Ten Years to Go

Ten Years to Go

Six years ago, I was getting ready for (another) shoulder surgery and the nurse asked me who my Cardiologist was.

I thought “I don’t have no stinkin’ Cardiologist! How old do you think I am?”

Fast forward 3 months, and two open heart surgeries later, I had a Cardiologist, a Cardiosurgeon, a Gastroenterologist, a Throat specialist, and a Pulmonologist.

Now, almost 6 years later, I have all of the above, plus a Hematologist, a Urologist, a Dermatologist, an Orthopedist, and an Ophthalmologist! Of course, all them have their own tests and scans. All of these people, are working to keep me going, I appreciate what they do for me and lots of others. This past month has been full of 5 year tests and scans … the good news is … so far … they’ve all come out well.

My heart surgeon, gave me some good advice … “Live your life, my friend, I’ll see you in a year!” I have made this my purpose …

I heard recently that the average male now lives to be 81 years old … that gives me … on average … 11 years … round it to 10 … and you have …

Ten Years to Go

What would you do with ten years to go?

Would you change your life? Or stick with status quo?

How would you set that 10 year goal?

Where will you be at 80 years old?

Would you be satisfied? Are you ready to go?

Or do you have more to do, more life to show.

Have you made any friends?

Will you remember their names as you approach the end?

What have you been doing with your life until now?

Have you lived your own life? Do you even know how?

Time’s running out, you don’t know how fast,

Can you leave something behind? Have you made it to last?

Have you made your mark on this world today?

Will your loved ones care when you go away?

When you were young, you had forever, now you know that’s not true,

You’ve seen enough death to know … it’ll happen to you.

Will you have ten, or twenty or thirty?

Will you make it to 100? … While you’re still sturdy?

How long do you have? You may never know,

It could happen in an instant, or it could happen real slow.

I love you my friends, please know that I’ve tried,

to leave you with Love before I died …

Life Happens Y’all … Everywhere … All the time!  …

Joseph McClure

8/2025