Eat, Drink and Be Merry, for Tomorrow We Will Die

[susandennis]

My father said this frequently when I was growing up. It was especially his refrain when he wanted to move the cocktail hour up earlier in the day...

It's how I make a lot of silly little decisions these days. I am 66 years old and ready to die. I'm fine if it doesn't happen this week or next or this year but I'm also perfectly fine if it happens tomorrow. I've had a great life - better than I deserve and I have no desire whatsoever to live any of the rest of it infirmed in any way. I already have COPD and there's no telling what else is waiting in the wings.

Lately this has seeped into my consciousness with all the now or later decisions. Silly ones. Which show should I watch first? In the olden days, I'd save my favorites for rainy days. Now I gobble 'em up. If I died tonight, which one would I regret now having seen?

Ditto with books and meals and lots of other things.

My taste in a good read and my brothers share a lot of intersection. And we share audiobooks. Yesterday one of our favorite authors released a latest in a favorite series (Lee Child's Jack Reacher series). I immediately bought it and pinged my brother that it was available. This morning he said he started it already "It feels like eating dessert before dinner." It feels like something you should save for special.

You Only Live Once was a pretty good coffee mug/t-shirt/sofa pillow aphorism when I was young but now it's more Now or Never. And I'm picking now.

Comments

[johncomic.livejournal.com]

I hear and learn. ♥

Some Planning

[pink-halen.livejournal.com]

I need to do another round of these myself but here are some things to think about. Write your Obituary. Make of List of those who need to be contacted. Make a list of thing you want specific people or organizations to have. Make a list with instructions of passwords for places like LJ where a friend can announce your demise and clear up the loose ends. Make a slide show disk for your funeral. Write a funeral plan even if it is "toss me in the garden." All this is separate and in addition to wills and medical powers of attorney.

You may not need these things for 30 years but they will be ready when you do.

Perhaps think about giving things now that you want people to have. Especially Heirlooms and the like. Share photos with relatives.

I'm not trying to be morbid but offering these suggestions as a way to be prepared. To know how and what you will be remembered for.

The single thing that people in charge of the arrangements wish it that they had a better Idea of what you wanted.

Re: Some Planning

[susandennis]

I'm way ahead of you there.

All my details - who to call, how to access, etc. are in a Google Doc that my brother can access at any time. I also, a couple of years ago, made him a co-person on my everyday bank accounts.

Plus, of course, he has legal documents to pull the plug and my desperate plea drummed into him that I'd much prefer he prevent their plugging me in in the first place.

We have talked often about my end of life wishes and I'm so grateful that he's very on board with the program.

I think all of the above is a big part of what makes me so comfortable with the whole idea. He's really my only family so it kind of makes it all simple.

[aubkabob.livejournal.com]

This is something I really need to remember.