My favorite television show is Breaking Bad. Season one wrapped up last night and if you haven't seen it I strongly urge you to. It is a very provocative show and touches on a subject I find interesting. This post will have some spoilers about the show but that is not my intent here.

The show is about a high school science teacher (Walter) who has been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. He is dying. His wife is seven months pregnant with their second child. Their first child is a high school aged boy who has some kind of physical and mental handicap. I don't think they ever touched on what it is, I am assuming MS. Walter's brother-in-law is a DEA agent and after having a conversation with him about his latest crystal meth bust. He is surprised to find out how much money the bust is worth. Walter then goes on a ride along and sees a former student of his fleeing the scene. He later hooks up with his former student (Jesse) and seeks a partnership in the business with cooking meth.

Walter is able to cook up the purest meth with his vast science knowledge. Jesse trying to get it sold brings two of his associates out to where they are cooking. Things spiral out of control and they end up killing the two drug dealers, Wlater and Jesse part ways. Through all of this Walter is trying to balance his family and work. His wife convinces him to undergo costly cancer treatment and an old associate of his offers him a lucrative job offer and help pay his medical expenses. Walter says no but lies to his wife about his friend paying the bills. Walter then seeks out Jesse again and they start up business. Jesse goes to a new dealer and tries to make a deal but the dealer steals the meth and puts him in the hospital. Walter finds out and goes to the dealer with some explosives that looks like meth. He demonstrates the explosive when the dealer tries to do the same to Walter. A deal is born. Walter and Jesse make around 100 thousand dollars with their first big batch and have a deal to make about 70 thousand every week.

This leads to the question,how far would you go to ensure your family is okay if you die? Would you turn to illegal activities such as drug dealing? Walter could have done a number of things. Some practical, some not. He could have swallowed his pride and took his friends job offer. He could have tried playing the lottery like a mad fool in hopes of beating the odds. He could have turned to family and friends for support. He could have probably gotten into a trial cancer treatment where he is a guinea pig and costs would have been absorbed by the research company. He could turn to alternative medicine which is cheaper but no real hope for a cure. Or he could just wait to die and leave his family with nothing.

Personally, I think I would do just about anything for my family. I have always been that way. I don't necessarily think I would go into the drug business especially something as dangerous as cooking meth. But under the right circumstances I may partake in illegal activity to ensure my family's well being in the event of my death. Of course the goal in life is to make sure you have that squared away prior to dying but shit happens.

So what about you? Would you do anything for your family? How far would you take it?