"I often wonder if they regretted that their lives were cut short in their early 60's... "
I don't see how they could regret anything once gone. I don't see how they could miss anything once gone either.
Talk about lives being cut short...you should go visit some of the war memorials. You should also visit some nursing homes while you are at it. You will learn first hand how lives were cut short. Then you will also learn the plight of those whose lives are not cut short.
As an aside, I once met a great grandmother who was 39 years old. Then, sometimes the children just wait too long for their parents so see their grand kids...for whatever excuse.
Meanwhile, I'm glad to hear that you're willing to allow me to choose for myself my on preferences in life. Notice I didn't say death...since death will come for me eventually, and there is no way I can know the hour or the day...nor prevent it. Sure there might be some measure/s to take that might postpone it. But I'd have to live life in seclusion(hardly possible in America), stay out of my car, stay off my motorcycle, build a bomb free burglar free shelter and have my supplies delivered to a safe location once the delivery guy left the premises before I scuttled back to my safety...
I'm still working on how I would pay for my supplies though.
You forgot to mention looking for the bus coming before crossing the street and reading the warning labels before drinking out of strange bottles.
Well now, I've been to several war memorials including the huge ones in Hawaii and a number of memorials here in the states and Europe. I also visit rest homes quite often and try to cheer the residents. Most of the people there still have a desire to live, no matter their infirmities. As for their "regretting anything once gone" it has to do with whether or not there is a life after death, and that is a religious matter. I for one belive here is, hence the possibility of a regret for things we did against others and to ourselves while here., It's not a matter of argument, just opinion.