Back in the fall of 1997, I was attending a community college in Kingwood, Texas. While there, I took one of the most fascinating and thought provoking psych classes of my undergraduate years...The Psychology of Death and Dying. One of the class requirements was to write one's own obituary. It is funny to read now, to see how I imagined myself at the time, as well as what I imagined myself, friends, and family would be like/doing in the future. It's also interesting to see how far I've come in my writing skills over the years, in retrospect (at least I hope!). I wonder what it would be like to re-write my obit now. Hmmm. Anyway, here's what I wrote back in '97:
In Memory of....
Katie L, age 45, died yesterday, January 1, 2022, due to hermorraging of the brain from a head-on collision with a drunk driver. She was on her way home from a New Year's Eve party hosted by longtime friend Stephanie C. and was reportedly in high spirits when she left the house at 2:30 am, only to die unexpectedly minutes later in a car wreck that was caused by a lack of clear judgment made by the other intoxicated driver.
Katie L. is survived by mother Alice and stepfather Oliver F. of Spokane, Washington, father Dana L, sister Dr. Kristen L., and brother Lieutenant Thomas L. of Tampa, Florida, brother Alex L. and wife Lisa of Flagstaff, Arizona, uncle Donald C. of Phoenix, Arizona, and her loving husband Tim and their two children, Star and Tyler, of Clearwater, Florida. She will also be missed by many friends and coworkers.
At the time of her death she was working on a Psychology dissertation, which would further her along in the field and challenge her to explore other areas of medicine. The world will suffer the loss of her contributions in the areas of health care facilities. She will also be missed for her natural flair for expression found in the beauty of her photographic works displayed in the local Clearwater exhibits. She was a member of the local photography club, theater, and choir group.
Katie L. is gone, but not forgotten. Her friends and family will always remember her for her thoughtfulness, warmth of her smile, ambition, loyalty, willingness to listen to people, sense of humor, friendly attitude towards people, and her overall devotion to those she loved. In addition, she loved to travel, sing, read mystery novels, laugh, and dedicated her life to understanding different types of people. She touched the lives of many, more in the little things she did than with her personal accomplishments (such as making people laugh or telling them how important they were).
Although Katie lived her life with few regrets and believed everything in life happened for a reason, she would have liked to have a better self-esteem and more confidence in herself. Moreover, she wished she got along better with her father.
After organs have been generously donated, the body will be cremated and the ashes will be spread over the mountains of Taos, New Mexico. In lieu of flowers, money should be donated to her most worthy cause: hospice organizations or other beneficial health care programs. A memorial service will be held tomorrow night at 7:30 on Clearwater Beach to honor Katie L. one final time. The family politely asks those attending to refrain from wearing black.
In Memory of....
Katie L, age 45, died yesterday, January 1, 2022, due to hermorraging of the brain from a head-on collision with a drunk driver. She was on her way home from a New Year's Eve party hosted by longtime friend Stephanie C. and was reportedly in high spirits when she left the house at 2:30 am, only to die unexpectedly minutes later in a car wreck that was caused by a lack of clear judgment made by the other intoxicated driver.
Katie L. is survived by mother Alice and stepfather Oliver F. of Spokane, Washington, father Dana L, sister Dr. Kristen L., and brother Lieutenant Thomas L. of Tampa, Florida, brother Alex L. and wife Lisa of Flagstaff, Arizona, uncle Donald C. of Phoenix, Arizona, and her loving husband Tim and their two children, Star and Tyler, of Clearwater, Florida. She will also be missed by many friends and coworkers.
At the time of her death she was working on a Psychology dissertation, which would further her along in the field and challenge her to explore other areas of medicine. The world will suffer the loss of her contributions in the areas of health care facilities. She will also be missed for her natural flair for expression found in the beauty of her photographic works displayed in the local Clearwater exhibits. She was a member of the local photography club, theater, and choir group.
Katie L. is gone, but not forgotten. Her friends and family will always remember her for her thoughtfulness, warmth of her smile, ambition, loyalty, willingness to listen to people, sense of humor, friendly attitude towards people, and her overall devotion to those she loved. In addition, she loved to travel, sing, read mystery novels, laugh, and dedicated her life to understanding different types of people. She touched the lives of many, more in the little things she did than with her personal accomplishments (such as making people laugh or telling them how important they were).
Although Katie lived her life with few regrets and believed everything in life happened for a reason, she would have liked to have a better self-esteem and more confidence in herself. Moreover, she wished she got along better with her father.
After organs have been generously donated, the body will be cremated and the ashes will be spread over the mountains of Taos, New Mexico. In lieu of flowers, money should be donated to her most worthy cause: hospice organizations or other beneficial health care programs. A memorial service will be held tomorrow night at 7:30 on Clearwater Beach to honor Katie L. one final time. The family politely asks those attending to refrain from wearing black.
2 comments:
I've seen that this assignment has become more and more popular across many different curricula and classes. Personally, I feel that if we can only see our value in life reflected in the obituary of our death, then we have become really screwed up as a society.
I like your obituary, but I wish you would have said more about you as a person, not what you did, what you worked on, who your family was, what your causes were, etc. I would have liked to read more about you as the laugher, the razor sharp analyzer, the comforter, the friend, etc.
BTW, you could have also put something in there about being the "snuggie girl" that got screwed out of the money they clearly owe you. :)
Like I said, I wrote this back in 1997...so back then, it was probably a "cutting edge" kind of class writing assignment. :) I don't think it should be used as something purely reflective of one's value. I just think it's interesting to ponder. You're right though....it's not about what one does, but how one merely IS that matters. I would write something alot different if I were to write it now and even then, it wouldn't encompass the true essence of me that people know and love. It reminds me of a photo excursion I went on at the Graceland Cemetary in Chicago back in 2006 or 2007. I walked around, reading and photographing some of the headstones. I also wrote a blog with my reflections about the headstones. Did you ever read that blog? It was one I wrote before you knew me. I'll see if I can find it and email it to you. :)
And no, there will be no mention of being Snuggie girl Chris. ;)
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