Fifty Plus (50+) - The way I'd like to die

Here's a sad story (http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007312200002). An 81-year old cyclist was hit and killed by a large pickup truck near here yesterday. It's hard to tell from the story just what happened, but it sounds like a left cross. Even though it probably was the driver's fault, it's written like the cyclist caused it ("traveled into the path" of the pickup).

I've thought about this a bit. I'd sure much rather die on the front end of a pickup than shriveled up with cancer. And I sure hope I'm still biking at 81.

I know what you mean. I have no desire to drag through a prolonged process of dying, but at the same time I regard 81 as a bit early for checkout.

I would like to know more about what happened in this incident -- some of the vehicular cycling fanatics are already betting that the cyclist was riding too far to the right to be seen by the motorist. We simply do not have enough information from the news report (typical).

I was at that exact location over Thanksgiving, visiting parents (about the age of the cyclist) and for a family wedding. I drove Wickham Road a dozen times that week. It's a busy street, but I can't recall any other details. So sad!

There is an interesting book titled(I am pretty sure) "They went that a way" with short one page stories of how famous and semi famous people actually passed away.

I have a frame in my garage upon which the owner died while riding. Stroke or heart attack, DOA before he hit the ground while riding rail to trail. Seems like a reasonable way to go out.

A few years ago, I would have opted for a final sudden flaring of the torch and a dramatic, almost cinematic death with flashing colors, screeching car brakes, age defying flourish, etc. Perhaps even a mysterious young woman weeping gently at my roadside memorial, maybe laying a Clif bar (almond fudge) beside the bent wheel embedded in the ground. But,

having experience several family deaths, I think I would prefer to avoid having CrossChain an undignified smear on the pavement or being a large moth on someone's radiator. Going out adventurously doing what I love would be a second, not so awful choice. Hiking in Yosemite, or descending through sun and shadow on a favorite road. Does touch my heart.

Mostly, though, I'd prefer to be holding the once small but now grown hands of my son and daughter.

A long time from now. After having taught the not-here-yet grandkids to ride their bikes.

I've noticed that bias in most reports. Even eye witnesses can see things through personal filters. Give me a video tape of me, at age 99, being caught doing the deed with a 20 something gal, and getting blown away by her jealous boy friend.

It's always sad to hear about a cyclist killed while riding.

I prefer to go like my friend did a few years ago. He returned from a ride and his wife asked if he wanted to go shopping with her. He declined her invitation and said he was going to take a shower and watch television. She found him dead in his recliner upon her return.

I've thought about this a bit. I'd sure much rather die on the front end of a pickup than shriveled up with cancer. And I sure hope I'm still biking at 81.

Yeah, I'd rather enjoy life to the end. The worst death is to shrivel away. My uncle, a former editor of Playboy(He wrote the articles that you read it for and established the Playboy Interview (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE2DF1730F930A1575AC0A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all)) had several strokes in his 60s. It was so sad to visit this once vibrant man in the rest home. Worse yet, was that you could tell that he was still in there. His passing was a kindness after that.

Ken C has it. Death by jealous boyfriend, for good cause.

Does there have to be a choice? I wasn't planning on ever checking out. Is this something I need to learn about?

Seriously, Nora and I are volunteering one afternoon a week in an Alzheimer's Home, singing and providing other music. They had a death 2 days prior to our last visit, and everyone was down-hearted. We know that one day one of the people we worked with the last week will not be there. Yet, the folks in the home are amazingly receptive to our music, love having us there, and are enjoying their life to some degree or other.

I have quite mixed feelings. My son, paralyzed from the shoulders down, leads a wonderful life with his wife as a nationally known lawyer firm. I know dozens of folks in wheel chairs who lead strong, productive, extremely happy lives. In fact, at my wife's 70th birthday, we chose friends to attend, all of whom are in wheel chairs, as they are the best company and friends we know.

We all speculate on the "quality of life" of other folks, and I have heard many times, "I don't want to live my life paralyzed in a chair." However, if you ask most folks who are paralyzed in chairs, they would answer quite differently. Life is a precious commodity, no matter what your physical condition. People adapt amazingly well to sometimes seemingly unbearable situations.

OTOH, my mom, 93, yearns to die, even though she is mentally as alert as when she was 20.

It is not a simple problem.

I go to breakfast every Sat. morning with my father and talk about a lot of things. One Sat. we got to talking about death and he said some thing which I will always remember. He doesn't remembered where he got the quote but it stuck in my mind. The quote is "The Lord has covered our eyes to the joy of death that we might endure life."

Thats all I have to say about that.....

While we are on this morbid supject during the Holiday season, I saw something on TV about the fact that humans are the only animal that can think, and worry, about their demise.

Another thought I had was at this time of year especially up North are drivers not thinking about encountering a cyclist. I was going to ride tomorrow so I will be extra careful.

It's better to burn out, than it is to rust.

My friends Mon just died. Her last words to her kids were "Have a good life. I did."
Not so bad.

I always thought that Bing Crosby did it well. Bing was devoted golfer and even turned down doing "Columbo" because he thought it would interfere with his game. According to the imdb.com...

"On the day of his death he played a full 18 holes of golf, where he scored a respectable 85 and won the match. Walking off the 18th green of the La Moraleja Golf Club, in a suburb of Madrid, Spain, he suffered a massive heart attack. His last words were reported as, "That was a great game of golf, fellas." However, according to the Summer 2001 issue of Club Crosby's BINGANG magazine, he then said, "Let's go have a Coca-Cola." According to his biographer Gary Giddens, Crosby's last words were, "Let's go get a Coke.".

It's better to burn out, than it is to rust.

My-my, hey-hey

I want to die like my father, in my sleep, not like everybody else in the car.

I'll take it however it comes. But as John Prine put it: (http://www.jpshrine.org/lyrics/songs/srpleasedontburyme.html)

Please don't bury me
Down in that cold cold ground
No, I'd druther have "em" cut me up
And pass me all around
Throw my brain in a hurricane
And the blind can have my eyes
And the deaf can take both of my ears
If they don't mind the size

Mostly, though, I'd prefer to be holding the once small but now grown hands of my son and daughter.

A long time from now. After having taught the not-here-yet grandkids to ride their bikes.

+1

I'd for sure like to die while riding my bike, but I'm kind of torn between having a massive heart attack and slamming into a mountain (or over the side) because I went into a corner just a bit too fast . . .

Guess I'll just have to wait and see!

Rick / OCRR

No pain whatsoever! dying while sleeping is good, second, I guess by administering drugs. I don't think on my bike or heart attack, wouldn't that hurt for a second, or two, or three? don't know, never been there.

knotty

This thread is just so much bad karma/juju... I want to focus on the way I want to live with whatever time I have left. When the end comes, it will take care of itself. Knock on wood, rub rabbit's foot, throw salt over the shoulder, make sure four-leaf clover is still in my wallet, etc.

No pain whatsoever! dying while sleeping is good, second, I guess by administering drugs. I don't think on my bike or heart attack, wouldn't that hurt for a second, or two, or three? don't know, never been there.

knotty

Have had two friends have heart attacks on rides that they did not survive. Both went very quick and were doing something they wanted to do. Haven't thought about the final bit but having had a couple of serious scares- I think I am on borrowed time as it is. When it comes- I just hope I am ready.

I go to breakfast every Sat. morning with my father and talk about a lot of things. One Sat. we got to talking about death and he said some thing which I will always remember. He doesn't remembered where he got the quote but it stuck in my mind. The quote is "The Lord has covered our eyes to the joy of death that we might endure life."

Thats all I have to say about that.....



Here is a wonderful and vast site about "near death experiences and the afterlife"

http://www.near-death.com/index.html

I'll take it however it comes. But as John Prine put it: (http://www.jpshrine.org/lyrics/songs/srpleasedontburyme.html)

Please don't bury me
Down in that cold cold ground
No, I'd druther have "em" cut me up
And pass me all around
Throw my brain in a hurricane
And the blind can have my eyes
And the deaf can take both of my ears
If they don't mind the size

I've already arranged to donate my body to science. And I told my daughter to make sure that I have a ghost bike memorial if I die on the bike in traffic. After the ashes come back to her she is going to scatter some of them into the wind in one of my favorite outdoor places...

I don't think about death much....:D

This thread is just so much bad karma/juju...

I don't think so. It's only death that makes life seem sweet. :D

Last year some friends took a bicycling vacation to Italy. It was a life long dream. The husband, age 80, while climbing a long, windy road, had a heart attack and died immediately. I almost can't think of a better way to go - doing something you love and fulfilling a dream. I can imagine he's still climbing that long hill in Heaven.

I tried to donate my body to science and they said "No Way!"

Last year some friends took a bicycling vacation to Italy. It was a life long dream. The husband, age 80, while climbing a long, windy road, had a heart attack and died immediately. I almost can't think of a better way to go - doing something you love and fulfilling a dream. I can imagine he's still climbing that long hill in Heaven.

Merry Christmas you all!




:)

Last night here in Wisconsin, a 66 yr old man, in very good health, and who had a net worth of $3.5B, yes that is billion, got home from an evening out with his wife. He had some work done on his garage roof during the day. When he got home at 10PM, he had to check out the work, so he climbed up on a ladder, onto the snow covered roof, slipped off and fell to his death.

If I were worth $3.5B, there is no way I'd be up on my roof, in the snow, at 10PM.

Last night here in Wisconsin, a 66 yr old man, in very good health, and who had a net worth of $3.5B, yes that is billion, got home from an evening out with his wife. He had some work done on his garage roof during the day. When he got home at 10PM, he had to check out the work, so he climbed up on a ladder, onto the snow covered roof, slipped off and fell to his death.

If I were worth $3.5B, there is no way I'd be up on my roof, in the snow, at 10PM.

Well, there you go. Life is uncertain -- eat dessert first!

Something no one has mentioned, but we all want......not to "be a burden to those we love". Getting smushed out on the road would be an "easy" as well as, relative to wasting away in the hands of Hospice, an almost dainty way to go.

Now, I'm turning back to the joys and affirmations of Christmas.

I tried to donate my body to science and they said "No Way!"

Maybe you can donate your body to science fiction. ;)

Last night here in Wisconsin, a 66 yr old man, in very good health, and who had a net worth of $3.5B, yes that is billion, got home from an evening out with his wife. He had some work done on his garage roof during the day. When he got home at 10PM, he had to check out the work, so he climbed up on a ladder, onto the snow covered roof, slipped off and fell to his death.

If I were worth $3.5B, there is no way I'd be up on my roof, in the snow, at 10PM.

It may have been at his wife's suggestion. :p

Its odd how it works, I've already buried my younger brother, my Mom and Dad, and to many friends to count any more, but have two grandmothers still going strong, both in their 90's. Sadly they both are ready to move on, tired of life and tired of watching their friends die. Can't decide which way is worse, but I figure if I outlast my Dad (only 54 when he died) I'll probably have to done in so my kids can get at their (laughable) inheritance :)

I hope you all survive the holidays, have a safe and joyful time with those you love around you, and live to ride a long time with all the joy your able to carry along.

Death is ok, I don't fear it. There are things I do fear, such as 1) dentures 2) chronic pain 3) incontinence 4)being quadraplegic 5) stage 4 cancer 6) being put in a "home" and the big one 7) alsheimers disease.

There's probably a lot of pretty good ways to die. Not that, imo, it makes the least bit of difference, even speaking retroactively, once one has passed the ponr. Last year I felt that I was very close to having died from the flu. I was really a goner there for a bit. It wasn't bad at all. I recommend it.

Two seasons ago the club lost a veteran rider and I lost a good friend when a fella who could do centuries on a fixie in under 6 hours, suddenly passed away while doing climb in the hill country southof Buffalo.
His heart just simply stopped..No heart Attack,it just stopped.
Walt went doing something he truly enjoyed.
I hope when my time comes it arrives sliding and totally worn out screaming God,What A Ride!

.After the ashes come back to her she is going to scatter some of them into the wind in one of my favorite outdoor places...

I don't think about death much....:D

I told my mom that when I die, I want to be sprinkled on her living room floor, so she could pick up after me one last time.

I told my dad (an inveterate remodeler) that I was going put him in a casket that was too small, so he could add on to it in the afterlife.

My son and I have an understandng: I'm to be taxidermied and put on castors. I will be kept in the house and attend all important functions. I am NOT to go to a garage sale. Also, I am NOT to be draped with Christmas lights or wet laundry. In return, he will have the benefit of consulting me via the 8-ball I have in my hand. Can I trust him on this?

I told my mom that when I die, I want to be sprinkled on her living room floor, so she could pick up after me one last time.

:D:D:D

(Also, have your mom send your Atlantis to my wife. She'd love it!)

Is there a "no" option in this poll?

My son and I have an understandng: I'm to be taxidermied and put on castors. I will be kept in the house and attend all important functions. I am NOT to go to a garage sale. Also, I am NOT to be draped with Christmas lights or wet laundry. In return, he will have the benefit of consulting me via the 8-ball I have in my hand. Can I trust him on this?

Too Funny!!! :D

Last night here in Wisconsin, a 66 yr old man, in very good health, and who had a net worth of $3.5B, yes that is billion, got home from an evening out with his wife. He had some work done on his garage roof during the day. When he got home at 10PM, he had to check out the work, so he climbed up on a ladder, onto the snow covered roof, slipped off and fell to his death.

If I were worth $3.5B, there is no way I'd be up on my roof, in the snow, at 10PM.

The real irony in this one is no kidding, the guy made his money in the ROOFING BUSINESS!

It is going to be at age 140, skiing and going over a cornice while listening to Rolling Stones 'Symphony for the Devil."

Die? I'm never going to d

My son and I have an understandng: I'm to be taxidermied and put on castors. I will be kept in the house and attend all important functions. I am NOT to go to a garage sale. Also, I am NOT to be draped with Christmas lights or wet laundry. In return, he will have the benefit of consulting me via the 8-ball I have in my hand. Can I trust him on this?

How many times have kids done exactly what we've told them:rolleyes:

I want to die in my sleep, like my grandpa....not like those screaming people who were in the back seat!

It doesn't seem like that long ago when I was sarcastically saying "If I'm going to die young, I'd better hurry up and do it!" That option has long since passed. Hell, at 56 (57 really soon), I'm pushing it by referring to myself as "Middle Aged". But the way I'd like to die? Sorry, I can't see myself liking it under any circumstances. The way I hope to die, however, is with at least some modicum of dignity, feeling some sense of accomplishment, however small or trivial. At the very least, feeling I'm leaving the world a better, brighter place simply by leaving it. And looking forward to the next great adventure. Reluctantly going where countless billions have already gone, and we haven't heard one complaint from them now, have we? Peace.

Man, I tried donating my body to science fiction and they turned me down! (With apologies to Rodney Dangerfield, RIP)