Writer’s Rant
April 7, 2025
Death’s Certainty
It was Ben Franklin who said “nothing is guaranteed in this life but death and taxes” (or something like that) and we know those words to be true. Now that it’s coming up on April 15th, we may actually feel we are being “taxed to death.” But we all know taxes don’t actually kill us, unless of course you don’t pay them, you wind up in prison, and your cell mate doesn’t like you.
My blogs are sometimes light-hearted, witty, sarcastic and/or occasionally thought provoking. But there comes a time, like today, when my heart is heavy and I find funny, witty and sarcastic words don’t come easy. As I age, I think more and more of my own mortality, especially in light of those who have passed on before me.
My first experience with death was, as those who know me are aware, the death of my brother. I was eleven; he was fourteen. Only those who have experienced the death of a child can truly understand the pain and I could see it in the eyes and faces of my parents.
Later on, as I experienced the death of my parents, I become more accepting in the finality of things and aware of my own mortality. There are others in my life who have passed on before me, and I often wonder why? Two of my best friends during adolescence pre-deceased me. One of my best friends in high school died too soon of ALS. A college roommate died of a drug overdose; He was only 50. Three of my fraternity brothers, including my big-brother, my little-brother and another good friend have all passed on ahead of me. And there are many others, too numerous to mention. Some that I am not even aware of, have left me behind.
I was saddened just a couple of days ago by the loss of another friend. And I am saddened yet again that I am about to lose another one. Today will not be easy. I will be spending time with my 10, soon to be 11, year old grandson about losing someone so special to him. I am reminded that I was only 11 when I first experienced death. And this will be his first time too.
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