To Arden: Arden, this post was very touching and beautiful. I can honestly say that I feel as if I had gone to visit your grandmother with you (she seems like a wonderful person to be around). The amount of detail you put into describing her and the area you were in gave me a great picture in my head that made me feel even more a part of this experience. Your writing style has a way bringing people into what you’re feeling and experiencing especially when you say "I walking in and hugged my grandma. I did it gently barely really touching her. She was weak and frail and I was really afraid I was going to hurt her. She was so little; the chair she sat in cradled her. Her hair was pure white, some of her wrinkles enlarged by her glasses." I could feel my hands wrapping around your grandmother but not too touch but then again maybe because that is because I do the same thing when I hug my grandmother. This post was really nice.
To Johnny: Johnny, I can really relate to what you’re going through, my grandmother lives in Egypt so I do not see her very much but when I do I cherish every moment. The line I thought was beautiful was” Even though these stories usually take hours I don't mind one bit and actually enjoy them because I cherish the time I have with my grandmother because any day could be her last." I feel that this line is so true and to cherish every moment is the most logical and best thing to do. In 20 years if your grandmother is no longer around you will always have those memories of her and that will keep her alive forever.
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From Steven (Younger person): It is great that you and your relatives are able to discuss what might be a very fragile topic to many others so comfortably. You did an excellent job showing me your thought process as you were talking with your relative. I have lost a dog and 2 relatives during my life, but i was too young to really understand what it meant at the time. The conversation that you had with your relative seemed to have helped you further explore your thoughts on this topic. I think that it is interesting to have a discussion with someone who has not talked much about death before because you can see a fresh point of view.
From Mr.T: You make a key distinction between death and the process of dying. This is very honest and, I think, actually quite common. Many people are afraid of Being Dead because their religious centers have made them afraid of the prospect of some kind of eternal punishment. However, a more subtle and much more rational fear is the fear of losing one's vitality, of becoming Old and possibly Frail. If people examined their feelings more, I suspect they would agree with you.
I applaud your idea that having more time to discuss these issues would allow you to come to a better understanding, even if I don't agree with you. Seems to me (and I have never lost somebody close) that the only way to understand these feelings is to have experienced them - similar to being In Love. However, as an overall idea, I appreciate your notion that examining life and its feelings leads to greater clarity. I agree with that.
As you continue with this unit, I would challenge you to think further about the ideas of dying or serious illness as opposed to just being dead. This is not pleasant. Humans don't like to think of ourselves losing our power. However, if you can accept it, particularly at such a young age, hopefully you will be able to embrace the time you have even more.
From Johnny: your most beautiful line was in the final pharagraph.The way that you connected with Nadia is very interesting. It is as if with every question you asked you getting closer and closer with her. What really stood out to me was how you connected the way Nadia was acting to the way Morrie from the book "Tuesdays with morrie" was acting. The quote "i realized that nadia who once moved her hands around as she would tell me stories no longer does that (similar to Morrie in Tuesdays with Morrie)." Made me realize that you noticed every little detail about nadia and thus by doing that you were able to connect this to Morrie.
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