This afternoon while channel surfing, I caught a few minutes of an interview Oprah had with Phil Keoghan (Amazing Race). He was talking about his other show, "No Opportunity Missed." I understand the idea of this show came about because of a near death experience Phil had, which unfortunately they didn't talk about, but the premise of the show is if you knew you had only until the next day at 3:00pm to live, what would you want to do, or to do with your life in that time frame?? Excellent question. Phil said he was surpised that so many people when asked this, didn't have an answer. I must admit, I need to think about it for a minute. They interviewed a diver who was terrified to dive in the ocean because of a severe shark fear, but who with Phil's help, was able to do it! Sounds like a cool show.

If I only had until 3:00 tomorrow to live, I wouldn't be out to do anything crazy like dive with the fishes. I'd want to surround myself with as many ideal (to my mind) things as possible ... I'd like to be in Miami, play some tennis, eat lots of candy, have some margaritas, be with the people I love, listen to the Bangles, and laugh a lot. I'd cram as much of that into the last day as I could. For me, there's not one particular thing that I haven't done that I'd be desperate to do ... all the things and people that make my life full are already in place. I'd just want to overdose on the happiness I already have!

He shouldn't be surprised, because no one generally thinks about this. Why? Because the possibility of it happening is non-existent. The only people who are given a specific date when they're going to die are criminals on death row. If you're terminally ill you're given a time range -- 3 months, 6 months whatever. Other than that, unless you're a really good psychic or planning your suicide it can't be foretold.

Okay, it did happen to Homer Simpson once. wink

[ February 04, 2005, 06:59 AM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

Well, Tim McGraw's new song says it all:

"I went sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchu
and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying."

anysonglyrics

Come to think of it, I think I would like to try sky diving, at least once. I have para sailed, and it was a total blast. Put me down for one sky dive please.

This may sound trite, but if I had only 1 night left, I would want to have a nice Prime Rib dinner with my hubby, then sit in the living room with a nice bottle of red wine, talk about the last 25 years, then go to bed. No sex, just holding.
To me, that would be the best memory to take into eternity

I don't think that sounds trite at all.

I know it's only TV and that requires action, but it amazes me that these people would want to "do" something with just 24 hours left. Quiet contemplation would be a whole lot appealing to me. But that would make for terrible television.

Sky diving is a blast; have done it four times. But swimming with sharks?? No way, nohow.

~Adam