Two Stories About Death

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“Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives.” – Alan Sachs

I was going to publish something else today — but then I found this post written three years ago and never published in my drafts folder. Who can argue with a post that’s already written?

Story 1

Last weekend my friend Eric and I took the kids on a long bike ride. My toddler was in a bike seat behind me and my six-year-old daughter was on a third wheel bike attached to Eric’s. It was a gorgeous fall morning with moderate temperatures, colorful fall leaves, not too many clouds and we biked five miles to a marina on the waterfront where we met my brother and sister-in-law.

Along the route we’d seen a draw bridge go up, a police car, all sorts of interesting people getting ready for a breast cancer benefit race. So when my daughter said to my brother, “Guess what we saw on the way here?” I was surprised by her answer, “A dead bunny.”

And we had seen a dead bunny about 4 blocks from home.

Story 2

One of my mom’s friends is moving back to Utah. She’s 97-years-old and lived in Seattle for at least 15 but she told my mom that she’s moving back because her husband is buried there. She looked up how expensive it was to transport a body after someone died. Apparently, it’s costly so she decided to move so she’s nearby the cemetery when she passes.

Conclusion

I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to say that perhaps the very young and the very old have a frankness when talking about death that is harder to find in middle age.

45 thoughts on “Two Stories About Death”

  2. Marcus Aurelius, the Great Stoic philosopher and Emperor of Rome, wanted to be reminded every day that he would die, the better to inform himself how to live. I can’t say that I follow his example, but I do understand his point.

    Liked by 3 people

  3. Interesting juxtaposition Wynne- I see kids trying to make sense of it and those who have reached a certain point in the aging journey finding acceptance in the natural progression of every life… I don’t think we can ever fully describe the emotions experienced personally during the decades in between questions and acceptance.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. I find it interesting how differently people view the topic of death. I’m comfortable discussing my demise and use it as an ‘excuse’ to live my life as fully as possible. Some folks I know refuse to discuss death at all, and tend to live their life shielded from new experiences.

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  6. What a fascinating and also astute conclusion to draw from those two stories, Wynne. I think it’s true, including the addition that VJ makes above. Not everyone finds acceptance, but it sure helps if you can. Nice post.

    Liked by 2 people

  9. I love the bluntness and acceptance of the young, the only, and (as VJ so aptly points out) the chronically ill. It’s interesting that fear bubbles up in the in-between, isn’t it?

    Liked by 1 person

  10. So true Wynne. Maybe death is easier to talk about when you’re at either extreme. Newly born and far from it or close to it after having completed your mission. Difficult to face perhaps when the mission is in progress. I’m not sure. I don’t feel uneasy about it. It’s inevitable. And in the meantime I’ll keep finding the joy in the journey. Great stories!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. What a story of young and old being frank about death. FYI, we’re off to Utah ourselves to visit my husband’s best friend from childhood who is retiring from his own church as a pastor. He built his church outside of BYU in Provo. He felt it was his calling to have a church in the middle of a large Mormon population so people had a choice of where to worship.

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  12. I’m so thankful that, as a Jesus-follower, I’ll be taken home to be with God when I die (2 Corinthians 5:8). Some might ask how I can be sure, and I’d tell them because the Bible has made it clear. When they ask how I can believe the Bible, I’d tell them that archaeological evidence, ancient manuscripts, scientific and medical corroboration, fulfilled prophecies, and many more proofs have substantiated the truth of scripture. (Lots of books written by respected scholars provide scores of examples.) Death need not be a frightening!

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  13. What an interesting observation, Wynne, and one that was ruminating in your drafts folder for three years!

    I do appreciate, although I am sometimes horrified, by the frankness of my T. And I noticed the same in my mom in her later years.

    It is a gift to not have that filter and I guess something about the in between years require us to be guarded and careful with our words!

    I look forward when I can be a bit more carefree!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Interesting post, Wynne. I don’t think about death too much, but I believe all my affairs are in order, so hopefully it won’t be too much of a burden for my family. The worst is to mourn the death of a loved one and also have to get things sorted out at the same time.

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  15. spot on, wynne. the youngest and oldest are the least ‘filtered’ and worry about what others think. they are curious, and like to ask questions to find answers, unafraid.

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  18. When my son was about 3 years old, he found one of our cats dead just outside the house door. He was poisoned and I explained it to him. He couldn’t believe so he took a branch and started to touch him. As he didn’t react we went to bury him in the nearby forest. He painted a stone to put on his grave, we made a kind of ceremony and that’s for him was a very normal thing to do. I am not sure about elderly people but for kids death is just an event of life, as it actually is.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That is so interesting, Cristiana. You’re right – a normal part of life! I’m so sorry your cat was poisoned though! I know it was many years ago but that had to be hard!

      Liked by 1 person

  19. So true! I suspect for the young, death is so far off it’s nothing more than an abstract concept at best. And for the very old, it’s something they’re forced to confront, like it or not.

    Is your mom’s friend still alive?

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