Thanatophobia. (Noun)  The fear of one's own death or dying. Some symptoms are shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, sweating, dry mouth, shaking, feeling sick or queasy, psychological instability, and a feeling of dread.

Never has a single image of a once semi-famous pop-singer/calendar model provoked so much Thanatophobia in me. This is Samantha Fox, people. If you were born anytime after 1977, you probably have no idea who she is. But, in 1987, I had a life-sized poster of Samantha Fox on my bedroom wall. I was 12. She was buxom. Gorgeous. And full of verve.
 
And now look at Samantha. Granted, for a 52 year old, she looks fantastic! Unfortunately, she's only 42. And if she decided to offer up a rendition of her one hit, "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)," I might just weep -- weep for the mockery that it would make of this woman, who looks like a boozy lounge singer well past her prime.

Jesus: Life moves fast. If this can happen to Samantha Fox in only 20 years, then we're all hurtling toward the great thereafter at a much quicker pace than I ever imagined. Hang on to your hats, folks -- death is at your door and you don't even know it. As William Shatner once proclaimed about life: "Is this all there was? What was all the fuss? Why did I bother?"

Indeed.