I like the plan to beat the 17-year record. I also really like a plan that gets some of those "meant to do" things off of your life list regardless of how many decades you've got left.

I have a plan.

ETA: I have something up my sleeve for a certain favorite Braves fan.

Ginger, insent.

You are in my heart. I echo ita !'s thoughts and love, love, love that you shared Katherine Rich's story.

Percentages are useful for contrast and choice-making, but they are not necessarily predictive for the individual.

I'm totally on board the "Ginger wins" train.

Bonny--how is the new pup?

I endorse the 17+ year plan.

Ginger... I don't even know what to say. This is horribly, horribly, awful and unfair. To say "I'm sorry" seems so useless so I've been reading people's comments blankly pretending like it's someone somewhere else. You are so smart and generous and witty and amazing. I would never have gotten through grad school without you, FACT. You are totally strong like an Amazon and I know this isn't gonna happen without a hell of a fight.

I need to stop now because I'm administering a seminar so I gotta stop crying. I love you, though, and will drop you an email soon.

Scrappy, he's doing well, thanks.

It's been an interesting month of pendulum swinging emotions which has confirmed something DavidS said to me just a couple of days after Bartleby died.

I _need_ to love and to have a focus for that energy in my life. Though my heart is not truly open to him right now, he definitely has provided that focus and caused me to climb out of myself in a great way.

Cagney is a wonderful creature...who is so different from Bartleby that it brings into sharp relief what a special dog he was. But, the difference is challenging me to learn new things and be in the world in a different way. Both of which are good.

There is still a small doubt that Cagney won't make the final cut as the doggy lama dog, ONLY because I wonder if he might be happier in a two dog house...which will never be my house. He LOVES...is crazy about...cannot live without...every other dog he meets.

So, I've had his own business cards printed up (virtually for free, I'm not that crazy) so that I can set up play dates in my yard. So far, it's working really well.

I've trained him to carry a pack, which he has taken to like a champion. He is sweet, 'lovey' and cheerful. He is learning, though is the slower more stubborn way that Bulldogs can. Plus, he's in the adolescent "I know what you are saying, but frankly couldn't care less" phase...which is wearing on my high standards like whoa.

I'm proud of myself for hiring a Bulldog specialist because there was a LOT I did not know about his breed that could have sent us down a very hard road for a long time. The challenge is fun...and challengy.

Ginger, I totally endorse the record breaking survivor plan.

Ginger, that is a fucking awesome plan.

You are so smart and generous and witty and amazing.

Ginger, you have so many amazing skills and you share them so generously.

When I went through my email archive to find your address, I found the many occasions when you've seen me ask a question about how to do something graphical in nature and just DID it for me, without question.

Not to mention the numbers of times you have made me laugh or nod appreciatively at some wisdom you shared.

That energy is needed in this world. So, again, I'm down with the 17+ plan. Like Nora said, you are an AMAZON. Fact.

Ginger, I approve of this 17 year plan. I disapprove of cancer.