In some cases, their spouses have died. The people they see the most are their staff and other lawmakers.

They don't know how to function in the world.

They don't know "what's next."

It was an interesting perspective.

I just read an article in NY Magazine which directly touches on this.

A number of people quoted in the article said, basically, that older lawmakers literally have no idea of what else they might do with their lives.

Their children and grandchildren are grown.

I am so very sorry.

We have such a brief time with them...and yet they stay in our hearts forever.

Condolences.

I'm no expert on gulls, but could be? (I'm better at raptors.)

Well, now that's gonna be in my head for a while...

Looks like a herring gull to me. Tons of them in NYC.

Only 9, never owned a boom box. But took my radio to the lakeshore, though usually there were like 5 people there.

My grandparents gave me an encyclopedia. I read a lot of it. My folks bought the yearbooks for a few years, until dad lost his job.

She laughed. It sounded genuine but 🤷‍♀️?

& in places like Target or CVS I don't want to be stalked by the staff, which is what this feels like, though I like being able to find staff when I need help.

Last time I was in a CVS I dragged a young woman thru 3 aisles to unlock cases for me. I kept apologizing for holding onto her for so long.

I genuinely like the cashiers and stockers and other staff at my local grocery but I always wonder if they're nice to me bc I'm nice or bc it's their job.

I try to demonstrate actual interest in them & over time have made real though small connections but ugh.

I ran into one the other day where the options images were so blurry it was impossible to make out if the streets had crosswalks, which is what I was supposed to find.