How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Stan looked up and down the street, as if the answer might lie there. He saw old houses, some neat and tidy like 5 Firth Street, some renovated, others merely old. There'd be old people living here, and Stan wished one of them was outside in their front yard so he could wander up and have the sort of natter he often had at bus stops and railway stations with people of his age, about kids and grandkids, what to do… (36.11)
Stan's clearly one of those guys who's more comfortable with people who are just like him than those who are different—his almost disastrous encounter with Rose during the cat incident is enough to show us that. Still, his desire for conversation with other people his age about his children and grandchildren shows that other elderly folks are his comfort zone. The awesome thing about this book is that the story's often about Stan gradually being pushed into new territory that he ends up quite liking.
Quote #8
One of the good things about getting old was how these happy moments from the past returned to you: the scents and sounds and colors, the feel of everything. In the bright green garden May held out her arms. "Let's dance!" she said to Sef, and, slowly, because after all Sef would be seventy-eight her next birthday, slowly but gracefully, back straight, head held high, May began to dance across Stan's lawn. (36.22)
Isn't it kind of cute how in May's mind, Sef has aged right along with her? Having been deprived of growing old with her best friend physically, it says a lot about Sef's importance in May's life that she's continued her friend's life cycle along with her own.
Quote #9
Lily glanced at the rearview mirror and found herself staring straight into their guest's sharp green eyes. "Oh!" she gave a small startled gasp, as Red Riding Hood must have when she caught the wolf in her grandmother's clothing. Not that Mrs. Nightingale looked wolfish exactly—it was just so strange that those green eyes looked so young! Lame duck was definitely the wrong term for her. (40.39)
Just like Stan is kind of judgmental toward kids Lily's age, Lily's clearly not comfortable around older folks. This may be part of why she doesn't like Marigold bringing home people from the day care center to stay with their family. In any event, just as Stan's expectations of both younger folks and people of different races are shattered, Lily realizes that not all elderly people are helpless or batty. Mrs. Nightingale is still very young in spirit, surprising Lily and thwarting her assumptions.