When I was very young, I had two nicknames. The first, Miss Perpetual Motion. From the moment I woke up, I was on the go until I would fall sound asleep wherever I happened to run out of steam. I'd sleep anywhere, at the dinner table, on the floor reading, while playing a game. I was out!

The second nickname was Miss Independent. My constant retort was: "I can (and will) do it myself!"

Both my energy and fierce independence have been my stalwarts most of my life. But as I have recently learned, sometimes Mugsy and I need help (or saving), and luckily, I have friends and neighbors that come...