I stopped by the Pendleton library recently and picked up a book by two of my favorite authors, Preston and Child.

In the first few pages, the main character is in a doctor’s office getting the news he has only a couple of months to live. His mental and physical abilities will remain until that last big bang.

That got me thinking. What would I do if I found I had only 60 days to live?

Granted, this story is purely fiction, but often people leave the doctor or hospital with some similar outlook hanging over them.

I have been fortunate to have enjoyed many activities others might have on their bucket lists.

I have traveled much of this country and some of Canada doing the things I wanted and seeing sights I will never forget.

I married the girl I dated in high school, and we have been married for almost 50 years; we have an outstanding daughter and get to watch a grandson excel at everything he tries.

But now, in this fiction story, I have only two months left.

What will I do with my remaining time here?

I’ve always wanted to visit Alaska to fish, hunt and enjoy the outstanding scenery.

I would love to watch the Last Great Race — the Iditarod — and try my own hand at driving a dog sled.

I would love to walk on a glacier and watch a whale roll while I paddle next to it in a kayak. But, since I would schedule at least six weeks to do this, it’s probably beyond my time period.

Maybe instead of planning a trip to faraway places, I would like to attempt one last big game hunt.

Thinking along that possibility, I would probably pick a moose hunt in northwest Ontario. I have enjoyed this area since 1970, spending time there almost every summer, usually with my wife and often with our daughter.

I was fortunate to bag a moose in 1985, and we enjoyed some of the best-tasting meat we ever had. One last chance for a hunt like this would be great. But moose season is in October, and that month has passed.

Over the past four decades, I have written stories for numerous local, state, regional, national and even international magazines and newspapers. I started with no formal training, and my first published article was in a national magazine, “Western & Eastern Treasures.”

At that time, I didn’t even know I was supposed to start with a smaller publication.

I was so new, I sent the story and received a reply: “We don’t publish fiction in our magazine, but we like yours so much, we’re going to use it.”

I have often been asked why I don’t write a book. I figured I would eventually, but now, 60 days seems a short period for any kind of book.

So, extended travel is not an option. A big game hunt, usually done in the fall months, is also out of the question. Writing my famous novel isn’t going to happen. What does that leave?

I would like to spend more time with my wife, but that’s probably not possible. We travel the country together. We have lunch and dinner out together almost every day. We have not been apart overnight maybe 10 days in the last 15 years.

I would certainly like to be with our daughter and grandson more, but they live 100 miles away and are extremely busy with their own pursuits.

Perhaps I should spent my last few days in the kitchen, baking goodies for church bake sales, taking desserts to shut-ins or just surprising neighbors with delicious home-cooked meals. I’ve never had anyone turn down something from my oven.

Maybe I should pretend I don’t know my time is short and just continue as normal until one day I don’t wake up.

Am I better off knowing when the end is near, or like most people, it’s over when it’s over?

Sixty days left. What would you do?

The author may be reached at [email protected].