Tracy and I went to my oldest cousin's 60th wedding anniversary thing. No one seemed to be particularly celebratory. In fact it was sad, really. Received news of two really nice family members, and their descent into dementia.
I knew very few people and my daughter and I were the only ones from the maternal side of the family. Had a conversation with a couple of women during which we established our connection to each other within the web of our small town. "You know so and so who was married to.... etc."
Came home feeling the shadow of my own mortality growing shorter and shorter
Waiting for me to step into its circle of darkness.