Is life a race, or a destination? Starting now, it is both. A person’s life often is measured in years and accomplishments. Seldom is a person’s life measured in days. Here is my race to add a few days to life.
“Two, maybe three months.” Solemn, soft spoken, yet surprisingly cool and distant words with an edge of finality; the end result of dozens of tests and medicines and therapy, spanning years and months and weeks. And days.
What is that? 60 days? 90 days? If so, if there are no alternatives, my simple desire is to see the prognostication wrong, extend those days; starting now.
101 days.
Granted, that’s not much, not even much of an extension, but it’s a start.
What can be done in 101 days? Eat right? Exercise? Visit with family and friends? I’ve done all that many times over and the Bell Curve still tolls for me.
What can be done in one day?
Thoughts. Mine and those shared by others.
Food. What I want that tastes good and what my body needs. They’re not always the same.
Family. Just to be there. That’s what they’re for, right?
Friends. To talk about yesterday and share hopes for tomorrow.
Beach. Sand between the toes, wind through the hair; the way God intended.
Sleep and dreams. There are times I want this one higher on the list.
Sex. Easier said than done but, hey, it’s on the list, too. Maybe it just a part of the dream.
I promise not to measure my life by years and accomplishments. There’s too many of the former, too few of the latter, so I’ll just keep busy on the other items.
101 days. That has a nice ring to it.
Stand on top of a big mountain. Go to one of those luxurous health spas and get pampered. Watch grass grow. Make a movie.
Here’s to you choosing another number with a nice ring to it in 101 days time.
I wrote a private email first as I thought I was just not up to a public posting. Death is difficult to speak of, and that is really what we are talking about here. But until that inevitable day actually arrives, as it will for us all (and I have had some pretty damn close calls), even 101 days has millions of moments to it. And those moments are all about life. So I will continue to celebrate your life, as will many others, for whatever truly unknown amount of time we have to do so.
just wanted to say that your website is really great and i stop by it virtually daily. And to quote Dylan Thomas:
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Go kick a**e girl! =)
Looking forward to your post 102 days from now.
Tera,
I am happy to see you writing again. The part of you, the legacy we have, do, and will enjoy are in your words. Hundreds of months, years, decades, or even centuries you will continue to influence others. Time is such an arbitrary thing. One hundred od any of its units is a lot. One more than that is indeed a gift.
Liam
Tera,
Do a favor for all the people who love you.
Record your voice. Set up your Mac and tell your people whatever you want. Say their names, call out to them, tell your favorite joke, get that laugh or giggle in a mp3.
I’ve lost loved ones in the past year and for all of them and the people they love the thing missed most is the “sound” of them.
Record, record,record.
-Chod
May you 101 times 101 days!
You’re in my prayers. Stay strong.
Tera,
We miss you.
Chod has a wonderful suggestion. Of the many hours of family histories I have done, it is indeed the sound of the voice and, in video, the look in their eye, the smile on their face (or lack thereof), that are the things that are passed on. Those are eyes to the soul, the things that others remember, that affect our own lives. Only by reflecting on the value and brief gift of life can some of us choose a better path. So many things in life are just not important. Truly, only a few things are. Chod has a wonderful suggestion…
For me, the greatest testament to your incredible personality and significance to the Mac universe is that, though I have never met you, or spoken with you, I feel a true sadness, a sense of really missing you, and a feeling that browsing the internet will forever be missing a very special voice and spirit, that noone can ever replace. I thank you, from the depths of my heart, for your wonderful, engaging, enlightening, witty and spunky writing. You will never be forgotten by me, and I look forward to enjoying your legacy as a scribe…Mac360. A big “HUG” of internet love
There’s something about death that is comforting. The thought that you could die tomorrow frees you to appreciate life now.