Life and Death

I've learned to plan for my future as if I'm going to live to be 100, but live life each day as if it may be the last.  Or so I thought.  It's easy to become complacent and forget this fine philosophy.

While I was waiting for Left Brain to complete his colonoscopy there was an emergency code and several of us gazed in wonder and shock as medical staff began running through the doors that had previously swallowed up our loved ones.  It was an uneasy feeling to say the least.

All kinds of thoughts ran through my mind while we waited to find out what had happened and we were all relieved to find out that nobody died that day and we all were taking someone home with us.

Later that night we had supper with our friends Larry and Eileen and Left Brain's phone rang.  I knew when he said "she's right here" and handed over his phone this wasn't going to be good.

My cousin, Shayna, was calling to tell me that her brother had just died.  Rick was only 50 years old and apparently had a massive heart attack while at work.  Death is nothing new to Shayna, her mother died at 42 and her father at 55.  Her mother's brother died at 52.  It's like a family curse.

She was trying to find her other brother, but with no luck. Rumors are he may be in a homeless shelter. He's always lived somewhat of a hermit existence. The last time I saw him was when he had his first heart attack a couple of years ago.

I thought about the decisions Rick's wife had to be dealing with, struggling with the news of her husband's death two weeks after she was laid off...ending the life insurance benefits they had.  Not working and not old enough for widow's benefits.

It's a much different set of circumstances at my age versus her age.  Being a senior, I have the comfort of a pension and having plans in place for this event.  We've talked openly about how we want to spend our final years and how to dispose of our bodies.  

These things are not topics a person wants to discuss, but it proved again how critical it is to know what the other person wishes and to have a Plan B ready at any age.  

I'd recently prompted my son to prepare a will and was met with that "why, I'm only 44" look.  Well, this is why.

Live for today...but plan for tomorrow.  

Is your life in order?

Long Live (Please!  A Long Long Time) the Queen