A Cautionary Tale

[Stegosaurus37]

A man was walking down the street in New York when he suddenly came face-to-face with Death. Death gave him a look of surprise and passed on.

The man was totally freaked out and got on the first plane available to Los Angeles.

Next morning the man was having a cup of coffee in Los Angeles and feeling he'd dodged a big one, when Death tapped him on the shoulder and said "let's go."

"But I just saw you yesterday in New York", the man said.

"I know," Death replied. "That's why I was so surprised. I'd been told to meet you here in Los Angeles today."

[greatjohn]

OMG....that little prose reminds me of Emily Dickinson's poem,

"Because I could not stop for Death"

I hope you're doing well today ....it's a glorious Easter Day in South Florida....No asparagus popping up in our garden (damn it)....but fresh mulberries and bananas!

Enjoy the Day!

John

[Break60]

We don’t have a number on our back . We have free will so we can control our destiny. We can choose to treat our illnesses or not. But everyone has free will and they can kill us either on purpose or through neglect like texting or drinking while driving . s—-t happens!

[pjoshea13 in reply to Break60]

Steg's post is amusing, but it is inappropriate in the context of this group. Why join if one isn't interested in the possibility of extending life?

He seems to be saying that it is foolish to fret over Xtandi versus Zytiga, vegan or caveman diets, & whether an eggwhite omelette is safe, etc, because the dates of our deaths are already set. & who believes that these days?

-Patrick

[Stegosaurus37 in reply to pjoshea13]

That wasn't my intent. The point I was trying to make is we can't predict it. Heck, I've been "written off" by two sets of oncologists and flunked every standard therapy plus a clinical trial and I'm still going. Remember, you can get clobbered by a beer truck tomorrow. Positive attitude and don't sweat it.

[pjoshea13 in reply to Stegosaurus37]

Thanks.

[Break60 in reply to pjoshea13]

Anyone who does is misguided. Why would a child die of cancer or for any other reason as part of a plan? Does God want children to die early? Did Jesus want Hitler to live a long life so he could kill Jews like himself? Whatever happens just f—-ing happens.

[dbrooks_h in reply to Break60]

Everyone has a number on their back and there is nothing you can do to change it, get over it.

Its your faith, destiny and a demise you can not change.

[Stegosaurus37 in reply to dbrooks_h]

I had a squadron commander who said when your number is up, you can go and hide under the bed and a spring will come loose and stab you. The "number is up" comes from the idea that the bullet that gets you has your serial number on it. Of course, bullets never have been numbered but it's an interesting superstition.

[CalBear74]

Ask Death for a game of chess first. (See The Seventh Seal by Ingmar Bergman.)

youtube.com/watch?v=f4yXBIi...(Not working as expected?)

[monte1111]

Clobbered by a beer truck would be poetic justice for me. I have an appointment in Samarra.

[j-o-h-n]

Can you please change that to an Ice Cream Truck? Thanks...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 04/22/2019 6:02 PM DST

[Stegosaurus37 in reply to j-o-h-n]

What flavor?

[j-o-h-n in reply to Stegosaurus37]

Chocolate Chip....Thanks

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 04/22/2019 6:50 PM DST

[dbrooks_h]

It may not be in LA,

BUT IT WILL BE SOONER THAN YOU WOULD LIKE,

COUNT ON IT

[pjoshea13 in reply to dbrooks_h]

On the other hand, some live longer than they would wish. Outlive resources; have to cope with the common infirmities of very old age.

-Patrick

[ctarleton]

For advanced cancer folks, the book, "Being Mortal", Medicine and What Matters at the End, by Atul Gawande is a good read. The companion Frontline documentary is worthwhile, too.

pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film...

[Hidden]

Great Stego.. thanks

[Hidden]

You can run or fly but you just can’t hide from the reaper.

[G9doingfine]

Death is in LA ? That doesn’t worry me. He will get stuck in traffic on the 405 for a few years, then probably start taking acting classes and forget about his real job while going on auditions and looking for an agent . What a relief !