My second child had a friend Rose, who was the daughter of a lady Mary (of course) who was Catholic like nobody I have met before or since (and I say that as someone whose dad was excommunicated because his wife left him, half my family was Catholic.) She was really nice and a true believer to the point of being batshit crazy but so gentle with her dozen kids and they were great kids. She got them a birthday party only every 5 years, we got to go to one for Rose and it was huge, with literal ponies, but the gift her mom gave her was a song she wrote and sang for her. It was awesome. I don’t live in that world but will attest that some fundy Catholics are really nice people, religion does not spoil them, and they don’t try to convert you.

Also when the photographer was going to take a picture of all the kids she said, I quote, “Say Jesus!”

I do have always gaming dice, a Rubik’s Cube and a crow whistle; but miss the purse I had in high school that seemed to always have exactly what was needed at any given time. If someone needed a screwdriver, I’d have accidentally left one in my purse, really anything anyone asked for that was purse sized would always be there that day. One time I had a chicken sandwich when someone said they were hungry, even though I didn’t usually put food in there. It was the most useful purse ever and I’ve never had another magic one.

Sure, totally agree. But average people too - we just are not aging as fast as our parents or their parents. Not so much a longer life, just not as old for as long.

My kids say:

Birth to 30 is young.

31-60 is middle aged.

Over 60 is old.

Over 90 is fucking old.

People are aging more slowly than they did in the past, better information about health now. Look up 55 year old celebrities. These are certainly middle aged people, they aren’t young, and most don’t look old either. That is how I would define middle age and it’s getting longer. You can’t get old at 40, you will be old too long.

I wanna know who took the picture, though. Someone is on that same vertical wall wielding a camera?