Jerome, who sadly died in 2002 at the age of 70, two years after this book was published is a low key experiential writer whose work has never achieved widespread recognition.  Having enjoyed his book on stone walls, I picked this volume up at a used book store, and it’s a gem.  Not especially well written, it excels by virtue of its observations of the physical, mental, and philosophical change experienced by a man turning 65, i.e. ME.  His keen descriptions of the ‘compulsion to complete’ that results from bringing less energy, strength, power, etc to tasks both old and new were spot on.  His description of the gradual smushing of the senses, the desire to keep things from changing, the general ‘cantankerousness of the aging’,etc rang many familiar bells.  “I am far too special a person to have a swollen prostate, a bum neck and fading eyesight.  That’s what happens to all those others, those old people”.  John—well said and like Carolyn Heilbrun whom he quotes, farewell and I’ll miss you!