Hiya pricey readers. As a caveat, I’m not a health care provider, lawyer, priest, or psychologist … simply an artist with a vivid creativeness, and an opinion, simply because the saying goes “opinions are like an a*****e, everybody has one!” That is simply my opinion, so please learn it with an open thoughts. I’m 77.5 years previous, so I’m near my “finish date,” and might communicate with a bit of data on this subject. I could have one foot within the grave(1600’s thought) and one foot on a banana peel (1950’s thought). I did survive a copperhead chunk on the age of 75, with a compromised immune system. My physician requested me, “When you get bitten once more, will you could have antibodies?” I assured her” I don’t need to discover out!” Fifty thousand folks die yearly, worldwide, from snake bites and 1,000,000 from mosquito bites!!! I did come near dying on July 16, 2022 when my very own 4,000 pound automobile ran over me after I fell out of it, whereas reaching to choose up my copy of the Covington Information. I do love the Covington Information, however I’m not keen to die for it! Did that expression “to die for” come into thoughts, after I lay on the scorching pavement with 15 damaged bones in excessive agony? Properly, sorta. It was such a scorching day that I obtained asphalt burns, whereas half comatose, awaiting an excellent Samaritan to seek out me. Ten minutes handed till a automobile stopped, and a terrified man approached me apprehensively, “would you like me to name an ambulance,” he requested. I weakly muttered “sure,” whereas considering of every kind of smartass replies, which I didn’t say to him. “Naw, I’m simply chillin,” being one reply. “No thanks, I’m simply working towards road yoga. That is simply my savasna (corpse) pose.”
I used to be positive this was my demise day, and I used to be speaking to GOD, “please don’t let me die. I’m not mad at YOU. It was my very own silly fault. I feel my again is damaged, however that’s okay, I can nonetheless do artwork in a wheelchair.” Thank GOD, household and buddies, hospital, PT, rehab and many others., I survived that have. I don’t advocate doing that at dwelling! After I retell that story, imagine it or not, I’ve now heard tales of 38 folks doing the identical factor, so PSA right here, all the time put your automobile in park, even with the brake on. And, actor Jeremy Renner did the identical factor, however with a 14,000 pound snow plow. He survived after 30 surgical procedures. Nietzche stated “ That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
William Wallace (1270-1305), a Scotsman hero, stated “Each man dies. Not each man lives.” Physician Spock on Star Trek stated, “Dwell lengthy and prosper.” I hope all of us do. Up to now month alone, 4 superb folks I’ve identified have died. A person 75, neighborhood servant, a lady 85, exemplary trainer, a lady 86, well-known chef, and a beautiful physician 94. At the least all of them lived wealthy full lives to a ripe previous age. Could they Relaxation in Peace.
By some means speaking about our mortality, our finish date, our “good earlier than” date, the day of reckoning, our demise day, is averted in any respect prices. To not be mentioned, considered, contemplated, thought-about, as if avoiding contemplation would make it vanish or by no means occur in any respect. I advised my nurse practitioner final week what I used to be writing about. She replied, “Nope, Individuals do NOT need to discuss it!”
Everybody who’s born will die at some point. It’s inevitable. It’s a truth of life. Within the wheel of life, it’s delivery, life, and demise. You simply don’t know when it will likely be. Would you need to know the day in case you might? Wouldn’t it enable you to plan for it, full your bucket checklist? I VIVIDLY recall seeing the April 18, 1992 episode of Saturday Evening Dwell, close to Easter/Passover with comic Jerry Seinfeld portraying the prophet Elijah (who might foretell the longer term). He burst right into a household Seder dinner, interrupting the night. He yelled to the patriarch, “Cheer up Granpa, I’ll inform you somewhat secret….‘Sept. twenty fourth, in your sleep.” I used to be astounded…whoa….nice comedy, and I by no means forgot it. He obtained a “heads up” for his final day on earth. Would you need to know yours?
Having religion in GOD or a Larger Energy may give consolation, steering, power, and a hope to fulfill that Being once you “cross over.” It’s not well mannered to say “die.” Euphemisms are used: “meet your maker,” perish, expire, over the hill, lose life, transition, kick the bucket, and many others. My paternal grandmother died after I was 13. It by no means occurred to me that I might die at some point, not even after I was 21, and my maternal grandmother died, “not gonna occur to me!” Would you select how you’ll die? It’s as much as our Creator and HE/SHE/THEY know the day.
As soon as, in a medieval courtroom, the official jester displeased the king, and the king, offended, ordered “OFF WITH HIS HEAD!” He relented since he actually favored the humorous younger jester, so he made a concession, “You WILL die, however as a result of I such as you a lot, I’ll allow you to select the strategy of demise.” The king supplied the alternatives of beheading, hanging, poisoning, the rack (torture), stabbing, being thrown off a cliff, hunger, and many others. (no opioid disaster in these days, so no OD-ing), permitting the jester to ponder over every possibility. Then the jester tilted his head, put his hand over his coronary heart and bowed to the king, declaring “Sire, these are all wonderful methods to die. Thanks for contemplating all of them for me.. however because you gave me a alternative ..I feel I’ll select previous age!” The king gasped, affronted, however realized that he had a smart jester to entertain him along with his wit, and for a very long time!
There was a 2014 comedy “A Million Methods to Die within the West” depicting the American West in 1882. Some methods have been gunshot, hanging, knives, bar brawls, plague, shootouts, drunkenness, alcohol, medicine, even a rattlesnake within the outhouse. In one other older film, the comedy actor stated “Dying is straightforward, Comedy is tough,” a well-known line. In a Clint Eastwood film, “Dying is straightforward.. it’s dwelling that’s onerous.” Mark Twain stated, “I don’t concern demise. I’ve been useless for billions and billions of years earlier than I used to be born and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.” Upon studying his obituary, he declared “experiences of my demise are vastly exaggerated.” Would you write your individual obit?? Hospice employees say that within the end-of-life conversations they hear repeatedly, there are often 5 issues folks, even estranged folks, say to at least one one other:” please forgive me, I forgive you, I really like you, thanks, goodbye.”
Are there belongings you wished to do, however by no means have? A buddy whose husband instantly dropped useless advised me, “If there’s a place you needed to go, however by no means did, then go there! If there’s something you all the time needed to do, however by no means did, by all means do it!” And most significantly, “inform the folks you’re keen on that you simply love them, again and again.”
Within the 1989 Robin Williams movie “Useless Poets Society,” he teaches his college students about “Carpe Diem,” which is Latin for “seize the day.” The Roman poet Horace uttered these phrases in 23 B.C., “carpe diem quamminimum credula postero,” pluck the day, trusting as little as attainable within the subsequent one.” Take advantage of every day. Life is brief. Time is valuable, waste it properly. Life is for the dwelling.
Everybody you recognize, together with your self, will die sooner or later. So, within the meantime, LIVE your finest life. On any given day, over 150,000 die, worldwide. That’s 105 folks per minute, daily, worldwide. However, even in case you are dying and know demise is coming, you might be by no means ready. Within the 1957 (black and white) Bergman movie, on a pebbled seaside, there have been 2 males. The one on the best was tall, with a pale face, carrying a black hooded gown. He advised the opposite man, “I’m Dying. I’ve come to take you.”
“NO!” cried the opposite man, “I’m not prepared!” Dying replied, “Nobody ever is.” Will Rogers, the American humor author, penned this in 1935, “After I die, I need to go peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather did. Not screaming in terror just like the passengers in his automobile.” A preacher as soon as advised me, “It may be fast or it may be sluggish. Belief me, fast is best. Sluggish is tough on the dying one, fast is tough on those left behind.” From private expertise, I are likely to agree, as my Mom suffered slowly for two years, however my Father died tragically in minutes.
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Useless) has been celebrated in Mexico for over 3,000 years. These ceremonies honor demise as a pure a part of the cycle of life. Altars, meals, rituals, dancing, and parades are remembrances of family and friends who’ve died. It’s a very joyous and colourful custom, not unhappy!
Some well-known final phrases from well-known folks:
• Marie Antoinette: “Pardon me sir,” as she inadvertently stepped on her executioner’s foot.
• Bob Marley: “Cash can’t purchase life.”
• Frido Kahlo: “I hope the exit is joyful and hope by no means to return.”
• Bessie Smith: “I’m going, however I’m going within the title of the Lord.”
• Queen Elizabeth 1: “All my possessions for a second of time.”
• Leonard Nimoy: “A life is sort of a backyard, good moments might be had, however not preserved, besides in reminiscence” LLAP
• Albert Einstein (stated in German): “I’m on the mercy of destiny and haven’t any management over it.”
• Frank Sinatra: “I’m dropping it.”
• Richard Nixon: “Assist.”
• Archimedes (to the soldier who killed him): “Steer clear of my diagram. Don’t disturb my circle”.
• Leonardo da Vinci: “I’ve offended God and mankind as a result of my work didn’t attain the standard it ought to have.” ( are you able to imagine that?… one of many biggest artists ever to reside on this earth!)
• Steve Jobs: “Oh, wow. Oh, wow, oh, wow.”
• Roald Dahl: “ You recognize, I’m not frightened. It’s simply that I’ll miss you all a lot.”
• Michael Jackson: “milk” (propofol).
• George Washington: “Tis nicely.”
• Beethoven: “Mates, applaud. The comedy is completed.”
• Humphrey Bogart: “I ought to by no means have switched from scotch to martinis.”
• Jack Daniels: “One final drink please.”
• Thomas Edison: “It is extremely stunning over there.”
• Napoleon Bonaparte: “France, the military, head of the military, Josephine” (they have been divorced for 7 years, and he or she predeceased him by 7 years).
• Carl Jung: “Let’s have a extremely good wine tonight.”
• Malcolm X: “ Peace.”
• Todd Beamer: “Let’s Roll.”
• Richard Simmons: “Let me fly you to the moon so we will gaze among the many stars.”
• Alfred Hitchcock: “ One by no means is aware of the ending: One has to die to know precisely what occurs after demise. Though, Catholics have their hopes.”
• John Jacob Astor (aboard the Titanic) to his spouse: “ The ocean is calm. You’ll be alright. You’re in good fingers. I’ll see you within the morning.”
• Edgar Allan Poe: “ Lord assist my poor soul.”
• Groucho Marx: “ Die, my pricey? Why that’s the very last thing I’ll do!”
• Erroll Flynn: “I’ve had a hell of loads of enjoyable and I’ve loved each minute of it.”
• Jimi Hendrix: “The story of life is faster than the blink of an eye fixed. The story of affection is whats up and goodbye. Till we meet once more”( poem discovered after his demise).
• Joe DiMaggio: “I’ll lastly get to see Marilyn.”
• Charlie Chaplain (after the priest stated “Could the Lord have mercy in your soul”).. “Why not? In any case, it belongs to Him.”
• Bing Crosby: “That was a terrific sport of golf, fellas.”
• Heavy D: “Be impressed.”
• John Dillinger: “ You bought me.”
• Roger Ebert: “I’ll see you on the films.”
• Babe Ruth: “ I’m going over the valley.”
• Sam Kinison (age 38, in a automobile crash, by a drunk 17 12 months previous): “ Why now? I don’t need to die. Why? Bystanders stated he appeared up at Heaven and stated “Oh, Okay.”
• John Wilkes Sales space: “Ineffective,.. ineffective.”
• Henry Ward Beecher: “Now comes the Thriller.”
• James Brown: “I’m burning up, burning up.”
• Ingrid Bergman “Do I look alright? Give me my brush and make- up.”
• Charles Schulz: ‘’Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy. How can I ever overlook them?”
• Salvador Dali: “The place is my clock?”
• Thomas Hobbs: “I’m about to take my final voyage. An excellent leap in the dead of night”
• George Harrison: “Love each other”
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Some ideas from peculiar those who I do know/ knew……..
• Harriet: “I might quite die of a scorpion chunk than in a urine soaked wheelchair.”
• Jeff: “My brother lamented ,’God has forsaken me! Mom died.’” Their Mom was 85, a terrific life, died softly in her sleep. Jeff responded: “Are you severe?! That could be a blessing. That’s the easiest way to go!”
• A person to his pastor, whereas dying within the hospital stated, “that is like getting on a terrific large airplane, about to take off on a terrific large flight.”
• Catherine: “How lengthy does this take? I can’t wait to fulfill my Maker!”
• Homer: “Dying is straightforward, it’s the dying that’s onerous”
• Sandra “it’s one other journey, for positive”.
• Older girl: “I need to die within the mattress of a youthful man”
• Pastor: “I need to preach my final sermon, sit down, then go”
• In 1956, to an 8 12 months previous woman, by an previous preacher: “in case you ain’t proper with God, higher get proper! When you is true with God, keep proper!”
• A tree service at my home: “Whenever you go away the home within the morning you higher be proper with God, trigger in case you ain’t, you’re liable to fulfill Him.” (uncle felled by a tree at work)
• Covington physician to his aged sufferers: “You might be crumbling on schedule.”
• Ann’s Mom to her: “You don’t get up useless, it’s a course of.”
• Jack, dying in hospital, to his spouse: “Do you see them? The ANGELS! All Round!”
• S: “Any day above floor is an efficient day.”
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Another well-known traces about demise (not essentially on their deathbed):
• Gandhi: “Dwell as in case you have been to die tomorrow. Study as in case you have been to reside endlessly.”
• Emiliano Zapata (a former slave): “It’s higher to die in your toes than to reside a lifetime on yourknees.”
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A parting, no pun meant, thought: “Life’s journey is to not arrive safely on the grave, however quite to skid in sideways, completely worn out, in a cloud of smoke, shouting Holy Cow, what a journey!!!!!!!!!,” a quote tailored type Hunter S. Thompson, whose ashes have been despatched up in 2005 in a $3 million rocket by Johnny Depp, who portrayed him in 2 films.
My pricey buddy Maria S. in Greece died slowly, for a very long time, earlier than Covid. At the moment, cremation was not allowed in Greece. Her son paid a person to drive her coffin to Bulgaria, wait whereas she was cremated, then drive her ashes again to Greece, whereas enjoying her favourite tune all the journey which was, surprisingly, “The Yellow Rose of Texas.” After covid, with over one million deaths in a rustic of solely 10 million folks, cremation is now allowed.
Within the nation of Sweden, they apply “döstädning,” which suggests “demise cleansing.” While you’re nonetheless ready, and in your older years, filter out all of your junk, declutter, give away gadgets, plan and put together for the inevitable, and many others., in order that your youngsters and heirs usually are not caught doing it! It is extremely releasing… as I’m doing it myself! Attempt it!
P.S. I do know that you’re ‘drop useless beautiful’ and I hope you die laughing!
Peace,
Carol Veliotis
Carol Veliotis is an area columnist for The Covington Information. She might be reached at carol.veliotis@gmail.com.
