Friday, January 06, 2006

A Lesson Before Dying

I'm sure by now you've all heard, read or seen on the news about the notes the dying West Virginia miner's left for their family members. Certainly, it's a rare occasion to be able to have this kind of opportunity to tell family members that you didn't suffer, or you weren't in pain as you took your dying breaths.

Often with my training classes we do those "exercises" (read: games) that you as the trainee either love or hate. One of these "exercises" I play is with a beach ball that is tossed around with questions on that the participants are to answer. One of the questions is "If the plane you were in were about to crash and you could write a note to someone what would you say?" I've gotten the standard, "I'd tell my husband/wife and kids that I loved them" to the "See I told you flying wasn't safe," which reminds me of the grave marker in Key West that remarks "I told you I was sick."

Bearing this in mind, the thought provoking question for today is: If you knew you were going to die by some means in the next 10 minutes, what would you do or say in your final moments?

8 comments:

Unknown said...

You pose an interesting question, and one I'm not sure can even be answered outside of the actual occurance.

With me it would either be the standard "I love you" to family and friends, or something smartass along the "I told you I was sick" lines.

But I can't give specifics, because what I would say in this 10 minutes would be different than 10 minutes a year from now or 10 years from now.

Anonymous said...

Easy to answer, call my son and spend those 10 minutes telling him that he has been the most precious gift I was ever given. That his life has made mine worth living because he has been my baby to kiss, my child to hug and my best friend as an adult. I know his heart is good and sweet, and his soul is beautiful. And I'd tell him where the will is and that he should do whatever he damn well pleases with the insurance money. And then I would ask my angels and spirits to stop for a 6 pack of Guiness on the way outa this place.

Anonymous said...

Ahhh, the death ball! I don't like thinking about those things, to be honest. But, if I am being honest I would ask God to forgive me for all my wrong-doings, then I would try to leave a note for my family. Tell them how much they mean to me and that I love them! See?? I hate this...Too deep!

Anonymous said...

Carne-what would you do?

Carnealian said...

Well considering I'm dying on a daily basis from any number of reasons, you would think I thought about this a whole lot. I'd tell my family and friends that I loved them and apologize for being a bitch a lot of the time....and make sure I was right with the Man.

Anonymous said...

i definately think that making right would the MAN would be first, and maybe, that would be all. i think i would want to make sure i got all that right and taken care of and nothing else. i think about this a lot. i wish, other than the god thing, that i could go outta here saying "wohoa...what a ride!" but i think i have a lot of work to do to make that happen. maybe carney and fin could help me with that, because they are always fun. think about this one deeply everyone, because tonight could be when you get those last 10 minutes. maybe you should take care of all the other talking to love ones now, while you have the chance. tell them how you feel now. make sure they know. that way, you can spend the last 10 with the MAN.

Ron Franscell said...

From author/blogger Ron Franscell at http://underthenews.blogspot.com ...

So imagine this: You're a mile below ground, huddled in the dark, cut off from rescue and all you can do is wait to die. You have a pencil and a piece of paper the size of a pay stub.

What will you write?

I've made room at my blog for such entries.

Unknown said...

Just remember, always wear clean underwear. That's the important part. So, if you only have 10 minutes left, go put on a clean pair.