During a brainstorming meeting at work last week, the subject of what we wanted people to say at our funerals came up. Telling this story to my friend over the weekend, I said, “I didn’t even think of an adjective; I just thought to myself, ‘I hope someone GOES to my funeral,’ ” and went on to tell him my latest irrational fear: outliving all my family and dying childless and friendless.

My friend, who is turning 50 in a couple of weeks, looked at me, raised an eyebrow, and said, “Well then, you may want to look into younger friends.”