Jan 21, 2008

My list

Today I went to a memorial service for a teacher that worked in my building. Actually, he and I grew up together until high school and I use to tell him we were going to get married. Luke was so cute, sweet and SO SHY! The memorial service was perfect and was exactly what he always wanted.

Do you ever ask yourself what kind of memorial service you will have? I have a "list." My list started out of a genuine place of concern because I live alone. So I would tell my parents and the people in my office that if I don't show and don't call come find me...something is wrong. Then my list began to include people to call (Melissa first), to make sure that I have clothes on and I'm not bloated. I have detailed my funeral and memorial services. Part of it is a joke, part of it is feeling in control of an out of control experience. I am afraid of death on every level. So having a list makes me feel in control.

In the end, I hope to make a difference in people's lives. I hope to have made people laugh and hopefully learn something new. I hope to have been loyal enough that people felt valued and important. I hope to be remembered...as a good person to everybody!

Do you have a list? I would love to hear more.

7 comments:

MB said...

I'm going to work on my list, too. I love events like that - make us think about what's really important. Love you.

Anonymous said...

I am going to start making a list. I mean I already know I want to be cremated, but I should let my husband/family know what I want. Unfortunately, several immediate family members have died in the past couple of years so we're all kind of on the same page about the service.

So sorry about your friend. My friend's mom just passed away this morning. It certainly reminds me that life is short.

Anonymous said...

I left you a surprise on my blog today!

The Lady Who Doesn't Lunch: said...

My husband and I don't want anyone to look at our corpses or remember us that way - so we've arranged to be cremated, have our ashed blended together, turned into a coral reef and a service can be performed when we are dumped into the sea if people want to.

I used to have the same arrangements with my friends when I was single - come find me!

Renaissance Woman said...

my love...you ae impotant to me.

Suze...sorry to hear about your mom's friend. I think having a plan lets you help the people you love. Plus, you get to be remembered how ever you decide!

lady...like the idea of being in the reef with the one that you love. May have to add that to my list.

Keeping It Real said...

I don't have a list; I don't want one. I, like you, am afraid of death. Mostly, I'm afraid of dying before my children reach maturity. I want to see them grow up, get married, have babies and get their comeuppance.

Seriously, I hate thinking about death, and yet, I'm preoccupied by my fear. A list would be my undoing, I think.

MB said...

tagged you, love