This morning I received a message I’d written ten years ago. As was intended, it was delivered ten years later.

The following is the email from the past, composed on October 06, 2009. It is being delivered from the past through FutureMe.org

Dear FutureMe,

John has just been diagnosed with a serious health condition idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (usual interstitial pneumonia) and I’m scared to death. I want so much to have him with me forever. At this point he isn’t acknowledging how serious this is. The predictions aren’t good.

I hope all of the statistics are wrong. I hope he’ll have dozens of years ahead of him. He’s only 71 and he’s always been so healthy. I’m trying to be prepared for whatever the future holds. But I’m so frightened. I hope I handle everything well. It’s hard be optimistic, and his denial makes it especially tough.

I think I have figured out my finances enough so that doesn’t worry me. But being alone. Handling everything by myself is scary. John’s my rock.

Life with John has been beautiful. We’ve had about 30 years together and I have loved them all.

It’s a tough time! I’m sending this message ten years out. I hope he’s with me when I receive it. I’ll be 77. I hope he’ll be 81. He’s such a wonderful guy.

Will we be living in Saginaw, in Florida, in a nursing home? Will I have my mom’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and be oblivious to everything? Will we still have our wonderful life?

Sharon