[llamaimperative]

And fear. Our culture is not good at death. Thanks for the book recommendation, definitely going to pick this up!

Edit to excerpt a great review from Goodreads: "If you think you might get older as time goes by and/or think you might even die at some time (or have relatives or other loved ones to whom this might apply), I urge you to read this book."

[rqtwteye]

It would great if we had a better culture around dying. My parents are in their 90s. When I get to the senior home they live and talk to people it’s pretty clear that it would often be better if people could just say “enough is enough” and go out with dignity and respect. A lot of people there just live day by day and wait for it to be over.

[hirvi74]

> it would often be better if people could just say “enough is enough” and go out with dignity and respect

My father desires this. He was a nurse for much of my life. He is adamant about two points in regards to his death and the events leading up to it:

1. He will never become a burden.

2. He will not die in a hospital bed.

He believes that when it is his time to go, then it is his time to go. No point in delaying the inevitable. As a nurse, he has seen many patients receive treatments and the outcomes/prognosis that results from said treatments. Based on many of the stories I have heard through out my life, I think I can greatly sympathize with his views. Though, I myself am a bit too neurotic about death to have such a view.

My father has stuck to his guns though. He's in his 70s. Annual checkup? Doesn't do them. He doesn't even know nor care about his blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.. Routine colonoscopy? Never had one.

He's told me since I was young, "The day I can't tie my own shoes is the day I'm calling it quits." I seriously believe him and I have the utmost respect for him too.