Whatever became of the moment when one first knew about death? There must have been one. A moment. In childhood. When it first occured to you that you don't go on forever. It must have been shattering, stamped into one's memory. And yet, I can't remember it.
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
I plan on never dying. That moment hasn't come for me yet.
Please do not burst my bubble.
Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 5538) on :
quote:Please do not burst my bubble.
I think you might be confusing him with Bazooka_Joe, Ralphie.
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
You are on fire lately, Moose. At first, I was wondering how long till Mama Squirrel had that baby, but this one wasn't. . . well, you know. . .
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
See Landmark forum, 5000th post aka "1/5000: Ya I'm weird like that."
I think thats the one where I explain the first time I learned about death.
Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :
I realized death quite recently. Junoir year, I had a classmate die in a car crash. It stunned all of us, and we were all saddened by her loss.
At school, we took her old parking spot--she always parked in a teacher's spot, and regularly got into trouble about it--and turned it into a sort of shrine. We painted her name over it and had a vigil in front of it one day before class.
In the end, my friends and I decided to go to her funeral. We got there fairly early, but the funeral palor was already packed. The four of us got some seats and took turns going up to the casket.
When it was my turn, I solemly went up and said a prayer for her and her family.
Then, I opened my eyes.
She looked so... So... So... Lifelike, but... Not. All I could do was stare. I was dumbfolded.
She was lying in her casket, dressed in jeans and a shirt with the high school logo on it. Her hands were folded across her stomach, a delicate chain with a blue stone around her neck. She had a small teddy bear in to keep her company.
As I continued to stare, one of her friends came up, crying. She took off a pink ribbon that had been handed out at the vigil and placed it in the casket. She then turned away and left.
They also had permenant markers to write a message to her on her casket. I wrote a brief message "We miss you" and signed my name and went back to my seat.
It was rather astounding, the epifany I had. It was very scary, and made me put my life into a whole new perspective.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
What epiphany did you have?
Posted by newfoundlogic (Member # 3907) on :
I think we knew about death as long as were able to talk it just gradually took awhile before we realized that death could happen to us.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
One of the spiritual guidelines of the Benedictines is to keep death before you daily.
Posted by Deirdre (Member # 4200) on :
It never occured to me at all. What does one make of that? We must be born with an intuition of mortality. Before we have words for it, before we know that there are words, out we come, bloodied and squalling with the knowlege that for all the compasses int he world, there's only one direction, and time it's only measure.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
quote: there's only one direction, and time it's only measure.
You need to watch the movie 'Rosencratz and Guildenstern Are Dead'. It's all about that.
(Make sure you know the play 'Hamlet' very well before you watch it, because Rosencratz and Guildenstern see pieces of the play as they wander around, and it's kind of important to understand that.)
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Conspiracy of cartographers.
Posted by Toni (Member # 5620) on :
Deirdre would never watch Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are dead.
She hates plays like Hamlet.
Then again, I'm not sure about that.
Posted by Shepard (Member # 5613) on :
I dont know when I thought of death, but I get scared just thinking about it. Or more like scared of the lack of thinking when you die. The nothing, but not knowing its nothing, and never even thinking again. I sometimes think I'd prefer a hell to just nothing, and only dimly aware that its nothing, if at all.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
I don't think death ever really sinks in. I mean, how many funerals do we have to go to before they stop being a shock? I don't think any of us really realize death in our everyday lives.
I do think the Mexicans have a jump start on us, though. I really love that their folk art is so centered around death. It's not morbid - it's celebrating life as something that doesn't stop when our bodies do. It's beautiful.
Posted by Deirdre (Member # 4200) on :
Uncertainty is the normal state. You're nobody special.
[ September 07, 2003, 04:52 PM: Message edited by: Deirdre ]
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
That just makes my day.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
quote: She hates plays like Hamlet
But it's not about Hamlet, it's about Rosencratz and Guildenstern and it's really funny and sweet at the same time.
It's also about death and the fact that there is only one direction, and that is towards death.
EDIT: She's either seen it or Hamlet because she quoted from it.
[ September 06, 2003, 07:54 PM: Message edited by: Teshi ]
Posted by Avadaru (Member # 3026) on :
When I was little I knew about death from pets dying, etc, but the finality of it, the reality of death, never sunk in until my dad died when I was five. I guess when one of our cats died it seemed more to me like the cat had just gone away, but wasn't really gone, you know? And when I found out my dad was dying, it still didn't completely sink in what was happening. Only after he passed away did I really realize that death was finite and once someone was gone, they couldn't come back.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
I finish watching Tuck Everlasting, then come to Hatrack and see this thread.
Posted by Toni (Member # 5620) on :
Teshi - Every post of Deirdre's so far has been a line from Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead, including the one that directly preceeded your recommendation.
^_^
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
Everyone knows that Death is a cute, little goth chick. When she's nor working, she relaxes in a cluttered house in a worn, comfy chair and has a goldfish for a pet.
Posted by Zotto! (Member # 4689) on :
*grumble* Ya beat me to it, Storm.
I don't remember ever having a single "moment" when I realized that everyone I know will die one day, but I also don't remember NOT knowing, so it musta been pretty young. Blarg.
Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :
To answer the question posed to me: That life is incredibly unpredictible, and that we need to make as much out of it as humanly possible.
My classmate died in a car wreck... She was going WAY too fast on a curve, and flipped her car. Unfortunately, she was not wearing a seatbelt. She was ejected through her windshield and flew fifty feet into a cow pasture.
I've actually kept the ribbon from the vigil... It's pinned up in my car, right over my view mirror, to remember Ashley.
And to remind myself of the hazards of not buckling up and driing safely.
Posted by Death (Member # 3787) on :
quote:Whatever became of the moment when one first knew about death? There must have been one.
YES.
quote:Please do not burst my bubble.
I'M AFRAID IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT.
quote:You are on fire lately, Moose.
ACCEPT YOUR FATE AND MOVE ON. DEATH BY BURNING IS QUITE POPULAR IN AFRICA.
quote:See Landmark forum, 5000th post aka "1/5000: Ya I'm weird like that."
BRING IT TO MY OFFICE. I'M ON A TIGHT SCHEDULE
quote:i think we knew about death as long as were able to talk it just gradually took awhile before we realized that death could happen to us.
I "HAPPEN TO YOU" ONLY IF YOU CONSIDER HOUSECLEANING A "HAPPENING".
quote: One of the spiritual guidelines of the Benedictines is to keep death before you daily.
CORRECT. YOU WOULDN'T MIND TELLING THEM TO BUGGER OFF, WOULD YOU?
quote:there's only one direction, and time it's only measure.
THAT'S THE SPIRIT.
quote:She hates plays like Hamlet.
SO DO I.
quote:I sometimes think I'd prefer a hell to just nothing, and only dimly aware that its nothing, if at all.
YES. HELL IS GREAT FOR BARBECUES.
quote:It's not morbid - it's celebrating life as something that doesn't stop when our bodies do. It's beautiful.
...AND THEY SERVE GOOD COCKTAILS.
quote:I finish watching Tuck Everlasting, then come to Hatrack and see this thread.
IT'S VERY EDUCATIONAL.
quote:Everyone knows that Death is a cute, little goth chick. When she's nor working, she relaxes in a cluttered house in a worn, comfy chair and has a goldfish for a pet.
BOY, ARE YOU IN FOR A SURPRISE...
Posted by Ryan Hart (Member # 5513) on :
Actually Death is Norm Macdonald.
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :
*hands "Death" a warrant for his/her arrest* (Cf Rev. 20:15)
I think I first came to an awareness that I would die one day when I was approaching thirteen and I discovered that I needed surgery to save my life. Nonetheless, I don't remember either before or after than being profoundly affected by anyone's funeral. Perhaps it's just my normal emotional distance....
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