4/3 2ndEdition A BabyBoomer Memoir

Why a 2ndEditon? As I finished the book in 2017, the dark was already descending on me. I pushed through publishing anyway before the dark night of the soul completely stole away my stories. There was much left unsaid or said without my intended meaning. This 2ndEdition is completed as the light is brightening the clarity of original thought.
I find myself in this 3rdThird of my life, and as is my way, I need to make sense of it, to study it, to plan it, to embrace it, to be able to make the most of it.
I have seen other people who did not thrive in the 3rdThird.
At some point in this next Third, I shall satisfy the biological imperative of dying, but not yet. First, I shall satisfy my personal imperative of living a fulfilling life every day of any Third.
My father spoke of the three phases of life in this way:
“Our life is similar to the life of a tree;
The 1stThird is about taking root, sprouting branches and leaves, growing a supportive trunk, thriving, learning, and finally producing seeds;
The 2ndThird is about working, fulfilling our purpose, committing to our family, making a living to support ourselves, being the best branches that we can be to support family and job and all;
The 3rdThird is described as the pruning years. Here, we are no longer valued as a family provider or as a capable worker, we are devalued, pushed aside to make room for "more deserving", "more needy", "younger" people. We prune away our lifelong affirmations, our teeth, our strength, our memory, our worth, our health, our independence, our capacities. And then we wait to die.”
This description had a profound effect on me. It was easily recognizable as all too true, but it was also depressing. It was an example of limiting, and self-destructive, and preparing-to-die thinking. I then decided to take a look at all three Thirds of my life, so that my 3rdThird can be as exciting, as fulfilling, as successful, and as affirming as the other two.
It is, again, up to me to be determined to be happy, satisfied, successful, generous and compassionate. Into the breach my lovely, lovable, loving Melba.