When a man has returned to his second childhood, he is once more applauded for the simple things he can do. He is congratulated for walking down the hall, for eating his entire meal, for signing his name. People speak to him the way they speak to children but they pat him on the shoulder, perhaps, instead of the head.
In the middle, small accomplishments go un-noticed and often so do the great strides and monumental accomplishments making him strive for ever farther goalposts, ever longer shots, ever bigger prizes – but even the man with the biggest prize is likely to be patted on the shoulder when he’s old for making it to the bathroom without incident.