First off, let me give Dean a big thanks for inviting me over here to muck around for a day, or two. I promise not to track mud in - but I can't promise to behave myself. Besides, Dean said I didn't have to.
When I'm not posting on my own blog or designing sites or ranting about politics - I'm a Hospice RN, in my spare time. Last time I mentioned that on a blog that was not my own, I got some comment about being one of Kevorkian's minions. Just to clear the air on the topic, Hospice workers have nothing to do with Kevorkian. We're not there to hasten death, nor are we there to prolong it - - we're just there, doing whatever we can to make the natural process as comfortable as it possibly can be.
Earlier today, I helped a dying man write his own epitaph. That really is no small task, once you sit down and set your mind to it. This man had many things that he wanted to say about his life, his beliefs and how he lived his life. Mostly his thoughts were of the people that came and went in his lifetime - - friends, lovers, enemies. His epitaph got to be so long that we decided that it needs some major editing, otherwise he'd have to buy and entire city block-length brick wall instead of a gravesite stone. Or maybe we'll just turn it into a eulogy, instead.
His last thought on his epitaph was that he wished he lived long enough to see George Bush re-elected into office. He wanted to live long enough to rub his liberal friends face in the dirt when it happened. Then he said, "See? Isn't that nice? We have such differing views, politically, and yet - we're the best of friends. He's so good to me that he's even letting me rub his face in it now, since I probably won't be around to do it in November."
Now THAT is love, my friends!
On my next visit - I'm bringing him a Bush/Cheney yard sign, because he doesn't have one and I think he needs one.
If you sat down to write your epitaph - - what would you say?
I'm still working on mine.
One of my favorites?
"That's All Folks!"
The Man of a Thousand Voices
Mel Blanc
(Hollywood Memorial Park; Hollywood, California)
God Bless you for your work!!
I second that. My mom spent her last months in a hospice. She was afraid to die, she was miserable when she was diagnosed. The hospice folks were kind and patient and loving, helpful to the extreme. In the end, she was calm and accepting, a remarkable change.
Thank you for your work.
Kevorkian's minions?? What an ass!
We've been blessed twice with help from hospice workers, during the terminal illnesses of my mom and my wife's dad. I don't have the words to adequately express my appreciation. They are magnificent.
Rick and Dave - - I'm happy to hear your experience with hospice was a postive one, all things considered. I feel priviledged to be a part of it.
Oooo!
http://www.johnkerryisadouchebagbutimvotingforhimanyway.com/
Here are some nerdy ones I found yesterday. (Somewhere..just don't remember where...I have them because I IM'ed them to a friend):
Epitaphs for the Geek:
* Connection Reset by Peer
* Rem in peace
* Last instruction executed
* Infested with Worms
* Parsed Away
* End Function
* Set to Nothing
* Version 1 no longer supported
* Run-time licence expired
* Alt-F4
* ^Z
* is null
* Terminated but Stayed Resident
* Close all programs and log on as a different user (for Buddhists)
Kevorkian's minion? OMG... such ignorance.
When I was in HS, 17 parents in my graduating class died of cancer between 1990-1992. Many of those were cared for in hospice. The families always said that without hospice, it would have been so much harder.
So yes, thank you, because people like you bring dignity to a situation that is unfathomably hard.
Thank you, Lisa, for being involved in taking care of our loved ones. I know people like you made my dad's last few days more comfortable for him and more comforting for us.
As to epitaphs, we were discussing these on one of the MB's I used to post on a few years ago. One that, still, makes me giggle is:
"It seemed like a good
idea at the time."
I still like W.C. Fields':
"I'd rather be in Philedelphia"
The joke being that Fields hated Philedelphia...
A Bush/Cheney yard sign? Oh NO!
Well then I suppose I need to bring along an elect Kerry one for him as well. Nothing like being fair and balanced, huh?
Wanda, nice thought - but I suspect this patient of mine isn't interested in 'fair and balanced' when it comes to signs on his front yard. He creates NO question when it comes to who he supports - - and it sure ain't Kerry :)
Lisa, as someone who took care of a dying parent, I can only wish we'd had someone like you in our lives...
...and the epitaph I always enjoyed was by an actress (forgot who) - "I'm bored. I'm splitting."
A.L.
Thanks to all for the very kind thoughts and words expressed here. The work I do, I consider a priviledge
Great epitaph, A.L. :)
"I told you I was sick..."
But what I want on my Tombstone is pepperoni, mushrooms and extra cheese.