I’m not sure the way to think about death
Is to think about death
Mine will be around 30 years or so, likely
Some do not know 30 lived years yet
And to them, now, as it was to me, then, 30 years is a long time
But when your life is twice thirty plus
And 30 years ago means an ethics class on Charles Taylor at the University of Virginia
Vivid in the aging memory
Death is nearer
I say the young should not think about death
But revel in the animée of youth
Nor should anyone think about death
I believe we all should revel in animée
In age you mine the memory for what matters
Looking back over time, so many lives lived
Parent, child, sibling, friend, partner,
Student, apprentice, employee, employer, creator, maker, volunteer
So many ideologies following
Family values, local customs, blindly following the herd,
Breaking free of local customs, assimilating to new traditions
Ethical options adopted, opted for
Spirituality, religion, evolving principles of justice, righteousness
Age has much to sift through, choose, assent to, reject
Evaluating a life lived long
Choosing how to use life in remaining years
Anticipating life, how to live, live well, time that remains well
In remaining years, in future years
Possible eternity outside time and years and then where is death?
Options
Opting for a good life, life lived well, the good life, optimize
Exorcized ghosts of island martinis and beers past
Cast-off pass-times, past times, distractions, dreams of fame, cheering mobs, irascible passions
How to live, live well, care well
Caring for values that ground being
Ground of Being
And it is enough to be
Animée
Youth, age, death
David Fekete 