More Reminders
With 2 days to go before I depart, another two reminders of why I am doing, what I am doing, right now, made themselves known to me again. My father had been complaining of something "not feeling right" with his heart the last few days. Late last year he was having chest pains and ended up getting an angioplasty. An angioplasty is a relatively simple procedure to clear up nearly clogged arteries to the heart. One of his 3 main arteries was clogged up 90% plus. If nothing had been done he likely would have had a heart attack. That could have been the end of him.
So, when he started commenting on it again I told him to go to the doctor sooner rather than later. Well this morning he got an angioplasty done on a different artery. He's in the hospital right now overnight.
Again, if he did not have the procedure or waited too long he probably would not be here in short order. Last year I met one of my father's long time classmates (They are in their mid-60s). He sent me a book to read after that meeting in San Francisco. So I remember him. Well...a few days ago he died of a heart attack. I'm not sure if an angioplasty would have saved his life - but it's likely. What some people pass off as heartburn or just lack of exercise, could indeed be the grim reaper waiting for the right opportunity.
That's reminder #1. Engage life fully when you're younger. From a health perspective - it only gets more difficult. Eyesight, cancer, arthritis, conditioning, joints, fat, whatever...and in some cases it won't get more difficult - because you won't be around. Too often the advertisements tell us to think about retirement, plan for this, plan for that, blah blah blah. They forget to tell you what your actual condition will be like if you make it that far. Too many people seem to delay certain things so they can make enough money for future events or material possessions, etc.. Of course, this doesn't mean blow everything now. But, what I'm trying to say is there is a time window to do certain things now, rather than later.
Speaking of getting more difficult. Reminder #2. An old friend of mine just sent out an email stating that his wife is pregnant. I know from talking to him that he hasn't traveled much outside the US. I don't think he has a great inclination to travel anyways. But - if you do - and you are reading this and don't have kids - go before you do. It only gets tougher. More responsibilities, more commitments. If not kids, then job pressures, or the inertia of them or...failing health of your parents. It's not impossible. I'm convinced you can travel with kids or at any age, nearby or afar. (I'm sure somebody has written a book on it) Maybe not for as long or as widely as I am planning, but it is possible nevertheless. But, it just gets more difficult. And the quality of the experience will be different.
These are just some of the reasons I am traveling so intensely now. Another one is that I'm gaining knowledge now that I can apply for the rest of my life. If I learned it later in life (if I made it that far) how much good could I do with it anyway? By then I might be so set in my ways that I could not act on them anyway.
So, when he started commenting on it again I told him to go to the doctor sooner rather than later. Well this morning he got an angioplasty done on a different artery. He's in the hospital right now overnight.
Again, if he did not have the procedure or waited too long he probably would not be here in short order. Last year I met one of my father's long time classmates (They are in their mid-60s). He sent me a book to read after that meeting in San Francisco. So I remember him. Well...a few days ago he died of a heart attack. I'm not sure if an angioplasty would have saved his life - but it's likely. What some people pass off as heartburn or just lack of exercise, could indeed be the grim reaper waiting for the right opportunity.
That's reminder #1. Engage life fully when you're younger. From a health perspective - it only gets more difficult. Eyesight, cancer, arthritis, conditioning, joints, fat, whatever...and in some cases it won't get more difficult - because you won't be around. Too often the advertisements tell us to think about retirement, plan for this, plan for that, blah blah blah. They forget to tell you what your actual condition will be like if you make it that far. Too many people seem to delay certain things so they can make enough money for future events or material possessions, etc.. Of course, this doesn't mean blow everything now. But, what I'm trying to say is there is a time window to do certain things now, rather than later.
Speaking of getting more difficult. Reminder #2. An old friend of mine just sent out an email stating that his wife is pregnant. I know from talking to him that he hasn't traveled much outside the US. I don't think he has a great inclination to travel anyways. But - if you do - and you are reading this and don't have kids - go before you do. It only gets tougher. More responsibilities, more commitments. If not kids, then job pressures, or the inertia of them or...failing health of your parents. It's not impossible. I'm convinced you can travel with kids or at any age, nearby or afar. (I'm sure somebody has written a book on it) Maybe not for as long or as widely as I am planning, but it is possible nevertheless. But, it just gets more difficult. And the quality of the experience will be different.
These are just some of the reasons I am traveling so intensely now. Another one is that I'm gaining knowledge now that I can apply for the rest of my life. If I learned it later in life (if I made it that far) how much good could I do with it anyway? By then I might be so set in my ways that I could not act on them anyway.
