The Hit List - My Final 24

My friend Alexandra Franzen recently published a book called So This Is The End: A Love Story. The story is centered around this idea: “What if doctors could revive you from death―and give you an extra 24 hours of life?”

This is a weighty, profound question to ponder. Of course, it’s easy to go the meaningful route. Most of us probably would say “spend time with people I love” or “forgive someone” or some such thing.

On a recent webinar with Alex, I had some different ideas around my last 24 hours. Some rather silly ones at that but I suppose there is a bit of depth in this level of crazy.

If I only had 24 hours to live, this is my plan:

I would invite the people I love the most over for dinner. The menu would include a salad with carrot shreds, avocado, parmesan shavings, and toasted pine nuts in a light vinaigrette; bucatini with wild mushrooms, herbs, poached eggs and Morita chile oil; tiramisu (I have a secret trick for mine that friends have said make it better than anything they’ve eaten in Italy. Nope, I won’t share it. That goes with me to the grave.); copious bottles of wine.

We would feast, and I’d regale my loved ones with my best stories. The ones I never shared. The secret, taboo stuff that I’ve been saving up for shock value.

I would then go and do the one shocking, outrageous taboo thing that I never did and always wanted to do (not revealing that here – sorry).

I’d get rip-roaring drunk and drunk dial a bunch of other folks I love and let them know how much they meant to me. Maybe I’d eat one of those weed mints too.

Oh and I’d wear the one thing I never dared: a sequined tube top with sequined pants. I’m short waisted and busty, so this type of getup never looked good on me. But if I’m gonna die anyway? It’s full-on ill-fitting Liberace mode over here!

I would stash notes all over the house for my loved ones to find after I’m gone. Some of them might be love letters. But I’d also put some easter eggs in there too. Notes that say “you’re a nosy little fucker” or something along that line. (Probably better do this before I get smashed.)

I’d make love to my husband one last time. I would keep that sequined tube top on the entire time.

There would be plenty of snuggles with the cats.

Oh, and my soundtrack would include:

My Way by Sid Vicious
It’s My Life by Wendy O. Williams
Highway to Hell by AC/DC
Head On by The Pixies
Starman by David Bowie
Cuts You Up by Peter Murphy
Cups (When I’m Gone) by Anna Kendrick

There probably would be some tarot in there somewhere.

My final 24 hour mission: to leave people with stories and laughter. No tears. Only a legacy of outrageous stuff to talk about years after I’m gone. (“Remember that sequined tube top that great-grandma wore?”)

What about you? What would you do if you only had 24 hours? How would you spend your last day on earth?