My great-aunt lived to 104. She died of not wanting to live anymore. She was in relatively good health but due to a broken arm that refused to heal completely, she couldn’t get up or bathe or dress herself anymore. No longer did the nursing home, where moved at 102, allow her to go on trips to the store or the theater or to concerts. All of her friends and most of her family were gone. So, she died from lack of interest in living.

The good thing, Marie, is that your mother is still in the thick of it, still keeping track of and reporting on family members, still caring what happens, and, I hope, still getting out and about. By the way, I hope your knees improve!