know there's no getting around what already is. But your words above sum up the bottom line so beautifully. We're still here, and that in and of itself, is a gift. Thanks Jo :-)