Have you ever considered how you'd like to die? My grandmother is currently dying. On 27 December she went into the hospital with pneumonia. It took one and a half weeks to find an antibiotic that would treat the pneumonia. We knew that it had caused some congestive heart failure. She was put on an oxygen tank to help while they figured out which antibiotic to give her. Once they found the antibiotic, she was moved to a nursing care facility where she still is. Last week the doctors were hopeful about sending her home, but she had two children who lived at her home to take care of her who were sick. On Thursday she felt weak. Friday tests were taken and she has pneumonia again. She has always believed in the next life, but she is scared. She is completely cognizant of what is going on and the gravity of the situation. She is one of the bravest people I know and in many ways I hope that I can live as fully as she.
Other family have died of other things, some sudden, some prolonged. It has made me think long and hard about how precious life is. How uncertain life is. It makes me appreciate it all the more and the time we/I have with others around me. I find myself thanking more people. I am writing to those who I've put off writing to, and sometimes just picking up the telephone. If today were my last day, I've wondered, how would I spend it. How would you? Would you fear what you don't know or understand? Would you stand up to injustices? Would you try something new? Would you take that extra moment and smell a rose? Would you help a complete stranger? It is not carpe diem. That throws out responsibility. We have to be prepared for tomorrow, but live like today is our last.
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