Today is the first day of school for the Los Angeles Unified School District (all hail to the east). I live across the street from an elementary school and the excited high voices of the students can be heard bouncing around the playground before the start of the morning's classes.

Another year. It doesn't seem possible. The years fly by so fast. I remember being a little bitty girl who had just learned how to count by tens. I figured out--all by myself!) how old I would be in the year 2000. Why, my goodness, I'd be an old lady, nearly as old as my grandma.

And now it's 2013 and I'm still going strong. That little girl, learning and growing, is still inside me. The mirror lies, trying to make me think I'm an old lady. Every day is the first day of school. Ancora imparo.

Old ladies are those poor shawl-wrapped, disoriented, dribbling creatures, shuffling down the streets (unlike my friend Louise who remained vibrant and alert till her 90th year).

I pray to the Universe that I never become one of them.