Lifespan is difficult to determine, especially as we never know what is around the corner like cancer, or other life-threatening disease. It might seem easy to say, someone should have a long healthspan and their ending would be without complications. You know, they go to bed, and the next day they have deceased. Wouldn’t that be the perfect ending?
Actually, you hear those stories often. My old pal told me his dad was a heavy smoker, and had a four-pack of Guinness under his bed when he snuffed it. Apparently, it was from one minute to the other; a grumpy old man of 88 who had a peaceful death whilst asleep. Then my British friend told me, life is short and you have to make the most of it by having the time of your life, died at 72 in what could be construed as a sad ending.
He went from one wife to the other producing offspring, partying and having affairs, sniffing cocaine, smoking and eating simply what he fancied. Often eating Italian salami, French brie and camembert cheese, and crackers just before hitting the sack. He was wealthy, avoided the gym, and had a way of staying on top of his game.
In other words, although his personality made him an extremely likeable person, on the other hand he was a one stop enthusiast to die young! Oh, and by the way; he suffered hard core diabetes which he abused for pleasure in his 60s, and in the last years of his life his own daughter put him in a mentally insane institution where he eventually died.
It all certainly makes you wonder about your own future. Do you have anyone who cares enough to look after you when you are old and dying? This is a difficult discussion, as every case is different. My mum of ninety-seven years old (see picture) is in the middle of a calamity, right now.
It might seem a morbid, unnecessary subject, but in our lives we should be aware that getting old is no easy walk in the park. There are a million things to consider before simply shipping off your loved ones to a care center.
Take care!
Prof. Carl Boniface
Vocabulary builder:
Healthspan (n) = unlike lifespan (lifetime, lifecycle, life, life expectancy), it means the time you are alive you are well and without any major complications.
Snuffed it (phrasal verb) = died. As a verb it can mean put out, extinguished, smothered, destroyed, dowsed, (ant) lit, ignited, set alight
Hitting the sack (idiom) = You use the phrase 'Hit the Sack' to indicate that it's time to go to bed. Example of use: “I've got to get up early tomorrow, so I'm going to hit the sack.”
Calamity (n) = disaster, catastrophe, mishap, misfortune, tragedy, blow
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