DEATH BECOMES US... EVENTUALLY

Clueless as to current events (I don't own a TV nor listen to the Radio), it was only this afternoon that I found out Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson have both died. The media frenzy and Blog-Facebook-Twitter hysteria surrounding both deaths (especially MJ's) have reached proportions only seen last with Princess Diana's demise. Expect the media to cover MJ for the next month (or more).

I remember playing Charlie's Angels with my 'girl friends' in elementary. Every Monday we would talk about the previous day's episode of Charlie's Angels. Often copying favorite scenes. Although I must confess I identified with Jaclyn Smith/Kelly Garret maybe because she stayed on the series until it finally folded up. In Freshman year in High School, I attended the Dance the Juniors sponsored to raise funds for their JS Prom that year. I remember dancing with a 'girl friend' from Sophomore year to MJ's 'Rock With You'.

The point I am trying to make is that, yes, our grandparents and parents were right after all. Indeed, life is short. When we were impatient and rushing to grow up, they would tell us not to be in such a hurry. Because life IS short. I am in my early 40s now, my Dad passed away 4 years ago this November. My Mom has had another mild stroke this month. She will be 75 on December. My Grandparents passed away in the 90s. Very soon my generation will follow. With or without the intervention of Medical Breakthroughs.

When we look at how the Universe was formed, we realize that our own time on Earth is but the tiniest blip on its radar. In the bigger sphere of things we need these deaths to remind us of our own mortality. How seemingly senseless these sudden deaths are. But only because generally, people don't discuss death. We find it morbid to do so. It is a taboo. But I think we should be more open to discussing death. It will relieve us of our own denials. After all, Death (like Life) is what we make of it. Is it a rebirth? Is it the next phase to everlasting life? Or after everything is lived out, are we not just 'food for maggots'?

Life and Death is what we make of it.

Now let me go back to that Physics Journal I was reading.