Death. That's what I need to talk about. I know I'm not the only one. I know this because I deal with it every day. I hold the hands of the dying while I chat with them. I look into the teary eyes of the people that love the dying. And I shake my head, in private, at the way Death has been made a Grey.
I sat on the bedside of a woman yesterday as she passed in and out of consciusness. She knew she was going. Today she's dead. I liked her; we made each other laugh. But for a while last week, she hit a nerve in me.
I've always wondered what I'd choose to do with my time when they tell me I'm dying. What books I'd cram in my head, what politicians I'd write to, what places I'd want to see, what people I'd want to spend time with.
This woman wanted to make sure all her bills were paid. That was all.
She handed me a stack of documents. Electricity bill. Gas bill. Phone bill.
Even with Death staring her square between the eyes, the curse of the Grey, the CoN, the machine, has her right where it kept her through life. She was on a street-car headed for the abyss, and she couldn't detach herself from the machine.
She needed to make sure the electricity was on in a house no-one would return to. That the phones work on a line no-one would ever speak on again. That the stove would work for meals that would never be cooked. Because she cared about what the machine thinks. That same machine that would inherit nearly all of her small fortune, by virtue of her having no living relatives. That same machine that doesn't give a rat's arse about her in life, or in death. She still wants to help it operate.
Her death doesn't make me sad. I'm a professional in death. But being reminded of the sheer power of the Machine; of it's infiltration deep into the psyche's of us all; of it's power and ability to make its' maintenance the number one priority in the lives of so many...
That's F'n sad.
I saw another chap today, dying as I type. He mightn't see next week. Still, he's studying his form guide, about to bet on horse races that he probably won't be alive to see. He'll die as he lived, as they say, dreaming of the easy money that eluded him in life. That the machine dangled in front of him like bait, for all that time.
He worked hard. He saved for a future. He looked forward to retirement. His brain tumour doesn't care about that stuff. He was told, two weeks into retirement, that he'd be spending the rest of his short life in hospitals.
So this edition isn't really about death. It's about life. We're all dying. You know that, even if you need a reminder. Just some quicker than others.
How are you gonna spend your time?
Or Kill me...
Quote from: Deepthroat Chopra on June 08, 2007, 03:25:31 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 08, 2007, 03:23:18 AM
Quote from: Deepthroat Chopra on June 08, 2007, 03:22:58 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 08, 2007, 03:20:46 AM
Quote from: Deepthroat Chopra on June 08, 2007, 03:18:45 AM
Or Kill me...
:tgrr:
Ah. Thousand apologies. Never again.
Hmmm...
Never again with the "Or Kill me". I just thought it fit after talking about Death. Don't mean to be stealing from you.
But that isn't what "or kill me" MEANS.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 08, 2007, 03:27:37 AM
Quote from: Deepthroat Chopra on June 08, 2007, 03:25:31 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 08, 2007, 03:23:18 AM
Quote from: Deepthroat Chopra on June 08, 2007, 03:22:58 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 08, 2007, 03:20:46 AM
Quote from: Deepthroat Chopra on June 08, 2007, 03:18:45 AM
Or Kill me...
:tgrr:
Ah. Thousand apologies. Never again.
Hmmm...
Never again with the "Or Kill me". I just thought it fit after talking about Death. Don't mean to be stealing from you.
But that isn't what "or kill me" MEANS.
Hmmm...
Quote from: Deepthroat Chopra on June 08, 2007, 04:00:32 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 08, 2007, 03:27:37 AM
Quote from: Deepthroat Chopra on June 08, 2007, 03:25:31 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 08, 2007, 03:23:18 AM
Quote from: Deepthroat Chopra on June 08, 2007, 03:22:58 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 08, 2007, 03:20:46 AM
Quote from: Deepthroat Chopra on June 08, 2007, 03:18:45 AM
Or Kill me...
:tgrr:
Ah. Thousand apologies. Never again.
Hmmm...
Never again with the "Or Kill me". I just thought it fit after talking about Death. Don't mean to be stealing from you.
But that isn't what "or kill me" MEANS.
Hmmm...
Or kill me is, well, think of Patrick Henry.
GIVE ME LIBERTY OR KILL ME.
Or think of Cicero.
WHEN IN ROME, KILL ME.
Or Winston Churchhill.
We shall fight on the beaches...OR KILL ME.
understand?
Hardly rocket science.
What pissed you off?
Quote from: Deepthroat Chopra on June 08, 2007, 07:13:28 AM
Hardly rocket science.
What pissed you off?
It's my tagline, man. It's tradition.
You should find your own.
Fuck, even if you get your own tagline youd be unoriginal.
I think TGRR takes exception to pinks using that phrase.
I'm pretty sure he's the only licensed Sub-genius here.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 08, 2007, 07:16:57 AM
Quote from: Deepthroat Chopra on June 08, 2007, 07:13:28 AM
Hardly rocket science.
What pissed you off?
It's my tagline, man. It's tradition.
You should find your own.
That's why I apologised with the "never again". Thick me thought it was how you end a rant here. Feel flattered - it means I read too many of yours.
It's a fair cop Guv. Forgivernness, preez!
Quote from: Idem on June 08, 2007, 07:19:43 AM
Fock, even if you get your own tagline youd be unoriginal.
Explain yourself.
Quote from: hunter s.durden on June 08, 2007, 07:20:48 AM
I think TGRR takes exception to pinks using that phrase.
I'm pretty sure he's the only licensed Sub-genius here.
Quote from: Idem on June 08, 2007, 07:19:43 AM
Fuck, even if you get your own tagline youd be unoriginal.
Um, guys?
Was joke.