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Judith Andre's avatar

It has surprised me that It's not fear of death, but fear of the path to it -- degenerative disease -- that marks my later years.

That may be because I'm over 80. Partly death has become a familiar neighbor, although my own health is fine. But so has debility, suffered in so many ways by my friends. I'm afraid I may have given you something more to fear, but I hope not. The world in spite of its horrors is also still full of glory.

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Sylvie Lamoureux's avatar

Beautifully written story!

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Janet Dussault's avatar

David beat me to the compliment ! Well done Ginny xo

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Silvana Lucia's avatar

What a beautifully written post. So honest! Thank you Virginia.

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Anna C Rumin's avatar

Thankyou Virginia for taking me back to some early memories of my own including watching one of my grandfather's friends standing over his open casked saying, "Julian Julian, you're so lucky"!

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Susie Kaufman's avatar

I love cemeteries for their quiet, the engravings on the stones, the memories. At the same time, I agree with Kathy Glennon below that I imagine cremation as a better alternative when my time comes.. I seem to like burial for everybody else.

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Lin Morency Buckland's avatar

The title notwithstanding, this is a gentle reflection on death. Much on our minds at these considerable ages. But I especially appreciated the way you also brought out the difference in the way a child observes and tries to process it all. Thank you.

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Rita C's avatar

Been there, done that, and i don’t wish to have a chat with Mark Twain either… at least not yet!

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Marci Keats Rudolph 🇨🇦's avatar

Getting old is definitely not for sissies. I too love the hugs from grandchildren and other family. It beats the alternative every time.

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Nancy Humphreys's avatar

Brilliant Ginny thank you ! 72? HA nothing compared to 82 !!😍

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Noha Beshir's avatar

Thank you for this beautiful piece. You reminded me of my first significant encounter with death, which was when my cousin, who was younger than I was, died of brain cancer. The whole thing was shocking to me as a child as I had never considered that young people could die.

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Sandra Paikowsky's avatar

What a magnificent piece of writing; I wept.

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Virginia  Fisher Yaffe's avatar

That means a lot coming from you.

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Antolina Ortiz's avatar

What a wonderful story. I wish I could have shared it with my mother.

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Adair Heuchan's avatar

So relatable and so well written. Thank you.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

Moving reflections, thank you!

Mark Twain actually did not say or write those words which were attributed to him in 2006, long after his death. https://quoteinvestigator.com/2024/02/19/no-terrors/

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Virginia  Fisher Yaffe's avatar

Oops!

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Lev Raphael's avatar

I check Quote Investigator a lot because the stuff that's on Goodreads and everywhere else is usually unattributed.

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Kathy Glennon's avatar

I realize I have reached a nearly similar age….and while aging has its drawbacks, as is noted, it beats the alternative. While I don’t like the concept of burial and am leaning more toward cremation with a ‘scattering’ at a place of my choice I do wonder that it robs others ( if they care) of the remembering that comes with visiting older graveyards. Where do we go when we need to remember?

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Virginia  Fisher Yaffe's avatar

Such a good point.

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