Re: OT: A digression

[Guest guest]

" OT: A digression

Hello:

I know, I know that this hasn't anything at all to do with what's

been going on here for the past twenty-four hours, but it's just

something that happened to-day and must be told to-day to keep its

freshness, however morbid it may seem. My second excuse is the old

saying, according to which " interruptions can be creative. " May this

one digression be so.

This morning I read in the newspaper that the final words of the late

Pope II were, according to his personal secretary,

addressed to the Virgin: " Totus tuus, " the meaning of which is, as

you know, " (I am) entirely yours. "

Although at present I'm not a Christian, I was rather moved to read

about that (I'm not being phony, you know). How unshakable the faith

of that man was! Even in pain and facing death, he didn't allow

despair to get the better of him. Ok, I concede that he may have made

mistakes, and I'm all too cautious to call anyone admirable, but

wasn't he admirable, after all? Or should I rather say: wasn't the

moment of his death, if the description is accurate, an admirable

one?

And if you allow me to go on, I'd add that one of my main objectives

in life now is to attain - if not an admirable moment of death like

's – *the good death*. By that I mean: dying in lucidity, in

bed, and being able to say good-bye to the people that matter. Maybe

other people have drawn very different scenarios for their own death.

But does anyone know the path to the blessing of achieving the one

death they really want to have?

Now excuse me, but I must be gone from the group for a few days.

Good-bye to all of you and have a creative week.

José "

Some degree of faith is not incompatible with being the head of a sexist,

homophobic organization.

[Guest guest]

José-,

>

>And if you allow me to go on, I'd add that one of my main objectives

>in life now is to attain - if not an admirable moment of death like

> 's - *the good death*. By that I mean: dying in lucidity, in

>bed, and being able to say good-bye to the people that matter. Maybe

>other people have drawn very different scenarios for their own death.

>But does anyone know the path to the blessing of achieving the one

>death they really want to have?

>

>Now excuse me, but I must be gone from the group for a few days.

>

>Good-bye to all of you and have a creative week.

>

I was just thinking about pope II this morning, but it

concerned the double standards of celibate priests who are born Catholic

contrasted with married priests from the Protestant and perhaps Orthodox

faiths who join the Catholic priesthoods can be exempt from being single

and celibate. Is this just and fair?

I also think that a good death is certainly worth striving for. The

pope had been ill for many years, so I think he suffered some time. But

now in my life I really feel that if I am dying then I can live with

that, LOL! What I mean is I am at peace with the idea of death. It is

such a strange thing in the US. If I say much more I will have to fly

the POLITICS flag and I am too lazy for that now. But I think many

people hide their heads in the sand about death, pretending it won't

happen to them, or that this cure will prolong the inevitable. Of

course, treatments that prolong life without killing off the survivors

are great. But we kid ourselves when we think we can avoid it

altogether. That is the media perception here.

I am missing your point of faith entirely, which keeps in well with the

subject heading.

Do not stay gone too long pretty please, for I have been ready to reply

to your cosleeping and other ideas, only they have not gotten out of

draft context. Adieu, mon ami.

Truly,

Deanna

[Guest guest]

-, you're always a treat to read in English and I bet you're

something else in Portugese! You make me wish I understood it.

Lynn S.

------

Lynn Siprelle * web developer, writer, mama, fiber junky

http://www.siprelle.com * http://www.thenewhomemaker.com

http://www.deanspeaksforme.com * http://www.knitting911.net

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynn:

Thank you for the words, and excuse me for this so belated answer.

But you know it's no big deal, really.

If you care to listen to some (Brazilian) Portuguese, you could try

this site:

http://www.magossi9.hpg.ig.com.br/eu-sei-que-vou-te-amar.htm

It's one of my favourite songs: " Eu sei que vou te amar por toda a

minha vida " could mean something in the way of " I know I'll love you

for as long as I live " .

There are two versions. Click with the mouse on the title. Well, you

know what to do, don't you? I'm very awkward with the computer

anyway. The first version by Cleusa and Vinicius includes a

poem recited by Vinicius himself. I like Cleusa's

interpretation better than Fagner's. If you need the poem in text,

just tell me and I will write it down for you. I can also write a

translation of the lyrics for you, but this may take a little longer.

So enjoy yourself and thanks again.

--- In , Lynn Siprelle <lynn@s...>

wrote:

> -, you're always a treat to read in English and I bet

you're

> something else in Portugese! You make me wish I understood it.

>

> Lynn S.

>

> ------

> Lynn Siprelle * web developer, writer, mama, fiber junky

> http://www.siprelle.com * http://www.thenewhomemaker.com

> http://www.deanspeaksforme.com * http://www.knitting911.net

[Guest guest]

* Hi Deanna:

--- In , Deanna Wagner <hl@s...>

wrote:

> José-,

> I was just thinking about pope II this morning, but it

> concerned the double standards of celibate priests who are born

Catholic

> contrasted with married priests from the Protestant and perhaps

Orthodox

> faiths who join the Catholic priesthoods can be exempt from being

single

> and celibate. Is this just and fair?

* Well, at the risk of appearing superficial, I would say it is not

just and fair.

>

> I also think that a good death is certainly worth striving for.

* I think most Buddhists meditate on death rather than on eternal

life. But maybe Buddhism is rather pessimistic, isn't it?

The

> pope had been ill for many years, so I think he suffered some time.

* And he was an athlete when he was young...

But

> now in my life I really feel that if I am dying then I can live

with

> that, LOL! What I mean is I am at peace with the idea of death.

* Deanna, I have yet to come to terms with that, you know. I don't

much worry about what will happen to me after death, but I worry

about my small children if I die prematurely.

It is

> such a strange thing in the US. If I say much more I will have to

fly

> the POLITICS flag and I am too lazy for that now. But I think many

> people hide their heads in the sand about death, pretending it

won't

> happen to them, or that this cure will prolong the inevitable. Of

> course, treatments that prolong life without killing off the

survivors

> are great. But we kid ourselves when we think we can avoid it

> altogether. That is the media perception here.

Yes. Memento mori. Can we be taught on how to die? Can psychoanalysis

help us? Or is it only about sex? Sex is so linked to death, isn't it?

>

> I am missing your point of faith entirely, which keeps in well with

the

> subject heading.

* Oh I beg your pardon. I used the Pope only as an example of a

person who knew exactly what or who was waiting for him on the other

side. I have no certainty about anything, but sometimes I wish I had.

Then maybe death would look easier.

> Do not stay gone too long pretty please, for I have been ready to

reply

> to your cosleeping and other ideas, only they have not gotten out

of

> draft context. Adieu, mon ami.

* Relax. We will have time to talk here or maybe elsewhere. Goodbye,

my friend. Adeus, amiga.

JC

>

>

> Truly,

> Deanna

>

>

>

>

>

>