Yesterday, I went to the seaside with three feminine buddies.
We ate cheese…
…and swam within the warmer-than-expected water.
We broke in our summer season sandals…
…and slept in beds with NINE PILLOWS EACH.
And, over rosé within the night, the dialog drifted to life and dying.
“My six-year-old retains asking me what occurs when folks die,” stated my pal Alison. “So, I informed him, ‘It’s one thing that each human has to do, it’s a part of being alive. Folks imagine various things about what occurs afterward, and I strongly imagine that there’s goodness and peace. You don’t must be scared as a result of Opa will probably be on the opposite facet ready for you, and I’ll be there, too, ready for you. You don’t ever must do it alone.’”
How heartbreakingly pretty is that? Apparently her speech was comforting as a result of throughout dinner with their neighbors a couple of days later, her son stood up and made an announcement: “I’ve been actually scared about dying,” he stated, “However then I talked to my mother and he or she made me truly enthusiastic about dying.”
Rating!!! Haha.
Did you ever learn Rob Delaney’s stunning memoir about his late son, Henry? He imagined them reuniting after dying: “There isn’t a bodily paradise the place he’s ready for me, and for that I’m glad. I’ve to think about that might get boring after a few centuries, for him, for me. For you. Relatively, I believe I’m a glass of water, and once I die, the contents of my glass will probably be poured into the identical huge ocean that Henry’s glass was poured into, and we are going to mingle collectively without end. We gained’t know who’s who. And also you’ll get poured in there in the future, too.”
This previous weekend, my sister and I noticed the Chekhov play Uncle Vanya. The script was typically humorous, they usually made it RAIN on stage. However total the play was bleak — the takeaway appeared to be “life is struggling and then you definately die” — and the ultimate phrases by the niece Sonya had been darrrrrkkkk. “What can we do? We should reside our lives. Sure, we will reside, Uncle Vanya. We will reside by way of the lengthy procession of days earlier than us, and thru the lengthy evenings; we will patiently bear the trials that destiny imposes on us; we will work for others with out relaxation, each now and once we are previous; and when our final hour comes we will meet it humbly, and there, past the grave, we will say that we now have suffered and wept, that our life was bitter, and God may have pity on us. Ah, then pricey, pricey Uncle, you and I shall see that shiny and delightful life; we will rejoice and look again upon our sorrow right here; a young smile — and — we will relaxation.” The catch is that she doesn’t sound satisfied by her speech. She then provides, wearily, “I’ve religion, Uncle, fervent, passionate religion.” However does she? Should she?
On a sweeter word, throughout my grandmother’s funeral final yr, the English vicar informed us that she had now joined my grandfather “within the church yard, or wherever they’re inside the nice thriller.” I cherished that wording. The good thriller, certainly!
So, I’m questioning, what do you suppose occurs once we die? Something? Nothing? How does faith or tradition inform your beliefs, if in any respect? I’d love to listen to your views, if you happen to’re up for sharing.
P.S. Easy methods to write a condolence word, and once I turned 40 and had a tiny little dying freakout.