Randy Pausch

After watching Randy Pausch give his last lecture and reading part of his book, I found myself contemplating how I would handle the same situation. All in all I feel that he handled it pretty well. He is right that his children are to young to remember him for the rest of their lives, and if I were him I would want my children to have something to remember me by. In my opinion there is no better way to be remembered than to have a book published. Now his kids have something to read whenever they want. When they have a rough day and need some encouraging words from their father they can open the book and find comfort. As far as the last lecture video goes, now the kids have more than just a picture to look at to remember what their dad looks like, they get to see their dad in motion doing what they love. 

The book was definitely a good memento for his children, the video was also a good memento, but I think that was more of a personal thing for him (one of his "head fakes"). Human nature is to want to be remembered, wanting to leave a legacy and to be remembered for all their accomplishments. The last lecture itself was a catering to these human needs. Yes it was a message to his kids to chase their dreams no matter how unlikely they may seem, but it was as much for him as it was for them.