Excitement bubbled into every encounter as the birthday of a young acquaintance approached. It wasn’t just the thought of presents that evoked this eagerness—it was unfettered delight at the thought of getting older. In a few days, she would be 10 years old. Double digits at last—a landmark in advancing age and she was bouncing with anticipation. Most of my friends have been marking double-digit birthdays for decades with significantly less enthusiasm, so as I witnessed the