Ready or Not

By MARGO JOHNSON

Am I dying?

At the ripened age of 83, it is not a question asked in jest or one that is taken lightly.

In fact, we all know death waits for each of us, but how do we prepare for this eventual transition?

Yes, I have a will with a named executor.

Yes, I have given instructions as to who gets what of my eclectic treasurers, whether they want them or not.

No, I haven’t connected with all my old friends to tell them how important they have been in my life, but, some I have.

No, I haven’t planned my funeral. I’m leaving that to whomever is still around.

Yes, I have voiced my preference about creamation vs. burial, and where to scatter the ashes.

The truth is, I probably won’t know whether any of those instructions are followed, and really, who cares? I will have other things on my mind probably, so what I have left behind won’t be a top priority.

I ask the dying question to see if I am as prepared as I care to be. And if not, what else do I need to accomplish before the grim reaper, the arch angel, or some strange AI character reaches out and says it is time for a new adventure.

I’ve never made a bucket list of places I want to visit or people I want to meet. I’ve allowed my life to unfold in its random pattern finding what interests me until I get bored with that.

I have no idea what people will think of me…or if they will think of me when I am gone. Nor do I have any inclination about what will be said. That’s not entirely true. I have an inkling what some folks will recall about my behavior, my language, my missteps, and my flubs. And most of those things were pointed out prior to my demise. No surprises there.

The question remains: am I ready to die? And how will I know it is time? Obviously most of us don’t have a flag announcing the coming end: ‘Today is your day to die”, or ‘You are not prepared? Too bad!”

However, I do hope something positive comes from my passing. Maybe it’s the end of poor humor, boring columns, mediocre pictures, and maybe, just maybe it will be a memory of something special we shared.

Am I dying? Yes, aren’t we all? Buckle up, and know you are as prepared as you can be. We all make the trip, ready or not.