“You might think sitting with someone who is dying means you will be having big conversations about the meaning of life,” a hospice chaplain had advised me. “Wrong! Sometimes, all that’s called for is to just show up and watch Jeopardy! together.”

“We do ourselves and others a disservice when we make old age something to be feared. Life is not a resource to be used up, so that the older we get, the less life we have left. Life is the accumulation of wisdom, love and experience of people encountered and…

“Do something nice for somebody that needs it. If you have someone who needs a phone call, make the phone call. If somebody needs a visit, go make that visit.”

“If you get to my age in life and nobody thinks well of you, I don’t care how big your bank account is, your life is a disaster.”

“True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears cleaned.”

“The best gift you can give is a hug: one size fits all and no one ever minds if you return it.”