In July last year after having taken a stroke the hospital consultant told me in no uncertain manner that I would die in the next 5 years. That is a pretty brutal thing to say to anyone. He was in no doubt that I would be gone from either a massive stroke or a heart attack. No Ifs, no Buts, No doubts about it.
Given my family history..he may be right. My mother died at the age of 62 from pancreatic cancer. My grandmother died of cancer in a similarly early age. My father lasted a bit longer into his early 70’s before dying of heart failure. My brother died a couple of years back at the age of 67.
The prognosis is not good.
I may or may not make it much longer, only time will tell.
So given all that dire possible consequence, there would not be really much point in me worrying myself what will happen politically as far as Scotland is concerned. Indeed why should I care at all what happens when I very possibly may not be around to see it?
Quite simply, even if I somehow manage to last a wee bit longer, and even make it beyond what that consultant says… I will very probably be gone from this earth in the next 20 years at best. I am nearly 60 now, so not much longer to go.
I have seen my Uncle and Brother gone and never seen the Independent Scotland they desired to see. I have seen great friends go, who fervently wished for the same, and I miss them all dearly.
I so wish they had seen the day Scotland chose to be free again, but they never did see the day. Very possibly I will join them in the great there yonder and never see my wish either.
So, why Care?
Seemingly according to some polls, the vast majority of 60 plusses in Scotland are against Independence. I really don’t know how true that is? But If these are accurate statistics, I have to ask why?
Some seem to care about what happens to their pension. Some seem to be tied to the British State through Britishness and World Wars. Some for reasons to do with religion from a bye gone age. Some simply because they are adverse to change.
Whatever their reasons, they are wrong!
None of these things matter anymore.
They and I will be gone soon enough….
What really should matter to them, is not even politics, or tribes, or religion.. None of these things should count.
As the old order passes, as it is sure to do. What do we wish for those who come after us?
Peace, Hope, Prosperity and the freedom to choose their own path without the baggage of the likes I and those of their forebears chose to have bequeathed them.
I may not see the day
But I fervently hope my children live to have a good life in an Independent Scotland and choose their own paths wherever these roads may lead.
But till the day I go….. I will fight on…..and maybe still yet see the day that Scotland chooses its own fortunes in the world once more.
Auld Acquaintance 
I don’t understand why anyone near to/of pensionable age would vote no to the political freedom of their country. It’s a vote that will affect the future generations way more than us.
I hope you prove your Doctor wrong, outlast his prognosis & live many more happy, healthy years in an independent Scotland.
I hope you have many years ahead of you. I’m 67 and I desperately want independence for the future of my two granddaughters. Always have been and always will be yes.
Reblogged this on charlesobrien08 and commented:
Who knows how long any of us have but,most hope to leave something better for our children and subsequent generations.
Your 100% correct in all your observations , ( sadly ) ,I guess its like substance abuse , often as not its only after its to late do we fully understand what life`s experiences have taught those that tried to advise us . Fingers crossed you are with us for the next 20 years , its our duty to try to educate those that walk amongst us without a fire in their belly , Sadly my views currently within the SNP have never been further apart , that said I shall never abandon Scotland and its genuine people , 🙂
It was sad to hear about your ill health. You just have to prove this doctor wrong.we just have to try our best to help those undecided to see how independence is the only way Scotland can fulfil its true potential. We do not need Westminster Tory politicians coming up to Scotland to threaten us. We will have our second independence referendum, and this time we will win. We just have to ensure more security and scrutiny in the voting booths.
As someone in a similar condition – just turned 61, had a stroke back in September – I know where you’re coming from.
Why should I worry about the political ins and outs of a tiny corner of a world I’m likely to leave in the near future? Why bother?
Well, this isn’t unexpected, on a larger scale – I’ve known for all my adult life that i would be pegging out sometime in the next few decades. It’s just that shit has got realer of late.
So, my impending demise doesn’t really change what I care about. It’s just a matter of scheduling. And really, what else is there to do? If I was on a beach in the Seychelles, I’d be scratching around for WiFi so I could check Wings, Bella or whatever. It’s what I’m interested in, what I care about, and it’s too late to change now.
Anyway, five years? Your doctor has been listening to to much early Bowie. Fuck that shit. I’m up and around, getting the bits moving again, losing weight and getting my strength back. I’m lasting to Indy and then we’ll see what there is to do.
I hope keep well and keep your chin up. And hopefully outlive that doctor…
I had a heart attack in 2000. A few months later I had an angiogram after which the surgeon said I required a quad bypass. I wasn’t even allowed to go home but was operated on 5 days later. I am still here, and intend to hang around long enough to help give our youngsters their own country back.
So hang in there. 6th April 2020 is the target date – 700th anniversary of Arbroath Declaration!