Thoughts On Death
Last month I listened into a radio talk show and the topic was death and what happens after you die. This left me thinking on death quite a bit since that day. This post is the result of those thoughts that have been trying to leak out of me for quite some time. Nevertheless, I considered it inappropriate during Christmas to dwell on such unpleasant thoughts. And please don’t think that I am pondering kicking the bucket soon. God has more suffering in store for me, before the fates snip my string.
I am going to present this in the form of a meme. If anyone else wants to investigate this further, they too may pick it up like a tag and explore their own feelings on this most terminal of subjects. Though I do not condemn any of you that shall choose to skip this rather morbid topic.
You suffer a tragic accident. You have one minute before your will die? Mentally you are lucid and composed. You have your cell (mobile) phone convenient despite the accident. Who do you call?
For me that is easy. I have to call the missus and tell her so long and farewell for this life.
You are in a plane. The pilot informs you that the plane’s engines have failed and it will crash shortly. The plane is email capable and you have time enough to send five short emails. This is not your pc so your email address book is not available. The pc also only allows one email addy per email sent and you have no cut and paste feature available. Who do you write?
Once again my missus gets the first letter. Cannot leave her misinformed of my situation. Then I must email my daughter and son and bid them my farewells. Next I write my partner and best friend Ed and wish him the best. And my last letter goes to Kelly as she is the only blogger that I have memorized her email address and she knows where I go, so I am confident she can spread the word of my demise. Though I must admit that I requested my daughter post an announcement if I ever kick the bucket, because there are folks out there that want to know. Mistipurple comes to mind right off the bat.
You go to a regular check up and the doctor determines you have exactly 365 days to live. Fortunately, you have a disease that will not infirm you until the last few days of your life. Nothing in science will curtail this illness. Luckily, you purchased a great insurance policy for one million and it will payout once a doctor confirms your status. Bonus is this money cannot be taxed so you get the entire amount. What do you do for the last year of your life?
First thing first I take care of the kids and the missus by setting up some good money instruments to take care of them. She gets $500K while both kids get $200K. The last 100K will let me travel. It won’t be too extravagant as I want to stay real. But I want to see a few things I have missed. I’ll go to the UK, Belgium, Italy and Spain first and visit friends and the lands of my ancestors. Then I would leave there after a couple of months and fly to Bangkok. I would spend some time with Jane and then work my way down the Malay Peninsula visiting folks there continuing all the way to Singapore. Once I get evicted from Singapore (dropping a gum wrapper by mistake) I would head for Jakarta for a time. From there I would go to New Zealand where I do not know anyone, but I want to see. My last days would be in Australia and I would just wander into the Outback and let the vultures have this old body. My soul does not need it anymore.
You can only say two things of importance to your children before you die. What do you say?
- Confess your sins everyday so you can be filled with the Holy Spirit.
- Only learn the Bible from a pastor that understands Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic, for Latin is not a Biblical language.
Yeah it’s kind of a strange post. But I’ve been thinking on this topic for a month now. The only way I can clear these thoughts from my head is to write the slate clean.
January 10th, 2006 at 2:39 am
wow, first twice!
I’m shadowing you, hehe
LOL at the gum wrapper
January 10th, 2006 at 3:03 am
hehe. singapore is gonna get known for all the wrong reasons. (butitstruemostofthetime)
and thanks for remembering me in your last gasp. wooooh.
January 10th, 2006 at 6:16 am
@rayray I hope my SIN friends don’t take me wrong. Was trying to put a little humor in a “dead” serious (kind of) post. If I was like l b you would win the golf and five points. haha Twice now.
@misti How can I not think of my mei mei as the soul leaves this temporary shell. If I don’t meet you in this world I am confident I shall meet you on the other side.
Note. Gosh I am such a dweeb. I will stop off at Manila too. How thoughtless of me to omit that in the original post.
January 10th, 2006 at 6:53 am
Aren’t you gonna pass by the Philippines? This country will offer you happy surprises. Don’t worry, I assure you your ‘1 year’ won’t be cut short. You’re safe with us. Haha.
January 10th, 2006 at 8:48 am
Wow, very precise! I wonder if I can be as precise as you, I suppose at my final moment, I’d just pray that it will be totally painless …
January 10th, 2006 at 9:16 am
I have thoughts on death ALL THE TIME. I think of it so much that it is consuming me. Then again, I suppose its quite normal after what I went through. I do hope that it will get better and better. *HUGS* You’ll be fine. Like you said, you’ll have lots of payback to do. Not so soon my dear, not so soon
January 10th, 2006 at 9:44 am
@abaniko I did put a note in my first comment that I must visit Phillipines too. I have to meet you and transience before I go. I want to see that beautiful sky over the lush greenery.
@lynne That is my one assertion is that there is little pain or the pain is such that you don’t care and ignore it completely.
@jomel I almost did not do this post as I was thinking of you dear. But I could not still these thoughts in my mind. My antidote has always been writing. Now I may forget every word. But I can go back to read. keke
Not planning on kicking the bucket any time soon. My family is pretty long lived for the most part. It would help if I worked off this dai to dum (Cantonese big belly) though. *pats belly*
January 10th, 2006 at 10:31 am
Very interesting indeed! Meanwhile, in real life, I am preparing an ethical Will of sorts.. It means I am scanning or have scanned a lot of my junk, mainly photographs, personal documents, certificates, etc, etc, and putting everything into a digital scrapbook (which also includes my blog!).. Hmm..
January 10th, 2006 at 11:00 am
Awww…blogland are just so full of sweet people. *touched to tears*
January 10th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
I need to do the same. I bought a DVD-RW thingie over a year ago but I don’t think it likes my stinkpad. Probably should try and hook it up to a desktop. There is so much I need to archive.
Good luck with your project l b.
@jomel Please take this tissue. A hug too is in order I suspect.
January 10th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
kor kor, i think this is an excellent meme and i may consider doing it for myself… it is not morbid, but it lets you wonder on the infinite and unexpected phases in life.. oh well.. death is real, after all…..
i love your responses, its real. And yes, you’re keeping it real!
hugs!
January 10th, 2006 at 1:28 pm
Ah mui.Thank you. I just wonder if I think too much and too loudly sometimes.
Thank you, thank you. Hugs to you!!!
January 10th, 2006 at 10:29 pm
agree with misti, remembering Singapore for the wrong reason! But tat’s funny!
January 10th, 2006 at 10:40 pm
@pinkie Thanks for taking up this meme on your blog. I suggest everyone go meet pinkie and read her blog. I’m glad you took my jibe in good humor. I love you guys to much to wanna hurt y’all. Just tickles ya know.
January 10th, 2006 at 10:47 pm
I was 2 times in a stage where I thought I was going to die. One during the earthquake in 1996, was running down the stairs from 24th floor then the other one in 2000, when I got an attact and ran away to the hospital (I couldn’t speak,hardly to breath, couldn’t do anything). The first one, while running the stairs, I only prayed that God is forgiving for all my sins - didn’t think about anything else. Then the second one(mom was already crying and yelling my name, she also thought I was going to die), only one thought was crossing in my mind at that moment which is I want to say ’sorry’ to her (but until today, I’ve never said that word to her).
January 10th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
@selba Let me give you a big hug.
So sorry you have to experience such horrid events. If I can give you a little advice. Give your mom a big hug. I know it may surprise her. And tell her you love her, not that your sorry. Love is so much greater than sorrow. Share your love with your mom. I know it will be hard. But do it. K? One day you will treasure this simple moment.
January 11th, 2006 at 9:30 am
great post!
Think if I am given 1 last minute before I ‘go’, the first thought that will come across my mind is, will my soul be ’saved’, will my family be ’saved’?
And I will try to ‘chant’ the repentance prayer as earnest as I can… and also intercede for my family.
gee…I must learn to say this everyday! No last minute instant noodle!
January 11th, 2006 at 11:08 am
Thanks for coming by laymank. Welcome to my blog. Glad you enjoyed the post.
Definitely hope I’m prepared when my time is nigh.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
I would call and email the parents and remind them of my love and thankfulness for all they have given and to let them know it will be ok when I am gone. I always tell my mother that if I die first I’ll visit her every Sunday and to just know that I am there with her. I would tell my children to be true to themselves and to live their lives the best that they can each day–to the happiest that they can be without causing harm to the world but instead hopefully giving unto it. (cheesy I know, but it’s how this emotional gal feels right now)
January 11th, 2006 at 1:50 pm
@etchen This has got to be a tough post for you to handle now. I should have held it off for another month.
I do not think anything you wrote was cheesy, unless speaking from your heart has become cheesy. I say no, it is very thoughtful and I am glad I could read it. If I’m wrong then society truly is sorry.
January 12th, 2006 at 3:35 am
Ops. I missed that. Sorry. After going to Manila, you can proceed to Davao. It’s a more relaxing place. Great beaches and fruits and people. Now our local Dept Of Tourism should pay me for this.
January 12th, 2006 at 6:08 am
@abaniko I can feel the sands in my toes already. You certainly deserve a commission. I still recall the picture of the scene outside your window. So relaxing.
January 12th, 2006 at 6:26 am
you would be welcome in my house fo sho.
January 12th, 2006 at 8:35 am
wow…I am still stunning…after reading your post… I don’t know I want to do this meme…but I’m sure thinking about it…for awhile.
And…you don’t have to wait until your last year to visit Bangkok and spend time with me..
Come here…come here!!! I will show you Amazing Thailand!!!
January 12th, 2006 at 8:59 am
I did this meme.
January 12th, 2006 at 9:17 am
It would be really great to meet you Kman. The pictures and vid can only show so much. Thanks.
Hey Jane I certainly hope to visit you under much happier circumstances. If you do the meme thats cool and of course if you do not that is also cool.
@py I’m going to go read it now!!!
January 12th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
Hi Simple American, Mama Superior here from famous Singapore! No worries, we’re so used to the gum jibes, it’s no longer a sticky issue.
Like JoMel, I think of death often, not like a morbid maniac, but to think what I will do with the rest of my life. Hence, my blog, to record and chronicle my life’s events, interactions with kids, hubby, etc.
I’ll probably do as you have told your kids abt the last two impt things. But the 2nd answer will be to live the abundant life that God has promised.
Have been, and will be coming back!
January 12th, 2006 at 7:54 pm
Welcome mother superior to my humble blog. Its a pleasure to have you visit.
I figure that the fines for the chewing gum wrappers will add up so much I have to leave Singapore. Otherwise I am not certain I could, I so love the people I currently am corresponding with in that fair city state.
My kids are definitely one of the reasons I blog. I do not see death as a mystery. Just an end to being tested and punished (from time to time) by God before he decides that this temporal life is complete.
If you have a good doctrinal Bible teacher he will teach everything that allows faith to lead you to abundance. Achieving that you will be blessed and all in your periphery will also share in your blessings.
January 13th, 2006 at 7:31 pm
wierd, i left a comment and it didn;t get posted.. dang..now i forgotten wati wrote!
anyway, its nice of u to rememeber my email (i am assuming its me loh)…
:)
January 13th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
You assumed correctly.
How can I forget my Singapore daughter lor?