The challenges associated with aging become evident in the opening chapter as Bob encounters Connie (now called “Chip”) at the convenience store. The image of Connie as confused and incapable of caring for herself presents a dismal view of the condition of the elderly. As Bob encounters the seniors at the Gambell-Reed Center, this picture continues: Residents are disengaged and often seem either unable to do so (due to cognitive impairment, in the case of Connie) or unwilling to do so out of a sense of resentment at being deemed “old” and therefore of little value to society. Bob intuits this dissonance as soon as he enters the center and desires to bring meaning to the lives of its residents.

The revelation that the woman called Chip is Bob’s former wife, Connie, is a striking one. The contrast between the zombie-like portrayal of Chip due to her mental decline is heightened by the image of the lively and sociable woman she once was. Throughout her life, people are drawn to Connie, desiring to be in her orbit due to her warmth and charm. Indeed, it is these qualities that both cause Bob to be shocked that Connie takes a romantic interest in him and to worry that he will never be able to fulfill the kind of social excitement Connie requires.