Ponder me this #1 for Monday morning. To the friend who recommended the article, I wrote: For many reasons and experiences, I think about the “compression of morbidity.” Completing life in an uncomplicated, short period, preceded by active and engaged years seems indeed a healthy goal. But I don’t think that I or Ezekiel Emanuel will be as aggressive in refusing or avoiding care. No flu shots? Hmm. I doubt that he will see 75 the same way when he is 65 as he does at 57. Perhaps I would put the threshold for his approach around 85. I also think he fails to credit the wealth and life experience possible among our seniors. The critical challenge will be to create and sustain multi-generational experiences so that younger and elder can continue to share in each other’s lives, balancing the physical and mental strength of youth with the wisdom of experience. We do that in too small doses. Or perhaps it is moving target for each of us – to recognize and to be helped to recognize (by those who watch and care for us) when it is time to move from continuation and extension to completion, comfort and peace. And yet – absorbing from afar a great friends fierce fight – there is a primal urge to remain part of this world and part of the lives of those we love, at whatever cost. That too deserves admiration.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 11:16:58 +0000
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