The Only Question Left: How Lousy a Life Did I Lead?
Catcher in the Wry left a stern wake up call in her post today:
Now hitting 50 and more, they suddenly face the reality that time is almost gone and they had better start saving for retirement, eat more healthfully, start exercising, do the things they’ve always wanted to do, and travel to the places they’ve always wanted to see.
I hate to say it folks, but it’s too late. The damage is done. Oh, you might be able to add a few years to your life or your retirement fund by some new life changes . You can travel now, but if you haven’t taken good care of your health, be sure to book your vacation plans near some medical facility. If you had volunteered years ago at all these charities you now find so worthy, think how much more could have been done.
So I wonder how much damage I did (am doing) to my body, and why I should care if I’m a couple decades past fixing it. I know about all the death clocks and calculators, but what it really comes down to is mostly my genes.
That’s why figuring out human genes and allowing testing for diseases or proclivity toward diseases is so important.
It’s also another reason to allow death with dignity and assisted suicide.
I wonder if Judy Oppenheimer is still around. She said this seven years ago:
Consequently, I decide to announce to my two sons, each of them in turn, that I do not intend to go through anything like that. No way. If I start to slip, if my mind starts to dim, they are to escort me to the balcony and give me a push.
Since we’re on the subject, here are a few things you shouldn’t know about death:
- No American has died of old age since 1951
- There are at least 200 euphemisms for death, including “to be in Abraham’s bosom,” “just add maggots,” and “sleep with the Tribbles”
- Without programmed cell death, we would all be born with webbed feet, like ducks
- Eighty percent of people in the United States die in a hospital
- More people commit suicide in New York City than are murdered
And now comes along this bit of news from 2000 Bloggers
The winners are:
Flabuless
Sensitivity to Things
Going Like Sixty
All those 2000 serious bloggers trying to make the world a better place by adding insight and knowledge via the tubes, and whoever runs this site picks me (and two others), who’s blog mission statement is: Releasing My Inner Smart Ass.
I gotta check up on these 2000 Bloggers Admins. Depending on how it turns out, I may be more depressed than when I started this post.
YOU have the right attitude. Unfortunately, so many boomers think they can unfix the past by turning things around in mid-life. These are the ones blogging about their aches & pains, their medications, their aching bones, their miserable jobs, their lack of retirement funds, etc. and all the latest remedies to repair their wasted lives. Most of it has to do with decisions they made earlier in their lives and now their paying for it. I was just getting sick of their rants.
I do whine about my retirement savings being whipsawed. But I try to avoid all the health junk. Isn’t it amazing how many people are obsessed with their problems? or lecture others?
As rants go, this was a good one.
Wow! You’re the 2001st blogger! Congrats.
@Chris: heh. Just call me Sanjaya – close but still really bad.