photo #1505364

Growing up around extended family, I learned that death was a normal part of life. You know - you're born, then you die. Nobody ever beats the system. What happens in between creates the only legacy which will/won't be the only mark you've ever even been here. A long time ago, I remember somebody wrote about writing your own obituary to check on yourself. If there was too much bragging, that could be a problem. If there was nothing to say, did you ever accomplish anything? I figured long ago that simple is better, and perceptions won't be changed by words in a newspaper. If you knew me, you knew me. If you didn't, you wouldn't care anyway. The wonderful things I did in certain lives would matter to them, not the buzzards that glean something from the obituary columns. I've always told my family I'd want something like this: "The Cairo Curmudgeon, aged __ , passed away yesterday. The wake will be held (date, time) on the family acreage. In lieu of flowers, please BYOB and any instrument you play." Now, I've had to reconsider the whole thing after many mental updates. The older one gets, the more they contemplate their mortality, me included. Now, there's got to be a contingency. Should the CRUD get me, here's the updated version : "The Cairo Curmudgeon, aged __ , passed away yesterday from Chinese interference with his longevity. The wake will be held (date, time) on the family acreage. In lieu of flowers, please BYOB and any instrument you play." Yes, wake only. No address. If you knew me, you knew where I lived. If not, and you're too lazy to websearch me, just skip it. I'd like to "go out" with people having a good time, laughing, and swapping stories/lies about me. Nothing remorseful. Just one final wing-ding that they'll remember the next morning. So, now about you. What's YOURS going to say? Who're you telling? Why? Yeah, really hits home. Not trying to be morbid, just real. P.S. -- the newspapers charge by the word ! A LOT ! Still feelin' RICH ?