Death Cafe Columbia, Maryland write up

A write up of Death Cafe Columbia, Maryland-FULL

By toddnraquel

Eleven people of diverse backgrounds gathered at the holistic health center Nourishing Journey in Columbia, MD, on Nov. 1^st to discuss death in the first Death Cafe to be held in the area.  It was most fitting the conversation occurred on the night of All Saints’ Day/Day of the Dead.  Several issues were prominent in this lively discussion—our society’s denial of death, the need for a “re-languaging” of terms relating to death and dying in the medical community, the importance of peaceful death for loved ones, the rituals around observance and discussion of death (including the role social media now plays when people inform others of a death), finding meaning in encountering death, finding ways to communicate with loved ones regarding final arrangements and wishes, and exploring personal experiences of deaths of loved ones.

One member of the group left us all with a powerful metaphor for life’s journey.  She spoke of the crowded trains in India, where people travel in such cramped spaces that they get to know others sharing the same car during their travels.  At times, people get off the train, sometimes abruptly.  And then others board.  And so life is a journey where each person arrives, connects for a time, and leaves, and all are part of the larger, eternal “train ride”.

We hope to be able to participate in and facilitate another such gathering—several members indicated a desire for ongoing discussion.  Several days before the event, we received a call from the AARP asking for permissiont to photograph the event for an article that they are writing about Death Cafe's and Death Dinners. It’s clear that having such a forum to discuss life’s ultimate transition is very much needed in our community, and in the larger world.

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