The Last Lecture

The other day, Zewt wrote Live Your Best Life.

Today, I share with you an inspirational 'lecture' by Randy Pausch. Who is he? From wikipedia:

Randolph Frederick Pausch^[1] (October 23, 1960 – July 25, 2008) was an American professor of computer science, human-computer interaction and design at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a best-selling author who achieved worldwide fame for his "The Last Lecture" speech on September 18, 2007 at Carnegie Mellon.

In August 2006, Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He pursued a very aggressive cancer treatment that included Whipple procedure^[2] surgery and experimental chemotherapy; however, in August 2007 he was told the cancer had metastasized to his liver and spleen, which meant it was terminal. He then started palliative chemotherapy, intended to extend his life as long as possible. At that time, doctors estimated he would remain healthy for another three to six months. On May 2, 2008, a PET scan showed that his cancer had spread to his lungs and some lymph nodes in his chest, and that he had some metastases in his peritoneum and retroperitoneum.

~The Short Version~

Quoted from The Last Lecture website:

On September 18, 2007, computer science professor Randy Pausch stepped in front of an audience of 400 people at Carnegie Mellon University to deliver a last lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” With slides of his CT scans beaming out to the audience, Randy told his audience about the cancer that is devouring his pancreas and that will claim his life in a matter of months. On the stage that day, Randy was youthful, energetic, handsome, often cheerfully, darkly funny. He seemed invincible. But this was a brief moment, as he himself acknowledged.

Randy’s lecture has become a phenomenon, as has the book he wrote based on the same principles, celebrating the dreams we all strive to make realities. Sadly, Randy lost his battle to pancreatic cancer on July 25th, 2008, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all, for generations to come.

*my morbid thoughts*

When I was younger, we always liked to do our own palm reading. We read those weekly column in the papers about palm reading, about Heart Line, Head Line, Life Line. And there's this part about my Life Line. My Life Line seems surprisingly, short.

During that time, of course I got a lil' worried. Who wouldn't be? Moreover, I was afraid of Death then. Now? Now I probably feel indifferent. Sort of. But of course, when I see my Valentine Niece, sadness would cloud my mind. A bit. *snaps out*

OK, so where was I? Oh yeah, short Life Line...

As I looked at my Life Line a while ago, the one on my left palm has sort of grown a lil' longer, but the one on the right is still trying to "connect" to another line. And I thought, hmmm... OK.

But what is it actually that I want to put it in writing here is that every now and then, I can't help but to think "When will my time be up?" Sometimes when I'm driving, I'll have these crazy tragic thoughts of crashing... accidents... scary stuff they are... but I can't help having those thoughts. More so when lately, there were a few tragic accidents happening here and there...

Morbid, huh?

Right away after those thoughts surface, I'll check on my speedometer. I'm now a lesser demon than I was before :-)

Sorry ah, no conclusion for this entry. I just wanted to write whatever. I'm going to try to get that Last Lecture book later. I feel inspired. Somewhat.

~The *real* Last Lecture in September 2007~

For more videos on Randy's interviews and lectures, you can check out Randy Pausch's legacy here.