ममॉ ने पीछे के बरामदे पर अपने बागे में लूज़ की, ओटोमन पर पैर, कॉफी पीते हुए और पोस्ट एंड कूरियर पढ़ते हुए। आज उसका जन्मदिन था! अस्सी साल का जीवन जीना। । । किसने अनुमान लगाया होगा? उसने महसूस किया कि वह आज ही आलसी होने का अधिकार अर्जित कर चुकी है। उसका अतीत उसके पीछे था और वह एक पूर्ण जीवन जीती थी। वह यह सोचना पसंद नहीं करती थी कि उसका सबसे अच्छा उसके पीछे भी था, लेकिन वह यथार्थवादी थी कि यह

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(Mamaw lounged in her robe on the back porch, feet up on the ottoman, sipping coffee and reading the Post & Courier. Today was her birthday! Eighty years of living . . . Who'd have guessed it? She felt she'd earned the right to be decadently lazy today. Her past was behind her and she'd lived a full life. She didn't like to think her best was behind her as well, but she was realistic that this might be true. Still, it was a blessing to live long enough to see your children grow and prosper and procreate and to witness another generation carrying the torch. As it was a curse to outlive your children, your husband, your friends)