A majority of those I know live very less examined lives. It is enough for them to wake up, eat, shit and look forward to the next day. Am not saying this a bad way to live, no, not close. I don’t have a manual on how best to live one’s life. I tend to agree with Socrates though that the un-examined life is not worth living.
Have you ever thought about how you would want to die? Would you prefer a disease that eats you slowly, giving you time to put things in order, that is, if there is anything to be ordered or would you prefer to go to bed and wake on the other side?
As for yours truly, since I prefer to go to sleep and wake up on the other side, I try to live each day as my last. Well, there are issues to be settled before this eventuality comes but am gonna make it a priority to have everything in order including my epitaph 😛
One Richard Smith however thinks to die with cancer is the best way to go.
Indulge us, share with us your thoughts on this inevitable occurrence.
Random thoughts 
After reading the referenced link, I know my method of preferred demise is suicide. That allows me the option of determining my own readiness. Once the decision is made, there’s simply no turning back. Little time for any regrets. It’s all slam, bam, thank you, sir…good-bye.
Great topic, buddy! Much love and naked hugs! 🙂
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My second way after waking up on the other side is suicide. When I have lived and see no reason to continue, I can draw the curtain myself
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“In the name of Hippocrates, doctors have invented the most exquisite form of torture ever known to man: survival.”
There it is! Another quote for the OC!!
I have no idea about how i’d prefer to die, but if its slow i’d hope to have access to an awful lot of opium. My only real fear is G and I dying at the same time, in a crash for example, and leaving the animals.
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Oh yes, if it is slow, there must be a way to dull the pain.
Survival and hope; the two things that keep men in misery
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It’s like you’ve been sneaking peeks at the work! 🙂
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Too true, one of our fears.
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I am pretty sure if nature just takes its course, I will be sitting here at the computer and will feel a bit of shooting pain across the chest. I will hang on just long enough to finish the post and … poof. That way to death is fine with me. I hope my husband goes before me and being much older he might. He is in pretty good health, but don’t think he will survive long without me.
I have some things in order, but the kids can just muddle through the mess on their own. I once asked them…who wanted this or that and it seemed neither wanted this or that. lol
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Well said. What a beautiful way to look at the approach of death.
Those are nice kids, hope they don’t change their mind and start to fight over this or that.
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Thankfully they have good jobs and don’t need my this and that. lol
And the older I get, the less of this and that I want or need. 🙂
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That is the way to live I guess, not needing this or that unless it is essential
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I either wanna go quick, or end my life myself with the help of a morphine drip. I’ll just fade out into an opium dream. Actually, I may be in one right now. 😉
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Don’t go too soon. I still need a good dose of satire every other day
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Not planning on it. I wanna be sober, lucid and satirical for decades to come.
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keep it going friend
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Will do!
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What a superb piece of poetry, Arch. Thanks for posting it here. Too bad we don’t know the author. Hopefully, he or she went the way they wished to go.
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Actually, IBD, I memorized that at 16, and may, at that time, have known the author, but have long since forgotten. In fact, I hope I can get Mak to delete that, as I got it wrong, but to follow, is the corrected version:
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I have just copied this and pasted on your earlier comment. They can both stand, I guess
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Great.
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That’s a good one
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The question itself begs examination, unless a glib response pops out. I’m with you, I prefer to sleep. One of my college courses was entitled, Death, Dyring, and Religion. The teacher became a good friend. He wrote multiple books on the subject of dying. His courses were not probative on religion, or death, but really inviting looking beyond dogma. Your post reminded me of him. If you want to look him up his name is Ken Kramer. There are some videos of him on line. I have a transcript of a time he interviewed Kuble Ross, in which she had a near death experience. Fascinating stuff. Happy Sunday.
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Happy Sunday dear friend.
I will check him out. That must have been an interesting class.
Btw, I got the book of questions and we have been answering them randomly with friends. Thanks for the suggestion
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Too bad we can’t question together over a cup of something. Perhaps some of your answers can be posted here for us flies on the wall? 😉
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Maybe after I have answered many of them then I could collect them and post a few
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Oh my. What a question. Yet one that I think we all consider at some point in our lives. More so as we age …
It’s long been my hope (as many others, I’m sure) to simply “slip away.” If it takes morphine to do that, then so be it.
One advantage I have is I live in a state where assisted suicide is legal. Would I ever take advantage of this method? I believe I would, but of course no one knows until that time comes. In any event, it’s nice to have the option.
You mentioned waking up on the “other side.” I’m curious to know where might that be? Personally, once I’m “gone,” I don’t expect to wake up again … ever.
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Waking up on the other side is my way of saying being dead. I have no belief there is anything beyond death.
I think it is nice to have the option of assisted suicide
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There are several conservative ding-bats in America I wouldn’t mind assisting with suicide, should they ask.
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Hahaha. That would be a great help to humanity I think
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Indeed.
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There are a couple I know who wouldn’t even have to ask – just wander into my neighborhood alone on a dark night.
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🙂
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Good question. I’m like you, I’d prefer to go quick in my sleep. Otherwise the opium option that others mentioned seems the way to go. Hoping for a bunch more good years like I’ve had recently though.
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Wishing you many more pleasant days
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Waking up dead I think is the best any of us could hope for. The morphine drip sounds enticing, but you have to be pretty miserable before they will let you have that option, so I dunno. I live with enough pain already…
Yeah, lemme just wake up dead please.
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Waking up dead is I think a cool way to go
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Oddly enough, after commenting here on this subject, I ran into a real life scenario totally on topic.
My youngest son, 13 now, has a girlfriend. (funny I don’t remember him growing up so quickly) This girls father just died from a long protracted battle with cancer. After my son was asked to come to the visitation, he of course needed a ride, and the wife and I took him.
First thing I noticed was the draperies and the pews did not ignite upon this atheists entrance. Second thing I noticed, there was not a lot of wailing, crying, or even that dreaded atmosphere of despair. Indeed the mood was light, somber of course, but the conversations were not subdued, the kids were laughing occaisionally, there was much togetherness of family and nary a bit of drama to report.
My take on this unusual scene is the fact that everyone knew this man had fought a long battle, and was finally at peace. I dare say in a better place, and I do not refer to the believers afterlife, just that any mans suffering is ended upon his death. And that is indeed a better place.
So, after seeing this just now, first hand, I’d have to comment that while I would still prefer to just wake up dead, that option leaves close family in shock and the grief factor runs high. I do not envy the suffering of any individual nor would wish it upon myself (I have plenty of that already) but the death of one who has battled for a long time absolutely gives the family an enviable peace of mind.
Just thought I’d share that thought…
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I’d prefer to know when I’m going – there are those I’d like to say goodbye to and a couple to whom I’d like to extend a final, “Up yours!”
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That makes two of us.
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My uncle died from cancer many years ago. Knowing it was coming gave me the opportunity to genuinely thank him for helping out my family at one point in time. So that can cut either way. 🙂
He requested me to be a pall bearer. I accepted.
As far as cutting the other way, hell yes there are a couple of people I would love to give a good piece of my mind.
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Thanks for sharing. I think this puts the matter into perspective
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Don’t we all want to die in our sleep? Preferably when we have sorted out what we leave behind, responsibility and all that. I did think going out gracefully on the op table would have been a least worst option last year, but here I am.
My mother died at home on the day my partner went to pick her up to bring her to Spain. I think that suited her. Either way, her favourite man (my father was dead) would be there for her.
Sorry I’ve not been around friend. Still on catch up mode 😦
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You have been missed, you know.
Dying in our sleep after putting things in order i think would be for many people the best way to draw the final curtains
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