Dr. Karl Pillemer

And the nurses knew I liked interesting older people, and they introduced me to somebody who I called June Driscoll in the book.

And I went in, and it was like a typical nursing homeroom.

This was a very frail woman.

She couldn't get out of bed.

I imagine only had a few more months to live.

And I asked her how she was doing.

And in this strong voice, she said, just great.

I've had my bath.

I'm watching my programs.

It's a nice day outside.

And I was so surprised that I asked her, how could this be?

And she said, look, I grew up in terrible poverty.

I didn't have three square meals a day.

Now I'm being taken care of.

I have a place to live.

I have people who are caring for me.

Why would I be unhappy?

And that's when she said, the thing that got me to write the book, first of all, she said, young man, and in my mid-50s, that was nice.

But she said, young man, you will realize when you get to be my age that happiness is a choice and not a condition.

And that you learn to be happy in spite of things.