I’ve been thinking lately about how someday I’m going to die. It’s not that big of a deal to me. Hundreds of people die every second, so really, in the big picture, my death is pretty much insignificant to most. However, what I am worried about is how people will remember me once I’m dead. Sure, there’s the chance that I could do something great with my life like find a cure for some kind of disease, write some all-knowing computer program that finds a cure for some kind of disease, or becoming something awesome like the best Frisbee thrower in the world. Although grand if accomplished, one always needs a back-up. An easier, simpler backup that would give one the same everlasting results, but in a more convenient package. This is what I’ve really been thinking about.
In my head, I’ve been picturing my death. It’s always been a curiosity of mine to see if I could die standing up. Not straight standing (I don’t think that’s a physical possibility), but more like leaning in a corner and locking the legs. Hopefully when my heart has pumped it last pump, and my mouth has been fixed in an everlasting smile, I will pass on, but my shell will remain standing, as if saying ‘Hey guys, I’m dead and I’m still good to go.’ That’s the kind of impression I would like to leave.
Still, there’s the chance that my death won’t be slow, and that I won’t know exactly when I’m going to kick the bucket. Perhaps it’s a sudden, unforeseeable death. Maybe I fell down the worlds longest flight of stairs, and after finally reaching the bottom, beaten to a pulp, bruised black and blue, and bleeding from places that I didn’t know blood flowed, I would have only seconds to leave a lasting legacy (other than, you know, falling down like a million stairs). It is in this situation that I came to the conclusion that a phrase would best keep the memory of me alive. I read a couple quote sites here and there on the topic, but none of the quotes really fit what I’m about. It was then that I decided to come up with my final words ahead of time, so when the time comes, I will be orally prepared.
Even now, I’m still not sure exactly what they should be. Loud proclamations of ancient mythology or the sense of approaching doom would be a good way to go I think. It would leave everyone in a sort of mental blur; their brains lost between feelings of sadness and fear. It’s the kind of reaction that would really tear a family apart. Or there’s always the option of yelling out a random phrase that sounds like you’re some kind of war hero about to enter his final battle. A phrase such as ‘ONWARD… TO EVERLASTING GLORY’ or maybe ‘YOU THINK THE DEVIL CAN STOP ME?! I ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE!’ would probably be good terminal phrases to utter. It is vital that there are as many people as possible around to hear you, which allows for talking amongst themselves after, discussing what the words meant and why they were yelled at such as decibel level. The confusion and worry that you would leave them with would be worth the fact that you are now deceased and about to be buried in the earth.
There is really no final conclusion at this point. I think that in this case, one would have to keep a couple different phrases or ideas in the back of his/her mind, then when the time comes, choose accordingly. If all else fails, I think it would be pretty cool to just start laughing, and then die mid-laugh. Then everyone could say that you laughed yourself to death. Not only is it happily optimistic, but for years and years people will wonder what the fuck was so funny.
