Each stage of life has its own significant crisis. What is important to the "young marrieds" is grossly different from the emphasis placed by the "parents of a newborn child." As we slip into the "Golden Years," the emphasis changes yet again.

Sitting at the breakfast table, eating our half bagel with a schmeer, my wife Lorraine noticed an advertisement for SAT preparations. She laughed when she marveled at how important the SATs became in our married life 20 years ago, when our children were applying to colleges. They all managed to do well on their SATs, with a little preparation. Who was Stanley Kaplan anyhow?

Then came the problem of selection of a college. It was a moment of extreme gravity that the proper university entrance was attained. The entire family stood by the mailbox waiting for the "fat envelope." That acceptance envelope contained a passport to four years of bliss, or so we thought.

As we lugged the record players and electrical appliances into the dormitory, before the freshman year began, we prayed silently for the perfect roommate for our offspring. Please don't send our baby "the roommate from hell."

The second cup of coffee had us laughing at our intense anxiety of those days. Now we worry about the prolonged cough of the grandchild living in California. A different worry for a different time of life!

Three weddings were the springboard for hundreds of minor conflicts, that seemed critical at that moment. Correct napkins at the nuptials were a very weighty subject. Who to invite and who would be hurt by not being selected, caused major waves of anxiety. Would the caterer fulfill his obligation? Would the band play too loud? Would Aunt Mary sit peacefully with Uncle Joe at the same table? All relevant fears and all appropriate (at the time) misgivings. All laughable 20 years later.

As we cleared the breakfast dishes, this thought emerged, "Thank God all that nonsense is over. Where are all my pills and when is my next appointment with the doctor? Make sure you telephone all three children (all over 30) to make sure they are all right."

Conclusion? Nothing changes!