That doesn't quite tie in with my experience Jon? When I worked in the
cancer wards, seeing some really quite atrocious illnesses, a lot of folk
knew this was the end and that there was no hope. It was terrifically sad.
My own father died when I was 17 and I can remember the tears pouring down
his face as he pulled up in a car to begin dying at home. We all believed
very much that this was the end. A priest turned up, and I remember later on
pondering on this self-indulgent vulture and hoping that he too would die in
pain. I remember on a retreat at some Catholic seminary, having that
revelation that there was nothing, nothing at all, beyond this moment. It
was a purifying "recognition"; maybe I did always know this. But there is
still terrific sadness and pain at losing someone. I've seen so may people
lose someone. I'd say very few people ever really believed they were still
alive in some other form. Those who farmed out the words, "s/he's still with
us" sounded ridiculously platitudinous. I'm always surprised anyone would
want to go on. But never at all in wishing someone close had continued, even
a little while longer. Death can of course be merciful.
> Duh. Sorry for the incoherence, resulting from an attempt at
> revision which wasn't completed. What I meant of course is that "very
> few people have ever really believed that..."
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