If I should ever decide to take myself out, and it is not a poor health thing, I'm gonna make the world a better place before I go. I have this list in my head, constantly changing of course, of some folks who are using air that good people need..

Easy.

At the age of 120 in a scandalous nude skydiving accident (leave them scratching their heads).

And my girlfriend at the time so grief stricken that she has to sit out a year of college and move in with her parents....


Seriously,

How do I want to die?

I want to be lying down peacefully in the forest looking up at the trees at a very ripe old age.


How do I expect to die?

Unfortunately, experience has taught me that I will probably be in a hospital bed with needles in my arms, a tube down my throat and paralytics coursing through my veins to keep me from pulling my tube out.

Yes I have a living will, and my daughter at age 15 has known for a long time what DNR means and that I want it tattooed on my chest, but a lot of unpleasant things can happen on your way getting to the DNR-point.

I've got no control on how I die save making it a DIY job (not something I'm considering).

So I'm going to focus on how I live at this moment and let death worry about itself.

Good question though...

Just a quick reminder - DNRs are typically NOT effective outside of a hospital, such as when the paramedics come to you.

Jeff

I can understand that and I feel that way at times myself.

I've just taken care of so many individuals that enriched my life (while I was changing their diapers) and taught me about grace, dignity, and compassion (and some pretty good dirty jokes) that I hope I'm able to give that to some new nurses/techs in my old age.

I've also taken care of some vicious SOB's that try my patience (oh! how they try my patience - -high speed lead therapy is a tempting treatment option)

I just hope when Alzheimer's gets me I'm entertaining and happy. People will check on me then. If I'm an old a$$hole, they'll just restrain me and close the door and I'll die alone and scared.

Understood, Jeff.

I know y'all will do everything in your power to revive me if y'all are called.

It's up to me to instruct/ re-instruct/ re-re-instruct my family on when it's time NOT to call EMS and just let me go... Or at least if they have to, do it slooowlly, and give me a head start...

I am so very sorry as well Bill.

I hope they are able to get her pain under control and that she doesn't suffer anymore.

You and your family are in my thoughts.

I recently had a 'check out' moment.

Long story short, while doing my 3rd Ironman triathlon in April I raced myself into kidney failure and liver failure. All the muscles in my legs and ribcage cramped up. My lungs and heart cramped up. During all this, I refused to stop racing and refused all treatment on the course. This lasted for about six hours. The only thought in my head was, "Finish, never quit."

Consequently I didn't finish and when I made it to the hospital they told my wife, I would probably be dead in five or six hours. It turns out I have a condition that I did not know about with my kidneys and this exertion put it over the line.

I don't know how or when I will check out. I am still in recovery and have a 20% of dying on any hard work out I do to this day(and this is four months later). This has obviously caused my wife, family and I to have some very pointed dialogue about what I do for fun.

I'd like to think I will live a long, life with lots of happiness and adventure with my wife and son, plus one on the way. If I don't I have a well stocked spiritual bank account.

Glad you made it. I'm supprised that the condition didn't make itself known while you were training...

"...nude skydiving accident..."

I happen to have an intersting photo of some nude skydivers, PM me with an e-mail address and I will send it to you...

They are not all that great in the hospital either, 'specially if the DNR is not on that particular hospitals form. Been there, done that...