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For as long as I’ve worked in my department, there has been an older gentleman that comes in regularly to conduct business. Over the years, I have noticed a gradual decline in his overall health and, as of late, what appears to be the home stretch of a very long and fruitful life. Signs that the end is near include the inability to open his hand, drooling, the use of a walker, etc.
The Las Vegas in me asks the question, “How much time does he have left?”. Initially, I set the line at 18 months. But after thinking about it, maybe he still has a little more fight left in him. I mean, he was using an oxygen tank for a while but has since stopped. That must mean something, right? So maybe we should give him another year. 30 months? Hmm, a lot can happen in that amount of time. And I know that once you hit a certain point, there’s usually a sharp drop-off right before you check out. Let’s be honest, it seems like he’s been at that point for the last couple years now. After pondering this further with both my co-workers and that fucked up little voice in my head, I’ve decided it would be fair set the under/over at 24 months.
Yes, I’ve just set odds on the remaining lifespan of another human being. No, I do not feel great about it. I understand that this train of thought may be frowned upon, but if you’ve seen him in action I’m pretty sure your mind will go in that direction as well. Is it wrong for me to think this way? And more imporantly, is it bad that I ask others to think this way, essentially punching themselves a one-way ticket on a bullet train to hell? Yes, and yes… But as one of them says, coming from me, its par for the course.
