Sunday, February 22, 2009
***NOTE***
Posts are not in chronological order. The oldest post from over the February break is the one about my own living funeral.
Group Questions - Old Folks and Health Care
1) What percentage of old people are on anti-depressants?
2) How many pills do you take daily/weekly?
3) How much money are you spending and/or willing to spend on medical expenses?
4) How independent are you? How independent does the condition of your health allow you to be?
5) Do you use Viagra? Does sex play any part in your life at this point? (I would not feel comfortable asking this one)
6) Do you ever neglect medical attention for any reason?
7) Do you have life insurance?
8) How often, if ever, do you need medical attention?
9) What are the leading causes of death for people that have lived to an old age?
10) How adequate is the medical attention provided for old folks who need it?
2) How many pills do you take daily/weekly?
3) How much money are you spending and/or willing to spend on medical expenses?
4) How independent are you? How independent does the condition of your health allow you to be?
5) Do you use Viagra? Does sex play any part in your life at this point? (I would not feel comfortable asking this one)
6) Do you ever neglect medical attention for any reason?
7) Do you have life insurance?
8) How often, if ever, do you need medical attention?
9) What are the leading causes of death for people that have lived to an old age?
10) How adequate is the medical attention provided for old folks who need it?
My Own Living Funeral...
In the context of the way most funerals are in American culture - it seems that a living funeral might involve close friends and of course, family. In some actual funerals, common acquaintances are even invited - such as co-workers. A funeral can draw a large gathering as a single person often touches the lives of many others. Similar things can be said about a baby being born - it is celebrated, and it appears that in general life and death are appreciated and celebrated (for lack of a better word). However, in this culture - contrast to the way Morrie (Tuesdays with Morrie) had come to view his own impending death - the idea of death is usually a fearful one. As simple as it possibly is, death is feared for its unknown.
I considered the list of people that I might invite for a while. I wrote down some names, starting with my parents which were followed with just a few people who I consider my closest friends. After this, I couldn't really think of anyone else that I would want to attend an event like this if I had one. I believe I'm lucky enough to say that a I have a good number of friends - people who would attend a living funeral in a heartbeat if they were asked - but I don't think I'd like to host a large living funeral if at all. I know that the idea of a large regular funeral seems awkward to me. Death is an inevitable part of life. As we live and breathe, death comes naturally. As I said before, people are scared of it because it is mysterious. I don't believe anyone that says they know what death is like. Personally, I lean towards the scientific explanations, but that's just me.
I'm getting off topic ~ ~
On the idea of a living funeral - I think that if, for a dying person's own comfort, they want to see a certain amalgam of people, it is a nice idea. When I think of what my own would be like, I'd want to leave my so-so friends out of it (sorry), and hopefully, see the people whom I'm sure care about me for one reason or another. Again, my parents and a small group of friends. People who's lives I know that I've touched in a big enough way, so far as I know, and vice versa. I'd probably want to give my farewells to the rest of them however.
On another note, big parties for ones OWN self, even once in a lifetime ones wouldn't make me feel good. As was happening with Morrie, aside from the funeral - people who loved him came to him on their own time!
I considered the list of people that I might invite for a while. I wrote down some names, starting with my parents which were followed with just a few people who I consider my closest friends. After this, I couldn't really think of anyone else that I would want to attend an event like this if I had one. I believe I'm lucky enough to say that a I have a good number of friends - people who would attend a living funeral in a heartbeat if they were asked - but I don't think I'd like to host a large living funeral if at all. I know that the idea of a large regular funeral seems awkward to me. Death is an inevitable part of life. As we live and breathe, death comes naturally. As I said before, people are scared of it because it is mysterious. I don't believe anyone that says they know what death is like. Personally, I lean towards the scientific explanations, but that's just me.
I'm getting off topic ~ ~
On the idea of a living funeral - I think that if, for a dying person's own comfort, they want to see a certain amalgam of people, it is a nice idea. When I think of what my own would be like, I'd want to leave my so-so friends out of it (sorry), and hopefully, see the people whom I'm sure care about me for one reason or another. Again, my parents and a small group of friends. People who's lives I know that I've touched in a big enough way, so far as I know, and vice versa. I'd probably want to give my farewells to the rest of them however.
On another note, big parties for ones OWN self, even once in a lifetime ones wouldn't make me feel good. As was happening with Morrie, aside from the funeral - people who loved him came to him on their own time!
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