We enter another decade under the threat of war with Iran. My husband and I are still alive, and so is the dog. But so many people we know have died. Old age is taking its toll. Or maybe I should say its harvest.

At this time of life, you know you don't have long to live, whether it's five years, ten years, or even twenty. I'm planning to do a Scandinavian death cleanse, and hope I live long enough to finish it.

I have more books than I can read in my lifetime, yet I keep buying more. I'm compelled to. But I know someone will read and enjoy them after I'm gone, even if it's not someone in my family.

Reading has become even more important to me as I've grown old, but it's always been important. I don't know who I would be if I didn't read. I read 110 books in 2019 and read over 140 books in 2018.

Having been diagnosed with macular degeneration, I don't know that I will always be able to see well enough to read. But at least there are audiobooks. I don't know that they will be as enjoyable, although I loved being read to as a child. Our fifth grade teacher often read to us, and I loved it so much. Thank you, Mrs. Jumper. I'm sure you never knew how much that meant to me.