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178 pounds
Today Is The First Day Of Spring
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Man is born in a day, and he dies in a day, and the thing is easily over; but to have a sick heart for three-fourths of one's lifetime is simply to have death renewed every morning; and life at that price is not worth living.
--Gilbert Parker
After reading the question "Is Life Worth Living" on one of those Self-Help websites and after pondering the many answers posted in the comments section, especially the ridiculous and the mostly trite and meaningless ones, I gave up and vowed to think about the question until I could find a satisfactory answer.
I thought about it before, during, and after my daily walk yesterday.
My conclusion is: If I had not been born or if I had died as a child then I might say that my life was probably not worth living. But I was born and I did live on into adulthood. I was married and my wife and I had four children, three boys and a girl. Eventually they all were married and they all had children of their own. Those children will probably have children of their own, and on and on and on.
My answer is: Yes, my life was (and somehow still is) absolutely worth living.
Of course, I can only speak for myself.
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Random Image
Camino Seco Avenue - North Toward The Catalinas
Tucson, Arizona March 20, 2014
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Did You Know . . .?
Without regular erections, penile tissue can become less elastic and shrink, making the penis 1-2 centimeters shorter.
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HISTORICAL EVENT
In November 1860, Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected president over a divided Democratic Party. The Civil War firmly identified the Republican Party as the party of the victorious North, and after the war the Republican-dominated Congress forced a "Radical Reconstruction" policy on the South, which saw the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the Constitution and the granting of equal rights to all Southern citizens. By 1876, the Republican Party had lost control of the South, but it continued to dominate the presidency until the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933.
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WORD FOR TODAY
penile [pee-nyle]
adjective
of or relating to the penis
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CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
(born March 20, 1922)
Carl Reiner is an American stand-up comedian, actor, director, producer, writer and voice artist. He has won nine Emmy Awards and one Grammy Award during his career. After many successful years in show business, he is probably remembered most for his role as Alan Brady on The Dick Van Dyke Show.
(born March 20, 1958)
Holly Hunter is an American actress. Hunter starred in The Piano for which she won the Academy Award, BAFTA and Golden Globe Award among other awards. She has also been nominated for Oscars for her roles in Broadcast News, The Firm, and Thirteen.
(born March 20, 1950)
William Hurt is an American stage and film actor. He made his film debut as a troubled scientist in the science-fiction feature Altered States (1980). He subsequently played a leading role in Body Heat (1981). In 1985, Hurt garnered substantial critical acclaim in Kiss of the Spider Woman and for his lead performances in Children of a Lesser God (1986) and Broadcast News (1987). Hurt received his first Tony Award nomination in 1985 for the Broadway production of Hurlyburly.
After playing a diversity of character roles in the following decade, Hurt earned his fourth Academy Award nomination for his supporting performance in David Cronenberg's crime thriller A History of Violence (2005). Other notable films in recent years have included A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), The Village (2004), Syriana (2005), The Good Shepherd (2006), Mr. Brooks (2007), Into the Wild (2007), The Incredible Hulk (2008), and Robin Hood (2010).
(Mar 20, 1928 - Feb 27, 2003)
Mr. Rogers was an American educator, Presbyterian minister, songwriter, author, and television host. Rogers was most famous for creating and hosting Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968-2001), which featured his gentle, soft-spoken personality and directness to his audiences.
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Writing is a dog's life, but the only life worth living.
Gustave Flaubert
NASA TV
Dear Friend Gene,
ReplyDeleteI approach the question Is life worth living? in a selfish way. If you hadn't lived, then I'd be without a friend I never knew. And so what? Well, the aspects of me that are colored by aspects of you would not exist.
Each friend is indeed unique, and therefore you are so, too. Yes, you procreated, and so you enjoy a love-bound family. As well, though, you helped to create a far-reaching web of friends. You inspired other people to think. I cannot logically claim that I would miss a man who never existed, but I can -- and do -- claim that since you live my life is richer.
Friend Anthony,
DeleteYour words evoke feelings that... well, that emotionally overwhelm me with their warmth, sensitivity, and deep insight. Thank you so much for being my friend.