Letting go when it's time.

Death comes for us all. No matter what we do or how hard we deny it.
I don't HAVE to do anything but die.

I am a care giver and I am on deathwatch with one of my clients.
Death doesn't frighten me. I've courted it on many occasions.
What scares the hell out of me is dying badly. I see grown children going to ridiculous ends to prolong the life of a parent. Even though it's only prolonging their suffering.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/07/magazine/07DYINGL.html?_r=1

Being a shaman and knowing others like me who don't fear the reaper. Makes me wonder why modern humans do what they can to stay in this life as long as possible.
Being hooked up to machines and pumped full of drugs isn't my idea of a "good death".

What happened to the old ways? Elders used to know when it was their time to take that one way walk into the woods and were allowed to go.
I don't want to be a burden on anyone in my tribe. When I am no longer useful and my stories have all been told. I want to greet Death with a smile and no regrets.

http://www.livescience.com/history/top10-after-death-1.html

In my family we have somewhat of an Irish wake. Drunken reminiscing, lots of food, tears and laughs.


Now, what about euthanasia for humans?
Remember the Hemlock Society?
I know there are religious people out there who will talk about "God's will". That's fine. Talk to someone else.
I work with a very religious woman who keeps wondering when God is going to take her home.
She's in a lot of pain and likes to spread the misery around to the rest of the family. Not very "Christian" behavior if you ask me. But what do I know?
She's not terminal. I fear she's going to linger a long time and drain her family emotionally and financially. It's hard to witness this type of dying process.
Alzheimer's disease terrifies me. I can't imagine a worse way to go. My son and I always say. "If I get Alzheimer's I'm going to kill myself before I forget."
In 10 years it's going to be so prevalent that medicare won't be able to handle it. Screw the drugs that make people linger. We put down animals for lesser things.

http://www.assistedsuicide.org/

Where does an individual's rights end? When do we allow the government to step in and force us and our families to suffer? Enough is enough.

Don't fear the reaper.