whew....after seeing my father struggle before death, as well as the loss of beloved pets that passed on, I don't feel there is any dignity in dying...to be extinct from memories, feelings, awareness, senses, and seeing, and all that is part of living...Sorry about the fate of someone you yearned for and cared about..it seems that no one could break through his sorrow. I will never forget Temple Grandin's comment, upon seeing a living, bright eyed cow in the slaughter line, being given the death shot, and she said "where did it go?" as life immediately drained from its body. The living give it context..but the dying can't even experience the nothingness.
An expressive response. Thank you, Lois. Pain, both emotional and physical, with no hope for recovery, can be mitigated with ending one’s own life. It wonderful we have this choice in NM. I watched my mother die under the care of hospice. She was pain free and drifted off peacefully. I don’t know the answer to if one experiences nothingness when dying or even after one passes. I have done that. So I don’t know. The world has belief, faith, and whatever we call hope to feel that life continues. For me, life continues through memory and I hold on to that. Afterwards, we become part of the collective humanity of remembering. I’m satisfied with this explanation I don’t need any other answers.
And like Joe, also loved “Lipstick.”
Really enjoyed this short story!
Big thanks for reading, Bitty!
Moving, Norma. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, dear Ani.
As always, this was an insightful and poignant story. I'm sorry for... not so much your loss, but for what might have been.
I close with accepting the term friend. Any other possibility was impossible. Thank you, Emily for your coaching words. I still hold out hope.
Beautiful, Norma. I’m sorry for the loss of your friend.
Thanks very much, Marcia.
whew....after seeing my father struggle before death, as well as the loss of beloved pets that passed on, I don't feel there is any dignity in dying...to be extinct from memories, feelings, awareness, senses, and seeing, and all that is part of living...Sorry about the fate of someone you yearned for and cared about..it seems that no one could break through his sorrow. I will never forget Temple Grandin's comment, upon seeing a living, bright eyed cow in the slaughter line, being given the death shot, and she said "where did it go?" as life immediately drained from its body. The living give it context..but the dying can't even experience the nothingness.
An expressive response. Thank you, Lois. Pain, both emotional and physical, with no hope for recovery, can be mitigated with ending one’s own life. It wonderful we have this choice in NM. I watched my mother die under the care of hospice. She was pain free and drifted off peacefully. I don’t know the answer to if one experiences nothingness when dying or even after one passes. I have done that. So I don’t know. The world has belief, faith, and whatever we call hope to feel that life continues. For me, life continues through memory and I hold on to that. Afterwards, we become part of the collective humanity of remembering. I’m satisfied with this explanation I don’t need any other answers.