It was two days after my mother's 106th birthday and I called to run an idea by her.
"I have a theory."
"A what?"
"A theory, a perception I want to ask you about. It's something I've been noticing for the past number of years."
"How big a number? I'm trying to get used to big numbers. But before you tell me about your ideas, I have a related question for you."
"Shoot."
"Is this the way you talk to a mother? About shooting?"
"Sorry, please, ask me your question."