Blowing in the Wind
by
You’re not the least bit terrified of what happens before you’re born. Why, then, are you so terrified of what happens after you die?
The world ends. And the world begins. And ends. And begins.
Working with families that have suffered a death makes me more familiar with death than I suspect most people are. But it is often the case that the deaths I am dealing with are of people who were themselves ready to meet their makers: older, retired, tired.
So when I am faced head on with an unexpected death, a death of someone NOT expecting it, not retired, not tired nor ready, it catches me unawares. And that happened today. I feel disappointed in the universe for allowing this seemingly senseless death to occur.
It is the human condition that we CANNOT live as if each day were our last. After all, if we knew next Friday were our last day on Earth, we’d not go to work, or pay our mortgage or buy groceries. We’d instead spend every last penny on living life to the fullest. But how realistic is THAT? We’d be homeless and hungry by next Saturday. No; that will not do. Rather, we MUST live as though tomorrow will come, as though our lights should stay on, as though we will have children and they will go to college for which we must save.
It was thus surmised succinctly: Death is a bitch. Period. Dying is the worst part of living and is to be avoided at all costs. And when it cannot be avoided, then it’s consummation should be as painless on the dying and on the survivors as possible.
Live. Love. Laugh. And let those who matter most to you know it everyday. Lest Death catch you unawares.
I am so sorry for your loss. It’s never easy when someone close to us dies, but for it to be so unexpected seems especially cruel.
.-= Tara R.´s last blog ..Building a bridge =-.
I was thinking along the same lines. We can’ know when or how the end will come (for us or the ones we love). I will not stay angry at those I love. I will not waste time being angry with those I don’t. I will save for the future, because each day is not my last; but I will not delay the little gratifications, like toasting marshmallows tonight. If I too die unexpectedly, I do not want think my son will miss out on something because I was “saving” it. If he, or my husband, or the friend I’ve been meaning to get together with dies before we get a chance to do that fun thing – I don’t want it to be because I was rationing my happiness.
So unfair. I know so many who are suffering, but live, and yet one is taken who was not done yet.
I still have had such strange experiences with death, they’ve all been so far away that I still haven’t had to really deal with the really messy parts.
It bothers me to think about, but at the same time, what’s the point?
Sorry about your friend and the messy backlash of unexpected death, that I do know about.
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Life tends to throw those curve balls that we don’t seem ready to catch.
((nola notes))…