tocough.Felixguidedherwaterglasstohermouth.She
took a drink and managed to get the omelette down.
“Asyougetolder,thelordosisofyourspine tipsyour
headforward,”hesaidtome.“Sowhenyoulookstraight
aheadit’slikelookingupattheceilingforanyoneelse.
Trytoswallowwhilelookingup:you’llchokeonceina
while.Theproblemiscommonintheelderly.Listen.”I
realizedthat Icouldhear someonein thediningroom
chokingonhisfoodeveryminuteorso.Felixturnedto
Bella. “You have to eat looking down, sweetie,” he said.
Acoupleofbiteslater,though,hehimselfwaschoking.It
was the salmon. He began coughing. He turned red.
Finally,hewasabletocoughupthebite.Ittookaminute
for him to catch his breath.
“Didn’t follow my own advice,” he said.
FelixSilverstonewas, withoutquestion,upagainstthe
debilities of his years. Once, it would have been
remarkablesimplytohavelivedtoseeeighty-seven.Now
the remarkable thing was the control he’d maintained
overhislife.Whenhestartedingeriatricpractice,itwas
almostinconceivablethatan eighty-seven-year-oldwith
hishistoryofhealthproblemscouldliveindependently,
careforhisdisabledwife,andcontinuetocontributeto
research.
Partly,hehadbeenlucky.Hismemory,forexample,had
notdeterioratedbadly.Buthehadalsomanagedhisold
agewell.Hisgoalhasbeenmodest:tohaveasdecenta
life as medical knowledge and thelimits of his body
wouldallow.Sohesavedanddidnotretireearlyandwas
therefore not in financial straits. He kept his social