"What a drag it is getting old?"

I cannot say that I come from a family where the life expectancy is great. Both sides of my parents had poor life expectancies. Some of the reasons actually most of the reasons can be attributed to genetics, poor lifestyle, and most of all quite frankly, being poor financially. This last reason affects diet, dietary choices, and living conditions.  And of course genetics is a wildcard.

I have reached the conclusion that it is not about how many years that is lived, but how many healthy years one lives. I see how there are people who live most of their lives healthy then they suffer a stroke or heart attack or another disease manifests and their lives change. Even if one survives a heart attack, the resuscitation does its damage.

This consideration has forced me to reconsider my own living will and other documents with regards to my death. I am considering how much difficulty my family will have taking care of me. I do not desire to be such a burden.  Most people, I believe, would reach the same conclusion.

Everyone should prepare for this worst-case scenario. Facing issues on mortality is difficult, but must be confronted before it is too late.

I know I have my own "bucket list," the list of things that one desires to do before death. My list is more humble than most. Some folks want to visit some faraway locations. Each person has their own list of things that want to do before they die.

I just desire to be at peace and have a bit of comfort, pain-free. I have a great deal of respect for those that I classify as "intellectual atheists." Those people who have explored and are very interested in what happens after one passes. This group has basically come to the conclusion that once someone passes, that is it. The proverbial plug is pulled out of the socket and you are done. I guess we will all see.

I saw a woman on CNN recently.  She is quite attractive but her name escapes me.  She is a part of a show with 3 other young people.  She said that she tries to read every reliable religious book that she can get her hands on and still she "just doesn't see it".  I don't know if those were her exact words, but you get the drift.  Basically, she acknowledges that she is an atheist and has run out of option as to convincing her that there is some greater being or power. 

As for me, I just do not know, so I will reserve judgement.

One for the road, "And once you're gone, you can't come back."

Jimmy