It caught her by surprise.

Just yesterday, she was the nucleus of the family. They’d gather from afar for holidays, united by childhood memories, eager to share their new lives. Today, those cherished traditions are folding into new traditions for new families.

Life moves on—as, of course, it should.

A prolific writer, Carol Reeves is loving the freedom and challenges of 50-word stories. Her memoir, “All the Little Miracles,” was published last year. She often writes of the privilege and vicissitudes of aging, a subject she knows well.