Monday, May 19, 2008

Immortality: The 12-Step Program

The other day, apropos to nothing at all, someone I was talking suddenly blurted, “I want to live forever.” I waited to see if she was going to follow this up with, “Baby, remember my name,” but she didn’t.

She did say it with such passion and conviction that I was compelled to try and help her with her goal. So, I gathered my team of crack researchers and we went off to conduct interviews, surveys and focus groups[1]. The results may surprise you.

1. One of the prime determinants of living forever is genetics. So, if one or more of your parents are dead, you will need new parents with better genes. Your best bet is to go with centenarians. Approximately 1 in every 5,000 people is over 100, so you have plenty of options.

2. Wear and tear of organs can also cause death, so use your organs sparingly. Your heart, for instance, has a finite number of beats allotted to it, so try not to do things that will accelerate your heartbeat. Your brain, likewise should not be used unless absolutely necessary.

3. Alcohol, chemicals and salt are well-known preservatives. Ingesting these regularly will guarantee your organs are preserved and protected against disease and degeneration.

4. Smoking coats your respiratory tract with a thick tar-like substance that shields lungs and bronchial tubes from viruses and bacteria. Smoke frequently.

5. Stress is a major cause of death. Work, children and spouses are the top three life stressors in humans. Remove them all from your life.

6. A LOT of people die in hospitals. Stay away from hospitals. Surgery is especially bad for you because a lot of things in your body can accidentally get cut out and also a lot of unwanted things can find their way into your body while it’s open (e.g.: bacteria, insects, diseases or hair from the last patient, loose threads or buttons on the doctors’ & nurses’ clothes)

7. Stay out of and away from cars. They kill a lot of people. I know it’s commonly thought that cars don’t kill people- people kill people, but it’s not true. Cars kill people.

8. Stay away from people. You never know when one of them might kill you, accidentally or on purpose.

9. Never immerse yourself in water to avoid drowning – don’t even bathe. In fact stay out of the bathroom because most domestic accidents happen there.

10. Candles and fireplaces might seem romantic, but one wrong move and you’re up in flames. And anyway, you should be avoiding romantic entanglements. They lead to stress and possibly accelerated heart rates.

11. Although this should go without saying, suicide must be avoided at all costs. You’d be surprised how many people don’t really think it through before jumping.

12. Finally, always, always wear clean underwear. It’s a well-known fact that everybody who dies unexpectedly has soiled underwear.

*** Use this life expectancy calculator to see if you have a chance at immortality.
___________________
[1] Immortals interviewed for this research paper include: Hugh Heffner (see #5, has also achieved immorality...not that we're judging), Charo (see #1 - has run through several "daddies"; won’t reveal actual birthdate, but dated Karl Malden in high school), Karl Malden(see #2 - has never used any of his organs) , Mickey Rooney (see #3& #4) , Liza Minelli (died several times, but claims to have been brought back from the dead), Keith Richards (currently job-sharing with Grim Reaper)

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dammit, according to your calculator, I'm going to die at 85.59 years of age. That's a far cry from forever.

By the way, was that me who said I wanted to live forever? Because I do, and I might have said so over brunch last weekend.

XUP said...

Yes, Zoom, you're the mysterious someone. I didn't want to be the one to out you, though in case this was a secret desire.

Anonymous said...

79.24! I'm goin' sky-diving.
This is a hilarious post, XUP.

Anonymous said...

I'm going to focus on #3 and hope for the best.

Jo said...

86.45 years? Hmmmm. I guess when a person reaches that age, it does seem like forever.

Bob said...

77.91 years. Hell, I'm only 5/8 through this journey. Bring it on!

Bandobras said...

Do you take medication to control your blood pressure and do not smoke?

Do you NOT take medication for your blood pressure and smoke?



Where is the option for don't take medicine and don't smoke?

I think this was created by a government worker



By the way I got 79 yrs Kind of puts a crimp in my plans for 100 and then getting shot by an irate husband.

Kimberly said...

This is one of the funniest posts I've seen in a while. I would say I've already screwed myself by exercising (lots of extra heartbeats there), but I'll try to make up for it by drinking more.

XUP said...

Robin- Thanks & have fun

Dave - Be strong. You can do it!

Josie - Once you implement the 12-step program, I'm sure you can improve that life expectancy

Bob - Come on - you can do better than 77. You're not even trying.

Bandobras - See, now what did I tell you about wearing out your brain? You just shaved a couple of years off your life with all that questioning

Kimberly - Thanks lady. It's never too late to make the necessary adjustments to your lifestyle.

alison said...

Good thing I hardly ever use my brain....

Jazz said...

Wear and tear of organs can also cause death

I read "The wear and tear of orgasms" at which point I decided I'm NOT going to live forever.

XUP said...

Alison - Well done!

Jazz - Very, very well done!

JB said...

I'm lucky to be alive now. Every day above ground, as they say...

...although I can see some validity in the 'don't wash anymore' part of the plan. Certainly, your odour would reach the point where no one would know - or care - if you were dead.

XUP said...

JB - I never said you shouldn't wash at all, although unclogging your pores does make it easier for germs and bacteria to find their way into your bloodstream. What's a little body odour compared to eternal life?

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