You Have Six Months To Live: What do you do?

WendyB4 · Post by **WendyB4** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 3:22 pm

The movie ''Last Holiday'' with Queen Latifah got me thinking about this. Of course in the movie she believe she only has three weeks. I can't even wrap my head around that except to say sell everything and go some place warm and take all those I love with me...but what if you found out you only had a few months to live? What would you do? What changes would you make to your life? For me I'd take my hubby and move him back to Nova Scotia for my last days. I left there 25 years ago but NS has never left my heart. I would spend time getting to reknow my family and hopefully it would be summer so I could swim in Shortts Lake and in the ocean again...so what about you?

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 3:33 pm

Oh, what a thought. I would move back to L.A. and enjoy the time with my children and family. But the thought of all the long term care I would have to prepare for my husband if I was not here.

He would never understand, and I would worry about his survival-well, I wouldn't be here to worry about it.

The good thoughts of things to do:

I would take everyone back to Rosarito Beach in Mexico, and get a good tan!

Eat everything I want to!

And be at the Laker games every time there were at home.

Meet the Governator! Yeah!

Sit home and sleep in, and not work 3 jobs! Yeah!

Jives · Post by **Jives** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 3:39 pm

1. I wouldn't quit my job, until it got medically impossible to go to work. It's too much fun working with the kids. Besides, they'd take my mind off my troubles.

2. Go out in the hills camping more.

3. Go swimming everyday. I don't get enough of it.

4. Eat anything I want. Especially rare steaks and spicy New Mexican food.

5. Get drunk a lot, except for the last day.

6. Do some fun crazy stuff like I used to do. Skydiving, hang gliding, skiing...all the stuff that I don't do anymore because of my RA.

7. Write my life story.

8. Film a "memorial video" for my family composed of old pictures and video clips. Then I'd edit and set it to music. Then give it to the grandkids.

9. Call all my old friends from my whole life.

10. Do stuff to mess with the neighbors like nude sunbathing and playing my guitar outside at amplifier level 11.

11. See how fast my pickup will really go.

12. Make love to my girl as much as humanly possible.

13. Call up all my bill collectors and tell them to take a flying leap at themselves.

14. Find a nice place to be buried and tie up all loose financial ends.

15. Pick out a coffin.

16. Dress in a really nice suit for a week.

17. Give away all my personal stuff (that my wife doesn't want) to my son and grandkids.

18. Sell my truck and take my wife on a trip to the U.S. Virgin islands. We love it there.

19. Throw a massive keg party in the hills at The Wash and invite everyone in town that is still alive from the 70's.

20. Break a few laws being careful to:

A. Not get anyone hurt.

B. Making sure that my wife can't get blamed.

C. Nothing serious that would end me up in a cell.

(Like maybe double parking everywhere I went and some stupid stuff like whiffing the laughing gas off whipped cream bottles in the store.)

That's about it. Just be myself, have a ball, and don't take life too seriously.

Oh...and I'd be sure to ask forgiveness for all this stuff from Jesus Christ before I went.

Post by **spot** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 3:44 pm

The idea's intoxicating - to know that I had a guaranteed six months of life? I'd take a dinghy out on the Severn Estuary in a howling wind to see if I could fight the tide and get across, confident that a mistake would only mean I'd failed for that day and not stopped me from trying again tomorrow. I'd sky-dive knowing that I wasn't putting myself into the hands of whoever packed the parachute. I might even take up scuba diving again.

There's a world of difference between living each day as if it were your last, compared to knowing it isn't.

Post by **spot** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 3:46 pm

Jives wrote: That's about it. Just be myself, have a ball, and don't take life too seriously.Jives... why don't you do all those over the next six months anyway? Then they'll be done, and you won't need to have them hanging around as regrets when your time comes.

Jives · Post by **Jives** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 3:52 pm

Well some of them might get me fired, some might get me ostracized from the community, some might get me hurt or killed, and some I just don't want to do until the last second!:(

When you think you have time, you don't take chances that you don't have to, but when you know there's no time left...why not go for it?:D

daffodil52 · Post by **daffodil52** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:42 pm

Shoot,,, tony bliar@ and the bush critter,,,,loldaffy52

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:46 pm

I was faced with the possibility of that very scenario this past summer. I had 10 days to wait for pathology reports. If they were bad the time I had left could have been even shorter. Those were the most horrible 10 days of my life. Erased the importance of so many incidents I had foolishly wasted time suffering over. While I waited, and cried a lot... one message became crystal clear. I just wanted to go home. I just wanted to BE with the people I loved. My two sons.. two grandchildren. My elderly mom and dad. My very dear and good friends in Virginia.

And that is exactly what I did. I came home. Their faces are indescribably dear to me. There really isnt anything monumental I would do. Ive always wanted to write a book, but there wouldnt be time. Ive seen many places.. eaten in great restaurants. Have had the thrill of some small sucesses. I think I would like to sit in a chair, outside in the sun. A good bottle of wine next to me.. ideally surrounded by my friends.. reminisce... and just laugh and laugh and laugh.

One more thing.... I would want to have great sex. once.... No, many times.. with someone I felt completely in love with.. and wildly attracted to. And I would like it to feel the way it did when I was 23. Thats it.

daffodil52 · Post by **daffodil52** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:51 pm

weeder wrote: I was faced with the possibility of that very scenario this past summer. I had 10 days to wait for pathology reports. If they were bad the time I had left could have been even shorter. Those were the most horrible 10 days of my life. Erased the importance of so many incidents I had foolishly wasted time suffering over. While I waited, and cried a lot... one message became crystal clear. I just wanted to go home. I just wanted to BE with the people I loved. My two sons.. two grandchildren. My elderly mom and dad. My very dear and good friends in Virginia.

And that is exactly what I did. I came home. Their faces are indescribably dear to me. There really isnt anything monumental I would do. Ive always wanted to write a book, but there wouldnt be time. Ive seen many places.. eaten in great restaurants. Have had the thrill of some small sucesses. I think I would like to sit in a chair, outside in the sun. A good bottle of wine next to me.. ideally surrounded by my friends.. reminisce... and just laugh and laugh and laugh.

One more thing.... I would want to have great sex. once.... No, many times.. with someone I felt completely in love with.. and wildly attracted to. And I would like it to feel the way it did when I was 23. Thats it.
lol with er boots on a girl ,,,wow daffy52

Shweet tatersalad · Post by **Shweet tatersalad** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 6:01 pm

Wow,all of this is peaceful and warm and so inspiring.But I am a product of my society and I have different views;

I would silently rampage and settle some scores.And thats all I have too say your honor:mad:

Jives · Post by **Jives** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 6:06 pm

Shweet tatersalad wrote:

I would silently rampage and settle some scores.And thats all I have too say your honor:mad:

I thought about that. You could tell people you hate off, you could rob a bank, you could print your own money....the list is endless.

But seriously, I'd hate spending 5 out of the last six months in prison.

WendyB4 · Post by **WendyB4** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 6:54 pm

chonsigirl wrote: Oh, what a thought. I would move back to L.A. and enjoy the time with my children and family. But the thought of all the long term care I would have to prepare for my husband if I was not here.

He would never understand, and I would worry about his survival-well, I wouldn't be here to worry about it.

The good thoughts of things to do:

I would take everyone back to Rosarito Beach in Mexico, and get a good tan!

Eat everything I want to!

And be at the Laker games every time there were at home.

Meet the Governator! Yeah!

Sit home and sleep in, and not work 3 jobs! Yeah! I know what you mean about your husband. Mine would be heartbroken too. So would I were anything to happen to him like that.

WendyB4 · Post by **WendyB4** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 6:57 pm

Jives wrote: 1. I wouldn't quit my job, until it got medically impossible to go to work. It's too much fun working with the kids. Besides, they'd take my mind off my troubles.

2. Go out in the hills camping more.

3. Go swimming everyday. I don't get enough of it.

4. Eat anything I want. Especially rare steaks and spicy New Mexican food.

5. Get drunk a lot, except for the last day.

6. Do some fun crazy stuff like I used to do. Skydiving, hang gliding, skiing...all the stuff that I don't do anymore because of my RA.

7. Write my life story.

8. Film a "memorial video" for my family composed of old pictures and video clips. Then I'd edit and set it to music. Then give it to the grandkids.

9. Call all my old friends from my whole life.

10. Do stuff to mess with the neighbors like nude sunbathing and playing my guitar outside at amplifier level 11.

11. See how fast my pickup will really go.

12. Make love to my girl as much as humanly possible.

13. Call up all my bill collectors and tell them to take a flying leap at themselves.

14. Find a nice place to be buried and tie up all loose financial ends.

15. Pick out a coffin.

16. Dress in a really nice suit for a week.

17. Give away all my personal stuff (that my wife doesn't want) to my son and grandkids.

18. Sell my truck and take my wife on a trip to the U.S. Virgin islands. We love it there.

19. Throw a massive keg party in the hills at The Wash and invite everyone in town that is still alive from the 70's.

20. Break a few laws being careful to:

A. Not get anyone hurt.

B. Making sure that my wife can't get blamed.

C. Nothing serious that would end me up in a cell.

(Like maybe double parking everywhere I went and some stupid stuff like whiffing the laughing gas off whipped cream bottles in the store.)

That's about it. Just be myself, have a ball, and don't take life too seriously.

Oh...and I'd be sure to ask forgiveness for all this stuff from Jesus Christ before I went.

Hey Jives, I like your list. Sounds like we have similar taste. Haven't been to a keg party since the 80's and the early eighties at that. Now I'm a one night drunk...fun one night and four to recover:)

WendyB4 · Post by **WendyB4** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 6:59 pm

SnoozeControl wrote: Since I've avoided the sun for years (and have skin like a woman at least 6 months younger than me) I think I'd find someplace sunny, near the water that served great food and had tons of booze. After a swim in the nude, I'd shovel food and drink in my face, getting hugely fat while I turned into leather.

Possible dalliances with the cabana boy sounds entertaining.
Snooze control I love it! Especially the nude swimming part. Before we bought the house we currently live in the place we had had a pool. It was outdoors and in view of some of the neighbors but we still managed to get in the occasional nude swim...once you've skinny dipped a suit just ain't the same:-6

WendyB4 · Post by **WendyB4** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:01 pm

Jives wrote: I thought about that. You could tell people you hate off, you could rob a bank, you could print your own money....the list is endless.

But seriously, I'd hate spending 5 out of the last six months in prison.:(I think truly if you found out you were dying revenge would be the last thing on your mind...:-5

WendyB4 · Post by **WendyB4** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:05 pm

spot wrote: The idea's intoxicating - to know that I had a guaranteed six months of life? I'd take a dinghy out on the Severn Estuary in a howling wind to see if I could fight the tide and get across, confident that a mistake would only mean I'd failed for that day and not stopped me from trying again tomorrow. I'd sky-dive knowing that I wasn't putting myself into the hands of whoever packed the parachute. I might even take up scuba diving again.

There's a world of difference between living each day as if it were your last, compared to knowing it isn't. Spot...you write well. I find it a little odd that the things you would choose to do are things you might not survive, but then again I guess that wouldn't matter would it?:-6

WendyB4 · Post by **WendyB4** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:07 pm

daffodil52 wrote: Shoot,,, tony bliar@ and the bush critter,,,,loldaffy52 Ha! now you're talkin...lol!:D

WendyB4 · Post by **WendyB4** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:11 pm

weeder wrote: I was faced with the possibility of that very scenario this past summer. I had 10 days to wait for pathology reports. If they were bad the time I had left could have been even shorter. Those were the most horrible 10 days of my life. Erased the importance of so many incidents I had foolishly wasted time suffering over. While I waited, and cried a lot... one message became crystal clear. I just wanted to go home. I just wanted to BE with the people I loved. My two sons.. two grandchildren. My elderly mom and dad. My very dear and good friends in Virginia.

And that is exactly what I did. I came home. Their faces are indescribably dear to me. There really isnt anything monumental I would do. Ive always wanted to write a book, but there wouldnt be time. Ive seen many places.. eaten in great restaurants. Have had the thrill of some small sucesses. I think I would like to sit in a chair, outside in the sun. A good bottle of wine next to me.. ideally surrounded by my friends.. reminisce... and just laugh and laugh and laugh.

One more thing.... I would want to have great sex. once.... No, many times.. with someone I felt completely in love with.. and wildly attracted to. And I would like it to feel the way it did when I was 23. Thats it. Weeder, I'm so glad that everything worked out okay for you. Where were you that you went home from? I understand how it feels to be away from home but I've been gone so long now (25yrs) that here is home and THERE is home ya know? I'm caught between two places. I know where my heart lies and I also know that there is no work there...so what do you do?:)

Jives · Post by **Jives** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:13 pm

"nude swimming" how true is that!? Wendy, I must have missed your welcome thread, did you make one?

Well anyway, WELCOME!:D

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:35 pm

WendyB4 wrote: Weeder, I'm so glad that everything worked out okay for you. Where were you that you went home from? I understand how it feels to be away from home but I've been gone so long now (25yrs) that here is home and THERE is home ya know? I'm caught between two places. I know where my heart lies and I also know that there is no work there...so what do you do?:)
I left Virginia to go to Georgia... Same reason.. work opportunity.

It didnt matter though, because of the incident. I didnt care if I was poverty stricken. I just had to go home. Im not quite poverty stricken.. But I am paying the piper financially. If you want to go home, hunt and hunt for a position that will get you there.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:38 pm

I'm like you wanting to go home, weeder. I will keep thinking those thoughts, and want to go home to but cannot right now. It's hard when you're tied down to things................

Jives · Post by **Jives** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:15 pm

This got me thinking of my poor girl, she would really have a problem without me there for her when she gets sick. She's been hospitalized 113 times in the last ten years. Who would provide for her? Take care of her?

WendyB4 · Post by **WendyB4** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:23 pm

Jives wrote: "nude swimming" how true is that!? Wendy, I must have missed your welcome thread, did you make one?

Well anyway, WELCOME!:D thanks for the welcome Jives...and its true, so true...we've been in our new house for five years and every year I tell my hubby we need to put in a pool:D but he works out of town in the oilsands a lot and refuses to consider it till we have a six foot fence and locking gate. He says its too protect the neighborhood kids...I say I wanna SWIM

...he doesn't have time to put up a fence or in a pool right now...oh well..

WendyB4 · Post by **WendyB4** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:25 pm

SnoozeControl wrote: Wendy, I don't think I've said hello and welcome to you yet. Its very nice to meet you.

edit: and no, I'm not copying Jives.

:-6 Thanks snoozecontrol!

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:41 pm

Wow what a tough question.

1. I'd make sure that all my funeral arrangements are taken care of. I don't want to put Dave through that expierence.

2. I'd take my kids to all the places I have dreamed of taking them too. Seaworld, Disneyworld, the ocean, and both the Rocky and Smokey Mountains.

3. I'd take lots of photos of myself with the kids and make scrapbooks for each one letting them know how much I love them.

4. I'd travel to Europe and see all the countries I have always wanted to see.

5. Talk late into the night with Dave, letting him know how much I loved him.

6. Find my biological dad.

7. Give my possiesions away to those who would cherish them the most.

8. Eat my favorite foods everyday.

9. Work on forgiving my biological mom for everything she has done wrong to me.

10. Make my peace with my maker.

WendyB4 · Post by **WendyB4** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:00 pm

Sheryl wrote: Wow what a tough question.

1. I'd make sure that all my funeral arrangements are taken care of. I don't want to put Dave through that expierence.

2. I'd take my kids to all the places I have dreamed of taking them too. Seaworld, Disneyworld, the ocean, and both the Rocky and Smokey Mountains.

3. I'd take lots of photos of myself with the kids and make scrapbooks for each one letting them know how much I love them.

4. I'd travel to Europe and see all the countries I have always wanted to see.

5. Talk late into the night with Dave, letting him know how much I loved him.

6. Find my biological dad.

7. Give my possiesions away to those who would cherish them the most.

8. Eat my favorite foods everyday.

9. Work on forgiving my biological mom for everything she has done wrong to me.

10. Make my peace with my maker. Sheryl, don't wait too long if you are going to look for your bio Dad...I finally decided to contact mine only to find out he had died six months prev...

Your list seemed well thought out, I'd probably panic for the first week or two...

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:06 pm

I have tried looking for him, however my biological mom won't give me any clues. :rolleyes:

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:21 pm

Six month to live..!! I guess I travel eat chocolate and drink champagne, travel eat chocolate and drink champagne, travel eat chocolate and drink champagne, travel eat chocolate and drink champagne, travel eat chocolate and drink champagne, travel eat chocolate and drink champagne..

That took care of the six month..

leopardprint · Post by **leopardprint** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:25 pm

I would sell the house and travel as much of the world as I could fit in, starting with a safari in Africa. I'd have to make sure to spend the last little while back at home with family, friends and my doggies.

minks · Post by **minks** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:14 pm

I would give all I had to my daughters. Gather them close and cry and cry and tell them I love them and tell them I am incredibly proud of them both. Cry a little more.

Then I would ensure everything for my passing was looked after.

Next I would take my girls away to a place very dear to us, either Vancouver Island or Jamaica and I would make new and lasting memories for them.

I would return and spend time with my parents and my brother and sis in law. I would make a couple visits to some special friends I have yet to meet in person.

And lastly I would hope my final days would be spent in a lovely special place just the man and myself final moments shared just for us. Do the things we love to do together and try some new things. And with any luck my final glimps would be of him.

Egads how thought provoking and dreadful at the same time this brought tears to my eyes.

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:37 am

I would ride "The Tail of the Dragon" as many times as I could. I'd plan the perfect bank heist, and steal enough money for my son to live for the rest of his life. I'd probably spend 80% of my time left on my bike. Taking chances.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:08 pm

I brought this up because I read what Criss wrote and it made me hope she'll get to do every one of these things.....SOON!

KARENSVINEYARD · Post by **KARENSVINEYARD** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:46 am

WendyB4 wrote: The movie ''Last Holiday'' with Queen Latifah got me thinking about this. Of course in the movie she believe she only has three weeks. I can't even wrap my head around that except to say sell everything and go some place warm and take all those I love with me...but what if you found out you only had a few months to live? What would you do? What changes would you make to your life? For me I'd take my hubby and move him back to Nova Scotia for my last days. I left there 25 years ago but NS has never left my heart. I would spend time getting to reknow my family and hopefully it would be summer so I could swim in Shortts Lake and in the ocean again...so what about you?

I've often thought of what I'd do if I knew when I was going to die. I know alittle something about it, though details are for another day, another thread maybe, but it's in my nature to take a different approach of thinking. I'm scared out of my wits that reincarnation is true and when I die, I'm going to be born again and have to start all over, Kindergarten through 12th grade, college, marriage, pushing out an 8 pounder, and god forbid I have to go through the home buying process again, last but not least, dating after a divorce. I could deal with maybe being reincarnated into someone else that's been brought back to life that's my age, but if I do have to do it all over again i sure as heck don't want to know it's the second time I've had to do it. lol. I'm a hair bit "annie oakley" so I'd have to bring out the ol' shot gun and make sure I've perfected it incase I've gotta fight off the devil to get to heaven. I may even take a crash course in all world religions and faiths so that I've covered all my basis.

Grumpaz · Post by **Grumpaz** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:07 am

I think I'd say "Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead". Then I'd do anything I want to the best of my ability and go out in a blaze of glory.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:12 pm

Riding your scooter out to the barn so you could ride your horse?