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Doddering

Last time I visited the dermatologist, she hacked out a part of my face that she said was cancerous:  not anything really troubling; just living a life of its own.

"When you were a child, did you play in the sun a lot?", she asked.

I was not sure how to answer.  Born in Tacoma, Washington, I could not remember whether it ever stopped raining, or not.  I suppose a lot of children do play in the sun.  I let it go.

I returned, this week, for a new excavation.  I was reminded, by something she said, of all the people who think they are being very clever when they speak to people as old as I, who say things like, "How can I help you, young man?", or who follow-up a question about age by saying saying we are "eighty-three years young".   The law says old codgers may not whack such idiots with their canes.

"You are in really good shape", she said; "I mean, really good shape!"

OK.

Then she added, "Are you able to take care of yourself?"

I said that it rained a lot in Tacoma.  

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