Average age of death in "In Loving Memory" section

[Nocturne]

I just scanned through the "In Loving Memory" section of this forum and checked the ages that everyone remembered there were when they passed away.

Looks like almost all of them were in their 60s.

There are a couple of notable exceptions but those were docs or other pioneers of treatment who did not actually have AS.

I am feeling a cold grue creep over me now.

 

[neil]

sometimes we can get weighed down with stats etc, some will live till 80 some till 60, that's life for everbody, till the great man says its time for me to go I will live life to the full and carry eating the chocolate lol

 

[Nocturne]

Would have been heartening to see more of a mix in there.

 

[pellicle]

Would have been heartening to see more of a mix in there.

one normally doesn't get a "natural high" from reading the obituary columns ...

also, there could be some selection bias issues in here ... for starters, when I'm 80 who's going to bother posting here that I'm dead? In the elderly groups its entirely likely they've stopped participating (if they ever joined here in the first place.

What may be a more informative research strategy (unless depressing yourself is the goal) is to survey the living for average ages

 

[Nocturne]

Fair point Pellicle.

I woke up nervous and anxious this morning (which is possibly due to hormonal issues -- who knows? I have too much crap wrong with me now), and foolishly started looking into statistics on relative lifespan after AVR again. Learned a bit more about WHY AVR recipients do not tend to live as long as everyone else -- only about 20% die from actual valve related issues -- but nothing cheerful.

Going to see friends this evening, should take my mind off it a bit.

 

[pellicle]

.
Going to see friends this evening, should take my mind off it a bit.

Sounds good.

I was driving back from buying a car today, and was unhappy that I was unable to visit Anitas resting place on the proper day (Saturday), and as I was approaching the area the it stopped snowing and the weather cleared. At my favourite spot on the side of the (Fukken tiny country track short cut) road I stopped to take this shot because the light was perfect

 

[dick0236]

......also, there could be some selection bias issues in here ... for starters, when I'm 80 who's going to bother posting here that I'm dead? In the elderly groups its entirely likely they've stopped participating (if they ever joined here in the first place.

What may be a more informative research strategy (unless depressing yourself is the goal) is to survey the living for average ages

I think Pellicle is correct. There are many "old" people that have gone thru OHS.....but many do not post, or even use computers. That generation(post 70) is not nearly as computer literate as most of you folks on this website . I visit heart surgery patients at a local hospital and know that the majority of patients I visit are older than 60 when operated on. Most of them are "Bypass" patients but a good number are valve pateints......and many are both bypass AND valve patients. Frankly, I think "bypass" surgery is a bigger deal than "valve" surgery.......there is a lot more cutting and stitching in bypass surgery...... and both require the heart/lung machine.

When I had the surgery there was NO WAY I thought I would live into "old age"........and there was no history to estimate my life expectancy. Today, history tells us that most of you will live to a normal life expectancy. Hell, I've already lived past current life expectancy(78) and I came thru the "dark ages" of OHS. Enjoy yourselves, my docs tell me that, almost certainly, something besides a failed valve will end my life..........and all that worrying I used to do will be for naught LOL.

 

[Agian]

It's a reflection of the demographic of the people who come here and the sheer numbers.

 

[cldlhd]

Sounds good.

I was driving back from buying a car today, and was unhappy that I was unable to visit Anitas resting place on the proper day (Saturday), and as I was approaching the area the it stopped snowing and the weather cleared. At my favourite spot on the side of the (Fukken tiny country track short cut) road I stopped to take this shot because the light was perfect

So whatcha get? I imagine something with 4wd up there.
I agree obituaries aren't generally likely to cheer one up unless you're heavily into the old shadenfreude. One of the Popes, can't remember whuch, was asked what's so great about heaven? Looks a tad boring, what with all the laying around on clouds. He answered along the lines of "you get enjoyment thinking about all the poor souls down in Hell".

 

[epstns]

Pellicle - You are an artist, in so many ways. When I saw this photo, I was instantly brought to great calm (and as you know, these days that is a rare place for me to visit). The image is just stunning. THEN I read about why you were there. Forgive my tears, my friend. I wish I could be there with you.

 

[cldlhd]

I'm not ready for he snow and ice , I have too much to do outside first. Also I'm not happy all the fall foliage is starting to drop off the Rees.

 

[pellicle]

I'm not ready for he snow and ice , I have too much to do outside first. Also I'm not happy all the fall foliage is starting to drop off the Rees.

so, phone post (courtesy of AutoIncorrect) or you been drinkin again?

I bought a "town 4WD" Honda CR-V, its an oldie (1999, but 11 years newer than my Mitsubishi 4WD in Australia) and I'm hoping that it'll do for a few years. I just wanted something with enough clearance to get through roads that haven't been cleared (of snow) "all that often" with enough extra traction to get me places where our last cars would go (with a little pushing here and there).

I dunno much about them, but they do OK in Australia on sandy islands / beaches (Fraser Island is where I go) and they seem popular here.

 

[pellicle]

Pellicle - You are an artist, in so many ways. When I saw this photo, I was instantly brought to great calm (and as you know, these days that is a rare place for me to visit).

thanks mate, very happy to help you find your "calm zone" ...

In case it helps, here's another one (or two).

November is called Marraskuu in Finnish, which essentially means "the month of dying" ... presumably because all the plants seem to die before winter. This image is styled along the "Tim Burton" school of artistic flavour in defference to that.

Its also the day that has as yet resisted the repugnant commercialisation of respect for your passed family members that goes under the marketing handle of Halloweeen in the USA. Pyhänpäivä in Finland is close in date to Halloween, but is a day of silently visiting the cemetery and lighting a candle and spending time for a moment in silent reflection.

Just on the other side of the river (from town) is the final remains of the old sawmill machines, its a favouite of mine to explore (photographically) over the years ... they've stood the test of the seasons: so I thought a grunge look worked.

directly across the river from there is the town church (the Lutheran one)

Naturally Finland has the Russian border, so there is also Greek Orthodox represented here too ... so on the other side of town, on the same street (called "Church St") is the Greek Orthodox

so, theres a little of where I'm living now .. my new home for now.

I've been on a bit of a kick in post processing stuff to 1) augment the features 2) fit the tonal range the eye sees onto a screen 3) diminish but not deny the existence of modernity 4) attempt an old look ... so I can understand if people are cringing at the HRDI, mixed with "grunge" and some other painterly light tinkering.

sorry to ramble

 

[Paleowoman]

Beautiful photos Pellicle ! What a beautiful country ! So very different from Australia, though I seem to remember a beautiful photo from the outback.

 

[pellicle]

Beautiful photos Pellicle ! What a beautiful country ! So very different from Australia, though I seem to remember a beautiful photo from the outback.

Thanks mate

I've developed a theory that (having been in some of these places) the scenery that strikes us as being beautiful , is often also quite harsh and demanding. Snow or Desert ... hard places to live but somehow beautiful.

 

[Nocturne]

Thanks mate

I've developed a theory that (having been in some of these places) the scenery that strikes us as being beautiful , is often also quite harsh and demanding. Snow or Desert ... hard places to live but somehow beautiful.

I very much agree.

 

[cldlhd]

so, phone post (courtesy of AutoIncorrect) or you been drinkin again?

I bought a "town 4WD" Honda CR-V, its an oldie (1999, but 11 years newer than my Mitsubishi 4WD in Australia) and I'm hoping that it'll do for a few years. I just wanted something with enough clearance to get through roads that haven't been cleared (of snow) "all that often" with enough extra traction to get me places where our last cars would go (with a little pushing here and there).

I dunno much about them, but they do OK in Australia on sandy islands / beaches (Fraser Island is where I go) and they seem popular here.

Phone post at work, autocorrect and big thumbs. Most things are commercialised her but I have to confess I do like Halloween!

 

[Jamieann]

Well there may be no "in memory of" the older folks because they could still be alive... just a thought!

 

[pellicle]

...but I have to confess I do like Halloween!

It looks fun for sure, but I think the deeper meanings of respect and reflecting on the lives of our loved ones has been stripped from it.

 

[cldlhd]

It looks fun for sure, but I think the deeper meanings of respect and reflecting on the lives of our loved ones has been stripped from it.

True but you can have both. I think about my dad pretty much every day ( almost glad for him he's not here today) and if we can't have fun while we're here than .....