What would happen?

Weird morning coffee conversation yesterday with my girlfriend. “What would happen if the sun burned out?”

You’re pretty smart, is my guess. So you can probably figure we’d get kinda chilly pretty quickly. We Googled it, here’s what we learned: 

Humbling, huh??

Been doing a lot of reading this week. Not Fade Away by Peter Barton is top of mind, finished it this afternoon. Peter made a gazillion dollars in media, was awesome, all that, died of ugly cancer at 51. His “sun” went out 20, 30 years earlier than average...

If you’re wondering where the latest longevity tip is, maybe you want to spend a moment thinking about the “Why” behind your “How”s and “What”s? 

If this is still too existential for your taste? No sweat, as long as you’re busy doing what you’re meant to do. If you’re waiting on something, though? If you find yourself saying stuff to your friends like, “Wow, it must feel good to actually help people in your job, I wish I could do that!” or, “I’m waiting for the right time to have that conversation” or, “Someday we might move across the country”, maybe the rest of this newsletter will be useful? 

On Wednesday, talked with a Mayo Clinic patient whose stomach/kidney/intestinal cancer is causing blockages so only eats 500 calories per day, has lost 50 pounds since we started talking late last year. A year ago they were planning to take their grandson to a Green Bay Packers game in September 2026 to celebrate his HS graduation. 3 days every 2 weeks in the hospital for treatment right now, but treatment isn’t able to stay ahead of the disease. What’s that mean for the Packers game? BTW, they’re mid-50s…

Another patient this week. Early 60s. Bile duct cancer, needs a new liver. Cancer is moving faster than the transplant list. More days than not spent in the hospital the past 3 months. Doctors say it’s not looking good. At what point does “fighting cancer” become, “enjoying life in spite of cancer”?

Of course, you probably won’t get cancer. Sun isn’t supposed to burn out for another 5 billion years. Will probably make it to your 70s, maybe 80s, longer if that’s how the chips fall? And, no, I don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer, but there’s something powerful about having a front-row seat to death 5 days a week. 

Brings with it a certain…

Intolerance for BS?
Healthy sense of urgency? 
Reminder to do something useful with your life?