Well, he said, coming to a complete stop before us, a twinkle in his pale blue eyes. How old would you say my cousin is? Which seemed rather out of character for him, judging by the usual conversations we normally have with him, meeting out in the woods, each of us on our daily rambles through the ravine.

We've known him for a number of years, as a chance acquaintance, a pleasant man with a slight European accent. Winter or fall he wears a light red jacket, and a light cap, irrespective of wind, snow, icy rain, chill temperatures. Mind, he's always chugging along full speed ahead, with the aid of two walking sticks, one in either hand to help propel him along, determined to shorten his time as he has built up a formidable level of energy, post a serious heart surgery.

We, on the other hand, simply forge on, our two little dogs in tow, accommodating our gait to that of our companion animals, getting on in age, reflecting our own situation. And we'd always called him "the youngster" because of the gap in age between him and us, just under ten years. He's fit now, and thin as a rail, but because he keeps up such a head of steam, remains warm enough garbed so inadequately, to our way of thinking.

I responded first with a hesitant 68? He grinned widely and motioned with his stick-encumbered hands to raise my estimation. And so I did, by five-year increments and still he grinned and said "higher, higher". We'd gone well past our own age, and I could hardly fathom that the cheerful, clear-eyed, petite woman we'd seen with him last week was older then us by such a degree.

But she was, our friend said proudly, fully 87 years of age, and more than capable of holding her own on a brisk walk through the ravine with its hills and valleys, protruding roots and uneven trails. And she'd travelled on her own, from Switzerland, to visit with extended family, a brother-in-law in Toronto, and now visiting him as well, preparatory to a visit to Niagara Falls.

Quite a comeuppance, actually, to my pride in negotiating all of that at merely 75 years of age.