The Pet Peeve

[smoker guy]

(07-05-2011 11:33 AM)boomer Wrote:  Happy Birthday Grandma! 93 - thats awesome!

Its great to see such passion amongst us. Its quite clear to ME that many of us are clearly using thought provoking responses to this topic....or series of topics. I am going to agree to disagree as well but before I finish, There are a couple points I would like to make. There was an incident here about a month ago, which is just classic to this discussion. A married couple on their Harley was struck by a young teenager driving a car. The woman was critically injured, while her husband driving the Harley they were on suffered a few broken bones. The woman is in critical condition, and if she survives will only be able to live in a vegetative state - all paid for by you and I. To think of what a helmet could have done to save this woman from serious injury, yet look at the lives she will undoubtedly affect because of one ill decision to ride without a helmet. I see those statistics all the time, and without quoting them, its just amazing how many lives could be saved - 40% roughly, just by the use of a helmet. Even Bubba - our very own fearless biker extraordinairre - will tell you that he doesn't wear one because its the law - he just wears it because its just good common sense. Its fine if you know you won't affect anyone else, but invariably the minute you go without one, and get hurt, you won't just affect yourself, but your family, friends, coworkers, your employer, and yes - even the government, because when your health care benefits run out, then its up to our government state and federal - to step in and cough up the rest. In essence - when you can affect that much of our community, does it not make sense to be a proactive member of the community and be safe by wearing a helmet?

I graciously yield to the rest since this particular soapbox won't hold a BIG guy for very long!

This is the reason both the Missus and I have a will, living will, and DNR. To prevent either of us having to go thru life on a ventilator and feeding tube. We both know that neither one of us want to be a vegetable and have taken the appropriate measures to safeguard against this. It may seem cold that I could "pull the plug" as it were on my wife, but I know after lengthy discussions...as does she, that neither of us see that as living. It is simply just existing.

I know that this could upset some, and for that I am truly sorry. I have come to the certain realization that besides my wife, I have no one in this world. I am fully accepting of my mortality and that I will die someday. This doe not mean that I am rushing head long towards it. I just accept it plain and simple. I can understand that this is hardboiled to be sure, but I found that this is how I view things. Is there a truly right and wrong answer to this debate? No is all I can come up with, as with others there is the answer yes.

Thank you to all of you great people on this site to show that you are thinking Individuals in all glorious colours of the world. Smoker Guy....OUT.