Post by: Felonious Monk/Fignozzle on August 18, 2006, 02:57:29 PM
Let's do some creative visualization.
You've had a sore place in your lower abdomen for a couple of months now, and it's not going away. In fact, it's getting worse. Your wife/S.O. has noticed how you wince when you get up out of a chair, and she would just not take 'no' for an answer-- you're GOING to the doctor.
So, you go. He pokes, prods, frowns, mumbles to himself, and says "I think we need to run some tests".
So, you go. They stick, biopsy, prod, and tell you they'll call your Doc with the results.
A week goes by, and he calls you back into the office. There, the news is like a baseball bat to the diaphragm: it's cancer, it's metastasized, surgery is not an option, and most people with the same diagnosis last between 4 and 8 months.
Besides getting your affairs squared away, and assuming you tire quickly but are otherwise mobile and capable of going and doing anything you choose, what is on your list of places to go, things to do? Sky diving? Rocky Mt. climbing? 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu?
What's your list?
Post by: lupinus on August 18, 2006, 03:23:27 PM
Post by: Felonious Monk/Fignozzle on August 18, 2006, 04:17:19 PM
Post by: Azrael256 on August 18, 2006, 04:44:49 PM
Post by: wingnutx on August 18, 2006, 04:53:53 PM
Post by: Ron on August 18, 2006, 05:06:06 PM
Procrastinate
Post by: Winston Smith on August 18, 2006, 05:27:32 PM
Then do a lot of heroin.
Post by: Guest on August 18, 2006, 05:31:20 PM
The Englishman said he would walk his beloved terrier.
The Frenchman said he would drink a bottle of wine and watch the sun set.
The Russian, after confirming the time, simply said 'I will burn down my neighbors house'.
Post by: doczinn on August 18, 2006, 06:03:18 PM
Post by: Guest on August 18, 2006, 06:05:32 PM
So you get a tumor and you die in six months or tomorrow you die of a embolism or next week, you get hit by a semi. Live now, if you intend to live at all.
Post by: Sindawe on August 18, 2006, 06:27:49 PM
Quote
Besides getting your affairs squared away, and assuming you tire quickly but are otherwise mobile and capable of going and doing anything you choose, what is on your list of places to go, things to do? Sky diving? Rocky Mt. climbing? 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu?
Been there, done those already. Well, 'cept for part with the bull. I'm crazy, not stupid. 
Quote
The Russian, after confirming the time, simply said 'I will burn down my neighbors house'.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA My thoughts exactly.Six months to live before dying of terminal cancer? 'Prolly give free reign to the darker nature of my soul and do my utmost to take as many of my enemies (and anybody else who displeases me) with me to the grave. After all, what are they gonna do, KILL ME? That would be a blessing, I've watched friends die after being eaten alive by their cancers.
Post by: Antibubba on August 18, 2006, 06:59:15 PM
I'd try to do something NO ONE else has ever done, which would most likely kill me, but. WOW! What a splash! (Take that word any way you want.)
For example, there's one hell of a wind at the top of Everest, right? And any doofus can get a tour guide who'll take him up (maxxing off that Visa card here). I'd go up with enough O2 to last the ascent, and a little more. I'd also have a tank of hydrogen and a reinforced Mylar balloon and harness.
Yes, I'd FLY OFF OF EVEREST. So what if Hydrogen is inflammable, or I fall, or I'm dashed against the rocks? I'm going to die anyway. If the wind takes me over China, do you think their fighters will shoot me down?
Post by: Guest on August 18, 2006, 07:11:18 PM
Too many folks have found out they have 2 days, 2 weeks or two months to live in my life.
This started early in my life and keeps happening.
My Mentors and Elders passed on a lot of stuff, and Barbara's post mirrors much of their take.
"Live like today is the last day of your life, it very well may be".
Everything from eating dessert first, to how one carries themselves, to never going to nap/ sleep with a spat left not resolved.
I die tonight, well let me see-
Today I called grampster, something I have been wanting to do. Helped a kid order something for their mom from LL Bean as a surprise. Helped that same kid do a load of laundry and showed her how I iron a shirt.
A lady friend and I had breakfast early, just took ham sandwiches and coffee and went out and watched the sun come up sitting in the bed of my truck. We tossed marshmellows to her dog and laughed ourselves silly watching him. We made a salad for lunch, and got carried away, about the only thing we did not put in it was the kitchen sink, and Dr. Pepper.
We really wanted to do some other stuff together, but it was better to put a single shot back together we cleaned up, refinished wood on for a kid. Kid is going to be surprised, lady friend found this and ...somethings one does not for themeselves - instead for others.
Mentors did life this way, I wanted what they had, so I do as they did.
Try to best can each day anyways...
Post by: Bob F. on August 18, 2006, 08:48:50 PM
Barbara: Post some pic of yourself (actually, think I've seen a couple) but from this and other posts: you a helleva woman! Looker too, I think! (Don't worry, I'm married and never stray)
sm: same as usual.
Bob
Post by: Devonai on August 18, 2006, 10:29:33 PM
Wait a minute...
Post by: Guest on August 19, 2006, 03:02:04 AM
Post by: Tallpine on August 19, 2006, 12:46:24 PM
Post by: Harold Tuttle on August 19, 2006, 12:57:10 PM
Post by: grampster on August 19, 2006, 01:52:30 PM
2. Talk Larry Ashcraft into moving up the THR 2007 Ronnyvoo to next month.
3. Talk sm into making it fer sure.
4. Buy that $300.00 bottle of XO Cognac I've always wanted.
5. Pick up my new candy apple red Harley FLHTC Electraglide Classic so I can ride it to the Ronnyvoo.
6. Pick up .454 Casull and a shoulder rig so I can carry it on the Harley to the Ronnyvoo.
7. Slowly motor my way to New Mexico, stopping along the way to read, sip on the cognac and "plink" with the Casull. (not while I'm drinkin')
8. Spend a good deal of time shooting everybody elses firearms for 3 days, sitting around a proper campfire and listening to tales spun late into the night.
Post by: Fjolnirsson on August 19, 2006, 02:11:20 PM
Post by: Guest on August 19, 2006, 02:41:10 PM
Post by: BakerMikeRomeo on August 19, 2006, 10:58:54 PM
Uh..
A whole asspile of nothing, probably. I'd prolly bitch a whole lot about having to kick it so soon, but inwardly I'd note that I'd never do any of the stuff I said I'd want to do anyway. Bleah.
~GnSx
Post by: Felonious Monk/Fignozzle on August 20, 2006, 08:18:34 AM
Since I didn't provide my own answer, I'll do a quick inventory and see what hits the forefront of my consciousness:
I think I'd start out with a long drive.
Rent a nice car, take along some beautiful music, and take a slow drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway, stay at the Inn at the Peaks of Otter, and wind my way up to Skyline Drive.
I'd take a notebook, a mini-cassette recorder, and maybe a camcorder as well.
I'd submit requests for locations of folks from APS, THR, and TFL to visit along the way, and make my peace with G-d.
I'd probably come home, learn to do some woodworking, and make a couple of trinkets for folks. Maybe pick up my guitar again, something I used to love, but life sort of took priority and it went by the wayside. Maybe write a story or two, something that at one point I thought would be my livelihood.
Watch a bunch of comedy movies, and pursue joy in simple things, whatever that looks like as time progresses. Make my moments count.
Post by: grampster on August 20, 2006, 12:53:16 PM
Post by: lee n. field on August 20, 2006, 04:46:30 PM
Talk to each of the kids about serious stuff. Unload some of my crap on them. Buy a plot in the cemetary behind the church I grew up in, where ancestors of mine on my dad's side from the last century and a half or so are buried. Track down some old friends I haven't talked to in a long time. Make what arrangements I can for the wife.
Post by: garrettwc on August 21, 2006, 07:58:16 AM
Spend the time with my son doing whatever he wanted.
Post by: DrAmazon on August 21, 2006, 01:04:56 PM
I wouldn't be able to quit my job, I'd have medical bills to pay with the insurance. I'd just try to live well in the life that I have. I worked with a woman who had been given one of those 3 month diagnoses. She lived 8 months and came to work almost every day. I learned so much about my faith and learning to "enjoy the journey" from her. I still cry when I think of her and how generous she was the entire time she was sick.
Post by: crt360 on August 21, 2006, 02:21:16 PM
I don't have many dreams or goals that can be accomplished within 6 months, so I'd have to be satisfied with something simple.
Maybe I'd sell some things, buy a Barrett w/plenty of ammo, and spend some quality time out on the farm. Maybe I'd smoke the medicinal weed to relieve my occasional discomfort. Since I don't have a wife or girlfriend at the moment and it's pretty hard to get one when you tell them you've got a short time left, I might have to find some hot, high end hookers that will give a sympathy discount. I've always wanted to fly a helicopter, too.
Post by: Nathaniel Firethorn on August 21, 2006, 05:04:29 PM
2. Get my affairs in order. Make out a will and living will. Transfer my assets to joint accounts with the missus. Dispose of firearms she won't want. Lay in a supply of morphine.
3. Spend the remainder of my days in the most beautiful places I know. Adirondacks. Finger Lakes. Idaho Panhandle. Nova Scotia. Maybe others.
4. Do the most good I can.
- NF
Post by: Guest on August 21, 2006, 05:22:16 PM
Post by: Guest on August 21, 2006, 05:24:04 PM
Post by: Oleg Volk on August 21, 2006, 05:38:33 PM
Post by: Guest on August 21, 2006, 06:52:41 PM
This is wearing my buddy down.
"Two days, two weeks, two months" they were told not long ago, and it has been really rough, I mean rough. Recently she has had serious reactions to treatment, I mean once they brought her back from flatline.
Doc comes in with all these students [ teaching hosptial] on this lastest violent reaction and said to her with students and my buddy standing there...
"Well, we kept you alive long enough to see your kids and grandkids, what else do you expect us to do? It has been over two weeks now?"
That is when her eyes rolled back again from the wrong dosage and all hell broke out again...
My buddy has buried his parents, and his brother, and will be burying his wife.
My buddy and I had a chat awhile back, if he ever gets down, he is NOT going to the hosptial. He may take that trip to the Bonneville Salt flats and drive full out until the engine blows, or just scatters in the sand.
He may just go skydiving or wingwalking and just lose the chute.
He will not go thru what all others have or are going thru - he wants to go out in style, dignity and have a hell of a good time whatever it is.
I cannot blame him.
Post by: doczinn on August 21, 2006, 08:31:57 PM
He wants me to teach him kayaking. I think I will.
Post by: Nathaniel Firethorn on August 22, 2006, 09:08:44 AM
Quote
"Well, we kept you alive long enough to see your kids and grandkids, what else do you expect us to do? It has been over two weeks now?"
That "physician" should be flipping burgers for a living. And the students are going to need a re-education.- NF
Post by: Guest on August 22, 2006, 10:28:49 AM
It seems many Professions, are dictated to much by Legalese and Insurance Companies. I know folks in the Medical Community, some old school , some new school. Medicine spends a lot of study time on legalese, and insurance regulations. New classes in magaging a business.
This is akin to LEO' s not getting training they NEED and WANT and instead are taking classes on how to listen to whining folks and "not upset the applecart for bad PR".
Pancreatitius.
This is going to be hard for me to type.
There is a special lady in my life, since just out of HS. We dated, then went out our separate ways. Folks had us pegged to be married at that time.
About 25 years later we met, and did get married. She is one helluva Peds nurse, she has that gift. I have seen her with the kids dying, and that Peds hosptial is a remarkable place - one feels the difference upon entering its doors.
Our marriage ended. She was smart, just got blindsided and did not - a rare rare thing - percieve what her body was going thru. We could talk and I simply stated my concern about her hormones. Even her son did.
Divorce, and later she called to apologize. Pancreatitius and yes it screws with the hormones. She did not drink. Back in the old days , she might have a drink or two...rarely.
Oh we did the dumb dating bit after the divorce...I said we needed to go ahead and let the pain hit, and then we could recover best can. I did not want that boy of hers, my stepson for a bit going thru anymore of what he had been thru.
I do not know about her health. I have heard good, and bad. Some folks that knew/ know us both - well some are good folks and some are not so good - just the way they are. They are jerks no matter.
One is her first husband, the boy's dad. Mental abuse and all...a real jerk.
I ran into him sometime back. Great. I was nice and civil, I have every right to want to be otherwise...still the past is past and no need to relive it.
"I bet you want to know how your ex's health is don't you?" He said, he continued " Of course you were out of state and out of town for some time , and you don't know if she died, thought I guess since you know where her family has that private cemetary you could go out look for yourself.
Bastard. He knew what he was doing, and enjoying every second of it.
I kept my cool, "Well we did have a history going way back and in one's life there are special folks, she is one, always will be to me , so yes I would like to know".
" I will not tell you".
He turned to leave all smug and proud of himself. This is his mental game he likes to play.
He turned back , had this evil , resentful face and tone. " I will always hate you for being the person you were to her and my son. Those two actually told me after you two divorced, that you were a better father to MY son as a stepdad than I , and she said you were and always will be "her guy" and the only reason she has any dealings with is because of the boy".
Last I heard from a trusted friend, pancreatitius was getting worse and reminded again - one cannot live without a pancreas.
She knew [ this person telling me] since she had been in my OR doing cellsaver, I / we have done Pancreasotomy and the life expectancy.
I do not know about her - if I allow myself to think about this , it hits a nerve with me.
I guess having been around a Peds Hosptial, taking classes, doing rotations, working in a OR...then I changed directions in studies and left...
Add all the folks over the years...Time is short and life is fragile.
The quietest quiet I have ever heard - is in the OR and every machine stops , and the patient has passed on.
I have seen the young athletic who ate healthy die at 20-something of a heart attack. I have seen the 97 y/o get a new knee and then get fussed at by a unit charge nurse for being out of his room and sneaking down to the Cafeteria to get pie and coffee at 1 am.
Old boy made it to a 102. He took a limit of doves at 101 " dang things fly slower than they used to when I was a whippersnapper"
He missed a dove and his "reason" being he was swinging too fast on slow birds. LOL
I will remember that excuse ...
Post by: French G. on August 22, 2006, 01:29:47 PM
Spend time with my family, make an heir if my wife wanted such.
Go hunting with my Dad.
Borrow a car and run it wide open through turn one at "the Grove" as many times as I could keep the car between the fences.
Post by: Shalako on August 23, 2006, 10:50:49 AM
Then I'd feel like I did the most worthwhile use of my time, rather than be selfish and/or pout about things.
B. And if that didn't give me the great feelings of gratification I expect, then booze, sex, high speed cars, gambling, golf, and varminting would occupy my time after I go 'sindawe' a couple of real grade A bastards out there.
Plan A sounds better though.
Post by: charby on August 23, 2006, 11:14:20 AM
I'd go on a whirl wind tour of the US and try to see as many family and friends as I could.
-C
Post by: Lee on August 23, 2006, 05:12:56 PM
2) Get a third opinion
3) Buy a carton of Marlboros and start smoking again.
4) Take the longest leave from work that I could get, and spend more time with my kids. Probably make lots of video tapes, like Michael Keaton did in that movie about dying. There's really not much I want to do that I haven't already done...so that's about it.
Post by: Trisha on August 24, 2006, 07:56:02 AM
"Today, are you doing percisely what you would choose, where you would most prefer to be, and in the company of those you would select to have present if this was the last day, if not the last hours of your life?"
We truely enjoy the simple things, like each loaf of fresh-baked bread, each new batch of roasted coffee, seeing our home has no defecit in being good and reasonably comfortable shelter with both cats happy, enough in funds to see the pantry in decent shape and the utilities on. We have good vehicles in good repair, clean clothes, a modest but cherished selection of quality, personal weapons and we live on the edge of the forest, high in the mountains.
We have defeated, or outlasted every enemy that has earnestly challenged either or both of us with intent or demonstration to kill or maim us.
We have contributed and lifted the quality of life of some in dire straits and made made real friends, parting ways as their renewal brought them courage and motivation to challenge themselves and celebrate the gift and wonder of having a sound mind and body.
And we continue to work to learn, and to better ourselves by demanding the highest personal standards, rarely sated, never apathetic, and found new discoveries in achievements are sweet and priceless though they may consist of little more than words on paper or a melody played or an industrious day completed to one's satisfaction with energy enough to share a tickle-fight after the evening's dishes are done and the sun set.
We have faced death, perhaps too often; perhaps more often than is typical for most.
One seems to understand more about the act of living, the worth of choosing to live well.
If I had six months of quality time before certain death? It would be one thought to try and complete the five volume story uninterrupted - but that would be physically unlikely in the extreme (not to mention horribly selfish). I would love to dive the great kelp forests off California one more time. I would love to wander Denali again, and watch the aurora borealis. And I would love to hear Mozart performed in Helsinki.
But I would be completely satisfied with a good bottle of wine, elk steaks and fresh bread, and home-made ice cream on the deck with Kathryn.
There are no loose ends - and that makes the challenges present manageable. A little.
We have not wasted time.
Post by: lee n. field on August 24, 2006, 02:24:03 PM
Quote
There are no loose ends
What? All life is loose ends.
Post by: Trisha on August 24, 2006, 03:01:22 PM
YMMV