From Tracie: Only 24 Hours

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Only 24 Hours

In this week's Stream of Consciousness prompt, Jana asked what we would do if we only had 24 hours left to live. What would I do?

I would spend my time with Thomas and Katarina. They are the most important people in my life, and I would want to have that time together. There are other people who are precious to me, and I think that I would have a Google+ hangout with them - my mom, other family members, and my closest friends. (I'm not going to start listing them by name, because that would eat up my five minutes, and I don't want to leave anyone out in a hastily prepared list. Not that I'm actually dying, so it does not matter that much, but still.)

I would also spend some time writing. It seems to me that if I only had 24 hours to live, I would be ill and weak. (Unless we are talking about some sort of death penalty situation here, but that opens up a whole conversation about the legitimacy of the death penalty, and it seems a little off topic.) Being weak, I think that I would be tired after the video chat, so I would probably need some quiet time. In an effort not to waste precious minutes, I would spend that time writing letters. One to Thomas - words that only a wife can give to her husband. One to Katarina - words that only a mom can give to her daughter.

For everyone else, I would write a final blog post. It wouldn't be fancy. I wouldn't worry about SEO, or creating the perfect image. I would write from my heart, fast and honest, without editing.

I would probably eat some chocolate. French Fries. Ice Cream. But eating seems the least important thing when your hours are numbered.

Pictures. I would make sure that someone took pictures of us. At least one good one, but the rest can be silly, or just us sitting, together. Every picture is important when you lose someone you love. I would want my family to have those pictures from my last day.

It is hard to think of anything beyond this. I would want my time to be spent letting those who are dear to me know how I feel about them. I would want to be able to see, and hug, and cuddle with Thomas and Katarina every minute of those 24 hours. I would hope that when the time ended, they would know the depth of my love, and be prepared to move forward when the time is right.

Stream of Consciousness Sunday Badge

What would YOU do if you only had 24 hours left to live?

12 comments:

  1. You, my sweet friend, have a beautiful heart! Sounds like an awesome way to spend ANY 24 hours!

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    1. Thank you! I think I need to spend more days like this without the threat of it being the final day hanging over my head.

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  2. I can't even READ This. I am bawling. Love you, Tracie!

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  3. This is stressing me out. Live long and prosper, beautiful lady!

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  4. My life is limited. Stage IV cancer makes you think. First in my life is God. I am striving to get closer to Him and to win all my family and friends to Him. The day will come when I am gone, and only God can decide that, my family will need God to get through it. I strive for a quality of life over quanity of life. I pray 24/7. I work for my church. I try to understand people more. I listen.

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    1. There is a lot of peace in knowing that God is in control of even the most out-of-control things in this world.

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  5. That is a very nice list of things to do. FWIW, many years ago the boys and I had a conversation about what we would do if we were going to be executed in some sort of death penalty situation.

    Well, this may be TMI but I'll share it anway.

    I am lactose intolerant, but if I was going to be executed for a last meal I would eat a gallon of ice cream, a pizza and all sorts of other stuff.

    If you are going to take me out I am going to give you a gift you'd rather not get. ;)

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    1. Ha!! That made me laugh. You might as well go for it if they are going to execute you.

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  6. This is the kind of thing I can't bring myself to think about.

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    1. I totally understand. It is a question I usually wouldn't have answered, but for some reason it spoke to me this time.

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