A Good Cafe...
A write up of A Death Cafe in Eugene
By dmostkoff
On a drizzly Saturday afternoon about 30 souls gathered at Theo’s Coffee Shop & Cozmic Pizza to talk about death. Separating into groups of 4 or 5 we sat around small round tables with open minds and hearts. Starting with an appetizer of: “Why are you here today, what intrigued you about this forum”, diners were then able to choose from an assortment of entrees including: “why is death feared and not discussed in American society”, “What happens when you die”, and “What role does death play in living?”. After what appeared to be an intense, engaging and enjoyable 2-hour meal of conversation and discussion surrounding death, dying, and end of life progression, accompanied by chocolate cake and gluten-free cookies, evaluations were distributed. Other than an occasional concern that the acoustics were not conducive to public announcements and some folks’ questioning about confidentially given the large group and public space, most of the reviews were quite positive. Words used to describe the event included: comfortable, warm and friendly; the feeling: reflective, open, and thought provoking; and the subject: deep, informative, and welcoming. One person was bored, several were grateful, and many expressed desire for additional cafes in the future.
As hosts, our wish is for others to be inspired to organize Cafés of their own and continue this open discussion of death. It is our sincere hope that once people feel comfortable talking about death among total strangers, they may have the incentive to carry this conversation home to not only inform their family what their thoughts and wishes are for the end of their (finite) lives but they may also gain insight into how their loved ones hope to spend their final days.