My mom has always been a barrel of fun. She has one of those vivacious personalities and is full of high-spirited energy. It's hard to feel glum when she's in the room, because she just ups the vibe, even at 77. One of my favorite new sounds is her very distinct laugh mixed in with the laughter of my three children through the floorboards in her house. Usually, mom's playing "cocoon" with the kids, whereby she rolls them up in her doona, then yanks one side and sends them shooting across the