The River Between Us Old Age Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

The whole heat-hazed place looked as old as the rocks it nestled among. It didn't seem likely to me that anybody had ever been young here. (1.42)

It seems like every generation thinks it invented youth. Howard himself would be well over 100 now, so maybe he needs to get off his high horse.

Quote #2

I see the little old lady on the porch with her hands in her apron. Grandma Tilly: a tiny face wrinkled like a walnut, and wisps of hair drawn back in a knot. Behind her apron she's slender as a girl, and there's something young about her. (1.44)

In the next chapter, we see Tilly through her own eyes. Is there anything that connects Howard's description of her with her description of herself? How do we know this is the same person?

Quote #3

Behind her in a rocker is her husband, older than she is, ancient. Waxy with age, trapped by the years and his chair, but alive behind his eyes. He has a shock of fine white hair and a curling, somehow military mustache. He wears a once-ivory alpaca suit in this stifling afternoon, and a high collar under his chins. He's too old to stand, but his loose-boned, veiny hand comes out to Dad, and his eyes are wet. (1.45)

By our calculations, Dr. Hutchings can't be more than around 80, which just goes to show how much faster people aged back in the day. Also, are we the only ones who think of the Colonel's Kentucky Fried Chicken when we read this description?