Aphrodite bathing at Agrigento

Talking with a friend, she says the best part about growing old is that she "feels free to tell the truth now."

I have to laugh, inwardly.

Really, that's the best part?

Do you mean you weren't telling me the truth between the age of ____when I first met you and ___the time you say you were growing old?

That's probably not what you mean, but what your language means without you knowing it.

I used to lie to my mother. Even when she knew I was lying, she never said anything. One of her favorite words when she was put-out at something my brother or I did was, "Honestly."

If my mother were still alive I'd tell her what a good childhood I had, and that I'm happy now, 62, almost 63, with a good deal of time still left to me.