After my father died in 1996, I asked my mother if she'd like me to come and live with her. Her face lit up and she said, "Oh, Marcia! I wouldn't have to give up the house!" It took me awhile to tidy up issues where I was living then, in another state (including selling my house), but not quite a year later I arrived on Mom's doorstep. It was her birthday. A block away from home I had stopped and wrapped ribbon around myself and put a bow on my head. I was her birthday present.

We had a...