Every time I watch my parents, whose next big birthday will be the 80^th, a funny feeling creeps over me. I love to have them and to return in their presence over and again to childhood because my mother complains every time that I don’t eat enough and my father’s instructions are still the same as 40 years ago. With them I remain the child whom they have to teach good manners.

On the other hand it repeatedly comes to my mind that it is their generation, which will be next to resign from the world’s stage, if everything goes according to nature. I don’t want and cannot let them go!!! And I am helpless and cannot do anything against it. Nobody knows me as well as those two. At the same time I notice their growing number of troubles and their diminishing power and energy. And when I listen to a group of people of their age and hear what impossible illnesses, pains and perfidies the body has ready, it makes my head spin.

And nevertheless, despite all their pains, limitations and dwindling possibilities they seem content and love to be on this earth. But one thing becomes clearer to me – growing old is not for cowards, especially with the obsession with youth in our society.