Death Comes Knocking...

Cause he can't ring my doorbell...

Published on May 23, 2005 By dynamaso In Misc

This may be a little morbid for a Monday but I think it is interesting. Here is a hypothetical for JU: say you are able to find out, with absolute certainty, when you will be 'shuffling off this mortal coil'. Would you want to know, or would you want to continue living your life as you have done? If you do feel like answering this, I'd also be interested in knowing the whys and why nots.

Following are my reasons why I'd like to know:

1. I would like to know so I can spend as much time with my wife as possible.

2. I can ensure my family will be well looked after.

3. I can spend time being with my close friends and enjoying the reasons why they are my close friends.

4. I could plan my funeral done to the last detail.

5. I can forget the petty grudges and arguments that infect our daily lives and get on with the job of enjoying living.

6. I can give myself a real 'deadline' to finish the book I've been trying to write most of my adult life.

7. I can pass on all the bits of wisdom to my nephews and neices (and anyone else who'll listen to me).

8. I can finally have a real excuse as to why I won't be reading 'War & Peace'.

Cheers,

Maso

Comments

Rev Zim

on May 23, 2005

"Death is not the end, merely the beginning" (unknown)

Ok, well, I don't know if I'd want to know or not. I'm too young to think about those kinds of things (22 years old), but I honestly think that if I were to find out, I'd probably be devastated. Not for what I didn't do, but what I should have done. You know, all the glorious "I'm going to save mankind!" thing, only probably the reverse.

In any case, if I were to know, I'd probably quit my job, and do everything I've always wanted to do. Well, most everything (blowing up the planet is not an achievable goal within three months, I admit). However, I would take whatever time I had left to tell everyone the exact way I feel about them.

On a more lighthearted note (I hope), I do know there is an afterlife. Which would ease my... umm... pain? guilt? bad-feelings? dread? a bit. I hope.
-Zim

ParaTed2k

on May 23, 2005

I agree with LW here Maso. What you just did was make a list of goals you would like to accomplish before you die. Well, what's stopping you...
Spend time with you wife, Take steps now to ensure your family is looked after, enjoy the reasons you are close friends now, start making appointments with a funeral director to discuss those meager details (make a it BASH!), what grudges? ;~D; Write That Book (But I'll warn you now, writing it is the easy part!); pass that wisdom on man, maybe start a blog and share them with the world; and finally, War & Peace is great, but majorly overrated... step away from the book, it is not your friend! ;~D

Why should we wait until death comes a-knocking to start appreciating the life we have....

LIFE: DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!!!

just john

on May 23, 2005

As it stands, I am already the person that is willing to try it once because I know that there may be no tomorrow. I rarely fly when I travel because stopping to see the world along the way is just fun. I think about the things that I do want to acomplish before I die and I try to get to them as I can.

However, if I was informed that I only had a fixed time left. I would continue to love and support my wife. I wouldn't put off the next round of invetro because I know my wife really wants a child. I want to cross the equator in a sailboat, get my ear pierced and maybe meet Jimmy Buffett along the way. Skydive, yeah skydive just because I think every once in a while you need to confront fear head on. I would play with my nephew everyday, EVERYDAY! I would find my old girlfriend from High School and tell her I'm sorry for being a nice guy and then being such a jerk. There are several other people I would find to tell them things I wanted to tell them for a while (it's not all nice either, but it needs to be said). I would move to somewhere on the Gulf of Mexico because the best times in my life have always been closer to the coast than I am now. I would sleep as little as possible because my mom always taught me not to be wasteful.

I'd rather die while I'm living than live when I'm dead. -Jimmy Buffett

MasonM

on May 23, 2005

I wouldn't want to know. Somehow it would take all the fun out of dieing.

foreverserenity

on May 23, 2005

I have to agree with Whip and Ted about living for the "Now" moment. Why do we wait I wonder for the knock at the door instead of procrastinating with our lives? It must be the typical human thing for us to do perhaps?!

But to answer Maso's question, I would like to know. Having had death come very very close to me in the past I would like to know. Especially for my children's sake.

Angloesque

on May 23, 2005

I'd rather not know. I find that if I'm dreading something that's coming up, it's all I can think about. (However, I wouldn't mind knowing when H is going to die. Sure beats the hell out of my current state: worrying every bloody moment of every bloody day that that freak accident thing will happen again.)

Oh yeah: As a procrastinator by nature, I'm hugely offended by all you "living in the moment" freaks. What's wrong with you?!

-A.

dynamaso

on May 23, 2005

Thanks for all the comments folks. I appreciate them. The reason I put this up is not because I need to be told I'm procrastinating or to live my life now (but thanks anyway) but to see how you all would answer. This question was put to me recently by a friend and I had to go away and think about it because I do try to live my life as completely as possible. My friend was very quick to answer with a list of things he hasn't achieved yet, like skydiving and climbing a tall mountain. I thought about his ideas but realised I was already living the life I wanted.

I spend as much time with my wife and my friends as I can (but it is never enough for me). I don't hold grudges (but would like to clear a few up between family members) and my funeral is going to be a huge party. One of the reasons I blog is to pass on the little bits and peices I've picked up over my time on Earth as well as picking up some new ones myself. I have a great relationship with my neices and nephews, although I don't see them nearly enough (which is something to remedy in the future). As for the book, well, I'll get to it when I finish my music projects.

I can't see the point in being given a life, whether it is the only one or one of many, and wasting it by bitching about others or sitting on my arse dreaming of better days, or whining about how life is tough or about what I should or could have done. Life is about journey, not where you end up.

Again, thanks very much for all your comments.

Cheers,

Maso

island_gurl12

on May 23, 2005

Gee, i was gonna answer the same thing as Lil whip! Heh. I really wouldnt want to find out. It would make me too nervous on the hour of my death. I'd be like did i do this? Did i do that? You know.
So, no really i'd rather remain this way.

Shovelheat

on May 23, 2005

Oh yes I'd wanna know! Gotta quote Prince here ya know!

I was dreamin' when I wrote this, so sue me if I go 2 fastBut life is just a party and parties weren't meant 2 lastWar is all around us, my mind says prepare 2 fightSo if I gotta die, I'm gonna listen 2 my body 2nightYeah, they say 2000 zero zero party over, oops, out of time! (Ooh baby)So 2night I'm gonna party like it's 1999...

dynamaso

on May 23, 2005

Shovel,

Another great song quote. My wife and I believe there is probably an appropriate song for every moment, significant or not. You are certainly proving our little theory true.

Good to 'see' you mate. Hope all is well with you and yours.

Cheers,

Maso

Ravenblack

on May 24, 2005

In an instant, I would think that knowing when you're gonna go is a good idea, on second thoughts, i don't think so.

I think it would probably depress me. Not everything in life is entirely up to me. And what if I can't achieve it before the known dateline? I think I would be happier not knowing and just struggling along like it could be soon or a hundred years from now.

dynamaso

on May 24, 2005

Raven,

Yeah, it is a good idea to some and not so good to others. It is typical but one of the things that fascinates me about the human race. Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers,

Maso

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