Summary for 12/12/2018 Death Cafe - Hillsborough
A write up of Death Cafe Hillsborough
By Neidra
Our December 12th Death Café – Hillsborough (DC-H) was a wonderful group discussion – Thank you to those who came and contributed! We delved into several topics, asked questions, and shared some of our experiences. It was quite a philosophical Death Café! Below is a brief summary about our third event (different subjects marked with an ‘*’), followed by details about the next DC-H on 01/09/2019.
*We each participated in providing two or three words that describe our attitude about death. They included the following: open, accepting, curious, prepared, reluctant, ambivalent, respect, community, and “FOMA” fear of missing out (on what happens in the world you lived in after you die). *Linda wanted to share an article with us but, as she said, ran out of paper to print it (thanks for thinking of us!). You can read “Dying in Style” written by Audrey J. Parker during her last week of life, published in Simplify Magazine, by following this link: https://simplifymagazine.com/essay/dying/ A particular quote from the author, “Our first breath gives us life, but our last one honors a lifetime.” *Dying from suicide was discussed in depth too, including the differences between terms “committing suicide” and “death by suicide.” Suicide is a leading cause of death. According the Centers for Disease Control, and as posted on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: in 2017, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of nearly 47,173 people. *Ben mentioned “List(s) of Last Words” recorded throughout history, words which can be inspiring and humorous. If you google that term you will receive links to famous “last words” from authors, poets, presidents, philosophers, and celebrities. *As a conversation starter, a card was pulled from the Mortalls card game deck (“The Death Positive Conversation Game”). We took turns answering the question posed, “If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self about death?”
It was another stimulating Death Café filled with lively conversations, information, connections, smiles and laughter.
«Check out this video excerpt I gleaned from PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow” featuring English Memorial Jewelry dating back to the late 17th/early 18th century! Rings, and a brooch, that depict skulls, skeletons, snippets of hair, coffins, and shovels. Her collection has a surprising value too. https://www.pbs.org/video/appraisal-english-memorial-jewelry-collection-aepl33/