At dinner with friends last night, the subject of energy (ours) came up. I've known our hostess since high school. She is a professor of social work, a therapist, and a skilled writer. At seventy-two, she is actively involved in all three roles.

But last night she mentioned that she doesn't have as much energy as she used to have. Of course, there are people twenty years younger than she is who couldn't do half as much. But everything is relative.

Loss of energy is a reality as we grow older. Even if we are lucky enough to be in good health, young folks pass us on our bicycles or fly up the stairs in seconds while we trudge up gripping the banister. Not to mention how grandchildren run circles around us (and usually their parents too).

As I was leaving work the other day, I stopped to say goodbye to a forty-year-old colleague. We've both been working very hard, and he said he was beat. He added, "I wish I had the energy you have." "Did you mean to say that you wish that you will have the energy I have when you are my age?" I asked. "No," he said, I wish I had your energy right now."

I grinned all the way to my bicycle.