Dead

I sat down next to him wondering why he was alone today. His long time friend and he were usually inseparable. "Where is Bob", I asked. He looked up from reading his paper to say matter of fact, "He is dead". I sat there for a moment stunned at his announcement. Now both of these men where in there 80's and they often talked about how old they both were and how they had had such long and fulfilling lives. We would talk about death and its inevitability. Not in a sad way but as was a part of life. A beginning ,a middle and an end. "What happened?" I asked hesitantly. "He went to bed and never woke up." he said. We talked a bit more but I got the feeling that he wanted to be alone with his thoughts or at least read the sports without my interrupting questions.

I think of death often. I think about it as a part of life. I am fascinated with how we , as a society, deal with it. We all have way of dealing with death and what it means to us. But today I was more fascinated with the words that we use to describe death. He passed on, departed ( like a plane leaving the terminal), cashed in his chips, is taking a dirt nap, kicked the bucket, bought the farm and one of my favorites ....sleeps with the fishes.

I was watching the news regarding the death of Nelson Mandela and somebody said that he had expired...( What?....like the warranty on my kindle?) ...others said that he was lost...( like the morning I couldn't find my phone?). Finally I heard from somebody who describe the feelings of most of his countrymen. He had a "transitional passing". It was a description of this as part of his life. He had done his work and moved on to become a memory. Somebody that they would think of more for what he stood for than the his physical presence here on earth.

You can believe what you want about what happens when we stop breathing, as somebody once said, "whatever gets you thru the night" To me it is a personal matter. I live better knowing that there is an end. In the moment I guess. But the reality is that someday all of us and everyone we know will be dead....so enjoy what you have while you have it.

PS ..This what not meant to be depressing. Just my thoughts on death...maybe its more about life.

Have a great day!!