ive always been surprise i've made it thi

I could use some blender/hand injury puns.

Daughter had surgery yesterday. Long-term prognosis is pretty good: it's likely that she'll regain total or near-total function. At the moment, though, she has pins inserted in two fingers on her right hand that will remain for six to eight weeks; that hand is totally immobile for the moment. Also two severed tendons that were repaired during surgery. One broken finger on her left hand has some indeterminate nerve damage, and bone fragments were taken out during surgery. Until her post-op next week, she has the use of her left (non-dominant) pinky and that is it -- so she can't open doors, eat, dress, shower, take meds etc by herself.

Despite some nightmares, she's in good spirits -- she easily easily could have lost multiple fingers. But dumb puns are the best good wishes we could have -- and thanks for being yourselves, OOT.

HT

Man you guys discussing mortality are a depressing bunch. How about something a little more fun?



My dad and one of my brothers went up to the mountains a few days ago to go fishing. I didn't think it was a great idea (and I had to work anyway) but they camped out in the middle of nowhere. Meh.

Anyway, the point is that since I didn't go of COURSE they proceeded to catch more big wild browns than I've ever seen at one time. Figures.
This is about half of the pics they sent me.
I guess they basically used light bass gear with ~10lb test for the bigger fish, and only caught a few on the fly rod.
Im definitely getting cabin fever now.










This guy was somewhere north of 28"

See, that's the thing though, cs3. It's not a depressing topic, or shouldn't be at least. It's annoying how much modern society shies away from talking about this stuff.

That is something I really enjoy about studying history, how earlier cultures were much more in tune with death because it was so present in their daily lives.

P.S. Some great catches, tho!

lollllllllllll, this is great
Right, okay. So, what do we do with this? Knowing is one thing, applying it is a different beast.


BH,

Really appreciate your thoughts and they seem to mirror a lot of my own. When my younger brother died in his car crash, he was ejected through the windshield about 50 feet away into a field. Officials say he likely died immediately when going through the windshield, but I can't help imagining him plummeting toward the earth, conscious of his last few seconds of life. Or, being immediately aware of the severity of danger as his car slipped off the road into the tree. Just like you, I've rear-ended someone before, and I had recurring nightmares about the moment of impact for months.

Edit: We don't have to stay on this topic if it makes the thread uncomfortable. I'm just genuinely curious and think about this stuff a lot.

I've lived a hectic life from the age of about 19. Finally found love (after multiple failed attempts prior) and I don't have a job (that I hate). I knew I was wasting the prime years of my life but there wasn't much I could do about it, now I'm on the other end of it and life is great. I was always worried I'd die before I could get here.

Over time I transitioned from fear of death/the void, to sadness at the knowledge of my finite time on this earth (and not being able to seize the day), to contentment that comes with age (and my situation drastically improving). I'm shy of 40 but I feel closer to a 60 year old in terms of what I've experienced in life. I was always afraid I was going to miss out when I was younger.

You talk about history, I often think about things like Alexander the Great being dead by 32. Similar thoughts helped get me through the depressive times realizing that while I wasn't in that great of a spot, if I looked around me I was still a king comparatively to any other time in history. Technology is great, even if it might end up being the root of our demise.

There's also just personal development that comes along with age. The less insecurity you have, the more you can confront whatever fears you have. I'm still extremely fearful of what the end of my life will be. Basically I don't want to suffer and especially not for a lengthy amount of time, but I feel I've reached a perspective that most people don't until they're much older and so I hopefully get to really enjoy the next 20-30 years. Beyond that, why tilt at windmills? No sense worrying about what you can't control, bc you can't control it. No sense worrying about what you can control, bc you can control it. It's one thing to know it, it's another thing to accept it and give up the fight.

Where's roundguy when you need a deep take on something?

Surely you read the 25 posts where he quit the site. All it was missing was a "see, this is why I don't post here anymore."

The idea of nothingness is so foreign I can't really wrap my head around it, but I don't fear it. The idea that I wasted my life (which I mostly have up to this point) is different. I've made a lot of changes and I'm ready to give it a go. All I really want is 5 or 10 good years, but in the back of my mind there's this sense of dread that I'll never get the chance, that my time is about up.


Maybe it's just the isolation ****ing with me

beautiful fish btw

I don't know, man. His goodbyes read like someone peace-ing out from Earth.

WTF I'm not asking for a spot, but were those fish caught in CA?

oT,

Yes, CA. Those fish were all caught in the Bridgeport area, right off HW 395.
The more silvery/blue ones in the top 2 pics were out of Bridgeport Reservoir. The rest are from the East Walker.

What do you think you should do with it? Some people find it easy to drop a thought when it is unproductive. Some people don't. If you are the second type, then platitudes that others offer can be glossed over.

Also, what should you do with the fear? Fear is potentially a great motivator. Maybe find some use for it.

I fear dying badly. Death pales in comparison. I used to not be, and afaict it wasn't bad. Suffering sucks though, and I'd like to avoid that.

Also, also, getting older helped me a lot. Not sure why, but it seems to be pretty common for people to worry less about everything as they age. I wish that for you.

codesis,

Seems you're a mush in the fish dept.


Here's a song I like that has some good lyrics regarding this topic. And delivered beautifully imo.

I wish the same, but I just don't know if I'm programmed that way. My brother died when I was 23, and I've only thought about death more and more every day since. I'll turn 32 this summer (unless I die first, lolz). I have his signature tattooed on my hand, the intention being a nice existential kick every time I notice it. "Don't take this all so seriously."

Again, it's not like I'm stewing in misery and fearful of death at every turn. I simply think about my impermanence often.

Many people ascribe life's meaning along the lines of Gilgamesh, that we should strive to be remembered. DI mentioned the same with Alexander, which is what pushed him, and I think this works for a lot of folks. But for me, I don't really see the point and honestly don't care how I'm remembered, because it has no bearing on me in any way.

Existence as a sentient human is just an odd deal. If I were offered the terms upfront, I'm not sure if I would take it.

“I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.”

― Mark Twain


its amusing to see this as its a frequent experience of mine as well. everything is very strange if you look at it from a certain angle.

anyway, nihilism/randomness ftw, yo! only thing that gets me down sometimes is that I won't be here to watch the whole show unfold.

Can I tag along? I promise not to bang any married guys -- too much.

Reminds me of when me and my other married friends would go to the bar and dance with the college guys. They always thought they were going to get laid. They never did.



RG is fine, just playing in his garden.

Oh, but he keeps yelling that LKJ sucks, which is weird, because RG loves everybody. What did you do LKJ?

You might indeed not be programmed that way, but 32 would be a pretty young age to have already become chill.

Honestly, if you aren't stewing over it a ton then you are doing fine imo.

Also, losing your brother and not thinking much about the ephemeral nature of life would be quite weird. 23 is way to young to deal with **** like that.

I won't be remembered for long once I am gone. I'm on the same page as you.

You swam the fastest, man. Granted, this probably doesn't exactly count as a choice, but you could have sand-bagged the race.

I blame my parents for my existence. Fortunately, I don't mind existing, so it doesn't cause too many fights.

@27, I am often keenly aware that I am dealing with fairly hairless apes. And that I am one.

My point was just that you can get a lot done in a short amount of time. I didn't say that clearly.

My main historic takeaway is the Roman consul who was much more content retired in his countryside, consumed by his cabbage growing than with the drama going on back at HQ.

I'm much more about Stoicism than trying to have some great accomplishments. I just chill here and crack wise ffs.

He harbored grand visions of a farewell tour where people would shower him with affection and cup his balls while Tina Turner's "Simply the Best" played on a loop. I voiced an alternate vision.

Going to the bathroom always reminds me how much we're animals.

Sex is really weird too.

Lol, to be fair, it's probably a lot easier to be a Stoic when you're a member of the 1%. He wasn't physically pushing his plow, his slaves were. But still, I get your sentiment.

You always struck me as more Epicurean than Stoic.

He does that. I love that song. I disagree with RG. I think you are nice.

It's all a matter of perspective.

Everyone itt is a member of the 1% globally.