X-Message-Number: 17251
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2001 12:46:49 -0700 (PDT)
From: Scott Badger <>
Subject: More bad news

First, I want to express how sad I was to find that
Linda C. at Alcor is facing a battle with cancer.  My
warmest wishes go out to you, Linda. I know you're a
scrapper though, or you couldn't be as dedicated to
cryonics as you clearly have been all these years. 

Second, as many of you know, my mother passed away
about 2 months ago after a 5 year battle with
Alzheimer's.  Since I've already put myself "out
there" and shared that personal tragedy with the
group, I thought I may as well share this too.  

On Aug 2, 2001, my father, Robert E. Badger, ended his
life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. 
He was 82 and in good health.

Like me, his friends and neighbors were taken
completely by surprise, saying that father gave
absolutely no indications of his plans.  I had spoken
to him only two days before.  He was delighted with
how successful the recent operation to remove a
cataract from his left eye had been, and was scheduled
to get the other eye done on Aug 3rd.  Hed just traded
in his car on a newer model only two days before. 
He'd made plans to sell the house and arrange for
assisted living facilities. He'd received no bad news
as far as anyone knew. He was even talking about
finding a new female companion. I know that, among the
elderly, a surviving spouse often passes away shortly
after his/her partner does, but dad didn't seem to be
at risk for this. These forward looking events seemed
to everyone to reflect a more optimistic future
orientation than he apparently had.

There was no note and I will never have the answers
that plague me.

One thing that fascinated me as I went through his
possessions at the house was the fact that my father
was essentially a life-extensionist.  I was amazed at
the number of vitamins, herbs, and books in the house
promising a longer and more energetic life.  Even so,
I could not interest him in cryonics.  He was neither
a violent man nor one to give up easily, yet these two
features marked his final act.

I am reminded of an earlier discussion on cryonet
which pointed out that there is a significant risk
that those who have signed up for cryonics may, in
their elderly years, make irrational and confused
decisions negatively affecting their plans for
long-term survival.  How can I insure that my current
plans for survival can not be altered, even by me?
It's not possible is it?  Hopefully, I'll be able to
surround myself with supportive friends/cryonicists
who prevent me from doing anything that contradicts my
current plans for cryopreservation. Perhaps this
feature will be one of Venturewille's most valuable
benefits.

As for me, I am coping ... but I'm more determined
than ever to take action to live a healthier and
longer life. I ask that e-mailed condolances be sent
to my private address rather than to cryonet.

Optimistically yours,

Scott Badger

"Vita Perpetua"

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