Well, first of all, with each passing year, you think about where you thought you'd be at this period in your life. Then you face the reality of where you actually are. Maybe you thought you'd be retired, secure in the "lap of luxury," with grandkids scampering all around at your wonderful retirement home.

But where are they? A 1,000 miles away. Some at camp, others in daycare, or wherever. (Unless, of course, you have a swimming pool! That improves the chances of seeing them more often, at least during the summer months.) Believe me, I know, when you and I were younger, the big treat was having an inflatable swimming pool placed in the driveway, and the bane of our fathers when they pulled in from work and couldn't get into the garage because the pool was in the middle of the driveway.

Alas, things have changed, and that age of innocence has . . . gone. (And in many cases, so have our fathers.) What a shame. Our kids (or grandkids) don't seem to miss "the good old days" (because they never experienced them?). There's a whole new set of rules and "regulations" they live by, and by which they measure their individual successes and challenges.