WHEN SOMEONE ELSE DIES…
As a Caregiver, I experience different emotions when someone else dies. My Conscience thinks and feels things that I never felt or thought before.
My attention to death notices has increased. And the feelings in my Conscience, are those of a Caregiver.
This year, numerous celebrities and other well know individuals have died. I have always enjoyed the TCM Tribute which airs annually in January to honor those individuals associated with the Film Industry that the World has lost while the coolest most appropriate music plays in the background. If you’ve never seen the Memorial Tributes entitled “TCM Remembers,” check them out. It’s worth the watch.
Now when I watch the Video, I find myself counting the faces that I recognize and even Googling a few to see how, when and at what age they died. I had never done that before. Not before I became a Caregiver.
Both of my Parents are still alive while many of my friends have lost one or both of theirs. One of my Friends once said, “I was prepared for my Parents to die; however, I was not prepared for them to grow older.” I have always remembered that statement. Both of his Parents are now deceased. He was the faithful son—the one who visited every week and never missed a special occasion—he was never in the position of daily Caregiver. He was deeply affected by the death of his Parents even though he felt that he was prepared. His Parents passed away since I’ve been here as my Mom’s Caregiver.
Recently, both a close Friend and a Family member died suddenly and thus unexpectedly. Amongst my Family and Friends, it is a tradition that I write a Tribute in honor of the deceased. The Tribute pays homage to the life of the individual, but I have come to realize that it is written for those who hear the words. In the recent past, I have been in one way, or another been impacted by the death of a loved one.
Now is not the time nor the place to discuss religious, spiritual or cult -like views on what happens when someone dies.
Now is the time to reflect on how my attitude, feelings, and expressions of death have changed since becoming a Caregiver. As a Caregiver, now it’s different when someone else dies. When someone else dies, my Caregiver’s Conscience asks an important question, “What are you praying for? Do you know?”
Note: Minutes before this entry was posted, I heard the news that a family Matriarch went to be with our Ancestors. She was 97 years young! Someone else has just died.
Standing in solidarity with the Guild Members on Strike for the purpose of “Protecting our Creative Art,” the Blog contains no newly written material and instead features a Podcast Episode from “A Caregiver’s Conscience.” Today marks Day #100 of the Writer’s Strike
A CAREGIVER’S CONSCIENCE – THE PODCAST
“CONFESSION” – EPISODE #5
A CAREGIVER’S CONSICENCE – THE BLOG
For more information on the Double Strike, please refer to Articles written in THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER at:
Search Results – The Hollywood Reporter
(Articles on the Double-Strike)
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