This is not a suicide note or a will or anything like that. It's more of an acknowledgement that I could die at any time, in any whimsical manner that the universe may choose for me, and it may be at a time that is considered premature for my demographic (financially endowed fat brown girls in North America). It's sort of a blessing to be able to express, while still alive, some aspects of how I'd like that to be treated posthumously.
First of all, I know that my family and close friends will grieve. But in the words of Michael Scott, "There is such a thing as good grief. Ask Charlie Brown." Really, it will be such a double-whammy suck if I die AND the joy of my loved ones dies. My spirit will certainly find itself a rocking existence in whatever parallel universe it is sent to, and it would much rather that my peeps take my departure as an opportunity to further cherish those still in their lives and continue spending their time in ways that bring them fulfillment.
Also, no vacations or major plans should be cancelled or delayed because I'm gone, unless I would have frowned upon said major plans, in which case they should NEVER occur!!
Then there's the whole 21st century aspect, which is actually what sort of inspired this post. I don't know how I feel about people tagging me on Facebook with "RIP" or spamming Twitter and listservs about my untimely death. I mean, I do sort of enjoy the idea of posthumous infamy, but I also find it creepy! Like, unless I achieve fame/infamy in my lifetime such that random people would care, or unless I die in a way that has some type of political significance, what business do strangers have to know about me? I like the idea of my close peeps doing something joyous to celebrate my awesome legacy, but I'd feel weirdly exploited if people I didn't kick it with that much invoked my death for dramatic effect. That's truly just morbid!
First of all, I know that my family and close friends will grieve. But in the words of Michael Scott, "There is such a thing as good grief. Ask Charlie Brown." Really, it will be such a double-whammy suck if I die AND the joy of my loved ones dies. My spirit will certainly find itself a rocking existence in whatever parallel universe it is sent to, and it would much rather that my peeps take my departure as an opportunity to further cherish those still in their lives and continue spending their time in ways that bring them fulfillment.
Also, no vacations or major plans should be cancelled or delayed because I'm gone, unless I would have frowned upon said major plans, in which case they should NEVER occur!!
Then there's the whole 21st century aspect, which is actually what sort of inspired this post. I don't know how I feel about people tagging me on Facebook with "RIP" or spamming Twitter and listservs about my untimely death. I mean, I do sort of enjoy the idea of posthumous infamy, but I also find it creepy! Like, unless I achieve fame/infamy in my lifetime such that random people would care, or unless I die in a way that has some type of political significance, what business do strangers have to know about me? I like the idea of my close peeps doing something joyous to celebrate my awesome legacy, but I'd feel weirdly exploited if people I didn't kick it with that much invoked my death for dramatic effect. That's truly just morbid!
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