Mortality

[anaxcrosswords]

OK, a slightly maudlin topic for the time of year (apologies)... but it was just something that popped into my head. I'm in my mid 50s and reasonably healthy. I don't FEEL old, actually very young at heart, but I'm aware that old age isn't that far away now, and to be honest it terrifies me. The idea of not being able to look after myself properly, or becoming frail, or even senile. As it gets closer, I think about it more.
This is just an open question. Have you ever reached a point in your life when you fear old age, or do you not think about it? Or maybe you're 'old' now and laugh about the fears you used to have?

[anneasquith]

In fairness to Douglas he is passing on information he was given .

[Peter Pedant]

// In fairness to Douglas he is passing on information he was given .//

the moon is made of cheese my love: Father Christmas told me

[jno]

it's possible buenchico's suicide pack includes a gun, I suppose

Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren’t lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.

[anneasquith]

And your point is peter ?

[Mamyalynne]

It's fair to say planning your own demise has often proved to be a very imprecise affair.

[Cloverjo]

I am aware of the threat of death as my mum died 3 years ago, my dad and my partner are both in their 70s. They're both talking about not having much time left.
I worry more about being incapacitated than being dead.
Now I'm edging towards 50 I know 60 and 70 will come whizzing up.

I wouldn't rely on pills that are available over the counter to see me off. 10 paracetamol won't do anything. I might try to nick my mum's morphine that is still in my parents' house.

[Jackdaw33]

Putting your head in the gas oven, a very popular method of suicide, is no longer an option since town or coal gas was replaced by North Sea or natural gas.

[ummmm]

I never thought about death until my dad died now I do worry about it.

[rockyracoon]

Although I don’t worry about getting old, I do have an unhealthy fear of dying too young. I lost a friend to breast cancer last January, she was 48 and my 43 year old cousin has just been diagnosed with incurable liver cancer. That scares the living crap out of me.

[horselady]

I used to worry more when I was younger. Now I've got as far as my late 60's and (touch wood) still in good health, I feel grateful to have got this far and don't fear anything any more.

[jno]

I don't worry about it, given my 100% certainty that it's going to happen, but I would prefer it to be instant and painless. Just not yet.

[dannyk13]

I'm a great believer in the saying that age is just a number.

[Hopkirk]

I wouldn't bother with pills. A plastic bag and elastic band would do the trick.

[Samuraisan]

GI second jno 9.45

[Samuraisan]

I, not GI , LOL

[bednobs]

there is a psychological phenomena that happens to most people (damned if i can remember what it's called) whereby you realise there is less life to live than already lived.

[murraymints]

it's being so cheery that keeps me young..lol to quote Rikki Fulton

[bainbrig]

Not maudlin at all. Death comes to us all, often preceded by old age, sometimes by decrepitude.

Like many, when I'm really low - and it's not just being low, but knowing that various ailments are NOT going to get better with time! - then lying down and going to sleep forever does seem like a good option...

But, and it's the only really important but... My death is scarcely relevant to me, but it is hugely relevant to my partner. Of course she would survive, of course she would cope, and so on, but she would be utterly devastated by our being separated by death, after nearly half-a-century together.

And given our differing ailments, my death is more likely than hers. This is a cause of gut-wrenching sorrow to me, of blinding hot tears of regret - but not for me.

My only wish is that I could be the second one to die, to save her the pain.

Buenchico, I do wonder about your own plans. You seem to contemplate your own end so easily; I wish I could do the same.

BB