PE 8/5 Randy Pausch’s Speech: The Last Lecture –Part 1

So, you know, in case there’s anybody who wandered in and doesn't know the back story, my dad always taught me that when there’s an elephant in the room, introduce them. If you look at my CAT scan, there are approximately 10 tumors in my liver, and the doctors told me 3-6 months of good healthy left. That was a month ago, so you can do the math.

* elephant in the room: an obvious thing that people are reluctant to acknowledge

ex> During the budget meeting, the elephant in the room was how to cut spending on social services.

Note> It’s as if there is a giant elephant in the room and everyone is just ignoring it despite how big and apparent it is.

* do the math: to figure something out based on the information given

ex> Do the math: we need to be in Reno in 8 hours, but our flight won’t get there for 16 hours.

I have some of the best doctors in the world. So that is what it is. We can’t change it, and we just have to decide how we’re going to respond to that. We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.

* the cards one is dealt: one’s current circumstances

ex> If you don’t like the cards you were dealt, you have to work hard to change things.

If I don’t seem as depressed or morose as I should be, sorry to disappoint you. And I assure you I am not in denial. It’s not like I’m not aware of what’s going on.

* in denial: refusing to accept or acknowledge a fact

ex> I was in denial for a long time, but eventually accepted that my dog wasn't coming back.

We bought a lovely house in Virginia, and we’re doing that because that’s a better place for the family to be, down the road. And the other thing is, I am in phenomenally good health right now. I mean it’s the greatest thing of cognitive dissonance you will ever see – is the fact that I am in really good shape.

* down the road: further in the future

ex> Tom had plans to live in Europe a little further down the road.