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Saturday, May 26, 2012

Death in the Title


















In the book of life people die everyday. The young and the old, the sick and the healthy, the rich and the poor. We all live to die. I have fantasized that if I was ever given a specific "sentence" I would use my credit cards to travel and buy stuff for people, but would I? I think I would sit around and watch sad movies and not answer my phone.

Death effects the survivors, not the dead, that is why it is so tragic when a young person dies. We loose the privilege of seeing who they would have become. Parents are childless, children become orphaned and we question over and over again why.

The chapters of my life have been filled with death since I was a child and I have come to accept it. I can't remember the last time I cried when someone died, but I can still see my Grandmother throwing herself onto the grave of my Father.

I think people who outwardly show the most suffering are the ones who inwardly feel the most guilt. I'm not judging, nor am I saying to be so demonstrative as my Grandmother was, equals guilt. I just think that those who are able to express love to the living seem less likely to grieve so dramatically when they're gone. It seems they need to prove their love to themselves and anyone who will pay attention. It makes me sad.

I will be cremated, I want no service. I want to leave quietly while people are just going about with living. If you want to say something to me, say it now. Waiting helps no one.

We'll both regret it but I'll be dead, so you'll be the bigger loser.


The Elephant

















There was a young man who could make his hand walk and talk like an elephant. Well, in reality his mouth made the elephant sound, but it didn't really matter. The elephant would walk across the table, lift it's trunk in various directions and heights as if to smell the air for your presence. Once it found you it would sniff and make funny noises and somehow emote joy in the find.

Not every person lacks the inhibition it takes to enjoy this form of play. Luckily for me I knew someone who could. This small gesture would always make me laugh and lift my spirits. I'm sure the elephant grew tired of performing, as did the young man.

One day the young man put his hand in his pocket and got up and left. It must be stressful to achieve the same level of excellence day in and day out. Perhaps someone stopped believing in his worth so he stopped believing too.

Small gifts like this are precious.

As a child I saw real elephants dressed in silly outfits doing tricks at the circus.
I know I did because my parents told me I did.

I have no memory of those elephants.