The End. Or Maybe Not.

washingtonpost. ^ | March 14, 2006 | Art Buchwald

[tbird5]

Ordinarily, people don't talk about death. Yet it's very much a part of our lives. I'm in a hospice and seem to have a lot of time to talk about it. My friends and I discuss what death is and where we're supposed to go after it happens.

People constantly ask me if there is an afterlife. It's a good chance for me to philosophize. I tell them, "If I knew I would tell you."

This does not mean that everyone knows more than I do on the subject, including priests (Christian and Hindu), rabbis and imams.

I haven't made up my mind which one of these groups has the answer, but the nice thing about a hospice is we can talk about death openly. Most people are afraid that if they even mention it, they will bring bad karma on themselves.

[wizardoz]

Is he in hospice himself?? whoa.

[Theresawithanh]

This post is sure to get some interesting comments!

Don't know how interesting people will find my comment, but I can't imagine believing that this life is all there is, and we all pass into nothingness when we die.

Hospice is a really great organization. My mom was in Hospice before she passed away, and the people who work there were very dedicated to her comfort, as well as our family's.

[farmer18th]

I thought Art Buchwald was dead a long time ago. His mind died shortly after his birth, I think.

[NormsRevenge]

3/3/06

The Final Days of Art Buchwald: A Visit - Columnist Art Buchwald 'near death'...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1589412/posts

[peyton randolph]

The Doors

The End

This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end
Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end
I'll never look into your eyes...again
Can you picture what will be
So limitless and free
Desperately in need...of some...stranger's hand
In a...desperate land
Lost in a Roman...wilderness of pain
And all the children are insane
All the children are insane
Waiting for the summer rain, yeah
There's danger on the edge of town
Ride the King's highway, baby
Weird scenes inside the gold mine
Ride the highway west, baby
Ride the snake, ride the snake
To the lake, the ancient lake, baby
The snake is long, seven miles
Ride the snake...he's old, and his skin is cold
The west is the best
The west is the best
Get here, and we'll do the rest
The blue bus is callin' us
The blue bus is callin' us
Driver, where you taken' us
The killer awoke before dawn, he put his boots on
He took a face from the ancient gallery
And he walked on down the hall
He went into the room where his sister lived, and...then he
Paid a visit to his brother, and then he
He walked on down the hall, and
And he came to a door...and he looked inside
Father, yes son, I want to kill you
Mother...I want to...fuck you
C'mon baby,--------- No "take a chance with us"
C'mon baby, take a chance with us
C'mon baby, take a chance with us
And meet me at the back of the blue bus
Doin' a blue rock
On a blue bus
Doin' a blue rock
C'mon, yeah
Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill
This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end
It hurts to set you free
But you'll never follow me
The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die
This is the end

[peyton randolph]

My apologies for the f-word. Missed it when proofreading the lyrics.

[goldstategop]

Death? I learned on the day of my father's death how happy he looked and the smile on his face and how at peace he seemed after having endured so much suffering. It was the only thing that saved me from complete collapse. Death is never to be welcomed and I would give all my clothes and all my possessions to have my parents living before me again. And if I have a consolation in God's justice and in His great compassion, it is the certain knowledge that those I love are near me and I will see them one day again and love is the one element in the universe strong enough to overcome death.

[txhurl]

There is an afterlife, and it is beautiful - all light- makes planet earth seem like hell, which it, relatively speaking, is.

[goldstategop]

They're in a better place. There has to be one for in my view, if we are not possessed of an immortal soul, then we should be afraid of the pointlessness of our all too brief existence here.

[mirkwood]

[txhurl]

It's terrible not being able to explain the afterlife to people who haven't seen it: just believe. It's there, and it's amazing.

[jamaly]

Bump for later

[goldstategop]

Its been corroborated by various studies. The medieval Flemish artist Hieronymous Bosch may had a near death experience or learned of it first hand from someone he knew. Its depicted in one of his paintings.

[Bubbatuck]

Goodbye, Art. Thanks for the laughs. I hope he passes peacefully.

[pandoraou812]

My older brother was a drug addict and he went missing. I was hoping he was in jail but in the fall I had a dream my mother came to me and said he was with her, shes deceased now for a few yrs. He went into the hospital in Aug and I was not contacted. Then he went into a hospice and died Sept 10th. By Xmas with no calls I was very worried. In Jan I found his obit on the internet. The funeral people had me contact the hospice people who were so kind and wonderful to me. They told me of his last days and of the fact he didnt want to burden me with his death. I was happy to learn he didnt die alone or was murdered over a drug deal. They made me feel so much better and said to call them anytime I cared to talk. All in all they were amazing people and if he had to die I am glad he was with such caring people. I dont know where we go after death but I feel theres more to come. I look at death as a new adventure and I am not afraid to die.

[Billthedrill]

I don't think Buchwald and I could be more different politically, but what impresses me about the column is how little that turns out to matter. I hope he won't be offended - and I don't think he will - if I say a little prayer or two for him.

If I'm right, he just might end up returning the favor.

[philetus]

I can't quote the book
The chapter or the verse
You can't tell me it all ends
In a slow ride in a hearse
You know I'm more and more convinced
The longer that i live
Yeah, this can't be
No, this can't be
No, this can't be all there is

(Chorus)
When I raise my hands, bow my head
I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there's more to life than just what i can see
I believe
Oh, I
I believe

[philetus]

Artist/Band: Brooks And Dunn
Lyrics for Song: Believe

[txhurl]

Well. I've seen it, and you can trust me it's a place you can't wait to go to.