I definitely think you and I are on exactly the same page, which isn't surprising given we are same age. My Dad used to say, and my late grandmother, they'd get a fright seeing themselves in the mirror - who was that old person??

I think we should take solace in fact that even if, say, we died at 75, twenty years is a good chunk of life we can enjoy. Like Hardy in this poem, I think I'm far more observant about the beautiful things in the world, and, as you say, I'm a bit more patient with those I love.

During the pandemic I was a little obsessed with the goddess Kali - she taught me a lot about death and time. I'm fascinated by poetry and philosophy about death, not in an obsessive and morbid way, but I do find myself doing little thought dives, and that's probably good for me, as it may make my passing a little more gentle.

Dylan Thomas said we should rage against the coming night, but he was a man (no offense) and I rather think a quiet acceptance, whilst living well, is a better way to go.

Here's one little poem I wrote re Kali in the pandemic

@riverflows/sing-kali-devotional

And the other about accepting becoming older (not that I'm not exactly raging about it)

@riverflows/tea-with-the-crones