• Happiness is a choice, not a condition: The consensus of elders is that we can't wait for external events to bring about happiness. You must learn to create your own happiness; you cannot depend on others to do it for you."

• Parenting: One piece of parenting advice that cropped up time and time again, "There is one great contribution to lifelong closeness for which there is no substitute: Your time. It's so important, while your kids are growing up, to be with them and support them."

• Act now like you will need your body for 100 years: It's not dying you should worry about - it's chronic disease. What you do when you are young will haunt you when you get old. Take care of your body, live right, go to the doctor and keep yourself in good shape. 

• Choose a spouse or partner with extreme care:For anyone seeking a mate, the elders tell you to be very careful - and don't rush in.

• Being old is much better than you think: Many seniors reported that they are happier now than ever before. One 93-year-old woman said, "I have never been happier in my life."

60th High School Reunion

 A widower and  widow had graduated from the same high school, and both had attended the class reunions without fail. At the 60th reunion the widower and the widow made a foursome with two other singles. They were having a wonderful evening, with the widower throwing admiring glances across the table and the widow smiling coyly back at him. Finally, he picked up courage and blurted out, "Will you marry me?" 

After about six seconds of careful consideration, she answered, "Yes, yes I will!"

The evening ended on a happy note for the widower, but the next morning he was troubled. Did she say yes, or did she say no? He couldn't remember. Try as he would, he just could not recall. He remembered asking the question, but for the life of him, he could not recall her response. So with fear and trepidation, he picked up the phone and called her.

First, he explained that he couldn't remember as well as he used to. Then he reviewed the past evening. As he gained a little more courage he then inquired of her, "When I asked if you would marry me, did you say yes or did you say no?"

 "Why you silly man, I said Yes. Yes I will! ... And I meant it with all my heart."

The widower was delighted. He felt his heart skip a beat.

Then she continued, "And I am so glad you called because I couldn't remember who asked me!"