Thomas Kinkade, one of nation's most popular painters, dies in Los Gatos

[pitohui]

101. i know tons of people who died in their early 50s

it is not young, it is the age at which people start to die of cancer, heart disease, etc. one of my friend's wives even died of the flu at 52 -- this to me isn't just theory as i know plenty of people who died age 52 to age 54 and NO they WEREN'T drug users, the druggies started dying in their 20s

we have VERY unrealistic ideas in america about what young is -- the stories we tell ourselves about what young is are really very harmful lies, because they cause people to plan their lives very badly

if you are in your 50s, every day could be your last and to live as if you are still young is to continue putting off your life forever

life expectancy in america in 1900 was the early 40s and we have not changed the human DNA since 1900, everything we have after 50 is a GIFT either courtesy of good luck, good genetics, or medical technology

54 is not young, and i'm sorry that mr. kincade spent his life cheating people, assuming that he could be saved and get forgiveness on his deathbed in his 80s so it was OK to lie, steal, and rip off today

the rest of us should learn from his example

treat people decently TODAY because tomorrow may not get here and you don't want to die a liar, a cheat, and a thief