" As soon as he was gone, we opened, " Baucis and Philemon." An elderly couple living in a cottage, they're granted a wish by Jove. They confer in private before Philemon asks, " May one hour take us both away; let neither outlive the other." The wish is granted. I said, " Simultaneous deaths? Why didn't they wish for eternal happiness instead? What else would anyone wish for?" " They did wish for that," answered Jamie. "