Hmmmm........money.msn.com posted an article on Oct.21, 2013 with the title "At these coffee klatches, death is on the agenda". First thought was that this must be a Halloween thing but reading the article, it said that Death Cafes are starting up in the United States. DEATH CAFES??!??!! Horrifying, right? Well, not so fast. A "Death Cafe" is simply a gathering of people who are interested enough in death to meet and talk about it. The article goes on to say that the only agenda is to get the conversation started. It is not meant to be a counseling session, nor is it a grief/support group. Merely a place where you can talk about death without worrying that you will mortify anyone. A place to voice questions like: why did that 10 year old neighbor kid with leukemia die when that 76 year old guy with leukemia lived? Why did my dog get run over? Is there such a thing as reincarnation? No subject is taboo and no one will "lecture".
What are your thoughts? Why is death such an awkward subject? It IS a natural part of life, we all know that. Yet many try to shield their children from the concept and we've spent millions of dollars fighting the whole aging process. But you can't turn on the radio, TV or your computer without some news flash about death. We've grown so accustomed to viewing death in a "Third Person" mind-set that we're often ill-equipped to deal with it when it comes to us personally. It is something that happens in L.A,, New York or half a world away. Not to me! When my father passed away, I heard the doctor tell my mother that his heart had stopped twice and that if it stopped again, they'd have "to let him go". My thought - "hmm...I guess we WILL be here overnight" never dreaming that MY father would die!
To be honest with you, the title Death Cafe would not be my first choice. But then is that showing my own fear of a five lettered word? Would you go to a Death Cafe? Would you welcome the opportunity to ask questions, voice concerns, express your fears about death over coffee and biscotti? Just a thought - something to make you go "hmmmm"......