Just completed the final episode of The Big C, a Showtime series starring Laura Linney as Cathy, a 40-something wife and mother diagnosed with melanoma.  Suffice to say it didn’t end well.  Or maybe it did.  Dying is inevitable and as Cathy went through all the classic stages of the end game she demonstrated a dignity, humor, grace and finally understanding and acceptance that was quite inspiring.

Painful to watch in places, especially this last one.  Brought back some painful memories of my best friend and soulmate Linda’s passing (I wrote about her here), and the deaths of my parents as well.

Now that I’m getting on in years my own mortality looms ever larger and the uncertainty of what I might do with the time I have left sometimes seems like an unwanted passenger.  But, my life is mostly good even if the possibilities are no longer limitless.  And I’m getting much better at not dwelling on the small stuff.  Much.

Anyway, it’s a good watch if you are so inclined.

Cathy Jamison: Why can’t anything ever go the way it’s supposed to?
Lee: It did. Just didn’t go the way you wanted it to.