Painters leave paintings, most of which will end up in an attic, landfill, or motel room wall, un-noticed by anyone. That whole "starving artist" stereotype? There's a reason for that.

Actors leave films, if they are a film actor. I guess stage actors leave their name in a Playbill somewhere. When was the last time you sat down a watched a run of the mill melodrama movie from the 1950s on Youtube? Yeah, me neither. Most movies and actors will be forgotten in two generations.

Builders leave buildings, but I've worked in the construction and renovation trades and added or replaced something in hundreds of buildings, and no one knows any of them. You don't get a plaque for putting in gas pipe and a waterheater. Who built the building you're in right now? Yeah, me neither.

Authors leave books, but I've been involved with two educational institutions that moved their operations. Ever stood with a coal shovel throwing old books into a roll off dumpster? I've done it twice. Nobody wanted them, not even Goodwill. I guess an author always has a place in the Library Of Congress with those millions of other writers.

Musicians leave music if it's recorded and stored somewhere. When was the last time someone put on a Gene Autry song? He was bigger than the Beatles at one time. I saw Bob Dylan a couple of years ago, and anyone in the hall that was under 35 was there with a parent. Even Zimmy will have a shelf life.

So a handful of truly great artists will leave something that will outlast their life, but most of us will be sliding down the memory hole soon after our demise, unless you're a parent and leave children. Given the popularity of genealogy, you'll possibly be remembered by a future someone who is another link in the same genetic chain. Or you could just live for today and not worry about it.