The hygienist who cleaned my teeth yesterday and used the phrase “people of your age” is still living. I didn’t feel it would get me anywhere to jump off the reclining dental chair – why, in my day, they had seats like electric chairs! – and pound her into the ground and then tie her up with dental floss.

Of course, I did know that would get me somewhere – jail or the nuthouse. I decided to just sit there and be a person of my age.