"Old age is no place for sissies"
Bette Davis
This blog has been about growing old and basically dying. It is something that most people struggle to accept. We know that everyone else will die but we think we are the exceptions. It is just something that I think most of us struggle to get our head's around. We can accept the concept of death when it relates to others that we don't know but not when it involves our loved ones or ourselves. It is always a big surprise when it happens. My grandfather died at the age of 89 but I still remember feeling like something tragic and unexpected had happened. Why him, cut down in his prime! How is it possible for people we love to suddenly be gone never to be seen or spoken to again in our lifetime? We talk matter-of-factly about how we would like our bodies to be disposed the way we might talk about our favorite ice cream flavor. Why? Because it doesn't seem real! or because we think by talking without fear about our grand finale we can will ourselves to feel less afraid. A woman I know paid quite a lot of money for her drawer at the mausoleum because she doesn't like the idea of being below ground (which on some strange level I understand). I prefer cremation myself. All cultures have their rituals for death. I actually gave one of my speechs in communications class on death rituals around the world in my undergraduate years. I think if I tried really hard I could remember it all right now 20 years later. Nice to know I still have that crystallized intelligence thing going on. When I look around and think what do we need in this country, I think two things:
affordable, nice assisted living for the elderly and affordable, nice assisted living for the disabled.
What does nice mean? It means whatever the people who are living there want it to mean. However, I have yet to meet someone who did not wish to be treated with dignity and respect.
About Me
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- pixiegirrl
- I live near Mobile Bay with my husband and four dogs; Higgy, Eliza, Alfred and Mischa. I love vintage and although it is just me and my husband in our decent sized house, I am running out of space to indulge my addiction, uhm I mean passion. I am only 45 years old. I still have a good 40 years left to acquire seemingly useless items from garage sales and thrift stores. Perhaps I can be on the next season of A&E's Hoarders. Just kidding I only hoard good stuff not empty pizza boxes and the like.
4 comments:
Please don't let the journey be the end, let the journey be the destination! This has been a good experience for me and I have been fortunate in making some new friends. I am looking forward to seeing all of you next term. Rex
I think that your thoughts are accurate. Facing one's own mortality is so difficult.
You mentioned cremation. I have thought about this as well, but opted out simply because I believe that heaven and hell exist, and somehow having my remains get a head start in the direction of hell just does not set well with me. Anyway, who ever is left behind in my family will actually determine how my body is disposed of. I am much more concerned about my life after my death. Eternal paradise sounds wonderful. Thanks for an interesting post.
Bette Davis was always so good at summing things up in one great sentence! My 19 year old brother passed away suddenly from an undiagnosed brain aneurysm and so I can relate to the shock of losing someone and the questions that follow like "Why him?" etc.
I also thought that I too would be cremated but recently have decided to donate my body to the USA medical school. I think it is a way to continue giving back even when you can no longer walk the earth.
As to Sharon's comment, I have always learned in my Baptist and Catholic upbringing that we do not take our bodies to heaven or hell but just our souls.
As to Rex's comment, I look forward to seeing all my classmates again as well but certainly do not mind the LONG break. Hope everyone enjoys the holidays--See Ya Next Year!!!
I've decided that I want to be cremated. My aunt and her husband were so I kind of got use to the idea. I'm claustophobic, and I did not like the idea of being buried in a coffin. But now that I've decided to be cremated, I'm more comfortable with the thought of passing on. Sharon mentioned that it would be left to her family to decide about her funeral, but I think you should make your own plans and let your family know what you want. My parents and aunt told me what they wanted done when they passed away and somehow it was comforting to me knowing that I did this last thing for them the way they wanted.
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