Well it is the international break so thought this might fill in some time for a few of you. Think about 'being ready and prepared' quite a lot and as it's something that we all will face one day thought I'd open it up for discussion. My other half wont discuss it whilst being a bit more pragmatic I've already picked out my funeral sings/hymns, order of service etc. All my working life I've never been far away from dealing with the dead and dying, my time with the police saw to that, over 30 fatalities in road accidents, sudden death
Couldn’t agree with this more. The only spoken words on the beautiful Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd - And I am not afraid of dying. Any time will do, I don’t mind. Why should I be frightened of dying? There’s no reason for it. You’ve got to go sometime.
No fancy funeral for me. I want to be buried on a wooded hillside in the middle of ****ing nowhere so I can have the peace in death I don't seem to be able to afford in life. If someone wants to plant a host of golden daffodils around my grave as Wordsworth did for Dora, well that would be just ****ing great but I'll be dead so I guess I won't get to see it.
I'm nowhere near 'that time' as far as I'm aware, but my one fear is not leaving things as they should be for those that would have to deal with it . . . . finances etcetera. If I die before Mrs. A., for example, she wouldn't have a clue 'cos I've always managed our finances (being a financial advisor for decades, that makes sense), including the debt that she accumulates on my behalf/in my name We've discussed this briefly, and I've got a shortlist of songs for The Crem. that she knows about, which changed recently, but she's not concerned about that 'cos she's 'going first' 'cos she doesn't want to have to deal with the grief of me going first
My wife died 6 years ago, she said a few times that she wanted us both to go together. Now being on my own since then I know what she meant by it. So now when the good Lord says my time is up, I am ready.
I know you don't get to choose when your time is up and there has been times when I've been ready to cash the chips in but not now. If there's something that plans or moves you around in life, it owes me big style and I intend to collect! There's been times I've put my life on hold for family members that meant everything to me and things are moving in the right direction for me at this moment - Sunderland finally seemed to have turned that tanker around and sailing in the right direction (fingers crossed), the grandson is playing some great football for his teams and getting MOTM awards for it, the wife and I can get away when we fancy - so who or what ever decides on that date when you're no longer required on this planet, can go and do one, I'll let you know when I'm done!
I'm with Dave Lister... Lister: You said yourself. I can't stop it. Let's get this over with. [Grabs a pipe] Rimmer: Lister, what's that for? Lister: I'm going out as I came in, screaming and kicking. Rimmer: You can't just whack Death on the head! Lister: If he comes near me, I'm gonna rip his nipples off!
I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like uncle Ralph, not screaming in terror, like the passengers on his bus.
A very common problem for many couples in a long term marriage. Think I’ve got or lass sorted financially but she flatly refuses to discuss anything relating to this. She didn’t handle her own parents funerals well and things haven’t changed in the last 23 years.
Missus only just gone 30 and has lost both of her parents to cancer. Really puts life into perspective for me as someone who never knew really knew grief. No parents at wedding table, two little girls growing up without grandparents on one side of the family and not old enough to remember. Because of the above, I fear death more for what I’ll miss out on, rather than dying itself.
The older I get the more I think about it. I’m now two years off 60 and I never even thought about being as old as I am now when I was younger. Too busy doing other stuff I guess. I’m sure I’m not afraid of dying. Like @cumbrianmackem i have seen enough death in my time in the cops. I know it’s going to happen at some point. To be big headed I think im fitter than a lot of men my age but I’ve had to work at it so I’d like to think I’ve got a few more years ahead of me before I cark it. I’m not in any way religious so when I go I don’t want any fuss made in that respect. I genuinely don’t believe I’ll meet my maker or that I’ll end up in heaven or in eternal damnation. That said, I’ve already told Mrs and Mstr K that I’d like a few of my ashes spread in the River Wear. I don’t expect to die or be remembered in Sunderland but the ashes is a kind symbolic homecoming for me. The rest of the ashes; well as long as they end up next to Mrs K when she goes and Chaos (and from a purely selfish point of view I hope I go first) I’ll be happy. At times I worry about the world I brought my son into but I can’t do anything about that. I think Mrs K and I have done a decent enough job in raising him so I reckon he’ll be ok. We’ve put things in place to make sure that financially he’ll be fine, but he knows he’s got to make his own way in life and he’s doing fine in that respect. I guess if I want a legacy I’d just like to be thought of as a decent bloke who did his best for his family.
Direct Funeral for me. Ive always hated fuss. Mrs and daughter both know my wishes and have raised no objections. I want them to move on with their lives as soon as possible without having to hang round for a funeral. I have told them they can do what they want with the ashes. This has nothing to do with finance. Im 71 now so I guess my time is nearing. Im not that concerned about death but moreso the way I die I have yet to 'book' and pay for one but intend doing so in the near future. Amen
I'm 57 and nearly a quarter of the troop I joined RCT Junior leaders with in 1984 when we were all 16 have died, one just last week, great lad from Boro who emigrated to New Zealand, came back for the weekend and passed away, he knew he was going. Gets you thinking. I'm not picking out anything for a funeral, I'll be dead, dead Dave, dead. (Holly Red Dwarf to Lister S1 E1) even if it says "Here lies Will, he was a cnut" I don't care, I'll be dead. I know I am nearer death now than I was 10 years ago and was running half marathons and doing triathalons, my body has now said "No" the twat. Now I help running a football club for the school and do some cycling to keep fit, but no where near as much as I would like. One thing is for sure, this ain't no dress rehersal, live your life, its yours to live not anyone elses and don't live to anyone elses expectations, live to your own. Have I lived a Mother Teresea lifestyle, no, and I wouldn't want to. Have a lived a deepply religious lifestyle on the promise of 40 virgins, no. (You do realise these so called virgins are computer programers and are all men?) Have I lived a Gearge Best, Freddy Mercury, Oliver Reed lifestyle? Well, yes in a way, more than I have been a saint, but no where near as lavish and without the drugs.
I don't think death frightens me as much now following my cancer diagnosis (currently cancer free). My three daughters although not permanently settled down are in their 20's - yes I would like to someday have the benefit of a grand kid but you can never be certain. OI suppose I should really consider my hymns etc for any funeral - Highway to Hell may be an inappropriate choice!!. there are things I would still like to do but if I don't get there then so be it. I do sometimes worry about the future for my kids - the world just seems so volatile at the moment The other thing I would really like is to see us win something (although the play off final was an amazing experience) but that might be a wish too far!! Hopefully we are all around for a bit to continue these type of discussions!!
My dad's just turned 80 and earlier this year he paid off his funeral costs with Co-op. Very unselfish. He's fit as a fiddle as well.
I never expected to live this long so feel content with the time I've had and have enjoyed it. I've lived the way I chose and happily taken the bad times with the good. I decided, some time ago, that I'll die the way I choose as well. If I'm wiped out in and accident that's fine but I won't slowly deteriorate and become a bed bound invalid with carers keeping me going from day to day. My ideal way to go would be wrestling a suicide bomber to the ground on his way into the SOL ... ... fair enough I'd be blown to bits, without seeing the game, but I'd go down as a legend
