Did you know "The Last Lecture" was written on a bicycle?

I'm sure many of you are familiar with "The Last Lecture", the absolutely amazing lecture delivered by Randy Pausch, the  46 year-old Carnegie Mellon professor, to 400+ students, faculty, friends and family after being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and given 3-6 months to live. He died months thereafter leaving his wife, Jai, and 3 young children under the age of 6. You can watch Randy's last lecture at www.thelastlecture.com. It's been viewed millions of times.....it's uplifting, not maudlin, but have plenty of kleenex handy when you watch it.

The last lecture was also released in book form which I read over this past weekend. I intend to buy a copy for each of our 3 children for Christmas this year. Randy's last lecture is the best roadmap for navigating through life and making a difference, i.e. helping others achieve their childhood dreams, that I have ever come across.

Randy composed his last lecture on 53 long bike trips, by speaking to his co-author, Jeff Zaslow, over his cell phone headset. He rode his bike every day around his neighborhood, which was crucial for his health.

One chapter, entitled "Lucy, I'm home," bears on a topic near and dear to this twowheeler's heart--the appropriate role of "boxes" (aka cars) in our lives. One day while Randy was at work, Jai backs the car out of the garage and crashes into their mini-van. Both cars are dented and scratched, but still operational. She worries all afternoon about telling Randy about the accident and decides to make a really nice, romantic dinner to cushion the blow. When she breaks the news to him over dinner, he doesn't flinch. "Don't you want to go look at the damage," she asks. "No, let's just finish dinner," he replied. She offered to get repair estimates the next morning, but Randy replied that wouldn't be necessary.

He explained: "The dents would be OK. My parents raised me to recognize that automobiles are there to get you from point A to point B. They are utilitarian devices, not expressions of social status. And so I told Jai that we didn't need to do cosmetic repairs. We'd just live with the dents and gashes."

Jai was a bit shocked. "We're really going to drive around in dented cars?" she asked.

"My belief is that you don't repair things if they still do what they're supposed to do. The cars still work. Let's just drive 'em. OK, maybe this makes me quirky. But if your trashcan or wheelbarrow has a dent in it, you don't buy a new one. Maybe that's because we don't use trashcans and wheelbarrows to communicate our social status or identity to others."

I never met Randy Pausch, but I know him.  

Comments

[Mike Busch]

Great post Doug! I've watched that lecture too many times to count. Its like a shock of cold water when I'm feeling down.

I'm gonna have to pick up the book now, sounds like there are more lessons that weren't related in the lecture. Its been on my Amazon Wishlist for at least a year.

[John Davidson]

I need to go buy the book. I have been getting estimates to repair perhaps a hundred or so dings in my new truck. They occured when my two young sons decided to "help" me by clearing off the truck after this winter's ice storm; --by banging on it with broom handles and snow shovels!!! If I follow Randy's philosophy (and my Dad's), I just saved $3,600. Come to think of it, the truck, and all its dents will still convey my status -- as the father of two very helpful sons (and a daughter) with their heart in the right place. Thanks!

[BikingandRecycling.com]

Thanks for sending this out. I listened to it at work and it was a bit hard to cry so quietly....

I just reread your email about it and the status thing with the car is true. But... I am always taken back when someone asks me "what kind of bike do you ride"? I know they are asking "brand" not type and so I answer..... It's black... and have a glazed look over my face as if I am trying to remember the brand name. Then I shake my head as if it doesn't come to me (sometimes it doesn't but that's a whole different issue). Isn't this the same type of status issues but with a bike? I think so. Up until a year ago I rode a Mountain bike I found in the trash. Yes I pulled it out of a 100 gallon trash can on Clinton Heights piece by piece...That is the bike I am most proud of.

On another note that I just have to share.... I had fire crackers thrown at me on high street by the convention center last friday at 5:15 by 8 young kids (8 yo - 14 yo). Nope, I didn't go back. I know better than to confront any "group". I just screamed my usual profanities and rode on.

Peace and be careful out there... Diane

[BA Dissertation]

Blogs are so informative where we get lots of information on any topic. Nice job keep it up!!