I have an engineering problem. While for the most part I'm in terrific physical shape,

I have ten tumors in my liver and I have only a few months left to live. I am a father of three young children, and married to the woman of my dreams.

While I could easily feel sorry for myself, that wouldn't do them, or me, any good. So, how to spend my very limited time?

The obvious part is being with, and taking care of, my family. While I still can, I embrace every moment with them, and do the logistical things necessary to ease their path into a life without me.

The less obvious part is how to teach my children what I would have taught them over the next 20 years. They are too young now to have those conversations.

All parents want to teach their children right from wrong, what we think is important, and how to deal with the challenges life will bring.

We also want them to know some stories from our own lives, often as a way to teach them how to lead theirs.

My desire to do that led me to give a " last lecture" at Carnegie Mellon University.