Life is like a Cocktail Party

November 2008. Been here before, 58 times, with another two or three dozen in the tank, odds on. A dozen, anyhow. It is like a cocktail party, the art of knowing when to leave. It will be lonely and unfortunate to overstay. Do I want to outlive my wife? I do not want to outlive my daughter. Does my wife wish to outlive me? The coward's way out would be to go first, but I would rather not have Sally have to deal with my demise. I ought to ask her; maybe she would like a reprieve from my foul company near the end? Depressing thoughts, brought on by the gray skies, the fall chill, the looming prospect of The Holidays and ever mounting bills.