TSS. Nice post. 98/99 is a fabulous age. For you and for her, i only wish she can be as comfortable in as many ways as possible. I lost my mum at 63.
Thanks FLT. We're a long lived family. My Italian Dad was born of wholly long-lived Italian parents. Mum is all English, and all her family outlived the Italians. Dad went in his mid-80s, so that's probably where I'm headed if my slightly reckless life doesn't take me before then.
I do feel hugely sorry for families where they are genetically predisposed to not make the 3 Score and 10 mark. 63 for your Mum, is no age, in the modern world. Some people die very early, in accidents or of disease, occasionally so tragically it twists the guts to think about it. And some people die in bed, having had a peaceful end to an experience called life. That's all we can hope for in the end.