Increasingly, I find that on a daily basis, I am reading the obituaries in the newspaper. I know from conversations with some of my older relatives that they too report a regular review of the obits.
My understanding is that they are looking for the names of people they know, particularly friends who they may have lost contact. I also look for familiar names. However, I also study what is written about the person. In all honesty, I do find my mind wandering, contemplating what my obituary will say. I think about how people will respond to seeing my death notice. I wonder if they will feel positive things about me, or remember something negative that might have passed between us. Actually, I wonder if they will even invest the energy to have any sort of response.
Joel T Nowak MA, MSW
Joel: I’m busy celebrating you and your work while you’re here! You are already living for values bigger than life itself. You pass the torch and the value(s) survive/surpass our tiny lives.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (JC)
Your work contributes to many of us exploring clinical trials; your work supports many of us as we look to fill our “dad” roles, “husband” roles, “son” roles, “lover” roles WITH cancer; your advocacy will lead to many newly diagnosed men either being caught earlier or having new therapies to LIVE with cancer.
Joel, you’ve got a legacy of love greater than your name and even your life–that’s living! And– forever….
Thank you, Brother.
Eric (dad, husband, fire medic, and seeming host of of a very successful strain of prostate cancer!)