From: owner-eda-thoughts-digest@smoe.org (eda-thoughts-digest) To: eda-thoughts-digest@smoe.org Subject: eda-thoughts-digest V3 #217 Reply-To: eda-thoughts@smoe.org Sender: owner-eda-thoughts-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-eda-thoughts-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk eda-thoughts-digest Friday, June 2 2000 Volume 03 : Number 217 * If you ever wish to unsubscribe, send an email to * eda-thoughts-digest-request@smoe.org with ONLY * the word unsubscribe in the body of the email * . * PLEASE :) when you reply to this digest to send a post TO the list, * change the subject to reflect what your post is about. A subject * of Re: eda-thoughts-digest V3 #xxx or the like gives readers no clue * as to what your message is about. Today's Subjects: ----------------- ET: About this preoccupation with death... [Harrisbros@aol.com] ET: Poem ["Claudia" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2000 01:56:05 EDT From: Harrisbros@aol.com Subject: ET: About this preoccupation with death... *** Court posted: >By the way, the woman that hung herself (linda) was unhooked from her >ventilator, and died around 11:50 this morning. Her dad and brother couldn't >stay in the room, but because my mom didn't want her to die alone, she >stayed with her and held her hand and such. Her funeral is Saturday. >Just thought I'd share Death is a peculiar thing. Sometimes you feel you need to do something, like Court's mother staying with Linda while they unhooked her. When my sister died in the hospital 16 years ago, I stood next to her bed as she slipped away. It was a strangely hollow feeling, but it seemed right that one of us be there with her, and that it be me. Her death was largely self-inflicted, as was Court's friend. It doesn't make it any less tragic, but it does take away some of the "oh god why's" you have if it is an accident or something beyond their control. We make our choices, and we live (or die) with them. My mother was comatose and on life support for months before she died. My other sister and I were actually going through legal proceedings to disconnect her and permit her to die with dignity when fate mercifully stepped in. Another life lesson: have a living will, or lawyers will determine when (and if) you can leave this existence and continue whatever path you feel you have in front of you. All three of these situations illustrate one clear point to me: While we may endlessly analyze, romanticize and politicize our brief tenures as human beings, our existence is indeed fragile. We are physical beings, with just enough intelligence and awareness to make us feel whatever pain we can collect, and unfortunately, carry around with us like some kind of perverse treasure! Hell, dump the grief and pain as quickly as possible -- daily if necessary. Keep the knowledge of it, and use it to remind you of how good the good things are, but don't elevate the pain to cult status in your life. ELEVATE LIVING TO CULT STATUS IN YOUR LIFE INSTEAD. Pain is designed to be an indicator of a problem, NOT as a lifelong disease that we must obsess over. We need to avoid the trap of setting ourselves up for a sudden -- and abrupt -- end to our lives, whether it be through unhealthy living (substance abuse) or unwise attempts at suicide. Shit happens; work things out. Life isn't easy on anyone (trust me, I know of what I speak!)... That said, life is pretty damn acceptable 98% of the time, with flashes of brillant sunshine days. Just don't permit the other bad 2% grow to mythic proportions. *ahem* Well, that was my "deep" thoughts post. I will NEVER write poetry, but I may feel an urge to get a little silly on this list from time to time... (hope y'all don't mind ;-) Dennis, who will undoubtedly exit this life about as uncooperatively (and unwillingly) as he came into it... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2000 19:22:42 +0200 From: "Claudia" Subject: ET: Poem Like a tranquil river you flow into my heart moulding my shores, making me the person i want to be. Like a water-lily i dance on the soft waves of your love and your tenderness gently rocks me like a baby. Following your stream i find the meaning of my life, Listening to your lullaby i find the peace that sets me free. ------------------------------ End of eda-thoughts-digest V3 #217 **********************************