While acquainting myself with a new elderly patient, I asked,
"How long have you been bedridden?"

After a look of complete confusion she answered, "Why, not for about
twenty years-when my husband was alive."

knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional    
"Many more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Growing old is
invariably fatal. Prostate cancer is only sometimes so."
http://community.webtv.net/PALMER_ENT/doc