Death.

There has been death all around lately. 2 very close friends have lost loved ones and I recently lost my uncle. It’s hitting closer to home and some day I’ll have to really deal with it. I’m realizing that in so many ways, I just don’t get it yet.
Son of a funeral director, I took my childhood experiences of vacuuming large open chapels with Mr. Eisenmeyer in a coffin behind me (constantly looking over my shoulder), or delivering flowers to the family, or helping to dress a cadaver in sunday best as the norm and never questioned the grossly overblown tradition of the american funeral until relatively recently. A friend in St. Paul started a green burial business- cheapest burial in town and environmentally friendly to boot.

I read blog posts like these that explain how my friend Elizabeth bathed and dressed her partner after her death. Caring for her during her last weeks, days, breaths… Makes me realize that I just don’t get it. There may not be anything more valuable on this earth than to be with a person you love as they die.

All that because I saw this other guy’s crazy idea- to witness his own funeral. I think it’s brilliant! Leave it to a thesbian. Those artists save my world from collapsing in on me.

2 thoughts on “Death.”

  1. Thank you for this. I myself have experienced a lot of death in my life for someone my age. Because of this, I have come to a certain peace with death and it’s role in life.

  2. I appreciate the post, Grant. I witnessed my grandmother die – I was the only one there when she passed away. It was not at all scary and as sad as that moment was, I was actually happy and relieved to be there to share those final breaths with her. I too agree, that having someone there with you is probably the most valuable thing. I fear the thought of dying somewhere unnoticed.

    Wow, are we crossing over into the dark side of the geek?

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