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 time sandals…
…and slept in beds with NINE PILLOWS EACH.
And, over rosé within the night, the dialog drifted to life and demise.
“My six-year-old retains asking me what occurs when individuals die,” mentioned my pal Alison. “So, I advised him, ‘It’s one thing that each human has to do, it’s a part of being alive. Individuals consider various things about what occurs afterward, and I strongly consider that there’s goodness and peace. You don’t must be scared as a result of Opa can be on the opposite aspect ready for you, and I’ll be there, too, ready for you. You don’t ever must do it alone.’”
How heartbreakingly beautiful is that? Apparently her speech was comforting as a result of throughout dinner with their neighbors just a few days later, her son stood up and made an announcement: “I’ve been actually scared about dying,” he mentioned, “However then I talked to my mother and he or she made me really enthusiastic about dying.”
Rating!!! Haha.
Did you ever learn Rob Delaney’s stunning memoir about his late son, Henry? He imagined them reuniting after demise: “There is no such thing as a bodily paradise the place he’s ready for me, and for that I’m glad. I’ve to think about that will get boring after a few centuries, for him, for me. For you. Relatively, I believe I’m a glass of water, and after I die, the contents of my glass can be poured into the identical huge ocean that Henry’s glass was poured into, and we are going to mingle collectively eternally. We gained’t know who’s who. And also you’ll get poured in there at some point, 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 have 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bear the trials that destiny imposes on us; we will work for others with out relaxation, each now and once we are outdated; and when our final hour comes we will meet it humbly, and there, past the grave, we will say that we’ve got suffered and wept, that our life was bitter, and God can 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 observe, throughout my grandmother’s funeral final 12 months, the English vicar advised 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 might love to listen to your views, in case you’re up for sharing.
P.S. The right way to write a condolence observe, and after I turned 40 and had a tiny little demise freakout.
