January 24, 2005

My Living Will

I am about to break an unwritten rule of mine. I never get extremely personal on the Internet. But I have been tracking, with great interest, the status of Terri Schiavo. That is the woman who went into a coma 15 years ago and has been in a persistent vegetative state ever since. Since this information is written by me, about me, and only involves me, I feel free to tell the world. This is something that Mrs. Schiavo never did. Had she done this (one way or the other), then everyone involved (her parents, her husband and the state of Florida) would not be going through the turmoil involved with the extended legal process.

My wife and I have discussed all legal matters regarding my possible incapacitation and eventual death (we all die, don't we?). Cindy knows where I stand on my health care in all situations (at least to the best of our knowledge). I do not desire to be kept alive on a machine that will rob me of my free will. An example of this is the way that Ms. Schiavo has been kept alive. Cindy will make the determination of that at the appropriate time. Her wishes are to be honored as though they are mine, because they WILL be mine. We have spent many hours in discussion (more than most couples) and are fully in tune with each other on this matter. Anybody who attempts to interfere with this process will not be acting in my best interest, regardless of their status (family, friend, friend of the court, etc.).

She also knows that I have NO desire for a funeral and only want to be cremated and my ashes spread over the Straits of Juan de Fuca. If people desire to have a memorial service for me, I want it to be one of happiness, for I will have gone to a happier place. Though I know they probably won't be able to, I want people to be able to share stories of my lifetime and be able to laugh (kind of like the Mary Tyler Moore episode where Chuckles the Clown dies). Don't cry for me, for I will be in a much better place. Stand in the gap with my wife and children, for they will be the ones that need the help the most. Remember that you will show your love for me by passing it on to my family after I'm gone. If someone in my biological family passes before me, then I will do the same for you.

Also, don't do the same thing that they did for William Claude Dukenfield. Old W.C. had a bunch of stuff in his will and everyone ignored (almost) everything.

It may seem morbid, but I have that out of the way. I will update my will to reflect this (I can't remember if I had this in there as our will was drafted around seven or eight years ago). But realize that I don't see death as an end. I see it more as another beginning. The beginning of eternity.



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