01-20-02 - 8:02 a.m.
how many times have you looked at a doddering, decrepit senior citizen and thought, 'christ, i don't want to get old!'? how many times, helping my dying mother into a dry depends, did i think, 'fuck this, i'll save my kids the trouble and check out now while i can still wipe my own ass'? how many times, when justifying her failing health, did a hurried doctor tell me, 'it's the quality of life, not the quantity'?
at the famous seattle fish market yesterday, much to everyone's astonishment, 100 year old kate threw fish to the mongers and paddled their butts with a sign that said halibut/$3.99 lb. after a two mile walk through the woods today, she's off to her party in a limo, where, surrounded by her children who all qualify for social security and medicare, she'll have her cake and eat it too.