What does being old mean to you? 

I remember when my grandmother turned 60, all her children declared her old. They tried to stop her from going to market, from sewing, from doing all the things she enjoyed doing.

"What will I do?", my grandmother asked. 

"Nothing.", they said. "Just sit back and enjoy life."

My grandmother did not say anything, but she continued to live. She took me to the market with her. She still bought cloth and made blouses for me. She made me patchwork blankets. She taught me that growing in years meant still having a lot of fun doing all the things you loved to do. 

That is the purpose of this book. Here, thirty people talk about growing in years and living full wonderful lives. Give it to a friend who has a birthday to show that growing old has been misunderstood, to show that we were put on earth to enjoy life to the fullest until it is time to move on. 

-Barbara C. Gonzalez, 

 Philippine STAR Columnist

 Creative Writing, Editing and Art Director

 Sunshine Place Member