I sit on the bed waiting for Noni to dress me. My medium-focus glasses don’t give me a clear view of my feet, but I know they are purple and swollen.
I just turned 97. I don’t know why I am still here. I never took especially good care of myself, never had any particular joie de vivre. I simply wake up every morning, still alive.
I can no longer do many of the things I once took for granted. Dressing and feeding myself and all the rest.
Once I scorned those who had faith in God. Now I envy them.
And there’s always cantekerousness as a pastime. I understand you get a licence for it at 75
I was watching a video on Aeon about a philosopher who recently turned 97 and based this on him. He argued against spirituality his entire life, and yet there he is. All that is left to him is despair.
Dear Josh,
Hard-hitting and poignant at the same time. Great piece.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS I see your friend went soft on us this morning. ;)
;-) he does that from time to time. Plenty of murder elsewhere in the prompt.
Never too late to find God…well, maybe. Great story. Sincerely hope I don’t live that long, don’t want to be a burden.
I can really relate to this one, Josh!
Fortunately I do believe in God.
Me too!
Interesting perspective. Perhaps there is such a thing as overstaying your welcome.
Is it ever too late for faith? Nicely done, captures the end-of-life questions especially tough for one who ponders the folly of a lifetime of beliefs.
My thoughts exactly. Thanks for reading.
I’ve always been determined to die before I reach this stage of complete dependence and helplessness. However I don’t believe in suicide, so who knows? Maybe it will be my purple feet hanging off the edge of the bed.
You use a good, matter-of-fact voice for the narrator, which seems very appropriate to the sentiments he expresses. I hope he finds the faith that he’s missing, and that it will sustain him.
Very well written.
Great story. And it’s never too late to find God.
Very poignant.
I very much liked the voice for this character. It was entirely appropriate for the stage of life and frame of mind in which he finds himself. Good one.
God as a last resort. I guess it’s beter late than never.
Click to read my FriFic tale!
Not me honey, I have an Time Until event saved on my phone to remind me when my expiration date is approaching.. Very well told.
Old age has caught up with her and renewed her faith in god.
My dad didn’t believe in God either… came to the end of his life and he was reconsidering his choices…
Great voice in this one.
This is hard to read on the anniversary of my mom’s death but you werent to know. The purpling skin makes me especially squeamish, but the despair seems less than a foregone conclusion to me. I have known people with no faith in God who yet manage to die with tremendous grace and dignity, if death is ever dignified, and not by their own hand.
Interesting piece, especially the voice of your character. Common questions and thoughts for us all.
I simply wake up every morning still alive, what a cracking phrase, i’m sure there are many who could empathise
Waking up in the morning and still being alive sounds like it could be both blessing or a curse for this one … And yet … perhaps … a blessing nonetheless?
:)
Nicely done!
Na’ama
Great story, this gives a lot to think about. I, too, think that you can face death without despair or bitterness even if you don’t believe in god or gods. Turning to a god in the very last stage of life seems somewhat dishonest, a straw to grasp on, an afterthought.
Well written and tragic, Josh. As others have said, a good voice there too