The Side Effects of Endorphins

What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?

Ramble On

I have so many thoughts on this subject, and all I can do is ramble and tell you stories.

Yesterday I walked off the court having lost the opening match of the new season in my racquetball league. I lost two games to one. I got talking with my opponent and he told me he was headed to the Tri-Cities to care for an aging parent. He told me of a cantankerous parent who simply was done with this thing called life. They even joked about inheritance.

We were so evenly matched, he is much younger than me, and our match lasted well over an hour. Guess what, my legs are really sore today almost to the point of hurting. It’s still a good hurt, but may not be forever.

Therein lies the Paradox

And right now I have a song going through my head. It was a song Leslie Feist (with The Tragically Hip) sang at the Canadian Awards for lifetime achievements

In the forest of whispering speakers
Let’s swear that we will
Get with the times
In a current health to stay

And let’s get friendship right
Get life day to day
In the forget yer skates dream
Full of countervailing woes

It’s a good life if we don’t weaken.

And we do. I’m not the religious sort. However, I’ve spent time with quite a few people nearing the end of their lives. They had one thing in common, and they were ready to move on. I believe my mother was the exception up until the very end. I know it’s a very small sample size and dying is personal. As it should be. Each person should have the right to make that decision, and it is not mine to make.

Mr Peterson

My grandmother started dating this man when she was 80. My grandfather died many years before. She tells me a story about driving with Mr. Peterson. Mr. Peterson was 97 at the time. All the sudden, Mr. Peterson pulled over the car and said in an embarrassed tone.

“I can’t drive anymore.

She asked why.

“I can no longer see. I am sorry.”

“ There’s no need to apologize, there’s no place. I’d rather be than here with you.”

Cantankerous

She was my wife’s grandmother. She had more types of cancer than I can even recognize. She was ready to go. She may have been 82 or 112. She lived a long life and when I saw her for the last time she said to my wife.

This will be the last time. I see you.

Oh we will see each other.

No we won’t, I’ll be in heaven.