If I should die.... think only this of me:

[Daneel]

^You gonna tell us what your secret is, RJ? It can't be the grape juice -- I drink that stuff almost every day, and I don't think I'm any less mortal than anyone else.

Well, I'm not really planning or hoping to die anytime too soon. I'll admit, I do often get bored with life, but never to the extent that I feel I want to end it. I think there's a lot left for me to accomplish -- I'm not entirely sure what that is yet, but I'd like to find out.

As for what kind of a service/memorial I'll get when I die... well, I'll be dead, so I guess when it actually happens it won't matter, but (like with a lot of people, I think) it does sometimes cross my mind.

I think I'd prefer a small memorial service -- actually, I wouldn't even mind if there was no service period, but I presume that there will be a few people left behind that will want to have something for me, so in that case, something small is definitely what I'd prefer. Oh, and I trust that anyone who knows me will be aware that I would want a completely secular service; I've done my best to avoid religion in life, and I don't want it to be involved in my death.

I have made one request of my sister (presuming she outlives me): I told her that I want Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" played at my funeral. I figure, even in death, it would be nice to keep my sense of humour intact.

 

[RJDiogenes]

^You gonna tell us what your secret is, RJ? It can't be the grape juice -- I drink that stuff almost every day, and I don't think I'm any less mortal than anyone else.

Actually, it's the Tea. Full of anti-oxidants.

And stubbornness.

 

[Holdfast]

^^ I'll achieve lesser immortality through my Niece and Nephew, and greater immortality by them preserving my creative works.

And literal immortality by not dying.

 

[RJDiogenes]

 

[Yalana Cotu]

Let's say (for the sake of argument, because there are bound to be countless people replying that they'll "live forever or die trying" etc.) that you are indeed about to die very soon:

I may have a slight advantage here - due to the fact that, by at least one cultural designation, and by another cultural definition, I am already a ghost. I became a ghost when I decided to walk a path that my people had... "discouraged". And ended up out here among you Star Trekkers, in spite of the fact that I pretty much grew up without electricity, TV, digital watches... or technology - as you would know it.

Actually, I am more a fan of you Trekkers, than even of Star Trek itself. Out of all the people I have ever met, you are the most interesting! You people should feel flattered that your dubious companionship came at such a price, yet I still conciser it to be the only great thing I have found out here. Just call me "The Little Mermaid" of a long past, pastoral paradise, and presently a denizen of this "long extinct ocean". (because most of these deserts were once under water)

How might the people who cared about you mourn your passing? Would it be a big funeral, or a small affair? Would you want them to leave a modest tribute in your honor, or a gigantic monument justifying the great person you are? Or would you rather not have any form of marking of your death?

I doubt that I will be afforded any choice in this matter. I have no descendants, or relatives. So far, every friend I have ever made has passed away, or has been forced to wander away for the sake of employment. While I am able to remain here in this remote place. This ability may have something to do with me being a ghost.
I am not really sure. But that is most likely why.

How might people remember you as a person once you were dead? Would they think ill of you? What bits of your life would you want to have remembered for eternity after you had shuffled off your mortal coil? Would, indeed, there be anyone to remember you at all?

It is possible, that there could be some onetime wilderness tourist who suddenly has their memory jogged by something or other, and who turns to their spouse and says, "Remember that night, we were camping down in those desert mountains, and that weird looking wild woman, with the long tangley hair, came out of nowhere and sat down by our campfire, and started giving us all that unsolicited advise about 'not letting the kids get eaten by mountain lions'...?" To which the spouse replies, "Yeah, that was kinda weird, wasn't it." And then they turn their attentions back to cleaning the pool, or mowing the yard, or whatever... .

Now, it is conceivable that the kids, might remember something I told them about the local wild life, or about the plants around the camp site, what they were used for and how they could indicate that the Ancient Ones once lived there. Possible - but still, video games and movies are a lot more exciting, and a lot less uncomfortable than the real world...


Now, I have had friends who were writers. And they have told me that they based one, or other of their characters on me and my ironic life. But still, when I read these stories, I do not see it...? I really can not.

In answering, I can only conclude with - probably not, but who knows?

Would you, indeed, want to die right now? Have you a lot to live for still? Or have you achieved everything you want to do and are ready to join the Choir Invisible™? Do you regret your life, and would you want to live your life all over again?

No, to each, and all of the above.

Let's talk Death, people! ... Unless of course you find the topic distasteful ...

Not at all.

There are times standing here alone, in this place they call "The Last Solitude", I often feel that I could almost slip those last bonds, without so much as a faint desire to glance behind me. "The Rapture Of The Wilderness", a friend once called it. I believe this is why so many mystics and prophets go to the out-lands to become hermits. The barrier that separates the here from the here-after appears to be is very thin in such places. It almost seems that you can stand with a foot in both, if you should choose.

Honestly, my plans have been made for a long time now. When the time comes to exit this physical configuration, I plan to leave it up in one of the high canyons on this mountain, so that people will not find it. The extreme cold of the desert mountain nights will make this QED. Even in the summers, the temperature differential (due to the altitude and aridity) is almost unimaginable to outsiders. It is reported that hypothermia is a relatively undramatic way to expire. Eventually, only a few teeth may be scattered around by the badgers and coyotes. The desert sun will cause these to crack and break down, given sufficient time. And then, maybe a long time after - in human terms, or maybe not - in the scale of infinity, the Earth will fall into the sun.

Long before then, it is my sincerest hope, that many of you, or your decedents,
will have made it. You will be, "out there... somewhere... " !

And, (do not doubt this, too much) I may still be somewhere,
wishing all of you, my favorite people, well.

 

[Goji]

I'd like as few people to know as possible, so it's less likely anyone would make a big deal out of it. From my perspective, it doesn't matter in the slightest and I don't want any money, time or emotions wasted on it. But I figure it will be important to some people I know to do something, and I will not judge them harshly for that. I don't have any idea what they'll want to do, though, so I can only hope it'll be on the smaller end of things.

And yeah, I've done pretty much everything I want to do (that is within my power, anyway) in life. If I die, I will be content to do so. Not that I'm looking to. If I live for a while still, that's fine with me too.

 

[RJDiogenes]

^^ You're incredibly young. Hopefully, you'll be around for another century, at least.

And, (do not doubt this, too much) I may still be somewhere,
wishing all of you, my favorite people, well.

I can see why people base characters on you. It's nice to have you here at TrekBBS.

 

[Yalana Cotu]

^^ You're incredibly young. Hopefully, you'll be around for another century, at least.

And, (do not doubt this, too much) I may still be somewhere,
wishing all of you, my favorite people, well.

I can see why people base characters on you. It's nice to have you here at TrekBBS.

Thank you RJDiogenes.
*gives RJDiogenes a big squishy hug*
Maybe I will stick around for a couple more.

But those characters!? They are always, sorta we-e-e-e-ird, and not like real life people! I must not transcribe very well? (H-m-m-m? I had better not think about this too much. )

 

[RJDiogenes]

Well, fictionalized characters are usually exaggerated or stylized in some way. Anyhow, there's nothing wrong with being weird.

 

[Goji]

^^ You're incredibly young. Hopefully, you'll be around for another century, at least.

That's the most frightening thing I've heard in years.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Heh. I knew you'd say that, but you will hopefully change your mind as time goes on.

 

[Mary Ann]

If nothing else, I want laughter at my funeral, which is bound to be small. At the moment I want "What are you looking at?" on my gravestone. I have no plans to go anywhere for a long time; my kids are teens and preteens, and my youngest child will probably never be able to live independently. That's real incentive for sticking around.

 

[Goji]

Heh. I knew you'd say that, but you will hopefully change your mind as time goes on.

Eh, I'm pretty sure that's a mindset I'll never wrap my head around. And I'm okay with that.

 

[Saul]

How might the people who cared about you mourn your passing?

Typical funeral.

Would it be a big funeral, or a small affair?

Very small.

Would you want them to leave a modest tribute in your honour, or a gigantic monument justifying the great person you are? Or would you rather not have any form of marking of your death?

Very modest to almost nothing. A small rock maybe.

How might people remember you as a person once you were dead?

"He was nice". Others "what an asshole".

Would they think ill of you?

Some, but the ones who think ill of me wouldn't even know i was dead.

What bits of your life would you want to have remembered for eternity after you had shuffled off your mortal coil?

Maybe some people could remember a young, happy boy who went to school.

Would, indeed, there be anyone to remember you at all?

Very doubtful.

Would you, indeed, want to die right now?

If it happens it happens.

Have you a lot to live for still?

My disillusioned side says I have a little something to live for. Reality. No.

Or have you achieved everything you want to do and are ready to join the Choir Invisible™?

I did a lot. A lot I could still do.

Do you regret your life,

No point having regrets.

and would you want to live your life all over again?

Suffering once is enough thanks.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

It's something I really haven't thought about. I know I should, but just don't want to think about it right now. Maybe sometime I'll think about it.

 

[MetalPants]

Let's see, funeral-
I want it to be a small affair, just my close friends and family. I'd rather them celebrate my life with rembering whatever joys I might have brought them and celebrating my going on to be with Christ.

This body of mine-I'm an organ donor, so whatever can't be used, I want cremated. I'd kinda like my ashes to be mixed in with some cement used to make the cornerstone of a new library somewhere.

There are things in my life that I regret. Had I been a bit bolder here, had I not said those hurtful things there, things like that. But, these are the elements that have combined to make the person I am today, so alter the mix and you have a different end product. If I could do it all again, I would, if I could keep what little wisdom I've gained thorugh the years so perhaps I wouldn't hurt those most dear to me as much.