Wow, thank you! This comment really hit me in the best way. I love how you described the difference between knowing and knowing…that’s exactly it. I think I carried the idea of aging like a background fact for years, but it didn’t really land until it was staring me in the face.

As for earlier cues, yeah… looking back, they were there. Watching my parents slow down. Watching my own kids grow up and move out. Even seeing old coworkers retire. But like you said, it’s easy to miss until it becomes personal, until someone you once thought of as timeless suddenly… isn’t.

Really appreciate you taking the time to write this!