THE BITCHIN SISTERS - Nancy and Janet are old and in the way!

NAMES I'VE KNOWN-- Our name defines us, to some extent. Apparently, people name their babies names that signify a higher class that their own. Some people name their babies joke names! My two kids have the first names in the baby names list, Abby and Aaron. There was a bit of a feud with their father--let's leave it at that. Who are you and who have you been. I was everything from "Legs" to "Grandma." What's your story?

TRUST is such an elusive thing. It is often on shaky ground, but it perseveres. Nancy relates a personal generational story about trust. She also explores how to demonstrate trust and how to nurture it. I've often heard the phrase "trust issues." Apparently a person is loathe to trust when they've suffered a history of broken trusts. Sounds about right.

COFFEE, it's SO much more than a beverage. Nancy saw it as an adult ritual. When vacationing, she sought out coffee plantations and even seemed to form an emotional attachment to a certain blend. Janet just remembers that it was NANCY who got her hooked on coffee creamers--the bain of the middle-age female body. And that's just starters...

If you have a partner of many years, you have probably discussed the idea that ONE of you will "go" first--unless, of course, you're in an accident, or a house fire, or a mass murder. Otherwise, it's you or them. And then what? I've had friends who've had to "go it alone'" and I have been impressed by how capable and strong they are. How would I react? How wound you?

Nancy measures her life by husbands! Yes! And then she measures by her name: maiden name, married names, hippie name! And then she asks, "what if you knew how long your life would be? How would life be different? And what if you could know how long other people would be living? It brings up all sorts of ethical questions.

Nancy ponders the myriad definitions of "grown-up." She wonders when she made the cut. Or IF. Age? Relationships? Children? Career? Maturity? Humility? Mark says, "aging is mandatory; maturity is optional." and some of us refuse to grow up. But isn't it good to retain some childlike wonder?

Our brother Roger talks of the changes in his life since his wife of 37 years experienced dementia. He had been a nurse caring for dementia patients, but having someone so close change so much required him to call on his faith to guide and sustain him. He has explored some options for assistance, but almost all the care is his responsibility.

Janet describes incredible random coincidences she has experienced from around the world and in her own neighborhood. Is there meaning? The only thing "for sure" is that Nowhere, Wisconsin is BIG!

OVER-POPULATION - that's what we're talking about! We all know that it can't go on forever. Don't you wonder what will go first? The air? The water? The rising oceans? The food supply? There are so many variables. Maybe a mad scientist will find a way to solve the problem...

Nancy is caught in between the laws of the state and the requirements of her church. If she marries, she loses some valuable benefits that she receives as a widow. If she doesn't marry, she can no longer take holy communion. How will she solve this situation?