Trisha, this is so beautiful. Really poignant - both in terms of sharing your sweet memories of your beloved friends, and also in the contrast of youth versus getting older, the challenges and the benefits in ageing.

I was noticing the thing about driving in the dark, too, in recent years. Even though my vision is still really good and I don't require glasses for distance or driving. Very strange, but sadly, common.

When I gave up my car in England before moving back to Canada, I didn't know I wouldn't be owning a car again (not likely anyway). I was in the process of looking for one when I slipped on the ice ... and now, more than 2 years later, it's only recently that I've passed the "I can stand on that leg for 3 seconds" test to indicate that I can drive again.

But after investing the cost of used cars here, and the cost of insurance (which is outrageous here) - not to mention maintenance, petrol etc. - I can't justify the expense because I hardly ever go anywhere. It's nice not to have the responsibility - but it also means I don't have that freedom. Which works for me right now. And one of the things I've been happy about is not having to drive at night because of exactly what you've shared here.

A really lovely piece - thanks so much for choosing HHH to publish this, my friend.