A very long time ago, when I was as about 7 or 8 years old, I found myself learning to play cribbage from my Great Uncle Tom. He was newly widowed, and I learned years later that he had Parkinsons, diabetes, cataracts- but he never said a word about any of it.
He sat me down and taught me to play, and to shuffle a deck of cards with my little hands. After a couple weeks, a two other uncles would join us sometimes. I was addressed as "Sister", the custom for young unmarried girls amongst our extended family- not even sure they knew my first name. But, they cut me no slack because they were 9 or 10 times my age! After 3 games we would have coffee and cookies - it must have been quite a sight.
The only complaint I ever heard from uncle was 5 years later, when I was peeling a banana for him in the nursing home and my Dad was giving him a shave, he said "Sister, getting old is not for the weak."

I compared him to the old ladies including aunties) at church who moaned endlessly about their aches, and criticized my every effort while we were baking or cleaning.
You can imagine where I would rather be as a kid.

Now I am as old as the uncles. I live part time in a senior community.

I have a few close friends and family that know my long un-health history, but otherwise I try to avoid mentioning it.

I strive to be like the uncles.
Sue