I found out I was dying three months ago. The doctors, who tied me to the bed so tightly I couldn't move, told me that. They said if I quit living (drinking wine, going to parties, and giving lectures), I would live ten years. Well, I don't want to reach a point where "Cream of Wheat" is too spicy for me. I want to live, laugh, and learn. Is ten years of boredom worth three years of happiness? I lectured last month for half an hour on Japanese forms of poetry (and was paid $100 for it.) Can I give up what I love for a life of sleeping and boredom? Being taken care of by others? What would G-D want me to do? I have fear. Any advice (but not pious platitudes--would be helpful.) Keep your Scriptural interpretations to yourself unless you can read Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek (I can read all three.) Yes, I am angry, but how would you feel if you had so little time to live?