This is what getting old could be like

I recently had a conversation with a friend on living fast and dying young. He was of the impression that one should travel the world, drink local booze, eat new foods, meet new people and see things before entering the realm of Alzheimer's and adult diapers. 

I don't know if it's because I'm getting older myself, but the idea of rocking and rolling into the grave, of burning out instead of fading away, of leaving the Earth in one blaze of glory doesn't do it for me anymore. And rather than rambling on and on about the idea of being old, a rocking chairs on the porch and grandkids playing in the grass and springs and falls and summers, I'll give you this:

Maurice Sendak, one of my heroes, died recently. He offered this beautiful message on getting old in his last interview.