Every man dies...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

Few really live...

How many of us can say we've really lived?

Who has seized the day and done what we really wanted?

Or done something that left a larger mark on the world?

I wonder...

I know some who have, who have lived large...

Their deaths will leave a void when they're gone...

Will yours?

Will mine?

Just some random thoughts on this Friday...

[Haole Girl]

1. These are thoughts a lot of us will have tonight Peggy

Upon the news of Tim Russert's sudden death.

I am confident I have lived a full life-- really lived. I can also say I've helped people in my life... even if it's just during their travels.

Voids? Eh...I don't know about that.

There are only a couple of things left on my "bucket list" in fact. I'll take care of one of the last ones next month in fact.

You have made a difference, Peggy. :hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear KC2!

Yeah, I was thinking of Tim Russert too...

It's hard to see what comes after we're gone...

Oh yes...the Bucket List...

I still have lots on mine!

Thank you, sweetie...I hope I have... :hug:

[lost-in-nj]

4. yes

SEIZE THE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!



EVERY DAY......


:hi:



lost

[lost-in-nj]

3. CP I have to tell you

the deaths of my family members changed my life forever.

but the sudden death of my older brother made me realize how fragile we are
and how fast and final things can be taken away....

I believe everyones deaths leave a void and has a meaning.
and I believe we should tell the ones we love

that we do Love them.... every chance we get

you just NEVER know.......


it's a breath away......

we ALL make a difference



:hug:


lost

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. My dear lost...

Ah, I hear you, sweetie...

I thought about talking about love and always telling it to those we love...

But then I thought my post would become too long and unwieldy...

So I left it out.

I'm glad that you've brought it into our conversation!

I so agree with you!

My loved ones always hear this, even when I might be overdoing it...

You never know...

Thank you, sweetie...

:hug:

[Fredda Weinberg]

6. Isn't that funny ... and I was just complaining about real life drama

Someone else's life ... his career really, but I care and hard times are, well, making things harder. What happened today just reminds me why I take my body's signals seriously - it's been a stressful time for us all. Even success means change ...

And yes, we've gone through this together for a worthy purpose. More than a career, it's been a calling we've shared for almost a year. Yup, I'd say he's been living.

You don't need to be a celebrity to be feted ... Chris' air force buddies did that tonight. Glad I wasn't there, but happy he's made lots of faithful friends along his way.

So if you were wondering, the answer is certainly affirmative. Now that we're on a first name basis, I don't mind sharing my business associates w/you, dear CaliforniaPeggy.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. My dear Fredda Weinberg...

Thank you for sharing this story...

Yes indeed, success means change, and that can be very stressful...

I try to keep in mind that stress means that I am alive.

Much the way pain tells me the same thing...

[Fredda Weinberg]

16. Please, you needn't be so formal. May I call you Peggy?

As I was telling Chris earlier this week, I've seen too many who become addicted to thrill of living ... and sacrifice themselves trying to experience it again. They'll just have to deal with this, as we did.

Public grief can be very cathartic, but ultimately not enough for real tragedies. Still, for a public figure, shared sentiments seem appropriate.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. Of course, you may call me Peggy!

And I tend to be formal till told otherwise!

Your points are well taken, my dear Fredda!

[PunkinPi]

8. Thank you CP,

for reminding us about transcendence. Something beyond space and time. Carpe Diem!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. My dear PunkinPi!

Thank you for contributing!

Carpe Diem, indeed...

Seize the day!

We need transcendence if we are to rise above ourselves...

:hug:

[RadiationTherapy]

10. Yes I have and continue to do so.

Fuck a boring life! I am writing a book about it.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. My dear Radiation Therapy!

Good for you!

This is what I'm talking about!

Let us know when you find a publisher, OK?

:yourock:

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. My life has ended already.

Now it's just counting time.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. My dear MrsGrumpy...

My hope is that one day, you will feel differently...

And that you will no longer have to live just for your children...

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. It is what it is. That's all it is.

When someone is your everything, nothing in the world will make that different. Thanks for the thought.

[Ptah]

13. For some reason, I'm reminded of Blood Sweat & Tears singing "And When I Die"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wtwWsjpMuNU



I'm not scared of dying,
And I don't really care.
If it's peace you find in dying,
Well then let the time be near.
If it's peace you find in dying,
And if dying time is near,
Just bundle up my coffin
'Cause it's cold way down there.
I hear that its cold way down there.
Yeah, crazy cold way down there.

Chorus:

And when I die, and when I'm gone,
There'll be one child born
In this world to carry on,
to carry on.

Now troubles are many, they're as deep as a well.
I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell.
Swear there ain't no heaven and I pray there ain't no hell,
But I'll never know by living, only my dying will tell.
Yes only my dying will tell.
Yeah, only my dying will tell.

(Chorus)

Give me my freedom for as long as I be.
All I ask of living is to have no chains on me.
All I ask of living is to have no chains on me,
And all I ask of dying is to go naturally.
Oh I want to go naturally.

Here I go, hah!
Hey Hey!
Here comes the devil,
Right Behind.
Look out children,
Here he comes!
Here he comes! Hey...

Don't want to go by the devil.
Don't want to go by demon.
Don't want to go by Satan,
Don't want to die uneasy.
Just let me go naturally.

and when I die,
When I'm dead, dead and gone,
There'll be one child born in our world to carry on,
To carry on.
Yeah, yeah...




:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. My dear Ptah!

Ah, I love that song!

It truly speaks to me...

Thank you for that link, sweetie...

:hug:

[Inchworm]

19. I've lived

I never thought I'd make it this long. hehe

I've created.

I've learned.

I've helped others learn.

I've loved.

I've been loved.

I ain't done yet!

Hi Ms. Peggy ;)

(random answers)

:hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

20. My dear Inchworm...

Those are most excellent random thoughts...

Thank you for contributing them tonight, sweetie!

:hug:

[Deja Q]

21. Everyone has an impact on everyone else around them, regardless of perceived contribution...

or lack thereof.

:shrug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

22. My dear Hypno!

That is true!

But I'm also talking about that person living for him or herself...

Truly living the moment, the dream or what-have-you.

How many of us can say we've done that?


:hi:

[arcadian]

23. The question is irrelevant.

Here is one for you to ponder. Which of these persons has lived a more authentic life? A three year old who dies from leukemia or a 87 year old who dies from lung cancer.

No one person lives a more authentic life than another to the point that there is no such thing as an "authentic life". The material is irrelevant, life is irrelevant. When you truly know this you will have achieved satori. As a species we are unique in the universe as far as we know, this makes each one of us and indeed each instance of biological life an extremely rare resource.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

26. So...I am far from the state of satori...

I see what you're saying.

Both of those people lived "authentic" lives, but that's not what I'm talking about.

My point is: Did their lives matter? To themselves, to their loved ones, to anyone?

I do not think life is irrelevant. I cannot see that.

You may be right; I don't know.

[arcadian]

33. Time renders all things irrelevant

n't

[DarkTirade]

24. Not this man...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

29. My dear DarkTirade...

I don't know this man...

Tell me about him, please...

How does he fit in this conversation?

:hi:

[DarkTirade]

32. He is Duncan McCloud of the clan McCloud...

and he cannot die.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlander:_The_Series
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zawz18t1cTM

[CaliforniaPeggy]

37. Ah yes! I have heard of him...

And here's a little poem that describes what it would be like not to die:

Death is the crown of life; Were death denied, we all would live in vain; Were death denied, to live would not be life; Were death denied, ev'n fools would wish to die.

It's by Edward Young, a 16th century gentleman...

:hi:

[DarkTirade]

49. Immortality might be a curse...

but you'd have a while to get used to it. :)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

50. You would have time to get used to it, true!

But what if you didn't? :scared:

[DarkTirade]

51. That's why most immortality tales have some way out.

Vampires, gods, and more recently the immortals in the Highlander 'verse all have some way they can die. And the ones that don't are usually cautionary tales, like Tuck, Everlasting.

[Lionel Mandrake]

25. Henry David Thoreau wrote

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation."

I think we all have times of quiet desperation and times when life is sweet.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

27. My dear Lionel Mandrake...

I am familiar with that quote, and I know it's truth.

He also said that (I am paraphrasing) most go to their graves with their song still unsung...

I intend to sing my song!

:hi:

[Lionel Mandrake]

31. Attagirl! (nt)

[UrbScotty]

28. My dear CaliforniaPeggy...

As you know, events like today's serve as reminders that we ourselves must live our lives to the utmost - to truly live, as you said.

If you or I were to pass on today, how would we be remembered?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

30. My dear ih8thegop...

That is the question, isn't it?

I hope we would be remembered with love and tears...

By those we leave behind...

And that our words and deeds would inspire others...

That is my hope!

:hug:

[otherlander]

34. When I die

I hope to be remembered as a poet, an environmentalist, and a sex-crazed maniac.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

38. My dear otherlander!

Now, those are good things to be remembered for!

Especially that last...;-)

[amitten]

35. I feel I've made an impact....

Won't go into details, but I know I've changed some lives for the better (and I was glad to).

[CaliforniaPeggy]

39. My dear amitten...

I'm glad to hear it, sweetie!

Details are not necessary...

:hug:

[Fox Mulder]

36. My death will be meaningless...

no one will really miss me.

I have never lived. I really hope to.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

40. My dear Fox Mulder...

I would miss you, sweetie...

And I hope that you'll find your way to really living...

Keep the passion alive, for that makes life worth living...

But first, you must find what makes you passionate!

:hug:

[Fox Mulder]

41. Thank you.

Really. :) :hug:

I know what I'm passionate about, it's just difficult to figure out how to do what I want to do. :(

[clyrc]

42. As with so many other things, I try to strike a balance

with planning for the future and knowing there may not be one, for me and my loved ones. Both of my daughters have been dangerously ill at one time, my oldest when she was only 6 weeks old, so that colors my parenting. For a socially inept, anxiety ridden freak of a person, I've lead a rather interesting life so far. Now I'm doing my best to make sure my daughters have interesting, good lives.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

43. My dear clyrc...

Judging from your profile, I'd say you've lived an interesting life...

Living in the UAE has to be different, to say the least!

It can be difficult to strike a balance...

Hats off to you for doing that!

:hi:

[flvegan]

44. I like to think

That I've lived and left a mark on the world.

And that, is just so far.

Right, I'm not done yet.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

45. My dear flvegan...

I believe you have...

If all the dogs you've rescued could talk, they'd say so...

I imagine LeftyMom would say so too, but for different reasons...

You are young...sure as hell you're not done yet!

And even though I'm not young any more, I'm not done yet either, dammit!

:toast:

[flvegan]

46. Young as you feel, love.

:thumbsup:

[liberaltrucker]

47. I like to think I've influenced others

As dreadful as my first marriage was, a (now) teenager named Jessica
would never have been born. She's the daughter of my former stepson
who wouldn't have met his wife had I not married his mother.

I've experienced life, traveled to all the Lower 48, seen places that
most only dream of. I'm very fortunate for it.

Having said that, I take an antidepressant for a reason. My basic
thought on life is "you're born, you die", no different than any
other organism on the planet. I don't desire death, but it's gonna
happen. Afterward? I have no clue. Guess I'll find out in due time.

Sorry to be such a downer tonight. I get my moods.

:loveya:

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

48. My dear liberaltrucker!

Aw, sweetie...

I'm sorry you're down tonight...

I know you've had good affect on others...me, and several other folks we both know...

I don't know what follows our death, and that scares me too...

You are more than entitled to your moods, sweetie...

Your life is far from over!

:loveya:

:hug:

[khashka]

52. Oh that was happy!

I don't know if I've left a mark, that's for other people to decide, but I've tried to live life to the fullest. Do what I can, experience as much as I can, love as many people as I can - so on my deathbed I can say "I did OK. It was a good life."

Khash.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

53. My dear Khash...

I know you've left a mark...

On me.

And all for the good, too...

Your wife, and your daughter too...

And many, many others...

I think you'll be able to say "I did well. It was a good life."

Blessings on you for the terrific man that you are, sweetie...

:hug:

[khashka]

54. Oh, Peg you are so wrong

I am not a good man. The contract killing thing - it's true. I did not go through with it, but I wanted to. A good man would never have considered it.And I took it til the last moment and backed out. I'm always gonna wonder about what kind of man I am. And I sometimes wish I had gone through with it

So the nice guy you like is a murderer or would be.. I want that man dead - I don't believe in the death penalty, so I wanted to do it myself.


Still friends?


Khash.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

55. Of course we're still friends, silly!

Your past doesn't count for me, anyhow...

You have a good heart, a very good heart!

I would never judge your past deeds, or anything like that...NEVER.

You know how I feel about you!

You have added so much good to my life...

:hug: