By William R. Jones
Diverting from my usual writing on English language and usage, I now, present this topic that many prefer to avoid and perhaps are even ashamed of it. Even in this era of enlightenment, “personal death” is still an unacceptable topic of conversation. Death can certainly be a relied upon prognosis. No need for a second opinion. You cannot be saved from it, and although modern medicine makes its best attempt, it only postpones the appointment. Please think not that I am morbid when I say millions of people because of old age or having some sort of terminal illness are right now lying in hospitals, nursing homes or hospices waiting to be deceased. This accounts not for the thousands upon thousands that meet death in other ways announced by news media. The end is inevitable for each and every one of us.
We don’t like to talk about it and we don’t even like to plan for it. We prefer to ignore the topic altogether. However, in my years now, I’m so reminded by the recent passing of three friends in 2024, all belonging to the geriatric set. One younger by a few years, one my age at 78 and one older by a few years. All did live many states away from me and I had not seen them face-to-face for many years. So, in one sense, it is difficult to imagine that they are gone. I didn’t see any funeral processions, but I think they are involuntarily incommunicado, offline and off the grid permanently. They are just not here anymore. It’s easy for me to entertain the thought that they have been “translated.” Of course, we know of only two Bible book characters, Enoch and Elijah, who experienced such. They were spared from the usual human experience of death and documentation by the presence of medical practitioners.
I think it would be quite engaging to meet death on a second occasion as it is recorded that Lazarus did. Of course, I would not want to repeat the misery of the dying process. It is very important that dying be separated from death. It is the slow process of passing that is appalling and revulsive to people. I understand that, but that last moment I’m okay with. I wish to repeat here what Irish writer Jonathan Swift ("Gulliver’s Travels") wrote: “It is impossible that anything so natural, so necessary, and so universal as death should ever have been designed by Providence as an evil to mankind.”
I have a distant interest in the unhealthy and unwholesome subject of death, but I don’t fixate upon it in a strange or unpleasant manner. However, I’m able to enter brief discussions concerning it and although it is a quite serious issue, I’m not humorless about it. Humor is my psychological coping mechanism. Zig Ziglar said, “We are all part of the ultimate statistic: 10 out of 10 people will die.” Mark Twain said, “Treat each day as if it were your last. One day you will be right.” For the positive side of getting older: Robert Orben said, “I’m not old. I’m chronologically gifted.” And Larry Lorenzoni said, “Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.” Finally, at my conclusion, I wish everyone continuance.
The author ([email protected]) published the novella “Beyond Harvard” and teaches English as a second language.
English (United States) ·