"all this talk of getting old, it's getting me down..."

I had a bittersweet afternoon today, spent with my grandfather. I very much enjoyed the time with him, but hearing him tell me "your nana and I are getting towards the end of our lives and probably will not be around for much longer" was extremely sobering to me. I am glad I was wearing my shades, let's put it that way. My sister and I have always said to one another that the passing of our maternal grandparents will be one of the more difficult things we will have to deal with because they have been such a strong presence in our lives--many of the advantages that Laura & Curtis and Caitlin & I enjoy are a result of their generosity and love. I realize that my grandfather is right, that one of these days he and Nana will not be around, but to hear him verbalize it in such a matter-of-fact manner was really jarring. He spent some time reminiscing and then asked for my forgiveness for being so nostalgic. I started thinking about what it must be like to know that you are approaching the end of your time here on this earth (Papa called it "fleeting" and that is an apt description, I believe), about the thoughts you carry with you. Do you feel powerless? Is it liberating? I guess it depends on the person and what kind of live he/she has lived. Just something I have been thinking about...